Man with the golden voice invited to Bermuda
Steps are being taken to invite American Ted Williams, whose “golden voice” has taken him from homelessness to international fame in a matter of days, to Bermuda.
Mr Williams yesterday reminisced about Bermuda on NBC's Today Show, saying a visit to the Island was the "happiest moment of my life".
The homeless Mr Williams has been the object of intense media interest after a short interview clip he was featured in went viral on YouTube.
A voice-over artist who had fallen on hard times, Mr Williams' clip was viewed some 12 million times.
During the interview with Ann Curry and Al Roker yesterday, he said a visit to Bermuda more than 30 years ago remained one of the best times of his life.
Mr Williams said he thought of that trip recently, after psychologist Dale Atkins recommended he focus on a happy memory to cope with stress brought on by his newfound fame.
“Being the recovering alcoholic and addict that I am, she said [to] meditate before medicate....She took me to a place, the most happiest moment of my life.
“When I was young my mom took me to Bermuda ... I love Bermuda. I don't know what's going on with Bermuda now, but in the 70s that was the Hawaii of the Atlantic as far am I'm concerned and being from New York, Bermuda is the closest thing to Hawaii that we have...”
Tourism Minister Patrice Minors said today that steps are underway to bring Mr Williams back to Bermuda.
Minutes after the interview aired, the Bermuda Department of Tourism's New York representatives had contacted him with a view to extending an invitation for him to visit Bermuda, she said.
She added: "I must admit that when I saw his story, I too was moved by his life struggles and challenges. And how absolutely touching that he cited Bermuda and his memories of our beautiful Island as being a beacon of light in his life.
"Spending some time to digest all that is happening in a place where he has fond memories could be a wonderful experience for him. So, in a gesture of kindness and good will, I can confirm that we have reached out to Mr. Williams to let him know that his story has deeply touched all of Bermuda.
"We would be pleased to welcome him, and it's hoped that he will be able to visit the Island sometime in the near future."
Mr Williams wasn't the only person on NBC talking about Bermuda yesterday.
‘Today Show' presenter Matt Lauer said he loved the Island during a review of three-day getaway travel destinations with journalist Kate Maxwell.
Ms Maxwell extolled Bermuda as a golfing destination, and a break from New York with “really pleasant” temperatures and lovely weather.
A stay at the Fairmont Southampton was mentioned as a travel deal. And a viewer who spotted the references on Bermuda on VSB-TV Channel 11 said: “We also got onto the soap opera ‘Days of our Lives'.
“One of the characters said she was taking a plane to Bermuda for a business meeting, so maybe somebody there likes us.”
Nicole Murphy’s in Barbados
Nicole Murphy, former wife of actor Eddie Murphy has been soaking up the sunshine and warm Caribbean sea in Barbados, where she and her beau Ex-Giants player Michael Strahan have been enjoying a six-day holiday at the Hilton Hotel.
Murphy said the couple who are engaged, are considering summer marriage plans, but had not yet decided on a venue for the nuptials.
The mother of five who was divorced from Murphy for about four years said she was having a great time, and enjoying a good friendship with her ex-husband. Eldest child 21-year-old Bria is the new L’Oreal spokesperson for Dark and Lovely.
Nicole and Eddie share the children who alternate weekly stays with either parent.
She is still busy with her modelling career, and is also developing a jewellery line.
The five-foot ten beauty who turned 43 while in Barbados said “I love Barbados. I told Michael we should get a home here”.
She attended a reception at Illaro Court on Friday night, hosted by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.
Man killed on St. Croix
The territory's second shooting death of 2011 came less than 24 hours after the first.
Krishna Ramkisson, 26, of Mutual Homes housing community was getting out of his vehicle near his home about 8:30 p.m. when an unknown number of assailants fired a number of shots and struck him at least once, police said.
The assailants fled the scene, and Ramkisson fell on the pavement by his vehicle, where police responders found him, said V.I. Police spokeswoman Melody Rames.
Officers attempted to perform CPR on Ramkisson until emergency medical responders arrived on the scene and took over, but the man was unresponsive and died shortly after, police said.
Police detectives still are trying to piece together what led of to Ramkisson's murder, said V.I. Police Commissioner Novelle Francis Jr. Ramkisson did not have a criminal record, and Francis said the police still are working out theories. The circumstances indicate that the shooter or shooters were lying in wait for the victim to return home, according to Francis.
"We're still trying to develop the motives on this one," Francis said.
One factor that could prove useful is the possibility of a large number of witnesses, according to police.
Given the time and location of the shooting - early evening in the middle of a housing community - a lot of people likely were around who might have seen the incident play out, Francis said.
"We're appealing to those individuals to call in and get that information to us," he said.
Police continue to investigate the murder and asked for the public's help in gathering more information on this case.
The territory has had three homicides, including one vehicular homicide, this year. Two have been on St. Thomas; one on St. Croix.
Don killed in police operation in Jamaica
The reputed don of the Southside community in central Kingston was fatally shot yesterday during a joint police/military operation in the community.
He has been identified as 31-year-old Horace Ramsay otherwise called 'Pugu'.
A release from the Constabulary Communication Network yesterday said a .380 pistol and two rounds of ammunition along with a quantity of marijuana and a motorcycle were seized during the incident.
Thirty one persons were also reportedly taken into police custody, and are to be processed with interviewed.
The release further went on to allege that Ramsay was the leader of the New World Order Gang which was involved in a power struggle for turf in Southside.
After the shooting yesterday, residents of the community staged a protest saying Ramsay's killing was a case of police brutality. Meanwhile, the police say another man, Marious Davis, also called otherwise called 'Bredda Bredda' is at the other end of the war which caused a number of recent shootings in the community.
Consequently, the police say Davis is wanted for questioning and should report to the Kingston Central Police Station to Police personnel at the Central Police Station or the Elleston Road Police Station by 10 a.m. today.
Lionfish Infestation continues in St.Martin
After a relatively brief lull in Lionfish activity the Nature Foundation is responding to increasing reports of Lionfish in local waters. A large specimen of 30 cm was caught on the wreck of the Fu-Sheng dive site outside of Cupecoy on Saturday at a depth of 90 ft by Nature Foundation staff and was immediately dissected while on Board the Marine Park Patrol Vessel Yellowtail.
Nature Foundation Chief Ranger Etienne Lake brought the captured specimen to the surface and it was decided to immediately dissect the specimen in order to determine what it has been eating.
A juvenile Yellowtail Snapper was recorded in a pre-digested state. This reinforces the concern that Lionfish are a significant threat to juvenile fish species in St. Maarten territorial waters. Lionfish are an invasive species that were introduced into the Caribbean in the early nineteen nineties through the aquarium trade and have invaded the marine ecosystem ever since. The fish poses a threat to local coral reef fish as local species have not adapted to protect themselves from this voracious predator. Lionfish also possess numerous venomous spines that can inflict a dangerous and harmful sting in humans.
The Nature Foundation is continuously catching and responding to reports of Lionfish in local waters.
ATTEMPTED ILLEGAL MIGRANTS INTERCEPTED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
A co-ordinated effort by government agencies and departments has led to the successful detention of over 100 Haitian nationals who, in an attempt to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands illegally, reached West Caicos by boat on Monday. Medical checks confirmed that none of them were suffering from cholera.
Police and immigration officers found 116 migrants on West Caicos on Monday and another six on Tuesday. The joint police and immigration unit (SPICE) meanwhile dismissed reports that a second sloop had landed more migrants in the Chalk Sound area in Provo on Wednesday. SPICE said it conducted a thorough search after receiving reports that people were seen running through the bushes in Chalk Sound. They subsequently apprehended four Haitian males who had made their way from West Caicos to Provo. This brought the total detained over the past three days to 126.
A medical team from the Ministry of Health accompanied police for the West Caicos operation and their timely screening found no-one with any of the symptoms associated with cholera, the water borne disease which has recently spread through Haiti. The medical team was assisted by the Red Cross and the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies.
All of those detained were provided with humanitarian support including food, water, clothing if required and personal hygiene items. The sixteen children among the group were provided with medical care and proper adult supervision.
With the full co-operation of the Haitian authorities, all the prospective migrants have now been returned to Haiti, on direct flights from Providenciales. The public are requested to remain vigilant for signs of attempts to enter the country illegally and to report any suspicious activity to the police.
Victoria's Secret 2011 Swim Shoot done in the TCI
Victoria's Secret Supermodels Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge and Chicago's own Erin Heatherton as they hit the beaches of sexy Turks and Caicos for this year's swim catalogue photo shoot.
The Angels will give you an over-the-top-sexy, behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the 2011 Victoria's Secret swimsuit collection featuring the hottest looks in swimwear this season.
Also check out one on one interviews with Candice, Lily and Erin as they show us their favorite swimsuits, discuss why they love being in the Victoria's Secret swim catalogue and reveal who will be on this years coveted swim catalogue cover.
The 2011 Victoria's Secret Swim Catalogue will heat up nearly 10 million mailboxes this month.
Source: http://www.chicagonow.com
Beenie Man gets bail extension
Dancehall artiste Moses 'Beenie Man' Davis had his bail extended in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.
which was issued for the artiste be vacated as Roderick Gordon, Davis' attorney-at-law, told the court that his client was absent for his last court date due to overseas contractual engagements.
Davis, who has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, is to return to court on March 2 for trial.
Davis was charged along with Jeremy Wade, otherwise known as 'Rolex', who was charged with assault at common law, for an incident involving the complainant, Horace 'LA Lewis'.
Allegations are that on June 5, Davis assaulted fellow entertainer Lewis after they were involved in a minor car accident.
Lewis told the police that he was travelling along Perkins Boulevard, near Red Hills Road, when the incident occurred.
He said Davis had stopped his car in the road so that he could converse with another motorist.
Lewis claimed he was attempting to drive past the cars when a section of his car hit Davis' vehicle after which Davis allegedly exited his vehicle and assaulted him.
According to Lewis, Davis had the support of his entourage to aid in the assault, which resulted in him being hit in the face.
Céline Dion: Twins Tiring, But an ‘Intense Joy’
Ten weeks after delivering twin boys, Céline Dion says she’s ‘coping day by day’ with sons Nelson and Eddy.
In an interview with French magazine GALA, the singer, 42, explains that she’s thankful for the help she receives from her mother Thérèse and sister Linda, as their presence means she doesn’t have to worry about “house work, cooking or doing the shopping.”
“I didn’t have these children to not take care of them, to give myself to them 200 – 300 percent,” she explains.
“I am changing diapers and breastfeeding and that’s something where no one can take my place. It’s tiring but an intense joy.”
“I take things day by day,” Dion adds. “That’s the secret to me. In any case, breastfeeding is more difficult if you are stressed. Sometimes I find myself in comical situations I don’t know how to get myself out of. For example, when both are feeding and one has gas while the other is burping, I don’t know which position to adopt!”
After delivering the boys on Oct. 23, Dion says she experienced loss of appetite and a change in mood, which others noticed. “Some of the first days after I came home, I was a little outside myself,” the singer notes. “I had no appetite and that bothered me. My mother remarked that she noticed I had moments of lifelessness, but reassured me that this was entirely normal.”
She also experience mood swings, telling the magazine, “One moment, tremendous happiness; the next, fatigue sets in, and I cried for no reason, and then that took care of itself. It’s for things like that after having a baby that mothers really need emotional support.”
Though she will begin lightly rehearsing later this month for her Las Vegas return in March, Dion isn’t putting too much pressure on herself.
“In reality, I’ve had almost no time getting a shower and feeding myself. My preoccupation has been eating sensibly,” she shares. “My only worry has been to be able to open and close [my tops] quickly for breastfeeding. It’s been out of the question to even wear a blouse!”
As for the beauty details, “makeup can wait. There’ll be time for all that,” Dion laughs.
SOURCE:PEOPLE
T.I. Reprimanded In Prison Over Sexual Act With Tiny
T.I. was reprimanded in prison, after security guards caught the Atlanta rapper engaged in a sexual act with his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle.
The rap star is serving a year-long sentence at Arkansas State Prison for violating the terms of his previous probation, stemming from an incident in September of 2010, when he and his wife were busted for possession of ecstasy in Los Angeles.
According to TMZ.com, guards caught T.I. and Tiny engaged in the sexual act during regular visiting hours at the prison, which adheres to strict guidelines when it comes to prisoners and visitors.
As a result of their sexual escapade, T.I. was sent to a "Special Housing Unit" for an undetermined amount of time.
Source:TMZ