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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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JAMAICA CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO ADDRESS CRISES—09/26/09
Jamaica has called for a “coordinated” international effort designed to address the needs of developing nations as they attempt to handle “multiple crises.” Kenneth Baugh, Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, appealed on behalf of developing nations and voiced his serious concern about the “bleak future” he sees for these nations if they receive no help.
KIDNAPPING OF LYN PROMPTS THE RICH TO ADOPT SECURITY MEASURES—09/27/09
The kidnapping of the son of Paul Lyn, Manchester businessman and potential politician, has prompted some of the wealthiest families in Jamaica to seek greater protection. According to members of five Jamaican families, the 17 reported kidnappings occurring since January 1, 2009, have caused them to consider their susceptibility to similar crimes and to take action to minimize risk.
GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP SHIPPING CENTER—09/28/09
The Jamaican government plans to transform the island into a global shipping center. Consultants have been in Jamaica holding discussions with representatives from the government and organizations from the private sector to develop recommendations about the legal and institutional framework required to create and operate Jamaica’s maritime resources in a sustainable way.
200 MORE JOBS TO BE CUT AT AIR JAMAICA—09/29/09
Air Jamaica, which continues to struggle with large economic losses, will lay off some 200 employees, says Bruce Nobles, the national air carrier’s chief executive officer. The job cuts will be made “across the board” and are necessary to adjust costs in accordance with revenue. Air Jamaica has laid off almost 500 workers since January 2009.
GOVERNMENT IMPOSES 5 PERCENT INCREASE ON TELECOM SERVICE—09/30/09
As of October 1, 2009, Jamaicans will be paying higher costs to talk on the telephone. An increase in the tax on phone cards, calls, and instruments was announced by Audley Shaw, Jamaican Finance Minister. The increase was raise the tax rate from 20 percent to 25 percent. Audley also announced an increase in the departure tax. Earnings from both taxes will yield $1.7 billion for the Government.
STAR PROSECUTION WITNESS EXPLAINS HIMSELF—10/01/09
Hubert McLoud, the prosecution’s start witness in the Dorcas Rhule murder case, explained the fact that he did not report the murder plan devised by the accused killers because “I am a Jamaican, and we don’t inform. I ain’t gonna inform no police like that.” McLoud allegedly knew about the murder plot conceived by Andrew Milton, Dennis Campbell, and George O’Conner to kill Kerryann Ebanks.
GOLDING ANNOUNCES CUTS TO CABINET—10/01/09
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced that he plans to reduce the number of his Cabinet members. There are currently 16 members in Golding’s Cabinet. While Golding did not indicate how many ministers would be cut, or when, analysts believe that at least two and as many as four ministers could lose their jobs. The People’s National Party has long called for fewer Cabinet positions, arguing that reducing the size of the agency would save millions of dollars for Jamaica.
LOCAL FISCAL PROBLEMS MADE WORSE BY GLOBAL CRISIS—10/02/09
Bruce Golding, Jamaican Prime Minister, believes that the impact of the global economic downturn has exacerbated the island’s continuing fiscal difficulties. According to Golding, Jamaica’s persistent problems are symptomatic of more fundamental issues that have always negatively affected the island’s economic condition.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN-BORN LONDONER SEEKS TO TAP TOURIST MARKET—09/26/09
Jamaican-born Tony Chambers, currently a teacher of salsa in the United Kingdom, plans to make Jamaica the premier destination for British fans of Latin salsa music and dance. Salsa vacation tours have grown in popularity among UK practitioners, and Chambers seeks to tap the market by organizing a salsa tour of Jamaica scheduled for May 2010.
JAMAICANS IN CANADA COMMEMORATE LADY BUSTAMANTE—09/27/09
A memorial service was held in Toronto, Canada, for Lady Gladys Bustamante, who blazed a trail for Jamaican women through her example. Lady B, as she was affectionately called, was remembered by Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding as being ”as close to perfection as any human being can be.” Lady B died in July 2009 at the age of 97.
STUDENTS OVERSEAS UPSET AT END OF AID PROGRAM—09/28/09
Jamaican students studying overseas are upset at the Government for suddenly ending an aid program in which they participated. The Jamaican Association of Students at Cave Hill, JASAC, is angry that their boarding grant was suspended without any notice. The Student Loan Bureau has been distributing yearly grants after they have received approval from the Education Ministry.
JAMAICAN CPA WINS OUTSTANDING ENTREPRENEUR AWARD—10/02/09
Jamaican national George Willie, CPA, CGFM, and managing partner of Bert Smity & Company, has won the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award. Willie will receive the award on November 13th in Washington, D.C. at the 16th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards ceremony. Willie specializes in auditing health care, government, and nonprofit entities.
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SPORTS
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STEWART HURT BY LACK OF FAITH IN JAMAICAN ATHLETES—09/26/09
Kerron Stewart, Jamaican double Olympic sprint champion, has expressed her dismay at the fact that the credibility of fellow Jamaican athletes is questioned by people worldwide. Stewart says she knows what it takes to work hard toward an athletic goal and that Jamaican athletes are receiving awards due to their efforts.
POWELL BELIEVES JAMAICAN SPRINTERS WILL DOMINATE—09/29/09
Asafa Powell, former world record holder in the 100 meters, believes that the dominance of Jamaican sprinters in the world is not likely to end any time soon. Powell also said that the American sprinters should watch out for another onslaught from the Jamaicans next season.
LIFE COACH HAS POSITIVE IMPACT—10/01/09
Christine Morris, a life coach and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner, believes that her technique works, since she has helped several of Jamaica’s top athletes. Among Morris’s clients are Brigitte Foster-Hylton, 100-meters hurdles champion, and Asafa Powell, 100-meter bronze medalist. Morris says she helps people “get over their problems,” and believes her sessions with the MVP Track Club athletes before the competition in Berlin, Germany, had a definite positive impact on the performance of the athletes.
RECORDS RATIFIED FOR USAIN BOLT—10/02/09
Usain Bolt broke two spring world records at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009, and now these times have been made official by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Both times were confirmed: 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 in the 200 meters.
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DEVOTIONAL
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“Show Me Thy Ways”
Though we sometimes make a mess of our walk with Christ, the heart of the true believer is to follow after Him. Jesus was very clear when He said to His disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23, KJV). Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday living, it is very easy to lose sight of the path we should be walking in. Truth be known, at times it seems there are so many paths before us that if the child of God isn’t careful, we can easily choose any number of them that lead us away from the “expected end” God promises for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). There is only one acceptable way and that is the way of Christ.
As I reflected on Jesus’ words, I was reminded of the Psalmist’s prayer, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me” (Psalm 25:5,6a). On this text Bible Scholar Matthew Henry writes, “(1.) In doubtful cases we should pray earnestly that God would make it plain to us what [H]e would have us to do. (2.) That [H]e would incline [H]is will to do it, and strengthen [H]im in it: ‘Lead me, and so teach me.’ Not only as we lead one that is dimsighted, to keep him from missing his way, but as we lead one that is sick, and feeble, and faint, to help him forward in the way and to keep him from fainting and falling. We go no further in the way to heaven than God is pleased to lead us and to hold us up.”
True discipleship requires that every believer seeks God’s ways and His truths, and the best way to do that is to ask Him. Every step we take, every decision we have to make, we need His guidance. Not only does He care about us, He cares about everything that pertains to us.
One of the prayer songs that has been a big part of my life has the words, “I want God’s way to be my way as I journey here below / For there is no other highway that a child of God should go / Though the way seems long and rough, if He leads me that’s enough / I want God’s way to be my way every day.” Won’t you join me in that prayer?
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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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