—————————————-
THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
—————————————-
NOVEMBER 28 SET FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION
Jamaica’s local government elections are scheduled for Monday, November 28, 2016, and Nomination Day is set for Friday, November 11, 2016. The dates were announced by Desmond McKenzie, Local Government Minister. According to the Representation of the People Act, Nomination Day must be at least five days after an election is announced. This law also requires election day to be no less than 16 days and not more than 23 days after Nomination Day. Orrette Fisher, Director of Elections, indicated that the window for calling local government elections before the end of the year was closing. Fisher’s ideal is for elections to be announced three months ahead and stated that she gets “a little nervous” if the schedule is shorter than that. There are 228 prospective Jamaica Labor Party candidates and 228 prospective People’s National Party candidates.
INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA TO HAVE LARGE ROLE IN CONNECTING ISLAND COMMUNITIES
Olivia Grange, Jamaican Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, announced that the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) will take a major role in bridging the gap between the island’s cultural communities and its government. The African Caribbean Institute (ACIJ) will work with the Maroon and Rastafarian communities to create closer ties to the Jamaican government. The Accompong Maroons have wanted to partner with the government for the benefit of their community for some time and have created a platform that involves the formation of a cultural partnership between Jamaica and Ghana, Grange said. She also noted that the government has made a commitment to declaring Pinnacle, the home of the Rastafarians, a heritage site and cultural center. Grange made her remarks at Heritage Fest.
LINCOLN ALLEN TAKES POSITION AS ACTING CEO AT FIREARMS LICENSING AUTHORITY
Lincoln Allen has been named as acting CEO for the Firearms Licensing Authority (FLA) in Jamaica. Allen is a small arms control policy authority and handles all local and international policy issues related to firearms. The organization said Allen received a mandate for its Board to “clear and correct” weaknesses in the agency’s system. He replaces Dr. Kenroy Wedderburn who previously held the office. The FLA is charged with providing transparency and integrity in regulating firearms and ammunition used by residents in Jamaica. The FLA was created through an act of Parliament in 2006.
———————————————
SPONSORSHIP
———————————————
Are you ready to reach the world with your event, business or product? This WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY is syndicated to over 60 radio stations worldwide. We invite you to become a sponsor today. Contact us at [email protected]
———————————————
THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
———————————————
JAMAICANS IN DIASPORA TO AID EDUCATION SYSTEM ON ISLAND
Many Jamaicans who live in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have become participants in the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force (JDETF). The group seeks to maximize the development of education programs in Jamaica and has started a fundraising effort to achieve that goal. According to Trudy Deans, Jamaica’s Consul General, the project cannot be accomplished in isolation and that the Diaspora must become involved if initiatives aimed at building early childhood education and training teachers in Jamaica are to succeed. The fundraising effort, Pledge2build, wants to raise US$2 million from Jamaicans around the world within a three-month period. The parent partner of the task force is the Union of Jamaica Alumni Association (UJAA).
——————————————-
THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
———————————————
THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW CIGARETTE COMPANY
Nostic Agricultural and Manufacturing Limited, a new Jamaican herbal and nutraceutical firm, is planning to employ 17,000 individuals in the next decade in growing and harvesting tobacco. Nostic is the first manufacturing company to come from the GulfRay Special Economic Zone in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The firm has received contracts to export 120 containers of cigarettes to clients in the United States. Panama, the Eastern Caribbean, Canada, Dubai, and Amsterdam. Nostic will invest $1.4 billion to cultivate 270 acres of tobacco to fulfill local and foreign demand. This will provide jobs for 5,000 people. The investment will be used to create a factory, greenhouses, equipment purchases, and tractors to begin crop cultivation, research and envelopment.
—————————————————–
THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
—————————————————–
CARLENE SMITH REWARDED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO JAMAICAN MUSIC INDUSTRY
Carlene Smith, Jamaica’s first Dancehall Queen, has been honored for her contributions to the music industry in Jamaica at the first annual Queens of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremonies in New Kingston. Smith was known for her trend-setting exotic dances and fashionable attire in the 1990s. During her reign as the queen of the dancehall scene, she inspired a generation of female dancers and the popular dancehall queen competition. The Butterfly, her signature dance move, remain on of the most popular in dancehall’s history. It was recently featured in the music video “Work” by Rihanna. Smith was also one of the first dancers to make solo tours and receive endorsements from corporate Jamaica. Smith believes that dancehall needs more structure. In an interview with The Star, she had some advice for new dancehall queens: “Everybody is in it for the money and not for the love of it. So to me it’s lacking in that passion. I advise the young dancehall queens try to be unique, be yourself, be original, because when you try to be in somebody else’s shoes they will compare and it holds you back.` Other honorees at the event included Culture Minster Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, veteran DJ Sister Nancy and Audrey ‘Goodas’ Farquharson.
——————
THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
——————
JAMAICAN FREESTYLE FOOTBALLER HEADS TO LONDON
Aaril Anglin, Jamaican freestyle football player, will travel to the Roundhouse in London to participate in the world final of the most important freestyle football competition on earth. The Red Bull Street Style tournament will be held in the United Kingdom for the first time. Men and women from over 40 nations will show off their newest tricks at the Roundhouse, hoping to take home the world title. The event is scheduled for November 7 and 8, 2016. The Red Bull Street Style competition began in 2008 and seeks to find the best overall freestyler in the world. It is designed to considered creativity, technical ability, and style in making awards to the players. This will be Anglin’s second appearance at a world championship competition, and he believes he will represent Jamaica in a spectacular fashion He has trained for two years in preparation for the tournament.
