TRINIDAD-ECONOMY-Central Bank says economic activity “gradually taking shape”

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SURINAME-TRANSPORATION-Suriname Airways to re-introduce flights to Trinidad

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Burna Boy Apologize After Kicking Fan Climbing Stage At Nigeria Show

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The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Burna Boy is facing serious heat after a video surfaced of him giving the boot to a fan who tried to climb onto the stage while he performed in Lagos, Nigeria.

Burna Boy’s Love Damini concert was scheduled for Eko Energy City in Lagos, Nigeria, where the Afrobeats artist was to perform around 9 PM. Irate fans on social media explained that the artist arrived more than six (6) hours late to the event, and he became upset at fans who booed him and chided him.

In one instance, fans say that Burna Boy had them waiting in cold weather and then told them that there were some technical issues with the equipment.

“I still love you and we are still here so if you are not going to love me God will punish una,” Burna Boy told fans in a sort of apology to fans who were loudly booing.

There is also a video showing the artist on stage where he spots a fan attempting to get onto the stage, but instead of calling security, the artist proceeds to kick the fan in his face. The artist has not addressed his actions, but it seems that he might have been aggravated by fans attempting to crash the stage. In another video, a woman is hoisted away by two security guards after she runs onto the stage.

Fans online criticized Burna Boy for the way he treated his fan in contrast to how he treats fans in Europe and in North America, where he has been photographed helping up white fans on stage.

“Burna Boy to White People: “My Africans are suffering. Dance to my music, brand me a reformer, and reward me financially. Burna Boy to the suffering Africans: “God punish una,” one concertgoer wrote.

“Imagine what burna boy had to say. Zero apologies. He really thinks the concert was a favor to Nigerians,” another said.

“He only kicks his Nigerian fans,” another said while sharing a photo of Burna Boy helping up a Caucasian fan on stage and hugging him.

Burna Boy and his stage antics, without fail, make news headlines as the artist has no qualms about disrespecting fans that come for him. In a separate incident months ago, the artist was spotted stopping his performance and digging into the pocket of his orange trousers to give a grumpy fan back his money.

In the video, he says, “go go go,” as he appears to hand money to the upset fan. “Escort this person out of this place please,” he says to security behind him.

In a lengthy message posted on his Instagram Story, Burna Boy blames infrastructure for his performance and pledge to invest in bringing world class infrastructure to his home fans. “I apologise to my fans for how hectic it was, thank you for staying and weathering the storm with me,” he wrote. “I commend my band @fromtheoutsiders for making lemonade with the worst lemons we’ve ever seen!”

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Gangsta Boo, Original Three 6 Mafia Member, Dead At 43 From Possible OD

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Original Three 6 Mafia member Gangsta Boo has died from a possible drug overdose.

Gangsta Boo, whose real name is Lola Mitchell, was one of the first members of the famous rap group. Her death was confirmed by Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul, who shared a tribute on Instagram along with a photo of the late rapper. Since the news broke on New Year’s Day 2023, scores of rappers have paid their respect, including Ludacris, Juicy J, 2 Chainz, Lil Jon, Big Boi, and more.

According to TMZ, sources say Gangsta Boo’s death is likely a result of a drug overdose. The late rapper and her brother were reportedly partying at a show in Memphis when he started to overdose on New Year’s Eve night before he was rushed to a hospital. Sources say Boo’s death scene also contained traces of a fentanyl-laced substance which was found on her person. An autopsy will be done at a later date to determine her cause of death.

Gangsta Boo, who was also known as Lady Boo, is hailed from Memphis, Tennessee, before relocating to California.

She rose to stardom as a member of the famous rap group Three 6 Mafia, a Memphis-based hip hop group, where she was the first female member. Gangsta Boo made her debut on the group’s album “Mystic Stylez” in 1995 and went on to release multiple solo projects, including “Enquiring Minds” and “Both Worlds *69.”

Throughout her career, Gangsta Boo has been known for her hardcore, no-nonsense style and for holding her own against her male counterparts in the rap industry. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the horrorcore subgenre of hip hop, which is characterized by its graphic and violent themes.

In addition to her work as a rapper, Gangsta Boo has also made appearances in film and television, including a role in the movie “Choices” and a guest spot on the TV show “Empire.”

Despite facing challenges as a female artist in a male-dominated industry, Gangsta Boo has persevered and has made a name for herself as a respected and influential figure in the world of hip hop. She continues to release music and tour and has garnered a dedicated fan base throughout her career.

Gangsta Boo’s last video was posted on Instagram on New Year’s Eve where she shared some of her accomplishments in 2022. “Some of the things that I did in 2022! So fun and productive, climbed out my shell alot!! 2023 go be 23’n! #JORDAN #BOOPRINT #recap Happy New 2023 everyone,” she wrote.

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ST. LUCIA-TOURISM-Tourism officials optimistic about 2023

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Tory Lanez Case: Megan Thee Stallion’s Ex-BFF Kelsey Evidence Leaked

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Several pieces of evidence used by the prosecution in the Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez trial have been shared online as it becomes public record and available for the public to review.

So far, there have been four pieces of evidence released- the audio of Tory Lanez’s jail call where he apologizes to the rapper and says he understands if she never speaks to him again and explains that what he did that night was caused by his severe state of drunkenness.

On Friday morning, there was also released the body cam footage from a police officer’s vest showing Megan being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The rapper is seen wearing a mask and sitting in a chair, with her feet appearing to be propped up while she is covered with a white sheet.

Megan Thee Stallion could be heard crying, weeping loudly for almost half a minute, and eventually, she cries softly before the footage on the camera cuts.

The video elicited many sympathetic reactions to Megan, who testified more than a week ago that Tory Lanez shot her after an argument while they left a party at Kylie Jenner’s house in July 2020. The rapper has had a tough two years with many fans of Lanez bashing her and accusing her of lying and making up lies that she was not shot but rather stepped on glass. The rapper later revealed that she had lied to protect Lanez, with whom she later revealed on the witness stand that she had a sexual relationship.

In the meantime, more of the damning evidence that led to Lanez being convicted by a unanimous jury was shared online. One is audio taken from a home surveillance video that contradicts Tory’s legal team’s claim that there was a fight over the gun, causing it to go off.

The audio taken from a Ring doorbell clearly sounds off five gunshots with pauses between each. The gun expert who testified for the prosecution says that the gun couldn’t have gone off accidentally as it required some amount of pressure or force. That is, the type of gun it was, required at least eight pounds of pressure to go off. In any case, if there was a fight over the gun, why would it be fired five times instead of once or twice?

Meanwhile, Kelsey’s 80-minute statement given to prosecutors in September was shared online. The statement by Kelsey came more than a year and a half since the shooting and was given at the last moment after Tory’s lawyers hinted his defense was that he didn’t shoot the gun, but Kelsey did.

In that statement, some blogs have skewed the audio to show that Kelsey is lying about what took place. In one part, she claims that Tory fired the gun then she said he fired the gun in the air in another.

Kelsey Harris

In the statement, Kelsey says she began working as Megan’s assistant in 2018 until the incident in 2020. She said she met Tory in 2020 when she and Meg attended a Roc Nation brunch. Kelsey says she flirted with Tory Lanez, but they were not in a sexual relationship, as claimed by Tory’s legal team.

“This is one of those situations you know you flirt and Megan wanted me to I guess have an involvement with. I ended up catching the virus and I went back to Houston and stayed there (at Megan’s apartment) and I guess between that time Megan and Tory became close, I don’t know what the relationship was but they were with each other often,” Kelsey said.

As the night goes on, Kelsey says she lost consciousness due to her alcohol consumption, and later as all of them were intoxicated, Kelsey wanted to leave, but Megan did not want to go yet. Kelsey said she went to wait in Tory’s car with Jaquan Smith while EJ Johnson, who accompanied them, waited in his car. Megan and Tory are inside the house after Megan tells him to join.

Megan Thee Stallion and Kelsey Harris are in Tory’s car, ready to leave after Megan’s wig comes apart, but at some point, Tory tells his driver to take the girls home while he remains with Kylie.

Kelsey said that Megan forgot her LV slippers, and they turned around and went back to Kylie’s house. Megan goes in and grabs the slippers, and gets back in the car. Tory Lanez, this time, also goes in the car and sits behind the driver.

“They were in there arguing. Tory and Megan. What they were arguing about I don’t know,” Kelsey says.

“We’re leaving, we’re driving. Megan is laughing. Out of curiosity, I want to know what’s funny, and I ask what is going on. And that’s when Tory butts in and he’s like ‘yeah Megan, why don’t you tell your best friend what’s so funny? Why don’t you tell her how fake you are?’. I’m confused cause this is so random and Megan is like ‘Kelsey don’t listen to him he’s just trying to make you mad’” Kelsey said.

Kelsey says there was an argument between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez, and they began to take jabs at each other’s careers.

“He was calling her bitches and hoes and I stepped in and said you’re not gonna talk to my friend like that and he got offended and now me and him are arguing,” Kelsey said.

Tory Lanez then told her that he was a gangster from Canada and threatened to shoot her.

“He said my n***ga il shoot you. He reached like he was gonna grab something, he reached towards the middle console but he never pulled anything out,” Kelsey said.

Kelsey Harris said while on Sunset Boulevard, Megan asked the driver to pull over, and she came out of the car. Tory then follows her while Quan and her remain in the car. Tory and Megan sat at the bus stop and spoke, and after a few minutes, when they came in the car, they were calm.

She says that Tory Lanez then apologizes to her and says, “im sorry Kelsey you’re a real a$$ n***ga and I just had to tell you,” and then Megan and Tory began to argue again with both taking jabs at each other’s career.

By this time, the car stopped on Nichols Canyon Road where the shooting occurred.

“This time, Tory demands Quan to let us out – let these hoes out, let these bitches out, Megan jumps out of the front seat and I open up my door which I’m behind Megan… we didn’t expect anything to happen next, we’re just getting out the vehicle. I get out of my side and no sooner do you know you start hearing gunshots. It was five gunshots. I look up at the second or third gunshots and you see Tory, he’s now in the front seat, I guess he must have jumped over…he’s leaning over, the door’s open and he’s leaning over the window- the front right where Megan was sitting,” Kelsey said.

“He was leaning over the front passenger door and he was shooting the gun,” Kelsey said as she said she was still behind the rear passenger door while Megan was walking.

“By the third or fourth shots, she’s facing us, what I would describe it like a ‘deer in headlights,’” she said, adding, “the way Tory was angling the gun, it was down, definitely in her direction- in the air- at the ground.”

Kelsey also said that she ran to Megan to defend Megan. She said she saw blood on Megan, and she assumed she got shot. Tory then comes around the vehicle, and she thinks he was going to attack them.

“He physically assaulted me. And Quan then comes and pick me up like a little doll and Quan said- Kelsey they do this all the time,” she said.

Kelsey said that Tory either hit her with a closed fist or was slapping her- “it was a physical altercation,” Kelsey said. Around the 26-28 mark, Kelsey expresses fear Tory would kill her.

Kelsey said that she wanted to cause a distraction, and she jumped into the car and caused it to jerk to stop Tory from further harming Megan. “he either got to me really quick and that’s when he pulled me by my hair, he pulled me really hard… I became afraid for my life when he pulled on my hair and my neck really hard, that’s when the necklace (found my police popped)”.

Quan tried to part Kelsey from Tory, but he held onto her.

There is a text message Kelsey sent to Megan the night at the hospital where she asked Megan whether she should get an x-ray since Tory punched her in the chest and dragged her hair, causing her pain. Kelsey’s testimony on the stand left much to be desired as she contradicted most of what she said in September, even saying prosecutors had pressured her, although her statement volunteered information throughout the 80-minute conversation.

In the meantime, there have been many calls online for Kelsey to be charged with perjury by many fans of Megan Thee Stallion fans who feel that Kelsey lied on the stand when she claimed she forgot what happened or pleaded the fifth at questions by prosecutors.

At the 31-33-minute mark, Kelsey breaks down when asked about Megan’s condition after she was shot. The statement takes a break, and Kelsey audibly cries while prosecutors comfort her.

Kelsey also said she tried to call Megan’s manager, Farris, but after not reaching him, she texted Megan’s bodyguard- “help, Tory shot Meg, 911.” And she sent a message to her mom to say help.

In her statement, Kelsey Harris also cried, stating that she was hurt emotionally, and she appeared to become emotional that her friendship with Megan fell apart after the shooting.

In the meantime, at the 38-minute mark, Kelsey says that Tory begs them not to say anything, and he also said he would give them $1 million each as he was getting ready to sign a major record deal.

A photo showing Kelsey Harris’ injuries on the night of the shooting also surfaced online.

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Angela Simmons Tells Yo Gotti “You are all I need” Makes Relationship IG Official

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Angela Simmons and Yo Gotti ring in the New Year 2023 together.

Memphis rapper and CMG label executive Yo Gotti and Growing Up Hip Hop alumnus Angela Simmons are now Instagram official. The new couple shared posts on Instagram announcing their new relationship. The posts come days after the rumor mill suggested that Gotti was preoccupied with his rumored “nurse bae” Brandy for Christmas.

On Saturday, the couple was seen in matching black outfits as they appeared to be getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Angela Simmons shared several photos of her and Gotti on her Instagram feed which was recently wiped clean. In one photo, he is seen holding an umbrella and holding her hand to help her out of the car. In another, they are seen sitting together side by side, and in another, they stand together by the car.

“You are all I need and more,” Angela captioned the photos with a red heart. Simmons looked stunning in a fishtail-style Black sequinned gown, while Gotti had on a velvet tuxedo.

Yo Gotti also shared his intentions toward Simmons as he also posted a video of the couple wearing the same outfits from the photos on his Instagram account.

“Ain loss a crush since high school,” he wrote with a black heart emoji.

The couple toast e to champagne while Angela blushed and said winked at the camera.

Gotti and Angela were first spotted together on vacation in Dubai in October and then in France, where she posted hints that she was out with the Memphis rapper.

The two were also spotted out together in the same spaces earlier in the year and then again at GloRilla’s album party in November. Angela was also spotted out with Gotti at a family event where she met his mother, leading fans to conclude that the couple was in a serious relationship.

The pair have not acknowledged a relationship until now, more than six years since Gotti first rapped that he had a crush on her.

https://www.instagram.com/angelasimmons/

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SURINAME-ENERGY-State-owned energy company records significant revenue in 2022

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Meek Mill Roughed Up In Ghana and Had His iPhone Stolen

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The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Meek Mill has recovered his cell phone, and a pickpocket thief has been apprehended for snatching his phone while the rapper bored through a thick crowd of people in Ghana.

The rapper shared a series of Instagram posts on Friday showing him fighting off fans grabbing and mobbing him while in the African nation. The rapper is in Ghana to perform for the Afro Nation concert in Ghana on Thursday night.

It seems that the rapper was leaving the show when a large throng of fans tried to grab onto him. He later shared videos of himself leaving the event on dirt bikes.

“They roughed me [the f**k] up but the love overpowered it,” Meek Mill captioned the video footage below. “Almost went from dreams to nightmares quick. Lol.”

Meek Mill/Instagram

He also shared he lost his phone in the crowd. “They pickpocketed me for my phone,” he said in another Instagram Story. “[Shaking my head]. Bring that jawn back if you got it.”

In another post, he hilariously shared, “first time I had to tuck my chains, I couldn’t breatheee.” Shortly after Meek shared news about his phone, Ghanaian artist Shatta Wale asked that the artist’s phone be returned.

In a tweet, he wrote, “Streetz, if you know you have Meek Mill’s phone, please return if that’s true. You can’t do that to a real hustler. By [tomorrow] morning, return a.m. Meek inspires all of us on the street a lot,” Shatta said.

In the meantime, the rapper updated fans that he had retrieved his phone. “I want to say thank you guys for getting this phone back to my life, man, y’all didn’t let them hack me, right commander?” Meek asked a police officer in a video he shared.

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Saint Lucia updates its Citizenship by Investment regulations to remain competitive in the investment migration industry

Black Immigrant Daily News

News Americas, Castries, St. Lucia, Dec. 30, 2022: Saint Lucia has amended the regulations of its Citizenship by Investment Programme to remain increasingly competitive and ensure that the Caribbean country fulfils its mandate of growing demand for its investment products for the ultimate benefit of the people of Saint Lucia. 

As one of the youngest Citizenship by Investment products in the market, Saint Lucia has made bold strides in offering an alternative investment option in the Caribbean’s most developed and diverse economies. 

The country’s Citizenship by Investment Unit has taken a comprehensive review of its Citizenship by Investment offerings following approvals from the Citizenship by Investment Board and Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, Ernest Hilaire. The below amendments to the existing regulations will take effect from 1 January 2023. 

Developers applying for approved real estate under the Citizenship by Investment Programme or enterprise projects will now have to pay due diligence and background check fee of US$7,500. 

The replacement fee for a lost or damaged certificate will increase from US$100 to US$500. 

Investors who have been a citizen of Saint Lucia for 12 months or less that are looking to include a newborn dependent through the country’s National Economic Fund will now have to pay a fee of US$5000, this has increased from US$500. 

There is also an introduction of a new Bond Offer for investors purchasing non-interest-bearing Government Bonds with the following qualifying investment sums: 

Category of applicant Bond purchase sum Bond holding period Applicant and all qualifying dependents of any number US$300,000 5-year holding bond Administrative fee (regardless of the number of dependants) US$50,000  

To qualify for second citizenship through the real estate option, investors will have to invest a minimum of US$200,000, a reduction from US$300,000. 

Saint Lucia is emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Caribbean region and the nation is well-known for offering various investment and business opportunities for people looking for options to plan their wealth and diversify their portfolios. 

The country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme is a perfect choice as it offers ideal business opportunities to investors who do not want to be bound by border limitations. 

The Caribbean country is recognized for providing a second home not just to investors but to their families too. The nation has been lauded for its advanced and modernized infrastructure. Saint Lucia has one of the most resilient, modernized education and healthcare systems in the region, which makes it ideal for investors and their families. 

The Citizenship by Investment Programme of this Caribbean country attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the nation which is used for advancing various projects such as the development of infrastructure, advancement of real estate, business expansion and job innovation. 

The CBI Index 2022, published by PWM Magazine of Financial Times, reported that CBI is assuring the small island nation of Saint Lucia has become independent, developed and prosperous in the true sense. The report also recognized the programme for its “Ease of Processing” and “Due Diligence” Pillars. This year, Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme climbed a spot and gained the third position. 

Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Unit makes sure that citizenship is given to credible applicants of good standing while their dependants over the age of sixteen are also subject to multi-layered due diligence checks, in order to qualify for alternative citizenship. Saint Lucia asks for detailed information from the applicants to understand the funding source of the investors who want citizenship. 

On this due diligence aspect, Minister Ernest Hilaire recently addressed concerns and fears related to Saint Lucia’s CBI Programme. He gave assurance that the government of Saint Lucia and its CBI Unit perform a strict and rigid due diligence process. Hilaire explained that the due diligence process is a multi-layered procedure noting, “Due diligence is performed by our Unit on all applicants, this is then followed by another due diligence check by the banks. This is then followed by due diligence checks by international intelligence units who also do on-the-ground assessments.” 

He also noted that the Government and Unit have been planning to review the country’s CBI programme, making it more attractive as well as competitive. Minister Hilaire announced that these updates would maintain the country’s rigorous but seamless vetting process. 

While the programme is the newest in the region, launched in 2016, the Government has made sure to set the bar very high – the programme has been regarded as one of the most advanced, secure as well as transparent programmes. 

Through the National Economic Fund, this prestigious programme has helped the nation to develop important public infrastructure. The funds from the programme have been directly contributing to advancing the standard of living of Saint Lucians. 

Alternative citizenship in the Caribbean nation is emerging as a platform to alleviate and tackle the risk of uncertainty and unpredictability in future. There is no other better plan than investing in building a new home at a place which offers ample opportunities and, most importantly, peace out of the hustle and bustle of big cities. 

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