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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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JAMAICA UNLIKELY TO FEEL IMPACT FROM STANFORD FALLOUT—02/21/09
Jamaicans in Antigua will not be negatively impacted by the financial difficulties experienced by Sir Allen Stanford, a billionaire from Texas who has made substantial investments in the country. According to Septimus Rhudd, Jamaica’s Consulate in Antigua and Barbuda, most of the 10,000 Jamaican nationals there will not feel the effects of the investigation into Stanford’s operations led by the United States.
JAMAICAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION BANS EXPLICIT MUSIC—02/22/09
All sexually explicit music and music with lyrics that involve violence has been banned from Jamaica’s airwaves by the Jamaican Broadcasting Commission. The ban took effect on February 6, 2009, and covers all songs designed to promote the act of “daggering,” a dance move simulating sexual intercourse. The ban includes music played on television and radio, and songs cannot be played even if the offending lyrics are “bleeped” out.
MORE JAMAICANS TO WORK IN U.S.—02/23/09
There will be an increase in the number of Jamaicans leaving the island via the United States Farm Work program. The government has been looking for jobs overseas to fulfill its election promise to find work for Jamaican people. The Labor Ministry reports that about 100 individuals will be sent to the U.S. in its latest effort.
TEACHER IN ST. JAMES HELD FOR MURDER OF HUSBAND—02/24/09
Michelle Brown, 35, of John’s Hall, fatally stabbed her husband, Junior Brown, 46, in the chest during an argument. She has been taken into custody, but not yet charged with the crime. Dr. Beverley Scott, family and child therapist, believes that stress and trauma may have had an impact on the educator, who has worked at John’s Hall All-Age School for about eight years.
YOUNG JAMAICANS ENCOURAGED TO TRY BEEKEEPING—02/25/09
In St. Elizabeth, young people are being encouraged to get into the field of beekeeping as a career. According to the First Deputy Chairman of the Jamaica Federation of Commercial Apiculturalists, Elton Cawley, Jamaica has a great potential for beekeeping, and supplies of honey are low, both domestically and internationally. He also said there is a huge local and global demand for honey and other bee products like royal jelly, pollen, and wax.
JAMAICAN FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR SUMMER 2009—02/26/09
The Green Gables Theatre near Half-Way Tree in St. Andrew plans to host a unique festival in late July 2009, according to writer and film director Paul O. Beale. The first Jamaican Film and Video Festival is designed to encourage people in the film and video industry to submit films will sell worldwide but that have never been done in Jamaica, says Beale. He is looking for work created specifically for the festival.
JAMAICAN PUBLISHER LOOKS FOR NICHE MARKET IN UK—02/26/09
One of the biggest publishing firms in the Caribbean, Ian Randle Publishers (IRP), plans to officially launch in the United Kingdom in February 2009. The firm will promote its books via a series of seminars and events designed to attract new readers and potential writers. According to Ian Randle, the president and founder of the company, the effort is a signal to writers in the Diaspora and to the book trade in general that despite difficult times, IRP will continue to support new and established talent.
BARNES BROTHERS DONATE REGGAE MUSIC COLLECTION TO ARCHIVES—02/27/09
Approximately 3,000 recordings of Jamaican music collected by the broadcasting Barnes brothers have been donated to the Jamaica Music Archives. The brothers – Jeff, Winston, and Ed – turned over the collection to the Honorable Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN INMATES IN NEW YORK PRISON DONATE TO HURRICANE EFFORTS—02/21/09
The Jamaican inmates at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in upstate New York have made a donation of US$1,107 to the hurricane rehabilitation efforts on the island. The money comes from the commissary account in which family and friends may deposit money for inmates. Geneive Brown-Metzger, Consul General to New York, accepted the check and called the action “an incredibly generous gesture.” The inmates who made the donation are members of the Caribbean African Unity organization.
JAMAICAN IN ANTIGUA CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF GANJA—02/22/09
Jamaican Winton Wesley Buckley has been convicted in Antigua after a guilty plea to a charge of importing five pounds of ganja. He was fined EC$120,000. Buckley was also charged with possession and intent to supply the drug, but this charge was withdrawn.
JAMAICAN WOMAN HONORED AT PRESTIGIOUS MAYO CLINIC IN MINNESOTA—02/24/09
Dr. Monique Ford, graduate of the University of the West Indies, has received the LeeAnn MacCaffrey MD Women in Medicine Award for 2005 at the Mayo Clinic. She was cited as a “superb” resident with “excellent clinical skills” and an “inquisitive mind.” Dr. Ford is the first non-US national and the first woman of color to receive this award. She continues her work at the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at the Mayo Clinic as a research fellow in cardiology. Her long-term goal is to return to Jamaica to open a cardiac catheterization center.
JAMAICANS IN U.S. ASKED FOR INPUT ON NATIONAL AGENDA FOR CHANGE—02/27/09
Geneive Brown-Metzger, Consul General of Jamaica in New York, is encouraging Jamaicans overseas to help formulate a national agenda for change. Mrs. Brown-Metzger believes in the power of prayer to overcome the current global economic crisis. She urges Jamaican nationals worldwide to get involved to become part of the solution at some level.
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SPORTS
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BUCKNOR TO RETIRE—02/23/09
Steve Bucknor has officiated in more Tests and ODIs than anyone in history, but he plans to retire from umpiring at the international level in March 2009. Bucknor plans to retire from Test cricket after officiating at the third Test between South Africa and Australia in March. Two pending ODIs between the West Indies and England will be his last assignments.
POWELL CONSULTS PSYCHOLOGISTS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE—02/24/09
Asafa Powell, named the fastest man in the world for half of 2008, watch his countryman Usain Bolt take the world record at the Beijing Olympics. However, Powell plans to be redeemed in races in Sydney, Australia. Powell says he consulted psychologists for help in stopping him from “choking” in important events. He says he is “a lot happier than last year.”
BENNETT BELIEVES TEAM STILL HAS WORK TO DO—02/25/09
In spite of having a nine-point lead halfway through the 2009 WICB Regional four-day cricket competition, the Jamaicans’ coach, Junior Bennett, thinks that his team still has work to do if it wants to defend its title successfully. Jamaica is unbeaten and leads the seven-team field with 60 points.
JAMAICAN DOG SLED TEAM FINISHES RACE—02/26/09
Newton Marshall of Jamaica, a rookie musher, has made a name for himself by finishing the Yukon Quest sled dog race in Canada. Marshall and ten dogs reached the finish line in Fairbanks, Alaska, on February 26, with a time of 11 days, 19 hours, and two minutes for the 1,600-kilometer race that took them through the Yukon and Alaska. Marshall, 25, has spent the past two years preparing for the race.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Persistent Prayer
Imagine the scene. Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, troubled and provoked by Peninnah, the other wife, because she was childless, praying fervently in the temple at the annual feast of the tabernacle. The narrative tells us that Peninnah “provoked her grievously, in order to make her tremble” (1 Samuel 1:6,MKJV), so much so that Hannah wept and did not eat (v.7). The intensity of her emotions were of such that “she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Jehovah, and wept sorely” (v.10). Despite her state, we read that she “spoke in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard” (v.13). Hers was not just a prayer, but one of supplication with motion, tears, and passion. Because all of this was taking place after everyone had eaten and drank, it is no wonder that Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk.
We know of course that she wasn’t. In those days a woman’s ability to have children was seen as her being favored of God, and because of the stigma of childlessness, Peninnah, who had borne Elkanah children, would provoke Hannah every year around this time (v.7). Elkanah did his best to show his love and devotion, but the ache in her heart could not be satisfied by his words. She had one need, a son, and the only person who could fill that need was Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts. The tabernacle was the place that housed His presence among the nation of Israel, and what better place to make supplication. When Eli reprimanded her for being drunk, she replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have neither drunk wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before Jehovah. Do not count your handmaid for a daughter of wickedness, for out of the abundance of my meditation and grief I have spoken until now” (vv. 15-16).
There are many wonderful lessons in this narrative, but for our purposes we take note of Hannah’s diligence in petitioning the Lord with her need. It is not enough that we become frustrated that our prayers are not answered after the first, second, third, or whatever number of times. While we do not know for how many years Hannah prayed, we know that on this particular occasion, her diligence and devotion bore fruit. After the family returned home, “Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and Jehovah remembered her. And it happened when the time had come around, Hannah conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah” (vv.19b-20).
Jesus taught that we should be persistent in prayer (Luke 18:1-8). Paul encourages us to pray “always with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18), and again in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Our God still answers prayers. He may not respond on the first, second, or third call, but in due season, we will have whatever it is that we pray for that is in accordance with His will. Be encouraged. Jehovah “remembered” Hannah; He will “remember” you.
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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.
