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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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MALVO STUGGLES WITH GUILT AND REMORSE—10/13/07
Lee Boyd Malvo, 22, the Jamaican-born youth whose role in the October 2002 sniper attacks in the United States, together with John Muhammad, says he is “grappling with shame, guilt, and remorse” over his actions. Malvo is serving a life sentence for his part in the attacks.
Jamaican-born sniper, Lee Boyd Malvo, claims he is “grappling with shame, guilt (and) remorse” over his actions in 2002.
NO SHORTAGE OF JOBS FOR THOSE PREPARED, SAYS DONALD FOSTER—10/14/07
Donald Foster, executive director of the Heart Trust/National Training Agency, states that there is no job shortage for individuals who are prepared, trainable, and certified. This is especially true because Jamaica’s economy is based increasingly on service industries and less on production and extraction of resources. It’s a different world, says Foster, and people must have a good basic education and the appropriate skills to succeed. With these, there are many opportunities, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industry, which is expected to see the creation of about 20,000 new jobs over the next five years.
INQUEST INTO WOOLMER DEATH TO BEGIN—10/15/07
Police in Jamaica have not eliminated the possibility that foul play may have been involved in the death of Bob Woolmer, Pakistan cricket coach in March 2007. Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room a day following the elimination of his team from the Cricket World Cup. Over 50 persons are expected to testify at the inquest. The inquest is likely to last more than two months, according to Sgt. Dwayne Jex of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
TALKS CONTINUE BETWEEN JAMAICA AND GUYANA OVER RICE—10/16/07
Jamaican and Guyanese officials continued to talk about the distribution of rice as shipments of the product started to arrive on the island from the United States. Rice from Louisiana started to appear in Jamaican supermarkets as Jamaica and Guyana attempt to find a solution to the recent dispute over the purchase of rice from other countries. The shipment from America is meant to be a one-time thing, but it was necessary to protect consumers’ interests in Jamaica, says Karl Samuda, commerce minister.
MAID DESCRIBES WOOLMER’BODY, HOTEL ROOM AT INQUEST—10/1707
Bernice Robinson, a hotel maid, told the 11-member jury at the Woolmer inquest that she found the body of Bob Woolmer, Pakistan cricket coach, in a “disheveled, blood-spattered room.” The inquest is being held to determine the cause of Woolmer’s death. Robinson said she noticed that a chair had been overturned, and there was blood on the pillow. She also noted a smell like “mix of alcohol and vomit” when she entered Woolmer’s room to clean it on March 18, 2007. Robinson also reported seeing a man’s leg “sticking out of a bathroom door.”
CONSULATE IN CAYMAN ISLANDS TO INVESTIGATE HOSPITAL ACTION—10/1707
The Jamaican Consulate in the Cayman Islands will investigate the circumstances surrounding the birth of a pre-mature baby on a Cayman Airways flight by a Shellesha Woodstock, 19. Robert Hamaty, Jamaican consul, hopes to discover the reason behind a doctor’s decision to send Woodcock back to Jamaica, despite the fact that her labor had already started. The consul is concerned about the decision that authorized Woodstock to fly on a commercial flight while in labor.
POLICE SING, WORSHIP, AND PREACH DURING SERVICE—10/18/07
Members of the 86E Waltham Park Road church watched as nearly 100 men and women of the police force stopped patrolling the streets of Jamaica to sing, worship, and preach in a four-hour service called “the Anchor Holds.” Bishop V.T. Williams, head of the Jamaica Evangelistic Association, helped Cops for Christ to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a ministry that provides spiritual solaces to police.
GOVERNMENT TO REQUIRE WORK PERMITS—10/19/07
The Government of Jamaica has given foreigners working in the country without valid work permits a period of ten days to report to the Labor Ministry to have their status assessed. If they do not appear, they will face deportation. Pearnel Charles, Minister of Labor and Social Security, says that illegal workers who do not address this matter within the time specified will be reported to the Immigration Department.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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DIRECTOR’S JAMAICAN ROOTS INFLUENCE HIS STYLE—10/13/07
Ras Kassa is a creative director, editor, writer, producer, cinematographer, musician, and painter who has worked in television, made commercials, and created home DVDs. He has received international attention for his “Welcome to Jamrock” video for Damian “Jr.Gong” Marley’s reggae performance. This received many music video awards. Kassa has also directed music video for Willie Nelson. He is currently represented by Karma Kollective in California and founded Guru Films in Kingston in 2007.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA DIVIDED ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP PROPOSAL—10/14/07
Irwine Claire, Jamaican-born director of Caribbean Immigrant Services in New York, and Dahila Walker-Huntington, Jamaican-born lawyer in Florida, have suggested that Jamaica’s Constitution be reviewed on the issue of local political participation by person with dual citizenship. Marvin Watson, a Jamaican who has lived in Canada for nine years and has Canadian citizenship as well, believes the Constitution should not be amended. He believes that Jamaica should not allow citizens of other countries to become members of the House of Representatives.
JAMAICAN WOMAN CONVERTS TO JUDAISM—10/15/07
Latoya Johnson, 28, is taking the first steps toward becoming a Jew. The Jamaican says that the “desire to talk to God’ attracted her to Judaism. Usually, people convert to Judaism in the United States in order to marry a Jew. There are few gentile who want to convert for strictly spiritual reasons, and it is very rare that a West Indian immigrant wants to become part of the Lubavitch community in Crown Heights, New York, since that community has had a tense relationships with the large West Indian population in the area. Johnson is still looking for a rabbi who will accept her in order to begin the conversion process.
KENNETH HALL TO BE KNIGHTED—10/15/07
According to Prime Minister Bruce Golding, the Jamaican Government has made a recommendation that Professor Kenneth Hall be knighted “in keeping with the practice of his predecessors.” The announcement was made by Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports. Buckingham Palace will record the award on November 6, 2008, but the Government can provide Professor Hall with the title of “Sir” immediately. Hall’s wife will be called “Lady Hall.”
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SPORTS
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REGGAE BOYZ DEFEATED BY BAHAMAS—10/13/07
The chances that Jamaica has of going to the football tournament at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, lessened when the Reggae Boyz suffered a defeat at the hands of Bahamas in the Caribbean Football Union’s second-round qualifying game. An 84th-minute goal by Lesly St. Fleur stunned the Jamaican team, which had expected an easy victory over the Bahamas. Now the Boyz must defeat Haiti by eight goals to advance to the next round.
LACK OF WATER FOR PLAYERS DELAYS GAME—10/13/07
The second round qualifying match for the Olympic Games was delayed by Jamaican management when the team and coaching staff found there was no water for the players. The game against the Bahamas began five minutes late. Official protocol requires that the host federation provide certain things for teams participating in international games. Providing water before the game, at half time, and after the game, is one of those things.
NO OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION FOR JAMAICAN TEAM—10/14/07
The island’s dream of qualifying for the Olympic football tournament ended at Stade Sylvio Cator with the defeat of the Reggae Boyz by Haiti in the CFU Group H second-round tournament. Haiti won the match 2-1. Goals from Bidrece Azor and Fabrice Noel ended the Olympic dream for Jamaica.
MINISTER PRAISES SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM—10/1707
Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Sport, offered praises for the Jamaican Special Olympics team, which won 57 medals in a record-breaking performance at the World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. With its 57 medals, Jamaica breaks the previous total of 45, which was obtained in 2003 in Dublin, Ireland.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Holding On To Your Word
When Jesus got to Bethany on the occasion of Lazarus’ death, as He stood at the graveside amidst the crying of family and friends, He said to those nearby, “Take ye away the stone.” John tells us, “Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (11:39). Judging from that response, one would think that Jesus was oblivious to the facts as they were. In v.17 we were already told of Lazarus that “when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already”, yet in Martha we see the human tendency to call our respective situations as we see them, and usually that is far removed from how God sees them.
I’m intrigued by Jesus’ response: “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (v.40). The words “Said I not unto thee” springs forth from the pages because it tells us that while standing there in front of her brother’s grave, looking at the reality of what was, Martha forgot whatever it was that Jesus had told her previously. The facts had overwhelmed any promise He had given her, yet even as we look at her, we can see ourselves so clearly. We read the Word, the Holy Spirit quickens that Word in our hearts, yet in the face of our adversities, how quickly we forget the promises of God. When Jesus comes on the scene, the facts give way to Truth. For example, Fact – I am broke, Truth – My God shall supply all my needs (Phil. 4:19); Fact – I’m worried, Truth – As long as I trust in Him, His peace will stand watch over my heart and mind (Phil. 4:6,7). In other words, for every situation that may confront us, we have a Word from God for that situation.
Our challenge as believers is to understand and hold on to the Word that God has given to us. Jesus taught that “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart” (Matt. 13:19). It is when we lose that Word that we find ourselves in distress, doubt, and defeat. Without the promises of God, we have no reason to see beyond the present state. But thank God, because we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), with the Word appropriated in our hearts, we can say like the Apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). Equally important, we know that He keeps His promises – “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?” (Numbers 23:19).
What “dead” situation in your life are you looking at? What has He said to you concerning it? What are you going to believe?
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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.
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