Miss Jamzone international Delegates at Sidewalk Cafe
Have you ever wondered why very few complain about the heat at the Sidewalk Café and Jazz Club? It’s because most are usually distracted by the smooth sounds of jazz music, the welcoming atmosphere and the calm and sophisticated crowd. On August 15, 2011 the Hits and Jams crew seized the opportunity to utilize this small but wonderful space to hold a Jazz, Fashion and Food Festival as part of their Jamzone Summer Break.
Jackie Hanover
Upon entrance, attendees were immediately whisked away by the soothing sounds of the Georgetown Jazz Project, the pleasing scents permeating from the kitchen and the elegantly casually dressed audience. A small section of Guyana’s Who’s Who was there, including GT&T CEO Yog Mahadeo, GWI’s CEO (Acting) Nigel Niles and Sidewalk Café Proprietress, Cathy Hughes, wife of local legal legend Nigel Hughes. The smell, sound, sight and feel of this establishment gave one the sense of being in another world; even the vehicles parked on the street seemed cleaner and more upscale. And just when the Guyanalive.com team thought it could get no better we were pleasantly surprised by the Jamzone International Pageant delegates. They strutted their stuff in designs by Pat Coates, as well as items from Suriname-based Janelle Oosterling’s Janoos Collection; cameras flashed relentlessly.
Lisa PunchFood
During certain intervals, local songstresses Jackie Hanover and Lisa Punch serenaded the listeners with hits from the past. They were wonderfully backed up by the Georgetown Jazz Project as they belted out notes beyond our imagination and even provided a little amateur acting. Just to shake things up further, a steel pan player was added to the music ensemble for a short while, and the current Miss Jamzone International Queen graced us with her presence.
We at Guyanalive.com deem the Jazz, Fashion and Food Festival a success, and even though the heat was at times unbearable we have no reservations in giving our recommendations of the establishment as the service, atmosphere and style offered amply compensated for this weakness; an 8 out of a possible 10 on our Guyanalive.com scale. A closing note to all Guyanese: the next time you hear of a show at the Sidewalk Café, dress lightly and go early; you will not be disappointed.
Has anyone ever told you that an “opportunity lost can never be regained”? They are usually right, and if you missed universal megastars Eve and Trey Songz then shame on you; just shame! It was mind-blowing, and this is from a man’s point of view; just imagine how the ladies are still feeling. The crowd was enormous, comprised primarily of ladies of course, and the atmosphere was pulsating. The Guyanalive.com team had access to almost every area and whether it was VIP or general section, the feeling was the same – excitement and monumental levels of anticipation. In the VIP and LVIP (Luxury Very Important Person) sections there were lots of drinks and food (some free) distributed by beautiful waitresses from the Shakers Cocktail Bar.
Eve
The audience was mixed with people from all walks of life – the young, the old, the straight and the gay. It was a plethora of well-dressed, well-mannered and joyous patrons. The Jamzone International Pageant delegates also graced the masses with their presence and they were warmly welcomed. We at Guyanalive.com presume that there were no serious issues because of the heavy security provided by the Guyana Police Force
Timeka Marshall
The performances were kicked off by local hip-hop star Don Gialiani, with his hype lyrics and sick dances. However, he failed to get the crowd moving enough and as such his stint was short-lived. Timeka Marshall, our very own singing sensation, did a much better job with hits like “Whining Pro” and “One More Day”. Her dancers were fantastic when they showed the audience how to do certain dances that her songs instructed. She then surprised us all by doing a collaboration with West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo (who substituted for Beenie Man) which was seriously not bad. However, Bravo decided that he would continue trying to entertain us all after Ms. Marshall’s performance but was quickly stopped. After a brief interlude, American Superstar Eve, known as the First Lady of the Ruff Ryders, made her way to stage and was welcomed by dropped jaws and loud cheers. She was absolutely stunning in a partially sequinned, partially see-through black bodysuit and red shoes, which made her stage presence much more appealing. She delivered tracks from the old hip-hop generation along with some new hits. Her dancers (hailing from the USA) spared us no moves as they wowed the masses with their sultry moves and attention-commanding outfits.
Dwayne BravoTrey Songz hugs a Fan
Then, it was the moment we were all waiting for. After a short awkward silence and the assembly of a live band, we were teased by an interlude from the album Passion, Pain and Pleasure before seeing the Prince of Soul and R&B making his way to the stage casually dressed in short khaki pants and a white T; from that moment, pandemonium was everywhere. Ladies screamed, hyperventilated and pulled great amounts of hair from their heads as he smiled, and sang nothing but hits. He graciously interacted with the crowds of females, teasing their very beings by taking off his shirt and vest and throwing them into the audience. He was in total control of the stage and left us all wanting more. But, before he left he chose a lucky lady from the LVIP section to come on stage and collect his vest (which he tore from his ripped body) as a token of his appreciation. She blushed and gushed while he serenaded and caressed her; he also instructed her to wear it every night when she went to bed, so that she would always think of him. Imagine the jealousy of the other female fans as they witnessed the man of their dreams embrace another woman while they wished it was them. He encouraged all committed females to remain in their relationships if they were happy but enticed all single ladies to join him in his hotel room after the show. Of course, all females wanted to take him up on his offer.
Don Gialiani
Even though we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the show we must interject our constructive criticisms of the evening’s events. First of all, if the LVIP experience just means free food and drinks for $30,000 and excludes any mingling with the performing artistes, then why do it at all? Many complained that they felt robbed because they could’ve paid the regular cost or the cost for VIP ($20,000) and had just as much fun. Maybe the Hits and Jams team can amend this for the Regional Night. When we at Guyanalive.com thought about it, there was not much memorabilia to receive nor were there photo ops for artistes with fans. Then, and most importantly, some media houses were given the shorter straws when it came to access. For instance, the Guyanalive.com team had VIP Media Passes only and as such they were restricted from entering the LVIP section. Some other media houses had All Access Passes and were even allowed backstage; that strikes us as slightly unfair and we would love to hear the explanation behind such a decision. All in all though, it was a great show and we give it an 8 out of a possible 10 on the Guyanalive.com scale. We have just one closing question: How will Hits and Jams top this?!
Proclaimed as ‘one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists’, well-known for his above-average prolificacy, Jamaican Reggae Megastar, Sizzla Kalonji, will be heading to Guyana this Sunday August 7th, for the GT&T Fastball Tournament finals and Mega Concert.
Sizzla Kalonji will be replacing Jamaican Reggae Star, Taurus Riley who was initially booked, however due to commitments, was unable to perform on the date aforementioned. Rising Dancehall star, Jory, who is without a doubt one of the most promising local artistes, reaping rave reviews for consistently producing constant chart-toppers, promises to bring the crowd to a ‘glass-shattering’ pitch. The renowned Mingles Sound Machine Band and Fusion International will also be present to provide added entertainment.
The inaugural Fastball showdown comes to an end this Sunday with the semi-finals which leads straight into the finals, to determine the winners who will walk away with six million dollars in cash and various prizes. Patrons can also tap into the action by simply wearing blue jerseys for a chance to win millions in GT&T mobile credit. Tickets are available at Ashmins Trading and all GT&T outlets.
I’m not sure the 44th Annual Formally, Caribana Parade, now renamed the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival 2011, was something to brag about this year. Although it had its usual hype and vitality the stress of getting there and obtaining a proper view of the festivities was more than difficult. If you didn’t arrive early then be prepared to have to park and walk a significant distance away from the parade. Subway and the street car was the best option although at one location a street car did get into an accident and access to another one was nearly impossible so taxi cabs were the way to go.
There were some unnecessary block offs along the parade which resolved in long walks around, I must have walked for about 45 minutes before I finally arrived at a decent spot with a decent view. Another disappointment was the disorganization from some floats. Some mass players waited a long time before they finally got their costumes, and were not even informed on how to assemble it. But the biggest disappoint this year was the news of the shooting that occurred after the parade. It’s a shame to have such a tragic incident happen at such a joyous event that is supposed to represent unity and celebration among the West Indian Culture.
Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Parade: Revellers
They came from East and West, they came from North and South, They Came from Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia – De Entire Caribbean, North America, South America, Europe, Asia. I Believe Destra Garcia said it best, “It’s All about Unity, Togetherness, Carnival time we love de jamin’ all o we, collectively, in de bacchanal time to start de fete”.
The costumes this year were just as crazy as ever, it was great to see people pushing their creativity and creating something different and new. The girls did not disappoint either with less than barely there outfits, I don’t think at any other part of the year you see as much skin as you do at Caribana and there is no complaining on that. I can say the best part of the parade this year was …. The alcohol, a nice cold beer on this day was a great compensation. As for the food there were too many hot dog stands and not enough “food” stands available all along the parade.
Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Parade: Guyanese, Grenadian, St. Lucian
Although barricades go up every year people still find a way to jump the fence, or break it open, which causes the crazy stampede of people, so if you’re going there to relax, go early find a spot under the shade and enjoy as the parade passes by. If you plan on participating and playing Mass I suggest you do your research and find a float that knows what they’re doing and that you’re comfortable with. I’m sure next year will have the same and plus some more disappointments but at the end of the day we all look forward to meeting up with friends, family and for a great show and Caribana will never disappoint on that.
Last Friday Night, the Byron Lee’s Dragonaires Boat Cruise, fourth year running was a huge success. Unless we count the detour from the original location or the hour delay before we finally sailed off, but that didn’t seem to bother most of the eager patrons from starting the festivities on the Empress of Canada’s three Decker. Once on Lake Ontario the party went into full gear. If you were lucky enough or forceful enough you might have made it to the top deck where the live band was performing, and well since I grew up in NYC I made it no problem. There wasn’t much stage space so we were pretty much at fingers length away from the band which gave us some great up close and personal pictures, so make sure you check those out!!!!
The second deck was the place to be when the band wasn’t performing and the DJ was killing ’em with the beats. There were a lot more “mature” adults on this cruise than young people but you would not be able to tell from the dance moves that were surfacing, at one point the band was performing a song about salt fish and every “mature” adult knew the words and everyone else’s face was priceless, including the few white people that were there. I was preparing myself to pay an arm and a leg for some food on this cruise even though I think it should have been free since $50 admission was required. I wanted to know what I was paying for if food and drinks wasn’t included? However, for $5 bucks I got a huge BBQ jerk chicken burger which I didn’t even finish, so with my belly full and my feet itching to dance I headed up to see Jumo, Lima, and Oscar B perform.
Living Legends Boat Ride: Having Fun
I can safely say that everyone on that boat, Black, White, Guyanese, Trini, Jamaican, old and young enjoyed themselves, due mostly to the amazing talent of Jumo, Mr. Rubber Waist himself. He went from singing Night Shift and One more Night, to the crowd dancing the twist and mash potato, then took it back in the days to the Tati and the Butterfly and then somehow Jail House Rock, and the crowd loved every minute of it. There was a lot of audience participation and one lucky guy got to wine up on the sexy Lima. By the end of the cruise no one seemed to notice the time of 2 a.m. since everyone was busy Palancing and I was busy rubbing my toe from the big lady next to me who Palanced right onto my feet, talk about a dangerous dance and then when the boat started to sway and tilt I thought I would be writing another article about Palancing ‘The dance move that sunk a boat”.
Living Legends Boat Ride: Byron Lee's Dragonaires
With a band being around for over 50 years I was expecting to just jam to some oldies all night but I was surprised at the range in variety of music played. After chatting up with long time member Mr. Neville Hendes, I got a crash course in the legend that is Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, learning that the name came from Byron Lee’s school at St. Johns. Their Mascot being a dragon and linking that with the musical term Aires he formed Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, and having had about 200 members over the years, I can see why their called Living Legends, their musical legacy is filled with the rich Guyanese and West Indian culture and I hope they never stop cruising. I was thoroughly entertained being taken on a literal and figurative, musical voyage.
Biography: Arti Cameron is a highly motivated 22 year old with a passion for life. She is currently pursuing a career in medicine. Towards that end she has recently completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Sciences (majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry). Arti’s interest in medicine was sparked when she was nine years old after meeting her future role model and stepmother who was about to begin her medical studies at the University of the West Indies. This curiosity in medicine heightened significantly when Arti suffered severe asthmatic attacks and was admitted to the Savanna-La-Mar General Hospital in western Jamaica. She wanted to understand the nature of her illness. Arti also sought to find out why the other children on the ward were admitted and what was being done to help them recover. Since this period of ospitalization, Arti has experienced an unwavering interest in the field of medicine–an experience that motivated her to work hard throughout primary and secondary school in pursuit of her childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor. Having just completed a degree in biology as a pre-med student, she is currently preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a requirement for admission to medical school in the United States.
So far, Arti Angelita Cameron has lived in three countries–Guyana, Jamaica, and the United States– and considers herself a world citizen. She was born in Georgetown, Guyana, and attended Starters Nursery School and Sacred Heart Primary School prior to migrating to Jamaica in 1995 where she lived for about five years. Once in Jamaica, she attended the Savanna-La-Mar Primary School and began assimilating into the vibrant Jamaican culture. She quickly joined the school’s prestigious marching band as part of the cheer leading squad that was the flare and pride of her school, and she was part of that school’s dance group that won a prominent parish-level dance competition. While in Jamaica, she formed life-long bonds with many people and will always consider Jamaica her second home. In addition, Arti was given the opportunity to form many additional life-long friendships when she returned to Guyana in August, 1999, and re-enrolled at her old school–Sacred Heart Primary. There she prepared for the Common Entrance Exam and moved on to St. Joseph High School in 2000. Her myriad extra-curricular activities at St. Joseph High served to enrich her academic life and she represented this school in many ways: she played netball, participated in Mashramani dance competitions, was chosen to be the first speaker on the school’s debating team, was elected president of the environmental student group- The Green Team, won the 2003 Miss St. Joseph High School pageant (Junior Queen), modeled at school events, and passed nine subjects at the CXC O’level exams in one sitting. Arti then moved on to Queens College just prior to migrating to the United States in December, 2005. Continue reading “Miss Guyana World 2011: Delegate #1 Arti Cameron”
Platform: Empowering Guyanese Women through Spirituality
Biography: Enthusiastic, daring, determined, ingenious and radiant, this is me, Soyini Asanti Fraser. I was born under the Zodiac sign of Taurus on the 8th May, 1990 to Lynden and Deborah Fraser, in the “Garden City,” Georgetown in the beautiful country of Guyana, land of many waters. Over the years I have grown into a spirited dancer, an aspiring Christian Child-Psychologist, role model, a true Guyanese!
My formal education began at the Mae’s Under 12 School, and when I was promoted I continued my education at the West Ruimvelt Primary School where I undertook the Secondary School Entrance Examination and placed among the top one percent (1%) of students who wrote this examination, gaining a place at Queen’s College, the leading Secondary School in Guyana. Throughout my school life both in Primary and Secondary School, I have been a member of every school’s athletic committee. During my six (6) years at Queen’s College I enjoyed a full and healthy School life. I have been an active athlete, in both track and field events where I have gained several titles for myself and Pilgrim House to which I belonged, a member of the school’s Steel Pan Orchestra from First to Sixth Form, a Sub- Prefect in Fourth Form being one of the persons responsible for the second form level of the school, among many other duties while still keeping my academic life in check. In an endeavour to continue and broaden my scope of academic enhancement and elevation I am currently in my fourth and final year at the Life Christian University here in Guyana reading for a bachelor’s degree in the area of Theology. Upon the conclusion of this Degree Programme I plan to continue the journey of academic pursuit by studying Christian Psychology. This will bring me one step closer to accomplishing my Career objective of becoming a Christian Child-Psychologist. Continue reading “Miss Guyana World: Delegate #2 Soyini Fraser”
Platform: Breaking Barriers: The journey from homemakers to CEO
Biography: Twenty one year old Ruqayyah Boyer is an amalgam of international identities – born in Suriname to a Guyanese mother and a Surinamese father, she spent her first two years in the Dutch-speaking South American country before moving to Canada where she spent the next five years. Later on, Ruqayyah moved to her mother’s home country of Guyana here she has resided to this day.
This early experience as well as her dual heritage became the foundation for not only her bilingual abilities (Dutch/English) but a passion for global affairs. A second year International Relations student at the University of Guyana whose goal is a career in political sciences and law, preferably within the United Nations framework. Prior to this, this young Ambassador would have completed her two years of sixth form at the St. Stanislaus College, where she was a part of many extra curricular activities some of which included, Volunteering at the National Library, embarking on group activities through the Rotaract Club and also working her passion in the entertaining Arts.
In addition to her educational endeavours, Ruqayyah has had a stellar launch into the world of fashion and pageantry, Firstly partaking in the Miss Guyana talented teen pageant, going on to represent the land of many waters at the Miss Teen Universal and the returning with the experience of a lifetime and handily winning the Miss Linden Town Week 2010 – copping trophies for Best Talent, Evening Gown, Body Beautiful and Intelligence – before receiving top billing in fashion events like Guyana Fashion Week 2010, Roger Gary Fashion Show which was a part of the Miss Guyana Earth Pageant and also making an appearance in magazines such as Profiles 98 Edition and De Pulse which is yet to be released this year. Continue reading “Miss Guyana World: Delegate #3 Ruquayyah Boyer”
Biography: Life is full of surprises and everything happens for a reason; whether good or bad. For every bad thing, expect something good and for every good thing, expect something GREAT! This motto supports my philosophy of life.
Born on the 18th of May, 1991 to Nicole Williams and Llewellyn John this Taurus Gem has grown to become a beautiful, confident, vibrant, energetic and self determined individual who finds comfort in helping young children and motivating others to achieve their goals. I possess a strong determination to distinguish myself from the ordinary and become a catalyst for change.
My formal education began at the Head Start Nursery School, then to Sacred Heart Primary School where I gained a position at Saint Joseph High School after writing the Secondary School Entrance Examination. After completing CSEC and graduating with distinction I attended the Bishops’ High School where I gained my Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Diploma. I am currently pursuing studies at the University of Guyana in History. This move takes me one step closer to fulfilling my desires making my life -long dream a reality. My dream and aspiration is to become an Attorney-at-Law in an effort to help to rid the world of injustice.
Apart from being an optimist and bursting at the seams with the love of life, I marvel in the joy of meeting and interacting with new persons and if chosen to represent Guyana would value the privilege of being able to see the world through different cultures. I possess an innate love for singing, dancing, modeling, meeting interesting people, reading romance novels, listening to music and hanging out with my friends. I try my best to be involved in community activities and enjoy helping my peers! My involvement in community activities has placed me among other individuals who believe in the greater good of seeing others excel. Continue reading “Miss Guyana World: Delegate #5 Utieka John”
Autobiography: Blessed with Dutch names – Seistra Thremiel Allen was born on July 29, 1993 to Zilda Heywood-Smith and Jerome Allen. She was cherished and loved by her family who told her she’s beautiful and spoke of the joy that she brought to them.
At age 11 Ms. Allen migrated to Barbados in the eastern Caribbean where she continued her Primary Education at the Hindsbury School. There, she faced tremendous pressure from her peers as they made a mockery of her Guyanese accent which led her to be very reserved. But, that didn’t stop her passion for singing and dance which she did at Church.
She then sat the Common Entrance Eleven Plus Examination giving her the opportunity to attend a school named after one of Barbados’ Prime Ministers and currently the name of their International Airport “Grantley Adams Memorial School”. There Seistra came into to her own, topping her class and a held a major role in the theatre arts group. Seistra made a bold step to sit the English Language and Social Studies CSEC Examinations in Third form, gaining passes in both subjects. In her fourth year she was named the school Deputy Head Girl and recently graduated with the Valedictorian honour and held the award of Best Graduating Student in her theatre arts class. Continue reading “Miss Guyana World: Delegates #6 Siestra Allen”
