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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
———————————————————————US REVOKES VISAS TO BUSINESS OWNERS IN CUBA – 21/05/04
The United States is enforcing their legislation approved in 1996 giving them authority to cancel visas already granted. The latest victim is Jamaica businessman Zein Issa-Nakash, owner/manager of SuperClubs operating across the Caribbean and five in Cuba. Letters were sent to officers of SuperClubs that visas would be denied to top executives, shareholders, their spouses and children starting 45 days after the date on the letters…
MORE AGRICULTURAL CROPS NEEDS PLANTING
Farmers are being urged to plant more by Rita Symes-Hylton, a past president of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA). She explained that exported crops, including scotch bonnet pepper and pumpkin, are being grown in other countries and marketed in the United States as Jamaican produce… A BLOODY 2004 EXPECTED FOR JAMAICA – 20/05/04
The Minister of Security and Justice has voiced his concern about the island’s crime rate since the beginning of the year. Dr. Phillips explained that the increase in major crime rate could surpass that of last years’. The police blotters have revealed that all major crimes is on the increase when compared to the same time last year…
AIDS AFFECTED CHILDREN ABANDONED
Parents of children born with HIV/AIDS have been abandoning their children at alarming rates. The authorities responsible for the children afflicted with the virus are concerned over the high rate at which these kids are abandoned. The Jamaica AIDS Support (JAS) and the Child Development Agency (CDA) is also concerned about the impact of the disease on children who have families infected. Local officials estimate that between 10,000 and 20,000 children under 18 years a parent or caregiver’s HIV-infection directly affects old….
LEE CHIN INVEST FURTHER IN JAMAICA – 19/05/04
Canadian-Jamaican businessman who has returned to invest in his home country Jamaica has brought home further investment to the country. He has brought home Jamaica’s pride and legend, world-famous Marley collection from Roger Steffens, the respected Wailers archivist. The price of acquiring the collection was not disclosed and Lee Chin could not be reached for a comment…
FINANCE MINISTER CALLS FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN JAMAICA
The Minister of Finance Dr Omar Davies has called for Jamaicans living abroad to invest in the country or bring people to invest. He extended the challenge to a group of businessmen in New York for the first time in seven years. Dr. Davies pointed out to the group that investments had already been made by companies like Alcoa Bauxite, US700mil at Halse Hall in Clarendon and another 500million from the tourist community…
CATASTROPHE IN EDUCATION SYSTEM – 18/05/04
The Government’s task force on Education has published their findings in the recent Caribbean Examination Council Exams in 2003. Following the findings, secondary school were ranked according to performance and principals blamed for poor results of their individual schools. The document gave more than three-quarters of the island’s schools a failing grade. Principals of the schools were disgruntled and called the report flawed…
CARICOM MISHANDLES HAITI ISSUE
Senator Bruce Golding is accusing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) of mishandling the Haiti issue. The Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs and trade said that the request by the CARICOM to investigate the circumstances under which the ousted Prime Minister Jean Bertrand Aristide was being ignored. Mr. Golding accused CARICOM of ‘fumbling’, noting that at both the intercessional meeting in St. Kitts in March and the Bureau meeting in Antigua earlier this month, it had failed to take a decisive, pro-active position toward the situation in Haiti, opting instead to defer the issue to the annual summit scheduled for July in Grenada…
STEWARD FOR CHRIST – LAS NEWMAN – 17/05/04
Dr. Las Newnman, president of the Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) has worked with the organisation since his student days at Wolmer’s High School for boys. He has been called fishers of men because of his work over the years with students and the Christian faith. Dr. Newman became the local general secretary of the Student Christian Fellowship Scripture Union in 1980, with responsibility for 10,000 students in 200 schools…
SCHOOLS ADMIN IGNORE AVENUES TO ASSIST OFFENDERS
President of the Jamaica Association of Education Officer, Mary Nicholas, is calling on school administrators to desist from expelling students who are identified as troubled. She said they are failing to exhaust all avenues available and have been ignoring the Education Ministry’s school code…EDUCATION SYSTEM FAILING STUDENTS – 16/05/04
A recent analysis based on results of the National Council of Education (NCE) 2003 Caribbean Examination Council Exams (CXC) revealed that schools are performing well below their expectations. MORE THAN half the number of high and secondary level schools in the island has been rated well below a C level. A few like St. George’s College, and Jamaica College in Kingston are in a ‘crisis’ situation, researchers say…
STRAIN ON NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM
The island’s police force is been kept busy by kidnappers and gang violence over the past few weeks. However, the Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes said that there was no need to be alarmed about the three consecutive kidnappings as there is no sign of a trend developing. The JCF says they are keeping a close eye on the situation…
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SPORTS
———————————————————————BASKETBALL LEAGUE FINALS 21/05/04
Panthers and Knights came to a head with Knights emerging the winner. Blazing Panthers won 71-73 with Linton Murray propelling his team to the finals…
FINANCIAL BOOSTS FOR MANCHESTER FOOTBALL CLUB
Manchester Football Club has received a cash injection of $360,000 for its Alpart Mining VentureAdded to the sum of the league’s sponsorship from the MFA will be another $40,000 to improve playing surfaces, bringing the total sum for the season to $400,000.
Reggae Boyz stop Venezuela
April 29
Jamaica emerged 2-1 winners over Venezuela in their friendly international football match at the National Stadium last night. New Reggae Boyz striker Marlon King scored a debut goal in the 10th minute and Andy Williams unleashed a screamer just before half time to give Jamaica the win. Ricardo Fuller assisted both goals. Juan Orango scored Venezula’s lone goal in the 27th minute as his 30 yards shot was misjudged by out-of-position Donovan Ricketts. There were a number of incidents between the players as Barbadian referee, Noel Ford, poorly handled the game. The win serves a morale booster for the Reggae Boyz upcoming world cup qualifier on June 12 against Haiti.
UPCOMING GAMES
Jamaica vs Nigeria: May 29 – London,
Jamaica vs Ireland: June 2 – London
Jamaica vs Haiti: June 12- Miami
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