Buju takes to the stage in emotional concert

JAMAICAN REGGAE STAR Buju Banton made an emotional return to the stage last night in a live concert in Miami— his first in over a year – and possibly his last in the United States.

In front of a packed audience of flag-waving supporters, Banton closed the five hour concert with a two-hour performance, ending with a rendition of the 23rd Psalm before walking off stage in the arms of his lawyers.

Banton sang his classics, praised the support of his fellow artistes, declared his innocence in the upcoming drug conspiracy trial and told the thousands that he had missed them.

The Jamaican singer faces a retrial next month after the first one last fall ended with a no decision.

One of the emotional high points of the night was when he brought out Stephen Marley, the follow artiste who stood his bail with a lien on his half million dollar property in South Florida.

Bracing warmly, the two started a short set by singing Bib Marley’s Duppy Conqueror, with a line that says “yes me friend dem say we free again.”

He also sang with Marcia Griffiths, Wayne Wonder and Gramps Morgan.

Before him a slew of mainly Jamaican acts performed at the show—including reggae’s latest sensation Gyptian, international acts Sean Paul and Shaggy, Freddie McGregor, Everton Blender and Nadine Sunderland.

There were also cameos from rappers DJ Khaled and Busta Rhymes.

All expressed delight of coming to the aid of their fellow entertainer.

Banton, whose entertainer’s visa has already been revoked by US immigration, was granted special permission to perform by the court.

Many say it could have been his last performance in the United States, since he faces deportation even if freed of the charges.

Why cry wolf?

We are not sure if the guys who run the opposition New National Party are pushing the panic button too quickly – crying wolf, while there is – at least for now – none in the neighborhood.

If the party’s statement about pending arrests was meant to be some kind of information pre-emptive strike, it just exposes the reeking fear at their headquarters.

My advice to them will be have your lawyers a phone call away, and in the interim, to use a popular local phrase from the 80s, “cease and settle.”

The one good strategic political move from the statement is who read it.

Roland Bhola is one of the genuinely nice guys in Grenadian politics, and one of the few with the credibility to make it.

Dare I say, he is one of those who will also genuinely not worry about the work of any special prosecutor.

However, we can’t seem to find, from any credible independent source, the details of this special prosecutor waiting to take action of which they speak.

From our research, there have been investigations from the office of the DPP into a number of areas, and there has been talk of hiring a special prosecutor and a couple of people have been contacted in that regard.

Based on whom you speak to, the Canadian Bob Lindquist has either been spoken to or has been working on a few matters – but we have no official confirmation.

However the picture that has emerged is that there has been progress on a number of matters – but as with those things, it has been relatively slow.

Whatever our views of this government or the past, it is clear that there are many grounds for concerns about some of the behavior in the former administration.

Whether it has reached the stage where formal charges could be laid, I am not sure based on what we are hearing that they are quite there as yet.

Given the state of play however, we are also not anywhere where anyone can claim, with any serious credibility, that the process that is unfolding is a political witch hunt.

This is far too premature.

We will all have to wait and see the nature of the charges - if any.

There are a few things that however should be clear – and one of those is that there are enough things that happened in the latter stages of the NNP reign to give all of us pause.

Are they criminal? We just don’t know. That’s why any investigation is in order and appropriate.

The NNP claim that the current administration is trying to fulfill an election promise to investigate their conduct might be true. And I am not sure what’s wrong with that.

Having come to power on the argument that the quality of governance left much to be desired, I don’t think the NDC would have any credibility left in not seeking to investigate what had concerned so many in the first place.

And about this investigation being an attempt to take people’s minds from the tough times they are facing?

For once, NNP is giving the rag-tag bunch at Botanic Gardens more credit than they deserve. I don’t think they are politically smart or organized enough to pull that off.

Nor do I think that the opposition is giving ordinary Grenadian people enough credit to be able to separate issues.

It will be a grave political miscalculation – never mind the legal one – to move forward with half-baked charges.

Up to this point, I am comfortable with the credibility of the people involved in this legal process – who for two years have withstood shouts for political blood – and have gone ahead studiously following the spirit and the letter of the law.

The value of any country is its ability to take care of its most vulnerable citizens, and to be able to apply justice to all – cost it what it will.

We must not put off any appropriate investigation merely on the basis of some phony argument about the cost of doing it.

The cost of not seeking justice and of not demanding proper behavior from all of our public officers – in and out of office – is far greater.

Peace of Earth!

It’s been an interesting period.

But sometimes I am not sure what to make of this entire furor of the last what – nearly a month now.

In that time, Grenada has been enjoying – at least on the face of it - a great cruise ship season – one time recently there were four ships in port and I was told eight-thousand people ashore.

The Prime Minister went to CANCUN and back and was supposedly at the center stage of the Climate Change conference – a process that Michael Church as Environment Minister, we are told, chaired so well before he had to leave just on the eve of it.

But in recognition of his good work, the UN organizers invited him over as a special delegate.

Tonight I saw on the TV that ‘nuff charter flights coming from Canada for the entire winter – Jazz Airways, Air Canada and Sunwing.

Forget the yankee dollar. If it works out right, a strong Canadian buck will be just fine.

But did I say Sunwing? Yea they’re back. Don’t feel “no way” Willie, a special ceremony still ain’t planned.

The traditional “meet and greet” at the airport will suffice. For now! For this time!

It’s been an awkward year for most of us, but even so I noticed we are finding creative ways to get into the Christmas spirit.

And talking about spirit – man too much rum flowing in them bars in town. But I thought all you said “we brokes”?

We were brokes in November, and we will be more brokes in January. But don’t worry about yesterday or about tomorrow. Just pass one for today.

When man drinking rum, nothing else is relevant.

So come to think of it, why did they not try the reshuffle on Christmas eve? We would have all been too drunk to notice.

A little lady told me in town today that shoulder ham scarce.

Man it ain’t no Christmas without a little salt ham boiling in a huge black pot on the makeshift fireside behind the house.

And even if the chicken is a little pricey, no worries there. Mama still got enough yard fowls around the place.

We will run down a few “ below the cocoa” – and some waters will be in order.

The real holiday breeze has already started to blow. But I have one complaint. Too much senseless parang on the radio.

Man this is Christmas. This ain’t carnival.

And why every day got to be like carnival? I go to the church harvest, they make it carnival. I go to the cricket, they make it carnival. Now Christmas is carnival.

The good thing about the last few weeks is that ‘nuff people vex with me.

Now I have less people to send gifts to. The downside I guess, is that I won’t be getting many either.

But that’s alright.

All I want for Christmas is to give some love, and expect some back as well.

Given the last four weeks, that will be welcome indeed.

Peace on Earth!

Here is the official declaration of a unilateral ceasefire. They can fire if they want, but I ain’t sending back any bullets until at least January 3.

I have more important things to attend to.

I am looking forward to my son’s soccer, midnight service in St Maurice Church in Miramar and watching Miami take on LA Lakers (Wade & Lebron versus Kobe and Gasol), with the kitchen smelling good and friends, family and beer (not that I drinking that), keeping good company.

When I really think about it – what was this fuss of the last four weeks about?

This is Christmas man! (And I’ve got to get out of this town).

Merry Christmas everybody, especially to Ray, George (by two), and a cool uncle of ours.

Yea man, he is a real cool ruler, until he hears the word hijack.

But it’s all cool.

One Love!

And once again Merry Christmas!