The Trinidad-based company was contracted by the Nevis Island Administration [NIA] to improve the quality of Drag Racing.

Cozier said that while racers from across the Caribbean had shown interest in being part of the meet his company had secured the participation of cars from some of the bigger Caribbean islands.

“The big news is that we have 12 cars from Trinidad, another 12 from Antigua and two possibly three cars from St. Lucia coming up and they are all coming up on one trip,” he said.

Cozier said that despite the delayed planning start his team was working tirelessly to make this year’s meet a grand event with renovations being done at the track to accommodate the large number of cars that will be competing.

“One of the first projects that we’ve done at the facility is we’ve moved the pit area to outside of the fence before the grid. We are currently grading that down level and it will be paved and all the cars will stay out there. Only cars that are in current competition will come on the grid. The grid will now become a holding area,” he explained.

This, according to Cozier will enhance the quality of the meet by having races begin at a quicker pace.

As part of the company’s quest to improve the standard of the meet, persons will not be allowed beyond the spectators’ area.

“A lot of the stuff is going to be changed down at the pit and grid area. Spectators will not be allowed down there. People will not be allowed on the grid unless they’re in competition. We need to get the crowd away from there.

Drag strip at St. James, Nevis.

“The Public Address [PA] system will be aimed along the fence towards the crowd so we’ll have a track announcer who is talking to the crowd on the hill. The disc jockey [DJ] will be moved up to the spectators’ area,” he said.

According to Cozier, competing cars are expected to arrive on September 16th and be taken to the Villa Grounds below the Charlestown Secondary School for a Car Show on September 17th. While the details for the final racing day have not yet been confirmed, practice sessions and competition for the slower classes will be on September 18th at the St. James Raceway from 10 AM.

Cozier also spoke of his company’s and the Ministry of Sports’ intent to raise the racers’ entrance fee and prize money in the not too distant future.

Persons can purchase daily tickets for the races at EC$20 or weekend passes for EC$30. There is no admission fee for Friday’s Car Show.

Meantime, the Department of Information learnt that Nevis will soon see rule changes to the sport of Drag Racing.

Upgrades to the current rules include all bike riders must wear a jacket. This is according to Pudgy Productions’ Christian Cozier.

Coming soon, said Cozier, “all riders will have to wear protective gloves and boots.” He also recommended that drivers purchase driving suits to protect them from fires.

“As the cars get faster and you go up in the classes, you realise that the safety gear goes up so [for] the open class cars it’s a three layer suit with the driving shoes and the socks and the gloves because these are cars now that if something does happen, its more violent because they are going faster,” Cozier said.

Watch the hands that roll some of the best cigars in the world.

The factory opened its gates to the public for tours this year.

More than 300 different blends are made at the factory.

Marriage-based petitions for spouses of United States Citizens fall under the immigrant visa categories of IR1 (for couples married more than two years) and CR1 (for couples married less than two years). A K3 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows your spouse to travel to United States and apply through USCIS in the U.S. to become a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States.

In the past, petitioners often applied for the K3 visa class because these cases were processed more quickly. This is no longer true in our Consular District. The Immigrant Visa Unit in Bridgetown is scheduling IR1 and CR1 appointments as soon as all documents for these cases are received at the National Visa Center. As a result, there is little or no difference between the time it takes to receive an IR1/CR1 appointment and a K3 appointment.

Please keep in mind that U.S. citizens filing an I-130 petition for an IR1 or CR1 spouse must file separate I-130 petitions for any children also immigrating to the United States.

• What if I (a U.S. citizen) am not married yet, and I want to get married to my non-American fiancé(e) in the U.S. What do I do then?

There is a visa class available for the fiancé(e) of a U.S. Citizen. A fiancé(e) visa (or K1 visa) is a non-immigrant visa, however because the process is similar to that of an immigrant visa the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown handles fiancé(e) visas. The fiancé(e) visa is for foreigners who wish to marry a U.S. citizen in the United States and then become a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) without having to leave the United States. If you are granted a K1 visa, you have 90 days from entry into the United States to marry your U.S. citizen fiancé(e). If your plans change, and you do not get married within the 90 day time frame, you must leave the United States. K2 visas are for the children of K1 fiancé(e) applicants.

After your marriage takes place in the United States, you and your U.S. citizen spouse must contact USCIS to change your status to that of a Legal Permanent Resident. The change of status is NOT automatic simply because you get married.

For further information on obtaining a K1 visa, please follow instructions on U.S. Embassy Bridgetown’s website at http://barbados.usembassy.gov/iv-k_1_visas.html. You can also reach the Immigrant Visa Unit in Bridgetown by e-mail at BridgetownIV@state.gov

• How can I prove to the consular officer that I have a real marital relationship with my foreign spouse?

For immigrant visa cases involving a marital relationship, such as marriage and stepchild cases, it is your responsibility to prove to the consular officer that you have a real marital relationship. If you and your spouse have any children together, make sure you bring the children’s legal birth certificates in long form – one that shows both parents’ names. You should also provide ample evidence to demonstrate that the two of you have a life together as a couple. Examples of marital relationship evidence might include, but are not limited to, photographs of you and your spouse together from periods before and after the wedding, shared civil documents, remittance receipts, phone records, etc. To qualify for the visa, it is your responsibility to prove to the consular officer that you have a genuine marital relationship with your spouse.

• For more information

Any further questions about this, or other Consular and travel topics can be found at http://travel.state.gov/ or our website at http://barbados.usembassy.gov. You can contact the Immigrant Visa Unit in Bridgetown by e-mail at BridgetownIV@state.gov.

Find Italbaje's producers on Facebook/aitown or myspace/aitown

The first Single off Ital Bajan’s EP, A stop for every journey,
Directed by Tiziana Forletta and Pietro Vecellio
Photography by Renzo O. Angelillo
Music Produced by Ital Bajan and Fama
Song available on Itunes!

This film, titled ‘The CONFIDANT‘, is suspense thriller that was written and directed by award-winning writer Alton Glass. The cast of this film consists of Hollywood’s elite actors and actress listed below:

• Boris Kodjoe – “The Gospel”, “Brown Sugar”, “Madea’s Family Reunion”, “All About Us”;
• Richard Roundtree – “Shaft”, “Se7en”, “Knight Rider”, “Lincoln Heights”;
• Billy Zane – “Titanic”, “Zoolander”, “Poetic Justice”, “ABC’S The Deep End”;
• Bai Ling – “Star Wars”, “Crank”, “Anna and the King”;
• Kenya Moore, – “Trois”, “Waiting to Exhale”, “Deliver Us From Eva”;
• Camila Alves - Brazilian model and girlfriend of actor, Matthew McConaughey;
• David Banner – prominent Hip-Hop artist and Record producer.

Kenya’s previous Barbadian experience coupled with the completion of ‘The CONFIDANT‘ has led to her
coordinating with Urban Eye & Unik Clik Productions (U.E & U.C- the producers) in premiering this film on the island of Barbados. Visualized as a major American undertaking on island soil, this premiere is unprecedented in Barbados and furthermore, the Caribbean. In its entirety, the film’s cast has been secured to travel to Barbados to attend this premiere that will be held at Sheraton Center’s Olympus Theatres Complex, on September 17th, 2010.
Also scheduled to attend this event are the international actors listed below:

• Brian White – “The Shield”, “Stomp The Yard”, “The Return of The King”;
• Malcolm Jamal Warner – “Sherri”, “Jeremiah”, “The Cosby Show”;
• Regina King – “Miss Congeniality 2”, “This Christmas”, “Ray”, “Daddy Day Care”, “Jerry Macguire”;
• Kim Williams – Casting Director for Tyler Perry Studios, Former HBO Casting Director
Enormous publicity and international exposure will be garnered from this premiere due to various North American and Caribbean press and media houses that will cover this film, its red carpet presentation and the other related events. Various types of media expected for this event include:

• Television - Barbados’ “CBC-TV 8” , CaribFyah, Caribbean One Network
• Internet and Paparazzi - Media Take-Out, the U.S.A’s premiere entertainment website, and others;
• Magazines and Newspapers – Local, regional and international, including the ‘L.A Times’ and ‘Atlanta
Journal’.
• The Film’s website “http://www.theconfidantmovie.com/” – where the trailer & cast are available for
perusal.

As a result, ‘The CONFIDANT‘ premiere is very capable of further propelling Barbados into the Hollywood Film Industry market. Whilst potentially attracting thousands of new customers to the island, the vibe for this event will surely create much excitement for fans across the region and beyond.

DATES: Thursday, September 16th – Saturday, September 18th

• September 17th (10:00am – 11:00 am) – Press Conference for ‘The CONFIDANT Premiere’
• September 18th (Time T.B.D) – Screening of ‘The CONFIDANT Premiere’
• September 17th (4:30 – 7:30 pm) – Film Workshop hosted by Kenya Moore & celebrity guest actors.
• September 18th (11pm – 3am) – The ‘Virgo’ Exclusive After-Party with Kenya Moore & celebrity guest
actors.

• EXPIRATION: Friday, September 15th, 2010
• RULES (PUDDING)

1. All contestants must be older than 18 years of age.
2. All contestants must submit ONE video clip (maximum length of 3 minutes) by September 3, 2010.
1. All submissions must be emailed to (email address), for us to upload to the event’s Facebook
group.
2. All submissions must either explain or depict why the contestant should have a role in the
’subject’ movie.
3. For multiple submissions per contestant, ONLY the first submission will be judged and the
others ignored.
4. Video clips with indecent content (language, gestures, actions – etc) will be disqualified.
3. All contestants must be able to travel to the U.S.A some time between November 1, 2010 and January 10, 2011.
4. One (1) winner will be selected from this competition.
1. The winner is responsible for securing all the required documentation for travel to the U.S.A.
2. The winner will be selected primarily by ‘TEXT VOTE‘ results with a major local cellular phone
company.
3. The winner will be announced at the ‘VIRGO‘ Exclusive Party to be held on Saturday September
18, 2010.

• PRIZES (PUDDING)

1. The winner will receive a supporting role in the movie ‘PUDDING‘.
2. The winner will receive an all-expense paid trip (airfare, accommodation & $1000 cash) to California for one week.
3. In California, the winner will actively pursue his or her dream of becoming a Hollywood star while
working alongside A-List celebrity actors.
4. In Los Angeles, the winner will be taken on a shopping trip with Kenya Moore.
5. The winner will have lunch with celebrity actor Boris Kodjoe and actress Sanaa Lathan in Los Angeles.
‘The CONFIDANT Premiere‘ and the ‘PUDDING Competition‘ collectively combine to form the schedule of events called “HOLLYWOOD MEETS BARBADOS“. Due to this magnitude of this event schedule, Moore Vision, Urban Eye (Barbados) & Unik Clik are keen on acquiring event partners and sponsors to assist in the production of this first-class and successful Hollywood film premiere.

Here is the late, great Timothy Callender - my favorite story from him was "The Honest Thief" about a fight over a Banana tree

I had no idea it’s 21 years since Timothy Callender was no longer with Barbados sharing his creativity; this number is a milestone among most folk across the planet as a means of maturity, many great folk in history hit their stride in their 20’s – William Pitt the Younger became Prime Minister of Great Britain at the age of 25, Alexander the Great was 25 when Europe was under his rule and at the age of 29 Ayesha Gibson-Gill is directing a quadrilogy of Timothy’s works in respect for what Timothy did for Bajan culture.

I remember Barbados’ first photo comic was The Watchman with singing sensations the Draytons’ Two as both hero and villain in the graphic novel which was a hit in the mid-80’s. When I used to be at Rediffusion, now Starcom, and General Manager Gary Duesbury died, they were giving away his books and among them I found an autographed copy of Timothy Callender’s “How Music Came to The Ainchan People” and they were ready to pelt this in the rubbish bin!

Flash forward to present-day… When I arrived at the Manager’s Office at Frank Collymore Hall to interview both Ayesha and Alison Sealy-Smith on the four act tribute, it suddenly occurred to me as I was about to record the audio – here’s a bit of Starcom history… I was one of the first voices for Yess Ten-Four (now Love FM) 104.1 FM, Alison was one of the first voices for VOB 790 when the radio station used AM and here’s Ayesha now one of the younger Morning Drive Time folk of Starcom – all of us radio leaders at one point or another.

At left is Alison Sealy-Smith and to the right is debut Director Ayesha Gibson-Gill, as you see, Ayesha is way different than the Michael Jackson buffoonery depicted in the jurassic Barbados Today not so long ago!

Alison is Executive Producer and Ayesha directs the cast which includes Matthew Murrell, Amanda Cumberbatch, Dy Browne, Jamelia Cobham and Nala among the cast of 14. The show begins Sept 29 and Ayesha looked at some of the stories used for this production which is also a launchpad for the Diasporic Arts Productions that’s spearheading the whole initiative, Ayesha chose four of the stories for adaptation {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

One theme looks at a sinner who is now seeking redemption while another is a musical looking at Culture Shock for Barbadians

Cast in rehearsal for the multi-genre "It So Happens" from Sept 29 to Oct 3

It’s not all intellectual, there are also romances which explore typical schisms in Bajan society {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

One romance is on a girl who must decide over the wealthy fool or the ugly simple mechanic, while the other love story is a modern day version of Romeo & Juliet

While accustomed to straddling Barbados and Canada, theatre fund-raising in Barbados neverthelesswas a rude awakening for Alison Sealy-Smith {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

The “Streetlegal” star is accustomed to approaching fellow members of the Canadian dramatic community when she needs to secure a budget for a project, but in Barbados – culture is a whole new level

Meeting of cast with Ayesha and Alison at Central Bank's Grand Salle

The Executive Producer eventually discovered not all of Barbados is so culturally dearth in their outlook {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

She was very grateful for support shown both by the Central Bank as well as The Ministry of Community Development and Culture

Join the Diasporic Arts Productions for their Debut Performance based on TIMOTHY CALLENDER’s work, “It So Happens.” September 29th to October 3rd. SIX SHOWS. Frank Collymore Hall!

"Commander Bond" probably feels his License was revoked and has bittersweet memories of Saturday nite?

Remember when Crop Over had Georgie Porgie and Cubba or even the the late Carew? There’s a whole new generation of what I’d consider as Clown Princes of Karaoke… Albert Doyle attempted both “This Magic Moment” and Frank Sinatra’s legendary “My Way” in the former he commanded the crowd with his spastic antics and facial contortions but in the return bout, he ran out of steam and did not command the song as it must be done to give it that verve to make an audience follow your musical appreciation.

Grantley Sylvester, or Commander Bond as he preferred to be called, tried a little butt-smooching by dressing in a complete LIME costume to deliver “Only You” but his repeat did not capture the judges that nite since he did not make the final ten.

BTW, speaking of judges – you recall when I compared Ricky Aimey to Simon Cowell and found him lacking? You believe the man is so thin-skinned he cut me dead the whole night at Plantation Garden Theatre? If I truly had acrimony towards the poor old strummer, would I even have mentioned his Jazz noodlings at Braddie’s Bar in a separate item? Ricky’s Sunday fare did not even appear in the dead tree media as I recall…

Richard "Teen Talent" Stoute was another judge besides Ricky Aimey

Kenrick Murrell is a dapper dude who's even competed in regional Karaoke in Castries

A gala event like this with the opportunity for contestants to bring their own music can create some awkward moments as bugs or hiccoughs will happen even when none seem likely, while the show may have begun late – most of the audience did not mind as they got drinks and mingled and the Theatre filled to capacity.

The first contestant Juditha Alexander had to reappear twice on stage waiting for her tune to register in the disk player – but unfortunately it completely threw Shondelle Durant who was covering DJ Sammy’s version of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” and eventually she decided to withdraw completely from vying for the $5,000 prize at stake!

Hope she recovers from her shock and realises that no matter what preparation you can do, sometimes you have to fly by the seat of your pants! There were two ladies who had top marks for the evening but in my view there were four top finalists, all ladies as well…

4th spotted Mary Clarke wowed the crowd with Gladys Knight’s “You’re The Best Thing (That Ever Happened To Me)” with a vocal power like Mahalia Jackson; 3rd placed Janelle Gibbons did two very difficult tunes – Evanescence’s ”This Immortal” and Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette” and nailed both in all of their key changes and required breath control to deliver the correct notes.

Emcee Janelle Walcott building suspense for already nerve-wracked contestants as to who moves forward to next round.

The top two ladies have very different idea what they’d do with their prize should they earn the $5,000 and the 32″ flat-screen TV and the recording contract… Laverne Smith was top gun that nite with her Regina Belle songbook tunes and is very careful to share that she won’t be repeating from that popular singer who likes to visit Barbados, but she did say how she’ll handle the funds if she wins {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

Her main concern is to clear off any debts and she also plans to improve on her stage presence for the next round, as she feels she could use more of the ground to add to her presentation.

Some of the 20 who will compete in the Finals of LIME Barbados National Karaoke Championships!

Michaela Blackett amazed participants with her rendition of Etta James’ “At Last” which requires severe vocal power and range, yet her victory needs are simpler {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

Michaela wants to see what her Mum needs first and then she’ll check on her friends before she finally spends on herself! Saint or Sucker?

The next Semi-Final is this Friday 10th September at Plantation Garden Theatre.

Any queries for the Barbados Labour Party can be directed to the Opposition Office, Tel. (246) 310-5413

Both Owen Arthur (who was quite fiery against Freundel Stuart, referring to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in Act 4, Sc. 1 that Stuart is “slow of wit, fit only to send messages“) & Fmr. St James Central MP Kerrie Symmonds want to know why Prime Minister David Thompson made no appearance after the Tudor Street robbery & fire which claimed six lives on Thursday 3rd Sept? Mr Symmonds drew to occasions when both Mr Arthur & Lloyd Erskine Sandiford had surgeries and the public was kept informed – he noted the updates were mild compared to what Americans received when both George W. Bush & his VP Dick Cheney had operations.

Deputy Opposition Leader Dale Marshall wants to know why charges were made against top cop Darwin Dottin when it is his Deputy who must answer to him and not the other way around? In his view, the current dispute over Commissioner Dottin is a warning for police officers to be mindful where their political allegiances lean or else they may reap a bitter consequence.

Part of the audience who came to hear both the ex-DLP President and reminiscences from the MP for St Peter

This as concerned Barbadians who have questions about the sustained Recession under the current DLP regime can attend a Panel Discussion at BWU’s Mangrove Labour College on 8th SEPT 2010 with Clyde Mascoll, Avinash Persaud & Lindsay Holder on Global Recession – The Way Forward at 7:00 pm, Indar Weir is Moderator for the evening.

Kirk Edwards hits match-winning ton for Wanderers in Barbados

West Indies A team batsman Kirk Edwards hit a match-winning century for Wanderers in the Barbados Cricket Association’s Sagicor Cup 50-over tournament on Sunday. The tall right-hander, who is among the players offered developmental contracts by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), hit 113 not out as Wanderers easily defeated the Banks CC by six wickets.

Edwards faced just 112 balls and hit 11 boundaries and a six as Wanderers amassed 229-4 off 34.3 overs in reply to 226 all out by Banks.

In another match West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn starred with the bat but his side Spartan went under to St Catherine under the Duckworth/Lewis Method. Benn cracked 54 from just 35 balls with four big sixes but Spartan struggled to 184-9 off 48 overs. St Catherine then easily erased the target, reaching 189-5 off 37.3 overs, with Kenroy Williams making 91 not out from 90 balls.

Elsewhere, allrounder Dwayne Smith had a good match for Young Men’s Progressive Club (YMPC) as they brushed aside the University of the West Indies (UWI) by 92 runs. The livewire right-hander hit 32 as the home side made 249-7 from their allotted 50 overs. He then returned with the ball to take 2-28 as the student folded for 157 all out off 40.5 overs.