The Greenfield Stadium is where Jamaica Jazz and Blues will be held this year. The announcement was made earlier this month that the popular January event would take a shift from its previous famed venue the Aqueduct location in Rose Hall, Montego Bay.
The Greenfield Stadium located in Trelawny is just 12 minutes away from the previous venue for the Festival and 8 to 15 minutes drive from popular hotels such as Iberostar, Rose Hall, Half Moon, and Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Matisyahu, a Hasidic reggae singer, performing at Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2009
COPY OF PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. BRUCE GOLING NATIONAL BROADCAST ON THE NEW TAX PACKAGE
EDITOR’S NOTE:
In case you missed the Address by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding last night (Dec. 23, 2009), here is a copy of his speech.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009
My fellow Jamaicans……
The public anger that has arisen since the announcement of new taxes last Thursday is understandable and I sympathize with the Jamaican people. The world-wide recession has hit us badly and I know that many Jamaicans are having it hard. In these difficult times, no one would want to impose additional taxes if there was a way it could be avoided.
Popular Dancehall Entertainer Bounty Killer is again the centre of attention. The deejay also know as Rodney Pryce is said to have this morning created a scene on the grounds of the Oaklands Complex on Constant Spring Road as he had a strong physical altercation with his girlfriend and promoter Mumzell.
It is understood that the latest incident comes after a breakdown in Mumzell and Bounty Killer’s relationship. Speculations are that Mumzell reportedly went to the apartment to inflict damage to her Killer’s vehicle. Bounty Killer reportedly saw her and intervened, it was at that time that the physical altercation went sour.
According to eyewitness’s account Bounty Killer physical beat her harshly as Mumzell attempted to defend herself. It is understood that Mumzell never gave in easily
BREAKING NEWS — An American Airlines plane carrying 152 people skidded off the runway and broke in two Tuesday night after landing in Kingston, Jamaica, injuring at least 40 people, according to local news reports.
Airline spokesman Charley Wilson said in a short statement there were no reports of fatalities in the crash that occured about 10:22 p.m. local time Tuesday.
The flight from Miami was carrying 145 passengers and 7 crew members, an operations coordinator at Norman Manley International Airport said.
Reports are that the injured passengers have been taken to the Kingston Public Hospital. No fatalities have yet been reported. Details surrounding the crash in Jamaica were not available, but passengers at the airport told local media that the plane attempted to land in heavy rain when the crash occurred.
Jamaica has been experiencing severe rainfall since last Saturday, with some parts of the island being under flash-flood warning.
Kingston Policeman Oneil Hinds at police headquarters said officers at the scene reported the plane ran off the end of the runway. He said the plane was damaged but did not break apart.
The flight was reported to have originated in Washington, D.C., before going on to Miami.
“The plane crashed and broke almost in front of me,” passenger Naomi Palmer told the Jamaica Observer. Palmer also said she was in some pain.
A sex-obsessed Ashanti fan may be too kooky to convict, says an alternate juror in a bizarre Manhattan stalking case.
“He clearly seemed delusional,” the alternate told The Post after being released from the panel last night, speaking of defendant Devon Hurd, a 31-year-old car cleaner from Illinois busted for admittedly sending 32 lurid text messages to the R&B star’s mother.
The texts include Hurd’s descriptions of pleasuring himself while watching Ashanti videos.
“I have no idea what that jury is going to do, but I hope they don’t convict,” said the juror, a civil lawyer who asked not to be identified.
“He didn’t have the intent that the law requires.”
To convict Hurd of misdemeanor stalking and harassing, prosecutors must prove that Hurd intended to harass, annoy or threaten Ashanti’s mother, Tina Williams, when he sent the foul messages. Williams has said she indeed felt threatened.
Deliberations began yesterday.
Read more: NYC
Jamaican dancehall artiste, Spragga Benz, was featured in Billboard’s Best One-Hit Wonders of the 2000s for his collaboration with Kevin Lyttle.
Benz was the only Jamaican artiste listed as a one-hit wonder by Billboard, the US based music company described as the Koran of music. Benz is a successful dancehall artiste with many local and regional hits. The definition of a One Hit Wonder related to the US market, as an artiste that hit the top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 singles chart without cracking the top 25 with subsequent hits in the decade. read more…
Prime Minister Golding to Address the Nation on Tax Package, a day before Christmas!
Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Bruce Golding have indicated that he will address the nation a day before Christmas to address the issue of the government’s proposed tax package in a national broadcast to be aired on Wednesday, December 23, on all radio and television stations at 9 PM.
Prime Minister, Bruce Golding will address the nation at 9 PM on Wednesday 23.
In his statement, the Prime Minister indicated that government was attempting a re-examination of the existing composition of the tax package. He said this would be done in order to determine if there are suitable alternatives to finding the $21 Billion of revenue required to support the programme negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while at the same time reducing the harsh impact on the society, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Preliminary indications underline that the decision was taken following a series of meetings with members of the Cabinet and a technical team from the Ministry of Finance, during which a number of new proposals were discussed.
The meetings were held in the wake of a statement on Sunday in which the Prime Minister said he had heard the cry and appeal of the Jamaican people and their concerns about the proposed new tax measures.
Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller.
In a letter to the Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, the Prime Minister indicated:
“I propose to address the nation through a national broadcast tomorrow evening in which I will outline the changes to the tax package as announced last Thursday. Every effort has been made to minimize the impact on the majority of the Jamaican people who we know are already burdened by the impact of the global recession. It is to be recognized however, that the widening gap between our revenues and expenditure must be cauterized. This is an essential prerequisite for an IMF programme and the support of the other multilateral institutions which is contingent thereon.
Critical to the IMF programme, as well is the implementation of the new tax package as of January 1.
As I indicated to you on Thursday, we will facilitate a debate in Parliament early in the new year not only on the details of the proposed IMF programme but on the medium term economic strategy and performance targets as well as the policies to be pursued to stimulate economic growth and job creation.”
Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Bruce Golding have indicated that he will address the nation a day before Christmas to address the issue of the government’s proposed tax package in a national broadcast to be aired on Wednesday, December 23, on all radio and television stations at 9 PM.
In his statement, the Prime Minister indicated that government was attempting a re-examination of the existing composition of the tax package. He said this would be done in order to determine if there are suitable alternatives to finding the $21 Billion of revenue required to support the programme negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while at the same time reducing the harsh impact on the society, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Preliminary indications underline that the decision was taken following a series of meetings with members of the Cabinet and a technical team from the Ministry of Finance, during which a number of new proposals were discussed.
The meetings were held in the wake of a statement on Sunday in which the Prime Minister said he had heard the cry and appeal of the Jamaican people and their concerns about the proposed new tax measures.
In a letter to the Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, the Prime Minister indicated:
“I propose to address the nation through a national broadcast tomorrow evening in which I will outline the changes to the tax package as announced last Thursday. Every effort has been made to minimize the impact on the majority of the Jamaican people who we know are already burdened by the impact of the global recession. It is to be recognized however, that the widening gap between our revenues and expenditure must be cauterized. This is an essential prerequisite for an IMF programme and the support of the other multilateral institutions which is contingent thereon.
Critical to the IMF programme, as well is the implementation of the new tax package as of January 1.
As I indicated to you on Thursday, we will facilitate a debate in Parliament early in the new year not only on the details of the proposed IMF programme but on the medium term economic strategy and performance targets as well as the policies to be pursued to stimulate economic growth and job creation.”
Murphy was married to British screenwriter Simon Monjack
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The husband of US actress Brittany Murphy has told a US TV show his wife was suffering from laryngitis in the days before she died.
An autopsy has been carried out but the cause of death will not be known until the results of toxicology and tissue tests come out in four to six weeks.
“My world was destroyed yesterday,” Jack Monjack told Access Hollywood. He also said Murphy had “been tired”.
Murphy collapsed at home in Los Angeles and died in hospital on Sunday.
The assistant chief coroner, Ed Winter, confirmed Murphy’s family had reported she had been ill in the run-up to her death.
“It appears to be natural,” he said.
Shining star
The autopsy found no signs of trauma to the body.
“We went to the scene to see if there was anything that suggests foul play, and there wasn’t,” said Los Angeles police detective Wendi Berndt.
A family statement said the “loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy. She was our daughter, our wife, our love and a shining star.”
It added: “We ask you to respect our privacy at this time.”
Murphy’s father, Angelo Bertolotti, said: “She was just an absolute doll since she was born.
“Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her – people that made movies with her, people on a cruise – they all loved her.”
Murphy was pronounced dead at 1004 (1804 GMT) on Sunday at a hospital near Beverly Hills.
She had been taken there after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at the Hollywood Hills home she shared with her husband.
The actress, best known for roles in clueless and 8 Mile, was reported to have been found unconscious in the shower.
‘Warm and sweet’
Actor Ashton Kutcher, who played opposite Murphy in 2003’s Just Married and later dated her, paid tribute on Twitter: “See you on the other side kid… 2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine.
“My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, and her amazing mother Sharon,” he added.
Monjack said he was moved by Kutcher’s message.
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 I got the impression she had been burned by reporters before and was anxious for it not to happen again  BBC Entertainment news reporter Neil Smith on his encounter with Brittany Murphy
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“I loved what Ashton wrote on Twitter. It was comforting to me. I couldn’t have said it better,” he told Access Hollywood.
Alicia Silverstone, who starred with Murphy in high school comedy Clueless, told People magazine: “I loved working with Brittany. She was so talented, so warm, and so sweet.
“I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together.
“I feel love in my heart for her – and hope she is at peace. This is truly sad.”
Murphy left the production of indie film The Caller earlier this month. Her agent said she had quit because of “creative differences”.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Source: BBC
Yep, thats right! The video for Sean Paul’s Hold My Hand, the R&B flavoured single that features Keri Hilson, has found its way to the airways of the MTV Network through its show MTV Jams. Now this has certainly been a busy month for Sean Paul. It has seen him scooping up a Grammy nomination for his fourth studio album Imperial Blaze, jetting off to Africa for two concerts and stupefying Floridians with another wicked performance earlier this month.
Source: Headline Entertainment
Mathew and Tina Knowles poses with their daughter Beyonce
It has been confirmed Beyonce’s parents are getting a divorce!
Mathew and Tina Knowles broke their silence on the issue over the weekend confirming that they were heading for a divorce. The reports allege that stylist Tina Knowles had filed papers in a Harris County, Texas court in November to put an end to the 29-years marriage.
This divorce could have some interesting legal and financial implications, given that the family is estimated to possess a fortune of over $100 million dollars. Usually when that much money is involved, the break-ups are always interesting.
But we might be disappointed as Mathew and Tina have released a joint statement saying:
“The decision to end our marriage is an amicable one. We remain friends, parents, and business partners. If anyone is expecting an ugly messy fight, they will be sadly disappointed. We ask for your respect of our privacy as we handle this matter.”
Allegations are that the split comes weeks after Beyonce’s manager and father was hit with a paternity lawsuit from Los Angeles resident Alexsandra Wright, who claims Mathew Knowles is the father of her unborn child, which is due in spring 2010.
