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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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LAND PROGRAM TO RECEIVE SURVEY EQUIPMENT—06/18/11
The government of Jamaica has received several important pieces of equipment required for a surveying program designed to define the island’s strategic boundaries. The National Land Administration and Management Program’s (LAMPII) first phase will help landowners who do not have an official Certificate of Title to obtain one.
MANATT-DUDUS REPORT DISAPPOINTS JAMAICANS FOR JUSTICE—06/19/11
The human rights organization Jamaicans for Justice stated it was very disappointed in the report on the Manatt-Dudus issue. The group believes that the commissioners issuing the report should have been chosen after a joint consultation and that the report only provides Jamaicans with more reasons to question the findings. The organization says it is “appalled” that the commission made only four recommendations and issued no sanctions to relevant parties.
MORE SUGAR PRODUCTION BRINGS HOPE TO INDUSTRY—06/20/11
The Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) released its daily factory operations report for June 16, 2011, which showed that sugar production has increased. A total of 134,507 tons of sugar were produced among five of seven estates with the crop of 2010-2011. Three factories reported surpassing their projected totals for the year.
SUCCESSFUL JAMAICAN BRANDING ACCOMPLISHED BY DRAGON SLAYER—06/21/11
The Jamaican-based chef and singer Keith “Levi Roots” Graham participated in a television program in the United Kingdom in 2007 that showcased Jamaican entrepreneurs. The program, called “Dragon’s Den,” gives individuals the chance to pitch business ideas to five investors. Graham brought his Jamaican jerk sauce, which he represented with a reggae song about his business. Four years later, he remains the chief marketing tool for the company, and his Levi Roots brand is now the main Caribbean brand in the UK.
JAMAICA READY TO GROW—06/22/11
Jamaica is on the brink of continued growth, showing a 1.5-percent increase in Gross Domestic Product over the past year, according to Michael Stern, Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce. Douglas Orane, CEO of GraceKennedy, supports the Minister’s optimistic view of the economy, noting that entrepreneurship on the island is vibrant and growing.
FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES IMPRESSED WITH CONVENTION—06/23/11
First-time delegates to the 2011 Jamaican Diaspora Convention in Ocho Rios were impressed with the conference and the range of attendees, who came from North America and the United Kingdom, as well as South Africa. The convention presented a chance for Jamaicans overseas to renew their commitment to supporting the home island.
BANTON SENTENCED TO LIGHTEST JAIL TERM POSSIBLE—06/24/11
A federal judge in Tampa, Florida, handed down a sentence of ten years in prison for reggae musician Buju Banton. This was the lightest sentence allowed by law for the crime of trafficking in cocaine. Banton, 38, received a break when a district judge removed a gun conviction, which would have imposed an additional five years on the minimum sentence.
CABINET TABLES INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATIONS LAW—06/24/11
The Cabinet has approved tabling a bill designed to change the Interception of Communications Act, according to Daryl Vaz, Minister with responsibility for information. The changes would permit sharing information collected via interception and the use of that information in criminal prosecutions. Under certain guidelines, the bill will allow disclosure of interceptions to foreign governments or agencies of such governments.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICA’S SPECIAL OLYMPIANS LEAVE FOR WORLD GAMES—06/18/11
Jamaica’s Special Olympics team is ready to leave for Athens, Greece, to participate in the 13th Special Olympics World Summer Games. The team had faced difficulties related to obtaining sufficient funds to support its stay in Athens, but the governments of the United States and Spain helped the team by cancelling visa fees for the 55 team members. This relieved the team of paying J$1 million.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA MADE STRONGER—06/19/11
Attendees of the 2011 Jamaican Diaspora Conference in Ocho Rios hope that the conference will strengthen the Diaspora movement and address internal and external criticisms that arose during the course of the event. Many Jamaicans overseas are not involved with the Diaspora movement, but attendees believe these individuals can be encouraged to provide a greater “buy in,” particularly if the island’s government would ensure that it does not control the movement. Some Jamaicans have hesitated to participate due to worries about government involvement.
COKE DUE FOR TRIAL IN U.S.—06/20/11
Christopher “Dudus” Coke, accused drug lord from Jamaica, will be brought before a federal jury in New York in September 2011. Coke, 42, is charged with narcotics trafficking. He was arrested in June 2010 and extradited to New York. A trial date of September 12, 2011, has been set. Prosecutors estimate the trial will last about three weeks.
JAMAICAN WOMAN STABBED TO DEATH IN BARBADOS—06/21/11
Police in Barbados are investigating the stabbing death of a Jamaican national and mother of three. Horrified witnesses watch as a man left Natoya “Chubby” Ewers, 31, for dead with “multiple chop wounds” to her body. A person of interest has been identified and is being sought by police.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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SEAS OFF CUBA TO RISE OVER 30 INCHES BY 2100—06/18/11
POLICE IN TRINIDAD REQUEST INFORMATION FROM FIFA—06/19/11
CARIBBEAN FILMS SHOWCASED IN ZANZIBAR—06/20/11
WARNER STEPS DOWN FROM POSITION AT FIFA—06/21/11
HEALTH OF CARIBBEAN NATIONALS FAILING IN UNITED STATES—06/22/11
LAWMAKERS IN HAITI REJECT MARTELLY’S CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER—06/23/11
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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FARMERS WHO LOST CROPS TO STORM DAMAGE RECEIVE AID—06/18/11
The government of Jamaica plans to provide financial aid to the hundreds of farmers who suffered losses totaling $1.6 million in crops during recent heavy rains. According to Christopher Tufton, Minister of Agriculture, some 2,500 farmers lost crops, and his representatives are visiting farms to assess the damage. Tufton did not say how much money would be given to the farmers.
COFFEE DEAL CLOSES IN SEPTEMBER, CONTROL OF FACTORY UNCERTAIN—06/19/11
The acquisition of the largest processor of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, is expected to close in September 2011, says Peter Melhado, joint chairman of Mavis. However, questions concerning the operational control of the firm after the finalization of the deal remain unanswered. Melhado says negotiations on the matter continue with excellent progress and that there are no insurmountable problems.
FALMOUTH TRANSFORMATION DEEMED A SUCCESS—06/20/11
In the two months since Falmouth was transformed from a sleepy town to Jamaica’s top cruise ship destination, stakeholders have expressed their satisfaction with the rate of economic expansion resulting from the thriving business environment. According to the mayor of Falmouth Bolin Gager, his town is now open to the world, and he is delighted about it. Gager says the new climate has introduced many economic opportunities, including restaurants and new craft businesses.
INCREASE IN CRIME MEANS LOWER PRODUCTIVITY, SAYS REPORT—06/21/11
A report from the World Bank indicates that the crime rate in Jamaica tends to divert investors from providing productive resources. The report also noted that Jamaica’s continued disappointment in the area of economic growth development was due to the high rate of crime, lack of training in the labor force, and poor tax incentives.
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY
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BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR FOR IPHONE RELEASED—06/20/11
Withings, a French company, has made a blood pressure monitor that connects directly to an iOS device in the United States. There is extra hardware to buy, but the product includes a free app that provides blood pressure measurements on the iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. It also keeps track of the user’s statistics. The blood pressure cuff is a plug-and-play add-on, which is attached to the device via a cable. Users receive a free Withings webpage so they can monitor their readings over time.
A NEW WORLD CREATED BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING—06/21/11
A small firm in the Netherlands headed by Janne Kyttanen is producing what has been called the best 3-D printing in the world. The firm, Freedom of Creation, designs custom prosthetics and other industrial products. Kyttanen has been a pioneer in the field of consumer 3-D, promoting the technology since the late 1990s. His vision is to move away from traditional manufacturing, storage, and distribution, toward a totally Internet-based consumer-driven design and construction process.
RING-SIZED FINGERTIP MOUSE DEVELOPED—06/23/11
A touchpad only a single square millimeter in size developed by MicroPointing could be embedded in a ring. MicroPointing, an Israeli startup firm, will offer the tiny touchpad to manufacturers for embedding in all types of devices, such as smartphones, netbooks, game controls, cameras, or steering wheels. It works by detecting the force produced by the fingertip as it moves across three sensors mounted to little posts and spaced a few tenths of a millimeter apart.
BEZOS BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF 10,000-YEAR CLOCK—06/24/11
Amazon’s head, Jeff Bezos, has started building a clock designed to run for 10,000 years. The clock is being constructed inside a desert mountain. For Bezos, the clock represents the power of thinking for the long term, and he hopes it will alter the way humans think about time. Bezos has created a website to publicize the clock, which is being compared to the symbols of power left by the Egyptian pharaohs.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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ICT CONFERENCE NOT JUST TALK—06/18/11
PREPAID SMARTPHONES REPRESENT BARGAINS FOR BUYERS—06/22/11
CARIBBEAN CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE LAUNCHED BY U.S.—06/23/11
IT AND CALL CENTER EXPLORED BY ANTIGUA—06/24/11
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SPORTS
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MORRISON REPRESENTS ASSET FOR REGGAE BOYZ—06/18/11
Jason Morrison is proving his worth to the Reggae Boyz senior football team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition. Morrison’s versatility has been a boon to the team in the match against Honduras. While he was initially surprised at Coach Theodore Whitmore’s request that he play the sweeper position, he decided he could do it because it was similar to the central midfield position he had played before.
DIRECTORS TO DECIDE ON GAYLE’S FUTURE—06/19/11
Directors of the WICB met to decide whether or not Chris Gayle will be featuring in the Test series against India. The Jamaican batsman has caused some controversy with comments he made during an interview with an island radio station. Gayle’s future is uncertain, and he is not scheduled to play in the first Test against India at Sabina Park on June 20. The WICB said his comments created “ill will” with the team’s management.
ROWE HONORED WITH STAND AT SABINA PARK—06/21/11
Lawrence Rowe, former batsman for the West Indies, has been honored by the Jamaican Cricket Association with a dedicated stand in his name at Sabina Park in Kingston. Rowe was best known for his triple hundred and world record of a century and double century in his debut Test. Rowe has been compared to Sir Frank Worrell for the graceful style of his batting.
BOLT TO MISS JAMAICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS—06/22/11
Jamaica’s Olympic champion Usain Bolt will not participate in the Jamaican National Track and Field Championships, according to Ludlow Watts, treasurer and chairman of the competition’s organizing committee. Bolt is not entered in the meet, and his manager issued a statement announcing that Bolt’s next competition will be in Paris in July.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Born With A Purpose
Parents have an awesome but sobering responsibility. To bring a child into the world, give him or her a name, and plan for the future of this little person is no easy task. Parents have hopes and dreams for their children. We want them to be successful and as much as is within our power, at the very minimum, for them to have a good education which will translate into a stable career, a relatively good life, and secure their future. We may not do everything perfectly, but for the most part our intentions are good.
However, parents are not the only ones who have plans for the child or children entrusted to their care. Though we embrace them as our own they are ultimately God’s and He too has a plan for their lives. Every child that comes into the world does so with a God ordained purpose. For a number of reasons that purpose may not be realized, but it doesn’t change the fact of purpose. In the Scriptures we see several instances where individuals were called by God for specific purposes and in some cases, from they were in their mothers’ wombs. For example, from the prophet Isaiah, “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name” (Isaiah 49:1, KJV). From the prophet Jeremiah, “The LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:4-7). From the apostle Paul, “It pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen” (Galatians 1:15).
Clearly, not all of our children will be called as profoundly as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul. Not every child will be called directly to ministry, but every child is called to something God honoring and it is the responsibility of parents, god-parents, adopted parents, and other caregivers to pray for discernment in that regard. In our prayers we should pray for that God-given purpose, often times dormant in those lives, to be quickened and for our children to walk in that purpose. Yes, it is not just about giving them our love and other material things, but also about a spiritual legacy. Not only should we pray unceasingly for them but we should also consistently bless them by speaking words of life and encouragement into their lives. A blessing could be something like, “You are the righteousness of God and will walk in His purpose” or, “You will excel because you are a child of purpose and God’s plan for your life will be manifested for His glory.” Alternatively, declare your own blessing based on the God’s word and promises. No matter how rebellious they may be, they can never outrun our prayers and declarations. We do our part and trust God to do His. However, first things first. Those of us who have a position of influence in the life of a child need to nurture our own relationship with God and seek His wisdom for the task at hand. If there is ever a time our children need good God-fearing role models, it is now.
How are you doing in that regard?
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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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