Access Jamaica Newsroom

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; March 29, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has indicated plans to fully develop the community of Somerton in St. James, where cultural icon Jimmy Cliff was born, as a major tourism attraction. 

 “The town of Somerton holds the rich cultural history of some of the most celebrated Jamaicans such as former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, former Governor General Sir Howard Cooke’s family, Lennie Little-White, renowned film maker, Ms. Violet Neilson former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Bishop Herro Blair.

 Perhaps the most celebrated of all is Grammy award winning singer Jimmy Cliff who still lives in Somerton and even filmed some of his greatest work here. We are excited about this history that has helped to fashion the community and can be positioned and leveraged as a major tourism attraction and generate economic growth,” said Minister Bartlett. 

 Minister Bartlett made the announcement at the official ground breaking for the Somerton to Fording road rehabilitation project yesterday [March 28, 2019]. The project will see restoration work on the roadway from fording to the Somerton square which will be named the Jimmy Cliff highway. The general scope of work will include road signage, construction of drains and asphaltic concrete repairs and overlay.

Entertainer Mackie conscious (Dennis McKay) who is currently climbing the charts in the USA thinks it better to give than to receive. Before receiving a Dollar from his pending hit single he is embarking on an Inspirational and motivational School tour all across Jamaica and around the World.

This tour is free to all schools and will take not more than 15 minutes of their devotion/assembly time for the Artiste to give a word of motivation and present the lyrics inspiring them to do as the song says: “Follow your dreams, believe in yourself, your goals you must achieve”.

Mr. Conscious believes bending the tree before they grow is the solution, hence he will be taking the message to the children to make the difference Jamaica needs. For too long the youth have been negatively influenced by some of the music, now it’s time to shift the focus to have them believing that they can be spoken about in the next 40 years in the same way we speak about  Marcus Garvey our national hero.

He hopes Sponsors can come on board so he will be able to give T-shirts with inspirational quotes, copies of the song, etc to the children.

Editor's Commentary: Caribnewsroom (PositiveTourism) recommends that the Ministry of Culture, Gender Affairs and Sports hold Town Hall sessions in the Ocho Rios Community to properly educate the community and share responses from Garveyites from across the world who would support the building of such a museum to honor our First National Hero and Saint, revered across the globe. The benefits to the community should be stressed and the persons who would be relocated should be reassured that they will be honored and properly compensated.

www.Caribnewsroom.com 
www.PositiveTourism.com

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Minister of Culture , Gender Affairs and Sports,  Hon Olivia Grange, says she and the Ministry are doing their best to have residents of 32 Marcus Garvey Way, in St Ann’s Bay, re-settled in an appropriate location soon.

Minister of Tourism, UVI

Road Town, Tortola, March 12, 2019….The British Virgin Islands has new leadership in the pivotal Tourism sector with the recent election of Premier and Minister responsible for Tourism, Hon. Andrew A. Fahie and Territorial At-Large Representative and Junior Minister for Tourism, Hon. Shereen Flax-Charles.   The British Overseas Territory of the Virgin Islands held elections on Monday, February 25th.  Under Fahie’s leadership, the Virgin Islands Party took eight of the 13 seats held by elected members of the Territory’s House of Assembly.  He was sworn in as Premier by Governor Augustus Jaspert on February 26th.  Mrs. Flax-Charles was subsequently named Junior Minister for Tourism to assist Premier Fahie in handling the tourism portfolio.

A veteran legislator, Hon. Fahie has served in the House of Assembly (previously called the Legislative Council) for the past 20 years as the representative for the First Electoral District.  He served as Minister for Education and Culture from 2000-2003 and again from 2007-2011, and as Leader of the Opposition from 2017-2018. Hon. Fahie is a former educator and businessman. 

Mrs. Flax-Charles has been involved in the tourism industry from childhood, having worked at the Fischer’s Cove Beach Hotel in Virgin Gorda, which is owned by her parents.  The first-time legislator is a business woman who worked full time at the BVI Tourist Board in the capacities of Sister Islands Tourism Development Manager and Projects Manager for almost 20 years.  She is well known as a singer with her band “It’s a Secret” and as calypsonian Queen Shereen.

In a statement from the Premier’s Office today, Hon. Fahie said, “I am a proud product of the First District which has always been a major hub of tourism activity in our Territory, with several hotels and villas, yacht charter companies, boat and vehicle rentals, marinas as well as one of the primary ports of entry at West End. 

KINGSTON, Jamaica (March 07, 2019).  Jamaica was today presented with the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association’s (PATWA) International Travel Award for Destination of the Year, in Berlin, Germany.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “Jamaica is truly honoured to once again receive a prestigious award from the internationally recognized PATWA organization.

Our country has been continuously creating innovative initiatives aimed at improving the destination, as well as bolstering our marketing efforts in new and emerging markets. I am very happy that we have been recognized for our hard work, during this event, among other leading destinations.”

The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), a professional organisation of travel writers, which was founded in 1998, organizes the event. The awards recognize individuals and organisations that have excelled and/or are involved in the promotion of tourism from different sectors of the travel trade and service providers related directly or indirectly to the industry.

Education Environment Trust (NEET) is consistent in sustaining its Mission of a crime-free Jamaica with a tablet in every child’s hand and a computer in every classroom. During its tenure since 2003, NEET has graduated approximately 1000 students from the tablet classes; graduated 2000 students & awarded 2000 computers, donated 4 million books, constructed over 20 libraries, including containers libraries in Western Jamaica. The Tablet programme (Amazon 7” Tablet) is sustained by NEET Foundation and gifts from volunteers and Travellers Beach hotel guests.

NEET aims to provide educational resources to underprivileged youth in Jamaica. One of the main aims is to have ALL NEET graduates attend college. The organization’s reason for being is to manage crime through education and ultimately provide opportunities for youth to achieve their dreams.

For 50 aspiring children and their parents, Saturday mornings are spent in the Tablet programme at Travellers Beach Resort, the foundation home of NEET.  It is an eight-week course repeated three (3) times a year. It is an “incentive programme” for children accompanied by their parents where they participate in educational programmes and learn the four Pillars of Success (Punctuality, Honesty, Discipline and Great Attitude). In an interview with Access Jamaica, NEET Chairman Winston Wellington describes the programme. He said “Saturday mornings, children learn the four pillars of success. Those who do well can earn a day pass with participating hotels, including Travelers Beach Resort.”

“High Achievers, receive a visa and travel in April to Epcot Center, Disney World and the University of Florida. This will be the third trip to Disney World; the April trip is repeated in August. Some of our students and parents are going to Canada for the Jamaica Jerk Festival, Centennial Park, Toronto. High Achievers also qualify for the Big Trip in August to Tottori, Japan for the NEET Japanese/Jamaican Cultural Exchange programme. Jamaican students learn Japanese; Japanese students learn patois, and take reggae music dance classes. We are very excited about these opportunities. Travel has really opened the mind of our children.”

March 5, 2019 (Negril, Jamaica).  Living Life as a Sacred Practice: Discover Yourself as a Source of Creation authored by Sharon Parris-Chambers is now available online at Balboapress.com, Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.  It is the long-awaited second publication since her 2011 book, excerpts of which has been shared with audiences on Social Media over the past year.

There is a buzz surrounding the book reviewed by Queen Mother Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah, author, film maker and former senator who shares her convincing perspectives with discerning readers on the merits of Living Life As a Sacred Practice. She states 
“Thoughtful people who seek answers to the mysteries of living life fully, often turn to books of sacred wisdom and advice. Whether it be the holy books such as the Bible, Koran or books by modern gurus like Iyanla Van Zant, the desire for spiritual guidance occupies a major part of many.  For those who thought such wisdom only came from ancient sages or well-promoted American, European or Asian gurus, it is a welcome surprise to find that our friend, cultural Sister and PR practitioner Sharon Parris-Chambers has given us such an excellent tome of spiritual healing.”

From beginning to end the author seeks to establish an inner vision into spiritual development of the self as a Divine being. The book is beautifully laid out in clear typesetting, with each chapter prepared as a daily teaching complete on its own. The reader has only to turn to a chapter to find an introspective meditation, sacred practice and affirmation to be used as a daily spiritual cleansing and healing ritual. Sample topics such as: “Pacify your restless mind”, “Let the Real you Stand Up,” “I live my Dream,” “Stop Suffering,” and “Insource before you Outsource” can be found and savoured in the way one enjoys a feast. The key to the exercises is journaling, which requires mindfulness meditation. When this is done, it is more likely that something profound will be left with the seeker more than just merely reading passages within the book.

Dr Glenville Ashby, Religion & Culture editor, The Jamaica Gleaner, penned the forward wherein he takes note of the author’s maiden voyage to Africa. “The author returned to her roots in Gambia 2012 which unveiled her calling and sealed her mission as a veritable messenger of Spirit. It is in Gambia that she was grounded and initiated into the innermost mystery. It is there that she drank from the well of the First People and was handed the fabled Philosopher's Stone.”

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (3 March. 2019) – For the first time since its introduction in 2003, influencers will be able to compete for an award in the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) travel media awards programme this year.

In keeping with social media trends and the organisation’s objective of recognising all media, the CTO has added the ‘I Have Influence’ award to the contest in recognition of the growing number of influencers who contribute to telling the Caribbean’s story.

The ‘I Have Influence’ award will be given to the influencer judged to have executed the best campaign that has delivered results based on agreed objectives. Entrants will be required to submit a summary of the brief, the objectives and goals of the campaign or activity, any key performance indicators agreed to measure the success of the campaign,  how the campaign was planned and what collaboration took place, any research undertaken, tools and technologies used and challenges that were overcome, the methodology used use executing the campaign, and how it satisfied the performance indicators.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday February 28, 2019:   Preliminary data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica shows that cruise tourism has seen an almost 300% increase in earnings over the last ten years. In 2008, the sector earned J$7.5Billion and in 2017 cruise saw earnings of J$22.6Billion.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, who made the announcement at Jamaica Vacations’ (JAMVAC’s) Cruise Council cocktail yesterday, said, “Cruise tourism for Jamaica has been a long journey of growth and development over many years and it began much like all other industries with a small beginning then mushroomed into proportions that today we can regard as an integral part of the fabric of our economy.

What we recognize as well is that cruise provides the best and most immediate form of conversion of wealth into the pockets and economies of the local destination. The impact of this sizeable earning therefore has been instantaneous in the communities across the country.”

JAMVAC Limited, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, has direct responsibility for cruise. JAMVAC has since been an important player in Jamaica’s growing cruise industry which last year received a significant boost with vessels including Marella Cruise, Carnival Horizon and Ms Sirena arriving in Jamaican waters for the very first time.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 20, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre) engages Chairperson of the Tourism Linkages’ Gastronomy Network Nicola Madden-Greig (left) and Analyst of Tourism Networks at the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Simone Harris in conversation, ahead of their departure to Florida for the annual South Beach (SOBE) Food and Wine Show.

The Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Jamaica Tourist Board are providing financial support for Jamaican chefs Gariel Ferguson and Colin Hylton to participate in the 4-day food festival, which begins today.  The Tourism Linkages Network is also using this opportunity to have their first ever gastronomy activation outside of Jamaica.

The Minister hopes that by participating in this event, it will showcase Jamaica as a premier Gastronomy destination in the Caribbean.  It will also create an opportunity for food Ambassadors to both integrate and be exposed to the wider chef/culinary community.

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Left to Right: CHTA Marketing Exec.; Dr Wykeham McNeill, Shadow Tourism Minister; Dr Adam Wu, CEO, CBN; Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism; Patricia Alfonso Dass, Pres, CHTA and Frank Comitoano, CEO & Director General

Lt. to Right: Sharon Parris-Chambers (Caribnewsroom), Dr. Adam Wu, Benson (Seasonal), Delegate, Marlina Charley (Interpreter)

China’s presence in the Caribbean is expanding significantly and has made a strong showing with twenty delegates at the recently held Caribbean Tourism Marketplace held January 29-31, 2019 and staged at the Montego Bay Conference Centre.

Our AccessJamaica representative met several Chinese delegates on the Marketplace floor, some were engaged through a Jamaican interpreter, while others like Benson, owner of Seasonal Company, from Chengdu, Sichuan ventured to speak directly about his interests as a delegate and as a potential investor.

Montego Bay, Jamaica. Jamaica has made history on January 30, 2019 in being the first destination to conceive and host the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRC) housed at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

The initiative is the result of one of the key deliverables of the Montego Bay Declaration from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Government of Jamaica, World Bank Group and Inter-American Development Bank conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism held November 28, 2017 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

The Hon. Prime Minister Andrew Holness was the keynote speaker at the well-anticipated event staged at the Montego Bay Convention Centre January 30, 2019. He said “of the major industries globally, arguably none faces greater exposure to disruptive forces than the hyper-connected tourism sector. The irony of the tourism industry is that the tourism sector has also displayed the uncanny ability to recover. So, there is something about tourism that is resilient. It is the most exposed but has also demonstrated the greatest ability to recover.”

Mr. Peter Greenberg, Award-winning Journalist and Travel Editor for CBS news was the Master of Ceremonies.

St. Ann, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. During the height of Rebel Salute’s unfolding, Mutabaruka took the microphone and introduced Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi, pronounced Cha-gu-la-nyi) a young freedom fighter, reggae singer and member of parliament. He represents a New Africa Young Africa and Free Africa from Uganda. Time stood still, the audience stopped to listen with rapt attention, one eye witness said.

Mutabaruka welcomed Rebel Salute’s selection of Bobi Wine an entertainer influenced by Reggae music and veteran Jamaican artistes, to Jamaica to share his liberation message with our people.   When he took the microphone, after his preamble, he transformed the audience with a sense of empowerment and Black liberation not ever seen at any Rebel Salute show. He opened his set with a song called “Born to Sing”.  He dedicated his performance to those watching live in Africa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAJ1kzLEklc

He told the audience he came from the ghetto, he was born in Kampala, Uganda.  He chose reggae music as a liberating force and began to speak out against oppression, which attracted thousands of youth. As a result, he has been beaten, tortured and hospitalized under a government exerting 33 years of political oppression. Bobi has become a symbol of Liberation for people under oppression, inspired by the music videos of Sting and especially Rebel Salute, as well as, the music of Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Anthnoy B, Buju Banton, Capelton and the Reggae Warriors.

Wine performed Reggae and African Dance Hall in English and his language to an accepting audience.

MADRID, Spain; January 23, 2019: Following discussions with two major Spanish Hotel chains, H10 and Princess Resorts, Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett has secured USD750Million in investment. The investment will see the construction of three thousand (3000) new rooms in Jamaica by 2021.

H10 Hotels, which will construct 1000 new rooms in Trelawny at a value of approximately USD 250Million, is a hotel chain with over 55 hotels in 18 destinations. Princess Hotels and Resorts, ranked 8^th in the Spanish market has 19 hotels. They will construct 2000 new rooms in Hanover, to the tune of some USD500Million.

In highlighting the significance of these agreements, which were made at FITUR in Spain, Minister Bartlett said, “The value of this investment cannot be overstated as it will transform our tourism product and allow for heavier marketing of the destination. More rooms mean more visitors and more visitors mean more foreign exchange earnings and ultimately more economic growth, which is in line with our 5x5x5 growth strategy.”

Currently Jamaica’s room stock is 32,000. As part of the Ministry’s 5x5x5 growth strategy, the aim is to have 15,000 additional rooms by 2022.

AccessJamaica.com is Jamaica’s premier distribution and repository channel for Jamaican products and service. The portal helps consumers find easily accessible information under one umbrella (www.AccessJamaica.com).

The portal’s chief solutions coach, Theo Chambers, launched the portal on Saturday, October 22, 2016, which is now accessible to the global marketplace. He said “AccessJamaica is a new source channel in the marketplace for Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C) networking in Jamaica.”

The founder envisions a Jamaica that is computer literate and in harmony with the national vision to develop Jamaica as a place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.

In keeping with Jamaica’s push to be a leader in the Internet Technology industry, AccessJamaica.com provides the vehicle to get consumers in line with the national vision and  on par with first world nations.

Montego Bay has in recent times become the epicenter of celebrity sightings in Jamaica, and that’s due in large measure to OCEAN Style.  The Caribbean luxury lifestyle brand having already produced three celebrity events in Jamaica this year  - Taye Diggs’ Book Signing Tour, Vivica Fox’s Birthday Celebration and High Vibes Roots & Reggae Festival featuring Rick Ross, Beenie Man and Ky-Mani Marley.  Now the tourism capital of Jamaica is gearing up to host the 9th annual OCEAN Style FashionShowcase Weekend and Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Global entertainment giant MTV will be in Jamaica as one of the many recognized entities when the weekend kicks off November 24-27, 2016.  Billed as a weekend of parties, fun, fashion and celebration, the annual event is well-known for pulling international names in fashion, having presented brands: Etro, Reem Accra, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Agent Provocateur, Victoria’s Secret and the Caribbean’s own Meiling, Anya Ayoung-Chee and Heather Jones, just to name a few. In terms of celebrity attendance, OCEAN Style has hosted over 50 celebrities including the likes of Anthony Anderson, Angela Simmonds, Vivica Fox, Lennox Lewis, Taye Diggs, Don Benjamin, Rockmond Dunbar, Nicole Murphy and Mekhi Phifer and in the process successfully established itself as the quintessential celebrity and socialite playground of the Caribbean.

Secrets Resorts & Spas will play host to the guests and a number of the events as the presenting partner for the second consecutive year. Emilio Huhn, General Manager said: "For a luxury resort like Secrets it's a very good fit. We are happy to be associated with world class events and that is what OCEAN Style delivers."

With such an enviable profile the event has in the past attracted the attention of global media giants such as BET, Centric and ESPN; each of which has celebrated the OCEAN Style experience on their respective channels.