Alison Hinds blasts Miami carnival organisers

Miami Carnival may be over, but it ended on a sour note for Barbadian singer Alison Hinds.

The “Queen of Soca” music is awaiting a public explanation from Miami Broward One Carnival organizers about why she was unable to perform Sunday after days of heavy concert promotion.

Hinds was supposed to headline the annual celebration of Caribbean culture at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. But at 11:20 p.m., a visibly upset Hinds clad in tight black shorts and strapped up black heels took to the stage and stunned thousands of fans with news that she was not being allowed to perform.

Apologizing, she blasted event organizers for “disorganization.” It was supposed to be Hinds’ first appearance at the carnival in two years.

Hinds said she wanted to limit her public comments, for now, to give organizers a few days to explain what happened. Her disappointment and anger, however, were visible in Tweets she sent out to her 14 226 followers.

“Soooo disappointed that I didn’t get 2 perform 4 my ppl in Miami 2nite!!Utter disrespect & total disorganization!!!” she Tweeted at 12:30 a.m.

Twenty minutes later, Hinds sent out another Tweet: “I did everything I was asked 2 do. All kinds of promo... radio, tv etc & then ur headliner doesn’t perform?? Shame on the carnival committee!!”

Sources told The Herald newspaper in Miami that the show was stopped after it passed the 11 p.m. ending time and organizers declined to pay venue charges to extend it.

It was the second time in two days that Hinds, who is known for her tunes trumpeting female empowerment, was unable to take to the stage. The evening before, organizers of the International Soca Fest, where she was also to headline, canceled the outdoor show at 11:53 p.m. because of rain and lightning. On Monday afternoon, promoters issued a statement explaining why they had to cancel and promised to honor patrons’ tickets at next year’s show.

“Saturday night was act of God. Last night, they had control over it and didn’t deal with it properly,” Hinds said.

Van Gibbs, Hinds’ manager, said they arrived at the stadium at 9 p.m. and were supposed to perform an hour later as the closing act. At about 9:55 p.m., he told organizers “There’s a problem.”

They aren’t fit to be running any committee,” Gibbs said. “They give soca and the culture a bad name.”

Equally disappointed was Calypso Rose, a legend in Caribbean music. She, too, was unable to perform.

Legendary singer Lalchan Rafi Singh return to Toronto is questionable

Lalchan Rafi Singh

Reported by Nirvan Balkissoon

Lalchan Rafi Singh’s return to Toronto is questionable due to a fall he suffered on Monday October 10, in Queens, New York.

“I was in New York at the time and in fact with Lalchan at the time of the fall. Lalchan came over to see me around 1 pm, We relaxed and played one of his CDs. He had a couple of drinks with Gerry and Joe while I just relaxed. We must have played the CD about 3 times while talking about his visit to Toronto and he also sang with the CD and enjoyed a wonderful time with us.

I connected him with Harold Boodoo so that Harold can prepare the music. Lalchan’s performance will be about 1½ hrs so he had about 12 songs and a medley that he would do in the second Harold, everyone started talking about some of the jokes that Lalchan would be belting out in between his performance as he stated he wanted people to come and enjoy themselves with him after 15 years away from Toronto.

Sometime around 4 pm we sat down to eat some food, I left Lalchan sitting at the table and went to lie down inside after finishing eating. After about 20 mins or so I was told that Lalchan got up from the kitchen table and said he was going home. While walking down the steps he must have lost his balance and fell down,. When I rush to the steps I saw Lalchan flat on his back fast asleep.

The landlord called the ambulance and they took him to Jamaica Hospital. The next day we visited him at the hospital to find him awake on a bed waiting for the doctor.

His left hand was bandaged up and in a sling. Lalchan told me at the time that he still wants to come to Toronto and would let me know as he’s supposed to come out of the hospital by the end of the week.

I spoke to Lalchan earlier this week and discussed his trip to Toronto and agreed that we’ll see how it goes with him on a day to day basis.

He still wants to come and perform and is hoping that he can still make it. His left hand is broken and he’s attending therapy but will keep me inform towards the end of the week.

At the time of this publication we cannot confirm whether Lalchan will be here to perform but if he does make it, everyone will be pleased.

2011 Digicel Rising Star : Chantal ‘Tash’ Lamont

Chantal ‘Tash’ Lamont

After 12 long weeks of performance shows, Jamaica has finally chosen their 2011 Digicel Rising star.

Seventeen year old Chantal Lamont aka Tash, set the bar high in the beginning of the season, and for the most part maintained her standard, until it all finally paid off.

“I feel wonderful, I feel great! Actually doing so much hard work and it paid off? Awesome!” she said moments after being announced the winner.

Jamaicans carried Tash all season like a favourite football team, but do they really know who Tash is? Hailing from St. Thomas, the intriguing and eccentric Tash, raised primarily by her grandmother, is a recent graduate of the Yallahs High School. “I have graduated, yes, but them call me back, and said come back to school Monday morning, because I never got to do all of my subjects.” She said noting that she has to meet the minimum CXC subject requirements to take advantage of one of her prizes, a one year scholarship to the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Her most memorable performance, and eclectic, high energy performance of Beyonce and Lady Gaga’s Telephone, blew the minds of voters and viewers alike and will definitely go down in Digicel Rising Star History as the performance that sealed the deal ! 

Now that she finally has the title she has worked so hard for, what’s next? “By the end of next year mi supposed to have, hopefully three or more albums” noting that she is eager to work with artistes such as Taurus Riley, I-Octane, Wayne Marshall, Shaggy and hopefully, even Lady Gaga, “I love her!”

Apart from her title Digicel’s 2011 Rising Star, and her scholarship to the Edna Manley College, Chantal ‘Tash’ Lamont also walks away with a cheque for $1Million, a BlackBerry smart phone, a record single and a music video .

Vybz Kartel being arrested on September 30

Vybz Kartel was arrested on a drug charge at a hotel in Jamaica September 30 by police.

“The entertainer will remain in custody as he is being questioned in connection with a matter, details of which the police cannot reveal at this time,” head of the Central Investigation Bureau, Ealan Powell.

The singer, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and three other persons were arrested and charged with possession of ganja. Following the arrest, Vybz Kartel being arrested on September 30 he was transported to several houses, one of which is in Havendale and which the police believe he visits frequently. The police searched the properties.

If that was not enough, on October 3, investigators from the Major Investigation Taskforce (MIT) charged Kartel with murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of firearm.

A news release from the police said that the charges were made following the conduct of an interview Monday afternoon by detectives from the MIT in the presence of his attorneys.

“The allegation is that on Monday, July 11, 2011, Palmer, along with other men, conspired to murder Barrington Burton o/c ‘Bossie’, a 27-year-old businessman/promoter of a Gregory Park address in St Catherine. Burton was murdered while he was standing with friends along Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park,” the police release said. A preliminary hearing will take place today at the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court, the police said.

Machel & Rikki Jai to return to Trinidad’s Calypso Monarch

Machel Montano & Rikki Jai

Reigning International Power (Soca) Monarch Machel Montano and defending National Chutney Monarch Rikki Jai will compete in next year’s National Calypso Monarch Competition.

They made the joint announcement of their return to competition which served as the foundation for their careers at Sunday’s staging of Saute Trinbago, produced by Cloud Nine Promotions at the NCC Carpark at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

Montano hinted that his selection for the competition was likely to be The Youngest Veteran, while Jai’s will per Machel Montano & Rikki Jai form Love, Family, Life. Contacted for comment on this development, reigning Calypso Monarch Karene Asche welcomed the news.“By all means. The competition is open to everyone and I don’t see why not. It would be interesting,” she said, chuckling.

Brother Resistance (Lutalo Masimba) president of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (TUCO), also hailed the return of Jai and Montano to the competition, describing it as “very good.”

“Machel and Rikki Jai are very much welcome. We look forward to the vibration they will bring. The Calypso Monarch competition is open to all artistes from T&T. It will bring a sense of excitement to the competition. That’s where they started. Machel was a former Junior Calypso Monarch. I could understand the calling,” he said.

Young calypsonian Chucky (Roderick Gordon) was delighted by the news. Chucky, who described himself as a young artiste in the calypso genre straddling the generation gap, said the presence of Machel and Jai would draw the attention of a younger audience to the competition. 

Jai and Montano were winners of the $2 million first prizes awarded to the Soca Monarch and Chutney Soca Monarch competitions this year.

Ravi B pleads not guilty

Leaving San Fernando Court

Ravi “Ravi B” Bissambhar pleaded not guilty, on September 27, to inciting a crowd to throw bottles during the Soca Chutney Monarch finals back in February. 

Bissambhar appeared in Court along with his lawyers.

It is alleged that on February 20, Bissambhar did encourage or counsel members of a crowd in attendance at the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, to throw missiles after he was dethroned by Rikki Jai on the night of the show. 

Chankar read the charge to him that: “On February 20, 2011 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, you did encourage or counsel members of the crowd in attendance at the Chutney Soca Monarch 2011 to throw missiles to the annoyance of the said persons.”

The charge was laid by ASP Ramlal under Section 69, Chapter 11:02, of the Summary Offences Act. Before Bissambhar could enter a plea, his attorney, Sophia Chote, asked the magistrate to allow him to enter a plea on the next occasion.

She explained that she needed time to conclude her research on the legal aspects. The magistrate offered to stand down the matter but Chote said it was a matter of legal research. 

Chankar, however, said she would prefer he entered a plea. Bissambhar subsequently pleaded not guilty.

Chote suggested an adjournment date in December, indicating that the nature of his job wIll sometimes take her client out of the country. However, the matter was adjourned to October 31.

In August, Bissambhar turned himself in at the San Fernando police station,Trinidad, after a summons was issued for his arrest following the alleged bottle throwing incident. 

Bissambhar, the lead singer of the chutney band Karma, was at the Chutney Soca Monarch finals defending his title. He placed second to Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal.

Bissambhar was accompanied to court yesterday by a bodyguard, his sister Nisha Bissambhar and other band members. They were greeted by members of the public as they entered the courthouse.

You Tube Video on the incident Below

Fall Classic cultured program features Avinash Maharaj & T&Tec Gayatones in Canada

On stage: Avinash Maharaj

On a warm fall evening in Mississauga, Ontario, the T&Tec Gayatones did their final sound check prior their performance on September 24. After the sound check, the entire cast were in the Am 30 radio studio on Caribbean Fusion hosted by Gary and Nicola Khan.

Also, in the studio of Am 530 was the promoter of the fall classic Nirvan Balkissoon who hosted the radio program for the first hour interviewing Avinash Maharaj, Nadia Madoo, Neshad Sultan, Oscar B, Soca Elvis and Rishi Gayadeen.

Over the past four weeks the Fall Classic has been featured on many of the radio programs, Caribbean Xpress newspaper and Masala TV. The featured artiste was Avinash Maharaj whose just 11 years old and emerged as the most talked about artiste and new artiste to look forward to seeing at the event.

Jai OJah Maharaj who interviewed Avinash Maharaj on Chin radio Saturday September 14th was very impressed with Avinash and Nadia. He spoke about the composure and manners of Avinash, also pointing out that Avinash spoke properly and was on track in terms of the event and his singing.

Saturday night’s weather was warm and people started arriving at 7 pm. With a steady flow of people the venue started filling up around 8 pm and the program started at 8.45 pm with the singing of both Canada and T&T’s anthems. 

Also celebrating T&T’s republic day was the Friends of Trinidad and Tobago and the President Krishna Nankissor spoke about republic day and the connection with Trinidad. 

At 9 pm the program opened with Neshad Sultan, Nadia Madoo and then Avinash Maharaj who delivered a stunning performance. Many who brought their children along to see Avinash were not disappointed at all. 

Nirvan Balkissoon spoke about this program being simply a cultured program promoting Avinash Maharaj and T&Tec Gayatones, “ Gayatones haven’t been here for a while and with Avinash being part of the cast it truly represented the Culture of Trinidad and Tobago while giving the audience a wonderful evening of music and dance.”

“There seems to be so many programs here with the same bands over and over again and basically the same performance. Tonight people had an opportunity to see the culture of T&T and the growth of this young boy”. 

Mr. Balkissoon continued “overall I am happy with the event and happy to play a part in bringing Avinash here to perform. I will continue to promote good events, new artistes and bands. Those who came out will come back again when Avinash and the T&Tec Gayatones come back to town. Those who didn’t come out missed a tremendous event. I am especially happy to see parents bring their children to see Avinash as he’s becoming an inspiration to many of our young people. If you don’t attend these events you are only denying yourself, as I will continue to promote new artistes, because I know that it’s not only about money but more of keeping our culture alive.”

GT&T’s Jingle and Song Competition launched

Yog Mahadeo, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT& T), disclosed that the company will continue to contribute to Guyana’s development through the promotion of competitions on the basis of equality.

Mahadeo said the company will not slacken its drive to transform Guyana in the areas of sport, culture, entertainment, and telecommunications, as it has the nation’s interest at heart.

He was addressing the gathering at the launch of GT& T’s much- anticipated National Jingle and Song Competition, 2011. Mahadeo said the company’s contributions to the development of the lives of all Guyanese are invaluable, and are made on the basis of the company’s social and corporate responsibility to the market within which it has been operating the past 19 years.

“We are constantly investing millions of dollars in various competitions, events and other activities without asking for a cent in return,” Mahadeo said, as he sought to drive home his point on the company’s commitment to Guyana.

The chief executive officer noted that, since GT& T started operating in the Guyanese market, it has plugged a whopping US$ 20 million in investments back into the economy. He explained that the investment was made because the company wanted to provide the stage through which Guyanese can turn their dreams into reality.

Speaking about the investment made in staging this year’s Jingle and Song Competition, Mahadeo disclosed that more than 50 million dollars will be disbursed for the event, which will attract auditions from thousands of Guyanese.

“We have removed all barriers this year because we want all Guyanese to have the opportunity to display their talents. We realise that we are not here to limit talent, but rather cultivate talents and skills”, Mahadeo said at the launching ceremony on Thursday. This year’s competition has a new feature, a “Bollywood category”. According to Mahadeo, the event has grown and must now spread its wings to give all people, regardless of race, background or creed, the ability to demonstrate talent.

He said GT& T hopes to create two new stars in the country using music as the means of enabling Guyanese to accomplish their dreams in this respect. He insisted that the competition must seek to invoke “patriotism, nationalism, pride and overall zeal” in Guyanese. Mahadeo said specific attention should be placed on the lyrics and performance techniques of persons who are part of the competition, as opposed to just their vocal abilities.

This is the fifth staging of the competition, and already GT& T has created several stars in the music industry while affording them the opportunity to become role models and leaders in the emerging entertainment industry.