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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE IN MUSIC—12/12/09
Andrew Holness, Minister of Education, announced that the Jamaican government will take a more active role in addressing music that incites violence among the island’s school children. He told two dancehall artistes, Vybz Kartel and Mavado, that the government should move “swiftly” to deal with such music.
VAZ SAYS JAMAICA WILL NOT LICENSE JOURNALISTS—12/18/09
Jamaica’s Minister of Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, has assured journalists that the government does not intend to impose any type of licensing procedures. Vaz made his remarks in response to a report that Jamaica might establish such a regime for journalists.
JAMAICAN EXTRADITED TO U.S. FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING—12/13/09
In spite of not complying with a request for the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, Tivoli Gardens strongman, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne will extradite Oneil Clarke, 51, to the United States for allegedly drug trafficking. Clarke was captured by the Fugitive Apprehension Team and the Mobile Reserve in St. James in September 2009.
JAMAICANS TO FACE NEW TAXES TO FILL BUDGET GAP—12/14/09
Jamaica is scheduled to make an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that will address its budget shortfall. Prime Minister Bruce Golding has told Jamaicans to get ready to pay new and higher taxes in order to fill a major shortfall in the nation’s budget.
JAMAICA TO ADDRESS PROBLEM OF ROAD ACCIDENTS—12/15/09
Jamaica’s government sent a delegation to the First Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference, which was called to address the growth of road accidents around the world. The conference was held in Moscow, and the five-member delegation from Jamaica was led by Mike Henry, Minister of Transport. The 1,500 delegates to the conference called for the United Nations to declare a Decade of Action for Road Safety from 2011 to 2020.
MICHAEL PRYCE DIES—12/16/09
Journalist Michael Pryce died in the United Kingdom after a long struggle with cancer. Born in the UK of Jamaican parents, he began in journalism in 1990. He entered Jamaica’s media environment in 1997 and became a familiar face, covering news events. Pryce was proud of his roots in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, and joined CVM TV as a reporter and news anchor.
NEW TAXES ANNOUNCED—12/17/09
The Jamaican government announced the imposition of several new taxes ahead of the holidays. The taxes will go into effect on January 1, 2010. Audley Shaw, Finance Minister stated that the General Consumption Tax will rise from 16.5 percent to 17.5 percent in order to raise some J$2.6 billion for the government. The tax on cigarettes will increase from J$8,500 per 1,000 to J$10,500 per 1000. The gas tax will rise to 15 percent.
ATLANTIS DISCOVERED IN CARIBBEAN – AGAIN—12/18/09
Some media outlets have announced that archaeologists have found the remains of an underwater city in Caribbean, which is thought to be the long-lost civilization of Atlantis. This is not the first time the area has been cited as the location of the lost city. In 1968, a pilot found what seemed to be a road off the coast of North Bimini.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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BUJU BANTON ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE IN FLORIDA—12/13/09
Reggae star Buju Banton was arrested in Miami, Florida, on a charge of conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is being held in a federal prison in Miami. He allegedly tried to buy cocaine from an undercover police officer.
JAMAICAN SHIP SEIZED BY AUTHORITIES IN BELIZE—12/15/09
The government of Belize has impounded a Jamaican vessel that was deep-sea fishing under a joint agreement with a local firm. According to a statement from the Belize authorities, a joint-venture agreement was made between the Rio Grande Fishing Cooperative of Jamaica and PG Fisheries Ltd. of Belize. Involved was US$850,000 for the construction of a fish processing and ice-making plant in Punta Gorda Town. At issue in the impoundment was a question of licensing for the partners to undertake deep-sea fishing in the area.
JIMMY CLIFF TO BE INDUCTED INTO ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME—12/17/09
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae and ska legend, is scheduled for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2010. Cliff, whose real name is James Chambers, will join ABBA, Genesis, The Hollies, and The Stooges at the induction ceremony in New York City. Cliff is credited with introducing the world to reggae in his film “The Harder They Come.”
GLENN BECK INSULTS JAMAICA AND BOLT—12/18/09
Glenn Beck, American television personality, decided to dismiss the entire nation of Jamaica and Usain Bolt, the world champion sprinter and Olympic medalist, by making insulting remarks about both during his December 15, 2009 television program. Beck’s remarks were condemned by a number of civil rights groups and political action committees as being in poor taste.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY
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GROUP MAINTAINS SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING POLITICAL STABILITY—12/12/09
The Group of Friends of Haiti of the Organization of American States (OAS) has reaffirmed support for Haiti’s continuing political stability. The group emphasized the importance of the parliamentary and presidential elections of 2010.
SOTOMAYOR VISIT PUERTO RICO—12/16/09
Sonia Sotomayor, the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice, is making a visit to Puerto Rico, her first since achieving her high position. The Justice is a celebrity in her parent’s homeland, and she often speaks proudly of her heritage as a Puerto Rican. Sotomayor will meet with local judges during her visit, as well as family members.
UNITED STATES TRAVEL INDUSTRY PREPARES FOR RETURN TO CUBA—12/17/09
The travel industry in the United States is preparing for increased interest in travel to Cuba. Tour operators are asking Cuban tourism officials if they are ready for what is expected to be an “onslaught” of Americans traveling to their country if the ban on travel is lifted. The ban has been in effect since the revolution in 1959. Tourist officials predict some 850,000 Americans will visit Cuba in the first year after the ban is removed.
DOMINICANS PREPARE FOR ELECTION—12/17/09
The ruling Labor Party of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is looking for its third term in office in Friday’s elections. Polls suggest that it will achieve a victory, with the Prime Minister having support of 60 percent of voters. Opposition leader Ron Green has received the approval of 29 percent of surveyed voters.
ATLANTIS DISCOVERED IN CARIBBEAN – AGAIN—12/18/09
Some media outlets have announced that archaeologists have found the remains of an underwater city in Caribbean, which is thought to be the long-lost civilization of Atlantis. This is not the first time the area has been cited as the location of the lost city. In 1968, a pilot found what seemed to be a road off the coast of North Bimini.
GUYANA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH LEADERS AT CLIMATE CONFERENCE—12/18/09
The president of Guyana had meetings with the Prime Ministers of Australia, Britain, and Nepal as efforts continued in Copenhagen for work toward climate improvements. Some of the issues discussed by the three leaders included the need for large economies in the world to reduce their emissions and the need for major economies to finance developing nations.
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SPORTS
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WEST INDIES HOPE TO SALVAGE SERIES—12/15/09
The West Indies team are looking for a victory over Australia in the final Test after the Frank Worrell Trophy has been won by the Aussies just a week ago. The Windies want to boost their morale with a win in the final match at the WACA.
JAMAICAN CRICKET PLAYERS READY FOR MATCH—12/16/09
Tamar Lambert, Jamaica’s four-day cricket captain, is eager for his team to play its first day-night first-class match against the Combined Campuses and Colleges in Guyana in February 2010. Each of seven teams in the regional match will play at least one game under floodlights, which organizers hope will enhance the support of spectators.
JAMAICAN KITEBOARDERS PREPARE FOR 2010 WORLD TOUR—12/18/09
Three local Jamaican kiteboarders will get wild-card entries for the first event of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour held in 2010. The tour will begin at Long Bay Beach in Portland, Jamaica in March. All local kiteboarders are invited to try for one of the three coveted slots in the competition.
COACH BENNETT CONCERNED ABOUT PINK CRICKET BALLS—12/18/09
Junior Bennett, national cricket coach, is worried about the new pink cricket ball proposed for use during day/night games in the pending West Indies Cricket Board four-day championship that begins in Jamaica on January 8. 2010. Bennett is doubtful that the colored balls tend to strip and present problems for bowlers as games progress.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Child-like Faith
As a parent, I can recall the number of times I had my son stand on a table and jump gleefully into my arms whenever I said, with arms outstretched, “Jump.” No reluctance, no fear, no questions asked, just a blind trust that I would be there to catch him. I’m sure quite a number of you can recall those times as well; times that provoke a smile as well as they should. As these memories flooded my mind, I was reminded of Matthew’s narrative in which he tell us, “And Jesus called a little child unto [H]im, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (18:2-3, KJV).
It is interesting to observe how as we get older we tend to become jaded and cynical. For sure, some life experiences (hurts, disappointments, feelings of abandonment, etc.) have robbed us of our child-like innocence and we are not as quick to believe, we are not as quick to jump. We want guarantees, we want proof, and in the absence of either or both, we stay on our respective tables. Unfortunately, some of us bring this form of cynicism into our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Despite His many promises that He will be there, that He will take care of our needs, and despite His open arms of love, we are cynical, we do not really believe.
The problem of course is not that God cannot be trusted, but that in our dealings with Him we have lost the innocence of the child within. When He says “Jump” our initial reaction is that of uncertainty and mistrust. Will He catch us? Will He do the things He promised? In Numbers 23:19 we read, “God is not a man, that [H]e should lie; neither the son of man, that [H]e should repent: hath [H]e said, and shall [H]e not do it? or hath [H]e spoken, and shall [H]e not make it good?” and here is not only a reminder but a challenge also. The integrity of God is of such that He is incapable of lying; the evidence is there to support the fact that He is not only reliable but also dependable.
The Father’s greatest delight is that we trust Him without reservations. As you go about your Christian walk, how is your faith in the Father? Is it child-like? Are you willing to “jump” into His arms just because He tells you to?
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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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