Staff Writer——————————————–
THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
——————————————–
BUSH IGNORES PLEAS OF PRIME MINISTER—10/04/08
The request of Prime Minister Bruce Golding for aid for Jamaica was completely ignored by United States President George W. Bush during Golding’s visit to the U.S. According to Golding, Bush was “disinterested” in the need for aid to the island. Instead, Bush wanted to discuss how Jamaica might help the U.S. with its athletics program. Golding was described as “taken aback” by Bush’s reaction to his request.
AUTISM REQUIRES MORE ATTENTION—10/05/08
A growing number of Jamaicans lives with autism. According to Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughn, a leading expert in the Jamaican autism field, confirmed that the numbers of autistic individuals rose from about two diagnosed cases per year in the 1970s to 40 per year in 2006. Autism can occur in any social group in Jamaica. It is a neurological program characterized by repetitive behavior, problems with verbalization, and not wanting to socialize.
POLICE IN JAMAICA CONCERNED ABOUT ILLEGAL LOTTERY—10/06/08
The Jamaican police are concerned about an illegal lottery activity in St. James. Reportedly, this activity makes billions of dollars available to the criminal underworld. Assistant Commissioner of Police and the officer in charge of Area One Police Division, Denver Frater, believes that the weapons and ammunition used and recovered at crime scenes by the police all point to the lottery scam.
JAMAICAN MUSICIAN EMBODIES DANCEHALL ANGST—10/07/08
Busy Signal, part of a movement in Jamaican dancehall music that has been the focus of attention worldwide, has not been able to rise above the feuds reflected in the origins and lyrics of the music. According to Edwin “Stats” Houghton, a “general angst” permeates the dancehall environment. Feuds break out between musicians and have escalated to real violence in the streets in some cases. Busy Signal allegedly pulled out a knife on stage in 2006, but while his new music still includes violent themes, he emphasizes unity among the dancehall artists.
LABOR MINISTRY BEGINS MAJOR FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM—10/07/08
Pearnel Charles, Jamaica’s Minister of Labor, reports that the Ministry is beginning a major recruitment drive for overseas employment, even in the face of the recession looming over parts of the developed world. Credit difficulties in the United States have caused people to lose their jobs; 760,000 jobs have disappeared in the U.S. to date.
GOLDING REPORTS COMMITMENT FROM IDB—10/08/08
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will provide a loan totaling US$50 million to pay for infrastructure and rehabilitation in Jamaica related to the damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Gustav. Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced the IDB’s commitment to approve loans ranging between US$100 million to US$200 million per year for the next three years for storm rehab.
MACAULAY CALLS FOR LEGAL UNIT TO FOCUS ON CRIMES VS. CHILDREN—10/09/08
Margarette Macaulay, children’s rights advocate, wants to see a legal unit established to investigate and prosecute all crimes committed against children on the island. Macaulay, an attorney, blames Jamaica’s legislators for the poor resolution of crimes against children, saying that the Care and Protect Act is “inadequate” and has been implemented too slowly.
GOLDING OPIMISTIC ABOUT JAMAICA”S FINANCES—10/10/08
Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, admits the global financial crisis will impact some major economic structures on the island, but he wants to keep away from encouraging panic. In a speech to the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, Golding said the budget was vulnerable, but he is “optimistic” that Jamaican will be able to secure the funds it needs to stay afloat.
——————————————–
JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
——————————————–
CORONER’S INQUEST TO CONCLUDE OCTOBER 8—10/05/08
The death of a Jamaican National in the Virgin Islands will be the subject of a coroner’s inquest, which began in the Magistrate’s Court on October 1, 2008, will conclude on October 8. The inquest is examining the death of Glenroy Bartley, 24, who was found dead in territorial waters near Prospect Reef Marina on April 26, 2007. He was working as a mate on a local boat at the time of his death.
AMERICAN EMBASSY SENDS JAMAICAN WOMEN TO ARGENTINA SUMMIT—10/06/08
Three Jamaican women were chosen by the United States Embassy to attend a leadership summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Andrea Downer, Taneisha Burke, and Marcia Brooks will attend a leadership and training program provided by Vital Voices Global Partnership. Their visit will be funded in part by the U.S. Department of State’s Public Affairs Section.
JAMAICANS IN U.S. LOSE HOMES IN FINANCIAL CRISIS—10/07/08
Many Jamaicans who live in the United States have lost their homes in the fallout from the mortgage and investment meltdown. While some of those affected have decided to rent homes, others have returned to the island.
FUGITIVE FROM JAMAICA ARRESTED IN MISSISSAUGA—10/09/08
Gregory Brown 29, from Jamaica, was arrested on an immigration warrant in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He was taken into custody by the Immigration Task Force (ITF) after a four-month-long investigation. He was arrested following a brief standoff with police, during which officers found a loaded semi-automatic handgun inside the apartment with Brown. Charges linked to the illegal handgun are being considered by the ITF>
——————————————–
SPORTS
——————————————–
JAMAICAN CELEBRATES OLYMPIC ATHLETES—10/06/08
The Jamaican athletes returning from a triumphant performance at the Beijing Olympic Games were celebrated with street parades, galas, and national awards. The celebration is to last almost an entire week in recognition of the 11 medals won by Jamaica’s top athletes. Thousands lined the route of the street parade to see their sport heroes.
EXPECTATIONS HIGH FOR BOYZ VERSUS MEXICO—10/08/08
The World Cut qualifying match between Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and Mexico in the World Cup is the focus of much anticipation, but some doubt whether the Boyz can come out victorious. The Central American team won the first leg match 3-0. However, this match may not be a real reflection of how the Boyz play.
BURRELL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT ABILITIES OF REGGAE BOYZ—10/09/08
Captain Horace Burrell, boss of Jamaica’s football Reggae Boyz, says that his administration will be moving “full speed ahead” toward the 2009 Gold Cup and beyond. He says his plans include qualifying the team for the 2014 World Cup.
SUPERCLUBS TO SPONSOR JFF—10/10/08
Superclubs has signed on to be the latest sponsor reaffirming its commitment to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Superclubs will provide some $40 million to the JFF over the next two years. The contract means that the hotel chain will become the official provider of accommodations for the national football team in western Jamaica.
—————————————————————-
DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————————
“I Am the Door”
I had done it countless times before, but this time was different. As I inserted the key in the lock in the door, the words of Jesus broke through in my spirit: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9, KJV). I got the message immediately. In the very same way going through the front door was the only way to get into my house, without breaking any of the windows, going through Jesus was the only way to salvation.
The word “saved” used in the text is the word “sode’-zo” in the Greek, and is best understood as “to save, deliver, or protect; to heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole” (Strongs, G4982). This understanding, when applied, gives us a richer perspective of our position in Christ. When we enter our homes, we enter a place of safety. Closed windows and doors keep us safe not only from those who would steal, kill, and destory, but as we go about our business in our world of anxieties and uncertainties, the comforts of home also offer us a place of refuge; a place to rest, be refreshed, and to be restored.
It is no different when we are in Christ. As Bible Scholar Matthew Henry stated, “By faith in him, as the great Mediator between God and man, we come into covenant and communion with God….True believers are at home in Christ; when they go out, they are not shut out as strangers, but have liberty to come in again; when they come in, they are not shut in as trespassers, but have liberty to go out. They go out to the field in the morning, they come into the fold at night; and in both the Shepherd leads and keeps them, and they find pasture in both: grass in the field, fodder in the fold. In public, in private, they have the word of God to converse with, by which their spiritual life is supported and nourished, and out of which their gracious desires are satisfied; they are replenished with the goodness of God’s house.”
Those benefits are only realized by those who come in through Christ. Just in case we’re tempted to think there is some other way, He stated quite emphatically, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). One door, one way, and He is it. For those of us who have found Him, what a comforting thought! If you know someone still looking, why not tell them about Him today?
—————————————————————–
CREDITS/SOURCES
—————————————————————–
The weekly news is compilation of new articles from top Caribbean and Jamaican news sources.
jamarch
