Adrian Dutchin, the consummate, versatile showman of X2 fame, upstaged the competition at Guyana’s inaugural music awards handed out on Sunday night, picking up six of the crystal hardware and winning in every category he was nominated for, save one.
Joyful noise: In a moving performance of their combined talents gospel singers, Cherilyn Maloney (left), Eddie Neblett (centre) and Miriam Williams (right) rocked the Accolade Music Awards on Sunday night. (Photo by Obrey James)
The local hit, “Crazy” produced out of Kross Kolor Records, catapulted Dutchin and Jumo Primo (the other half of X2) to Accolade glory. They walked away with four awards between them. The group won Best Groovy Soca Single (Male); Soca Single of the Year; Best Colla-boration and Song of the year for “Crazy”. The song also won its producer, Burchmore Simon, an Accolade for Best Soca compilation.
Dutchin, who also performs with the Krosfyah band out of Barbados, grabbed two individual awards for Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the year; his song, “Celebration” apparently having struck a chord with voters and the committee overseeing the awards. But music industry insiders and vocal and loyal followers of reggae group, First Born felt the popular “Irits” deserved the songwriting recognition.
Timeka Marshall lifts her award for Best New Artiste at the Accolade Music Awards on Sunday night. She also won for Best R&B Artiste. (Photo by Obrey James)
Nevertheless, First Born had a ‘bless up’ night, collecting four Accolades for Best Reggae Album; Album of the Year; Reggae Artist of the Year and Best Reggae Single for “Irits”. Album of the year was the big one, and the reggae sensation deservingly won for its first studio album that had generated enormous buzz and renewed a conscious vibe in local reggae music.
“We happy for this crystal, keep them coming,” a member of the reggae group said while accepting for Album of the Year. But in a more appreciative way, the group recognized the award as being symbolic of a great stride in the local music industry. It hailed the Accolade Committee for taking the initiative, noting, “many lil youths grow up hoping for this, like First Born did”.
Guyanese Natural Black was up for several of the reggae awards, but he lost out to First Born. Natural Black, who now resides in Jamaica, was not in attendance.
Fojo, who received the most nominations of any artiste–an impressive nine–failed to win in any of the categories.
Big winner: Michelle ‘Big Red’ King accepts the award for Best Groovy Soca (Female) at the Accolade Awards on Sunday night for her single, “Guyanese wine”. Also in the photograph are singer Teneisha DeFreitas and promoter Mike Fung, who presented the award. (Photo by Obrey James)
John Drepaul, better known as ‘Slingshot’ picked up an award for the Best Soca Album (Solo, Duo or Group). He was not in attendance.
Local diva Timeka Marshall, who rose up from a Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) jingle competition to almost instant celebrity status, grabbed two awards; Best R&B Artist and Best New Artist. The latter was a fitting recognition of the strides Marshall has made since her debut single, “Separate” launched. For the newcomer award, she was up against singers such as Celeste David and Mark Batson.
As Marshall stepped on stage to accept the first award, a fan in the audience shouted, “Next stop the Grammys”. She graciously received the Accolade and thanked everyone for being supportive, particularly GT&T, which she recognized as the company that gave her a start.
Going crazy: Jumo Primo (left) and Adrian Dutchin (right) of X2 perform the hit, “Crazy” at the Accolade Music Awards on Sunday night. (Photo by Obrey James)
“Kerwin we got one,” she said, in a shout-out to her manager, Kerwin Bollers. Marshall had been slated to perform but was pulled from the line-up as she was reportedly out of the country and was unable to make the rehearsals.
Local gospel star Eddie Neblett, also had a big night. He won in both the categories he was nominated for, Best Gospel Single of the Year (Male) and Gospel Artist of the Year. His hit “Love and Unity”, which was tremendously popular, was rewarded.
Female gospel artist, Cherilyn Maloney got the nod for Best Gospel Single of the Year Female.An Accolade also went to Michelle ‘Big Red’ King for her song, “Guyanese Wine”. She picked up the Best Groovy Soca Single Female.
Woman power: From left: Delma Lynch, Celeste David, Czerina Ali, Teneisha DeFreitas, and Charmaine Blackman blending their voices for the opening music act at the Accolade Music Awards on Sunday night at the National Cultural Centre. (Obrey James photo)
A posthumous award went to calypsonian Vivian Jordan (Mighty VJ), who was named Calypsonian of the Year. VJ passed away in the US recently after losing a battle with cancer.
Terry Gajraj won the award for Chutney Artist of the Year (Male) while Queen Yasmin won in the same category for female. The award for Best Chutney Album went to the El Sadiek band, which recorded the popular “Stupidy” song.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Boi-No! Pardoned!
It feels so good to be living among people again after several years of living among animals - BynoePhilip Bynoe is no longer accused of treason.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, acting in accordance with the powers granted to him in Article 188 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana, yesterday granted Bynoe a pardon.
According to a statement released through the Government Information Agency – GINA — Bynoe had been writing to President Jagdeo since last year and continuing this year, applying to him for a pardon.
In his appeals, Mr. Bynoe expressed his remorse over the invasion of the Office of the President, and the destruction of public property.
In 2002, Bynoe campaigned throughout the country, urging citizens to protest against what he called atrocities against the people by the PPP/CIVIC Government.
His campaign led to a massive march on July 3, 2002, which culminated in the storming of the Office of the President, leading to the shooting death of two persons and injuries to several others, as presidential guards opened fire on the intruders.
Yesterday, GINA reported that Bynoe recognized that the event was an attack on a democratic institution of the state and not directed at the President.
Social activist Mark Benschop, who was a part of the march, was subsequently charged along with Bynoe for treason. He was to spend five years in prison, until he was pardoned by the Head of State.
He had undergone a lengthy preliminary inquiry and trial in the High Court, where a single juror refused to agree with others on a not-guilty verdict for Benschop. Immediately people concluded that political considerations caused that juror to stymie the not-guilty verdict.
Benschop never got a second trial, because various protests surfaced, some by lawyers who spoke of chronological order in trial, a contention that the Guyana Court of Appeal rejected.
Last night, Bynoe said that he needed to adjust to his new freedom. “I am very happy to be pardoned. I am grateful to the President, who saw it fit to pardon me after six and one half years.
“Perhaps the President finally decided that he would allow me to spend this season of goodwill with my family.”
Bynoe said that he had been writing to the Head of State since last year, and he had also been sending emissaries.
He said that he is going to take some time to get back with his family. “I have to reintegrate myself into society, starting with my family, who supported me morally and psychologically, particularly my wife.”Bynoe turned 60 on November 14 last.
Asked about his period of exile, he said, “It feels so good to be living among people again, after several years of living among animals.”
In an invited comment last evening, former fellow treason accused Mark Benschop said that it is refreshing to hear the revelation about Bynoe writing the President and apologizing.
“This is not news to me. I am happy that someone has apologized for what happened at the Office of the President. I am now awaiting the government to apologise to me and compensate me for the five years of unjust incarceration,” Benschop told this newspaper.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, acting in accordance with the powers granted to him in Article 188 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana, yesterday granted Bynoe a pardon.
According to a statement released through the Government Information Agency – GINA — Bynoe had been writing to President Jagdeo since last year and continuing this year, applying to him for a pardon.
In his appeals, Mr. Bynoe expressed his remorse over the invasion of the Office of the President, and the destruction of public property.
In 2002, Bynoe campaigned throughout the country, urging citizens to protest against what he called atrocities against the people by the PPP/CIVIC Government.
His campaign led to a massive march on July 3, 2002, which culminated in the storming of the Office of the President, leading to the shooting death of two persons and injuries to several others, as presidential guards opened fire on the intruders.
Yesterday, GINA reported that Bynoe recognized that the event was an attack on a democratic institution of the state and not directed at the President.
Social activist Mark Benschop, who was a part of the march, was subsequently charged along with Bynoe for treason. He was to spend five years in prison, until he was pardoned by the Head of State.
He had undergone a lengthy preliminary inquiry and trial in the High Court, where a single juror refused to agree with others on a not-guilty verdict for Benschop. Immediately people concluded that political considerations caused that juror to stymie the not-guilty verdict.
Benschop never got a second trial, because various protests surfaced, some by lawyers who spoke of chronological order in trial, a contention that the Guyana Court of Appeal rejected.
Last night, Bynoe said that he needed to adjust to his new freedom. “I am very happy to be pardoned. I am grateful to the President, who saw it fit to pardon me after six and one half years.
“Perhaps the President finally decided that he would allow me to spend this season of goodwill with my family.”
Bynoe said that he had been writing to the Head of State since last year, and he had also been sending emissaries.
He said that he is going to take some time to get back with his family. “I have to reintegrate myself into society, starting with my family, who supported me morally and psychologically, particularly my wife.”Bynoe turned 60 on November 14 last.
Asked about his period of exile, he said, “It feels so good to be living among people again, after several years of living among animals.”
In an invited comment last evening, former fellow treason accused Mark Benschop said that it is refreshing to hear the revelation about Bynoe writing the President and apologizing.
“This is not news to me. I am happy that someone has apologized for what happened at the Office of the President. I am now awaiting the government to apologise to me and compensate me for the five years of unjust incarceration,” Benschop told this newspaper.
Taken without permission from today's Kaieteur News.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
CJIA night operations successfully restarted
This evening it has been confirmed by a senior official of the CJIA, Timehri that the airport runway is once again fully operational with the portable omni directional runway lights.
The first international flight to touchdown at CJIA was Liat 869 at 7.30 pm. As the night flights have resumed the management of CJIA is currently in the process of repairing the damaged, permanently fixed runway lights network which was destroyed by severe lightening.
The first international flight to touchdown at CJIA was Liat 869 at 7.30 pm. As the night flights have resumed the management of CJIA is currently in the process of repairing the damaged, permanently fixed runway lights network which was destroyed by severe lightening.
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