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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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CONSERVATIONISTS OBJECT TO RESORT DEVELOPMENT PLAN—06/29/13
Representatives of conservation interests are objecting to the inclusion of Manatee Bay in St. Catherine on a list of areas marked for development. The Jamaican government has opened applications for integrated resort developments (IRDs) in an effort to spur growth in the hotel sector. Guidelines for IRDs include a minimum of 2,000 rooms and facilities for casino gaming.
CHARLES TOWN HOSTS SURINAME DELEGATION—06/30/13
A delegation from Suriname participated in the fifth Charles Town Maroon conference, which was held in Portland. The group from Suriname and the Maroons of Jamaica have much in common, so the event was highly anticipated. Colonel Frank Lunsden of the Charles Town Maroons issued an invitation to the Surinamese government, which accepted it to learn more about Maroons in Jamaica.
JAMAICA IMPROVING ON HUMAN-TRAFFICKING FRONT—07/01/13
According to Peter Bunting, Jamaica’s National Security Minister, the country has been upgraded in its ranking on the yearly report on trafficking in persons. Jamaica rose from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2. The Trafficking in Persons Report is prepared each year by the United States Department of State.
WORKERS AT JPP STAGE PROTEST—07/02/13
The workers at the Jamaica Private Power Company (JPP) have staged a protest in St. Andrew, claiming unfair treatment by the company’s officials. According to one protestor, the company made 15 workers redundant in just the last week and there are rumors that more will be relieved of their jobs. The protestors want the company to hear their grievances and threaten to continue their protests until they achieve this goal.
UNESCO GIVES JAMAICAN HISTORY COLLECTIONS SPECIAL AWARDS—07/03/13
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized the importance of Jamaica’s heritage to the world by providing special awards to several collections. These include records of the period of slavery in Jamaica, indentured immigration from Asia, and Jamaica’s involvement in building the Panama Canal. These collections are now included in the organization’s Memory of the World Register. Two special plaques to mark the importance of the collections were unveiled on June 27, 2013, in St. Catherine.
HOUSE IN MILLSBOROUGH DEMOLISHED—07/04/13
A house in the Millsborough community in St. Andrew in which a number of gay men had been living has been demolished. The group was thrown out of the abandoned house by police armed with weapons and wearing gas masks. The action was taken because the men, who had been living in the abandoned house for some time, had cause complaints from other residents of the area. The men believed they were evicted because of their sexual orientation.
SIX JAMAICANS WIN SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FROM EU PROGRAM—07/05/13
Six students from Jamaica have received top scholarships that are offered by the Erasmus Mundus program sponsored by the European Union (EU). The students are Kadian Alicia Davis, Allison Anthonette Pearce, Shaneil Stewart, Channelle Kerry-Ann Ferron, Marshalee Jones, and Jason Holness. They will be pursuing their academic interests in a wide range of countries, including Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.
STOP-AND-SEARCH SUPPORTED BY VAZ—07/05/13
Jamaican Member of Parliament for West Portland believes that the police should receive support for their efforts to reduce the high national crime rate with stop-and-search procedures. While there may be some inconvenience associated with the measure, said Vaz, the police actions are for the “greater good” of the country.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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CHANGES TO CORONERS ACT IN CANADA CALLED FOR—06/29/13
Migrant workers in Canada have called for the nation to make changes to its Coroners Act after the authorities refused to hold an inquest regarding the death of a Jamaican man. Ned Peart traveled to Ontario via the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program and died in 2002 after being crushed by a falling tobacco bin. His family made a human rights complaint after the Office of the Chief Coroner refused to hold an inquest in the case. There has never been an inquest called to investigate any death of any migrant worker in the history of Ontario, said Chris Ramsaroop who works with Justice for Migrant Workers and who organized the protest.
JAMAICAN WOMAN ALLEGES SEXUAL HARASSMENT WHILE WORKING IN CANADA—06/30/13
A Jamaican woman who did farm work in Canada alleges that she was subjected to sexual harassment and abuse while on assignment. There have been a number of reports of rape and sexual abuse among female farm workers in the United States, and the Jamaican woman has made similar claims against her employer in Canada. She described several incidents of bodily contact and repeated unwanted attempts by her boss to engage in a sexual relationship with her.
GYLES-MCDONNOUGH TO HEAD UNITED NATIONS ACTIVITIES IN THREE COUNTRIES—07/01/13
Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica has been appointed by Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, to be the resident coordinator of the UN system’s operational activities for development in Malaysia, the Republic of Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam. She will be the overall team leader for coordinating UN development activities in these nations. She has just completed five years as UN resident coordinator and representative for the UN Development Program in Barbados.
RAMSAY RECEIVES FELLOWSHIP FROM HARVARD—07/02/13
Pat Ramsay, Jamaican philanthropist and promoter of Jamaica overseas, has been selected to receive one of 30 scholarships to Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. Ramsay works with the International Women’s Forum and organized the IWF World Cornerstone Conference in Montego Bay in May 2013. She will complete the course with a full scholarship.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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OFFENSIVE ONLINE STATEMENTS TO BE PUNISHED BY GRENADA GOVERNMENT—06/29/13
“HILARIOUS” COMPLAINT LETTER RECEIVED BY AIRLINE—07/01/13
INTERPOL CONDUCTS OPERATION AGAINST DRUG AND GUN SMUGGLERS—07/02/13
LEADERS IN CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY MARK ANNIVERSARY—07/03/13
STUDY SHOWS CARIBBEAN ATTRACTIONS INADEQUATE DRAW FOR TOURISTS—07/04/13
CUBA DISPUTE OVER ESTATE OF ALFREDO GUEVARA—07/05/13
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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FILM SUBSIDIES IN CARIBBEAN EXPLORED—06/29/13
According the Celebrity Business Analyst, the Dominican Republic has become very attractive to film production companies by appointing a national film commission and building a $70 million film studio. This is the second largest water tank in the world and will be used to film underwater scenes. Also, financial incentives were offered by the nation beginning in 2011. Twenty-two films have been shot in the Dominican Republic in 2012, and there received government incentives.
CEO OF CARIBBEAN AIRLINES LEAVES POST—06/30/13
Robert Corbie, the acting CEO of Caribbean Airlines (CAL), has resigned. His resignation is to take place immediately and leaves the national carrier during a period of low cash availability. Corbie’s resignation has occurred a month after the airline’s board was dismissed by Larry Howai, Trinidad Finance Minister. Corbie had 29 years of experience in the aviation industry and said his decision was not easy.
GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA OFFICIAL LEERY OF REOPENING OF WINDALCO—07/02/13
According to Oral Rainford, a principal director in the nation’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, there are doubts as to whether the stalled Windalco Kirkvine Alumina plant in Manchester will ever reopen for business. He said he understood that parts were being removed from Kirkvine to the Windalco Ewarton plant in St. Catherine, and that it appears that the Kirkvine facility is being “actively scrapped.” UC Rusal of Russia, which owns the plants, says it is still committed to the refinery in Manchester.
ZACCA URGES TAX REFORMS—07/03/13
Chris Zacca, president of Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, is calling for reforms in the tax regime of the country. He believes that the government should eliminate input taxes on exporters and reduce the corporate income tax rate to 15 percent. This would end “a host of complex distortionary incentives” and create a more competitive environment for investment in the country.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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CTEX FIRST CARRIER IN REGION TO RECEIVE TOP CERTIFICATION—07/02/13
TEA TIME FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COUNCIL—07/03/13
BOLIVIA WAITING FOR TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY INVESTMENTS FROM RUSSIA—07/04/13
ENECSYS PARTNERS WITH GLENN INTERNATIONAL FOR SOLAR MARKET—07/05/13
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ENTERTAINMENT
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INTERNATIONAL REGGAE DAY REPRESENTS RICH HISTORY—06/30/13
The music of Jamaica will be highlighted on the international stage when International Reggae Day is celebrated. The idea for a day to recognize Jamaica’s reggae music was initiated by Andrea Davie, music administrator, after a speech by Winnie Mandela, ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa. The two were on a visit to Jamaica in 1993, and Mandela’s speech discussed the inspiration that South Africans received from Jamaican reggae during the fight against apartheid. Davis saw the statement as a reason to celebrate reggae as a world contribution, and since 1994, a special day has been set aside to recognize the music.
NELSON MANDELA A MAJOR FIGURE IN JAMAICAN MUSIC LYRICS—07/01/13
When a call went out in 1991 for musical artistes to participate in a tribute to Nelson Mandela, there was a huge response. The freedom of Nelson Mandela and the apartheid system in South Africa were both important to the Jamaican people, and they provided major topics for songs by Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1976, and Peter Tosh recorded “Apartheid” in 1978. Mandela was a significant inspiration for the reggae community.
REGGAE, DANCEHALL FEATURED AT BET AWARDS FOR 2013—07/02/13
A dancehall and reggae session occurred during the BET Awards ceremony, as event organizers provided the world with a sampling of contemporary Jamaican musical genres. The set opened with Dawn Penn’s “You Don’t Love Me,” as the dancehall segment inspired the audience. Chaka Demus and Pliers performed “Murder She Wrote.” which got everyone’s attention. Other performers making the scene were Beenie Man Nicki Minaj and French Montana, and Elephant Man, who closed the segment with “Pon Di Riva.”
JIMMY CLIFF TO MAKE 2013 TOUR—07/03/13
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff will visit several cities in the United States during September 2013 on his “2013 Many Rivers Crossed Tour.” Seventeen dates will be played in cities that include New York San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston. Cliff said that his recent Grammy Award win and the 40th anniversary of the “The Harder They Come” prompted him to want to provide a different look at the man and his music.
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SPORTS
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POWELL WINS IN OSTRAVA—06/29/13
Jamaican Asafa Powell won the 100-meters at the Golden Spike IAAF World Challenge in Ostrava. He ran the distance in 10.06 seconds. This was his only his second time on the track since his seventh-place finish at the Jamaican Nationals. However, with a run of 10.22 in last week’s trials, he finished outside the automatic spots to bee with the Jamaican team in the IAAF World Championships in Moscow in August.
WEIR WILL COMPETE IN EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC—06/30/13
Warren Weir is one of 11 Jamaicans competing in the Edmonton International Classic in Canada. Weir won a bronze medal in the men’s 200 meters at the London Olympics in 2012. He will run the distance with his Jamaica teammate Jason Young.
BLAKE MAY RUN IN MOSCOW, SAYS MANAGER—07/01/13
Yohan Blake, the world 100-meter champion, may defend his title in Moscow in August, despite media stories that surgery for an injury will cause him to miss the competition. Blake’s manager Cubie Seegobin said there have been no discussions or plans for surgery and didn’t know how the story got started. The coach has not decided to pull Blake from the World Championships.
WILLIAMS-MILLS RAN AT OLYMPICS AFTER DIAGNOSIS FOR BREAST CANCER—07/02/13
Novlene Williams-Mills, Jamaica’s top 400-meter runner, told the public that she was received a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2012, before competing at the London 2012 Olympics. Williams-Mills, a graduate of the University of Florida, won the Jamaican trials just six days after the diagnosis and finished fifth in the Olympic 400-meter final. She also earned her third consecutive bronze medal for the 4×400 relay. Three days after the Olympic Games, she had the first of several surgeries to remove the cancerous cells.
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JAMAICAN JOBS
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– Visual Foxpro Programmer – Details Here
– Consultants – Details Here
– Executive Assistant – Details Here
– IT Auditor – Details Here
– Principal – Details Here
Visit JAMAICAN JOBS.
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DEVOTIONAL
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“My Grace is Sufficient”
In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of his thorn in the flesh. Theologians have long speculated on what that might have been, but regardless of what it was, we know that Paul asked the Lord to remove it three times (v.9). However, the answer was not what he might have expected. The Apostle wrote, “And he [Christ] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (v.10, KJV).
Space limitation does not allow for a full discourse on this compelling portion of Scripture. However, there are at least two very important lessons we can take from it. First, our fervent prayers are not necessarily answered in ways we would expect; second, whatever God allows us to bear, He provides the grace for us to do so successfully. It is understandable that we, like Paul, would ask God to remove physical, emotional, psychological, or mental stressors, but in His wisdom and as He seeks to shape our lives to conform to the image of Christ, He may choose to leave us with those issues and the resulting pain. This does not mean that we are left to fend for ourselves. We have the assurance of Christ Himself that not only do we have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, but that the measure of grace that He has made available to us is sufficient. This grace will manifest itself in our moments of weakness, enabling us to rise above our challenging circumstances – no matter how painful or how difficult.
Paul continued, “Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size–abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become” (vv. 9b-10, The Message). The KJV renders the last clause in verse 9, “that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” On the word “rest”, Albert Barnes writes, “The word properly means to pitch a tent upon; and then to dwell in or upon. Here it is used in the sense of abiding upon, or remaining with. The sense is, that the power which Christ manifested to his people rested with them, or abode with them in their trials.”
Have you been given a thorn in the flesh? A situation that seems far more than you can bear? God has not lost your address; He knows exactly where you are. Amidst the many struggles and discouragement is a supernatural power resting on us and an abundance of grace that He promises is sufficient. Take hold of those truths; go forward and conquer!
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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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