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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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HAITIANS WANTS TO STAY IN JAMAICA – October 1, 2004
The Haitians, who absconded to Jamaica some months ago are now appealing to the Jamaican Government to grant them asylum on political grounds. An 18-year old girl spoke on behalf of the refugees in the Montpelier camp saying she did not understand why the Jamaican Government would want to send them back in such a hostile environment. She said many of them narrowly escaped death while others were not so lucky. They were all in a state of disbelief after the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that none of them met the requirements to be granted refugee status…
BISHOP BLAIR PLEADS ON THE REFUEE’S BEHALF
Bishop Blair who was appointed two years ago as political ombudsman is appealing on behalf of the Haitian refugees who have lost their bid to gain political asylum in Jamaica. Mr Blair argued in his correspondence to the Prime Minister said that even though the law must be followed, it was not a shackle and should be relaxed to allow these refugees to remain in Jamaica. He said many Jamaicans were sympathetic to the refugee’s cause and would open their doors to assist them. Mr. Blair also noted that the Haitians did not come to Jamaica of their own free will but must have been fleeing from a situation that caused them distress. Following the refusal of asylum status, the refugees were given seven days in which to make an appeal…
IVAN DAMAGES EXTREMELY COSTLY – September 30, 2004
Hurricane Ivan has left a hefty bill behind for Jamaica in terms of damages. The Prime Minister revealed that preliminary damages to agriculture, housing etc has far surpassed 10 billion. The Prime Minister also said that agriculture was the greatest sufferer from the hurricanes with a bill of over 6 billion dollars in damages to livestock, cops and facilities. Housing was next in line as the Prime Minister reported that he had already earmarked 2-3 billion dollars to assist over 100 thousand low to middle income households to rebuild or relocate…
BEACH DESTROYED AND SAND STOLEN
Hurricane Ivan destroyed Sunset Beach and its sand washed unto Kent Avenue, while some residence lamented on the loss, other were busy stealing the sand from the beach. Some residence sees no problem in taking the sand, which has been washed up on the sidewalks. Despite attempts to stop the flow of sand miners by lifeguards, many people in trucks, cars and pickups are coming in hundreds to steal the sand from the beach…
MORE UNSETTLED WEATHER HEADED FOR JAMAICA
The Metrological Office of Jamaica has reported that a low-level trough located across the Caribbean. The Met Office said that showers and thunderstorms were headed for Jamaica from the east and should begin in another two to three days. Warnings are been sent to fishermen who should exercise extreme caution. Following hurricane Ivan many residence will not be able to withstand any kind of extreme weather which may affect the island…
SANGSTERS BOOK STORE GIVES BACK – September 29, 2004
Sangsters Bookstore, one of Jamaica’s biggest schoolbook stores has donated over two million dollars in books to school worst affected by Hurricane Ivan. Top officials from the company travelled to several parishes to personally hand over the gift…
GOVERNMENT RELAXES DUTY ON VEG AND MEAT
The Government has decided to relax the tax on imported vegetables and meat coming into the island. Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, told Parliament that Cabinet on Monday agreed to an interim duty regime for imported foods including chicken meat and some vegetables. This relaxation of duties is a part to the government’s plans to restore many residences to normalcy. Some of the items included in this tax relaxation are: chicken meat in all forms, cabbage (fresh or chilled) and carrots (fresh or chilled)…
PENSIONSERS AIDED BY GOVERNMENT – September 28, 2004
Pensioners are high on the government’s aid list as well as other destitute citizens by announcing a five hundred plus million thorough two social security programmes to be instated. Of the over 500 million dollars project, 375 million will go towards assisting pensioners through the National Insurance Scheme under which pensions are paid, the other 100 plus million dollars will go to the citizens on welfare programmes. NIS recipients, inclusive of old-age pensioners, widows and widowers, as well as invalid and disabled pensioners, number 75,000 and will each receive a cheque valued at $5,000. Consulting actuaries, the Prime Minister said, have advised that the fund will not be affected by the disbursement…
GOOD SAMARITAN VISITOR
One of the 560 guests at the Wyndham Rose Hall Hotel in Montego Bay has showed her admiration for Jamaican hostility during the hurricane by raising over half a million Jamaican dollars to assist workers of the hotel whose homes are destroyed or badly damaged by the Hurricane. Barrington Grant, a security at the hotel brand new two-bedroom plywood home was blown off its foundation and scattered by the strong winds of Ivan. His new home was destroyed along with his dreams of being a homeowner. The fund will assist persons like Mr. Grant to rebuild and start over…
PROFESSOR GLADSTONE MILLS DIES AT 84 – September 27, 2004
Professor Emeritus Gladstone Mills, lecturer, government consultant, and educator in the field of Public Administration is dead. He died at his home from coronary problems which had affected him for some time. Professor Mills is known for his contribution to the nation’s development was seeing the birth of the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) and the non-partisan functions of the EAC. He was senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies from 1960 –1965 following his promotion as professor from 1965-1990 and thereafter, professor emeritus. He was also instrumental in implementing the bachelors, masters and doctorate in the field of Public Administration at the UWI…
PORTLAND COTTAGE RESIDENTS RETURN HOME
Portland Cottage, one of the communities badly affected by hurricane Ivan is still reeling from the effect left behind by the Terrible. Despite the Minister of Land and Environment’s announcement that communities like Portland Cottage will be relocated, many residents were returning to their home and beginning to pick up the pieces. Earlier on, a week after Ivan’s visit, the government had issued orders that citizens living in flood prone areas which are always badly affected by heavy rains, floods and hurricanes were to be relocated as it had become too costly for the government to continually rebuild these communities. But despite the government’s warnings, Portland Cottage residents have returned home to begin rebuilding…
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SPORTS
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PANDAMONIUM IN WINDIES CAMP – 27/09/04
England and the West Indies did face off in the International Cricket Cup finals, but the underdog Windies emerged the winner. Despite surprise and doubts about West Indies ability to win the ICC championship, skipper Brian Lara was still optimistic. We never gave up,” captain Brian Lara said. “We believed something was going to happen for us this summer. This is really special – it’s about time.” Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indies vice-captain, echoed Lara’s sentiments, pointing out that they were always upbeat in the dressing room. “Although we were in a difficult position, I’ve never seen us gel so much as a team and gel for each other,” Sarwan, named Man of the Series, revealed. Indeed all the Caribbean and England had to grudgingly hand Lara and his team the praise they so richly deserve for a gallant performance in the face of aridity…
HIGH PRAISE FOR WEST INDIES
The West Indies was highly praised by many for their superb comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of England, who were favourites to win the ICC Championship trophy. There was even surprise and dismay on the faces of the England team members after they had the Windies at 147 for eight, targeted to reach a total of 218 to win. However, a fantastic innings between Browne and Bradshaw dashed the hopes of England, snatching victory from their hands. On Saturday, 25 years after their last victory in a major limited-overs tournament, the West Indies defeated England at The Oval to win the ICC Champions Trophy, and that in itself, was a magnificent triumph.
Marlon King’s stunner does it for Forest
Monday, September 27, 2004
NOTTINGHAM, England (AFP) –
A superb last-minute goal by Nottingham Forest’s Jamaican international Marlon King wrapped up a suitable ending here yesterday on a day dedicated to remembering former manager Brian Clough, who died of stomach cancer last Monday aged 69. King’s stunning effort rounded off a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over West Ham and gave Forest their first victory of the season in The Championship. Former Forest star Marlon Harewood had given the visitors the lead, but that was wiped out by a goal from Paul Evans. The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for Clough, and a parade of the trophies he won by some of his best-known players from both Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Clough had been earlier described by his former Forest captain John McGovern as one of the greatest teachers in the history of football. Clough guided Derby to their first ever league championship and trumped that by landing two European Cups with unfashionable Nottingham Forest where he moulded seemingly mediocre players into a formidable team.
“The last time I stood on this balcony we brought back a very large gold cup from Europe,” said McGovern addressing fans of both clubs in the central square in Nottingham. “Brian was a teacher, he taught players how to pass the ball, and told them to keep the ball on the floor and to respect authority.” Clough is rated as the best manager England never had, but former England handler Sir Bobby Robson believes he should have been even if it would have meant replacing him at the helm.
CONCACAF GOLD CUP QUALIFYING – CARIBBEAN ZONE First Round
Group A (November 24-28) Jamaica, Haiti, US Virgin Islands, St Martin
Group B (November 10-14) Martinique, French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Dominica
Group C (October 6-10) Cuba, Dominican Republic, Netherlands Antilles, Guyana
Group D (November 24-28) Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico, Grenada, Surinam
Group E (October 26-30) Cayman Islands, St Vincent & The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands
Group F (October 27-31) St Kitts & Nevis, Monsterrat, St Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda
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