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Archived: Bunji – “I Made The Decision To Leave”

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News this afternoon that the decision to remove themselves from the Tobago Jazz Experience situation on Friday, was in fact made by Bunji Garlin himself.

ETCETERABUZZ.COM spoke with the Soul Train award winner this morning and in a tone of indifference, the artiste said, “I still trying to figure out how she get blame for this because the decision was mine. When I made up my mind, she was still trying to sort things out with the people at the hotel.” Bunji’s statement came amid speculation by many that his wife and music partner, Fay-Ann Lyons was at the core of what has become a chaotic situation.

Bunji Garlin says he made the decision to leave.

Bunji Garlin says he made the decision to leave.

The latest bit of drama since the Asylum Band left Tobago on Friday without performing, sees Jazz Festival coordinator, John Arnold threatening legal action if the payment of some $110,000TTD to the band in the prelude to their arrival to Tobago, isn’t returned to the Jazz Committee. Bunji, unshaken by Arnold’s statement told us that every contract prepared by the Asylum Band explains that if there is a breach on the part of the hiring party, deposits made are forfeited. “When a contract is signed, you agree to those terms,” said Bunji. He told us that to date, he has not spoken with John Arnold, however he indicated that the team is now in the process of sending a number of documents inclusive of email correspondences and the actual contract to Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Tourism and Transportation, Tracy Davidson-Celestine.

Many were of the opinion that Fay-Ann Lyons initiated the move.

Many were of the opinion that Fay-Ann Lyons initiated the move.

Bunji Garlin remains cool in the face of a situation that many, including radio personalities and talk show hosts, have chimed in with one opinion or another. Some say the artistes and band should have been more accommodating to their fans, choosing to perform despite not being afforded the 10 rooms contractually agreed to prior to their arrival in Tobago. But for Bunji Garlin, the disrespect meted out during their efforts to clarify the situation for some four hours at the Grafton Beach Hotel, was too much to bear. “We never requested to stay where John Legend was staying. We requested to stay at the Magdalena Grand because we had some issues with our equipment being stolen in 2012, when we stayed at the Grafton. Even despite that, we agreed to stay there after being told that the Magdalena was full,” said Garlin.

John Legend was a guest at the Villas at Stone Haven.

Asked whether he would think twice about performing for the Tobago Jazz experience if requested by coordinators in the future, Bunji said that decision isn’t up to the Asylum Vikings. “That’s up to the organisers. We are here to provide a service. That’s our job. It’s out of our hands,” said the artiste.

Citing a total lack of organization on the part of the Jazz committee, as the main factor in all of this, Bunji told us that even The Voice winner, Jamaica’s Tessanne Chin was forced to hop a taxi from the airport to her hotel upon arriving in Tobago.

The band has since received thanks from a few artistes, among them calypsonian Crazy who told him he was grateful for the stance that was taken, explaining that this has been the disrespect meted out to local entertainer for many, many years.

Bunji Garlin to many is often perceived as the cool, easy-going businessman. However in this particular situation, Bunji admits to taking action. “What people remember of me, is that I’m just cool. Now with a family, I take a stance with certain things. I don’t have to hide- right is right! I’m no little boy and I don’t get paid in full for an event and then just walk out- something has to be wrong,” he said.

 

 

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Denise Belfon Thanks Drake’s ‘OVO’ Team for Inclusion of Her ‘Work’ on New Track.

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Canadian rapper, Drake is once again teaming up with Caribbean entertainers, delivering a brand new album called, ‘Maid of Honor,’ which is now available on all streaming platforms. It was one of three albums the artiste simultaneously dropped on May 15th – the other two being ICEMAN and HABIBTI.

Rapper, Drake has released three new albums simultaneously.

One of the singles on ‘Maid of Honor,’ called ‘BBW’ features the work of Trinidad and Tobago entertainer, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon – her 1998 track, ‘Work.’

The lyrics, ‘Put Yuh Back in It’ became a trending expression on TikTok in 2020 when it became a challenge on the popular platform. That viral opportunity six years ago, led to the song’s resurgence and Belfon’s name being called by younger generations whose parents, aunts and uncles would’ve more than likely grown up on her music and performances in the Caribbean. Fast forward to 2026, and Belfon is once again enjoying a viral moment as news broke that her song had been sampled by Drake. “Everything is legitimate and I want to thank the team – Fabian Alfonso, a copyright specialist out of Trinidad and Tobago ; He was very instrumental in making this deal become reality, said Belfon in a chat with Ebuzztt, before expressing gratitude to several other instrumental people, and Drake’s OVO team.

In 2022, dancehall artiste, Shenseea and rapper, Megan Thee Stallion also sampled ‘Work’ on the single, ‘Lick.’ Belfon, who lives in New York, had, at that time, attended a release party at a nightclub in New York, where Shenseea acknowledged the Soca artiste’s influence on the new release.

The Maid of Honor album delivers 14 singles and added to T&T’s Denise Belfon, Jamaican artiste, Popcaan is also featured on a single called, ‘Amazing Shape.’

Denise Belfon’s personality and charisma has, for a very long time, made her a fan favorite in the Caribbean. A vocal powerhouse and unique stage performer, she has stood the test of time in the Soca music industry, having created massive soca anthems like ‘Work,’ ‘Wine and Bend Over’ and ‘Wining Queen’ among countless other flavorful singles.

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Caribbean Fashion Is A Big Deal. Designer, Ecliff Elie Expands With Women In Mind.

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Caribbean fashion is top tier. In a world of copy and paste designs, Caribbean brands like the incomparable Ecliff Elie, stand in a class of their own. Earlier this month, the menswear brand made a major announcement and whether you’ve heard or not, we’re here to tell you, this is huge.

The Ecliff Elie brand will now be delivering its seamless, tailored appeal to women. The brand is known for its precision tailoring and disciplined garment construction so with that at its foundation, women can now feel the complete effect of the Ecliff Elie touch. The company steps out into this aspect of its business after what it says has been years of delivering this service privately to women. Dubbed ‘Bespoke — Tailored for Women,’ Ecliff Elie is now offering the service, at scale.

The introduction reflects a focused extension of Elie’s established approach to tailoring – one built on proportion, control, and consistency. Each garment is developed through a guided process that considers posture, movement, and presence, ensuring that the final result aligns with how the individual operates and presents herself.

From custom blazers to trousers, skirts, and dresses, customers will now be able to get their custom designed Ecliff Elie apparel, through a consultation-led process where every decision—from cut to finish—is deliberate. The company says fabric selection will be approached with the same level of discipline, with materials chosen for structure, performance, and longevity, allowing each piece to maintain its standard over time.

“This is not a new direction,” Elie states. “It is a continuation of work I have done over time, now introduced with structure and clarity.”

With more than three decades of experience, Ecliff Elie has consistently positioned presentation as a defining factor in how individuals are perceived. His work has guided clients across industries to approach style as a matter of precision and intent rather than preference.

“When the garment is correct, everything changes,” he adds. “You move differently. You carry yourself differently. That is the standard.”

As more women continue to operate at the highest levels across business, leadership, and professional environments, the demand for tailoring that reflects both authority and individuality has grown. This offering responds to that shift with a process designed to deliver consistency, clarity, and control.

Through Bespoke — Tailored for Women, Ecliff Elie continues to refine his approach while maintaining a clear focus on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a disciplined standard of execution.

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