Ray J and Bobby Brown Respond to Whitney Houston’s Death; Late Singer’s Funeral To Be Held Today
A week after the death of R&B/pop songstress Whitney Houston, her close friend Ray-J has broken his silence regarding the news-making tragedy.
In a released statement, Ray J expressed his sadness over Houston’s demise while noting how close he was to the influential vocalist.
“Over the past few days, I’ve tried to process the emptiness that I am experiencing. What my heart feels cannot be expressed in words,” stated the 31-year-old entertainer, who spent time with Houston days before her death. “The world lost an icon, but I lost my close friend.”
“Nippy, I miss you so much! You were so happy and full of love,” Ray J continued. “Your smile will live in my heart forever.”
News of Houston’s death has dominated headlines this week, with mourners voicing their grief via Twitter and Facebook and a surge in sales of he 48-year-old singer’s music. Houston died last Saturday (February 11) at a hotel in Beverly Hills. Authorities concluded that there were no indications of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma to Houston’s body after an autopsy was performed on her the following day. Media sources report the Grammy winner was found submerged in her bathtub by a member of her personal staff
An official cause of death for Houston will not be determined for weeks, in light of toxicology tests currently being done by the coroner’s office.
Houston’s funeral, which will be broadcast online and on BET, will take place today (February 18) at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Among those expected to attend the private, invitation-only service are the singer’s godmother, Aretha Franklin, Ray J’s sister, Brandy, Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, Kim Burrell, Cece Winans, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Donnie McClurkin, Rickey Minor, Tyler Perry, and Kevin Costner, Houston’s co-star in the movie, The Bodyguard. The Rev. Marvin Winans will preside over the funeral.
Despite reports of him being banned from attending the service, Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown will be at the funeral. On Thursday (February 17), Brown paid tribute to Houston while performing on tour with his former group New Edition in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
“I’d like to say thank you for your prayers…I’d like to say thank you. Period. I’m gonna throw two up for Whitney,” Brown said while throwing up a peace sign. “That’s my love.”
While his grief was apparent, Brown noted how important it is to not dwell on unpleasant events.
“Life is life. You have to move on sometimes,” he shared. “I love her like I love God.”
After paying his respects to Houston, Brown will return to the stage Saturday evening at a scheduled performance with New Edition in Uncasville, Connecticut, and Sunday (February 19) in Newark.
Machel sweeps Soca Monarch
Machel Montano retained his Power Soca Monarch crown at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain this morning. He was also crowned Groovy Soca Monarch.
Montano sang "Pump Yuh Flag" in the Power category and "Mr Fete" in the Groovy competition.
SOCA MONARCH RESULTS
Power
1. Machel Montano (Pump Yuh Flag)
2. Iwer George (No Pain)
3. Destra (Link Up)
4. Prophet Benjamin (Throw Wine) & Blaxx (Inside Ah Band)
Groovy
1. Machel Montano (Mr Fete)
2. Kerwin Du Bois (Bacchanalist)
3. Benjai (People's Champion)
4. Nadia Batson (No Pressure)
5. Kees Diffenthaller (Stress Away)
Singer Robin Thicke Busted for Marijuana Possession
R&B singer/songwriter Robin Thicke collected a drug possession charge while in New York yesterday, according to authorities.
The New York Daily News reports the vocalist was arrested early Friday afternoon (February 17) at 12:25 p.m. by patrol officers who saw him smoking a joint while sitting in a Cadillac Escalade near 3rd Ave. and E. 21st St., close to Gramercy Park.
Although there was another person in the vehicle, a police source stated Thicke was the only one arrested.
The singer was charged with possession of marijuana.
“He wasn’t driving,” a police source told the Daily News. “He was sitting in the car. He was arrested and a small amount of marijuana was recovered on him.”
Despite being arrested, another source said the 34-year-old entertainer was amiable throughout the process, adding that Thicke was taking pictures and signing autographs for officers.
Thicke was released after receiving a desk appearance ticket.
News of the singer’s run-in with the law comes as he promotes his fifth album, Love After War.
The offering, released in December, contains the hit title track as well as the Lil Wayne-featured “Pretty Lil’ Heart.”
Luciano's US visa restored
Reggae icon Luciano is finally free once more to spread his musical message in the United States. The artiste who has not set foot in the U.S., for over three years now, had his United States visa restored, and is now in Miami to do his first performance.
The Jamaican STAR spoke to Luciano's manager, Anthony Cargill, to confirm the reports of the restoration of the icon's visa, and according to Cargill, Luciano was preparing to board a flight to the U.S., at the time of the interview.
"Luciano is at the airport getting ready to board a flight to the U.S., as we speak, because we have a show in Miami," he said.
According to Cargill, the artiste is in the rebuilding process, and having the visa restored will make things easier.
"It is a great feeling that we can go out and deliver the message. The restrictions held us back but now we are ready to build back the thing. This is his first show in Miami in four years and we are going to make a good impression," he said.
Cargill also admitted that the absence of the visa was a major blow to Luciano's career; but maintains that the mission of 'the messenger' never halted globally.
"We could go other places like Europe and Africa which also have huge reggae markets, so we were able to continue spreading the positive message. But the truth is 40 percent of our shows normally come from the U.S., so on our part that was a blow, but we kept faith in the Almighty and it turned out favourable," he said.
He continued, "Luciano has a huge fan-base in America and worldwide, we have toured the 42 states already so it's just to re-ignite the positive mission now," he said.
Bottled in Nigeria
Cargill also cleared the air on reports that Luciano got bottled in Nigeria at the Rivers State Carnival, claiming the press blew the situation out of proportion.
"The issue was blown out of proportion by the press. It all had to do with wrong timing. It was a calypso festival so the youth dem did want the jump up thing, a few bottles were thrown but it was not a big thing like how the press made it look," he said.
Luciano was very busy at the time of the interview, however, he did spare a minute to comment on his current stroke of luck.
"I feel good to know that mi a guh duh Jah works because a long time dem a whol' mi back. I feel good for 2012, its Dennis Brown and Bob Marley month so right now I'm bubbling with reggae music. My fans I am not going to disappoint you. I have three new albums to release so it will be no hitching or glitching," Luciano said.
-THE STAR
Kartel remanded again for Lizard's murder
Deejay Vybz Kartel was again remanded when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday in relation to the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.
Kartel and five other men are charged in connection with the killing.
The other five men who also appeared in court yesterday are fellow deejay Shawn Campbell, more popularly known as Shawn Storm; Cairo Jones, Shane Williams, Andre St John and fashion designer Calvin Haye.
All except Haye were remanded.
Haye, who is on bail was granted an extension.
He along with Kartel and the other accomplices are to return to court on March 16.
High Court judge Marva McDonald Bishop, yesterday instructed the Crown to write to the forensic lab to have the reports on the case available by that time.
The judge says the reports will be needed because a bail application is expected to be made at that time.
On August 16, Clive Williams was reportedly beaten and stabbed in Havendale, St Andrew.
However, the police have not located his body.
The court heard that the police have video and audio recordings linking Kartel, and his co-defendants to the killing.
The police say they also have eyewitness statements connecting the men to the murder.
REDjet to fly St. Maarten route
The Barbadian low cost airline, REDjet, has announced plans to begin servicing a new route from Barbados to St Maarten for which it expects to begin selling seats within the next two weeks.
The company said it has received the necessary licences required to fly to St. Maarten and intends to operate that route twice weekly, including a service on Saturdays.
REDjet will offer passengers the option to travel with "unlimited baggage, allowing them to capitalise on the commercial and shopping opportunities available in St Maarten," according to a release issued by the company.
The airline’s chief executive officer, Ian Burns, said the “move represents another key milestone in REDjet's plan to deliver the lowest fares, reliable service and accessible travel across the region.”
He noted that since Redjet’s inception in May 2011 customers have been asking the airline to operate that route and “we are very excited to service this new market that will open up many opportunities for shopping and entertainment for which St Maarten is famous."
REDjet currently service six routes, flying to Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, St. Lucia and Antigua. St. Maarten will be its seventh destination.
Warner comes under fire for 'missing' Haiti aid funds
Former Caribbean football mogul Jack Warner has again come under fire over missing Haiti emergency aid money, with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) alleging Thursday that its former special advisor had taken sole responsibility for the funds.
In a release, the embattled TTFF claimed while it was aware of the funds sent by football's world governing body, FIFA, and the Korean Football Federation, the money had been handled by Warner alone through one of its accounts.
"The TTFF acknowledges it is aware of funds made available by both FIFA and the Korean Football Federation for the football victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake in 2010," the TTFF said.
"However, we are unable to confirm the quantum of funds received, as these monies did not go into the account used by the TTFF administration for its day-to-day operations, but instead to the TTFF's LOC account as was requested by Mr Jack Warner, the former vice-president of FIFA and special adviser to the TTFF.
"The current executive is unaware of how these funds were disbursed or utilised and is awaiting the promised audited accounts from Mr Warner."
FIFA said earlier this week it had wired US$250,000 at Warner's request following the Haiti earthquake, but claimed the Haiti federation had only received US$60,000.
The earthquake on January 12, 2010 killed an estimated 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless. A number of Haitian football executives were also killed.
FIFA said it still had not received "a satisfactory response" about what happened to the remaining US$190,000 and had stopped further payments to the Trinidad federation.
Warner, a former powerful FIFA vice-president, brushed aside the latest firestorm earlier this week as "foolish".
In the release, the TTFF admitted it had ceded much of its authority to Warner who had now failed to provide the relevant information it had requested.
"The TTFF realises the final responsibility for any account in its name lies with us, but confesses that it surrendered its authority to Mr Warner, who has been for more than three decades a larger-than-life figure in national and international football and was a trusted agent and member of our organisation," the TTFF said.
"We never questioned his authority or actions and are now in a position of despair as we are starved of funds by FIFA until full disclosure, which we are unable to provide without Mr Warner's input. Sadly, Mr Warner seems disinclined to comply with our repeated requests."
Warner was also a FIFA executive committee member and head of the North, Central American and Caribbean Confederation and the Caribbean Football Union (CONCACAF) before resigning last year at the height of the cash-for-votes bribery scandal.
CMC
Guyana,Suriname pursue common interest for betterment of both countries peoples
THE fight against piracy, intelligence sharing, strengthening of bilateral cooperation and cross-border security were among the issues discussed by President Donald Ramotar and his Surinamese counterpart, Desire Bouterse, as an eight-member Guyana delegation engaged in a one-day working visit to the Republic of Suriname.
Mining, agriculture, and fisheries, as well as climate change were discussed, while the issue of military cooperation was placed on the front-burner.
President Bouterse told journalists after signing the communique that it is in the interest of both states that the two countries’ armies collaborate. He said however, that recurring comments about a border dispute between Guyana and Suriname must be placed on the back burner. President Bouterse said it is in the interest of the two states to focus on what binds them rather than what causes divisions. In this regard, the two parties agreed to an eleven - point communiqué which states as follows:-
1. His Excellency Donald Ramotar, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, paid a one-day working visit to Suriname on February 17, 2012, at the invitation of His Excellency Desiré Delano Bouterse, President of the Republic of Suriname.
2. The two Heads of State discussed several matters of mutual interest. They exchanged ideas on ways and means of advancing their shared vision of intensifying the existing relations and cooperation between Suriname and Guyana. Agreement was reached on areas that can forge closer ties between the two countries.
3. The two Presidents reiterated the importance of the construction of the bridge across the Corantijn (Corentyne) River, which would considerably enhance trade and economic relations, as well as cultural exchanges between the peoples of the two countries. They decided on a joint approach towards the IDB for the purpose of identifying modalities for financing.
4. Both Presidents underscored the vast potential for cooperation in the field of industrial development, especially in the exploration and exploitation of available natural resources. The potential for joint exploitation of mineral resources was highlighted as well as the need for increased technical cooperation at all levels between the two countries. They also agreed to continue their efforts toward intensified cooperation and sharing of knowledge, know-how and information in the field of petroleum exploration and production.
5. Both Heads of State addressed the need for an increased focus on food security within the Caribbean Community, and reiterated the urgent need to develop a common agricultural strategy, aimed at making the two countries the major food suppliers within the region. To this end, they instructed their pertinent institutions to meet within one month to identify the possibilities for joint action in agriculture and to make recommendations for further cooperation.
6. The two Presidents discussed the initiative of the Republic of Suriname to encourage CARICOM enterprises to mobilise regional resources – natural, financial and human- to promote regional development. The Guyanese Head of State congratulated President Bouterse for conceptualising and promoting this proposal, and supported the view that it has the potential to provide a sustainable base for the generation of funds aimed at financing national development initiatives within the region.
7. Both Presidents addressed the issue of cross -border crimes, which pose a serious threat to their national security and agreed to fully implement the recommendations made by their respective security institutions during the First Presidential Security and Intelligence Exchange Meeting between Suriname and Guyana held on 29-30 April 2011 in Guyana. They noted that the second round of consultations is scheduled to be convened in Paramaribo, in March 2012. They agreed to establish a Border Security Committee as a direct mechanism for information sharing and monitoring, so as to deal with this matter in all its aspects.
8. In view of recent robberies at sea, the two Presidents pledged to continue to work collaboratively to address this phenomenon which is posing a challenge for the fishing industries of both countries. They instructed their institutions dealing with fisheries to adopt measures regarding security requirements for fishing vessels and fishermen.
9. In discussing the issue of climate change, both Presidents highlighted the impact which the recent unusually high levels of rainfall have had on their countries, especially in the agricultural sector. They called for a concerted approach at the global level to deal with serious threats posed by climate change. In this regard, they urged the international community to increase their efforts for the successful outcome of the Rio+ 20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next June. The Presidents instructed their respective Foreign Ministers to consult each other on all matters related to the issue of climate change and the upcoming Rio+ 20 Conference.
In addition to recognizing the need for intensifying adaptation activities, both Presidents recognized and acknowledged the important mitigating role played by their forests. The Presidents reiterated the need to join forces to gain global recognition for the REDD+ mechanism. A more formal partnership framework will be considered to intensify South-South knowledge sharing to upscale technology transfer and strengthen negotiation teams.
10. The two Presidents expressed satisfaction with the successful outcome of their deliberations, which is regarded as a solid base for furthering the excellent relations that happily exist between the two countries. They further agreed to continue maintaining an open channel of communication between themselves and instructed their Ministers of Foreign Affairs to meet at least once every six months.
11. His Excellency President Donald Ramotar expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Desiré Delano Bouterse for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
JOINT INITIATIVES
“ On the issue of joint initiatives as it relates to natural resources, which is the interest of the people of both states, I am particularly attracted to the ideas put forward by my colleague,” President Ramotar noted.
The Guyanese Leader added, “We have a lot to benefit by integrating our societies more and more and to develop our countries for the benefit of our peoples”.
President Ramotar told those gathered that the issue of making the Springlands/Nickerie crossing referred to as the ‘back track’ route into a legal entry point is under active consideration.
He said the issue must be taken in the context of many similar challenges facing the two states. He referred to the large unprotected borders and the scourge of piracy.
President Ramotar said that his first official visit to Suriname was a reflection of his determination to work toward improving the already existing good relations that have been established and continue to exist between Guyana and Suriname.
Earlier, President Ramotar and his delegation held discussions with, and were hosted to breakfast by Vice-President Robert Ammeerali. The delegation also met with the staff of Guyana’s Embassy in Suriname.
President Ramotar addressed a number of issues affecting them and assured them of his government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the working class, and more specifically, that of Foreign Service workers. Also addressing the Embassy’s staff was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Guyana’s delegation also comprised Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elizabeth Harper; newly appointed Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George; outgoing Ambassador Merlin Udho; Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud; and Head of the Intelligence Unit of the Guyana Defence Force, Lt. Colonel Omar Khan.
The visit ended last evening with a dinner held in honour of the Guyanese delegation at the President’s Complex.
Guyana Chronicle
GOVERNER SETS MEETING FOR GRANT TURK & PROVIDENCIALES
His Excellency The Governor's programme of quarterly visits to each of family islands continues next week.
After successful public meetings in Salt Cay, South, North and Middle Caicos, meetings will also be held in Grand Turk on 21 Feb and Providenciales on 22 Feb.
These meetings are part of Governor Todd's commitment to the people of TCI to regularly visit the country's population centres, and to build on his promise made late last year to meet the people quarterly throughout 2012 to provide them with his personal update on progress against the milestones - the achievement of which will lead to fresh elections later this year.
The Grand Turk meeting will take place at 6.00pm in the Ona Glinton Auditorium on Tue 21 Feb 2012.
The Providenciales meeting will take place at 6.00pm in the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Centre on Wed 22 Feb 2012.
John Vasatka Named new GM of Veranda Resort
John Vasatka has been named as General Manager for the five-star, fully-inclusive Veranda Resort in Providenciales.
With 28 years of international hospitality experience, Vasatka will oversee all operations and guest services for the 168-room, 10-acre property, including eight private beachfront villas, Marin, the resort’s signature beachfront restaurant with second-floor Sky Lounge, Sabai Spa by Elemis, VIK Kids Town, three swimming pools, a tennis court and meeting facilities.
"We could not be more thrilled to have John Vasatka join our award-winning team at The Veranda," said Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal, Grace Bay Resorts.
Advani added that the resort is fortunate to have attracted someone like Vasatka given his extensive background with Amanresort.
Prior to joining The Veranda Resort, Vasatka worked intently with five Amanresorts across the globe, including Amanresorts, Amman, Jordan (pre-opening), Amanyara, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, (opening and subsequent operations), Amanwella, Tangalle, Sri Lanka (opening), Amanpulo, Philippines and Amanpuri, Phuket, Thailand, Amanresort’s flagship property. His experience also includes serving as Resident Manager at Little Dix Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Virgin Gorda, B.V.I, and Boca Beach Club General Manager at Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, Florida.