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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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HEAD OF JAMAICA CENTRAL BANK QUITS—10/31/09
Giving no reason for his resignation, Derick Latibeaudiere, the governor of Jamaica’s central bank, has left his post. Latibeaudiere was leading negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to get a stand-by loan of $1.2 billion, according to Audley Shaw, Jamaican Finance Minister. Shaw announced that Byron Wynter, former deputy governor of the bank, will take over as had on December 1, 2009.
JAMAICA IS FASTEST GROWING MARKET FOR JETBLUE—11/01/09
Rob Maruster, the chief operating officer for JetBlue Airways, praised Jamaica as the airline’s fastest growing market. JetBlue has flown about 25,000 passengers to Jamaica since it started to offer its nonstop service between New York and Montego Bay in May 2009. Jamaica is one of JetBlue’s 14 international destinations.
HEIRS OF BOB MARLEY FIGHT TRADEMARK PIRATES—11/01/09
The heirs of Jamaica’s legendary reggae musician Bob Marley are working to fight the worldwide trademark piracy that impacts Marley’s image. The heirs want to enforce their exclusive rights to that image, which has continued to increase in scope and appeal since Marley’s death in 1981. The Marley name, style, and music generate an estimated $600 million per year in the sale of unlicensed goods.
NEW CUBAN AMBASSADOR KEEPS NATIONS CLOSE—11/02/09
Yuri Ariel Gala Lopez is Cuba’s new ambassador to Jamaica. Jamaica and Cuba recognize their special relationship and Gala Lopez is committed to keeping ties close between the two nations. Jamaica also has close connections with Venezuela, China, and the United States.
JAMAICA POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS DUE TO RISING CRIME RATES—11/03/09
Hardley Lewin, Jamaican police commissioner, has resigned in the face of the island’s attempts to stem one of the world’s highest murder rates. According to Daryl Vaz, Information Minister, Jamaica’s Prime Minister is concerned about the growing rate of crime. Over 1,200 homicides had been reported as of September 2009, and the rate has increased significantly in recent weeks. Ninety percent of the murders are attributed to gang violence.
GOLDING SAYS PRESIDENT OF BANK FIRED OVER SALARY DEMANDS—11/04/09
Bruce Golding, Jamaican Prime Minister, says that Derick Latibeaudiere, president of Jamaica’s central bank, was fired from his position due to “extravagant salary demands.” The bank head announced his resignation after 13 years in the post, but gave no details about the reasons for quitting at the time. According to Golding, Latibeaudiere received almost $430,000 per year, over half of which went to his housing. The government could not meet further demands due to the economic downturn.
GAYLE HONORED FOR LONG SERVICE AT NATIONAL TRUST—11/05/09
Frank Gayle began working at the Jamaica National Heritage Trust when he was 21 years old. Thirty-four years later, Gayle is still with the Trust and has become its technical assistant for conservation of artifacts and the preservation of ornaments. Gayle noted that his climb up the career ladder has not been easy, but he specifically recognized the opportunities he was given to broaden his knowledge while working at the Trust.
PRIVATE SECTOR CAN HELP AGRICULTURE—11/06/09
According to Earl Jarrett, General Manager of the Jamaica National Building Society, the private sector must do more to aid agricultural development on the island. Private interests can provide innovation and capital, and they can mitigate risks associated with the agricultural sector.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN FIRM OPENS REMITTANCE OUTLET IN UK—11/02/09
A remittance outlet has opened in the United Kingdom to provide Jamaicans with more options for sending money back to the home island. GraceKennedy Money Services officially began operations in the UK on October 31, 2009, and enhanced its relationship with Western Union. It is now one of that organization’s seven Master Agents in the UK.
JAMAICAN-BORN SLOLY APPOINTED CHIEF OF POLICE IN TORONTO—11/03/09
Peter Sloly, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, has become the second black person in the history of the Toronto police to be appointed Deputy Chief. Sloly, 43, is also the youngest Deputy Chief ever chosen by the force. The position of Deputy Chief is the second highest rank in the Toronto force.
ALABAMA POLICE MAKE ARREST IN JAMAICAN LOTTERY SCAM—11/04/09
Local Alabama authorities joined a national investigation in the United States into a Jamaican lottery scam involving the swindling of two residents of Foley, Alabama. A suspect was arrested in Florida, according to police. Samuel Walker, 71, of Kingston, Jamaica, has been extradited in connection with the scam.
TWO JAMAICANS HONORED IN SOUTH FLORIDA—11/06/09
Two Jamaican icons were honored by a large number of Jamaicans at a celebration held in Miami, Florida. Professor Mervyn Morris of the University of the West Indies and Mrs. Norma Darby were recognized with a program of cultural performances. The two Jamaicans were honored for serving their country, according to the Reverend Easton Lee, chair of the program. The two individuals represent scholarship, passion, and commitment to a calling that all should try to emulate, said Lee.
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SPORTS
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JAMAICA NETBALL ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 50 YEARS—11/01/09
The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) celebrated its 50 years of operation with a ceremony held at the Grand Jamaica Suite at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Hundreds of sports fans, former players and officials joined together to pay tribute to the sports greatest servants, as well as to recognize Jamaica’s netball achievements.
JAMAICA BOBSLED TEAM HOPES TO MAKE OLYMPICS—11/02/09
Jamaica’s bobsled team has not yet qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but they are in Canada for training. The Jamaicans, who became famous at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, are hoping for a sequel in 2010. The team is currently practicing on one of the most difficult bobsled tracks in the world in Whistler, British Columbia.
BOLT ADOPTS CHEETAH IN KENYA—11/03/09
Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth, has adopted the fastest animal – a cheetah. He has named it Lightning Bolt. The sprinter made a four-day visit to Kenya and was honored with the presentation of the cheetah cub. Bolt is helping with a conservation campaign operated by the German charity, the Zeitz Foundation. During his trip to Kenya, Bolt was also made an honorary Maasai warrior.
THINGS THE SAME FOR JAMAICA BOBSLEDDERS AFTER 20 YEARS—11/05/09
Although more than 20 years have passed since the legendary Jamaican bobsled team embarked on their Olympic odyssey, a new generation of sledders continues to parallel the story made famous in the movie “Cool Runnings.” The new team hopes that its dreams of Olympic victory will come true at the 2010 games in Vancouver. According to Hannukkah Wallace, people don’t understand the passion he has for the sport. He thinks the team could turn in a surprising performance at the Winter Games.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Building Right!
Running into God is like running into a brick wall; you are literally stopped in your tracks. I discovered this (again) first hand when a couple months ago I was talking to Him about some personal things I was struggling with, and throwing in some questions for good measure, when suddenly He spoke. There were no lightening bolts, no writing on the wall, no audible voice, but in the quietness of my time with Him the words from Psalm 127:1a came alive in spirit: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (KJV).
I didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know what that meant. As the weeks passed and as I reflected on that moment, it became clear to me that the struggles I was experiencing were all because I had tried to resolve some things in my own strength instead of trusting Him as I know I should. To try to build a life, a relationship, a home, a business, or anything else is all for naught unless God himself is the builder. That means putting Him first by building in accordance with His Word. It is no wonder Jesus reaffirms, “Thus, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). The opposite is also true: “And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined” (vv.26-27).
Deconstructing the way I was building was not easy; I felt out of control. It was a struggle that lasted weeks and came at great personal cost as everything else seemed secondary at that point, but it was important to heed the voice of the Lord and ensure I was building on the right foundation. It is interesting that in the examples Jesus used, both builders did manage to build the house. However, when adversity presented itself only the one that was built on the rock was left standing.
What is the foundation on which you are building your present and future goals and dreams? If God is not at the center, it is time to demolish and rebuild. Anything else will ultimately result in frustration and failure. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
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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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