Staff WriterROBERTS CHALLENGES BELIEF THAT JAMAICA IS “BAD” and “CHEAP”—12/06/14
The founder of the Jamaica Patty Company, Theresa Roberts, has opened a new restaurant in Covent Garden in London. She was born in St. Elizabeth but moved to the United Kingdom as a child. She has established herself as an influential force in the UK and expressed her love for Jamaica and noted her attempts to represent it fairly. She wants to counter the impression that Jamaica is a “bad and cheap” place by catering to the upscale residents of London.
SPENCER HONORED AT BEING COMMISSIONER DESGINATE FOR SOUTH AFRICA—12/07/14
Cheryl Spencer studied social sciences at the University of the West Indies and became senior director of Jamaica’s Foreign Trade Department. She is now the Commissioner Designate for Jamaica to the Republic of South Africa. She must still present her credentials to the President of that nation before she can officially claim the title. She believes her training as an academic and through her current job has prepared her to take on her new role. While South Africa will present special challenges, she believes that Jamaica and South Africa have a special relationship that will further initiatives designed to benefit both nations.
MIAMI BEACH ART EXHIBIT DISPLAYS JAMAICAN CULTURE—12/08/14
The 13th Art Basel Miami Beach was characterized as the best edition of the event to day. The event attracted buyers for luxury goods, celebrities, and entrepreneurs in numbers higher than previous stagings. According to Alberto Ibarguen, president of the Knight Foundation, art is part of the “DNA” of Miami, and the event succeeds in making “art general” to the region. He made his remarks during the announcement of the Knight Art Challenge Awards.
PRIME MINISTER CITES CUBA AS CONTRIBUTING TO JAMAICA’S ATHLETIC SUCCESS—12/09/14
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has given credit to Cuba for its aid in helping Jamaica become a global leader in athletics. According to Simpson Miller, GC Foster College, a gift to the nation from Cuba in the 1970s, has been instrumental in training many of the best athletes and coaches in the country.
ATKINSON HOPES VICTORY ELIMINATES STEREOTYPES—12/10/14
Alia Atkinson, Jamaican gold medalist and world recording holding swimmer, is hoping that her victory in Doha, Dubai, in the 100-meter breaststroke, will help to end the stereotypes linked to non-traditional sports around the world. Atkinson, who lives in Florida, also hopes that her success in Dubai will encourage participation in other such sports as athletes see that significant achievements can be reached.
12,000 FOREIGN CRIMINALS NOW LIVE IN BRITAIN—12/11/14
According to statistics from the Home Office in the United Kingdom, the country is home to 12,000 foreign criminals, including some 800 murderers and 600 rapists. While these are only estimates, it does reflect the reality of modern Britain. Individuals from Jamaica top the list of these foreign nationals with 1,026 Jamaicans convicted of crimes in the UK. In total, 177 nations are represented by the criminal population.
JAMAICAN DRUG RING OPERATING IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO—12/12/14
While Trinidad’s Minster of National Security Gary Griffith was chastised in October 2014 for the way a number of Jamaicans were denied entry to the country, a recent report on crime on the island noted that Jamaican nationals there have established a large drug-running operation. The Jamaican nationals denied entry to the country were suspected of being associated with this operation.
JAMAICAN MUSICIANS IN SOUTH FLORIDA OFFER VINTAGE SOUND—12/12/14
Danny Breakenridge, head of Upstair’s Records, an independent record firm that produces albums from a variety of Jamaican veteran artistes, observed that South Florida has a number of reggae musicians and
record companies that focus on the popularity of the musical style. However, He said it is not an easy task to introduce artistes from the area.
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