THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
JAMAICA BROADCASTING COMMISSION WANTS POLICING OF SOCIAL MEDIA
The administration of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been urged to increased the oversight responsibility for free-to-air electronic media to police social media platforms by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica. The BCJ cites concerns about cyberbullying, pornography, and violent content available on sites like YouTube and Facebook. The Commission is asking the government for more power to sanction offending sites via changes in legislation that governs the local digital media environment.
JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT PROVIDES $20 MILLION TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL FISHNG
The government of Jamaica plans to spend $20 million to enhance surveillance of the nation’s coasts and improve enforcement of laws governing fishing in Jamaica. The funds are meant to address illegal fishing in the country’s waters and will be provided under the Fisheries Management and Development Fund. This fund was established to ease sustainable management of the fishing sector. According to Audley Shaw, Jamaican Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, appropriate technology will be implemented to monitor Jamaican waters.
THIS WEEK’S TOP CARIBBEAN NEWS
BLACKOUT IN VENEZUELA BLAMED ON “YAN@UI SABOTEURS”
Conditions in Venezuela worsened as a result of a multi-day power blackout that the Maduro regime blamed on “Yanqui saboteurs” and others blamed Maduro’s “incompetent” government. Millions of people in the city of Caracas were without water for days as a result of the biggest power outage ever experienced in the country/ The outage impacted 22 states and was responsible for at least 40 deaths, mainly in “decrepit” hospitals.. The disputed head of the nation’s government Nicolas Maduro put the blame on “imperialists” who wanted to topple his government.
THIS WEEK’S TOP JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
KICVENTURES, JAMAICAN EMBASSY HOLD EVENT TO STIMULATE INVESTMENT
An event jointly sponsored by KICVentures. A healthcare investment holding company, and the Jamaican Embassy in Washington DC designed to encourage Jamaicans in the Diaspora to invest in the health care sector of their home country. Dr. Kingsley R. Chin spoke about the need for Jamaicans worldwide to look for investment opportunities that will improve Jamaican healthcare. Dr. Chin and Audrey P. Marks, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States came up with the idea of enhancing Diaspora investment in the healthcare sector, believing that a robust healthcare system will lead to more medical tourism and attract Jamaicans in the Diaspora to retire to the island.
THIS WEEK’S TOP BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
REVENUES OF JAMAICAN PRODUCERS RISE, TOTAL $19.6 BILLION
Revenues of the Jamaica Producers Group rose to $19.6 billion in the year that ended on December 31, 2018. This was an increase of 21 percent over the $16/.2 billion gained in 2017. The profit for shareholders also rose in 2018 by 23 percent, totaling $816 Million. The increases were attribute to the strong performance of Kingston Wharves and the Logistics and Infrastructure Division, which includes JP Shipping Services, which is based in the United Kingdom. The Food and Drink Division, the biggest revenue contributor in the Group, had revenues of $11.3 billion, 29 percent higher in 2018 than in 2017.
THIS WEEK’S TOP ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
BANTON’S CONCERT ONE OF BIGGEST IN JAMAICAN HISTORY
Buju Banton’s “Long Walk to Freedom” concert of 2019 is expected to be one of the largest concerts in the history of Jamaica. On March 16, 2019, the tour will begin in Kingston Jamaica at National Stadium, a stadium with a 35,000-seat capacity. The crowd is expected to include fans from around the world. The concert tour celebrates Banton’s completion of a prison sentence and his return to performing. While anticipation is likely to be high among his fans, even the musical artists scheduled to perform at the concert are excited. Chronixx gave thanks to “the most high” for the chance to be pat of the “life-changing event” that performing alongside what he says is one of the greatest artists of all time. Delly Ranx noted that the concert was “history being made before our eyes” and was honored to be part of it. Cocoa Tea said she was excited to be part of the event, which she called a “long and overdue walk to freedom” for one of Jamaica’s greatest artists. Other performers scheduled include Agent Sasco, Etana, Romain Virgo, and Banton’s son Jahazeil Myrie.
THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS NEWS
GRACEKENNEDY DONATES DEFIBRILLATORS TO CHAMPS TOURNAMENT
The chief executive of GraceKennedy Don Wehby announced that the organization will provide five defibrillators for use at the March 2019 staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships. The competition is scheduled for March 26 through 30, 2019, and will be the 109th staging of the event. It will be held in Kingston’s National Stadium with a record number of competitors: 113 boys’ schools and 108 girls’ schools. More than 3,000 athletes have registered to participate. Wehby, who attended St. George’s College, knows how important the defibrillators are and have a critical role in saving the lives of Jamaican athletes. In discussing the importance of the devices, he cited the incident involving Jamaica’s 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter record holder Kemoy Campbell, who collapsed at the Millrose Games in New York in February 2019 and former St George’s College Manning Cup captain Dominic James, who collapsed and died during a schoolboy football match tin 2015.
