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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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JAMAICANS FOR JUSTICE GETS $35 MILLION FROM EU—04/16/11
The organization Jamaicans for Justice has received $35 million from the European Union for a program in its Defense of Human Rights project. The organization will form a partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Stand Up for Jamaica, Rise Life Management Services, and the Independent Council for Human Rights to provide for more education, advocacy, and legal support. The goal is to enhance citizens’ capacity in regard to civil rights. The project will run for 18 months.
GOVERNMENT SAYS PARLIAMENT MEMBERS “100 PERCENT” JAMAICAN—04/17/11
The Jamaican government believes that all 32 of its Parliament members are “one hundred percent Jamaican,” and has invited the Opposition to expose any “aliens” in office. The action was prompted by the negative public opinion that met the announcement in March 2011 by Prime Minister Bruce Golding that five of his MPs were not eligible to see in the House.
NELSON CALLS HUMAN TRAFFICKING “CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY”—04/18/11
Dwight Nelson, Jamaica’s Minister of National Security, believes that Jamaica must improve the rating it receives in the human trafficking report issued by the United States. According to the report, Jamaica is considered to be a prime source and destination for women and children subjected to human trafficking. Nelson said trafficking was a “crime against humanity,” noting that most victims were poverty-stricken Jamaican women. Increasingly, boys are being trafficked as well, especially in urban and tourist areas.
FOREIGN MINISTRY “FLOODED” WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT BARBADOS—04/18/11
The Foreign Ministry of Jamaica has received hundreds of complaints from the nation’s citizens that report their mistreatment at the hands of immigration officials in Barbados. The complaints were prompted by an incident involving a Jamaican woman at the Barbados airport in March 2011. Dr. Ken Baugh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, reported that Jamaicans who live in Barbados are also reporting “inappropriate” actions taken against them at Grantley Adams International Airport.
CIVICS TO RETURN TO CLASSROOMS, SAYS HOLNESS—04/19/11
Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, wants the subject of civics to be part of the school curriculum again. Holness believes that teaching civics is critical for developing children into solid citizens of good character. He said there is a need to improve students’ behavior and that teaching the rights and duties of citizenship through civics classes, schools can help to improve the nation as a whole.
TRAFFICKING POLICE RESCUE 14 VICTIMS—04/20/11
According to a report from Dwight Nelson, Jamaica’s Minister of National Security, the Trafficking in Persons Unit of the police has rescued 14 victims of human trafficking smuggled from several countries between September 2010 and March 2011. The victims, who included a minor, were brought from the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Panama, and India. Seven of the victims were females.
LOWE’S PROSTATE CANCER PROJECT EXPANDING—04/21/11
Dr. Henry Lowe is attempting to spark the creation of a new Jamaican industry by developing a line of products aimed at treating prostate cancer. Dr. Lowe will launch his ALPHA Prostate Formula 1 in the summer of 2011. His research on anti-prostate pharmaceuticals is ongoing and focuses on the Jamaican ball moss plant. He is also providing a line of “nutraceutical” products that are made from natural compounds and do not require the same kind of approval from authorities as pharmaceuticals. This means they can get on the market more rapidly.
ELECTORAL COMMISSIONI TO GET NEW POWERS—04/22/11
The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) will be able to set the boundaries of electoral divisions in the future. The Cabinet has issued its approval of legislative amendments that will provide the ECJ with this power. Daryl Vaz, the Minister with the responsibility for information, says the decision was made in response to a report from the ECJ, which recommended that the entity be given the power to establish electoral boundaries.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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SEAN KINGSTON TO PERFORM IN HARARE—04/16/11
Sean Kingston, Jamaican musician, is slated to perform in Joina City in Harare in April. He will meet his fans there, accompanied by Miss Teen Harare Liezelle Jenkins, who will be his guide in the nation’s capital city. Kingston will then play a family show at the Celebration Center and a concert on Glamis Arena.
SIX MONTH SENTENCE FOR JAMAICAN MEDIA EXECUTIVE—04/18/11
Karl B. Rodney, Jamaican-born newspaper publisher and media mogul in New York, has made an agreement with the United States government to plead guilty to misleading congressional staff members. The charges stem from Rodney’s participation in arranging trips for members of the U.S. Congress to attend meetings and conferences in the Caribbean. Rodney, 73, admitted that he misled the members about who was paying for the trips. He will receive a prison sentence of six months.
MARKS ADMIRES JAMAICAN INFLUENCE ON U.S. COMMUNITIES—04/19/11
Audrey Marks, Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, noted the positive contributions that the Diaspora has made on communities in the U.S. She made her remarks at a luncheon hosted by the Caribbean Bar Association of Central Florida and the Jamaican American Association of Central Florida. Marks encouraged Jamaican nationals to consider their passion for Jamaica and become involved in political decision-making in the U.S. She noted that Jamaicans have been making welcome contributions to the U.S. for over 200 years.
FARM WORKERS SUFFERING, ACCORDING TO CANADIAN RESEARCHERS—04/20/11
Many Jamaicans who migrate to Canada for employment on farms live and work in very harsh conditions. Some of these conditions result in chronic health problems, according to research conducted by Canadian scientists. Workers from Jamaica and other nations tended to develop chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems, and other illnesses from their long-term exposure to pesticides and other chemicals. These workers are afraid to tell their employers about their illnesses, however, because they fear being sent home.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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KIDNAPPERS IN TRINIDAD DEMAND RANSOM—04/16/11
CARIBBEAN RESIDENTS DISCOVER JEWISH HERITAGE—04/17/11
DEPORTATIONS TO HAITI RESUMED BY U.S.—04/18/11
EX-WIFE OF DRUG LORD FACES MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES—04/19/11
LIBYAN INVESTMENTS IN THE CARIBBEAN THREATENED—04/20/11
MAN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HAITI—04/21/11
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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STANBERRY PLAYS DOWN BANANA EXPORT AGREEMENT—04/16/11
Donovan Stanberry, the permanent secretary in the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture, remains optimistic about a banana export agreement he signed with the Cayman government. There are concerns among legal authorities that the agreement may be void. Stanberry says the situation is not serious and that it will be resolved soon. Since banana exports to Europe were suspended in 2008, farmers have had to look to the domestic market and other alternatives for their crops. The agreement may need to have Britain’s authority before coming into force.
KINGSTON HOSTS DISPUTE RESOLUTION CONFERENCE—04/17/11
Representatives from several Caribbean countries are scheduled to attend the fifth Caribbean Conference on Dispute Resolution in Kingston at the end of April 2011. Local organizers hope to strengthen the capacity of risk communities to address disputes and improve already decreasing crime rates. The conference is called “Encouraging a Culture of Justice and Peace through Dispute Resolution: Strengthen Your Role!”
DIASPORA REPRESENTS UNTAPPED RESOURCE—04/18/11
The Jamaican Diaspora represents more than remittances and can be used for the greater good. The government is encouraging Jamaicans overseas to become more involved in the island’s economy. Giving the Diaspora the ability to invest in bonds could be used to pay down the nation’s expensive debt, while making the financial link between the Diaspora and island communities stronger at the same time.
FUTURE OF JAMAICA CANE PRODUCT SALES LTD. UNCERTAIN—04/19/11
According to Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the role of the agency responsible for marketing sugar produced locally may be under threat once the industry is privatized in August 2011. Once the sector is fully privatized, says Tufton, Jamaica Cane Product Sales Ltd. will be made up of private players, and these investors will look for opportunities to brand their products and maximize their returns.
JAMAICA NEEDS INVESTMENT IN TOURISM TO MEET DEMANDS—04/20/11
Ed Bartlett, Jamaican Minister of Tourism, has challenged stakeholders in the tourism industry to meet the changing demands of their customers. He urged those in the tourism sector to develop strategies that will drive economic recovery on the island and create real wealth. The tourism industry is capable of creating more jobs as long as investments are made with an eye toward meeting consumers’ demands for value and quality.
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY
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WORLD’S LARGEST PAC-MAN GAME CREATED—04/19/11
The world’s largest Pac-Man game is being developed as a promotion for Namco-Bandai, the publisher of the game. Within a week of the game development announcement, players built almost 12,000 levels. Anyone is allowed to create their own level, and then connect it to a global map showing the levels of others. All of the levels are playable, with scores ranked on a global leader board. Soap Creative designed the game as an HTML5 project for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9.
KINDLE LENDING LIBRARY ANNOUNCED BY AMAZON—04/20/11
The Kindle from Amazon will be able to support library lending, allowing Kindle owners and users of Kindle apps to borrow ebooks from more than 11,000 local libraries. Amazon also said users will be able to annotate and highlight text in the ebooks. The content is saved and will be in the ebook if a user checks it out again. The notation capability is provide through Amazon’s Whispersync technology.
IPHONE TRACKS USERS’ LOCATIONS WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE—04/21/11
Alasdair Allan, a senior researcher at the University of Exeter and Pete Warden, a writer, report finding evidence that several Apple products are storing detailed information about the device user’s geographic location. According to Allan and Warden, the iPhone, 3G iPad, and computer backups contain data that includes latitude, longitude, and time stamps showing where these mobile devices have been. The information is not encrypted or protected, so it can be obtained by anyone interested in getting it.
GOOGLE OFFERS CLOUD SERVICE FOR DIGITAL MAPS—04/22/11
Google plans to open its digital maps infrastructure to third parties. This will allow enterprise organizations to use the infrastructure to store and serve geospatial data to users. The service is called Google Earth Builder. The new cloud service will be available commercially in the third quarter of 2011.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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DUNN SAYS JAMAICA MUST ACT TO IMPROVE INTERNET ACCESS—04/16/11
TELCELL TO OFFER FAST MOBILE BROADBAND IN ST. MAARTEN—04/18/11
BRANSON WANT TO USE PRIVATE ISLAND TO SAVE LEMURS—04/19/11
CARIBBEAN FACES TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES SAYS WORLD BANK—04/20/11
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SPORTS
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UTECH CLASSIC HOSTS BIG-NAME ATHLETES—04/16/11
The University of Technology Track and Field Classic are set to host several famous athletes at National Stadium. The stars include Asafa Powell, Shell-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Nesta Carter, Melaine Walker, and Michael Frater. The chief organizer of the event, UTech director of sport, Anthony Davis, said he was satisfied with the caliber of athletes and expects a successful meet.
JAMAICA LOSES TO CAYMAN RUGBY SQUAD—04/18/11
Jamaica lost to Cayman before a capacity crowd of fans in South Sound Rugby Ground. Cayman advances to the next round of the 2011 NACRA Men’s Caribbean Championships. The Jamaican team had been characterized as “the best ever” to play in the area. The Jamaicans led 5-0 early in the match, but Cayman took control and dominated later on. The final score was 16-5.
MULLINGS LOOKS FOR PLACE ON JAMAICA’S MEN’S SPRINT TEAM—04/19/11
Steve Mullings ran a time of 9.90 seconds at Jace Lacoste Memorial Invitational Meet at Mississippi State University, beginning the battle for a place on the Jamaican’s men’s sprint team
for the 13th IAAF World Championships later in 2011. World champion Usain Bolt is sure of his place at the World Championship, but three spots are vacant and up for grabs. Mullings won the 100m/200m double easily and is on the way to becoming the fifth fastest Jamaican in the shorter sprint.
REGIONAL CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF SPORT—04/20/11
Jamaica will be the host to a two-day regional meeting that will focus on matters relating to the economic potential of sport. The Business of Sport conference is attracting presenters from the United Kingdom, the United States, the Caribbean, and Jamaica. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Jamaican Minister of Sport, and her counterpart Anil Roberts of Trinidad and Tobago, will present the government perspective and look at methods governments can use to make sport a viable industry in the Caribbean.
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DEVOTIONAL
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“Not this man [Jesus], but Barabbas”
As Jesus stood with Pilate, Pilate looked at Him with disbelief and skepticism. How could this man be the king of the Jews as they had charged? An iterant preacher moving from place to place in the cities with people who were willing to follow Him was not a crime. More importantly, He was not a threat to Rome. He was not like the other freedom fighters the Roman army had to fight with as they tried to liberate themselves and their nation from the oppression of Roman rule. Albert Barnes in his commentary writes, “He [Pilate] regarded him, clearly, as a fanatic poor, ignorant, and deluded, but innocent and not dangerous.” And so being satisfied that Jesus was not a king, at least not in the sense of which He was accused by His fellow Jews, and therefore not a threat to the establishment, Pilate declared Him innocent.
It was the custom then that at Passover one prisoner would be pardoned (John 18:38). Pilate sought to have Jesus release under this custom but the crowd would have none of it. The narrative tells us, “Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber” (v. 40). The last four words in that verse–“Now Barrabbas was a robber”–present an interesting contrast in that He was not just a robber, but one of the freedom fighters. In they eyes of the crowd shouting his name, unlike Jesus, Barrabbas had tried to do something for them. Like the other freedom fighters, he was regarded as a hero. It wasn’t that long ago that Jesus was seen as such by some of these same people, for when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, they “took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (John 12:13). Somewhere between then and that first Good Friday, they grew disappointed with Jesus as the promised Messiah. He failed to liberate them from the Romans and clearly had no such intentions. Faced with the choice between a freedom fighter and the Son of God, they chose the freedom fighter.
Today as we celebrate another Good Friday, we are faced with the same choice. Have we become disappointed with Jesus? Has He failed to “deliver” what we expected of Him? Did we expect that our bank accounts would always be healthy? That hardships would be a thing of the past? That our journey through this life would be easy? Because if that is what we expected when we accepted Him, then we would have missed the real reason He came into the world. John tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (3:16) and so to that end, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). He came to restore, to heal, the relationship between God and man and it was only through His sacrifical death on the cross could this be made possible.
Our outward circumstances may not reflect our inner realities. As we reflect on and celebrate the death of Jesus, let us remember there was a resurrection three days later. But today we look at the cross in the middle with much thanksgiving for in that bloody spectacle is our redemption. We should have been the ones on that cross, but He came and took our place. He paid the debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. He paid the price on our behalf that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Like the Apostle Paul we too can say, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
“Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man [Jesus], but Barabbas.” Who is your choice?
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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.
