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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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NO-TAKE FISH RESERVES ON TAP IN JAMAICA—07/13/13
The waters of Bluefields Bay and other locations off the southwest coast of Jamaica are under consideration as part of a no-take reserve to control over-fishing in the region. The Bluefields Bay area is a 6.5-mile long expanse of water that is patrolled by marine police and wardens. It is one of the increasing numbers of no-fishing zones being created throughout the Caribbean in an attempt to stem the damage to coral reefs from over-fishing, pollution, and climate change.
FIVE LABORATORIES NOW ACCREDITED—07/14/13
Five of the approximately 75 meter, environmental, and medical laboratories in Jamaica have been accredited by the Jamaica National Accreditation Agency. The remainder have not yet submitted applications for accreditation, said Marguerite Dornville, CEO of the agency. She believes that these labs may be upgrading their operations to ensure meeting the required criteria.
NEW SPACE TO BE DEVELOPED AT MONTEGO BAY FREE ZONE—07/15/13
More room for operators will be developed at the Montego Bay Free Zone (MBF2). The expansion will chiefly affect ICT service providers that want to enlarge their operations. In the past financial year, employment in the zone increased by 20.22 percent in spite of the loss of 700 agents with the departure of Vistaprint, which relocated to Barnett Tech Park in September 2012. Plans are to increase office space by seven percent in the zone.
WARNINGS RECEIVED BY CHINESE BUSINESS OWNERS—07/16/13
The Ministry of Commerce in China has issued a warning to owners of businesses in and visitors to Jamaica concerning robberies and extortion by police. China is warning its people to remain alert, travel only in groups, and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. The warning comes on the heels of media reports about crimes committed against Chinese nationals in Jamaica. These first-person accounts of robbery and extortion have not been confirmed by Jamaican authorities.
JAMPRO SAYS JAMAICA’S BRAND IS SAFE—07/17/13
The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) is encouraging Jamaicans to realize that the nation’s brand remains strong, despite negative publicity arising from allegations of doping by Jamaican athletes. According to Mark Thomas, communications manager at JAMPRO, the country is not expected to suffer too much from these events. Jamaica is known for more than its athletes, he noted.
LAW NEEDED TO STOP TURF DEFENDERS, SAYS CHUCK—07/18/13
Delroy Chuck, Opposition spokesman on Justice and National Security, is calling for a new anti-gang law that will target groups that threaten to keep people of differing political views from entering their communities. Chuck believes that gangs attempt to protect their turf and make threats to prevent those from other communities coming into their areas. Chuck says a law is necessary to prevent this activity.
JAMAICA’S PRIME MINISTER TO ENHANCE EFFORTS AT DOPING PREVENTION—07/19/13
Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica and also the nation’s minister for sports, reported that the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) found 15 positive tests among 860 samples over the past four years. The agency intends to increase its efforts in education and testing programs after five top Jamaican athletes tested positive for banned substances. Education programs at high schools and primary schools will be initiated by JADCO, said Simpson Miller.
XUEREB SAYS SPRINTERS “LOOKING FOR A SCAPEGOAT” IN DOPING SCANDAL—07/19/13
Chris Xuereb, the trainer of Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, said he did not provide performance-enhancing drugs to the athletes and suggested that they “take responsibility for their doping” rather than look for ways to put the blame on others. Xuereb said he has done nothing wrong and is disappointed that the athletes are blaming him for their problems.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICANS RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE TO DIASPORA—07/16/13
Of the 79 Jamaicans presented with the Medal of Appreciation by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at a ceremony on July 31, 2013, 18 will be named for their service to the Diaspora. The awards are given in recognition of contributions to culture, agriculture, religion, finance, tourism and security. The Medal of Appreciation was first presented in 1983 to commemorate the nation’s 21st anniversary of independence.
5TH BIENNIAL DIASPORA CONFERENCE ENERGIZES US DIASPORA—07/17/13
Jamaicans in the Diaspora community in the Southern United States were energized by the 5th Biennial Conference and nope to take advantage of the business and social opportunities arising from that event. Over 600 overseas delegates participated in the Montego Bay conference in June 2013.
JAMAICANS IN DIASPORA WILL PRAY FOR COUNTRY’S “SPIRITUAL HEALING”—07/18/13
Jamaican diplomats will join with their church communities to present the yearly Jamaica Diaspora Day of Prayer and Fasting for the country. The event will occur on August 1, 2013, Emancipation Day. Over 40 places of worship plan to host the event for Jamaicans and their friends in the parish. The Diaspora Day of Prayer was created in 2004 in the Bronx, New York. It was established through the combined efforts of New York clergy and is popular around the world.
51ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND HONORS EVENT—07/19/13
The Jamaica United Relief Association and the Consulate General of Jamaica will present a community-wide celebration to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Jamaica’s independence on August 3, 2013, in Davie, Florida. The Jamaican Diaspora in Florida and the Southern USA will also participate to honor those who contribute to the Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora communities.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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LIONFISH NOT STOPPED BY NATIVE PREDATORS IN CARIBBEAN—07/13/13
ORGANIC PRODUCT OF BANANAS VERSUS CONTROL OF DISEASES—07/14/13
OFFICIALS FROM CARIBBEAN VISIT SINGAPORE—07/15/13
YVETTE CLARKE JOINS IN CALL FOR PROBE IN ZIMMERMAN CASE—07/17/13
RIGHTS GROUPS IN HAITI CONDEMN THREATS TO GAY COMMUNITY—07/18/13
SHIP CARRYING WEAPONS FROM CUBA TO NORTH KOREA SEIZED IN PANAMA—07/19/13
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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MCNEILL BELIEVES CULTURE, TOURISM LINK ESSENTIAL IN MARKETING—07/13/13
Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, stated that the connection between culture and tourism is very important in marketing the country as a tourist destination. Jamaica’s culture and heritage should be central in the nation’s marketing efforts. He made his remarks at the reopening of the Seville Exhibition at The Seville Great House in St. Ann. The exhibition was sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund and totaled $14 million for the refurbishing of the Great House. The Spanish Jamaica Foundation also sponsored the renovations with $5 million for exhibits.
CONSULTATIONS SOUGHT FROM UTILITIES REGULATORS ON 10-DIGIT DIALING—07/15/13
Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is almost out of telephone numbers. Therefore, the agency is thinking about adding another area code. This means that local phone numbers will increase from seven to ten digits. OUR has applied to the North American Numbering Plan Administration to obtain a second area code in addition to the current 876. A 40-page consultation document invites discussions concerning the implications of 10-digit dialing.
IDB, JAMPRO HOST MASTER CLASS IN ANIMATION—07/17/13
Jamaica Producers (JAMPRO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are collaborating to develop a roadmap for an animation industry in Jamaica. The plan is designed to promote success in the multi-billion-dollar sector. The Trade and Investment Unit of IDB and JAMPRO, as part of the Coalition of Service Industries, will host an Animation Gap Analysis Workshop and Master Class featuring James Caswell, Canadian animator and illustrator. It will provide an illustration session and master class with works submitted by local animators.
GOOGLE ENGINEER TO INVEST IN TECH START-UPS IN JAMAICA—07/18/13
JJ Geewax, chief engineer at Invite Media, a firm acquired by Google, is a technology expert from the United States, who has decided to establish a business incubator in Jamaica to invest in local start-up firms and help entrepreneurs interesting in global technology. The incubator will be known as JGX Labs and will be based in New Kingston. JGX plans to provide capital and office space, legal support and mentoring in technology and business issues to start-up firms.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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NEW CLIMATE TOOL TO LAUNCH IN CARIBBEAN—07/13/13
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS FROM JAMAICA FORM WORKING GROUP—07/14/13
HACKING DEMOSTRATION SHOWS EASE OF CYBER-THEFT—07/15/13
UTILITY IN JAMAICA LESSENS IMPACT OF STORMS VIA VENTYX SOLUTIONS—07/16/13
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ENTERTAINMENT
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HIP HOP ARTISTE HAPPY TO MAKE FIRST VISIT TO JAMAICA—07/13/13
Flo Rida, hip hop artiste, says he is excited to be making his first visit to Jamaica to perform at Reggae Sumfest’s International Night One in Montego Bay. Flo Rida is a fan of Beres Hammond, reggae singer, and of Jamaican culture and food. Flo Rida says he is preparing to provide a great performance on stage at the event.
APACHE CHIEF, JAMAICAN COMEDIAN, DIES—07/14/13
Apache Chief, member of the comedic duo Apache Chief and Sarge, has died. Reports stated that he died at the Spanish Town Hospital. Although the cause of death is still unknown, the comedian had been battling illness for some time. According to his daughter Shanica Allen, 17, he had had kidney problems before his death.
VYBZ KARTEL HEARING DELAYED—07/17/13
The Vybz Kartel murder trial has been delayed as the dancehall entertainer awaits the decision of a judge who is hearing submissions from the prosecution. The prosecution is attempting to get certain statements into the record. Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, has been charged with murder, along with two other, in the 2011 shooting death of Barrington “Bossy” Burton, a businessman in St. Catherine.
BLIND UWI STUDENT AIMING FOR CAREER IN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY—07/18/13
Shavane Daley, a blind student at the University of the West Indies, has been inspired by Senator Floyd Morris, the first visually impaired person appointed as president of the Jamaican senate. Daley currently produces an entertainment program on News Talk 93 FM and has overcome the challenges of losing his vision at age 14. He did not allow his disability to prevail and carved out a place for himself in the entertainment industry. Daley wants to inspire others through his program.
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SPORTS
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THOMPSON SETS NEW HURDLES RECORD—07/13/13
Jamaican hurdler Yanique Thompson broke a 14-year-old record and obtained the first gold medal for Jamaica at the IAAF World Youth Championships. Thompson, 17, ran the 100 meter hurdles in 12.94 seconds. Thompson is the first Jamaican to hold a world record in this event at any level, beating the previous record of 13.08 seconds set in 1999.
TWO JAMAICAN OLYMPIC MEDALISTS “FAIL DRUG TESTS”—07/14/13
Two Olympic medalist sprinters from Jamaica have allegedly tested positive for banned substances. This brings the total of Jamaican athletes charged with the offense to four. The findings resulted from tests conducted at national trials held from June 20 to 23, 2013.
POWELL, SIMPSON HOTEL ROOMS SEARCHED BY POLICE IN ITALY—07/15/13
The Italian police have searched the hotel rooms of Jamaican runners Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson. Both athletes have tested positive for the banned substance oxilofrine. According to the police captain of Udine, Antonio Pisapia, the athletes’ rooms and Chris Xuereb, physical trainer, were searched, and drugs were confiscated. Pisapia did not say whether the drugs taken were legal or illegal. The substances are being analyzed.
RANDALL THIRD JAMAICAN TO TEST POSITIVE FOR BANNED SUBSTANCE—07/16/13
Allison Randall, Olympic discus thrower from Jamaica, is the third athlete to have a positive drug test during the Jamaican trials in June 2013. Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have already been under investigation for using banned substances. Randall received notice from the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission about a positive test for a banned diuretic. Like Powell and Simpson, Randall has denied knowingly taking the substance. It has been reported that she tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a drug that lowers blood volume by limiting the ability of the kidneys to retain water.
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JAMAICAN JOBS
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– Corporate Solutions Specialist – Details Here
– Receptionist/Production Assistant – Details Here
– Technical Advisor – Investment And Private Sector, Office Of Trade Negotiations (Otn): Barbados – Details Here
– Hotel Professionals – Details Here
– Deputy College Librarian – Details Here
Visit JAMAICAN JOBS.
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DEVOTIONAL
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The Value of Time
It was one of those chain e-mails, author unknown, which landed in my Inbox. Friends who forward them along know the kind of stuff they can send to me and this one was good!
It said:”To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam. To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of one hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of one minute, ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane. To realize the value of one-second, ask a person who has survived an accident. To realize the value of one millisecond, ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.”
There is a lot of truth in that poem. Though we may not think of it in those terms, time has value, a value that we should endeavor to use wisely. It does not mean that every waking minute must be spent immersed in activities, but we should have an awareness that time lost cannot be regained. Author Henry David Thoreau reminds us, “It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?” For professing believers, we are to be good stewards of our time. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul reminds them, “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, Amplified).
To truly live and to live purposefully means that we will live fulfilling the purpose that God intended for us. To do so means we have to see ourselves the way He sees – living lives of purpose – and resolve to using our time to achieve that goal. M. Scott Peck, noted psychiatrist and author, was right when he states, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” Paul encouraged the Ephesian church to “make the very most of the time because the days are evil.” How much more evil are the days now?
Let’s not be like the man who said, “If it weren’t for the last minute, I wouldn’t get anything done!” Instead, let us our time wisely and effectively. God, our Heavenly Father, expects nothing less.
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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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