JAMAICA NEWSWEEKLY For the weeks ending March 11th, 2005

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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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JAMAICANS REELECTED IN SOUTH FLORIDA
The city of Miramar in Broward county of South Florida last Tuesday ended the history-making Jamaican-American majority when incumbent George Pedlar lost his seat to newcomer Troy Samuels. However, the other two Jamaican-American Commissioners in the race Winston Barnes and Fitzroy Salesman easily retained their seats. Salesman said he was happy for the opportunity to finish the work he started while Barnes expressed that he will be focusing on redeveloping Miramar’s east side during his next term. Thirteen candidates ran for the three commission seats.

PRIME MINISTER CALL FOR TOLL ROAD STUDY
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has ordered that a comprehensive study be carried out on a broad range of issues relating to the Portmore leg of Highway 2000. A statement Thursday night from Jamaica House said the Prime Minister has asked that the report be presented in four weeks and that it includes the concerns raised by residents of Portmore. The study will be carried out by a team comprising the National Road Operating and Construction Company, NROCC, TransJamaican Highway Limited and Bouygues. Portmore residents have rejected the Government’s plan to convert the existing causeway to a six-lane tolled highway.

PNP WOMEN BEHIND DR. PHILLIPS
The Women’s Caucus for National Development on Tuesday announced their support for National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips’ candicady for president of the ruling People’s National Party. Highlighting his past achievement when he held the portfolios of transport and health.The women’s caucus president Donna Scott-Motley says that they have taken note of Minister Phillips’ track record as a performer and believe that the security minister have accepted the challenge of dealing with criminal violence and anti-social behaviour in the society.

JAMAICA VOTES AGAINST HUMAN CLONING
Jamaica this week broke ranks with several Caribbean countries in voting against adopting a United Nations (UN) declaration on human cloning. The declaration calls on member states to adopt all measures necessary to prohibit all forms of human cloning in as much as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life. The UN General Assembly approved the measure by a vote of 84 to 34 with 37 abstentions. Cuba was the only other Caribbean nation to vote against the declaration.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES BOOST CRIME FIGHT
The Ministry of National Security recently received two state-of-the-art X-ray machines and two bomb detectors from Carnival Cruise Lines. Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips said he was elated at receiving the gifts, stating that they will go a far way in assisting Jamaica in its fight against crime. The machines will be used at both the Sangster International Airport and at sea ports while the bomb detectors will be used by law enforcement to detect explosives.

HOUSE PASSES FINGERPRINT ACT
The House of Representatives this week adopted the report of the Joint Select Committee on amendments to the Finger Prints Act and has passed the legislation. The bill passed which received the support of the government and opposition amend and standardize the existing law and is in keeping with practices in most commonwealth jurisdictions and the United States. National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, who piloted the legislation at Wednesdays sitting of the House, explained that without jeopardizing individual rights the Act sought to without court order provide legal authority for the fingerprinting and photographing of persons taken into custody in connection with specific offences.

JAMAICAN CURRENCY APPRECIATES
The Jamaican currency on Wednesday appreciated against its US counterpart. It’s now costing three cents less to purchase the American currency which selling for an average 61 dollars and 76 cents.50 dollars and 72 cents is the going rate for the Canadian and 117 dollars and 82 cents for the British pound.

BOJ CUTS RATES AGAIN
The Bank of Jamaica on Tuesday cut the rates on its open market instruments to their lowest levels on record. The changes represented a nearly half percentage point cut from its 30-day instrument, sending it to 12.95 per cent and a half a percentage point from its 365-day paper which now yields 14.5 per cent. The reduction was the eleventh since last year, and the second since the start of 2005.

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SPORTS
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JAMAICA CARIB BEER CHAMPIONS FOR 2005
Jamaica defeated champions Barbados by 245 runs to wrap up their sixth win in the Carib Beer regional four day competition before tea on Monday’s fourth day at Chedwin Park. The Bajans, resuming on 74 – 2, chasing 438 for victory, were dismissed for 222 as Jason Parris hit 36, and Dwayne Smith 33 against David Bernard 3 – 29, Odean Brown 3 – 74, Daren Powell 2 – 37 and Gareth Breese 2 – 54.Jamaica skipper Wavell Hinds for his 153 in the first innings was named man of the match. Hinds said the key to victory was winning the toss. Having secured the league title with 83 points, Jamaica will face the Windward Islands at Alpart this weekend before hosting the five day challenge cup final beginning March 18.

WINDIES NAME SQUAD FOR HOME SERIES
Six uncapped players have been included in a 22 man squad to face South Africa and Pakistan in the upcoming home series. They are batsmen Narsingh Deonarine, Xavier Marshall, Donovon Pagon, and Ryan Ramdass, as well as wicketkeeper/batsman Dinesh Ramdin, along with fast bowler Dwight Washington. The rest of the squad is Carlton Baugh, Jr., Tino Best, Ian Bradshaw, Courtney Browne, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Daren Ganga, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Reon King, Dave Mohammed, Daren Powell, Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor. Last Friday, Teddy Griffith, president of the WICB, announced that Lara, Bravo, Edwards, Gayle, Rampaul, Sarwan, and Smith would not be considered for selection because their personal endorsements with Cable & Wireless put in peril the WICB’s sponsorship with rival telecoms company, Digicel.

JIMMY ADAMS SPEAKS OUT AGAINST WIBC PLAYERS BAN
Former Jamaica and West Indies skipper Jimmy Adams has criticized the West Indies Cricket Board for their decision to axe skipper Brian Lara and six other players for the upcoming home series against South Africa and Pakistan. Adams says the Board knew and approved these personal contracts with Cable & Wireless even before the new sponsors Digicel came on board. Adams says the West Indian team without Lara, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan can hardly be called world beaters.