Category: News

 
Loop News – November 27, 2018
 
Founder of Hear The Children’s Cry (HTCC), Betty-Ann Blaine has heralded the achievements of the recently established Missing Children’s Family & Community Social Work Programme.
 
The programme is an off-shoot of the child rights advocacy group and was established through a $4.2 million donation from Supreme Ventures Limited in June of this year.
 
After just five months of operation, the programme is already bearing fruit, with seven children successfully reintegrated into their homes.
 
Blaine made the announcement at a recently held Parent Teacher Association Meeting at the Holy Family Primary School in downtown Kingston.
 
Through the social work programme, HTCC contracts social workers who visit the homes of missing children. Blaine said on average, over 100 children go missing every month and just as many families struggle to cope with the crisis.
 
“The home visits enable us to go beyond the telephone interviews we have been conducting for 10 years now, to meet the children and their parents face-to-face, in their own homes and communities. Doing the home visits gives us a first-hand view of the actual situations affecting the children,” she said.
 
Maxine Taylor-Cooper, a social worker/counselor with HTCC, addressed the assembled parents, giving details behind the seven successful interventions under the programme.
 
“Since we commenced our home/community intervention, seven children have returned to their residences. In one case in which the child was still missing, our social workers encouraged the mother to send text messages saying, “I love you” and “I want you to come back home” instead of the harsh and threatening ones the mother had been sending.  It worked. That particular child has returned home,” said Taylor-Cooper.
 
“We were able to speak not only with the parents but all relatives in the vicinity that could have an impact on the children. Our team also gave tips on behaviour modification techniques, coping skills and positive communication so we can change the way they relate to each other,” she continued.
 
While reporting on the warm welcome the social workers receive from the families of the missing children, Blaine opined that some significant challenges remain.
 
“Some of the living conditions of the children are significantly less than desirable. The home visits have reinforced what we believe and have been signaling for a long time – that family life needs to be fixed in order to stop the epidemic of missing children,” she said.
 
For its part, Supreme Ventures says it is pleased with the impact the programme has had so far in such a short space of time.
 
Corporate Communications Officer at SVL, Stephanie Todd, who also addressed the gathering, says SVL stands ready and willing to support projects that safeguard the health and safety of the nation’s children.
 
“When Ms Blaine approached SVL we were beyond grateful for the opportunity to assist and help cover this gap in the system. Parents need to know what to do while they wait for their children to come home and how to handle the situation when they do. We are happy with the progress this partnership is making and remain open to other opportunities for collaboration,” she said.
 
Parents at the function were given instructional material on how to build a happy home environment to prevent their children from running away and what to do when the children return.
 
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Article Link: http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/new-social-work-programme-missing-children-bearing-fruit
 

Scholarship, Award of Excellence added to Diamond Mile
By Ruddy Allen – Jamaica Observer – November 7, 2018
Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) and Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), sponsors and promoters of Jamaica’s most prestigious racing event — the Diamond Mile — have announced a Diamond Mile Scholarship valued at $500,000 to aid the development of race-riding at Caymanas Park.
Vitus Evans, BGLC’s executive director, made the announcement at a press conference to officially launch the fourth staging of the event’s Race Day scheduled for December 1 at Caymanas Park.
The scholarship is for a licensed exercise rider who seeks to take his or her career to the next level at the Jamaica Racing Commission’s (JRC) Jockeys’ Training School.
“Our expectation is that this scholarship will assist the individual who will embark on a career as a jockey that embodies the qualities of distinction and excellence that are consistent with the Diamond Mile,” Evans said.
Evans also announced a new addition, the Diamond Mile Award of Excellence, which went to Karl Angell, executive editor — operations — at the Jamaica Observer, for his stellar contribution to the racing industry.
Meanwhile, according to the organisers, this year’s Diamond Mile Race Day promises to be a bigger and better showpiece.
The feature race on the day will be the fourth staging of the Diamond Mile, a Grade One event for three-year-olds and upward going over a mile (1,600m) for a whopping purse of US$115,000 (over $14 million). The remaining races on the programme will have purses of $1 million and over, which makes the race day the richest in the English-speaking Caribbean.
“The Diamond Mile continues to fulfil its aim to be a boost for the horse racing sector by increasing industry revenue and contribution to the Jamaican economy, by improving competitiveness in the sport, and being an exciting entertainment product that is appealing to all segments of society,” noted Evans.
Peter Green, director of marketing at Supreme Ventures, Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), gave his company’s continued commitment to the Diamond Mile.
“The Diamond Mile stands as a true testimony towards [what] quality horse racing and entertainment can be when perfectly fused. In creating this event, the BGLC vision was clear and the result and reality is a one-of-a-kind event that is the most prestigious on the racing calendar. The SVL group is more committed than ever to collaborate with the BGLC to make this event unforgettable.
“It is our opportunity to demonstrate the boundless duty and protector of Caymanas Park. As sponsors of the event, since the first staging, we are proud to see the event grow. Today we renew our sponsorship of the 2018 staging of the Diamond Mile to the tune of $5 million. We know at first hand the importance of sponsors and sponsorship and as such commend our fellow sponsors for believing in the diamond and playing your part in a system in its growth,” Green said.
Sponsors for the 2018 Diamond Mile include BGLC, SVL, SVREL, JRC, Main Event Entertainment Group, Jamaica Observer, Tru Juice, Rum Fire and broadcast media channels, TVJ, TVJSN, RJR 94 FM, HITZ 92FM and Power 106FM.
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Article Link: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/bigger-and-better-scholarship-award-of_148959

Supreme Racing Guide – Jamaica Observer – October 26, 2018
THE annual Yearling Sale scheduled for the official car park at Caymanas Park on Sunday, November 11 is to benefit from a number of incentives initiated by the Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (TOBA) and the promoting company, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL). This year the sale has 114 listed lots.
 
“TOBA is introducing a number of incentives for purchasers at this year’s Yearling Sale to benefit from.
 
“I don’t have to tell anyone that over the last four to five years we have had steady reductions in our foal population.
 
“The incentives we at TOBA along with our partners, mainly the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission and SVREL, are introducing are to attract more buyers.
 
“They are attractive incentives which should assist in propping up this year’s sale. I would publicly like to thank our sponsors for making a lot of these meaningful incentives possible,” president of TOBA, Howard Hamilton, said.
The incentives include the following:
 
SUPREME VENTURES RACING AND ENTERTAINMENT ‘You’re The Owner’ RAFFLE
Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has committed to buy two yearlings, each at a cost of $1.5 million and then will raffle these horses with draws to be conducted on Boxing Day, December 26, 2018, and the other on 2000 Guineas Day in April 2019. The ‘You’re The Owner’ raffle ticket each costs $500 and is already being sold at the track and selected off-track betting parlours.
 
The winners of the ‘You’re The Owner’ raffle gets the opportunity of choosing their trainer; the names of the horses and the riding colours. The keep and care of the two horses, inclusive of training fees and veterinary services, are to be paid by SVREL for 26 months. All monies earned by the SVREL-purchased yearlings go directly to the owners.
 
The ‘You’re The Owner’ raffle winners as per the agreement with SVREL can sell their horses at anytime they so desire. If the horses are sold during the 26-month period when SVREL is responsible for keep and care, that benefit is not passed on to the new owner.
 
YEARLING SALE TRIPLE CROWN RACING SERIES
Three races are being offered which will only be for horses bought/entered in the sale and are down for competition over the horses’ two- and three-year-old careers. They are sponsored by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission with purses of $1.8 million each. A bonus of $3 million is to be paid to the owner of any horse winning the three races. The new races are in addition to the Supreme Ventures Limited Two-Year-Old Series which is for any horse passing through the sale.
 
CASH INCENTIVES
TOBA is offering to only buyers in the sale the opportunity of winning cash prizes. These cash incentives range from $500,000; $250,000; $100,000; and six at $50,000. The cash prizes are to be drawn by raffle at the end of the sale.
 
A TABLE AT THE 2019 PREAKNESS STAKES
The Stronach Group is offering a table for four at the 2019 Preakness Stakes (May 18) and also for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (May 19) both at the Pimlico Racetrack, Maryland, USA.
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Article Link: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports-racing-guide/massive-3-race-series-at-1-8m-each-cash-prizes-for-purchasers-svrel-promotes-you-re-the-owner-raffle_147717?profile=1506