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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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IMF TO PROVIDE AID AFTER FLOODS—10/02/10
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given indications that it is likely to give aid to Jamaica to avoid major problems with the existing US$1.27 billion Stand-By Arrangement due to the damage to the nation’s infrastructure due to the flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole. IMF representative in Jamaica Gene Leon says the fund will look for ways to assist the Jamaican authorities after they have made assessments of the damage.
FIVE DEAD IN JAMAICAN FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES—10/03/10
Searchers continued to search for victims of the flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole. The confirmed number of dead in Jamaica has risen to five. The rain continued in Kingston, and emergency responders attempted to locate 14 additional missing individuals.
SCHOOL TERM COULD BE EXTENDED—10/04/10
According to Grace McLean, chief education officer in the ministry of education, a decision concerning the extension of the school year will be made shortly. The extension is being considered due to the week-long school closures necessitated by the heavy rains and flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole. McLean also noted that a preliminary assessment of damage from the storm is underway.
WATER COMMISSION WARNS AGAINST ILLEGAL SEWERS—10/04/10
Jamaica’s National Water Commission has issued a warning about making illegal connections to sewer mains. Charles Buchannan, corporate communications manager at the Commission, said the sewers are designed to handle only domestic sewage from homes and businesses. Some individuals have connected their storm water drains to the sewer mains, however, and this can result in contamination of the water supply. Buchannan said the practice is common in areas where the Commission has central sewers.
GOLDING SAYS $125 MILLION NEEDED TO REPAIR STORM DAMAGE—10/05/10
Bruce Golding, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, said the island will need to spend $125 million to repair damage resulting from Tropical Storm Nicole. The damage includes rutted roads, broken bridges, eroded beaches, and damaged farmlands. Golding warned that this was only a preliminary assessment of the cost; a more detailed assessment is being performed.
MEDIA URGE REFORM OF LIBEL LAW—10/06/10
Media interests in Jamaica want Parliament to revise the nation’s libel law because of the problems and cost of fighting lawsuits. Additionally, the risk of large judgments against the media are hindering the press and limiting the freedom of expression. Broadcasters and editors have demanded changes from government, which has promised to review the law, which is considered out-of -date. No action has been taken as yet, however.
CLARKE FACES CHARGES IN FATAL AUTO CRASH—10/07/10
Roger Clarke, Opposition Parliament member, will face charges arising from his involvement in a fatal accident that killed a motorcyclist. Daron Nicholson, 23, died when his motorcycle collided with Clarke’s automobile on a road in St. Catherine in August. Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn ruled that Clarke should appear in court to answer charges related to the accident.
UNION ISSUES WARNING ABOUT PROPOSED WHISTLEBLOWER LAW—10/08/10
Navel Clarke, general secretary of the Union of Clerical, Administrative, and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), informed a parliamentary committee that workers in Jamaica are concerned about discussing corrupt practices of their employers or fellow employees. Therefore, proposed whistleblower legislation may not achieve its goals of eliminating corruption in the workplace. Vice president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions Lambert Brown said workers are willing to provide information, but need adequate protection if they are to do so.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN STUDENT WINDS ESSAY COMPETITION—10/05/10
Yunique Francis received the top honors for her entry to the Eric Williams School Bags Essay Competition. Francis attended the staging of the essay competition in Trinidad and Tobago at the University of the West Indies campus. It was hosted by Professor Dyer Narinesingh, and Her Excellency Sharon Saunders, High Commissioner for Jamaica in Trinidad and Tobago. This was the 13th year of the competition.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA ESTABLISHES DISASTER FUND—10/06/10
The Jamaican Diaspora in Toronto, Canada, is creating a special disaster fund to help Jamaica in the event of natural disasters and other emergencies. George Ramocan, Consul General in Toronto, a committee is working on the development of strategies to encourage participation by the wider community in the city and to create a consistent method for making donations.
RODRIQUES NAMED JAMAICAN AMBASSADOR TO KUWAIT—10/07/10
Audley Rodriques has been named Jamaica’s first ambassador to Kuwait. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, made the announcement. He will take up his position at the newly created Jamaican Embassy to Kuwait in October 2010.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF JAMAICA TO HONOR AUTHOR—10/08/10
The American Friends of Jamaica will honor Sanya Richards, Jamaican-American athlete, with the Hummingbird Award at its 29th Annual Hummingbird Gala on October 18, 2010 in New York City. The event will raise funding for charitable organizations and individuals in Jamaica for education, health care, and economic development. Reggae artiste and international philanthropist Shaggy will provide entertainment at the event.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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LEADERS DISCUSS GROWTH INITIATIVES —10/02/10
TOURISM FIRM CONFIDENT OF GROWTH IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO—10/03/10
CASTRO BOOK TO BE LAUNCHED IN TORONTO—10/04/10
CARIBBEAN AIRLINES LAUNCHES NEW FLIGHT TO TOBAGO AIRPORT—10/06/10
CARIBBEAN ECONOMY TO GROW BY 5.7 PERCENT IN 2010—10/06/10
BUSINESSES IN CARIBBEAN JOIN TO RAISE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS—10/08/10
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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FUNDING OBTAINED FOR COMPETITIVENESS CENTER AT UWI—10/03/10
The University of the West Indies has received funding for a new Caribbean Competitiveness Center to be created at the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago. The center will be financed by US$750,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank and the Department for International Development in the United Kingdom. The center will upgrade the capacity of private and public sector officials to devise approaches to business, climate reform, and enterprise development.
FATHER SAVES DAUGHTER FROM PRISON FOR BANK THEFT—10/04/10
Chloe Reynolds, 24, stole $421,000 from the pension account of a client at the National Commercial Bank at which she formerly worked in order to pay school fees. She was spared prison time after her father cried in front of the judge at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court. Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey told Reynolds, a student at the Mona School of Business, that she should not conduct herself in a way that would make her father break down in tears. She then ordered Reynolds to pay a fine of $10,000 or serve six months for breach of the Cyber Crimes Act. Reynolds had repaid the stolen money to the bank.
BANK RATES IN JAMAICA INCREASE DRAMATICALLY—10/06/10
According to a survey by the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), Jamaican banks have raised their rates in order to mitigate a decline in rates resulting from the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX). Karl Samuda, minister of industry and commerce, said in some cases, banks reduced their interest rates considerably, but raised fees to make up for the losses.
SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR IN THE BAHAMAS NEAR COLLAPSE—10/07/10
According to Mark A. Turnquest, business consultant at Mark A. Turnquest Consulting, the Bahamas’ small business sector is “close to collapse and regressing.” He says that many businesses there believe that the future holds bleak promise and are losing hope. The recession and the lack of a formal support framework for development contribute to the conditions depressing small businesses in the Bahamas, said Turnquest.
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY
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SPACEPORT SOUGHT IN CURACAO—10/04/10
XCOR Aerospace Inc., a space tourism firm, is looking to benefit from private investors who want to partner with local governments to participate in the nascent commercial space-travel industry. The firm announced a $25 million agreement between XCOR, some Dutch investors, and the Curacao government. These entities want to transform the island’s commercial airport into a Western Hemisphere spaceport.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS MEET IN GRAND BAHAMA—10/05/10
The Caribbean Association of Medical Technologists is conducting a week-long meeting in Grand Bahama. Bonnie Culmer, past president of the Bahamas Association of Medical Technologists, said the meeting offers a chance to share best practices and make improvements in medical laboratories in the region.
PHILIPS LED BULB FOR SALE AT HOME DEPOT—10/07/10
Later in 2010, Home Depot will replace its regular 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with Philips LED bulbs for sale. The LED bulb is called the 12-watt EnduraLED and will be sold starting at the beginning of December. It will cost between US$40 and $50. Home Deport currently sells EcoSmart general lighting LEDs.
APPLE iPAD OUTSELLING iPHONE—10/08/10
The initial sales of the iPad have outpaced those of the iPhone and the DVD player for 2010, which makes the device an unprecedented success, according to an analyst at Bernstein Research. Three million iPads were sold in the first 80 days after its launch, and 4.5 million were sold for the three-month period ending in September 2010. About 45 percent of iPad sales are in the United States.
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SPORTS
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JAMAICAN SPRINTERS SHINE AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES—10/05/10
While the more famous Jamaican runners are absent from the Commonwealth Games in Dehli, India, a trio of young athletes is keeping the nation’s pride alive. Dorian Scott, Lerone Clarke, and Oshane Bailey will provide the highlights for Jamaica on the track. Scott won a silver medal at the games in Australia in 2006, and Bailey is a national 100-meter champion.
FRASER BANNED FOR SIX MONTHS—10/06/10
Shelly-Ann Fraser, Jamaica’s 100-meter Olympic champion, has been banned for a period of six months after failing a doping test, according to an announcement from the IAAF. Fraser had a positive test for a non-performance-enhancing drug at the Shanghai Diamond League meet in May 2010. She tested positive for oxycodone and will not be eligible for compete until January 7, 2011.
JAMAICA TO COMPETE IN WORLD SURFING GAMES—10/07/10
The Jamaica Surfing Association surfers will participate in the International Surfing Association 2010 World Surfing Games in Punta Hermosa, Peru. Four open men will be chosen to represent Jamaica in the competition. They will be selected on the basis of the national ranking, availability, fitness, and current levels of performance. Icah Wilmot, Inilek Wilmot, Shane Simmonds, Ackeam Phillips, Luke Williams, and Michael Panton are up for consideration.
LERONE FINISHES FIRST IN 100 METER DASH—10/08/10
Sprinter Lerone Clarke, 29, was victorious in the 100-meter dash at the Commonwealth Games, providing more evidence of Jamaica’s strengths in the sport. While Jamaica’s best runners were not entered in the games, Clarke ensured the win for his country when he ran the 100 meters with a time of 10.12 seconds. Clarke is ranked eighth in the lists for 2010.
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DEVOTIONAL
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The Value of Time
It was one of those chain e-mails, author unknown, which landed in my Inbox. Friends who forward them along know the kind of stuff they can send to me and this one was good! It said:
“To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam. To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of one hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of one minute, ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane. To realize the value of one-second, ask a person who has survived an accident. To realize the value of one millisecond, ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.”
There is a lot of truth in that poem. Though we may not think of it in those terms, time has value, a value that we should endeavor to use wisely. It does not mean that every waking minute must be spent immersed in activities, but we should have an awareness that time lost cannot be regained. Author Henry David Thoreau reminds us, “It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?” For professing believers, we are to be good stewards of our time. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul reminds them, “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, Amplified).
To truly live and to live purposefully means that we will live fulfilling the purpose that God intended for us. To do so means we have to see ourselves the way He sees – living lives of purpose – and resolve to using our time to achieve that goal. M. Scott Peck, noted psychiatrist and author, was right when he states, “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” Paul encouraged the Ephesian church to “make the very most of the time because the days are evil.” How much more evil are the days now?
Let’s not be like the man who said, “If it weren’t for the last minute, I wouldn’t get anything done!” Instead, let us our time wisely and effectively. God, our Heavenly Father, expects nothing less.
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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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