Our Independence Float Parade can arguably be compared to carnival but pretty much that's where it ends.

 The palpable excitement of our children could be felt by everyone especially the adults at Ranny Williams Center.  That's what our Independence Foat Parade is all about.  The children!  What a treat for these youngsters to rehearse for so many weeks and to finally participate on the big day of our Independence Celebrations.  Memories that can never be replicated or duplicated of walking from Mas Ran Center and to later enter our National Stadium amongst the glitz and glamour of our black, green and yellow backdrop!!!!

On leaving Mas Ran Center we drove over to Half-Way-Tree Road as the float wend its way paststhe JIS office.  Fittingly, songs booming into the early afternoon sunny day was Damian Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock" and followed by Buju Banton's driven and popular, "Driver, Don't Stop At All"!!

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When you put into perspective that we are only 47 years old, not even half a century and we look at our high expectations for ourselves and in some very real important areas we fall short? - but then there are so many things to be thankful for, to be grateful for, to acknowledge how blessed indeed we are.

The invitation by the JTB to be a part of this Independence press trip has been fun, fortuituous, educational, with lots of awe, wonderment and reflections.  With our wonderful host Lyndon from the NY office and 5 fulltime journalists we have bonded and shared similiar experiences as each day goes by and nuff respect to our ever-attentive driver, Steve.

On Tuesday, we started off with a guided tour of the Spanish Court by Charlotte.  Something must be said about this hotel - it does indeed feel like  a home... the ever-smiling staff, my waiter in the morning is so good and attentive to all my tea, coffee, water and juice needs.'s

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Arrival and checking-in was smooth and easy, especially after a long and sooo hot morning of volunteering at the Edna Manley School of Dance for DACI , an international dance conference being hosted by de 'Rock!

The front desk young lady remembered me calling in to check on the reservation and offered me a beautiful smile and had me set up with Leroy to take me to my room, a bottle of water and nice cool glass of champagne.  The buzz was on right there and then!  I was taken to the second floor and the room faces t.he carpark of the hotel and of course the John R. Wong supermarket, remember that and the gas station at the corner of St. Lucia Avenue.

A nice room with all the amenities that one would need - a plasma mounted tv and a huge king size bed to roll over quite a few times :-) along with a small refrigerator that also came with 2 bottles of water.  I had met the lovely and rather young General Manager, Lee-Ann Godfrey.  Lee-Ann hosted us at dinner later in the evening on the terrace pool deck.  Dinner was fun and lively with all of us joining in conversation about various issues all on Jamaica, of course!

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My webmaster asked me to take on the assignment of reflecting on our Independence celebrations in Kingston, Jamaica!!!

I have checked into the Spanish Court Hotel right in the heart of New Kingston.  Not sure hows many of us remember this little plaza.... well... back in de days it was hopping.... remember Epiphany Night Club..... well this was where it was.... remember Gino's?  stopping by for an early morning snack after hitting the nightclubs in New Kgn.... such as Toppsi?  Who remembers Toppsi ?  ok.... so it is an age thing but.....remember  sitting outside the steps of Citibank hanging out talking to friends in the wee hours?  Move over Asylum!  Oh and for me my numero uno hairdresser Sandra King used to have her salon right here at the old Spanish Court.

 

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In 2007 I watched Tarrus Riley's  performance at Sumfest and stated that another Reggae Star was born.  Tarrus Riley is now a shooting star moving fast in the reggae galaxy.

A performance par excellence!!!!  With the tightest set of all the reggae acts I have seen so far, he displayed his showmanship, command of stage and audience,  with us singing his songs word for word.  His picks from the new album Contagious was just that contagious.... during She's Royal silver confetti were blown into the crowd from two blowers stage left and right.  His entire set was for me remniscent of vintage Dennis Brown a al Reggae Sunsplash -- not too much talking and segueying into each song seamlessly.....naturally, this is due to Dean Fraser's input no doubt..... having Dean on stage for any performer is a terrific musical addition.

The Gleaner reporter described Jah Cure's performance as sizzling and "arguably reggae's premier star".  I look forward to how he will describe Tarrus' performance. 

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A night of long band changes and audio problems.  Ne-Yo endured his entrance onstage for nearly 15 interminable minutes or so before he could begin..... it was embarrassing!  But when he begun he was excellent!  Short with a nice muscular body and a mischievous impish boyish grin he had the ladies in the audience eating out of his hands.  His backup band is good..... and all male band and I must make mention of the horn section.....so rare these days to see a horn section.... and they played well and was in sync especially with their dance moves.  On performing Miss Independence they segued into Romping Shop and his attempts at reggae dancing was fun to watch.

I stayed for one of Keri Hilson's songs..... she performed to tracks which I don't like.... however from what I saw she put on a pretty good show and many others told me they liked her performance.

Earlier in the night, Coco Tea like sweet sweet coco tea came on to sweet up de place which he did well peforming many of his numerous hits and included his Michael Jackson tribute.

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Dubbed the Jaqra Dancehall Night.... it proved to be a night of theatre - drama and comedy.  Lady Saw arrived on stage in full white with two angels and proceeded to bless the stage before she launched into her hardcore X-rated stint.  No children should have been in the venue but I did see a few??  She had a wardrobe change from the full white  into a Jamaican badman and proceeded to sing Bad Man Don't Cry.  In one of her sexy songs she asked a male member of the audience to touch her private parts and to spank it while dressed in the badman suit?

There's a debate as to whether it was Spice,  Bounti, Vybz Kartel, Ele or Beenie who "tek de show".  I didn't see Spice's performance.  Here goes:  for straight up freestyling I give it Bounti.  Movado was ok and so too was Assassin's performance.  Vybz had the crowd moving.... but Ele apparently with a Michael Jackson inspired outfit....also had a Michael Jackson impersonator moonwalking, crotchholding, spinning and face whitened like the former singer.  That's was pure fun!  Beenie received his award crowning him as King of the Dancehall :-)  In the wee hours with the sun coming up he finally took the stage but only for a short time.

The promoters have advised that last night was the biggest night so far.... in fact bigger than the first dancehall night of Reggae Sumfest back in 1993.

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It's now after 12 and things have picked up somewhat.... a slight buzz but no big excitement.  Like Prodigal Son performance, although a Gospel performer he fitted in.  D'Angell - yawn, yawn! The MC's of GT Taylor and Richie B picked up the pace of boring show.  Kip Rich had a little vibe going.  In theVIP area it's getting crowded and in General Admission there is plenty plenty peeeeople!!!

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