The company in China is also reportedly willing to buy out any entity with which Usain might have agreements, and would supersede them in base salary while offering a licensing deal that Bolt currently does not have. If Bolt agrees to the deal, it could be signed in a matter of weeks.

Bolt is currently signed to sporting goods maker Puma AG, which reportedly pays the world record holder in the 100- and 200-metre sprints and triple World Championships gold-medallist about US$1.5 million a year. Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz recently disclosed that, after his success in Beijing in 2008, analysts estimated Bolt’s media market value to be about US$358 million. The media market value is equivalent to what the company would have to spend to get similar exposure from regular advertising.

A big change

The Chinese deal, which offers Bolt licensing rights inside China and exclusive distribution rights in markets outside that country, is being negotiated by Anza Marketing Group Inc, the exclusive marketing agent in China for the triple Olympic champion. Ajani Williams is the CEO of Anza.

“Anza, through its work over the past eight months, has received several offers, and most notably, two major offers, one of which would eventually change the landscape for Usain Bolt in terms of his sponsorship and endorsement market rate. It would change the landscape of track and field, it would change the outcome of his life, and probably even the direction of the country,” Williams said of the proposal on the table, adding that Anza had a counteroffer that could double the sum mentioned.

Shortly after Anza became Bolt’s agent in China, just under a year ago, it began talking to partners in the Chinese company about possible deals. This monster deal, however, came together about eight weeks ago, Williams revealed, adding that the negotiations were difficult given the worldwide economic downturn.

Tipping point

Bolt’s performance in Berlin, where he broke two world records and won three gold medals, was the tipping point, he said.

Williams was unable to disclose the name and nature of the company, citing the risk of compromising the integrity of the deal, but gave the assurance that if Bolt signed, then those details would be made known. He did reveal that conservative valuations show that Bolt could earn around US$115 million from the deal over five years, but there was the potential to exceed US$300 million, based on sales in China and the world market
.

“China is the world’s largest market and these kinds of deals were not available to people like Michael Jordan 20 years ago,” Williams explained. “Usain now has the chance to be empowered and empower a new generation of track and field athletes and all athletes and become the CEO of his own empire.”

He said an athlete of Bolt’s calibre has to capitalise as much as possible on licensing deals, along with guaranteed base-salary endorsement deals. It also gives the triple Olympic gold medallist the opportunity to use this new deal to leverage similar deals, which would force companies to adjust their current market rates.

In recent times, Chinese sporting-goods companies have signed several major sporting stars, including basketball stars Shaquille O’Neal and Baron Davis. Just this year, Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was signed by Chinese sporting goods company Li Ning to a deal worth about US$1.5 million a year.

Bolt is also being offered a deal worth between US$200,000 and US$400,000 a year from another company, sina.com, which Williams describes as the Chinese version of Yahoo. The site hosts one of the biggest sports blogs in China. Basketball stars like Kobe Bryant reportedly earn as much as US$400,000 a year just for posting blogs there, Williams said. He added that blogging on the site would help Bolt keep his brand relevant in the Chinese market, establish his value, and set him up for many more deals.

Anza has received several offers and most notably, two major offers, one of which would eventually change the landscape for Usain Bolt in terms of his sponsorship and endorsement market rate. It would change the landscape of track and field, it would change the outcome of his life, and probably even the direction of the country.

This year’s one-day festival marked the return to Japan of the singing canary, Barrington Levy, whose 20-year hiatus from the Far East made him in incredible demand. Japanese reggae/dancehall enthusiasts embraced Barrington Levy as he delivered an impressive set, consisting of hits including Here I Come, Murderer, Unda Mi Sensi and Too Experienced. He went on to rip Living Dangerously by flawlessly performing

Bounty Killer’s part. And, of course, the crowd went crazy each time Levy dropped his signature scat “didley-didleyooooh”. For Levy, and the fans, this was a memorable and exciting return.

As is customary with this festival, the names of the performers are kept secret – even though they broke from tradition to announce Levy prior to the event – and this year’s secret weapon was none other than Half Pint. He brought ‘Greetings’ to the Far East, in a set which consisted of hits like Level the Vibes, Crazy, Mr Landlord and others.

The vibes inside the venue reached an all-time high when founding Mighty Crown members Masta Simon and Sami T took over the stage with a live-and-direct eight-round sound clash. With their claim to fame as a worldwide clashing sound system, no stone was left unturned. The brothers battled, introducing a new theme in each round. They even unleashed video dubs in one round. While Sami played a video dub of Beenie Man that dissed Simon, it was a TOK dub that Simon entrusted to fire back at Sami.

Also on the bill and creating their own brand of excitement were Japanese artistes including Pushim, Ryo the Skywalker and Fire Ball, who were among the best received. Boasting a dynamic performance, Fire Ball surprised the crowd with an end-of-show special guest Da’ville, who was a hit.

According to Masta Simon, co-founding member of Mighty Crown, “This was another great year of Yokohama Reggae SAI. Each year the event increases in popularity…. drawing more and more fans to experience an international reggae dancehall experience.

“The awareness of the event is also soaring in Jamaica,” added Mighty Crown’s manager Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne of Irish and Chin.

The festival also doubled as the platform for the official Japan release of the Mighty Crown Dynasty High Nike sneaker. Focused on the future, Mighty Crown’s Dynasty High Tour is set to start in October.

The Yokohama Reggae Festival SAI has become Japan’s largest reggae music concert. Over the years, the who’s who of the reggae music industry have taken centre stage at the event including Beenie Man, TOK, Wayne Wonder, Voicemail and many others.

According to information reaching the Observer, the Richmond, Virginia leg of Buju Banton’s Rasta Got Soul tour, which was scheduled to take place at The National on Saturday, September 26, has been relocated to The Hat Factory (in the same city) due to threats by strong arms thugs from the gay community.

This is due largely because the Gargamel and the promoters refused to buckle under the pressure of the gay lynch mobs and has secured a venue for the upcoming event. But the struggle is far from over.

“It seems as if the gays are definitely out to get Buju this year, all his shows at the House of Blues and all venues which are under the Live Nation/AEG Live, are canceled,” a well informed source close to the tour told Splash.
“Another show, this one in Virginia has also been canceled but (incidentally) the promoter, whose pet name is Buju and whose company is called Lionheart Promotions, is determined not to be outdone by the gay community, so he found another venue,” the source added.

The gay community in Richmond has been loud in its outcry against Buju Banton performing in their town to the point where, it is understood, they sent an email to city councilwoman Ellen Robertson threatening violence as well as revenue loss for The National.

It is also understood that an October 3 show featuring the Gargamel at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, in Columbus, Ohio has been canceled after protests by advocates for Columbus’ gay community.

At the center of the imbroglio is Buju Banton’s 1988 hit, Boom Bye Bye. Taking issue with the content, it is understood that several groups including Stonewall Democrats of Ohio and Equality Ohio, circulated e-mail urging people to voice their disapproval by shutting down the show.

These developments follow cancellations in August of seven shows for the ace deejay by promoters AEG Live/Goldenvoice and Live Nation. These concerts were scrapped following a spate of e-mails, phone calls and Facebook notes objecting to the tour.

In an attempt of damage control, at the start of this month, a release from the controversial artiste’s company, Gargamel Music gave the assurance that the tour was on regardless of the resistance of the gay community.

With the heading, The voice of Jamaica will not be silenced,” the release stated in parts: “We are disappointed by the hasty cancellation of a few shows by Live Nation/House of Blues and Goldenvoice/AEG, but fans will be happy to know we have over 30 confirmed shows that are definitely playing and we are working to replace the canceled dates.

“Now our team is primarily concerned with setting the record straight on the grossly inaccurate portrait of Buju being painted by certain organisations and systematically relayed to the masses and the media.

“Buju Banton was all of 15 years old when he wrote Boom Bye Bye in response to widely publicized man/boy rape case in Jamaica. It was not a call to violence. The song was released on a popular dance hall rhythm in 1992 and caused a huge uproar after receiving commercial radio play in the States. Following much public debate back then, prominent gay rights leaders and Buju decidedly moved on. For the record, it is the only song he ever made on the subject – and he does not perform it today.”

Camperdown, who were coming off a 4-0 win over Meadowbrook on Tuesday, created the early chances, but found themselves trailing 0-2 by midway the first half.
Claude Allen pounced on a defensive error involving Camperdown goalkeeper Marlon Brown in the 18th minute, to score from close range, giving Wolmer’s the lead against the run of play.

The visitors grew in confidence and doubled their lead four minutes later through an unmarked Andre McCormack, who slammed home a speculative shot from 25 yards past Camperdown’s custodian Brown.

Wolmer’s looked well on their way to securing their first win in the zone until Camperdown’s talisman Waite became a thorn in their side.

He said, however, that the IMF has learnt from mistakes of the past and that the institution is more responsive today.

“It’s no secret that our lending programmes attracted some criticism over the years. People said our conditions were too harsh, too intrusive, or even misguided. I accept some of that criticism. We made mistakes, but we always try to learn from our mistakes,” said Strauss-Kahn, French finance and economy minister.

Heavy-handed policies

He told a Resources for the Future conference in Washington, DC, yesterday that the days of heavy-handed IMF policies were over, as the agency had reviewed the usual lending conditionalities it imposes.

“… We need to make sure that the medicine does not harm the patient. Over the past few years, we have been streamlining our conditionalities, focusing on core policy measures that are critical for macroeconomics stability, poverty reduction and growth,” Strauss-Kahn said.

He added: “Too many conditions in too many different areas can reduce effectiveness and lead to a loss of legitimacy.”

Political and labour interests in countries like Jamaica have protested the posture of the IMF towards its debtors.

At present, the country is in the process of preparing a letter of intent to re-enter a borrowing relation with the multilateral agency. Jamaica is seeking to borrow US$1.2 billion under a standby loan programme.

Channels

Meanwhile, Strauss-Kahn yesterday said the “crisis is striking through many different channels, all pointing to its global and all-encompassing nature”.

He said that exports from low-income countries could drop this year by 16 per cent and that remittances may fall this year by up to 10 per cent. He has also predicted that foreign direct investment to low-income countries may fall by 25 per cent this year.

He urged developed countries not to leave the weaker ones behind and warned against any form of protectionist policies, saying he expected the world economy to recover in 2010.

“But we cannot take things for granted. The pace of global recovery is far from assured, and the poorer countries may suffer after-effects for years to come,” he said.

Friday, September 18, 2009

The Government is projecting to spend $13 billion to repair and rehabilitate several roads and bridges as well as infrastructure work across the island over the next few months.

“The bulk of the money [$12 billion] for these projects has already been secured from several international agencies,” Patrick Wong, chief executive officer of the National Works Agency (NWA), told the Observer following yesterday’s press conference at the transport ministry in Kingston.

The Caribbean Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and Kuwaiti Development Fund were listed among the loan agencies.

Earlier, Transport Minister Mike Henry said $1 billion will be taken from the Road Maintenance Fund, which was boosted by the huge petrol tax imposed on already battered motorists by the Government earlier this year.

The $1 billion being taken from the road fund, the minister said, will be used on 10 projects across the island, majority of which he said, will be completed by yearend.

Among them are roads at Newport West in Kingston, on which $216 million is expected to be spent.

Other projects to be financed by the road fund include:

. disaster mitigation islandwide;

. rehabilitation of retaining structures in the Rio Grande Valley, Portland; Buff Bay Valley, Portland; Papine, Red Light and Hardwar Gap in St Andrew; and Above Rocks, St Andrew;

. road rehabilitation in Fern Gully, St Ann; and

. Soapberry River training in St Catherine.

The Sheffield to Negril main road in Westmoreland, and the main road from Sandy Bay, Clarendon to Old Harbour, St Catherine are among those to receive attention using money sourced from the overseas agencies.

Other projects include:

. rehabilitation and expansion of the Washington Boulevard/Dunrobin Avenue corridor;

. protective rock revetment works for the Rae Town Fishing Village to the Bank of Jamaica in downtown Kingston, and rehabilitation of Port Royal Street;

. rehabilitation of the Red Hills/Sligoville/Bog Walk corridor – a major alternative route whenever the Bog Walk Gorge is impassable; and
. rehabilitation of the May Pen to Trout Hall road in Clarendon.

Nine bridges are also to be replaced over the next five years. Among them are those at Vanity Fair, Linstead, St Catherine; Leith Hall, St Thomas; Sandy Gully/Cassia Park in St Andrew; and Barham in Westmoreland.

In addition, Minister Henry announced that Government intends to revitalise the Jamaica Railway Corporation within the next year and create a new-look Island Traffic Authority with a performance-based and accountability structure and new service delivery standards.

He said, too, that the Ken Jones Aerodrome in Portland and Negril Aerodrome in Westmoreland are to be expanded, while that at Tinson Pen in Kingston is to be relocated and the Vernamfield Cargo Aerodrome is slated for development.

Government also plans to expand training facilities at the Caribbean Maritime Institute; upgrade the Ocho Rios and Montego Bay Cruise Shipping piers; complete phase five of the expansion of the Kingston Container Terminal; and develop a logistics centre at Tinson Pen to offer additional value-added services to shipping lines using the Port of Kingston.

Privatisation of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston was also announced yesterday.

Henry also listed the $3.4 billion spent on Tropical Storm Gustav-related works, including repairs to several gullies, retaining walls and road rehabilitation in seven parishes – St Catherine, St Andrew, Clarendon, Portland, St Thomas, St Mary and St Ann – among accomplishments by his ministry since taking office in September 2007.

World champions Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser yesterday received cheques for $8.9m (US$100,000) and $1.78m (US$20,000), respectively, from Digicel for their outstanding achievements at the Berlin World Championships last month.

Digicel joined Jamaica in celebrating the phenomenal achievements and handed over the cheques at a press conference at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston.
Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel, said it was a pleasure representing Digicel in acknowledging two of Jamaica’s greatest sporting ambassadors.

Said Linehan: “Jamaican athletes are inspiration for all Jamaicans, young and old alike. We all saw how communities across the island were united in their support of the team and their quest for medal success in Berlin. So we at Digicel are very proud of our association with our athletes.”

He added: “We’re committed to ensuring that aspiring young sportsmen and women have access to the necessary support and training to pursue and realise their dreams.”

Linehan said the diplomatic recognition bestowed on Bolt is both deserved and timely. “We look forward to witnessing his conferment… as Ambassador-at-Large, the Honourable Usain St Leo Bolt,” he said.

Bolt, who won the 100m and 200m in world record times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds in Berlin, Germany, thanked Digicel for sticking with him through good and bad times.

Said Bolt: “Thanks to Digicel because they’ve been with me for a long time even when I was just starting out and when I got injured while going through a rough time. Thank you very much in supporting me through those times. I really appreciate it.”

Bolt, who now has six global titles, also had high praises for fellow 100m champion Fraser.

He said: “Shelly, you came back and showed the world that it was no joke and that last year’s Olympic was not a one-year thing. We’re ready and we’re going to take over now. It is time for Jamaica.,” Bolt said to rousing applause from the small gathering.

“We showed the world that we train in Jamaica and there are great coaches here that took us to the top and we will continue staying on top. We work hard and will continue to stay focused,” Bolt added.

As usual, Women’s 100m champion Fraser was quick out of the blocks and thanked Digicel for its sponsorship and for not only being the backbone of Jamaican athletics, “but being a family that cares so much”.

“Not only (do) they award us with incentives such as money, but they support us in whatever we do,” said the ever-smiling Fraser while singling out Digicel Sports Sponsorship Manager Paula Pinnock-McCleod for special mention.

Said Fraser: “She is that little angel on your shoulder. She’s always calling before the races saying, ‘Good luck tomorrow, we wish you all the best. Go out there and have fun’, and stuff like that.”

The little dynamo urged Digicel to continue to support Jamaica and to be that “beacon of light that is guarding and making sure that you reach home”.

At the end of the press conference, both Bolt and Fraser signed pictures of themselves for a few adoring fans.

Digicel has been Bolt’s sponsor since 2004 and Fraser’s since 2008.

“It’s sponsorship like these that allow Digicel to give back value to its customers and the wider Jamaica by helping to unearth and develop young talents across all levels in Jamaica,” Linehan declared.

Passengers on a charter flight at Jamaica’s Sangster International airport were taken hostage on late Sunday night.

Apparently, a man snuck aboard the CanJet plane which was headed for Halifax, Canada and took hostages.

CNN reports:

They were boarding the CanJet flight from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to Halifax, Canada, late Sunday when the security breach occurred, said Elizabeth Scotton, a spokeswoman for the company that manages the airport.

Scotton would not say how many hostages were being held.

About 150 people were scheduled to be on the flight, said Jamaican police Lt. Col. Derek Robinson, and it was not known how many were on the plane.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/20/jamaica-hostage-crisis-ai_n_188809.html

Tagged: Jamaica Hostage Crisis ]]> http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/jamaica-hostage-crisis/feed/ 0 spreaduwings http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/obama-on-kanye-west/ http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/obama-on-kanye-west/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:36:06 +0000 spreaduwings http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/obama-on-kanye-west/ ]]>

Kanye West is at it once again. This guy went into a jibberish-riddled diatribe at the MTV Video Music Awards that Beyonce should have won over the beautiful, elegant, well-mannered Taylor Swift and made himself look like the jack— our president said he is

more about "Obama on Kanye West", posted with vodpod

]]> http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/obama-on-kanye-west/feed/ 0 spreaduwings http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/four-caribbean-nations-on-us-drug-list/ http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/four-caribbean-nations-on-us-drug-list/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:52:12 +0000 spreaduwings http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/?p=67 ]]>

WASHINGTON, United States, September 16, 2009 – US President Barack Obama has named four Caribbean nations to a major narcotics list.

Under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, the President is required to notify Congress of those countries he determines to be major illicit drug-producing countries or major drug-transit countries.

The Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were named to the 2009 list, along with 16 other countries – Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.

However, the Department of State was quick to point out that “a country’s presence on the list does not necessarily reflect its counternarcotics efforts nor does it reflect its cooperation with the United States”.
The designation, however, can reflect a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to be produced and/or trafficked through a country despite its own best efforts.

When a country does not live up to its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and conventions, the President determines that the country has “failed demonstrably”. Such a designation can lead to sanctions.

However, the President may also execute a waiver should he determine that continuing US assistance is in the national interest of the United States. Even without such a waiver, humanitarian assistance and counternarcotics assistance may continue.

Of the 20 nations, the President said he determined that three countries, Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela, “failed demonstrably” during the last 12 months to adhere to international counter-narcotic agreements and take counter-narcotic measures set forth in US law. (Caribworldnews)

Tagged: Four Caribbean nations on US drug list ]]> http://allthingsjamaican.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/four-caribbean-nations-on-us-drug-list/feed/ 1 spreaduwings