Rihanna killing it at the AMAs

Not much more we can add to our headline, which just about sums it all up. Ri-ri turned in possibly her best live performance (certainly her best awards performance) ever, opening the American Music Awards last night.

Killed. It. DEAD! She was on fire! Check out the vid and let us know if you agree.

Out of order, Kamla!

Well, well, well looka this though!

In the wake of the devastation left in Barbados, St. Vincent but especially St. Lucia by Hurricane Tomas, this was the first thingTrinidad's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had to say on Monday:

"We will have to look at ways in which we would be able to assist. But you would recall my comments earlier this year, when I said there must some way in which Trinidad and Tobago would also benefit. So if we are giving assistance with housing for example, and that is one of the areas that we (Prime Minister of St Vincent and myself ) spoke about, ... then we may be able to use Trinidad and Tobago builders and companies, so that whatever money or assistance is given, redounds back in some measure to the people of Trinidad and Tobago."

Naturally, her comments are causing outrage up and down the Caribbean.

Many are saying while they understand and don't even object to the sentiment behind it (aid with conditions is nothing new after all - look every stadium or office block the Chinese build in the region is done by Chinese companies and with Chinese workers to boot) but the way she said it and when she said were completely out of order.

And we here at Islandista agree, though we are not surprised, because Kamla has made her anti-CARICOM stance very clear in a set of mouthings for much of this year-  starting with infamous "ATM" comment earlier this year and continuing with her kvetching about the expense of the CCJ being based in Trinidad - after HER PARTY, the UNC lobbied for it to be there in the 90s.

Her comments are crass, short-sighted and disgracefully unCaribbean for a woman who lived in Jamaica for 14 years and drew a salary from the Jamaican people for at least 10 of those years.

Not only that, they are flat out stupid. "Some way in which Trinidad must benefit?" As the Express rightly pointed out in its editorial today, CARICOM countries "take about 10 per cent of Trinidad's exports." Trinidad, more than any other CARICOM country, has been benefiting for years from intra-regional trade.

What if the citizenry of these countries were so offended that they decided to take the aid but boycott Trinidad's goods?


Simply put, words mean something and Kamla should have chosen her words more carefully before biting one of the hands that feeds her people.

Nicki Minaj's Right Thru Me Video

As excitement builds for islandista Nicki Minaj's debut album Pink Friday, she's dropped a video for one of the tracks off the album - another relationship number that is almost the flipside to the 'so in love' vibe of Your Love Right Thru Me.

Check it.

Rihanna 'Only Girl in the World' video

So Rihanna's hotly-anticipated 'Only Girl in the World' video came out this week and can we say welcome back to happy Rihanna?

After the dark and depressing nature of many of the videos from the Rated R album, the rose-tinted Only Girl is a complete turnaround - it's a girly, euphoric fantasy, complete with balloons, flowers, fireworks, twinkly lights in trees, tutus and lots of spinning in said tutu and other frothy, girly outfits.

Check the vid below and tell us your thoughts.

Selita + Kanye =...?

Hmmm... sowhat'sgoingonHERE?

For the last few weeks, Kanye West has been seen all over the place with Cayman's own Selita Ebanks - one of our favourite islandistas from long time.

The two have been papped at the U.S. Open, the New Yorkers for Children Gala and across the Atlantic in Paris last week for the Grazia Masquerade Ball.

Each time, they have looked very coupley - in fact, we daresay this is the smiliest stretch for Kanye since his mother passed - even during his long on-off stint with Amber Rose, his favoured photo expression seemed to be a screw face.

But! Selita has laughed off the obvious and increasing questions, saying Kanye is just "a great friend". Which it also could be - these pix could be the smiles of besties enjoying each other's company, not love-struck folks...

However Chicago entertainment blogger/reporter LaShonda Matlock begs to differ on ChicagoNow's Pop Buzz blog, reporting the two have been coupled up for a while now:

"His ex-girlfriend Amber Rose was very aware of his budding new relationship with Selita towards the end of their relationship. Kanye has been with Selita for over eight-months now. And Kanye's time in Hawaii was not alone, Selita was there."


The source goes on to state that "Selita seems to be a good fit for Kanye" and that "Amber was leaking gossip and rumors about him to the media for a price."

Sidebar - Amber "she'll do anything for the limelight" Rose was leaking stories about Kanye for money? Yuh lie! Shocked we are...

Anyhow, it remains to be seen what will emerge about these two but take a look at the pix for yourselves, islandistas.