Post-abortion healing retreat

The Family Life Commission of the Archdiocese of Kingston will this month host a retreat for persons seeking emotional and spiritual healing in the wake of an abortion.

Titled, 'Rachel's Vineyard', the retreat will run from July 11-13.

The aim of the retreat is to address feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief. There will also be exercises to help persons grieve the loss of the unborn child and receive God's forgiveness.

The eventual target of the Family Life Commission is to permanently establish Rachel's Vineyard in Jamaica to provide post-abortive healing on an ongoing basis.

For info, call the Family Life Centre, based at the Holy Cross Church, at 754-5783, 919-3326 or 382-5711.

Multibillion-dollar loan guarantees approved

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved two Government loan guarantees totalling US$175 million (J$12.5 billion).

The first represents a private placement in the regional market totalling US$100m (J$7.1b) to refinance part of the debt of the Port Authority of Jamaica, while the second is for US$75,000 (J$5.4m) to pay down on two amended outstanding loans to the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry, who piloted the bill, said the terms of the facility were "indicative", with an average lifespan of 10 years.

Interest rate of 8.75 per cent per annum is tied to the facility and the principal repayment is set to begin in the next five years. The final payment of US$40m (J$2.8b) will be made in 2020.

Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, Peter Bunting, said the Opposition was not comfortable with the arrangement for Parliament to approve indicative terms of the loan guarantee.

Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives, Dr Peter Phillips, echoed similar concerns, charging, "You cannot ask the Parliament, so to speak, to buy a puss in a bag, it's not proper."

Panton appointed to C'wealth tribunal

Panton

Justice Seymour Panton, president of the Court of Appeal, has been appointed a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT).

He is the first Jamaican to be appointed to the tribunal. The appointment took effect on May 15 for four years. The selection was made by the board of governors of the CSAT.

The CSAT is charged with determining any application brought by a member of staff of the Commonwealth Secretariat; or any other person who enters into a contract with the Commonwealth Secretariat which alleges the non-observance of a contact in writing with the secretariat.

Additionally, the CSAT is also competent to hear and determine similar types of applications involving international or intergovernmental Commonwealth bodies, or organisations that meet the requirements set out in the CSAT statute.

The CSAT is established by Commonwealth governments under a statute.

Overseas Jamaicans in Grace internship

GraceKennedy Ltd has opened its doors to second- and third-generation university students living abroad for a six-week internship in Jamaica.

The GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme is the brainchild of Douglas Orane, chairman and chief executive officer of GraceKennedy Ltd. It is a fully sponsored cultural and professional summer internship that seeks to deepen ties with Jamaicans living in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.

"I felt bad and it really hit home," Ipana Chambers stated, after realising she did not know anything about her Jamaican culture. "I was inspired to learn about my self and the black Jamaican culture."

Chambers is a second-generation Jamaican currently living in London and is a recent law graduate from the University of Liverpool.

The students are taken on a variety of weekend programmes, which expose them to their Jamaican heritage. They also work on a rotation basis within the GraceKennedy group of companies. This allows them to gain hands-on experience in their chosen career fields.

The programme is part-sponsored by Digicel, SuperClubs and the Jamaica Tourist Board.