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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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BISHOP EXPECTS LITTLE TO COME FROM TIVOLI REPORT—05/04/13
Rev. Dr. Howard Gregory, Anglican Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, says that Jamaicans should not expect much action from the government on the recommendations from the Public Defender’s report on the incident that occurred in Tivoli Gardens in 2010. He does not believe the government will work to “embarrass” the Opposition, as many are hoping, because there is complicity involved.
FIRST FUNDS FROM IMF COMING TO JAMAICA—05/05/13
The first portion of $207 million for Jamaica that results from an agreement between the nation and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to be deposited into government accounts May 10, 2013. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller confirmed the funding at a press conference. Of the total $90 million is slated for use as budgetary support.
ARREST IN ATTACK ON BROTHER OF PRIME MINISTER—05/06/13
Police in Jamaica arrested a suspect in the attack on the older brother of Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. Andre Foreman, 21, was arrested on charges of aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to kill, and illegal possession of a firearm. Vincent Simpson, 71, was beaten, stabbed and robbed at his store in downtown Kingston. Two other men were also involved in the attack, but remain at large.
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO RECEIVE FOREIGN HELP TO FIGHT CORRUPTION—05/07/13
Jamaica’s Members of Parliament will receive aid from the Canadian Chapter of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC). The help will also include a proposal to enhance oversight capabilities of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Five members of GOPAC will visit Jamaica May 13-16, 2013, to conduct a workshop on the role of Parliament in battling corruption.
CANADIAN SHIPS STOP VESSEL CARRYING FORMER JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER—05/08/13
The Canadian Navy is facing criticism after stopping a vessel carrying Jamaica’s former Prime Minister Bruce Golding in 2012. At the time, the navy was conducting live-fire exercises in Jamaican waters. This was a violation of international maritime law. Golding reported that ten Canadians approached his fishing trawler in international waters.
GOLDING MISTRUSTFUL OF JDF, SOUGHT U.S. HELP IN TIVOLI ABUSE CLAIMS—05/09/13
Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding did not trust the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF), and instead relied on help from foreign forces in obtaining information about the incident in Tivoli Gardens during the 2010 hunt for drug kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke. Golding was allegedly aware of allegations of murder and rape during the two-day incursion, and brought in U.S. Embassy charge d’affaires Isaiah Parnell.
CLARKE AIMS TO BRING NORMALCY BACK TO AREA ONE—05/10/13
Warren Clarke, acting assistant commissioner of police (ACP), the new commanding officer for Area One, has a five-point plan to fight corruption and lawlessness and to return the region to normality. Area One includes Trelawney, St. James, Hanover, and Westmoreland. Clarke was clear that he views his mission as one that will produce clear results in reducing crime.
WOODS SUSPENDED FROM PNP YOUTH ORGANIZATION—05/10/13
Keron Woods, the chairman of the Kingston Chapter of the People’s National Party Youth Organization (PNPYO) has accused the leaders of the association of victimization, saying that his suspension had “shocked” him. Woods believes the disciplinary action was imposed on grounds that he breached the Constitution of the organization. He says the leadership is trying to silence him after he took issue with the PNPYO opposition to a Commission of Enquiry into the Tivoli Gardens incursion in 2010.
TANKER TRUCK DRIVERS CALL OFF STRIKE—05/10/13
Some 200 unionized tanker truck drivers in Kingston and Montego had joined to protest the actions of Austin Haulage Contractors in failing to put outstanding salaries and allowances to two drivers. Later the same day, however, Vincent Morrison, president of the National Workers Union, announced an agreement on the outstanding payments after meeting with Phillip Paulwell, Jamaica’s Energy Minister. As a result the two drivers in question will receive an interim payment of $500,000 and obtain final sums by May 17, 2013. A meeting between the union and the company will settle on the final amount.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICA MAY CREATE A DIASPORA DATABASE—05/06/13
The government of Jamaica may create a database of the island’s investors and professionals who live in the Diaspora, said Arnaldo Brown, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. According to Brown, the government will consider the action later in 2013 with help from the International Organization for Migration. Several other countries, including Mexico, Israel, and China, have such databases, which they use to leverage companies to provide investments.
CEDRIC BROOKS, ROOTS REGGAE MUSICIAN, DIES—05/07/13
Cedric “Im” Brooks, saxophonist and roots reggae influence, has died at a nursing home in Queens, New York, after being admitted to a hospital in February 2010. He began his career at age 11 in Kingston and was internationally known as a solo musician and as part of the Skatallites band. He will be honors at the annual Groovin’ in the Park event in Queens on June 30, 2013.
DIASPORA SHOULD BE RERESENTED IN PARLIAMENT, SAYS HOLNESS—05/08/13
Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader, believes that Jamaica should develop a way to include the Jamaican Diaspora in the nation’s Parliament. This would broaden democracy and increase the participation of citizens, Holness says, citing a need to rethink the country’s systems, institutions, and practices 50 years after Independence. The Jamaica Diaspora is about equal to the size of the island’s local population.
JAMAICAN AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK IN MINNESOTA—05/09/13
Stephen Vasciannie, the Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, will speak with Jamaican nationals in Minnesota to update them on developments back home. The updates will include information about the Jamaican Diaspora Conference, which is scheduled for June 2013. Vasciannie was invited to make the trip by the Organization of Strategic Development in Jamaica, a nonprofit seeking to improve the delivery of health care in Jamaica. The Ambassador will meet with Dr. Jonna Parkins, directory of pediatrics at the Minnesota Hospital for Children, and David Wippman, dean at the law school at the University of Minnesota.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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GUATEMALA, HONDURAS JOIN PETROCARIBE—05/05/13
PUERTO RICO INCREASINGLY USED BY HAITIANS TO MIGRATE NORTH—05/06/13
CARIBBEAN COAST UNDER THREAT BY RISING SEA LEVELS—05/07/13
ARISTIDE ATTEMPTS TO REBUILD POLITICAL PARTY IN HAITI—05/08/13
CANADIAN JOINT VENTURE MAKES NEW TERMS FOR GOLD MINE OPERATIONS—05/09/13
CARIBBEAN AMERICAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO EMBEZZLEMENT—05/10/13
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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JAMAICAN MANUFACTURERS TO CREATE 30,000 NEW JOBS—05/05/13
The Jamaican manufacturing industry plans to create 30,000 new jobs by 2015, while also raising its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The GDP is expected to grow from seven percent to eight percent during this period. Brian Pengelley, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA), also called for more local support of the industry, noting that the development will create spin-offs in the national economy.
SAGICOR LIFE ACQUIRES ANOTHER RESORT—05/06/13
Jamaica’s top life insurance firm, Sagicor Life, has acquired the resort formerly known as the Royal Decameron Fund Caribbean in St. Ann. The company has appointed an international hospitality firm, Aimbridge Hospitality, which is based in Dallas, Texas, to rebrand the resort as the Jewel Paradise Cove and Spa. This is the third resort acquired by Sagicor Life, which will now have a total of 741 rooms and suites on the island.
PAULWELL SAYS DEAL WITH PETROCARIBE WILL CONTINUE—05/07/13
Jamaica’s Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell says that Jamaica and Venezuela will make a new payment arrangement under PetroCaribe. This could result in Jamaican cement being sold in the market under a special deal. Paulwell says the government of Venezuela has assured him that the deal will go on, and he plans further discussions with President Nicolas Madura’s government concerning the agreement.
AGRICULTURE MINISTER PROMOTES BLUE MOUNTAIN TEA—05/09/13
Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee is known worldwide as a top-of-the-line beverage and one of the most expensive coffees available. Now, Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture, plans for the brand to have some company – Blue Mountain tea. The ministry is considering the idea of growing tea in the Blue Mountains. Clarke is in negotiations with a specialist to help with the creation of an industrial plan for the nutraceuticals industry.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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NEW SUPERSTATION BEGINS BROADCASTS—05/04/13
START-UP FIRMS WANT BANK OF JAMAICA TO IMPLEMENT MOBILE MONEY NOW—05/08/13
DOCTOR MAKES STROKE RECOVERY BREAKTHROUGH—05/09/13
ST. MICHAEL’S STUDENTS GET TECHNOLOGY BOOST—05/10/13
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ENTERTAINMENT
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CHARITY CONCERT HELD FOR SAXOPHONIST—05/04/13
Clive “Cubba” Pringle decided to hold a charity concert for Felix “Deadly Headley” Bennett after hearing that the saxophonist needed help with his medical bills. Pringle, a promoter and businessman based in Negril, noted that Bennett had a key role in the development of Jamaican music, and he believes the community has an obligation to help him. A fund-raising concert in Negril is being organized to collect funds for Bennett.
KENYAN CLOTHING LINE ENDORSED BY REGGAE STARS—05/05/13
Jamaican reggae stars Sizzla and his producer, Caveman, will endorse the popular Kenyan clothing line Anglohili Clothing by K-Nel in Jamaica. The deal was announced by K-Nel’s friend, the Kenyan reggae producer Hopetone Blazze, with whom he is making a new album.
FASHION DESIGNER BRINGS JAMAICAN DANCEHALL TO THE WORLD—05/06/13
Jamaican fashion designer Lubica is taking dancehall to a global audience. She brought the Jamaican style to the FAT 2013 runway show in Toronto, Canada. Her exhibit features a dance performance by Onika “Neeks” Powell and Teneisha Richards and Melonie Hamilton. Lubica said she was sure that many of the people at the fashion show had never seen dancing like that before and that the Jamaicans were crowd favorites. The event features 200 Canadian and international designers over a five-day period.
VIRTUOSO PIANIST DONALD SHIRLEY DIES AT 86—05/07/13
Dr. Donald Shirley, Jamaican virtuoso pianist, died in New York in April 2013 of complications from heart disease. He was 86. The son of Jamaican parents, Shirley was a musical prodigy who left a classical music career to develop his singular styles, which bridged classical and American pop music. Shirley combined pop tunes, spirituals, blues, and jazz with a traditional classical structure.
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SPORTS
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JAMAICANS END REIGN AT SABINA—05/05/13
Trinidad and Tobago defeated Jamaica by three wickets at Sabina Park, taking a place in the Regional Four-Day Tournament final. T&T took advantage of two dropped catches by the Jamaicans and reached the victory goal of 179. The loss represented the end of Jamaica’s six-match run of victories during the four-day this season.
MCPHERSON GETTING FASTER, TARGETS 49.10—05/06/13
Jamaica’s Stephanie McPherson ran another impressive performance and posted a new world-record of 50.43 seconds to take the women’s 400-meter at the 10th Jamaica International Invitational track and field meet at National Stadium. McPherson took command of the meet early and performed with great strength during the final stages. The athlete says she is setting her goal as low as 49.10 seconds for the season.
BOLT TO RUN IN CAYMAN INVITATIONAL—05/08/13
USANi Bolt, Jamaica’s six-time Olympic gold medalist, will run the 100 meters at the Cayman Invitational. Bolt said he was going to try to run his fastest time. He has overcome the hamstring strain that caused him to drop out of the Jamaican Invitational. While he was scheduled to run the 200 meters in that competition, he decided not to run after feeling pain during the days just before the event.
SYNTHETIC PUTTING GREEN TO BENEFIT JUNIOR GOLFERS—05/09/13
Jason Lopez, Jamaica’s national junior golf coach, is confident that the installation of the first synthetic golf putting green on the island will improve the young golfers’ performances at the annual Caribbean Golf Championships later in 2013 in the Cayman Islands. To be competitive, the golfers must be good in all of the game’s aspects, and the new green will give the youngsters an appropriate place to practice on a par with other nations in the region.
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JAMAICAN JOBS
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DEVOTIONAL
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“Oh, Yes, He Cares”
On Jesus’ instructions, the disciples had sent the crowd away and had set out to go over to the other side of the lake into the country of the Gadarenes (Mark 5:1). At some point in the journey, Jesus, being tired after ministering, fell asleep, head on a pillow, in the back of the boat. Everything seemed fine as they left out but then the narrative tells us that after a while, “there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full” (Mark 4:37, KJV). The word translated “storm” could also have been translated “squall”, which Webster defines as “a sudden violent wind often with rain or snow.” Despite some of the disciples being seasoned fishermen, they seemed overwhelmed by what had overtaken them. So much so that Mark wrote, “and they awake him (Jesus), and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (v. 38).
The disciples’ words reflect the feelings of some of us when we are overtaken by life’s storms and circumstances. When it seems that the phrase “God doesn’t give us more than we can bear” seem more of a cruel joke than it is our reality. “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” rings true from the depths of our soul as we face our respective challenges. However, let us not lose heart because Jesus did not sleep through the disciples’ despair, but “he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (v.39). Those of us who profess Jesus as Lord should be encouraged that he responds to the cries of the sincere, and not only does he respond, but he has all power and authority to rebuke every adverse wind in our lives and speak peace to our troubled hearts and minds.
Though they woke Jesus in a moment of despair, the disciples recognized that he was the only one that could do something about the situation. Once he had calmed the storm, he looked at them and asked, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (v.40). Our part is to do as Peter reminds us, “(Casting) all your care upon him, for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7, KJV). He will take care of the rest.
As you face the squalls in your life, how do you respond? What would he say to you? I trust and pray that whenever we find ourselves asking if God really cares, we can sing triumphantly with the hymn writer:
“Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares / His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary / I know my Saviour cares.”
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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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