Babsy Grange To Valiant: “You Have An Awesome Responsibility”

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The content originally appeared on: Dance Hall Mag

As suggested by her boss, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and former Cabinet Member Karl Samuda, Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange appears to have been using “gentle persuasion” and her “charm and skills” in an attempt to steer her “nephew” Valiant away from recording unwholesome songs.

Grange shared a video of her address at Valiant’s 4X14 Mix Tape launch a few days ago, where she expressed how proud she was of the Red Hills native and urged the Dunce Cheque singer to always remind himself that he has an “awesome responsibility.”

Grange, who is a former manager of Patra, Shabba Ranks and Bounty Killer, noted that she hailed from “West Kingston above Coronation Market, and so I have been exposed to the good, the bad, and the ugly.” The Minister, during her seven-minute presentation, told Valiant that in spite of some of his bellicose musical content, he had made her proud, particularly due to his most recent act of benevolence.

“I have always felt that you must stay at work with your people and help to change attitudes and help to make them better.  And so, I have seen many poor youths rise to the top to the point where they can turn around and help others.  But I am so proud of Valiant, because there was this student who could not pay the school fee and Valiant stood up and said he would do it,” Grange explained.

“And not many others would do that: so you make some money, you buy some nice car, buy some nice sneakers; yuh spend yuh money on all kinda things and you forget where you coming from,” she added.

What Grange said next resulted in an outburst of laughter from those in attendance.

“So tonight, I want to say that Valiant is a special human being.  Yes, his music is controversial; yes, some of it, I can’t handle.  Yes, some of it, my colleagues don’t like it,” she declared, alluding to Information Minister Robert Morgan’s decrying of Dunce Cheque last year.

“You know what’s interesting?  I have a five year old great-granddaughter, She’s now in England.  Her birthday was a week ago.  And you know the message I had from her?  She wants a big up from Valiant,” Grange, 77, said. 

The former Specs/Shang executive also made references to Valiant’s recent declaration that he had “gone corporate” and therefore had no need to do raunchy or risqué songs.

“So Valiant, you have an awesome responsibility.  You say you gone corporate, right?  So now that you gone corporate, I expect that your music will display the kind of awesome responsibility that you have.  There are a lot of things happening in the society that is not good for us. Your fans and your audience and everybody here tonight, also equally, have the responsibility that you have,” the Central St. Catherine MP said.

Turning to Valiant again, she said: “Valiant come here. Come to Auntie Babsy.   I am proud of you.  I think you have an awesome responsibility and I think you recognise that.   And as you grow, you grow to greatness.  And as you grow, and you become great.  Greatness must also involve goodness.   I know you know what I’m saying.  And I know you know what I’m talking about.   Everybody in here love you. And the world love you.  And you have a great future,” she stated.

Grange said that Jamaica, having given the world, Reggae, Dancehall, the world’s fastest men and women, best coffee, a new religion in Rastafari, its nationals ought to recognise that “we are not an ordinary likkle country”. 

“This society is a society weh kinda love badness and things weh kinda risqué but the more that we penetrate the world is the more we have to understand the responsibility that we have,” she emphasized. 

Valiant’s EP launch she said, was a must-attend for her, despite any criticisms which may arise of her presence at his event.   

“I had to be here tonight, and there may be some who may criticise the fact that I am here.  But I am here for everybody.   I love my people and I will never, ever forsake them.  But I will guide you,” she said.

“Where I am standing here tonight is not new to me.   It’s just a new generation.  And as music evolves and the music grows, it’s not gonna be the same,” she added.

In November last year, during her address at the launch of Sting 2022, Grange had cautioned upcoming Dancehall artists to refrain from singing about content such as scamming and violence and instead be “positive” and “respectful of women”.

“I don’t want to hear you continue to sing about scamming, those of you who are doing so.  And I don’t want you to sing about violence,” she had said.

“I want you to promote the positive things about Jamaica and about ‘livity’. Because if you don’t, you won’t last as long as the Bounty Killers, and the Shabba Ranks and the Beenie Man…  So you young artistes, you are talented but, I want you to respect the music and to carry on the positive vibes and the positive tradition of those who paved the way for you,” she had added.

In March this year, then Social Security Minister Karl Samuda, during a sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament, had charged Grange, to use her “charm and skills” to encourage Jamaican music newbies to step up their lyrical game, as uninspiring and mediocre content being recorded by many of them, was causing them to miss out on millions.

Samuda, while implying that there was monotony in the lyrical content that he had been hearing in recent times, had said that he knew the artistes are competent lyricists who should be encouraged to display their musical mettle.  He also asked Grange to encourage the youngsters to be “philosophical with their lyrics” as “the ones that are most successful are the ones with a philosophical base and a message”.

Early last year, Prime Minister Andrew Holness had told journalists that while he was aware of the many concerns being raised about the unsavory lyrics in much of the new music, his administration would maintain its hands-off approach, and not censor Dancehall artistes or their lyrical content, even if depraved or degenerate, but would instead, continue to utilize gentle persuasion.

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Caribbean Travel News And Deals

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 6, 2023: Here are the top Caribbean travel news and deals this week in 60 seconds.

As the US Secretary of State Visited Guyana on Thursday, Canada retained its “Exercise a high degree of caution” travel advisory on the South American CARICOM Nation.

Canada is Also Warning Nationals to Exercise a high degree of caution if travelling to or in Cuba due to shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel

Meanwhile, Belize, The Dominican Republic and The Bahamas have also been slapped with an updated Canadian travel advisory warning due to crime in those countries.

Barbados will soon have a new airline service to connect with the USA and the Northern Caribbean.

Starting as a charter service from July 18th 2023 through August 16th 2023, Bahamas Air will commence flights from Nassau, The Bahamas to Bridgetown, Barbados, via Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Canadian carrier WestJet has announced plans to launch its first-ever nonstop flights to Bonaire.​
WestJet will be kicking off nonstop
flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Bonaire’s Flamingo International Airport beginning Dec. 12, 2023.

And Tampa International Airport is seeing record levels of nonstop Caribbean service. Airlines are now offering scheduled nonstop service to 10 Caribbean destinations (including Cancun).

Save 50% in Honour of The Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary at the Cay House — The Cay House at Mangrove Cay, Andros, is offering visitors a “Celebrate The Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary – Save 50%” promotion. Guests who pre-book a minimum of three nights will save 50% on the room rate. The booking window is now through 28 Aug. 2023 for travel until 31 Aug. 2023.

​Celebrate Independence Bahamian Style at Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucayan Resort — Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucayan Resort, a stunning all-inclusive resort for​families, is offering guests a “Road to 50th Independence Anniversary” package. Visitors who book a two-night stay – including Friday and Saturday – will receive a complimentary third night on Sunday. The booking window is now through ​July 15th for travel through July 15.

Transforming Guyana Season II – Can A Universal Basic Income Scheme Work In Guyana?

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By Tash Van Doimen & Dr. Terrence Blackman

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 7, 2023: The Guyana Business Journal and the Caribbean Policy Consortium recently premiered Season II, Episode I of their webinar series, “Transforming Guyana.” This episode delved into the critical topic of revenue sharing in Guyana’s emerging oil and gas economy. The insightful discussions featured Prof. Roger Hosein, Dr. Remi Piet, and Dr. Riyad Insanally, who provided valuable perspectives on revenue-sharing methods, regional experiences, and the challenges and considerations of implementing a universal basic income (UBI) scheme in Guyana.

Dr. Remi Piet, an experienced economist in sustainable development with a global perspective, provided valuable insights applicable to Guyana’s evolving oil and gas industry and shed light on revenue-sharing best practices worldwide. Dr. Piet explained the diverse revenue-sharing approaches, including royalties, taxation, production-sharing contracts, and community development agreements, and stressed the importance of long-term partnerships, robust institutional frameworks, and transparent processes to ensure equitable wealth distribution and economic diversity.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) talks to Guyanese President Irfaan Ali (R) while arriving for a meeting in Georgetown, Guyana on July 6, 2023. (Photo by KENO GEORGE/AFP via Getty Images)

Prof. Roger Hosein, a renowned international economist based at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine campus, with expertise in international trade, shared regional insights drawn from Trinidad and Tobago’s Oil and Gas experience. While acknowledging the challenges in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, Prof. Hosein remained optimistic about Guyana’s future, even as he highlighted the country’s less-than-stellar transparency and ease of doing business rankings. He emphasized the need for careful labor market development, addressing production and trade structures, and balancing skilled and unskilled labor. Prof. Hosein, noting a missed opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized the significance of Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund, called for efforts to strengthen the non-energy export sector, and underscored the importance of vigilant monitoring of Guyana’s socio-economic indices.

Prof. Hosein’s discourse on Cash Grants provides an insightful perspective on implementing a Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme in Guyana, a diverse, developing, and oil-rich nation. He underscored the ethnic divisions and historical disparities in Guyana, emphasizing that a UBI scheme’s design and implementation should prioritize social cohesion and address longstanding inequalities to carefully manage equity and fairness concerns among various ethnic and racial communities. He argued that robust governance mechanisms are crucial to UBI scheme implementation, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient administration.

The necessity for clear eligibility criteria, fair distribution mechanisms, and effective monitoring systems was also underlined to mitigate potential corruption, nepotism, or favoritism. Moreover, the fiscal sustainability of the UBI scheme must be cautiously evaluated by identifying suitable funding sources, considering the population size, cost of living, and fiscal capacity. Balancing income support and economic realities is pivotal to prevent overstraining the state budget or triggering inflationary pressures.

The substantial revenue generated from natural resources, particularly oil, presents a significant management challenge. In a diverse society like Guyana, garnering public support and acceptance for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme necessitates strategic engagement with stakeholders, comprehensive public consultations, and heightened awareness about UBI’s long-term societal and economic benefits.

Allocating these resources via the design and implementation of a UBI scheme should be pursued only if Guyana can ensure its long-term sustainability. Averting dependency on fluctuating oil prices and confronting misconceptions to foster understanding and consensus among Guyana’s diverse ethnic and racial communities are vital. This proactive strategy constitutes a pivotal first step towards achieving acceptance and facilitating the effective implementation of a UBI scheme in Guyana.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tash Van Doimen was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana. She holds a master’s degree in development policy from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management with a double major in International and Sustainable Development. She used this opportunity to examine Guyana’s oil industry and the nexus between economic development and environmental implications. Ms. Van Doimen began her journalism career, covering hard news and featured articles. In 2015, the Theatre Guild awarded her for ‘Consistent Coverage of the Arts in the Media.’ The same year, Ms. Van Doimen began her career as a Foreign Service Officer, representing Guyana on multiple forums and speaking on various issues aligned with Guyana’s Foreign Policy.

Dr. Terrence Richard Blackman, associate professor of mathematics and a founding member of the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics at Medgar Evers College, is a member of the Guyanese diaspora. He is a former Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professor at MIT and a Visitor to The School of Mathematics at The Institute for Advanced Study. Dr. Blackman has previously served as Chair of the Mathematics Department and Dean of the School of Science, Health, and Technology at Medgar Evers College, where he has worked for almost thirty years. He graduated from Queen’s College, Guyana, Brooklyn College, CUNY, and the City University of New York Graduate School. He is the Founder of the Guyana Business Journal & Magazine.

First Trailer For ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Unveiled: Watch

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The content originally appeared on: Dance Hall Mag

The first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated Bob Marley biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, has been released.

The film, which stars British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, is expected to make its theatrical debut on Friday, January 12, 2024.

The trailer serves up an enchanting preview of the biopic, which has been, according to producer Ziggy Marley, “four or five years in the making”. It opens with an aerial shot of a massive crowd clamoring for the Reggae legend, before an instantaneous pan takes the viewer to a much calmer scene backstage with I-Threes member Rita and The Wailers.

“How yuh waan’ start it?” Bob is asked by a bandmate, to which Ben-Adir offers up a convincingly mellow, easy-going Marley-esque response: “From di beginning.” The trailer then cascades into waves of highlights from Bob Marley’s life, showcasing pivotal moments in his legendary career.

Director Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard) confirmed that the film will primarily cover the periods 1976 to 1978, which will include the infamous attempted assassination of Bob Marley and wife Rita, the making of his iconic Exodus album, and his eventual return to Jamaica for the historic One Love Peace Concert.

Marcus Green reasoned that: “You really need to understand that period of time to understand Bob the man, and what he was going through spiritually and emotionally as a father, as a husband, and as a musician.”

He continued: “From the very beginning, we were not interested in doing sort of a cradle-to-grave story. We didn’t feel like we needed to do that, to capture the essence of what Bob was going through at that time. This is a very rich period of Bob’s life in terms of his maturation process, of his becoming a man, of his leaving a legacy to the world. And I think it’s important to know that particular period of time.”

Ziggy, who is joined by his sister Cedella Marley and mother, Rita Marley, as producers on the film, shares that distinction with co-producers Brad Pitt, Robert Teitel, Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner.

The film will be executive-produced Orly Marley, Richard Hewitt and Matt Solodky.

Kingsley Ben-Adir in character as the late Reggae legend Bob Marley, while filming the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ biopic in London, England, earlier this year.

According to Ziggy, this latest attempt to capture the life and legend of his father has been a deliberate and long-running process.

He explained to Shadow and Act that, “… Since I was a little boy, I think many have been trying to make this movie.” 

He added that since the biopic’s inception, they have been working with Paramount Pictures to ensure the best representation possible. “We’ve been on it from the beginning of the discussion with Paramount [Pictures] to find great writers and stuff like that,” he explained.

While concerns about authenticity flooded the film’s production since it was announced that Ben-Adir would be playing the Jamaican icon, Ziggy moved to vouch for the British actor, telling the online publication that Ben-Adir “did a great job.”

“He was very adamant about being emotionally aware of what Bob was going through,” Ziggy explained of the One Night In Miami actor. “We know that we can never replace Bob, so don’t expect that.” 

He further added that Ben-Adir tapped deeply into the spirit and essence of his father. “There’s an emotional thing that Bob was going through that Kingsley wa able to capture and understand for himself even help us to go into the direction that he wanted to go. He was adamant about creating not just the superficial Bob Marley, but a deeper emotional Bob Marley for the people to experience in this film.”

It was also revealed by director Marcus Green that Ben-Adir lost weight for the role, learned to play the guitar, learned to sing, and learned the Jamaican dialect. “We were looking for the best actor for the role, and we found that in Kingsley Ben-Adir from his very first audition tape–and we went through several hundred. It was a lot. We scoured every island in the Caribbean that we could. And when I saw that tape, I know Ziggy and I, we looked at each other and were like, ‘The foundation is there.’ He just had he had the ability to tap into the essence.”

As for the show’s other central figure, Rita Marley, Lashana Lynch has apparently pulled out all the stops to deliver a most convincing portrayal, so much so that Ziggy has described her performance as “powerful”.

The movie was filmed in the UK and in Jamaica, and is reported to have a predominantly Jamaican cast working behind the scenes and on camera.

Watch the trailer above.

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Tuff Gong Shares Cover Art And Release Date For New Bob Marley Album

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The content originally appeared on: Dance Hall Mag

Tuff Gong International has announced a new Bob Marley Reggae/Afrobeats fusion album titled Africa Unite, set for release on August 4, with several collaborations featuring popular Nigerian artists.

In a release, the Kingston-based label, which Bob Marley founded in 1965, described the 10-track production as “a majestic, posthumous album celebrating the vibrant fusion of Reggae and Afrobeats.”

Bob Marley and the Wailers – Africa Unite

The new Africa Unite production is named after the sixth track from Marley’s 1979 Survival album, which contained other tracks such as Ambush in The Night, Wake Up and Live, Zimbabwe, and Ride Natty Ride.

“Africa Unite is an extraordinary album that pays homage to the Reggae icon’s greatest hits, beautifully reimagined and infused with the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats,” a Tuff Gong release said.

The label also notes that each of these artists “bring their unique flair and artistry, paying tribute to Bob Marley’s enduring influence while adding their refreshing voices to his iconic compositions.”

“Bob Marley’s impact on Reggae and Afrobeats music culture is immeasurable. His ageless music transcends borders and generations. This project is no different; it invites listeners on an enchanting musical journey. From the heartwarming rendition of “Waiting In Vain” to the uplifting energy of “Stir It Up,” the album showcases the seamless fusion of two extraordinary musical worlds,” the release noted.

On Friday, Tuff Gong also announced the release of the lead single, Three Little Birds and an accompanying video, featuring Teni and Oxlade.  The track is a repurposed version of Marley’s Three Little Birds from the Gong’s 1977 album Exodus, and, according to Tuff Gong, “truly emulates the original with an afro-fusion kick.”

“With Africa Unite, Bob Marley’s influence continues to resonate, bridging the gap between the past and present. The album not only showcases the global reach of Bob Marley’s music but also celebrates the rich tapestry of African rhythms and melodies. By intertwining reggae’s soulful vibrations with the infectious energy of Afrobeats, Africa Unite embodies the unity and spirit of collaboration, mirroring the late artist’s vision of a harmonious world,” Tuff Gong noted.

Bob Marley’s daughter Cedella Marley, in reflecting on the significance of the album, is quoted as saying that Africa Unite showcases the importance of Bob Marley in modern-day Africa, as the singers who are featured “have reimagined Bob Marley’s classics in a way we know he would have loved and been proud of.”

“The release of Africa Unite will undoubtedly captivate Bob Marley’s loyal fanbase and attract new listeners seeking to experience the magic of his music in a fresh and vibrant way,” Tuff Gong said.

As for Tuff Gong itself, the studio, which is located on Marcus Garvey Drive, in Kingston, was at one point in time, the location of the popular Federal Records, but was acquired by the Marley estate after Bob’s death.

History surrounding the property is that at one stage of Bob’s career, he was refused entry one particular day following a confrontation, “even when Johnny Nash wanted him to record.”   Marley then and there had vowed that one day he would own the property.

The property was put up for sale in 1982 and was purchased by Bob’s widow Rita Marley who named it Tuff Gong.   Tuff Gong, at that time, specialised in vinyl manufacturing, and also comprised a record shop, a mastering room and a recording studio.

Today, Tuff Gong comprises a recording studio, mastering room, stamper room, pressing plant, cassette plant, wholesale record shop, booking agency, as well as offices for Rita Marley Music and Ghetto Youths International the record label founded by Bob’s son Stephen Marley and his younger brothers Julian and Damian.

Tuff Gong International is one of the Caribbean’s largest studios.  It features the second-largest live recording space in Jamaica.  Over the decades scores of artistes, musicians, producers and tourists traveling from far reaches of the earth to visit the facility.   Jamaican artistes such as Capleton, Sly and Robbie, Shaggy, Bounty Killer, Lady Saw, Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man have recorded at Tuff Gong, as have foreigners such as Sinead O’Connor, Snoop Dogg and Lauryn Hill.

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