Karl Pitterson—  TODAY, 171 individuals will be conferred with national awards with the pomp and pageantry associated with this occasion at King’s House in St Andrew. Veteran reggae singer Bunny Wailer — who will be getting an Order of Merit, Jamaica’s third-highest honour — heads the list of recipients, which includes representatives from the arts, public service, science, and business. While we salute this year’s awardees, the Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment Desk will be looking at 10 acts who have surprisingly … Read entire article »

BY HG HELPS Editor-at-Large helpsh@jamaicaobserver.com— Sonia Bartley is still hopeful that she will get that $186-million bounty that she insists she won while playing the Super Lotto game five years ago. But that’s a slim hope, maybe not even a hope at all. The Clarendon-born senior citizen who now lives in Portmore, St Catherine, said that she bought what she considered a winning ticket in the 342nd draw on December 28, 2012, but a series of mystifying events has left her … Read entire article »

 The new work authored by Shaun Cain. — The first fun and games book dedicated to reggae and dancehall music, Reggae Larger than Life: The Ultimate Reggae Music Fun and Games, was released last Monday. The book pays homage to the main contributors to reggae and dancehall music over the years and seeks to have readers interact with the genres in a new way. Author Shaun Cain explained that his goal is to get lovers of the music … Read entire article »

By Mel Cooke— Excited patrons at the first International Reggae Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina.— There are some numbers that stand out about Argentina, one of the perennial football World Cup contenders for many a Jamaican (in addition to that other South American nations). It is home to Ushuaia which, at over 54 degrees south, is widely regarded though not undisputed as the southernmost city in the world. They have won the World Cup twice, 1978 and 1986, … Read entire article »

Members of the Shenzhen Arts Troupe from China take the stage to deliver an iconic message to the audience.— Much to the delight of a capacity audience at the Chinese Benevolent Association’s (CBA) Center in St Andrew, a 21-member contingent from Shenzhen, China, the Shenzhen Arts Troupe, recently delivered an inspiring performance of both traditional and modern Chinese acts. The event was hosted by the CBA in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China … Read entire article »

By Corey Robinson— Approximately 60 persons have been deported from Jamaica since April as law-enforcement agencies step up efforts to keep undesirable visitors from the nation’s shores. The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) says drug crimes, overstaying without work permits and illegal entry and re-entry to the island are the main reasons for which persons have been deported. “PICA has experienced success in its efforts to collaborate with other agencies in apprehending and deporting persons who are guilty … Read entire article »