Jah Cure and Jr Reid to shoot new video 25 May 2008 | by Contributed Article Danger Zone continues to blaze a trail, setting new trends and taking dancehall and reggae music to new frontiers. Danger Zone is currently making preparations to shoot the video for Hot Long Time which features Junior Reid and Jah Cure. The Hot Long Time video is the next step for Junior Reid coming off his award for most improved entertainer at the recently held 2008 IRAWMA Awards. Jah_Cure_Junior_Reid.jpgHot Long Time was produced by Steve "Rock Star" Morales for SoBe Entertainment; Morales is famous for his work on Pop Bottles by Lil Wayne and Birdman and also has production credits on songs by Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Young Jeezy, Fabolous, Big Pun, Fat Joe, and Mario to name a few. Indeed Steve Morales is as good as they come and his production work on the Hot Long Time track is outstanding. Hot Long Time is new ground for Jah Cure who is known for his culturally relevant reggae tunes. This is also the first time Jah Cure and Junior Reid are teaming up on a song and based on the final product won't be the last. "It's been years I have wanted to work with Junior Reid and this is a manifestation of what we have been doing since he joined the Danger Zone/ SoBe Entertainment family. I feel very good about the song and I hope the fans will like it as well. We tried something different on this track as there is no limitation to the music and we have always tried to work with different genres to take our music to the world". Jah Cure, Danger Zone/SoBe Entertainment Artiste. The song Hot Long Time features Jah Cure's signature voice overlayed on a tight Hip Hop beat sprinkled with an essence of reggae. Junior Reid presents himself as a relevant artiste "ahead of the time" bringing fans back to a period when he was king and reinforcing the reason he is in such high demand internationally. "Working with Jah Cure is a blessing as he is one of the most inspired artistes out there right now. Hot Long Time is a continuation of the work I have been doing with SoBe Entertainment and Danger Zone and there is much more to come". Junior Reid, Danger Zone/SoBe Entertainment Artiste. The video for the song Hot Long Time will be directed by Jay-Will who just completed filming Jah Cure's last video Flyin High which featured American rapper and Sobe Entertainment CEO Stack$. The Flyin High video was premiered on '420': International Herb Day (April 20, 2008) on WorldStarHipHop.com and broke the record with 50,000 views in 7 hours and 140,000 in 19 hours. Jay Will will also soon be filming Green Gra** and Journey; both recent singles done by Jah Cure. "It's always a pleasure to work with Danger Zone and SoBe Entertainment. The alliance is an ongoing relationship and I am presently working on a SoBe infomercial for Stack$ and some other projects with Jah Cure. The Hot Long Time video will be sizzling with special effects and imagery mimicking the songs lyrics. This is my first video with junior Reid and I feel privileged working with a legend like him and Jah Cure who is a legend in the making". Jay-Will, Noted Video Director. The Hot Long Time video will be filmed between May 30 and June 4 throughout Jamaica and its release will be a good launching pad for Jah Cure's European tour which begins in July.

The wheels on the bus GO...
Teaching your kids about public transportation
By NADINE WILSON all woman writer
Monday, May 26, 2008



IN an age where parents have to work during school hours, the time will come when many may have to bend and allow their children to take public transportation. Indeed, some parents start the practice very early, as evidenced by the many tots seen taking public transportation all by themselves.

For a child, this can be a frightening experience as it will mean that they will be out of their parents' immediate presence and will be travelling among strangers. It is therefore important that you do not allow your child to begin this exercise until they are about 10 years old, at which time they would have reached a higher level of maturity and can seek assistance from others if necessary. If you have to start early though, it is important that you keep your child safe by raising their awareness of potential hazards when taking transportation alone. There are also a number of safety tips that your child must know whether they are using a school bus, a public bus or taxis.

1. If the bus stop is not in the vicinity of your child's school, teach them the safest route to get there with the fewest streets to cross.

2. Teach them to stand well back from the curb when waiting for the public bus, and to not approach the bus until the driver opens the door.

3. Public buses rarely come with seat belts. As such, you should advise your child to be seated at all times facing forward. Teach them about optional exit strategies including using the emergency doors and windows in case of an accident.

4. If they are taking the taxi, they should put on the seat belt if one is provided. They should also try to sit in the back seat which is much safer.

5. Teach them to never accept rides from a stranger. It is therefore important that your child knows the driver of the taxi that is taking him/her home from school. If you plan to change the usual driver, it is important that you notify your child's administrator.

6. If they must take a taxi that was not chartered by you, inform them that they should not take it alone. Instead, they must wait until other passengers are on board before they do so.

7. Teach them that they should never cross the street in front of a public bus. They should wait for the bus to pull away so that they can have a clear view of the street. If they must walk through parked traffic, they should stop and look carefully before stepping out from between vehicles.

8. Let them know that they must cross the street at the pedestrian crossing if one is available when they exit the bus. They must do so when the light turns on red, and when all vehicles have come to a complete halt.

9. Instruct your children to stay away from the bus' rear wheels at all times.

10. Teach them that when possible, they should walk on the sidewalk facing traffic and always use caution.

11. They should never go under any bus to retrieve something that they have dropped. Ask the driver or an adult to do it for them instead.

12. Avoid all fighting or rough play when getting off or into public transportation.

13. Speeding is one of the major causes of motor vehicle accidents. Teach your child to be very assertive. Let them know that it is okay to let the driver know that they are scared if they are driving too fast.

14. They should never put their head or hands outside of the windows of public transportation.

15. Have your child wear brightly coloured clothes when they have to leave school late or take the bus before dawn.

arly childhood fees are through the roof Parenting update:

NADINE WILSON, all woman writer Monday, May 19, 2008

Minister of Education Andrew Holness (left), enjoys the company of (from second left) Oya Kujichagulia, administrative manager, Voluntary Organisation for the Upliftment of Children (VOUCH); Laker Levers, Chairman, VOUCH; and students from VOUCH Basic School, during a call at the ministry's Heroes Circle Offices on May 1. (Photo:JIS)

INVESTING in early childhood education can be a costly venture - it means in some cases preparing from birth to finance your child's basic school years.

According to the Early Childhood Commission, "The care that children receive in the first six to eight years of life will determine the adults that they will become. These are the years when the foundation for growth and development; health and nutrition; physical, social, language, creative and cognitive abilities is laid."

Early childhood institutions include nurseries, centres or homes which offer day care, basic schools, kindergartens, preschools, and infant schools. Although these institutions are just the beginning of a child's academic future, parents can expect to pay big.

Based on checks done by all woman, parents can expect to pay anywhere from between $1,500 to $52,000 per term to pay for preschool, and this is just the school fees. In addition to this some schools require parents to pay for meals which could amount to $400 or more per week, and many charge by the hour for the time they have to keep the child after school ends. As if that is not enough, parents can also expect to fork out extra bucks for some extra-curricular activities such as swimming and the purchase of books. This is not counting the cost for school uniforms, bags, field trips, snacks and transportation of the child to and from school.
Even so, parents like Suzette do not mind paying the $48,500 per term for her four-year-old daughter who attends a kindergarten in St Andrew.

"I just decided to spend the money, to make the sacrifice because she is my only child and I want the best for her. I feel a sense of security with the classrooms and the amount of people per classroom is small. When she is at school, I don't have to worry about her. Not that it can't happen, but the risk of her coming home with one eye or something is minimal."

These are also the sentiments shared by a number of mothers who choose kindergarten over basic schools. The environment is considered to be much safer and the teacher to student ratio is minimal, therefore parents believe that their children will get adequate attention from teachers.
Suzette says that there are 24 students at her daughter's school who are taught by two teachers. She boasts that her daughter knows how to write and is learning how to form words. "I can't say my money is being wasted," she adds.
"With the basic schools, there are 50 students to one teacher, and although I went to basic school, I didn't want her to go there," she says.
When contacted, most basic schools in the Corporate Area said that they were full and could not take in anymore children. In one case one of the schools which charges $1,500 per term said they could not take in anymore students for September as they had run out of space.

An administrator from one basic school which charges $4,500 per term said that the teacher to student ratio was 35 students to one teacher. The students were taught colouring and tracing and could choose to do either swimming or dancing as extra-curricular activities.

While most kindergartens are expensive, this is not the case for all. Syreta Castro says she pays $8,000 per term for her four-year-old son who attends a kindergarten run by a church. She says this is fairly reasonable considering the fact that she was used to paying twice that amount for her son's education at another preschool.

The only downfall Castro finds is that she has to pick her son up as soon as school ends at 1:30 in the afternoon.
The disparity between the cost for early childhood education lies in a number of factors. These include the extra-curricular activities offered, the school's location and environment, the teacher to student ratio and the curriculum used to educate the child. So you will find that some schools offer children a wide range of activities such as swimming, ballet, football and karate and provide Spanish, Computer and Art & Craft classes, others might only offer Physical Education and language development with no after school activities. What your child gets is dependent on how much you as a parent is willing to invest.

Here are some of the requirements ECI's must meet based on The Early Childhood Act (2005) and The Early Childhood Regulations (2005).

1. Employees of ECIs must be in good mental and physical health.

2. The operator and persons who are supervising or teaching children must be trained in early childhood development (ECD) by an institution that the ECC recognises. In addition, ECIs which cater to children over three years old must employ at least one qualified teacher.

3. There must always be adequate staff members to ensure that children are supervised and can receive the attention they need. Young children require greater attention to meet their developmental needs.

4. Each ECI must prepare and display a daily programme of activities. Copies are to be available to parents whose children attend the ECI, parents who are thinking about sending their children to the ECI and the ECC, if requested.

5. Indoor and outdoor activities that will promote the proper co-ordination of the movement of their small and large muscles.

6. Activities that will encourage children to express themselves in different ways, for example, through art, drama, music and language. Activities such as speaking, reading, storytelling and singing to help children develop their language skills, and activities that promote the development of self-esteem and self-reliance. These may include taking care of their personal hygiene.

7. No form of physical punishment is allowed in ECIs, including slapping, pinching, shaking, pushing and putting in unusual positions.

8. No form of emotional abuse or neglect is to be used to discipline children. Only appropriate forms of discipline eg time out, are allowed in ECIs.

9. ECIs must be operated in safe, well-designed, comfortable and secure buildings, with sufficient space inside and out for the children and staff to work, play and rest comfortably.

10. There must be adequate space for play outside, with some areas of shade.

11. Early childhood institutions have indoor and outdoor equipment and furnishings that are safe, child-friendly and promote optimal development of children.

12. There should be separate toilets for children and staff; there should be one toilet to every 20 children and one face basin for every 40 children.

13. Every time a child is given medication at an ECI it must be recorded. Information recorded must include the name of the medication, dose and the time it was given.

Kevin Downswell's journey: Close To You

Tuesday, May 20, 2008



Kevin
PERHAPS it is the splendour of his brand of gospel music, the crescendo of his voice or the spine-tingling, soul-stirring effect of his lyrics that makes Kevin Downswell an awesome praise and worship leader.

Downswell has already sang his way into the hearts of many and will by this week's end once again come Close To You.
Recently, the seasoned 'praiser' (he was the winner of the 2003 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Gospel Finals), met up with TEENage to talk about his well-anticipated new album. Here goes:

TEENage: What was the inspiration behind the album title Close To You?
Kevin Downswell (KD): This album took about five years to be completed. It was not easy and as with anything done totally committed to God. There will be a lot of pressure from the enemy. So each song came out of tests, trials and just spending time in God's presence. Close To You, the title track, came forth from realising my passion to be near God. And, no matter how much I get, still I seem to want more. I just really love the Lord.

TEENage: With that said, why should we buy your CD?
KD: For those who have a desire to be closer to God, music has been a powerful and helpful medium. This album will very much inspire, strengthen, bless, save and so much more.

TEENage: What is your favourite song(s) on the album and why?
KD: I love all the songs because each one is quite dear to my heart.

TEENage: What are your goals for the next seven years?
KD: There are so many things. But my first and foremost is to be at the place where God is able to continue to do whatever He wants through me, and to be out there changing lives for God.

TEENage: What are your greatest weaknesses?
KD: I don't think I have any because in every area of my life I am sold out to God. He is my strength.

TEENage: Who are the artistes that make you stop and take notice when you listen to the radio nowadays?
KD: I love Mary Mary and Canton Jones.

TEENage: For those of us who've experienced the presentation and power of Kevin Downswell, it really is a spine-chilling awe-inspiring experience. What has been your formula for c****ining incredible lyrics and performances?
KD: The lyrics come from spending time in my Lord's presence. Just listening to Him. And when I get on any stage it really is a continuation of my whole life of trying to please and worship God.

TEENage: If you had a choice of all the gospel artistes in the world, who would you collaborate with and why?
KD: Kirk Franklin, because of our similarity to be real.

TEENage: What are your plans for the future?
KD: Launch the album the 24th of May and just run where God leads me.

TEENage: What motivates you?
KD: Seeing and hearing people testify of how the ministry has transformed their lives. There is no greater reward.

TEENage: What would you say to people who think you don't have problems or have made it?
KD: The reason why I sing these songs and minister the way I do is because I have been through much. I'll never think that I have made it until I get to heaven.

TEENage: What advice [do you have] for aspiring artistes who may be ministering in the church now, but feel called to be a professional artiste?
KD: Learn as much as you can from your ministry. Be true to God, be patient and be faithful in the little and God will make you ruler over much.

TEENage: In conclusion Kevin, with Close To You, what are both fans of Kevin Downswell's gospel and Christian music lovers going to experience this launch?
KD: All other artistes have their specific anointing and calling. So you will experience a difference at each person's launch.

TEENage: Just one more question, though. If Jesus were to comment on the life of Kevin Downswell, What would you want him to say about you?
KD: I want Him to say at the end of my journey when I stand before Him, "Well done, my child".

So you see Kevin really has a lot in store for his listeners. And with this said, look out for him this Saturday at the Eastwood Park New Testament Church.

THE importance of protecting Jamaica's coastal ecosystems was discussed with 32 Corporate Area high school students and teachers, in a workshop put on by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) in Kingston last Thursday.

The workshop was held in accordance with the International Biodiversity Day, under the theme 'Treasure our wetlands'.

Andrea Fender-Longman, project coordinator at the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), shows off a wetlands poster to Corporate Area students, ahead of their tour of the palisadoes last Thursday. (Photo: Napthali Junior)

The students and teachers viewed pictures of the different plant and animal species living in coastal wetlands, such as mangroves and birds. They also discussed their importance to Jamaica's environment and economy.

Afterwards, they toured the Palisadoes and the Port Royal marine laboratory. The group learned, for example, that coral reefs and mangroves lessen the impact of hurricanes to coastal areas by providing a buffer against incoming waves.

Project coordinator for JET, Andrea Fender-Longman, said the group used the day to focus on wetlands, as they are particularly under threat from construction, farming and charcoal burning.

"Students are the caretakers of the environment for the next generation so by teaching now, they will be better policy makers in the future than those we have now," she said.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative Heidi Savelli Soderberg said under the Caribbean Environment Programme, UNEP supports activities for the protection and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas.

"Our aim in Jamaica is to increase awareness on the value and importance of ecosystems, such as mangroves, wetlands, seagra** beds, and endangered and threatened species," she said.

Patrick Holness, integrated science and human and social biology teacher at Holy Trinity High School, said he learned the importance of the survival of each species to the ecosystem as a whole.

"Sometimes we take the wetlands for granted. We need to realise that while it is important to build all these hotels to create jobs, we have to be mindful of their effect on the environment over time," he noted.
Holy Trinity student Odeano Hewitt said he developed a new respect for the wetlands.

"There are so many endangered species in Jamaica, and most of them live in the wetlands," he said.

"I learnt about the importance of the mangroves and coral reefs, the things that are done to destroy them and what we need to do to preserve them. This also helps me in my Geography and Biology studies," said Narsha Mason, a fourth-form student at St Andrew High.

JET, a non-governmental organisation in existence since 1991, has been informing teachers and students about environmental issues through its Schools Environment Programme (SEP) for years.

"We also urge people to be aware of what is happening in their communities and to become part of the process of development," Fender-Longman said.

ATL at 40 - 'Butch' Stewart's definition of success



FORGET the legendary business acumen of Gordon 'Butch' Stewart. That story has been told so often now that school children in Gimme-Mi-Bit can recite it by heart.


STEWART... I get a feeling of personal pride to be able to say that no other company in Jamaica has provided more opportunities for the people who work with them to grow and progress through overseas training
But on second thoughts, why should we not celebrate over and over again the extraordinary achievements of any man? Because that is what Appliance Traders Limited, or ATL represents: the hard work, the genius, the best of an ever-growing team of talented Jamaicans, consistently achieving billion dollar bottomline, the very definition of success itself.
And all of that began on June 1, 1968, 40 years ago, with a man named Gordon Arthur Cyril Stewart, 'Butch' to his countrymen and the now legions of admirers.

Fedders air-conditioning

On the eve of leaving Curacao Trading where he served an apprenticeship of sorts, 'Butch' was visiting New York one day when out of the blue it hit him that Fedders air-conditioning units were very popular in the Big Apple, yet he had not seen the brand in Jamaica. Here indeed was an opportunity.

Back in Jamaica, he did up a business plan and submitted it with a cover letter to the Fedders people in New York, offering to represent them in Jamaica. Within two weeks they responded. The news was both good and bad.

'Yes' they would like to sell in Jamaica, but 'no', he was too small. Fedders was a humongous company operating across the United States and Butch's US$3,200 plan was peanuts to them.
"Well, all I wanted to know was that they were interested. I hopped onto the first plane to New York and headed down to Edison, New Jersey where the Fedders factory was," Butch recounts. "My plan was to preach my way into a Fedders franchise for Jamaica."

But the bureaucracy there was formidable. "They were just afraid to get involved with a start-up company," Butch explains. What Fedders did not know, of course, was that they were dealing with a man of destiny.
"I met a young fellow, Bruno Giordano Jnr, the nephew of the president of the company. He was my age and he was in charge of exports. We had many things in common and we hit it off. We talked the same language and I found that we had similar ambitions, to make Fedders Export the number one in the US. Giordano decided to give me a chance."

Birth of an empire

This Tuesday when the ATL family and their friends celebrate the 40th anniversary on the lawns of Hope Gardens, St Andrew, Giordano will be one of the very special guests. He and 'Butch' have remained fast friends since that day in 1968 when the Jamaican had pledged to the then young executive that he would not let him down, that he would make him proud. Now he'll see for himself first hand.

With 5,000 pounds, Butch established Appliance Traders on the first day of June, 1968 at Dr Billy Escoffrey's old, derelict office at Caledonia Avenue in Cross Roads. He had laid the first building blocks to the vast empire that would in time come to be the largest private sector employer of labour in Jamaica, and herald a new dawn in Caribbean tourism.

"I get a feeling of personal pride to be able to say that no other company in Jamaica has provided more opportunities for the people who work with them to grow and progress through overseas training," 'Butch' says. "It is the impact of the group on people's lives that make us who we are."
As a fledgling company, ATL had set a standard by which all comers after that would be judged.

"We made sure that all our customers would be so satisfied that they would become salesmen for us," 'Butch' recounts. "Not only that, but we also ensured that the members of our staff would get a profession for life. And finally, we believed in giving back to the community. Those today are all major hallmarks of our organisation."

To do that, 'Butch' insisted on carrying only the world's best brands" including Amana; Hobart; Tecumseh; Panasonic; Canon and, of course, Fedders, among others.

Exceeding earning projections

He noted that his accountant and friend, Brian Mair had made very optimistic projections for earnings. Yet in the first year of operations, returns exceeded those by 500 per cent and by the following year by 700 per cent.

'Butch' attributes that achievement to "the extraordinary work of a very talented staff and the support of many friends on a long list too numerous to mention in this space. But we went at the speed of light. When I sit down and try to remember all that happened, it's like a blur. So much was happening so fast."

In 1973, ATL acquired Webster Agency which sold office equipment and renamed it BML which was merged with ATL last year. That was followed by Caribrake in 1975.

Sandals is born

In 1981, the deLisser family in Montego Bay, the north coast tourism mecca, was selling the 52-room Carlisle and upscale Bay Roc hotels. Butch paid down US$100,000 on Bay Roc, now Sandals Montego Bay, but admits that had he not been a proud man and had given his commitment, he might have asked back for his money, because of the dilapidated condition in which he had found the hotel upon serious examination.

Three weeks later, he bought Carlisle, now Sandals Inn.

In a brainstorming session in Miami, people were tossing around names when Adrian Robinson came up with 'Sandals'. Everybody liked it, except 'Butch'. But he let himself be persuaded and Sandals was born, soon to change the lives of the ATL family. They now had an international operation which meant doing things at international standards all of the time.

'Butch' used to be away from Jamaica half the time seeking business in the Middle East, the Far East, North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada, on grounds that "if you wait for the business it will never come". As Sandals grew, he was away even more often, estimating that now he spends only about 25 per cent of his time on Jamaica's shores, although he ploughs back all his profits into his beloved island.

'Butch' set the pace by perfecting the Sandals ultra all-inclusive (now the luxury-included vacation) concept in Jamaica and then turned to another of his cherished dreams - building a Caribbean chain of hotels as a precursor to an international chain.

Butch embarked on what he describes as "a decade of the most incredible development in tourism, starting in Antigua and Barbuda in 1991 and now The Bahamas, St Lucia, Cuba and the Turks and Caicos.

Miami-based Unique Vacations was contracted as the worldwide representative of Sandals, and with Sandals as its lone client, Unique has 250 employees working mainly out of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Jamaica Observer

Next up was ATL Automotive in 1990, selling Peugeot, then Daewoo and finally Honda, now one of the most popular vehicle brands in Jamaica.
The Jamaica Observer was born in 1992 when 'Butch' partnered with Delroy Lindsay and Trinidad's Ken Gordon to give Jamaica its 20th daily newspaper, ignoring dire warnings that the island was a cruel cemetery for newspapers, most of which had folded within the first five years.

The newspaper actually hit the streets on March 7, 1993, and this year marks 15 years of publication. Having surpassed its over century-and-a-half year-old competitor on weekdays, it has set its sights on becoming market leader on Sundays as well.

Air Jamaica

Air Jamaica, the national airline, known as the "Love Bird", was in dire straits and in imminent danger of crashing out of existence when the government decided to sell it. After several bids failed, 'Butch' Stewart entered the picture in 1994, backed by the National Commercial Bank - the Air Jamaica Acquisition Group, or AJAG. He quickly re-imaged the airline, introduced unprecedented innovations such as on-time no-line schedules, champagne flights and the flying chef; bought new state-of-the-art planes and rekindled the pride of the nation in the little piece of Jamaica that flies. Air Jamaica soared again. But that wasn't enough.

"Partnering Air Jamaica with the government was a nightmare," he says. "They didn't want to do any of the work and they didn't keep their promises. We just kept on doing and presuming that the promises would be fulfilled. They never materialised. For example, our debt-swap agreement reached in 1999 to be signed 'next week' was never signed."

And so, on the day before Christmas Eve, 2004, the nation was shocked to hear the announcement that AJAG had handed back the airline to the government. Stewart says he had had enough of the political shenanigans. It was a hard decision. He had put his life into making the airline viable, putting his legendary marketing skills and considerable business savvy on the line. And Jamaicans had become excited about the airline again. But all to no avail.

Yet amidst the disappointment, 'Butch' Stewart says: "In spite of the political hurdles, we showed the possibilities of what the airline could be. And yes, if I were called upon again, I would assist the airline. It is Jamaica's and there is nothing I wouldn't do for my country. But I wouldn't be caught again in believing that everybody is interested in the success of the airline."

Over the years, an unending stream of some of the world's most prestigious awards too numerous to mention here, followed 'Butch' and the ATL group everywhere.

Managing director and deputy chairman of the ATL Group Chris Zacca adds that because of its success, the organisation had been able to "invest and grow the business through maintaining a successful bottomline in all its companies".

"Our image remains one of high quality, high service, supported by community service which defines a mature, successful organisation," says Zacca who is in his second term as president of the umbrella Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ).

Norman Manley's missing chair 'embarra**ing' PNP

A chair that once belonged to People's National Party (PNP) founder and late National Hero, Norman Washington Manley, and which adorned the inner sanctums of the party's Old Hope Road headquarters for more than a quarter of a century has gone missing.

The disappearance of the chair has embarra**ed party officials, who say they are no closer to finding it.

"It is so embarra**ing and frustrating. Right now, no one has any idea where it is or who could have taken it, and it is hardly likely that an outsider could simply have driven into the headquarters and stolen the chair.," party chairman Robert Pickersgill told the Observer.

According to Pickersgill, sections of the headquarters were cleaned for a press conference to disclose plans for the 70th anniversary launch. The press conference was held on April 29, and sometime later the chair was discovered missing.

The history of the chair, which is considered the "holy grail" of the party, is still unclear.

Pickersgill said Norman Manley himself could have made the chair, ". as I believed I read somewhere that he did some carpentry work, but I am not absolutely sure".

Political historian and Observer columnist, Michael Burke, said his recollections are that the chair was brought to the headquarters at the insistence of Michael Manley.

"I recall that in 1979, a year after the PNP moved its headquarters from 25 South Camp Road to Old Hope Road and I visited the office on an errand for my brother Paul, the chair was there." he said.

Manley's son, Michael, according to Burke, ".wanted people who come to the PNP's headquarters to see a kind of museum detailing the history of the party."

But that desire did not get much further than the chair and few more artifacts.

Burke said he did not know if the chair was used by Manley at his home, law office or used while he attended meetings at the headquarters. Pickersgill said he did not know if it was inherited.

But history aside, sources say the theft has left members of the party pointing fingers at each other, and has further widened the rift that has been rocking the party for more than three years since the leadership challenge which rejected Peter Phillips, Omar Davies and Dr Karl Blythe in February 2005.

Current party president, Portia Simpson Miller, is said to be disgusted by the disappearance of the chair. So too are other officials, including the vice-presidents and general secretary. It is not known if former president P J Patterson had been notified.

Party officials are said to have been too embarra**ed to go public, while others believe it may help to put pawn shops on the alert to its significance, should it be brought in for sale.

Made from hardwood, and dark leather for the back support, it was held together by gold studs at either side. The seat of the chair was also made from leather, and described as 'very rare.'

*lo** and tears Chilling service for murdered 10-year-old turns spotlight on Jamaica's growing crime problem

BY COREY ROBINSON Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com Monday, May 26, 2008

IT was a chilling funeral service yesterday for Stacy-Ann Clarke, the 10-year-old who died of injuries she received last month when gunmen traded bullets in the depressed Seaview Gardens Kingston community she called home.

More than 400 residents of the community turned out to pay their final respects to the youngster, who died after doctors fought to save her at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A single bullet entered her neck and severed her spinal cord, rendering her brain dead and sending her into a coma days after the shooting.

Students gather to photograph the body of 10-year-old Stacy-Ann Clarke who was shot and killed in Seaview Gardens. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Yesterday, 50-year-old Leon Clarke sobbed uncontrollably for his only child, even as he tried to comfort her mother, Maxine Clarke. Despite being consoled by grieving relatives, tears ran freely down their cheeks as their daughter's casket was wheeled into the church.

"Stacy baby, baby. Lord mi baby gone," Maxine wept, as her estranged husband held her trembling body.

"Mi baby gone leave we. Stacy, you gone leave wi baby? You really gone?" the woman bellowed, as two female relatives wiped tears from her face and ushered her into a room at the side of the church.

A despondent Leon Clarke is comforted by friend Ruby 'Tina' Cousins at the funeral service for his daughter Stacy-Ann who was shot and killed in Seaview Gardens last month. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Across town, a number of other families like the Clarkes were preparing to bury their loved ones whose lives were brutally snuffed out, as the country's murder rate continues to climb daily. Up to April there were 489 murders. Police statistics also showed that 10 women and seven children were murdered since January.

Not even the police are safe from the gunmen's murderous bullets. The families of police constables Cornel Grant and Delano Lawrence, who were shot and killed by gunmen in Federal Gardens, Kingston, last Friday are today living that reality.

Even as Maxine and Leon were saying their final goodbyes yesterday to young Stacy-Ann in church, the constables' families were still trying to come to terms with the deaths of their loved ones.

Lawrence and Grant's deaths bring to five, the number of police men murdered since the start of the year.

Yesterday, acting Prime Minister Dr Ken Baugh, Minister of National Security Colonel Trevor MacMillan and minister in charge of Women's and Gender Affairs, Olivia Grange visited the constables' families.

During a tearful visit with Lawrence's widow, Claudia and eight-year-old son, D'Jhevani, in Harbour View, the acting prime minister said the killings were devastating, and extended condolences on behalf of the government.

He said Prime Minister Bruce Golding would make personal contact with the families once he returns to Jamaica from England later yesterday evening.

Golding learnt of the shooting deaths of the two policemen in Kingston on Friday as he stood at the podium responding to specific issues raised by members of the audience at the Marcus Garvey Centre in Nottingham. The prime minister, who was on the final leg of his four-city tour of the United Kingdom (UK), had earlier, in a spirited two-hour-long presentation, outlined for the Jamaicans overseas the Government's policies to grow the economy, fight crime and improve the education system.

After learning about the deaths, the prime minister, "with a pained expression on his face, stridently reinforced his resolve to tame Jamaica's crime monster," according to a release issued by the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) last week. "He recommitted his full support to the Commissioner of Police, and promised to work ceaselessly to offer Jamaicans a society in which they can live without fear," the statement said.

The new security minister, during his visit with the cops' families yesterday, said what he found encouraging was the response of the residents of the community where the policemen were slain. They mounted a demonstration to register their disgust over the killings.

Meanwhile, Anthony Hylton, member of parliament for St Andrew Western, who expressed condolences yesterday at Stacy-Ann's funeral, called for peace in the community, while condemning the loss of the innocent child.

"Normally around this time of year we would be meeting to celebrate a graduation or some school ceremony, but not this year. This year we come to the funeral of a very promising student who will not be present at a graduation or be promoted to the next grade. An innocent child, who was carelessly murdered by gunmen," he said.

He called for residents to help the police in tackling the recent surge in shootings in the community which had been relatively peaceful for months.

"I am upset and angry about this killing. But it begs the question - are we doing enough as a community? Are we doing enough for the loss of Stacy-Ann and her classmates, who wonder if they will be next? I have to wonder if the gunmen are being cuddled, hidden and disguised," Hylton said.

Elaine Roulston, regional director at the Ministry of Education, also called for an end to the slaying of innocent children, saying that with each murder of a child, violence was eating away at the country's future.

Her sentiments were echoed throughout the congregation as the residents applauded in agreement during her presentation.

SHE WAS only 10 years old when she died, but Stacey-Ann Clarke lived long enough to make an impression on her teachers and peers at the Seaview Gardens Primary School, St Andrew, as well as residents of the community where she lived.

Yesterday, several hundred people flowed into the Seventh-day Adventist church in the community to remember one of its bright sparks.

Parents overwhelmed

Stacey-Ann died on May 2 at the University Hospital of the West Indies, two days after she was hit in the neck by a gunman's bullet while buying soup at a shop in Seaview Gardens. The police say no arrest has been made.

Leon and Maxine Clarke, parents of the deceased girl, sat at the front of the packed church. Maxine Clarke was overwhelmed by the size of the congregation, which included Anthony Hylton, member of Parliament for Western St Andrew, where Seaview Gardens is located.

"The memories, the memories ... they not gonna leave," she said, sobbing. Stacey-Ann was the youngest of her four children; she was the only child for Leon Clarke, a 53-year-old mason.

Stacey-Ann was scheduled to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test in January. One week before her death, the impressive rugby player received an award from the Jamaica Rugby Association.

Elaine Jones, principal of Seaview Gardens Primary School, remembered Stacey-Ann as one of her best grade-five students.

A young leader

"She took part in so many different things; she was a leader in her own right," Jones said.

Seaview Gardens, an expanse of low-income homes, is located off Spanish Town Road. For several years, it has been affected by outbursts of gun violence.

NEW laws to tackle knife crime could alienate young people, the Childrens Commissioner for England has warned.

Police are using new powers to allow them to search people for knives and guns without reasonable suspicion they may actually be carrying a weapon.

The police said the move, which follows a spate of knife killings in London, is intended to keep young people safe not victimise them.

But Sir Al Aynsley-Green said more stopping and searching of young people could create hostility and called for more research into the effects of the increased powers.

He said: "There is a balance here. On the one hand for young people to feel safer by having the presence of the police - but on the other hand making sure the new powers dont create further antagonism by increased stopping and searching.

"These are very contentious and I certainly support the case for much more research on the effects of these policies on them."

-- Edited by Ill-matic on Sunday 16th of May 2010 04:00:40 PM

LOS ANGELES - Indiana Jones unearthed box office gold at domestic theaters with a performance that puts the film on track to become the second biggest Memorial Day movie opening ever, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The fourth installment of the whip-cracking professor's exploits, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," grossed an estimated $101 million from Friday to Sunday, plus $25 million from its opening Thursday, distributor Paramount Pictures said. The company expects it to earn another $25 million on Monday.

That would put it behind only "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which had a Friday-through-Monday total of $139.8 million, in the pantheon of Memorial Day weekend blockbusters.

Including Thursday's receipts, "Indiana Jones" was expected to collect $151 million over five days, slightly behind "Pirates," which took in $153 million with a partial Thursday included.

"'Indiana Jones' did incredibly well for a film that comes 19 years after the previous installment," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of tracking firm Media By Numbers LLC.

The adventure flick received a lackluster reception from critics at the Cannes Film Festival, but audiences thought otherwise.

Box office estimates grew from $25 million on its opening Thursday through $37 million on Saturday, suggesting strong word of mouth, Dergarabedian said.

"This is the definition of a summer movie from two of the architects of the summer movie season George Lucas and Steven Spielberg," he said. "These guys have it down to a science and audiences want to go along for that ride."

The first three Indy movies took in $1.2 billion worldwide.

Disney's action sequel, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," slipped to second place with $23 million, for a total of $91.1 million over two weeks. The company expected the movie to continue to play well as school lets out.

"Once you start getting the mass number of kids out of school, it turns into some serious money," said Chuck Viane, president of distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Marvel Studios' "Iron Man" clinched another $20.1 million, bringing its domestic total to $252.3 million. A sequel is set for release in 2010.

The 20th Century Fox comedy, "What Happens in Vegas," continued to roll with $9 million in its third week, for a total of $54.2 million.

Fox senior vice president Bert Livingstone said high gas prices were encouraging people to see movies rather than take long trips away from home.

"This is the last great bargain," Livingstone said.

But movie receipts were about 16 percent smaller than last year's Memorial Day weekend, and revenue for the year to date is down nearly 4 percent at $3.3 billion, with attendance off nearly 7 percent.

By this time last year, there were seven movies that grossed over $100 million: "Pirates," "Shrek the Third," "Spider-Man 3," "300," "Wild Hogs," "Blades of Glory" and "Ghost Rider," according to Media By Numbers. This year, there are only three: "Iron Man," "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!" and "Indiana Jones."

"It's no wonder that we're down in terms of revenues and attendance," Dergarabedian said. "You don't get out of a deficit like this overnight."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Tuesday.

1. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," $101 million.

2. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," $23 million.

3. "Iron Man," $20.1 million.

4. "What Happens in Vegas," $9 million.

5. "Speed Racer," $4 million.

6. "Made of Honor," $3.4 million.

7. "Baby Mama," $3.3 million.

8. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," $1.7 million.

9. "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay," $900,000.

10. "The Visitor," $800,000.

ell, its a new year, so wed like to big up all our fans that made the One876Entertainment.com experience such a fulfilling one in 2007, we have made great strides in only one year. Thanks to people like Spanish Town, Racquel, the War Panel, Snypz, Rasta, Candy, Da Man, Dat mi Say, Kitty, Jinx, Buss De Tape, Goodas, RRRRR, Tapiwaah, Yvette, KK and the whole entourage. Right now, we ah say one876 to the world. We ah give yu the Tuesday coffee early and strong too to get rid of that nasty New Year's Eve hangover. Little more, A.K.A, Phlex, Claude Mills, Kriq, oonu large, do the damn thing, keep on the grind.

Ah One876 we say!

SIZZLA AND JAH CURE FIGHT?
There was a tussle backstage between Jah Cure and Sizzla during Coco Teas Original Dancehall Jam Jam. Reports reaching One876Entertainment.com is that Sizzla boxed Jah Cure after the two exchanged heated words. However, Jah Cure and his massive entourage simply walked away after the diss, apparently choosing to take the high road in the altercation. Apparently, there have been simmering tensions between the entertainers for some time, but the tensions erupted into a physical altercation that has shocked the rasta world. And that is not all, reports are that Capleton walked up onstage on Lutan Fyah and took away his mic at the Original Dancehall Jam Jam. How everybody so heated, New York? A wah a gwaan?

There was a tussle backstage between Jah Cure and Sizzla during Coco Teas Original Dancehall Jam Jam. Reports reaching One876Entertainment.com is that Sizzla boxed Jah Cure after the two exchanged heated words. However, Jah Cure and his massive entourage simply walked away after the diss, apparently choosing to take the high road in the altercation. Apparently, there have been simmering tensions between the entertainers for some time, but the tensions erupted into a physical altercation that has shocked the rasta world. And that is not all, reports are that Capleton walked up onstage on Lutan Fyah and took away his mic at the Original Dancehall Jam Jam. How everybody so heated, New York? A wah a gwaan? POLICE AND NITTY KUTCHIE KICK OFF AT CAMPFIRE The emotional temperature in the island is rising like mercury near the equator because at the annual Campfire show, a police officer chucked off Nitty Kutchies face just as he was about to hit the stage. He was given the microphone by the stage hands, and he was all set to hit the stage when an officer, standing at the stairwell leading to the stage, chucked him in the face and reportedly said: weh yu a go bwoy?. Afterwwards, the officer did not apologise and declared me chuck yu already and yu caan do nothing bout it. Nitty Kutchie did not perform because of the incident and Roundhead walked out of the venue as well.

TWO COPS SLAIN Criminals snatch M16, pistol in Trench Town ambush

Two police constables were brutally murdered at about midday yesterday by a group of heavily armed thugs, while patrolling a section of the tough, violence-prone south west St Andrew community of Trench Town, bringing to five the number of cops slain since the start of the year.

Constables Cornel Grant, 34, who was assigned to the Denham Town Police Station, and Delano Lawrence from the Admiral Town Police Station, were ambushed as they walked in a tight passage at the side of a house on Third Street with two other colleagues who miraculously survived the attack.

The killers took an M16 rifle and a 9mm pistol from the dead cops. A number of $100 and $50 notes on the ground where one of the cops lay suggested that his murderers went through his pockets before fleeing the scene.

Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Jevene Bent and other police top bra**, was quick on the scene, extended condolences to the relatives of the slain cops and assured the public that the killings would not dampen the resolve of the police force to fight crime.

"This most tragic incident, the murder of two of our police officers, serves to underscore the grave dangers that our police officers face throughout the length and breadth of this country," Lewin told reporters at the crime scene. "But I wish to assure all well-thinking citizens that this will only serve to strengthen the resolve of the officers in dealing with the monster of crime and violence in the country."

Inspector Raymond Wilson, chairman of the Police Federation, which represents cops up to the rank of Inspector, questioned the commitment of both major political parties to dismantle garrisons and confront crime head-on.

"We have spoken about it over the years, we have spoken about the garrison arrangement and what it is facilitating, and yet all we hear is talk, we have not seen any physical attempt to remove any of these arrangements and to create a formal setting so as to ensure that the community gets the service from the police," Wilson told reporters.

"The men were brutally murdered. They were executed; and I think that it is time that Jamaicans open their eyes to the reality. It is time that our government, whoever they are, understand the physical environment within which we have to police," Wilson added.

Opposition spokesman on national security, Dr Peter Phillips, extended condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of both policemen and said that their brutal slaying was all the more disturbing as it occurred on Labour Day - "the day that our collective spirit of nationhood was called together in an effort to advance our communal psyche and brotherhood as a nation".

"Today, we were called upon to work in unison and demonstrate our collective strength and creativity, and sadly at the same moment two officers from our ever thinning line of defence were gunned down," said Phillips.

"We, the law-abiding, are forced once again to confront another ugly and brutal act of savagery against the Jamaica Constabulary Force at the hands of criminals who continue to threaten our peace and freedom," Dr Phillips said. "The country cannot afford to cower in the face of this type of brazen attack against our law-men and on the civility of the nation."

He renewed his call on the Government to "articulate a plan and tell the country how it intends to arrest this worsening security situation".

Yesterday at the Denham Town Police Station, one of the cops who survived the ambush broke down and wept as he told colleagues of the frightening ordeal.

"I stood there and watched the men die and could do nothing," cried the heavy-set cop, who had to be counselled by the station chaplain.

Grief-stricken colleagues described the murdered cops as "hard-working, jovial" persons, and noted that Grant, who was shot two years ago in the abdomen, had only returned to work four days ago after taking time off from the job.

Also at the station, the mother of Grant's eight-month-old son wept bitterly, while gripping her stomach and exclaiming that she could not believe that he was dead. She, too, had to be counselled.

Ann Marie Benjamin, with whom Grant sired a four-year-old son, broke down at the murder scene and had to be escorted away by a few female officers who attempted to console her.
"Him was a good man, him don't deserve to die like this," another woman lamented.

A 42-year-old man was stabbed to death on Tuesday after getting into an argument with the conductor of the bus on which he was travelling.

Dead is Ucal Boucher, a resident of Clarke Hill, Golden Spring, in St Andrew.

The Half-Way Tree police reported that some time after 1 p.m., Boucher was a passenger on a bus which was travelling from Golden Spring and heading towards Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

An argument reportedly developed between the conductor and Boucher during which a knife came into play and Boucher was fatally stabbed.

He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Half-Way Tree police are looking for the conductor who was alleged to be involved in the incident.

His identification has not yet been ascertained, however.

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught -- recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.

Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said.

He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.

"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.

The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.

But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.

"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said

BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- Police in southern Germany say they have removed a seven-month-old boy from his parents after they tried to sell him for one euro (US$1.57) over eBay.

Krumbach police spokesman Peter Hieber said baby Merlin has been put in care of youth services in the southwestern Allgaeu region and was doing well on Saturday.

Authorities have launched an investigation into possible child trafficking against the parents.

Hieber said the mother told police she had only intended the Internet ad as a joke. No offers were made for the child in the two hours and 30 minutes the ad was posted. Ebay deleted the posting afterward.

THE face of terrified Khyra Ishaq, who was starved to death, will haunt pensioner Bhagu Patel until his dying day.

Bhagu, 77, glanced up and saw the seven-year-old girl at a bedroom window as he swept the alley adjoining the house where he has lived for 40 years.

 

 

The passageway passes behind Khyras home and she was gazing down at him, wearing a T-shirt and headscarf.

At first he thought nothing of it and carried on working.

But 15 minutes later he realised the child was still there staring at him with a look of desperation in her eyes. Bhagu said yesterday:

I now realise from the pictures Ive seen that the person I saw at the window was the starving little girl Khyra.

She was not crying but she looked tired, worn out, helpless. She did not signal to me but just stared straight at me.

Her eyes were squinting, like she was in some kind of controlled agony. But she was silent.

Kicked

 

I assumed she was off school because she was ill or something.

 

Looking back now, I am sure she was locked in that room without food.

If Id known what was going on in that house I would have run in and kicked the door down and given those children food from my table.

Bhagu takes pride in cleaning the alley every day in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Neighbours used to help him keep the communal area tidy.

But the social landscape always a racial mix of Asian, West Indian and white, working class families has changed in the last ten years.

An influx of asylum seekers, migrant workers and refugees from all over the world has splintered the previously cohesive community.

 

 

Ex-postal worker Bhagu saw Khyra at the window a few days before police and medics found her lying severely emaciated in her home last Saturday.

She and her three brothers and two sisters aged four to 12 were taken to hospital but Khyra died of starvation. The youngsters Jamaican-born Muslim mother Angela Gordon, 33, and her lover Junaid Abuhamza, 29, have been charged with causing or allowing her death.

Bhagu said: When my old neighbours saw me cleaning the alley they would join in and help. But the newcomers live only with their own people and dont mix outside.

No one knows what goes on behind the closed doors. Thats why this little girl died.

Now Ill never forget the look on her face.

A mass of tributes to Khyra were laid outside her now boarded-up house yesterday.

They included *la*hms from her aunt Valerie Francis. And the girls gran left a cuddly toy white dog with pink ears, with the message: God bless. In loving memory, to my beautiful granddaughter. You will be missed. Lots of love Grandma Isoline.

 

 

An anonymous note read: What kind of world do we live in? Does nobody care anymore? Where people turn a blind eye to whats going on?

I dont know this little girl but when I saw the news I had to put some flowers here.

God bless, no more suffering, youre in a better place x.

An independent inquiry into Khyras death was launched by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board. Local Labour MP Khalid Mahmood claimed she and her siblings were punished for asking to see their biological father, Abu Zaire Ishaq.

 

 

Three die in Labour Day crash


SCARLETT HALL, Trelawny - Three people were killed yesterday and another three seriously injured when a motor car and a mini-van collided on the main road in this rural Jamaican community.

The police identified the deceased as Ruth Mignott, also known as called 'Betty", a resident of a Davis Pen, Trelawny; David Martin of Goodwill, St James and Irvin Brown of Chester Castle, Hanover. All were passengers in the motor car.

The identities of the injured, two of whom were said to be passengers in the motor car, were being withheld by the police.

According to the police spokesman Constable Patrick Chin, about 6:30 yesterday morning a white Toyota Corolla motor car, driven by Brown, was traveling along the Scarlett Hall main road - about three miles on the outskirts of the Trelawny capital, Falmouth - towards Montego Bay when a green Toyota Townace minibus travelling in the opposite direction drifted to the right side of the road and collided head-on with the car.

All five passengers of the car and the driver of the minibus received multiple injuries and were taken to the Falmouth Hospital where the three were pronounced dead.

Scores of curious onlookers massed along the scene of the accident for a view of the mangled remains of both motor vehicles in a large pool of oil mixed with *lo**, sprinkled with pieces of metal, clothing, flesh and bones.

"There are no brake marks so you can see that one or both of the vehicles were speeding and crashed with a full impact," one onlooker said..

The tragic news pulled a large number of mourners, particularly from the Johnson Hill community in Trelawny from where the well-loved Mignott resided.

The distraught family members and friends of Mignott, who was said to be on her way to work at a hotel in Rose Hall, rushed to the Falmouth Hospital where she had been undergoing treatment before succumbing to her injuries.

Mignott's son fainted when his mother's corpse was placed on a stretcher and taken to the waiting vehicle from a funeral parlour. There were also loud wails from other family members and friends. The deceased's mother, Gloria Hyman had to be treated at the hospital for stress.

The death of Martin, a construction worker, put a damper on Labour Day activities in the community of Goodwill.
Martin had been on his way to work in Greenwood.

"We are doing community work and when me hear me drop everything. Me can't work again. Me see David before him just go away this morning. He was going to work," said Lennox Reid, a resident of Goodwill.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- A 7-year-old girl accidentally shot her sleeping mother twice in a South Florida neighborhood, but the woman is expected to recover.
Authorities said the 38-year-old woman was asleep in her bedroom Friday when her daughter walked over to a nightstand and picked up a handgun.
Authorities said it accidentally fired.
She was shot once in the forearm and once in the neck.
Paramedics drove the woman to Delray Medical Center, where she's expected to recover.
The woman's name wasn't released.

-- Edited by alligcold at 16:32, 2008-05-24

-- Edited by alligcold at 16:33, 2008-05-24

Deva Bratt remanded until June 26

Deejay Deva Bratt was once again remanded in custody when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court yesterday.

He was not granted bail because of the fact that there are two carnal abuse cases pending against him. He will return to court again on June 26th.

"The young lady for the first case is attending court, and only when that case is complete can there be any consideration given to granting the deejay bail. These are obviously very serious charges and the court must take due care that it acts properly in this matter," one source told One876Entertainment.com.

Deva Bratt, whose real name is Sheldon Smith, is facing the court to respond to charges that he had sexually assaulted a 14 year-old girl in February of this year. He is also appearing before the court on a separate carnal abuse charge that occurred over 15 months ago involving another underage teenaged girl.

RESIDENTS OF trench Town in south St Andrew, where two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) were fatally gunned down on Friday, are not prepared to allow the ghastly incident to sour the relationship between them and the police, according to social activist Dr Henley Morgan.

"I was just talking to members of a gang and the leader told me that 'wi nah trade nuttin fi go back'," said Morgan yesterday. He has been spearheading a culture of renewal within the community.

He said that community leaders were adamant that children must continue to play in the street and were working to transform the community.

"What happened yesterday (Friday) was an aberration. I don't think citizens want to go back to where they were before," Morgan stated.

Left the area

The Sunday Gleaner further understands that the men involved in the shooting of the policemen have since left Trench Town as other gangs have condemned the attacks and have refused to provide cover for them.

On Friday, two policemen - Corporal Cornell Grant of the Denham Town Police Station and Corporal Delano Lawrence of the Admiral Town Police Station - were killed by gunmen as they patrolled sections of the Rema community in the St Andrew West Police Division. The policemen were ambushed and fatally shot by thugs while on foot patrol with two other colleagues. The death of the two lawmen brings to five the number of police murdered since the start of the year. Yesterday, the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority (PCOA), which monitors the operations of the JCF and its auxiliaries, appealed to the society to condemn the recent acts of criminality that have left families in mourning.

Condemn shooting

"We call upon every Jamaican to condemn all acts of crime and violence. We further call for the public and the police to work together in c****ating those criminal elements in our society and return peace to our land," the PCOA said in a release on the weekend.

The PCOA's comments followed widespread condem-nation from the national security officials, including Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, Minister of National Security Colonel Trevor MacMillan, and Dr Peter Phillips, the opposition spokesman on national security.

Yesterday, Commissioner Lewin and crime boss Mark Shields issued public appeals for assistance in solving the murders. Both publicly gave out their mobile telephone numbers.

A $1 million reward has also been offered for information leading to the arrest of the policemen's killers.

When The Sunday Gleaner visited Trench Town yesterday, children played in the streets as usual. Adults congregated at various points on the road and seemingly moved along with their lives.

However, signs of the shooting remained. The police also said that they had found a trail of *lo**, which they believed was an indication that one of the policemen's attackers had been shot and injured.

Community development

Some Trench Town residents suggested that the main plank of crime-fighting efforts in inner-city communities, like the one in which they lived, must be community development.

"This is like an open prison and has been like this for decades - old houses, nothing proper for the people, and little opportunity," said a resident yesterday. "When people live in dem condition here, anything wi happen. Is lack of opportunities and depression why things like this happen."

Three Killed at Central Florida Bar
Last Edited: Saturday, 24 May 2008, 11:18 AM EDT
Created: Saturday, 24 May 2008, 11:18 AM EDT




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AUBURNDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities say at least two members of a Tampa-area music group were among three people shot and killed inside a Central Florida bar.

Polk County Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood says two members of Poison Dart, a group described on their MySpace page as "Reggae/Hip Hop/Roots" music performers, were shot and killed shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday.

The group was at the Thunderbird Bar in Auburndale, which is about 50 miles east of Tampa.

Wood says 35-year-old Michael S. Rattigan and 29-year-old Antone G. Neely died from their injuries. The third shooting victim has not yet been publicly identified.

Wood says no one has been arrested, and that only some of the bar's patrons are cooperating with detectives.



------------------------

Three Dead After Shooting In Polk Co. Bar

AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Three men are dead after a shooting at a Polk County bar.Deputies responded to a noise disturbance at The Thunderbird Bar in Auburndale around 2:40 Saturday morning.While on their way to the bar, the sheriffs office received more information regarding a possible shooting at the bar. Neely, 29.The third victim, Michael Rattigan, 35, died later Saturday morning at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.Neely and Rattigan were both deejays with the group Poison Dart. Neely lived in Tampa, and Rattigan lived in Riverview."This is a brutal murder scene," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "It appears this had something to do with the deejays, as they were the only victims we know of. Someone knows the name of who did this, and we need that name."Judd asked that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS.

-- Edited by twofirst at 12:58, 2008-05-24

According to WNBC.com:
Police said five people were shot on a busy Queens street at about 11:40 a.m. Saturday.

Both sides of Roosevelt Avenue had been shut down between 80th and 81st streets as police investigated

Officers told News 4 New York it appears this may have been a gang-related shooting

Police said they responded to a 911 call for a woman shot at a bus stop 80th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights.

Upon arrival, they said they found a total of five shooting victims -- three with gunshot wounds and two with graze wounds.

Police said one man fired all the shots and that he was on foot with a group of about five others. Police are hoping surveillance cameras in the area caught the crime.

All of the victims were transported to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition, police said.

Initial reports had said the woman who was shot was pregnant, but the New York Police Department said later that she was not.

The woman, 21, was hurt the worst out of all the victims. Police said it appears a 21-year-old man was the only intended target, and that this man stumbled into a nearby restaurant and collapsed after he was shot.

No arrests have been made and police say the investigation is ongoing.

The manager of a neighborhood beauty salon said he ran out on the street after hearing the shots and saw the five victims lying on the *lo**ied pavement.

Hugo Calle, the manager, said four men and a woman were shot.

Last Sunday, there was a gang-related shooting in which one man was injured just steps away from this incident but it is unclear whether they are related.

Those who live in the area are concerned.

"It's kind of scary to live here when i know at any times during the day time even that i could be shot," said Judy Capili of Jackson Heights.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned women not to use or purchase Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises Inc. of San Rafael, California.

The cream, promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe dry or cracked nipples, contains ingredients that may cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants, the agency said.

The potentially harmful ingredients in the cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol.

"FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects," said Janet Wo*o*dcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, these two ingredients may interact with one another to further compound and increase the risk of respiratory depression in nursing infants."

Killer on Best of the Best tomorrow will be in a for a big disappointment as he will definitely not be there. Below is the release sent out by his management.

The management of Bounty Killer regrettably announces that he will not be appearing at this year's staging of the Best of the Best concert in Miami on Memorial Weekend, due to travel document issues.

Bounty's work permit had expired some time ago and due to a number of factors conspiring against us - an administrative backlogue, his passport needing to be renewed, the US Embassy in Kingston's overloaded appointment system and his intensive travel schedule (for example the European tour,) he could not get the work permit application processed and an appointment at the Embassy in time for this weekend.

Click To Watch

MSNBC Reports: "A new interactive video game, Place to Pee, was released in Arendonk, Belgium and has been hailed as the ultimate urinating experience"



-- Edited by JamaicanShem at 17:56, 2008-05-24

LONDON - A British teenage actor playing a minor role in the upcoming "Harry Potter" film was stabbed to death during a brawl in London on Saturday, police said.

Rob Knox, 18, was stabbed after he got caught up in a fight outside a bar in southwest London early Saturday, London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Knox plays Ravenclaw student Marcus Belby in the upcoming film "Harry Potter And The Half-*lo** Prince," the sixth installment of the popular series set for release in November.

Warner Bros., the studio that is producing the film, said it was shocked by the news.

Knox was one of five young men taken to various hospitals after the brawl, police said. Among them was a 21-year-old who has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The fight did not appear to be gang-related, police added, but it puts the number of violent teenage deaths in London at 14 so far this year.

Who betta Black Ryno or Deva Bratt?

I Say

1) Cloud Nine(Mainly I Can Feel Your Pain - Gyptian)
2) 83 Riddim (Queen Ifrica - Daddy Don't Touch Me There)
3) Love Potion
4) Water House Riddim(Demarco - Listen To Your Girl)

Wats Your Veiws???

J.O.P Aidonia's Own Empire Are Gearing Up For Summer

Adonia HimSelf Said To Member OF Zip That" For Summer It's Gonna Be MAD......They Are Looking To Work With Mainly Stephen And Other Producers Such As Jordan,SSMG And Other Producers"

Things Are Expected To Be Really Good For J.O.P

Bounty to miss Best of the Best in Miami

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Bounty Killer

Speculation has been rife that deejay Bounty Killer would not be able to attend this weekend's annual reggae concert in Miami, Florida, the Best of the Best.

Yesterday, his management confirmed that the artiste is "experiencing travel document issues" and will not be able to leave Jamaica to perform on the concert for which he is being heavily advertised.

According to the release, "The management of Bounty Killer regrettably announces that he will not be appearing at this year's staging of the Best of the Best concert in Miami on Memorial Weekend, due to travel document issues.

"Bounty's work permit had expired some time ago and due to a number of factors conspiring against us - an administrative backlog, his passport needing to be renewed, the US Embassy in Kingston's overloaded appointment system and his intensive travel schedule (for example the European tour,) - he could not get the work permit application processed and an appointment at the Embassy in time for this weekend.

"Bounty Killer also travels to the US with a waiver, which entails a lengthy administrative process, especially with the Homeland Security systems in place since 9/11. We tried everything humanly possible to fast track this process but time simply ran out. We are only just going public with the situation because up until the Embassy closed for the public holiday we were still trying.

"Bounty's work permit visa has in no way been cancelled or revoked and we can assure his US fans that he will return very soon. We apologise to his many fans that have made plans to attend Best of the Best to see him perform and hope they enjoy the many other talented and entertaining acts billed for the show," the release ended.

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Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Subscribe (E-mail) E-Mail To A Friend Subscribe (RSS) Printable Version Originally Posted 5/24/2008 5:00:30 AM Last Updated on5/24/2008 1:15:11 PM Correction/Comment? Contact Us DJ's are targeted in triple shooting     Aurburndale, Florida - Polk County Sheriff's deputies say they went to The Thunderbird Bar located on New Hope Street in Auburndale around 2:40 Saturday morning for a noise complaint. When they arrived they found two people dead, a third victim died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Deputies tell us at least two of the victims were DJs with the group Poison Dart and have been identified. They are Antone Geargo Neely, AKA Tony Montana, and Michael S Rattigan, AKA Chris Rock. The third victim's identity has not been released. The suspect or suspects are still at large. Tampa Bay's 10 News and Polk SO Bookmark and Share Reddit Del.icio.us Digg Furl Google Facebook Spurl Y! MyWeb Drudge Fark StumbleUpon College Humor

ASHLAND, Ky. -- A man who robbed a liquor store with his head wrapped in duct tape has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Kasey G. Kazee, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery, reported WLKY-TV in Louisville.
Kazee got his nickname of the "Duct Tape Bandit" after police said he tried to rob an Ashland liquor store with his entire head, except for openings at his eyes and mouth, wrapped in duct tape.
Police said he threatened to harm a clerk if she didn't give him money from the cash register. Before he could make his getaway, another store employee tackled him in the parking lot.
Police said no weapon was found on Kazee when he was arrested.

yo zone mi ave cxc english 3morrow n maths di next dat unu can all seh a word a pray for mi dat mi pass dem please respect give ur support to 1 and all doin cxc bless zone.

No Bounty Killer for Best of the Best

One876Entertainment.com published a story yesterday saying  Jamaican artiste Mavado will not be at this year's staging of Best of the Best in Miami. We got a release from Bounty Killer and Mavado's manager, Julian Jones-Griffith that Bounty too will be absent.

The release states:

The management of Bounty Killer regrettably announces that he will not be appearing at this years staging of the Best of the Best concert in Miami on Memorial Weekend, due to travel document issues.

Bountys work permit had expired some time ago and due to a number of factors conspiring against us - an administrative backlogue, his passport needing to be renewed, the US Embassy in Kingstons overloaded appointment system and his intensive travel schedule (for example the European tour,) he could not get the work permit application processed and an appointment at the Embassy in time for this weekend.

Bounty Killer also travels to the US with a waiver, which entails a lengthy administrative process, especially with the Homeland Security systems in place since 911. We tried everything humanly possible to fast track this process but time simply ran out. We are only just going public with the situation because up until the Embassy closed for the public holiday we were still trying.

Bountys work permit visa has in no way been cancelled or revoked and we can assure his US fans that he will return very soon. We apologise to his many fans that have made plans to attend Best of the Best to see him perform and hope they enjoy the many other talented and entertaining acts billed for the show.

Bwoy di word from mi New York contact is dat Sean Kingstons Issue release party by Squeeze di odda day was a big flop. If yuh neva mind sharp it coulda meck any artiste get suicidal. Di turn out low and wi undastan sey nuff a di people dme nuh waan support Kingston either.

 

R Kelly's trial was interrupted by a fan who was arrested after shouting "Free R. Kelly" metres away from the courtroom.

According to reports, Debra Triplett was standing by the elevator used by jury members to shield them from the media when she shouted twice.

She was arrested, handcuffed and brought before Judge Vincent Vaughan.

The arresting officer, Sergeant London Thomas, was sworn in and testified that he witnessed the entire incident: "I was looking directly at her and heard her say it." The judge set her bail at $50,000 and scheduled a hearing for June 25.

After establishing the jury hadn't heard the shouts and could therefore not be influenced, the singer's trial was allowed to continue.

Once the trial got underway, a former back-up singer for R. Kelly cried when she took the stand. Stephanie Edwards introduced the girl in the tape to the singer when she was aged just 12 or 13, and also confirmed she recognised the pair in the sex tape being shown to the jury.

Defence attorney Ed Genson then accused the singer of trying to "get Robert" after she fell out with the singer in 2000 and tried to set him up to earn money.

Stephanie replied with a raised voice: "Sweetie, I'm not trying to get money out of this."

Genson angrily replied, "I'm not your sweetie!", prompting the judge to intervene.

During the proceedings yesterday (22.05.08), another friend of the girl in the tape took to the stand.

Aubrey Hampton said she recognised her friend in the footage and identified mannerisms, including her biting her lower lip. However, Aubry admitted she hadn't seen her pal in six years, but was adamant it was her and the singer in the tape.

R. Kelly is on trial for over 14 counts relating to the 26-minute video which shows a man having sex with a girl aged around 13.

According to reports, Kelly, real name Robert, rocked in his chair as the "vile and disturbing" video was shown to the courtroom.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in jail.

whats the one thing that could make u forgive ur partner of some wrongs n work out ur probs n get back together?

NEW YORK - Health officials are warning New Yorkers to stay away from an illegal aphrodisiac made from toad venom after the product apparently killed a man.

The city's poison control center issued the warning Friday after receiving a hospital report that a 35-year-old man who ingested the hard, brown substance died earlier this month.

The product is sold under names including Piedra, Love Stone, Jamaican Stone, Black Stone and Chinese Rock at sex shops and neighborhood stores. It is banned by the Food and Drug Administration.

City health officials said the victim, whose identity was not released, was admitted to the hospital complaining of chest and abdominal pain. He died two days later.

Health officials said the hardened resin, made with venom from toads of the Bufo genus, contains chemicals that can disrupt heart rhythms.

The aphrodisiac was supposed to have been applied to the skin, not eaten, but authorities said even that use can be harmful.

"There is no definitely safe way to use it," said Dr. Robert Hoffman, director of the city's poison control center. "Don't buy it. Don't sell it. If you have it, don't use it. Throw it out."

The same type of product killed a 40-year-old man in Brooklyn in 2002 and at least four New Yorkers in the early 1990s. A 17-year-old boy also fell seriously ill, but survived following hours of aggressive treatment.

Following that outbreak, city investigators went looking for the poison and found it was being sold sporadically in grocery stores, smoke shops and from street vendors.

Inspectors have been on the lookout for the stuff ever since, but identifying it isn't always easy. It is sometimes sold in packaging labeled only in foreign languages.

It isn't clear how available the aphrodisiac is elsewhere in the U.S., although some similar products have been seized from suspected drug traffickers in other East Coast cities, authorities said.

___

A TEENAGE Harry Potter film actor was murdered over a dispute involving an alleged mobile phone theft, according to a friend of the victim.

Rob Knox, 18, died in a street attack around 1am outside the Metro Bar in Station Road, Sidcup, Kent.

Four other men were also injured. One was stabbed in the head.

A youth, who asked not to be named, said: ?I was in the pub with Rob last night so I know exactly what happened. I was a friend of Rob and his brother Jamie. I wasnt drinking with them but I see them and I chatted to them during the night before the stabbing.

"One of Robs mates had his mobile phone stolen last week and he accused a black bloke in the bar of taking it.

 

"There was a bit of trouble at the time but nothing serious. Then last night, earlier in the evening, this black bloke was in the bar again and Robs mate went up to him

"The black bloke went off and said he would be back. We knew there was possibly going to be some aggro but we never expected anything like that.

 

"It was around midnight when this car pulled up outside and I saw two black blokes get out and come into the bar. One of them was shouting something at Jamie and then he threw a chair at him.

 

"The next thing it all went mad and there were several blokes fighting. I stayed inside the bar so I didnt really see what happened outside but I heard that one of the black blokes had two knives on him and he was stabbing anyone who went near him.

"It seems crazy that a young bloke has lost his life over a mobile phone. Rob was a decent lad. Im absolutely gutted that he has died.?

Shock

Rob had just finished work on the new Harry Potter film - Harry Potter And The Half-*lo** Prince. He had landed a minor role as Ravenclaw student Marcus Belby.

A Warner Bros spokeswoman said: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by this news and at this time our sympathies are with his family."

Rob's devastated parents, Sally and Colin Knox, said in a statement: "Rob was kind and thoughtful and would always help out others - he would always spend his last penny on other people instead of himself.

"The life and soul of the party, he was very outgoing, loved sports, and would always strike up a conversation with people.

"He was respectful to others and adored by all his family and friends. He was asset to the family."

Scores of his friends gathered outside the bar in shock.

His cousin, Vicky May, 16, said he was more like her big brother.

 

She said: "You never think it will happen to you. Rob wasnt a thug, it wasnt gang-related. Everyone loved him. He was more like a brother, he would always look out for me. He was friends with so many people."

 

Friend Liberty Butcher said: "He would never start an argument. He would have been the one to stick up for someone. He had so much going for him."

Robs friend Tom Hopkins, 18, who plays football for Southend United youth team, pinned down a man armed with a knife outside the bar with the help of friend Tarik Ozress, 17.

The pair wrestled with him for several minutes before police arrived.

Tom was stabbed in the head during the struggle.

He said: "Rob was just trying to help out. He was like that. I grabbed the knife, I didnt know at the time that he had another knife. It was just chaos."

He too said there had been a row over a phone and they believe this could have been revenge attack.

A total of four men were taken to hospital with injuries.

Flowers have been piled where the teenager died.

One tribute read: "The flowers will die, the sun will set, you are someone I will never forget."

A WOMAN has been jailed after trying to smuggle cocaine worth £360,000 into the UK strapped to kids LEGS.

Mexican Elisa Vazquez Sanchez, 40, was stopped at Heathrow Airport after using a girl of 11 and a boy of 13 to bring in 20lb of drugs.

She was sentenced to 9½ years after admitting smuggling at Isleworth Crown Court.

Judge Jonathan Lowen told Sanchez she should be ashamed of herself.

The children are in the care of social services.

HM Revenue and Customs chief Peter Avery said the use of children demonstrates the ruthless nature of drug gangs.

Actor-rapper Shad Moss, aka Bow Wow, is focusing on acting full time.

Moss has joined the upcoming fifth season of HBO's "Entourage" in a recurring role, playing Charlie, a new stand-up comic client of E (Kevin Connolly).

Additionally, he has landed a role opposite Forest Whitaker and Isaiah Washington in the Weinstein Co.'s sports drama "Patriots," about a high school basketball team in post-Katrina Louisiana.

"After 16 years in the music industry and six successful albums, I've decided to shift my energy to something else I'm passionate about, acting," Moss said. "I'm going to try to be the next Will Smith."

Like Moss, Smith started off as a rapper before segueing into acting.

Moss released a collaborative album last year with fellow recording star Omarion titled "Face Off." Later this year, he is set to return to the studio to work on his seventh album, titled "H.I.M. (History in Making)."

On the acting side, he recently wrapped the indie "Driving Lessons" and has appeared in the features "Roll Bounce," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Johnson Family Vacation" and "All About the Benjamins."

He is repped by UTA and manager Teresa Caldwell.

A TRUCKER who fled after his vehicle hit a dying motorcyclist has been ordered by a judge to set up a MySpace page in memory of the man he left to die.

Ryan Cornett, 18, must also carry a photo of biker Duke Gray, 37, every day for five years.

Cornett, who admitted leaving the scene of an accident, was even forced to watch a two-hour video of Grays funeral in the judges chambers.

Gray was already fatally injured after crashing his Harley-Davidson in Tampa, Florida. His mother Cynthia said: That was the most amazing sentence. It was like Duke speaking himself.

Festival Song Competition Returns

The Festival Song Competition after an absence of ten years is back for 2008 under the theme, 'Festival Song Come Back Again What a Bam Bam.

Ten finalists have been selected with original songs which speak to the diversity of the Jamaican society. Vernon Derby the Chairman of the Festival Song committee is excited about the selection and says that these songs will help to lift the spirit of Jamaicans during the Independence season.

He highlighted that Clifton 'Specialist' Dillon, known for producing Grammy Award Winners, has assisted with the production of the songs. Past festival song winner and producer Tommy Cowan will also be assisting in producing the Festival Song Shows across Jamaica.

The 2008 Jamaica Festival Song Album will be launched on Tuesday, May 27 and road shows featuring all ten artistes will be held at strategic points across the island, culminating with the National Finals, which has been scheduled for Saturday, July 12 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

A PENSIONER has died after he tried to stop two teenage thugs attacking his sons in a chilling echo of the murder of Garry Newlove.

One sick yob said: Here you go grandad, have this and punched frail John Coupe, 76, in the head after he rushed out of his home.

Dad-of-five John suffered head injuries and a broken back. He died two weeks later in hospital from a suspected heart attack.

Last night son Mark, 34, said: Its like the Newlove case all over again.

Dad did his best for his family. He died a frightened old man in agony. These yobs are the scum of the earth.

The thugs had savagely set upon Mark and brother Brian, 54, in an unprovoked attack as they sat in a car outside the family home in Blackburn, Lancs.

Police arrested youths of 19 and 17 on suspicion of assault.

 

They were later released on bail.

Marks sister Julie, 45, told how her daughter Natasha, 16, was too upset to leave her grandads body in the chapel of rest.

Julie said: She just sat stroking his hair, crying

You see this kind of thing on TV and think it only happens to others.

Helen Newlove, 46 whose hubby Garry, 47, was kicked to death by yobs last August called Mr Coupes death disgraceful.

She said: Our streets arent safe.

This Is Wat I WOuld Do

1)If Him Step Pan It An Seh Sorry( U Just Kool)
2)If Him Step Pon Yuh Shoes And Jus WAlk Off Jus Mek HIm Gwann
3)If Him Step Pan It An Gimme A Cross (Luk Like Seh Him Mean Fi Duh It)WARRR HIMMAN A HOT HEAD

What Would U Do???

Vybz Kartel is insisting that his latest single, Broad Daylight on the new Stephen McGregor joint, Daybreak is not a counteraction of Mavado's Nuh Bleach. LISTEN TRACKS

"It is not a counteraction, it is just concept that I built from the name of the rhythm. Stephen usually comes with dark rhythms hence the name Shadow and Dark Again, and then this rhythm Daybreak has a different kinda name but it sound gangster same way, so I used that same concept, hence the punchline, daylight,"
This song is neither a counteraction or a correction, a paradox or a parody, it's just a song, and people need to stop reading all sort of things into the music."

Regardless of its interpretation, the Daybreak rhythm is awfully popular earning major forwards at both Passa Passa and Weddy Weddy last week. Kartel dubbed the rhythm 'the fastest riddim ever buss" to represent the spooky speed with which the rhythm has gained acceptance in the dancehall.

Deejay Vybz Kartel is putting the finishing touches on his latest album with Stephen McGregor.

"It ah go be so sick," he vowed.