CANTO 2017 – Digicel Here for the People of the Region

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, July, 18th, 2017.   14 years ago, Digicel arrived and started to invest in the Caribbean. They promised to rapidly transform the landscape and have done so by building their networks from scratch. Today, they continue to deliver.  At their Ministerial breakfast on ICT offerings,  delegates viewed a Digicel video presentation detailing its CARCIP tender which was a three (3) year development project to deliver a first class network. The project is intended to kick start ICT revolution in St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Grenada.  At the breakfast, Digicel reassured Caribbean governments of its commitment to development in the region and their willingness to do what is right for each market.
Tuesday also saw Multi-play and Content Strategies on the agenda with a Keynote delivered by Romano Solano, Sales Director, ZTE.  He noted that in the future mobile technology will be even more essential than it is today as it will have an impact similar to the introduction of the automobile or electricity.
Though relatively new Mr. Solano noted that 5G will fully realize its economic benefits in 2035 and that in the US, it has the potential of producing more than 12 trillion dollars. It is expected to affect every industry of the global economy and by 2035 it will support 22 million jobs. Bringing it to reality however would require unified standards, persistent innovation, cross-boundary collaboration and commercial practice.
Other presenters included E Chris Forte, Cyient who dealt with the topic “Enabling a Connected Communications System”; Jose Luis Horna, CEO, Converlogic presented on “Embedded SIM (eSIM)”.  Multi-play and Content Strategies was the focus of  Christopher Gordon, Head of TV Customer Value Propositions, CWC, Mike Antonius, Acting CEO, Telesur, and Frederick Morton, of Tempo and Shamir Saddler, CEO, Smart Term.
In concluding, it was noted that the future of ICT is in business analytics. The IT professional of the future is the one who can analyze the data using quantitative methods and reveal the social interactivity.
About CANTO
CANTO is recognized as the leading trade association of the ICT sector for shaping information and communication in the Caribbean. Founded in 1985 as a non-profit association of 8 telephone operating companies, CANTO has now grown to over 125 members in more than 35 countries. A Board of Directors appointed by the membership directs policy of the Association. This strategy is executed by the staff of a permanent Secretariat based in Trinidad and Tobago

Rainforest Seafoods supports Jamaica Tallawahs

Jamaica Tallawahs player Rovman Powell (centre), engages with Rainforest representatives at a recent Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) partnership meeting. Listening keenly, are (from left): Ben Jardim, Rainforest Seafoods business development manager; Jerome Miles, Rainforest Seafoods general manager; Michael Hall, Hero CPL’s cricket operations directors and Roger Lyn, Rainforest Seafoods director of marketing and corporate affairs. Hero Caribbean Premier League has welcomed back Rainforest Seafoods as an official partner for the 2017 season of the Caribbean T20 cricket tournament.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170722/your-neighbourhood

IMF Semi-Annual Review Expected To Be Positive, Says EPOC

The Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) reports say that Jamaica has met all structural benchmarks under the precautionary standby arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as at the and of June 2017.

It said that an IMF team will be in the island by September 2017 to conduct its semi-annual review based on the June performance criteria.

EPOC said it expects the review to be positive based on the performance of selected fiscal and monetary indicators up to May 2017 and the successful completion of structural benchmarks through to June 2017.

In a release, EPOC said the Government met the eight structural benchmarks for public-sector transformation, public bodies and public service reform.

These include the benchmark for public bodies to submit all legislative changes to Parliament by June 15, 2017, directing all earmarked revenues from the Civil Aviation Authority, the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund to the Consolidated Fund.

Upcoming benchmarks to be submitted to Cabinet are a proposal for the crisis resolution framework by July 31, as well as a proposal to revise the Bank of Jamaica Act in line with IMF recommendations by August 31.

Encouraging Performance

It said revenue performance remained encouraging, with tax revenue intake of $68.6 billion in April and May equaling the budgeted target.

EPOC’s July communique notes that recurrent expenditure for the first two months of the fiscal year fell below budget by $1.1 billion, while capital expenditure was $800 million or 27.7 per cent below budget.

“We encourage the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) to keep capital expenses in line with budget for the rest of the fiscal year given its importance as one of the main drivers of economic growth,” the communique said.

EPOC said the primary balance of $15.5 billion exceeding the budgeted target of $8.2 billion for April and May.

“We are encouraged by the performance of this significant fiscal metric, signalling continued fiscal discipline by the GOJ,” it said.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170724/imf-semi-annual-review-expected-be-positive-says-epoc

Rose Wants Spotlight With Contender Win

Phil ‘The Assassin’ Rose, one of this season’s Wray and Nephew Contender Series finalists, aims to win the competition to grow his reputation in professional boxing. However, he is also seeking to become the first Canadian to put the coveted title around his waist, but in doing so, he said that he wants to make both Jamaica and Canada proud as champion.

Rose was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 6, 1982, to Jamaican parents. His father is from the coincidentally named Rose Lane in Kingston, and his mother, from the Red Hills area of St Andrew.

The youngest of three boys, Rose said that he had a good childhood, even though he spent many years of it raised by just his mother. He grew up with the culture of Jamaica instilled in him from a young age.

“I love my Jamaican food and I love my Jamaican music,” he said. “I can listen to reggae from morning ’til night. I like old school. I like some of the new stuff, but there’s nothing like the old-school stuff. Beenie Man, Bounty Killa, Buju – he needs to come out (of prison), Capelton, Barrington Levy, I could go on, but I like the cultural stuff, too. Vybz Kartel also has some good stuff. I don’t speak (patois) because I sound stupid, but I love Jamaican culture,” he laughed.

Rose said that like most children who grew up with elder brothers, he was picked on a lot by them. However, he said that it was not the same at school.

“I carried myself well I was a little scrapper when I was in school. I didn’t back down from anything,” Rose said.

Rose, who many describe today as having a very muscular and physically imposing physique, said that he liked all sports growing up and was very athletic. He played basketball, volleyball, and also said that he was a wide midfielder and sweeper in football, where he won many trophies before making a switch to American football.

He then got introduced to boxing, which he said made his mother apprehensive about his participation.

“I was living by my mom’s house and there was a community boxing clubhouse just down the street and I thought, ‘You know what? I wanna go in and see what it’s like.’ So I went down to the club, took a look inside, did a tryout class, and I was hooked ever since,” Rose said.

He has fond memories of his first fight, which he describes as “amazing”.

“There was a lot of emotion and a lot of energy going into the ring,” Rose said. “The first round, you’re going and going and going. After that two minutes I was so tired. I didn’t realise how tired I was. I had to take a deep breath and relax because the nerves, the nerves really get to you. Once I got through the first round, I was okay, and then I went on to win the fight.”

Rose, however, describes his progression to where he is now in his career as a “hard, hard road”. This is because he has to balance his boxing with his regular life, which includes his wife and three children.

FULL SUPPORT

“I have three kids, and I’ve been remarried two years. I actually had my second anniversary when I was in Jamaica fighting (Richard) Holmes (in the Contender Semi-final). It’s been rough. My wife, she supports me 100 per cent, and if I didn’t have her behind me, it would be very hard. She’s looking after three kids that are not hers. She allows me to go out to train. She looks after the kids for me, knowing they’re not her kids, but she takes care of them like they are.”

Rose said that thinking about the support of his wife and his children back home provides added motivation each time he steps through the ropes to compete.

“I think of them and I praise God to make sure I’m healthy and I get through the fight in one piece and I can come home to my family,” he said.

Rose faces Sakima ‘The Mauler’ Mullings in the Contender final at the Mico University College on Wednesday evening and is looking for what he describes as a career-changing win.

“It’s gonna put me in the spotlight, and people are gonna know who I really am. If I win the Contender Series, it’s gonna shoot me forward in my career. It’s gonna be amazing! It’s gonna put my name out in the spotlight. It’s gonna say Phil Rose is somebody to contend with,” he said.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170724/rose-wants-spotlight-contender-win

800 candidates for hearing aids identified during mission to Ja

MORE than 800 Jamaicans residing in Kingston and St Andrew, St Thomas and St Catherine are candidates for hearing aids.
Of the 887 people who were assessed by Minnesota, USA-based Starkey Hearing Foundation on a recent three-day mission trip to Jamaica, 826 were found to be candidates for hearing aids.
Those targeted for the mission include students from the various schools for the deaf, patients from a database provided by the Jamaica Association of the Deaf, National Council for Senior Citizens, and others with disabilities.
International director of the Starkey Foundation Kirk Richards told the Jamaica Observer that the three-day mission is phase one of an ongoing project. Richards said phase two will take place December 3-6 this year.
He added that the people who showed up were able to access ear screening, cleaning if necessary, a voice test, and impressions of the inner ear from which custom moulds will be created.
“The voice test determines the severity of loss. Once they pass/fail there, then we go to education section before moving to the fun part, which is the ear impression. We take an impression of the inner ear, take them to final counselling, which ensures they keep their ID card with the unique ID number they were assigned,” Richards explained.
“Everything is then sent back to Minnesota where custom moulds are designed with each patients unique ID number,” Richards continued. “This ID card is going to be their card going forward. It also has a service number for who they can contact in case of any issue.”
Dane Richardson, CEO of Digicel Foundation, explained that if they were to pay the average cost for a hearing aid, it would cost them between $80,000 and $100,000.
However, there is hope for the 826 people because a donation of US$175,000 was made at the Starkey Foundation’s gala on Sunday to support phase two of the project.
More donations can be made at www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.
This year’s honorees at the gala included Oscar-winning actor Ben Affleck and First Lady of the Republic of Zambia Esther Lungu.
For this mission, Starkey, which has been around since 1984 and has done missions to countries in Africa, Asia, America, and in the last two to three years the Caribbean, partnered with Digicel Jamaica Foundation to provide the services at no cost to those who benefited. Other partners included JPS Foundation and the Chinese Benevolent Association.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/800-candidates-for-hearing-aids-identified-during-mission-to-ja_105257?profile=1373

EPOC Expects IMF Upcoming Semi-annual Review to Confirm Positive Outlook for Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica, July 22, 2017 - Following their monthly meeting on July 17, the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) reports that Jamaica has met all structural benchmarks under the Precautionary Standby Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as of the end of June, 2017.
 
EPOC notes that an IMF team will be on the island by September 2017 to conduct its semi-annual review, based on the June performance criteria. EPOC expects this review to reflect a positive outcome for Jamaica, based on the performance of selected fiscal and monetary criteria up to May 2017 and the successful completion of structural benchmarks through June 2017.
 
Structural Benchmarks

EPOC reports that the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has met the eight (8) structural benchmarks for public sector transformation, public bodies and public service reform through the end of June. These include the benchmark for public bodies to submit all legislative changes to Parliament by June 15, 2017, directing all earmarked revenues from the Civil Aviation Authority, the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the CHASE Fund to the Consolidated Fund.

Upcoming benchmarks to be submitted to Cabinet are a proposal for the crisis resolution framework by July 31, 2017, as well as a proposal to revise the Bank of Jamaica Act in line with IMF recommendations by August 31, 2017.
 
Fiscal Performance

Revenue performance remains encouraging, the report notes, with tax revenue intakes of J$68.6 billion in April and May equaling the budgeted target. An 8.1 per cent over performance of Revenue and Grants (which totalled J$76.2 billion) was driven primarily by a one-off public distribution of J$3.1 billion. As a result of this performance, the Committee expresses its confidence in sustainability throughout the fiscal year.

EPOC’s July Communiqué notes Recurrent Expenditure for the first two months of the fiscal year falling below budget by J$1.1 billion. Capital expenditure fell by J$800 million – 27.7 per cent below budget.
 

“We encourage the GOJ to keep capital expenses in line with budget for the rest of the fiscal year, given its importance as one of the main drivers of economic growth,” the Committee states in its July report. 

Strong Primary Surplus

As a result of the Revenues and Expenditure reports, EPOC points to a Primary Balance of J$15.5 billion, exceeding the budget target of J$8.2 billion for April and May.

“We are encouraged by the performance of this significant fiscal metric, signalling continued fiscal discipline by the GOJ," the Committee comments in its July report.

Worldwide Sports Management Group take up ownership of Jamaica Tallawahs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kingston, Jamaica, 20 July 2017

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, the Jamaica Tallawahs, has been sold to Worldwide Sports Management Group who will take up ownership immediately and will be in charge of the team for the upcoming Hero CPL season.

The Tallawahs are the current Hero CPL champions and they will begin the defense of their title on August 5th in Lauderhill, Florida at the Central Broward Regional Stadium, a facility at which Worldwide Sports Management Group have also signed a long-term agreement to host and market international cricket. This agreement will require Worldwide Sports to provide all necessary capital improvements and technology enhancements to make the stadium a world class plug and play facility.

The founder and president of Worldwide Sports Management Group is Krishna “Kris” Persaud who also runs KPC Properties LLC which is a real estate investment firm that has an extensive portfolio in South Florida that includes around 2,500 multifamily units in the region. As well as his property business Mr Persaud also sits on the board of directors of Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited.

Speaking about the acquisition of the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise Mr Persaud said: “I would like to especially thank the previous owners and the Hero CPL Team for all of their assistance in making the Tallawahs acquisition a reality, and I wish our Mighty Strong Tallawah Team all the best in the upcoming 2017 competition.”

Damien O’Donohoe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hero CPL said: “We are delighted to welcome Kris Persaud and Worldwide Sports Management Group to the Hero CPL family and look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship with them in both Jamaica and the USA.”

ABOUT THE HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE: Since its inception in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Over 149 million fans watched the 2016 season, combining broadcast and digital viewership, to make it one of the fastest growing leagues in world cricket. Jamaica Tallawahs are the current Hero CPL champions and the other competing teams are Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Stars and Trinbago Knight Riders. The 2017 tournament will run from 4 August – 9 September 2017. For further information visit www.cplt20.com.

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For further information please contact:

Peter Miller

Mobile: +447769119636

Head of PR and Communications

Hero Caribbean Premier League

NFL veteran builds school with Helping Hands Jamaica

NFL Veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch has partnered with the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation to build a school in his mother’s hometown of Little London, Westmoreland, Jamaica, June 22 – 26.

Tulloch, along with other NFL friends and several enthusiastic volunteers, will roll up their sleeves to work with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation on a three-day build of a new Infant School (3 – 6 years of age), just a mile from his mother Mercedes’ childhood home. “My family roots are in Jamaica,” said Tulloch. “My Dad was born in Kingston, my Mom in Little London, just outside of Negril. By building this school, we will be able to not only positively effect the current students, but help provide a safe and effective learning environment for years to come for the children here.”

The new school will house up to 100 children and will include running water to allow the students to have a kitchen and indoor bathrooms, which are not available at many schools in the area. It will have five classrooms total, with desks, learning supplies, and an outdoor playscape. The building will be located next to the Little London Primary School to ease the transition for children as their education advances.

It’s no surprise Tulloch is extending his charitable efforts to the children of Jamaica with this school. He has been a staunch supporter of children and causes throughout his 11-year NFL professional career. He launched the Stephen Tulloch Foundation in 2009 to help underprivileged youth when he was in Nashville, Tennessee by hosting camps and providing educational materials to the schools in the area.

Over the past six years Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation has rasied the funds to built 15 schools with the help of their local implementing partner Food For The Poor. Karl Hale, founder of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation is thrilled about the new relationship with donor partner Stephen Tulloch. “We are humbled that Stephen chose our organization to parner with for this project, the school that we build will impact children for generations to come, giving them a hand up on their quest to achieve their dreams,” says Hale.

The Stephen Tulloch Foundation helps assist underprivileged youth with opportunities to be successful and works to provide them with the same opportunities as other children. The foundaitons goal is to supply youth with the essentials to build self esteem, establish their goals, and help unlock their potential. For more information on the Stephen Tulloch Foundation visit Tulloch55.com .

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation seeks to improve the lives of the next generation of Jamaicans and theircommunities by creating a world-class education system through investment in infrastructure, resource materials and expertise. HelpingHandsJamaicaFoundation.com .

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170721/nfl-veteran-builds-school-helping-hands-jamaica

GraceKennedy Launches Fourth Annual GraceKennedy Heather Little-White Household Worker Award

Kingston, Jamaica – July 10, 2017: GraceKennedy is inviting nominations for the fourth annual GraceKennedy Heather Little-White Household Worker Awards 2017.

Male and female household workers such as gardeners, handymen, caregivers nannies and cooks are eligible for nomination by their employers.

This year, the top Male and Female Household Workers will win $300,000 each and the Runner-up Male and Female Household Workers will win $200,000 each – plus trophies and other prizes.

Employers are invited to nominate their household workers, by telling, in no more than 200 words, why he or she is an excellent candidate for this unique award.    Nominations opened on July 1 and will close on August 1.  The preferred method of submission is via the online portal atwww.gracekennedy.com/householdworker or emailed to gracekennedy@gkco.com. Submissions can also be sent to the company’s corporate offices at 73 Harbour Street, Kingston or submitted.

“We were inspired last year by the impressive nominations we received and are happy to host this competition in recognition of the important services that men and women who are household workers provide,” said Don Wehby, Group CEO, GraceKennedy Limited.

Judges will choose eight finalists (four men and four women), with the top four winners chosen from that group.

President of the Jamaica Household Workers Union (JHWU) Shirley Pryce, will once again be among the panel of judges this year.  Ms Pryce who was honoured by GraceKennedy at the competition last year, was also recently awarded the CARICOM ‘Woman Of The Year Award’ for her outstanding contribution to “trade unionism and women and development in the Caribbean Community. She was presented with the 12th CARICOM Triennial Award for Women on July 4, 2017 in a ceremony at the 38th Heads of Government of CARICOM Conference in Grenada.

“Shirley is a Jamaican icon whose career has evolved over the years. As she has grown professionally, she has turned her knowledge, skill and influence toward empowerment of household workers in Jamaica and around the world,” Mr. Wehby said.

In last year’s competition, Michael Lawson copped the top prize while Denham Coke was his runner up, in the male category. In the female category, Millicent Clunis was awarded top prize and second place went to Elizabeth Watson Warren.

The GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Worker Award was inaugurated in 2014 in honour of the noted nutritionist, educator and healthy lifestyle advocate who passed away in 2013.

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Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170721/gk-launches-fourth-annual-household-worker-awards

Russell to fight on July 26 Contender card

Wray & Nephew Contender 2015 Middleweight champion Kemahl ‘The Hitman’ Russell will be in action against Nigel Edwards from Trinidad and Tobago, in an 8-round bout on The Contender 2017 final night card, scheduled for The Mico University College campus on Wednesday, July 26. 

The main attraction will be the 2017 Contender finals, between Jamaica’s Sakima Mullings and Canada’s Phil Rose over 10 rounds.

Russell, who has a 10-1 record, defeated Richard Holmes by seventh round technical knockout in 2015, to become the champion that year, and he will be fighting in Jamaica for the first time in 12 months. On July 2, 2016, he defeated Denny Dalton by technical knockout (TKO) in three rounds, but since then, he has been training and competing overseas. In October, he stopped Henry Mercer in two rounds in Georgia, USA, and then lost by TKO to world rated Sergiv Derevyanchenko, in Mississippi, USA.

EYE-OPENING

That loss, he said, served as an eye opener.

“Sergiv is a good boxer/fighter, and I thought that I could exchange with him. He had too much power for me, however, and I suffered my first defeat. I learnt several lessons from that fight, however, and will use them well going forward,” Russell said.

He is Wray & Nephew’s brand ambassador and said that he is thrilled to be back in Jamaica and fighting on the Contender final night card.

He will be going up against a wily veteran who has a 9-1-1 record and had a fight for a Caribbean title last January. Edwards fought Sheldon Lawrence for the FECARBOX light-heavyweight title in Trinidad and Tobago then, losing by TKO in round eight. He is regarded as a boxer/fighter, and has five knockouts in his nine victories. Russell also has a good knockout percentage, as he has recorded knockouts and TKO’s in eight of his 10 victories.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170721/russell-fight-july-26-contender-card