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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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FIRE LEAVES 12 JAMAICANS HOMELESS, TWO CHILDREN DEAD—08/08/09
A fire in a Jamaican tenement in Kingston has left two children dead and a dozen others homeless. The bodies of a five-year-old boy and his four-year-old sister were found by firefighters at the scene, according to Robert Taylor, police inspector. The children’s mother is being questioned about leaving them alone as police investigate the cause of the fire.
JAMAICA OBJECTS TO CREDIT DOWNGRADE—08/09/09
Standard and Poor’s has decided to downgrade the long-term sovereign credit rating of Jamaica to CCC+, but the Jamaican government is objecting to the move. Audley Shaw, Jamaica’s Finance Minister, insists that the action “ignores several positive economic developments” that have occurred in Jamaica during recent weeks.
NEGRIL LURES DIASPORA—08/10/09
Jamaicans based overseas are urging those in the homeland to position party events to renew the interest of Jamaicans in the Diaspora. Events like Appleton Temptation Isle and Red Stripe Dream Weekend, which saw an invasion of 20,000 people to Negril, are the kinds of events that attract young overseas Jamaicans back home.
WOMEN IN MANCHESTER HELP COMMUNITY WITH JUICE FACTORY—08/11/09
Wendy Mitchell, who lives in Huntley, Manchester, has participated in the creation of a juice factory over the past decade. The factory was the dream of four women in the area to have a puree factory in the community. Corine Richards, Veta Cowan, Jasmine Dwyer, and Iredel Rattray were instrumental in encouraging interest in community development, which resulted in the creation of juice factory.
TREE “RESURRECTS” IN ST. ELIZABETH—08/12/09
In St. Elizabeth, residents are expressing their amazement at an ackee tree, which “rose from the dead” in the middle of an afternoon. The tree had been felled by Hurricane Ivan five years ago and had lain on the ground in the same spot since that time. One afternoon last week, the tree rose up from its horizontal position, seemingly without help, in front of witnesses. It just stood up, said one woman.
POLICE INVESTIGATE FINANCIAL FRAUD AT ACADEMY—08/12/09
Detectives of the Fraud Squad are investigating apparent financial problems at the Jamaica Police Academy in St. Catherine. Investigators want information about a $1.5 million transfer was made from the Academy’s account to the personal account of a senior police officer. The irregularities were discovered during an audit conducted by the Inspectorate of the Constabulary.
SUPREME COURT ORDERS BY-ELECTION—08/13/09
After two prior defeats in the by-elections following the disqualification of members of parliament from the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has decided not to go to the polls again. The PNP states that it will not contest the September 4 by-election in North West Clarendon that was announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
JAMAICAN COFFEE INDUSTRY TO BE REVIVED—08/14/09
The coffee industry in Jamaica is receiving a push from the Coffee Industry Board (CIB), which wants to see the sector return to profitability. The CIB plans to provide technical aid to farmers in order to raise productivity and production. Christopher Gentles, director general of the CIB, says efforts will be made to give farmers what they need to minimize crop losses, including information about pesticides, fertilizers, and new agricultural technology.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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GRANGE URGES DIASPORA TO INVEST IN ISLAND CULTURE—08/08/09
Olivia Grange, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture in Jamaica, cites the need for Jamaicans in the Diaspora to “take control” of the island’s cultural products, including music. Grange said the music represents Jamaica’s most “dynamic and far-reaching export” and has been central in allowing Jamaica to provide the world with a new religion, Rastafarianism.
SEAN KINGSTON WILL RELEASE SECOND ALBUM—08/11/09
Jamaican American musician Sean Kingston plans to release his second album in the fall of 2009. Kingston, a Platinum recording artist with Epic Records, plans to release the album “Tomorrow” on September 22.
UK HIGH COMMISSIONER URGES CONFIDENCE ABOUT FUTURE—08/12/09
Burchell Whiteman, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from Jamaica is encouraging Jamaicans in the UK to take pride in themselves and the country of their heritage. He urges them to be confident about the future as well.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA SCHEDULES OUTREACH DAY IN FLORIDA—08/14/09
Resource people from the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami, Florida, and several partner agencies will join together for a two-day Community Outreach Program at the Worship Center in Orlando. The program will provide Jamaican nationals with information and services on issues such as passport and citizenship applications, land titles and property valuations, estate management, and vital records processing.
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SPORTS
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SEVEN JAMAICANS IN WEST INDIES U-19
Jamaica’s Under-19 cricket team had reason to celebrate when seven of their players were named to the West Indies U-19 Youth World Cup team. The team will begin to prepare for the 2010 event, which will be held in New Zealand.
JAMAICAN ATHLETES TO KNOW FATE IN DOPING SCANDAL—08/09/09
In one day, four Jamaican athletes will know their fate as the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission plans to issue its decision about whether they can participate in the World Championships in Berlin. Yohan Blake, Lansford Spence, Marvin Anderson, and Allodin Fothergill had positive tests for a banned substance and are waiting for the commission’s ruling.
FIVE JAMAICAN ATHLETES CLEARED OF DOPING—08/10/09
Five Jamaican athletes were cleared of doping when the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission’s disciplinary committee could not prove that a doping policy had been breached. Since there was no evidence, the athletes were not found to be in violation of the anti-doping code, said Kent Gammon, chairman of the committee.
JAMAICA WITHDRAWS REQUEST TO BAN ATHLETES FROM CHAMPIONSHIPS—08/12/09
Jamaica has withdrawn its request to ban Asafa Powell and some of his teammates from the track world championships in Berlin, Germany, just a few hours after deciding to kick them off the team due to a dispute about attendance at a training camp. Pierre Weiss, IAAF secretary, said the world governing body pressured the Jamaican federation to change its mind because excluding the prominent athletes would “reflect badly” on the championship.
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DEVOTIONAL
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“If I Perish, I Perish”
When Queen Esther was challenged by Mordecai to speak to king Ahasuerus on behalf of her people the Jews, I do not believe he expected the resolute response he received. According to the narrative, “Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:15-16, KJV). In other words, bolstered by three days of fasting by the Jews, she would put her life at risk for an audience with her husband the king.
There are a number of lessons to be gleaned from the text, and one that stands out is the determination to what is right in spite of the cost. Back in the day it was not lawful for the queen to appear before the king on such matters, yet Esther realized that Mordecai was right. Her place as queen, replacing Vashti who had displeased the king (Chapter 2), was divinely orchestrated “for such a time as this” (3:14). Nothing happens by chance in the life of the child of God. Even if we find ourselves in places and positions that are not to our liking, let us not forget that God may have placed us there for a reason. As Christ’s ambassadors we are called upon to represent Him everywhere. Everyone around us may be doing the questionable thing but we are called upon to do what is right, regardless of the cost. Esther resolved, “If I perish, I perish”, but she would see the king.
Today’s believers are called upon to show the same resolve in standing for the cause of Christ and fellow Christians everywhere. We do not have the luxury of sitting back and being indifferent. In our respective spheres of influence, God expects us to stand up for what is right, to speak up on behalf of those who are oppressed, and more importantly, to be bearers of the good news no matter the cost.
What is it that you are being called upon to do?
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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.
