WHEN THE People's National Party's (PNP) candidate for East Rural St Andrew, [Damion Crawford], turned up at 11:30 a.m. to be nominated at the Gordon Town old courthouse in St Andrew, on Monday, December 12 he could not have imagined that another Damion Crawford would show up more than an hour later to complete his nomination as an independent candidate. The Electoral Office of Jamaica's (EOJ) returning officer for East Rural St Andrew, Eric Malcolm, told The Weekly Gleaner that both men also shared the same middle initial: the letter 'O'. The EO J's returning officer told The Weekly Gleaner that the independent candidate Crawford had submitted the symbol of a lion, which was not on the EOJ's list of approved symbols.
The most obvious and immediate conclusion from this state of affairs - highlighted by The Weekly Gleaner in the September 11 edition - is that, 177 years after the abolition of slavery, Jamaicans still struggle with questions of race and identity. Self-esteem and status, to a large measure, hinge on the colour of a person's skin. Indeed, the Jamaica conundrum over a complexion-coded approach to status and sense of belonging can be observed daily in the young women and men who bleach their skins in ineffectual searches for resolutions in their favour. They are, of course, spurred on by a popular culture that declares its love for 'mi browning' - brown or lightskinned Jamaicans. 'In this societal arrangement, black or dark-skinned Jamaicans, who are the vast majority, are broadly at the bottom of the social ladder. They are, concomitantly, also at the bottom of the economic ladder.'
"We have to give God thanks for everything that we have accomplished and just look forward to 2012. We got a national record and I am really thankful to be a part of the team that did it. I'm grateful for my teammates and I think that with this team, we would definitely go far with more baton changes and we'll continue to give it our best shot," said [Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce]. Things didn't look too good for the Jamaicans in the semi-finals, which took place just over an hour prior to the final, as the baton exchanges between Fraser Pryce and [Kerron Stewart] on the first handover and Stewart and [Sherone Simpson] were terrible. But the latter believes that the experience of the girls helped to correct the problems in the short time that was available.
Jamaica's veronica Campbell-Brown waves after winning the Women's 100 meters at the Diamond League Athletics meeting on Sunday May 15. in Shanghai, China. American Lashinda Demus. the meet's record holder, finished runner up in a season's best time of 54.58 seconds, with Olympic and World champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica coming third, also in an SB 54.96. The best of the other Caribbean performances came from Jamaican Dwight Thomas. He also finished fourth in the men's 110 hurdles, clocking a season's best 13.31.
[Sedene Blake], described by Elle UK as the new Iman, was named by Style.com as being one of three models to watch last show season. She did not disappoint, doing a staggering 85 shows in her first season on the international show circuit. [Janeil Williams] was one of eight covers of Love magazine (Conde Nast's new publication), last year. Other covers include iD (twice), the Wall Street Journal (twice), French, BMI and a number of others. Other Love covers in the series of eight, each featured one of the eight hottest models in the world, including such luminaries as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta. Natalia Vodianova, Daria Werbowy and Lara Stone. A major business forum on June 12 will be a key feature of CFW 2011. Designers who have shown collections at CFW include Cedella Marley, Gavin Douglas, Meiling, Sandra Kennedy, Claudia Pegus, Gitalin Bothesatu. Atelier Dore, Barry Monereiffe, Heather Jones, Jessie Ogden, Simon Foster. Paulin Bellamy, Mutamha, Nefertari Caddle, Deola Segoe, Biggy. The Mushroom, Uzuri and Robert Young. Most of these designers will show collections this year.
An elegant player, Samuels stormed back into the selectors' favour after amassing 830 runs in the Regional FirstClass Championship, the most by any player. Samuels also had an impressive showing in the regional T20 Championships where he finished as the top run-getter. Despite receiving an earlier call-up to the West Indies for the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup, the batsman declined the invitation, declaring himself not yet ready to return to international cricket.
"I don't know, Tve been having a bad season and coming back late from stress fracture so I'm just grateful to be here in the first place," Phillips said. "I'm just going through with faith and wherever that leaves me, then so be it." "I'm just grateful to be running ... I don't care about that controversy, that's their business, I pay attention to my business," Phillips stated.
Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust has been identified among a group of investors from which equity commitments have been received for a takeover of Lascelles deMercado starting Friday, July 29, three years after a majority stake was sold to Trinidad and Tobago's CL Financial group. Outlining the rationale for the takeover, Pan Caribbean, in a release Thursday, said Lascelles is controlled by CL Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of the CL Financial group, a financially distressed conglomerate currently under management of the Trinidad and Tobago government and its Central Bank.
Following his two successes in the 200 metres, Olympic and World champion Bolt is leading in this event with 12 points and is followed by the United States' Walter Dix in second on eight points with Norway's Jaysuma Saida in third with five points. The United Sates' Lashina Demus is third with six points, two more than Jamaican Melaine Walker who is fourth on four points. Kenia Sinclair has been having a wonderful season so far in the Women's 800 metres and following her easy victory over the past weekend at the Stockholm meet, she is the leader here with eight points and is followed by South African Caster Semenya on seven points and Morocco's Halima Hachlaf on six.
The Young Reggae Boyz have been drawn in Group B alongside football superpowers Argentina and France along with the formidable Japan. Group F: 1. Australia, 2. C(TM)te d'Ivoire, 3. Brazil, 4. Denmark.
"We are aware of the crackdown on illegal Cash Pot activities, however, it is difficult to precisely estimate the losses," said SVL President and Chief Executive Officer Brian George. "Based on the success of the BGLC, we believe it is down, however, in these difficult economic times we recognize the temptation for this activity by the small operators," George told The Weekly Gleaner via email. "This has the greatest potential for growth and it is the area that we understand that the BGLC is focusing their activities," explained George.
Haiti's President Rene Preval, second from right, gestures during a ceremony marking Haitian Independence Day, in Gonaives, Haiti, Friday, Jan. 1,2010. Preval spoke in an annual address marking Haiti's Jan. 1, 1804 independence from France in a slave revolt At right, first ladytElisabeth Debrosse Defatour, second from left. Senate President Kelly Bastiert, and third from left, partially hidden. Senator Vori Latorture. "On this, the anniversary of Haiti's independence and the beginning of the New Year, we wish to express again to Haitians in both Haiti and the Diaspora the friendship of Canada, as well as our continuing commitment to contributing to the sustainable development of Haiti." cannon said.
American Carmelita Jeter winning the women's 100 metres final in 1 0.93 seconds at the Samsung Diamond League meet at Crystal Palace Stadium in London, yesterday. Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce right) was third in 11. 10 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste was second in 1 0.97 while Jamaicans Schillonie Calvert (11.23) and Aleen Bailey (11.36) were fourth and seventh respectively.
'It is a cause to celebrate, for slavery is the worst abomination that one set of people can, through their power and might, inflict on another," said [Bruce Golding] in his message. "In that celebration, we honour the courage of those leaders who fought the battle against slavery at times when it seemed to be a battle that would never be won, those who sacrificed their lives so that our forefathers could be free and our nation be built."
Coach Glen Mills is predicting 'fireworks' from his 21-year-old charge, Yohan Blake, at the upcoming World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, following the athlete's close second to former world record holder Asafa Powell in the men's 100 metres at the recently concluded Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships. "Yohan was not healthy at the meet, and come World Championships we will see the best from Yohan as I expect a lot of fireworks from him," said Mills, whose athlete clocked 10.09 seconds. Powell won in 10.08.
Vaz Prep's Travis Johnson practices his technique under the watchful eyes of World 400 metres champion, Sanya Richards-Ross, as she assisted in the school's track-team training session. Looking on are Jahvid Ferguson and Alija Cox. The school is preparing for the upcoming inter-Prep Schools track and field athletics chamionships. "I am happy to be back at Vaz Prep because this school has a special place in my heart, because this was where it all began." said Richards-Ross, who pointed out that the institution played the most important part in her track and field career.
"I could not have asked for a better start to my new position as Puma's CEO than to announce the best second quarter in Puma's history in terms of sales, a performance that underlines our ambition to achieve our sales target of euro3 billion for this year," said Franz Koch, CEO of Puma.
"I decided to change citizenship and jump for Jamaica, as I just felt like I needed a change," [Nicholas Thomas] explained. "I am in good shape but the weather messed me up - the rain and the wind. So it set the standards down a little bit." Thomas said after the event. "But it was good competition and I enjoyed it and, hopefully, I can go further in the next couple of weeks." "I am yet to burst on the senior level properly, but I have had a lot of injuries ... over the last four or five years." Thomas explained.
"The coaches have assured me that all our elite athletes are in great shape, fit and ready to perform," MVP's president, Bruce James, disclosed while speaking at the press conference to launch the meet last week at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. "However, the meet is on April 16 and the athletes will only come out to perform if they are fit and healthy to do so," ne hastened to add. "The challenge is that last year at the [UTech] classic she was not feeling well, but decided to take a chance and in so doing she ran and hurt herself badly and was unable to run for the rest of 2010," James explained, while pointing out that the MVP athletes are not all likely to participate in their customary events.
Alando Terrelonge, the lawyer representing embattled national sprinter Steve Mullinge, says in light of last weeks ruling by members of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) disciplinary panel not to accept into evidence an affidavit by Mullings, it is very likely that the case could be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). According to Terrelonge, who along with Patrick Bailey are representing Mullings, they are looking at taking the case to CAS. They will base their argument on an unfair hearing, as Mullings in the affidavit explained to the panel that he could not attend the hearing due to the fact that he is being 'set up', and he is 'fearful for his life'.
Jamaicas sprinter Steve Mullings winning the men's 100 metres in a personal best 9.80 seconds ahead of American Michael Rodgers during the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet yesterday in Eugene, Oregon. Rodgers was second in 9.85 Mullings said the two wins were a timely boost of confidence ahead of next month's World Championships in Daegu, South 'Korea.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, believes that newly crowned World 100m champion and the second-fastest man over 200m, Yohan Blake, is a source of inspiration for Jamaica's youth and encouraged the 21-yearold to remain humble and respectful. "I have a soft spot for Yohan and have always felt that he is a special athlete, having followed his career since he was a student at St Jago," Grange said. "So when Usain false started, I was confident that he would rise to the occasion and win. When Everyone was shocked about the false start, I was focused on Jamaica winning because I knew Yohan would make it happen."
MORE ACCUSTOMED breaking records at high speed, sprint sensation Usain Bolt will slow his pace later this with the staging of the 'Usain Bolt Walkathon'. "I run really fast but the truth is that I'm a really slow walker." [Usain Bolt] laughed during Sunday's. May 15 launch at the Bustamante Hospital for Children for the event, which is scheduled for sometime in November this year. "This partnership is very important and will help to protect the future of this country," Bolt said. 'It's a big step for me. Over the years, I nave been saying that kids are the future so when I was approached to do this, it was a real honour and I'm looking forward to continue doing my best to do what I can to help the kids."
Jamaica closed out the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in explosive fashion, bringing down the curtains with the championships' only world record; a blistering 37.04 seconds run in the men's 4x100m relay. In a race not void of incident, Bolt kept his cool, collected the baton from 10Om champion Yohan Blake and powered through to the finish to better the country's own 37.10 world record, which was set at the Belling Olympic Games in 2008.
[Yohan Blake], regarded by many as a potential heir to top local athletes like former world record holder Asafa Powell and current double world record holder, Usain Bolt, has been creating waves at the senior level for the past few seasons. Add the above to his impressive achievements at the junior level, the national junior record holder and tied with Nigeria's Seun Ogunkoya as the youngest sprinter to have broken the 10-second barrier, it seems Racers may well have another star in their midst.
"She is well trained and trains hard. She has injuries here or there but knows she is being depended on," he said. "She has delivered on three other occasions and will be there to deliver again." "It's kind of overwhelming in the sense that the team will be depending on me to take them to victory. Normally, it's Sheckema, now they're depending on me. I have a lot of nerves but I am sure I will pull through for my team," she said.
"It's gonna be sticky on us," added national women's football coach [Vin Blaine], who said between 10 and 12 female players enroll at junior colleges each year. "It will have a definite impact." "Everyone wants to go to foreign," he said. "Some parents believe if the students go overseas they don't need to take care of them. It's full time these Jamaican athletes recognise how good opportunities are in Jamaica." "We need to find a way to ensure that they find a way to continue to do what they're good at," said [Neville Bell]. "Don't stop them."
Kuumba [Koo-oom-bah] is the Swahili word for creativity. It's also Harbourfront Centre's Black History Month celebration that educates, enlivens and entertains with local and international artists from the African and Caribbean diaspora. Festival highlights include the Voices from Days of Slavery exhibit featuring the audio testimonials of former slaves, the thought-provoking play Man2Man exploring black male sexuality, a hilarious Ebony & Ivory Comedy Bash ($15) pitting white and black comedians against each other, and a high energy Beat the Street Dance Showdown ($10) featuring Toronto's hottest street dance teams. The grand re-opening of Miss Lou's Room will also be a highlight for kids and their families, little ones can gather and listen to some of Toronto's best storytellers weave tall tales of adventure, mystery and intrigue with fabled Anancy stories (Caribbean folk tales).
According to Arun Kumar, professor of economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and author of the book 'Black Money in India', at least US$70-80 billion flows out of India every year into overseas investment hedges like gold or real estate. Kumar estimated that the cost to India of its "black economy" was 5 per cent of GDP growth every year since the mid-70s.
Among the highlights of the day will be an exposition on Jamaican culture - culinary arts, entertainment and music, featuring too the iconic Jamaica handcart laden with Jamaican goodies.
She said that, these are the harsh realities which result in significant measure from pervasive and systemic injustice and discrimination, for which the international community needs a "wake up call" in order to accelerate regional and international cooperation, "to ensure people of African descent have full enjoyment of their rights to participate in all the political, economic, social and cultural facets of society". The Acting CARICOM Secretary General said that the region's "highly respected international reputation' as being intolerant of inequality and discrimination' was built partly on the foundation of the unrelenting resistance of enslaved Africane, embodied in martyrs and leaders of the slave revolts such as Toussaint L'Overture in Haiti; Nanny and Tacky in Jamaica; Codjo, Mentor and Present in Suriname; Bussa in Barbados and Cuffy and Damon in Guyana. [Lolita Applewhaite] said the Rastafarian movement that "revolutionised the consciousness of the Caribbean people and many others outside of the region", pointing also to the strong influence of people of African descent in the creation of a "distinctive Caribbean brand".
The Weekly Gleaner understands that Scotland-based winger Chris Humphrey has been called up by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for their three-week camp in Brazil, ahead of this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States. "Even though I also qualify for Scotland, Jamaica was the first to pursue me and I am looking forward to linking up with the squad," Humphrey added, before pointing out that he is, however, focused on his upcoming clash with Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. Humphrey moved to Walsall at the age of five, and was at Walsall's Centre of Excellence, until later joining West Bromwich Albion.
"One of the initiatives that the JFF has embarked on is getting exposure for our Premier League coaches. We got in touch with our Brazilian friends and so an arrangement was made where all 12 Premier League coaches for next season will be sent to Brazil between June 29 and July 12," JFF president, Captain Horace Burrell announced on Thursday night. May 19, at the 2010-11 Digicel Premier League awards ceremony, at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.
