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MORE TAX dollars are projected to head to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to purchase weapons and ammunition, figures contained in the Estimates of Expenditure for the 2009-2010 fiscal year reveal. The estimates, which were tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday, show that Government intends to spend $100 million more for the purchase of guns and bullets for the army. At the same time, the estimates indicate that the Government also intends to cut back on the construction and repairs of rehabilitation centres, while going ahead with plans to construct a public mortuary in St Andrew. The national security budget has been increased from $37.4 billion last year to just over $42 billion.The greatest portion, $39.8...

The family of murdered South African reggae star Lucky Dube has welcomed the guilty verdict for his three killers.Sfiso Mhlanga, Mbuti Mabe and Ludwa Julius Gxowa, who were found guilty of shooting Dube dead in 2007. On Thursday the South African court jailed three men for life for the murder of international reggae star Lucky Dube Dube was 43 when he died on Oct. 18, 2007 following an attempted car hijacking in a Johannesburg suburb. The Gallo Music-signed reggae artist enjoyed one of the most successful music careers in the South African industry. Over a catalog of 22 albums - primarily reggae but also including several recorded in the Mbaqanga traditional music genre - he became the country's most successful reggae...

Reggae artiste, Collie Buddz, is no longer signed to Sony Music's Columbia Records. He had been with the label a little over two years. Born in New Orleans, Collie Buddz - whose real name is Colin Harper - grew up between Bermuda in the Caribbean and the US. Released in 2007, his self-titled debut album shot to the top of Billboard's Reggae Album chart. First week sales of the disc was 10,825 copies, which landed it at number 68 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Among the hits the album generated were Come Around (the video directed by Ras Kassa which was shot here in Jamaica), Mamacita and the Black Chiney With first week sales of 146,000 copies, the hits compilation Now 30 tops the Billboard 200 album chart. It's the...

Garnet Silk, born Garnet Damion Smith in Bromelia, in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica, on the second day of April 1966. On December 10th 1994 Garnett Silk, one of Reggae’s most revered and promising stars passed away. In Jamaica, he was quietly remembered, as radio stations across the country paid homage to the music phenomena that left us too soon. Born in the sleepy town of Hatfield in Manchester, Jamaica, Garnett born Damion Smith, inhibited musical aspirations as a young boy and by his mid teens had taken on the moniker “little Bimbo”. But it was not until his move from rural Jamaica to central Kingston did the artist we know as Garnett Silk begin to take shape. After stints with various labels including stalwarts such...

Alliance members singjay Mavado and selector Foota Hype are denying that there is no war between them despite rumours of a fracas in Cassava Piece on Wednesday night. Rumours surfaced on the streets and on the Internet that Mavado and Foota Hype came to blows in Cassava Piece recently, and as a result a man was killed in the area. One popular entertainment website reported, "the two big man dem ah Cassava Piece (Mavado and Foota Hype) kick off and one punch the other inna him mouth, and den the bad man dem get involved. One of the big man dem bad man friend shot the other big man bodyguard inna him shoulder and foot part, and then the police call fi help and him police friend dem run in and corral the man and kill him and tek a Glock...

Happy Birthday and Rest In Peace. Born: 2 April 1939 Birthplace: Washington, D.C. Died: 1 April 1984 (shot to death) Best Known As: Singer of "Sexual Healing" Name at birth: Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. Marvin Gaye was an African-American soul singer whose hits included "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You," "Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)" and "Sexual Healing." Gaye was an early hit-maker for Motown Records, writing and recording singles like "Can I Get a Witness" (1963), "Ain't That Peculiar" (1965) and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1968). Gaye worked with just about everyone in the R&B business, writing and recording mostly mid-tempo romantic ballads, as well as duets with the likes of Tammi Terrell ("Ain't No Mountain...

Deejay Assassin is furious following his abrupt removal from the stage while performance at 'Red Stripe Live' on Saturday at Sabina Park. Assassin's set was supposedly cut short because of the use of the word 'fish' in a song he performed called Pre This. In the release, Assassin states: "My performance was ended prematurely and abruptly as I was stripped of my microphone and escorted off stage." Assassin says he had spent many years of hard work and sacrifice building his reputation as an artiste, with a great level of integrity and professionalism, so he felt the need to explain to his fans exactly what took place. Assassin said when he was booked for the event, the songs he would be performing were submitted in their...

Luciano has denied knowing that his house guest, who engaged police in a shoot-out and was killed on his property, was a wanted man. "He denies knowing that aspect of the man of which the police speak," Delano Franklyn, Luciano's attorney said yesterday. Andrew Senior, who the police said was a notorious criminal wanted in connection with several crimes including murder, was shot dead Luciano's Westminster Crescent, St Andrew, house Wednesday. Senior died after a two-hour gun battle with lawmen, during which three cops were shot and injured. Luciano, born Jepther McClymont, was detained by the police after he rushed to the house following the shooting, but released after agreeing to provide the police with a voluntary...

Jamaican police say they have charged reggae singer Luciano with harboring a fugitive who shot and wounded three patrolmen while holed up inside the Grammy-nominated musician's home last week. Police Superintendent McArthur Sutherland said the 44-year-old Rastafarian was charged and released after posting bail. A police statement said the hourlong standoff last week ended with the fugitive gunman, Andrew Senior, being killed at Luciano's home in Kingston. Two of the injured officers still are hospitalized. The other officer was released.

Garfield Anthony Sibbles, son of popular reggae singer Leroy Sibbles, was yesterday given a six-and-a-half-year sentence for killing a child that had been left in his care. Justice Bruce Durno sentenced Garfield Anthony Sibblies, 40, of Brampton, yesterday. But since Sibblies has spent the equivalent of almost six years in custody – based on the usual two-for-one credit inmates receive for pre-trial incarceration – he could be released after serving two-thirds of the remaining six months in a provincial jail. Sibblies pleaded guilty Nov. 28 to manslaughter in the March 22, 2006, death of baby Elijah, who was six days short of his first birthday. An autopsy revealed the boy had 38 injuries but could not determine a single cause...

Rapper T.I. was sentenced Friday to one year and a day in prison after pleading guilty to federal weapons charges after he tried to buy a stash of machine guns and silencers to protect himself after his best friend was killed. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, will also pay a $100,000 fine as part of his sentence. He was arrested in 2007 after trying to to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers. He pleaded guilty last March to the federal weapons charges but wasn't sentenced until Friday as part of a deal to see if he would be successful in performing community service by speaking to youths about the pitfalls of drugs, violence and guns. Harris went to buy the cache after his best friend...

Three Policemen were shot and injured this morning during a shoot-out with a lone gunman at a house belonging to popular singer, Luciano. Reports are that shortly after 5 a.m, the police, acting on information, attempted to conduct a raid at a house located at 21 Westminster Crescent in the Half-Way Tree area in St Andrew. The officers were greeted with heavy gunfire and a shoot-out lasting almost two hours, ensued. During the battle, two policemen were shot. Another, who was a part of a team that attempted to rescue the injured lawmen was also shot. The response team reportedly managed to gain entrance to the house and was shot at by the gunman, the fire was returned and he was shot dead. Police sources say the gunman was...

A seven-apartment house with a studio, which is owned by dancehall artiste Miguel 'Sizzla' Collins, was destroyed by fire yesterday, police confirmed. The cause of the fire remain unknown, left an estimated $25-million worth of damage at the Richings Avenue, Kingston 6, dwelling. One person was injured in the incident. It's reported that about 9:45 a.m.sunday morning, the artiste left home to attend a meeting when he received a call that the house was on fire. The police and the fire brigade were summoned. Two units, one from York Park and the other from Half-Way Tree, extinguished the blaze. The police say Sizzla's grandfather, who was at the premises at the time, sustained minor burns. The building and its contents, which...

NINJA vs MERCILESS Ninja Man, who came with the intention "to settle all arguments" with Merciless, might be kicking himself right now. After totally dominating the 'Warhead' Merciless in the early goings, getting most of the 'forwards' from the crowd, the Ninja gave it away in the end. He attacked Merciless with "Yuh talk bout Cobra a bowers, Bounty a coward, yuh nah tel dem di amount a man whe ...... u down a Riker's". Merciless appeared to have been speechless as the crowd went into a frenzy. Ninja Man thought that was the defining moment and declared himself winner by walking off the stage. But Merciless stood strong and when Ninja Man came out for a second time that was the beginning of the end. "You a run... me ago...

Dancehall deejay Desmond 'Ninja Man' Ballentine was yesterday charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm following a shooting incident on Tuesday. The deejay was yesterday charged after an interview with detectives from the Major Investigation Task Force. Head of the Major Investigation Task force (MIT), Assistant Commissioner Les Green, confirmed the charges and added that the case might be mentioned in court as early as next Friday. Ninja Man is now being held in custody. Ninja Man was wanted for questioning about the murder of 20-year-old Ricardo Johnson on Tuesday. The Hunts Bay police conducted an interview on Thursday before MIT detectives met with Ninja Man yesterday.

Popular dancer, Wayne 'Colo Colo' Stewart and his girlfriend were left nursing wounds after being brutally attacked by a group of men during a video shoot. The incident, which took place on Wednesday night in Half-Way Tree, has left the creator of the 'Rum Ram' dance in great concern. It was alleged that Stewart and his girlfriend, Lisa Brown, were taking part in a dance documentary on hip hop and reggae on Half-Way Tree Road on Wednesday night when they were attacked by a group of bus conductors. Stewart said the men approached them and demanded to be in the video shoot that was taking place. However, it was said that a fierce altercation then developed between Stewart's girlfriend and the men. The men subsequently drove...

After her two underage daughters were caught at a dance in Portmore, St Catherine, Isolyn Jones was sentenced on Tuesday for breaching the Child Care and Protection Act. Jones, a resident of Drewsland in St Andrew, appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court and was sentenced for negligence to two years' probation with strict supervision. It was said in court that the police had responded to reports of 'night noise' in the Portsmouth community last month where a dance was in session. Jones' daughters were said to be seen dancing in what the police described as a sexually suggestive manner. Source: Jamaican star They were subsequently taken to the Greater Portmore Police Station where they were questioned...

Desmond Ballentine, aka Nnjaman, who is wanted by the police for questioning in regard to the murder of a man known as Ricky Trooper that occurred on Lower Mall Road in Kingston yesterday morning. Desmond Ballentine more popular known as Ninja Man might be able to help the cops along with their investigation in a situation where one man was left dead. According to the Constabulary Communication Network, about 11:15 am, Johnson, otherwise called ‘Ricky Trooper’ [not the selector from sound trooper and killamanjaro sound] was sweeping his yard in the company of a friend when a grey motor car with three men aboard drove up. An argument reportedly developed between one of the men and Johnson’s friend and the car drove off. The...

A warrant has been ordered for the arrest of the head of Shocking Vibes Entertainment, Patrick Roberts. Roberts was scheduled to appear before the Tax Court on tax evasion charges yesterday, after it was alleged that he owed the Government millions of dollars in unpaid taxes. Roberts, a businessman and music producer, ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the People's National Party against the Jamaica Labour Party's Andrew Holness in the 2007 general elections for the West Central St Andrew seat. He is currently the constituency caretaker. As head of the Shocking Vibes Crew, Roberts was one of the main persons behind the careers of artistes such as Beenie Man, Tanto Metro and Devonte. Beenie Man also appeared in court last...

1. Sizzla Jah Love 2. Sizzla Ghetto Utes Dem Ah Suffer 3. Sizzla Stop It Right Now 4. Sizzla Gwaan Bear 5. Sizzla Hey Youths (Respect) 6. Sizzla Black Man In The White House 7. Sizzla Future Is Yours 8. Sizzla Premeditate 9. Sizzla I'm Loving You 10. Sizzla Open Up The Doors 11. Sizzla What Am I To Do Baby 12. Sizzla I Love You So 13. Sizzla Tax Payers Money 14. Sizzla Qualities In Life 15. Sizzla Babylon Ease Off Those who didn’t enjoy Sizzla’s last effort Addicted - mostly composed of dancheall/hip hop rhythms - may more appreciate his new album Ghetto Youthology. Kalonji returns with a rootsy set produced and backed by the Firehouse Crew. Ghetto Youthology features 15 tracks including the debut...