All about Music, Sports and Social Commentary.

Bill Gates explains what we need to do to stop the coronavirus pandemic and reopen the economy PUBLISHED THU, APR 23 2020 4:26 PM EDT Bill Gates outlined the innovations needed to stop the Covid-19 pandemic and reopen the economy in a blog post. Gates said the world must advance its treatments, vaccines, testing, contact tracing and examine its policies for opening up, in order to stop the virus. Bill Gates Gerard Miller | CNBC Billionaire philanthropist  Bill Gates  outlined what the world needs to do to stop the Covid-19 pandemic and reopen the economy in a  blog post  Thursday.  Gates said the world must advance its treatments, vaccines, testing and contact tracing. It also needs to examine its policies for opening up global economies, he said. He compared the pandemic to a war. “During World War II, an amazing amount of innovation, including radar, reliable torpedoes, and code-breaking, helped end the war faster,” Gates said. “This will be the same with the ...

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it has made a policy decision to offer a modified process for CSEC and CAPE examinations. Further, it wants to push back the exams from the usual May/ June to July. But, it says it will be guided by national protocols across the region. Several Caribbean countries have closed schools as they seek to limit the spread of the coronavirius. Here is how CXC exams will be administered: * Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments) * School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates * Award final grades based on the moderated SBAs and multiple choice papers. The following are exceptions to the aforementioned process where candidates will be required to complete additional components: • Modern Languages (Spanish, French, and Portuguese)  * Human and Social Biology • Visual Arts CXC says its strategy will employ e-testing  (online and offline) in order t...

Another day of panic and confusion in Corporate Area BY RACQUEL PORTER Thursday, March 12, 2020 A day after the first imported case of the novel coronavirus was announced, the Corporate Area was abuzz as scores of people sought to get items that they believe will protect them from being infected. Some shoppers, fearful of the spread of the virus, were on a quest yesterday to secure face masks, sanitisers, and gloves.  Iyah Vybz   When the  Jamaica Observer  visited downtown Kingston yesterday morning a number of wholesalers were seen doing brisk business as Jamaicans crammed into wholesales to get their hands on the items they believe will prevent the spread. On Princess Street, many desperate shoppers shouted out orders at overwhelmed attendants to attain varied quantities of supplies for their homes, offices, as well as for retail purposes. “Beg yuh one fi di basic school,” a shopper shouted as her voice competed with the chorus of others. “Thelma,...

J Wray & Nephew suspends operations after contractor quarantined Wednesday, March 11, 2020 ‌ KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Jamaica, J Wray & Nephew Limited has confirmed that a contractor based at its Spanish Town Road operations was in close contact with 'patient zero', and as such operations have been suspended at its 234 Spanish Town Road facility in Kingston. “The contractor has since been quarantined for testing and monitoring by the Ministry of Health,” J Wray and Nephew said in a news release. “We are in ongoing dialogue with Government officials to assess and track the situation.” The company said suspension of operations will be pending the results of the contractor's test. “We will keep our stakeholders and the public updated accordingly. J Wray & Nephew Limited has also activated its 'Smart Working Policy'. As a result, all staff members who are able to work remotely have been asked...

People who came in contact with escapee won't be quarantined Tuesday, March 10, 2020 ‌ KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, says there is no need to quarantine people who may have come into contact with a St Mary man, Kemar Bailey, who was recaptured this morning after he escaped from quarantine last evening. Dr Bisasor McKenzie explained that quarantine would only have been necessary if the man had shown symptoms of COVID-19, which would make him contagious. Her comments came during this morning's Ministry of Health media breakfast on COVID-19 preparations. She added that under the ministry's Quarantine Act, people can face penalties for breaking quarantine, but there was no need in this case. Bailey arrived in the island on Saturday, March 7 and was placed at the quarantine centre in Kingston.  He asked, and was allowed to retrieve a bag with personal items from someone at the gate of the facility...

All of Italy is in lockdown as coronavirus cases rise By Emma Reynolds and Rob Picheta, CNN Updated 5:53 PM EDT, Mon March 09, 2020   (CNN) Italy has been put under a dramatic total lockdown, as the coronavirus spreads in the country. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that he is extending restrictions already in place in the north. "All the measure of the red zones are now extended to all of the national territory," Conte said at a press conference on Monday evening, also announcing a ban on all public events. The Prime Minister said the move was taken in order to protect the population, and especially the most fragile individuals. His announcement came at the end of a chaotic day that saw prison riots across the country. Smoke billows from a rooftop of the Regina Coeli prison in central Rome on Monday. Ninety-seven people have died of the novel coronavirus since Sunday in Italy, bringing its total number of deaths to 463. The country has 9,172 cases so far, the most of...

According to the gleaner,  Iyah Vybz track understands that track and field legend Usain Bolt is somewhat hesitant to speak about his impending role as a dad, his mother, Jennifer Bolt, is delighted and is hoping that her grandchild will inherit the athletic genes of her iconic song. Bolt, who was in his home parish Trelawny earlier this week for the handover of computers valued at more than J$2 million to seven schools, including his alma mater, Waldensian Primary, smiled broadly when  The Gleaner  prompted him to speak about the child he is having with his girlfriend, Kasi Bennett. While the world record holder for the 100m and 200m shied away from questions on whether he preferred a boy or a girl, his mother had no reservations about opening up about her expected grandchild. “I am very, very happy,” said Bolt’s mother, with a twinkle in her eyes. “I would prefer a grandson, but whatever sex comes, I am happy.” The grandma-to-be, an ardent track fan who has travele...

According to a Jamaica Gleaner report today a few minutes ago, Iyah Vybz Blog  understand that a earthquake tremors were felt in several parishes in Jamaica this afternoon. They reportedly occurred approximately 1:46pm, Jamaica time. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center, reported that the 3.3 magnitude earthquake was located at 5km East North East of Riversdale, St. Catherine, Jamaica. That's near the Angels area of St. Catherine. Gleaner: The tremor was felt mainly in Old Harbour, Portmore and Spanish Town in St Catherine, as well as Kingston and St Andrew, according to the Earthquake Unit. They indicated that the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona also confirmed it however, they reported that it had a magnitude of 4.6. They added that residents in Clarendon and St. Mary also felt tremours. My own canvass, indicated that it was also felt in St. Elizabeth, Clarendon and St. Ann This earthquake happened while the island was bracing itse...

A suspected case of the Coronavirus in Jamaica . The Accident and Emergency Department at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew are on lockdown. Coronaviruses are a large family known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The nCoV is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. Common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. More severe infections can cause pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death. Iyah Vybz Blog  understands that the process of which the virus was transported is the patient previously visited China, where there has been an outbreak of the coronavirus. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has started the sensitization of key stakeholders as it pursues to ensure optimized operational readiness for the novel coronavirus. A release from t...

Gender activists in Jamaica believe that the call for a more-than-one-month withdrawal of sexual freedoms in romantic relationships will raise awareness about violence against women and persuade male muscle in the fight for respect. Reacting to a surge of spousal violence in Jamaica, the fire of fury was lit by Trinidad and Tobago writer and gender advocate Nazma Muller, who took to her social-media page urging women to formulate a sex strike to famish men into compliance and put the cause of women’s rights on the front burner. She has recommended that the sex strike be imposed until March 8, 2020, International Women’s Day. Muller urged Caribbean women to protest against the philosophy that women were property, arguing that men will “never miss the water till the well runs dry”. She further stated that they will begin to value us and our capacity to produce life if we don't  let off any. Holding back sexual pleasure and reflect on what this thing is doing to us an...

International Recording Artiste Charly   Black strongly believes that artistes can do a lot more to help reduce domestic violence by delivering positive messages through their music. Charly Black latest single entitled " Domestic Violence" , addresses the issue of gender-based violence. “Artistes can help in many ways — we can go out and keep campaigning and meetings, but the most important part is to send a positive message in the music.  Carly Black says that since December 2019, I have been receiving a lot of sad, disturbing news about these domestic violence circumstances, and I want to send my condolences to all those people who lost their loved ones as a result of domestic violence.  Many incredible artistes have discussed the issue but mostly men, especially in Jamaica, don't listen to certain kinds of songs. However, I see it relevant to send the positive message in my music, even though it may not be a number one song or even played by disc ...

Koffee has now created history by becoming the youngest reggae act and also the first female artist to win the Grammy for “Best Reggae Album”. Gratitude is a must for 19-year-old Mikayla Simpson, also known as  Koffee . The reggae star snatched the  Grammy  award for “Best Reggae Album” for her “Rapture” EP at the 62nd Annual  Grammy  Awards in Los Angeles this afternoon On receiving the Grammy award, she showed gratitude to her fellow nominees for their gifts to reggae and proclaimed her victory for reggae music and Jamaica 🇯🇲. Rapture spent a remarkable 32 weeks on Billboard’s Reggae albums chart after debuting at number one. The EP’s lead single “Toast” was arguably the biggest reggae single of 2019, earning worldwide airplay and been featured by many international celebrities,  including former US President, Barack Obama . The extraordinary Koffee was nominated among Julian Marley with “As I Am”, Sly & Robbie & Ro...

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF DANCEHALL MUSIC TODAY Music is very instrumental in the development of youth It's lyrical and beat can summon different emotions and also impact physical behavior. Dancer Roxanne “Bumpa” Evans, who died while performing her dance move on Wednesday night. It is alleged that Bumpa was at a party dancing where she sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead. Videos of the incident started circulating in social media. Showing Bumpa balancing on her head for Momo to leap through, However, planned to go the wrong Momo landed on Evans, causing her neck to snap. Does dancehall music create a negative effect on younger people?