LOCAL PATRICE TALKS MUSIC, IMAGE AND NEWS POTENTIALLY STARTING A FAMILY
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here seemed to be no stopping Former Road March winner Patrice Roberts in C2K15. She came out of the gates with guns blazing releasing tune after tune. Her song on the Flair Skirt Riddim entitled “Feeling Mihself” was one of the year’s standout selections. Her late release alongside Machel Montano entitled Great Parade had the potential to dominate the streets on Monday and Tuesday if it wasn’t for the juggernaut of “Like Ah boss.” By and large Roberts’ work was very well received this year despite her underachieving in the Soca Monarch competitions. ET&T reached out to the star who has only just recovered from the dreaded post carnival flu to find out her current state of mind and keep you abreast of her moves. While some of her contemporaries are already doing shows abroad, Roberts is relishing the opportunity for some down time and is happy with how her post-carnival period is shaping up. “Things are fine thus far... I actually have some time to rest this year after Trinidad Carnival before I get into touring. I am thankful for the opportunity to rest a bit. It is really a blessing in disguise. I am thankful and reflective and ready to take on everything that is coming my way.” That doesn’t mean she hasn’t been working at all. Patrice is already involved in the creative process and she hinted that she could release new material in the coming months. “I have been listening to riddims and demos and even writing so we will see what happens. Once the vibe is right anything can happen” said Roberts. Speaking of staying active, Patrice has been an incredibly active force on social media platforms. She usually has instagram buzzing with personal video clips and photos of herself in the latest and hottest couture. It’s safe to say that Roberts’ sexy new image is admired by both sexes and that is one of the things that contributed to her song “Feeling Mihself” being so successful. She was able to truly sell the song to listeners.
The ET&T WEEKLY Tabloid is published by ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP Company Limited in the island of Trinidad and Tobago and is protected by strict copyright laws and is not to be reproduced in full or in part without the written consent from the management of ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP Company Limited. ©Copyright Abstract Media Group Company Limited 2013. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are expressed by the writers and do not reflect the sentiment of Abstract Media Group Company Limited. Disclaimer: The views or opinions presented in this publication are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Employees of ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP COMPANY LIMITED are expressly required not to make defamatory statements and not to infringe or authorize any infringement of copyright or any other legal right. Any such article is contrary to company policy and is outside the scope of the employment of the individual writer concerned. The company will not accept any liability in respect of such article, and the employee responsible will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising.
While she admits that clothing and makeup contribute to her sexiness, Patrice states that her attitude, thoughts and body also attribute to her feeling sexy. With all the self-love Patrice is affording herself one would think it would be extremely difficult to become her other half. However, that does not seem to stop her long list of male suitors. With that in mind, we wondered if Patrice would consider putting her music career on hold to pursue a relationship and start a family. She posited that it is definitely something she would be looking forward to, but only in due time. For now career comes first. “You never know... I love kids and at some point the time will come when that decision has to be made, but I still need more time to deal with my career before that happens but I would love to have a family.” It’s obvious this songbird has a level head and a plan in motion for her career. However, she acknowledges that everything may not go to plan as she admits “The industry is unpredictable and anything can happen at any given time so you really just have to be prepared to deal with it.” Despite the challenges, both obvious and unforeseen Patrice will be going full hundred in her quest for success. She is a hard judge when it comes to that as she rates her 2015 season “at a 5.5 or 6 out of 10.” If that’s the case, one can only imagine what even an 8 would bring… pure greatness. www.amgtt.com •
MARCH, 2015 • ET&T
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LOCAL THE TOBAGO JAZZ EXPERIENCE 2015 PROMISES "MUCH MORE THAN MUSIC" S W E N Jill Scott
Written by S. Romero
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or the past 7 years, the end of April brings a buzz to the island of Tobago. Once you step on the island, there is an intense level of enthusiasm, excitement and "quiet pride" that runs through the heart of all Tobagonians. Local food vendors begin to gather their fresh seasoning, hotels prepare their rooms and facilities, taxi services hire more drivers, and glass-bottom boat owners stock up on gas and complimentary drinks for their visitors. Banners are posted throughout the city and the celebrities who would be sharing the haven of Tobago, become the talk of the town. All is set. Lights, camera and action- It’s the Tobago Jazz Experience. Grammy award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, soulful R&B vocalist Jill Scott, mainstream artiste Miguel and funk and disco band, Kool & The Gang would be the international headlining acts to grace the stage of the Tobago Jazz Experience 2015. Local favorites such as David Rudder, Kes The Band and Shurwayne Winchester are also among the versatile cast who are expected to leave a lasting impression on patrons. The Tobago Jazz experience is known for celebrating jazz, along with the indigenous music of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. This is showcased by the series of events which is carded for April 18th to April 26th. The scenic village of Speyside would get the ball rolling with “Jazz in the East” followed by several shows throughout the island, culminating at the most anticipated “Beach Jazz Fiesta” at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. David Michael Rudder, one of our country’s national treasures who would be performing at "Jazz Signal" in Shaw Park Complex, shared on what patrons could expect.-"I will be playing some of the favorites, and some of the not so well known, but 2
David Rudder promises a special mix of old and new tunes
I'll be stretching them out into new territory. Giving them a newness." Tickets for the Tobago Jazz Experience 2015 went on sale on February 25th 2015 at various outlets in Tobago. It has only been a few weeks and
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guesthouses, hotels and vehicle rentals are already booked up. Patrons, especially those who travel from Trinidad, are ensuring that flights and boat tickets are booked in advance. In 2014, the Tobago Jazz Experience fea-
tured nine time Grammy award winner John Legend, Earth Wind and Fire, Keyshia Cole and Brandy. The show was well subscribed by the Trinidad patrons, causing Caribbean Airlines to add 22 new flights to its domestic route. The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago also had to increase their ferry sailings between the islands, to accommodate the thousands of travelers during the period. This year, 2015 an estimated 40,000 persons are expected to grace the shores of Tobago for the Tobago Jazz experience. The tourism sector sees tremendous benefits, as the Jazz Experience provides a platform for our rich historical and cultural traditions and expressions to be showcased. This has a significant impact on small businesses and provides ideal economic opportunities. In keeping with this year's theme, the Tobago Jazz Experience promises to offer "much more than music". Patrons could expect a holistic experience and total fulfillment. The Tobago Jazz Experience has gained international recognition throughout the years for highlighting world class artistes mixed with the finest musical talents of our nation.
LOCAL SANDO FASHION WEEK KICKS OFF NEWS 10TH ANNIVERSARY PROCEEDINGS Y
et again the City of San Fernando will become the hub of Fashion and Merchandising as this year’s production of San Fernando Fashion Week kicked off its 10th Golden Anniversary themed “Return to Heritage: A Way To See Ourselves” with model castings which took place at Creative Arts Center San Fernando on Sunday 25th January & Sunday 22nd February, 2015. Many hopeful models including children turned up at the venue excited and ready as they practiced their walks and turns in preparation for the selection process. Several models were selected for the 2015 production and those models will be preparing themselves to hit the runway at the final roll out event and at the Golden 10th Anniversary Pre Showing launch which takes place on March 29th at Royal Hotel in
San Fernando. The San Fernando Fashion Week Committee as always, remains committed to working with young focused individuals in the creative sector and aims to move the fashion sector forward by creating a strong networking body
to build stronger ties and bonds within this sector and to promote Trinidad & Tobago as a whole regional/ International developing through Trade and Export. For their 10th Anniversary SFFWTT will host a two day Merchandiser’s Expo which will
be filled with business propelling displays and endless networking opportunities. This event is the perfect forum to meet all your business goals so don't miss this chance to connect with customers, inspire and educate your team and grow your business!
YOUTH FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT AIMS TO CREATE AWARENESS OF RARE DISEASE AFFECTING MANY LIVES IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
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emophilia is a rare disorder in which your blood doesn't clot normally because it lacks sufficient blood-clotting proteins (clotting factors). After the sudden passing of a close friend in March 2013, SW Touring Ltd decided to use sports to highlight this rare disease which affects many in Trinidad & Tobago. The Hemophilia Awareness Youth Football Challenge (HAYFC) is the 1st Annual 7-a-side football tournament for children (boys and girls) under the age of 13. The tournament is an opportunity to provide young and aspiring athletes a healthy and safe avenue where they could practice and showcase their skills on and off the playing field. The first edition will be held on Saturday 28th March 2015 4
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at the Mannie Ramjohn Football Stadium (Training Fields), Marabella The whole day sporting activity (9am to 6pm) will feature 16 of the best youth teams from all over Trinidad and Tobago competing in the Under 13 category. An invitation is extended to football academies, coaching schools and youth teams from all over the country to vie for over $4,000 in cash, hampers, trophies and medals Besides being a part of the most popular sport locally and internationally, the tournament offers children the opportunity to engage in healthier lifestyles, improve friendship bonds, develop team spirit and enhance youth empowerment, For further tournament information please email info@ swtouring.com.
LOCAL FASHION FORECAST 2015 NEWS YELLOW WITH A CHANCE OF GINGHAM Written by D. Nandlal
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ward season is here! Which translates to: every fashionista’s favourite time of the year. It’s where formal silhouettes, such as strapless A-line dresses and curve-hugging mermaid gowns parade the red carpet. It also provides inspiration for many fashion designers worldwide and more recently sparked heated social media discussions between fans of a television personality and a Disney star! However despite the entertainment these shows provide, the fashion advice is somewhat limited to our culture. After all wearing a pearl dress to the grocery store seems a bit…impractical. Therefore if you’re craving more of a local fashion experience, you’re in luck! Here’s what you can expect in the 2015 fashion forecast.
Gingham pattern - A relative of plaid, these small-checkered boxes are making its way into every fashionista’s closet. Iconic local fashion designer Meiling incorporates gingham in her Parallels collection. Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, and Altuzarra are all taking part. According to many fashion bloggers, these tiny checkers may be best paired with leather and work friendly trousers.
Black and white - Many designers are experimenting with this classical duo. This can be seen in Trinidad’s very own Adrian Foster’s Shadows collection. International designers such as Tania Taylor and Tracy Reese have also incorporated the black and white duo in their 2015 Spring collection.
The options are endless. Designers such as Kate Spade, Rebecca Minkoff and Altuzarra showed off some of their shirtdresses design at New York Fashion week.
Shirtdresses - Imagine wearing your favourite shirt as a dress! Well now it’s possible! These dresses are available in almost any length and style and can be worn with both flats and heels (depending on the length). From sexy button down shirts with thigh high slits to a simpler t-shirt look paired with a belt.
Yellow - The colour that is invading the runway. However while yellow may be relatively new to the international runway, many Caribbean designers already include bright colours like yellow into their designs as it tends to remind them of the vibrancy of the Caribbean. For instance take a look at PAYNE Travel collection for 2015. Due to the boldness of the colour it is
Wide leg pants (Palazzo) - Fashion advice from the experts: it is best paired with a fitted top. If worn with heels, it can really elongate your legs. If you’re
Bohemian - Tie-dye print, flowing maxi dresses, jewelry necklines and long hemlines are just some of the things you can expect for 2015. International designers such as Altuzarra, Valentino and Rochas have all included a bohemian style into their Spring 2015 designs. Local designer, Charu Lochan Dass also debuted her Bohemian Glam collection at Fashion Gallery New York Fashion Week. 6
looking for a local version of these pants, check out Meiling’s Parallels collection.
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best paired with darker hues such as greys and blacks. Which of these looks is your favourite? Head over to our Facebook page ET&T Weekly and let us know.
REGIONAL NEWS revealed and he was subsequently arrested by PICA officers. Admiral Bailey faces two counts of uttering forged documents, two counts of obtaining a passport by false pretense, two counts of possession of forged documents, one count of attempting to obtain a passport by false pretense and one count of conspiracy to defraud.
QQ DEBUTS NEW IMAGE
ADMIRAL BAILEY FACING FRAUDRELATED CHARGES Revered veteran Jamaican entertainer, Glendon Bailey, more popularly known as Admiral Bailey, has been slapped with several fraud-related charges after allegedly using false identity in an attempt to renew his passport. Reports say the musician attended the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) offices, attempting to renew his passport under the name Michael George Sullivan. Upon further inspection, his identity was
After years of being labeled a "child star" in the dancehall industry, recording artiste, QQ has revamped his image and is showing off a sophisticated new look! His new promotional material sees the singer clad in an all-black ensemble, including a black leather jacket, designer shades, and sporting that perfect five o'clock shadow that women swoon over! "People grow. It's ok to grow and although some find that difficult to grasp, I'm embracing this growth. I'm expanding and expressing myself and hoping the move will enhance my international profile and propel my career to the next level." The singer says. The new visual coincides with the release of his new single, Bad Gyal Wine, produced by Kirk 'Kirkledove' Bennett of Kirkledove Records.
WORLD NEWS to the most important thing in her life, which is motherhood." The book is still untitled.
KYLIE JENNER TERRIFIED TYGA WILL BE PRESSURED TO LEAVE HER NOW
DREW BARRYMORE TO PUBLISH AUTOBIOGRAPHY Drew Barrymore is ready to share her life story. The actress is publishing a collection of autobiographical essays with Dutton. "I love stories that are humorous, emotional and welcoming, and that is my goal in writing this book," said Barrymore, 40, in a statement. The publishing company described the book as anecdotes about Barrymore "living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life), getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross-country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood and many more adventures and lessons that have led 8
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Kylie Jenner is terrified Tyga will end their relationship after being pressured to leave her. Tyga’s advisors are pushing him to distance himself from the youngest Jenner leaving her worried sick their relationship will end. Kylie’s brother-in-law Kanye West opened a can of worms when he said Kylie, 17 and Tyga, 25, were “in love” during an interview on Power 105.1‘s The Breakfast Club radio show
QQ, whose given name is Kareem Dawkins, says he's excited about all the opportunities 2015 has to offer and is looking forward to a great year. "I am excited about all my projects for 2015. I will be connecting solidly with my fans this year and Bad Gyal Wine is just one of the few songs I'm getting ready to promote on my North American tour next month. My team believes in me, and together, I believe we'll create a great synergy that can push my music to crossover worldwide." on Feb. 20. Things got only worse when Tyga expressed his feelings about her in his Hot 97 interview on the same day. Now the pressure is on Tyga to distance himself from Kylie and she’s terrified he will leave her! “Tyga has been pressured by some of his people and record company to distance himself from Kylie at least till her 18th birthday in August. They didn’t want him to get any public backlash for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with her. “Kylie sometimes takes people’s critical comments hard. She shed a few tears recently when she and Tyga received so much attention for their relationship. She always wanted the truth about them to be known, but she wasn’t prepared for some of the criticism. “It terrified her that Tyga may actually be convinced by his people to leave her. Tyga has reassured her he wouldn’t do that, but part of her still worries about it. He’s become so incredibly important to her and she would be lost without him in her life.”
DREAM
GUY
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Photographer: Ikenna Douglas
NAME: Sylon Hills AGE: 24 HEIGHT: 5’8” WEIGHT: 178 lbs CAREER: Personal Trainer, Gym Instructor, Health Coach BRIEFS OR BOXERS: Strictly Calvin Klein or Polo briefs. FAVOURITE SCENT: Issey Miyake Nuit D’iddey second to Chanel Blue. FAVOURITE THING: Would have to say my favorite thing is running away to Tobago on a weekend just to relax and leaving everything behind. DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM GIRL: Hmm…a cute shorty with a firm body and nice tail (lol). She must have nice hair and be easy to talk to with a sense of humor. YOU WERE HEARTBROKEN: Yes, but who hasn’t been? YOUR HERO: My dad, for laying the foundation for me to follow. FAVOURITE FOOD: Rack of Lamb, Asparagus and Creamed Potatoes. THE WAY TO YOUR
HEART IS: The way to my heart would be good food, working out, money and quality time. YOU’D NEVER DO: Cheat on my girlfriend. WHAT ABOUT PETS: don’t really like pets anymore. THE ONE THING HE WANTS TO DO BEFORE HE DIES: I will love to skydive, before I die. I actually dream about it. FAVOURITE ARTIST: Drake FAVOURITE MUSIC: HipHop FAVOURITE PLACE FOR A MEAL: Hmm… anywhere cool with a mellow vibes. I’m not picky. HAVE YOU EVER CHEATED: Who hasn’t? THE FREAKIEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE: Sex on the beach! And I’m not talking about the liquor. WHERE’S YOUR WEAK SPOT: Between my lady’s legs (lol). WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVATION: My motivation is to see change and development in others and myself. I strongly believe that self-growth can only occur when you can help the growth in others. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN YOUR BODY: I maintain my body by proper dieting and nutrition, with a series of exercises because as we know it’s 80% nutrition 20% exercise, but exercise could only take you so far. Also I’m a proud consumer of Herbalife.
MODEL MANIA
Name: Lee-Ann Forbes Age: 24 (quarter century in April…I feel so old!) Hometown: St. James Hobbies: Equestrian classes (horseback riding) It goes without saying that LeeAnn Forbes is amazingly pretty. However, don’t call her “cute,” it’s one of her pet peeves. This former Miss Trinidad and Tobago World winner is one of the most familiar faces in local modeling having found herself on many a billboard and ad for several prominent companies. Despite her successes in the world of glam, Forbes decided to
veer away from that path in order to better pursue her religious beliefs as a Pentecostal. As a result, she was able to visit Israel which she described as an amazing and life-changing experience. ‘Lili’ (as she is sometimes called) also has plans of changing the lives of others in a positive way. Her goals are to establish an event planning and management business when she completes school and open a unique charity foundation. Lee-Ann confesses that she does not have a favourite designer. But she states that when she is in New York she must make her mandatory stop at Aldo, Express and V.S. Trinidad’s most famous photographers have lined up their lenses before her. Calvin French, Gary Jordan, Kerron Riley and Wyatt Gallery are a few that come to mind. Despite leaving much of the modeling world behind; she does maintain her appearance and health with a bit of work. She ad-
LEE-ANN FORBES
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mits that even in her modeling prime she never worked out or dieted, but she has recently begun training and eating better. “I would go to gym 3-4 days a week, one day upper body, another day legs (which I hate) and the last day full body workout. Each day takes no more
than an hour. I also give myself facial scrubs and masks at least once a week to help remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate new ones. I also gave wearing make-up a break so my skin can get a rest, recover and heal.” We must admit that she doesn’t need it.
FASHION G
MONEER DESIGNS PRESENTS PASSION
uyanese born, T&T national Aaron Moneer is a man on a mission. His mission is to overcome a trying past and become one of the region’s most accomplished fashion designers. At only 18 years of age Aaron has made major inroads thus far in that regard. He started putting pieces together in
his early teens and fine-tuned his talents in MIC’s dressmaking and design programme. With less than a year after graduating from the course Moneer Designs was birthed and his first collection entitled Passion has been making waves. The collection is a mix of gowns and resort wear that will soon be
featured at the San Fernando Fashion Week. Aaron was also invited to highlight his work at Guyana Fashion Week. Here ET&T had the privilege of sharing a few of his Passion catalogue which he said was inspired by a Mas Band he likes and his mentor Lauren Berment.
This floral print design can take you from the Boardwalk to the actual beach easily. Photo by J Hills
This beautiful brown beach dress is the epitome of poolside elegance. Photo by J Hills
This simple white gown with black belt exudes class.
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FASHION
This beautiful gown with plunging neckline will be a hit a pageants and graduations. Photo by Marc Jeffery
This form-fitting design with black train is ballroom approved.
This green and black gown is unusual, but therein lies the beauty. Photo by J Hills
This animal print dress is breezy and beautiful enough to go beyond the beach. Photo by Marc Jeffery
This two-piece white dress with lacy train is a stylish ensemble. Photo by J Hills
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MARCH, 2015 • ET&T 15
ET&T
HOT
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BENJAI
SEAT
rom “Over and Over” in 2002 to “Phenomenal” in 2015 Benjai has been consistently pleasing Trinis and soca lovers all around the world with his unique musical melodies. Lately he has gifted us with delightful images of his sexy physique (Ladies!! Wink). ET&T recently caught up with the lovable entertainer… ET&T: What are you working on right now? Benjai: A lot of projects… different stuff… I can’t really give the details with them… ET&T: How do you feel about the recently concluded Carnival season? Benjai: I feel that I made a just contribution. I feel good… I did my music and I liked how the people enjoyed the product this year and its back to the drawing board again. ET&T: What was the inspiration behind phenomenal… the frontrunner of your releases for this year? Benjai: The inspiration of all my music is God. I can’t really take any credit for that. I can’t really take any credit like if it’s me. Sometimes I get inspiration in my sleep so it could be anything, but God is essential to everything. All my music is according to the vibe that the Father gives me… I can’t really say when I will get a song or if I will get a song. ET&T: How did you come about working with H20 Phlo on the track? Benjai: Actually I did my vocals, I did my harmonies and after we did it I wanted it fuller… We were going to get a choir, but H20 Phlo was very close to the Flipo’s studio where I did my vocals. Since they
were close by I said I would use them and we paid them for their services. They did the background vocals and after I heard it I liked how they sounded and I decided to give them a feature on the song. It was a surprise to them... it wasn’t a planned thing. ET&T: What can we expect from you for the rest of the year? Benjai: Just more music and more work in general. Right now I’m just back to the drawing board, finishing some projects. ET&T: You’ve done reggae in the past. Are there plans do anything in that genre in the near future? Benjai: Yes! Reggae is always like a plus, but I was just finishing up some projects so I don’t like to get
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sidetracked and just jump to other things and pick up this thing and that thing. ET&T: Can we look forward to collaborations in the future? Benjai: Yeah collaborations are a good thing, but I am kinda holding back on that for the while because I did too much of that in the early part of my career. I get the bad end of the stick in that there are a lot of people who will befriend you just to get your vocals on a track with them and after it’s a different vibes so I did enough of that and I believe right now I just want to focus on me. Any collaboration would depend 100 percent on vibes and according to how the connection and the chemistry is. ET&T: Over the last year
into this year you’ve been viewed by many of your female fans as a sex symbol. We don’t have many male sex symbols in the soca industry really… how do you feel about being viewed in that way? Benjai: Well if that is what the industry wants then that’s what you have to give the industry… Things to keep it lively. Somebody has to do it, so if I am the one chosen then I’m glad to know that I am piece of the puzzle that helps to make up the soca industry. If that is my role then I will do my role to the best of my ability. ET&T: So a related question is how do you stay in shape? Benjai: Exercise... gym in the morning and basketball in the
HOT SEAT evening. Diet is a must. I don’t really give away all of my secrets. ET&T: So if I ask you to detail your routine you’d say… Benjai: I will tell them to come and join Extreme Gym on O’meara Road, Arima… My trainer is Oswald Andrews… ET&T: If you had a chance to do anything else besides what you do now what would it be? Benjai: Acting. ET&T: Have you ever done any acting? Benjai: No, but I know naturally I am good at it ET&T: What advice do you have for upcoming artistes? Benjai: Just be true to yourself. Believe in the Most High God. Practice principle. Comradery is a must. No man is an island. We could envy each other, but you shouldn’t envy a man for his talents. That is something that God gave us, so for the new artistes they have to just do everything with God in their hearts because plenty of the older ones already got carried away with ego and lust of worldly things. They will not really be able to guide the younger ones and the ones who can guide the younger ones will be getting the fight so they wouldn’t be really able to have the financial capacity to do the things that the ones who have the financial capacity should be doing but are not doing. they should believe and love what they do to the best of their ability… the usual thing that an elder will tell a youth, but the main thing is loving and respecting each other and not envying a person for what is their own… what is naturally theirs. ET&T: What is your approach to competition? Benjai: Well competition is competition. I only enter competition because that is the biggest forum of putting all my fans in the same place at the same time. The only catch is you are only getting to perform one song and everyone chooses their best song.
You just perform that rendition to the best of your ability. You can’t get carried away about who wins… At the end of the day somebody has to win and somebody has to lose, but that should not take away from what defines us and what makes us the artiste and take away the strength of the fans. The fans will love us the same way... wouldn’t love you less. As far as I am concerned, if it didn’t have competition, soca would still be flowing. It would still have Carnival. Competition is just designed to break the mind of the weak. If you are weak as an artiste you will just succumb to competition and your mind will only be on competing. Carnival is not about competition. Carnival is about liberating yourself and expressing yourself through mas and costumes, mud and paint. It’s not about going back into a position of stress and war mentality or crab in a barrel mentality where you look at the person next to you as a contestant or a contender instead of a comrade.
ET&T: Is fashion important to you? Benjai: To be honest… I want to see myself in a more fashionable vibe. I am going to hire someone to deal with that. I always want to do different things and I am waiting to see if any offers come my way. It will make it easier to choose… I got offers already, but it wasn’t local. As a matter of fact I got like three international offers to model as well... The first thing they say is that they like my height and my structure. You can’t be stripping everywhere and doing the same thing. I just did that for that song for a few minutes, but that is not an every time thing. ET&T: You have always been passionate about youth and crime and social issues. What do you think about the state of the country now and the potential for music to address some of our
problems? Benjai: Music will always have the power to help crime and to help certain things in the country, but on the next hand you can’t stop the time and everybody is getting wiser to what is going on. The corruption level in Trinidad and Tobago is not of the people, it is of the people in high places. It’s the government. You can’t be corrupted unless you have money. A poor man cannot be corrupted. What can he corrupt? Right now the ministers smoking marijuana, but the government want to lock up people for marijuana. We – the head of CARICOM – have people getting arrested for marijuana when lower down in the CARICOM in other countries it’s decriminalized so it is showing you that the head of the snake don’t know what the tail doing. It is easy for anyone to see and being a guy who travels the world… The government needs to watch the artistes of Trinidad and Tobago and pay attention to the things that we have to say because we get to see the world and we could compare and see what is not working. The government can for instance do as Dubai and give back a percentage of the billions of money that they make from oil and gas to the taxpayers. Not to everybody but to the taxpayers. It will at least build back the level of the country to the point where crime will drop. We just need to get back into the foundation of how we were as a people. We were always a praying people. We always kept certain concepts… family, God, honoring thy mother and father so that thy days will be longer and if you spare the rod you spoil the child… We need to get back these concepts here. They are spoiling the seed and expecting the tree to bear nice fruit and the only way we can guide the youth is we cannot spare the rod; we have to bring back discipline. Right now to save the country we have to focus on the youths and guide them back. If a parent right now is not spiritually and mentally strong he will not be able to grow his child in the right manner. Count the population of Trinidad and Tobago. How many parents will you get like that?
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SOCA BRAINWASH
J Private Ryan’s legend has conD sistently grown thanks to his regular releases of top-notch mixes
EVENTS
on his website. He has a large radio following as well despite the fact that he seldom does voicing and announcing. He just hits the boards and Party Done!! Speaking of parties, his Soca Brainwash event is probably the biggest and best Carnival event you probably haven’t heard of. People come out en masse to soak up the sun and fun to the sweetest strains of music by Ryan and his trusted DJ friends.
Wilding!
Feeling like a boss
A fun-loving crew
The man himself
Solo swank
A Bajan beauty
It drew feters from all corners
Tough guys wear pink shorts
Faithful followers
Having a time
Konichiwa!
Regional representation
Thrice as nice
Friends pose
She doubled up
The Stone Cold Stunner pose
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MARCH, 2015 • ET&T 19
EVENTS
YUMA FAHRENHEIT
the speakers and lush green for the feters to jump around on was all part and parcel of the experience. Some extremely hot gals and guys hoping to GT with them formed the measure of the proceedings. Take a look for yourself and see a bit of what you may or may not have missed.
Oohhh Yesss!!!
Must be really hungry
ueens Park West was the venue for Q the cooler spectacular known as YUMA Fahrenheit. Bass banging through
Three is glee!
Who needs a wining partner?
The awesome foursome
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Looking bess in Boucaud
Feeling a vibe
They make a great pair
Unmistakenly happy
A four cup pic
Ladies were everywhere
Jamming like there’s no tomorrow
Stud sighting
EVENTS
RISE
They enjoyed the lime
he Asylum Vikings, Kerwin DuBois and more kept the party T jumping with strong performances while DJ’s also provided real tempo throughout at the Queens Park Oval. The event we’re speak-
ing about is the Privilege Rise Cooler Fete and ET&T felt privileged to be there. An insane girl-guy ratio and pretty people who were not afraid to get down and party hard made this an epic event.
When homies collide
Kerwin addresses the masses
God is good
Pardnas roll colour coordinated
Everything’s better in threes
Animal print was everywhere
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Rather subdued for the occasion
Arms akimbo like a boss
Sharing a smile
Woman like water
RONNIE & FRIENDS CARNIVAL ALL INCLUSIVE
EVENTS
enture Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited teamed up with Ronnie Mc InV tosh again for the 6th annual edition of the Ronnie & Friends All Inclusive Carnival Lime. The party was pumping in 2014 and at only $400 patrons got a lot more than they would have ini-
tially imagined. The 2015 edition promised to be even more spectacular with bigger and better performers and a wider variety of food and premium drinks. It is safe to say that the extremely affordable event delivered as promised. Tickets cost only $450 this year and the fete attracted a diverse and energetic crowd. ET&T was happy to be a part of the action.
Enjoying the vibes
Approved!
Unity personified
A happy couple at the event
Back to back
Holding her close
Promoting love
Mr. Chucky did his thing
Groovy Monarch Tunji goes in
A nice duo
Getting their pose on
In the soca swing
Interesting attire
Colourful clothing and personalities
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EVENTS EXTRA
CARIBBEAN COLOUR SPLASH 2015 A
mix of novices and professional runners converged for the non-competitive paint race and fun run known as Caribbean Colour Splash. It was a refreshing aside from the regular carnival schedule and gave some of the country’s younger population a chance to participate in a wholesome event. Last year‘s edition at Skinner Park in San Fernando was extremely successful and the 2015 run also drew massive participation. The 5K promotes a healthy and active lifestyle and it also creates awareness about various types of cancer. ET&T was there for the fun run which also includes frequent paint baths along the course.
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THE BOLD AND THE BELTLESS S
ome fashion criminals are a bit discreet with their indiscretions, while others just explode onto the scene like nobody’s business and without remorse. Whether your fashion crime is a petty one or a felony offense, it will be dealt with. Ladies can often get away with not wearing belts. However, guys… not so much… Especially if you are tucking your shirt into your trousers. Dude… please stop the lawlessness.
This brazen character is out and about having the time of her life. Well, the guys at FP were thinking that she should get just that… life behind bars for that atrocious outfit. The wig took the look to another level of madness. Speaking of madness… are those bare white socks she is wearing in the grass? More mad people outside than inside.
We caught a well-known entertainment personality slipping up as well. We don’t care if your pants are tight. Once there are loops, you wear a belt. Look how many people he can potentially influence.
ISLAND CELEBRITIES
PAPARAZZI
JAMAICAN DANCEHALL STAR SEAN PAUL IS SURROUNDED BY PROMO GIRLS AT A LOCAL EVENT
PHOTOGRAPHER TREVOR GODDARD LINKS UP WITH LYRIKAL
FAY-ANN HAS FUN BACKSTAGE AT AN EVENT
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MARCH, 2015 • ET&T 27
CELEB PROFILE
GIULIANA RANCIC
Name: Giuliana Rancic Age: 40 (August 17th, 1974) Profession: Television personality Claim to fame: Rancic was born in Italy and immigrated to the USA at the age of 7. She went on to pursue and acquire a Master’s degree in Journalism from American University to back up her Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Maryland. She also received certification from the Barbizon Modeling and Acting School. She earned celebrity status by
becoming anchor of E! News along with Ryan Seacrest in 2005. She also co-hosted other productions on the network such as Fashion Police and several pre awards shows. She even hosted NBC’s Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Rancic went through several personal storms including much publicized fertility issues and a breast cancer diagnosis in 2011. She disclosed that she decided to undergo a double mastectomy as a result. She also had several career
highlights. Rancic was ranked #94 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2004. She was also featured in People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful of 2006 issue. Giuliana was nominated Favorite TV Celeb-reality Star for the 2012 People's Choice Awards. In June 2014, Rancic was named "Fan Favorite" during the Daytime Emmy Awards.
MOVIES
ACTION TIME!! I
t’s time for Lights, Cameras and Action, with “action” being the operative word. After 50 Shades of Grey set the tone for boy/ girl relationship-based fare early in the year, we need a bit of action to balance things out. These two films provide just that. The Gunman In The Gunman, a former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name. The story does not seem all that extraordinary, but the cast is definitely worth an honorable mention. Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Javier Bardem and Ray Winstone act in this Pierre Morel film. Insurgent Insurgent picks up where the wildly popular Divergent left off. Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Miles Teller and more reprise their roles in this science fiction action
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adventure. In it, Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance, which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.
Currently, Rancic is in some hot water regarding inflammatory remarks that were made about teen star Zendaya Coleman’s hairstyle. Several people have threatened to boycott any program she is associated with, while some of her co-workers (including Kelly Osbourne) have threatened to leave Fashion police if Rancic is allowed to stay.
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