—————————————————————
THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
—————————————————————
LOCAL COMPANIES FEEL NEGATIVE IMPACT FROM ICC PREPARATIONS—01/13/06
Excavation and sewerage main installation work on South Camp Road, Kingston, have meant lower earnings for a number of businesses located nearby. The three-month-long projects were undertaken in preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup at Sabina Park in March 2007. Several people say that their businesses have suffered a significant decline since workmen started digging up the road in October of 2006, discouraging customers and reducing traffic.
JAMAICA LABOR PARTY COUNCILORS BOYCOTT MEETING WITH MILLER—01/14/06
A meeting called by Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government, was boycotted by councilors of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP). The councilors are upset about what they perceive is inadequate funding for the repair of roads damaged by floods. Devon Rowe, Miller’s new Permanent Secretary, was to have been introduced at the meeting. The meeting was also to have addressed emergency road repair, the Parochial Revenue Fund, development and management of urban areas, and Local Government reform. None of the 12 JLP mayors or any of the 100 councilors attended the meeting.
BURNING SPEAR PLANS CELEBRATION OF MARCUS GARVEY ANNIVERSARY—01/14/06
Top reggae musician, Burning Spear, will headline a show celebrating the 119th anniversary of Marcus Mosiah Garvey’s birth on August 19, 2007. Burning Spear became famous with his song “Marcus Garvey,” and he says he will make the 2007 anniversary the best since Garvey was declared a national hero in 1964. Burning Spear said he plans to make the event a fitting tribute to the country’s first national hero. Burning Spear is from St. Ann’s Bay, the birthplace of Marcus Garvey.
POLICE ADVISED TO KEEP OPERATIONAL PLANS CONFIDENTIAL—01/15/06
Portia Simpson Miller has recommended that the policy not publicize their operational plans because criminals can be tipped off and hide before police can catch them. The Prime Minister cited the lack of confidentiality as one reason for the rising crime rate in the western part of the island. Criminals flee the Corporate Area and take refuge in rural communities. About one-third of the 60 murders committed during the first two weeks of 2007 occurred in Westmoreland, St. James, and Trelawny.
FIESTA HOTEL CONTROVERSY LEADS TO LESTER CROOKS RESIGNATION—01/16/06
Lester Crooks, the mayor of Lucea and chairman of the Hanover Parish Council, has resigned. Dean Peart, Government Minister, says an investigation will be made into Crooks’ decision to accept discounted building fees from the developers of the Fiesta Hotel at Point Estate in Lucea. Local Government Ministry auditors will also conduct an investigation into Crooks’ activities.
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND NEAR INDUSTRIAL TERRACE, WEST KINGSTON—01/17/06
Clayton Ritchie, Detective Inspector, revealed that three skulls, several human bones, and a complete human skeleton were found near the train line at Industrial Terrace in West Kingston. About ten years ago, five bodies and two human skulls were discovered in the same area. According to Detective Ritchie, who is second in command at the CIB in West Kingston, forensic experts have confirmed that the skeleton is that of a man. A pathologist has found that this man had a bullet wound. While the investigation is in its preliminary stages, the police have suggested that criminals use the area as an “execution chamber.”
POLICE SHOOT TWO IN RURAL DISTRICT OF ST. CATHERINE—01/18/06
Two men, one aged 71 and the other aged 43, were shot and killed by police in Glengoffe, St. Catherine. The circumstances surrounding the shootings have been called questionable. Lucius Thomas, Police Commissioner, will receive a preliminary report about the killings shortly, and the policemen involved in the shootings have been removed from active duty. Chaos erupted in Glengoffe after the shootings, and the two policemen had to run for their lives as an angry crowd burned their vehicle and threatened to burn the police station.
REV. JOHNSON SUGGESTS BANNING ELECTION MASS CAMPAIGNS—01/19/06
The Rev. Karl Johnson suggested during his address at the 27th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast that political leaders consider a ban on mass election campaigns. According to Johnson, president of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC), political parties should consider eliminating mass meetings that are attended by busloads of people. Many of these people endanger other users of the road by hanging from speeding vehicles. Johnson asked over 450 of Jamaica’s leaders to ensure a safe election.
—————————————————————-
JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
—————————————————————-
STUDENTS’ LOAN BUREAU HIRES OVERSEAS COLLECTOR—01/14/06
Lenice Barnett, executive director of the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), announced that the agency has hired an overseas collector to find delinquent borrowers living in the United States. Barnett says the collector is “very good at what he does,” and she recommended that such borrowers who are hiding overseas contact the agency immediately.
POLICE COMMISSIONER TO MEET WITH JAMAICANS IN CANADA—01/14/06
Lucius Thomas, Commissioner of Police, plans to meet with Jamaicans living in Canada during his visit, which will occur from January 20 to January 24, 2007. The Jamaican Diaspora – Canada Foundation (JD-CF) will facilitate the Commissioner’s visit. According to Philip Mascoll, JD-CF president and member of the Jamaican Diaspora board, the Commissioner will speak to the Jamaican community, addressing crime and ways to remedy it.
READING PROJECTS IN UK SELECT WORKS BY JAMAICAN WRITERS—01/15/06
Two authors of Jamaican heritage have had their books chosen for special reading projects in the United Kingdom. “Small Island” by Andrea Levy will be part of the largest mass-reading projects in Britain, Small Island Read 2007. This project is part of a larger nationwide initiative conducted in honor of the 200th anniversary of the ending of the slave trade. Benjamin Zephaniah’s book, “Refugee Boy,” will be part of a project for young people and new readers. The book shows the plight of asylum seekers as well as the contributions immigrants make to the country.
EVADNE COYE APPOINTED HIGH COMMISSIONER TO CANADA—01/16/06
Evaden Coye was appointed high commissioner to Canada by Anthony Hylton, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Coye will assume her office in Ottawa on January 22, 2007. Her first posting was as Head of Mission in 1992, being appointed as resident ambassador to Mexico. Before this, Coye served with the Jamaican Mission to the United Nations in New York, the Jamaican Embassy in Venezuela, and Jamaica’s Permanent Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS). Coye has received several awards, including the Cordon del Aguila Azteca from the president of Mexico in 1996.
—————————————————————-
SPORTS
—————————————————————
JAMAICA CRASHES AFTER GOOD START AT CARIB BEER SERIES—01/13/06
Jamaica began well at the Carib Beer Series match at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, but Darren Sammy ended their hopes as he grabbed two wickets and Jamaica fell to 231 for six at the close. Jamaica lost five wickets for 37. Sammy finished with two for 37.
CABLE AND WIRELESS TO BEGIN CRICKET WORLD CUP AD CAMPAIGN—01/15/06
As one of the official sponsors of the ICC Cricket World Cup of 2007, Cable and Wireless will begin an island-wide advertising program on February 1 to inform Jamaicans about the tournament, which will run from March 11 to April 28. Towa Beer, head of sponsorship and special events at the company, said both short-term and long-term national initiatives are planned.
LAWSON HELPS JAMAICA TO FIRST INNINGS POINTS AT CARIB BEER SERIES—01/15/06
Jermaine Lawson was instrumental in sending a strong signal to regional selectors when he undermined Windward Islands and helped Jamaica on the third day of the second round Carib Beer Series match. Lawson took six for 70 as the Windwards folded for 251. Lawson’s performance provided the only bright spot on a day when the rain prompted an early finish after the tea interval.
JAMAICAN HAS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE OVER WINDWARD ISLANDS—01/17/06
In the KFC match at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, Jamaica will face the Windward Islands with a psychological advantage. Jamaican received the first innings points when the two teams met in the Carib Beer Series. According to Jamaica’s coach, Junior Bennett, the team is looking forward to winning and, after defeating the Leewards, wants to keep the momentum going in the match against the Windwards.
—————————————————————-
DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————————
Does Prayer Really Work?
If you are like most people, you have probably asked this question a number of times. For some of us, it seems like God is asleep on the job, so to speak, because the reality of our individual circumstances seem to shout at us ever so loudly. We are tested on every side; our relationships, health, job, finances, to name a few, and somewhere in the back of our minds is a nagging doubt as to whether God is paying attention or not. Can He really do anything, and if so, why doesn’t He?
The Bible is the only resource we have that speaks of God’s ability and integrity. It is His Word, and we are told that He cannot lie In Numbers 23:18 we read, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Those are serious questions we need to ponder. Whatever God said, He will do, and whatever He has spoken, He shall make good. That’s about as solid an assurance of God’s ability and integrity that one could get. The interesting thing is that Jesus prayed, and therefore there must have been no doubt in His mind that prayer does make a difference; it works.
We can rest assured that God is not indifferent to the things that are important to us (1 Peter 5:7). Persistent prayer works, and though the answers we seek may not be immediately realized, it does not mean that God is not working on our behalf. Don’t give in to discouragement; He is faithful to them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations (Deut. 7:9). PUSH through; keep on Praying Until Something Happens
—————————————————————–
CREDITS/SOURCES
—————————————————————–
The weekly news is compilation of new articles from top Caribbean and Jamaican news sources.
