Ebuzz News
Archived: They Passed The Bar Exam. Now These Young, Female Attorneys Are Encouraging Other Women.
There’s a 26-year-old female attorney who hails from the fishing village of Charlotteville, Tobago, who, having recently achieved her lifelong goal of becoming an attorney at law, says she wants other young women to aspire for greatness.
Jose-Ann Hackett told EBUZZTT she’s wanted to be an attorney since she was just 5-years-old. Now attached to the law chambers of Ingrid Melville and Company in Tobago, Jose-Ann says it’s her personal desire to lead in the industry with integrity, honesty and wisdom “because while there may be many attorneys in our small society, there is always room for good, upstanding attorneys.”
Hackett along with her friend, Desiree Tommy were called to the BAR in December. Tommy is now an attorney at the firm of Hove and Associates Attorneys in Trinidad. She attended UWI, Mona and graduated with honours with a Bachelor of Law degree. She is the eldest of three while Hackett has one younger sibling.
“Be happy to see others win.” This was the expression of the young Trinidad based attorney as we questioned her on the advice she’d offer to other young females like herself. “Stay focused and consistent in pursuing your own goals and you will achieve your own success in time,” she encouraged. Tobago based Hackett told us she sees the profession as an opportunity to help those who are prejudiced, and bring justice for the voiceless. “I want young women to know that they should never allow stereotypical elements to define them. I am a testimony of persistence, determination and manifestation,” she said.
Desiree, who attended the Hugh Wooding Law School, obtaining a Legal Education Certificate before gaining work experience in Jamaica and St. Lucia, emphasised the need for young people to consistently work hard to achieve their goals, while engaging in activities that facilitate and enhance the learning and understanding of their desired professions. “If you happen to stumble or fall along the way, fix your crown and keep pushing,” she said.
Hopes for 2021
“My hope for 2021 is to be the change the society needs in whatever way I can effect change,” said Hackett. Her ambition is to continue working arduously to bring peace and justice for people who are prejudiced and helpless in their situations, within the confines of the law. “I want to make a mark in Trinidad and Tobago, in my own, unique way.”
Tommy says she strives to become the best version of herself possible. “As I continue to learn and grow in the legal profession, I will forever be humbled by the opportunity to vigorously defend and serve others. My hope is to be a role model to young women and a voice for the defenceless in the continued pursuit of justice.”
Reggae
New ‘Jamrock’ Documentary Celebrates Unforgettable Moments. Cruise Returns to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa, This Year.
Ahead of its 11th annual voyage in November, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise shares its story through a new film. VIBE premiered All in the Same Boat, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Reshma B and produced by Boomshots TV that traces Marley and his manager Dan Dalton’s brainchild from a bold, outsider idea into one of the most culturally significant movements in reggae and dancehall today.
With over a decade’s worth of unforgettable moments pulled from the last 10 voyages, this 30+ minute documentary captures the spirit of a global reggae community built on shared identity, resilience, and reverence for Jamaican culture. It features iconic performances, real conversations with the artistes and DJs, and the heartbeat of it all: the “Jamrockers.” These are die-hard reggae lovers from over 40 countries who pull up every year for one reason – to feel that irreplaceable connection to Jamaican culture and keep the Marley message of “One Love” alive.
Having successfully navigated challenges including extreme weather and a global pandemic, the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise continues to thrive. Its 11th staging will return for its annual voyage from November 11th to the 16th, sailing from Miami aboard Norwegian Joy.
Stacked from foundation to future, this year’s lineup brings together reggae and dancehall’s most influential voices: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley (Traffic Jam Set), Burning Spear, Sizzla, Capleton, Beenie Man, Protoje, Barrington Levy, Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Lila Iké, Ding Dong & the Ravers Clavers, Tony Matterhorn “Man on the Moon”, Gyptian, 450, Richie Spice, Ghost, Mr. Lexx, Professor Nuts, L.U.S.T., Sister Carol, Sevana, Flourgon, Johnny P, and Jemere Morgan are confirmed.
The cruise’s famed Sound Clash at Sea will return alongside powerhouse sound systems including Stone Love (Geefus), King Jammy, Silverhawk Sound, Rory Stone Love, Renaissance Sound, Federation Sound, Warrior Sound, Rampage Sound, Kingston12 HiFi and Souljah1 Muzik, preserving a cornerstone of Jamaican music culture in its most authentic form.
Jamrock is a Premiere Reggae Event
The Jamrock experience has evolved into the premier reggae event at sea—one that continues to redefine how the culture is celebrated on a global stage. The five-day experience continues to immerse guests in the full spectrum of Jamaican life—from Nyabinghi sunrise sessions and sound bath meditations to dancehall workshops, fitness programming, and curated culinary offerings led by acclaimed Chef Lumley. A new addition this year includes a live theatrical production by legendary playwright Oliver Samuels, adding yet another layer to the cruise’s ever-expanding cultural canvas.
Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, the cruise will return to Jamaica with renewed purpose, maintaining its distinction as the only chartered cruise with two Jamaican port stops. That commitment translates into tangible impact, generating millions annually for the island’s tourism and cultural economy while reinforcing a direct connection between the music, the people, and the place that birthed it.
As All in the Same Boat makes clear, Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise is a movement with its own rhythm, one that continues to bring the diaspora home, while inviting the world in. Since its inception in 2014, the mission remains the same: to create a space where reggae lives, breathes, and connects us all.
The documentary made its debut during the 10th annual cruise and later screened at Art Basel in support of hurricane relief efforts led by the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths Foundation. Damian Marley and Dan Dalton were executive producers of the film.
Music News
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