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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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OIL SUPPLY FOR JAMAICA UNAFFECTED BY REFINERY FIRE—09/01/12
Supplies of oil for Jamaica remain secure following a large fire that resulted in the shutdown of the Amuay refinery in Venezuela. According to Petrojam, the state-owned refinery in Jamaica, the plant is expected to resume operations shortly, causing minimal disruption, if any, to the island’s supply. Petrojam purchases its oil from Venezuela.
JAMAICA, CHINA SIGN AGREEMENT TO REHABILITATE INFRASTRUCTURE—09/02/12
An agreement designed to rehabilitate Sligoville’s community road and water systems has been signed by Jamaica and China. The agreement, totaling J$45 million, represents the start of a new development process for Jamaica’s first free village. The water system will meet the demands for domestic usage and supply the stadium at Sligoville, said Natalie Neita Headley, the Minister with responsibility for Sport.
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REINTRODUCE CIVICS TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM—09/03/12
Jamaica’s government has decided to reintroduce the study of civics into the schools, hoping the classes will foster a sense of national pride among students. The goal of the civics lessons is to educate students about the duties, rights, and responsibilities of being a citizen of Jamaica. Jamaicans generally welcome the plan.
THWAITES WANTS MORE MONEY FOR PATH PROGRAM—09/04/12
Ronald Thwaites, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, is encouraging Jamaican citizens to ask the government to provide more money in support of the Program of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) in the schools. According to Thwaites, the whole community must lobby the government to emphasize the need of such support for schools that support children on PATH. PATH provides help for the poorest Jamaican citizens.
POLICEMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF PREGNANT WOMAN—09/04/12
Prosecutors in Jamaica said that a Jamaican policeman will face charges for killing a pregnant woman during an attempt to arrest her for cursing in public. Corporal Dwayne Smart was seen by several witnesses in Yallahs when he shot Kayann Lamont in the head during the arrest attempt. He is also alleged to have shot Lamont’s sister as well and to be targeting another sister when his Glock service pistol ran out of ammunition. Lamont, 26, was eight months pregnant.
ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY SAYS INVESTIGATOR TARGETED BY HIT MEN—09/05/12
The Office of the Contractor General in Jamaica stated that, according to a report received, one of the agency’ investigators has been targeted for killing by hit men. According to the report, a government contractor hired gunmen to murder an agency staff member. The matter was turned over to the police for further action.
US$30 MILLION LOST DUE TO THEFT AT POWER COMPANY IN 2012—09/06/12
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has lost over US$30 million due to electricity theft since the beginning of 2012. The company continues to absorb the cost of the fuel used to produce the power lost to the thefts. According to Kelly Tomblin, president and CEO of JPS, approximately 14 percent of the electricity produced by the company is stolen. The JPS continues its efforts to find ways to stem the theft of power, the costs of which are borne by consumers and the agency.
GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR POLICE—09/07/12
The Jamaican government is considering the provision of psychological services for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) following the shooting death of Kayann Lamont. Lamont, 25, was eight months pregnant when she was shot and killed by a policeman in St. Thomas as he attempted to arrest her for cursing in public. The Ministry of National Security said the Cabinet sanctions the program, which is to include training to identify high levels of job-related stress among police officers.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JVA DONATES TO RISE LIFE MANAGEMENT—09/01/12
The Diaspora group, the Jamaica Voluntary Association (JVA), has made a donation of $J2.2 million to Rise Life Management Services. This organization, which is based in the United States, is focused on the betterment of inner city young people through capacity building and counseling programs. Professor Donald Morgan, found and CEO of JCA, made the presentation of the donation at a ceremony in Kingston attended by Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites.
DIASPORA BONDS A “BAD IDEA,” SAY CRITICS—09/02/12
While the World Bank is supporting the idea of Diaspora bonds, some critics believes this is a “bad idea” because it tends to characterize members of the Diaspora as only financial resources to be tapped. Instead, concepts involving the Diaspora should emphasize mutual respect and the relationship between Jamaica and the members of the Diaspora. Rather than changing policies to support poor nations like Jamaica, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) insists on cutting public expenditures that force the nation to appeal to the Diaspora.
JAMAICAN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI JOIN FOR REUNION AND SOCCER TOURNAMENT—09/03/12
The South Florida Fourth Annual Jamaica High School Alumni Soccer and Netball Tournament brought together previous students from all Jamaican high schools and gave them a place to play sports. The event brings together most of the Jamaicans living in the Diaspora in North America, attracting participants from as far away as New York and Canada. Commentary on the event was streamed live to those “back home” via radio.
JAMAICAN DANCE TROUPE RETURNS TO UK AFTER 10 YEARS—09/06/12
After a hiatus of a decade, the National Dance Theater Company of Jamaica (NDTC) returned to the United Kingdom to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence. The company has been called the most Innovative group to achieve global acclaim in the past 50 years. It offers a combination of folk lore, music, and dance traditions of Jamaica, South America, and Africa with modern and classical ballet.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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HAITI’S SMARCK MICHEL DIES—09/01/12
NEW CUSTOMS TAXES IN CUBA SHOCK VISITORS—09/03/12
OIL FACILITY IN ARUBA TO BECOME STORAGE FACILITY—09/04/12
HONDURAS TO CREATE PRIVATE CITIES—09/05/12
STRONG EARTHQUAKE HITS COSTA RICA—09/06/12
EUROPEAN UNION COULD END AID TO CARIBBEAN—09/07/12
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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UTECH ENCOURAGES SPORTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP—09/01/12
A new project at the University of Technology is designed to exploit worldwide opportunities in sport via the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Sport Entrepreneurship Project. The project, called “Development of Sports Business Value Chains in Jamaica,’ was created by the Office of Development and Community Service at UTech. The cost of the project is US$216,000, with the IDB contributing $150,000 of that amount. The project aims to increase jobs in the sporting sector, create links between sport and other economic sectors, and providing opportunities for greater participation in world-class sporting events locally and globally.
BALANCE OF PAYMENTS TO RISE IF PETROCARIBE CUT—09/02/12
Jamaica could take a US$600 million hit in the payment balance to Venezuela if the deferred financing of the PetroCaribe Energy Cooperation agreement is discontinued. Venezuelans are scheduled to elect a new president in October 2012, and this agreement could be reviewed or even ended if incumbent president Hugo Chavez is not given a third term.
CAMPARI TO BUY CONTROLLING SHARE OF RUM PRODUCER—09/03/12
The Campari Group of Italy has obtained a controlling interest in Jamaican rum-maker Lascelles deMercado. The rum company shares were purchased from CL Financial Ltd. Campari will have an 81.4 percent share of the firm and will offer to buy the remained for Lascelles shares as well.
NEW JAMAICAN AIRLINE FACES CHALLENGES—09/05/12
A year after Caribbean Airlines took over Air Jamaica to become the most important airline in the Caribbean region, a new carrier based in Jamaica is ready to provide services. Fly Jamaica will begin with flights to Guyana and plans for long-haul flights to North America as well. Fly Jamaica faces considerable challenges to its efforts to create a viable operation in the unpredictable Caribbean market. Based in Kingston, Fly Jamaica received the okay to operate from Jamaican authorities on August 31, 2012.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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CYBER CRIMES UNIT WARNS AGAINST PUTTING PERSONAL INFO ONLINE—09/01/12
ONLINE OPTION FOR FINDING TEXTBOOKS AVAILABLE—09/03/12
CAYMAN ISLANDS HOST FIRST ELECTRIC CAR SHOW—09/04/12
MAJOR INTERNET UPGRADES ANNOUNCED BY CARIBBEAN CABLE—09/05/12
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ENTERTAINMENT
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FASHION NIGHT OUT IN ST.ANN—09/02/12
Businesses and shoppers alike are eager for St. Ann’s Fashion Night Out (FNO) celebration to begin. The five-hour shopping extravaganza is viewed as a big plus for the area, particularly with the current poor economic conditions. More than 100 stores in Ocho Rios, St. Ann’s Bay, and Brown’s Town have signed on to participate in the event by providing discounts. The event will also feature a stage show displaying apparel from a local designer. The St. Ann Chamber of Commerce is supporting the FNO initiative because it is expected to bring business into the parish.
TRADITIONAL REGGAE MUST BE SAVED, SAYS NEW GROUP—09/03/12
Traditional reggae music is not getting the exposure it deserves, but a new group is ready to do something about this. The group, Protest Now and Save Reggae, has launched a campaign in September 2012 to call attention to the problem with a new song, “Rescue Reggae from Freefall.” The group wants to ensure that traditional reggae receives fair play on the radio and is calling on the Broadcast Commission of Jamaica to support its efforts.
REGGAE STARS SUPPORT RE=ELECTION OF OBAMA IN U.S.—09/04/12
Reggae artistes in the music community of Jamaica have given their support to the re-election campaign of United States President Barack Obama. Obama, the first African American president, was supported by several reggae musicians in 2008, and they are favoring him again. Several songs were dedicated to Obama when he won the presidency in 2008, and some musicians are again dedicating songs to him
DOCUMENTARY FILM TO DEBUT IN ST. ANDREW—09/05/12
The documentary film “Born in Trench Town” will have its premiere showing in Jamaica in St. Andrew on September 12, 2012. Greg Pond, a visual and sound artist who lives in Tennessee, directed the film, which examines the social, architectural and political histories of the most famous neighborhood in Jamaica. The film includes interviews and scenes of daily life the Trench Town, an area which has had a significant impact on Jamaica’s history.
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SPORTS
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NEW PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON BEGINS—09/01/12
Football fans have great expectations for the new Premier League football season, which begins just days after Jamaica’s World Cup qualifying match with the United States. While some football clubs have struggled to obtain sufficient professional administrative and field standards, and although many clubs are under-resourced, the fact remains that Jamaica is proud of its football teams, and according to Edward Seaga, former prime minister and chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association, the clubs continue their struggle out of love and commitment to the sport and their dedication to youth.
JAMAICA WANTS TO HOST A DIAMOND LEAGUE EVENT—09/02/12
Jamaica, which has a high position in terms of athletic achievements, is considering becoming the host of a Diamond League event, said Natalie Neita-Headley, Minister of Sports. Jamaican has already communicated its interest to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Hotel accommodations and stadium facilities are considered adequate for such an event, but Neita-Headley said more must be done to make the country ready to host an internationally significant event. The Samsung Diamond League is a yearly series of track and field competitions that began in 2010 as a replacement of the IAAF Golden League.
BAILEY-COLE WINS 100 METERS—09/03/12
Kemar Bailey-Cole of Jamaica won the ISTAF 100 meter event and helped the Jamaican team win the 4 x 100 hurdles. Bailey-Cole ran the course in ten seconds, equally his personal best time, in the competition held in Berlin, Germany, at the Olympic Stadium.
MATTOCKS LOOKING TO BEAT U.S.—09/06/12
Darren Mattocks, striker, wants to lead the Reggae Boyz to a win against the United States in the World Cup Qualifying football match. Mattocks, 22, played his first game for the Boyz against El Salvador and wants a starting spot on the team coached by Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore. Mattocks says he wants a shot at scoring a goal against the U.S.
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JAMAICAN JOBS
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ACCOUNTING OFFICER
FORENSIC FINANCIAL ANALYST
AREA MANAGERS
SENIOR BARTENDER
MOTORCYCLE DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVE (CONTRACT)
Visit JAMAICAN JOBS.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Pointing Fingers
Jesus was on a roll. As He taught the people in what we now know as the Sermon on the Mount, He moved through topics such as the “be-attitudes”, divorce, love for enemies, oaths, adultery, murder, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, worry, to name a few. To His captive audience, it must have seemed that His teachings left no area of life untouched.
Then as if He could not have gotten any more personal, He did. According to Matthew’s narrative, Jesus admonished His hearers, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV, 1984). However, He did not stop there, but continued, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” (vv. 3-4). Some in the crowd were probably “experts” at pointing out the fault of others while being oblivious to their own faults. Maybe some of us know some people like that. Or, maybe, we are like that!
Jesus had strong words for this kind of behaviour: “[H]ypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (v.5). Being called a “hypocrite” was not a compliment. It speaks of putting on a false front or false appearance of virtue or religion. In other words, Jesus is not impressed with the hypocrite. Before finding and pointing out the faults of others, we first need to take care of our own. In Jesus’ example, the faults were not even the same for the person with the plank in his eye was pointing out the dust in the eye of another! Now, that was being hypocritical for sure.
Steve Maraboli was right when he said, “When you’re too religious, you tend to point your finger to judge instead of extending your hand to help.” It is that kind of religion that Jesus spoke against. Our awareness of our own faults should cause us to be gracious towards others struggling with their own faults. Let us, with God’s help, see ourselves first in the mirror of the Word. As we trust Him to help us with our faults, we are then in a position to help our brother or sister with theirs. For in the process of pointing a finger at another, our thumb points to God, the only judge, and our remaining three fingers point directly back at us. Try it. I believe that’s exactly how God intended it.
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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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