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$1.2B upgrading of Montego Bay Hip Strip

By
Shaqueal Benti
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1304

The Government has budgeted $1.2 billion to undertake comprehensive upgrading of the popular Montego Bay Hip Strip, located along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard (formerly Gloucestershire Avenue), in the resort city.


Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, says the sum includes $150 million earmarked in the 2021/22 Budget to commence preliminary work on the project, which, he notes, will form part of the focus on reimaging and transforming the Hip Strip and by extension Montego Bay.


The Minister made the announcement while delivering the closing 2021/22 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 15), under the theme ‘Recovering Faster, Stronger and Better’.


Mr. Bartlett said the proposed Hip Strip development includes physical improvements, new product development and substantial operations, heavy street-scaping, and possible pedestrianizing of the area after re-scoping of the transportation and road networks.
Additionally, he said the work will include creating thematic facades and developing an entertainment park, spanning the stretch from the Harmony Beach Park to the popular dead-end beach on Kent Avenue.


Mr. Bartlett further advised that the programmed renovations will be complemented by the proposed construction of a 13-storey mixed-use facility along the strip by a local developer that is intended to accommodate hotels, residences and entertainment activities.


He added that this development will push the value of investment in that area to approximately $7.9 billion.


Meanwhile, the Ministry will be partnering with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to build out a promenade from the cruise terminal in the Montego Free Port, along the seafront incorporating Catherine Hall, linking that with Harmony Beach Park, and culminating at the Hip Strip.


Mr. Bartlett, who advised that this proposed development will be taken to the House of Representatives “shortly”, said it is envisaged that the stretch will have areas for entertainment, shopping, access to craft development and artisan activities, and facilitate a fisherfolk village, adding that “we will have, for the first time, a complete tourism experience”.


“So, when you walk through the area, it will be pedestrian-friendly and will enable visitors and Jamaicans to interact freely. It’s going to be a transformation like we have never seen before,” he noted.

Bunny Wailer to be laid to rest today

By
Shaqueal Benti
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899

Reggae icon Bunny Wailer will be laid to rest today, June 18.


The news was shared by Wailer’s son Asadenaki Livingston. Even though he has indicated that the funeral will take place this weekend, he has not given a specific date or time as he hopes to avoid breaching any of Jamaica’s stringent Covid-19 prevention protocols.


There has been some confusion over Jah B’s (Bunny Wailer) estate since his passing, and Livingston has said that many of the people causing the confusion were not family members. Even though this was not mentioned as one of the reasons for the secretive funeral arrangements, it could have been an influencing factor.


He spoke with the media and remained mysterious about the arrangements to come. “It’ll be a private funeral for family members. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, members of the public can still view the proceedings on ‘theofficialbunnywailer’ Facebook and IG platforms,” he said.


In April, Livingston took to Facebook to offer a lengthy explanation about the payment of Wailer’s outstanding medical fees and the apparent confusion over his estate.


Wailer died at the age of 73-years-old on March 2. He had been hospitalised with a stroke. He is recognised as one of the founders of the Wailers and a musical icon. His passing was mounted by fans around the world. The “Reincarnated Souls” singer soared to the heights of the genre and won three Grammys during his lifetime. Sadly, he was also never reunited with his love, Jean Watt, affectionately known as Sister Jean. They had been a couple for 50 years before she went missing on May 23, 2020.

‘Bunny’ Shaw signs with City

By
Shaqueal Benti
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849
Khadija "Bunny" Shaw

Manchester City Women have announced the signing of Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw on a three-year deal, subject to the approval of a work visa and international clearance.


Shaw, 24, arrives from Bordeaux in France where she scored 32 goals to win the Golden Boot Award in the Women’s First Division.


“It feels amazing to be a Manchester City player. I chose this club because I want to be a part of the environment, the culture and to play for this amazing team,” she said. “I want to be tested and there is so much experience in the team here, so I know I will learn a lot from everybody around me.

I grew up as a City fan, and I even have some family members who live in Manchester. When I told them about my move, they were so happy and excited.”

Residents protest bad roads

By
Shaqueal Benti
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714
Blockage mounted by demonstrators protesting the deplorable condition of the road in their community

Hundreds of commuters were left stranded and motorists were forced to seek alternative routes in sections of Eastern Westmoreland on Monday, as angry residents mounted roadblocks along sections of the Retrieve to Marchmont road to vent their frustration with what they described as the deplorable condition of the road.

The group of fuming protestors fell a number of large trees, which they used to block sections of that roadway and adjoining roads in Seaforth Town and other areas in the constituency as well as roads leading from neighbouring Belfont and Catadupa in St. James.


They argued that they are totally fed up, having to cough up thousand of dollars to repair their cars’ front end and effect other repairs to their motor vehicles.


“We are totally fed up and disgruntled with these conditions, just two months ago I had to buy parts and repair my car’s front end and just last week I had to do the same and the parts are not cheap, I can’t manage this anymore” said a resident known only as ‘Alice’.


Another resident, ‘Marion’ said “You know the situation is so bad that a young biker lost his life when a car swerving to avoid a pothole hit the bike and it crashed into a utility pole. That’s the extent of how bad the road is”.


A motorist said the situation is untenable and they will not put up with it any longer.


“This is not a road; this is a disaster. There is nowhere on this strip to drive, pothole all over, this caaan patch, it haffi fix. Wi need curb an channel, bushing all a dem suppen deh. We don’t have any MP or councillor because nobody cares about us. A wicked people them”, argued ‘Lorna.’


Meanwhile, former member of Parliament, Luther Buchanan and the incumbent Daniel Lawrence have drawn the ire of the disgruntled residents who argued that they keep hearing that money has been allocated to effect repairs to the roadway but nothing has been done.


“It was from Luther time the road bad and wi hearing that money allocated and now with this new man, we nat seeing him, he has not responded to us. Every fifteen chain you can raise fish. This is not fit for walk foot. Just recently the community lost a valuable young man due to accident. This was a valuable young man to the community,” explained Courtney Gaynor a resident.

Barrington Flemming -Staff Reporter

WHO WILL BELL THE CAT?

By
Shaqueal Benti
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321

Well-known academician Professor Trevor Munroe who has been championing the fight against corruption in Jamaica, especially in the political arena, lists corruption as among the main things “killing” the Jamaican economy – the other two being crime and bureaucracy. In a bold bid to fight this monster, the goodly professor and former politician has set up the National Integrity Action (NIA), a non-governmental organization which he hopes will sufficiently sensitize civil society about the ills and deleterious consequences of corruption. But one of the NIA’s most serious challenges is not so much corruption, in and of itself, but what is the average Jamaican’s perception of that national malady.


In a land where “Anancy” is King and where Jamaicans have been described as having been dosed with an abundance of larceny, defining corruption will remain the greatest obstacle towards minimizing it.


Even with the best of intentions, the NIA so far has not succeeded in clearly defining in the minds of Jamaicans what is corrupt. This is by no means to discredit the work of that organization which has been a lone voice in the wilderness. But who better to take on such a gargantuan task? It behooves the NIA to launch an even more intensive campaign which involves defining the true role of a Member of Parliament vis=a-vis public spending as against being a legislator and constituency advocate.


Interestingly, both supporters of the PNP and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) point fingers at each other as if to say neither is a hotbed of corruption. In the meantime, while the finger pointing continues and there are those who maintain a seemingly sanctimonious stance, civil society is rife with cynicism (a pox on both their houses), leaving the diehards to perpetuate minority governments in a democracy where the adage “the greatest good for the greatest number” should be held as sacrosanct.


But corruption has become so endemic in the Jamaican psyche; it will take a generational shift to bring about meaningful transformation. In this vein, a national consensus must become paramount. But is this possible in an environment where even the colour that one wears defines one’s existence?


Then again, it is not just the elected representative who is likely to plunder the national till. It is well known that theft, bribery, graft and corruption of all stripes are to be found in the Jamaica public service as well as in many areas of the private sector but somehow the MPs and Councillors are the ones who are most fingered by civil society and the media. Perhaps it is time to bell the cat.

Shenseea, Drake collab could be coming soon

By
Shaqueal Benti
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1275
Shenseea and Drake

•Pregnancy rumours false

The long-awaited collab with Drake and Shenseea appears to be coming soon, but while neither of the artiste’s camps has confirmed a definite date for release, the news is coming from an unseemly source.


However, rumours going the rounds that Shenseea could be pregnant for Drake have been deemed false.


It seems that news of the collaboration might be outside of the knowledge of fans. Nevertheless, word has been spreading among artistes in the dancehall space, that Drizzy and ShenYeng did some work in the studio. It has been indicated that the track was recorded several weeks back, but it’s unclear if it will be on Drake‘s upcoming “Certified Lover Boy” album or if it will be on Shenseea’s forthcoming debut project.


News of the pending collab also came from one of ShenYeng’s biggest foes in dancehall.


Shenseea fans are speculating that Spice inadvertently dropped the news that Shenseea has an upcoming collab with Drake. In a video rant last week, Spice alleged that she did not record any music with Shenseea because her manager Romeich Major had a habit of badmouthing her. That’s when she let the cat out of the bag.


“Unu do song with 41 weh him name, 21 Savage weh him want name, unu have song a come out with Drake,” Spice said during her IG Live session.


Shenseea and Drake first sparked rumors in 2019 that new music produced by Rvssian was on the way after the trio was seen partying in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Nothing official has been released by either of the artistes, but on Thursday night, a weird rumor surfaced online claiming that Shenseea was pregnant for Drake. Sources told Urban Islandz that the stories are false.

Many fans felt it was a rumor created to spur promotion for new music from the pair. Neither has previously collaborated together but based on Drake’s reaction to Shenseea’s music, it seems that he is a fan. He first noticed her after the release of her song ‘Pon mi’.

Whitmore uncertain

By
Shaqueal Benti
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424
National coach Theodore Whitmore. -NLR photo

Having ended their truncated Asian tour on a losing note, Coach Theodore Whitmore and his troops will now turn their attention to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but with a bit of uncertainty.


Members of the contingent, including coach Whitmore who arrived in Montego Bay earlier this week, ended their Asian tour on a disappointing note, thrashed 4-0 by Japan’s Olympic team on Saturday.


Whitmore speaking following his arrival in the second city added that there is much still to consider ahead of the tournament, namely the fitness level of the team and the availability of some of the England-based players to be able to make the final cut for the tournament, because of passport issues.


“Match readiness, physical conditioning of the unit, camaraderie of the team and chemistry are some of the other things we have to look at and were hoping to sort out ahead of the Gold Cup set to get off in another four weeks”, Whitmore said.


Whitmore further declared “ It will be a risk selecting players going into the Gold Cup, not knowing the condition of the players. The deadline for the provisional 60-man squad was on Monday, June 14.


Coach Whitmore has also called on the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to attend to things off the field as well as on it, as the team turns its attention to the tournament, set to run from July 10 through to August 1 in the United States.


Jamaica, who will contest Group C, have Costa Rica and another team that will be promoted through the Gold Cup Preliminary Round tournament.


They will kick off against Suriname on July 12 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando,Florida.

‘Spirit of Togetherness’ to be relocated to Harmony Beach Park

By
Shaqueal Benti
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483
A section of the Harmony Park in Montego Bay, St.James

The Fitz Harrack’s piece, ‘Sprit of Togetherness’, will be relocated from outside the Sangster International Airport to the entrance of the recently opened Harmony Beach Park, in Montego Bay, St. James.


This will be carried out by the Government, in partnership with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
The piece was commissioned by the late former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, to celebrate Jamaica 21, in 1983.


Harmony Beach Park was opened on May 21, by Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, and was developed by the UDC at a cost of $1.3 billion.


Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, provided details during her 2021/22 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday (June 8).


“This is the huge art piece that is now housed in the middle of the round-a-bout by the Sangster International Airport. It will be relocated from there, it will be restored and it will be placed at the entrance of Harmony Beach Park,” the Minister said.


“We will also announce plans soon for a series of monuments to outstanding Jamaicans as part of the Jamaica 60 legacy programme,” she added.


Ms. Grange said they will also be developing public art for the newly opened Harmony Beach Park.


These initiatives add to the Jamaica Creative: ‘Paint Up Yuh Creative Space’ mural project, which commenced in December 2019, and has been engaging communities in the Kingston Metropolitan Region, through strategically located works of public art, while simultaneously providing economic opportunities for artists.


Under the project, murals have been mounted at the Norman Manley International Airport, at Temple Lane in downtown Kingston, in Port Royal, at Sabina Park, and at the complex of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica in Half-Way Tree.


The project has engaged 40 Jamaican muralists so far, including the country’s internationally acclaimed Taj Francis and Matthew McCarthy.

$10,000 grant for fully vaccinated persons over 60

By
Shaqueal Benti
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336

Effective next Tuesday, June 15, 2021 persons 60 years and over, who are fully vaccinated, as evidenced by the records at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, can apply for the Conditional Cash Transfer for the Vaccinated (CCTV) Grant.


The CCTV programme will pay an incentive of $10,000 to all persons 60 and over who have been fully vaccinated, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness.


This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Nigel Clarke, in a statement to the House of Representatives on June 8.


The programme is to be administered digitally using the COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme platform.
To apply, persons aged 60 and over will need to log on to www.wecare.gov.jm and provide their first and last names, Tax Registration Number (TRN) and/or their government-issued identification, date of birth, mobile telephone number to which they have access, an email address, and the vaccination type and batch numbers.


Persons will also be required to submit their preferred method of payment, whether commercial bank account or remittance agency.
“If you have any doubts about your commercial bank account, indicate a remittance company. For those persons selecting bank accounts it is essential that the bank account selected is in the same name as the person who is applying. So, the person who is over 60, you can’t put down your grandchild or niece’s bank account. You will not be able to get the $10,000 if you do that,” Dr. Clarke said.


The Minister noted that persons who apply will be assigned a unique reference number, which they should keep, as that will be used to track the progress of their application and allow for queries to be answered.


“The website does not require any data plan or credit to log on to it. It’s zero-rated, so it won’t cost you any money if you go on a mobile phone to access the website,” Dr. Clarke pointed out.


In addition, all applicants will be communicated with primarily through SMS Text messages and/or email and will be advised once their application has been validated and approved.


For those applicants who are physically unable to get to the remittance company, third-party collection will be accommodated.
“There has to be a signed letter, stamped, from a Justice of the Peace authorising someone to collect on their behalf, and the person collecting has to have a valid government-issued identification card, as well as identification of the person who is so authorising,” Dr. Clarke said.


Meanwhile, as with the CARE Programme, the Auditor General’s Department will be asked to conduct concurrent audits, that is, to audit while the CCTV programme is being executed.


“The Auditor General will have access to the system and all of its data and will be able to audit the eligibility, validation and other processes and produce their reports. These reports will be tabled in Parliament,” Dr. Clarke said.


“We know from the experience with the CARE programme that this can slow down the actual payments; however, the continued transparency and openness of the programme to the highest levels of scrutiny will continue to provide public confidence in a fair and even-handed process,” he added.


As of June 5, 2021, 159,615 Jamaicans had received the first shot of the vaccine. Some 42,254 of those were in the group aged 60 and over, and of this amount, 7,052 have received the second shot.

Pic sparks speculation of Shaggy/Chris Gayle collab

By
Shaqueal Benti
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1034
Shaggy and Chris Gayle

Anticipation is high that there may be a single in the making that features Jamaican mega-star Shaggy and cricketer turned dancehall artiste Chris Gayle.


Speculations were rife, following a post made by the ‘Universe Boss’ late Monday (June 7) in which he shared a photo of himself alongside ‘Mr Boombastic’.


The duo was pictured hanging out in a studio setting giving rise to the notion that something could be happening.
“Never let them know your next move! Big respect Shaggy,” said Gayle in the caption for the photo, to which he added the hashtags music and studio reasoning.


The sort of cryptic caption has sent fans into a frenzy.


Throughout the course of the pandemic Gayle has been hard at work trying to break through into the music business.
He has been steadily releasing music since his initial collaboration with Tanto Blacks.


He has also been doing some production work through his label, Triple Century Records, which includes music from the likes of Brisco Lyrical.

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