ARAWAKROOTS NEWS
VOL.7, NO.4
JULY, 2009
WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA (JA OBSERVER- 6/28/09)- With very few jobs available and the returns from farming being less than viable, some residents of this deeply rural constituency have willingly admitted to engaging in illicit ganja farming. A lack of opportunities for the youth is also being blamed for the activity.
Because of the lack of development in the area, the majority of the young people with skills have been migrating to Montego Bay where there are more opportunities. While the mainstay for the 40,000 residents here is agriculture, a fair amount of people rely on fishing and tourism.
ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS- 7/4/09)- In an effort to save Maho Bay Camps, the Trust for Public Land has started a fund and is seeking donations to help purchase the property. The 14 acres occupied by the camp does not belong to its founder, Stanley Selengut. Selengut has had a long-term lease on the property for the past 37 years that expires in 2012. The camp is planning to close July 31, 2011, to have enough time to dismantle the structures and vacate the property.
Once the lease expires the landowners will sell the property, which is already on the market. The land is zoned W-1, waterfront pleasure, which encompasses commercial and residential uses. It would be ideal for a large resort or condominium complex, the type of development the trust seeks to prevent.
The trust uses donations from individuals, foundations and businesses to purchase land for conservation and public use. The new fund will finance land appraisals and negotiations needed to finalize a purchase. Ideally, a third-party trust would be created so that Maho Bay Camps could continue to operate and lease the property and revenues would stay in the Virgin Islands.
The new fund is not connected to the recent 400-acre purchase of Estate Maho Bay, the property directly above the eco-campground. (See article in Vol.7,#3.)
The Trust for Public Land has conserved 9 sites in the Virgin Islands since it started working in the territory in 1999. To make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Maho Bay Camps acquistion,
email: john.garrison@tpl.org or visit: www.tpl.org/caribbean.
ST. JOHN, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 7/6/09)- Music, fireworks and revelry marked July 4th as St. John put on its biggest party of the year. The St. John Festival reached its climax with a full day of activities.
The day kicked off before sunrise with J'ouvert drawing hundreds of people. The earliest partyers started tramping behind a steel pan band in the heart of Cruz Bay. Soon the volume kicked up as three bands began tramping from the east end of town. The largest group partied with JAMMERZ for about 2 hours. The group moved slowly through Cruz Bay, dancing in the streets.
Later in the day, thousands packed into town to take part in the Festival Parade, led by Festival Royalty in convertibles. Then came many entertaining troupes, floats and musical acts. Jump-ropers, twirlers and majorettes performed dazzling routines for judges as they passed. One troupe paid tribute to Michael Jackson as they danced to "Billie Jean". The LOVE CITY PAN DRAGONS and PANS IN MOTION performed along the street, bringing people to their feet. Hula-hoopers, grass-skirted revelers and classic troupes with shimmering costumes rounded out the 5-hour parade.
Lights flashed over the harbor at 9 PM as fireworks exploded in the sky. People huddled along the beach in Cruz Bay as the explosions lit the night sky. The night wrapped up with music by Destra Garcia in the Festival Village while revelers enjoyed their last bites of local food from the vendors.
(VI DAILY NEWS- 7/4/09)- The reverberating sound of a conch shell blown by Manu Boyd rolled through Franklin Powell Park as the fight for freedom from slavery was remembered in Cruz Bay on Cultural Day during St. John Festival. Emancipation Day was marked with dancing, drumming, singing and speeches that recalled the history of emancipation in the Virgin Islands.
The crowds sampled free traditional foods such as cassava bread, almond sugar cakes and red grout. Vendors offered African clothing, jewelry and local crafts in the park. Delroy "Ital" Anthony spoke out as he played drums with The ECHO PEOPLE. "Let's not forget our ancestors. Let's not forget our freedom fighters", Ital spoke.
On July 3, 1848, a slave revolt on St. Croix bore down on Fort Frederik. Governor Peter Von Scholten, fearing the destruction of the towns and plantations, declared "all unfree in the Danish West Indies are from today free."
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA (JA OBSERVER- 6/26/09)- When ETANA and TARRUS RILEY take the stage at what has been dubbed the "greatest reggae show on earth", REGGAE SUMFEST patrons will have already seen performances from some of the biggest names in reggae. However, a major part of the closing night of the festival rests in the hands and voices of the reigning prince and princess of reggae.
Etana, who released her debut album, THE STRONG ONE, on VIP Records last year, is known for strong lyrical and vocal content and soul-stirring performances. Label mate Tarrus Riley, whose sophomore album will be released just days before he takes the Sumfest stage, joins Etana with an enviable track record of outstanding performances around the world. His hit single,"She's Royal" has become a staple on reggae radio.
While patrons and journalists praised the two for their performances at last year's festival, expectations are high for this year as the pair has consistantly released singles, easily whetting the appetites of those ready to see them in action on stage.
(JA OBSERVER- 7/3/09)- This year's staging of SUMFEST, the most successful reggae festival globally, will be dedicated to the memory of the late Michael Jackson. "This year is going to be dedicated to Michael", stated Robert Russell, chairman of Summerfest Promotions. "Just like the BET Awards, performer's will sing some of Michel's songs ."
It was also disclosed that Rasta crooner JAH CURE will become the first performer from Montego Bay to be the closing act at Sumfest. Self-proclaimed "King of Dancehall" BEENIE MAN will be honoured for performing at 15 of the 17 Sumfest's.
This year's SUMFEST, which runs from July 19-25, features: Damian "Junior Gong" Marley, Bounty Killer, Lady Saw, Morgan Heritage, Elephant Man, Jah Cure, CoCo T, Tarrus Riley, Mavado, Etana,
Vybz Kartel, Nas, Jazmine Sullivan and Toni Braxton.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (JA OBSERVER- 6/28/09)- If everything goes according to plan, Jamaica's gift for its 46th anniversary of independence, is the local premiere of the latest movie on Jamaican music entitled, "Rock Steady- The Roots of Reggae". According to Canadian producer Robert Boulos, what started as a documentary has not only evolved into a full-length flick, but promises to be better than all such projects featuring Jamaican music.
"We are trying to release it in August for Jamaica and the Caribbean and internationally in September.", Boulos said. "We're ready to distribute the movie worldwide. It's not just a straight-to-DVD kind of documentary. We're very excited about that."
The movie- with a budget of US $1.5 million and jointly funded by Canada and Switzerland- has some of reggae's greatest stalwarts in its cast including: Ernie Ranglin, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Lyn, Gladdy Anderson, Headley Bennett, Lloyd Parks, Calvin Cameron, Leroy Sibbles, Marcia Griffiths,
Judy Mowatt, Dawn Penn, The Tamlins and Bongo Herman.
OSLO, NORWAY (JA OBSERVER- 7/4/09)- Former world 100m record-holder Asafa Powell won the men's 100m in a time of 10.07 seconds at the Golden League Bislet Games here. Antiguan Daniel Bailey was second in a photo finish, that included Powell's Jamaican teamate Michael Frater who finished third in 10.08 seconds.
In the female sprints, Jamaica's Kerron Stewart won the 100m in 10.99 seconds with Trinidad's Kelly Ann Baptiste 2nd in 11.14 and Bahama's Chandra Sturrup 3rd in 11.15.
Africa, as expected, dominated the longer distances, with Kenya's Collina Cheboi winning the 1500m and Ethiopia's Deresse Mekonnen winning the mile.
