THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
PRIME MINISTER AND OPPOSITION LEADER MEET PRIVATELY
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness met privately with Dr. Peter Phillips, leader of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to discuss issues of security and crime management in the country. The meeting culminated a series of public remarks and correspondence between the two leaders about the States of Public Emergency in St. Andre, St. Catherine North, and parts of the corporate area. In a joint press release from the Office of the Prime Minister, the discussions were described as “frank and confidential” with both agreeing that a meeting of teams from the Government and Opposition will meet on January 7, 2019, and that a meeting will be scheduled with other stakeholders in the future.
HOLNESS SAYS SECURITY FORCES COMMITTED TO NATIONAL SECURITY
According to Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, both the government and the security forces are committed to keeping the nation safe and secure. He made his remarks after wo days of intensive consultation with the heads of security, noting that the Plan to Secure Jamaica has been effective and led to the creation of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch. Additionally, new human resources have been obtained through the implementation of a new recruitment strategy. Holness called special attention to the use of traditionary powers in emergency cases, which is an important part of the Plan.
THIS WEEK’S TOP CARIBBEAN NEWS
COSTA RICA LOOKS TO ELECTRIC CARS AS PART OF CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS
Costa Rica, the leader in clean energy in the Caribbean and a country that describes itself as an ecological paradise, currently gets over 98 percent of is electricity via clean energy. However, its automotive industry lags behind other sectors, with only 600 or the nation’s 1.4 million private cars running on electricity instead of fossil fuels. Things are about to change as a project of Costa Rica’s Institute of Electricity (ICE) forecasts some 40,000 electric vehicles could be on the road within five years. With the purchase of 100 electric vehicles, ICE seeks to demonstrate that these cars are perfectly adapted to the nation’s mountainous terrain.
THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
HONORARY CONSUL IN ATLANTA SEEKS STRONGER TIES WITH JAMAICA
Dr. Elaine Grant, Jamaica’s new honorary consul in Atlanta, Georgia, wants to create stronger ties between Jamaicans on the home island and those in Georgia’s state capital. Such ties will bring significant benefits to Jamaica, she believes. A former educator, Grant’s appointment went into effect on October 1, 2018, after the resignation of her predecessor Jewel Scott. Grant has already begun a series of “meet and greet” sessions with representatives of community groups, organizations, and educational institutions in the city to discuss issues of interest to Jamaicans in Atlanta and at home.
THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
COMPUTER SOCIETY PRESIDENT SAYS NATION’S TECH POTENTIAL STILL UNTAPPED
Sean Thorpe, the president of the Jamaica Computer Society, believes that there is much untapped potential in the country’s technology and that more can be accomplished to enhance production via the adoption of technology. According to Thorpe, the statistics provided in the 2018-2019 World ?Economic Forum Global Competitiveness report showed Jamaica at 44 percent in the adoption of technology. This places the country at 91 or 140 countries in terms of tech. Cooperation among government, the private sector, and academia must become more deliberate to effectively use technology to improve productivity.
THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
BUJU BANTON ATTENDS STONE LOVE’S 46TH ANNIVERSARY
Buju Banton, born Mark Myrie, made his first appearance at a big Jamaican entertainment event following his release from a United States prison. Completing his prison sentence for a drug crime, Banton brought excitement and surprise to the Stone Love event at Sabina Park in Kingston. Acknowledging Banton’s presence, Randy Rich of Stone Love the Gargamel tribute with Stone Love dubpes featuring Banton.
THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
JAMAICAN OLYMPIC BOSER OLIVER WRIGHT DIES
Oliver Wright, two-time Jamaican Olympic boxer,71, died in Atlanta, Georgia, of a heart attack. Wright represented Jamaica as a light heavy-weight boxer in the 1968 Mexico Olympics and the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1970, he won the Central American and Caribbean Games gold medal, defeating Orester Pedrosa of Cuba in the final. Wright was the second Jamaican Olympic boxer to die in 2018. George “Bunny” Grant, former Sportsman of the Year, also passed away in 2018.
