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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
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NEW ARTISAN VILLAGE PLANNED FOR FALMOUTH—08/06/16
Jamaica’s government will spend more than $7.8 million to develop an artisan village at the Hampden Wharf in Falmouth. The village will include 300 shops featuring crafts and indigenous island products, which will be made and sold there. Upon completion, the village is expected to provide a complement to Falmouth Pier, which adjoins the location. It is hoped that the new development will function as the premier cruise ship port of call in the Caribbean. Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett believes that the village and additional planned features in Falmouth will transform the area and encourage buy-ins by various stakeholders interested in showcasing Jamaican goods.
EDUCATORS ADVISED TO PAY ATTENTION TO INSPECTORATE REPORT—08/11/16
The National Education Inspectorate (NEI) has advised stakeholders in the education sector to heed the information provided in the organization’s next report on the performance of primary and secondary schools in Jamaica. The report focuses on 103 schools and will be published at the end of August 2016. The NEI encourages school administrators, parents, and others to utilize the report to determine how schools across the nations may be improved. The organization’s 2015 report found that 45 percent of primary and secondary schools in Jamaica were “effective,” while 55 percent were “ineffective.” Fifty-nine percent of the schools were rated “satisfactory and above” in leadership and management in 2015, while 55 percent were so rated in teaching. Twenty-two percent of the schools were found to be at or above the Education Ministry’s target for student outcomes in Math and English, according to the NEI 2015 report.
PRIME MINISTER HOLNESS TRAVELS TO RIO FOR OLYMPICS—08/12/16
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness left Jamaica to travel to Brazil to bring “good wishes” to the country’s athletes competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. He will be in Rio until August 16, 2016, and believes it is important that he personally bring best wishes from Jamaicans to the competitors. Derrick Smith, minister without portfolios in the Office of the Prime Minister will be in charge of Jamaica’s government while Holness is away. Jamaica is represented at the Game by 63 athletes in four sports; Holness will arrive in Rio before the start of the track and field events.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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DIASPORA PARTICIPATION POTENTIAL ENHANCED BY JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT—08/10/16
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged members of the Diaspora to renew their commitment to participation in solving issues of national concern. In a message sent to the Jamaica Association of Maryland marking the country’s 54 years of independence, Holness reiterated his view that Jamaicans in the Diaspora represent the nation’s commonwealth and should continue to give their attention to matters of importance in the home country. He especially called upon the Diaspora to use their influence and resource networks to support Jamaica’s advancement and development with a goal to improving life for all Jamaicans through financial investments and technological improvements.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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JAMAICAN TOURISM BRINGS IN US$1.3 BILLION BETWEEN JANUARY, JUNE 2016—08/10/16
In the first six months of 2016, tourism earnings in Jamaica totaled US$1.3 billion, according to the nation’s Ministry of Tourism. Figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) show that over two million visitors came to the island during that period, representing an increase of 7.5 percent over the same months of 2015. Total arrivals reached 2,084,963, with 1,135,080 stopovers. This was an increase of 2.5 percent over 2015. Additionally, cruise ship passenger arrivals rose 14.2 percent to a total of , 949,883 in 2016. The United States of America and the United Kingdom were the island’s strongest markets, with arrival figures of 147,053 from the US and 15,782 from the UK in June 2016.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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LUCIANO, I-OCTANE AND KY-MANI MARLEY TO PERFORM IN RIO—08/11/16
A contingent of high-powered and popular Jamaican entertainers will be performing daily for audiences at Jamaica House in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympics. Luciano, I-Octane and Ky-Mani Marley are among the stars set to participate at the venue, which represents a “little piece of Jamaica in Brazil,” according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. In addition to Jamaican music, there will be opportunities for visitors to sample Jamaican food and make connections with tourism industry partners from South America. The Ministry is utilizing the power of Jamaica’s track and field athletes in Rio to call attention to Jamaica as an entertainment and tourism destination.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
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MAURICE WILSON SAYS TEAM IN RIO WILL MAKE JAMAICANS PROUD—08/11/16
The technical leader of Jamaica’s track and field team Maurice Wilson has assured Jamaicans that the team, which includes 41 first-time Olympic competitors, will make the nation proud. The 2016 team is the youngest track and field team in the history of the Olympics, but Wilson noted that the maturity of the athletes will serve them well in competition. He also cited the presence of experienced Olympians like Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Asafa Powell, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce that will give the first-timers the necessary guidance to handle the Games. Wilson says he is satisfied with how the team has developed so far and that the youth of the athletes ensures a bright future for Jamaica in the sport; however, he also warned that investment is necessary to provide the resources needed for the continued development of team members.
