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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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TEACHERS DEFY EDUCATION MINISTRY—10/16/10
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has instructed its members not to comply with a directive from the Ministry of Education. The directive tells the teachers to apply for leave as a result of their absence from class during Tropical Storm Nicole. Teachers absent during the storm period must have the absence recorded as leave if they were not marooned or kept from class due to impassable roads, according to the Ministry. The JTA, however, worries that the Ministry is punishing teachers for something over which they had no control
JAMAICAN TEEN CHARGED WITH INTENT TO MURDER—10/17/10
A Jamaican teenager, 15, has been charged with intent to murder in Antigua and will remain in custody in prison until January 11, 2011. He will then make another court appearance. The boy is charged with stabbing another 15-year-old male repeatedly. The victim is in the hospital recovering from multiple wounds in his chest, back, and neck.
MOTORISTS IN JAMAICA TO GET A BREAK ON GAS PRICES—10/18/10
Jamaican motorists will reap some savings at the gas pump as Petrojam, the state-owned oil refinery, reduces prices of gasoline by 51 cents. The decrease comes after two weeks of increased prices. Petrojam said the reduction in price is due to activity in the United States gulf reference prices.
REGGAE SINGER TO RELEASE SONG ABOUT GAY RIGHTS—10/19/10
Mista Majah P, internationally known reggae singer, is set to make history with the first-ever song promoting support for gays. His song “Rights” could create controversy in the reggae community, but Majah P believes he is on a mission to change the reputation of reggae music, according to his manager, Tony T.
COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE HANDLING OF “DUDUS” EXTRADITION—10/20/10
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruch Golding selected Emi George, attorney, to lead a commission charged with investigating the Golding administration’s handling of a request from the United States for the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, an alleged drug kingpin. Golding said George will head a commission comprising three members, which will deliver a report to the governor general by the end of February 2011.
IMF APPROVES MORE FUNDING FOR JAMAICA—10/21/10
An additional amount of nearly $7 billion will be provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Jamaica’s budget for fiscal 2010. Audley Shaw, Jamaican finance minister, said the additional funds will be spent to repair infrastructure damaged by flooding and rains caused by Tropical Storm Nicole. Half of the money will come from a Chinese loan used for the Jamaica Infrastructure Development Project (JDIP).
JDF SOLDIERS FREED IN TIVOLI GARDENS KILLING CASE—10/22/10
Two members of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) previously charged in connection with the killing of a man shot in Tivoli Gardens in January 2008 were freed when Paula Llewellyn, director of public prosecutions, provided no evidence against them in Home Circuit Court. The JDF soldiers were charged with murder after a coroner released a verdict in the case in September 2010.
JAMAICAN BUSINESSES MOBILIZE SUPPORT FOR 2012 OLYMPICS—10/22/10
Businesses in Jamaica are working to create partnerships for developing trade and investment opportunities related to the coming Olympic Games in London in 2012. According to Earl Jarrett, chairman of the Trade Policy Committee in the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) and general manager of Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), says public and private sector firms are joining with the government to showcase Jamaican products and services at the 2012 Games.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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TOURIST BOARD ENDORSES BEST OF JAMAICA SURVEY—10/19/10
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) endorses the “Best of Jamaica” Worldwide Survey for 2010, which is conducted by the website Jamaicans.com. This will be the 12th annual online survey conducted by the site. It is open to individuals who live in Jamaica or in major cities with a significant Jamaican presence.
JAMAICANS IN CANADA DONATE MEDICAL SUPPLIES—10/20/10
Robert Montague, Ministers of State for Local Government, and Beverley Needham, chief executive officers of the Bustamante Hospital for Children, accepted medical supplies donated by the Jamaican Diaspora in Canada in October 2010. The supplies represented a total donation of $750,000 to four regional health authorities for the improvement of health care to patients across Jamaica.
FORMER PRIME MINISTER LECTURES ON HAITI RECONSTRUCTION—10/21/10
Jamaica’s former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson discussed reconstruction in Haiti at the 12th Annual Eric e. Williams Memorial Lecture at Florida International University’s South Campus. Patterson is the CARICOM Special Representative on Haiti’s Reconstruction. He is authorized by Haiti’s government to represent its interests at appropriate events.
JAMAICAN PRODUCTS TO BE SHOWN AT FLORIDA FOOD SHOW—10/22/10
A showcase of Jamaican food and beverages will be presented at the Jamaica Pavilion at the 14th annual Americas Food and Beverage Show, a two-day event beginning October 26, 2010 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It is the largest food and beverage show in the Western Hemisphere and will features almost 300 exhibits from 27 nations. This is the first time Jamaican products will be shown at the event.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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HAITIAN PRESIDENTIALS HOPEFULS TAKE CAMPAIGN TO FLORIDA—10/16/10
CARIBBEAN CREDIT UNION GROWTH CREATES NEED FOR MORE OVERSIGHT—10/18/10
MORE THAN 200 CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES AT RISK—10/19/10
INQUIRY INTO STARVATION DEATH CASE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—10/20/10
ECONOMY IN CARIBBEAN IMPROVING—10/21/10
BIRTH RATE IN HAITI TRIPLED SINCE EARTHQUAKE—10/22/10
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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ARTISTES ADVOCATE FOR MORE MONEY FROM BUSINESS SECTOR—10/16/10
Several reggae artistes from western Jamaica are asking the island’s business sector to put more money into the area’s music industry and to support musical talent that might not have much opportunity if forced to migrate to Kingston, the headquarters of the music sector in Jamaica. Mackie Conscious and Shandy Man are among those from western Jamaica who worry that the region’s talent will be lost in the constant focus on musicians in Kingston.
JAMAICAN POULTRY PRODUCER NOT WORRIED ABOUT GRAIN PRICES—10/17/10
In spite of the rising prices of grain worldwide, plus lower-than-average yields in the United States’ harvest, a top poultry producer in Jamaica remains unconcerned. Ian Parsard, vice president of finance and energy at Jamaica Broilers, noted that the U.S. corn crop is still strong, and the harvest is in its early stages. When the U.S. harvest ends, the world market will be supplied by other major corn producers, including those in South America.
SAMUDA CALLS PUBLIC SECTOR BUREAUCRACY “ECONOMIC PICKPOCKET”—10/18/10
According to Karl Samuda, Jamaica’s minister of investment and commerce, the public sector bureaucracy represents an “economic pickpocket,” and the most difficult adversary he has ever faced. However, he notes that the Golding administration has the determination to win the fight. Bureaucracy limits the productive sector’s chances to act in an expeditious manner in creating wealth, says Samuda.
SOME DISPLACED VENDORS TO BE RELOCATED TO CORONATION MARKET—10/19/10
Some of the vendors who were displaced during a police clean-up of downtown Kingston will be relocated to the renovated area of Coronation Market, said Desmond McKenzie, mayor of Kingston, McKenzie said the upgraded market, made possible by funding by Digicel, will be open for business on October 23.
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY
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GRAND BAHAMA MAY BE SITE OF WAVE TECHNOLOGY TESTING—10/18/10
Grand Bahama is being considered as a site for initial testing of a technology that generates electricity from ocean waves. The technology uses the waves’ kinetic energy, and the testing project could create as many as 100 manufacturing jobs in Freeport. The project’s research and development phase could begin in early 2011, an initiative totaling $3 million to $4 million.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR BAHAMAS—10/19/10
According to LaToya Johnson, director of the Bahamas Society of Engineers, using the areas renewable energy resources, which include sun, wind, and ocean waves to create power, is a “no-brainer.” Johnson believes there are many opportunities for engineers to exploit renewable energy sources in the region.
5.2 MILLION iPHONES ACTIVATED BY AT&T IN 3RD QUARTER—10/21/10
AT&T has a major winner in the Apple iPhone. The firm has activated over 8 million smartphones in the 3rd quarter, and 5.2 million of them were iPhones. This represented the highest number of iPhone activations to be accomplished in a single quarter. Almost 25 percent of all iPhone activations in this period came from new customers, according to AT&T.
FLOW JAMAICA OFFERS FREE UPGRADES IN BROADBAND MARKET—10/22/10
In a move meant to challenge Digicel Jamaica and other competitors in the wireless broadband sector, Flow Jamaica is offering its existing customers free upgrades to increased speeds. Connections will rise from eight megabytes per seconds (Mbps) to 12 Mbps and from 15 Mbps to as high as 20 Mbps. Flow also introduced two new broadband products, which offer speeds as high as 50 Mbps and even 100 Mbps.
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SPORTS
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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO TARGET GAYLE IN MATCH—10/16/10
Trinidad and Tobago, the defending champions, plan to target Jamaican Chris Gayle when the teams meet in the second match of the WICB Regional 50-overes Tournament at Sabina Park. Kelvin Williams, national coach of Trinidad and Tobago, noted that Jamaica will be “gunning” for his team and that the match will be a difficult one to win.
AUSTRALIAN BEATS BOLT FOR IAAF HONOR—10/20/10
Steve Hooker, Australian pole vault athlete, was nominated for the IAAF 2010 World Athlete of the Year award ahead of Usain Bolt, Jamaica’s Olympic superstar. When the IAAF chose ten male and ten female athletes as candidates for the award, Bolt’s name was not on the list. The exclusion has been attributed to Bolt’s inability to participate in several events during the last part of 2010 due to a lower back injury.
CAMPBELL NOMINATED AS 2010 WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR—10/21/10
Jamaican Olympic champion sprinter Veronica Campbell was the only athlete from the Caribbean region nominated by the IAAF for the 2010 World Athlete of the Year award. She is one of 11 women candidates for the honor this year. Winners will be announced at the IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco in November 2010.
JAMAICA, BARBADOS CRICKET MATCH TO BE GOOD CONTEST—10/23/10
Fans of cricket will be presented with a good match as Jamaica meets Barbados in semi-final two of the West Indies Cricket Board tournament at Sabina Park. Jamaican captain Chris Gayle says it will be a “good contest” because Barbados has a “credible line-up.” He also noted, however, that Jamaica is ready to make it to the finals and will back themselves up to play a good match.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Finishing Strong – Part 1
If anyone doubted the fact that the Christian life is one of spiritual warfare, they need look no further than in the closing words of Paul’s second letter to Timothy in which we read, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, KJV). In his first letter to his son in the Lord, Paul admonishes him to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). This was a constant theme in a number of his letters as to the brethren at Ephesus he encourages them to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13), and to the Corinthians he speaks of fighting “not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27).
It is obvious that this apostle sees the Christian life as a noble conflict with sin, the word, the flesh, and the devil; a conflict that not only has to be fought, but for the Christian it is one that we have to win. Knowing that his death was imminent (see 2 Timothy 4:6), Paul, in looking back over his life, was content with how he had fought the fight of faith. In his commentary on the text, noted Bible Scholar Matthew Henry observes, “[Paul] did not fear death, because he had the testimony of his conscience that by the grace of God he had in some measure answered the ends of living. As a Christian, as a minister, he had fought a good fight. He had done the service, gone through the difficulties of his warfare, and had been instrumental in carrying on the glorious victories of the exalted Redeemer over the powers of darkness.”
Every athlete knows it is important to finish an event strong. There is a certain pride that is present when representing one’s club or country that propels an athlete to overcome adversity for a chance to stand on the top of the podium. For the Christian it should be no different. As representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and the kingdom of heaven, we have a responsibility to not only fight the good fight of faith, but to finish strong. Failure is not an option.
If we could know when it is our time to leave this world, and were we to look back on how we fought the good fight, what would we conclude? What would our loved ones write on our tombstones? Now that you have time to ponder, how are you doing in your fight?
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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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