"Was talking about how we keep our creativity flowing with a group of friends around a kitchen table last winter. Visiting friends from Sri Lanka mentioned that they organise regular readings to encourage themselves to write fresh work and connect with likeminded types. Very ol' skool approach. WRITE ON! was born that nite," says Akhaji Zakiya, the founder, producer and host of the series. "We'll also have an open mic part of the showcase and a panel discussion exploring how we can support Black queer art and culture. We've also commissioned a special spoken word piece, #IAmAnAfrican, by co-host Naomi Abiola to celebrate our achievements," she said. The other cohost of the evening is triple threat Twysted. With a repertoire that is expanding to include short stories and plays about women loving, [Zakiya]'s work has appeared in several publications, including "The Great Black North - Contemporary African Canadian Poetry" (Frontenac, 2013) and "Does Your Mama Know? - An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories" (Red Bone Press, 1997).
The island's lone female jockey, Georgina Sergeon, made her long-awaited return to the saddle at Caymanas Park on Saturday, February 1 after she was seriously injured in a riding spill just over two years ago. The 23-year-old Sergeon secured two rides on the 10-race programme: GOOD LIFE, who finished third at odds of 11-1 in the second race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds; and the rank outsider, QUIET RULER, who finished down the track in the eighth race over 1200 metres. On Saturday, January 21, 2012, Sergeon fell from her mount, TRICKY TRAIN, after the filly clipped the heels of another horse in a crowded field at the home turn. She came out of the spill with serious injury and had to be hospitalised. Having injured her spine and lower back, Sergeon had to undergo surgery, followed by a long period of rehabilitation.
"The suggestion that [Veronica Campbell-Brown] was cleared on some technicality is simply not true. She was cleared because no anti-doping violation was proven and the reason none was proven was because she didn't do anything wrong, period, end of story," said attorney Howard Jacobs during a press conference yesterday at The Jamaica Pegasus. "It's not a technicality, it's a fundamental point," [Jacob] noted. "The question remained, what happened to the third sample?" "My inability to defend my 200m title was a huge loss. In fact, just being unable to compete was financially and emotionally devastating. This ordeal cost me in excess of 90 per cent of my possible earnings. The ripple effect affected my charities, most notably my foundation and my contribution towards my alma mater and others," said Campbell-Brown. "I now have a renewed appreciation for my talent and relationships within the sport that are important to me."
