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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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MULLINGS SUPPORTS ETHANOL PROJECT—09/27/08
Clive Mullings, Minister of Energy, believes that sugar cane is the key to freeing Jamaica from its dependence on foreign oil. Sugar cane, which had been a symbol of slavery on the island, can be used to address energy needs, including the development of E10 ethanol, a blended fuel that will be available for sale at service stations.
FOREIGN TRADE MINISTRY IN GUYANA RESPONDS TO RICE SITUATION—09/28/08
In a letter to the editor of the Kaieteur News in Guyana, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation reports that Jamaica’s Minister of Commerce, Karl Samuda, is committed to meeting the Guyana rice quota for 2008.
GOLDING WANTS NEW DESIGNATION FOR CARICOM NATIONS—09/29/08
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding has called for his country and other Caribbean Community (Caricom) states to be recognized as “small vulnerable and highly indebted middle-income countries.” Their current designation is “middle income developing countries.” The new designation is designed to meet the area’s unique needs and exposure to natural disasters.
FINANCIAL CRISIS IN U.S. HAS LITTLE IMPACT ON JAMAICA—09/30/08
While many of leading the financial institutions in the United States have suffered extreme financial difficulties and even failure, the situation has left only a minimal mark on Jamaica’s top investment houses. Jamaicans in the home country hold most GOJ global bonds.
SALE OF MARLEY MEMORABILITY SLOWED—10/01/08
Roger Steffens, reggae historian who owns a world-famous collection of archives, has put the archives up for sale. Steffens says there is “major interest” in the archives, which he keeps in six rooms of his home in Los Angeles, California. However, he also said the prospective Jamaican buyer did not meet specific requirements, including that the collection remain intact and be shared with the public.
GOSPEL ARTIST ON A MISSION—10/02/08
Wayne Buchanan, who is known to gospel music fans as “Jai-Jesus And I,” is spreading the “Word of Jesus” throughout the Caribbean. He traveled to St. Kitts to bring Jesus’ message in a form that the people can understand.
OPPOSITION LEADER CREATES “SHADOW” CABINET—10/02/08
Portia Simpson-Miller, leader of Jamaica’s Opposition party, has named 20 individuals as members of her Shadow Cabinet after several days of discussion, proposals, and country proposals. The Cabinet includes Philip Paulwell and Peter Bunting.
JAMAICANS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT CHILD MURDERS—10/03/08
Reports of several savage murders of children in Jamaica have prompted the government to develop strong legislation designed to stop the gruesome crimes. An 11-year-old child was allegedly abducted and cut into seven pieces, while another report mentions the molestation and murder of a nine-month-old infant. In 2008 there have been 57 murders of children. Portia Simpson-Miller, Opposition leader, has called on every person in Jamaica to make an effort to stop such crimes.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAMAICA FEELS “BLESSED” TO HAVE ASSIGNMENT—09/29/08
Brenda LaGrange, a former teacher and now the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, says she feels very “blessed” to be appointed to the island during a very dynamic phase in its history. LaGrange has worked with three of the island’s eight Prime Ministers and oversaw the transition to the new Embassy buildings in Liguanea, St. Andrew.
CAPE COD, JAMAICA FORGE RELATIONSHIP—09/30/08
The ties between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Jamaica have strengthened over the past 20 years, as the island has sent temporary workers to the area during that time. For the employers on the Cape who could not obtain H-2B visas for their usual Jamaican workers this year, there is an emotional as well as financial loss. John Richards, owner of the Chatham Shellfish Co., said “it was like a member of the family not coming back.”
PRESIDENT OF DIASPORA FAVORS SUPPORT OF CARIBID—10/01/08
Patrick Beckford, president of the northeast Jamaican Diaspora, has emphasized the important of CaribID 2010. This is a movement designed to provide Caribbean nationals an “origins” category on the census forms of the United States.
GOLDING CALLS FOR HELP IN BUILDING OAS—10/02/08
Speaking at a protocol session of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council in Washington, D.C., Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding called for increased aid in building institutional capacity in the Caribbean and other countries that carry heavy loads of debt. More aid would make the region more competitive in the global economy.
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SPORTS
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SPONSORSHIP FOR CRICKET NOT SECURED—09/27/08
Jackie Hendriks, the president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), says the group tried to obtain sponsorship for its top one-day tournament, but found local businesses to be financially unable to provide it. The JCA will elect a new president next month, and this individual will have to find new sponsorship.
BOLT SAYS “I KNOW I’M CLEAN”—09/28/08
Responding to speculation that his amazing Olympic performance was helped by doping, Usain Bolt, winner of gold medals in the 100-meter, 200 and 4×100-meter relay, said “I know I’m clean. I work hard for what I want.” Carl Lewis, nine-time Olympic champion has raised questions about Bolt’s performance and its link to inappropriate drugs.
SPEARMAN MAY BASE TRAINING IN JAMAICA—09/29/08
The American reigning 200-meter bronze Olympic medalist, Wallace Spearman, may change his training base and move it to Jamaica for the coming season. Spearmon is considering becoming part of the Maximizing Veolocity and Power (MVP) Track Club. This organization produced two individual Olympic champions at the 2008 Beijing games and is headed by Stephen Francis.
BRIDGEPORT UNDEFEATED—10/01/08
Bridgeport, one of the favorites of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup, was victorious because of strong performances from Adoah Nickle and Andre Steele. Bridgeport High has maintained its unbeaten record in the Cup with a 3-0 win over Jose Marti Technical.
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DEVOTIONAL
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In The Center of His Will
In her book, “The Hiding Place”, Corrie Ten Boom, Nazi concentration camp survivor, wrote the prayer: “Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will. Don’t let me go mad by poking about outside it.” This after she said: “There are no ‘if’s’ in God’s kingdom. His timing is perfect. The center of His will is our only safety. His will is our hiding place.”
This powerful prayer reminded me of a question posed by author Charles (Chuck) Swindoll, who, in a section of his book “Growing Strong In The Seasons of Life” titled “Appraising Life”, encouraged readers to ask themselves some tough questions including “Can I honestly say that I am in the nucleus of God’s will for me?” It is a very sobering question, and one that we may have refrained from asking ourselves because the answer may be more revealing than we are willing to confront. Yet, whether it is in our choice of career, a mate, a business opportunity, or any other area of our lives, can there be any doubt that there isn’t anywhere safer?
As His disciples wondered if Jesus would join them to eat, He said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me” (John 4:34a), The Message). His clearly defined passion was the carrying out of God’s will (Hebrews 10:9). As His disciples, shouldn’t that be our passion also? Knowing the will of God isn’t always easy, but we can find direction in His Word. It speaks of His desire for every area of our lives, and as long as we follow that road map, His directions, we should be fine (Psalm 119:105). As someone once said, “the will of God is not so much an itinerary as it is an attitude. Be willing to walk in the way that He wants you to.”
“Lord Jesus, keep me in Your will. Don’t let me go mad by poking about outside it.” Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday living, are you allowing His Word to be a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path? There really isn’t any other way to know His will, and once we are walking in it, there really isn’t any safer place to be.
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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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