Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter Jamaica spent almost $3 billion dollars last year to import some 70 million pounds of chicken back from the United States, as many Jamaicans continue to depend on this cheap meat for the protein in their diets. In 2012, $2.5 billion was spent importing chicken back while $2.3 billion was spent in 2011, pushing up the country’s already high import bill despite the 1... »
Mariah Carey has been confirmed as headline act for the 19th staging of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival, set for Januray 29-31 at Trelawny Stadium near Falmouth. This will mark Mariah’s first time performing in the Caribbean. Festival producer Walter Elmore noted that “welcoming Mariah Carey to Jamaica’s shores is truly exciting!” The Jazz and Blues Festival is the first festival i... »
An Austrian national was arrested at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, St James on Wednesday after a firearm and other illegal weapons were allegedly found in one of his suitcases. He has been identified as 47-year-old business consultant Thomas Roessler. The Corporate Communications Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force says Roessler has been charged with illegal possession of ... »
DETECTIVES probing Wednesday’s brazen daylight murder of a man on the outskirts of New Kingston say they have received new information suggesting that the victim — Collin Mann — was a lieutenant of former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. Mann, also called ‘Gummy Bear’, was last year slapped with shooting and gun-related charges stemming from allegations th... »
TELECOMS company LIME signed dancehall artiste Konshens and former Miss Jamaica World (2006) Sara Lawrence as its newest brand ambassadors at Ribbiz at Barbican Centre in St Andrew, yesterday. Carlo Redwood, LIME’s vice-president of marketing, said signing was a “no-brainer”. “Konshens is popular with Jamaicans. He loves Jamaica and he’s very passionate about music an... »
Suge Knight and Katt Williams found themselves behind bars for allegedly snatching a female paparazzo camera. According to TMZ, the incident went down on September 5 outside a studio in Beverly Hills. The female photographer filed a police report. Suge Knight was picked up by cops in Las Vegas, while Katt Williams was arrested on Wednesday morning when he showed up in court for an assault case. Th... »
Barbara Gayle and Jerome Reynolds Gleaner Writers Former Miss Jamaica Universe and media personality, Yendi Phillipps, has filed for full custody of her child with dancehall entertainer, Chino, whose real name is Daniel McGregor. The application was filed in the Supreme Court this week by the law firm Nelson-Brown, Guy and Francis. Phillipps is asking the court to grant her custody, care and contr... »
BY KARENA BENNETT Business reporter Red Stripe to build $90-m cassava processing plant by January LOCAL brewing company Red Stripe will be establishing its US$800,000 ($90.4 million) starch processing plant by January 2015. The facility will allow Red Stripe to make its flagship beer with at least five per cent cassava by next March. Ultimately, the local brewer wants to replace 20 per cent of its... »
Popcaan new album Where We Come From has been available since June but the dancehall deejay held an official album launch party last week in Kingston at the Triple Century Sports Bar & Grill. Lot’s of dancehall celebrities came out to support the former Portmore Empire deejay including Beenie Man, Sizzla Kalonji, Aidonia, Lady Saw, and his former nemesis Black Ryno. Popcaan gave a well receive... »
Dancehall deejay Kalado has been detained in the United States. According to reports, the “Personally” deejay was detained by immigration on October 18 following his arrival at the Boston airport. Up to the time of this publication Kalado was still behind bars. But it is still unclear why the deejay was detained and for how long he will be. The deejay’s rep told us that he has secured the services... »
The Barnett Street Police in St. James are warning members of the public, not to purchase or sell ackees that are unfit for consumption. The warning follows a case involving the sale of unopened ackees,on Tuesday. Pauline Powell,45, of Evergreen, Manchester, was charged under the Agricultural Produce and the Unlawful Possession of Property Acts. About 1:30 on Tuesday the police were on patrol,... »
Dr Henry Lowe KINGSTON, Jamaica –Medicanja Limited, Jamaica’s first medicinal marijuana company, will unveil its line of products and services at the Eden Gardens Resort and Spa in Kingston, tomorrow (October 29). Medicanja’s Founder and CEO, Dr Henry Lowe says that the company, which was launched in December, 2013, will be showcasing its ready for market medicinal cannabis (ganja) product... »
Kanye West could have banked $4.5 million in just over a week if he had inked a deal to perform in Las Vegas. The G.O.O.D. Music rapper was reportedly approached by Planet Hollywood to perform in Las Vegas for 9 days where he would be paid $500,000 per night. The deal would make Kanye West the highest performer on the Vegas strip, but the College Dropout rapper turned down the deal according to TM... »
Sydia Rose, a Jamaican-born nurse, who was among medical personnel who treated the first Ebola case in the U.S has recounted her experience and is still self-monitoring for symptoms. In an interview aired last night on ‘CBS 60-minutes,’ Sydia Rose spoke about going to great lengths in trying to keep Thomas Eric Duncan alive. He was taken to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for tr... »
Shaggy, the Jamaican reggae and dancehall superstar, has received one nomination for the 2014 Soul Train Awards. CENTRIC announced the list of nominations for the Soul Train Awards on Monday, with Chris Brown and Beyonce receiving the most nominations. Shaggy was nominated for Best International Performance, for his collaborative single “You Girl” with Ne-Yo. Shaggy noted that it was always a grea... »
Curtis Campbelll, Gleaner Writer Producer Markus Myrie (Buju Banton son) Following Forbes Magazine‘s recent announcement that no recording artiste, across all genres, has sold a million albums since the start of the year, members of the entertainment industry have shared their contingency plans for surviving in the broader market. Artiste manager Carlington Wilmot says reggae and dancehall m... »
JAMAICAN radio disc jock ZJ Wah Wa pleaded guilty to telemarketing fraud at a hearing in the Federal District Court in Bismarck, North Dakota, yesterday. ZJ Wah Wa, given name Deon-ville O’Hara, is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. “Mr O’Hara entered a guilty plea, pursuant to the terms of a written plea agreement,&... »
AN Antiguan church minister is calling on authorities to put a ban on dancehall artiste Alkaline, who is scheduled to perform in that country on Saturday. According to the Antiguan Observer, Bishop Charlesworth Browne, head of Christian Ministries Church, said the artiste “will bring decadence and death” to the nation. The religious leader said he is prepared to call for a boycott of t... »
Christopher Martin is downplaying reports that he risk contracting Ebola when he recent travel to Africa. But Martin is letting his fans know that he does not have the deadly disease and not only has the 21 days period has passed but he was nowhere near the Ebola hot zone on the African continent. Christopher Martin stars in the hot new Jamaican movie Destiny. Other dancehall artists in the film a... »
In the words of the great revolutionary and philanthropist Nelson Manley, “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” And that’s the type of noble mindset that has inspired Dancehall artiste Sheldon Lawrence better known as Aidonia to launch a new initiative geared towards educating youth... »
A doctor who recently returned to New York from West Africa and was rushed to hospital with a fever on Thursday has tested positive for Ebola, health officials in the US have said. His girlfriend has reportedly been quarantined. »
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Trinidad Express) — Another Trinidadian has been unmasked fighting in Syria for the militant movement Islamic State (ISIS). The man, according to well-placed sources, has been identified as Ashmead Mohammed, who had sworn his innocence during the 2011 state of emergency when he was detained over an alleged plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and other government ministe... »
Beenie Man and Lady Saw sat down for a live TV interview for the first time in their careers. The dancehall king and queen has been releasing hit singles from the early 1990s and is showing no signs of slowing down. Lady Saw opened up about her upcoming album, due on November 18. She said the album will feature guest appearances from Estelle, Flow Rida, UB40 and Beres Hammond. Beenie Man says he h... »
