Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Celebrate the Christ Event in hope
PEACE to you and Grace from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit the comforter!
The Conference of Churches in Grenada takes this opportunity to extend Christmas greetings to all, as we celebrate the Christ Event.
As we reflect on the pre-Christmas season and the many sentiments expressed, we cannot help but detect a sense of despair and hopelessness among many of our people. When we hear statements like: ‘things really bad’; ‘this is going to be the worst Christmas ever’; and when we see the facial expression of many as they seek to survive the present economic climate or, as they seek to make sense of the state of our nation’s politics or, as they try to come to terms with the reality of unfulfilled dreams and failed promises, we are convinced that our people need to hear once more the message of hope, which is indicative of this festive season.
We need to hear again the words of John 3:16:
“For God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
That is, God’s plan for fulfilling man’s greatest need: the restoration of the pristine relationship man had with God and creation before it was spoiled by sin. The Christ Event therefore is a significant and pivotal juncture in God’s rescue mission. It provides vital sustenance for man – HOPE – as he journeys towards consummation with God – eternal blessedness with God.
This hope is deeply embedded in the birth narrative stories. Example:
The narrative from Luke which tells of how Jesus was born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid in a man-ger among the animals makes the point that God enters every human situation even that of our impoverishment.
The narrative from Matthew which speaks of the visitors from the East, the escape of the Infant His parents to Egypt and the slaughter of the children, while it highlights the lengths to which man may go to hold on to power, does make the point that neither human guile nor deceit can derail the plans of the Divine.
Another part of the birth narrative in Luke, which speaks of the birth of Jesus at the time of the census ordered by Caesar Augustus that took place during the reign of Quirinius as governor of Syria, confirms the birth of Jesus as an historical event which can be dated in world history and thereby authenticating the Christ Event.
When we search the depths of the birth nar-ratives as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels – Matthew and Luke – we can certainly draw strength from the hope they present. A hope which says that the God we love and serve is a God who enters every human condition as He works His purpose out and that no construct, whether man-made or otherwise, can defeat that purpose. Isn’t that something worthwhile rejoicing over?
What joy and peace can be ours as we come to know, to experience and to trust the assurance that in God’s unbounded love and mercy all things will be well!
It is this trust the psalmist had in God that allowed him to boldly answer the rhetorical question about the source of his sustenance in Psalm 121. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Dame Juliana of Norwich, a 12th century English mystic who loved God and devoted herself to seeking a deeper knowledge of his love, in her writings, shares these words of assurance from Christ: “I can make all things well; I will make all things well; I shall make all things well and thou canst see for thyself that all manner of things shall be well.”
Throughout the ages man has found God to be the only sure foundation on which to stand. God never fails!
The Conference of Churches Grenada calls on all, as we celebrate the Christ Event, to embrace the promise of God and to place our faith in Christ and Christ alone so that our hope may be well-founded and we may enjoy the peace and joy of such sure hope.
The words of the Apostle Paul as found in his letter to the Romans Chapter 15 verse 13 is our prayer for you:
May the God of hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope!
We wish you the joy, peace and abundant life which Christ offers and may we celebrate the Christ Event in hope and receive God’s blessings as one family and one nation.
God bless you all.
(Christmas Message from the Chairman of the Conference of Churches in Grenada, Archdeacon Christian Glasgow)
CTO to meet with members as it seeks to improve intra-regional air link
THE Caribbean Tourism Organisation will lead a mission in the New Year to meet with top ministerial officials and technical personnel in its member countries to seek their assistance in the advancement of better intra-regional air links to help boost tourism in the region.
This was one of several recommendations coming out of the inaugural meeting of the CTO Aviation Task Force, which took place at the regional tourism development agency’s headquarters in Barbados recently.
The recently appointed CTO Chairman, the USVI Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, reported a successful inaugural meeting which discussed the cost of intra-regional travel, the economic
impact of the declines in travel, improving the ease of passenger movement, and launching actions to improve the efficiency of Caribbean aviation. The meeting was jointly chaired by Commissioner Nicholson-Doty and CTO past chairman, Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism and International Transport of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We had an excellent first meeting and we are confident that CTO’s leadership in this area will be critical to reviving growth in intra-regional travel, which has declined seriously in recent years,” the CTO chairman said.
The Aviation Committee discussed the San Juan Accord – a memorandum on the regional air transport sector that was agreed by CTO members in 2007 – as well as other important issues such as minimum revenue guarantees, communication among regional carriers, “open skies” agreements, government taxes and fees, fuel costs, visa restrictions, passenger security-screening arrangements, airlift capacity and the dependency of local hotels on the intra-regional market.
Another key item addressed was American Eagle’s possible departure from the San Juan hub in 2013 and both the opportunities and challenges this presents, especially for destinations in the Eastern Caribbean which depend on this commuter service.
Among other recommendations, the Committee proposed a meeting between airline and airport operators within the first few weeks of the New Year and a region-wide meeting of transportation ministers and commissioners in the first quarter of 2013.
The composition of the Committee reflects technical, regulatory and policy-making experience and has public/private sector representation from tourism professionals, accommodations, airlines, airports and aviation consultants.
Republic Bank spreads Christmas cheer
As part of its community outreach initiative, the Republic Bank last Friday donated a total of $30 500 to 11 charitable organisations whose work positively impact on hundreds of persons throughout the island.
Among the recipients were the Dorothy Hopkin Centre for the Disabled, the Grenada Foundation for Needy Students, Cadrona Home for the Aged, Rotary Club Grenada East Vosh Eye Care Programme, the GRENCODA Books & Uniform Programme, and the Grenada National Council for the Disabled.
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| Eleven charitable organisations receive their donations from Republic Bank. |
A statement from the bank said that the contributions were in keeping with “the true spirit of seasonal giving”.
During the ceremony, Managing Director of Republic Bank, Mr. Keith Johnson, said: “Republic Bank remains committed to assisting organisations such as yours. Our annual Christmas contribution to your various organisations is an expression of our unwavering commitment to giving back to the communities we serve.”
Expressing thanks on behalf of the charities was Mr. Darnley Charles, President of the Cadrona Home for the Aged. Mr. Charles thanked the bank for pledging the annual gesture to the beneficiaries, despite the tough economic times. (LS)
Focus on resources in disaster management
“We must continually guard against the situation where the buy-in and resourcing of our agenda is not matched by our capacity to deliver.”
This was the assertion made by Executive Director of Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Jeremy Collymore, as he stated that there was an urgency to address the human dimension of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
“At the most basic level, this has to do with ensuring that the national DRR focal points have the mix of competencies necessary to carry out their mandates. At the same time as the effort to move toward a whole of government and whole of country approach to DRR, there must be a radical shift from human resource management to human resource development for the sector,” he said.
He made the comments at the recently held Annual Caribbean Conference.
Noting the resolve by countries and partners to strengthen this Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) movement through the adaptation and development of appropriate policy, programme and resource mobilisation, he outlined that there had been the recognition of the need for participating states to revisit the institutional framework and modes of engagement in addressing the big challenges of creating resilient states.
“The blueprint outlined for reviewing the CDM Strategy and Programme of work has been embraced. The diligence in conversion to measures and programmes that meet resilience standards is now our responsibility. Ownership of this is an important and indispensable step in any efforts to explore and build synergies with other regions or engage in international discourse,” he emphasised.
Collymore expressed his happiness that larger numbers of youth were getting involved in CDM and said that innovative ways must be sought to ensure that they continue to be engaged in pre and post conference exchanges.
“This is a virgin minefield that if well managed can provide the raw material for building resilience communities for generations to come,” he remarked.
17 kilos of drugs missing from police evidence
Grenada police have launched an investigation into the break-in of a room in the Supreme Court Registry, which stores exhibits for court matters.
Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Trevor Modeste, confirmed that a number of exhibits,
including 17 kilos of cocaine, are missing. “We discovered the break-in on Monday morning, so it could have happened sometime over the weekend,” Modeste said.
It is understood that some of the missing exhibits were for matters already dealt with by the court, while others are from matters pending in the court. It is further understood that cocaine which was evidence for a matter that resulted in an accused man receiving 25 years’ imprisonment is among the missing items.
It is not clear if there are security personnel or security cameras around the building where the evidence was stored. (LS)
Report shows need to protect the manicou population
By Linda Straker
IT is not yet designated as an endangered specie, but the first official scientific survey to determine the number of manicou in Grenada’s forest indicate a need for protection to grow and at the same time protect the population of this animal whose meat is high in demand among wild meat lovers.
Scientifically called Opossums, the manicou is seen as one of the wildlife that has been exploited over the years and this has resulted in forestry officials implementing a shorter hunting season since 2008. This was preceded by a total suspension on hunting of all wildlife in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.
“In the aftermath of the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 we had to take quick action as a mean of preserving wildlife because without proper shelter they were exploited but since 2008 we established a shorter hunting season,” said Arden Forteau, Acting Chief Forestry Officer.
Based on observations from our officers and hunters they were less and less in the wild and funding was sought for the department to conduct its first survey on the specie which was lead by Dr. Howard Nelson, wildlife specialist.
At last week Thursday’s presentation of the findings, Dr. Nelson said that the manicou is not “nearly exploited” and protection measures can ensure that it remains sustainable for long-term survival in its habitat which is not only in the forest reserve, but all over Grenada.
Funded by the FAO Technical Co-operation Programme at a cost of EC$20 000, the survey not only determines the status of the manicou, but it also resulted in the development of a manual and protocol for conducting wildlife survey.
FAO Regional Forester Claus Eckleman said that the long-term aim of the survey, its findings and recommendation is to create a platform where the manicou will not be exploited but to be sustained in the wild and not become endangered or maybe an extinct specie.
“It’s for the benefit of all,” he said at the presentation of the findings.
A second survey will be conducted in 2013.
Thousands participate in Blue Band promotion
There were more than 3000 entries in the Blue Band Promotion, but only 31 won gifts and one of those persons had their name pulled for the collection twice.
The eight-week promotion concluded on November 16th 2012 but according to brand manager Nazima Aziz entries were still being received after the close of date. “Participation was way beyond our expectation,” she said.
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| Blue Band user receiving her gift. |
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| Cross-section of winners in the Blue Band promotion. |
Ester Telesford won in both the first and second draws while the mother and daughter team of Joanna and Rolanda Baptiste from one home won two separate prizes.
Blue band was first launched in Pakistan more than 20 years ago and it has since become a leading margarine in central and East Africa and the Caribbean. Locally, it is distributed by George F Huggins.
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