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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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JAMAICANS APPROVE OF GOLDING’S TREATMENT IN ENQUIRY—06/25/11
According to a Bill Johnson survey, 42 percent of Jamaicans responding stated that Prime Minister Bruce Golding received the treatment he deserved from attorneys while testifying at the Manatt-Dudus enquiry. Thirty-five percent believed Golding had been treated rudely by the lawyers.
JAMAICAN BUSINESSMAN MURDERED IN ST.ANDREW—06/26/11
Roderick “Bunny” Francis, a 66-year-old Jamaican managing director of B&D Trawling Ltd., was shot and killed at his home in Queens Way, St. Andrew. Francis and other members of his family were ambushed as they left the house just after 10 AM. The Major Investigation Task Force is processing the scene at which gunmen fired many shots at the Francis family, hitting Roderick Francis in the back before escaping. Francis, who is well known to the fishing industry, later died at St. Andrew’s Memorial Hospital.
JAMAICA’S GOVERNMENTS HAVE NOT MITIGATED RISKS OF HOMOPHOBIA—06/27/11
A number of governments put in power in Jamaica have not promoted human rights policies as effectively as they might have, according to some critics. The island’s legislative system does not guarantee that the country’s laws will “engender a sense of belonging” or “ensure equal rights for all,” including the most marginal and vulnerable groups. Counselors and educators are not provided adequate training to deal with issues of sexuality, and too many appear incapable of removing their personal religious beliefs from their professional duties.
U.S. SAYS JAMAICAN PENALTIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING TOO LENIENT—06/28/11
According to the United States Department of State, Jamaica’s government is not imposing strong enough penalties on those found guilty of human trafficking. The findings were published in the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report, which showed the island still at the Tier-2 level is attained in 2010. Tier-2 denotes nations with governments that do not completely comply with minimum standards imposed by the U.S. Trafficking Victims Prevention Act, but have made progress in attempting to meet those standards. Jamaica’s punishment of up to ten years in prison for human trafficking is insufficient in comparison to punishments for other serious crimes, said the report.
MOST JAMAICANS BELIEVE NATION “BETTER OFF” AS BRITISH COLONY—06/29/11
According to a survey conducted by Johnson Survey Research, 60 percent of Jamaicans polled believe the nation would be in better shape today if it had remained under British rule. Only 17 percent believed Jamaica would be in worse condition as a British colony. The survey results reflect the poor economic progress the island has made over the past 50 years, compared to other Caribbean nations, said Bill Johnson, pollster. The results were consistent among all age groups.
HAY-WEBSTER LEAVES PNP—06/29/11
Sharon Hay-Webster, Member of Parliament, has resigned from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP). She said she could no longer tolerate the abuse and lack of party support in regard to her dual-citizenship case. Critics in and out of the PNP have pressured her to relinquish her United States citizenship. In her resignation, Hay-Webster said she would not be rushed into any decision, but would let due process run its course on the issue.
GOLDING SHUFFLES CABINET IN ADVANCE OF 2012 ELECTION—06/30/11
Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, has decided to replace the top justice officials in his Cabinet as part of a restructuring ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2012. Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne has been dropped from the Cabinet because of her testimony during the extradition hearings of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, alleged drug lord. Golding also changed the top positions in the industry, energy, and agriculture ministries.
SAMUDA SAYS JAMAICAN REMAINS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY—07/01/11
Karl Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, is assuring potential investors in Canada that there are many opportunities for wealth creation in Jamaica. Samuda made his remarks at the JAMPRO “Invest in Jamaica” forum in Toronto. He noted that the island has much potential in trading and investment sectors, particularly in health and sports tourism, information technology, agriculture, and energy. Samuda said Jamaica needs more investors in order to create more jobs.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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SAMUDA PROVIDES INCENTIVES FOR CANADIAN COMPANIES—06/26/11
Karl Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, provided Canadian companies with sufficient incentives to encourage the chief executive officer of Solamon, Graeme Boyce, to announce that his company will host several forums in Jamaica to discuss renewable energy initiatives. Boyce said Samuda convinced his firm to open a field office in Jamaica in 2011. Samuda discussed these issues at a meeting of Canadian business leaders at an event sponsored by Scotiabank in Toronto.
YENDI PROMOTES JAMAICAN COFFEE IN JAPAN—06/27/11
Yendi Phillipps, the current Miss Jamaica Universe, is acting as an ambassador representing the interests of the Jamaica’s Coffee Industry Board and the Association of Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee. She presented a gift of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee to Japan’s Minister of Agriculture Michihiko Kano, while on a trip to that country to work on the Blue Mountain Coffee campaign. She also visited Sendai, an area strongly impacted by the earthquake and tsunami that occurred earlier in 2011.
JAMAICAN TO SERVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION—06/29/11
Tracy Robinson, a Jamaican and senior lecturer in law at the University of the West Indies, has been elected to a position on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Robinson, who is also a Rhodes Scholar, was elected at the 41st regular meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) in El Salvador. Her term of four years will begin on January 1, 2012. The commission investigates human rights situations in OAS member states.
ROBERTSON REPLACED AS ENERGY MINISTER—06/30/11
The Jamaican government seated four new cabinet ministers, including one to replace James Robertson as Minister of Energy and Mining. Robertson quit his post after his visa was revoked by the United States. Clive Mullings will replace Robertson, who says the cancellation of his visa could be related to an unsubstantiated claim that he made death threats against an asylum-seeker before he left the country.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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$77 MILLION PROMISED BY U.S. FOR CARIBBEAN SECURITY—06/25/11
NO MORE RULING ELITE, SAYS ZELAYA IN HONDURAS—06/26/11
TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS IN HAITI BECOMING PERMANENT HOUSING—06/27/11
HONDURAN RAINFORESTS RANKED AS ENDANGERED—06/28/11
CARIBBEAN TEACHERS IN NEW YORK SEEK AID WITH IMMIGRATION STATUS—06/29/11
CULINARY TEAM FROM VIRGIN ISLANDS WINS GOLD MEDALS—06/30/11
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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VEIRA RECOMMENDS TEENS FOCUS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP—06/25/11
Valerie Veira, the chief executive officer of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), advised attendees at Camp Millionaire, an entrepreneurship camp for teenagers, to focus their energy on writing business plans instead of resumes. According to Veira, writing a resume that highlights summer work experience is outdated. Instead, she says young people should focus on entrepreneurship as their path to employment.
NEW YOUTH POLICY ON TAP FOR JAMAICA—06/26/11
Warren Newby, Jamaica’s Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Culture, has announced a major overhaul of the nation’s National Youth Policy. According to Newby, the ministry completed a National Youth Survey and is conducting an audit of youth who serve in community-based organizations. He says the ministry is making youth governance stronger by establishing the Jamaica Youth Foundation and adopting a new constitution for the National Youth Council.
SECURITY FOR LOAN MOVED AFTER TERMS CHANGE—06/28/11
After the terms changed, security for a provincial loan to a salt-fish exporter in Nova Scotia is now located in the province. CanJam Trading Ltd., which has headquarters in Dartmouth, will sell a property in Jamaica it had used to secure a $1.85 million loan received in 2004 via the Industrial Expansion Fund. The new security will be the firm’s two fish processing plants in Clark’s Harbor. The change represents how much remains in the loan repayment amount.
JAMAICAN LANDLINE RATES INCREASED BY LIME—06/30/11
LIME will begin charging as much as eight percent more in landline telephone service charges to residential and business customers on August 1, 2011. The rate increase is being attributed to “inflationary pressures.” Rates for residential customers will rise eight percent from J$850 to J$920 per month. Business customers will see an increase of 7.5 percent. LIME also said it would raise its charge for calls to Haiti from landlines beginning August 1 as well.
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY
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APPLE TO PROVIDE FREE IPHONE 3GS—06/28/11
According to Mike Abramsky, analyst for RBC Capital Market, Apple will soon offer the iPhone 3GS at no cost and the iPhone 4 for $99. The new pricing will occur when the iPhone 5 is released. Abramsky predicts that Apple will significantly reduce the prices of the iPhone 3GS and 4 versions as part of an entry-level strategy targeting midmarket smart phone buyers and competing Android device buyers. He believes at free iPhone will be “psychologically compelling” for consumers.
WIRELESS NETWORK MAY HAMPER GPS SYSTEMS—06/29/11
Results from tests conducted by federal regulators indicate that a planned high-speed wireless broadband network from LightSquared, a company in Virginia, may interfere with GPS systems. These systems are used in aviation, precise timing networks, and consumer navigation devices. The study’s findings fuel the debate over whether the Federal Communications Commission should allow LightSquared to go ahead with its proposed new nationwide wireless network. The network is designed to compete with Verizon Wireless and AT&T.
INVITATIONS TO GOOGLE NETWORK STOPPED DUE TO HIGH DEMAND—06/30/11
Users of Google+ were provided with the ability to invite their friends into the new social network offering, but the option was quickly repealed just a few hours later because of the heavy demand for services. According to Vic Gundotra, responsible for oversight of Google’s social networking initiatives, the invitation mechanism was shut down due to “insane demand.” There was no indication of when the invitation capability would be returned to users.
LAW IN CALIFORNIA TO IMPOSE TAXES ON E-COMMERCE—07/01/11
A new state law in California will now require out-of-state retail firms, including Amazon.com, to collect sales tax on purchases made online by customers in California. Amazon and one of its competitors, Overstock.com, will stop paying commissions to their Internet marketing affiliates based in California for “click-through” customers. This action has made the affiliates angry, and there may be a class-action lawsuit brought against the firm as a result.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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INTERNET EXCHANGE POINT LAUNCHED—06/25/11
NEW SOFTWARE ANALYZES STYLE OF BIBLE AUTHORS—06/29/11
INVIZIO TO BE ONLY CONTENT PROVIDER FOR FLORIDA CARIBBEAN NEWS—06/30/11
ASTRONOMERS FIND BRIGHTEST QUASAR TO DATE—07/01/11
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SPORTS
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LARGE INVESTMENT FOR GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL—06/25/11
Digicel plans to renew its commitment to youth football and development of football at the grassroots. A new program will allow the cell phone firm to enhance its commitment to the game by introducing a multi-million dollar plan that involves coaching clinics, referee programs, and mentoring initiatives. These programs are designed to find and cultivate talented football players.
CAMPBELL=BROWN, POWELL WIN SPRINTS AT NATIONALS—06/26/11
Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown received the 100-meter men’s and women’s championships at the Jamaican Nationals. Powell clocked 9.90 seconds in the finals to win the title, while Campbell-Brown achieved her victory in the 100 meters with a time of 10.84 seconds to defeat Kerron Stewart, Olympic 100-meter silver medalist…
POWELL ISSUES WARNING TO BOLT WITH 100-METER RUN—06/28/11
Asafa Powell has sent a warning to his competition, notably Usain Bolt and other rivals for the world title, with the fourth-fastest 100-meter run in the history of the Diamond League. Powell ran 9.72 seconds on the same track in 2008, but achieved a world-leading time of 9.78 seconds at the meet. Powell, 29, was in excellent physical condition and says his goal is to maintain his training and to run faster.
JAMAICAN SWITCHES ALLEGIANCE TO UK—06/29/11
Julian Reid, a Jamaican athlete, has switched his allegiance from the island nation to Great Britain, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Reid will now be able to compete for Great Britain by the middle of August, 2011. Reid attended Wolmer’s Boys before moving to Texas A&M, was Jamaica’s representative at the 2009 World Championships in the triple jump. Reid, 22, joins Germaine Mason, a fellow Jamaican who switched allegiance to Great Britain as well.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Taking God Out of the Box
We do not know much about her. According to the narrative in 1 Kings 17, she was a widow living with her son in Zarephath, a Baal-worshipping city on the Mediterranean coast of Phoenicia between Tyre and Sidon out of the borders of Israel. We also know that she was poor, destitute and desolate because at the time we met her, she was down to her last “handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, [she was] gathering two sticks, that [she] may go in and dress it for [her] and [her] son, that [they] may eat it, and die” (v. 12). That she had to gather the sticks herself confirms her lowly status as it was clear she had no slaves to do such a menial task. Being a widow with no one to look after her, she had resigned herself to the fact that after this last meal she and her son would die; there was nothing else to eat. Even if spurred on by the will to survive and a mother’s instinct to provide for and protect her offspring, she had no money to buy whatever, if anything, that was available. The famine had taken its toll. Yet it was to this woman that God had sent Elijah: “Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee” (v.9).
To sustain him? What was God thinking? Didn’t He see the woman’s condition? She was one meal away from her and her son starving to death. Then there was Elijah. God was sending him into Gentile territory to be fed by a widow when, as we discovered later, there were many widows in Israel at the time (Luke 4:25-26). Why not send him to one of them? Lest we forget, Elijah was a hated man in Israel because he was held responsible for the drought and the resulting hardships. Israel had embraced the worship of Baal and was being punished by God. So, here we have God, to whom all things are possible, sending His prophet from among His chosen people to a Gentile widow in a Baal-worshipping city for sustenance. Couldn’t He have provided for Elijah some other way? In a way that made some sense?
Because He is omnipotent, of course He could have but why should He? When God does something we typically expect Him to do so in ways that makes sense to us. If we could figure Him out or always understand His ways He would not be much of a god. He reminds us that His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). His dealings in this situation clearly demonstrate His ability to provide for and bless His people in any way, in any situation, and through whomever He chooses. When we are looking for and expecting Him to act in a certain way, we need to remember He is not limited in the ways He operates in our lives.
We would be remiss if we did not observe two important truths in the narrative: Elijah’s obedience in going where he was sent, and the widow’s obedience in doing what God had commanded her to do regardless of the external situation. Both acts of obedience were responsible for the miracle that followed (vv. 15-16). One of the lessons for us is that as children of God we can expect Him to work in our lives and situations in ways that we would least expect. In other words, with God always expect the unexpected. Take Him out of the box and watch Him do the things He alone can do, and bring to pass all the things He alone can make possible.
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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.
