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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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CITY TWINNING TO BENEFIT TO BLACK RIVER—08/16/14
In 2013, an agreement was made that provided for the “twinning” of Black River in St. Elizabeth in Jamaica and Hamilton, Bermuda. The agreement allows for an exchange of mutually advantageous opportunities in business, sports, education, entertainment, and agriculture.
REDUCED FUNDING IMPACTS HUMAN RIGHTS LOBBIES—08/17/14
According to Yvonne McCalla-Sobers, chair of Families Against State Terrorism (FAST), an advocacy group, said that the non-government organization has not be able to fulfill its mandate because it lacks funding. The goal of the group is to obtain justice for family members who have been killed by police or who were damaged in some way by the state. It began in 2001 after the alleged killings of two Jamaicans by police.
FIRE BRIGADE RECEIVES DONATION FROM PETROJAM—08/18/14
The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) received a donation totaling $3 million from the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PETROJAM). Errol Mowatt, acting commissioner of the JFB welcomed the donation, but also noted that other members of the private sector should help the agency increase its capacity to respond effectively. The JFB will use the funds from PETROJAM to improve the brigade’s efficiency, particularly in the training of its approximately 2,000 members.
U.S. GOVERNMENT ALLOWS NEW APPEAL FOR BUJU BANTON—08/19/14
According to Charles Ogletree, Harvard law professor and attorney for Buju Banton, the United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hold a new hearing for the convicted Jamaican reggae artiste. Banton received a ten-year prison sentence for convictions related to cocaine conspiracy and trafficking charges imposed during an arrest in 2009. The 11th Circuit will hear the appeal at some time in February 2015.
DAVIES ANNOUNCES HIKES IN BUS FARES—08/20/14
Jamaica’s Minister of Transport and Works Omar Davies plans to announce an increase in the fares charged by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). Davies reported that the fare for children, disabled individuals and the elderly are expected to rise by 100 percent, from $20 to $40. Fares for adults could increase from $100 to $120 or $130. The increases are scheduled to go into effect before the official start of the 2014-2015 school year on September 1. The JUTC has been losing about $250 million each month and must take steps to meet its operating costs.
RIVER MINERS IN CLARENDON TOLD TO MAKE SAND—08/21/14
Miners operating quarries on the Rio Minho in Clarendon have been encouraged to manufacture sand as an alternative product. Clinton Thompson, Commissioner of Mines, appealed to the miners during a workshop for stakeholders, noting that river mining had been suspended because authorities want to protect the depleting sand reserves. The decline in rainfall has reduced the amount of sand deposits on the river. Manufacturing sand by crushing stones would be a viable alternative for the miners, Thompson believes.
200 PERCENT INCREASE IN SENIOR BUS FARES WORRISOME—08/22/14
Jamaica’s seniors are concerned about the 200-percent proposed increase to fares on the Jamaica Urban Transit routes. Many depend on the buses to take them to necessary medical treatments, and as retirees, they have fixed incomes that will require them to choose between eating and paying for their transportation. According to Jamaica’s Transport Minister Dr. Omar Davies, the increase is necessary to ensure continued operation of the company.
BUS FARE HIKES TO BE PROTESTED BY OPPOSITION—08/22/14
Jamaica’s Opposition Labor Party (JLP) believes that the increase in bus fares announced by the government are not justified and should not be implemented. According to Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader, his party will not support the increase. He called it a “travesty, a grave injustice, inconsiderate, and wicked” that the government would impose the fare hikes at this time. The JLP plans to hold a rally in Half-Way-Tree to protest the introduction of the new fares.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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WAYNE GOLDING ELECTED TO DIASPORA ADVISORY BOARD—08/16/14
Wayne Golding, an attorney from Orlando, Florida, has been elected to serve as a member of the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board for the Southern United States. He received a majority of votes, 936, in a total of 1, 237 votes from the Jamaican Diaspora in 13 southern states to secure the position.
NEW JERSEY WELCOMES MEMBER OF JAMAICAN PARLIAMENT—08/17/14
Arnaldo Brown, member of Jamaica’s Parliament and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, was honored in Paterson City Hall in New Jersey. At a forum hosted by the city’s mayor, Jose Torres and William McKoy, city commissioner, Minister Brown launched his government’s Diaspora Mapping Project and to announce that the 2015 conference of the Jamaican Diaspora will be held in Montego Bay.
GLOBAL VIDEO CHALLENGE WON BY JAMAICA YOUTH THEATER—08/18/14
The Jamaica Youth Theater (JYT) was the winner in a global video challenge designed to prevent violence against women. The victory was announced by Global Dialogues, a charity registered in the United Kingdom. The JYT entered a short film entitled “Stop Violence Against Women.” In the video challenge, Global Dialogues posts the beginning of a short film on YouTube and asks young people from around the world to compete in the creation and development of videos that complete the initial story.
BALTIMORE TO VIEW PREMIERE OF MARLEY MUSICAL—08/19/14
The world premiere of “Marley,” a musical production that uses the music of the reggae legend, will be presented at the Center Stage in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2015. The production will run from May 6 to June 14 of that year. “Marley” focuses on the period between 1975 and 1978 when Bob Marley survived an attempt on his life in Jamaica and moved to London. It features the music Marley recorded during the mid-1970s.
BROWN ENCOURAGES JAMAICANS TO PARTICIPATE IN DIASPORA SURVEY—08/20/14
Arnaldo Brown, Jamaica’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, is calling for Jamaicans living overseas to participate in an online survey for the “Mapping Jamaica’s Diaspora” project. Brown said the project will last 18 months and seeks to develop a database of interests, skills, and locations of Diaspora members. The project is funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
GABRIEL WALTERS PLAYS MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD—08/21/14
Jamaica’s Gabriel Walters, 18, is considered one of the country’s most promising violinists and during the decade that he has been playing the instrument, he has had the opportunity to travel the world and to perform for audiences in many countries, including the British Royal Family. He is a member of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (YOA) and recently performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica in Montego Bay.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA REMITTED US$16 BILLION OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD—08/22/14
According to Jamaica’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Arnaldo Brown, members of the Jamaican Diaspora have provided remittances totaling US$16 billion of the past decade. He said the Diaspora plays an integral part in the national development of Jamaica, especially in the education and health sectors. It is estimated that there are some three million Jamaicans in the Diaspora, with 1.8 million of these in the United States.
KENNETH BENJAMIN TO BE HONORED BY AMERICAN FRIENDS OF JAMAICA—08/22/14
Kenneth Benjamin, the founder of the Guardsman Group of Companies, will be honored by the Americans Friends of Jamaica, Inc. (AFJ) organization at a gala in New York on October 24, 2014. There will be a reception, dinner, and presentation of the Hummingbird Award, along with a live auction and entertainment. The award recognizes Benjamin as an exemplary businessman in charge of the region’s biggest private security firm, which has over 7,000 employees and operates in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY LIBRARY HELPS ISLANDERS DISCOVER ROOTS—08/16/14
NEW MARINE PROTECTION STANDARD ESTABLISHED IN BARBUDA—08/17/14
RETIRED HIGH COURT JUDGE D’AUVERGNE DIES—08/18/14
CHINA BUILDS $1 BILLION RESORT IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA—08/19/14
TROPICAL WAVE MOVING TOWARD CARIBBEAN—08/20/14
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATION—08/21/14
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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LASCELLES CHIN NAMED OUTSTANDING BUSINESS LEADER, TOP BUSINESS HEAD—08/16/14
Lascelles Chin has been ranked as the top business leader providing service to Jamaica. Chin, the founder and executive chairman of LASCO Affiliated Companies, has worked his entire life to make and distribute quality products that are priced within the reach of ordinary Jamaicans. He is noted from his concern for Jamaica’s citizens and has encouraged the empowerment of Jamaicans through health, education, social, and environmental initiatives.
CANADIAN BUSINESSMAN INTERESTED IN MAKING LARGE INVESTMENT IN GANJA—08/17/14
Raymond Grant, a businessman from Canada, is in Jamaica as the representative of a group of investors in North America who are ready to make a multi-million dollar investment in medical marijuana once the government gives its approval. According to Grant, one investor is willing to investor C$2 million toward the industry. While no action can be taken before the government approves medical ganja, the investors are planning for a receiving and production facility on the island.
DEVELOPMENT BANK EXPECTS SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESS—08/18/14
The Development Bank of Jamaica expects that 12,000 jobs will be created in the next five years, chiefly through a major capital flow for small businesses. According to the bank’s general manager for risk and strategy management, Claudine Tracey, the micro, small and medium enterprise sectors (MSME) will receive loans totaling $30 billion.
LIME FOUNDATION TO DISCOVER NEW WEB TALENT—08/19/14
Young web designers in Jamaica will be able to showcase their talents at the 2014 edition of the LIME Foundation Web Design Summer Program. The program has been in operation for five years and provides an introduction to web-page design for young people between the ages of 12 and 19. Many participants from previous editions of the program have gone on to become technology professionals as a result of the training provided by LIME.
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
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NATIONAL GALLERY READIES FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY—08/16/14
The National Gallery of Jamaica is preparing to celebrate 40 years of operation. With the official date of the celebration about two months away, organizers want to remind the nation of the gallery’s development into one of the largest public art museums in the English-speaking Caribbean. The gallery first opened in 1974 at Devon House, but moved to larger facilities in downtown Kingston in 1982. The 40th anniversary will be marked with renovations and expansion to Montego Bay.
AUNTY ROACHY FESTIVAL SHOWCASES JAMAICAN TALENT—08/17/14
Named for a character created by Louise Bennett, poet, actress, and folklorist, the Aunty Roachy Festival offers a chance for storytellers to showcase their talents. The festival was held at Ranny Williams Entertainment Center and featured a short film competition, trailers from a TV program, a book fair, and storytelling and dramatic readings. There was also a tribute to Professor Edward Baugh and a creative writing showcase.
PORTLAND TO HOST CINEMA PARADISE FILM FESTIVAL—08/20/14
Portland in eastern Jamaica will be the host of Jamaica’s newest film festival, Cinema Paradise. The festival is scheduled to run from August 27 to 31, 2014. It will feature nine full-length films and documentaries, along with several short films. According to Carlo Less, one of the festival’s organizers, the event was the idea of Dr. Paul Rhodes, owner of Great Huts resort, where the films will be shown. It is meant to showcase some of Jamaica’s best film talent.
JOSEPH BENNET, FOLK MUSICIAN, DEAD AT AGE 76—08/21/14
Legendary Jamaican folk musician Joseph Bennett, who was one of the Jolly Boys and well known for playing traditional dance music, died at a Kingston hospital. He was 76. The musician, nicknamed “Powda,” will always be remembered as the “cheeky little fellow” in the Jolly Boys who danced and played maracas, said music promoter Jon Baker.
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SPORTS
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BOLT WINS IN 100-METERS IN RIO—08/19/14
Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt won a 100-meter competition on a beach in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Bolt clocked a winning time of 10.06 seconds at Leme Beach, easily defeating competitors from Britain, Brazil and the United States. Despite the win, Bolt said he was “sluggish” in the race and had hoped to do better.
HYDE TO FOCUS ON TRACK—08/19/14
Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde, one of the top hurdlers in the world, has also represented his home country in the under-17 national football team. But after obtaining several gold medals in 2013 and 2014, Hyde, who is 17 years old, has decided to put his focus on track and field. He won gold at the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships in July in the 400-meter hurdles.
JAMAICA TO COMPETE IN HOCKEY WORLD LEAGUE—08/20/14
The national men’s and women’s hockey teams of Jamaica are ready to compete in the first round of the Hockey World League at Mona Hockey Field in St. Andrew. Jamaica will play along with Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League Tournament, which is scheduled for September 30 to October 5, 2014.
HYDE LEADS JAMAICANS TO GOOD START AT WORLD YOUTH COMPETITION—08/21/14
Jamaica’s hurdler Jaheel Hyde contributed to a good start for his country at the 2nd ICC Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, achieving a win in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.16 seconds. Four other Jamaicans qualified for the medal round in their events at the meet.
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JAMAICAN JOBS
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- JOB TITLE: Business Manager – Details Here
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DEVOTIONAL
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Speaking to Your Situation – Part II
The disciples were astonished (Matthew 21:20) that the fig tree, cursed by Jesus the previous evening, was dead; dried up from its roots (Mark 11:20). Before them was one more practical evidence of the incredible effectiveness of Jesus’ words. According to Mark, “And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, ‘Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away'” (v. 21). Behind the jaw-dropping statement was the unasked question: “How did you do that?”
It was at this point that Jesus flung wide open the door on the “secret” behind dealing effectively with challenges and how to get results: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, ‘Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them'” (vv. 22-24, KJV). It is easy to camp out on the promises and ignore Jesus’ first four words: “Have faith in God” or as some translations put it, “Have the faith of God.” However, it was not by accident that Jesus started His response to Peter with those words. Everything to do with God start and stop with faith in Him and His ability to do the things He says He can and will do! The writer to the Hebrews reminds us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
To have faith in God is to have a moral conviction of the goodness, truthfulness and faithfulness of God. In this instance Bible Commentator John Gill observes: “Have faith in God”, that He will enable you to perform whatsoever ye shall desire; which must be understood, not of spiritual faith in the promises of God, and person of Christ, but of, the faith of miracles, or faith in the power of God to perform things that are above the strength of nature.” There was no greater demonstrator of this than Jesus himself. As He walked the earth in His humanity, it is instructive that His life and ministry centered on the conviction that God, His father, was exactly who He said He was – sovereign ruler over all things and unchallenged in power and majesty to whom nothing was impossible. Because the essence of being a disciple is to become like one’s teacher, the ways of Jesus should be our goal as well.
What Jesus was telling the disciples is that when they have faith in God, the faith of God, they could do more that speak to fig trees and see the results. They would be able to speak to “mountains” and those “mountains” would have to obey. I do not know if the disciples understood all of that on that day. Maybe we do not fully understand all of it ourselves today. However, if Jesus said it could be done then I believe Him. Do you?
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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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