ANOTHER YEAR has come to an end and one cannot deny the fact that the country has been plagued by violence. Artistes and members of the entertainment fraternity have made their lists and checked them twice. Some wish to spend more time with family, while others are going into 2006 with renewed plans for a bigger and better year in entertainment. However, one thing remains constant. They all wish for a more peaceful 2006.

Elephant Man has got in touch with his spiritual side heading into the New Year.

“My New Year wish is fi everybody jus praise di Almighty, an who nah praise him fi start praise him cause a God ova devil … Wi waan lef out di killing fi 2006, a jus more love an unity,” Ele declared.

PEACE AND LOVE

Baby Cham also shared similar sentiments, wishing for “peace within the whole island.”

Cham also added that he hoped for “more great music from the artiste dem an di producer and for me personally, to spend more time wid my family.”

Ce’Cile also hopes that 2006 will be a year free of violence in Jamaica.

“For my New Year’s resolution for Jamaica, I hope that it will be non-violent, a peaceful Jamaica with less violence and murders. For myself, I jus hope that it’s all about good health and maintaining close, real relationships and just doing unto others as I would have them do unto me,” she said.

A BETTER JAMAICA

Members of Morgan Heritage, Gramps and Peter also added their wishes for the spread of peace and love throughout the world.

“I’m hoping for a better Jamaica, more opportunity fi di youths dem, some day free education, at least up to high school, and wi can all believe in true divine love and share in that love across the country,” Gramps said.

Brother Peter also agreed, wishing “for people to be more loving and for them to find the inspiration to share more love with each person you come across, because love is what the world needs.”

What would New Year’s resolutions and wishes for the year 2006 be without the input of gospel artistes who seek to bring messages of hope and peace throughout the year?

Stitchie had wishes for just about every aspect of life. He had good wishes for Jamaica, music in general and also for personal projects for 2006.

JOIN GOD

“Nationally, what I would like to see for 2006 is first and foremost, for this nation, more people to become a part of the kingdom of God and function under his principles. Also, for more people to be employed, because we have to speak spiritually and practically. People are our greatest resources and if utilised properly we will be more productive. Also for the weapon of love to be more utilised instead of the weapon of sin which is hatred,” Stitchie said.

On a musical note, Stitchie said he wanted “gospel reggae artiste to be given more leverage on the same platform that is given for the secular artistes, to spread the message of God … and that they are allowed to spread whatever message that they see fit or that is of their philosophy .”

Stitchie says he has a number of projects working on for the New Year that he hoped would bare much fruit. These include a new website for the label, Drum and Bass Records, promoting new artistes, and releasing a new CD.

“For the very first time, my book will be published next year, it is an autobiography. I will also be releasing a DVD (of live stage show performances),” Stitchie said.

According to Stitchie, the work never ceases, as next year, they will be going into a number of new territories with gospel reggae, “in Europe and countries in the continent of Africa.”

Comedians Ity and Fancy Cat, there are no jokes where their wishes and resolutions for the New Year is concerned. Both have made resolutions that are family oriented.

MORE FAMILY TIME

“Mi waan spen some more time wid mi yout dem, laugh some more wid dem and dem ting deh, cause one a dem all live a Canada. Mi nuh get enough time fi enjoy certain moment wid dem, cause a work an ting,” Ity said.

Fancy Cat, however, will make an attempt to become more settled where relationships are concerned.

“Mi waan fi give mi son a good stepmother, too much stepmother a come in tru di door, suh one stepmother and everything else wi nice from there. People wi seh mi selfish cause mi nah wish fi di world get peace an ting, but a my personal ting dis,” Fancy Cat said.

–Teino Evans, Staff Reporter, Jamaica Gleaner