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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS   STORIES
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UK PRIME MINISTER COMES TO JAMAICA—09/29/15
David Cameron, Prime Minister of Britain, came to Jamaica ready to answer demands for the payment of reparations for the enslavement of British West Indian peoples during the colonial period. Cameron has stated that he does not believe reparations represent the correct approach, but hoped that his visit to the island would strengthen his country’s historic relationship with Caribbean nations. Recognizing that the Caribbean has been turning to countries like China and Venezuela, Cameron wants Jamaica and other West Indian nations to include Britain in their future plans.

UNITED KINGDOM PLANS TO BUILD PRISON IN JAMAICA—09/30/15
British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the United Kingdom is planning to build a prison in Jamaica designed to house criminals currently held in UK prisons. The prison, which will cost an estimated £25 million, represents an attempt to overcome obstacles to negotiations concerning a transfer of the UK prisoners to serve out their sentences in the home country.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAMAICA AND JAPAN ADDRESSES U.N. REFORMS—10/01/15
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller met with the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to discuss a cooperative agreement designed to reform the United Nations Security Council. Abe stated that he was willing to join with Jamaica and 14 other nations in the Caribbean Community to ensure that representation in the Security Council would be equitable. Abe also agreed to work with Jamaica to ensure maritime security and to reduce disaster risks.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN PRISONERS TO BE RETURNED FROM UK—09/29/15
An agreement between Jamaica and Britain will end nearly ten years of negotiations and return over 300 Jamaican prisoners currently serving time in prison in the United Kingdom to their home island. The transfers are scheduled to being in 2020. Part of the agreement requires the UK to build a new 1,500-bed prison in Jamaica to house these returnees. Britain expects to save £10 million per year under this arrangement. According to Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, foreign criminals who break British law should be punished, but not “at the expense of the hardworking British taxpayer.”

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THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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NEW ORGANIZATION WILL REPRESENT JAMAICAN TV AND FILM PROFESSIONALS—09/27/15
A group of film and television professionals in Jamaica have launched the new Jamaica Film and TV Association (JAFTA), a national organization designed to represent professionals and practitioners in the island’s film and television industry. The group was created with support from the Jamaica Film Producers Association and intends to cover all producers, directors, actors, and technical crews working in the industry. Over 100 practitioners have attended its monthly meetings since its inception in May 2015
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THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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USAIN BOLT KEEPS PROMISE TO MUSICAL DUO—09/30/15
Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprint champion, made Sagitar and drummer Young Ras popular in August 2015 when he posted a song they did in his honor on Facebook. He promised he would connect with the duo when he came back to Jamaica, and he has kept that promise. Bolt attended a function held at the Usain Bolt Tracks and Records restaurant, giving a full drum set to Young Ras, who had been videoed in the song using only a knife and a chopper in his musical accompaniment to Sagitar.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
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JAMAICAN TO COMPETE IN WORLD EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN CHINA—09/30/15
Julian Hyde, 20, has been given the chance to compete at the FEI World Championship equestrian event in China. Hyde was invited to participate in the event, which runs from October 14 to October 22, 2015, as the result of a chance meeting five years ago. He met a rider from Bermuda, Raishun Burch, who works in Beijing as an organizer of equestrian events. Burch invited Hyde to enter the competition in a special category.