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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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WAGE RESTRAINT FOR PUBLIC SECTOR –13/02/04
Public sector workers will have a freeze for the next two years. The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) outlined this to the workers. Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), the Jamaica Association of Education Officers, and Dr. Omar Davies, the Minister of Finance and Planning met to discuss the reasons for the wage restraint which related to the country’s deepening economic crisis …
PROTERTY TAX INCREASE UP TO 80%
Landowners will face increase in property taxes up to eighty percent this year. However, small landowners whose property falls between three hundred and ten million values will bear the brunt to the increase. Surprisingly, no tax increase is slated for big property owners who are noted for being the biggest delinquent payers with a 76% delinquency rate in the 2000/03 financial year…
CARICOM CHIEF IN TALKS WITH WASHINGTON REGARDING HAITI-12/02/04
The crisis in Haiti has reached a critical stage in which CARICOM is set to meet with officials in Washington D.C State Department. CARICOM has stood by its decision that they would not invade Haiti, but is willing to meet with Washington in the hopes that both the government of Haiti and Opposition implement their initiatives which include disarmament of strong-arm groups, release of detainees and the negotiation of rules for demonstrations…
£20,000 REWARD FOR ARREST OF STEPHEN HARRIS MURDER
Scotland Yard is offering a reward for an arrest or information leading to an arrest of the killer(s) of Stephen Harris in Brixton. The British lawmen want to revive interest into the case and allow anyone with information to come forward. On the anniversary of the case, Scotland Yard is nowhere near finding the killers but is counting on the Jamaican police force and Interpol to assist in the investigation…
AMERICANS CAUGHT IN JAMAICA WITH OVER US$150K – 11/02/04
A couple boarding a flight at the Sangsters International Airport was arrested for unlawful possession of US$197,000 found in their possession. Robert Phang, 35, and Jacque-line Hall, 40 both residents of the US and with Jamaican connections were caught with the money, which they could not account for. They both appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate Court where bail was set at half a million each with guarantee…
CALL FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS IN TEACHING BY NSSC
Members of the National Secondary Students Council (NSSC) are calling for the standards of teaching to be improved. They argue that the Ministry of Education should set higher standards for teachers. They also recommend that teachers who constantly miss classes should be penalised and they should also be made to participate in ongoing training to improve on their teaching skills…
BABSY GRANGE CHIDED BY SPANISH TOWN RESIDENTS– 10/02/04
Residents of St. Catherine chided Opposition Member of Parliament Babsy Grange for taking sides with gunmen. Following the recent spate of killings in the Spanish Town city, Ms Grange decided to meet with gunmen in the area in the hopes of brokering peace, however, residents in the neighbouring South Central St. Catherine Constituency has accused her of siding with gang members…
NEW APPROACH TO READING INSTRUCTION PROPOSED
A new approach for reading instruction is being proposed by the island’s educators. The new proposal will benefit students with reading difficulties and teaching experiencing difficulties instructing these children. The Northern Caribbean University through its Teacher Education Department introduced the method to over 200 teachers…
GOVERNMENT EXERCISING RESTRAINT FROM BORROWING – 09/02/04
The government is trying to remain true to its vow to reduce its debt by staying away from borrowing. Despite the availability of funds for loan purposes on the domestic market last week, the government stayed away. Following the recent downgrade by Standard and Poor of the country’s local currency, government is reluctant to continue borrowing on the local market…
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SPORTS
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SHERWIN CAMPBELL DEFIES CRITICS – 13/02/04
Sherwin Campbell under heavy criticism silenced his critics with an undefeated on 162. The vice-captain’s unbeaten century anchored Barbados to 356 for seven in their first innings when stumps were drawn on the opening day. In an interview with Campbell, he explained that the pitch was right for batting and he wanted to cash in early for his team…
ENGLAND BEGINS TOUR OF WI FACING VICE-CHANCELLOR’ X1
England will begin their tour of the Caribbean by facing the Vice-Chancellor’s X1 at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground on March 4-5. The team will consist of four players from the West Indies team and four from the UWI cricket team. The game on March 4-5 will be the ninth in the series of Vice-Chancellor’s X1 matches…
URUGUAY TO FIELD STRONG TEAM AGAINST BOYZ – Feb 9
Two-time World Cup champions Uruguay will play an international friendly against the Reggae Boyz at the National Stadium on Wednesday, February 18. The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has announced that Uruguay is expected to field strong team for the engagement. In a media release, the JFF disclosed the Uruguayan team, who are ranked 21 by FIFA, have confirmed that they will be in Jamaica. Among the players listed to make the trip are Gustavo Munua (Deportivo LA Coruna), German Hornos (Sevilla), Martin Liguera (Mallorca), Fernando Correa (Mallorca), Ruben Oliviero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Lopez (Cagliari), Giani Guigou (Siena), Alvaro Recoba (Inter Milan), Marcelo Zalayeta (Perugia) and Enesto Chevaton (Lecce) along with England-based Manchester United star forward, Diego Forlan. The Reggae Boyz are expected to include players such as Ricardo Fuller and Claude Davis (Preston North End), Onandi Lowe and Paul Hall (Rushden and Diamonds), Omar Daley (Reading), Donovan Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Jermaine Johnson (Oldham), Richard Langley (Cardiff City), Frank Sinclair (Liecester City), Kevin Lisbie (Charlton Athletic) and Ian Goodison…
Costa Rica Defeats U23 In Olympic Qualifier – Feb 3
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP):
ROY MYRIE scored two quick goals midway through the second half to ignite Costa Rica to a 3-0 victory over Jamaica yesterday in the opening of regional Olympic qualifying. Mexico was playing Trinidad and Tobago in the other game of the night at Jalisco Stadium in Mexico’s second-largest city. A stumble by Jamaica’s Simeon Howell left Myrie unguarded about 15 metres (yards) out from the Jamaican goal and he knocked a shot past goalkeeper Richard McCallum 68 minutes into the game. Five minutes later, against a deteriorating Jamaican defence, Myrie scored off a pass inside the goal box. After a sloppy, foul-plagued start, both Costa Rica and Jamaica started to mount threats around half time – but the Central Americans steadily asserted dominance. Costa Rica began to find routes through Jamaica’s defensive wall – paths that began to look like highways, as the Caribbean team seemed to tire at the same time it shifted to a more offensive style in an effort to catch up. Costa Rica scored a final goal in stoppage time as Alvaro Saborio fired a shot that bounced off McCallum to Leonardo Araya, who blasted the ball home…
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