Vision Newspaper Canada (April 16th - 22nd, 2015)

DOUBLE AWARD WINNING COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

647-386-3419

April 16th - 22nd, 2015

Obama visits Jamaica >> page 4

Jamaica asks Obama to Suge Knight to stand exonerate black nationtrail on murder and alist leader Marcus Garattempted murder vey 2013-05-22 of US conviction charges in hit & run 265x112_BlakeRealEstate_1-4page_ad.pdf 1 3:20 PM >> page 06 >> page 10

Albert Blake |

Sales Representative

416.822.5607 Service You Deserve. People You Trust.

albert@blakerealestate.ca

Vision/ Spring 2015

The Caribbean Jamaican teen suspected of being would be militant ordered to remain in police custody

NEWS Jamaican teenager charged with shooting death of 11 month old baby in island's capital Police did not identify him because he is a minor.

2

The Caribbean In Jamaica, drug law amendments decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana come into effect

The baby was shot dead April 6 in the yard of his tenement home in downtown Kingston.

He was identified as Omar Lindo. His 6-year-old brother was injured by gunfire.

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ A Jamaican judge has ruled that a teenager suspected of hoping to join Islamic extremists must remain in police custody.

Defence lawyer Zara Lewis filed an application seeking the 16-year-old boy’s release from police detention. But the magistrate ordered Thursday that he remain in custody until a Tuesday hearing.

Over the weekend, Suriname police said the Jamaican teen was denied entry after arriving at the South American nation’s main airport trying to get on a flight to the Netherlands.

An intelligence agency that Suriname police did not identify informed them the boy apparently intended to travel to Turkey and then slip into Syria to join militants from the Islamic State group.

He was flown back to Jamaica, where he has been in police custody since Saturday.

The Associated Press

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ Jamaican authorities have charged a teenager with the shooting death of an 11-month-old baby boy in the island's capital.

Investigators allege the accused teenager and at least one other gunman were targeting a man who was fixing his motorcycle at the side of the road. Police say the pair chased the man, shooting wildly and hitting the two youngsters.

Investigators say the youth was arrested early Sunday in Gordon Town, a small town in the foothills of the mountains that tower over Kingston.

The amended drug act became effective Wednesday with little public acknowledgement in a country where marijuana has long been culturally entrenched. Jamaica’s Parliament gave it final approval in February.

Justice Minister Mark Golding described the reforms as “long overdue’’ on the island, where the drug is revered by members of Jamaica’s Rastafarian movement and used regularly by many ordinary Jamaicans.

The act makes possession of up to 2 ounces a petty offence that could result in a ticket but not in a criminal record.

Hidden camera installed in office of senior manager at troubled Cayman Islands prison Cayman island has been suspended pending further investigations.

3 teenage boys, 1 man fatally shot by gunmen in central Jamaica housing complex

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ Drug law amendments decriminalizing small amounts of pot and paving the way for a lawful medical marijuana sector have come into effect in Jamaica.

Cultivation of five or fewer plants on any premises is allowed. And Rastafarians are now permitted to use marijuana for sacramental purposes.

The Associated Press

Residents of Cayman Islands find nearly 2 dozen packages of cocaine washed up on beach

They say investigators found the camera “covertly recording'' in the manager's office.

The motive was unclear.

KKINGSTON, Jamaica _ Jamaican police say three teenage boys and one man have been shot and killed in a public housing complex in central Jamaica.

The department says the youths apparently were walking along a roadway Wednesday night when two gunmen hustled them into accounting clerk Marquis Hamilton’s apartment.

Police said Thursday Hamilton and the boys were fatally shot when the armed pair’s “demands were not met.’’

Police did not disclose a motive or other specifics. There have been no arrests.

Last month, Police Commissioner Carl Williams said he was sending more officers into island hot spots to combat a worrying increase in killings.

The Associated Press

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands _ Police in the Cayman Islands say they are trying to find out who installed a secret video camera in the office of a senior manager at a troubled prison on the British Caribbean territory's main island.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said Monday that a correctional officer at HMP Northward prison on Grand

Prison Director Neil Lavis says he is “committed to uncovering the parties involved'' in installing the camera. The names of the manager and the suspended officer were not disclosed by police.

In 2013, British prison inspectors found that conditions at Northward prison were decrepit and “meaningful accountability almost non-existent.''

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands _ Police say nearly two dozen packages of cocaine have washed up on a beach in the Cayman Islands.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said Tuesday that a bag containing 23 packages of cocaine was spotted by residents along the southeast coast of Grand Cayman island.

Police estimated the value of the recovered drugs at roughly $425,000.

In a statement, police in the tiny British Caribbean territory said it is “not unusual to see drugs wash ashore in the Cayman Islands from time to time.’’ They praised residents for reporting the find.

The Cayman Islands and other Caribbean countries and territories are vulnerable as drug transshipment points located along maritime smuggling routes between South America and North America.

The Associated Press

For advertising enquiries email: info@visionnewspaper.ca or call 647-386-3419 Exposing the talent in our communities.

Vision Newspaper UK: Editor in Chief : Anthony Whyte, Editor: Nadia Akram, Correspondent in Jamaica: Deana Meyers Contributors: Francesca Quass, Yemi Abiade, Samantha Dennis, Claire Daley, Vision Newspaper Canada: Editor in Chief: Alwin Squire, Editors: Samantha Deschamps, Kelly Deschamps, Marilyn Marshall, Christopher Miller Front page feature photo credit: (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais),

News Jamaica asks Obama to exonerate black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey of US conviction

Vision/ Spring 2015

and remains a prominent historic figure on the island.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said she told Obama it is the “deep desire of the government and people of Jamaica'' to have Garvey exonerated of the conviction that got him deported back to his Jamaican homeland in 1927.

Marcus Garvey in uniform as the President of the Republic of Africa. (AP PHOTO) 1922

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ Jamaica's leader asked President Barack Obama on Thursday to exonerate

black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey, who was convicted in the U.S. of mail fraud in the 1920s

“I asked the president to considerthe matter and to offer any support within his authority during his tenure in the WhiteHouse, and beyond,'' Simpson Miller said after Obama departed the island to attend the Summit of the Americas in Panama.

Garvey was the first person named a Jamaican national hero following

MONEY-SAVING mortgage solutions for every situation Are you SELF-EMPLOYED? You may not fit in the neat boxes at the bank. I offer solutions — not restrictions!

Do you have LESS-THAN-PERFECT CREDIT? I have helped many homeowners improve their situation and get back on track to achieving their homeownership goals.

Are you a FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER? There is a lot to consider when buying your first home but I can help you through the entire process — from pre-approval to closing. I’m with you every step of the way!

Are you looking to PURCHASE OR REFINANCE? Even though you’re not new to the mortgage world, you can still benefit from professional advice, which can sometimes result in thousands of dollars in savings. And it costs you nothing!*

Whatever YOUR need, I have a mortgage solution. Call me today!

Annie Mirza, AMP Mortgage Broker

416.836.5617 annie@financialpro.ca • financialpro.ca facebook.com/financialpro Brokerage #10428 HO: 877.667.5483 E&OE * OAC

the island's independence in 1962, and the government put his likeness on coins. He died in 1940.

U.S. officials did not immediately provide comment about Simpson Miller's request regarding Garvey, who once inspired millions of followers with messages of black pride and self-reliance. Obama made no mention of Garvey during his public comments in Jamaica, which focused on a wide range of regional issues including energy security, trade and climate change.

Born nearly 50 years after the abolition of slavery in Jamaica, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in Jamaica in 1914 and then built it into a mass

3

movement in New York from 1919 to 1927. From his Harlem base, Garvey urged blacks to be proud of their African ancestry at a time segregation was deeply implanted in the U.S. and European colonialism still stretched around the world.

Garvey's Pan-African philosophy urged blacks to return to the continent of their ancestors.

His supporters in Jamaica and abroad contend the U.S. charges were trumped up to silence Garvey.

By David McFadden THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ___ David McFadden on Twitter: http:// twitter.com/dmcfadd

news

4

Vision/ Spring 2015

Jamaica's prime minister declares her and her country's love for Obama ly the 2008 campaign that made him the first black man to be elected president of the United States.

“Your slogan 'Yes we can' was repeated at every opportunity. Souvenirs were secured.

Your photograph has pride of place in living rooms.''

“Your victories have been ours,'' Simpson Miller said. ___ Obama said his visit to the Bob Marley Museum was one of the “more fun meetings'' he has had as president.

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ President Barack Obama's supporters often shout at him, “I love you!''

But Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller didn't have to raise her voice last Thursday. She had prime seating beside Obama from which to declare her and her country's love for him after they met privately during his first presidential visit to her island nation.

“I just want to say to you, you might not know, but you are very loved in this country,'' Simpson Miller said, before describing how many Jamaicans mistakenly had lined the route they thought his motorcade would take after he arrived last Wednesday evening.

“So I just wanted to say you're well-loved in Jamaica,'' she said. “Well, first of all I can say to you publicly, 'I love

you.'''

Simpson Miller said she hoped Obama understood how important his visit is to Jamaica.

Obama's stop was the first here by an American president since President Ronald Reagan visited in 1982. ___ Obama chose one of his questioners at a town hall at the University of the West Indies because he “looks a little bit'' like Marshawn Lynch, the NFL running back who wears his hair in long dreadlocks. Then he got a detailed question on the merits of legalizing marijuana.

“How did I anticipate this question?'' Obama said, laughing.

He then gave a detailed answer about experiments

going in Washington state and Colorado, but said he did not see Congress changing federal law.

Jamaica has decriminalized marijuana.

Obama said legalizing marijuana is not a “silver bullet'' and said doing so would raise questions about where the line is drawn between pot and other drugs. ___ Thursday's official events had just begun but Obama appeared to already be looking ahead to Friday.

His first order of business was a stop at Jamaica House, where the prime minister and her staff have their offices.

It's where Obama met with Simpson Miller and where he signed Jamaica's guest book.

“It is a great pleasure to visit Jamaica, known for its beauty and the extraordinary spirit of its people,'' Obama wrote.

“May the deep and abiding friendships between our nations continue for generations to come.''

There was one small problem, though. He signed with Friday's date: “10 April 2015.'' ___ Simpson Miller also expressed the region's affection for Obama at a subsequent meeting with leaders in the 15-member Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM, of which her country is a member.

People from across the region followed both of his presidential election campaigns with “heightened interest,'' she told the president, particular-

After arriving last Wednesday, Obama made a late-evening visit to the museum. He took a tour in his shirt sleeves as one of the late reggae star's most recognized hits, “One Love,'' played over the sound system. One of the rooms Obama visited held Marley's platinum records and a Grammy.

“The quick trip that I made last night to Bob Marley's house was one of the more fun meetings that I've had since I've been president,'' he said.

Obama said he's been a “big fan'' of Marley since high school.

By Jim Kuhnhenn THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ___ Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Community

Vision/ Spring 2015

What ’s On

Events Capleton & Louie Cultre

5

Mighty Crown

Charlie Black

Anthony Cruz

Jah Bouks

Family & Children Dora the Explorer Live!

Search for the City of Lost Toys

Women Working in Canadian Reggae

Venue: Hamilton Place Theatre Date: April 9th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Belleenys Bar & Grill 4000 Steeles Ave West Unit 14 Woodbridge, ON

CANCELLED Venue: Sound Academy 11 Polson Street Toronto, ON

Venue: Sound Academy Toronto, ON Date: April 5th, 2015

Date: April 2nd, 2015

Venue: 227 Lounge 137 Cityview Drive Toronto, ON

Venue: SVG Lounge 1230 Sheppard Ave West Toronto, ON

Venue: SVG Lounge Address: 1230 Sheppard Ave Toronto, ON

Date: April 3rd, 2015

Date: April 4th, 2015

Date: April 5th, 2015

DJ Whoo Kid

Travis Scott

Rick Ross

Gully Bop

Venue: Bar Code Toronto, ON

Venue: YEG Dance Club Edmonton, AB Date: April 18th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: BMO Centre Calgary AB Date: April 25th, 2015

Venue: Oshawa Music Hall Oshawa ON Date: May 2nd, 2015

Date: April 2th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

To place your event in the “What’s ON” section please email info@visionnewsppaper.ca or call 647-386-3419

Date: Thursday April 9th, 2015

Chuggington Live!

Dora the Explorer Live!

Search for the City of Lost Toys

Venue: WFCU Windsor ON Date: April 11th 2015

Venue: Sony Centre Toronto, ON Date: April 18th 2015

www.ticketmaster.ca

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

6

Music Alkaline gets PM nod

Vision/ Spring 2015

Ifertari drops new album and Sean Cassell. Jace Records has produced two singles, and 'Producer Stulla' has three singles on the album," she said.

get permission from the police... people these days believe they can just protest how they want with no regard for the rule of law, and these are the same people who come and talk about rule of law," the PM said.

"We have to be very careful that we don't appear in anywhere in the region, not only in Dominica but throughout the region, to be targeting unnecessarily Jamaican citizens," he continued.

DANCEHALL artiste Alkaline has been given the thumbs up to perform in Dominica from the most unlikely quarters: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Alkaline is expected to headline at a concert at Saaman Gardens in Canefield, Dominica, on May 2.

According to Dominica News Online, on Monday Skerrit said that unless there is a security risk, Alkaline cannot be prevented from performing in that (Caribbean Commu-nity) Caricom state.

His comments came days after Arlington Wilson, vice-president of Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC),

said artistes like Alkaline should be barred.

Skerrit said the government is open to discussion with the DAEC on the matter.

The prime minister -- who was a guest on a Dominican radio station -- said to bar a Caricom resident from entering the country, who is not a security risk, would be in violation to that person's right and the Caricom agreement. The treaty supports the free movement of people within the Caribbean Community.

Alkaline isn't the only Jamaican dancehall act to come under fire from the DAEC. Tommy Lee Sparta and three members of his team were deported from that country in February 2014, a day after their arrival. They were placed in custody, under inhumane conditions, before being sent home.

"If you violate somebody's rights, then there will be consequences of the law... There is nothing that the government can do to prevent the artiste Alkaline to come to Dominica. So we can protest... it is our rights to do so once we

Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has, however, advised they are seeking an amicable settlement. www.jamaicaobserver.com

Gully Bop: From Rags to Riches to break new ground and markets with this, so a lot of thought is going in as it relates to song selection," Shauna Chin, Gully Bop's manager, told the Jamaica Observer.

DEEJAY Gully Bop is slated to release his debut EP, Rags to Riches, this month.

The seven-track project will feature singles such as his signature Dem no Bad Like Me, Body Specialist and Dream.

"Bop have been having a really busy period but he is still making the time along with the producers to get his EP out. He is hoping

REGGAE singer Ifertari is releasing her debut album, Learning Process, at the Gentry Lounge in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, this evening.

"I worked with a lot of European producers such as Afro Dread FM, a reggae station in Netherlands, and also American producers John Hope,

Ifertari (real name Sashanna Hunter) migrated to the USA from Waltham Park in Kingston at age 12. She returned to Jamaica two years ago to pursue music.

She will be performing at the album launch with a live band, Gnostic Roots.

"Look out Jamaica, here I come," she said. www.jamaicaobserver.com

BLACK LISTED

tions she illegally collected money from a promoter for shows in Canada for Gully Bop.

Rags to Riches has songs produced by Supa Hype, Panta Son and Friends for Real.

"Someone had used my name and collected Can$3,000 dollars for five shows for Gully Bop in Canada. I am not a mad woman to be collecting little over $300,000 for all of five shows! I found out about this only when the promoter contacted the Gully BOP page on Facebook," Chin said.

Meanwhile, Chin dismissed claims that she was arrested Monday by the police on lottery scamming charges.

The promoter reported the matter to MOCA after Chin explained that she did not receive any funds.

The rumour did the rounds on social media. Chin, 25, admitted that she visited the offices of the Major Organised and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) to give a statement against allega-

Gully Bop is scheduled to perform in St Vincent and Barbados this weekend. www.jamaicaobserver.com

White Conservative entertainers like guitarist Ted Nugent and actor James Woods say they have been alienated by liberal media for being critical of American president Barack Obama.

Some black entertainers have also felt the heat.

Actress Stacey Dash says she is a pariah in the black community for disagreeing with some of Obama's policies.

Rapper Ab-Soul came under pressure from black groups after referring to the president as a 'puppet' in his song Terrorist Threats.

Rapper Lupe Fiasco who, like Obama is from Chicago, says he was ostracised when he said the following at a 2013 pre-Obama inauguration event: "Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist, Gaza strip was getting bombed, and Obama didn't say sh--."

Rapper Big Boi of Grammy winners Outkast created a stir among blacks in early 2013 when he said he did not vote for Obama in the 2012 presidential election. His vote went to white Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. www.jamaicaobserver.com

Music

Vision/ Spring 2015

Duo of rapper Wale, comedian Jerry Seinfeld land at No.1 with album, 'The Album About Nothing'

ATLANTA _ Wale always wanted to feature Jerry Seinfeld in his music, but didn't know how to reach the superstar actor-comedian, who initially knew nothing about the rapper.

But then the Grammy-nominated performer met Seinfeld's wife, a Wale fan and hip-hop enthusiast.

“She's a big hip-hop fan and of my music,'' Wale said of Jessica Seinfeld, a cookbook author and philanthropist who Wale said has many friends in the hip-hop industry, including Jay Z. ``She was the middle man on a lot of things because Jerry is super busy. He's not an easy person to reach. But she was able to put it all together.''

Sure, some would call Wale and Seinfeld an odd couple. But when they met, Wale said, they instantly clicked.

last week and dethroned Kendrick Lamar's “To Pimp a Butterfly.''

turned to drugs following those hardships.

“I liked his outlook on certain things. He's super smart,'' Wale said of Seinfeld. “He's a wise person that I can learn a lot from and knows about the entertainment business.''

“That was a tough period for me. It was a struggle for me after those incidents. Everything almost happened at once,'' Wale said.

Seinfeld isn't rapping on the album.

Instead, he is what Wale calls the album's “narrator,'' offering his insightful commentary on each track to bring clarity to the rapper's lyrics.

“He laid the foundation of most of the songs, so in the concept of the album, he's the other voice,'' Wale said.

The album also includes dialogue from the epic “Seinfeld'' series, much like Wale's previous mixtapes, “Mixtape About Nothing'' and “More About Nothing.''

Wale said he was also unhappy with the direction of his career, believing he wasn't getting the same respect as his competitors like Lamar, Drake and J. Cole. He said reading negative comments on social media about his music and character disturbed him, though he didn't let it completely dominate his thoughts.

“I know I'm in good company,'' he said. “Each of them has told me my work was incredible. ... It's frustrating sometimes when people let things outside my music dictate their feelings about me. But at the end of the day, the respect of my peers is all that matters.''

7

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have their baby, North West, baptized in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM _ Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West visited a centuries-old Armenian church in Jerusalem on Monday for the baptism of their daughter, North West.

The Kardashians fended off swooning fans as they entered the Saint James Cathedral in Jerusalem's Old City. Kardashian, appearing overwhelmed, clutched the tiny girl as she was escorted

by West, her sister Khloe and hooded clergymen

There were no details on the ceremony, and the family left the church without speaking to reporters.

The members of reality TV's first family arrived in a private jet at Israel's international airport on Monday for what was described as a private two-day visit.

“Stop,'' Kim Kardashian shouted to the crowd. “Stop!

It's not safe for the baby,'' her sister added.

All were captured on camera disembarking their plane and the images featured prominently on Israeli websites. They were quickly whisked away in a dark black SUV to a hotel in Jerusalem. Paparazzi did their best to keep up with their movements.

Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, an Armenian church official, said the family had arrived for a baptism ceremony.

The celebrities arrived from a high-profile visit to Armenia, where the Kardashian family traces its roots.

“Kim Kardashian's daughter They are expected to shoot will be baptized and become some footage for their realia Christian officially and a ty show in Jerusalem before member of the Armenian moving on to Jordan. church,'' Shirvanian said, The duo spent two years working Wale, whose hits include “Lotus slightly perplexed by all the The Associated Press

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. together and Wale calls their chem- Flower Bomb'' and “Bad,'' also commotion. “All I know is (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) istry “natural.'' Now, the rapper tackles serious topics on his fourth that she's a famous perTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS is eager for listeners to hear the album: He opens up about his sonality. I don't know her in finish product, “The Album About former girlfriend's miscarriage and (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, file) person. In any1 case she2013-05-22 is 265x112_BlakeRealEstate_1-4page_ad.pdf 3:20 PM Nothing,'' which debuted at No. 1 his cousin's death. The performer, welcome with her family.'' on the Billboard 200 albums chart 31, said he fell into depression and

Albert Blake |

Sales Representative

416.822.5607 Service You Deserve. People You Trust.

albert@blakerealestate.ca

Music

8

Vision/ Spring 2015

''UPTOWN FUNK`` IS STOPPED AT 14 WEEKS LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The reign is over for “Uptown Funk'' by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. It had been number one for 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, tying it with seven other singles for the second-longest run at the top of that chart. Then Wiz Khalifa came long with “See You Again.'' It's the new number-one song and pushes “Uptown Funk'' to second.

(AP Photo/Kevin Wolf )

PERCY SLEDGE REMEMBERED

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West visit traditional ARETHA FRANKLIN, Jerusalem site of Jesus' burial DARLENE LOVE PERFORM said the Church of AT WHITE HOUSE the Holy Sepulcher was empty during their 5 a.m. visit local time Tuesday.

A photo on Kardashian's Instagram account showed the couple kneeling together at the church.

UNDATED (AP) _ Percy Sledge once said the sound of “When A Man Loves A Woman'' was the same melody he sang when he was out in the fields. Sledge said in the 2013 documentary, “Muscle Shoals,'' he also was shaking like a leaf when he came to the studio to record that. It hit number one in 1966. Michael Bolton had a number-one hit with a remake of “When A Man Loves A Woman,'' and was of the rare artists Sledge would duet with on that song. Bolton calls Sledge “an inspiration as an artist and one of the most gracious human beings.'' Darius Rucker says the world lost a legend.'' Sledge died of liver failure yesterday in Louisiana at the age of 74 (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

NELLY LOSES GIG AFTER ARREST SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) _ Missouri State University is calling off Nelly's concert there next Thursday after he was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Missouri State officials did not give a reason for the cancellation. Nelly was arrested Saturday when the Tennessee Highway Patrol say officers found drugs and handguns on Nelly's tour bus. His attorney says the facts will show the contraband was not Nelly's.

(AP Photo/Seivan M. Salim)

It was their last stop before leaving for Paris. Kardashian's sister Khloe has returned to the United States.

JERUSALEM (AP) _ An assistant to Kim Kardashian and her husband, Kanye West, says the couple paid an early morning visit to a Crusader-era church marking the traditional spot of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

Sharon Schaveet, an Israeli producer who helped organize the visit,

On Monday night, the couple dined at a Jerusalem restaurant with the mayor.

Reality TV's first family, including their child, North West, made the two-day visit to the Holy Land after visiting Armenia (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

SUGE KNIGHT VICTIM TESTIFIES

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The man who was run over by Death Row Records founder Suge (SHUG) Knight admits he punched Knight but he refuses to say that Knight was behind the wheel. Cle “Bone'' Sloan testified in Los Angeles

yesterday about an incident in January at a Los Angeles fastfood restaurant in which Knight hit him and friend Terry Carter with a pickup truck. Carter was killed. Sloan says he was upset with Knight and punched him through a window of the truck.

He says he doesn't remember specifics of the fight and adds, “I will not be used to send Suge Knight to prison.'' He says he was testifying only because he was subpoenaed. A judge will determine whether there's enough evidence for Knight to stand trial on charges of murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run.

(AP Photo/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Gospel greats are bringing “some church to the White House.'' That's what President Barack Obama said last night.

He and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed top recording artists to the White House for a celebration of gospel music. Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris and Darlene Love were among the artists taking part. The event is the latest in the “In Performance at the White House'' series. The gospel concert will air on P-B-S on June 26th.

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

JOHN LEGEND STARS FREE AMERICA NEW YORK (AP) _ John Legend's new cause is to end mass incarceration.

Legend has announced an initiative called Free America. Legend says the U-S has made choices politically, legislatively, culturally to deal with poverty and mental illness, usually through incarceration. He will perform at a correctional facility in Austin, Texas, on Thursday and do a press conference discussing Texas' criminal justice system. He'll also visit a California state prison and co-host a criminal justice event in Washington later this month. Other artists yet to be announced will also be part of the campaign.

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Music

Vision/ Spring 2015

9

Album Review

Feed the Streets Chief Keef

Quality Street Music 2 DJ Drama

Mista Dont Play 2

ludaversal Ludacris

Another month, another mixtape release

by Chief Keef, who seems to be working this scene mighty hard lately. His newest release is Feed the Streets, a 19-track LP that you will either love to death, or despise so much that it will make you lose all faith in rap If you have been following Keef for a time, there is nothing on Feed the Streets that separates itself from his plethora of other mixtape albums. All of the Keef trappings are here; the syrupy drawl, the elementary lyrics, and the welldone beats are all well represented on this release. If you are a fan of his sound, than Feed the Streets will be a treat for you.

For those unfamiliar, DJ Drama is a DJ / producer born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Drama made a name for himself as the official DJ for T.I of Grand Hustle Records. He is best known for his mixtapes, which include the Gangsta Grillz series and Lil Wayne’s Dedication series. Some of his most popular songs are “Taking Pictures”, “Oh My” featuring Fabolous, Wiz Khalifa and Roscoe Dash, “We In This Bitch” and “My Moment”. His first album Gangsta Grillz: The Album debuted in 2007, and featured Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, T.I, Willie the Kid, Outkast, Jim Jones, Young Buck, and Nelly. His second album, Gangsta Grillz: The Album (Vol. 2), debuted in 2009 and featured even more hip-hop heavyweight including; Snoop Dogg, Akon and Gucci Mane. Drama is currently serving as an A&R for Atlantic Records, and is set to release his new album titled Quality Street Music 2 on April 14th, 2015

Entertainment One Music (eOne Music) announces the release of Memphis kingpin Project Pat’s forthcoming album, “Mista Don’t Play 2: Everythangs Money”, on March 24th, 2015. The album will be executive produced by Hip-Hop superstar Juicy J. The new album includes production from Atlanta’s platinum maestro Mike Williams (aka Mike Will Made It) and features Juicy J, Alabama’s late great rising star Doe B, Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Khalifa and Wale. “Twerk It”, produced

by Juicy J, Lil Awree and KE On The Track, is Pat’s second single and new twerk anthem.

The up-tempo club record represents the latest edition to his long standing list of southern hits.

Ludacris’ album Ludaversal has been forthcoming for quite some time. After numerous push backs, the Atlanta-based rapper and actor has finally released the album. A video released by Revolt TV shows Ludacris talking about the album during a listening party. David Banner, Big K.R.I.T. and Usher all made the cut on the forthcoming LP.

www.axs.com

Project Pat

www.yoraps.com

www.hiphopdx.com

10

Vision/ Spring 2015 Music Ex rap mogul 'Suge' Knight will stand trial on murder, attempted murder charges in hit and run victims. He also reduced bail from $25 million to $10 million.

Knight lost control of the company after it was forced into bankruptcy.

over Mr. Sloan, he lost that right,'' Barnes said.

The ruling came at the end of a hearing that focused heavily on testimony from Sloan, a former gang member who told detectives he attacked Knight before getting run over.

Sloan, an adviser on the upcoming film “Straight Outta Compton,'' said he was trying to forget details of the crash, in which he suffered two fractured ankles, a serious cut to his head, two torn knee ligaments and a shoulder injury.

Knight faces up to life in prison if convicted in the case. He has prior felony convictions for armed robbery and assault with a gun.

Knight pleaded no contest in 1995 and was sentenced to five years' probation in an assault on two rap entertainers at a Hollywood recording studio in 1992.

Sloan testified Monday that he didn't remember the fight and did not want to be a “snitch.'' Prosecutors played Sloan's statement to police, which offered a lucid, detailed account of the events Jan. 29 that led up to the deadly encounter.

Sloan's testimony demonstrated the difficulty in prosecuting Knight, who has gang ties and a reputation for intimidating witnesses.

LOS ANGELES _ Former rap music mogul Marion “Suge'' Knight must stand trial on murder and attempted-murder charges for striking two men with his pickup truck, killing one and seriously injuring the other, a judge ruled Thursday.

Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen rejected Knight's argument that he acted in self-defence when he was viciously attacked by a group of men outside a Compton burger stand.

Authorities contend Knight intentionally hit the men, killing Terry Carter, 55, and injuring Cle “Bone''

Sloan. Knight's attorney, Matt Fletcher, says his client was ambushed and was trying to escape Sloan's attack when he ran over the men.

“I will not be used to send Suge Knight to prison,'' Sloan testified, adding that he was only on the stand because he was subpoenaed.

“There's no intent to kill,'' said Fletcher, asking the judge to dismiss the case. “There's an intent to survive.''

Prosecutors granted Sloan, who's known Knight for decades, limited immunity after he said he intended to invoke his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination.

It appeared Knight wasn't trying to flee but was trying to kill someone when he gunned his truck forward, Coen said. The judge threw out one of two hit-and-run counts, saying the charge applies to one event even if there are multiple

Knight, 49, was a key player in the gangster rap scene that flourished in the 1990s, and his label once listed Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg among its artists.

“Every day, I try to forget it,'' Sloan said. “I just know, I screwed up, and Terry's dead.''

Sloan's memory troubles prompted the judge to comment on his testimony: “I find that this witness is being deceptive.''

The judge also heard from the lead detective investigating the case and watched security camera footage of the crash.

The camera caught a limited view of the parking lot but shows Knight struggling with Sloan through the window of his truck before putting the vehicle in reverse, striking Sloan, then hitting him again and running over Carter while fleeing the scene.

Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Barnes said that Knight gave up his right to self-defence when he used his car as a deadly weapon in response to a fistfight.

“The minute he backed up and ran

The rap figure was sentenced to prison in February 1997 for violating terms of that probation by taking part in a fight at a Las Vegas hotel hours before Shakur was fatally wounded in a drive-by attack as he rode in Knight's car near the Strip. Shakur's slaying remains unsolved.

Prosecutors only had to present a fraction of their evidence against Knight during the preliminary hearing that began Monday.

By Brian Melley And Raquel Maria Dillon THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

___ AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.

(AP Photo/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

film

Vision/ Autumn 2014

11

RAPTORS START PLAYOFFS

BLUE JAYS NEW SEASON

SUBBAN-GAME MISCONDUCT

The N-B-A regular season ended on a positive note for the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry scored 26 points as Toronto earned a franchise record 49th victory, beating the Charlotte Hornets 92-87. The Raptors can now turn their attention to Washington. They'll face the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs starting this weekend.

The Blue Jays have their first home win of the season, thanks in part to the long ball. Jose Bautista, Devon Travis and Dalton Pompey all homered as Toronto Blue downed the Tampa Bay Rays 12-7. Josh Donaldson, batting in the two-spot for the first time this year, scored twice and drove in three runs. Kevin Pillar made a highlight-reel catch in left field to rob Tampa of a late home run.

The Montreal Canadiens have a 1-0 lead in their first-round series versus Ottawa. Brian Flynn scored the winner to cap a four-goal second period as the Habs beat the Senators 4-3. Montreal played half the game without star defenceman P-K Subban, who was given a game misconduct after slashing Ottawa's Mark Stone on the hand.

The Canadian Press

BULLS-ROSE

CHICAGO _ Derrick Rose has been waiting a long time for this _ three years, to be exact.

The Bulls' star point guard will suit up for a playoff game for the first time since the 2012 post-season opener, when a torn knee ligament put Chicago's hopes on hold. By Andrew Seligman.

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press Photo Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

DANGEROUS EIGHTS

Golden State won a franchise-record 67 games and knows all about playoff upsets. The Warriors are now seeded first, but in the opening round in 2007 they knocked off Dallas, another 67-win team. Now they'll try to avoid that same fate. The AP looks at some of the best eight seeds in NBA history.

The Canadian Press

BOX-MAYWEATHERPACQUIAO

LOS ANGELES _ Manny Pacquiao intends to put on a show when he faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2 1/2 weeks in a bout that will surely break the bank. Pacquiao is radiating confidence and could only laugh when told Mayweather had called him “a very reckless fighter.

The Canadian Press

HAWKS-GETTING REAL

ATLANTA _ For the better part of the past month, the Hawks were merely warming up for the playoffs. It hasn't exactly been a smooth ride for the top seed in the East, but they're confident of being ready now that it gets real.

The Canadian Press

PELICANS-DAVIS' DEBUT

NEW ORLEANS _ Anthony Davis has the Pelicans in the playoffs for the first time since Chris Paul was the big star in the Big Easy. While New Orleans is a long shot against Golden State, Davis should deliver some exciting moments _ not that he'll be satisfied with just that.

The Canadian Press

FILM

12

Vision / Spring 2015

Eddie Murphy to receive Mark Twain Prize, nation's top humour award, at Kennedy Center in DC commentator better known as Mark Twain.

one of the humour prize show's executive producers.

Through his work, Murphy “has shown that like Mark Twain, he was years ahead of his time,'' said Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter.

“He is truly a transformative comedian and humorist,'' McGarr said. “Like Mark Twain, he talks about provocative issues and he is really, really funny while doing it.

Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson have all hailed Murphy for his influence and for breaking new ground in films. Morgan has called Murphy his “comic hero'' and said Murphy set the tone for the entire industry long ago.

WASHINGTON _ Eddie Murphy, famous for his standup routines, films and his early breakout on “Saturday Night Live,'' will be awarded the nation's top prize for humour this year by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, officials said Thursday.

Murphy, 54, will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Oct. 18 in a show that will be broadcast nationally. The humour prize honours those who influence society in the tradition of Samuel Clemens, the writer, satirist and social

In a written statement, Murphy said he was deeply honoured by the recognition and to join the list of past recipients of the Twain Prize. Past honorees include Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Whoopi Goldberg.

Murphy has had a “consistently brilliant comedic career'' in many different aspects of comedy, said Cappy McGarr,

Murphy's films have been among the highest-grossing comedies, including “48 Hours,'' ''Trading Places,” ''Dr. Dolittle” and ''Coming to America.”

Murphy got his break in comedy in 1980 when he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live.''

He went on to become one of the film industry's top box office performers as an actor. The Kennedy Center said Murphy is the most commercially successful African-American actor in film history.

The entertainer has insisted he is retired now and only makes rare appearances.

In February, Murphy made his first return to “SNL'' since 1984 for the show's 40th anniversary reunion special. But his role was limited. Former “SNL'' cast member Norm Macdonald later revealed a plan was scuttled for Murphy to impersonate Bill Cosby behind a bar on the show.

The idea came amid Cosby's ongoing accusations that he drugged dozens of women and sexually assaulted them. In the end, Murphy wouldn't make fun of Cosby, who won the Mark Twain Prize in 2009. ”Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it,'' Macdonald said in February. “He will not kick a man when he is down.''

By Brett Zongker THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ___ Follow Brett Zongker at https:// twitter.com/DCArtBeat .

(AP Photos/Vince Bucci)

In an impoverished economy, Zimbabweans turn to pirated films, forcing cinemas to shut down spare parts distributor.

Traders swarm Harare's streets, openly displaying a variety of pirated movie titles on the capital's sidewalks. Dozens of hawkers mill around shopping malls trying to sell pirated movies and music.

HARARE, Zimbabwe _ When the country's censors blacked out scenes from the film adaptation of the bestselling erotic novel, ``Fifty Shades of Grey,'' many Zimbabwean movie lovers couldn't care less. They soon had another option, which was more explicit and cheaper.

The southern African nation's continued economic difficulties have led to such a successful black market of pirated DVDs that many cinemas have been forced to close. Many Zimbabweans now prefer the small screen in their living rooms, watching pirated copies of new film releases to save money, and in turn

bringing the curtain down on the big screen experience.

Before the Zimbabwean dollar collapsed under record 231 million per cent inflation in 2008, cinemas were common in cities and towns. Even in the poorest neighbourhoods, local councils ran cinemas that were a hit with children and adults. Today, only five movie theatres remain in the country of 13 million people. ``A movie costs a dollar. Going to the movie houses costs $6 per person. You can do the math and you see why I stay at home,'' said 26-year-old Samantha Baranza, a clerk at a Harare automotive

Despite public campaigns against piracy and pledges by police to stamp out piracy, street trader Quinton Rushushe openly carries a bunch of DVDs in his hands. Dozens more discs are in his satchel as he jostles for customers with hordes of other traders trying to sell copies to motorists and shoppers at Fife Avenue Shopping Center, just a few streets from the police headquarters. ``Police officers can't afford to go to the movies so they are our loyal customers. Some of them give me their phone numbers and I always call them when a new exciting movie is out so they can buy while it's still hot,'' he said. Selling pirated discs is the only job Rushushe has known since leaving school in 2012.

He said he gets his wares for 30 cents a copy from a friend ``who

has a computer.'' On a good day he sells up to 15 copies at a dollar each.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said: ``We have arrested dozens but the challenge is that piracy is closely associated with vendors who are mushrooming everywhere so it's not an easy battle.''

With the closure of many companies, over two thirds of adult Zimbabweans have resorted to informal trading, according to the African Development Bank. First Lady Grace Mugabe has warned police against targeting vendors, who she says are simply trying to beat harsh economic conditions.

Struggling to survive, the remaining movie distributors are experimenting with new marketing strategies, such as giving away free movie tickets at pizza houses, slashing prices by half on certain days and advertising in neighbourhoods via megaphone. ``Business has been going down. Our major competition is coming from home entertainment, which is what most people are resorting to nowadays

because of the cheap DVDs flooding the streets,'' said Tawanda Pswarayi, controller at movie distributor Ster-Kinekor, which has the only remaining cinema houses in the country. At times, only 10 people arrive to watch a show in a 200-seater auditorium, he said.

Zimbabwe's strict censorship has made the cinema even less entertaining. In February, only two of the three cinemas left showed ``Fifty Shades of Grey,'' but heavy censorship cut out so many sexually explicit scenes that movie distributors decided to stop showing the tame edit after only a few screenings. A little more than a week after its release, pirated copies of the film hit the streets, selling for as low as 50 cents a copy and bypassing censorship.

In buildings where movie theatres once existed in Zimbabwe, evangelical churches are now frequently flourishing. Daily services are packed.

By Farai Mutsaka THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vision/ Spring 2015

fashion/lifestyle

13

BANG ON TREND! FASHION BITES

Stacia Davidson’s Yaad Trendz creative flair, creating outfits to express her style.

“I would transform clothes that I already had and turn them into totally new designs or just add some spunk to them,” she said.

Soon the upcycling of her clothes became a hobby.

Coupled with the fantastic reviews of her friends, it soon dawned on her that she could make a business out of her idea.

Yaad Trendz stylist Stacia Davidson is creating waves on the local fashion scene.

And with her one-of-a kind Neckstaz line, she has also been attracting a lot of attention in another area.

neck apparel that can either be braided or fringed.

“I refer to myself as a dream warrior as I will fight relentlessly to ensure my dreams are realised,” she said.

Through upcycling, Davidson has managed to accentuate her pieces using wood, copper, beads, as well as other materials.

“Making my brand Yaad Trendz successful was one of the dreams that kept me going.”

She started Yaad Trendz in 2008, and now, with most of her materials locally sourced, she has embarked on handmade multi-strand

“Neckstaz is a collection of stylishly bold neckwear made primarily from jersey knit/T-shirt fabric,” she said.

“Our aim is to create personality or conversation pieces that will add some magnetism to our customers,” she said.

She said it was while at the University of the West Indies that she explored her

And so her clothes soon became worn by models at fashion shows held on campus.

Since taking the plunge to working full time in her business, she has grown leaps and bounds.

“I had to overcome a lot in order to turn my talent into a viable business. In the end I had to make a conscious decision to stop making excuses as to why I couldn’t start my own business. I had to stop with the victim mentality I had developed,” she explained. www.jamaicaobserver.com

You just proved that advertising in Vision Newspaper works.

647-386-3419

2015 / Page 14

How To place your Advertisement:

CLASSIFIED 647-386-3419

You just proved that advertising in Vision Newspaper works. call 647-386-3419 to place your ad today

www.visionnewspaper.ca

info@visionnewspaper.ca

CLASSIFIED

2015 / Page 15

How To place your Advertisement: T.: 416 264 1300

1997 Honda Civic CX-G

Price: $1,450 + sales tax Body Style: 4 door Sedan Drive-train: FWD Engine: 1.6L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 180,123

2001 BMW 323i xi (M5)

Internet Price: $5,500 + sales tax Drive-train: AWD Engine: 3.0L Transmission: Automatic 6 speed Ext. Colour: Silver Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 130,852

2009 BMW 328xi xDrive

Price: $17,500 + sales tax Drive-train: AWD Engine: 3.0 Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Blue Int. Colour: Beige Kilometers: 84,212

2009 Acura TL Technology Package SH - AWD

Price: $18,995 + sales tax Drive Train: SH - AWD Engine:3.7L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 105,410

www.visionnewspaper.ca

info@visionnewspaper.ca

647-386-3419

AUTO LISTINGS

2002 Dodge Caravan (SE)

Internet Price: $1 995+ sales tax Drive-train: FWD Engine: 3.3L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Dark Grey Int. Colour: Grey Kilometers: 220,123

2009 Audi A3 2.0T

ZX4 SE

Price: $2,500 + sales tax Drive-train: FWD Engine: 2.0 Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Silver Int. Colour: Grey Kilometers: 160,000

2009 Honda CR-V LX

Price:$14,995 + sales tax Drive-train: 4x4 Engine: 2.4L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Grey Int. Colour: Cream Kilometers: 73,215

Price:$15,995 + sales tax Body Style: 4 door Sedan Engine: 2.0L Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Beige Kilometers: 101,342

On-call

2005 Ford Focus

Affordable

legal protection

on-call legal protection.

for one low monthly fee

Unexpected legal questions arise every day, and with LegalShield on your side, you will have access to experienced attorneys for advice and counsel on an unlimited number of legal issues. For a low monthly fee, you can rest assured that whether facing a traffic ticket, foreclosure, warranty dispute or any other legal issue, you’ll always have access to legal advice so you can worry less and live more.

Join over 1.4 million families, and protect yours with LegalShield.

www.torontoqualitymotors.com

2007 BMW X3 3.0si One Owner, Off Lease

Price: $14,995 + sales tax Drive-train: AWD Engine: 3.0 Transmission: 6 speed Automatic Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 120,000

2010 Audi A4 2.0t Premium, One Owner

Price: $20,995 +sales tax Drive Train AWD Engine: 2.0L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 114,107

2009 Acura MDX SH AWD

Price: $24,995 + sales tax Body Style: 4 door Sedan Engine: 3.7L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 69,000

2010 BMW 323i One Owner, Off Lease

Price: $17,995 +sales tax Engine: 2.5L Transmission: Automatic Ext. Colour: Black Int. Colour: Black Kilometers: 47,237

You just proved that advertising in Vision Newspaper works.

M arc& D ene de M o ntbrun

D ire c t o r 1 .

87 7 .

4 7 7 .

4 1 86 d e mo nt brun@l e gal s h ie l d as s o c iat e . c o m www. be ame mbe rno w. c o m This is a general overview of our legal plan and/or identity theft plan coverage for illustration purposes only. See a plan contract for your state of residence for complete terms, coverage, amounts, conditions and exclusions.

647-386-3419 Network marketing leader can show you how to make enough money to pay off your bills and have money left over for your retirement call: 647-773-3517

1565 Eglinton Ave W. (Eglington & Oakwood) (647) 852-0767

SEND MONEY

OVERSEAS

If you bank Online, you can send us an EMAIL TRANSFER and your transaction will be completed within 15 minutes, between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the next day outside of these hours.

-Person to Person Send money to friends, family and loved ones in Canada, Dominica, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, USA, UK -Third Person Billing Send money to accounts at ďŹ nancial institutions in Jamaica (Credit Unions, Building Societies, Commercial Banks, Insurance companies, National development Corporations)

Call us at: 416 784 2075

-Bill Payment Pay bills directly to utility companies in Jamaica, Water (NWC), Electricity (JPS), & telephone (C&W) Send money to National Housing Trust for loans and contributions (NHT) -MT Card Transfer Send money to friends, family through the JN Money transfer Card, collect money 24/7 at any cash machine / multilink ATM, use as a debit card to shop or pay bills