Rihanna, She might be bad but she is perfectly good at it, in fact she is one of the prettiest “sluts” you will ever see.
Don’t think that Boyce is making disparaging comments on our Bajan girl Rihanna, U are wrong, I would never call Rihanna a Slut but since she refers to herself as one along with whore etc, I am merely supporting her with whats projected in the video.

A friend of mind brought my attention to her new S & M video, they were appalled that in it Rihanna wore a newspaper frock that both promoted Barbados and had the word “slut” on it the same time.
My friend found the endorsement of Barbados in such a manner despicable.
I think promotion is promotion, I prefer to see Barbados there than Jamaica, I am sure the Jamaican Tourist Board would jump at the opportunity to have Rihanna endorse them, though her kissing a woman in the video might be a tad too much for them.

If you viewed the video and are shocked don’t be, theres nothing much Rihanna does that surprises me anymore. I have accepted the fact our good girl has grown up and “Gone Bad” and has become an artiste that’s a combination of Madonna/Lady Ga Ga.
In fact Madonna had one of her entertainment companies named “Whore”

What if anything concerns me in the video is not the whore slut sex thing, its the bondage.
These music videos that feed into the perverted sexual illusion that bonding women and gagging them is a fantastical thing we should all hope to achieve.
I saw this trend in the Rihanna video “Disturbia” as well.
In “S&M” video in one of the scenes Rihanna is dressed as a little girl and all tied up. Think of the tragic incidences we have had of girls who have been snatched on their way to school held captive raped and then their bodies dumped like a used sex doll. They get all tied up like that.
While bondage is seen as a harmless sex game by some, it plays a part in sex crimes that are being perpetuated against our women.
Rihanna is not alone in projecting these images other international acts do it as well. So don’t you start only on her.

The Video is balanced in that it also contains some degrading of men as well, some women will be glad to hear. In a scene Rihanna walks regally with a man on his all fours with a chain around his neck like a dog, and he cocks up like a dog and pees and giggles with glee when Rihanna tickles his belly.
I would never degrade myself to accepting a dog role like that, except of course if I was getting money. I already bark on my P.Boyce radio show but I don’t get my belly tickled by a beautiful woman though, so that part would be an upgrade for me.

Even if You don’t like her videos and you decide to lick her (thats lick as in blows not the other lick) you will probably only succeed in turning her on, as Rihanna proclaims in the song “Sticks and Stones may break my bones but Chains and Whips excite me”.
Regardless of all the slut whore bad girl titles that she rebrands herself with, I feel as barbadians we can still feel a certain degree of pride, of our Bad Girl Rihanna out there doing great things, albeit all tied up.

Note; Dorothy Knows Rihanna and insists all Boyce Voice posts must endorse her or I will see, I dont want to see

Barbados Music Awards AWARDEES:

Band Of The Year – krosfyah

Female Entertainer Of The Year – Rihanna

Male Entertainer of the Year – Blood

Instrumentalist of the Year – Arturo Tappin

Best Reggae/Dancehall (Artiste/Group) – Buggy Nhakente

Best Soca/Ragga soca/Calypso (Artiste/Group) – Anderson Blood Armstrong

Best New (Artiste/Group) – St Leonard’s Boys’ Choir

Best Gospel (Artiste) – Toni Norville

Best Soul/R&B (Artistes/Group) – Shontelle

Best Jazz (Artiste/Group) – Arturo Tappin

Best Rap/Hip Hop (Artiste/Group) – Danny Reid

Choir/Chorale Of The Year – St Leonard’s Boys’ Choir

Song Of The Year – Rihanna (Rude Girl)

Best Collaboration (Love The Way You Lie) – Eminem featuring Rihanna

Best Soca Single (Female) – Indrani (Fyah Wata)

Best Ragga/Mid-Tempo Single (Female) – TC (Down De Road)

Best Social Commentary (Male) – Red Plastic Bag (Signs)

Best Social Commentary (Female) – TC (Stimulus)

Best Pop/Rock/Alternative/Dance Single – Rihanna (Rude Girl)

Best Reggae/Dancehall Single – High Grade (Pressure Point)

Best Gospel/Inspirational Single – Toni Norville (Reach Out In Faith)

Pop/Rock/Alternative/Dance Artiste/Group – Rihanna

Compilation Of The Year (Various) – Soca Dons And Divas

Album Of The Year (Artiste/Group) – Rihanna (Rated R)

Producer Of The Year – Anderson Blood Armstrong

Songwriter Of The Year – Mr Dale

Music Video Of The Year (Male) – Edwin Yearwood (Chrissening)

Music Video Of The Year (Female) – Rihanna (Rude Boy)

Best Soul/R&B/Hip Hop Single – Shontelle (Impossible)

People’s Choice – High Grade

Kingsley Thorne- Regional Fashion Guru and Fashion Designers. Presents The Best and the worst dressed, the lowest and highest attended show, the most unkempt designer for 2010, it’s all here in the Kingsley Thorne’s, third Best and Worst listing for 2010.

. Lowest Attended Show- The Parish Ambassadors Show

. Most Attended Show- Hennessy Artistry Show

. Best Show- The Barbados Music Awards

. Worst Show- The Parish Ambassadors Show

. Most Anticipated- Big & Beautiful Show

. Lowest Anticipated- Miss Crop Over Barbados

. Highest Paying Fashion Show- Bmex Expo & Girl friend Expo

. Lowest Paying Fashion Show- Henrietta’s Closet

. Best Comedy Show- Madd Comedians and Leff It Off

. Best Dressed News Anchor (female)- Jewel Forde

. Best Dressed News Anchor (male)- Parson Bowen

. Best Music Videos- Edwin Yearwood- Chrissening

. Most Painful Song- Peter Ram- Pat & Crank

. Best Make-Up Artist- Troy Ford and Leah Whitehead

. Best & Most Dedicated Modeling Agency- Gadal Model Management & Mystical Touch

. Agency that produces the most beauty queens- Ebony Models Barbados

. Newest Modeling Agency- Coba Model management

. Most Talked-About Newspaper- The Heat

. Best Dressed Journalists female- Carol Martindale

. Best Dressed Journalists Male- Nigel Wallace

Best dressed photographers- Pitt sisters

Worsted Dressed Photographer- Risee Chaderton

Most talked about photographer (On face book) Bajan Tube, Daryl inahfreny, VIP-Sean Hammer and Flying Fish Media.

Barbados 4 sexiest female models on and off stage- Leah Marville, Lea Soloman, Christal Lambert, Tenelle Stoute

Barbados 4 sexiest male models on and off stage- John Yearwood, Andre Clarke, Kirk Browne, Doddy Dodson.

Barbados sexiest women – Betty West, Candi Nicholls, Alison Hinds, Shelly Williams, Belle Holder, Ayana John

Barbados sexiest men- Alpha Jackman, Andy Armstrong(Blood), Freddy Hill, Corey Marshall, Buggy

Sexiest male vocalist- Kirk Brown, Justin King, Ronnie Morris.

Sexiest female vocalist- Alison Hinds, Kee-ann Walter, Mahalia Phillips

Best dressed female designers-Cassandra Mottley

Best dressed male designers- Kraig Yearwood

Most unkempt Designer male- Genn Brathwaite

Best Fashion Show Producer- Rodney Powers – BB Fashion Week

Best Show Pageant – Lodge School

Worst School Pageant- Springer/ St Lennerds – Who’s Who.

Best Model Search school event- Set it off

Most Talked about Beauty Queen- Leah Marville

Best Radio DJ Female- Alex Jordan

Best Radio DJ Male- Dave Smooth

Best Blog for 2010- The Bajan Reporter, Boycevoice.com

Best Christmas round -about- BNB Six roads

Worst Christmas round -about –Trowel Plastic

Worst Stylist Male- Dre Decarlo – Andre Layne

Shock of the Year (Greg Williams cutting of his locks)

Most Talked about TV show- Barbados Amateur Model Search

Best HIV campaign- Liveup by Leah Marville

Most Painful TV show- Staycation Barbados

Weddings of the year- Stephanie Chase-Yates- Producer Miss Barbados World & Tanya Griffith-Rowe -Super Model.

People’s Choice for woman of the year- Mia Mottley

People’s Choice to run in St.John by election & most likely win – Mara Thompsom

Saddest Passing of the Year – The Late Prime Minister David Thompson

Worst Air Carrier of the Year – Liat

Was Adrian Greene deleted from the finals of Independence Gala as a punishment against speaking out against NCF in a previous Nifca event?
NCF says no, but I find it very strange that all gold medal winners before were privilaged to perform at the gala, but when it came Adrian NCF changed the rules, does the action reek of malfeasance? lets read what Adrian had to say below

This is four seasons I have been performing at N.I.F.C.A and each time I have chosen to defend the decision to participate to people who say, “N.I.F.C.A. is a joke,” “You too good fuh dat,” “Dem judges doan like you.”

I let them know that I believe that N.I.F.C.A. is an important institution, a glorious concept, and it offers artists an opportunity to perform for Bajans who would otherwise not know they existed. Even if you are an artist who already has a high profile, it is our National Festival and I feel Bajan artists should see it as a National Service.

I also let them know that if you choose to submit yourself to a judging process it is only decent that you gracefully accept the judges’ decision unless you have some reasonable proof of some form of cheating. So when persons’ in the past have been critical of my receiving silver or bronze awards, I let them know straight up that I do not believe myself to have been unfaired. I also explain to them how the criteria which the judges are constrained by, and the unfamiliarity with my art form, work against me. All things work for the good however. The challenge of performing in an arena that does not adequately accommodate me, coupled with the feedback of the Judges has made me a better artist.

My omission from the N.I.F.C.A. Gala this year could be due to several factors. Maybe they wanted to give someone else a chance, maybe it was due to some new “process,” or maybe they did not want me to highlight their deficiencies in front of the big wigs. (I have been vocal and critical in my work about the lack innovation at N.I.F.C.A. and the organisers’ unwillingness to keep up with developments in the arts. I recognise though they are making attempts to address that by allowing some younger members of staff more responsibility for the festival. Good move). Whatever the reason for the decision, the way it was made remains a mystery. I am not pleased with the decision, but not for the reason you may think.

Over the years our National Festival has steadily lost relevance and prestige in the minds of many citizens and especially in the minds of many artists. Yet the number of entries stayed high because a gold award at N.I.F.C.A. remained highly coveted and respected in certain circles and so many artists crave recognition and acknowledgment. The N.C.F. has either purposely or inadvertently tarnished the shine of a N.I.F.C.A. gold by their treatment of the gold award winner. This only lends ammunition to those who tell me, “Maaan uh N.I.F.C.A. award doan mean nutten.” Now this symbol of National Excellence is made to appear hollow.

But we live in an age when Christmas now starts in October and the season of Independence begins further and further down in November every year.

To all those artists participating at N.I.F.C.A. this year I say congratulations. I hope you believe as I do that we are not performing for N.I.F.C.A., the N.C.F. or the judges. We perform for God and Barbados. God and then the people are the only judges that ultimately matter.

Dorothy insisted that I blog on the anti Rihanna ism attitudes which seems to foreshadow the relationship between our most famous cultural ambassador and the very island she is suppose to be representing, Barbados.
Rihanna continues to be a rising star of the international entertainment community.
Beyond the shores of Barbados she is held in high esteem and rubs shoulders and performs with the crème de la crème of international superstars.
Her success has been two fold as it not only has benefited Rihanna but also Barbados .
Allow me to illustrate with a quote from FB Group “Bajans For Rihanna”
“I now live away from Bim 18yrs, 15 of which in Spain, and its the first time that I say to anyone “I’m from Barbados” and people actually know where that is……. so thanks to Rihanna!!” Faith Ollivierre
Considering the major part Rihanna has played in raising Barbados’s profile internationally, its therefore even more puzzling why there are some Bajans who hate Rihanna with an passion.

Her attendance at the state funeral of our late dear PM David Thompson was an example of this Hatetredry*.
At first it was stated Rihanna couldn’t come cause she was too busy, so some Bajans lambasted her fuh dat
Then low and behold Rihanna turned up and attended the funeral, then the same people turned around and lambasted her for coming, she is damned if she doesn’t and damned if she does.
Let me give you two of the reasons why I feel Bajans don’t like Rihanna,

#1 She is a Bajan!
If Rihanna was an American with the star status that she currently has, we would be kissing her ass every time she came here, like we would do for Lady Ga Ga for example, (which would be easy as Lady Ga Ga does not wear much clothes) she would be the greatest thing since slice bread, she would get royal treatment and everything she did would be well done.
But the poor girl had the misfortune of being born right here so she can’t get no special treatment “cause who she feel she is”.

#2; She is a successful woman! And to make matters worse, a damn good looking too, who tell she do that,?You know how women hate a woman who looks good, Its “the Green eye monster” raising its ugly head aka jealousy.
If Rihanna were a man achieving the same success he would not be experiencing this same contemptuous attitude from the Bajan public.
In general there is a small mindedness that permeates our society where there is a deliberate attempt to belittle anyone with a profile to say “they were nobody once and we want to remind them of that”. If a person is famous and popular it should not be held against them, So Rihanna should hold her Combermerian head high and continue to do great things for Barbados, don’t mind the haters, they are a lot of Bajans who support you and recognise what you do for Barbados, I am one of them I have no choice any ways cause Dorothy can be pretty acerbic when it comes to the subject of Ri Ri, and I don’t want to get cuss. Let the hatred of Rihanna Cease, like this post is ceasing right now….

*“Hatetredry” a Boyceism meaning intense and unwarranted hate

трапезни масиIn memory of Prime Minister of Barbados David Thompson, I first met David at Combermere when I entered that school back in 1974.
I remember David in the hallowed school hall of “Waterford University” participating in “mock” parliamentary debates; it was the beginning of his potential as a debater and orator of great skill. This early practice would have sown the seeds for the effective presentations he would make on the campaign trail and in Parliament later on.

I remember David as a lawyer; for many years David was legal consul for Madd Entertainment which I was part of at the time. There were several times throughout the years where our cultural objectives would be endangered by some nefarious anti cultural villain and we would call out to David, he would swoop down like a caped legal crusader and save us from certain artistic demise.
In some cases that “villain” would be the authorities and sometimes the police themselves so it would require a hero with exceptional strength.

I remember David on the campaign trail back in 2008, I especially remembered a speech that he gave on Haynesville pasture, where he encouraged the young audience not to be swayed by drinking “long necks” but to make the right decision when they go to vote.
I didn’t even know what a “long neck” was, but when he said it a roar of recognition went up from the audience. Such was his effectiveness as a leader and a speaker to be able to connect to the average man by speaking their language. (a long neck for those of you who don’t know and are ignorant like me is an alcoholic drink popular in the dubs)
David would also party with the man in the street, not only was he a regular at Crop Over calypso events but he also was known for attending Dancehall events and could fluently rattle off the names of the Jamaican acts that were ”big up” at that time.

I remember David as a Prime Minister, the first PM to come forth from the University of Waterford, I had the privilege of working with him during the campaign. I remembered after the last elections and my telephone rang and I answered “Hello Mr Prime Minister” for that was the first time a PM had ever called me, I felt fussy. That call was to inform me that I had been selected to be part of the board of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, this selection by the PM was evidence of his “out of the box” thinking. To take a “madd” entertainer that was known to be one of the most controversial and nefarious of the unruly lot and entrusting them with the responsibility of participating in the decision making process of the CBC. Such was the measure of the man, Gone but never to be forgotten; may he Rest in Peace, I remember PM David..

The Cornerstone Awardees

• Smokey Burke
• AJA
• Wayne “Cool” Simmons
• Jan Gibson
• Margaret Bovell
• Rita
• Valerie Greaves
• Claudia Joseph
• Eleanor Rice
• Ronald “Pulsator” Brathwaite
• Blue Rhythm Combo
• Adrian “Boo” Husbands
• Shirley Stewart
• David Weatherhead
• Roger Gittens

Lifetime Achievement

• Ashanti Trotman
• Lou “Jiggs” Kirton

Living Legend

• Spice & Company
• Richard Stoute

Award of Excellence

• Sonia Mullins
• Phil Phillips
Award of Merit
• Mike Wilkinson
• Jermaine Forrester

International Lifetime Achievement Award

• Deneice Williams

CATEGORY ARTIST / BAND
Band of the Year

Fully Loaded
High Grade
Krosfyah
Nexcyx
Soca Kartel
Female Entertainer of the Year

Mahalia Philips
Rihanna
Shontelle
TC
Toni Norville
Male Entertainer of the Year

Blood
Buggy Nhakente
Edwin Yearwood
L’il Rick
Mr. Dale
Instrumentalist of the Year

Arturo Tappin
Dale Husbands
Darien Bailey
Best Reggae / Dancehall
(Artist / Group)
Buggy Nhakente
David Kirton
High Grade
Best Soca / Ragga-Soca / Calypso
(Artist / Group)
Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong
Krosfyah
L’il Rick
Best New
(Artist / Group)
Daniel
High Grade
Hypa Kids
Soca Kartel
St. Leonard’s Boys’ 100 Boys Choir
Best Gospel
(Artist)
Alison Norville-Forde
Hozia Hinds
Toni Norville
Best Soul / R&B
(Artist / Group)
Ayanna John
Hal Linton
Shontelle
Best Jazz
(Artist / Group)
Arturo Tappin
Black Klay Soil
C4
Best Rap / Hip-Hop
(Artist / Group)
Danny Reid
Sunrock
Teff
Choir / Chorale of the Year

Silvertones of Barbados
Sing Out Barbados
St. Leonard’s Boys’ 100 Boys Choir
Pop / Rock / Alternative / Dance Artist / Group Nexcyx
Jaicko
Rihanna

CATEGORY ARTIST / BAND
Compilation of the Year (Various)

Blessed
Monsta Piece- Evolution
Roast Breadfruit and Butter
Soca Dons and Divas
Soca Tite Tunes
Album of the Year (Artist / Group)

Alison Hinds- Caribbean Queen
Rihanna – Rated R
St. Leonard’s Boys’ 100 Boys Choir- God With Us
Toni Norville- Reign
Krosfyah- The Experience

CATEGORY ARTIST / BAND
Producer of the Year

Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong
Chris Allman
Fabian ‘Minim’ Worrell
King Bubba
Peter Coppin
Songwriter of the Year

Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong
Mr. Dale
Sir Don

Music Video of the Year (Male)

Biggie Irie- No One To Blame
Edwin Yearwood- Christening
Hal Linton- Mind Control
Jaicko feat. Danny Reid- Can I
Kirk Brown- Dat Is All I Want
Music Video of the Year (Female)

Alison Hinds feat. Shaggy- Can’t Let My Love Go
Ayana John- Can’t Keep Up
Indrani- The Other Side
Rihanna- Rude Boy
Shontelle- Impossible
Song of the Year

Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong- Foot on Fire
Edwin Yearwood- Christening
L’il Rick- Go Down
Nexcyx- Gossip Girl
Rihanna- Rude Boy
Best Collaboration

Can’t Let My Love Go- Alison Hinds feat. Shaggy
Love The Way You Lie- Eminem feat. Rihanna
Whole Place Mash Up- Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong and Mikey
Best Soca Single (Male)

Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong- Foot On Fire
Anderson ‘Blood’ Armstrong and Mikey- Whole Place Mash Up
Edwin Yearwood- Christening
Best Soca Single (Female)

Alison Hinds- Keep Wukkin’
Indrani- Fyah Wata
TC- Duttiness
Best Ragga / Mid-Tempo Single (Male)
Blood- Boom Bam
L’il Rick- Go Down
Mr. Dale- Drop It
Best Ragga / Mid-Tempo Single (Female)
Alison Hinds- Back Up Pon Yah Man
Natahlee- Look Fuh We
TC- Down De Road
Best Social Commentary (Male)

Blood- Not My Son
Red Plastic Bag- Signs
The Mighty Gabby- Ole Ashe
Best Social Commentary (Female)

Chrystal Cummings-Beckles- Pray
Tassa- To De Dump
TC- Stimulus
Best Pop / Rock / Alternative / Dance Single
Jaicko- Fast Forward
Nexcyx- Gossip Girl
Rihanna- Rude Boy
Best Reggae / Dancehall Single

Buggy Nhakente- Best Friend
High Grade- Pressure Point
Omar McQuilkin and Daniel- Stick To One
Best Gospel / Inspirational Single

God Alone- St. Leonard’s 100 Boys Choir
Reach Out In Faith- Toni Norville
Stronger- Indrani
Best Soul / R&B/ Hip-Hop Single

Can’t Keep Up- Ayana John
Hard- Rihanna
Impossible- Shontelle

Why was the Mighty Gabby left out of the cultural delegation which was sent down to China by the National Cultural Foundation?
There has been much talk and speculation about this so Boyce Voice can speculate to once it dosnt cost me my shirt.
The Mighty Gabby is one of the most well rounded entertainers we have in this country, who is proficient as a singer producing calypso evergreens like “Jack” “Boots” “Hit It” the classic “Calypso”, so much hits he has produced as Lil Rick would say “I caan call all”. I have to call “Emmerton” though that haunting tribute to his home town.
He is a man who can dispense with a backing band pick up his box guitar and belt out folk classics like “Bridgetown” and did u ever hear Gabby hit the last note of Guava in this song and hold it, the man stretches it for ever, Guaaaaaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…
Like for 5 mins then, the man can really sing.
Gabby has also known to take to the stage and display thespian skills he even once acted as a politician.
And after all that, he is the 2010 Pic o De Crop Calypso King of Barbados.
So if there were only sending one entertainer down to China, it probably should be Gabby.
Some have said that its because of the alleged altercation involving Gabby which took place at Cohbblopot that resulted in Admiral Nelson losing his shirt.
You know what? that makes Gabby an even better choice, I have watched Kung Fu movies produced in China for years, fighting there is seen as an artform, using different styles and techniques, Snake and Crane and Dragon Fist, Gabby could show them the Bajan “lose yuh shirt” technique. ok then.
So Boyce Voice agrees with what was said by Adonijah, it is a major diss to Gabby that he is not part of that delegation being sent down to China, the Cultural authorities that made that decision need to go and come again, they best be careful somebody don’t meet them some where and drag their shirt off, or their jacket!

Boyce is leaving the building with his shirt intact….

This one is going to be Hott! The Hypa Dawg has been fired! The newspaper headlines screamed, now the truth has come to light we are recognizing the apology that wasn’t heard, actually was heard and what we thought was the truth, was not. Let’s get down to “Brass tacks”.
This topic of Lil Rick being “fired” from Starcom Network has been discussed extensively on my Peter Boyce Facebook page, so I will not bore you by repeating details..

It is already known Rick made a mistake and played a song on Hott which contained profanities and Starcom claimed they fired him because he didn’t apologise for such, even though it turned out he did.
Even if Starcom had a problem with Rick and decided he would no longer be allowed on their airwaves, I see no problem with that.

My problem is the systematic and vindictive campaign that the “BIG” Starcom then unleashed on against the “Little” Rick.
They turned the full blast of their Brass Tack calling radio show to focus on Lil Rick, and had not one but two Starcom presenters on to show the public how all of a sudden the person that for ten years had made Hott the most listened too station on Saturday afternoons was now the worst thing on radio.
(I say afternoons cause I know on Saturday mornings U are locked into the P.Boyce Show on 98.1).

Was Lil Rick a big enough topic to featured on social issue call in program “Brass Tacks”? If Lil Rick had pulled a gun on someone in parliament or driven over somebody’s foot. I would have understood, but because you losing him to a next station that bothers you so much?

However what I find most reprehensible, is that Starcom persons contacted companies who sponsor Rick to inform them that they are severing ties with him and why. Obviously such a move would be directed to affect Rick’s sponsorship income.
It’s one thing to terminate a man, it’s a next to go out of your way ensure you affect his other means of income. Don’t you think Rick still has to eat and has the Hypa Kids to support? To me that action by Starcom was dirty; I guessed because Rick played dirty lyrics on the air Starcom thought they would do something dirty in return.

The effort that Starcom put into publicly lambasting and castigating the Little Rick on radio, newspaper and Facebook seems to be a monumental attempt to discredit Rick in the eyes of the public. If I go by what I have seen coming from the public on Facebook it would appear they have failed.
I will stop here before I am fired by Starcom, I have never been hired by them in the first place but that doesn’t matter.

The Lesson we can learn from all this is, when one door slams in your face another “Slam” door opens. Does that make any sense? Stupes, I am such an idiot, I gine home…

Boyce has left the building!

On the 19th June, 2010 Rickey Reid a.k.a Lil Rick played a song during the Mackeson Triple Tunes live radio show which contained explicit and offensive lyrical content. Despite initial reports by Starcom Network Inc that Lil Rick did not apologise for his actions, I wish to confirm that upon realizing the error which had been made, Lil Rick played the radio friendly version of the recording. He also immediately contacted Mr. Ronnie Clarke, Programme Manager of Starcom Network and Mr. Ricky Nurse CEO and Divisional Manager of Brydens Distribution, the sponsor of the Mackeson Triple Tunes show to which he is presently contracted to inform them of what had transpired. After concluding dialogue with both individuals, Lil Rick apologized to his listeners on radio for his actions.
In a statement issued on the 24th June, 2010 on Hott 95.3 FM’s website- www.hot953fm.com Starcom unequivocally stated that Lil Rick did not apologise for his actions. This assertion was repeated at page 3 of the Nation newspaper’s article of the 25th June, 2010.
Starcom would later admit through Mr. Ronnie Clarke during the Brasstacks programme on the 25th June, 2010 that Lil Rick did in fact apologise for his actions.
It is also questionable why Starcom would seek to upload the extract of the incident on its website but omit to upload also Lil Rick’s apology which would also have been in their possession. The attempts by Starcom to deliberately mislead the public both in the electronic, radio and print media thereby causing the public to question Lil Rick’s motives and also his remorse for his actions is reckless.
Starcom has further misled the public by deliberately giving the impression that Lil Rick was employed by them at the time of the incident and was therefore fired during the course of his employment. In their online statement issued on the 24th June, 2010 Starcom made reference not only to various documents which members of staff would have signed but also implied that Lil Rick had on occasion been counseled, reprimanded and disciplined on three prior occasions in accordance with “established employee protocols.”
This was coupled with an announcement on various radio stations of Starcom Network that the circumstances under which Lil Rick had been “fired” would be ventilated on the Brasstacks programme on the 25th June, 2010. Also at page 3 of the Nation newspaper’s article of the 25th June, 2010, Mr. Trevor Yearwood quoted Starcom Network Inc. as having taken action against Lil Rick “in keeping with our established employee protocols.”
Over the course of the past few days, both myself and Lil Rick have been inundated with telephone calls about him being fired from Starcom. This has been further agitated by headlines in the Nation newspaper which have read as follows “Dawg Gone- Starcom fires Lil Rick over dirty lyrics” and “ Starcom defends decision to fire popular DJ” on the 25th June and 26th June, 2010 respectively.
I wish to categorically state that Lil Rick was not employed or subject to a contract of employment by Starcom Network at the time of this incident. At the material time, he was under a contract for services with Brydens Distribution which commenced on the 2nd May, 2009 to provide several services to the Mackeson brand including the hosting of the Triples Tunes programme between the hours of 12-3pm on Hott 95.3 FM. To the best of my knowledge, Brydens Distribution entered into an agreement directly with Starcom Network Inc. with the understanding that Lil Rick would host the weekly programme. At no time during the course of Lil Rick’s engagement with Bryden’s Distribution has he received any formal document or protocols of any nature relating to his on air presence or relative to Starcom Network Inc.’s position as it relates to the broadcast of the show.
I am in possession of official correspondence from Ms Veoma Ali, Advertising Manager of Starcom Network Inc. dated 23rd June, 2010 and received on the 24th June, 2010 addressed to me in my capacity as the manager of Lil Rick stating inter alia that, “we wish to officially submit our decision to no longer allow Ricky Reid (Lil Rick) on the airwaves of the Starcom Network of Stations.” There is no mention in the said correspondence of Lil Rick being subject to a contract of employment. I again question the motives of the authors of Starcom Network’s press releases and the subsequent statements of its agents as they seek to convey impressions which are false and reckless in nature and content.
Starcom has also implied that Lil Rick’s acted in a way which was in contravention of customary practice at Starcom Network Inc. with respect to the playing of music which was not in their system. I can confirm that the song which Lil Rick played was not in the system at Starcom Network Inc. However, it must be pointed out that Lil Rick’s actions were not an irregular occurrence in the course of his on air presence at Starcom and it was well known and condoned by the station over the years that he would play songs from his laptop or from CD’s brought onto the premises. To imply otherwise is to mislead the public that he was acting contrary to established and accepted practice by the management of Starcom Network Inc.
I have by letter dated 25th June, 2010 expressed my concern to Starcom Network Inc. in my capacity as Lil Rick’s attorney-at-law that some of the statements published by Starcom via the internet and in the local press are grossly defamatory and are calculated to cause injury to his reputation.
I have demanded a public retraction of the published statement, an apology in terms to be approved by me and I have notified them of our intention to claim monetary compensation for the injury to Lil Rick’s reputation.

SANTIA BRADSHAW
Attorney-at-Law