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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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JAMAICAN TO SERVE FOUR YEARS IN ANTIGUA—09/13/08
A 28-year-old Jamaican man pleaded guilty to possession and importation of cannabis in St. John’s, Antigua. He has been sentenced to a term of four years in prison for the crimes. The Jamaican must also pay a fine of $150,000 or serve another two years.
JAMAICAN DOCTOR PERFORMS HYSTERECTOMY ON GORILLA—09/14/08
Dr. Gerald Mulvaney, a Jamaican now living in the United States, has practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 30 years, operating on hundreds of women during that time. However, he says one of his most rewarding experiences involved a 400-pound gorilla at the North Carolina Zoological Park. Dr. Mulvaney and Dr. Sameh Toma, his partner at the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine, and the zoo’s senior veterinarian Dr. Ryan De Voe, performed a hysterectomy on Donna, a 38-year-old, 400-pound gorilla.
UNION BELIEVES JAMAICA BAUXITE INDUSTRY WILL CUT JOBS—09/15/08
Vincent Morrison, president of the National Workers Union, said the organization had been advised by the management of the Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart) that there will be a staff reduction of some 12 percent, or 150 workers. Alpart is Jamaica’s largest bauxite and alumina processing plant. Management, production, casual, and temporary workers will be affected by the job reductions, said Morrison.
BRITISH WOMEN HIDE COCAINE IN WIGS, ARRESTED—09/16/08
Two British women from Derby in the United Kingdom, aged 17 and 20, were arrested in Jamaica when police found £175,000 worth of cocaine in the wigs they were wearing as they tried to board a plane to London. The cocaine weighed five pounds and had been sewn into the wigs.
SPORTS MAY BECOME TOP INDUSTRY IN JAMAICA—09/17/08
According to Olivia Grange, Minister of Sports, sports can become an important industry for Jamaica’s economy by 2030. Grange has reported that the Ministry is creating a National Sport Policy for Jamaica, taking a novel approach in treating sport as an industry that could have a positive impact on the Gross Domestic Product.
NEW NATIONAL HONOR PROPOSED TO RECOGNIZE CULTURAL ICONS—09/18/08
The Order of Jamaica Heritage is a new honor being proposed to recognize the contributions of cultural icons like Bob Marley and Louise Bennett. A committee chaired by Rex Nettleford recommended that the number of National Hero honors stay the same for now, but proposed that individuals who have made a significant impact on Jamaica’s heritage, but who do not meet the Hero requirements, be recognized with the new Order of Jamaica Heritage.
JAMAICA’S HIGH ELECTRIC BILLS PROMPT INVESTIGATION—09/19/08
Bruce Golding, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, has received a number of complaints from citizens about extraordinarily high electricity bills. Golding has directed the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to provide a complete analysis and detailed report of the charges imposed by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). The authority has two weeks in which to complete its investigations. Electric customers throughout the island have demonstrated against the high utility bills.
MACMILLAN SUPPORTS APPEARANCE OF DONS IN PARLIAMENT—09/19/08
Trevor MacMillan, National Security Minister, supports arguments stating that dons have the right to present their opinions on six anti-crime bills pending before a joint select committee in Parliament. Regardless of what is said about the dons, they have a right in certain things, said MacMillan. However, individuals with criminal records should be prohibited from participating in the process, he said.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN EVACUEES STILL WAITING—09/15/08
Several Jamaican workers evacuated from the Turks and Caicos Islands by Air Jamaica before the arrival of Hurricane Ike say they are still waiting for the return trip to Jamaica promised by the airline. They are concerned about losing their jobs if the airline reneges on its decision. The evacuees were allegedly told that they did not meet the quota for sending a flight to get them.
GAY JAMAICAN ELIGIBLE FOR ASYLUM IN U.S.—09/16/08
Damion Bromfield, a gay Jamaican man, was granted eligibility for asylum in the United States after the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the denial by an immigration judge of his request for relief under the Convention Against Torture. The appellate court found that the evidence of violence against homosexuals in Jamaica combined with a Jamaican law that criminalizes homosexual activity showed a pattern of persecution of gay men.
JAMAICAN NATIONAL INVOLVED IN CAYMAN FRAUD INVESTIGATION—09/17/08
Christopher Girvan, Jamaican trader, is being investigated in the Cayman Islands on charges of defrauding hedge fund investors out of millions of dollars. Girvan had been involved in another fraud case in 2004. He was one of eight defendants in a civil suit filed in the United States District Court in Virginia.
JAMAICAN JERK FESTIVALIN FLORIDA TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER—09/18/08
The yearly Jamaican Jerk Festival, sponsored in 2008 by Air Jamaica and Publix, will be held November 9, 2008, at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida. The festival is a major Caribbean family event in South Florida. While usually held in September, it was moved to November in an attempt to avoid the heavy rains that have generally fallen on past festivals.
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SPORTS
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POWELL ENDS SEASON WITH A WIN—09/14/08
Asafa Powell, former 100-meter record holder, was the top performer from Jamaica at the opening day of the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany. Power won the men’s 100-meter final with a time of 9.88 seconds.
WALKER, FRASER WIN AT IAAF WORLD ATHLETICS FINAL—09/15/08
Shelly-Ann Fraser and Melaine Walker, Jamaica’s Olympic champions, brought home victories at the sixth IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany. Fraser clocked 10.94 in the women’s 100 meters to gain first place, while Walker won the women’s 400 hurdles.
POWELL DEFENDS BOLT AGAINST CARL LEWIS—09/16/08
Jamaican Olympic champion Usain Bolt was strongly defended by fellow Jamaican and athlete Asafa Powell against comments from former Olympic winner Carl Lewis. Lewis has questioned the performance of Bolt at the Beijing, China Olympics. Lewis, an American, said that anyone who did not question Bolt’s sudden performance improvement was a “fool.”
BARNES NAMED COACH OF JAMAICAN NATIONAL SIDE—09/17/08
John Barnes, 44, former Liverpool and England winger, is the new coach of the Jamaican national side, returning to management after a period with Celtic eight years ago Barnes was appointed after the firing of Rene Simoes as the technical directory of the Jamaica Football Federation. Simoes was fired after the national side lost two World Cup qualifying matches in four days.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Dealing With An Anxious Heart
Anxiety. Webster defines it as a “painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill”; “an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it.” Does any of that sound familiar?
As global economies continue to struggle, and it seems we’re greeted every day by news of more companies in trouble and people losing jobs, it is in these environments that anxiety becomes even more acute. These are challenging times for many, and there are real fears and concerns that provoke thoughts and worry minds. The Christian is not immune from these events, fears, and concerns. If we’re not careful, we could easily find ourselves overwhelmed by our individual circumstances, and instead of keeping our eyes on the God of our salvation, we focus instead on the “contrary winds” howling around us. To avoid such a situation, we hear the Psalmist cry out, “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer … when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me to the rock that is higher than I [yes, a rock that is too high for me]. For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me” (61:1,2b,3a, Amplified). When faced with life’s storms, a shelter and a refuge are exactly what we need. The good news is that we can find them both, in God.
The disciples of Jesus faced their own anxious moments as He spoke to them about His departure (John 13:31-36). We find in His response words that should encourage the heart that is anxious over any circumstances. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (14:1). Things may not look too good, but let not your heart be troubled. Bad news every where, but let not your heart be troubled. The pattern is obvious. God is not limited by what the global economies are doing. He knows how to take care of His own, and “Those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever” (Psalm 125:1, Amplified). Now is as good a time as any to cast those cares and fears upon Him. Why not give it a try?
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CREDITS/SOURCES
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The weekly news is compilation of new articles from top Caribbean and Jamaican news sources.
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