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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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COMMUNITY POLICING DAMAGED BY MEDIA—03/20/10
Novelette Grant, assistant commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, believes that one of the major challenges facing community-based policing programs is the way the media portrayal of the JCF. The Latin American Public Opinion Project on Jamaica in 2008 found that media reports of police activities were “sensationalistic” and do not reflect the way most Jamaicans feel about the police. The survey discovered that 85 percent of Jamaicans polled felt that police were “there to help” rather than “abuse.”
JAMAICAN BUSINESSMAN INVESTIGATED BY U.S.—03/21/10
A Jamaican businessman who is ranked among the top 30 richest is facing an investigation by authorities in the United States who have requested that Jamaica collect evidence about how his wealth is obtained. A grand jury in Florida is looking into the activities of an investment organization for the U.S. Attorney General’s office. The businessman in question has been under surveillance for money laundering and for human and drug trafficking. U.S. authorities are especially interested in US$80 million that he used to pay for a franchise.
JAMAICA TO LEAD CARICOM IN JULY—03/22/10
In July 2010, Jamaica will take the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) rather than Haiti, under a decision made at the Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. The chairmanship rotates, and Haiti was to assume the position, but its circumstances following the January 12 earthquake mean that the nation is not in a position to take that role. Bruce Golding, Jamaican Prime Minister, will take over as Chairman of the Community. While Haiti’s president Rene Preval, acknowledged that it would have been difficult to take on the chairmanship in addition to his country’s rebuilding efforts, he also stated that it would have been an honor to serve in that position.
SHOWER POSSE FOUNDER DIES—03/22/10
Vivian Blake, 53, the founder of a Jamaican gang blamed for 1,400 murders has died at a Jamaican hospital after returning to the island after serving a prison sentence in the United States. Blake, founder of the Shower Posse, a cocaine-smuggling gang, died after suffering a heart attack. He also had kidney disease. Blake founded the Shower Posse in Brooklyn in the 1970s.
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS RELATED TO “DUDUS” CASE—03/23/10
Leading interests in the manufacturing and export sectors, along with Mandeville Ministers’ Fraternal, are concerned about the stand-off in operation between Jamaica and the United States governments. The impasse involves an extradition request for Christopher “Dudus” Coke. The president of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association Omar Azan believes the conflict is damaging Jamaica’s brand and efforts to sell Jamaican goods in foreign markets. Azan says more effort should be made to protect the island’s good name overseas.
JAMAICA DEFENSE FORCE LEAVES HAITI—03/24/10
Haitians visited the Jamaica Defense Force in Haiti to give thanks for its efforts in helping them after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Alexandra Saint-Juste, director of Haitians Helping Haitians, a nonprofit aid organization, came to personally thank the soldiers for their help and to show the appreciation of the Haitian people as the JDF prepared to leave the country.
GOVERNMENT CONCERNED ABOUT COSTS OF HOUSING HAITIANS—03/25/10
Questions have arisen about how long the government of Jamaica will be able to provide for over 60 Haitians who came to Jamaica following the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti. According to Daryl Vaz, Minister of Information, Jamaica has used some funds donated to the Haiti Relief Fund effort to give immediate aid to this group of refugees. He is worried about how long these funds will be able to sustain the aid effort. The Haitians came by boat to Manchioneal and Fairy Hill in Portland.
PNP RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL CONTRACT—03/26/10
The People’s National Party (PNP) has asked the Jamaican Government whether Anthony Johnson, Kingston’s ambassador to Washington in the United States, and Solicitor General Douglas Leys knew about the contract on “extradition” issues made with the American law firm of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips. The PNP believes it would have been unlikely that these men did not know of the contract.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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BANTON ATTORNEY WANTS CLIENT MOVED FROM PINELLAS COUNTY JAIL—03/22/10
David Markus, attorney for Buju Banton, the Jamaican reggae star, wants to have his client moved from the jail in Pinellas County, Florida, due to dietary concerns. Markus said Banton, who has been jailed on a drug charge since December 2009, has lost 40 pounds and is not being given foods that meet the dietary requirements of his religion. Banton is a Rastafarian who depends on a vegetable and fruit-based diet. Banton, 36, has pleaded not guilty to the drug charge in a Tampa federal court.
JAMAICAN PUBLISHER ADDED TO HALL OF FAME—03/23/10
Peter Webley, the Jamaican-born publisher of “Caribbean Today,” a monthly newspaper published in South Florida, will be inducted into the Miami Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame in April. Webley has been described as a pioneer of Caribbean media in South Florida. Webley says he started his publication because he recognized a need for better news coverage of the Caribbean region and the Caribbean Diaspora in South Florida.
JAMAICAN SHOT IN BERMUDA—03/24/10
James Lawes, 26, died after being shot outside his apartment in Bermuda. Lawes was a barber who had been married just four months when he was caught in a hail of bullets outside his home. Lawes and his wife Greashena, 27 and a hairdresser, were planning to have a large wedding reception for their family and friends in the summer. They were married in Jamaica. Greashena is the daughter of community activist Gina Spence-Farmer.
JAMAICAN TEENS GET CHANCE TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA—03/25/10
Coca-Cola and FIFA have joined efforts to create a FIFA promotion that will provide 12 Jamaican students between the ages of 12 and 16 to go to South Africa as official flag bearers of the opening ceremony for the World Cup. Coca-Cola is a long-time corporate partner of the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) and gained exclusive rights for the chosen students to travel for free to South Africa to become flag bearers.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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CARIBBEAN NATIONALS IN NEW YORK STILL SENDING AID TO HAITI—03/21/10
MILLIONS IN HAITI’S DEBT FORGIVEN—03/22/10
HOSPITAL IN NEW JERSEY OFFERS COURSE IN CARIBBEAN CULTURE—03/23/10
CARICOM TO STUDY FREE MOVEMENT OF WORKERS—03/24/10
BARBADOS CREDIT UNION CLOSE TO BUYING CLICO MORTGAGE COMPANY—03/25/10
AIRLINE PASSENGERS SEE VOLCANO ERUPTING—03/26/10
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SPORTS
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GRANGE READY TO MAKE DOMINOES A NATIONAL SPORT—03/20/10
Jamaica’s Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia Grange, says she is ready to facilitate officially designating dominoes as a national sport. Grange made her remarks to a delegation from the National Association of Domino Bodies, which visited her offices to update her on plans for the 2012 10th World Dominoes Championship in Jamaica. The group has also applied to the International Olympic Committee for dominoes to be made an Olympic sport. The IOC said it would consider the move if countries first named dominoes as a national sport.
BOOK OF HISTORIC ISSA CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS PUBLISHED—03/21/10
The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has joined with Great House OmniMedia publishing to bring out the book “Champs 100: A Century of Jamaican High School Athletics 1910-2010.” The book compiles information about historical ISSA championship events and was launched on March 22, 2010, the eve of the opening ceremony for Champs. According to Michael Grant, CEO of Great House OmniMedia, anyone interested in the changes occurring in Jamaican society will find the book of interest.
TOP TV BROADCASTERS IN UK FIGHT OVER BOLT—03/21/10
The British Broadcasting Corporation and Sky both want the television broadcasting rights for Usain Bolt’s runs during the 2010 IAAF Diamond League. According to his coach, Bolt is scheduled to participate in seven of the 14 Diamond League events. The BBC plans to televise two of the 14 meets as part of a deal already made with UK Athletics. Some of the meets conflict with World Cup football games, however, so Sky made a rival bid for the British broadcast rights to the other 12 meets.
CANDICEA BERNARD BREAKS DISCUS RECORD—03/26/10
Candicea Bernard of St. Hugh’s High School broke the Class-One girl’s discus record with throw of 46.76 meters on the opening day of the GraceKennedy/Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association Boys and Girls Championships. The previous Champs record was 45.13 meters set in 2008 by Holmwood’s Salcia Slack. Bernard attributed her success to strong motivation and hard work.
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DEVOTIONAL
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What Do You Desire From God?
Not long after the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, the narrative continues, “And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:3-5, KJV).
In reflecting on this portion of text, one cannot help but notice two important characteristic of Solomon at the time: he loved the LORD and continued to live in the God-honoring ways of David his father. Being in right standing with God and offering burnt offerings unto Him during the time of worship caused God to show supernatural favor to Solomon. He appeared to him in a dream and asked, “What shall I give thee?”
It is important to note that this took place in Gibeon where Solomon had gone to worship, because in a number of ways it reflects God’s pleasure with true worship. Of course, there is no true worship without obedience to the Word. It is often in an atmosphere of trust, obedience, and worship, that God ministers to those who delight themselves in Him. The Psalmist reminds us, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and [H]e shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). Because God moves in so many ways, He may not come to us in a dream but we can rest assured that wherever we are and as long as we are walking in His ways, He comes to us in that atmosphere of anointing and asks, “What shall I give thee?”
What are you believing God for? Solomon asked “an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” We are told “And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days” (vv.9-14).
The LORD favored Solomon and so reaffirmed that “no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). How are you walking?
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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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