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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS   STORIES
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HOLNESS PLANS TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS ON JAMAICA HOUSE
In keeping with a promise to implement 30-percent renewable energy for the generation of electricity by 2030, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the government is participating in the Solar Head of State coalition and installing solar photovoltaic (FV) panels on Jamaica House, the national executive office. According to Holness, the project symbolizes the renewable future foreseen for Jamaica and other Caribbean nations. He also said he intends to lead by example. Jamaica House was constructed in Kingston to serve as the official office of the country’s Prime Minister after independence in 1962.

SHAKEBA FOSTER NAMED 2017 RHODES SCHOLAR
Shakeba Foster has been announced as the 2017 Jamaica Rhodes Scholar and will attend the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. She plans to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Economics. Foster said she is excited and somewhat surprised to be selected as the Rhodes Scholar. The 23-year-old is currently an economics lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona. She credits Professor David Tennant, the head of the economics department, for encouraging her to apply for the scholarship. The 2016 Rhodes Scholar, Sherona Forrester, was also from the same department. Foster is a native of St. Catherine and attended Tulloch Primary and St. Jago High School.

25 LONG-SERVING FARMWORKERS, 21 EMPLOYERS HONORED
Twenty-five farmworkers and 21 employers participating in the Canada/Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (CCSAWP) were honored with certificates and plaques marking their dedication and long service to the program during the past 50 years. Among those honored for their commitment were farmworkers Larkland Pearce for 47 years, Rupert Douglas for 45 years, Reginal Cowan for 44 years, and Richard Brown for 42 years. Among the employers honored were Abe Epp and Family Inc., and H.W. Smith Holdings for 50 years, Fortedale Farms for 49 years, and G.H. Lambe and Son for 48 years. Colette Roberts Risden, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, noted that the CCSAWP has made significant contributions the social and economic development of Jamaica and the Caribbean region.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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GEORGE RAMOCAN NAMED JAMAICAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN UNITED KINGDOM
George Ramocan, a former Jamaican Senator, will serve as Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He is slated to start in his new position in December 2016. Ramocan previously served as Consul General of Jamaica in Toronto between 2009 and 2014. The announcement of Ramocan’s appointment was made by Kamina Johnson Smith, Foreign Minister, who cited his track record in diplomatic service, politics, education, and civil society, as well as his experience in leadership and stewardship roles. Ramocan is an ordained pastor and former parish councilor, as well as a former vice-chairman and interim executive director of the HEART Trust/NTA. He has a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies  and an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BEGIN CUTTING JOBS IN AUGUST OF 2017
Workers in human resources jobs with the Jamaican government will be the first public sector employees to see their jobs cut when the administration of Prime Minister Andrew Holness begins to implement portions of its public sector transformation initiative. This first stage of the job-cut program will begin in August 2017, according to the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The workforce reduction plans have been in process since 2011 when the master rationalization plan was completed. They then became part of a three-year reform deal signed with the IMF in 2013. This agreement requires Jamaica to introduce shared corporate services for human resource management, asset management, and communications.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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SEAN PAUL MOST SUCCESSFUL JAMAICAN ARTIST IN RECORD SALES
Sean Paul has surpassed legendary reggae musician Bob Marley to become the most successful Jamaican artist in terms of record sales. Paul received his third Number One recording in the United Kingdom with “Rockabye” with the Clean Bandit electronic group. Paul recently signed on with Island Records and has had 12 Top Ten hits to date. He has also received credit on 28 songs that have been listed in the Top 40. In addition, Sean Paul has collaborated on recordings with stars like Beyonce, Beenie Man, DMX, Mr. Vegas, and Akon.

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THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
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JAMAICANS BOLT AND THOMPSON HONORED BY NACAC
The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) has selected Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Elain Thompson as its 2016 Athletes of the Year. Bolt, who won the Male Athlete of the Year award, achieved triple gold-medal status at the 2016 Rio Olympics, bringing his all-time Olympic gold medal total to nine. Thompson, who won the Female Athlete of the Year award, claimed bronze medal at the 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, in the women’s 60-meter dash, but her performance at the Rio Games was the factor that earned her the NACAC title. She won the women’s 100-meter final, the women’s 200-meter, and ran the second leg to help her team win silver in the women’s 4×100-meters.