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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
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JAMAICA’S EDUCATION MINISTER MAKES FAMILIES A PRIORITY—04/24/16
Ruel Reid, Jamaican Minister of Education, Youth and Information, said that the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) has developed various initiatives designed to help parents, fix families, and stem child abuse. According to Reid, child abuse reports made to the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) suggest that families are the chief perpetrators of the abuse. The Minister reported statistics from 2007 to 2014, which showed over 27,000 cases of “neglect” and more than 21,500 cases of children who were “in need of care and protection.” Nearly 17,000 cases reported involved sexual abuse. The Ministry’s major initiative is the Effective Parenting Intervention Program, which is meant to help parents by improving their self-confidence and improving their skills in coping, problem solving, and linking them to appropriate resources and support to build family capacity.
JCAA IMPOSES STRICT RULES FOR DRONE OPERATORS—04/25/16
The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has issued guidelines for the safe operation of drones following an increase in the number of the unmanned devices flying in Jamaica’s airspace. The Guidelines of Flight Safety Notification FSN-GN-2015-01 R1 sets the limits and requirements for individuals who want to operate drones. Both those how fly drones as a hobby and those who are professional operators have been asked to follow the guidelines, which require operators to apply for special aerial work permits issued by the JCAA and which impose specific standards. Professional operators must apply for a permit before each flight and refrain from flying the drone until permission has been received.
NEW COMMISSION CHARGED WITH REVIEWING JAMAICA’S ROLE IN CARICOM—04/28/16
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced plans to create a new commission that will review the role of the country in the Caribbean Community and Single Market (CARICOM). It is hoped that the review will find ways to strengthen Jamaica’s participation in the organization. Holness went on to say it was time for Jamaica to “assert itself” in CARICOM and take a more active part in making its economic and political associations stronger within the group. He made special note of the fact that CARICOM is a “common market” and a “shared economic space” that should work to the benefit of every participating nations.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICA’S OUTGOING UK AMBASSADOR RECEIVES ACCOLADES—04/27/16
Aloun Ndombet Assamba, the outgoing High Commissioner of Jamaica in the United Kingdom, was praised for her work with all elements of the Diaspora community during her four-year tenure at the Mission in London. Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplin to the House of Commons, paid tribute to Assamba at a farewell dinner hosted by community groups and businesses in London on April 22, 2016. Rev. Rose says Assamba will be missed by the Jamaican community, while Nyree Chambers, Grace Foods UK head of marketing, praised Assamba for visiting Jamaican businesses in the UK and helping to support events sponsored by the business community over the years. Chambers called Assamba charismatic, relentless, supportive, kind, and an inspiration to Jamaican businesses.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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HERZOG INTERNATIONAL TO REHABILITATE RAIL NETWORK IN JAMAICA—04/24/16
Herzog International, which is based in the United States, sent the government of Jamaica a revised plan for rehabilitating over 200 kilometers of the island’s rail network. Initial service would be scheduled for the end of 2016, with the launch to involve the line from downtown Kingston to Linstead. According to Vando Palmer of the Ministry of Transportation’s communications department, the trains are to be operational by December 2016, as stated by Minister Mike Henry. Herzog is currently on the island doing preliminary work. The revitalizing of the rail network has the support for both political parties.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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HISTORY MADE BY RECORDING ARTISTE ELDIE ANTHONY—04/28/16
Eldie Anthony is the first promising musical artiste in the world to release a full-length debut double album at the beginning of his career. “Break Free” has two sides, with Side One entitled “Break Free-Reggae Vibration,” and the other “Break Free-Yardstream.” The first side targets reggae fans who love authentic Jamaican music without mainstream music’s influences, while the second side is devoted to the fusion of Jamaican and mainstream music. Both were produced by Anthony and Christina Grand from the Music Embassy.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
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FRASER-PRYCE COMPETES AT 122ND STAGING OF PENN RELAYS—04/27/16
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a World and Olympic champion, along with two members of the World Championships women’s 4×400-meter relay team are on the 22-team selected by the JAAA to complete at the 122nd staging of the Penn Relays event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The women won two of three relay contests in 2015, keeping the 4×100 championship and winning the 4×400. Elaine Thompson, Kerron Stewart, and Audra Segree may join Fraser-Pryce on the 4×400 team.
