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The Hollywood glitterati descended upon Montego Bay in full force for the event. The celebrity attendance included “Law and Order’s,” Anthony Anderson; the host of Bravo’s reality series “Make me a Supermodel,” Tyson Beckford; the stunning and talented Elise Neal formerly of the UPN hit series “All of Us”; music impresario Bryce Wilson; the beautiful face of Sean John Women, Lauren London; Malika Haqq of “ATL”; movie producer Robin Thede; Constance White, fashion writer and Executive Fashion Director at EBay; as well as Freddie Leiba, of In Style Magazine and celebrity stylist.Jamaica’s own celebrities were also in abundance, from reggae female sensation Tanya Stephens and reggae rock group Rootz Underground to neo soul artiste, Cezar. The music for the evening was provided by DJ Bambino out of Miami.

This invitation-only fashion event was abuzz with an A- list crowd whose style appetites were fed with designs from the fashion world’s top designers showcasing their key looks, from Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Jean Paul Gaultier, Etro, Roberto Cavalli, Alberta Ferretti, Catherine Malandrino, FENDI, Rosa Cha, Angel Sanchez, Tricia Fix, Zang Toi, and Apple Bottoms to Jamaica’s own, SIIM and AndeSew with sandals by Bridget Sandals and jewelry featured by Miami design company Citrine by the Stones.

An evening of glamour and glitz was celebrated, as high fashion intersected the tropical Caribbean catwalk. The show got off to an impeccable start with the crowd’s utter gaze on the models as they gracefully sashayed the catwalk of the Cornwall Room at Half Moon Hotel. The musical acoustics blissfully bounced off the walls as the vibrations of fashion and style filled the air.

As the event came to a close and the models paraded the runway for the finale, the crowd was treated to its final bit of eye candy for the evening as “VROOM VROOM” blared over the loud speakers and suddenly the BMW backdrop curtain was dropped which revealed a shiny white 2009 BMW X6 which then proceeded to make its entrance on the runway. In luxury fashion, the sports activity vehicle sparkled as it was driven down the runway by the owners of BMW Motors of Jamaica. The models then posed and flanked the car as the paparazzi lights were flashing and the crowd went wild in amazement: the new 2009 BMW X6 made her official debut! What more could the Caribbean purveyors of fashion and style ask for, but luxury at your fingertips?
Ocean Style Magazine and KerryManWomanHome joined forces with an impressive list of partners including Half Moon Hotel, BMW, RBTT Securities, Jamaica Trade and Invest and Air Jamaica to help bring a formidable fashion event to a discerning Jamaican audience, to whom high fashion and style are the rule rather than exception.

Ocean Style Magazine is the premiere glossy fashion and lifestyle magazine in the Caribbean, with covers graced by the likes of Halle Berry, Jamaica’s own Nadine Willis, R&B sensation Mya, Rihanna and most recently pop icon, Mariah Carey. Ocean Style has been defined as the ‘Vogue of the Caribbean’ with its avant-garde approach to high fashion, with fashion feature backdrops in Havana, Cuba and the Platinum coast of Barbados to extravagant destinations peppered all throughout the Caribbean. Ocean Style has partnered with superb stylists and photographers to bring out the intricate details in designers such as Philosophy Alberta Feretti and Jean Paul Gaultier to fill its fashion pages with the very best in high-end fashion. For more, please visit: www.oceanstylemagazine.com

KerryManWomanHome is a high-end lifestyle boutique which carries all the necessary accoutrements for the modern individual living in a tropical paradise setting, from contemporary and designer clothing/jewelry to handmade eco-friendly home furnishings. This fascinating lifestyle boutique is located in Kingston, Jamaica; and a new location recently opened last year at the exclusive Half Moon Shopping Village in Montego Bay. For more, please visit Kerry in Kingston at 18 South Avenue phone: 876.929.2096 or Half Moon Shopping Village in Montego Bay phone: 876.953.3779.

The Half Moon Hotel is quite frankly, one of the true rare gems in a handful of prestigious resorts that graciously dot the beaches of the Caribbean. For over fifty years, this luxurious resort has exceeded guests’ expectations time and time again with all the amenities of unimaginable opulence. From its championship golf course to its decadent 68,000 square foot spa, this impeccable resort truly served as an exemplary backdrop to this elegant fashion affair. For more, please visit: www.halfmoon.com

Fantastic!

That’s the only word to describe Saturday evening’s much-anticipated Chris Brown concert.

Thousands of enthusiastic young fans braved the inclement weather to take in the many moves and sounds of the dynamic Grammy-award-winning artiste.

The event, staged at Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, opened at 6.30 with a riveting performance by soca star Machel Montano.

But the evening really belonged to headline act, 19-year-old R&B sensation Chris Brown, who took to the stage at approximately 8:15, decked in a black t-shirt, black pants, and matching shoes and hat.

He was greeted with screams of delight which never really stopped until the end of his spectacular performance.

Opening with his chart-topping “Wall To Wall”, Brown followed with other hits, including “Gimme That,” “Kiss Kiss”, “No Air,” “With You,” the Billboard Hot 100 No 1 debut single “Run it,” as well as his top ten singles “Yo (Excuse Me, Miss)” and “Say Goodbye.”

The fans—cameras in hand—rushed to the front of the stage. Some even sat on top of the railings, hoping to get photos and a better look at the handsome superstar.

Their efforts were rewarded as Brown brought eight eager and willing young women on stage to dance to “Ah Home” by soca artiste D Boss (Iwer George).

The audience lapped up every bit of his energetic performance, especially when he gave a seductive “wine” to Mad Cobra’s “Flex,” which showed he was well in touch with his Trini side.

He also sang some popular reggae hits, such as Tony Matterhorn’s “Dutty Wine” and Vegas’ “Hot Wuk.”

Squeals of delight erupted when he took off his shirt to show off toned abs while performing his smash “Take You Down.”

“Trinidad has the most beautiful women I have ever seen. One of my back-up dancers is a Trinidadian and she’s beautiful,” he told the audience, which greeted the remark with approving screams.

He brought the house down with his hit single “Poppin,” after which he left the stage at 9:40, well before the scheduled end of the concert at 10 pm, leaving his fans calling for more.

In an interview with the T&T Guardian afterwards, Brown said:

“Trinidad is really cool. I have a lot of friends from the Caribbean, like St Lucia and Barbados. I grew up on Jamaican music, because I used to live in Harlem.”

Brown was also asked what he liked best about Trinidad.

“I really like the weather and the food. I had a Hot Shop goat roti which was very good.”

Brown was asked about his much-talked-about romantic relationship with Barbados-born songstress Rihanna.

“I’m going to do another song on her album. It’s going to be hot,” was all he would say on that subject.

Earlier in the evening, Montano satisfied the near-capacity crowd with some of his biggest hits, including “Jumbie,” “Congo Man,” “Wining Criminal” and “Blazing the Trail”.

It was, indeed, a Carnival atmosphere when Soca artistes Zan, Patrice Roberts and Shal Marshall joined him on stage.

The audience got more than they bargained for when new reggae sensation, Positive, accompanied Machel on stage to perform his hit single, “Never Let Go.”

Interviewed after his stint on stage, Montano said:

“My performance was tight. I enjoyed it. We are experiencing a younger new audience who are now getting the chance to really go out and express themselves.”

Source: Trinidad Gaurdian

	David Thompson took over from Owen Arthur as Barbados has responsibility for the single market under Caricom’s quasi-cabinet system

Appeal for Caricom commitment

The Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson, has urged Caricom nations not to run away from their obligations under the single trading market.

He did so despite speaking of his own reservations about some provisions of the single market.

Mr Thompson will join other Caricom heads of government in Antigua this week amid signs of growing pessimism over the future of regional integration.

Her said he wanted countries to recommit to implementing the single market as soon as possible.

Mr Thompson holds lead responsibility in Caricom for the Single Market and Economy.

Curacao loses control over finances

The opposition in Curacao have protested a measure that would give the Netherlands control over island finances after more than 50 years of autonomy.

Legislators narrowly backed a measure giving Dutch officials final say over Curacao’s annual budget to help slash its US$2.5 billion debt.

The Netherlands promised to pay 80 percent of those obligations, although a Dutch council must still approve.

Humphrey Senior of the opposition MAN party said the action was tantamount to recolonisation.

He said the island’s parliament had been effectively silenced over Curacao’s finances.
Curacao is one of five islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles.

Opposition ‘doubts’ over massacre inquiry

The leader of Guyana’s main opposition party has said he is not optimistic that there will be an independent commission of inquiry into the killing on eight gold miners.

The burnt remains were discovered on June 28 last at their camp at Lindo Creek deep in Guyana’s interior.

Both Mr Corbin’s Peoples National Congress and the smaller Alliance for Change party have called for a commission of inquiry.

But President Bharrat Jagdeo has said he would await the findings of a pathologist from the United States before making a final decision.

Diplomat gives Venezuela drug assessment

A United States diplomat says the quantity of drugs being transported through Venezuela has increased by ten times in the past few years — from an average of 20 to 30 tonnes to nearly 300 tonnes.

The US ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, said the problem could only be controlled through greater bilateral and regional co-operation.

The United States has carried out very limited anti-drug operations with Venezuela, since the government of President Chavez accused American narcotics officers of being spies in 2006.

	Guyana’s Bharrat Jagdeo says he’ll only sign the EPA “under duress”.

Guyana’s President, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said his country may have to be pushed into signing the Economic Partnership Agreement the region has negotiated with the European Union.

He said Guyana will only sign the agreement if the EU moves to impose tariffs on Guyanese exports.

The issue has divided opinion across the region with those for and against the EPA holding strong views on whether or not the Caribbean countries should finalise the signing.

Caribbean countries ‘initialled’ the EPA at the end of last year, under pressure of time it was stated.

They were facing a year-end deadline set by the World Trade Organisation which had earlier ruled against the then preferential trade access to the EU Markey enjoyed by African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.

The WTO had said that it violated free trade rules.

According to President Jagdeo, Guyana’s refusal to sign the EPA is based on legal opinions from experts including University of Cambridge International Law professor, Dr Lorand Bartels.

We may have to sign … under duress Guyana’s president Bharrat jagdeo

Dr Bartels has advised that African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries are not obliged under treaty law or World Trade Organisation rules to sign any interim or full EPA that they have initialled.

He said that an initialled text is sufficient for WTO negotiation.

The formal signing is scheduled for July 23.

President Jagdeo said he intends putting the legal advice given by Professor Bartels to the test.

For and against the EPA

Caribbean countries initialled the EPA last December to avoid the threat of Europe imposing higher tariffs on exports from the region.

“I would have to weigh at that time whether our exports can withstand the tariffs.”

But he is not optimistic: “Frankly speaking I doubt that,” he declared.

“So we may have to sign the agreement,” he concedes.

However President Jagdeo is adamant that if it comes to that it would be against their wishes.

“It would be under duress”, he said.

President Jagdeo added: “It would be another instance of the European Union using its trade might and economic might bullying a developing country into an agreement … because it suits their interests.”

He has had backing in his reservations from a former head of the Caricom Regional Negotiating Machinery(RNM).

The debate heats up

Sir Shridath Ramphal told BBC Caribbean, that regional leaders would be making a mistake if they go ahead and complete the signing of the EPA.

But a current senior RNM official disagrees.

The EPA has substantial built-in protections… Henry Gill, RNM

Henry Gill, Senior Director with the RNM, says the EPA has substantial built-in protections for sensitive sectors.

He said this means that means they will not be subjected to the free trade provisions of the agreement.

The RNM led the Caribbean’s talks with the EU on the EPA.

Among those governments welcoming the EPA, Barbados and Jamaica have been the most vocal.

On the nother hand, the Caribbean Congress of Labour warned a few days ago that jobs and industries could be lost to cheaper European imports.

The CCL wants the EPA reviewed and renegotiated.

One of the main opponents of the EPA has been University of the West Indies Professor Norman Girvan.

He has told BBC Caribbean that if it signed in its present form, the EPA will, at best, be a “very fragile” arrangement.

T&T’s Road March queen Faye Ann and International Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin as well as Iwer George and Alison Hinds are just some of the acts set to thrill Caribbean music fans at the annual D.C. Caribbean carnival, set for the international marketplace at Banneker Park, “De Savannah,’ on June 28th and 29th.

Some of the Caribbean hottest soca stars are set to take the temperature up a lot higher this weekend in Washington, D.C. The annual carnival parade will take over the streets of D.C. on Saturday, June 28, 2008, along Georgia Avenue from Missouri Avenue to Barry Place from noon until 7 p.m.

Thousands are expected to turn out for the annual event that will also feature a number of bands taking over the city.

Source: Island Events

This debut production by Buju Banton features a talented array of performers. Buju is featured on two tracks, Cowboys and Curfew.

Other featured artistes include George Nooks, Pinchers, Luton Fyah, Yami Bolo, Ghost, Jah Cure, Tony Curtis and Terror Fabulous.

The artwork and design of the CD cover is quite simplistic and belies the true substance of the compilation, which features popular rhythms remixed with fresh lyrics and strong vocals.

Missing from the presentation are liner notes as well as a reference to the titles of songs which popularised the rhythms.

Buju’s Cowboys and Curfew, featuring New Kidz, are done to the same rhythm and are a testament to Buju’s extraordinary talent. On Cowboys, Buju appeals to juveniles and political supporters to stop the “war and strife” and put down their guns.

The lyrics, while not always in sync with the rhythm, have a catchy refrain in “long gun put e dung, short gun put e dung”.

Strong vocals in curfew

Curfew is quite topical and has the markings of a hit, as Buju’s strong vocals fit snugly on the rhythm to good effect. This rhythm came to prominence in the 80s with a song done by veteran singer Tony Tuff.

George Nooks’ cover of Police and Thieves, made popular by Junior Murvin, is refreshing and adds new life to an old standard.

Pinchers, in his inimitable style, is featured on Punk Me Out, done on yet another very popular rhythm with horn riffs throughout. Yami Bolo is featured on the fourth track, End Of The Day,whereas Ghost does a love ballad, Lonely Night, the fifth track.

Jah Cure acquits himself well, serenading his baby on track 6, January Morning.

Tony Curtis’ Goodbye To Love adds a sentimental flavour to the compilation.

Means To Survive, which features Lutan Fyah, counteracts all persecution and Terror Fabulous closes the presentation with Ready Rock.

Jam Rock Classics Volume 1 will appeal to a wide cross-section of music lovers because of its mix of popular rhythms, strong lyrics and the vocal ability of some new and not so new stars.

The CD, produced by Mark ‘Buju Banton’ Myrie is of excellent technical quality and is expected go far.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

OAS has immigration concerns
The Organisation of American States has voted to send a delegation to the European Parliament to express its concern over the controversial immigration rules it approved last week.

The rules, which would allow illegal immigrants to be detained for up to 18 months before being expelled, would affect millions of Latin American and Caribbean immigrants living in the EU.

The ambassador of Belize, Nestor Mendez, who addressed the OAS session on behalf of Caricom, expressed the regional bloc’s concerns.

Mother uses son’s death to change law

President Bush has signed into law a bill named after a Trinidad and Tobago born US soldier.

Army Specialist Kendell Frederick lost his life while trying to become a citizen of the country he was fighting for.

Kendell Frederick who moved to the United States nine years ago, was killed in Iraq in October 2005 when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb.

He was only in the convoy because he had to go to another base to get a duplicate set of fingerprints made for his US citizenship application.

After three years of work by his mother and two House Democrats, Mr Bush signed the Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act, which is meant to ease the citizenship process for members of the military.

The late soldier’s mother, Michelle Murphy, hopes the law will make sure no other soldier dies the way her son did.

Caribbean hits out at whaling decision

The International Whaling Commission, meeting in Chile, has rejected the attempt by the indigenous people of Greenland to include humpbacks in their annual whaling quota.

The Inuits of Greenland are already permitted to hunt more than 200 whales of other species each year.

The IWC felt the existing quota satisfied the Inuit’s nutritional and cultural needs and denied their request for an expansion.

But Daven Joseph, a delegate of pro-whaling Antigua and Barbuda, criticised the vote at a time of a world food crisis.

He accused the ‘no’ camp of voting on emotional and political grounds, taking a “colonial posture” and of using food as a weapon.

EU focuses on dependencies

The European Commission has launched a debate within the EU on future relations with European overseas territories and dependencies.

The Commission says it intends to propose a new partnership that takes better account of the special characteristics and present economic situation in the 21 islands, including the British, French and Dutch territories in the Caribbean.

Louis Michel, the Development Commissioner, called the islands a real asset for Europe.

Boeing signs agreement with Caribbean Airlines

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing says it has signed a materials management agreement with the Trinidad and Tobago carrier, Caribbean Airlines.

A release from Boeing said it will manage the carrier’s spare parts and components inventory.

The company says it guarantees that Caribbean will have working replacements for failed parts within 24 hours without having to stock up on spares or pay long-term holding costs.

Boeing claims the programme can help airlines save as much as 30 percent on inventory, repair and administrative costs.

She leaves the island today for the Turks & Caicos Islands, where she will perform on Friday, and then it’s off to Europe for a month-long tour to promote the European release of her album.

“This will primarily be a promotional tour where the aim is to get my name and my music out there in a bigger way. Once this is achieved, then we can demand full payment the next time around. This is really just a foundation-setting tour that all artistes who are serious about progress have to go through,” she explained.

While in Europe, Ce’cile will perform at the major reggae festivals on that continent. She is booked to appear at Reggae Summer Jam in Cologne and Splash Festival in Leipzig both in Germany; 77 Splash in Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Italy’s Rototom Sunsplash; the Frauenfeld Open Air Festival in Switzerland; Delta Music Festival in Lisbon, Portugal; Reggae Fest in Bilboa, Spain and several other club and open air events.

Ce’Cile will then head back to the Caribbean for a performance in Guyana on July 26.

And, while her focus with the album is Europe, back at home, she is currently promoting her two singles Ride or Die and So Fly, a combination with the Doctor Beenie Man.

“These are the songs that we are working on now and the response from the fans has been good. They are connecting with them in much the same way that they responded to Waiting,” she said.

Ce’Cile recently returned from the United States where she performed at the Big Jam Rock Reggae Fest held at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Also billed for that show were Beenie Man, Mr Vegas and Bar-bee, who met in an accident on her way to the event.

Her next stop was Boston’s Club Lido where she received good reviews. “it was quite a show; I gave fans both sides of Ce’cile. All the ladies were singing Waiting . it was like an anthem.”

As she recalled, she also performed favorites like Can U Do Di Wuk? and Aint Nutten For Free, but it was her underground song P Good that had the ladies screaming
in agreement.

While in the US, Ce’cile also performed at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, New York on the same bill as Shaggy, Da’ville and Elephant Man, where again P Good was the song that got the largest crowd reaction.

Source: Jamaica Observer

	The prosecution alleges that the men plotted to kill thousands of people at JFK Airport.

“Plotters” plead not guilty 

Three men have appeared in court in the United States, accused of plotting an attack on New York’s John F. Kennedy airport last year.

The men, who all pleaded not guilty, were extradited from Trinidad on Wednesday.

A fourth man — who worked as an airport cargo handler — was arrested in New York and is in custody awaiting trial.

Prosecutors say the suspects wanted to blow up buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines at one of the world’s busiest airports.

A defence lawyer described the case against them as grossly exaggerated.

Guyana opposes EPA

Guyana remains wary of signing the new Economic Partnership Agreement negotiated last December between Caribbean nations and the European Union.

President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters he was unlikely to sign if an opportunity to do so presents itself during July’s Caricom summit.

He said opinion was divided on what the consequences of not assenting now would be.

Some analysts have suggested Guyana could be punished by being made to pay tariffs on exports which currently enter duty free.

Haiti help urged

A committee of the US House of Representatives has approved a bill calling on the US Treasury to urge international financial institutions to suspend debt service payments by Haiti or to provide debt cancellation to the Caribbean’s poorest nation.

The House Financial Services Committee said the main aim of the bill is to authorise funding for the World Bank and African Development Bank.

OAS debates EU immigration

The Organisation of American states is holding a special session to debate new European Union immigration rules that have been widely condemned in the Americas.

The EU Parliament has approved procedures for expelling undocumented residents that could affect hundreds of thousands of nationals of the Caribbean and Latin America from 2010.

The OAS secretary general Jose Miguel Insulza has described the measures as repressive.

US help sought by Guyana

President Jagdeo of Guyana is seeking assistance from the US government to help determine who killed eight miners at a remote mining camp.

He says a formal request has been sent to the State Department for forensic support following last weekend’s grisly discovery at a diamond mining camp in the Berbice region.

The camp’s owner said he discovered the eight burnt bodies Saturday and his brother and son were among the victims.

The camp is near a jungle hideout where police and soldiers have been hunting a heavily armed gang suspected of involvement in two village massacres this year.

Caribbean remains cruise favourite

The Caribbean remains a top cruise destination among Americans, according to a new survey.

The survey was carried by the Cruise Lines International Association.

The other good news was that American consumer interest in cruising remains strong, with 55 percent of vacationers who have never taken a cruise intending to do so in the next three years.

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