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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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DUTCH AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE PNP TRAFIGURA DONATION—03/10/07
The Jamaican government is considering a request that would permit Dutch authorities to investigate a $31 million donation made by Trafigura Beheer, an oil trader, to the People’s National Party (PNP). Donald Buchanan, Information Minister, responded to comments from the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) by saying the government had not received a request for such an investigation as yet. Opposition Leader Bruce Golding has said the Dutch National Prosecutor’s Office and Holland’s National Police Internal Investigations Department were ready to send an investigative team to Jamaica to examine the Trafigura matter.
CRICKET WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT OFFICIALLY OPENS—03/11/07
The opening of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Florence Hall is expected to be the ‘biggest pan-Caribbean gala,’ featuring the music, culture, and way of life of the West Indies. Production staff worked to ensure that this historic event will run smoothly. About US$2.5 million has been spent on the opening ceremony on which 2,500 staff members have spent months preparing. Event directory Martin Lewis says the opening will be one of the ‘best ever CWC openings’ in history.
COMMON BURIAL CHEMICAL COULD POLLUTE WATER SOURCE—03/11/07
According to Basil Young, geologist, a chemical that is commonly utilized in the burial industry, formaldehyde, could contaminate the water source in western Jamaica unless the $50 million Burnt Ground cemetery development in Hanover is stopped. Formaldehyde presents a real danger to the citizens of Ramble in Hanover, says Young. The developers of the proposed cemetery, Delapenha Funeral Home, say the development will not cause environmental problems. The site of the proposed cemetery is part of the Great River watershed, and the potential contamination of the Shettlewood Spring, which is about 0.5 kilometers from the site, is the major worry for residents.
CRICKET WORLD CUP OPENS WITH LAVISH CEREMONY—03/12/07
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 was introduced with a lavish ceremony that featured the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers, West Indies batsman, who declared the tournament open. This is the first time that the World Cup has been held in the Caribbean. Over 10,000 individuals attended the colorful opening activities, which included the Massed Bands and Corps of Drums of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF).
FIRST OFFICIAL MATCH OF ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP HELD—03/13/07
Approximately 16,500 spectators are expected to attend the first official match of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Sabina Park in the Corporate Area. About 90 percent of the 19,000 tickets available were purchased for the match, which will pit the West Indies against Pakistan. Local hotels have seen an increase in occupancy, with more than 150 guests checking into the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston, in time to attend the first tournament match.
JAMAICA RECEIVES ACCOLDADES FROM HEAD OF ICC—03/14/07
The chief executive officer of the International Cricket Council, Malcolm Speed, said he was very satisfied with the country’s preparations for the Cricket World Cup. Speed says he is impressed with the facilities and noted that ‘the atmosphere here is great and the people are lovely.” He also called the grounds “beautiful.” Thousands of Jamaicans were on hand when the Cricket World Cup began. This is the first time it has been held in the Caribbean.
NATIONAL SCHOOL POLICY TO BE PRESENTED IN SEPTEMBER—03/15/07
Hopeton Henry, president of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association (JTA), says a national policy designed to address social and behavioral problems in the schools will be ready by September 2007. A nine-page draft of the document was already presented to the Ministry of Education and Youth, and all stakeholders will have a chance to see the document and make their suggestions, Henry said. The JTA decided to create the policy after an incident at Vere Technical High School in November 2006 in which five male students were shot and injured by a school security guard.
OFFICIALS SHOCKED AT MURDER OF TWO CHILDREN—03/16/07
Children’s advocates and political leaders were shocked at the gunning down of two children at their home in Portmore, St. Catherine. Neville Smith, the children’s father, said his daught Tavia, 15, and her brother Tajak, 6, were in their home at Robins Close when explosions were heard. Witnesses saw three men fleeing the home and getting into a white Toyota Corolla that the left the scene. Neville could think of no reason for the murder of his children. According to police statistics, 65 children were killed in Jamaica in 2006, a decrease from 89 children in 2005.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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CARLTON INGLETON, JAMAICAN-BORN ARTIST, TO BE HONORED—03/10/07
Carlton Ingleton, Jamaican-born artist who was slain by his son Carl in January 2007, will be honored at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York. Ingleton, 66, will also be honored at the Jamaica Consulate in New York in March, and an art auction benefit to help with the establishment of the Carlton Ingelton Foundation is scheduled for March 23. Ingleton received a Citation for Dedication and Outstanding Service to the Community from the former president of the Brooklyn Borough. He was also a lifetime member of the Art Students League, where he was a student from 1970 to 1980.
JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER AWARDED TROPHY BY OLYMPIC COMMITTEE—03/11/07
Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, received the 2007 World Women and Sport Trophy from the International Olympic Committee. She is the first woman to be elected Prime Minister in Jamaica. She was awarded the trophy for her “personal leadership” and her support of the development of women’s sports in her country. Simpson Miller was one of the first leaders in the world to sign the World Anti-Doping Code. Before being elected as Prime Minister, Simpson Miller was Jamaica’s Minister for Sport.
18 JAMAICANS IN SOUTH FLORIDA HONORED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE—03/14/07
In South Florida, 17 Jamaican nationals will receive honors for their work in community service and development of the Diaspora at the first annual Community Service Awards Ceremony at the Jamaican Consulate General in Miami. The guest speaker will be Professor Kenneth Hall, Governor-General. Ricardo Allicock, Consul General, says the event provides an chance to officially recognize and honor local Jamaicans who have had a significant impact on the culture of the community.
KERRON STEWART WINS AT NCAA INDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS—03/15/07
Jamaican Kerron Stewart took a sprint double at the NCAA Indoor National Championships at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Stewart is a senior at Auburn University. She won the women’s 200-meter dash at 22.58 seconds, the year’s best time. This also beat Stewart’s time last year of 22.76 seconds. Stewart also completed a fine sprint double by taking the 60-meter dash in 7.15.
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SPORTS
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WEST INDIES DISAPPOINT CROWD BY LOSING WORLD CUP WARM-UP—03/10/07
A two-match warm-up played to prepare for the World Cup at Trelawny’s Multi-Purpose Stadium ended in disappointment for West Indies fans when the team was defeated by India. The defeat shocked onlookers into silence. The West Indies, who won in 1975 and 1979 and who are the favorites of many local fans, received a rout for 85 funs in 25.5 overs, losing with more than half the day to go. India easily went on to victory at 86 for one off 18.3 overs.
WEST INDIES TO MEET PAKISTAN IN MAIN EVENT AT NEW SABINA—03/13/07
The ICC Cricket World Cup plays for the first time in the Caribbean, and it will start with the home team, the West Indies, facing Pakistan in the newly remodeled Sabina Park. The two teams are among the favorites tipped to with the Cup, and fans expect a thrilling match. The West Indies won the Cup in 1975 and 1979. They were finalists in 1983.
WEST INDIES DEFEAT PAKISTAN IN FIRST GAME OF WORLD CUP—03/14/07
The West Indies batsmen, led by Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and Brian Lara handed Pakistan a loss in the first game of the 2007 Cricket World Cup before a near-capacity crowd at Sabina Park. Samuels showed his classic shot-making ability, while Dwayne Smith provided an excellent all-round performance.
ZIMBABWE TO MEET IRELAND AT ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP—03/15/07
In continuing action at the ICC Cricket World Cup at Sabina Park, Zimbabwe will meet Ireland In what is being called a battle between two ‘Cinderellas’ at the tournament. Zimbabwe is numbered among the Test-playing teams, while Ireland is not. Without players like Grant Flower and Henry Olonga, the Zimbabwe team is as weak as the Irish team, according to game experts.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Being Child-Like
There is something beautiful about the innocence of a child. Adorable little wonders that they sometimes are, they generally have a level of trust that most adults can only recall from memory. A parent could put a child on a pedestal, and the child would eagerly jump into the arms of the parent, just because the parent said they should. In healthy relationships between parent and child, there is unwavering trust. The parent is the authority, and the child will often adapt his or her behavior to what it is taught to be right or wrong. Why? Simply a matter of trust.
I believe it is that level of trust that we, as children of God, should bring into our relationship with Him. I love that when Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, the first two words He used were “Our Father”. Of course most of us have repeated that prayer a thousand times over, yet have we ever stopped to consider the profoundness of the address? “Our Father” challenges the child of God into a relationship of intimacy and trust. We come to Him with child-like innocence that reflects our awareness that He not only loves us, but also has our best interest at heart. When the veil of the temple was shattered on Crucifixion Day, I believe God was throwing the doors to His inner chamber wide open and inviting us to come in. Like a child running into his parents’ bedroom, jumping in bed and snuggling between Mom and Dad, so God invites us – His children – to come boldly into His Holy of Holies.
Maybe that was why when the disciples tried to rebuke the children from His presence, Mark wrote that He was much displeased and said unto them, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (10:14-16). Unwavering faith, trust, and confidence in the parent goodness and goodwill are qualities most children will possess. I strongly believe those are the very same things that God desires from us in our relationship with Him. “Our Father”; wonderful words indeed.
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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.
