BNQT Babes: Brazilian beach goddess, Emanuela De Paula

Emanuela De Paula

By THE DUDE April 15, 2014 10:45 am
Hailing from one of the most beautiful places on this here planet, Emanuela De Paula is one of the most sought after models from Brazil and is thrown into the mix with global superstars like Gisele Bündchen and Adriana Lima. If that doesn’t do it for you, well, you just have issues. Enjoy the view! more photos

IN JAMAICA: Krystal Burnett, a 15 year-old student at Ocho Rios High School, has entered the 2014 Pulse Search. A student of the sciences, Krystal hopes to be successful in both acting and modelling, careers she is passionate about.

Krystal Burnett, a 15 year-old student at Ocho Rios High School, has entered the 2014 Pulse Search. A student of the sciences, Krystal hopes to be successful in both acting and modelling, careers she is passionate about. An avid reader, Krystal also enjoys swimming and watching television.

Pulse has launched The Pulse Search For The Million Dollar Girl. One lucky girl with the perfect face, body and spirit will be selected Pulses Million Dollar Girl at the end of summer 2014. She will be awarded $1m in cash and prizes (with no less than $500,000 in cash).

Krystal Burnett - Contributed

Since 1980, The Pulse Search has produced fashion legends such as Kimberley Mais, Angela Neil, Carla Campbell, Romae Gordon, Althea Laing, Lincoln Wynter and Lois Samuels. More recently, there have been supermodels Jeneil Williams, Oraine Barrett, Jaunel McKenzie, Nell Robinson and Nadine Willis.

Interested new faces who think that they could be the one to take the title are asked to visit Pulse at 38a Trafalgar Road, New Kingston any Wednesday at 4 p.m, taking with them a swimsuit and high-heeled shoes. They may also call 960 0049.

The Pulse Search continues to target young men as well. Young women will be accepted in all categories - fashion, petite and full figure.

Sean Paul Heads To Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 24 at the Bank United Centre at the University of Miami in Florida. Awards will be celebrating 25 years

Sean Paul

Published: Thursday | April 17, 2014

International recording artiste Sean Paul is gearing up for a performance on the Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 24 at the Bank United Centre at the University of Miami in Florida.

The Grammy Award-winning reggae performer, who recently released his latest album, Full Frequency, will accompany Puerto Rican sensation Wisin onstage at the prestigious event. The duo is expected to perform their hit song Baby Danger for the mostly Latin audience.

"The Latin audience has always been close to my heart. They embraced my music from the very beginning, and it is a great privilege for me to perform at the Billboard Latin Awards," said Sean Paul.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be celebrating 25 years and is presented by State Farm and will be broadcast on Telemundo.

According to examiner.com, the awards show is the longest running and most prestigious Latin Music awards show.

Bachata singer, songwriter and record producer Prince Royce will also be performing on the show alongside the likes of Marc Anthony, Franco De Vita and Ricky Martin.

Prince Royce, who is featured on Full Frequency, was nominated for awards in a whopping 16 categories. more

IN JAMAICA: Irresponsible Minister! Lisa Hanna Facing More Flack Over Alpha Boy's Home Predatory Boys Comment....The history of Alpha is not known to be a homosexual school, so for the minister putting that out there, for an institution that is 135 years old

Published: Friday | April 18, 2014  by Ryon Jones, Gleaner Staff Reporter   

Lisa Hanna

LISA HANNA, youth and culture minister, is facing mounting criticisms for her claim that the "sexual predatory" nature of the wards was one of the reasons for the closure of the residential-care facilities at Alpha Boy's Home in Kingston.

I heard that the minister announced publicly that the boys are preying on each other, sexually, said Everol Sting Wray, a past student of the home.

I am ashamed of the minister, as that is something that should have been dealt with internally. I think, personally, for Lisa Hanna to come out and put that out publicly; that is very irresponsible for a minister.

After spending six years living at the institution, from 1980 to 1986, Wray is testimony to the good that has come out of Alpha Boy's Home and credited the institution for steering him from a possible life of crime.

According to the internationally acclaimed musician, integrity of the home must be safeguarded.The history of Alpha is not known to be a homosexual school, so for the minister putting that out there, for an institution that is 135 years old, and to highlight that as one of the problems, thats her looking for a scapegoat.

Wrays comments came days before the administrators of the boys home charged that some comments about the planned closure of the residential facility have been disrespectful and caused great stress to students.

According to the administrators, since the announcements, the boys are being labelled homosexuals and a branded Alpha bus was stoned.

In announcing the planned closure of residential facilities, Hanna told a media briefing behavioural problems of the children have resulted in increased pressure on the operators. more

GLITCH THIS : Obamacare Sign-Ups Hit 8 Million In Remarkable Turnaround President Barack Obama announced during a press briefing at the White House Thursday....wenty-eight percent were between the ages of 18 and 34

Posted: 04/17/2014 3:54 pm EDT Updated: 04/17/2014 7:59 pm EDT

In a remarkable rebound from the botched rollout of Obamacare, 8 million people have signed up for private health insurance via the exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act since October, President Barack Obama announced during a press briefing at the White House Thursday.

March and April saw an uptick in the share of young people signing up for private plans using the exchanges. These people, who are presumably healthier, are needed to balance out the medical costs of older, sicker consumers. About 35 percent of people who signed up throughout the open enrollment period were under 35 years old, including children, Obama said. Twenty-eight percent were between the ages of 18 and 34, according to a White House fact sheet.

The official six-month enrollment period ended March 31, but the federal government and most states accommodated people trying to complete applications in April amid alast-minute surge for subsidized private coverage and Medicaid benefits.

"This law is working," Obama said. "This law won't solve all the problems in our health care system. We know we've got more work to do, but we now know for a fact that repealing the Affordable Care Act would increase the deficit, raise premiums for millions of Americans, and take insurance away from millions more."

Obama urged Republicans, who remain almost universally opposed to the health care law, to move on. "I find it strange that the Republican position on this law is still stuck in the same place that is has always been. They still can't bring themselves to admit that the Affordable Care Act is working," he said. more

St Jago coup : St Catherine school dethrone XLCR for schoolgirl football crown....ST Jago High school exacted revenge on Excelsior High to claim the ISSA/KFC/Locker-room Sports Schoolgirl football crown after a 4-3 penalty win at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

BY SHERDON COWAN  Thursday, April 17, 2014

ST Jago High school exacted revenge on Excelsior High to claim the ISSA/KFC/Locker-room Sports Schoolgirl football crown after a 4-3 penalty win at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

Both teams met in the final last year, but the Mountain View-based school went into the game as favourites, having managed to remain unbeaten all season.

However, national Under-17 representative Khadija Shaw carried the weight of her St Catherine-based team on her shoulders to lead them to the prestigious title.

The game began at a high pace, with St Jago making the first attempt at goal when Shaw got behind defenders but was unable to beat the goalkeeper.

Excelsior then got into their stride and it didn't take long before the game got its first goal when Nicole Broderick made a nice run down the right flank and beat the goalkeeper at her far post in the 21st minute to make it 1-0.

Excelsior’s Shaniece McDonald (left) vies
 for possession with a St Jago defender
 during the ISSA/KFC/Locker-room
 Sports Schoolgirl football final at the Spanish 
Town Prison Oval yesterday.

It became 2-0 in the 24th minute when Broderick again made a beautiful run and played the ball across to Jamella Henry who made no mistake. Excelsior continued to dominate with ball possession, but could not capitalise on the resulting chances and had to settle for a 2-0 lead going into the interval.

Conditions became overcast for second period and St Jago and Khadija Shaw found a new life when Shaw brought them back into the game after she forced an own goal by Imani Richards in the 46th minute. Shaw again went close when she chipped one over both defender and goalkeeper but only succeeded in hitting the woodwork. more

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is pregnant.

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is pregnant.

Clinton announced she was pregnant with her first child on Thursday while speaking at the Lower Eastside Girls Club in New York City as part of the "No Ceilings Conversation" series. Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky are expecting the baby "later this year," she said.

"I just hope that I will be as good a mom to my child and hopefully children as my mom was to me," Clinton said at the event. Hillary and Bill Clinton have both said they're ready for grandchildren. more

Entertainment Supa Dups story : JAMAICAN born, 3 Time Grammy Awardee, DWAYNE 'Supa Dups' Chin-Quee has had a decorated career as a producer. He has worked with a long list of heavyweights in dancehall, rhythm and Blues and hip hop....such as EMINEM, RIHANNA, MAR J BLIGHE, DRAKE, BRUNO MARS...Has produced 1 song on TESSANE CHIN's forthcoming CD.

BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer writer  Thursday, April 17, 2014    

DWAYNE 'Supa Dups' Chin-Quee has had a decorated career as a producer. He has worked with a long list of heavyweights in dancehall, rhythm and Blues and hip hop.

With three Grammy Awards to his credit and hits on the Billboard pop charts, he says there is still more to be accomplished.

"Just like anything else success comes with hard work and making the right decisions. To be successful in music you have to love it before anything else. Wanting to be in music for any other reason than that you won't make it," Supa Dups told Splash.

Many Jamaican music fans know Supa Dups as founding member and owner of the Miami-based Black Chiney sound system.

Black Chiney started in 1999 with Supa Dups and colleagues Richard Flores and Bobby Chin producing 'mix CDs' for the Poison Dart sound system.

"I continued to put out CDs and then started doing remixes for DJ Khaled until Black Chiney exceeded both Poison Dart's and DJ Khaled's popularity. It was Bounty Killer who convinced us to turn Black Chiney into a sound system and the rest is history," Supa Dups recalled.

As demand for Black Chiney grew, Supa Dups brought in his cousin Willy Chin and Walshy Fire as members. The latter is still a member of Black Chiney but also works with the hot Major Lazer camp.

Supa Dups was born in Kingston but has lived in the United States since his teens. He says his involvement in music was inevitable.

"I grew up around music all my life. My older brothers were DJ/selectors and I got my influence from there. I started to DJ/select when I was 11 and at age 15 I started to get interested in how the music was made. My aunt who I lived with mortgaged her house and bought me an Akai MPC 3000 and I have been producing ever since," he said.

Black Chiney has helped push Jamaican music into the US mainstream. Some of the songs the 'sound' is responsible for breaking on the Billboard charts are Turnin' Me On by Nina Sky and Father Elephant by Elephant Man, both produced by Supa Dups.

His production credits include WTP by Enimem (from the album Recovery); Fast Lane by Eminem & Royce Da 5'9; Marvin's Room/Buried Alive by Drake featuring Kendrik Lamar; Our First Time and Liquor Store Blues by Bruno Mars and Damian Marley (co-produced by Supa Dups' cousin Mitchum 'Khan' Chin); Show Me by Bruno Mars; Each Tear by Mary J Blige; You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) by Rihanna and Vybz Kartel; Shake That Booty by rapper David Banner featuring Elephant Man; Blind to You and Tomorrow's Another Day by Collie Buddz; Come Over by Estelle featuring Sean Paul; and Can't Be My Lover by John Legend and Buju Banton.

He has won three producer's Grammys for work on albums by Drake (Take Care, which won for Best Rap Album); Bruno Mars (Unorthodox Jukebox won for Best Pop Vocal Album); and Eminem (Recovery won a Grammy for Best Rap Album).

Supa Dups recently produced a track for Tessanne Chin's upcoming album for Universal Republic. more

IN JAMAICA: INDECOM reports 47.3% decrease in fatalities for first quarter Police killings drop.... At the end of the first quarter, the commission recorded a total of 40 fatalities. This is 36 less than the first-quarter figures of 2013

Thursday, April 17, 2014    

THE Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has reported a sharp decrease in the number of extrajudicial killings by members of the security forces for the first quarter of the year.

At the same time, the investigative body said it has recommended that 16 police officers be slapped with criminal charges, including murder, for the same period.

INDECOM Commissioner Terrence Williams commented on the decrease in the fatal shootings in a release announcing the figures.

"We are certainly encouraged by these figures and we hope that the number will continue on a downward trajectory going forward," Williams said. "It is particularly refreshing given the report of the general decline in crime during this period."

At the end of the first quarter, the commission recorded a total of 40 fatalities. This is 36 less than the first-quarter figures of 2013 in which 76 fatalities were recorded, and represents a 47.3 per cent drop in the number of fatalities, according to the INDECOM release.

In January 2014 the commission recorded 22 fatalities, down from the 30 recorded in January last year, a 26.6 per cent decrease; while in February 14 fatalities were recorded, down from 27 in 2013 which is a 48.1 per cent decrease. For the month of March, the commission recorded four fatalities, the lowest in the history of the commission, which was formed in 2010...

Last year 19 fatalities were recorded in March, which represents a decrease of 78.9 per cent. more

Woman thief 2 cell phones from man within 2 mins...Have the nerves to cuss man out after she stole his phone. Very very funny. What would you do?

Post by Jamaica IS Nice.

IN JAMAICA: A five-year-old girl child was yesterday shot and injured by gunmen along Drummond Street in West Kingston....12-year-old Kawayne McAnuff was shot and killed by gunmen in the constituency earlier this month.

Thursday, April 17, 2014    

A five-year-old child was yesterday shot and injured by gunmen in West Kingston.

The child was one of three people injured when armed thugs opened fire along Drummond Street in the city’s west end.

“The reports we receive are that at about 9:00 am a father and his five-year-old daughter were walking along the road when thugs carried out the attack,” a police source said.

Twelve-year-old Kawayne ‘Timo’ McNuff who
 was killed by gunmen Friday night.

However, police theorise that the child and her father were ‘at the wrong place at the wrong time’ as the attack was aimed at another man who was walking along the road.

“The father, while walking along the road, heard explosions and, in an attempt to protect his daughter, picked up the child and ran,” said one police source.

The man, the source said, later realised that the child was shot in her back. He was shot in the leg. The man was treated at hospital and the child admitted.

The third man, who was said to be the intended target of the criminals, was also admitted to hospital. He was said to be in a critical condition.

The incident has triggered new tensions in the area as it happened a day after the security team assigned to Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie was attacked by gunmen on North Street, just outside a funeral parlour where the MP was finalising burial arrangements for 12-year-old Kawayne McAnuff.

Kawayne was shot and killed by gunmen in the constituency earlier this month. more

Nearly 300 feared Dead as South Korea Ferry Sinking Sparks Anxious Search For Hundreds Missing. Nine are confirmed dead.... Alleged that only 1 life boat was used when 46 boats were on the ferry.

AP  | by  FOSTER KLUG and YOUKYUNG LEE Posted: 04/17/2014 1:28 am EDT Updated: 04/17/2014 1:59 am EDT

MOKPO, South Korea (AP) — Strong currents, rain and bad visibility hampered an increasingly anxious search Thursday for 287 passengers still missing a day after their ferry flipped onto its side and sank in cold waters off the southern coast of South Korea.

South Korean Coast Guard and rescue teams search for missing
passengers at the site of the sunken ferry off the coast of
Jindo Island on April 17, 2014 in Jindo-gun, South Korea.
 (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) |
Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images

Nine people, including five students and two teachers, were confirmed dead, but many expect a sharp jump in that number because of the long period of time the missing have now spent either trapped in the ferry or in the cold seawater. There was also fury among families waiting for word of passengers who were mostly high school students.

There were 475 people aboard, and some of the frantic parents of the 325 student passengers who had been heading to Jeju island for a four-day trip gathered at Danwon High School in Ansan, which is near Seoul, and on Jindo, an island near where the ferry slipped beneath the surface until only the blue-tipped, forward edge of the keel was visible.

Relatives of the three dead students wailed and sobbed as ambulances at a hospital in Mokpo, a city close to the accident site, took the bodies to Ansan. The families, who spent a mostly sleepless night at the hospital, followed the ambulances in their own cars.

The family of one of the victims, 24-year-old teacher Choi Hye-jung, spoke about a young woman who loved to boast of how her students would come to her office and give her hugs.

"She was very active and wanted to be a good leader," her father, Choi Jae-kyu, 53, said at Mokpo Jung-Ang Hospital while waiting for the arrival of his daughter's body. Choi's mother, sitting on a bench at the hospital, sobbed quietly with her head bent down on her knee. more

THE VOICE (Italy): Singing Nun Belts Out 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun:' Sister Cristina Scuccia Soars To Next Level On The Voice Italy

Sister Cristina Scuccia is back on The Voice Italy with a rocking performance of Cyndi Lauper's classic "Girls Just Want To Have Fun."

The sister battled it out with fellow competitor Luna Palumbo and scored yet another win from the judges after another passionate show of her vocal talent with her nun pals cheering her on from the sidelines.

During the performance, Sister Cristina pointed heavenward during the line beginning with "Daddy dear," perhaps a reference to a more heavenly Father?

This nun doesn't just wanna have fun, however-- she told the judges after her first audition that "“I came here because I have a gift and I want to share that gift."

We're glad she did. Check it out above.

A rapper affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan is in an L.A. area hospital after ......Rapper Andre Johnson, Aka Christ Bearer, Severs Penis And Jumps From Balcony: Police

Police The Huffington Post  | by  David Moye Email RSS  Posted: 04/16/2014 7:27 pm EDT Updated: 04/16/2014 7:59 pm EDT

A rapper affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan is in an L.A. area hospital after allegedly attempting suicide by cutting off his penis and jumping from a second floor balcony.

Police said Andre Johnson, who performs under the name "Christ Bearer" with the Wu-Tang affiliated group Northstar, attempted the self-dismemberment early Wednesday morning at an apartment building in North Hollywood.

Cops arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. and saw Johnson lying on the sidewalk with critical injuries. Johnson, 40, was rushed by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, TMZ reports. Details about what triggered the incident were not available, according to CNN.

Two members of Northstar who live in the same apartment building said Johnson cut off his penis and leaped without warning, according to Fox News. By the time they got downstairs he was running around screaming.

The musicians told TMZ they hadn't used "any hard drugs that would cause him to do such a thing."

Johnson jumped less than 24 hours after the release of "OOOH!", a new video with Rugged Monk as Black Knight. Although Johnson has collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan producer and leader RZA, the band's website now has a statement seemingly denying any ties to Johnsonwithout naming him, according to RawStory.com.

The statement reads: “Parental Advisory: Don’t Believe The HYPE. This Mother F*cker Ain’t Got Sh*t to do with The WUTANG Brand.” more

Wu-Tang-Affiliated Rapper Cuts Off His Own Penis, Jumps Off Balcony in Suicide Attempt - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

JAMAICA Government To Develop Programmes For Homosexual Youth.....Youth Minister Lisa Hanna made the announcement to address issues affecting various sections of the youth population including Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) individuals.

Lisa Hanna

The Government says it is in the process of developing new services, initiatives and programmes to address issues affecting various sections of the youth population including Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) individuals. 

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna made the announcement while speaking yesterday morning at the Panos Caribbean Stakeholder Conference. 

She says new targeted intervention is necessary, if the Government is to adequately and effectively address the challenges, concerns and needs of the different types of youth her ministry serves. 

Some of the other groups include Men who have sex with Men (MSMs) and youth with sexual orientation and gender identity issues. 

Hanna explains that given the lack of data on LGBT youth, today's stakeholder consultation is timely as it will provide the youth ministry with a better understanding of what the issues are. 

She insists that the Government’s duty is not only to provide shelter and protection for abandoned and abused children but also therapeutic intervention to address the physical and psychological harm they have suffered. 

Hanna says it is clear that there will also have to be what she calls a resetting of the mind and of the way in which people are treated. more

Hapilos awards off :According to the New York Post, Kevin Reynolds — CEO of 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution — was arrested at the John F Kennedy International Airport last Sunday

Wednesday, April 16, 2014    

SATURDAY'S 21st Hapilos Anniversary and Digital Awards has been postponed. The event was scheduled for the Chinese Benevolent Association of Jamaica Centre in St Andrew.

No reason was given for the postponement. Neither was a new date announced.

Johnny Wonder, 21st Hapilos’s executive
 vice-president (Photo: Pawty Central)

In a statement yesterday, Johnny Wonder, 21st Hapilos's executive vice-president, apologised "for any inconvenience the postponement may have caused".

"We at 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with the event; the Jamaican recording fraternity, our sponsors, fans, supporters and those who were slated to perform," said Wonder.

The awards recognise achievements of artistes and producers in digital distribution as well as their contributions to the music industry.

"Direct sales and streams are used to determine the winners," Wonder told the Jamaica Observer.

Categories include Top Selling Single of the Year, Lifetime Award and Producer Buzz Award. The awards were previously held in 2011 and 2012.

According to the New York Post, Kevin Reynolds — CEO of 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution — was arrested at the John F Kennedy International Airport last Sunday, after being on the run from United States law enforcement since 2002. more

Dread and Terrible lie about CHRONIXX in Paris, FRANCE....event was a success and saw great performances from Chronixx as well as Dre Island, Kelissa, Barrington Levy, Cham and Patrice.

BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON Observer reporter livingstonc@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, April 16, 2014    

ANTONIE Missir — producer of Chronixx's Dread and Terrible Tour French leg -- is dismissing rumours that the artiste was assaulted by security guards at La Cigale in Paris on Sunday, April 6.

"I guarantee that there is no truth to the story," said Missir, in an email response to the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Chronixx

According to the producer, Chronixx and his team were on stage when a minor incident happened backstage between a security guard and an unauthorised person.

"Chronixx and crew behaved very professionally and didn't clash with any security [personnel]. Nobody got injured, there were no weapons, no police," he said, adding that there are no longer any chateauxs in Paris.

Missir said the event was a success and saw great performances from Chronixx as well as Dre Island, Kelissa, Barrington Levy, Cham and Patrice.

According to a Platinum Camp email release, Chronixx and his party refused to wear the armbands and proceeded to rough up the security guards.

"After his performance, a group of guards with high-powered weapons and baseball bats were waiting in the wings for them. It was reported that the beating that Chronixx and his posse suffered was horrendous, they ran for their lives and sought refuge in a chateau. The occupants of the chateau hid them and had to call for the French authorities in order to save them," the release continued.

Chronixx Music Group, managers and booking agents for Chronixx dismissed the alleged altercation between the artiste's team and security providers. more

The Final Trailer For 'X-Men: Days Of Future Past Is A Traveler Of Both Time & Space.....X-Men: Days of Future Past | Official Trailer 3 [HD] | 20th Century FOX

Bonded by war. United by hope. See the X-Men face their greatest challenge together in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original "X-Men" film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from "X-Men: First Class," in an epic battle that must change the past -- to save our future.

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Teen’s Video About Wearing Suit & Ties To Defy Black Male Stereotypes Goes Viral.....“we are not gangsters and thugs,” “we are employees and volunteers,” “we are scholars” and “we are athletes.”

This is an inspiring story of a few teens who got tired of constantly seeing the negative stereotypes that the media has a habit of attributing to young, black males so they decided to do something about it! Check it out below…

Suited and Booted! Roland Martin spoke with high school student Hayden Hinton and counselor Tiffany Gholson about an inspiring video making the rounds on the Internet.

Black male students at Illinois’ Central High School put together “Suit & Tie in the 217″ to offer a counter-narrative for young black men. For Black History Month, they released a video of students dressed to the nines with the messages “we are not gangsters and thugs,” “we are employees and volunteers,” “we are scholars” and “we are athletes.” “The negative stories told daily in the media and in our culture about our young African-American men tend to ignore their successes and don’t tell the full story about how young Black men are becoming leaders within our community schools,” said Central High counselor Tiffany Gholson, who worked with the students on the effort. “In this video, our students reclaim the narrative of who they are and inspire other students to follow in their footsteps.” – Via NewsOne more

'Jamaica In Better Place' than it was 12 months ago... But This Fiscal Year 'Won't Be Any Less Of A Fight', Says Richard Byles.....Jamaica's reaching its primary balance target "is a very significant development for Jamaica,"

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014  

"There is no doubt that the Jamaican economy is in a better place today than it was 12 months ago," said Richard Byles, co-chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC).

Richard Byles

But despite the improvements, it is important that no one feels "overconfident", Byles said, as the year ahead "won't be any less of a fight".

Byles was speaking at a media briefing at the Sagicor head office in New Kingston yesterday.

EPOC was responding to public statements from Finance Minister Peter Phillips that Jamaica had met the fourth-quarter primary surplus target and that he expects a positive International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme review for the end of March.

But Byles said EPOC's comments were on the presumption that the minister's information was accurate, as it had not yet seen the official preliminary or final results.

"I'm taking him on his word," Byles said.

Jamaica's reaching its primary balance target "is a very significant development for Jamaica," Byles said. "Not many people believed we could achieve this target."

"However, we still have a long way to go," he said. We should see "big challenges for this fiscal year." more 

GAMBIA, AFRICA Roots Homecoming Festival On Track as promoters bill some of Jamaica's top acts to perform at the show's 11th anniversary. this year's performers will include Jamaica's Sizzla Kalonji, Mutabaruka and Jah Cure, as well as soulful United States singer Erykah Badu.

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014

Plans for the 2014 staging of the Gambia Roots Homecoming Festival intensifies as promoters bill some of Jamaica's top acts to perform at the show's 11th anniversary.

SIZZLA

The festival, which began in 2003, will run from May 9 through to May 16 in Gambia, Africa. The festival has become known for attracting big names, and this year's performers will include Jamaica's Sizzla Kalonji, Mutabaruka and Jah Cure, as well as soulful United States singer Erykah Badu.

In addition to the impressive line-up, the festival's itinerary is also very tight.

Activities at this year's installation include an African king and queen banquet, a carnival procession of masquerades and cultural groups, and a masquerade ball.

tribute to Bob Marley

There will also be a tribute to legendary reggae artiste Bob Marley.

Patrons are asked to wear white to celebrate the day dedicated to Marley.

Titled the Reggae Beach Festival, the event will celebrate the life and legacy of the famous Marley and will include Senegalese wrestling, as well as a music sound-off between Gambian and UK deejays.

The festival, organised by the Gambian Government through the Ministryof Tourism and Culture, serves as a connecting point for Africans and those in the diaspora. more