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THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
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STUDENTS ANGRY AT TUITION INCREASE AT NORMAN MANLEY LAW SCHOOL—03/22/16
An announced 15.5 percent increase in tuition at Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) has upset students, who will now have to pay $940,812 per year, plus an additional amount of about $14,000 in miscellaneous fees. Carol Aina, principal at the school, says the raise cannot be avoided and that efforts to find scholarships and bursaries for needy students will continue. The budget for NMLS that was approved by the Council of Legal Education did not include money for further expansion or upgrading the facilities. Income for the school is paid from government contributions, tuition, continuing legal education courses, and publications’ sales. To keep up with an increase in the number of students, it was necessary to also increase the number of professional and administrative staff at the school and the Legal Aid Clinic. Students have requested a review of the increase in fees, but Aina says the governing board has already made its decision.
GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH FUEL INSPECTORATE—03/23/16
Jamaica’s new government plans to implement a fuel inspectorate to monitor quality standards for fuel. The move was prompted after several cases of contaminate gas were discovered at a number of service stations across the island in 2015. Dr. Andrew Wheatley, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, announced the plan at a relaunch ceremony for the TOTAL Jamaican fuel card. He stated the government’s commitment to providing a strong regulatory regime to oversee the handling of petroleum products in order to protect the interests of Jamaica’s customers.
RATES TO USE NORTH-SOUTH LINK OF HIGHWAY 2000 FALL 25 PERCENT—03/24/16
After a week of objections about the proposed toll rates to use the North-South link of Highway 2000, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced a 25-percent reduction in fees effective as of midnight March 23, 2016. Under the new fee schedule, Class 3 vehicles, which include trucks and large busses going from Caymanas to Mammee Bay, or vice versa, will now pay $2,775 or $925 less than originally proposed. Pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles (Class 2) will pay$1,837.50, or $612.50 less, while motor cars and small SUVs (Class 1) will pay $915, a reduction of $305 over the originally stated rates.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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DEATH OF FORMER TORONTO MAYOR SADDENS JAMAICANS IN CANADA—03/23/16
Jamaican Canadians expressed their grief at the passing of former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who died after an 18-month battle with pleomorphic liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer. Although sometimes controversial, Jamaicans in the Diaspora praised him, noting his love of reggae music and his support of the island’s community in Canada. Many Jamaicans took to social media to share their pleasant memories of and experiences with Mayor Ford. Ford led the city from December 1, 2010, to November 30, 2014.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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JAMAICAN TO BE CORE BRAND AMBASSADOR TO AQUATIC CENTER—03/24/16
Tony Greyson-Newman, the first sprint kayaking athlete from Jamaica, will serve as the core brand ambassador for the multi-million dollar aquatic center. He is known as “The Jamaican Kayaksman” and has represented Jamaica in international races in Spain and Ireland. He hopes to represent the island at the Pan-American Games in the United States in May 2016, as well as to qualify for the Rio Olympics. He was approached by the Jamaican Rowing Federation’s president Leon McNeil, to be the brand ambassador for the Paisadoes Aquatic Sports Center, a complex designed to function as a hub for water sports.
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THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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GRANGE EXPRESSES SADNESS AT PASSING OF JIMMY RILEY—03/24/16
Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, expressed her deep sadness upon being informed of the death of veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley. Riley, the father of reggae musician Tarrus Riley, passed away in the presence of his family after losing a battle with cancer. Riley is known for encouraging his son’s early career and allowing him to be an internationally praised reggae star. Grange said that Riley’s passing represented a huge loss for Jamaica and the world. Martin James Norman Riley was born in 1954 in Kingston, formed the Sensations, belong to the Uniques, and also had a popular solo career with many hits, including “Love & Devotion,” “Rougher Yet, “My Woman’s Love, and “Black Mother’s Prayers.”
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THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
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JAMAICAN SWIMMERS WIN 7 CARIFTA MEDALS ON FIRST DAY—03/24/16
The Jamaican swimmers totaled up seven medals on the first day of the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Martinique. Among the medals: one gold, three silver, and three bronzes. The team’s performance at the 31st staging of the event included 24 personal bests as well. Kelsie Campbell, a first-time national representative, won the gold in the 15-17 Girls’ 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:04.99. A Jamaican has not won this event since 2013. Shaun Johnson had a seventh-place finish in the event and a personal best time of 1:06.78.
