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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
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JAMAICAN WOMAN NOW 3RD OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD – 5/13/2016
Viola Moss Brown of Duanvale, Trelawny, 115 years of age, is now the third-oldest person in the world, after the passing of Susannah Mushatt Jones, who died in New York City today at the age of 116. Brown still lives in the house where she was born in 1900. She was confirmed as the oldest person in Jamaica by the Gerontology Research Group. Brown is also the mother of the world’s oldest living child, her first-born son, Harold Fairweather, who turned 95 in April 2016. Brown received congratulations from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth upon reaching the age of 115. Emma Morano of Verbania, Italy, who at 116 is just a few months younger than Jones, is now unofficially the world’s oldest person. Jamaica’s Brown is known as “Aunt V,” and she was born in 1900. She attributes her longevity to “God’s blessing” and coconut sauce, or “run down.” Since the death of her husband who worked as a keeper at the Duanvale Cemetery, Brown has retained all the records of the cemetery, for which the parish council expressed its thanks as other Jamaican cemeteries lack accurate records of burials. According to Brown’s family, there are plans to establish a foundation in her honor.
JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS – 5/13/2016
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, announced that the Government is exploring the introduction of an entrepreneurship curriculum in schools, in a bid to foster innovation among students. The entrepreneurship curriculum is expected to be introduced in all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Speaking at the launch of Scotiabank’s 2016 Vision Achiever Programme at the Scotia Group Financial Centre in Kingston Mr. Samuda stated “It is critical that we sensitise young people to the need to study at an early stage about how to do business. The minister stressed that the Government recognises the importance of the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, in achieving broad-based and inclusive growth.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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ENRICO RILEY WINS 2016 ROME PRIZE – 5/16/2016
Enrico Riley, an associate professor of studio art at Dartmouth in the United States who has roots in Jamaica, has won a 2016 Rome Prize from the American Academy of Rome. The prize is awarded to some 30 emerging artists and scholars of exceptional talent in the U.S. The prize includes studio space, lodging, and a stipend that allows the winner to live and paint in Italy’s capital city. According to Barbara Will, associate dean for the arts and humanities, the Rome Prize represents a once-in-a-lifetime achievement and is a great testament to Riley’s national and international reputation as a painter. Riley says he is excited to be going to Rome because it is something he has wanted to do for some time; he is looking forward to being able to focus on his own research. In addition to having time to paint, he is also looking forward to immersing himself in the art of Italy.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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GRACEKENNEDY ANNOUNCES $14 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS – 5/19/2016
GraceKennedy Foundation has announced seven full scholarships and a few bursaries totaling over $14 for Jamaican university students for the academic year 2016/17. The full scholarships and bursaries will be available to students attending the University of the West Indies, University of Technology Jamaica, the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts and the Caribbean Maritime Institute. Caroline Mahfood, Executive director of the foundation, stated, “We recognize that it is becoming more and more challenging for students to fund their tertiary education. We want to play our part in helping to build Jamaica’s workforce by investing in these bright, talented young people.”
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THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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DANCEHALL VETERAN MR. VEGAS BLASTS DRAKE ‘VIEWS’ ALBUM CLAIMS HE EXPLOITED POPCAAN & BEENIE MAN – 5/16/2016
In the video posted on Facebook Mr. Vegas stated he was excited to listen to Drake’s “Views” Album to hear the new version of Controlla with Beenie Man. In the video he explained his disappointment when he heard the song and he realized Beenie Man wasn’t actually featured on the track. He explained that Drake had used a sample of Beenie Man’s 1995 classic hit “Tear Off Mi Garment”. Mr Vegas asked “Why didn’t Drake link Beenie Man to sing back that record if that’s the record he wanted to use?”. He also expressed his disappointment in the single “Too Good” as Drake had sampled an old Popcaan record at the end of the song rather than record the artist. Mr. Vegas questions Drake’s friendship with theses dancehall artistes. There has been no response from Drake.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
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JAMAICAN WOMEN’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL TEAM MOVE ON TO FINAL ROUND OF OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS 5/15/2016
The women’s beach volleyball team of Jamaica will advance to the final round of the Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Olympic Games qualifiers after a 3-2 win over St. Lucia in El Salvador. The victory put the Jamaicans into the sixth and last qualification position. The team defeated the U.S. Virgin islands by a score of 3 to 1, but lost to Guatemala 3 to 2 in games played May 12, 2016. Jamaica’s team – Kai Wright, Danielle Perry, Sashalee Wallen and Alicia Perry – will play in the fourth and final round of the Olympic qualifiers in Acapulco, Mexico, in June 2016.
COMFORTABLE WIN FOR BOLT IN 100 METERS AT CAYMAN INVITATIONAL – 5/15/2016
Jamaican Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt began his 2016 racing season at the Cayman Invitational where he scored a comfortable win in the men’s 100-meter competition. Bolt’s time of 10.05 defeated Dentarus Locke of the United States who ran the distance in 10.12. Kemar Bailey-Cole of Jamaica was third with a time of 10.18. This was the first competitive run for Bolt since he took home three gold medals at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China. It was his second appearance at a Cayman Invitational. Bolt had a strong start, but trailed Locke at the halfway mark. In his customary fashion, however, Bolt, the world’s fastest man, sped up at the last 50-plus meters and then eased into the finish line to take a relatively easy victory.
