News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Sept. 4, 2024: A GoFundMe fundraiser to help with the long-term care and rehabilitation of Jamaican-born gospel dancehall artiste, Lieutenant Stitchie, has so far raised over $5,000 of its $100,000 goal.

A GoFundMe fundraiser to help with the long-term care and rehabilitation of gospel dancehall artiste Lieutenant Stitchie has so far raised over $5,000 of its $100,000 goal.

The fundraiser was launched by his wife Sophia Laing, who lives in Port Saint Lucie, Forida. Stichie, born Cleveland Laing, 58, suffered a severe brain haemorrhage that has left him unresponsive.

“We are reaching out to you during this incredibly challenging time. Our beloved Cleve “Lt. Stitchie” Laing, a husband, father, and friend, has recently suffered a severe brain haemorrhage that has left him unresponsive,” Mrs. Laing stated. “We urgently need you to join us to provide the help needed in a long-term care facility, where he can receive rehabilitation care. Your donation will make a difference by bringing hope to Lt. Stitchie and his family during this difficult time. Your generosity and prayers mean the world to us. We are very grateful for your support to help cover the costs of his transfer, medical care, and living expenses in the long-term care home. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference and bring hope to Cleve and his family during this difficult journey. Please consider contributing to this campaign and sharing it with others who may also be able to help. Your generosity and prayers mean the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for your support.”

Stitchie, also known as The Governor, has been having health issues since at least 2023. He was assisted on to a stage last October and appeared to lose his bearings which raised questions about his wellbeing.

The Spanish Town, Jamaica singer is known for hits like “Great Ambition,” “Rude Boy, “To God Be The Glory,” “Ghetto Soldier ,” “Serious Message” and “Warrior.” In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Cornerstone Christian University in Orlando, Florida, in recognition of his contribution to gospel reggae music. He was officially inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in January 2016, by The Jamaica GHF president and Founder Bishop Dr. J.O Baker in Kingston, Jamaica. In 2014 his autobiography, The Power of Determination, was published.

In 2021, he was honoured in the National Honours and Awards on Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.

News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Mon. Sept. 2, 2024: The West Indian American Day carnival parade got off to a great start today until a lone gunman walked up to the crowd and started shooting this afternoon, New York police said.

A woman takes part in 2024 West Indian Day Parade on September 02, 2024 in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

The shooting marred an otherwise peaceful J’Ouvert and Parade celebration, the 57th annual carnival of Caribbean culture in Brooklyn, and one of the biggest parades in the world.

Revellers at the 2024 West Indian Day Parade along the Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, NY, on September 2, 2024. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Five people were shot on Eastern Parkway near Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights around 2:45 p.m. EST according to the NYPD. In a news conference, police said 4 males and 1 female were stuck by the gunfire. Police said 2 of the victims are in critical condition and 3 have non-life-threatening injuries.

A man takes part in the 2024 West Indian Day Parade along the Eastern Parkway in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

At least one person is still being sought. The suspect is described as a male 6’2″ to 6’3″ slim build. wearing a bandana, brown shirt, who fled Westbound on Eastern Parkway towards Classon Avenue, police said.

A man takes part in the 2024 West Indian Day Parade along the Eastern Parkway on September 2, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Police are asking the public to come forward with any video of the incident that may be helpful to their investigation.

Caribbean women take part in the 2024 West Indian Day Parade along the Eastern Parkway on September 2, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

“This was an intentional act by one person toward a group of people,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said. “We do not by no means have any active shooter, or anything of that nature, running around Eastern Parkway as we speak.”

A young child attends the 2024 West Indian Day Parade along the Eastern Parkway on September 2, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

The carnival is presented annually by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, (WIADCA).

CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL IN NEW YORK

The roots of Caribbean Carnival in New York City can be traced back to the 1930s when Ms. Jessie Wardell and some of her West Indian friends initiated the celebration in Harlem. Due to the cold February weather, they hosted costume parties in large indoor venues like the Savoy, Renaissance, and Audubon Ballrooms. This timing aligned with the traditional pre-Lenten festivities celebrated in many countries worldwide. However, the indoor setting limited the true spirit of Carnival, which thrives on outdoor parades with music and vibrant costumes.

The first known Carnival street activity in NYC occurred in the 1940s when Ms. Wardell secured a permit for a parade in Harlem. In the 1960s, another Trinidadian, Rufus Goring, brought the Carnival tradition to Brooklyn. By 1967, Goring passed the leadership to Carlos Lezama, who became the president of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA). Lezama nurtured the organization and the Carnival until 2001, when he retired due to ill health, and his daughter, Yolanda Lezama-Clark, took over as president until 2011. In 2012, Thomas Bailey was elected president. All of these key figures spent their early years in Trinidad & Tobago.

News Americas, New York, NY, August 29, 2024: Celebrating his 69th birthday in style on August 28th, veteran reggae artist Beres Hammond has released a visualizer for his latest single, “Let Me Help You.”

Jamaican iconic reggae singer Beres Hammond has dropped a new video.

The visualizer, shot and edited by SAMO, enhances the soulful track with a compelling visual narrative, featuring cameos from notable figures like Machel Montano, Sevana, D’Yani, and others. Interspersed with concert footage and personal photos, the video offers a glimpse into Beres’ remarkable journey in music.

“Let Me Help You” is a re-recording of his 1988 hidden gem, “Let Me Help You Smile Again,” and was released on May 3rd via Harmony House / VP Records. As with the original, Beres himself produced, arranged, wrote, and performed the new version. This track is a rarity in his extensive catalog, as it joins only a few songs that he has re-recorded over his illustrious five-decade career.

The decision to revisit the track was sparked by a conversation about its lyrics during a call to his office. When Beres discovered that the original master recording was lost, he chose to redo the song, enlisting longtime drummer and collaborator Kirk “Kirkledove” Bennett, who assembled a talented team of musicians, including legendary horn player Dean Fraser. The 2024 version of the song replaces the digital elements of the original with live instrumentation, giving the classic a fresh, vibrant sound.

Upon its release, “Let Me Help You” received significant attention, even earning a spot on Spotify’s New Music Friday billboards in New York City’s Times Square and Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square—an honor typically reserved for album releases rather than singles.

Beres announced the single during his annual Love and Harmony Cruise in April, where he performed an all-white concert at sea. Following this, he embarked on an extensive North American tour, visiting cities like New York, Toronto, Miami, and Los Angeles, where he delighted fans with his timeless hits and soulful performances.

Catch it here

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. August, 26, 2024: Caribbean roots star Naomi Sarah Ackie lit up the screen this weekend as ‘Blink Twice,’ the movie from Zoë Kravitz, opened in fourth place with $7.3 million.

Caribbean roots actress Naomi Ackie attending the European premiere of “Blink Twice” at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/FilmMagic)

Ackie, 32, the daughter of second-generation immigrants from Grenada, stars opposite Kravitz’ real life fiancee, Channing Tatum, who plays tech billionaire Slater King. He invites Ackie, who plays cocktail waitress and aspiring nail artist Frida, to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. Wild nights blend into sun-soaked days, and everyone’s having a great time. plays cocktail waitress and aspiring nail artist Frida, who ventures to the island alongside friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) and strangers Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen). Their host, Slater, is a fresh off of an apology tour from some kind of undisclosed misconduct and claims he’s a changed man.

When the guests arrive, their phones are collected, they’re given matching linen dresses and swimsuits, and then the booze, drugs, and gourmet delights come out. What could go wrong? As it turns out, plenty. Jess goes missing, the maid (María Elena Olivares) keeps repeating cryptic phrases (“red rabbit”?). Manipulations and abuse rise to the surface. Soon Frida, like Daniel Kaluuya’s Chris in Get Out, goes from cheery to petrified – and joins forces with the other women to plot bloody revenge.

Blink Twice reportedly cost a modest $20 million to produce before marketing and received a B- CinemaScore from audiences. The film is from MGM and Amazon, with Warner Bros. handling overseas.

Ackie, born in London, is known for her television roles as Bonnie in The End of the F***ing World (2019) and Master of None (2021) and for her role as Jannah in the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In 2022, she portrayed American singer Whitney Houston in the biopic ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’

Her father was a Transport for London employee and her mother worked for the National Health Service. She is one of three children and has an older brother and sister. She went to Walthamstow School for Girls.

Her first role was at the age of 11, playing the angel Gabriel in a school nativity play. She studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and graduated in 2012.’

Blink Twice was shot in Yucatán, Mexico. plays cocktail waitress and aspiring nail artist Frida, who ventures to the island alongside friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) and strangers Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen). Their host, Slater, is a fresh off of an apology tour from some kind of undisclosed misconduct and claims he’s a changed man. When the guests arrive, their phones are collected, they’re given matching linen dresses and swimsuits, and then the booze, drugs, and gourmet delights come out. What could go wrong?
As it turns out, plenty. Jess goes missing, the maid (María Elena Olivares) keeps repeating cryptic phrases (“red rabbit”?). Manipulations and abuse rise to the surface. Soon Frida, like Daniel Kaluuya’s Chris in Get Out, goes from cheery to petrified — and joins forces with the other women to plot bloody revenge.

Ackie recently shared a funny story in a candid interview with PEOPLE about her experience with rock musician Lenny Kravitz, the father of Zoe Kravitz, whose mother also has roots in the Caribbean. Ackie shared that during the making of Blink Twice, while she was going through her filming activities, she went out from her bedroom and found herself face to face with Lenny Kravitz right outside.

Since they had never met before, Lenny Kravitz, known for his hit songs like “Are You Gonna Go My Way?”, introduced himself in a friendly manner. However, so overwhelmed by how famous he was that she automatically shut the door.

“I’d never met him before. I opened my bedroom door, and Lenny was just there. He was like, ‘Hi, you must be Naomi. I’m Lenny.’ I was like — I shut the door.” After getting herself together for a second, however, Ackie reopened the door to greet Kravitz properly. I took a moment to calm down and then said, ‘Okay, now I’m ready,’” she recalled.

For a glimpse of Ackie in Blink Twice, check out the clip here: Watch Now.