OCEAN Style

oceanstylemagazine.com

51 BEAUTIFUL THE

MOST

PEOPLE R I HA NN A RIHANNA

+

OBAMA

Hope Beyond America

JAIME STEWART McCONNELL

REGGAE SUMFEST. Jamaica ROYAL ESCAPE. Barbados

CARIBBEAN FASHION

US$4.99 / UK£3.00

T&T Fashion Week Style Week Jamaica

CONTENTS

Volume 4, Issue 3

FASHION + STYLE + BEAUTY

28 Sweep Me Off My Feet

The most overworked parts of our body deserve to be treated and cared for‌..one segment at a time.

30 Fashion Stop 8 Style Week Jamaica

47

Lenny Kravitz – one of the 51 Most Beautiful.

47 51 Most Beautiful People

FEATURES

57

A mix of physical attraction, personal character and accomplish ment all played a role in determining who would comprise what is to be our first annual list topped by the uber-hot pop songress from Barbados: Rihanna.

Profile: Jaime Stewart McConnell

The heiress to the Sandals resort empire is a jetsetting business woman focused on growing and ?greening@ the Sandals and Royal Plantation brands throughout the Caribbean. Soon she will add mother to her impressive array of responsibilities.

68 OBAMA: A Hope That Goes Beyond

How Barack Obama@s historic Presidential Campaign is reaching beyond America@s Shores.

Thrills and spills aplenty but in the end the main throughfare in Kingston rocked to an electric and eclectic grab bag of fashion and style.

32 Groove is in the Heart: 7 Accessories to Love 43 Skin Deep 83 Royal Escape: Barbados

Colonial charms, captivating vistas, pristine sands and treatment fit for a monarch abound at The Crane in beautiful Barbados.

93 No Worries!

An abundance of options and absence of stress should be the goal for any getaway. On location at Half Moon Resort & Spa. Rose Hall, Jamaica

100 Wistful Moments

Delicate fabrics and bold colours set against a natural canvas of blue sky, white sand and translucent water create moments of sheer magic. On location at Royal Plantation Island. Fown Cay, Exumas CBahamasD

57

Jaime Stewart McConnell - profile

61 T&T Fashion Week 63 Hanover Charities Polo & High Tea 64 Reggae Sumfest 66 Taste T&T

ON SPOT

ESCAPE

38 1A Life is Better Upfront. Destination: Couples Sans Souci 41 Key West: America6s Caribbean 76 Beach Dreams (TRAVEL + LEISURE)

From super-luxurious to discount chic, Turks & Caicos offers a tropical paradise for all.

OCEAN LIVING

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80 Edible Vibes: Couples Cuisine

(FOOD + DRINKS + PLACES)

Who says a romantic, cozy dinner for two has to be out on the town?

Olympic Sprint Sensation Usain Bolt holding his own “precious metal”

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Barack Obama’s call for Dive into has a triple dose a Change influenced of the greatest world ofshow believers. on Earth!

58 73

PULSE

(SHOPPING + MUSIC + MOVIES + BOOKS + EVENTS)

Bloody Good Stuff: Johnnie Walker Blue

Montano Reigns Supreme

74 Bloody Good Stuff: Precious Metals 112 Ocean Cocktail…Stirring it up with Jasmine!

The Soca King gets his due at the Reggae Awards

ON THE REGULAR

CONTENTS

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14 Contents Page 18 Masthead 20 Editor6s Note 22 Letters to the Editor 24 Advertiser6s Contact Page 25 oceanstylemagazine.com 27 Contributors

The Whole Shebang 8 A Holistic Horoscope

37

What6s Hot & What6s Not

114

Ciao Bella!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Douglas K. Gordon douglas@oceanstylemagazine.com MANAGING EDITOR

April Daniels Hussar

FASHION + LIFESTYLE (TEX T + PHOTOS) Jasmine Dotiwala – Editor at Large Robert Manella – Director of Photography Novia McDonald-Whyte – Editor at Large Isabelle Tin-Aung – Beauty Editor C ONTRIBUTORS

Dagmara, Anika Repole, Michelle Jones, Brenda Fine, Pixxera, Pat Meschino, Alethea Brown, Marlon Hill, Colin Williams, Onika Nkrumah, Patty French, Deborah Grisham, Linda Harper, Mindi Smith, Martha Birdsong Dunning, Rosemary Redlin, Carlton Jones, Ric Matthews, Al Alschusler, Warren Mottley, dkg, Lloyd ART + DESIGN + LAYOUT Art Director: Frank Reneau, Website: Daniel Smith, Webmaster: Andrew Manswell, Images: Cleon Henry, Consulting: DCODE Communications

editorial submissions or story pitches: editor@oceanstylemagazine.com ADVERTISI NG SALES

VP Sales & Marketing – Brian Chin tel: 305.731.2145 x114 / fax 305.395.5195 / e-mail: brian.chin@oceanstylemagazine.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTI VE – Clarence Grant tel: 305.731.2145 x115 / e-mail: cgrant@oceanstylemagazine.com

ADVERTI SING SALES EXECUTIVE (US SALES ) – Alethea Brown tel: 305.731.2145 x110 / e-mail: abrown@oceanstylemagazine.com JAMAICA SALES R EPRESENTATIVE

Communication and Business Solutions – Corent McDonald / tel: 876.906.2266 / e-mail: cmcdonaldcbs@cwjamaica.com DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATIO N John Blassingame - VP Distribution / Distribution & Circulation Inquries: john.blassingame@oceanstylemagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS

web: www.oceanstylemagazine.com/subscribe / tel: 954.653.3931 / e-mail: subscribe@oceanstylemagazine.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

e-mail: editor@oceanstylemagazine.com / mail: 1152 North University Drive, Suite 301-303, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 / fax: 305.395.5195 PUBLISHER

Blue Wolf Media, Inc.

VP Finance & Operations – Stewart Jones / stewart.jones@oceanstylemagazine.com

No part of Ocean Style Magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Blue Wolf Media, Inc. For additional reprint information, please contact us at info@oceanstylemagazine.com or fax us at 305-395-5195.

WWW. OCEANSTYLEMAGAZINE .COM

DIVE IN AT oceanstylemagazine.com

FROM THE EDITOR e have the privilege in this issue to publish a personal tale from Marlon Hill - an attorney from Miami who works tirelessly for the mission that is ‘Elect Barack Obama.’ It has been oft repeated that a leader like the Senator and Presidential aspirant comes along once in a generation. There is a sense of unsuppressed awe that sometimes emanates from seasoned journalists and politicians (both friend and foe) from time to time in describing the man who would be ‘leader of the free world’.

But in watching, listening to and following the progress of Senator Obama I feel there is a call that goes beyond that of reaching out, pitching in and being supportive of this historic campaign, as Marlon advocates. There is a message, a call, for people with a Caribbean interest, curiosity, heritage and dependency to ‘do more.’ The entire Caribbean could do with a dose of Obamism. A feeling of hope. A desire for change. His ascendancy offers a rallying cry for a new approach to leadership – even from our existing leaders. Not merely political leaders but those in society with the capital, access, power and - even if they wish to look purely from a selfish perspective - the need for a market.

Along with the States, the people of this region of beautiful beaches and tropical breezes, with their easy-going spirits, friendly dispositions and welcoming arms (to friends and strangers alike) are at a crossroads.

While there are those who have used the sound educational system, traditional values and strong moral base to become extraordinarily successful on the backs of hard work and capitalistic enterprise, many, many more are collectively regressing. This pivotal moment in US history offers something for us all to consider – the educated, the disenfranchised, the self-made, the historians and the futurists.

Interestingly, Obama has been decried by some cynics as nothing more than a skilled orator – a modern day Pied Piper leading a populace of unwitting believers into a never-never land where they’re doomed to realise that hope is not enough. The point of departure between dreams and reality surely has a basis in understanding not what dreams are and should be, but more so in coming to grips with the hows of bringing them into being. There are parallels with individual lives and the holistic message that Obama offers. Yes he wants an America where the poor have opportunity to uplift themselves to pursue and attain the proverbial ‘American Dream’; an America where health care is affordable and accessible; an America where the government exists for the people and of the people. But the real value, the true strength of what Obama puts forward, lies not in ‘feel-good’ uplifting promises of where he assures Americans he will take them … the real strength of his messages is that he has married specific plans with dreams. He has a goal. He has a plan and he has a roadmap. So in truth it isn’t about the sound bites of hope and glory. It is a wider message. You must have hope. You must have aspiration. You must have belief. But you must also devote the time. You must put in the work to understand what will make you realise that goal.

That aspiration. Those very practical considerations, steps and thoughts are what will bring the seemingly impractical into being.

Save being captivated by rhetoric, a sincerity of delivery and an embodiment of so many unlikely dreams, Obama tells us something else. He tells us to demand more. Expect more. Believe more. But he also shows us that dreams and aspirations are validated by sound plans, clear paths, dogged determination and unyielding persistence.

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So maybe the phenomenon that is Obama is to remind us all of something … we can aspire to our better selves. Yes We Can!

L E T T E R S TO THE EDITOR

I just read the about Terri-Kaye and Kimani and I have to say what a beautiful wedding. I loved reading the story of their engagement and their star-studded ceremony. The photos were lovely and Terri-Kaye was an absolutely stunning bride. After such a glorious start I wish them the best of luck in their life.

Susanna Jamaica

I am really impressed with the last issue with Mariah Carey – I read the magazine from cover to cover. I have to say Ocean Style really steps it up with each issue. I am not sure how you guys have managed to get the sort of access to celebrities and stars that you have but whatever you’re doing – keep going – it gets more and more impressive with each issue.

Abigail New York, NY

I just visited your Ocean Style website. I like the look and layout of the site. Keep up the good work.

I have to say I really liked the cover of your issue with Yelena Noah. Very edgy.

Liza Trinidad

Hi Ocean Style, I absolutely love the magazine. I love the pictures and the way it is put together is incredible. Really beautiful. I don't believe there is anything looking as slick and well put together as your magazine from the Caribbean. Great Job. Michelle Atlanta, GA

Mrs. Joan Thame B Mother of the Bride

Dear Doug, I want to commend you on the most recent copy of Ocean Style.

I have been a subscriber for the past year and over that time I have noticed the magazine (which was good to start) noticeably improve from one issue to the next. The most recent with Mariah Carey on the cover is simply world-class.

My wife and I enjoy each issue of the magazine and get a great sense of 'Caribbean pride’ when our guests (Caribbean and American) pick it up from our coffee table – impressed by both the quality of the publication and portrayal of the Caribbean. The articles have been of a very high quality and the fashion shoots are simply excellent – it is like the Vogue of the Caribbean.

Congratulations and we look forward to seeing the magazine continue to grow and prosper!

Warm Regards, Shaka Hislop Dallas, TX

DESTINATIONS Tobago House of Assembly – Tobago, visittobago.gov.tt Tourism Development Company – T&T, visitTNT.com Barbados Tourism Authority – visitbarbados.org AIR, HOTELS & SPAS Air Jamaica, airjamaica.com British Airways, ba.com Half Moon Blue Hotel, halfmoonblue.com Sandals Resorts, sandals.com Jamaica Pegasus, jamaicapegasus.com Tradewinds Hotel, tradewindshotel.net Half Moon, halfmoon.com

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CONTRIBUTORS Linda Harper

Marlon A. Hill

Marlon A. Hill is a founding partner with the law firm of delancyhill, P.A. based in Miami, Florida. Focusing his practice on general corporate, entertainment, and international business transactions, Marlon’s areas of expertise also include intellectual property, immigration, and governmental matters. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Marlon is a past student of St. George’s College in Kingston and a graduate of Florida State University College of Business and Florida State University College of Law. Marlon is past president of the Caribbean Bar Association and presently serves as the Advisory Board Member for the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States.

As Linda grew up admiring her grandmother getting glamorous with headscarves and rouge, she never dreamed that her fascination would ultimately shape her career and life passion.

Through playing with her own image she quickly learned how the art of hair and makeup could grant her a unique expressive power. A passion turned lifestyle has taken her from the runways of London and Milan to the remote grasslands of Africa. Working with Ford models on one day and shooing the yak away in Tibet the next, before jetting off to some exotic Caribbean shoot location, she proclaims:“there is no typical day in styling.”

Isabelle Tin-Aung

Being part of the beauty industry is something Isabelle Tin-Aung always looked forward to. “My mother is French so there were always plenty of fragrances and beauty products around the house growing up,” says the native New Yorker. As Ocean Style’s Beauty Editor, Isabelle loves discovering what makes the chic Caribbean woman tick. A travel fanatic herself, Isabelle’s latest endeavor is discovering the beauty habits of women around the globe.

To Advertis e in Oc ean Style Magaz ine P l e a s e c o nt a c t u s a t : ads@oceanstylemagazine.com or

305.731.2145 ext. 114

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OCEAN STYLE

Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray Talk about a quick fix! Instantly invigorate feet that have been on the go all day. A few spritzes deodorize and moisturize your feet with the help of peppermint essential oil. Plus – it helps keep your nails strong … hello longlasting pedicure! $10, thebodyshop.com

Rosemary Foot Balm (for normal skin) The perfect solution for avid runners or anyone on her feet all day. It stimulates circulation with rosemary and silk, giving you a cool feeling throughout.

Plus – this balm smells delicious, so don’t be surprised if your toes get a nibble or two. $17.95, drhauschka.com

SWEEP ME OFF MY FEET

Icy Relaxing Leg Gel For that extra pampering. Why stop at your feet when your calves need some tender loving care as well? This miracle gel provides a delightful ice-cool sensation and soothes fatigue in your lower legs while improving circulation.

Now you really can dance all night… $70.00, SpaceNK.com

Isabelle Tin-Aung

hese sumptuous and aromatic quick fixes will de-stress your tired feet and put the finishing touches on a true pampering session. And let’s not forget… a beautiful, sexy, and oh-sotouchable foot is a powerful tool of attraction.

Whether you’re prepping for date-night or indulging in some much-deserved “Me-Time,” don’t neglect this overworked body part – and then you can really put your best foot forward.

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Seeds & Grains Buffi fin ng Soap for Feet Davies Gate’s polishing soap exfoliates that dull skin around your heel. Ingredients include ground walnut shells, buckwheat hulls, loofah and volcanic pumice for an intense polishing treatment.

Good-bye rough edges! $10, bathandbodyworks.com

Total Foot Care Cream (for sensitive skin) For those with chapped heels and calluses, this silky, rich lotion does wonders to soothe and soften. No irritation for those sensitive soles.

Prepare for a return to baby-soft skin. $19.50, barielle.com

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FASHION !

P O T S Jamaica Style Week 2008

by Alethea Brown images by Giovannie Powell

hen the Skyy Vodka girls at Style Week Jamaica’s first event served me a glass full of “Blue Dragon,” who was I to resist? Though it came with an instant headache that didn’t let up for the next four days, I couldn’t get enough of the stuff. The only things served at the fashion shows were drinks and Ferrero Rocher truffles, which is my kind of party.

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Men’s Collection Friday night kicked off the weekend with the Men’s show held in the courtyard of the ruins of a sugar plantation. Fashions included everything from the most ridiculous pimp-suits to low-key cotton pants and shirts with loose silhouettes: the whole spectrum of suitable plantation-wear. The crowd favorites: a pair of cotton candy-colored suits (in yellow and pink) and a blazing white sequined disco jacket. The male models gave good face, hypnotizing the crowd with their laser stares and straight shuffle.

Inspired by their superstar looks and attitude, I begged the models riding with me in the van to the after-party to teach me some poses, but was sweetly advised to “just be myself.” And I was myself all night long, flirting and dancing at Kingston club The Quad. FYI, don’t even bother going to a club in Jamaica before 3am.

Ed Hardy Pool Party Saturday afternoon brought a pool party at a white mansion with a splendid alabaster marble portico providing much needed shade from the Caribbean sun. Partygoers splayed over the perfect lawn on bamboo mats provided by Revlon. Georgianna Robertson, fashion model extraordinaire and Style Week hostess with the mostess floated among guests in a breathtaking leopard print gauzy wrap over a smart black bikini. Beyond fabulous.

The other guest to set the crowd abuzz was a white chick from NYC with an amazing, fuchsia dreadlock hanging down past the small of her back in one magnificent tangle. I thought it was quite impressive that a white woman had everyone marveling out loud in unabashed dreadlock envy.

The Ed Hardy rep got held up at customs and arrived fashionably late (is there any other kind of late?). But no matter, we were all on Jamaican time by that point anyway. The genius of Ed Hardy’s line is that it prominently features his signature in a steady script, so his name ul-

timately appears as if tattooed across the finest beach bodies in the world. And although one Jamaican told me, “The less traffic on my gear the better,” everyone else seemed to go mad for the bold tattoo-like designs and bling-y rhinestones.

International Mecca of Style Event Saturday was the night for women’s fashion. Held at The Jamai ca House, the show and audience were peppered with dignitaries, including the Minister of Information and Women’s Affairs, who did her turn as a model for b Michaels.

Sandy opened resort for b Michaels, showing mostly fruity colored dresses with intense bias cuts giving sultry movement to the collection. b Mi chaels vintage presented the dress made famous by Vanessa Williams – a red number with embroidered swirl detail. (On second thought, it might have been the dress that made Vanessa Williams famous.) Also shown – a feathered, sequined number once worn by Cate Blanchett and reminiscent of Bjork’s famed swan dress, only beautiful.

Melissa Dunkley really made my night. She presented the sexiest little two-piece business suits, often showing off both cleavage and belly button. I asked her how I could possibly get away with wearing one of her numbers to work, and she told me to wear a shirt under the suit jacket for day and go bare for evening. This girl is a genius! She’s the best thing to happen to us Girl Fridays since 9-to-5.

Another Jamaican designer of note – the darling of Style Week, Dexter Pottinger. Usually the rule of dressing fashionably is to remove one accessory before leaving the house. I think if Pottinger has any rules about fashion, it’s to add at least two outrageous, eye-catching accessories before walking out the door. All of his prom queens were resplendent in vivid jewel tones – pink, green, yellow, orange,

turquoise and hot pink (sometimes all in the same outfit) – and tiaras, sequined hard hats and glossy candy colored shoes. The whole look was very Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. All-White Brunch at Strawberry Hill When the dress code says white, it’s really a bummer when some guy shows up in a red shirt. But other than Mr. Party Pooper, the guests looked positively divine. Maybe it was the Jamaican sun, but is there anyone who doesn’t look good in white?

Deiwght Peters of Saint International handed out style awards to recipients who were stunned and deeply touched; I don't think an eye in the house stayed dry. Undoubtedly the most heartfelt and tear-filled moment was when Georgianna Robertson accepted the award for Millenni um Model Ic on. With tender humility, Georgianna tearfully acknowledged that it had been a struggle to be a black woman in the modeling world: “It’s hard to have courage when things are hard.”

Georgianna immediately captivates every eye in the room, and not just because she’s a lanky 6’1, with the bone structure of a classic statue and lips as ripe as peaches—she exudes the inner grace that emanates from a radiant soul. Her extensive nonprofit work exemplifies her compassion, but the thing that gets me about her is her dry wit.

One night after a show, she cracked a joke with an unprintable punch line. The face and spirit of an angel, and the mouth of a sailor … my type of girl.

The true character of the afternoon: Indas hi o, a designer from New York. Flashing his Swarovski crystal grill he proclaimed the most perfect accessory was a million dollar smile and had custom grills made for all the models.

One of the fashion models, a tan blonde girl, had been picked from the crowd at an open model call in Montego Bay held earlier in the month by Sai nt International. At any moment, it seemed, a new model could be plucked from anonymity and made a star. Digicel gave away free phones to two people in the crowd, and the emcee invited them to walk the catwalk, saying, “It’s your time to shine.” And shine they did, strutting to Lupe Fiasco’s ultra pop song “Superstar.”

Part of the evening’s entertainment featured fire-swallowers, who left puddles of their magic elixir (was it water or gasoline?) all over the stage, which meant that most of the models slipped and fell down at some point on the runway.

Of the designers shown during FashionBlock, these two were real standouts: Bas Kosters If you’re gonna sell out, you might as well embrace the process and stick your tongue in your cheek when you do it. I’m calling him Bas because that’s his brand. He even tattooed it in bold capital letters on his forearm.

During his show, I thought I caught a glimpse of a model wearing a T-shirt depicting a woman fellating a man. I dismissed the idea as a product of my dirty mind, but when I caught up with the artist poolside at the Pegasus Hotel, I realized he was wearing the same shirt, depicting an entire orgy. He said he originally illustrated a homosexual forest animal gang bang (“with bunnies and pussies”), and thought he would do something for the straight people as a follow up effort.

Julia Clanc y of Britain makes dresses for the modern goddess, and indeed her dresses are worn by Dita Von Teese and Cam eron Diaz. Of her collection, Julia teases: “My style is cheeky, like, if I bent over in this [short] dress, that would be cheeky.”

She inspired the emcee to say the best line of the night: “I swear in m y next life I’d like to be a dress.”

FashionBlock The thrilling conclusion to the week took place in downtown Kingston on several blocks of Knutsford Street. The perfect climax to the shows; the throngs of people crammed into every square inch of open street space pulsated with excitement.

By the end of three days and nights of high fashion, I had run out of things to wear, so I did what any self-respecting fashionista would do: I wore my nightgown. It’s a lovely little frock, cut mid-thigh with gold spaghetti straps and a racer back. With long teardrop crystal earrings and hair in an updo I followed the rule for dressing for Jamaican nights: go black and skin-tight.

Clad in Victoria’s Secret’s finest, I was ready to party on the street.

As we passed through the crowd awaiting the start of FashionBlock, the acidic smell of urine burned our nasal passages. (We were all from NYC, so it was a familiar smell.) The crowd was so blocked in that people wouldn't dare leave their positions, so they would piss where they were standing. Now that's the mark of a good show—literally!

Unlike all the previous shows, this one started on time – you can’t keep the people of Kingston waiting.

Style Week is sponsored by a modeling agency, so it's fitting that the beauty of the models often overshadows the clothes. Even the emcee couldn’t help but comment almost exclusively on the models’ beauty, when presumably he was meant to say something about the fashions as well.

For their part, the models, thrilled with the energy and exuberance of the crowd, quickly abandoned the stoic glare required on the runways of London or Milan. One guy, when faced with a white Plexiglas stage and the spectacle and inspiration of dancers gone before him, erupted into a spontaneous handspring, going feet over hands for three consecutive turns. Models revved up the crowd by throwing out perfume samples of Ed Hardy’s new scent, and everyone was getting their Jamaica on. www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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Melting Heart Earrings

by Yayoi Indada Everyone knows the feeling of a melting heart. Let these ohso-chic earrings remind you of that delicious sensation. $320, MatterMatters.com

IS IN

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ACCESSORIES TO LOVE April Daniels Hussar

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Miu Miu Sequin Point-Toe Pumps Cinderella would have ditched those see-through stripper shoes in a hot second for these sparklicious, sexy heels. $690, SaksFifthAvenue.com or Miu Miu Boutiques, 800.558.1855

omance doesn’t have to be about coupledom. Whether you’re happily in a relationship or sensational and solo, you deserve to treat yourself, be it with splurges or steals...

Betsey Johnson Heart Sunglasses The next best thing to wearing your heart on your sleeve. As Betsey knows best– you gotta have a sense of humor about life, love and fashion. $89, Zappos.com

Right Hand Rings Whether or not your left ring finger is adorned, your right hand deserves some … ahem … self-love. Right hand rings are about the gift you give yourself … your taste, your style, your celebration of you.

Splurge: David Yurman Candy Cable Metro Ring, Pink Sapphire Solid enough to be satisfyingly substantial; pink enough to be satisfyingly feminine. $850, DavidYurman.com

Pizzo S Bowler by Prada Leather and lace… sounds like a trashy romance novel.

Instead, it’s the latest from ever imaginative, ever incredible Prada. Lace is so hot for fall; leather assures it won’t fall apart on the first outing. Gorgeous and strong – just like you. $1.995, Neimanmarcus.com

Steal: R34 ring by Magpie Custom made of crystal, dyed fuchsia jade and rose quartz. You can be sure no one’s right hand is going to be as uniquely chic as yours. $110, starsandinfinitedarkness.com

Give You the Moon Necklace and Charms For the girl who has everything – or for the girl who just doesn’t need a man to give her the moon. Designed by Phoebe Cates (yes that Phoebe Cates!). $40 (silver charms) - $240 (gold charms with diamond), bluetreenyc.com

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The Law of Attraction states that whatever you focus your attention on will manifest in your life. Gratitude for what you have, and joyful expectation of even more good, is the key.

Lucky for us, the stars are beautifully aligned right now, encouraging a great combination of responsible attitude, enthusiasm and creative solutions. Read your Sun sign (heck, read them all!) for clues on how you can align with these forces to attract more of what you want.

W A HOLISTIC HOROSCOPE Patty French

ARIES / March 21 to April 19 The ancient Egyptians believed your entrance into Heaven depended on how much joy you experienced – and brought to others – in your life. And rather than a place you go to, the ancient Mayans believed Heaven is a place you recognize. Child-like excitement and joy is the most powerful attractor of all; cultivating your own natural abundance of joie-de-vie is the best way to create your own Heaven on Earth right here, right now.

TAURUS / April 20 to May 20 The Opera de Paris Garnier, often compared to a wedding cake, is an opulent masterpiece of marble, gold leaf and crystal, complete with an underground lake that was the setting for “Phantom of the Opera.”

Its extravagant splendor and mystery might just be enough to satisfy your craving for beauty. Whatever your circumstances, you must feed your soul with loveliness; this will be the bass note from which your dreams can manifest.

GEMINI / May 21 to June 21 Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar Mitchell was the sixth man to walk on the moon. “What I experienced was a grand epiphany; I perceived the universe as in some way conscious.”

As we interact with this Universal Consciousness, it responds to our deepest desires and fears, to our every decision and act, every intention and belief. In light of this, it behooves you to become more self-aware. Make it a practice to often ask yourself, “What am I creating with my thoughts?” and, “What would I like to be creating?”

CANCER / June 22 to July 22 At the end of her novel Wide Sargasso Sea, author Jean Rhys delightfully surprises us with the startling revelation that the main character is Mrs. Rochester, the mad wife in Emily Bronte’s Jane Eyre. What a wonderfully entertaining literary device. Be willing to be as amazingly creative with your own desires and goals. Now is an excellent time to risk coming out of your shell to try something completely fresh and new. What is that quote from Albert Einstein? “You can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it.”

LEO / July 23 to August 21 Bob Dylan’s “Spanish Leather” laments the loss

of a sweetheart: “If I had the stars from the darkest night/and the diamonds from the deepest ocean /I’d forsake them all for your sweet kiss/for that’s all I wish to be ownin’ ” But the only way to survive such a loss is to have the courage to keep your heart open; the word ‘courage’ comes from the French coeur, meaning heart. After all, as another famous composer so succinctly said, “And in the end/ the love you take/ is equal to the love you make.”

VIRGO / August 23 to September 22 Just the term “Chaos Theory” is enough to make any Virgo cringe, but since you’re all about “life is in the details” you are right at home with its basic tenet – that miniscule changes can have far-reaching consequences.

In the Butterfly Effect, the mere flutter of a wing can alter conditions enough to generate a hurricane. What slight adjustment in attitude or habitual thought pattern can you make to improve a situation in your life? Let the image of a beautiful butterfly be the inspiration you need to make that one small, but mighty, gesture.

LIBRA / September 23 to October 22 Masaru Emoto’s groundbreaking work has shown how water responds to words, thoughts and music by photographing the crystals that are formed as water is frozen.

Positive words result in beautiful crystals; but no crystals at all or just ugly broken ones are formed after negative input. In essence, we are water; adults are literally made of about 70 percent water, young children about 90 percent. Since the words “Love and Gratitude" create the most beautiful flowering crystals of all, use them as your mantra and watch the blessings start to flow into your life.

SCORPIO / October 23 to November 21 In Magic for Everyone, author Hereward Carrington contends that the old adage “the quickness of the hand deceives the eye” is not true. He says the hands of a magician simply cannot move fast enough to be undetected; the secret of the illusion is in the distraction of the audience’s attention. You Scorpios are expert at detecting, and perpetrating, slights of hand.

But the real trick is to catch the ways you are deluding yourself. Absolute honesty about where you are is essential before you can conjure up where you want to go.

SAGITTARIUS / November 22 to December 21 Your dream day is splashing on a tropical isle replete with palm trees and brightly colored fish in a clear blue sea. These images have a powerful resonance for you; evoke them, or favorites of your own, several times a day, while waiting for the tea water to boil or brushing your teeth. Remember, the specific desire you might be fretting over is only an adjunct to the feeling of joyful anticipation you need to cultivate. From that feeling, all things are then possible.

CAPRICORN / December 22 to January 19 A Christmas Cactus is so homely that your friends politely make no comment when they notice it on your window sill; that is, until they see it burst into exquisitely beautiful flowers in the dead of winter.

So often we are disappointed and frustrated when our lives are not in full bloom at all times. The trick is in figuring out what is worth the wait, and what is not, then making peace with your decision. (And, you never know, sometimes they surprise us and bloom completely out of season!)

AQUARIUS / January 20 to February 18 Hexagram 39 of the I Ching, “Obstruction” describes the way out of a difficult situation. It uses the metaphor of stones blocking the flow of water; the water finally accumulates enough to overflow the barriers.

“The way of overcoming obstacles lies in turning inward and raising one’s own being to a higher level.” Taking the time to let clarity and resolve accumulate within sometimes shifts the circumstances without, before we even have to do anything!

PISCES / February 19 to March 20 “They’re all crazy except you and I, and sometimes I have my doubts about you!” is from a.) T h e Pr od u c er s b.) N i p/ Tu c k c.)

Dr acu l a.

No, you're not crazy, but the doubts you have are usually about yourself more than anyone else. Your remarkable intuition can feel like it will sweep you away unless you “ground” yourself several times a day.

Simply stop and focus on your feet; it will bring your awareness back into your body, and you can better use that wonderful stream of ideas and feelings in manifesting your heart’s desire. (p.s. the answer is c.)

HOT! & NOT! WHAT’S

WHAT S

BUILDING WEALTH

UNDER THE MATTRESS

DAVID ‘ABRADACABRA’ SMITH

MORNING JAVA ‘NOMICS DUNKIN “I REALLY LIKE HOW IT TASTES” DONUTS

STARBUCKS

HAPPY SHAREHOLDERS

EXXONMOBIL

YAHOO!

OBAMANIZED

BUSH-WHACKED AGAIN

POLITICS

POLITICAL SCANDALS

THE MICHAEL MISICK & LISA RAYE MARRIAGE CHRONICLES

HUE OF COOL

HOMOPHOBIA WAR

Black

Live and Let Live

THE MICHAEL MISICK SEXUAL ASSAULT DRAMA

Purple

BOUNTY KILLA

COMMUNICATING WITH FRIENDS BLACKBERRY MESSENGER

SPEAKING – WAY TOO 90’S!

SEXY FACTOR SKINNY BITCH DIET

“THINSPIRATION”

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his weekend’s escapade begins at New York’s JFK airport en route to Couples Sans Souci in Ocho Rios Jamaica.

Thanks to the ease of the online check in our time at the Air Jamaica Executive Business desk was exactly what you want at 530am – pleasant, friendly and brief! Safely esconsced in your seat aboard what must be the most colourful aircraft flying the international skies you get the sense that life is good.

COUPLES

SAN SOUCI Deborah Grisham

There really is something to be said for sipping champagne at 35,000 feet first thing in the morning while enjoying the benefits of a full service airline rich in Caribbean warmth en route to your much needed weekend escape.

No stranger to the Caribbean I was excited to head off to my weekend getaway at Couples Sans Souci. The hour plus journey was an easy ride from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and that much easier to forget as I was greeted with warm smiles and welcoming hospitality.

From arrival to check in there is a special warmth that emanates from the people at this resort.

Perhaps it is the relatively small size at 148 rooms but you positively feel as though these people have been patiently awaiting your arrival. Yes that sounds ridiculous they must have many arrivals daily and welcome every one the exact same way but putting my NY cynicism aside I regaled in the feeling that the welcome was unique and personal. The staff carried a genuine warmth with that perfect balance of care without entering your personal space.

Couples bills itself as a luxury property and like so many of the well known Jamaican brands the property is all-inclusive. There are a multitude of features, activities and offerings available and, thankfully, both the luxury and all-inclusive titles we can affirm have been earned.

Everything about Sans Souci speaks to intimate. The rooms are well enough appointed but there are a plethora of cosy nooks and crannies throughout the property so that you get this crafty mix of enjoying the variety and wealth of amenities that come from being on an all-inclu-

sive property but together with the warmth of the staff moving through the resort you also get this curious feeling that you are vacationing at your personal villa – separate and apart from the other guests.

I can tell you that my 48 hours from Friday to Sunday were well spent in the lush, friendly, inviting atmosphere of this lovely property.

I regaled in the ambience and excellence of a sumptous dining experiene at Ristorante Casanova whose Italian fare lived up to the flamboyance of its name. I enjoyed indulgent treatments on Saturday and Sunday at Charlie’s Spa – so named for the 100 year old resident sea turtle who holds court in a nearby mineral spring grotto. I enjoyed a round of golf at the nearby Upton golf course. I was so comfortable, in fact, that I even spent some time on the Au Naturel beach tucked away on the Western end of the property.

Before I knew it I was saying goodbye to my friendly hosts at Couples Sans Souci and headed back to Sangster’s International Airport in Montego Bay – speedily through the check in and into the ‘transitional’ Air Jamaica lounge. I wasn’t too bothered by the nearby construction, however, as once again I was sipping Champagne generously and my wait for the flight allowed me an ease of reflection on a 48-hour sojourn which had taken me thousands of physical miles away from the trials and tribulations of ‘regular’ life. As I escaped into Napoleon Hill’s ‘Keys to Success’ on the flight back I could feel my mind slipping into a space that said no matter what the week ahead put in my stride, I was ready.

KEY WEST AMERICA’S CARIBBEAN Al Alschuler

T

here is a remarkable ‘Caribbean-ness’ about Key West.

From the moment you disembark at Key West International Airport there is a distinct ‘Caribbean’ feel to the place.

That familiarity only increases as you leave the airport. The locals here carry the same easy-going persona and uniqueness of character readily found on one of the Caribbean’s many islands.

The southernmost tip of the US – Key West offers a unique blend of ‘Caribbean Vibes’ while accessible via car (three and a half hours from Miami and across forty-two bridges), airplane (several flights daily from Miami or Fort Lauderdale) or via Key West Express which provides jet-powered catamarans linking Miami, Fort Myers Beach, Marco Island and Key West.

Many residents of Key West still affectionately refer to the island four miles long by two miles wide as the Conch Republic, the name the territory took when it becamse a supposedly sovereign entity pursuant to its pseudo-secession from the USA during the early ‘80s. Happily for most (notwithstanding the post 9/11 US Visa challenges for those in the need) Key West continues to operate as a part of the US with the many businesses from the swankiest eateries to the vendors selling their decorated conch shells happily accepting the greenback.

For all its character, a quality visit to Key West should be anchored at the Beachside Resort. With a tag that claims it “accommodates the beach set, jet set” and its emphasis on luxury, this Thomas E. Pope designed resort was inaugurated late last year on seven prime acres on the Gulf of Mexico. The resort offers 222 luxuriously appointed guestrooms (91 dedicated to king bedrooms and the rest 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom suites) encompassing expansive living and dining areas, open gourmet kitchens and spacious balconies, many with spiral staircases leading to the private beach, heated pool or a sundeck, as well as multiple LCD flat-screen televisions and bathroom amenities by L’Occitane.

The Beachside Resort & Conference Center’s sophisticated palette of natural tones with marine accents extends throughout its events facility, a multi-faceted structure containing Key West’s largest ballroom.

Beachside boasts two outstanding restaurants Tavern N Town. Tavern, features a full a la carte menu, tapas-style fare, sushi and charcuterie as well as an in-house pastry chef. Town offers elegant fine dining in an intimate environment featuring menus created by Chef Norman Van Aken, late of Miami.

More now than ever time is money and the rooftop helicopter pad is a useful feature for those in need of the R&R but with little time to spare. A quick hop down from Miami can be easily arranged by the capable concierge. With complimentary WiFi available throughout the property you choose when to be disconnected.

Once you have found a way to tear yourself away from the private beach, relaxing ambience and heated swimming pool a gander through Key West is a curious and engaging escapade.

Key West is noteworthy for quaint and quirky characters (visit Mallory Square at sunset, if you’re unable to visit for Mardi Gras), and people watching is, in itself, a pleasurable preoccupation in this essentially laid-back latitude. Every bit as colorful are its homes, hotels and guest houses – an eclectic architectural mélange encompassing an assortment of vintage Victorian, Bahamian and so-called “shotgun” formats in its venerable Old Town and ranch-style residences in New Town, as well as the virtual potpourri of pastel-colored cottages that has no confining precincts. Whichever the style, they are all topped with mandated, hurricane-resistant tin roofs.

A trip in the Old Town Trolley down Duval Street, the bustling artery that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, its commerce fueled by typically time-honored bars, trendy restaurants, toney art galleries and tawdry t-shirt shops.

Replete with attractions, you would be mistaken to miss the dining experience available at Nine One Five. Englishman Stuart Kemp landed in Key West 20 years ago and decided to establish a eatery with a ‘bistro-type atmosphere and gourmet food’. A definite must visit the restaurant, which has an excellent wine list, was recently recognized by the prestigious James Beard Foundation in New York.

A weekend in Key West should include a trip to the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Sloppy Joe’s, the “Smallest bar in Key West” and Pirate Soul.

There are myriad attractions to keep you busy and the family occupied but wandering the streets at night, taking in the active nightlife and curious personalities (resident and visiting) all add important facets to the unique Key West visit.

For additional information, Beachside Resort & Conference Center: beachsidekeywest.com.

Pirate Soul: piratesoul.com.

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory: keywestbutterfly.com

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OCEAN STYLE

LEAD PAGE Clarins Crème Solaire Antirides Tres Haute Protection-Sensitive Skin $28.50, Barney's Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream $28.50, Barney's Clarins Instant Self Tanning Gel $59, Barneys NYC

THIS PAGE Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray for Hair $21, bumbleandbumble.com

L'eau D'issey eau de parfum $85, Sephora

LeMétier de Beaute $58, Henri Bendel NYC

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51 BEAUTIFUL THE

MOST

PEOPLE cean Style’s Most Beautiful: a combination of physical attractiveness, personal character and substantive achievement. The final selections reflect the diversity of ethnicity, culture, values and ambition inherent in the phrase “Caribbean Roots.”

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Rihanna

1

Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Barbados.

Age 20. Singer and Model.

Rihanna was born in St. Michael, Barbados, to Ronald and Monica Fenty and has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad.

She was discovered at the tender age of 15, by music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados. Rogers and his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record a demo which was sent to various recording companies... and the rest of course is history.

It took just one meeting with fomer Def Jam Records president Jay-Z for Rihanna to score her big break. Folklore has it that the rap superstar was so taken with the young singer’s talent that he ordered the doors to the building locked until a deal was hammered out.

The first female from Barbados to win a Grammy Award, this curvacious Bajan superstar hit the big time at age of 17 with her smash single “Pon de Replay” off her debut album Music of the Sun. Since then she’s had four Billboard Hot 100 number ones – a feat that puts her in the running with Mariah Carey and Beyonce as the female solo artist with the most number ones this decade.

Her follow up album “A Girl Like Me” went platinum, and in 2007 she released her third album, the critically acclaimed “Good Girl Gone Bad.” The album's first release, “Umbrella,” dominated the urban and crossover categories in the US and UK singles charts and went on to win “Video of the Year” and “Monster Single of the Year” at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. In her short but impressive career she has already racked up 11 top 40 hit singles in the US. Rihanna has quickly become a staple in the world of fashion, regularly being featured in magazines and the popular “it” TV shows. Her mainstream appeal works to her benefit, with a bevy of world-class brands lining

up to present various endorsement deals.

The pop princess has worked in such a capacity with Totes Isotoner (makes sense … umbrella … ella …ella), Secret, Barbados Tourism Authority, Nike, Nokia, JC Penny, Samsung, Fuze (a juice and tea company), and CoverGirl. Regarding her profligate endorsement record, a New York Times article earlier this year quotes her as saying: “We started out trying to get everything we could and now we have to be a little more selective,” she says. “We have to hold back a little bit. It’s a good thing to have to say we can take things back a little bit.”

When it comes to fashion, Rihanna is a style icon for young women everywhere. Zac Posen, Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabbana … when Rihanna steps onto a red carpet, the world wants to know who has received her style vote for the evening. Everything from her cutting edge hairstyles to her ever-expanding number of tattoos is fodder for tabloids, weeklies, and fan websites the world over. And it’s just an early chapter in what we expect will be a long and interesting journey for this incredibly talented young lady.

We salute our Caribbean comrade whose success continues to broadcast Barbados at every turn. From the blue seas and ‘easy island living’ of Barbados to NYC’s corridors of power and commerce to the land of fool’s gold in LA, we hope she grows up as quickly as her prominence demands to avoid the sad tales of so many who have peaked at precocious ages. We’re rooting for Rhianna and look on with hope that the forecast of her website – “With her beauty, fashion and business sense to match, the Island girl turned international superstar will continue to rock the world for years to come!” – proves as prophetic as it is bold.

2

Lewis Hamilton Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton. Grenada.

Age 22. Formula One Racing Driver

Hamilton was born in England but his paternal grandparents hail from the ‘Spice Isle’.

Named for the American sprinter Carl Lewis it seems preordained that Hamilton would be drawn to a life of incredible speed. Hamilton drives for McLaren Mercedes Benz under team principal Ron Dennis. In 2007 in his rookie F1 season, at the tender age of 21, he finished second in the Driver’s Championship – losing out by one point to Kimi Räikkönen. A bona fide ‘ladies man’ the handsome Hamilton counts former Miss Grenada Vivian Burkhart (#47 on our list) amongst those he has dated.

Naomi Campbell. Jamaica Age 38. Model. Actress and Fashion Designer.

Campbell was born in Streatham, London, England to Valerie Campbell (née Morris), a former ballet dancer of Jamaican descent.

Ever the firebrand, Naomi Campbell may have been born in the UK but seems to have that famous Jamaican ‘spunk’ – a trait that has landed her quite a bit of (legal) hot water over the past few years. Her issues have ranged from alleged physical abuse (recall the infamous ‘Blackberry-as-weapon’ incident with her then assistant) to allegedly ‘cussing out’ the British Police over lost bags at Heathrow in April of this year. Whatever her ‘off the field’ drama Naomi’s distinct look and signature walk remain in high demand for the fashion elite from New York to Milan where she still graces many a catwalk.

“I DON'T ALWAYS WEA R UNDERWEAR. WHE N I'M IN THE HEAT ESPECIALLY; I CAN'T WEAR IT. LIKE, IF I'M WEARING A FLOWER DRESS, WHY DO I HA VE TO WEAR UNDERW EAR?”

Naomi Campbell

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Tyson Craig Beckford. Jamaica.

Age 38 Supermodel and Actor.

Tyson was born in Bronx, New York to Jamaican parents.

Best known as a Ralph Lauren model – Beckford became the face for the company’s Polo line of male sportswear in 1993 and never looked back. He currently co-hosts Make Me A Supermodel with Nikki Taylor on the Bravo channel in the US and co-hosts the Australian version with former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins.

Tyson’s favourite place for a Caribbean vacation is Jamaica and he is yearning to visit the Dominican Republic. He describes Caribbean people as kind and laid back.

Tyson Beckford

Leonard Albert “Lenny” Kravitz. Bahamas.

Age 44. Singer-Songwriter and Record Producer.

Kravitz was born in New York City. His mother, the late actress Roxie Roker (Helen Willis on The Jeffersons) is Bahamian and his father, TV producer the late Sy Kravitz of Ukranian Jewish heritage.

In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, Kravitz often plays all the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and percussion himself when recording. He won the Grammy Award for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” four years in a row from 1999 to 2002 and has sold an estimated 32 millions albums worldwide.

Nitara Carlynn “Nia” Long. Trinidad & Tobago.

Age 38. Actress

Sel ita Ebanks. Caym an Isl ands.

Age 25. Model.

Selita is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated. She has worked with some of the world's most acclaimed photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber and Mikael Jansson. She has worked campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi's and Tommy Hilfiger.

Selita and Nick Cannon ended their high profile engagement in 2007 and she has been romantically linked to US Tennis Star James Blake and rapper Kanye West.

“My favorite holiday spot would be of course the Cayman Islands because much of my family is there. When I'm there, every day is a holiday. I also love Turks and Caicos, they are amazing islands! I have never been to Barbados, but I heard the water is heaven!”

6

Selita Ebanks

N SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE] “[WHAT MAKES THE CARIBBEA D; I GO HOME WHEN I IS...THE PEOPLE AND THE FOO LIFE.... LOVE AND SPICE!” NEED A LITTLE WARMTH IN MY

Thierry Daniel Henry. Martinique & Guadeloupe Age 31. Football player

Henry was born and raised in Les Ulis, Essonne (a suburb of Paris). His father, Antoine, is from Guadeloupe, and his mother, Maryse, is from Martinique.

Renowned for his pace, goal-scoring record and creative ability on the field he plays as a striker for France and Spanish club Barcelona. Henry has played for AS Monaco, Juventus and before his £16.1 million transer to current side Barcelona, he played with English Premier side Arsenal. When he left he was Arsenal’s most prolific goal-scorer having netted 226 goals in all competitions and in 2007 surpassed Michele Platini’s mark to become France’s top goal-scorer of all time.

Thierry Henry

7

Lenny Kravitz

Long was born in in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Talita, a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry “Doc” Long, a high school teacher and poet.

She is best known for her roles in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Sou l Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, Third Watch, and Are We There Yet? “My favourite islands are Jamaica and Barbados. I love the relaxed lifestyle in Jamaica. The music is soulful and food is amazing and the people are warm and loving. As I a child I spent every summer in Barbados. I learned how to swim there. Spent time with family and learned about my heritage.

Barbados has the most beautiful beaches. The food is divine! The people are beautiful and kind.”

“I would most like to visit Grenada. My grandmother was born there.

She always talks about how special the island is. Her father was the island’s dentist and she spent many years there before moving to Trinidad.”

“In my opinion the Caribbean is pure heaven. The food, the music, the culture, and beaches are exquisite. I am so very proud to be an island girl.”

8Nia Long

image courtesy of Lisarosephoto.com

9

Bryce Wilson Bryce Paul Wilson. Jamaica.

Age 36. Record Producer. Actor and Musician.

From his days as half of the R&B duo “Groove Theory”, Bryce has gone on to amass an enviable record of success in music production. He has worked with Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Beyonce, Babyface, Amerie, Whitney Houston, Mya and many others. His production sales have exceeded 50 million and earned two Grammy Awards. Together with partner Jimmy ‘Henchman’ Rosemond he founded Czar Entertainment in New York which manages such artists as The Game, Too Short, Lil Henchmen and Mario Winans.

According to one fan: “He and Gary Duordan are the most beautiful men ever … The first time I saw him with Groove Theory I was thinking how gorgeous he is .he deserves much respect (and a modeling contract, LOL). Go, Bryce ... can't wait to see or hear your latest work!”

Wilson’s favourite holiday spot in the Caribbean is Negril, Jamaica. and the island he has yet to visit but would most like to visit is Trinidad & Tobago “The people [of the Caribbean], show how genuine they are. The culture gives its visitors the proper perspective on quality of life, versus quantity of life.”

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10 Gabrielle Reece

Gabrielle Reece. Trinidad & Tobago.

Age 38. (Retired) Volleyball Player. Model.

Reece was born in La Jolla, California, to a mother from New York, and a Trinidadian father who died when she was merely five years old. She was raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

13

Lisa Hanna Age 33. Miss World 1993.

Politician.

Jamaica.

Garcelle BeauvaisNilon

Age 42. Actress.

Haiti.

Island yet to visit she would most like to visit. St. Barts... “dying to go there.”

“I love the island lifestyle, the food, the music, the people [of the Caribbean]. It feels like I'M HOME.”

11

Leona Louise Lewis. Guyana.

Age 23. Singer-Songwriter.

Lewis was born in London to parents Aural Josiah Lewis, an Afro-Caribbean Guyanese youth worker, and Maria Lewis (also née Lewis), a Welsh social worker.

Leona Lewis

Wendy Fitzwilliam

14

Wendy Marcelle Fitzwilliam Age 36. Miss Universe 1998.

Lawyer and businesswoman.

Trinidad and Tobago.

12

Neil Shaka Hislop Age 39. Retired Footballer. Sportscaster.

Trinidad and Tobago. Hislop was born in Hackney, England to Trinidadian parents who moved back to the island when he was two. He is married to Desha and has four daughters and one son.

Shaka Hislop

15

16

Age 28. Football Player.

Barbados.

Cole plays left back for Premier League side Chelsea and for the England national team.

Ashley Cole

Teresa Lourenco Teresa Lourenco Age 27. Model.

Trinidad and Tobago.

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17

18

Giselle Jeanne Marie Laronde-West Age 45. Miss World 1986.

Business Executive.

Trinidad and Tobago.

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25 26

Kees Dieffenthaller

28

Age 42. Jazz Musician.

Barbados.

Arturo Tappin

29

Cindy Breakspeare Cynthia Jean Cameron Breakspeare Age 53. Miss World 1976. Jazz Artist.

Nelust Wyclef Jean Age 36. Musician and Producer.

Haiti.

Age 27. Singer.

Trinidad and Tobago

Michael Lee-Chin

Shaggy

Orville Richard Burrell Age 40. Singer-songwriter.

Jamaica.

Giselle LarondeWest

20 19

23

Janelle :Penny; Commissiong

Melanie Janine Brown Age 33, May 29, 1975 Singer and TV Personality St. Kitts and Nevis. Born in Leeds, England to Andrea and Martin (from Nevis).

Known as Melanie Brown, Melanie B, Mel B, and Scary Spice as part of the British singing sensation The Spice Girls, one of the best-selling female groups of all time (they’ve sold over 55 million albums worldwide).

Mel B.

Sean Butcher

Wyclef Jean

Sean Christopher Butcher Age 35. Engineer.

Barbados.

Janelle "Penny" Commissiong Age 55. Miss Universe 1977.

Businesswoman.

Trinidad and Tobago

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Shakara Ledard

27

Age 32. Model.

The Bahamas.

Grace Jones

31

born Grace Mendoza Age 60. Singer. Supermodel. Actress.

Jamaica.

Damian Robert Nesta “Junior Gong” Marley Age 30. Singer-songwriter. Jamaica.

The three-time Grammy-winning artist is the youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley.

30

Age 57. Businessman.

Jamaica.

With a fortune estimated at US$1.8 billion, Lee-Chin ranks on the Forbes 2008 List of Billionaires.

Through his AIC Mutual Fund based in Canada Lee-Chin has amassed his fortune following a Warren Buffet-like philosophy of buy and hold. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of AIC and over the past few years has increased his business activity in the Caribbean, most notably through his expansion of AIC into the region, stakes in NCB in Jamaica and numerous acquisitions and substantial investment in cable and communication entities.

Damian :Jr. Gong; Marley

Brian Lara

Brian Charles Lara Age 39. (Retired) Cricketer.

Trinidad & Tobago.

32 33

Jaunel McKenzie

Age 23. Model.

Jamaica.

37

Yendi Phillipps

Sean Paul

Sean Paul Henriques Age 35. Singer-songwriter.

Jamaica.

Age 23.Miss Jamaica World 2007. TV Personality. Jamaica.

Lennox Lewis

Lennox Claudius Lewis Age 42.(Retired) Boxer.

Jamaica. Lewis was born in West Ham, London to Jamaican parents.

Along with Muhammed Ali and Evander Holyfield, Lewis won the heavyweight championship three times.

Hypa Hoppa

Fay-Ann Lyons

Age 29.Singer-Songwriter Trinidad and Tobago.

38

KimberlyAge 38.

Mais-Issa

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Kwesi Hopkinson Age 31. Radio Personality.

Trinidad and Tobago.

39

Meiling Esau Designer Trinidad and Tobago.

44

Age 28. Model. Musician.

Jamaica.

Machel Montano

Age 33. Singer-Songwriter.

Trinidad and Tobago.

Age 22. Miss Grenada World 2007 Grenada.

Age 27. Model. Jamaica.

Campbell was the first model from the Caribbean to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (2006). In addition to smoldering for Victoria’s Secret she has appeared in campaigns for L’Oreal, Nike, Avon, Seventeen magazine, Footlocker, Miller Beer, Maxim, Target and Fubu.

Natacha Susan Jones Age 47. TV Producer. TV Presenter. Radio Personality.

Trinidad and Tobago

Leilani McConney

Age 27.

Barbados.

Persia White

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Patrick Casserly

51

Age 42.Businessman.

Jamaica.

Tami Chin

Age 32.

Parents: Rupert Cunningham & Sonia Cunningham-Folkes

Cezar Cunningham

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Persia Jessica White Age 31. Actress and Musician.

The Bahamas.

Carla Campbell

47 49

Vivian Burkhart

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Neysha Soodeen

Nadine Willis

40

Age 38. Publisher.

Trinidad and Tobago.

Meiling

Natacha Jones

34

35

Nell Robinson

Janelle Ann Robinson Age 23. Model.

Jamaica.

Tammar Anika Chin Age 25.Singer.

Jamaica.

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HOME: Kingsto n, Jamaica.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY

old heiress to th e Sandals Reso empire founde rt d by father Gord on ‘Butch’ Stewa Jaime is no stran rt. ger to fab haun ts – jetsetting th world over from e London to Los An geles to New Yo to one of the fa rk mily’s 22 Caribbe an resorts. EARN HER KEEP: Know ING n as a tough n egotiator, Jaime ances her passi balon for improvem ent at the com with a natural en pany ergy and warm th that continues push the luxury to and service en velope througho group. All marke ut the ting collateral m us t get her seal of approval and wi th an acute ey e for detail she been known to has reword entire ad s and brochure failed her ‘snuff s that test.’ In addition to her role as Di tor of Sandals Re recsorts Internationa l, Jaime serves Managing Dire as ctor of Royal Pla nt at ion Collection re sponsible for th e growth of the uber-chic, 5 Sta brand. UP NEXT: r While overseein g the current ex sion of Royal Pla panntation with majo r projects curre underway in Dr ntly agon Bay, Port Antonio (Jamaic and Fowl Cay, a) Exumas (Baham as ), she is spearhea ing the Sandals d‘Earth Guard’ pr ogramme and dal Foundation.

SanThe ambitious en vironmental an philanthrophic d efforts aim to m ake the chain th ‘Greenest’ hote e l chain in the Ca ribbean and on the most impact e of ful in local com munities. In addit to her active wo ion rk schedule, sh e and husband two years, Marc of McConnell, are preparing for an pansion of anot exher sort; their m aiden contibutio the next genera n to tion of this dyna mic family.

ROBERT MANELLA

www.oceanstylemagazine.com

– Deborah Grish

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We Stamp It Johnnie Walker Blue Label ne wonders what John “Johnnie” Walker would think about how far his famous brand of premium scotch has come since he passed on in 1857. Far from its roots in Ayrshire, Scotland, Johnnie Walker has become arguably one of the world’s most valued brands and now accounts for one in every 10 bottles of whisky sold around the world.

Since its release in 1992 Johnnie Walker Blue Label represents the brand’s rarest and most exclusive blend. Blue Label is a mix of Royal Lochnagar, (a rare malt distilled near Balmoral), and about 15 other mature and precious whiskies that are added for balance.

O

OC EA N ST YL E’S

BLOODY GOOD STUFF At $200 per bottle the price of entry to this esteemed club is as steep as you can imagine for a blended scotch and while some of our single-malt snobs hold their nose to the heavens at the thought, we say bloody good stuff! What better way to make an impression than sending over a bottle of this premium and highly sought libation – each with its only individually silk-lined box, certificate of authencity and unique serial number.

(Editor’s Note: Perish the thought but at least if you have cause to retract the gift in the future there can be no disagreement over “which one” – hooray for asset tracking!)

bloody [adjective] used to emphasize in a slightly rude way - good [adjective] of a favorable character or tendency - stuff [noun] materials or supplies used in activities

O N SPOT SPOT ON OCEAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Maria Camps at T&T FASHION WEEK. Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, May 2008

Port of Spain

Trinidad & Tobago

Montego Bay

Montego Bay

Jamaica

Jamaica

PAGE 62

PAGE 63

The inaugural T&T Fashion Week brought out the talented and glamorous.

Photographed by Colin Williams.

A Polo tournament to benefit The Hanover Charities.

Photographed by Lloyd.

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PAGE 64 & 65

The annual Jamaican Reggae Festival headlined with Lil Wayne, Akon, Keyshia Cole and Tarrus Riley among others and packed the house. Photographed by Robert Manella and dkg.

www.oceanstylemagazine.com/onspot

Port of Spain

Trinidad & Tobago PAGE 66

An event to celebrate the rich palette and talented chefs in the twin-island Republic.

Photographed by Colin Williams.

ON SPOT - T&T FASHION WEEK

HANOVER CHARITIES POLO & HIGH TEA - ON SPOT Winning Team: Leslie Ann Masterton, Senator

Caroline Mair

James Robertson, Mark Wates, Paul Lalor with Monica Wombold of Round Hill

Kurt Chin, Mark Wates, Leslie Masterton and John Byles

Cecile Levee

;Owner - Wine with Me<

Ambra Schettini, Chantel Mondi and Germaine Elias

Senator James Robertson Danielle Hamilton and Julian Rogers

Bruce and Seoul Hosang, and Ricky Duquesnay

Sandra Bicknell, Kerry Ann Clarke and Racquel Dadlani

Tammy McConnell and Jason Lopez

Hannah Samuel and Kerry Gibbon

Dave Williams and Leah Marie Guevara

Diane Hunt, Anya Ayoung-Chee and Wyatt Gallery

Mariange Ramirez and Anya Ayoung-Chee

Suzanne Nunez and Dominique Inniss Robert Solomon and Simone Harris

Paola Byles, Dominique Peterkin and Candace Hart

Patricia Faulkernberg, Josef Forstmayr and Monica Wombold

illed as an evening of Polo and High Tea, the Montego Bay glitterati were out in full swing as Chukka Caribbean Adventures joined with the Hanover Charities Fund Raising Committee earlier this year to host a Polo Match as an extension of the Annual Sugar Cane Ball.

With six teams represented and a good cause at stake it was as much a fashion event as a sporting fundraiser for a good cause.

Along with a parking lot of Ranger Rovers, BMWs, Mercedes and Prados the attendees (dresser dapper and elegant) read like a virtual 'Who's Who' and included the 'Queen of Glam' Novia McDonald-Whyte, Patrick and Katrin Casserly, Adam Stewart,

B

Johnnie Soong and Eddie Sum

;Owner of Funky Buddha - London<

Tammy McConnell and Jason Lopez

Michele Rollins, Lenox Lewis and Seu McMannus

Debra Lopez, Lennox Lewis, Michele Rollins, Arun and Racquel Dadlani, Cecile Levee, Ravi Daswani, Michelle Rousseau and Kerry Clarke amongst others.

In between the mingling and chit chatter there was lively action to be hand on the field where the likes of James Robertson, Andy Vernon, Marc Melville Lesley-Ann Fong Yee, Paul Chin, Jordan Samuda, Craig Russell and Paul Lalor ensured the matches were competitive and of a high calibre. In the final analyis the team from Round Hill won the closely contested final with a thrilling goal from Fong-Yee. A glorious good day of sport, conversation, drinks, nibbles and conversation (yes more) all for a good cause.

ON SPOT - REGGAE SUMFEST 64

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REGGAE SUMFEST - ON SPOT

OCEAN STYLE Tom Tyler restraining Lennox Lewis Akon Christian Sale, Nicky Sylvera, Bruce Hosang The Best Dressed men in Dancehall Voicemail

Susan Younis, Jasmine Dotiwala, presenters Ace ;Ashley< and Vis ;Duane<, Jak O9Hare and Yemi Bamiro

T-Pain

Kelly Wates, Yoni Epstein, Lisa Lake, Anna Dougall and Adam Stewart

Brick and Lace

Tami Chynn and Wayne Marshall

Michelle Rousseau and L. Clay Moodie

Courtney Walsh and a friend

Dominique Peterkin and Issia Madden-Brownie

Delia Bennett and Tracey-Ann Menzies

Enjoying the 8red bull9 hospitality in the Caribbean Producers ;CPJ< Skybox

Stephen Newland of Rootz Underground with a friend

Nigel Casserly and friends in the CPJ Skybox

Keyshia Cole

Kim Lawson, Tamara Ward, Tarrus Riley

Jeanille Bonterre

Director of Marketing Basil Smith with the Jamaica Tourist Board posse

Raquel Dadlani, Paola Byles and Candace Hart

Patrice Roberts and Macka Diamond Dominique Peterkin and David Shields

Zachary and Tamara Harding

Having fun in the Sandals Skybox

James 8Jimmyy9 March and Sandrene Weichenberger Ayanna Anthony, Stacey Chung and Danielli Di

ON SPOT - TASTE T&T

Peter Elias and Brian Colthrust

Derrick Lewis and Giselle LaRonde-West

Traditional meets New Jack Swing!

Two lovely hostesses

Minister of Tourism Joseph Ross and President of Trinidad and Tobago Prof. Max Richards

Sherma Mitchell and Peter Elias

Brian McFarlance and Derrick Lewis

President Richards and Radica Saith

!

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A HOPE THAT GOES BEYOND

HOW BARACK OBAMA'S HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS REACHING OUTSIDE OF AMERICA'S SHORES

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his is my Barack Obama story. I am sure you have your own.

Dreams. Hope. Inspiration. Change.

The world is calling Barack Obama.

The call comes through song, dance, and the hearts and minds of little children.

From the rum shops of St. James, Port of Spain, to the verandahs of Bridgetown, Barbados, to the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica, the candidacy of Barack Obama has inspired a renewed interest in the hope of politics – and not just in the United States.

Both the ‘likkle man’ and the ‘boss man’ are sharing daily punditry and analysis on the forthcoming U.S. general election in November.

I first met Senator Barack Obama in 2005 during his visit to Miami, Florida. He was preparing for his re-election to the Senate. We met again in November 2006 when I broadcasted my radio program live from his Miami Book Fair International presentation and reading of his book, The Audacity of Hope. Prior to his announcement of his presidential candidacy in January 2007, I was invited to be a part of the organizational effort in the State of Florida. I never looked back.

For my family, hope is not a game. As the husband of a doublebout breast cancer survivor, there is much appeal in the spirit of a Barack Obama candidacy. We take the audacity of hope very seriously.

It has renewed and re-birthed our interest in politics – in assessing our own role and place in America and the world. This is an important consideration as you imagine the impact of your vote or voice. With this in mind, I plunged my voice and resources into serving as a member of Florida's Finance committee for the campaign. Every campaign needs financial resources to project its message and platform. Today, I am a voice among thousands whose singular goal is to elect the CHANGE that we believe in.

This is more than just hype. It is a transformation of global political interest and engagement of epic proportions that transcends the shores of blue states and red states. Barack Obama has essentially converted his campaign into a movement of thought and dreams. The Mighty Sparrow calls him ‘the Magnificent;’ Mavado thinks his name is ‘so excellent;’ and Cocoa Tea just glorifies him. The test of time will confirm whether the inspired and converted will demonstrate their motivation in the polling booths across the 50 states and territories, or into greater civic engagement and societal changes worldwide.

The political melodrama of the Democratic nomination captured the imagination of the Caribbean. The access to cable network news of MSNBC, CNN and the YouTube replay button opened the door to the liv-

ing room of American politics. The good guy (or lady) versus the villain, depending on your perspective. The compelling rivalry between the wife of a former popular “black” president and a junior senator from a biracial marriage evoked multiple emotional affinities for people across the Caribbean and the Diaspora. She connected with the demographics of women, Latinos, and working class white citizens; he drew upon the likes of youth, black communities, and college educated constituencies.

Undoubtedly, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have excited the body politics across borders to embrace the sentiment of CHANGE. Having won the nomination with the requisite number of delegates, Barack Obama proved to have the better team in communicating a consistent and appealing message to the electorate. Hillary Clinton's strategy to focus on her apparent experience and first lady incumbency failed to resonate within enough constituent states to beat Obama to the finish line. Obama outsmarted, outwitted and outlasted the Clinton machinery. He was the ultimate survivor in playing his cards at the right time and in the right way.

Though Obama has essentially changed the political dynamics of the American landscape, there are still unresolved issues of the vestiges of race, religion and gender. This is where the general election will take shape and the world will focus its attention. The forthcoming debates and media coverage will report on the stark contrasts of style and substance of John McCain and Barack Obama. Certainly, there will be more lessons to be learned in the second part of the series of American political melodrama.

As the Carnival season hits its summer peak, given our proclivity for bacchanal, the Caribbean Diaspora should enter a phase of introspection on what an election of this magnitude means for the region.

The mere fact that Barack Obama has the blood and DNA of a black man stirs immovable emotions for countless numbers of persons. The Caribbean Diaspora must not rest on its laurels, however, and neglect to focus on the CHANGE it needs in the respective territories. The United States has long made numerous unfulfilled promises from either side of the congressional aisle.

As such, the Caribbean Diaspora should see this "change" election as an opportunity to not only cheer from the stands, but to put on the shin pads and helmets and join the movement from the field. This is where the real work is done – for the people and by the people.

For too long, the Caribbean Diaspora has not claimed their rightful place in the fabric of American politics by asserting their voting power. This is one of those moments where opportunity beckons. The energy of our culture could be harnessed to not only raise funds for the campaign, but to recruit volunteers and register voters. Can you imagine a big truck blasting soca or konpa music making its way

Marlon A. Hill, Esq.

through Caribbean boroughs inciting citizens to get out the vote? Can you imagine a virtual phone bank of family members in the Caribbean region calling their American family members overseas to remember to vote?

Can you imagine the mas camps or the pan yards becoming central places for community organizing and voter registration in preparation for the election? This is one of those moments where Caribbean people could evoke the spirit of their descendants for a higher purpose. It should not be understated.

Recently, Senator Barack Obama told an audience of the Americas in Miami, Florida that his administration will view Latin America and the Caribbean through a prism of reciprocal ailments and successes. In other words, he noted that whatever challenges the Caribbean faces typically make their way to the shores of America – both blue and red states alike.

As such, the Caribbean and its Diaspora have a unique opportunity to raise the level of awareness of the challenges of our fragile democracies and economies. With the energy of the presidential campaign, the Caribbean Diaspora could advocate for greater support in dismantling criminal networks and bolstering our national security, comprehensive immigration reform policies, and greater assistance for micro-enterprises.

These are some of my hopes of a Barack Obama candidacy for our Caribbean region. Unless we personally pursue the CHANGE we want for our region, we will continue to be overlooked on the global stage.

I based my original decision to become involved with the Obama campaign simply on an emotional affinity to a movement that shared with me a profound set of core values… Treat others with respect and dignity.

Build consensus from the ground up. Be open to new ideas even if they come from others from the other side of the river. Pursue transformational change in the spirit and support of others.

This is our moment. At Carnival, our flags are waving and hips are wining.

If for one moment we were to translate our cultural energy to capture this promise of an opportunity, it is certainly possible that we could experience the audacity of hope. We are the ones. We can certainly see ourselves through the mirror of the Obama campaign. It is bigger than the candidate himself.

Dreams. Hope. Inspiration. Change.

This is my Barack Obama story. I will not sleep until after J'ouvert morning when the sun has risen on a new day for America and the world.

I hope that you will consider this your perfect call to action and find your dream and purpose in the candidacy of a Barack Obama. Obamanos!

VOICES OF THE CARIBBEAN SPEAK ON OBAMA, PAGE 72 www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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AUDACITY

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IN

SOUTH BRONX got off the train, armed with my posters, and spent the morning wallpapering the high school: What if we had a Black President?

In the halls, in the bathrooms, on the cafeteria doors.

The next week I posted glossy pictures of Barack Obama.

Just his face, with that trademark smile. Underneath I wrote, What if this man was President of the United States?

Student interest was immediate. “Miss, who’s that?”

“A black President? Black?”

“No way.”

“No way they’d let a black man in the White House.”

“Maybe he would give speeches in the ghetto, right here on 167th and Prospect.”

“But maybe he would help the poor people.”

One budding political scientist chimed in, “No, he couldn’t do anything. It’s bigger than the President. No one man can really do anything.

It’s the system.”

“It’s the man.” Nods all around.

Inevitably, the jokester: “Barack Obama? Yo Mama!”

It was out there. I stayed quiet another week, and then extended the invitation: Barack Obama, the Illinois Senator and presidential hopeful, was signing copies of his book “The Audacity of Hope” at the Union Square Barnes and Noble. I would take a group of students to the bookstore, we’d hear Obama speak, eat lunch and head back to the South Bronx.

I sat back and waited.

Desiree, an outgoing 16-year-old girl in huge hoop earrings, crossed her arms defiantly. “I’m not going.”

“Me neither,” echoed Robert, my future fashion designer. He tossed his head dramatically. “It’ll be mad boring!”

The crowd became a buzz of assenting murmurs, murmurs really more like a helicopter roar.

“Miss, why do you want us to go down there?” Cynthia quietly asked me. She was a hardworking student, in the student government, who for some reason believed that I, her white teacher who grew up in the New Jersey suburbs, could be trusted.

“It’s just that those people watch me,” she said.

I told her that it would be an opportunity to spend the day in a bookstore and learn something about this important man. What I didn’t mention was that I longed to escape the harangue of state test prep, if for only a day. Only October, and already the pressure was mounting for students to pass their June Regents exams. I craved a day to relax- sip a latte and escape my school, that light blue institution with bars on the windows and occasional mouse feces in the corner.

I needed a break.

“We’ll go to McDonald’s afterwards?” Cynthia asked, slyly.

Of course, I said.

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Kristin Arndt

“And you’ll pay train fare?”

Yes. Over the next two weeks I lured 11 girls and one boy into making the trip. I also armed my students with copies of Wikipedia’s entry on the Illinois senator and a book-based scavenger hunt as an introduction to the gigantic bookstore.

Early Tuesday morning, we tromped down Prospect Ave., past the bodegas and the projects, the dollar stores and the fried chicken places.

My students rambled onto the train cheerfully: laughing, telling jokes, blurting four-letter words, but then catching themselves with a guilty look at me. The other passengers stared ahead, some with Ipods, some with Bibles, mostly African American and Latinos heading to work.

Within minutes my Wikipedia handouts carpeted the floor.

One woman caught my eye with weary amusement. I shrugged, smiled and gazed back at my charges, just in time to hear another fourletter word.

Robert, in a neon yellow polo shirt and self-shredded jeans, slapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry, Miz A!” The 5 train runs through the South Bronx and down the east side of Manhattan, past the Upper East Side, then to Grand Central Station and the East Village. In 40 minutes, you pass through Hip Hop, to Chanel, to Banana Republic, to multiple piercings.

When the train crossed the Bronx-Manhattan divide, my students’ demeanor changed. The train’s dress code morphed from baggy jeans to three-piece suits, and my students quieted down. They watched. No more cursing. Desiree, my tough-talking sophomore, became almost lady-like. Or, I thought privately, drugged. I imagined bottling this for my classroom.

At the Barnes & Noble on Union Square, we heaved the brick-colored doors open, and my students filed into the lobby. They looked up at the escalators, at the crowds, at the endless rows of books. I saw their faces glow with wonder and their eyes lock on the security guard.

It was their first time in a place like this. Our school does not have a library, and the public libraries in the South Bronx are scant at best.

They were free to take books off the shelves and sit and read them, I said. My students were incredulous: “What do you mean? They’ll think we’re stealing!” You can do this here, I said. Cynthia eyed me narrowly, not sure about that, and then took off up the escalator.

I arranged with Barnes & Noble that each of my students would receive Obama’s book for free. An hour later, the seating area behind me had already filled, and my students found me sitting in a roped-off section of seats up front. They’d taken me at my word. Desiree had eight books – including a “Barron’s College Guide” and the “Astrology of Sex.” Robert carried an armful of fashion magazines. Their mini-libraries plopped at their feet, they started sharing their treasures.

The crowd in the Barnes & Nobles was eclectic. Tattooed student

activists, stay-at-home moms, aging hippies from Brooklyn, yuppies on their lunch hours, all here to see Barack Obama.

And my kids. Desiree read--a little too loudly--from her sex book.

Cynthia reapplied her makeup. Robert kept glancing backwards looking for Obama, and at the standing-room-only crowd.

We waited for two hours. A 40-something blonde woman caught my gaze and smiled. “How excited your students must be to see Obama, this man who may change history.”

Glancing at the crowd gathered around Desiree, I was skeptical.

“I mean, this is what it’s all about, right?” she continued. “This is really for their generation, after all.” She looked at my students, hopefully.

Cynthia was eavesdropping. “What do you think about all of this?”

I asked her.

Immediately her eyes lowered, but, after glancing at me –are you sure this is okay?—she responded. “Well,” she said. “I hope this man will help people who are less fortunate.”

Slowly, other conversations began. Desiree displayed her book to the young mother behind her, and Vanessa gesticulated wildly to a graduate student. Robert showed his ripped jeans to a man in a three piece suit. And I presided over them like an uncertain magician who, having cast the spell, was not sure what would happen.

Then there was a ripple in the crowd, and applause in the back of the room. People turned. A youthful African American man shot through the crowd, shaking hands, all teeth, all smiles. My students jumped to their feet, caught up in the excitement. They waved their hands in the air, cheering for this man as if he were a rock star. The man slowed, turned and flashed them a snappy thumbs-up. Barack Obama had arrived.

His short speech was the usual, I thought: freedom, justice, etc. I slumped in my seat, let down; I wanted something more.

But then I looked over: my students were stretched forward, soaking it all in, like cracks in the desert when the rain comes. This man, this powerful, black man, was speaking to them. This man, Barack Obama, who looked like them and therefore, they thought, might listen to them.

I glanced in Cynthia’s direction –What do you think? She shooed me away.

Obama’s speech lasted six minutes. The first row lined up to have their books signed.

Finally our turn came. My students bounded to the side of the room, clutching their copies of Obama’s memoir. Robert orchestrated the line up, and collected letters in a folder. Blue bubble letters spelled “Barack Obama” on the front; stars and smiles filled the folder’s border. He saved the last place for himself.

Someone poked my arm. “What should I say, Miss?” Cynthia asked. I shrugged and followed the group to the stage.

Desiree was first. “Good morning, Senator,” she said properly, firmly. The Senator thanked her for being here.

“No, thank you for all you’re doing, Senator,” she replied.

She stepped off the stage and threw her hands in the air.

Touchdown!

One by one, the students presented their books and shook the Senator’s hand. They walked off the stage in quick succession –some beaming, some stunned—and pooled together: What did he say? What did you say? The senator, one remarked, was mad normal. Such a compliment.

Robert was last. He’d waited for the stage to empty, paused and took a deep breath. With his best posture, he stepped across the stage, the catwalk of his dreams.

“Hello, Mr…” Robert’s words trailed off. He stared at this man who may be president--wordless, motionless.

“Hello, young man. I’m glad you made it today,” Obama said.

Robert, frozen, looked into Obama’s eyes.

Pause. “Are you doing well in school, young man?” the senator asked.

Silence. Then a slow nod.

“Good. That’s what I like to hear. Keep up the good work.” Obama turned to the next customer.

But Robert remained, fixed, staring at the Senator. Finally, a person behind him nudged him. Robert snapped to, shoved the folder at the senator and hurried off the stage.

He stepped down the stairs, hard to ignore in his florescent shirt, ripped jeans. His classmates swarmed him. What took him so long? they asked. Instead of the story they expected, Robert bowed his head and moved towards me. There were tears running down his cheeks. I led him to a seat, away from the crowd. A few moments passed.

“It’s just so, so… overwhelming,” he said, finally.

“This guy, this person, he could change everything for us.

“Someday, things could be mad different.”

After McDonald’s, on the subway back to the Bronx, my group recounted—loudly, of course—the events of the day. Cynthia asked if I got the senator’s phone number, and Robert was playing off his reaction on the stage.

I conducted a head-count, and one was missing. Desiree was gone.

As I weaved down the aisle, I caught the light glint off her huge swinging earrings. Desiree was sitting next to a tall man in a business suit. “The Audacity of Hope” was open in her lap, and she was acting out the day—arms flying, eyes bright. Unblinking, the man interrupted only to ask questions. Desiree thrust her hand out, demonstrating how she’d greeted the senator.

I smiled, returned to my seat. And our train rolled on, back home. www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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OCEAN STYLE oca merited just a single nomination category at the recently concluded 27th annual International Reggae and World Music Awards, held at Harlem’s landmark Apollo Theater, but the genre was nonetheless the night’s big winner, due to the honors bestowed upon its brightest star Machel Montano.

Montano took home awards in each of the three categories for which he was nominated including Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer, Most Outstanding Stage Personality and the prestigious Entertainer of the Year, besting such quality competitors as Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Stephen Marley and Tarrus Riley.

S

7BARACK OBAMA IS THE LIVING TESTIMONY OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE ONCE YOU REFLECT THE VALUES AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF A PEOPLE.

The movement which he has sparked, not just in the USA but across the world, reinforces that people do really want to be involved in the decisions that affect their lives. He has shown them that “Yes they can.”

That he could overcome the barrier of race in his country today speaks not only to Barack the man but to these values that he embodies and the message he espouses. He touches people in a sincere way. When he speaks you know that he cares. A leader like Obama comes once in a generation.”

Hon. Mia Mottley,

Politician, Barbados

7MR OBAMA S PRESIDENCY :IF HE ACHIEVES IT; WILL MEAN THAT MY CHILDREN WILL GROW UP

in a world where a President of any race, sex or colour will be the most natural thing in the world.”

David Rudder

Musician, Trinidad and Tobago

7IT REPRESENTS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WHITE PEOPLE IN AMERICA TO CONFRONT

their biases and for Black Americans to confront their own internal prejudices.”

David Mullings Businessman, Jamaican - American

7I SEE BARACK OBAMA S CANDIDACY FOR THE PRESIDENCY AS A MOVEMENT OF CHANGE IN AMERICA. ALL AMERICANS - WHITE, BLACK,

Hispanic, etc. are uniting for a common cause, to support and elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States of America. This is influential to me because America is uniting to elect a person not because he is black but because it is the right man for the job.”

Omar R. Santos Aviation Management Executive, St. Croix USVI & Puerto Rico

7FOR AMERICA IT REPRESENTS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD. IT HAS OPENED UP MUCH NEEDED

dialogue about race, class and aging in America that will continue for generations to come. This candidacy has already changed America, the Caribbean and the world.”

Debra Gibson-Welch Guyanese - American

7GIVEN HIS LIFE STORY AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS CANDIDACY,

if Senator Obama indeed becomes the world's most powerful leader, it will be a major leap forward for America and an injection of inspiration for the entire human race.”

Christopher Dehring Businessman, Jamaica

7AS A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN OF CARIBBEAN DESCENT, I AM FILLED WITH SO MUCH PRIDE TO SEE

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama on the 2008 ticket. Senator Obama stands for everything that is needed in this country...

That change is being presented in so many forms through this amazing leader, not just on the outside with the obvious (skin color) but also in ways not as visible to the human eye, such as his spirit and dream to help Americans.”

Ryan D8Arcy

Marketing Executive, Trinidadian - American

7AS A PARENT OF A 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND 4-YEAR-OLD SON, I FEEL EXTREMELY PROUD WHEN

educating my kids about Senator Obama. I love how they identify with him because he looks like us and our family. My children are aware of his dream and realize that his dream can one day be theirs.”

Lisa Lee Miami Heat TV Host Jamaican - American

7AS A FIRST GENERATION CARIBBEAN AMERICAN, BARACK OBAMA S

candidacy is significant to me in that a person of color has broken the ultimate glass ceiling in this country. Now I can confidently tell my children that there is no goal too high for them to reach. I have hope that an Obama presidency will restore respect for America in the eyes of the world. I recently traveled to the Lesser Antilles and I was glad to see Barack Obama was already a household name.”

Lisa Colon-Heron

Attorney Trinidadian - American

MONTANO REIGNS SUPREME Patricia Meschino

Dapperly attired in a grey suit accented with a matching purple tie and ascot, dark shades, and his ever lengthening locks neatly tied back, Montano offered heartfelt words of appreciation upon receiving his commendations: ”I am totally overwhelmed and very grateful to the fans, the voters and especially the awards committee. It’s motivation to put in the hard work for bigger and better things to come.” Montano didn’t perform during the show but led the guest artists, other awardees and even a few patrons in a grand finale of Arrow’s evergreen soca anthem”Hot Hot Hot.” Despite its title as an all-inclusive global musical awards show, the IRAWMAs are, unapologetically, dominated by reggae and dancehall award groupings. Dispersed among 41 categories were single nominations for reggaeton, generic Latin music, Haitian compas/racine, Central African soukous, as well as a posthumous Best Afri can Entertainer Award (meaning artists from the continent, not artists of African descent) honoring slain South African reggae singer Lucky Dube.

According to IRAWMA founder and president Ephraim Martin, each year reggae and world music industry”experts” select the nominees; voting ballots are made available online and at various newspapers, restaurants and record stores so music fans across the globe have the opportunity to determine the winners.

How these experts determined compas, for example, deserved a specific category but French Caribbean zouk or Trinidadian steel pan did not, was never explained. Further, curious classifications such as Promoters of the Year and Concert of the Year smacked of favoritism (would world music experts exclusively choose reggae shows/promotions as nominees in both categories?) and inappropriate nominations (veteran singer Wayne Wonder who hit the Billboard Hot 100 six years Most Promising Entertainer”) detracted from what ago nominated as “M was for the most part, an accurate and entertaining tribute to the best in reggae music over the past year.

Indeed, among the very best of 2007 was Jamaican singer/songwriter Tarrus Riley’s”She’s Royal”, unquestionably the reggae song of the year; Riley duly received Best Male Vocalist with ”Royal” meriting Best Song honors. The extremely talented vocalist, who received nominations in five categories, delivered an impressive rendition of”Africa Awaits”, one of several outstanding cuts from his Parables release (nominated for Best Album /CD). Riley’s performance was enhanced by the accompaniment of his musical director, saxophonist Dean Fraser (winner Best Instrumentalist), who lead an aggregation of topflight Jamaican musicians in backing the evening’s performers.

Best Female Vocalist), Junior Other outstanding performances: Etana (B Reid (Most Improved Artist), and Kymani Marley, who took home a special Producers Choice Award.

If an IRAWMA award existed for the evening’s most entertaining

T&T STAR SHINES AT THE 2008 INTERNATIONAL REGGAE AND WORLD MUSIC AWARDS

artist, it would have gone to Shaggy for a consummate performance that juxtaposed a medley of his biggest hits with Chris-Rock-worthy comedic timing.

Acting in an inebriated state (in promotion of his latest CD Intoxication) Shaggy told the audience he bought out the bar and drinks were on him for the rest of the night (he could have also won for the evening’s biggest lie). Shaggy earned four nominations but garnered only a Best Video victory for his acerbic hit”Church Heathen.”

Gritty sing-jay Mavado, unquestionably the year’s most popular and controversial dancehall artist, merited five nominations including Best CD for his debut Gangster For Life, but was defeated in each category. The violent exploits depicted in Mavado’s lyrics became real life headlines in March when he was arrested and held for questioning regarding a July 2007 shooting incident. Authorities released Mavado two days later but the US revoked his VISA rendering him unable to perform at the IRAWMAs. The IRAWMAs also inducted four musical legends into its Hall of Fame: Jamaican singer Winston Francis who started out 40 years ago in Jamaican music’s rock steady era and is best known for his hit”Mr. Fix It”; Jamaican engineer Errol Brown who has worked with many of the biggest names in reggae including Bob Marley and was for many years the resident engineer at Marley’s Tuff Gong studios; acclaimed Jamaican songstress Claudelle Clarke who recently celebrated 39 years in the ministry of gospel music; and Trinidadian born R&B singer Billy Ocean. A long-time resident of England, Ocean has the distinction of being the biggest selling black British artist of all time.

Shaggy Ocean could not attend the awards but sent a video clip thanking the IRAWMAs for their esteemed acknowledgement; unfortunately, the clip’s audio portion could not be heard.

Even with its technical glitches and a delayed start, the 27th annual IRAWMA ceremony ran far more smoothly than it has in previous years.

Whether you’re a diehard fan of Dancehall, Reggae or Soca, an evening to celebrate these Caribbean artitsts and the region’s rich musical legacy is something all must agree is postive and uplifting. www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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We Sta mp It Pre cio us Me tals

Ooohla Goldfinger! Chanel’s limited edition nail colour Gold Fiction already has fashionistas cat-fighting on eBay ... but no need to sharpen your claws just yet; good old Bloomies has it in stock (as of press time … ).

Smooth, shiny, and rich – just the right amount of understated fall bling. $30, Bloomingdales.com

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How to win an Olympic Gold Medal? Wear golden shoes…obviously! Ok…it’s only as simple as that when the person wearing the shoes is Jamaican sprinting sensation Usain Bolt. Puma designed this special golden sprint shoe (based on the Thesus II) for the sprinter to sport at the Beijing Olympics. Clearly they hold the key to the amazing record-breaking achievement of three gold medals and three world-records in the sprints; or maybe it’s his regular Jamaican diet of ‘dumplings and pork’. Either way the exuberant 21-year-old surely loves his shoes…and his medals.

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When it comes to premium tequila we have a winner! Each bottle of Proyect Silver & Gold .999 MX contains one litre of ultra premium 4-year aged tequila. They say presentation is everything and they go all out - each bottle contains 2 whole kilograms of pure and fine silver and gold.

For serious buyers only this bottle of the ‘good stuff’ comes with Authenticity Certificates and requires a 50 percent deposit on order. Oh and did we mention the cost per shot? You do the math. $25,000.00 (per bottle), ley925.com

“A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds …”Ah Marilyn, how right you were. Diamonds indeed are a girl’s best friend, and Jimmyjane brings a whole new meaning to the term scintillation … which, when you’re talking about diamonds, refers to those tantalizing, mesmerizing flashes of light with movement. But you already knew that ... Platinum pleasure encircled by 28 round cut VS1 diamonds. Ladies, we’ve been looking for the wrong present in those little blue boxes.

“Waterproof. Silent. Everlasting.” Now if that isn’t the perfect man, what is?

Little Platinum Eternity. $3250. jimmyjane.com

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and only one very small casino.

But what these islands lack in retail and nightlife, they more than make up in luxury accommodations.

From Provo’s no-frills beginning when Club Med swooped in to stake its claim on Grace Bay Beach, this sleepy little island steadily attracted hard-core beach-lovers. And, not long afterwards came the developers.

They saw –– the incredibly beautiful 12-mile stretch of powder-sand heaven that is Grace Bay Beach. And they bought. And they developed. And developed.

So, sleepy little Provo is sleepy no more. You can walk the entire length of Grace Bay Beach and spot only a few empty lots tucked in among the line-up of condo communities standing shoulder-toshoulder along the dunes. Any remaining empty plots represent some

of the most valuable real estate this side of Dubai (to the tune of $4 - $5 million US per beachfront acre).

But wait!

What about the other side of the tourism picture? Has all this upscale development completely pushed out the little guys? What about the small mom-and-pop-type beach hotels where the amenities are minimal but the pay-off is having the beach just a few steps away from your room’s front door?

We scoped it out for you, starting on Provo. Despite the spread of luxury condos along Grace Bay Beach, there’s still one prominent holdout: the small hotel called Sibonne. Talk about location! This modest 28-unit low-rise is sandwiched between The Sands and The Somerset, right smack in the ritzy heart of Grace Bay Beach. Though self-billed as

a “boutique hotel,” Sibonne offers very few frills. The room décor is uninspired (think: 1960s motel), but its beach-loving guests don’t mind because they’re thrilled to be sleeping just a few lazy steps from the ocean. Aside from the basics (a/c and ceiling fans, mini-fridges, coffee makers, and cable TV), there’s also a pool and an open-air restaurant.

Continental breakfast is included in the amazingly reasonable room rates ($110 to $285 in low season).

A few yards down the beach from Sibonne is The Sands, a beautiful four-star luxury spread. Six three-story buildings clustered around a series of pools and tropical gardens hold 114 spacious suites. (There’s a fabulous beachy secret hidden in here. Read on...) Although The Sands is not the fanciest of the condos along Grace Bay Beach, its oversized suites are lavishly appointed and come with heavenly wrap-

around screened porches that let the sea breezes and tropical fragrances waft through. Amenities include a small spa, fitness center, tennis courts and Hemmingway’s, an open-air restaurant overlooking the sea.

Ready for the secret? The Sands’ Building #3 sits at the very edge of the dunes. And Suite # 3107, on the ground floor of this building, has a door in its wrap-around screen porch opening directly onto the dune grass, just steps from Grace Bay Beach itself. Book this beachy haven for the best of both worlds: all the pampering and amenities of a luxury condo, plus the barefoot ease of your own private seafront home.

Other options? You might want to follow the advice of Terry Drummey and “head for the hills.” Specifically, Blue Hills, an area at the far end of Grace Bay Beach that’s popular with locals. “Spend the day

NT CHIC, TURKS & OU SC DI TO S OU RI XU LU RPE FROM SU RADISE FOR ALL CAICOS OFFERS A TROPICAL PA Brenda Fine b s & Caicos Clu images by Turk ard Bo ist ur To s aico and Turks & C

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ost of us who love the Caribbean never give up searching for that special place: a peaceful island getaway where we can shrug off the hassles of our everyday lives as quickly as we shed our shoes.

Of course, we don’t all share the same idea of a perfect island. Some define it as laidback and quiet, yet accompanied by all the luxurious amenities and privileges we associate with a pampering vacation. Others could care less about the fancy bells and whistles; just give us uncomplicated access to beach and sea.

The Turks and Caicos Islands offer a sublime setting for either type of vacation-seeker.

Why the T&C? Primarily because of its visual perfection: the astonishing palette of shimmering blues and greens of the sea, coupled with the bone-white talcum of the wide beaches, creates a setting that is just about perfect in anybody’s book. Talk about irresistible fantasy fulfillment! Add to this dream scene the fact that this 40-plus island group, which sprawls out along the southern end of the Bahamas chain, is wondrously easy to reach: a mere 90-minute getaway from Miami; and slightly more than three jet-hours from New York. Visitors are graciously and genuinely welcomed everywhere, and life runs smoothly on island time.

Given all these powerful attributes, the Turks & Caicos have inevitably become the new “Hot Islands.” They now top the vacation charts, having surged from Relative Obscurity to Sizzling in less than a decade –– making them the primo choice of both the travelsavvy and the Beautiful People.

Providenciales (which everyone calls Provo) is the largest and most populous island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. The majority of tourism is centered here. But, unlike many Caribbean tourism centers, there’s no there there. There’s not even a real town on Provo, so there are no perfume and Rolex stores, no cruise ships, not even a cruise port,

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out there, have a conch lunch with the locals at the Three Queens, hang out and enjoy getting in touch with authentic island life.”

Drummey, a transplanted New Englander who has lived on Provo for a dozen-or-so years, also suggests that if you’re looking for affordable rates on Provo you should consider staying somewhere off the beach. And then spend every waking minute on the beach. For true solitude, he suggests hiring a boat that will drop you off on a small cay – like the backside of Little Water Cay – where you’ll have the sea and sand to yourself. (Note to self: remind the boat captain to be sure to return to pick you up! And bring along a shade umbrella, snacks and plenty of water – this is true wilderness beaching.)

THE OUT-ISLANDS ARE IN Dozens of isles and cays comprise the Turks and Calicos island nation. For decades these outposts have remained pretty much the way nature created them. So perhaps a hardcore beach lover might be able to find a pared-down beach experience over on one of these out islands – a simple guesthouse or a B&B? Sorry – you’re already too late. These island outposts have already been discovered and claimed as ideal venues for the next wave of “peaceful getaways” for luxury-loving vacationers.

There’s a pattern here. Hard on the heels of the successes of Provo’s gentrification came Parrot Cay, a hundred-acre islet nearby. This onceuninhabited isle was transformed into an up-market private island operation that modestly bills itself as, ahem, “The World’s Most Exclusive Resort.” Of course, it immediately attracted the likes of Donna Karan, Bruce Willis and Keith Richards, who snapped up getaway homes here.

The success of this rarified enclave with its international spa, infinity pools and celeb hobnobbing did not go unnoticed. Parrot Cay’s success has spurred the likes of some prominent names in high-end hospitality: Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, Amanresorts, Regent, Fairmont – each one coming soon to an island near Provo.

One small cay, however, remains steadfastly small and un-fussy: The Meridian Club on Pine Cay, another tiny isle just north of Provo.

Founded back in the 1960s as a development of private homes, a clubhouse with some guest rooms, and the necessary support facilities, it operates pretty much the same today. The secret here is that anyone can rent one of the thirteen Beach Front Club Rooms. More than mere rooms, these are havens of pure nostalgia, reminiscent of the summer beach house you wish you’d had as a kid – a bit shabby-chic, but comfy and smack on the beach. Push open the screen door of your front porch and you’re walking on beautiful sand. The two-mile stretch of beach here is identical to Grace Bay – but without the crowds and condos. All you’re likely to see here are your own footprints and lots of pristine, white sand dollars. Life at the Club is barefoot casual and relaxingly minimalistic. The only excess, unfortunately, is the room rate: $715 in low season ($985 in peak), but this is an all-inclusive rate – so you get three meals and all the relaxing you can handle.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON… West Calicos, an island that has always been home to, well, just about nothing at all, has now been claimed by Ritz Carlton. It’s the setting for a boutique collection of guestrooms and suites called Molasses Reef, which is the first of the Ritz’s new brand “The Reserve.” Over on tiny and untouched Dellis Cay, an equally grand and exclusive complex, a Mandarin Oriental collection of private villas and residences and a spa readies itself for a 2009 debut. (Celeb watchers take note: Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have already purchased one of the residences that sell for $1.2 to $6 million.) Meanwhile, on North Caicos, a Fairmont Hotels & Resorts fantasy is in the works. Slated for a 2009 opening, this one appeals to deep-pocketed visitors by offering not only a luxury resort, but also a 150-room condo hotel, a super-marina catering to super-yachts a spa and – yes – an 18-hole golf course.

THE CHALLENGE There are still small getaways to be discovered in the Turks & Calicos islands. Search hard enough and you will find them. That’s what this whole quest is all about, right? Best of all, the translucent bluegreens of the sea and the pristine sands remain as glorious as ever.

Yours to enjoy.

For more information: The Sands at Grace Bay: 877.77.SANDS, thesandstc.com Sibonne Boutique Hotel: 800.582.1905, sibonne.com The Meridian club: 800.331.9154, meridianclub.com

COUPLES CUISINE edible vibes

TWO ROMANTIC, COZY DINNER FOR WHO SAYS A HAS TO BE OUT ON THE TOWN? Michelle Jones

, which airs on her show Vibes Cuisine Michelle is in her element and ys nda s at 7:50p.m. and Mo Wednesdays and Sunday Jamaica’s CVM TV. on . a.m 9:00 at ays rsd Thu

T

hink of the intimacy you can create right at home, with a simple, savory feast. Transform your regular table: tie large squares of silky fabric into flowing chair covers secured with a simple knot in back; add candles; use the “good” dishes; and don’t forget a simple bloom or crisp green leaf from the garden in a small vase.

On the menu - Starter: Asian spiced chicken mince satays are cooked on sugarcane skewers that add caramelized sticky sweetness to the meat. This easy appetizer rates high for its visual appeal. Plus, of course, finger foods are seriously sexy, yet playful. Top Chef Chicago winner Stephanie used the traditional Caribbean treat sugarcane in a similar fashion on her way to whipping the reality show competition.

Entree: This elegant chicken and cashew dish is delicately accented with sesame oil and the amazing piquant sweet flavors of Hoisin sauce, a Chinese gastronomical stalwart made from fermented soybeans. As incredible as it looks (and tastes) this recipe is really a one pot wonder that can be practically flung together while you fuss with aesthetic de-

tails of the private culinary experience to come. Serve with plain or fried rice.

Beverage: A refreshing cranberry spritzer will cool off some of the heat of the meal with effervescence of soda water bubbles and zest of lime.

The popular red juice has more antioxidants than most fruits. Serve over ice with your preference of gin or vodka.

Dessert: Bite-sized fruits such as strawberries, small plums and apricots are simply and naturally appetizing served cooled over a tray of ice. Share generously with your dining partner, and then move on to your second dessert course…

Sugarcane Chicken Appetizers

1 pack Best Dressed Chicken mince 1 egg white 1 inch piece Grated ginger Scallions, sliced thinly white and green separated 1 teaspoon Lee Kum Kee garlic 1 tables Lee Kum Kee Sesame oil

1 teas Lee Kum Kee Hoisin sauce Sugarcane cut into skewers 1 teas Lee Kum Kee Chili sauce 1 teas Lee Kum Kee Soy sauce

Mix Chicken, egg white, ginger, green scallions, garlic, sesame oil and hoisin sauce.

Place a ball of mixture around the bottom of the sugarcane.

Fry until golden on medium heat.

Mix chili sauce, soy sauce and white scallions for a dipping sauce.

Cranberry Spritzer

2 parts Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice 3 Parts Soda Water

1 Part Vodka Juice of half of a lime

Mix ingredients in a glass, add ice to top. Garnish with Lime peel.

Chicken with Nuts

1 Best Dressed Whole Chicken (meat off the bone) ½ teaspoon Salt ½ teaspoon Pepper 2 teas Lee Kum Kee garlic 3 tablespoons cornstarch 4 tablespoons oil 1 teaspoon Lee Kum Kee Sesame oil

½ cup Cashews 2 Sweet peppers, sliced 1 Onion, sliced 3 tablespoons Lee Kum Kee Hoisin 3 tablespoons Lee Kum Kee Black pepper sauce 1 tin Bamboo shoots, rinsed

Season Chicken with salt pepper garlic. Toss in cornstarch and set aside. Heat oil in pan; add sesame oil. Brown cashews and set aside. Brown chicken, add peppers and onions until they are soft. Add the sauces, bamboo shoots and heat thoroughly. Add the cashews and serve.

ROYAL ESCAPE photography by Robert Manella

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LEAD PAGE and THIS PAGE on Alexis, chiffon tunic dress by Tracy Reese, sandals by A. Testoni on Alex, tie dyed shirt by Just Cava lli, white pant by John Varvatos, sunglasses by Marc Jacobs

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THIS PAGE turquoise chiffon blouse by Alice Ritter NEXT PAGE printed tunic dress by Sylvia Heisel

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THIS PAGE and NEXT PAGE on Alex, linen vest and short by Operation, eyewear by Georgio Armani, orange cotton shirt by Operation, bag and loafer by A. Testoni on Alexis, silk halter by Rubin Cha pelle, linen pant by Operation

Location: Downtown Bridgetown by the Pier.

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PREVIOUS PAGE AND THIS PAGE metallic bikini by Skaparrin, sunglasses by Balenciaga, sweater by Nolita

leather visor by Stussey, swimwear by Speedo, eyewear by Yves St. Laurent, gold chain by Stussey Location: Port St. Charles

Photography by Robert Manella Production Manager: Martha Dunning Birdsong Styling by Carlton Jones Styling Assistant: Rica rdo Mathews Hair and Makeup by Rosemary Red lin Location: Barbados, The Crane Hotel.

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n abundance of options and absence of stress should be the goal for any getaway.

Fashion: Apple Bottoms by Nelly. Location: Half Moon Resort & Spa, Rose Hall, Jamaica

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LEAD PAGE Breeze Suspender shorts, $54; Purple Bikini with chain, $110

Revlon Beyond Natural Cream Lip Gloss in Deep Spice, $14, revlon.com

Stella Backstage Beauty Eye Shadow Palette The Runway, $40; Givenchy Phenomen Eyes Mascara, $27, sephora.com

Triangle Bikini, $82; Denim hot shorts, $52

Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Gloss in Candy, $18; Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matt Bronzer $35, esteelauder.com

Lancôme Le Stylo Water proof eyeliner, $23.50 Dior Dior 5 – Colour Eyeshadow Iridescent Leather 539, $54, sephora.com

THIS PAGE Empire Waist printed dress, $88

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PREVIOUS PAGE Seaside printed dress, $68

THIS PAGE Triangle black bikini, $82; Shorts, $58

BOTH PAGES Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick, $26 Smash Box Blush Rush, $24 Laura Mercier Eye Colour, $20, sephora.com

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Summer dream dress (in sand), $74

Boots No.7 High Shine Lip Gloss in whisper, $7.99, boots.com

Smash Box Blush Rush, $24 Smash Box Wicked Lovely Eye Shadow Duo, $24, sephora.com

Photography by Robert Manella Fashion Direction & Styling by Amina h Benjamin Makeup & Hair by Theo Faulkner Location: Ha lf Moon Resort & Spa (halfmoon.com)

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elicate fabrics and bold colours set against a natural canvas of blue sky, white sand and translucent water create moments of sheer magic. photography by Dagmara

Location: Royal Plantation Island. Fowl Cay, Exumas, The Bahamas

LEAD PAGE Belted top and jersey pant

by Jean Paul Gautier Femme THIS PAGE Embroidered double sleeved tunic

by Joanna Mastroianni

Stripped chiffon blouse by Etro

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OCEAN STYLE PREVIOUS PAGE Wrap top and pant by Jean Paul Gautier Femm e THIS PAGE Chiffon cap sleeve blouse by Boudicca, ikat printed pant by Pollini

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OCEAN STYLE chiffon blouse Etro, leggings by No Dress Code

silk tunic by Pollini

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embroidered tunic by Johanna Mastroia nni, printed bikini by Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secrets Swim

wrap top by Jean Paul Gautier Femme

Photography by Dagmara @dagmaraphotography.com Fashion Editor: Carlton Jones @carltonjonesNYC.com Assissted by Michou Hair and make-up by Harper @ fordmodels.com Assisted by Erin O'C onnell

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Jasmine Dotiwala’s

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cean Style readers! By the time you read this I will have experienced Sumfest in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Music Festival … I will be beautiful and tanned and hopefully catching the eyes of a few cute guys whilst I roll through your neck of the woods!

This summer began with my friend and family member Mariah wedding her beau Nick Cannon so I now refer to them as MC and NC! We had to all look mighty special for the big day. There was waxing, spray tanning, beauty spa treatments, manicures, pedicures and hair to be did - and that’s just the men!

One man who has always been groomed to within an inch of his life is Usher Raymond. It’s not unusual for him to roll into MTV with full entourage plus barber, stylist and his own videographer.

I have worked with Usher for the last 12 years. So we have history, jokes and a good level of professional trust. He even came to my birthday party with singer Joe and boxer Lennox Lewis a few years ago.

We had a fun night where Usher got through a few bottles of Cristal champagne, which I presumed he had bought, and he assumed I had bought. Guess who got stung for the final bill after much confusion?

It was a little tense at the time but years later we laugh about it. So hearing that he became a husband and a father this past year fills me with joy – for him, his wife and the hip-hop generation that grew up alongside him. The fact that he, Jay-Z and Mariah recently got married means that the fans that grew up alongside them can all exhale and be comfortable knowing its OK to settle down. It’s not uncool. We don’t have to be playas, party addicts and ultra cool singletons any more. We can finally just be comfortable in the knowledge that we’ve all grown up together and be adult, but always fresh to death.

I slipped into a long frock for the Caldwell Children’s Charity Legends Ball where the legend that is Whitney Houston performed her first live set in years and the anticipation was electric! In the company of host David Gest (Liza Minelli’s one time husband) were other legends like Jayne Mansfield, Nigel Benn, Joan Collins, and of course moi! LOL! Whitney didn’t disappoint with her song selection and gave us all her classics. Her voice wasn’t as strong on her legendary high notes; in ‘’I Will Always Love You’’ we were holding our breath for that high note but it didn’t ever really come. I heard that earlier that day in rehearsal it was a little rusty but she really warmed up and it was beautiful to see she’s on her way back.

Soulja Boy After the recent press stories about her daughter Bobbi Christina trying to commit suicide and stab her mother it was also a joy to see Bobbi with her.

She seems like a really pretty young lady, a little shy, who when handed the mic from mummy sang a couple of notes reluctantly but was very

good - the Bobby Whitney genes are all there!

In the Islands you guys have outdoor music festivals all the time - it’s a part of your lucky lives. We in the UK only get to experience outdoor music between July and August and even then its most likely to be cold and wet.

Amongst the hip hoppers taking over summer festivals this year are Jay- Z, N.E.R.D., Dizzee R ascal and Lu pe Fiasco, the intelligent, more integral, consciously focused lyricist. Lupe’s most recent album is a much darker piece of work than his first album ''Food and Liquor,'' which he blames on the passing of his father and his partner being locked up. Lupe also broke down why music may not be part of his life forever but his religion would be: ‘’I’ll be Muslim forever… And yes, you’ve got temptations in music, but you’ve got temptations in ordinary life; I’d have temptations if I was working in McDonalds… Temptation is temptation, and it helped me being Muslim then coming into music because I already had a set of habits to how I live life.”

We ended the interview with Lupe getting really pissed off about the MTV Hottest Rapper list. He told us he never wanted anything to do with

and so debate and controversy went back and forth until the day Jay took to the stage.

I’m not gonna lie. We were all slightly shook that Jigga might get booed offstage by the rock fans but he came with his Wellies, saw his friend Amy Winehouse diss his other friend Kanye West, and whilst he didn’t completely conquer he definitely put on a solid solo show.

His detractors had to bow down and admit he did his thing. Backstage straight after the show Jay told me, ‘’Glastonbury was a historic event for me. Any time you can come from where I come from, Brooklyn, New York - everybody knows the story - to come so far, to come overseas and people embrace you the way I’ve been embraced thus far, it’s just an amazing feeling.”

The next night Jay invited me to a sit-down dinner for 100 of the UK’s elite. Jay bigged up his new brand Armand de Brignac (tag line Ace of Spades, LOL!) and recollected the days when he used to shout out Cristal champagne before they dissed the rap game. Then Jay admitted he quite liked the new fresh game that new rappers were coming through with and said that Ice-T should lay off Soulja Boy as the new young bucks had to find their way and niche in the game.

Soulja Boy was really relieved when I told him this a few days later. He stated that all the big hip hop stars like Kanye and Jay had come out in his defense and for that he was happy and felt well supported. America’s big entrepreneurial magazine Forbes named Soulja Boy as their top musical newcomer this year.

Considering his age and the controversy about him only being a one-hit-wonder ringtone rapper this is an amazing accolade. I decided to see what the future of this nearly 18-year-old hip hop kid is all about …

His single “Crank Dat” was the theme of the past two years and it’s the biggest digital downloaded song ever (3 million plus right now). His YouTube hits are over 300 million. His MySpace views are over 33 million. And my aunt who lives abroad and is in her fifties knows the song and can nearly do the dance! Can you believe he recorded the song in his bedroom, in like an hour or two?

Soulja Boy met me wearing his oversized (big enough to be your mum’s curtains) track pants and told me about the afternoon he recorded his gigantic smash hit: “I was riding around and my partner Arab with me (sic). And I was like, I got this idea for the song I might drop when I get back. He was like “What ya going to do?” So I got back to the house, I got to the computer, I sat down, I was doing the beat.

You know I made the beat, I was like ’I got it, I got it.’ And I dropped it.

And after that we got back in a car, I put it on in the car, we were riding around listening to it and I put it up on the Internet.”

And readers after that he had such a huge Internet buzz he got signed to Interscope! Big! So first of all Soulja Boy has a smash hit but then he kills it with the dance that most of globe including Samuel L. Jackson and Beyonce can now do too! He laughed and explained: “I can take full credit for the dance, but for the dance routine I can’t. Because I made up the Soulja Boy dance before I actually recorded the song and then after I recorded the song they made a dance routine to the dance that I made up.”

Chris Brown

Understand any of that? No, me neither! Asked if he had seen the “Niger boy” version on YouTube (The Nigerian version) he laughed, ‘‘yes – shout out to the Nigerians. That clip’s crazy man!”

Then came the funny part: Asked to explain exactly what “Superman dat hoe” meant, Soulja Boy was very diplomatic: “Do you play basketball over here? You know how somebody slam dunk a basketball? In Atlanta we might say ‘man slamdunk that ho.’” Ah! Clear as mud? Or nicely swerved? The latter methinks. His bank balance is so high right now he revealed that on his 18th birthday this July he was going to “get a helicopter, get bags of money and just make it rain on the city!”

On the criticism that some call him a ringtone rapper he scoffed “I ain’t scared of ringtone money - I know what it is to be poor, I used to eat cereal with water in it instead

’S FUNN Y. BE IN G A SE X SY MB OL , TH AT EV EN IN HI GH SC HO OL I WOU LD HAVE E GU Y NE VER SE EN MYSE LF AS TH WHO GOT A GAN G OF GIRL S. I WOU LD GU Y W HO WA S AV ER AGE. CO NS ID ER MYSE LF LI KE TH E

Usher

it! He didn’t make the top 10 in 2007 and is still mad about it. Then we asked if he had anything to say about his fellow Chicagoan R. Kelly whose child porn court case ended not too long ago. Lupe said: “I don’t really comment on his situation but I didn’t wish jail on nobody because it’s a terrible place. But there’s a difference between having justice and having mercy. Having justice or mercy on somebody, that’s between him and the Lord. It is what it is. I’m happy T.I.’s home though!”

On those final positive words we allowed him to leave and the MTV Base crew rolled out our festival necessities: wet wipes, Wellington boots, soap, waterproof mascara and lots of anti-bacteria hand scrub. Yes, Jay-Z at Glastonbury really messed us up. I’m not sure if you’ll heard out there but lots of middle class white musicians didn’t like the idea of a Hip Hop star headlining their biggest music festival

- CHRIS BROWN

of milk!”

From one young gun to another making big moves - I caught up with the adorable Chris Brown. I know I must be the envy of millions of teenage ladies around the globe – this was my fifth MTV date with young Chris and my how he’s grown! This young man was always articulate and charming but now he’s also got the confidence that comes with being at the top of his game and he is all swaggerlicious!

One thing that Chris has to deal with is ladies mobbing him and screaming wherever he should go - this 19-year-old is a bonafide sex symbol. Chris laughed loud: ‘’Being a sex symbol, that’s funny. Even in high school I would have never seen myself as the guy who got a gang of girls. I would consider myself like the guy who was average.”

I couldn’t let Chris leave before asking him about those countless media tabloid reports about his love life and supposed romance with Rihanna. He revealed: ”Me personally as a relationship standpoint I am a single guy. I’m definitely single … I do have a close friend but it’s not like a relationship, I’m not trying to settle down now, I’m only 18 so I’m just trying to live my life and have fun.’’

Readers, I’m off to Sumfest! Excited? You bet! Holla if you see me!

Until then keep the romance and beauty strong!

www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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OCEAN STYLE

FAMILY T

he Caribbean continues to grow as a destination for Caribbean families to venture from one island to the next.

Earlier this year Ocean Style caught up with the Woodruffe Clan (from Trinidad & Tobago) on vacation at Half Moon Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

(l-r) (standing) Fiona, Arielle, (sitting) Emma, Dillon and Richard.

Shot on Location: Half Moon Resort & Spa. Rose Hall, Jamaica

Family isn t about whose blood you have. It s about who you care about.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Ike s Wee Wee, 1998

fam路i路ly(NOUN): 1. PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, CONSIDERED AS A GROUP, WHETHER DWELLING TOGETHER OR NOT 2. ANY GROUP OF PERSONS CLOSELY RELATED BY BLOOD, AS PARENTS, CHILDREN, UNCLES, AUNTS, AND COUSINS 3. A GROUP OF PERSONS WHO FORM A HOUSEHOLD UNDER ONE HEAD, INCLUDING PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND SERVANTS