Photo from Art Festival 2009

Art Festival 2009 at Liguanea Plaza
Send in you comments

Jamaica Carnival 2009 cancellation confirmed

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090411/ent/ent1.html

[quote]Following months of speculation, the 2009 Jamaica Carnival, the brainchild of legendary bandleader Byron Lee, has been confirmed cancelled by the organisers.

Sheila Lee, Byron's widow, said one of the reasons for the cancellation was Byron's death in November and the toll it has taken on the family.

"We really wanted to stage one (carnival) this year because we know that is what The Dragon (Byron) would have wanted, but the pain of our loss makes it impossible for us to do justice to his work," said Lee in a release sent to the media. "We promise to return in 2010 for the 21st anniversary of Jamaica Carnival," she added.[/quote]

Hair styles at Champs 2009

Hair styles at the Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

Pulse's Model Jeneil on Fire

Hot Pulse model Jeneil Williams is on fire! In an amazing three weeks, Williams has followed her impressive New York Fashion Week debut with a string of campaigns and other assignments that are as impressive for their importance and quality, as they are for their range and impact.

Selected by Italian Vogue to appear in their all-important 'black girls' issue, Williams made history as the only Caribbean model to grace the pages of the special edition. She followed this historic feat with appearances for more than a dozen designers at the New York Fall/Winter shows (opening collections for three designers including Diesel).

She was then snapped up by Ford for the Paris shows where she had the distinction of walking for the internationally revered Lanvin and the highly regarded Castel Baga, among a number of other featured designers.

Miss Jamaica 2008 fulfils her promise

During the Miss Jamaica Universe 2008 pageant, April Jackson pledged to help children in need. After winning the crown, April did everything in her power to accomplished that goal.

Last Friday, April, with the help of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation, donated two gas stoves and an industrial sewing machine to the mentally challenged students of the Carberry Court School.

The equipment will be used to improve the school's successful vocational programme.

Jackson established her Give Children a Future (GCAF) Foundation during her reign as Miss Jamaica Universe.

Building kids for future

The focus of the charity is to make a difference in the lives of foster children. April has partnered with corporate entities to donate towards improving the facilities of several children's homes across Jamaica.

The Carberry Court School, which is associated with the National Children's Home of Jamaica, currently has 139 students enrolled. The school has the capacity to take care of mild to severely mentally challenged children. They are taught practical work skills, giving them the ability to take care of themselves as adults when they leave the school.

Sheree Martin, chief executive officer of the NCB Foundation, expressed the commitment of her organisation to programmes such as these.

"We believe in encouraging all young people to make use of whatever opportunities they have to help others in need. We know that if we all come together, we will one day succeed in our goal of building a better Jamaica," Martin said.

Shebada Party

Post your comments .
View more photos here; http://www.yardflex.com/archives/003725.html#more

The world's continued fascination with Jamaica

It's definitely all about this red-hot island that this column always refers to as destination Jamaica, as from in the early days of travel, Jamaica has been the preferred spot for not only the rich and famous, uber-fab and thrill-seeking, fun-loving explorer, but it continues to be the gem of the Caribbean isles, unequalled in its beauty and above all else, the warmth and hospitality of its people.

And no surprises here either as contextually speaking, Jamaica has not only figured prominently in world affairs, it has been the unofficial crossroads of the old and new worlds from Christopher Columbus landed here! But perhaps even more perplexing for some is the fact that for a nation of its size (population and land mass) and its limited resources, the island's influence in the spheres of world culture through music, the arts, dance and athletics, as well as the sporting arenas, defies conventional understanding and expectations.

Magic and beauty

Anyway my dears, the world continues its fascination with us and so come Tuesday, March 3, the world will once again be made privy to the magic and beauty of Jamaica that has sustained its people for centuries, as the Jamaica Tourist Board recently joined forces with Al Roker Productions and WE TV to showcase the breathtaking beauty and diversity of Jamaica to the world through the eyes of Mrs Lorna Golding, wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a one-hour special featuring Jamaica, signalling the season kick-off to WE TV's Women's History Month programming and the launch of its new 'First Ladies Tour' series, hosted by celebrated journalist Deborah Roberts.

My dears, the show takes the format of a VIP all-access tour of the island, with Mrs Golding as the hostess and takes viewers on a Jamaican adventure as she gives Deborah Roberts a peek inside her homeland as they take a helicopter ride along the breathtaking Montego Bay coastline and step inside some of Jamaica's most lavish homes and private resorts - including Round Hill, home to world famous designer Ralph Lauren, and Goldeneye, the former home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

They also get front-row seat at Jamaica's premier fashion event for an up close and look as the women take in haute couture and street style alike at last year's Caribbean Fashionweek extravaganza at the National Indoor Sports Centre. For the adventurous, follow the women as they team up with the adventure thrill seekers at Chukka Caribbean and glide 200 feet above the Montpelier jungle and kayak through the grotto-lined cliffs of Negril. To complete this island excursion, Mrs Golding takes Roberts to one of her favourite, and most serene places on this wonderful island - the Hope Gardens in St Andrew. This 200-acre botanical garden is the largest in the Caribbean and is one of the best places to enjoy the flora of Jamaica.

Well my daahlings, the special premieres in New York this here Tuesday, March 3 at 10 p.m. (EST) on WE TV, and the buzz is that both Mrs Golding and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett are expected in New York for the affair, but dears, it is definitely must-see TV and nothing but!

And speaking of beautiful people place and things, my dears, he popped the question and she answered in the affirmative and so it is a May wedding for the fabulous Michelle LaPorte and her beau, Paul Reid II, who will exchange their I-dos on the 16th at the lovely Pipers Cove Beachfront resort, over there in Runaway Bay, in what promises to be a fab-fest as the fab couple publicly declare their love for each other.

Sweet-things, who would miss this for the world, as it promises to be all that, and then some!