Photos from Kensington Oval

Hi, peoples. Sorry for the delay in uploading the photos from yesterday but it's been a busy day. Cheese-on-Bread contributor dreadlocs took some atmoshphere shots at Kensington Oval, as school children and adults awaited the arrival of hurdles world champion Ryan Brathwaite.



Pupils from Ryan's alma mater Lawrence T. Gay Primary anxiously await his arrival.




Students of Ryan's other alma mater, Lester Vaughan Secondary, form a guard of honour to salute the champion.




Aerial views of the stage, where Lester Vaughan Secondary School's Choir perform a tribute to Ryan.




The sun sets on the near 9,000 strong audience.


More later....

Ryan Brathwaite's arrival

Here are some of the pix from the arrival of 110m hurdle World Champion Ryan Brathwaite in Barbados a few hours ago.


Ryan is greeted as he descends his Virgin Atlantic flight by Chief of Protocol, Hughland Allman.


The World Champion warmly greets his mother Angela Young.


Brathwaite, the Acting Minister of Sports, Sen Irene Sandiford-Garner and others participate in a press conference.


Ryan waves to his fans as his motorcade passes Bay Street.

A packed programme of festivities is currently ongoing at Kensington Oval, so you can look out for the pix early tomorrow.

Thanks for joining in on my Live blog, this was kinda fun.:)

Credit: Joy-ann Gill

Motorcade underway

3:15 p.m. Okay, folks, the motorcade's on the move, making its way past Pilgrim Road in Christ Church, approaching Durants.

3:41 p.m. The motorcade has reached Oistins.

3:52 p.m. Ryan Brathwaite's motorcade is now approaching St. Lawrence Gap. The pace has picked up considerably.

3:55 p.m. They've made it to Accra. Everyone's on the streets it seems, on balconies of hotels, on the sidewalks...beautiful.

4:10 p.m. Well, the hero of the momnet just passed by where I'm standing in Bay Street, it was pure madness when his pickup truck passed by, like pure carnival! His parents were behind him in a limousine, they must feel so proud of him.

4:15 p.m. He's now going over the Charles Duncan O'Neale Bridge. Bridgetown is rammed with supporters.

4:28 p.m. Prime Minister David Thompson, his wife Mara and an entourage have arrived at the Kensington Oval. Sources tell me that the PM will meet with Ryan before the festivities begin.

4:47 p.m. The motorcade has arrived at Kensington Oval. The crowds outside remind me of Kadooment Day.

Motorcade delayed

Hi, peoples. Just to keep you up to date - the motorcade hasn't started as yet. Ryan and his entourage are having some refreshments and there're also waiting on his coach's flight to land.

Hundreds of persons have already begun to line the route and the excitement has reached a fever pitch.

More soon...

Welcome home, Ryan!

Barbados 110m hurdle world champion is back home and at this moment is giving a press conference in the VIP Room at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

Next he's heading off on a motorcade down Highway 7 to Kensington Oval. I'll be along the route taking a few pics, so watch out for more.

Blame it on the alcohol + RIP Patrick Swayze

Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West hit up Jay Leno last night to perform Run This Town, and Kanye also took the opportunity to apologise for highjacking Taylor Swift's moment at the MTV Video Music Awards.

From the time I saw him swigging Hennessy on the red carpet I knew it was going to be a rough night, 'cause Kanye fairly ignorant when he's sober, furthermore drunk. And what was up with other persons drinking from his bottle? They ever heard of swine flu? Or would the alcohol kill the germs?

Anyhoo, between Kanye and Serena Williams it was an odd celebrity weekend, and today I learned that Patrick Swayze, one of the stars of one of my old time fave movies, Dirty Dancing, passed away. RIP, PS, you're out of your pain now.

Who Obama think he is?

President Obama obviously letting all this "leader of the free world" crap go to his head. Who the hell he think he is trying to tell people's children what to do with their academic lives?

He realise the US of A is a free and democratic country where it is every person's God given right to drop out of school and become a burden on the welfare system?
Where he get off preaching 'bout "stay in school", "do your homework" and all that bs?

Man, the people right to cuss he. Before he go and drop a bomb on some country or other he trying to brainwash the lil children with he socialist agenda. And as for that health care reform thing, he really carrying a joke too far.

Man, Obama tek it easy. The people just come off of eight years of extreme idiocy, them ain't ready for the type of enlightenment you talking 'bout yet. Just help the rich people get richer and keep the poor people from rioting and all will be well, my brother.

And for those of you who exercised your right to drop out of school, the above is sarcasm.

Top 20 Fave Whitney Houston hits

August was a great month. Not only did my kiddo turn one on the 26th, but one of my fave R&B sngers ever, Whitney Houston, released her long-awaited comeback album I Look To You.

The world knows of Ms. Whitney's trials and tribulations; they were splashed all over the internet and the tabloids for the last eight years or so. But to an 80's teen like myself who grew up on her music, she was the Grammy-winning, platinum-selling diva of her day.

I can still recall singing into a hairbrush along to Saving All My Love For You while pining dramatically after my first teenage crush; declaring my independence with her cover of Chaka Khan's I'm Every Woman; and singing at the top of my voice along with my girls to Exhale (Shoop Shoop!).

I can't wait to make some new memories off Whitney's new album, and as a tribute to her and her wonderful comeback, I set myself the onerous task of listing my fave 20 Whit hits. I've interspersed them with images of her studio album covers to date. Here goes....


20. All At Once - Whitney Houston
19. Didn't We Almost Have It All - Whitney
18. All The Man That I Need - I'm Your Baby Tonight
17. So Emotional - Whitney
16. You Give Good Love - Whitney Houston
15. I Have Nothing - The Bodyguard Soundtrack


14. One Moment In Time - Produced for NBC for the 1988 Summer Olympics
13. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney
12. Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
11. I'm Your Baby Tonight - I'm Your Baby Tonight
10. How Will I Know - Whitney Houston


9. Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
8. I Will Always Love You - The Bodyguard Soundtrack
7. I'm Every Woman - The Bodyguard Soundtrack
6. Try It On My Own - Just Whitney
5. Miracle - I'm Your Baby Tonight


4. My Love Is Your Love - My Love Is Your Love
3. I Believe In You and Me - The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack
2. For The Love Of You - Whitney
1. Exhale - Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack




Welcome back, Whitney!

MJ laid to rest

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Two months after his death, pop icon Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest last night at the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum. Two hundred invited guests including Elizabeth Taylor and Lisa Marie Presley were in attendance.

RIP Michael. You'll never be forgotten.

A crying shame

Earlier this week, I was extremely saddened to read that one of my fave amusement spots, Ocean Park, was closing its doors due to a lack of funds.

On the heels of the closure of the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, we're soon going to run out of places to visit here in Bim, especially nice places for kids. I'm especially upset that my son won't get an opportunity to see the sharks and the variety of sea life that was on display at the park.

You'll be missed, Ocean Park.

Image: www.oceanparkbarbados.com

Damn that Serena!

My girl Serena Williams has given ladies all over the world (or maybe just me;) a reason to say "Damn that Serena!"

Girlfriend has finally admitted that she and hottie rapper turned actor Common are an item. I knew that smug look she's been walking around with wasn't all about her tennis victories.

Do your thing, girl, and keep doing it and doing it and doing it well....


Images: theybf.com

Catching up post

Hey, peoples! I hope you all missed me as much as I missed you. It's been tough trying to blog these past few months, but I refuse to throw in the towel. There's always Twitter, but I like to rant not tweet.

Anyhoo, before I go any further I want to acknowledge the passing of a pretty cool guy who seemed to care about Barbados proceeding on the right track, one Sir John Stnaley Goddard. I only met him once but he seemed like the genuine article. RIP, Sir John.

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I said a few weeks ago that I had a cussing for CBC for not buying the rights so we could watch Ryan Brathwaite run LIVE in Berlin, but I've changed my mind. I'm now convinced that something's seriously wrong up in the Pine in the programming department, and as I don't like to kick a dog when it's down, I spare them my ranting for now. Even if they bought the rights to show that boring, obsolete exposition called Miss Universe.

But seriously, as a viewer of 'single choice tv', i.e. I only have Channel 8, I'm suffering a slow death. Why?

Almost two thirds of CBC'S programming these days is repeats. I tuned into Sesame Street recently to let my son watch it and I saw an episode that had shown at least three times before. Now that's sad. Right now, CBC is repeating the entire last season of 'Ugly Betty' and 'Desperate Housewives'. They're okay shows, but come on! Can't they afford the new seasons?

Programmes are switched around without any prior warning or notice, which makes it hard to follow any serial programme.

Stupse. Right now I'm raiding my relatives' stocks of dvds, 'cause I swear the only thing fresh on tv at the moment is the Evening News....

***************
So Chris Brown still loves Rihanna? Poor fellow. I don't doubt that he still has feelings for her, and probably real cruel with himself for losing his temper. Either that or he really trying to save his career. Going on Larry King in that blue bow tie took guts too...

Anyhoo, while he's spilling his guts, Rih-Rih's letting it all hang out for Vogue Italia.


What is there to say....

Ryan's gold medal run

Hey, peoples. Here's another look at Ryan Brathwaite's gold medal run in the 110m hurdles at the World Championships in Berlin.

I'm still emotional from his medal presentation today. CBC real lousy, though, I had to watch it online. I'll reserve my cussing of them for another day, though. Right now, it's all about Ryan.

Have a good weekend!

Run This Town video

I just came across the highly anticipated video for Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West's new single, Run This Town.

I think it would be very apt if I dedicate it to Bajan hurdler Ryan Brathwaite, sprint sensation Usain Bolt and the other Caribbean athletes who are burning up the track and the field in Berlin right now.

Ryan Brathwaite takes gold in Berlin

Blue, yellow and black, put it up! Cheese-on-Bread salutes Bajan 110m hurdler Ryan Brathwaite, who won Barbados' first ever gold medal at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin today.

Setting a new national record of 13.14, Brathwaite dipped on the line ahead of Terrence Trammel and David Payne of the USA, who both clocked 13.15.

Congrats, Ryan. You worked hard for this, boy. Well done.

And Usain Bolt continued his winning ways as well today, busting his own 200m record down to 19.19. Wuhloss. Go on with your bad self, Bolt.

Image: www.nationnews.com

Jamaicans own the track in Berlin

Congrats to Jamaican athletes Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart, who won gold and silver respectively today in the 100m finals of the World Championships in Berlin.

You can read all about it here. Of course, big up to my boy Usain Bolt, who tore up the track to win his 100m final yesterday.

Wunna run tings fuh trute.

Sir Shridath hurt me bad, bad

Hey, peoples. Hope all is well with you and yours. I would like to extend a hearty welcome to my first follower, Bajan Gossip Girl. Thanks, chica!

I don't have a lot of time to blog these days, so I keep things bottled up till I get an opportunity. What I want to talk about today has been bothering me for a while, so I'll try to calm down and not vent so I can write coherently.

I've always admired regional integrationist and former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal. I met him years ago and considered him gracious, intelligent and down-to-earth. Imagine my surprise then when I read in the media that Sir Shridath was likening Barbados' recent immigration policy to "ethnic cleansing!

A lot has been said about the policy, both good and bad, but the reason why Sir Shridath's comments hurt me bad, bad, is because he of all people should know better!
He is no stranger to Barbados, and actually he has retired here now - I saw him strolling through the supermarket just the other day, but I digress.

As someone who lives in Barbados and has long been associated with Barbados, Sir Shridath knows that Barbadians are some of the most welcoming, accommodating people in the world. We're more likely to be "cleansed" out of our country than the other way around, we're that nice.

So for him to equate the Government's long overdue decision to manage immigration and especially halt illegal immigration with someting as vicious and sordid as ethnic cleansing is grossly unfair. Frankly, he should stand up in Heroes Square with a loudspeaker and apologise to the people of this country.

We can't be that bad if you chose to retire here, Sir Shridath.

Rihanna is a $15 million baby

According to Forbes.com, Bajan superstar Rihanna made $15 million last year from her Good Girl Gone Bad re-release, tours and from her Gucci and Covergirl contracts.

I don't know if that's gross or net, because we know our girl has to pay her sylist, her bodyguard, her managers and for all those hotel stays. Hopefully she'll still come out of it with a pretty penny.

Anyhoo, Rihanna's been on the move recently, being snapped on her way to lunch, dinner, you name it. The sidewalk is her catwalk these days. Good thing she has a bodyguard, cause someone might jack her for those $2,000 shoes....



Images: http://theybf.com

TC does the double

Congrats to Terencia 'TC' Coward, who won the Mount Gay and LIME Party Monarch Competition yesterday at Farley Hill. TC also won the first ever 98.1 The One Banks Sweet Soca Competition becoming, if memory serves me, only the third female to win that title (Allison Hinds and Natahlee (with Shontelle) have taken the Party Monarch title in the past.)

TC did a great job yesterday and no one deserves the wins more, because she's been one of the most consistent soca performers out there. (Consistently good, that is, unlike some others who will remain nameless.) Interestingly enough, her tent mate Natahlee, who placed second to TC in the Sweet Soca competition, also came second to TC in the Party Monarch competition.

The other places in the Party Monarch went to RPB (third), and Khiomal and Mikey tied for fourth place.

Good job, everyone.

Image: www.nationnews.com

Something's happening....

At last. It's taken a while but I've finally gotten into the Crop Over spirit. I've been enjoying the Party Monarch and Sweet Soca competitions live from Farley Hill for the past few hours and talk 'bout sweet music!

Mikey's "I in Dat", Statement's "All Night Till Morning", TC's "Hot Sun and Riddim" and Natahlee's "Dis is What We Do" were especially hot this season.

I'm relieved that the cream has finally risen to the top and the season hasn't been bogged down by the mediocre tunes that assailed the airwaves earlier on.

As I type, results just came in for the Sweet Soca competition....

5. Blood
4. Mr. Dale
3. Mikey
2. Natahlee
1. TC

Congrats to TC on being the inaugural Soca Monarch. I predict that her song will be massive in Trinidad and will have some longevity. I'm surprised that Blood placed so low, because he commanded the stage during his performance.

Big ups to fellow QC alums Mr. Dale, Mikey and Natahlee. Fiat Lux, peoples!

I'll be back with the Party Monarch results in a bit...

Image: www.africasounds.com

Whitney's back!

On September 1, Whitney Houston's comeback album I Look to You will hit stores, and I'm pretty excited about it.

As an 80's baby I grew up on Whitney's music, and it saddened me to witness her decline in recent years. But, she's back, y'all, and I'm sure she'll bring some class to today's R&B scene.

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and R. Kelly are some of the contributors to the album, so this should be a hot one.

Welcome back, Mama Whit!

How it go look?

Two things happened over the past few days that have me puzzled, puzzled. And all I'm wondering, as my Trini friends would say, how it go look?


First, I read that Government was looking to compulsorily acquire the former Sam Lord's Castle for "a mixed development of housing for low and middle income earners, recreational facilitites and tourism development".

While I normally wouldn't mind the ordinary Barbadian having a chance to own (relatively) beach front property, this story has me wondering if there isn't more in the mortar than the pestle. Here's why:

1. I don't see Government using prime beach front property to house locals, no matter how people-centred that Government may be. Least of all Sam Lord's Castle, that has long been a tourism site here.

2. CLICO currently owns Sam Lord's Castle. In my mind, if Government buys the property it lets CLICO off the hook from having to develop it. Many people feel that if CLICO can come up with the millions necessary to develop the site that would prove the company isn't in financial difficulties, as its head Leroy Parris has said repeatedly.

3. CLICO head Leroy Parris and Prime Minister David Thompson are longtime friends. It's the PM's right and privilege to be friends with whomever he wants, but my question is, how it go look?

The other thing which occrred is the leaking of the names of the 18 calypsonians who have made the semi-finals of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition. The leak is only half of this puzzle; what troubles me is the fact that the list of names was leaked BEFORE all the tents were judged! Wuhloss. How it go look?

I'm not surprised that an injunction is being brought against the National Cultural Foundation over this.

Just when I thought the festival would come to an end without any controversy....

Rihanna cuts deep

I see Rihana has been reading rule number one in the 'superstar' manual; change your look frequently.





Well, home girl has gone and chopped off her hair some more, creating a severe mohawk messy style. Mr. T must be so proud....

Images: theybf.com

Top 10 Fave Entertainers - Gone Too Soon Edition

Inevitably, the death of Michael Jackson got me thinking of all those other entertainers who have left us 'before their time', so to speak, some through illness, some tragically. This is a tribute to 10 of my faves, including Michael, who are gone but live on through their music.


10. Selena Quintanilla-Perez (1971-1995)


9. Aaliyah Dana Houghton (1979-2001)


8. Tupac Amaru Shakur (1971-1996)


7. Dalton Sinclair 'Jackie Opel' Bishop (1938-1970)


6. Otis Redding (1941-1967)


5. Sam Cooke (1931-1964)


4. Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)


3. Luther Vandross (1951-2005)


2. Michael Jackson (1958-2009)


1. Robert Nesta Marley (1945-1981)

Farewell, MJ

I'm still a bit teary-eyed from the tributes, so I don't plan on writing much beyond fareweell, King of Pop. Thanks for the memories and the joys of your music.

You are legend and you will live on.

Rest in peace.