—————————————-
THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
—————————————-
PRIME MINISTER SAYS GOVERNMENT IS FOCUSED ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT—01/30/15
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who is directly responsible for the oversight of the sports portfolio, said her government has invested $1.5 million on development and infrastructure in the sports sector. The government is very serious about the sports business, she said, and noted the $250 million going to the High School Sport Infrastructure Improvement Project (HSSIIP). Simpson Miller also noted the $70 million in the nation’s budget that has been allocated to national sports associations and federations since April 2015 to mitigate costs of using facilities at Independence Park Limited.
BOTH PNP AND JLP USE MUSIC, MUSICIANS TO SPREAD THEIR MESSAGES—02/03/15
In Jamaican election campaigns, both the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) have historically given music a featured role in communicating their messages. A big favorite of Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader, is “My Dream” by Nesbeth; he sings the lyrics whenever he is on stage addressing his supporters. He also uses “Nah Follow Nobody” and “Ain’t Giving Up” by Chronixx. The ruling PNP leader, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, is typically introduced with either “Strength of a Woman” by Shaggy or “She’s Royal” by Taurus Riley. The PNP also utilizes the 1976 election hit from Neville Martin, “My Father Born Yah” to attract crowds at its events.
HOLNESS HAS BIG PLAN TO ENHANCE PROSPERITY—02/04/15
Andrew Holness, leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labor Party, announced a ten-point program that he believes will bring Jamaica out of poverty and enhance its prosperity. Holness said that if he is elected to office on February 25, 2015, he would implement a package that would grow the economy and create jobs, reform the government, create a Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, and restore the Junior Stock Market in order to increase equity financing to help in expanding small and mid-sized businesses.
———————————————
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
———————————————
JAMAICAN RHODES SCHOLAR WINS OXFORD ECONOMIC LAW PRIZE—02/01/15
Jamaican Kamille Adair-Morgan, a Rhodes Scholar, was awarded the Winter Williams Prize for International Economic Law at Oxford University. She was honored at a New York reception sponsored by Images Media LLC. Adair-Morgan, who lives in Oxford in the United Kingdom, received the congratulations of Jamaican Diaspora members for her many accomplishments. Morgan-Adair was head girl at Ardenne High School, then graduated from the law school at the University of the West Indies with first-class honors. She was at the top of her class and its valedictorian. While at Oxford, she graduated with distinction in the Bachelor o Civil Law and the Master of Philosophy degrees. She is now pursuing a doctorate in International Law. Her research at Oxford relates to use of force, self-defense and trends in the ways that nations handle attacks by non-state and terrorist perpetrators.
———————————————
THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
———————————————
TOURISM IN JAMAICA CREATES POTENTIAL MARKET OF J$70 BILLION—02/03/15
According to a new report from Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the opportunities created by the tourism sector for local trade goods and services has a value estimated at J$70 billion. The Tourism Demand Study indicates that while many hoteliers are supplied by local businesses, many import goods that could be obtained from local sources. It also states that the opportunity for trade could reach J$56.7 billion yearly for processed food, J$5.3 billion for fruits, and J$1.6 for vegetables. Dr. Wykeham McNeil, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, said the Ministry will use the report data to develop plans that will address current limitations in ways that will result in benefits for the island economy.
—————————————————–
THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
—————————————————–
BOB MARLEY’S 71ST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED WITH 48-HOUR LIVE STREAM—02/03/15
Telecommunications firm Digicel Jamaica will provide 48 hours of live streaming of exclusive Bob Marley content beginning on February 6, 2016, in celebration of the reggae icon’s 71st birthday. The streaming will include a replay of the Redemption Concert of 2015, interviews, and music videos. According to Tari Lovell, the sponsorship manager at Digicel, Marley’s music transcends all geographic, racial and musical boundaries, so the company wanted to give the world an opportunity to celebrate the date of his birth with Jamaicans. The Marley content will stream on Digicel Jamaica’s YouTube page and represents a long-standing partnership between Digicel and Tuff Gong International, the entertainment company.
——————
THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
——————
ALICIA ASHLEY WINS WORLD BOXING COUNCIL COMEBACK OF THE YEAR AWARD—02/03/15
Jamaica’s top female boxer Alicia “Slick” Ashley is the recipient of the Comeback of the Year Award from the World Boxing Council (WBC). Ashley lost her WBC Super Bantamweight title in September 2014 by a controversial decision; she regained the title in October 2015 with a victory over Christina McMahon of Ireland in New York. She received nominations in two other WBC award categories, Champion of the Year and Event of the Year, in addition to her winning of the Comeback award. Ashley said that winning the award was “great” and said it showed recognition from the WBC and fans worldwide. To her surprise, she was also given certificates from the Guinness Book of Records for being the oldest female boxing champion in the world in both 2013 and 2015. She was 48 when she beat McMahon.
