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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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ELECTORAL COMMISSION ADDRESSES ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUNDING—04/21/07
The Electoral Commission will make a report to Parliament on legislative proposals that would focus on issues relating to the funding of election campaigns and political parties. According to Danville Walker, the directory of elections and commissioner of the Electoral Commission, all submissions on the issue have been received, and the Commission is in the process of reviewing the proposals. Once the report goes to Parliament, the legislature will provide instructions on laws to be drafted to regulate, for the first time in Jamaica’s history, the financing of political parties.

TUFTON POISED TO WIN IN ST. ELIZABETH SOUTH WEST—04/22/07
Dr. Christopher Tufton has a strong lead over the Reverend Stanley Redwood, his People’s National Party (PNP) rival, in St. Elizabeth South West, according to a recent poll of 480 residents. Tufton, a lecturer in management studies at the University of the West Indies, had the support of 42 percent of registered voters surveyed, while Redwood had the support of 30 percent. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said they would most want to see Tufton as their next Member of Parliament, while 25 percent favored Redwood.

POLICE DECLINE COMMENT ON POSSIBLE WOOLMER SUSPECT—04/23/07
While police confirmed that closed-circuit television footage from the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, the site of the murder of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan cricket coach, has been returned from the United Kingdom, they would not comment on media reports that the video has been of help to investigators in identifying a suspect in the murder of Woolmer. The video had been sent to the UK for digital enhancement.

WOOLMER’S BODY RELEASED TO FAMILY—04/24/07
The family of Bob Woolmer, murdered Pakistan cricket team coach, will be able to take his body home to Cape Town, South Africa now that Coroner Patrick Murphy has released it. The release follows the decision to postpone indefinitely the inquest into Woolmer’s death due to concerns about limited police resources. Mark Shields, Deputy Commissioner of Police, had written the coroner about concerns that information in the inquest could hamper the continuing investigation.

EARL WITTER TELLS GAYS THEY MAY INCITE VIOLENCE—04/25/07
Earl Witter, Public Defender, advised members of the gay community to avoid ‘flaunting their sexual preferences’ in front of individuals who are ‘repulsed’ by their behavior, since this could incite these people to violence. While condemning violence, particularly against homosexuals, Witter warned gays that they could incite violence by shoving their tendencies on those who found this ‘repugnant.’

FORD CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL FIREARM POSSESSION, ASSAULT—04/26/07
Former People’s National Party candidate Dr. Jephthah Ford was charged with illegal firearm possession, shooting with intent, assault at common law, and resisting arrest as a result of an incident at Fun Citi in Portmore. Ford’s bail bond of $100,000 was extended until June 1, 2007, when he must appear in the Gun Court. An inspector testified that he saw Dr. Ford holding onto the shirt collar of a police constable and punching him a number of times.

GOLDING CITES JOB CREATION AS MAJOR JLP ISSUE—04/27/07
Bruce Golding, Opposition Leader, says job creation is one of the most important issues for the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), which wants to improve the nation’s economic condition. Golding believes that the creation of jobs should not just ‘hoped for,’ but should be a principal focus of Jamaica’s economic strategy. If more jobs were created, Golding says, the poverty rate would fall, and Jamaica’s crime problems would decrease.

LABOR PARTY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM GORDON WEBLEY STATEMENT—04/27/07
The Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) has distanced itself from a controversial statement made by Joan Gordon-Webley, the JLP parliamentary candidate for South East St. Andrew. Gordon-Webley characterized Portia Simpson Miller, the nation’s Prime Minister, as a ‘Jezebel’ during a presentation at a JLP meeting. The statement was publicly condemned, and Karl Samuda, general secretary of the JLP, issued a rapid apology to Simpson Miller for the remark. Gordon-Webley states that she sees no need to apologize for the remark, since she was quoting the Bible in making her statement.

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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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RICHIE SPICE TO THRILL CANS IN NAIROBI, KENYA—04/21/07
Richie Spice, reggae musician, will perform in Nairobi, Kenya, in May, in concerts designed to clean up the tainted image of the genre. Spice is currently causing some controversy among fans of reggae with the song, Gideon Boots, will hold two shows in Nairobi.

POWELL WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN PENN RELAYS IN PHILADELPHIA—04/23/07
Asafa Powell, to Jamaican athlete who was ready to race in the 4 x 100-meter relay at the “U.S.A. vs. the World” match at Ben Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will not compete after all. Powell’s manager, Paul Doyle, said the runner has tendonitis in his knee, and since he is not “100 percent,’ he will not be rushed into action. The same injury caused Powell to sit out the Mr.Sac Relays in California the previous week.

JAMAICAN JAILED FOR KILLING PARTNER”S CHILD—04/24/07
Sherwain McCoy Smith, 21, for Smethwick, United Kingdom, will be held in jail indefinitely for killing his girlfriend’s six-month-old baby. Smith denies murdering Troy Simpson, but forensic evidence shows that he was present at the location where the body of the baby was found. Smith was sentenced to an indefinite prison term and will serve at least three years before he is eligible for parole.

JAMAICAN GANG CENTER OF UK DRUG RAID—04/26/07
Police in the United Kingdom arrested 21 people in a series of raids across England that targeted a large crack cocaine network. Over 400 officers from six forces raided several cities across the nation after a lengthy investigation of a chiefly Jamaican gang. The gang is believed to have been shipping crack cocaine to northeast England, importing the drugs into the UK from Jamaica via mainly female couriers.

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SPORTS
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WEST INDIES DEFEATS BANGLADESH—04/21/07
The West Indies was victorious over Bangladesh and secured their first win in the World Cup Super Eight. Daren Powell, Jamaican paceman, had a critical role in the victory, taking 3-38 off his allotted 10 overs. Powell and new-ball bowler Corey Collymore broke the top order of the Bangladesh batting and shared five wickets. The Windies beat Bangladesh by 99 runs.

BOYNES URGES LARAL TO RECONSIDER DECISION TO QUIT—04/22
Roger Boynes, Trinidad and Tobago Sports Minister, wants Brian Lara, the legendary batsman, to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket. Lara suddenly announced his decision to retire from all forms of international cricket after the West Indies’ last World Cup match against England. Boynes was surprised by the announcement, and he contacted Lara about rethinking his position.

BENNETT KING RESIGNS—04/24/07
The West Indies Cricket Board confirmed an earlier report and announced that Bennett King, its Australian coach, has resigned. The Board accepted the resignation of the coach with regret, according to a statement posted on its website. The resignation of King comes after the regional team’s poor performance in the Cricket World Cup, where is placed sixth.

JAMAICANS WIN EARLY FIGHTS AT PAN AMERICAN GAMES—04/27/07
Shawn Wheatle and Nicholas Walters won victories at the Pan American Games qualifying bouts at Chaguaramas Convention Center. Wheatle defeated Aaron Prince from Trinidad, while Walters beat Otoniel Ortiz from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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DEVOTIONAL
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God’s Net Worth

Once again, Bill Gates has been named the world’s richest man. The ability to acquire just about any material thing imaginable is a great position be in, even if the average person cannot quite wrap their heads around that kind of financial net worth. In a world where values are often times skewed, we have come to determine richness as the possession of worldly wealth. Some would think, “If only I was a distant relative of Bill!” as they imagine how different their lives might have been.

Interestingly, the Christian is a relative of someone who is even richer than Mr. Gates. While there is a value to how much he is worth, how can one put a value on God’s net worth? The Psalmist David reminds us “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (24:1). What is even more exciting is that the child of God not only hears about God, but do have a personal relationship with Him, being sons and daughters of the Most High. The true extent of our relationship is that we are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ! Just about everything the Father has is ours, and we have the assurance that “no good thing will he
withheld from them that walk uprightly” (84:11).

Ih his letter to the Church, James wrote, “…ye have not, because ye ask not” (4:2). Speaking from his personal experience, David wrote in another Psalm, “I have been young,and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (35:25). We serve a God who has more than enough to take care of His own. Not only that, but as heirs and joint-heirs, we have a right to the storehouses of our Heavenly Father. Whatever we need has already been provided. May He, Our Father, grant us the grace to reach out in faith, and claim all those things that are rightfully ours.

CEW

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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.