Denise Williams Gets New Role At Flow

FLOW, JAMAICA'S broadband provider has added a new position to its senior team and appointed Denise Williams, former head of public relations, to the role of director of corporate and government affairs.

The move comes as the company advances the rollout of its business arm, Columbus Business Solutions - an investment of more than US$250 million on the island. With a greater focus on its corporate and government agenda, in her new role, Williams will focus on strengthening Flow's relationship with industry partners, multi-national and advocacy organisations, as well as developing and implementing the organisation's outreach and communications strategies.

Williams stated that while the role will be a challenging one, the company has several distinct advantages. "The infrastructure that Flow brings to the island and the impact on the commercial landscape is already quite significant. Flow has literally changed the broadband landscape in Jamaica," she said. "Since Flow's launch, the cost of broadband has been reduced by as much as 98 per cent, with a corresponding increase in bandwidth to both small and large commercial entities.

"We provide the necessary bandwidth to enable innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The task ahead is to continue to work with our partners in both the public and private sectors to ensure that this competitive advantage is realised."

Williams now reports directly to Flow's president and chief operating officer, Michele English, who said with the launch of Columbus Communications, she thought it was important to have an individual that would lead the organisation in developing new relationships, ensuring the various groups understand the technology.

Excited that Williams agreed to take on the role, even though a replacement has not been found to manage her public relations portfolio, English said the new director of corporate and government affairs, has demonstrated the ability to manage the role.

Significant achievements

According to English, with the type of network in place, capable of delivering fabulous consumer products, Flow could help the government to become more efficient, from general administration to the rapidly growing telemedicine, telejustice, from a national security perspective, by use of information technology surveillances.

Williams has led public relations at Flow since 2008 and sees some significant achievements as steering public relations through the early challenging times where the company's business model, based on international standards, was new to the island.

She is also proud of the social investment Flow has made on the island, including Flow's Building Leaders Through Technology Programme, which, to date, has donated free commercial-grade Internet and educational cable to over 120 schools across the island.


janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110629/news/news4.html

Tivoli book place in Flow NBL final

OMAR Barnes seized the opportunity and Kirk Ferguson worked like a Trojan as Tivoli Wizards pulled the plug on the Jamaica Defence Force, 60-42, on Sunday at the National Stadium Courts to wrap-up their Flow/National Basketball League best-ofthree semi-finals 2-0.

The Wizards trailed 7-9 in the first quarter, but shot ahead 24-22 in the second.

Tivoli cracked the whip in the third quarter, outscoring JDF 19-9 to stay comfortably ahead 43-31 just before the start of the last quarter.

The military men failed to close the gap in the fourth quarter, as Barnes finished with 15 points, while Ferguson churned out a double of 13 points and 13 rebounds for Tivoli. Anthony Farquharson contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds for the finalists.

Earlier, Kemar McLeish spearheaded Majesty Legends to a 75-53 win in game one of the best-of-three semi-finals against Urban Knights. McLeish scored a game-high 27 points, supported by Baldon Todd (13 points) and Damion 'Trailer' Young with 13 points, 16 rebounds and nine blocks.

With the first half tied up 18-18, Majesty nudged ahead by the end of the second quarter with 34-28.

In the third quarter the Knights lacked discipline and were outscored 20-10 as Majesty motored to 54-38 and maintained their momentum in the last quarter to seal the win.

Andre Murray sparked for Knights with 15 points, while teammate Javan Bailey added 14 points.

Game Two will take place tonight at 7:00 pm at the National Stadium with Game Three, if necessary, set for Thursday at the same time, same place.


Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Tivoli-book-place-in-Flow-NBL-final#ixzz1R7Rfz3jj

West Indies take early advantage against India

West Indies' bowler Fidel Edwards celebrates after trapping India's Praveen Kumar LBW for four runs on the opening day of their first cricket Test match in Kingston, Jamaica, Monday June 20, 2011.

Pacer Fidel Edwards returned from a two-year absence to snatch a four-wicket haul as West Indies dismissed India for 246 on today’s opening day of the first Test at Sabina Park in Kingston.

However, West Indies have lost an early wicket in their reply to reach 20 for one with another 12 overs remaining in the day’s play.

Lendl Simmons was dismissed by Ishant Sharma for three with the score on 18.

Earlier, Edwards accounted for Virat Kohli, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar and Amit Misra.

Ravi Rampaul supported with three for 59 off 18 point 2 overs and leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, three for 75 from 11 overs.

Suresh Raina top scored for India with 82 following a seventh-wicket partnership of 148 with Harbhajan Singh, who scored 70. The pair rescued India from a shaky 85 for six.

Source: http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=29527

Rain leaves NBL west in limbo

Almost three weeks after Catherine Hall All Stars took a 1-0 win against Granville Jaguars in the Best-of-Three finals in the 2011 Western Conference FLOW National Basketball League (NBL), the team has not been able to see any further action on account of the persistent rainfall that has been lashing western Jamaica.

"This competition should have been completed close to two weeks ago, but the rains have washed out all our scheduled playing days," said Western Basketball Association (WBA) vice-president Deon Williams, the competition's coordinator. "As things are, we are not setting any new dates until there is a break in the weather."

Catherine Hall dominant

In the much-anticipated Game One, the Catherine Hall team was quite dominant, winning three of the four quarters in a performance, which would seem to suggest that they might be quite tough to beat in the race for the coveted title, which is symbolic of western basketball supremacy.

In the first quarter, Jaguars started out well, but once the Catherine Hall team settled, they took control and were clearly in charge at the end of the quarter, which they led 17-14. It was more Catherine Hall dominance in the second quarter, which they won 13-8 for a comfortable 30-22 half-time lead.

In the third quarter, the Jaguars team finally came to grips with the situation and looked quite ominous taking the quarter quite impressively by a 17-7 margin to level the score at 37-37 going into the final quarter.

In the deciding final quarter, Jaguars seemed jaded by their third-quarter effort and struggled to match a rejuvenated Catherine Hall in the push for victory. In fact, Catherine Hall were cruising in the end as they took the quarter 23-14 for their 60-53 win.

Kurt Dorman, with 15 points and 15 rebounds; Goyan Malcolm, with 15 points and 12 rebounds; and Marvin Powell, with 12 points and five rebounds, were the dominant players for Catherine Hall. Leroy Lawrence, with 15 points and 10 rebounds; and Huwayne Blake, 14 points and 10 rebounds, replied for Jaguars.

"The level of interest going into the play-offs was quite high and I am just hoping that the momentum will not be lost because of the rain break," said Williams. "It has been an excellent season and we want it to end on a high."

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110608/sports/sports91.html

All-stars face Jaguars in Game Two of Flow final

Granville Jaguars’ Ryan Harrison (left) drives past Catherine Hall’s Jermaine Rerrie last Tuesday’s first game of the best-of-three Flow NBL-west finals at the Montego Bay Cricket Club. Catherine Hall won 60-53. (Photo: Paul Reid)

Catherine Hall All-stars will this evening seek to wrap up the Flow National Basketball League-West title when they take a one-nil lead into Game Two of their best-of-three final against Granville Jaguars at the Montego Bay Cricket club, starting at 7:00 pm.

Catherine Hall won last week's first game of the rain-affected series 60-53 and a win tonight would give them their first title since the 2008 Western Conference's Men's Basketball Championships.

Granville Jaguars were the regular season winners however, and are expected to put up a serious challenge today as they seek to maintain their hopes of staying in the race for top honours.

Despite losing twice to Catherine Hall, Jaguars have the firepower to win on any given day and will be led by Huwayne Blake, Dave Black, Leroy Lawrence and Ivaughn Lee.

In Game One, despite an uneven start, Catherine Hall managed to get in gear with three players Goyan Malcolm, Kurt Dorman and Marvin Powell all scoring in double figures with Jermaine Rerrie hauling down 27 rebounds.

Catherine Hall will also have the edge on defence with big men Dorman and Rerrie having the advantage over Lawrence, Ryan Harrison and Blake.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/All-stars-face-Jaguars-in-Game-Two-of-Flow-final_8975490#ixzz1P894mPH0