Birthday Wishes, One Love for Robert Nesta Marley

Happy Birthday, Robert Nesta Marley. R.I.P. Papa

Born February 6, 1945 in Saint Ann's Bay, Saint Ann, Jamaica , Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican superstar, the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for reggae band The Wailers beginning in 1964 and lasting through 1971.

40 years after his death, Marley remains the most popular and revered reggae performer and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to the world. 

While traveling to Germany to be cared for by holistic physician, Josef Issels, Marley's medical condition worsened. The melanoma to his lungs and brain began eating away at the singer's health.

En route to his home in Jamaica, he fell gravely ill and his flight had to land in Miami to get Marley medical treatment. He died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami (now University of Miami Hospital), at the age of 36, on May 11, 1981.

 On 21 May 1981, at Marley's state funeral, Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga delivered the eulogy saying, "His voice was an omnipresent cry in our electronic world. His sharp features, majestic looks, and prancing style a vivid etching on the landscape of our minds. Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind. He is part of the collective consciousness of the nation."

FIND a Grave (Bob Marley)

One Love

Buffalo Soldier

Stir it Up

American Airlines Flight Skids Down Runway of Jamaican Airport

By Alicia Cruz
Theblackurbantimes.com


photos/Robinson for AP

An American Airlines flight from Miami skidded down the runway of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica last night with more than 150 souls aboard. SEE CNN VIDEO BELOW

Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz said no fatalities have been reported, but 91 people suffered broken bones and complained of neck injuries after Flight 331 overshot a runway and skidded within 10 to 15 feet from the Caribbean Sea.

Crews evacuated passengers, who had to walk along a beach in the rain to board buses to return to the air terminal. Only four of the passengers suffered serious injuries.

Video footage by the CNN shows the plane's fuselage was cracked, both engines broke off from the impact, and the left main landing gear collapsed and several passengers leaving the plane with cuts on their faces or bloody lips, visibly shaken as they left the terminal.

Passenger Robert Mais told The Gleaner newspaper of Jamaica that he could hear the engine's reverse throttle but that the plane didn't seem to slow as it skittered down the runway. He said he felt rain coming through the roof of the darkened jet after the impact and that baggage from the overhead compartments was scattered throughout the cabin.

The Boeing 737-800 originated from the Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington, DC. The flight took off from Miami International Airport at 8:52 p.m. and arrived in Kingston, Jamaica at 10:22 p.m. It was carrying 154 passengers and crew. The majority of those aboard were Jamaican nationals going home for the Christmas holiday.

Hundreds of passengers waiting to board other flights out of Kingston waited hours for officials to clear their flights for takeoff. Flights resumed and the airport reopened after the delays as officials worried about the tail from Flight 331 would hinder the visibility of flights taking off or landing at the airport.

Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz said most of the 91 injured passengers have already been released from hospitals, but four may have to stay overnight. Stay tuned to TBUT.com for future update son this breaking story.

Hostage situation at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica

Montego Bay, JAMAICA (BNO NEWS) – An unknown number of people were taken hostage aboard a Canadian-bound charter flight at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica on Sunday evening, an airport spokeswoman told BNO News.
“I can confirm there is an emergency situation here in Montego Bay at Sangster International Airport, which is currently underway,” the spokeswoman said.
Various news channels are reporting that one person has been killed but BNO News has confirmed that there have been no injuries or fatalities at this time. There are also no reports of any shots fired.
“The aircraft is on the ground, it never did depart,” the spokeswoman said. She did not know how many people were on board but said “the majority” of the passengers had not yet boarded the aircraft.
Flight information for the airport showed that CanJet Flight 918, which is a Boeing 737, was scheduled to depart from Montego Bay at 11 p.m. local time. Flight 918 was bound for Halifax in Canada and officials had said the plane involved in the incident was bound for Canada. The situation was first reported at around 10 p.m. local time.
The spokeswoman did not want to say how many suspects there were but expected to release more information soon.