Coco Tea rules at 'Marley Bash'
Veteran reggae singer Coco Tea took the resort town of Negril by storm on Saturday night, dazzling patrons at the 20th Bob Marley Birthday Bash with a brilliant performance, which left the appreciative patrons at the scenic MXIII Lawn consumed with musical satisfaction.
In fact, when Coco Tea left the stage, the elated fans did not even seem to realise that Jah Cure, who was billed as the headline act for the show, did not show as they poured out of the venue, obviously quite pleased with what they had just witnessed.
Had House of Leeds' dazzling singjay Iyahblazze, who preceded Coco Tea to the stage, not reported in top form and deli-vered a peach of a performance, which earned him a most deserved encore, the raging Coco Tea would have totally over-shadowed all and sundry.
Taking centre stage at 1:50 a.m., clad in an immaculate khaki outfit with red, green and gold trimmings, the diminutive Coco Tea immediately took charge, sending the patrons in a dancing frenzy with Babylon Throne, and impressive covers of Bob Marley's Zimbabwe and Waiting in Vain.
Dancing audience
With the audience, which was dominated by tourists, warming to him and seemingly trapped in a dancing frenzy, Coco Tea lifted the tempo almost effortlessly, reeling off Rikers Island, She Love Me Now, Good Life and Sonia against a backdrop of screams of appreciation.
Coco Tea took a short break from his singing to scold the 'rent a dreads' in the audience, accusing them shamelessly selling themselves and in the process, seeking to spoil the vacations of some decent visiting husbands and wives with their freaky sexual advances.
After 'burning out' the 'rent a dreads', Coca Tea all but brought the house down, setting the stage for his encore with songs like Hurry Up, Stand Up Straight, Tune In and the ever-popular 18 and Over. In fact, had the police not insisted that the cut-off time be adhered to, he seemed all ready to sing until daybreak.
After his performance, Coco Tea was presented with a commemorative plaque by promoter Cecil 'Cubba' Pringle for his contribution to the growth and development of Jamaica's music.
Prior to Coco Tea's exploits, the fans were treated to a blazing set by a militant Iyahblazze, who matched his eye-catching black outfit with his equally catchy lyrics. The bulky Boboshanti was in his elements, especially on songs like his cover of Bob Marley's Rastaman Chant, Prayer, What If, Heart Fe De Poor and Woman.
Ecstatic fans
Iyahblazze hit the proverbial roof when he drew the song, Rasta, which had the fans going wild and screaming for more. When he was called on for an encore, Iyahblazze sealed his set with a thought-provoking song entitled, Patience, which left no doubt about his vocal power.
Canadian jazz singer Robin Banks, who performed only reggae songs in her set, offered an insight into her undeniable class. After initially connecting with her song Why? a tribute to Negril resident, the late Mikey Hill, who was killed in a controversial police shooting, she simply exploded.
It was all vocal styling of the highest order as Banks unleashed covers of Bob Marley's Waiting In Vain and Stir It Up; and Barrington Levy's Too Experienced, among other popular Jamaican classics.
Veteran singer Allie C, who performed early, earned an encore; MC turned singer Mega Watt, who showed impressive vocal qualities; the Star Singers, who displayed much confidence in reeling off their original songs, all made impressive marks. In fact, the only weak link was Jah Meekie, who struggled to connect with the fans.
Queen celebrates 60 years on throne with celebrations
Queen Elizabeth II marked 60 years on the throne today with a message thanking all those who have supported her over her reign and reaffirming her dedication to serving the British people.
Tributes from British officials poured in to honour the 85-year-old monarch on Accession Day. She ascended the throne when her father, George VI, died on February 6, 1952 and is the longest-serving monarch after Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years.
Before a year's worth of festivities to celebrate her milestone, the queen said she and her husband have been "deeply moved" to receive so many kind messages about her Diamond Jubilee.
"I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years," she wrote in a message to the nation. "In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope that we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign."
The queen's Diamond Jubilee will be feted with a series of regional, national and international events throughout 2012.
Over the course of 2012, members of the royal family — including Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge — will fan out across the globe and travel to Commonwealth countries including Canada, Jamaica and Belize.
The queen and Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, will stay closer to home, touring the UK from March to July.
The 2012 Diamond Jubilee weekend will be held from June 2-5, with the main highlight likely to be a huge pageant on the Thames river featuring a 1,000-strong flotilla.
Elizabeth expressed hope that the coming year will be a time to give thanks "for the great advances" since she took the throne and "look forward to the future with a clear head and warm heart."
Later today, the queen is slated to tour a nursery school and meet pupils there before watching a play about her 60 years as sovereign.
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron praised the Queen's "magnificent service," thanking her for guiding the nation with "dignity and quiet authority."
"Always dedicated, always resolute and always respected, she is a source of wisdom and continuity," Cameron said. "All my life, and for the lives of most people in this country, she has always been there for us. Today, and this year, in the 60th anniversary of her reign, we have the chance to say thank you."
6.8 quake in Philippines kills 13, buries homes
A strong earthquake destroyed buildings and triggered landslides that buried dozens of houses, trapping residents, Monday in the central Philippines. At least 13 people were killed and 29 were missing.
The 6.8-magnitude quake, in a narrow strait just off Negros Island, caused a landslide in Guihulngan, a city of about 180,000 people in Negros Oriental province. As many as 30 houses were buried and at least 29 people were missing, Mayor Ernesto Reyes said.
“Their situation is bad because if you are covered by landslide for one hour, two hours, how can you breathe?” he said. “But we just hope for the best, that there are still survivors.”
Rescuers were using picks and shovels to dig for survivors, he said.
Reyes said at least 10 people were confirmed dead in his town, including students at a college and an elementary school and others in a market that collapsed. About 100 were injured.
The quake, which hit at 11:49 a.m. (0349 GMT), triggered another landslide in the mountain village of Solongon in La Libertad town, also in Negros Oriental. An unknown number of people were trapped, said La Libertad police chief inspector Eric Arrol Besario.
“We’re now getting shovels and chain saws to start a rescue because there were people trapped inside. Some of them were yelling for help earlier,” Besario told The Associated Press by phone. Three key bridges in the town cracked and were no longer passable, he said.
Philippine seismologists briefly issued a tsunami alert for the central islands. Huge waves washed out five bamboo and wooden cottages at a beach resort in La Libertad, but there were no reports of injuries, said police Superintendent Ernesto Tagle. Elsewhere along the coast, people rushed out of schools, malls and offices.
The epicenter was closest to Tayasan, a coastal town of about 32,000 people flanked by mountains in Negros Oriental province. Two died there, including a child when a concrete fence of a house collapsed, said Benito Ramos, head of the Office of Civil Defense.
Another child was killed in a church when a wall collapsed during a funeral in Negros Oriental’s Jimalalud town, Mayor Reynaldo Tuanda said.
Tayasan police officer Alfred Vicente Silvosa told AP by phone that aftershocks were preventing people from returning to their homes.
“We are outside, at the town plaza. We cannot inspect buildings yet because it’s dangerous,” Silvosa said. “I felt the building shaking, so I rushed out of the building. Our computers, shelves, plates, the cupboards, water dispenser all fell.”
A three-story office building also collapsed in La Libertad, but occupants escaped.
Negros Oriental police chief Edward Carranza said the temblor damaged many houses in Guihulngan and he ordered his men to help displaced residents find shelter.
Officials in some areas suspended work and canceled classes. Power and telecommunications were knocked out in several places.
Carranza said police rushed out of his building when the quake struck. “All my personnel ran out fearing our building would collapse,” he said.
“Now it’s shaking again,” he said as an aftershock hit. “My keychain is dancing.”
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 44 miles (72 kilometers) north of Dumaguete city on Negros and hit at a depth of 29 miles (46 kilometers). The area is about 400 miles (650 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Manila.
The Philippines is in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. A 7.7-magnitude quake killed nearly 2,000 people in Luzon in 1990.
By JIM GOMEZ
YAHOO News
Stanford used secret account to bribe Antigua regulator, says witness
Texas financier Allen Stanford drew on a secret Swiss bank account to pay bribes to the banking regulator in Antigua and Barbuda, the prosecution’s top witness said at Stanford’s criminal fraud trial on Friday.
The 61-year-old Stanford is charged with using his Houston-based financial empire to swindle investors out of more than $7 billion. He has pleaded not guilty to a 14-count indictment.
At the heart of Stanford’s alleged fraud are certificates of deposit sold by his Antigua-based Stanford International Bank Ltd to about 28,000 investors.
Prosecutors allege that Stanford diverted $2 billion from customer deposits to fund a luxurious lifestyle and money-losing ventures such as airlines, real estate developments and cricket tournaments in the Caribbean.
“The monies flowed from Stanford International Bank CDs to this slush account. It was a slush fund, just used for whatever the holder wanted to use it for,” James Davis, Stanford Financial Group’s former chief financial officer, told the jury in US Federal Court in Houston. “One purpose was to pull cash out to bribe the regulator in Antigua, Mr Leroy King.”
King, former head of Antigua and Barbuda’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission and one of four people charged in a separate indictment, is accused of taking bribes to divert regulatory attention from Stanford’s operations, and is fighting extradition from Antigua.
Davis told jurors Stanford gave King at least $10,000 to $15,000 in cash every quarter, as well as tickets to the National Football League Super Bowl championship games in 2005 and 2009, to prevent government examiners from probing the bank’s investment portfolio.
Davis said that for years he supplied inflated totals for the bank’s investment accounts to Antiguan regulators to disguise the gap between the bank’s actual assets and its reported assets.
In June 2005, Davis said King gave Stanford a copy of a confidential letter from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asking Antiguan banking authorities for help investigating Stanford’s bank for possible fraud. Davis said Stanford and a company lawyer drafted King’s reply to the SEC, which falsely assured US regulators that Stanford’s bank was clean.
by Caribbean News Now
Cry of abuse
Guyanese are planning to demonstrate in Barbados this week to draw Caribbean and international attention to what they describe as the poor state of human rights in their homeland.
And the organizers are urging Barbadians to join.
The protests are to take place near the United States Embassy in Wildey, St Michael, and outside Government Headquarters on Bay Street, St Michael, on Friday.
The demonstrations are intended to send a message to the Barbados Government and American diplomatic representatives about the alleged “rising tide of human rights abuses” in Guyana, being ignored by CARICOM, the United Nations, Washington, Britain, Canada and regional and international bodies, the organizers say
Nation News
Gonsalves urges more work as ALBA pushes ‘single economic space’
Describing a proposal for creating a “single economic space” as a “possible way forward” through “a dangerous phase” of the world economy, the Vincentian prime minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves urged more detailed work before the eight-nation ALBA bloc formed a new economic area.
Gonsalves was speaking late Saturday night at the opening plenary of the 11th summit of the eight-year-old Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) whose formation was inspired by Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez.
The plenary session at the Palacio de Miraflores in the Venezuelan capital, which extended until shortly before midnight here (1220 East Caribbean Time Sunday) and was televised live, was an open and free-flowing roundtable discussion dominated by frequent, lengthy, off-the-cuff statements by Chavez and his Latin American counterparts.
“What we are proposing here is a possible way forward … not the only way forward but at least a possible way forward,” Gonsalves told the summit.
He stressed that he was not speaking for his Eastern Caribbean counterparts in ALBA, Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit and Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda.
But the Vincentian leader and attorney-at-law said a proposal for an ALBA economic area required a “significant juridical framework” that needed to take into account other regional economic and monetary arrangements, including the newly-formed OECS economic union and the CARICOM Single Market (CSME).
Other leaders, including Chavez, and the leaders of Bolivia, Ecuador, Cuba and Nicaragua sat stony-faced, as Gonsalves appeared to depart from the general thrust of the discussion that supported the concept of an economic area.
The proposed economic area would emphasise bartering and a virtual currency, the Sucre, to enable inter-ALBA transactions as an alternative to payment in United States dollars.
Later describing Gonsalves as “ALBA’s lawyer”, Chavez acknowledged the complex legal issues facing the body but pressed the need for political will to overcome any bureaucratic obstacles the economic area might present.
Gonsalves said he welcomed the ALBA proposal’s “excellent provisions” for “special and differential treatment” – language which offers concessionary support for small, open economies such as those in the Eastern Caribbean.
“The world economy has entered a dangerous phase,” said Gonsalves quoting the International Monetary Fund in its world economic outlook.
But the OECS leader also noted that half of the six-member nations of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union – Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis – were currently involved in “structural adjustment” programmes of a “schizophrenic” IMF that at once proposed both “stimulus and austerity”.
“My observation (is that) the IMF programme is nothing more than a continued life-support system with no capacity to take the patient off life support,” Gonsalves told his counterparts.
But tracing the economic problems facing the Eastern Caribbean to the American financial crisis and the depression that followed in September 2008, Gonsalves drew the summit’s attention to the impact of the collapse of the British-American and CLICO insurance companies on OECS economies.
He said the insurance giants’ collapse left liabilities that amounted to 18 per cent of the combined GDP of the six-member Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, apart from the impact of the global economic crisis.
“In my country, St Vincent and the Grenadines, it is 22 per cent (of the national economy),” Gonsalves said.
He drew a distinction with US President Barack Obama, who raised one trillion US dollars to bail out the US banking system – about one per cent of the size of the American economy.
“If I had a one per cent problem (I do not have a problem). I have a 20 per cent problem,” Gonsalves declared.
The Vincentian prime minister also blasted the ongoing debate between Republicans and Democrats in an election year in the United States, saying it was an “infantile debate” that presented “no serious answers” and to the dangers facing the global economy.
He noted that the disparities in the American economy where corporations continued to amass wealth at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Gonsalves said these problems presented “no clear solution” to the small open economies of the Eastern Caribbean.
The three ALBA member states of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines are dwarfed by the five Latin American member nations with a combined population of 71 million people and Gross Domestic Product of 588 billion US dollars.
Chavez has been pushing the ALBA system as a center-piece of Venezuelan foreign policy and regional integration that relies heavily on a form of pan-American cooperation that posed an alternative to an international economic and political system dominated by the United States.
The Venezuelan leader’s rhetoric and his concept of ALBA are patterned after the democratic ideology of the 19th century military and political leader, Simon Bolivar, who led the political independence of Venezuela and five other South America nations.
Quoting from Bolivar’s writings, Chavez said that a political revolution could not succeed unless there was an economic revolution.
As if to mirror history, Haiti, which offered military aid and moral support to Bolivar during his struggle against the Spanish Empire 200 years ago, has been invited to join ALBA.
Haiti’s President Michel Martelly made his first appearance at the summit. He read a prepared text in Spanish that outlined his country’s struggle against poverty and the humanitarian disaster the 2010 earthquake had triggered.
Chavez urged Martelly to adopt the Sucre, while announcing a humanitarian aid fund and an ALBA-Haiti development plan for the poorest nation in the Americas.
Later on Sunday, Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse and St Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony will address the second day of the summit, Chavez said.
Antigua Observer
Fidel Castro publishes memoirs
The leader of the Cuban Revolution and former president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, attended the launch on Friday of his memoirs, a two-volume book titled “Fidel Castro Ruz: Guerrillero del Tiempo” (Fidel Castro Ruz: Guerrilla of Time), at Havana’s Convention Palace.
The book is a compilation, in nearly one thousand pages, of conversations between Castro and writer and journalist Katiuska Blanco. It opens with the Cuban leader’s memories of his childhood and closes in December 1958, just before the triumph of the Revolution.
The presentation took place lasted about six hours, during which Castro greeted personally a number of attendees, among whom were old comrades from the Moncada military action and the Granma expedition.
The volumes were presented by Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto and the president of the Association of Cuban Writers and Artists, Miguel Barnet, who recounted some of the anecdotes contained in the book.
The book is a published by the Casa Editora Abril Cuban publishing house and the Federico Engels printers, with photos and drawings by Ernesto Rancaño, who also designed the cover.
Talking with and answering questions from the audience, Castro spoke about a number of things: the battles fought by students in Latin America and the rest of the world over their rights; tremendous scientific discoveries and emerging technologies; the risk of shale gas and the fabulous perspectives of nanotechnology.
Castro told the audience he reads hundreds of press releases every day; devours all the information he gets; follows closely the situation in Venezuela commemorating on February 4 the 20th anniversary of the military uprising led by Hugo Chavez.
He also spoke about the threats hanging over Syria and Iran, while the US and Europe are trying to convince Russia of the “ridiculous” idea that the antimissile shield was established to protect that country from the threats of Iran and North Korea.
Writer Graziella Pogolotti, president of the Alejo Carpentier Foundation, started the round of questions and told Castro that he should continue writing about his experiences as a fighter and his meetings with world personalities.
Castro said he is willing to do everything possible to pass on “whatever he remembers well”, and added: “I’m aware of the importance of writing all of this to pass it on, so that it can be useful.”
In closing the meeting, Castro regretted that time had run out and remarked, “I feel very happy, but I like to collaborate with the doctors. And, just for the record, I don’t do it as an act of courage but as an act of intelligence.”
Caribbean News Now
Pakistan v England: Gul and Ajmal complete series whitewash
England slumped to a 71-run defeat in the third Test in Dubai to suffer a series whitewash by Pakistan for the first time.
Set 324 to win, the England top order was undone by spin before Umar Gul (4-61) ripped through the middle order.
Alastair Cook (49) offered some resistance, only to succumb to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (4-67).
Matt Prior showed late aggression and was unbeaten on 49 as England were bowled out for 252.
The wicketkeeper's efforts at least took England past 200 for only the second time in the series, but another poor performance was typical of the way their batsmen have failed throughout the tour.
They managed only five half-centuries in three Tests, while Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell mustered fewer than 200 runs between them.
Indeed, on the entire tour, those three players failed to pass 40 in 29 innings, and Morgan's place especially looks under threat for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka in March and April.
By that time, England could be on the verge of being usurped as the world's number one Test side, as South Africa will move to the top of the rankings if they whitewash New Zealand 3-0.
For Pakistan, victory after being bowled out for 99 on the first day ensured they became the first side since 1907 to win a Test after making fewer than 100 in the first innings.
It completed a remarkable turnaround since the sides last met in England in 2010, a series overshadowed by the spot-fixing scandal.
Since then, Pakistan are unbeaten in seven series under captain Misbah-ul-Haq, but this result is by far their most impressive.
Their success came mainly thanks to the artistry of Ajmal and slow left-armer Abdur Rehman, who combined to take 43 wickets in three matches.
With England, who resumed on 36-0, needing to achieve their second-highest Test run chase for victory, the duo made short work of the top order before Gul's burst.
Pakistan were again aided by some dismal England batting, but when Strauss and Cook got away with offering simple chances to wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal and Gul respectively, it seemed luck was with the tourists.
However, England managed to play a part in their own downfall, Jonathan Trott and Bell falling to inexplicable strokes and Strauss trapped lbw by Rehman as he again refused to play off the front foot.
After Trott uncharacteristically top-edged a sweep to become Ajmal's first victim, England looked to be recovering through Cook and Pietersen, who signalled his intent to attack by launching Rehman for a straight six.
Both both were undone by Ajmal, Pietersen by an off-break from around the wicket that went between bat and pad, before Cook was caught at slip via a leading edge.
Bell and Morgan managed to stifle the threat of the spinners and forced Misbah into a bowling change after Rehman and Ajmal had bowled in tandem for much of the afternoon session.
It was to prove decisive as Bell slapped a Gul long hop to point on the paceman's return, then Morgan, advancing down the wicket, edged behind.
Stuart Broad joined Prior in attempting to attack after tea, only to hole out to long-off, before Graeme Swann drove Gul to point.
James Anderson shared a ninth-wicket stand of 34 with Prior that was broken when the former edged Ajmal to point, and Monty Panesar was lbw sweeping Rehman.
It completed England's seventh losing whitewash in Test cricket and their first series defeat since 2009.
Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants pip New England Patriots in epic
The New York Giants came from behind to beat the New England Patriots 21-17 with a dramatic last-minute touchdown in Indianapolis.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who destroyed New England in the Super Bowl four years ago, repeated the trick to set up Ahmad Bradshaw's six-yard run.
There were still 57 seconds for Tom Brady to respond, though, but the Patriots quarterback fell just short.
As in Super Bowl XLII, Manning picked up the Most Valuable Player award.
Manning, who this season led his team to six victories after being in losing positions before the Super Bowl, kept his composure at the end of a keenly contested encounter to mount the winning drive.
He was helped enormously though by a stunning catch by Mario Manningham, which will be remembered for years to come.
It came on the first play of their final drive. Manning, on his own 12-yard line with less than four minutes remaining, signalled his intent by firing a long pass down the left sideline. Manningham defied gravity to produce a superb catch as he fell, somehow getting both feet down in bounds and holding on to the ball.
It provided the Giants - who began the game well, taking an early 9-0 lead - with fresh impetus after they wilted under some relentless pressure from the Brady-inspired Patriots.
Eight plays later, and in surreal circumstances, Bradshaw fell into the endzone, completely untouched by the New England defence, who were prepared to concede the touchdown because it would have allowed Brady enough time for one final chance.
Were Bradshaw to have fallen at the one-yard line, Scottish-American kicker Lawrence Tynes would have had an easy field goal attempt to win the game as time expired.
Giants running back Bradshaw, who impressed throughout with 72 rushing yards from 17 attempts, could not stop himself from scoring, setting up a nailbiting final minute in which Brady - who completed a Super Bowl record 16 passes in a row during the game - did his utmost to snatch victory for New England.
But, with the last play of the game, his Hail Mary pass was batted to the ground by the Giants' relieved defence.
It was cruel on Brady, playing in his fifth Super Bowl, who recovered superbly from conceding a safety with his first possession to complete 27 of 41 passes for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Giants capitalised on Brady's mistake to take a 9-0 lead when Victor Cruz snagged Manning's perfectly thrown two-yard pass.
New England responded, hitting back with a well-measured drive before ultimately being stopped by the Giants' defence. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski made no mistake from 29 yards though to get them on the scoreboard.
Danny Woodhead's catch in the endzone then capped a masterful 14-play drive from Tom Brady, which saw the Patriots march 96 yards down the field at the end of the first half - tying the Super Bowl record for the longest drive.
Brady picked up where he left off at the start of the third quarter with another controlled drive before ultimately finding Aaron Hernandez with a short pass. The tight end fought off Deon Grant's despairing tackle to run into the endzone to make it 17-9.
The Patriots defence, with a reputation for giving up a lot of yards but not so many points, then took inspiration from their offence. Some fearful hitting and tackling restricted the Giants, but nonetheless they got three more points onto the board courtesy of a 38-yard Tynes field goal.
New England failed to respond, but were unlucky soon afterwards when they failed to recover the Giants' wide receiver Hakeem Nicks's fumble.
New York failed to fully capitalise on their stroke of good luck and were forced to settle for another Tynes field goal, this time from33 yards, at the end of the third quarter to bring them back within two points at 17-15.
Brady's trademark composure slipped at the start of the fourth quarter when, after successfully evading two tackles, his long bomb down the field was intercepted by Chase Blackburn.
Bradshaw then nearly gave the ball straight back to New England but again the Giants got lucky when Chris Snee recovered the fumble.
The Patriots then aimed to run down the clock in the knowledge that the Giants had already blown two of their three timeouts.
But, after punting the ball back, Manning - who completed 30 of 40 throws for 296 yards - was able to weave his magic and set up yet another fairytale ending for the Giants.
James, Heat hold back Raptors, 95-89
LeBron James took a hard foul and clearly was not happy. So the next time he saw the ball, he made sure no Toronto player could reach him.
James' steal and dunk with just more than two minutes left gave Miami some breathing room, and the Heat held on to defeat the Toronto Raptors 95-89 on Sunday. James finished with 30 points and Dwyane Wade added 25 for the Heat (18-6), who won for the 10th time in its last 12 games and moved within one game of Chicago (20-6) for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
"We stuck with our principles," James said. "And that's to defend."
Chris Bosh scored 12 points against his former team, which saw a 15-point edge trimmed to three in the final minutes but never surrendered the lead. Mario Chalmers added 11 for Miami.
DeMar DeRozan scored 25 for the Raptors, who got 17 apiece from Jerryd Bayless and Linas Kleiza.
"I liked our disposition," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "I liked the way we approached it. I liked the way we competed."
Kleiza's 3-pointer with just under five minutes left got Toronto within eight, and another 3 from Bayless as the shot clock expired on the next Raptors' possession cut the Miami lead to 85-80 - the closest the game had been since early in the third quarter.
Bayless scored again to get the Raptors within three and cap a 12-0 Toronto run. And after Bosh missed a fadeaway from the right baseline, Bayless tried a 3-pointer to tie. It bounced off, and with the game in the balance, James went to work.
He was fouled by James Johnson and made two free throws with 2:20 left, not before letting anyone around him know he wasn't pleased with the physicality of the play. The next time James touched the ball, he didn't give the Raptors a chance to foul him - his steal and two-handed slam with 2:07 left gave Miami an 89-82 edge and all but ensured the win.
"Good back-to-back plays for our team and I was happy I was able to make them," James said.
James - who leads the NBA in first-quarter scoring this season (9.1 points a game) - got off to another big start, making his first five shots and scoring 12 points in the opening quarter. He's now shooting just under 60 percent in first quarters this season.
While scoring wasn't an issue, the Heat were far from in the clear.
Casey told the Raptors that establishing pace and limiting turnovers - especially early - would be big keys. Seemed like his team got the message: The Raptors matched a season-high with 27 points in the first quarter, and turned the ball over only five times in the first half. That, combined with DeRozan tying his season best with 16 points in the opening two quarters, kept the Raptors close.
"It just shows that we can compete with anybody," DeRozan said.
Miami's lead was only 53-48 at the break, and that was even after James and Wade combined to score 22 points in the opening quarter on 8 for 9 shooting.
"We knew it was going to be one of those grind-out kind of games," Wade said. "We understand that a lot of teams do that when they play the Heat - come out on fire."
In the third quarter, the Heat finally took control - not surprisingly, when the defense picked up a notch.
Toronto missed all but one of its shots over a seven-minute stretch of the third, a span where Miami started with a 55-54 lead and increased it 73-57. Chalmers hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the 18-3 run, James made a fadeaway with 3:27 to play in the period to close the flurry.
"Our energy was good," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Even throughout the game, I didn't have a problem with the energy. ... It was more of a real concentration and a discipline toward the end of the (shot) clock. And that's something we'll have to continue to get better at."
And, just as Casey feared, turnovers proved decisive. Toronto committed eight in the third, which Miami turned into nine points. Miami gave the ball away only twice in the third, and the Raptors didn't score on either.
"Next time we've got to come out and make the plays and close," Bayless said.