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THIS WEEK’S NEWS SUMMARY
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VIOLENCE MAR SPANISH TOWN-CHURCH STEPS IN – 30/01/03
Spanish Town, Jamaica’s second city is once again marred with violence and the church is now agreeing to play the leading role in restoring order. A meeting was held yesterday between religious, civic and political leaders that looked at new measures to address the town’s problems. The Member of Parliament has also agreed to meet with criminal leaders to see how best she can begin finding a solution…
JAMAICAN PRISONS FILLED WITH FOREIGNERS
Jamaica is now experiencing a growing increase in the number of foreigners in the prison system. There has been a noticeable increase in African and European nationals who have been charged under the Dangerous Drug Acts. The increase is approximately 300 percent with a total of 73 foreign nationals being arrested from a number of African, Caribbean and European countries in 2003…
SPANISH TOWN UNDER SEIGE – 29/01/04
The residents and businesspersons in Spanish Town were forced to lock down early after warring gangs began an early battle. Scores of panicked people ran for cover. Some ran leaving their vehicles, seeking safety elsewhere. Those who heard the shooting claimed that it went on for ages and that the firing came from everywhere…
PM WARNS ARISTIDE OF POSSIBLE SANCTIONS
The Prime Minister of Jamaica and head of CARICOM P.J Patterson has warned Haiti’ President Jean Bertrand Aristide that the region would move to impose sanctions if he refuse to release political prisoners including students who were in “arbitrary detention” on the island since December …
OMAR MANAGES TO RAISE BILLIONS IN PRIVATE PLACEMENT – 28/01/04
The ministry of Finance has managed to raise over 25 billion in private placements between January 2nd and January 20th. This was borrowed at interest 1.75 percentage points above the rates for similar tenors secured through public tender. Members of the brokerage community that were not beneficiaries complained that there was no transparency in awarding the placements, that they distort the money market and provide participating institutions with an unfair advantage…
OUR RAISES PHONE RATES ON AMERICAN CALLERS
Prior to the new rates on Saturday, the United States telephone carriers paid their Jamaican counterparts as low as US$0.05 to route calls into their network – coming from a high of US$0.57 some years ago. The OUR said that Jamaica was losing valuable foreign exchange while US carriers were reaping the benefits of lower rates. Moreover, the reduction in the rates was not redounding to the benefit of US consumers…
ROBBERS FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES – 27/01/04
Three gunmen well armed and with intention of robbing the Dunn’s River Falls, turned against each other foiling their own plans. Two of the three gunmen turned their gun on each other and after the battle, one was dead and the other charged with his murder. An argument appeared to have developed between two of the men; they both alighted from the vehicle with guns drawn and then traded shots. Onlookers ran for cover as the two men tried to take each other’s lives while their accomplice stared on in disbelief…
US COUNCIL WOMAN MAKES JAMAICA PROUD
A Jamaican-born woman now councillor of Highland Park New Jersey, United States, was honoured for outstanding contribution to communities of colour in the field of politics. She was by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) and given the Adam Clayton Powell Political Action Award. She hoped that her success would be a beacon for other people of Caribbean Decent…
STUDENTS GETS KEY ADVICE AHEAD OF CXC EXAMS IN JUNE – 26/1/04
Some students attending non-traditional schools island-wide were given some valuable advice on what kind of answers examiners expected to see when they answered questions. The group of mainly teachers, who grade examination papers for the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), on Friday gave students a number of tips on what examiners, look for and how questions should be answered to ensure good grades…
CAB DRIVERS TRY NEW SECURITY MEASURES
Cab drivers are under attack every day from unknown criminals and car thieves. The Taxi Drivers Association is recommending some security measures. These include a voice-activated hand radio system in taxis, connected to both the taxi association headquarters and major police stations across the island, colour-coded buzzer system which alerts police stations to various levels of danger being encountered by a taxi driver connected to the system; and a direct line to the office of the police commissioner…
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SPORTS
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CORPORATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP TEES OFF WITHOUT MAJOR SPONSORSHIP – 30/01/04
The Jamaica Golf Association’s (JGA’s) Corporate Golf Championship will tee off next Saturday at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club, but without a major sponsor. David Mais, vice president of the JGA explains at a press briefing at the Cable & Wireless National Golf Academy “It is very difficult to attract sponsorship when you stage an event that does not have a great deal participation…
JFF BUILDING TO BE USED AS SECURITY FOR LOAN – 30/1/04
In an effort to resolve its cash flow crisis, the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) Executive Committee has given the green light to the Chris Berry-led Finance Committee to use the federation’s multi-million dollar headquarters in New Kingston as security for a loan to raise $10 million, the secretariat’s treasurer, Carlton Barclay, said on radio Tuesday.
ReggaeBoyz U-23 vs FIU 1/24/04
Game Report by Princess
It was a spirited Jamaican based FIU student crowd cheered on the U23s in a very friendly/practice at the Golden Panthers’ soccer field. A rapid succession of goals in the first 15 minutes of the game saw the obviously unfit home team down by 3 goals. With Kelly’s swift passes and Dean’s fancy footwork the Athens-bound U23 team had the mostly Jamaican students on their feet to chants of Ele’s ‘Down the Flank’. With numerous subs the home team seemed to take most of the first 45 minutes to warm up. However, once the coach seemed to find the right pieces to his puzzled team they upped the tempo. The Boyz could have almost seen their 3 goal lead vanish with FIU
missing several sitters. Not to become undone in front of a home crowd FIU fought hard and long to keep the count at 3. It was an uphill task trying to penetrate the visitor’s midfield. Building from the back and stringing numerous passes the Jamaicans had their hosts falling like dominoes. Trini-based striker Adderley seemed to take a few minutes to get into the game and should have been taking more shots. The unusually quiet coach team duo of Cargill and Brown on a few occasions gave instructions to the Boyz
Reggae Boyz to host Uruguay
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Earl Bailey, PRO January 23, 2004 JFF, and Kingston Jamaica IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS! Jamaica’ World Cup preparations goes up another notch come February 18, when the Reggae Boyz host two-time World Cup champions, Uruguay, at the National Stadium on February 18 starting at 7:00pm. It never rains but it pours as one day earlier, February 17, a Jamaica select team, comprising mainly local-based players, will tackle the National Under-23 team of China in that country. In-form Uruguay are ranked 21st in the World by FIFA, and currently fourth in the South American World Cup qualifiers with two wins, one loss and a draw dramatic 3-3 against Brazil. Results of last four World Cup qualifying games: 19-Nov-03 BRAZIL: URUGUAY 3:3 (2:0) 15-Nov-03 URU: CHILE 2:1 (1:1) 10-Sep-03 PARAGUAY: URU 4:1 (1:1) 07-Sep-03 URU: BOLIVIA 5:0 (2:0) Uruguay will be sending a strong squad, as they too will be using the game as preparation for their next
World Cup encounter against Venezuela on March 30, while Technical Director Carl Brown will name the strongest possible selection to meet the rampant
South Americans.
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