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  • Jamaican Photojournalist Steve James Showcases Women of Reggae/Dancehall in Miami Art Exhibit

    Jamaican Photojournalist Steve James Showcases Women of Reggae/Dancehall in Miami Art Exhibit

    Jamaican photojournalist Steve James has covered the dancehall and reggae scene for more than 25 years and will give the women in the genre the spotlight in his exhibit at the Art Basel Miami event on December 7 and 8, 2023. James will share exhibit space during the “Let There Be Reggae” portion of the event with David Muir, Roy Sweetland, Ranking Levy and Ellen G, and Jik Reuben. The reggae exhibit has always been a favorite with event attendees.

    A Focus On The Women

    While women artists have made progress in the reggae/dancehall genre, which is known for its machismo, they still come second to males in the scene. James has covered the life and times of reggae artists and fans for decades and decided that 2023 was the time to put the focus of his annual show on the women of reggae. He will showcase young women in reggae, sound system selectors, and others. In an interview with the Observer Online, James said, “We will be showcasing Lila Ike, Shenseea, Spice, Koffee, and several others.”

    Professor Donna Hope Presents Photojournalist Steve James with a copy of her latest book, Dancehall Queen; Photo Credit: Steve James

    James’s 2019 Art Basel’s “Let There Be Reggae” Exhibit

    The 2023 staging of Art Basel Miami will feature James’s second exhibit at the yearly show. He debuted at the event in 2019 where he showed 30 snapshots of live music performances, Rastafarian culture, and the funeral services of famous artists.

    Steve James, AJ Brown, & Author Wale share a light moment at Rub a Dub Thursdays in Kingston; Photo Credit: Steve James

    About Steve James

    Steve James is from Kingston, Jamaica, and his main work is covering the reggae scene for the German website, reggaeville.com. James says that taking the photos is easy, but storing them, archiving, editing, and adding metadata is also of prime importance to him. He does not publish anything until “everything is in place.” He noted that photography was a passion for him, not just a job. He started out working with slides and was awarded the Photographer of the Year award from Practical Photography magazine in 1990. When digital photography first became popular, he hesitated before embracing the technology but now he looks forward to spending time finding his next image.

    Photo credit: Jik Reuben

    About Art Basel Miami

    Art Basel is a privately owned and managed for-profit international art fair. It is staged every year in Basel, Switzerland; Miami; Hong Kong; and Paris. Art Basel collaborates with local institutions in the host city to develop art programs. It was launched in 1970 in Switzerland by gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner, and Balz Hilt. The first year it attracted over 16,000 visitors and displayed word by 90 galleries in 10 countries. The 2019 show in Switzerland attracted some 93,000 visitors who viewed work from 290 galleries in 35 countries and exhibited the work of more than 4,000 artists. The Miami event was introduced in 2002, with the 2019 show presenting 269 galleries from 29 countries, which was attended by 81,000 visitors.

    Photo – Steve James, Jik Reuben

    The post Jamaican Photojournalist Steve James Showcases Women of Reggae/Dancehall in Miami Art Exhibit appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

  • British-Jamaican Raheem Sterling’s Latest Clarks Originals Collaboration Pays Homage to Jamaica

    British-Jamaican Raheem Sterling’s Latest Clarks Originals Collaboration Pays Homage to Jamaica

    Professional British-Jamaican footballer Raheem Sterling, who plays for Chelsea and is described as one of the best-dressed players in England’s Premier League, is making his mark on the footwear industry with the presentation of the new Wallabee collaboration with Clarks Originals. In his third collaboration with the iconic Clarks brand, Sterling’s connection to his birth nation of Jamaica is made clear through the Wallabee’s design.

    New Wallabee Reflects Love of Jamaica

    The new Wallabee, which was introduced under Sterling’s fashion line, Sixteen Ninety Two, is a high-top show made for the outdoors with uppers of technical quilted nylon and lace toggles that can be adjusted. Its upper is quilted and is similar in appearance to a puffer jacket. The Wallabee features the “Est 1692” embossed on its branded fob, a nod to the year in which Kingston, Jamaica, was founded. Jamaica’s coat of arms is stamped on the shoe’s heel tag, and its rubber outsole displays contrasting earth tones to set off the design.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Clarks Originals (@clarksoriginals)

    Sterling’s Jamaica Connection

    Raheem Shaquille Sterling was born in 1994 in Kingston, Jamaica, and spent his early childhood on the island. At age five, he moved to London with his mother, a former competitive athlete with Jamaica’s national athletics team, and attended Copland School in Wembley. He signed with the Queens Park Rangers at the age of ten after spending four years with Alpha & Omega, the local youth team. He was then scouted by various academies, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool and Manchester City. He became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at the 2021 Birthday Honors for his service in working for racial equality in sports and was listed as one of the 100 most influential Black Britons by Powerlist in 2020 and 2021. He founded the Raheem Sterling Foundation in 2021 with the goal of empowering and inspiring young people to prepare for the future and embrace opportunities for achieving better social mobility.

    Clarks’ Long History in Jamaica

    The Clarks company, founded in 1852, became a popular and iconic brand in Jamaica. Reggae producer Bunny Lee said the shoes stood the test of time on the island, and DJ Trinity noted in the 1970s that women would not date with men who didn’t wear Clarks. Jamaica’s dancehall star Vybz Kartel has dedicated three hit songs to Clarks shoes, which have been the brand of choice for Jamaican men for some 70 years. In Jamaica, Clarks represent more than footwear: they tell the story of the relationship experienced between the island nation and the United Kingdom for more than a century. Clarks were perceived as an aspirational brand because they came from Britain, and by 1970, hundreds of pairs were sold each week, and yearly profits for the company were high. As reggae music evolved, Clarks shoes continued to represent its style, and many songs and lyrics featured mentions of Clarks from 1976 to 2020. In the 1970s and 1980s, young men wearing Clarks may have been targeted by police because the brand was linked to the “rude boys.” Today, everyone wears Clarks, even Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who wore them during his 2020 election campaign.

    Photo – Instagram

    The post British-Jamaican Raheem Sterling’s Latest Clarks Originals Collaboration Pays Homage to Jamaica appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

  • UPDATE: More troops deployed, inclement weather persists in search for missing helicopter, crew

    UPDATE: More troops deployed, inclement weather persists in search for missing helicopter, crew

     Bell 402 Army helicopter with seven Guyana Defense Force ranks on board.

    And while efforts continue to locate the servicemen, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said inclement weather continues to be a challenge.

    “Search teams continue to grapple with inclement weather conditions as they navigate the search areas,” GDF said in an update to the media on Thursday.

    The army helicopter reportedly lost signal 30 miles from the border with Venezuela on Wednesday but the search had to be called off for the night because of bad weather.

    On Wednesday, GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan said the emergency signal from the aircraft suggests a crash landing or could have been triggered by the crew on board.

    The Army deployed its Skyvan and a search and rescue team from its special forces. They were supported by a helicopter.

    The seven GDF officers on board the Helicopter

    The search was called off due to the severe weather condition and resumed at “first light” Thursday.

    Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, with over 40 years of experience, was flying the aircraft over mountains and dense jungle.

    He was flying a team under the command of Colonel Michael Shahoud, Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion, on a mission to visit troops on the western border.

    Also part of the mission were Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan.

    Apart from Charles, the other crew members were Lieutenant Colonel Andio Michaeal Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson. The aircraft landed at Olive Creek to refuel and contact was lost shortly after take-off.

     

     

  • Guyana hosting CXC’s 2023 Governance Meeting, Regional Awards Ceremony

    Guyana hosting CXC’s 2023 Governance Meeting, Regional Awards Ceremony

    A School Examination Committee (SEC) Meeting was also held. This focused on regulations concerning the conduct of examinations, issues related to the development of the syllabi, concerns raised by examiners in their reports about the 2023 examination, and any proposals from management about changes to procedures or protocols that governs the examination.

    Also on Wednesday, the awardees paid a courtesy call to the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand at the Office of the President.

    The awardees also paid a visit to the recently commissioned Good Hope Secondary School where they had a tour of the institution and interacted with some of the students.

    The students being honoured for their outstanding performance are:

    • Alex Muntaz, Guyana Anna Regina Secondary School CSEC – Overall Outstanding Achievement,  Most Outstanding in Technical/Vocational
    • Siddiq Gafar, Guyana I.S.A Islamic School CSEC – Most Outstanding in Business
    • Meira Wohl, Jamaica Campion College CSEC – Best Short Story
    • Kayla Wright, Jamaica Campion College CSEC – Most Outstanding in Principles of Accounts (ACCA Award)
    • Celando Matchevelli, Jamaica Manchester High School CSEC – Most Outstanding in Visual Arts- Two Dimensional
    • Deanna Beepath, Trinidad & Tobago Rio Claro West Secondary School CSEC – Most Outstanding in Visual Arts- Three Dimensional
    • Naila Rahaman, Guyana Queen’s College CSEC – Most Outstanding in Humanities
    • Abigail Stephanas, Guyana Queen’s College CSEC – Most Outstanding in Sciences
    • Naresh Jagnanan, Guyana Queen’s College CAPE – Overall Outstanding Achievement, Most Outstanding in Business Studies (ACCA Award)
    • Matthew Dunn Jamaica York Castle High School CSEC, Most Outstanding in History
    • Darius Payne Trinidad & Tobago Naparima College CAPE – Most Outstanding in Natural Sciences
    • Rishi Rakesh Pokhriyal St. Maarten Methodist Agogic Centre Comprehensive Secondary Education CCSLC – Top Male Performer
  • ‘We know exactly where they are’ – search resumes for missing army helicopter, crew  

    ‘We know exactly where they are’ – search resumes for missing army helicopter, crew  

    a Bell 402 Army helicopter with seven Guyana Defense Force Officers on board resumed at “first light” Thursday morning, senior officials within the GDF have confirmed.

    The army helicopter reportedly lost signal 30 miles from the border with Venezuela on Wednesday but the search had to be called off for the night because of bad weather.

    “Yes, an operation of this nature will commence at first light. The search continues!,” GDF’s Public Relations Representative, Heppilena Ferguson said.

    Comments from National Security Advisor to the President, Capt. Gerald Gouveia, on his Facebook page Thursday morning also confirmed that the search has resumed.

    “We know exactly where they are,” Gouveia, a former military officer and veteran airline transport-rated pilot noted.

    “Our search and rescue efforts are supported by the best search & rescue teams in the world… equipped with the most sophisticated search helicopters on the planet.

    “Today as we venture out to bring them home we expect the weather to allow us to see better today,” he wrote.

    The seven GDF officers on board the Helicopter

     

    On Thursday, Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan said the emergency signal from the aircraft suggests a crash landing or could have been triggered by the crew on board.

    He told a news conference at the GDF army base in Georgetown that there is “no information suggesting any flight by Venezuelan aircraft in that area.”

    Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, with over 40 years of experience, was flying the aircraft over mountains and dense jungle.

    He was flying a team under the command of Colonel Michael Shahoud, Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion, on a mission to visit troops on the western border.

    Also part of the mission were Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan.

    Apart from Charles, the other crew members were Lieutenant Andio Michaeal Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson. The aircraft landed at Olive Creek to refuel and contact was lost shortly after take-off.

     

  • Sophia man arrested with unlicensed semi-automatic firearm

    Sophia man arrested with unlicensed semi-automatic firearm

    Akeem Bristol, a 27-year-old vendor who resides at North Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown was arrested in the wee hours of Thursday with an unlicensed semi-automatic firearm.

    A statement from Police Headquarters noted that ranks from the Turkeyen Police Station were on patrol duty in the North Sophia area at around 00:40 hrs when they observed a man riding a bicycle, with a cart attached, through a cross street.

    On seeing the ranks, the man hopped off the cycle and attempted to run, but due to the quick response by the ranks, they were able to apprehend the individual, who gave his name as Akeem Bristol.

    The ranks searched Bristol but nothing illegal was found. They then searched the ‘cart’ on his cycle and found a black plastic bag containing one Uzi semi-automatic machine gun, with an empty magazine, one Guyana Identification card and a Citizens Bank card, both in favour of Akeem Bristol.

    Bristol was asked if he was the holder of a firearm license, and he said ‘No’.

    He was told of the offence committed and cautioned, after which he said: “Sir, I find it in a trench on Sophia Road”.

    He was arrested and escorted to the Alberttown Police Station where the Firearm was examined and no serial number was found on the frame.

    The firearm was lodged and is to be taken to the Ballistics section for examination. Bristol was placed in custody as investigations continue.

  • US affirms ‘unwavering support’ for Guyana 

    US affirms ‘unwavering support’ for Guyana 

    told CNN on Wednesday that Mr. Maduro ‘went beyond’ on Tuesday when he announced administrative measures to annex Essequibo and give investors three months to exit from Essequibo’s exclusive economic zone.

    As a result of this direct infringement of Guyana’s sovereignty, the state has engaged the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and has officially written to the UN Security Council on the new developments.

    See below full release from the US Department of State: 

    US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Guyanese President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to reaffirm the United States’ unwavering support for Guyana’s sovereignty.

    The Secretary reiterated the United States’ call for a peaceful resolution to the dispute and for all parties to respect the 1899 arbitral award determining the land boundary between Venezuela and Guyana, unless, or until, the parties reach a new agreement, or a competent legal body decides otherwise. Secretary Blinken and President Ali noted the International Court of Justice order issued on December 1, which called for parties to refrain from any action that might aggravate or extend the dispute.

    The Secretary reiterated that the United States looks forward to working closely with Guyana once it assumes its non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in January 2024. The two leaders concluded the call by agreeing upon the importance of maintaining a peaceful and democratic Western Hemisphere.

  • Gov’t working with int’l allies to ensure Venezuela does not act in a ‘reckless’ manner – President tells CNN

    Gov’t working with int’l allies to ensure Venezuela does not act in a ‘reckless’ manner – President tells CNN

    Venezuela has aggressively intensified its claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has reiterated that his government is working with international allies to ensure that the Spanish-speaking country does not act in a ‘reckless’ manner, which can lead to instability in the western hemisphere.

    Speaking with the CNN on Wednesday, the Head of State assured that every precautionary measure is being explored following Venezuela’s desperate attempts to seize Guyana’s Essequibo County.

    Guyana is engaged with its partners in CARICOM, the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United States Department of Defense, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) among others.

    Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also assured that his country stands strongly with Guyana and has committed that it would not ‘see any reckless behaviour by Venezuela’, President Ali highlighted.

    “We’re engaging state departments, we’re engaging the White House, President Lula (Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva) and myself had conversations…They’re all engaged in this matter so that they can weigh in, ensuring that Venezuela does not act in a reckless or adventurous manner,” President Ali disclosed to CNN.

    Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro ‘went beyond’ on Tuesday when he announced administrative measures to annex Essequibo and give investors three months to exit from Essequibo’s exclusive economic zone.

    As a result of this direct infringement of Guyana’s sovereignty, the state has engaged the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and has officially written to the UN Security Council on the new developments.

    “Guyana is a law-abiding country, we believe in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that is why we’re before the ICJ and we believe the ICJ is where this controversy must be settled, but we are taking every precautionary measure against what is now a desperate attempt to seize our territory,” the President further stated.

    Speaking on the investment climate, President Ali assured that investors have nothing to fear about investing in the county since the 1899 Arbitral Award clearly states that the territory belongs to Guyana and the matter is currently before the ICJ.

    “That is where it will be settled…We have told our investors they have no fear, we’re on the right side of history, on the right side of law and there’s absolutely no fear in investing in Essequibo, which belongs to Guyana,” President Ali expressed to the international news agency.

    The Guyanese leader believes that Venezuela’s recent actions led by President Maduro are an attempt to distract the populace from the internal politics where he is losing popularity amongst his people.

    The World Court has ruled that Venezuela should not take any actions to annex Guyana’s Essequibo Region however, the Spanish-speaking country said it does not recognise the court.

    Guyana is adamant that the decades-old controversy must be settled peacefully and diplomatically by the ICJ. The Guyana-Venezuela controversy is currently before the ICJ after Guyana filed its application in the court in 2018. (DPI)

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