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On Saturday January 2nd the lawns of Jamaica House will come to life with the sights and sounds of the 2016 installment of the ‘Shaggy & Friends’ benefit concert. The concert, which is now a biennial event, aims to surpass 2014’s yields for the Bustamante Hospital for Children under the theme I Dare . The upcoming staging of the concert, which is organized by the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation, will be its fifth and is set to be the biggest one yet. Proceeds from the last 2 concerts were directed towards completing the first diagnostic Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) totally dedicated to children in the English-speaking Caribbean; however, considering the dire needs of the children that pass through the Hospital day to day, the Foundation is re-focusing its energy on the needs of the general hospital population. “We feel that during this sensitive time, healthcare needs our attention more than ever,” said Rebecca Packer, Executive Director of the Foundation, who also announced that media giant iHeartMedia and Italian automaker FIAT are joining forces with the Foundation for the event. The FIAT® brand stands for discovery through passionate self-expression. That philosophy is embodied by the iconic Fiat 500 or Cinquecento – a small car that lives big. Italian at heart and rooted in a rich heritage, the 500 is sold in more than 100 countries around the world and is synonymous with modern, simple design blending form, function, technology and a pride of ownership that is genuine.. FIAT is partnering with The Shaggy & Friends Foundation to bring the concert programming and information to radio, television and digital. With 245 million monthly listeners in the U.S. and more than 87 million monthly digital uniques, iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. Its 858 radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company’s radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, on tablets and smartphones, and on gaming consoles. iHeartRadio, its all-in-one streaming music and live digital radio service, has more than 700 million downloads and reached 70 million users faster than any other radio or digital music service and even faster than Facebook. iHeartMedia will promote the ‘ Shaggy & Friends’ benefit concert and the SMS “ text to donate” details with nationwide on-air and digital promotion across more than 120 CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) and RCHR (Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio) broadcast radio stations and on iHeartRadio. iHeartMedia will also produce a 60 minute rebroadcast of the benefit concert January 3 at 8 p.m. local time across its stations as well as on its iHeartRadio digital platform. The Foundation will also be expanding its online and social media portals; namely its website ( www.shaggyfoundation.org ), Twitter (@shaggynfriends) , Instagram (@ShaggyandFriends) and Facebook (Shaggy and Friends). Performers for the event includes Ashanti, Nelly, girl group En Vogue, international chart-topping Jamaican act OMI, American-based duo R City, and the main headliners. They will be joined by Inner Circle, Bugle, Ding Dong, Beenie Man, Ghost, Terror Fabulous, Nadine Sutherland, and gospel artiste Kevin Downswell. Shaggy & Friends 2016 will have three access tiers—Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each will cost JD$5000, JD$10,000 and JD$20,000 respectively Started in 2009, Shaggy and Friends concert has raised more than US$ 1.6 million and purchased more than 450 pieces of essential, life-saving equipment for The Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Rihanna was spotted chilling on the beach while on vacation in Barbados sporting a skimpy denim dress The Bajan beauty looked incredible strolling on the beach in an asymmetrical frilled blue denim minidress, showing off her legs and ample sideboob. See pictures below……..

Last night at the annual staging of Sting 2015 which was held at Jamworld in Portmore, patrons were not happy as the event ended yearly. Police pulled the plug minutes after 6 AM before the headlining acts which included Ninja Man, Beenie Man and Gully Bop could perform. The premature ending of the show resulted in chaos and bottle throwing, No word on what caused the show to end early. This is 32nd edition of "The Greatest One Night Reggae / Dancehall Show On Earth."

Culturally correct for over two decades! Every January, Rebel Salute delivers a modern indigenous work of art that goes from dusk ‘til dawn for two days, taking Reggae from the roots to one of the largest and most discerning audiences of any music festival in the Caribbean! The events is hosted by veteran artist Tony Rebel. It has been in existence for the past 22 years and has a reputation second to none. Innovators in every sense, Rebel Salute has maintained a strict no meat, no alcohol policy that has from inception set us apart . The alcohol free affair that sparked a “Rebelution” in the approach to the marketing of musical events, has steadfastly promoted a holistic experience of lifestyle music to audiences that continue to grow; attracting thousands to the annual event in one of Jamaica’s tourism capitals. Rebel Salute is the preferred choice of the Reggae connoisseur. Rebel Salute will be held at the Plantation Cove, St Ann from January 15 – 16, 2016. Rebel Salute Reggae Festival is the largest reggae festival in the entire Caribbean and the only one of its kind in the entire world. ARTISTE LINE UP 2016 Friday Michael Rose Sanchez Luciano Lust Richie Spice The Congos The Heptones Christopher Martin Tony Gregory Bugle Louie Culture Tanto Metro and Devonte Chezidek Pluto Shervington and Ernie Smith Everton Blender Gem Myers Tony Rebel Nesbeth Kabaka Pyramid Kelissa Nature Jahmali Earthkry Band Yvad Hopeton James Jah Mason DuRite Rasta Indigenous Village Khalilah Rose The Wixard Emmanuel Stain Runkus Saturday Soon to be announced ---”BIGGEST B” David Brooks aka Mavado Junior Reid and Juju Reid Half Pint Queen Ifrica The Abyssinians featuring Bernard Collins I-Octane Turbulance Ken Boothe Andrew Tosh Michigan Pablo Moses Ray Dawin Macka B Anthony Cruz The Viceroys Uprising Roots Davianah Paul Elliott Eric Donaldson Pinchers D Medz Mackeehen Nadia Harris McAnuff (Electric Princess) Rahfi and the Rock Top Chanters Tydal Kamau Charly B www.rebelsalutejamaica.com

Join Chef Eric Ripert for a weekend celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Caribbean at The Ritz-Carlton, a premier Grand Cayman Island resort. An incomparable roster of world famous chefs, wine experts and spirits blenders will offer tastings, demonstrations, tours and dinners that celebrate the barefoot elegance that only the Cayman Islands can deliver. Chefs for Cayman Cookout 2016 include: Eric Ripert, José Andrés, Anthony Bourdain, Florian Bellanger, Tom Colicchio. Dean Fearing, Cindy Hutson, Hubert Keller, Ludo Lefebvre, Dean Max and Michael Mina

Going out New Years Eve night, but don’t know how to apply your makeup? You're going for a festive party look to start the year off on the right foot. Well, we went to YouTube for a little help. See some of our favorite New Years Eve tutorial makeup for that special night. Rose Gold by stillGLAMORUS RED Smokey eye by Carolina Zaro Holiday All Drugstore Makeup Tutorial by Eman Makeup by Demi Rawling

At the recently held Miss World Pageant in Sanya, China, the world was introduced to an unfamiliar face, that of Bahamian-born Julien ‘Believe’ Thompson. The singer performed his infectious single, "Caribbean Slide" with the contestants during the live show, Julien Believe is Julien Thompson Julien has been singing since the age of eleven, he has been entertaining professionally since 1998 with the group EDJ. The group disbanded after a few years and in 2005, he launched his career as a solo artist. His dream did not come to fruition without his share of rejection, but he had angels, persons who chose to believe with him and continued to push him towards success. The Believe Project is Julien’s way of informing the youth around the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the World, that you must believe in yourself even when no one else will. You must seek out the passion for your life and believe you can do it. No matter what, you should never give up. Young People are stars the world hasn’t met yet. The Bahamian Entertainment Ambassador Julien had the opportunity to travel and perform throughout the Bahamas and the United States including but not limited to New York, California, Atlanta, New Jersey, Philadelphia and North Carolina. International Performer Julien Believe has opened for major artists such as John Legend, Boys II Men, Baby Face, Brian McKnight, Sean Paul, Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Tank, Crisette Michelle, Fantasia, Ginuwine, Johnny Gill, Melonie Fiona and Shontell. Major Bahamian Exposure With his innate ability to network with the best, he has been exposed to the BET Awards as well as the NAACP Awards. He has become very good friends with Mo’Nique, the Queens of Comedy comedian. She is one of the most influential angels in the launch and stability of his career along with Suzanne Depasse. Their words to him in strategic moments have catapulted him to the place he stands today. He has also had the opportunity to sit and learn from the likes of Lil John, Robert Carnes and Jerry Wonder. Singer/Songwriter Julien is a singer and a songwriter. His group EDJ has utilized this gift. He has also been afforded studio exposure with McFadden Productions, Hush Productions, Rockwilder’s Muzik Park, Stargate, Truth Music and Bulldog Productions. He has written with and for John Legend, Crisette Michelle, Shontell, Ryan Beatty and continues to write for up and coming Caribbean sensation Angelique Sabrina. The Caribbean Slide Project The Caribbean Slide is a high-energy line dance song that is being taught to people of all ages throughout The Bahamas and the United States. The vision is to have people learn the dance, record themselves performing the dance, and post it to YouTube!

The Caribbean has well and truly mastered the art of roadside eats and the Cayman Islands is now upping its grilling game. Since the prolific food truck phenomenon burst onto the culinary scene, street-eating has transformed and trickled over into the islands. With schedules getting busier, and no time to linger in crowded restaurants, grabbing a cheap jerk burger and devouring a foil wrapper lunch is becoming the norm. A simple convenience, or an authentic taste of the islands, either way, Cayman is initiating an ever-growing, 'eating-on-the-go' trend. Smokin Bros These guys are raking in the culinary awards and once you sample the super-tasty, slow-wood-smoked, barbecued meat from chefs Cody Bush and Anthony Lawson, you'll see why. This orange-hued, mobile food truck is the latest and greatest addition to the street food movement. To track this trendy truck's whereabouts, just follow the diet-destroying, oh-so-satisfying smell of barbecuing meat and you'll find it. Or you could just check Facebook. Al La Kevroom Cayman's most popular 'kebaby', Al La Kebab hit the road in the form of a large purple truck and a cute play on words. Rolling through the streets of Cayman serving up Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern fast-food dishes like beef, lamb or falafel wraps smothered in tzatziki sauce and veggies, A La Kevroom is a great choice for a filling, on-the-go lunch. Add a side of fries, a pot of gooey, delicious poutine or a healthy-ish tabouleh salad. Red Bay Jerk Chicken A jerk stand that effortlessly captures the essence of the real Caribbean. Come here on a Friday night and you'll find jerk chicken smoked to perfection in roadside, rustic steel drum barrels. You'll have to battle the crowds and possibly an impending jerk addiction, but if you want a taste of culture and Caribbean-style food in one place, get yourself to Red Bay. Eastern Avenue Jerk Chicken Another top jerk spot, you'll find the 'meat master' chef Patrick frying up chicken, pork and other roadside spicy treats on Eastern Avenue on Wednesdays through Saturday. Open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights, stop by at this time and this small marquee is packed with ravenous locals fighting for a box of the good stuff. The Swanky Stop A fruit-filled, brightly-coloured truck bursting with goodness. Everyday at the cricket pitch, farmer Geoffrey Nixon and co peddles the freshest-of-the-fresh fruits and veggies and blends up smoothie concoctions to die for. Grab a strawberry and banana juice to go, it's killer. Gabriel's Grill Outside seating, reasonable prices and overly-generous, insanely delicious helpings of Caribbean-inspired food is what sets this truck apart. You may miss it on the first attempt, but you'll find Gabriel's Grill, the brainchild of inventive chef, Hansel Rankin, on the corner of Elgin Avenue. Rankin is bucking the farm-to-table trend and instead pioneering a farm-to-street sensation. Go for for the lobster mac and cheese or the rum glazed BBQ chicken with roast breadfruit salad and coleslaw- in fact anything on the menu and you'll be hooked. What are your favourite street eats in the Cayman Islands and the rest of the Caribbean? Share in the comments section below. ............................................................................................... About the Author Monica is an award-winning tv producer, travel tv host, NCTJ qualified journalist, filmmaker and a university certified drone pilot born in the Cayman Islands and raised in the U.K. She started off in the production world as a producer in London, creating videos for the likes of Dragon's Den star Peter Jones & the Richard Branson-backed, Virgin Media Pioneers initiative before leaving behind the dreary city life to return to her Caribbean roots. For two years she was a one-man-band, writing, shooting and editing daily news packages, features, and hosted and anchored news for the national morning show in the Cayman Islands, 'Daybreak' on Cayman 27. Read more

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Kingston Jamaica has been designated a creative Music City by UNESCO among 10 creative music cities that were designated this year. Jamaica’s State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment Hon. Damion Crawford has welcomed the news that the push to have Kingston designated a Creative City of Music by UNESCO has yielded significant success. T his comes on the heels of the official announcement by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. TEF Provides Over $3.4 Million to Support Venture in Kingston Jamaica The designation resulted from a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment through the Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB), the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) and other stakeholders. The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has provided over $ 3.4 million to date to support the venture. The process was initiated by the Ministry’s Entertainment Advisory Board in 2013 and was aimed at ensuring that Kingston Jamaica becomes a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which focuses on resuscitating the economic viability of cities through arts, culture and community. The venture then received overwhelming support from the KSAC, which played a pivotal role in facilitating the successful submission of a formal application to have the city designated. The announcement also follows a recent trip by the Ministry’s Senior Director of Entertainment, Gillian Wilkinson-McDaniel and Kingston’s Town Clerk, Robert Hill, to Japan to lobby for the designation to be granted at the UNESCO World Creative City Forum. The detailed application was submitted on July 15, 2015 after several consultations spearheaded by the EAB and the KSAC with partners such as the Urban Development Corporation, University of the West Indies, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) and the Planning Institute of Jamaica. Since then, a national steering committee has been formed with the objective of implementing projects across the corporate area which will foster the development of the creative industries in Kingston Jamaica. “I am very pleased that the initiative was successful and it is further proof that hard-work and partnerships can have a far reaching impact. I am convinced that the designation will help to boost our efforts to position Kingston as a cultural city and will also enhance the appeal of Jamaica to travellers with a special interest in culture,” Minister Crawford expressed. The Minister also believes that the designation will enhance Jamaica’s competiveness. “I am confident that Kingston’s designation as a Creative Music City will boost our standing as a competitive destination in accordance with the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI),” he said. UNESCO’s Creative Cities programme was started in 2004 as an initiative to unite cities from across the globe through creative industries. It is policy-driven at the municipal and national level. The network is currently formed by 69 members from 32 countries covering seven creative fields – crafts & folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, music and media arts. Other cities also recognised as creative cities of music include: Tongyeong (Republic of Korea), Varanasi (India), Adelaide (Australia), Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal), Katowice (Poland), Salvador (Brazil), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Liverpool (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Medellín (Colombia).

Miss Spain Mireia Lalaguna Royo won Miss World 2015 on Saturday, December 19, at the Beauty Crown Grand Theatre in Sanya, China. Top 5 contestants Second Runner-Up went to Miss Russia, Sofia Nikitchuck while Miss Indonesia was the third runner up. Rounding off the top 5 were Miss Jamaica Sanneta Myrie and Miss Lebanon Valerie Abou Chacra . Miss Jamaica Sanneta Myrie In addition to the winning the crown Miss Spain also took the Top Model Award . Other Challenge winners were Miss Indonesia nabbing the Beauty With a Purpose Honor , Miss Philippine winning the Multimedia Award and Vietnam's Tran Ngoc Lan Khue took this year's People's Choice Award . Miss World Jamaica and Miss World Guyan a were the only Caribbean Contestants among the Top 10. Miss Guyana Lisa Punch previously won the talent competition by singing an original composition titled, “ One Last Time,” Miss Guyana Lisa Punch The panel of judges include Julia Morley, the President of Miss World; Ken Warwick, an Emmy award winning Hollywood producer; music conductor Mike Dixon; the head of Miss World, hair and beauty expert Andrew Minarik; stage director Donna Walsh; Miss World 1988 Linda Pétursdóttir (Iceland), Miss World 2001 Agbani Darego (Nigeria), Miss World 2002 Azra Akin (Turkey), Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin (China) and Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova (Russia). Show hosts were Tim Vincent, Megan Young and Angela Chow. Congrats to Miss Jamaica and Miss Guyana!

Trinidadian Film, “ Mas Man ” won the Best Feature Documentary at the Long Beach International Film Festival in Los Angeles last month. This 15th award garnered for “Mas Man”, is a film about the work of Trinidadian artist/designer Peter Minshall, produced and directed by Trinidadian Dalton Narine , has lent added credence to what has been seen as unusual impact this film has made on the international circuit. Dr. Daniel Walker, scholar, filmmaker and founding director of the illustrious festival, spoke about the film’s appeal and the jury’s decision: “As a person who wrote a book about the political dimensions of festivals in Cuba and New Orleans, I know I had a high bar to impress, and the film did all that and more.” Narine, a Kendall, Miami, resident and retired features editor at the Miami Herald, says of “Mas Man”, that it is, “above all, a fine arts film, though juries at fifty or so festivals around the world, had promoted it in every category imaginable.” Still, with the film’s latest success, coupled with the tourism prize it received at Document Arts Fest in Bucharest, Romania (as well as its screening in Cannes) both in the past year, the 15 prizes across the board amassed by “Mas Man” attest to the film’s potency on several levels. Those prizes include Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography and special awards. Narine says he pushed the film in the Los Angeles area because Don Mischer, a Hollywood producer featured in the film, was a key figure in tapping Minshall, the masman himself, for the Barcelona Olympic Games’ opening ceremonies in 1992. Minshall reprised his role as an artistic director of the Emmy award-winning opening ceremonies at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002, for which he received an Emmy. That “Mas Man” made an auspicious debut speaks to its staying power. A full-house screening in New York City’s Greenwich Village, proved that Narine and his crew could transform a pastiche of scenes that won the People’s Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival to the top tier of the New York Film Festival in 2010. “In Trinidad, we had a week to put it together,” Narine recalls, “just so the public would get an inkling regarding what the noise was about. It was a ways from being a film. Not even a work in progress. Call it ideas.” Narine credits not only Callaloo Company’s Peter Minshall and Todd Gulick, but also filmmakers Benedict Joseph and Danielle Dieffenthaller, editor Eduardo Siu, Pennelope Beckles,Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival founder/director Dr. Bruce Paddington, as well as Trinidad and Tobago Film Company and GISL for their contribution, particularly as the film underwent a period of gestation. Back then, to accommodate festivals, it required Narine to transfer “Mas Man” to HD hard drive and Blu-ray. “Today, the medium is Digital Cinema Package (DCP),” Narine says, “and we had it mounted, at huge cost, in Hollywood, where the film had a screening at the legendary Ricardo Montalban Theater at Hollywood and Vine.” “Now, it is screenable at any movie house anywhere in the world,” Narine says. “Of course, at the behest of Minshall mas players everywhere, we’ve been pushing a longer cut at 145 minutes on DVD. “Mas Man” has been screened in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia and the Caribbean. The Trinidadian film received a Best Caribbean Film award in 2012 at a red carpet festival in Antigua that included a American actors, filmmakers from India, and the chair Columbia University’s School of the Arts film division. It also prompted a stir of excitement in Jamaica media a few months ago. But to Narine’s delight, a few Caribbean students at US universities have studied the film for their thesis toward a post-graduate degree. And a group of UWI students chose the work for a class project a couple of years ago. “Mas Man”, along with eleven Narine films about Trinidad & Tobago’s mas/pan culture, are available atmasmanthemovie.com

At the 26th staging of the Miss Jamaica UK 2015 pageant 17 year-old student Jasmine May beat out 11 contestants to capped the title. May , whose parents hails from the parish of Portland in Jamaica will be an ambassador for the annual beauty pageant for a year. Second place went to Rica Kelly , 29, a teacher whose parents are from Westmoreland, while third place went to Chrishauna Champagnie , 19, a law student whose parents are from the parish of Kingston. Chreena Miller , 26, won the most sectional prizes as she won Best Talent, Best Body Tone and voted Best Model for Positive Runway. The hosts for the evening were Andrew Clunis and Deneez Peters and entertainment was provided by reggae sensation S avanna, Hali I and The McKoy Family. Miss Jamaica UK is beauty pageant open to women in the UK of Jamaican heritage, between the ages of 17-27. Each year, contestants from across the country compete to win the coveted title.