Positive Tourism News

Founder CCTN & President IIPT Caribbean

Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN), a Jamaican entity, in partnership with Global Spiritual Forum (GSF) will host a free webinar on Spirituality and Peace: Lessons from the Caribbean for a Holistic Way of Life on September 30, 2020. GSF was founded by Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena, based in Canada. He is supported by three Administrators and 20 Moderators.

Diana McIntyre-Pike, Founder & President Countrystyle Community Tourism Network and President International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Caribbean was a featured speaker in the August 2020 GSF Forum. Since then, she has ignited wide acclaim and has returned to coordinate and present on the panel Spirituality and Peace – Lessons from the Caribbean for a Holistic Way of Life. McIntyre-Pike, international Community Tourism pioneer says “The foundation of my work with communities is spirituality and peace, its enduring influence fuels sustainable tourism development.”

Date of Webinar: September 30, 2020
To Register and Receive Meeting ID & Passcode: Click or copy the link in your Browser: https://forms.gle/upnSW6JHNq1Rby1k7
ACCESS TIMES: 10:00 am - 12:00 noon - Kingston, Jamaica; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - New York; 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm – London; 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm – Dubai and 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm – Sri Lanka.

Elizabeth Terry, Webinar Moderator and Presenter, welcomes spiritual enthusiasts with these words: “As we traverse this time of challenge and change, ‘staying inside’ has become a metaphor for spiritual renewal and the deepening of our spiritual connection to our Source, God, I Am Presence, or whatever name we choose to call our Divine Creator. We welcome the Global Spiritual Community to this Webinar where we will explore various Caribbean interpretations of how we may deepen our Spiritual Connection and gain resilience and strength to remain ever positive, aligned and focused on developing a world that works for everyone.”

The GSF Panelists are: Diana McIntyre-Pike, GSF Webinar Facilitator; Elizabeth Terry, Certified Trainer & Master Coach of NLP, Time Line Therapy and Hypnosis; Sharon Oshun Parris-Chambers, President, PanaCarib Business Solutions Ltd. (Founder, Wellness Tourism Network) and Founder, Temple of Inner Peace (Spiritual Wellness Company) and Prince Matthew, Founder – It’s All Good Holistic Movement.

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this my 31st occasion to address this honourable house in this critically important sectoral debate as I speak of the developments and challenges faced by one of our nation’s key industries, tourism. With COVID-19 upending the affairs of every single nation, east and west, I must extend hearty commendation and gratitude for the leadership of Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, as he effectively steers Jamaica through the choppiest seas in our nation’s modern history. We all pray that God will continue to strengthen him in these unique times whilst we work as a team to deliver success at the end of this crisis.

 Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank:

• Almighty God,
• My constituents of East Central St. James,
• Tourism sector stakeholders and the people of Jamaica,
• My dear wife of 46 years Carmen, my son and grandchildren

Mr. Speaker, to my constituents of East Central St. James, I say thank you for your support and patience in my continued leadership of your affairs. The negative economic and social effects of COVID-19 are there for all to see.  However, we take comfort in the range of projects resulting in improved roads, greater access to water, a deepening of community development and engagement activities, especially for our youth, housing developments, urban renewal, positive developments in agricultural projects, better sports development initiatives and stronger avenues for job creation.

Tourism Ministry & Team review TEF supported protective kits for SMTEs

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 10, 2020: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that over $J2 Billion in funding will be made available for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs). The move, forms part of the government’s commitment to help these small tourism businesses retool and rebound amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding, which was championed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), will be from multilateral partners and financial institutions such as the Development Bank of Jamaica, World Bank, Jamaica Social Investment Fund, EXIM Bank and Jamaica National Group.

Speaking today at the press briefing where the announcement was made, Minister Bartlett said: “Our SMTEs have been severely displaced due to COVID-19 and have recorded economic fallout of an average of $J2.5 Million each. As part of our recovery efforts for the sector, they will play a significant role by stimulating economic activity and as such this funding of over $J2 Billion which is needed, will assist them greatly to rebuild.”

SMTEs will have access to a suite of loan facilities and grants ranging from a low as J$5 Million up to a maximum of $J30 Million.

Protest outside Parliament in London

Reuters news (Kingston) June 6 edition reported that Jamaican protestors outfitted in Black, Saturday June 6, 2020 in Kingston, protested despited the blistering sun. Gathering on Saturday, they supportd the global protests" against police abuses sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month." One of the protestors, Human rights activist Lloyd D'Aguilar, attended the protest at the U.S. Embassy. He was concerned about a lack of action on killings by security forces in Jamaica. "There are never any follow-up protests," he said. "The positive is that people are paying attention to the massive protests in the United States - this is where we need to go." the article stated.

Protesters in solidarity with the African Diaspora opposed to the racial and violent death of George Floyd in the USA are staging protests around the world. In Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands. One of the Western Jamaica community leaders A. McKenzie recommends "peaceful protests with a purpose and safety as we are in a pandemic, gather some people around you, or just you. Write up a placard and stand and take a picture, The placard can be in support or just say. "Where there is no justice there will be no peace" or something similar. Take a picture, you must be out of your house, then post the picture on Facebook.com, Instagram or Whatsapp. This will be in lieu of movement outside of Kingston as lockdown and curfews still exists. Lets do it Sunday, June 7, 2020 and bombard social media with our pictures of solidarity.

Source: A. McKenzie & Caribnewsroom

June 5, 2020.  Everywhere around the world, World Environment Day is being observed against the backdrop of growing unrest and demands of social justice for people of African descent. This year’s theme ‘It’s Time for Nature’ is especially resonant for us of the Maroon Women Chamber of Cooperation.  As survivors of generations of colonial violence and repression, we continue to struggle for self-determination as people of African descent and the freedom to live in communion with the natural environment that has been our source of survival for centuries.

In a recent online meeting that brought together women from across the region and Diaspora, we agreed to approach CARICOM on a number of issues. As our leaders engage in discussions on COVID-19 recovery, we ask that our Maroon communities have a seat at the table in the conversation. Whether the challenge is COVID-19 or Climate Change, we believe that our voices need to be heard and considered in the development of a sustainable development plan for this region. We believe that we are deserving of respect and visibility in national and regional discussions on a way forward for the Caribbean.

We believe that we should have the endorsement of individual and regional governments and agencies to support the development and propagation of modes of survival and community resilience that have come out of our Maroon legacy. We call on the governments of the Caribbean to look to our communities for the answers to some of the pressing issues we are facing, even as these communities struggle to survive because we cannot fully practice the modes of resilience we inherited from our foremothers and fathers.

As we move into the hurricane season, some of our communities are on the brink of collapse because of the economic impact of COVID-19. We call for urgent action to ensure resilience and survival.  We call on our governments to rethink their COVID-19 relief efforts to include and support people driven initiatives. Land rights, spiritual autonomy, racial discrimination and access to state resources to mitigate the effects of climate change are all social justice issues. They cannot and should not be separated from each other. We call on our governments to acknowledge these connections and act before it is too late.

Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism

June 3, 2020. Negril, Jamaica, W.I. Partners of Wellness Wednesdays & Access Jamaica WhatsApp Social Media Network in association with Carib Academy, online eLearning platform, invite you to a scheduled Zoom Wellness Tourism Roundtable meeting with Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Tourism Minister on June 10, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Jamaica Time) 8:00 p.m. EDT (US and Canada) via ZOOM platform.

The Wellness Tourism Roundtable is convened by Sharon Parris-Chambers, Wellness Tourism Consultant & Co-founder of Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Conference (2005-2009) and partners:  Theo Chambers, (Marketing Consultant & Co-founder of Caribbean Health Tourism & Spa Conference); Claudia Gardner (Journalist & Bee farmer); Diana McIntyre-Pike (founder Countrystyle Community Tourism & Villages as Businesses & Tourism Consultant/Trainer); Elizabeth Terry (NLP Master Trainer); Wolde Kristos (Tourism Consultant).

If you are a stakeholder in the Wellness Tourism industry, this is an opportunity to voice your opinion on the way forward in a Post COVID19 ‘New Normal’ world. How can your Wellness Interventions make a difference and help transform Jamaica’s Wellness Industry?
Space is limited; if you want a seat at the Roundtable, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 876-275-3169 for an invitation.

The group welcomes the participation of traditional healers & practitioners, manufacturers, herbalists, hoteliers – resorts - villas, spa directors, spa technicians, lifestyle transformation centers, community wellness and rural spas to name a few.

Mighty Diamonds Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Photo Caption: Mighty Diamonds: Lf to Rt. Capo (Joseph Williamson), Tabby Diamond (Donald Shaw) and Judge Diamond (Lloyd Furgeson) Celebeate 50th Anniversary at IRITS Cultural Wellness & Culinary Festival, Montego Bay, January 26, 2020
Photo Credit: RIV Archives

Montego Bay, Jamaica (February 14, 2020).
The creation of IRITS Cultural Wellness and Culinary Festival by the Outreach and Education team from the Rastafari Indigenous Village (RIV) took place two and a half years ago. Founded and managed by Arlene McKenzie and Firstman (Edward Wray), the festival takes place within the Portobello community on the last Sunday afternoon of each month. It has been growing steadily ever since.

RIV hit a high note with the recent appearance and celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Mighty Diamonds on January 26, 2020, which evolved out of a partnership with Masani Productions from Rastafest Canada. Mighty Diamonds are harmony trio Jamaican recording artistes performing in the genre of roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and are best known for their debut album Right Time (1976) with hit songs I Need a Roof and Them Never Love Poor Marcus, which were performed. The mega hit Pass the Kouchie drew loud accolades from the crowd.. The veteran reggae group received a stirring tribute by Barry G, veteran broadcaster to the delight of an appreciative audience who enjoyed the stroll down memory lane.

Emerging from a group of Village friends and family gatherings, IRITS evolved into what it is today, a veritable cultural showcase of Jamaica’s brightest and sought-after entertainers. IRITS speaks to spiritual balance, peace, harmony with one’s inner being. It is a strictly well-mind, well-body, well-spirit event, which incorporates the literary arts, spiritual development, Nyabinghi drumming & reasoning, musical & poetic expressions, arts & crafts, always staying on the cutting edge.

MADRID, Spain; January 24, 2020: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that Jamaica and the Republic of Panama have signed a multi-destination arrangement, as part of efforts to strengthen tourism relations between both countries.

The agreement was signed today during FITUR, the largest International Tourism Trade Fair for inbound and outbound Ibero-American markets, currently underway in Spain.

Jamaica has previously signed similar agreements with Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, to advance regional integration by fostering and harmonising legislation on air connectivity, visa facilitation, product development, marketing and human capital development.

‘The signing of the agreement today with Panama brings us to five countries in the North-Western Caribbean that have now developed an arrangement for convergence of their marketing and airlift arrangements.

Golden Tongue Awards 2020 - Poetry Competition/Challenge - Calling All Aspiring Poets

Poetry in Motion 2020 is pleased to announce the highly anticipated annual PiM - Golden Tongue Awards 2020 - Poetry Challenge/Competition which opens today, Wednesday January 15th, and closes on Friday, January 31st, 2020. Kindly care and share with all aspiring poets and submit entry forms with poems as early as possible.

 Poetree For Charity With Clean Intelligent Fun For The Entire Family & Community

 Poetry in Motion, affectionately called PiM, is the most celebrated, longest running and most successful annual Poetry Festival in the colourful literary history of Jamaica and the Caribbean and is highly recognized internationally in the world of Poetry. Please see attached and below.

Barry G, The Boogieman in his studio

Montego Bay, Jamaica (January 25, 2020). Barry G, the Boogieman's next appearances will begin Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Rasta Indigenous Village, Montego Bay, St. James 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. He will toast the Mighty Diamonds who are celebrating 50 years in the Reggae idustry. Join the Boogieman as he receives yet another award for his contribution of 45 years in the entertainment industry from the Rasta Indigenous Village.

MC Barry G kicks of The ‘Children of the Icons” concert tour this Saturday, February 1 in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, launching the concert series at 7:00 p.m. Admission Free. Aaaoowww!

Contact:

Sharon Parris-Chambers
Publicist
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
876-275-3169

This announcement follows discussions with Minister of Tourism for Panama, His Excellency Ivan Alfaro, and Minister Bartlett at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London yesterday.

“Multi destination tourism is a strategy to increase the product offerings of the respective destinations but more so to enable better air connectivity between markets particularly, for long haul destinations. With this multi destination arrangement, Panama will become a hub for long haul flights and Emirates and Air China are among the two targeted carriers,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Jamaica Tourist Board and the Panamanian Tourism Authority will meet to conclude details of the arrangement by January 2020 for signing during FITUR in Spain.

Myriads of Baby Boomers numbering into the hundreds of thousands are seeking the Fountain of Youth and have contributed to the development of wellness products and services around the world. They are joined by Millennials who want to experience more health and wellness in their daily lives and while on vacation.

Recapture Life, Health & Happiness with Qigong is a workshop that teaches the preventative and curative practice of therapeutic movement to help you take charge of your life. The Workshop is presented by Glenville Ashby Ph.D. for the first time in Jamaica. You won’t want to miss this opportunity!

This practice is used in leading university hospitals worldwide as a complementary healing modality. Learn how these techniques can change your life, manage lifestyle and Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affecting many Jamaicans. Examples of NCDs are: strokes, most heart diseases, most cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and others.

You deserve to be happy, look younger, pain free and live the life you envision. Register today – Space is Limited. Call 876-275-3169 for information and AFYA for booking 876-434-7433.

Friday, September 13, 2019. Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. Cockpit Country Coalition and Concerned Citizens have rescheduled the demonstration at the House of Parliament on Duke St. in Kingston.  The new date and time for this peaceful demonstration is September 17, 2019 starting at 8.30 am. at the assembly point at west National Heroes Circle Kingston.

The aim of the demonstration is to make a firm, resounding and decisive statement to the government of Jamaica that the people resident in Cockpit Country, Jamaica, the Diaspora - and our resting ancestors, are diametrically opposed to any form of mining in the Cockpit Country Landscape. The message to the government is to withdraw the ill-conceived "Cockpit Country Protected Area Boundary" presented in Parliament on November 21, 2017 which was designed deliberately by government to facilitate the Mining of rich Bauxite deposits known to be in Cockpit Country landscape and starting with the mining of Special Mining Lease Area 173. 

We call on the government to replace the “Cockpit Country Protected Area Boundary” with the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Boundary which was recommended as the outer border of Cockpit Country Landscape in the 2013 island wide public consultations report on defining the Cockpit Country Boundary done by Prof. Webber.

We appeal to all Jamaicans to travel to National Heroes Circle on Tuesday September 17, 2019 with their Banners for 8.30 am assembly - and then to march to the house of Parliament to convey this decisive message to the Government.

Rare bird in Cockpit Country Landscape

Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. Cockpit Country Coalition and Concerned Citizens have rescheduled the demonstration at the House of Parliament on Duke St. in Kingston.  The new date and time for this peaceful demonstration is September 17, 2019 starting at 8.30 am. at the assembly point at west National Heroes Circle Kingston.

The aim of the demonstration is to make a firm, resounding and decisive statement to the government of Jamaica that the people resident in Cockpit Country, Jamaica, the Diaspora - and our resting ancestors, are diametrically opposed to any form of mining in the Cockpit Country Landscape. The message to the government is to withdraw the ill-conceived "Cockpit Country Protected Area Boundary" presented in Parliament on November 21, 2017 which was designed deliberately by government to facilitate the Mining of rich Bauxite deposits known to be in Cockpit Country landscape and starting with the mining of Special Mining Lease Area 173. 

We call on the government to replace the “Cockpit Country Protected Area Boundary” with the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Boundary which was recommended as the outer border of Cockpit Country Landscape in the 2013 island wide public consultations report on defining the Cockpit Country Boundary done by Prof. Webber.

We appeal to all Jamaicans to travel to National Heroes Circle on Tuesday September 17, 2019 starting at 8.30 am for assembly - and then to march to the house of Parliament to convey this decisive message to the Government.

Thursday, August 29, 2019. Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. Cockpit Country Coalition and Concerned Citizens have postponed the peaceful Demonstration of “No Mining in Cockpit Country Landscape” scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at Gordon House until further notice.

This decision was taken consequent upon information that Parliament will not yet be in session on that date. The media will be alerted with the latest developments.

Contact:
Cockpit Country Coalition
876-393-6584

Cockpit Country Landscape

August 27, 2019. Montego Bay, Jamaica. Stakeholders representing independently-owned and operated micro & small enterprises (MSEs) within Western parishes gathered at the Rastafari Indigenous Village, located in Montego Bay on Sunday, August 25, 2019 as a special feature of the IRITS cultural festival.

The IRITS festival is a celebration of all things Jamaican; it is held on the last Sunday of each month to share culture as follows: music, wellness, ital cuisine & environmental concerns. The meeting, hosted by Rastafari Indigenous Village and facilitated by Hugh Dixon, was a Call for Clarity to mobilize around a Cockpit Country Forum to ‘Reason’ and understand the issues related to mining in the Cockpit Country.

Hugh Dixon, Executive Director, Southern Trelawny Environment Agency (STEA) gave an informative PowerPoint presentation on the history, heritage and socio-economic situations surrounding the recent activities related to mining within the community. 

He showed several maps of Jamaica and highlighted the territory which clearly delineated the Cockpit Country and its boundaries as declared by the Cockpit Country Stakeholder Group (CCSG) separate and distinct from the government’s boundary of the Cockpit Country Protected Area (CCPA). The Cockpit Country stretches through the parishes of: St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann, Manchester and St. Elizabeth. Dixon declared that within the Transition Zone approximately 70,000 residents will be impacted. Bauxite mining in the Cockpit Country transition zone will set us up to “lose our livelihoods to a foreign interest that used to suppress us; our people will be disenfranchised and our economy disrupted.”

Trinidad & Tobago. August 12, 2019.  The Caribbean Regional Coordinating Committee of the Pan African Federalist Movement (PAFM) takes this opportunity, as we approach the anniversary of the birth of the Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Africa’s first provisional president, to applaud our CARICOM and African Union Heads of State in their decision to hold a joint Summit in 2020.

As a grassroots movement committed to the establishment of the United African States as a Pan African Federation in a generation or less, the Pan African Federalist Movement recognizes and supports the diplomatic presence of Barbados and Suriname in the form of a joint embassy in Ghana.  We salute Hon. Mia Mottley, respected Prime Minister of Barbados, for also partnering with St. Lucia to establish a joint embassy in Kenya, inviting other CARICOM partners to join this Pan African Initiative and welcome reciprocal diplomatic gestures from the governments of Presidents Addo and Kenyatta by establishing Ghanaian and Kenyan Embassies in the Caribbean.

According to the Jamaica Observer newspaper (August 6, 2019) Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the recent appointment of Kenya's first high commissioner to Jamaica reflects the growing relationship between Jamaica and Kenya, and demonstrates Kenyatta's personal commitment to the Jamaica-Kenya partnership and developing closer ties with the Caribbean community. Discussions are underway to begin flights flying from the East Coast to the West Coast of Africa and directly to Jamaica, and through Jamaica to the rest of the Caribbean. President Kenyatta challenged Jamaica to take advantage of Kenya’s strategic geographic and economic position in Eastern Africa to benefit the people of the two nations. The two leaders will meet again when Holness visits Kenya for the upcoming ACP meeting.

In an era of heightened geopolitical tensions, where the scramble for Africa, with the decimation of Africans at home and abroad, is clearly on the agenda of contending non-African powers, that the present diplomatic strengthening and deepening of academic, research and trade ties at the level of CARICOM and the African Union must be encouraged and complimented by grassroots initiatives such as the Assembly of Caribbean People, the Pan African Grand Market and Festival (Belize), and the Pan African Federalist Movement.

IRIE FM RADIO (107 BAND) presents The 28^th Annual Tribute to Mwalimu Marcus Mosiah Garvey,  “One Africa - One Nation,” Sunday August 28^th  2019. The event will be held in the IRIE FM Court Yard, Coconut Grove Ocho Rios, St Ann, from 6am to 10pm.

Speakers:

Dr. David Muhammad, Trinidad and Eastern Caribbean representative of the Honourable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, will be the keynote.

Minister Ed Bartlett & Andrew Holness, Prime Minister Jamaica enjoy Sumfest 2019.

 KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Hon Edmund Bartlett has indicated that J$1 Billion was generated at the just concluded Reggae Sumfest music festival held at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay.

“This year was arguably the largest Reggae Sumfest in terms of attendance from both local and overseas guests. On the visitor arrival side, we saw approximately 10,000 people coming to the island for the festival which is an increase of 3000 over last year.

More importantly we estimate the revenue impact from the festival to be $J1 Billion based on average room nights stay of locals and visitors and taxes,” said Minister Bartlett.

Reggae Sumfest, which began in 1993, has been described as the largest music festival in Jamaica and the Caribbean, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay. It attracts crowds of all ages from all over the world and locally, and has featured a variety of Jamaican reggae artists as well as international acts.