| HARRY TODDLER PLEADS FOR 'SAFE TRAVEL' AT TRANSPORT MINISTRY LAUNCH |
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 Harry Toddler knows a thing or two about tragic accidents, so when he got up to speak at the launch of the Children Against Reckless Driving (CARD) programme last week, he was speaking from the heart. The former Scare Dem Crew member delivered a brief but provocative speech where he recalled a personal tragedy, the death of fellow entertainer Craig Dennis. "I lost my friend the other day in an accident and if he was wearing a helmet, Craig Dennis would be still be here," he said. He was speaking at a function held at the Maxfield Avenue offices of the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Works last Wednesday. "I can remember one time also, Nitty Kutchie, one of my friends from Scare Dem, crashed into a lightpost in Three Miles heading from Cactus, so from then, I just say Jah know, the reckless driving don't pay. I have my children and I send them to school and sometimes I am afraid for them because of the reckless drivers on the road." In the past, several entertainers have narrowly avoided death including Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Ninjaman. Dancehall legend Tiger was also critically injured in a bike crash and never regained his former vibrancy and brilliant onstage energy after his accident several years ago. Danish rapper Natasja Scrul who had a monster hit Calabria where she rapped in the Jamaican lingua also died tragically two years ago on her way home from a stage show. Jacob Miller's tragic death in a car accident in 1980 also hurt the group Inner Circle who went on a hiatus after his death but returned to rule the airwaves with hits like Sweat and Bad Boys. During the launch, Harry Toddler performed Safe Travel which is produced by the Down Sound Records label. Other acts who performed included US-based dancehall act Tega who did a soulful Hit and Run Driver which spoke to reckless driving habits such as driving while on a cellphone and the troublesome hit-and-runs. Dancer Overmars as well as the acts, Mogano and Radical. Road fatalities have been trending down in recent years from a high of 408 in 2002 to 341 last year. "More still needs to be done to encourage motorists and pedestrians to be safer on the road network," Mr. Kenute Hare, director of the Road Safety Unit told a reporter last week. In the meantime, Toddler's song has been getting excellent airplay on IRIE, ZIP and Hitz in recent weeks especially in light of the well-publicised funerals of the 14 persons who lost their lives in a tragic accident in December last year. Other travel accidents such as the crash of a Continental Connections plane travelling from Newark to Buffalo last week which claimed the lives of 50 people, including four Jamaicans on board, also brought home the importance of safe travel. "The response to the song has been global, it deep certain way. Mi ah get calls from US, Canada, especially after the US Airways accident inna New York, all around because is a song that affect everybody, it real. Everybody haffi just wish for the best in their coming and going," he said. Harry Toddler had a remarkable run in 2008 where he scored two number one singles, Don't Run In and More Money, is looking to keep his momentum going into 2009. Toddle has a slew of new singles including Fluffy and Pray for Them single on the Prophet rhythm has been getting rave reviews. He won the EME Best Comeback Artiste award this year as well. Ensure that you click post when your taken to any of these social sites            |
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