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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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NO NEW TAXES FOR JAMAICANS—04/30/11
According to Audley Shaw, Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and Public Service, the government will not impose new taxes on citizens in order to finance a budget gap totaling $140.8 billion for 2011-2012. Instead, the gap will be filled by using the domestic market to raise $97 billion and external sources for the remaining $43.8 billion.
SEAFOOD FIRM PARTNERS WITH GOVERNMENT TO STEM LIONFISH—05/01/11
Rainforest Seafoods is partnering with the Jamaican government in attempts to control an invasion of lionfish, which is decimating the island’s native fish stock. The government has encouraged Jamaicans to eat lionfish, which will save other fish and provide sustainability for Jamaica’s fishing industry. Rainforest is planning an expansion of its seafood processing operation that will include lionfish. According to company CEO Brian Jardim, Jamaicans need to “eat our way” out of the problem.
CROP PRODUCTION IN JAMAICA RISES 24 PERCENT—05/02/11
According to Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, the island grew 24 percent more crops in the first quarter of 2011 as in the same period in 2010. A total of 147,378 tons of produce was grown in the first quarter of 2011, the highest amount recorded for a single quarter period since 1999. In combination with export commodities, which include coffee, bananas, cocoa, and sugar, the agricultural sector showed an overall growth rate of 14 percent.
GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR PROMOTE LITERACY—05/03/11
Private sector and government leaders are returning to the classroom in an effort to promote literacy among the young people of Jamaica. This is part of Read Across Jamaica Day, an initiative sponsored by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association. It is designed to encourage reading and literacy among the island’s school students. The government hopes to have a literacy rate among Jamaicans totaling 100 percent by 2015.
JAMAICAN POLICE ON ALERT FOLLOWING DEATH OF BIN LADEN—05/03/11
Police in Jamaica were put a high alert after the United States Department of State issued a global warning about retaliation against the U.S. for the killing of Osama bin Laden, the terrorist and mastermind behind the attacks of 9/11. According to Glenmore Hinds, Jamaica’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, overt and covert actions have been put in place in response to the warning.
DAVIES CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT ON PROVISIONS FOR THE POOR—05/04/11
Dr. Omar Davies, the Opposition spokesman on the topic of finance, says that the Jamaican government is not providing adequate measures to aid the poor and other vulnerable groups in its 2011-2012 budget. Davies notes that current economic conditions require the government to provide a “reprieve” for Jamaicans, but there is no attempt to mitigate their financial burdens in the budget.
CULINARY GROUP SHOWCASES FOOD FOR COMPETITION—05/05/11
The Culinary Federation of Jamaica (CFJ) showcased some of the foods that will be part of the competition at the International Culinary contest to be held in Miami, Florida. Executive chefs on the island are using local produce to highlight regional foods. The chefs have embraced the “Eat What You Grow-From Farm to the Table” campaign sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture in their competition entries.
BUSINESS SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT FOCUS ON EARLY EDUCATION—05/06/11
Business leaders in Jamaica are supporting the government’s emphasis on early childhood education. Glen Christian, executive chairman of Cari-Med Ltd., agrees with other business representatives that Jamaica needs more investment in education, since it represents a strategic development tool. Christian noted his agreement with Andrew Holness, Minister of Education, who is attempting to move the focus of education efforts to early childhood, particularly in rural areas where many schools are inadequate.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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AIRLINE WORKERS CHARGED WITH DRUG SMUGGLING—04/30/11
United States federal agents arrested a dozen people at the Detroit Metro Airport and charged them with smuggling cocaine and marijuana from Jamaica. Ten employees of Delta Airlines working as baggage handlers and two associates were arrested as a result of an investigation that began in January 2010. At that time, authorities in Jamaica found 53 pounds of marijuana in a suit case placed on a Northwest Airline’s flight for Detroit.
JAMAICAN POLICE TRAIN IN CANADA—05/01/11
Four police officers from Jamaica are learning new combat techniques at a training center in Edmonton, Canada. The Jamaican officers have the ability to train new recruits upon their return home. They are learning defense tactics and studying legal matters in the classroom at the Solicitor General and Public Security Staff College during a nine-week program.
JAMAICANS SEEK OPPORTUNITY IN CHINA—05/02/11
Some Jamaicans go to China as students on scholarships from the Chinese government and stay on, taking jobs as English teachers or in other organizations. While it is difficult to know how many Jamaicans reside in China, those who belong to the Caribbean Association in China (CAC) and who register at the embassy number at least 50. Even this small number of Jamaicans has had a significant impact acting as cultural ambassadors, generally through their work via CAC. Of all the Caribbean nations represented in the organization, Jamaicans represent the highest membership.
SUICIDE ATTEMPTED BY JAMAICAN IN FOREIGN PRISON—05/05/11
A boy held in custody for approximately one year in a St. Maarten’s prison attempted suicide. He was in prison for living illegally on the island. The boy tried to hang himself in his cell. The teenager had been in prison custody for about a year waiting for the government in Jamaica to provide him with a passport that would permit St. Maarten authorities to deport him. He was born of Jamaican parents in St. Maarten. The law there does not automatically consider him a citizen, but rather as an illegal alien. St. Maarten authorities say there is a procedure that must be followed to obtain legal nationality.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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CRITIC SAYS BOARD OF CARIBBEAN AIRLINES SHOULD BE DISMISSED—04/30/11
PUERTO RICAN BASEBALL STAR DIES AT AGE 105—05/01/11
INVESTOR SAYS CARIBBEAN “RIPE” WITH POTENTIAL—05/02/11
JAMAICA, HAITI IN DISPUTE ARISING OVER SOCCER—05/03/11
CUBA MIXING PEAS WITH COFFEE BEANS TO SAVE MONEY—05/04/11
CUBANS MOVING SLOWLY TO REFORMS—05/05/11
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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OBSTACLE ARISES IN AIRLINE DEAL—04/30/11
Finalization of the deal made between Caribbean Airlines and Air Jamaica has been delayed once again. Audley Shaw, Jamaican Minister of Finance, said that a two-week extension has been granted in order to allow the parties to resolve certain issues. The nature of the issues was not communicated, nor was another deadline set for the signing of the agreement.
CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON BUSINESS OF SPORT—05/01/11
Jamaica has decided to take its sports development role more seriously. Representatives from the island will lead a discussion on the “Business of Sport’ at a conference in Kingston in early May. The conference is coordinated by Carole Beckford & Associates and Strategic Corporate Interventions. The event will include international, regional, and national participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and Jamaica. Government officials and sports management agencies will collaborate on finding polices to influence information sharing and more economic activity related to sports.
IMF ARRANGEMENT TO CONTINUE—05/02/11
Jamaica’s government plans to extend its existing borrowing arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another two years. The Standby Arrangement, which totals US$1/27 billion was signed in February 2010 and was to end in May 2012. Audley Shaw, Jamaica’s Finance Minister, said the Cabinet had given him authorization to ask for a 24-month extension. Shaw says this represents a commitment to fiscal responsibility from the government.
POWER SUPPLY PROJECT HAS ONE BIDDER: JAMAICA PUBLIC SERVICE—05/03/11
The Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. is the only bidder on a project to supply 480MW of generating capacity, according to the Office of Utilities Regulation. The firm remained the only bidder even after the imposition of a deadline extension of 30 days to accommodate additional proposals. The regulator plans to begin its evaluation to determine if the bid is responsive to the requirements of its request for proposal.
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY
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WIKILEAKS FOUNDER CALLS FACEBOOK “APPALLING SPY MACHINE”—05/03/11
According to Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, Facebook, Yahoo, and Google are tools of the United States intelligence community. Assange singled out Facebook as the prime target, noting that Facebook stores information that is especially interesting to the U.S. government for constructing dossiers on users. Facebook offers the “most comprehensive database about people,” their relationships, names, addresses, and locations, and all of it can be accessed by the intelligence community.
CONSUMERS WANT INTEGRATED TECHNICAL SUPPORT, SURVEY FINDS—05/04/11
A study by Accenture, a technology consulting firm, has determined that consumers would like to turn over the support of all their devices to a single company that could provided them with integrated technical support. Sixty-three percent of so-called “super users” want a single firm to manage all their home and mobile electronics from broadband to cable. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed want help to reduce potential problems that place their data at risk or cost them significant amounts of money. Sixty-two percent want help in making their computers run faster when on the Internet.
GOOGLE, FACEBOOK MAY BUY SKYPE—05/05/11
Google and Facebook are considering the acquisition of Skype, or a joint venture with the firm. Skype’s recent corporate strategy has been to encourage business-to-business activity. The negotiations are in the very early stages, so it remains unclear if anything will come of the planning as yet.
NEW 3-DIMENSIONAL TRANSISTOR STRUCTURE UNVEILED—05/06/11
Intel plans to introduce the first 3-D transistor structure into production. The structure is known as Tri-Gate. It will be used in chips made with the 22-nanometer process. Instead of forming a conducting channel on a planar surface, the new structure forms it on three sides of a three-dimensional “fin.” This allows Intel to make smaller and faster chips with lower voltages, which will result in even smaller devices.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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NEW DIVISION ANNOUNCED BY TECH DATA—05/02/11
GEOTHERMAL PROJECT PLANNED FOR NEVIS—05/03/11
CUSTOMERS CONTINUE TO USE SYSTEMS DESPITE DATA BREACHES—05/04/11
CEO OF SONY APOLOGIZES FOR DATA BREACH—05/05/11
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SPORTS
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JAMAICAN SPRINTER BACK ON TRACK AFTER BAN—04/30/11
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has completed a six-month ban for using a prohibited drug as treatment for a toothache. She is the current 100-meter Olympic and world champion, and has returned to competition after her ordeal. She was concerned about the reception she would receive running in the Penn Relays, but has decided to focus on running as fast as she can.
PENN RELAYS FEATURE JAMAICAN SPRINTERS—05/01/11
While more than 180 athletes from 16 countries participated in the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Jamaican men’s team was a standout. Aided by Asafa Powell, the men’s team won the 4x100m relay, clocking 38.33 seconds. The team comprised Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, and Steve Mullings, in addition to Powell.
WEST INDIES WIN IN FINAL OVER PAKISTAN—05/05/11
Lendi Simmons and Ravi Rampaul performed at their top level and were instrumental in achieving a win for the West Indies over Pakistan in the final one-day international at the Guyana National Stadium. They achieved a 10-wicket win, with Simmons striking seven fours and three sixes for a career best.
FEDERATION TO GET TOUGH WITH PLAYERS ABOUT CALL-UPS—05/06/11
Football players who do not inform the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) when they decline national call-ups will find themselves sanctioned by the government entity in the future. The JFF and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) confirmed a meeting in which they decided to make the technical infrastructure of football much stronger. The agencies also want to improve the coordination between them. Unless they have a good reason, players must respond “favorably” to the national call-ups.
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DEVOTIONAL
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“Sweeter than Honey & the Honeycomb”
Recently I saw something rather interesting. Well, to me it was. On my morning commute, a lady across from me took out her Bible, read for two minutes, promptly closed and put it away. Then she took out one of the daily tabloids and read for the remainder of the journey. I should point out that the journey lasted about 40 minutes. Of course, there could have been all kind of reasons for the disparity in reading times. However, what made the whole thing interesting for me was that almost immediately the words of the Psalmist came to mind: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:7-10, KJV).
The word translated “law” may be understood as meaning all that teaches us true religion, and therefore it is no exaggeration to agree with Matthew Henry that the Word of God “is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe, or the light of the sun.” When received by faith, it is more precious than gold; it is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. Honey is often touted not only for its sweetness and fine taste, but also for its curative (healing) effects. The honeycomb is often mentioned, for it is considered superior in flavor, sweetness, and richness to honey that has been exposed to the air for a time. It is no wonder the proverb states, “Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and a healing to the bones” (Pr 16:24; 24:13, 14).
If the honeycomb with all its sweetness is a healing to the bones, how much more the Word of God is a healing to our spirits? Bible Commentator John Gills observes: “They [the words of God] are the means of curing the diseases of the mind; of healing wounded spirits, and broken hearts, and broken bones; they make the bones which were broken to rejoice; what heals the bones strengthens the whole man, a man’s strength lying much in his bones; these strengthen the inward man, cause believers to go from strength to strength, and to hold on and persevere to the end.”
Knowing the benefits of staying in the Word, it is no wonder the enemy tries to keep us away from it! It is easy to find believers who have no problem becoming engrossed in reading secular novels and other materiel while complaining they find the Bible boring or do not have the time to read it. Yet true worshippers not only take delight in reading, meditating and acting on the Word of God, they also expect the Word to change their lives. In other words, the more time we spend in the Word, the more opportunities there are for the Word to shape our thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes. So let us understand that while reading is a wonderful hobby, we should not neglect the reading of the Word. Once we start to “chew” on it, we too will discover “more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
What has been on your taste buds lately?
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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.
