Chuck Fender asks 'What's happening?'
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica

Chuck Fender asks 'What's happening?'

By GERMAINE SMITH, Staff Reporter

Chuck Fenda - Germaine smith Photo

NEARLY A WEEK after being dropped from his management company Fifth Element Records, more questions than answers surround Chuck Fender's status.

The deejay told THE STAR yesterday that up to now, he has not heard any official word from the Fifth Element label, and he has not heard why he was let go in the first place.

The Fifth Element Label has on its official roster artistes Richie Spice, Anthony Cruz, Spanner Bonner, Jah Penco, and Jah Lions. Fifth Element's CEO, Devon Wheatley, was unavailable for comment up to press time yesterday, but another representative of the management team stated that he was dropped because they could not settle on a management issue.

The representative denied that it was related to a recent incident, where the police arrested on the premises, a man who was wanted by the Spanish Town police. There were questions regarding the man's possible connection to members of the Fifth Element family.

Management issue

The representative declined to be named and refused to state the specific cause, but said it was a management issue.

Chuck Fender did not state the specific cause either, but said that late last week he and the Fifth Element Management team disagreed about an aspect of the management, to the point where their meeting got heated. He added that he subsequently stormed out of the meeting, only to later hear through the media that he was dropped.

"We just inna a meeting bout management and we couldn't settle pon a matter, so because it get heated and we couldn't agree me leave go outside and siddung inna mi car fi cool out little bit. Little later mi a hear seh mi get drop from Fifth Element," he stated.

"Up to now nobody from Fifth Element no call me and seh nutten," Fender added.

Fender said that he was more surprised than anything else about being cut from the label, as he was there from its beginning, and the other artistes on the roster are still friends with him.

"Mi no have nutten bad fi seh bout Fifth Element, but mi deh deh from day one a build it. We do the work and struggle with it from dem time deh cause from the bottom a mi heart mi love Fifth Element, dem teach mi nuff things, but it surprise me, and mi no know what is happening."

"Even today, a mi and Richie Spice and Anthony Cruz a par whole day, so me no know where that come from. Until a man call me and tell me what is going on, mi just haffi go on and do the work," Chuck Fender continued.

BANNED!
Mood:  down
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
BANNED!







A GROUP OF local companies which has dubbed itself a Coalition of Corporate Sponsors has decided that they will not be sponsoring any entertainment events at which dancehall artistes Beenie Man and Bounty Killer are slated to perform until further notice.

According to a statement issued by the coalition, the members - Courts, Supreme Ventures, Digicel, Red Stripe, Jamaica Tourist Board, Cable and Wireless and J. Wray and Nephew - have taken this decision in the wake of artistes' recent performances at the Jamaica Carnival's Last Hurrah where profane language was used by Bounty Killer while Beenie Man incited the audience to use the same.

"What it means is until further notice we will not be sponsoring any shows with these artistes. So promoters can hold their shows with these artistes if they would like to, however, they (corporate sponsors) will not be providing sponsorship support to these shows," Odette Nixon, a spokesperson for the coalition told THE STAR.

This latest development may also impact the artistes' involvement in a multimedia advertising campaign being done under Cable and Wireless' bmobile brand.

No comment

Speaking with THE STAR yesterday, Everald Edwards of the corporate communications department at Cable and Wireless said the company has not yet decided if any action will be taken against the artistes with regard to the advertising campaign. He also could not state when the company would make a decision about the issue.

Management for both artistes said they would have to further examine the statements before they make any comment about the issue.

More research needed

"They (Corporate sponsors) did not specify any names, and I need to do a little more research to fully understand, before I comment, because they (the artistes) have apologised profusely and the sponsors know where they are coming from," said Solid Agency's Sharon Burke, the booking agent for Bounty Killer.

"I would not want to make a comment until I have studied it comprehensively. There might be conditions and so any statement at this time would be premature on my part," was the response from Clyde McKenzie, the director of Shocking Vibes Limited, Beenie Man's local label.

He also questioned the Corporate Sponsors' decision for taking this latest stance. "I would also want to know why this stance was taken, because it would seem extreme to say the least," he said.

According to the statement, the sponsors' decision was in keeping with their responsibility to stakeholders to ensure that their marketing reflects their corporate values. The statement also said they had an even larger responsibility to the public to act within socially acceptable standards.

The statement listed three principles to which the companies were committed which include their refusal to sponsor 'acts or events whose live performances endorse or incite violence, demean or discriminate against any person, or include the use of indecent or profane language'.

In light of these principles and standards they found the artistes' behaviour at the Last Hurrah a violation. "The code is based on the principle that a breach against one sponsor is considered a breach against all. In light of this, until further notice the coalition suspends sponsorship of any event or activity, which includes the offending artistes in live performance," the statement said.

The members of the coalition also sponsor several entertainment events which take place throughout the year. They include Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, Supreme Ventures Jamaica Carnival and East Fest which is sponsored by J. Wary and Nephew.

Mood:  cool
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
Luciano impressive at LoJ auditorium
published: Tuesday | March 8, 2005

Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer


Mikey General in performance at the 'First Sundays Unchained' concert, held at Life of Jamaica auditorium, New Kingston on Sunday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

WESTERN BUREAU:

LUCIANO BROUGHT his immense talent to a smaller, indoor venue for a huge cause on Sunday night, as the headliner on 'First Sundays Unchained'.

The Destiny Promotions- produced monthly series, back after a brief break, supports a rehabilitation programme for inmates at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, the South Camp Road Correctional Centre and the Fort Augusta prison.

With the Katalys Krew, which supported all the artistes on the night, in addition to doing some of their own material, in very good form, Luciano was a study in controlled intensity, his voice strong, but not overpowering in the enclosed space. And, with a well-tailored black jacket, 'Jah Army' stitched to the left breast, over a camouflage inner shirt and similar multi-coloured pants tucked into black boots, the singer himself was in good visual form.

DANCING

In a set that began with Give Praise and culminated in Lord Give Me Strength to a decent sized audience, Luciano was a hit with each song, from Dennis Brown's The World Is Troubled, to This One Is For The Leaders, the slower Sweep Over My Soul being especially moving. He interspersed a few Psalms without interrupting the music, called up his sons, Alpha and Negus, to dance on Come Away and, at one point, danced halfway down the aisle between the chairs.

Also, near the end of his extensive, but not overly- extended performance, Luciano went on his knees and prayed on It's Me Again Jah. He literally prayed, asking the almighty to "restore the morality of our country" and saying "only you can save us from and free the sin and degradation of humanity."

The movement of the cordless microphone away and from his mouth to achieve a fade effect was precise, his dancing, at times delicate and at others powerful, and high-stepping as his hair flashed.

Luciano's performance was the carrot in a vegetable stew of music, which included an energetic showing from Jah Messenjah, labelmate Mikey General. He wove Marley's 'One Drop' into his own call on the power of the Most High Jah, the drummer in the Katalys Krew getting the ringing drum beat correct. Miss Taylor Boy and Unseen Blessing were anchored by Fast and Furious, a combination with DJ Radic and the Katalys Krew which, he said, went to number one in Sweden.

General also did Richie Spice's Earth A Run Red to tremendous response.

The earlier segment of 'Unchained' was an interesting blend of Christian and Rastafarian-oriented music, with Katalys' dual lead singers and all-female harmony support vocalist trio being recalled to do Open Your Eyes. This was after a strong showing of gospel music on heavy reggae basslines, with the lead DJ delivering measured lyrics which, among other prayers, asked "pray fi di woman whe sex fi income/Jesus will provide yu no haffi lie dung."

Culture Man called on Jah throughout his performance, during which he sat on the edge of the raised stage as he burnt fire from 42nd Street to meat. Milton Blake informed that People Need Jah to end his set, in which he asked those who can help others to Show Some Love.

Babatunde and St. Matthew started off the night with Freddy Gums adding a poem on the state of music called Verbal Diarrhoea and a song to the mix.

It was not a matter of music and fun only, as Kevin Wallen of Destiny Promotions said that there were about nine people in the audience who had already gone through the rehabilitation programme. "I don't expect to see them on the inside again," he said.

HEINEKEN STARTIME 'Stars, rain and more stars'
Mood:  cool
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
HEINEKEN STARTIME 'Stars, rain and more stars'
Analisa Chapman, Observer writer



HOLT... still able to warm and soothe

There may not have been any stars in the overcast sky above the National Stadium but there were many melodic stars on stage at last Saturday's Heineken Startime, held in the National Stadium's VIP Car Park; and if you missed it, you missed an excellent display of classic Jamaican talent.
Off to a late start, the show's guest disc jockey, Prince Junior, extended the pre-show mix of Jamaican oldies.

MC Don Toppin apologised for the delay and the absence of Leroy Sibbles, who apparently could not get a flight down following his European tour. This announcement met with "Awwws" and later "Yeas" as Toppin added that the replacement act would be Errol Dunkley.

At 9:35 pm Dunkley appeared on stage. "Have no fear, Leroy Sibbles not here, I Errol Dunkley 'Mr Faithful' am here," the veteran singer amusingly chanted. "You may not be a movie star," he crooned as the crowd joined in to Movie Star. Taking his word that "dis tune mek nuff babies", Dunkley went into You're Gonna Need Me, as the crowd's pace increased along with the fall of raindrops. "Whether you black or yu brown, stick around," Dunkley continued before ending his 35-minute set with the well-received Black Cinderella.

As some women (dutifully followed by their men) scurried away seeking cover, Ken Parker walked on stage in a white suit. Parker belted out hits such as True True True and My Whole World Is Falling Down. By this time the downpour was underway and persons were huddled under drink and food tents, promotional banners and any other shelter they could find. Protected from the rain, Parker easily said that "anything that comes from the sky is a blessing as long it's not rocks". No one was quick to share the sentiment, with the exception of 10 or so persons (some without any cover) admirably standing and dancing in the rain. Parker ended his seven-song segment with Choking Kind.

Keith (left) and Tex blended nicely together. (Photos: Karl McLarty)

'Mr Rock Steady' Ken Boothe turned the tide of the evening. "We're gonna walk, we're gonna walk, walk, walk, walk," he chanted as the audience echoed the lyrics of Freedom Street. From then on the musical spirit took life as Boothe jumped and twirled on stage, singing classics such as his 1974 cover of David Gates' Everything I Own and having everyone loving that Lady With The Starlight. It's impossible to recreate the mood of the man who can touch with amusing and sincere lyrics. You just had to be there to feel the vibes from Boothe.

With locks down to his waist, high steps and kicks and calls of "respect" and "give thanks", Johnnie Clarke kept the crowd moving. He started his set off with one of his first hits, Everyday Wondering. Explaining his entry into the music business at the age of 16, Clarke continued with Left With A Broken Heart, and hits like True Believer In Love and the obvious crowd favourite, Move Out of Babylon. During his performance, Clarke graciously allowed one of the deserving 'rain dancers' to hug him closely while she gave him a bit of her own rub-a-dub style. With a stirring mix of 'rasta man vibrations' and love songs, Clarke did not disappoint.

As watches struck midnight, "one thousand volts of Holt" were unleashed. "Love and hate, can never be friends," the well-loved voice called from offstage as Holt walked on singing the Dennis Brown hit. "How yu feeling?" he asked.
Answered by a positive onslaught of screams, the cultural icon continued with A Love I Can Feel and Thief In The Night (Stealing, Stealing). "They will rob and cheat you," Holt sang on and a cheating woman never sounded so good. He followed up with his thoughts of "Sweetie" in Come Brush Me and then Tribal War that had the audience waving their hands and claiming "ah nuh dat we a defend".

"Him cyan stop. Yuh mad," a man vehemently cried out, as Holt exited the stage 15 minutes into his set. Fortunately, audience fears were allayed as Holt gave a memorable encore with Riding For A Fall, Mr Bojangles, Only A Smile, If I Was A Carpenter and so many more. By now the folding chairs had lost all purpose as everyone was on their feet and passionately waved goodbye as Holt exited teasing them with promises of more with a line from Stick By Me. With over 90 albums under his belt, Holt could have sang all night and, along with Boothe, was one of the highlights of the night.
Following an unwelcome but fairly short intermission, the recent addition of 'Keith and Tex' came on stage. The duo gave some good harmonies but received the best response from their cover of the Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Loving Feeling and Stop That Train.

Then it was time for Alton - Mr Ellis, that is. Dressed in a bright pink shirt, the great Ellis shook the Willow Tree and clutched the opposite sex during renditions of Breaking Up and Girl I've Got A Date. With I'm Still In Love With You, Ellis mixed in "nah pop nuh style, ah strictly roots" and after 11 songs was joined by his son Noel, before bowing out.

It was now time for the closer. With his voice springing out from behind his huge glasses, Frankie Paul revitalised Casanova. By this time a few patrons started to make their exit, no doubt from the strains of the long night rather than from Paul's performance. As they exited, they kept on singing along to Paul's take on everything from Christ So Real To Me to Nuh Put It Deh, a 'Double Dutch' rap and Sara; and of course you had to say the "Ow" like Frankie.

A good night overall, Heineken Startime featured great performances, and promoters extended their appreciation to their loyal audience throughout the night. There were a few minor technical glitches but the only real flaw was the ridiculous fact that patrons had to pay more money to park in the Stadium's main parking lot to attend the show.

Behind the fame: Artiste managers
Mood:  cool
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
Behind the fame: Artiste managers
By Germaine Smith, Staff Reporter


Bennett

ARTISTE MANAGEMENT is a complex issue which our music industry players are often bitterly divided over, having varied views of the requirements for the job and the actual day to day duties they are expected to perform.

In earlier dancehall years, the managers were predominantly the gold chain touting, loud-mouthed dons who handled the large chunks of cash that the artistes received for stage shows, dub plates and exclusive specials. They had to wield tremendous influence in the music business to ensure that their artistes were not swindled and that they lived comfortably.

Not much has changed now, but with the increased international splashes our music has made, what has become increasingly obvious is that good management is the key to unlocking the international doors of success.

Good management is like the lubricant inside blazing 300 horsepower engine, the engine being the artiste, who will initially fire without the lubricant, but after time is bound to stop functioning as the pressures of wear and tear increase.

HARD WORK

In The Sunday Gleaner of February 22 last year, deejay Predator said that writing his songs and recording them was hard work, so he needed a manager to take care of everything else in his life, especially when he goes on overseas tours. This ranged from food, to the 'per diem' and hotel bookings, to even co-ordinating shopping and sleep times.

Musician, songwriter and producer Mikey Bennett feels that the qualities a manager should display will vary based on who that manager has to manage in the first place.

"It depends on the artiste," he notes. "At our company (the E-Logic Music Group), our philosophy is that the artiste is the product. We are a management company with studio facilities, so we develop the artist as a whole being, as an entity," Bennett said.

This means that a manager will have to tend to several aspects of the artiste's life.

"As a manager, you want to ensure that a creative environment is always around them, so you have to provive motivation," Bennett continues.

This motivation takes many forms and varies from person to person. Artiste managers have been known to go to great lengths to ensure the comfort of their precious charges. Whether it be buying that new sports cars, moving their families from their former communities and putting them into uptown apartments or making sure their refrigerator stays stocked with food and liquor, it has been done.

In an earlier interview with THE STAR, dancehall group TOK's former manager Richard 'Shams' Brownie stated that before they had cars he used to pack the four-man team into his car and travel from Kingston to rural areas for certain shows, before they were stars.

MOTIVATION

Though some consider some of the perks that managers hand out as 'babying' the artiste, Bennett calls it motivation and sees it as necessary if the manager beieves in the talent of the artiste. He considers it an investment, which should yield fruit in the future.

"Its not babying; people need motivation. Some need it for one day, some for one week. Some need a drink, some a spliff, whatever. Whatever allows them to focus on the creative side of the business, the manager is to facilitate this... It is an investment which you believe in, but you know you have to recoup later on."

He lists the qualities that should allow the manager to facilitate the flow of the creative juices from the artiste. "That person has to be intelligent and organised, because on the road is disorganised. He has to command respect from the public and from the artist he manages. He has to be flexible, have integrity and have the ability to think quickly on his feet to find solutions fast. His job is to take the pressure off the artiste, to maintain the atmosphere on the road to let them remain creative."

Bennett's descriptions are backed up by his musical colleague, Desmond Young, the president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM). Young feels that in Jamaica's situation, a manager has to be almost everything, just to ensure that the artistes remain creative.

"It is the manager's responsibility to know the artiste first," he argues. "Know what they need, whether it be an image change, food, a different environment to live in, anything that may distract them from the music, remove it. Anything it takes to bring out the best in the artiste, he (the manager) must create the atmosphere to get the artiste working creatively. He is a planner, organiser, a strategist in this regard."

PEOPLE SKILLS

Added to this, Young feels that with Jamaica's music situation, a good manager simply needs to have people skills.

"The music business is wide and every day somebody new is getting into it," he argues. "You need someone with the skills to go out and meet people to find the centre of the business and go there. He has to know that in the industry he needs to develop a good reputation, because when you stick by your word people know you positively for that. You need this good reputation, becasue word spreads about you in the business fast," he said.

When comparing the state of the Jamaican music business to say 20 to 30 years ago, much has changed both in the corporate attention and support given to the music and the way in which managers have handled themselves. Both men agree with the changes and give a positive outlook for the music for 2005 and beyond.

"Fifteen years ago it was very different, but the only way forward now for companies is proper management and based on what I see happening, it looks good in the long term," Bennett concludes.

POWER OF OUR POPULAR CULTURE

According to Young, "we are doing well compared to say 20 to 30 years ago. This image of the big chain man who used to be the artiste manager was part of our musical story. In the early days, certain sectors of the society did not believe in the power of our popular culture. These men were the ones who had the courage to put on live shows for the people. They gave a lot of youths the chance to achieve their dreams."

"Now, more middle class youths are getting into the business. They used to do it before, but more are into it, so a different level of communication has to be there for the artistes to believe that this manager can help them. There must be a natural trust which exists. With the courses available now coming from HEART, where I act as a consultant, though I have not seen the people who do these courses, it is designed to bring the best out. The business is therefore getting better personnel, so I see that it can only get better," Young said.

Black History at Poetry Society
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
Black History at Poetry Society
Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER -


Mbala

THE POETRY Society of Jamaica was in its regular home, the amphitheatre at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, last Tuesday for its regular meeting. But the fellowship departed from its regular routine by presenting poems from a series of their members, in tribute to Black History Month, rather than having a main poet.

However, before they took to the stage, the open microphone segment took place, beginning with a poet who named himself Billy the Seaweed with Radical Poetry trilogy, which if nothing else provided an energetic, engaging performance.

Sage provided the first hard-hitting piece of the night with One Black Family, which is a tribute to Haiti. Kashka Hemans, with Hasta Siempre, and Nesta Andrews, with Crimson River, continued the poetic intensity.

It was Kurumakka, however, who seemed intent on shredding the house with his extensive rhythmic exploration of how Satan is ruining the world by creating sexual confusion. He had the audience laughing uproariously.

AMERICAN POLITICS AND CULTURE

The segment ended with two poems that tore into American politics and culture. The first came from Abebeh who slew American politics with intense word deconstruction, fuelled by Jamaican folk knowledge as he wove a line from the statue of liberty to the war in Iraq, arguing that declaring war on a country to give them democracy does not leave the country with much choice in the matter.

The final poet in the open microphone segment, who named himself Josh, carried on that baton with Reaction, a poem which borrowed from Saul William's Blood Letting.

That main event began with Tomlin Ellis, who read a poem written by a workshop of Poets in Unity, the forerunner to the Poetry Society. Ellis was followed by A-dziko Simba and Mbala on a series of instruments. Though he wore a brilliantly new djembe around his waist, Mbala made several trips to his bag of instruments, as he did not play the new drum while accompanying her. As a result, Simba jokingly requested that the new acquisition be given applause.

MEMORIES OF SLAVERY

Delivering three poems Simba moved from memories of slavery to the need for internal revolutions and finally the rhythm of freedom. Her performance displayed her ability to deliver politically cutting words, and yet sound soothing in part because of how she breathes the words into life.

The night also featured poetry from Melville Cooke read by his wife Wendy McClean. She began with Black History, which argues that by focusing on issues of slavery and freedom, therefore ignoring what happened before and after, Black History Month relegates black history suffering and struggle. Real U.S.A, where U.S.A means United States of Africa followed, while One Love which puts black love above the loving everybody concept ended her reading.

The night ended with the return of Mbala. This time he recalled A-dziko, then additional reinforcement in the guise of dancers and 'players of instruments'. That call meant that they could rummage through Mbala's overflowing bag of instruments. With joy, they readily did so, though it was clear that most had not the first clue about how to play their instrument of choice, with perhaps the exception of the shakers.

'BLACKOUT' FOR SOME
Mood:  cool
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
'BLACKOUT' FOR SOME
By TEINO EVANS, Staff Reporter

"Wi nuh want nuh chi-chi man inna di dance."

THE SELECTOR AT the Mas Camp Village had to 'wheel and pull up' the song with that particular tune at least eight times on Friday night, at the Bacchanal Jamaica's 'Blackout', as some angry patrons became annoyed with a few guys who were giving the females hot competition in gyrating their posterior and 'wining' on their head tops.

"Yow selecta, play back dah tune deh again," one patron shouted. Eventually after a bit of confrontation the labelled men were escorted to the exit. A total blackout it was for them.

Following this the party continued with its usual vibes and excitement with the Renaissance and Sparkles Disco, 'flipping' tracks from their collections and giving the night a bonus with a touch of dancehall flavour.

Sparkles dropped some of the soca favourites such as Why Don't You, Insane, Turn Me On, Tempted To Touch, She Bumpa Catch A Fire, and the females got down low, while the males were in hot pursuit.

Renaissance also had their turn on the turntables, and when they took over in the early morning hours (around 1:15 a.m), patrons could not hold back.

In the midst of playing Rupee's Tempted To Touch the selectors mixed in a taste of dancehall flavour with a few seconds of Beenie Man's King of the Dancehall.

A huge response in the form of shouts and screams followed and the selectors proceeded to play a song recorded by the late Bogle, Weh Dem Did Deh on a soca rhythm.

This mix had some persons in the audience running from left to right, while others gave their own versions of dances to go along with the song.

When the Drop Leaf rhythm exited from the speakers it took the event to an even higher level of excitement.

The brief dancehall segment was enough to wet the appetite before the selectors turned the controls back over to the Sparkles Disco to round up the night with some more soca songs.

Buju Banton goes to trial
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
Buju Banton goes to trial

POPULAR DEEJAY MARK Myrie better known as Buju Banton will get a chance to tell his side of the story when he goes to trial on February 12.

Myrie is charged with possession of ganja following an incident in December last year when the police raided premises belonging to the deejay and found five fully grown ganja plants.

When the matter came up in court, Myrie's attorney questioned the original version of the story which said that more than 30 plants were found at the deejay's home. However, Clerk of Courts Hansurd Lawson said the police statement said five plants and added that the court intended to try Myrie based on the statements on that were on the files.

Myrie, who was given a chance to express himself, asked Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey for justice. He argued that newspaper clippings which he had collected said 34 plants had been found on his premises. However, he disputed that version of the story and the allegations that the plants had been found on his property.

As a result of these arguments, RM Judith Pusey set the matter for trial.

Allegations are that in December last year, the police were carrying out a raid in the Upper St. Andrew area when they entered Myrie's premises.

During a search they removed five fully grown marijuana plants and Myrie was arrested and charged.

'Come Alive' - theme for Supreme Ventures Jamaica Carnival 2005
Mood:  cool
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
'Come Alive' - theme for Supreme Ventures Jamaica Carnival 2005
Nykhana Chambers, Observer writer
Friday, February 04, 2005


George. Carnival is more than just a party for us

"Good rhythms of soca will be flowing again this year," was how master of ceremonies Donovan White described the vibes for the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Carnival 2005 at the recent press launch. This year's staging of Jamaica Carnival will be the 16th and will be conducted under the theme 'Come Alive'.

This is the second year of Supreme Ventures' three-year sponsorship of Jamaica Carnival and there are indications that their commitment is as solid as ever. Brian George, president and CEO of Supreme Ventures speaking at the launch said: "Carnival is more than just a party for us and Supreme Ventures sees itself as more than just a lottery company. This collaboration between Supreme Ventures and Jamaica Carnival was such an unqualified success last year that Supreme Ventures is proud of the value that it brings to the economic development of Jamaica."

Mr Carnival himself Byron Lee supported the developments in Jamaica Carnival and honoured his 'dear friend and schoolmate,' Ken Hing, head of security, who is retiring from the Jamaica Carnival family this year.

"In the 16th year of Carnival, I am proud to have been associated with the event. It has not only been pleasurable, but for thousands of people local and abroad every year, Carnival has provided huge economic benefits. We have assembled a young, vibrant, experienced and hard-working team, which was highly selected, and you will see them at work," Lee said.

He thanked many of those who inspired him to invest in Jamaica Carnival, including Carole Guntley-Brady, who pleaded years ago "Byron, you must have Carnival and Kiddies Carnival!" Last year, according to police reports 110, 000 people showed up to enjoy themselves in the National Stadium Car Park. "People in wheelchairs, babies in prams, many visitors, and not one unpleasant incident - that says a lot," Lee remarked.




These models show off some of the costumes for this year's Jamaica Carnival.

Julian Lee-Samuels, organiser for the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Carnival 2005, stated that 2005 will be "bigger and better than last year's version and will be taken into more nooks and crannies of Jamaica, with more events in Kingston and the rural areas." She indicated that there will be a street dance, a retro-socalypso night, as well as a series of Wild Spiritz events hosted by Dark Entertainment.

The ACA (Affordable Carnival Attire) from last year will undergo a makeover with a combination of 'pretty mass' and t-shirt style. The ACA road parade marshalls will also be wearing the newly revamped ACAs.

Other sponsors of Jamaica Carnival include Cable and Wireless bMobile, Appleton Jamaican Rum, CVM Group, Burger King, Red Stripe, and TruJuice.

We're still ALIVE
Mood:  cool
Topic: Jamaica, Jamaica
We're still ALIVE
published: Tuesday | February 1, 2005

By Germaine Smith, Staff Reporter



Beenie Man (left)


THE RUMOUR mill seems to be working overtime and with extra speed since Bogle's murder.

Since the January 20 killing, at least four nasty rumours have surfaced on the streets that both Beenie Man and John Hype were shot, despite being in hiding. According to one story, Beenie Man was shot and killed just last week, while another story said that John Hype was shot and injured, and yet another report said that Beenie Man was shot last week while in England.

John Hype ===>(right)

DOING FINE

However, both Beenie Man and John Hype were doing fine up to yesterday when they spoke with The Gleaner.

"I have heard the rumours, but I nuh pay them no mind so far. Right now all I do is pray every day to the Almighty and get closer with the music," Beenie said.

The deejay went on to criticise the public for thriving off negativity, hence the speed at which the rumours have spread. The Gleaner newsroom was flooded with calls up to yesterday with reports that the deejay had been killed.

"Rumours come from everywhere, and some people just like to hear negative things and dwell pon negative. Them just need fi understand seh people have feelings, and them feel hurt too," Beenie said

The deejay said he was doing well under the circumstances. "Mi all right. Right now mi just a take it one day at a time."

His manager, Patrick Roberts, said that they were cautiously watching as the police investigations continue.

The Half-Way Tree police last week held a suspect in connection with Bogle's murder. Reports are that they also recovered the motor-bike that is alleged to have been used by his killers. The dancer was shot dead on Thursday morning, January 20, at a service station along Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew.

Hours later, in an incident believed to be a reprisal to his killing, the house of dancer John 'John Hype' Prendergast, was bombed and later destroyed by fire. Since then, there have been rumours pointing blame at both John Hype and Beenie Man for Bogle's death. Both men have gone into hiding since they say they have received several death threats.

DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE

Beenie Man has long proclaimed his innocence of the crime, and has constantly denied having knowledge of it. To date, he has posted a $1,000,000 reward for the capture and conviction of Bogle's killer or killers.

Reacting to the news that the police have held a suspect, Beenie told The Gleaner that all of Jamaica will soon see that both he and John Hype were not connected to the shooting.

"I don't know how the case is going on so far, but me and John Hype are not suspects, and the police investigation a go show it. I just a pray everyday.

"I have drawn myself even more into the music and the Almighty, because that's all I have right now ... We just taking it one day at a time," said Bennie Man.