December 5, day three of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)’s 7th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management in Montego Bay will feature a plenary session with the discussion topic ‘Building Resilience-CDM responsibility in Action’.
Participants in the discussion are expected to be Mr. Ronald Jackson, Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness &Emergency Management (ODPEM); Dr. Arun Kashyap, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative, Jamaica; Ms.
December 1 is celebrated around the world as World AIDS day. Leading up to, and after the day, there is an increase in the number of messages related to HIV education, diagnosis and treatment that are aired. A lot more persons talk about the virus and people get tested to know their status. Compared to the early stages when many misconceptions were popular being HIV-positive is less frighten; in that more information are available, support groups and medical research to help you live positive.
A few years ago, 2006, I met a young man who was living with HIV and interviewed him for the Sunday Gleaner’sOutlook Magazine. The story published on December 10 was my article of marking World AIDS Day that year, I wish to share the article with you in it entirety or you could read it at its original location by clicking here.
The acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) are threatening Jamaica’s future as scores of young people fall victim to these deadly diseases. More frightening are the statistics indicating that scores of young people between the ages of 15 and 29 are contracting the virus.
Today, Outlook Youth has decided to shed some light on HIV/AIDS in the form of an interview with someone living with HIV.
Meet 27 year-old Alan,a normal-looking young man, who lives a relatively normal life except that he is living with HIVfor over three years.
Alan, who is not promiscuous, said he was rather surprised when he learnt that he had the virus. “I’m not the promiscuous type. I had expected that to happen to someone else,” he revealed to us. “But that is just how life is.”
According to Alan, everything started out with some minor health problems which he began to worry about. After several tests returned negative, he was advised to do an HIV test. “At first I refused, as there was no way in this world I thought I could have it because I was a faithful partner,” he told Outlook Youth. “Then I remembered when my girlfriend and I had some problems, I had a fling – so I decided to do the test ’cause there was nothing to lose, I thought.
“When the results returned, I thought they had got the samples mixed up, and then when the second test confirmed the first, I was even more stunned than the first time. At that moment, it was as if I was in another world, I didn’t have time to think and again I said the result was wrong. The doctor assured me that it was right and that I needed to accept the truth as that was the only way in which I was going to move forward.
“What was I to do now? It was the end of the road. I thought that there was no hope in life and all had ended. It was best that I had been run over by a truck,” Alan said.
“I knew I had a close-knit family but what would they think? I asked myself. Life was now filled with a lot of questions and doubt. But somehow I would have to reveal to them that I was HIV positive so it was best to do it now,” recalled Alan.
When he revealed it to his family, they were shocked and had a lot of questions for him, some of which he had no answer to. However, they stood by him through everything. According to him, they were the ones who, perhaps, kept him going when he thought of giving up along the way, either by suicide or other means.
Today, Alan, despite his condition, is working assiduously to promote healthy lifestyles amongst youth and other age groups. He believes that being infected with HIV has opened up doors for him and has allowed him to see things in a different perspective.
His advice to teens is, “having sex is fun, but when you have a death ruling and life is limited, that can be depressing … if you can’t withhold, make up your mind to use a condom always.”
Today, Alan is pursuing his dreams by completing a course in psychology.
#HashCon 2012: An Advocacy Challenge for Jamaican Bloggers by UNICEF Jamaica
This post was made in submission for the UNICEF Jamaica #HashCon2012 ”Positive SHEroes: Strong women working towards an AIDS-free generation”. Click here for more info.
When AIDS emerged in the 1980, it mostly affected men, however today females accounts for almost half of the number of persons living with the HIV strain. Worldwide the business of HIV/AIDS is a foremost of some, if not all, governments. HIV/AIDS is describe in many circles as a pandemic, simple to say its a huge problem. While much have been done to advance knowledge of HIV through awareness and science, several barriers/challenge exist, chief among them are challenges faced by women; the general focus of what today’s post will be about.
A few years back, at the peak of my youthful exuberance, I interviewed a young man who was HIV-positive. The interview was a enlightening one, and was done for a World AIDS piece. Through the interview I learnt of the challenges and the daily encounters of a male living with “the most deadly virus”. It was also a window for me as I later spoke with females who also had HIV, it was from there that I saw the challenges that they face and found it fitting to take part in the UNICEF SHEroes competition.
The use of ‘Sheroes’ is a gender specific term to the often male thought of ‘heroes’, it gives a feminine touch and focus.
The number of HIV-positive women and girls continues to increase. From the statistics most of the females who suffer from “the deadly virus” or “big A”, as it is often refer by the common-man locally, are usually in the prime of their productive lives. In that they are often young females, fruitful, with a whole future ahead. Many persons are at times dumbfounded as to how members of our society still manage to contract HIV, particularly young people, despite what they consider increase awareness, access to contraceptive, all with the aide of technology. Whilst those might be right, the issues are far more entrenched. They are entrenched in:
1. The power of condom negotiation with their partner(s)
2. Cultural/Religious Ideologies
3. Comprise standards
4. Awareness
All of which can be solved.
The solution to these cannot be attain overnight, neither can they single-handed be achieved by a lone female. It requires the empowering of our women to challenge the inequities of society and to stand firm in matters of sexual reproductive health. Most of all our women need us; the society, men, persons of influence in society that people listen to/have an audience or can impact change to challenge existing culture. However, it is through small challenges that discrimination, unemployment, abandonment, violence or other seclusion/ills against our women can change once they are identified as being HIV-positive. It is imperative to note that change will not come overnight, however change can happen with the support of the society at large.
In matters of condom usage, while its general seen that the man should carry the condom a woman should always have a pack of condom, after all sex is not a one-person show. Women MUST insist on their partners “no glove, no love”. The decision to protect ones health, whether HIV or otherwise lies with you.
The idea of a christian majority country or the cultural proposition that a wife/woman should submit to her husband/man, should not foolhardy be followed. I’m not about gaining the wrath of my fellow male species, so allow me to defend myself. A man and his significant other should be open to dialogues about matters of the heart and sex. One should know what the other prefers, dislike and most importantly not to put their partner at risk. Each should know the other status, with mutual HIV testing at random intervals to reaffirm trust that each other is HIV-free. There are talks in certain quarters that men are not opened to the idea of doctors, however if a man loves and respects you he will make the visit.
Live by standards, lay grounds about how intimate involvement will work or expectations. Multiple partners, cheating, no-condom/’bare-back’ and dishonest should not be the basics on which relationships are built. Indicate to your partner that these will not be tolerate, once these are outline at the get-go a man gets the indication the standards by which the relationship will be judged.
Another thing one must be aware of each other status, as well as the methods available to protect each other. Whether it be the female condom with the use of spermicide, dental damps, or other forms of contraceptives. Including the contraceptives that should be used along with other methods to prevent sexually transmitted infections. As we look to greater awareness and break barriers, let us look to advancing the rights and sexual reproductive health of females living with HIV. It could happen to anyone, get the knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and correct erroneous information were they are being communicated.
My final comment might cause some persons to hurl missiles at me…but here goes. If a female “locks shop” (no sex) because her partner refuses to wear a condom he will get the message that she is firm about protecting herself. Don’t risk your life for a one fling/sex because your man doesn’t want to wear a condom, don’t be guilty by the idea/thought of him straying; it sounds hard but your life carries more value.
The power is in all of us, let’s not be a victim. Negotiate condom usage…no glove, no love.
So I finally dug this post out of one called Stanford! When I saw him get a response to his persistence I pounced...poor thing...but I'm tenacious, as he no doubt now realizes (and you're welcome for the space, Stanny!). And this is why I kept at him: every so often I'd see @stannyha tweet to @NEPAJamaica about some smuggled rare parrots.
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley delivered an epic performance at Reggae Sumfest International Night 2, on the morning of Sunday, July 22, 2012. (Photo Credits: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Epic, that’s the best way to describe the final instalment of Reggae Sumfest, the three-night concert held in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica. At the end, the night undoubtedly belonged to Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Protoje and his band ‘The Indignation’, and Bunny Wailer.
R. Kelly, the man hailed as the King of R&B, who never appeared on last year’s show because he had an emergency throat surgery, delivered his highly anticipated notes; however, he failed to impress us. His performance seemed lackluster, hasty and detached. Patrons weren’t pleased having been forced to wait one and half hours after his schedule performance time. He appeared on stage Sunday just after 1am in the said attire local media outlets had photographied him in over 12 hours before.
R. Kelly performs in Jamaica at Reggae Sumfest International Night 2. (Photo Credits: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Nevertheless, he managed to get the females screaming and shouting his name, as he reeled off hit after hit including Bump N’ Grind, You Remind Me of Something, and Fiesta. Some patrons were visibly upset and sat down through his less than an hour hasty and detached performance. He closed his act unexpectedly with Step In the name of Love and Happy People, furthering the dissatisfaction.
During his performance, he attempted to win over the audience, some of whom he was successful with, because of his obvious tardiness. During this moment he encouraged females to remove his shoe leaving him in socks, however, after he exited the stage, we understood, the females who removed them had to return them. So with R. Kelly and his theatrical piece out of the way, the stage was fit for the son of ‘The Gong’, Damian Marley, to save us. Jr. Gong, as he is often called, completed the task smoothly and impressed, with high energy from beginning to end, that eventually scored him an encore.
Protoje performs at Reggae Sumfest International Night 2012. (Photo Credits: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Before the Kelly’s drama, swag boy Christopher Martin glided across the stage with Cheaters Prayer, Paper Loving, Real Frenz. Martin even performed Carpenter originally voiced by John Holt, who had performed on International Night one. Protoje known for his rebellious and conscious lyrics scored several times with his band the Indignation, as they chanted away JA, Who Dem A Program, This is not a Marijuana Song and others.
Christopher Martin performs at Reggae Sumfest International Night 2, Saturday, July 21, 2012. (Photo Credits: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Bunny Wailer took us down memory lane and pulled the curtain on Reggae Sumfest 20th Anniversary Concert, after Damian Marley’s epic performance, in a special Jamaica 50 tribute segment– alongside the Skatalites– packed with several hits and crowd favourites.
Other performances for the night came from A.J. Brown, Raine Seville, Conkarah, Q-Ban and Jedani. Paula-Anne Porter-Jones and François St. Juste were both celebrated for their years of service to Reggae Sumfest, the latter having served for 20 years.
R&B Crooner Trey Songz performing at Reggae Sumfest International Night 1, July 21, 2012. (Photo Credit: Trey Songz Adrian Creary Photography http://www.adriancreary.com)
Last evening, no matter your location in Jamaica, all roads seemed to have led to one place, Reggae Sumfest International Night one, where the much talked-about headliners Shabba Ranks and Trey Songz were slated to perform. “You just cannot miss it, it’s the night of Sumfest,” one patron said. This sentiment echoes the fact that Shabba Ranks had not performed in Jamaica for over a decade and it was to be the first for the rising heartthrob, Trey Songz.
At 1am Trey Songz entered the Reggae Sumfest 20th Anniversary stage to intense shriek from females. “This goes out to the beautiful girls,” the first line of his hit song ’Invented Sex’, wetted patrons for Trey, who quickly did his rendition of Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill’s Turn Your Lights Down Low. Songz, known for showing off his chest during his performances, teased the audience a bit and then obliged his fans’ desire for him to appease their eyes, while completing several songs from his compilation to sharp-cut females.
Shabba Ranks at Reggae Sumfest 2012. (Photo Credit: SHABBA – Adrian Creary Photography http://www.adriancreary.com)
A band change followed and at about 2:45am “big dutty, stinkin” Shabba Ranks greeted Catherine Hall in his characteristically colourful use of the Jamaican language. Shabba was his usual authentic and hardcore self as he delivered to those who have never seen him perform and refreshed other die-heart fans with sexually explicit lyrics and groove. Shabba wowed the audience with hits like Wicked Inna Bed, Peeny Peeny, Love Punany Bad, Trailer Load A Girls, Ting A Ling and so much more. The infectious crowd gobbled up every hit. The fanfare reached a notch higher when Shabba brought songstress Cherine Anderson on stage for Mr. Loverman, during which he showed his trademark ‘wine technique’.
Tessanne Chin belts out a note at Reggae Sumfest International Night 1, July 20, 2012. (Photo Credit: Tessanne Chin Adrian Creary Photography http://www.adriancreary.com)
Before them, Tarrus Riley and Tessanne ignited the stage with popular hits, showing why both were big league acts fitting to begin a firework night. Tessanne took us down memory lane with some ska and rocksteady beats and had the undivided attention of Catherine Hall to songs such as Messenger, Reason Is You, Hideaway and others. While Mr. Singy-Singy, Tarrus Riley, fed patrons one single at a time and was even joined by Dean Fraser on saxophone.
Bonafide, Sophia Brown and Nature were well-received. However, several persons were dissatisfied with Angelique Sabrina’s performance, voicing opinions like “Is this girl for real, is she lip-syncing,” and “this is an insult to our musical intelligence.”
After his performance Shabba Ranks was honoured, amid fireworks, and gave a message to those set to take over from him. He requested his family’s presence on the stage to share the moment with him. Also honoured for years of service to the show was Irie FM’s Elise Kelly, who dedicated the award to Mighty Mike and her mom.
A poor decision by the organizers saw the Jamaica 50 tribute coming in after 4am, with the likes of Derrick Harriot, U-Roy, and John Holt et al, after Shabba Ranks was honoured. On our way out we heard John Holt’s “If I were a carpenter and you were a lady would you have my baby”. We heard that the Jamaica 50 tribute went until 6am.
With today being Damian “Jr Gong” Marley’s birthday one expects a trilling night. He’ll perform along with Protoje, who is expected to take stage at 10:53pm, Chris Martin and The World’s Greatest singer, R.Kelly.
Lady Saw was officially crowned ‘Queen of the Dancehall’ as a special honouree at Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night, July 19, 2012. (Photo Credit: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Catherine Hall, Montego Bay was nothing but scorching Thursday night into Friday morning as Dancehall Night, the first of the three day Reggae Sumfest event, got off to a superb start with top entertainers like Tifa, Stacious, Romain Virgo, and Konshens.
The first night was well supported and saw intense performances from all artistes billed–and the audience was equally energetic and responsive.
The divas in the dancehall, namely Tifa, Stacious, and Spice, represented well, both in fashion and performances, however patrons could be heard questioning the latter’s outfit. Specialist, who placed second in Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall 2011, was a dapper looking and wowed the audience; Romain Virgo and Kiprich hammered well-received tunes throughout their performances and received several “forwards”.
Romain Virgo on Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night. (Photo Credit: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Lady Saw was officially crowned the Queen of Dancehall in a special segment after she delivered a blistering performance in a silver-white outfit. During her high-energy performance she hinted at being pregnant for long-time hubby Jon-Jon. She left the stage and made way for the current Dancehall Prince, Konshens, who delivered a high-powered act starting with his “Do Sumin”, which was followed by“Stop Sign” drew over 15 females to the stage to ‘bruk out’. Still sporting his red-hair, Konshens called to the stage Darrio, his brother Delus and the man with the golden voice Richie Stephens, and was well-received by patrons.
Dancehall’s latest master of contention, Khago, took the reign with a firework entrance, Popcaan–representing the Gaza (Portmore Empire) Camp and the teacher as a true Prefect– then set the pace for the ‘Energy God’ Elephant Man, who handed the baton to Cham who ‘tun it up’.
With one preppy act after the other, patrons were visibly happy that they had turned out for the first night.
Kiprich pulling a stunt on stage at Reggae Sumfest 2012. (Photo Credit: Skkan Media Entertainment)
Despite a largely off-key performance, Montego Bay home-boy Tommy Lee enjoyed a favourable response.
As the atmospheric temperature dropped in the earlier morning, Bounty Killer, I-Octane, and Aidonia kept the ground warm until ‘the Doctor’, Beenie Man, turned up in his full white to top things off.
Other performers for the first night of Reggae Sumfest included Jahvinci, Baby Tash, Potential Kid and Zamunda. Reggae Sumfest continues tonight with the much anticipated performances of Shabba Ranks and international R&B crooner Trey Songz, in addition to a special Jamaica 50 tribute.
After two successful seasons of the hit TV series, The Wray & Nephew Contender, and what many have voiced as a resurgence in boxing in Jamaica, the concept of a ‘boxing party’ have emerged from the producers of the popular TV show in Rocky 876. Rocky 876 will unfold history at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston Saturday, July 7th to give boxing and party fans in Jamaica live action at ring side while bouncing to the beat and sipping on their favourite Wray & Nephew mix.
Contender Producer and Rocky876promoter, Sanjay Ramanand explains the reason for the first ever boxing party: “when we looked at how the Contender was being received, we realized that there was a whole social component that was not being tapped into. People wanted to watch the boxing, but they also wanted to drink and dance and just enjoy themselves; so we thought why not mix the two concepts to create something that has never been done in Jamaica before”.
What to expect? We put the question to Sanjay and were told: “Non-stop music, non-stop fun, non-stop excitement all night long! The event caters to the needs of all people, those who like to party, those who love the sport, those who like to try new things and those who are just curious.”
At the July 7th billed event patrons can expect to see Jamaica’s 2011 Middleweight Contender, Rikardo “Surgeon” Smith takes on Derrick “Guts” Spencer (from the 2012 series). Spencer fought runner up Contender, Ramel “Sub zero” Lewis in one of the most watched fights in the Contender series this season and should be in the best shape of his life to take on last year’s winner whose last fight was 6 months ago.
The gates open at 8pm and there will be activity from start to finish. With four fights scheduled, the boxing action starts at 9pm with three amateur bouts before the main event. And at the stroke of midnight the dance party begins with music from Miami-based DJ, PalmerStylz, and local big shots: Foota Hype and ZJ Chrome. And the drinks and music will flow until 2am.
Rocky 876 is sponsored by Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Boom Energy Drink, Wata and ElectroTech Productions Ltd. Tickets are available at LG Service Station (Dunrobin) and Just Call Couriers (355-7390) at the cost of $1000 pre-sold, however the gate cost will be $1500. All tickets equals a chance for a front row seat to live action boxing, all the Wray and Nephew mixed drinks you can drink and pumping music to dance the night away.
Sponsored by Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Boom Energy Drink, Wata and ElectroTech Productions Ltd., Just $1000 pre-sold or $1500 at the gate gives you a front row seat to live action boxing, all the Wray and Nephew mixed drinks you can drink and pumping music to dance the night away.
Tickets are available at LG Service Station (Dunrobin) and Just Call Couriers (355-7390). Follow the movement on twitter @Rocky876ja, like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/Rocky876JA and for more information send an e-mail to rocky876ja@gmail.com or call 292-5527.
Robin Gibb at the Meet & Greet after the Dubai Jazz Festival on 1st March 2008, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robin Gibb, one of three brothers who made up the group the Bee Gees behind “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” and other iconic sounds from the 1970s, died on Sunday, according to a statement on his website.
He was 62.
“The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away on Sunday 20 May, 2012 at 10:46pm following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time,” read the statement.
Gibb has had a history of health problems stemming from a 2010 liver and colon cancer diagnosis. Though Gibb had recovered from his first bout with the disease, another tumor recently surfaced in conjunction with pneumonia, leaving him in a coma at a London hospital in mid-April.
Gibb did awaken from his coma in late April and was able to speak with his family members, though he was still reliant on an oxygen mask and intravenous feeding.
An article earlier from Billboard.com noted that the Bee Gees, which Gibb was a part, was ranked third for the most No. 1s in history behind the Beatles and the Supremes .
