Positive Tourism News

Source: Positive Tourism News. Photo Caption: Positive Tourism News Staff.

Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. (July 22, 2017) The 25th Edition of Reggae Sumfest took place during the period July 16, 2017 to July 23, 2017. The showcase held the spotlight on the genres of dancehall, reggae and ska. Highly acclaimed Jamaican headline acts, the likes of Stephen Marley, Sean Paul, Queen Ifrica, Richie Stephens, & Ska Nation, Christopher Martin, Jah Cure, Beanie Man and Sizzla Kalonji displayed their star quality and thrilled fans in the audience. The penultimate performer with the largest music catalog in Jamaica, Kalonji closed the show on Sunday morning, having just returned from a successful Summer performance schedule in the USA. He challenged youth with guns in Montego Bay to go to business school, earn, money and begin uplifting themselves. Kalonji delivered a full set despite inheriting a loss of audience share by 5:30 am. Blazing set performances by Stephen Marley, Richie Stephens & Ska Nation, Sean Paul and Queen Ifrica made an indelible mark on the blistering and exciting production of Sumfest 2017.

One of the Festivals founding directors, Robert Russell, later that evening, was recognized for his vision and service to the Reggae industry, said in an interview with Positive Tourism News that key features of this year’s production included the main stage design, having huge video screens for patrons to see the show from any angle of the main village showcase. A Taste of Reggae Sumfest Acoustic Café, was a highlight in the food court. He was abundantly pleased that the LiveStream (www.ReggaeSumfest.com) which he had some initial reservations about, “proved to be a lure for patrons to come in because they wanted to see themselves on television”.

The presence and performance of Richie Stevens & Ska Nation is an example of the homage paid to Jamaican Ska, which underpins our other music genres. Ska Nation, performed within Stevens set and lit a fire across the audience as they witnessed an International Ska dance craze coming out of Europe. The audience witnessed Italian performers passionately dancing and singing what I would declare a Ska Revival. Towards the end of his performance, Richie Stevens gave a Ska operatic rendition of the Italian Classic “Oh Solo Mia,” which found resonance with a riveted and sometimes surprised audience judging from their halting applause. The Jamaica Tourist Board paid Homage to Ska with banners, pictures and quotations in their Sky Box.

The evening’s stellar performance par excellence goes to Queen Ifrica, a human rights advocate for women and children who highlighted the issues to be fixed in our beloved Jamaica with new and popular songs, sung with passion and determination. She added equal pay for female recording artists to her causes. She opened her set with “Welcome to Montego Bay” followed by “Daddy”, “Lioness on the Rise”, “Below the Waist,” etc. She drew her performance catalog from albums such as: “Times Like These”, “Lioness on the Rise” and “Serve & Protect”. Queen told Positive Tourism News that her new album ‘I Can’t Breathe’ from the 2017 Climb Album has caught the attention of the Mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and other victims of police violence. “Mothers of the Movement,” is a sisterhood of moms. She promises in the album “we ain’t gonna stop till people are free”.

SOURCE: MINISTRY OF TOURISM

NEGRIL, Jamaica; Friday, July 14, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has charged the newly-established Negril Destination Assurance Council (Negril DAC) with safeguarding the western tourist resort area and ensuring its integrity.

“The Negril DAC must take control of the destination. We are providing the legislative and legal framework for you; we are helping to facilitate capacity building but the action on the ground, the ownership of your destination, must be yours,” charged Minister Bartlett a yesterday’s (July 13) inaugural meeting of the body that has replaced the Negril Resort Board.

Explaining the difference between the DACs and the now defunct Resort Boards, Minister Bartlett said this was to be seen in the structure and the broader intent “because the Destination Assurance Council is not just about the look and feel of the destination but it is about the reputation of the destination and involves all the key governance players who have a role to play in ensuring that the destination remains pristine and safe.”

KINGSTON, JAMAICA (June 20, 2017) – The votes have been tallied, and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has again been named “Favourite Tourist Board in Canada” by Canadian travel agents in Baxter Travel Media’s annual Agents’ Choice Awards. This is the twelfth consecutive year that the JTB Canada team has received this honour.

 In his thank you letter to Canadian agents, Paul Pennicook, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, thanked agents for again voting for the Jamaica Tourist Board and added: “This award is a testament to how hard everyone is working as a team to deliver an exceptional product. We have a great team in place who offer outstanding service to travel agents, who in turn offer an unforgettable Jamaica experience to their clients.” 

"It is such an honour to receive this award for the twelfth consecutive year,” said Philip Rose, Regional Director for the Jamaica Tourist Board in Canada. “Travel agents are one of our most important partners. In fact, in 2016 we saw 54% of Canadians book their Jamaica trip through an agent. The JTB Canada team regularly works and meets with Canadian travel agents, providing them with the tools they need, product updates, and hosting them on familiarization tours on the island so they can best sell Destination Jamaica.”

 Baxter Travel Media are the publishers of Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier, two of the top travel trade publications in Canada. The Baxter Travel Media Awards are the largest travel agent survey of its kind in Canada, with more than 5,500 agents voting in various categories.

Photo Caption: Above: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) and Skift President Carolyn Kremins

(HM Skift President) KINGSTON, JAMAICA (June 8, 2017) –Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett met with Skift President Carolyn Kremins to discuss the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, taking place November 27 – 29, 2017 in Montego Bay. Skift is the largest industry intelligence platform, providing media, insights and marketing to key sectors of travel.

In commemoration of the 2017 UNWTO’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the event is a collaboration between the Government of Jamaica, international development firm Chemonics International and the UNWTO. This conference is of especially momentous importance because it is the first time the UNWTO will stage a world conference on tourism in the Caribbean or the Americas. The conference will bring the world’s spotlight to Jamaica and the Caribbean, both of which rely heavily on the economic power of tourism. The participating heads of state, planners, policy makers, developers and investors will discuss the need for public-private-partnerships with the mission of sustainable tourism for development.

Contact:

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 1, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett on Tuesday (May 30) launched the Destination Assurance Councils (DACs) for six resort areas, which are tasked with ensuring that the quality, standards and integrity of Jamaica’s tourism product are maintained.  The launch took place at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa in Kingston.

The Destination Assurance Councils, which replace the Resort Boards, are expected to identify the needs of the industry and monitor the progress of developmental initiatives in resort areas. This is in keeping with efforts to ensure that Jamaica provides the attractive and secure tourism product which is marketed to its visitors.

In his address, Minister Bartlett called on the DACs to play their part in ensuring that the Jamaican experience is safe, secure and seamless for our visitors, adding that “people travel for the experience, so we need to make it special so that it leaves a positive impact on the visitors and creates an ambiance that doesn’t leave them second guessing the quality of the destination.” 

Minister Bartlett said the Ministry, its agencies and the DACs will focus on enhancing the tourism sector in Jamaica by way of their pooled expertise, noting that “the aim of the partnership is to improve standards, the physical development of the resorts and engage with citizens to ensure that Jamaica is viewed as favorable to visitors, facilitating growth in the sector.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 09, 2017:  Newly-appointed member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) High Level Task Force on Tourism and Security, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will join world tourism leaders at the group’s inaugural meeting in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday for preliminary discussions on the current safety and security situation facing the global tourism sector.

The Minister, who accepted the invitation to represent Jamaica in the newly established taskforce in March of this year, says the meeting is very important as it will determine the priorities of the group moving forward.

“I am very excited to be a part of this important taskforce on tourism and security as it is in-keeping with the focus of Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, which is actively pursuing our goal of providing Destination Assurance. This meeting will allow us to have an open discussion, so that we can begin to collectively tackle the problem impacting the sector across the globe,” says Minister Bartlett.

“It is an honour for me to represent the country in this taskforce because in a sense it positions Jamaica as a reference point for global governance. As a country representative we will, among other things, get to respond to the needs of Member States by developing and adopting crisis communications plans,” he added.  

Source: SFLCN.com

Los Angeles, CA – The Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO) and the family of the late reggae legend Bob Marley are pleased to announce the institution of the “Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award” to be awarded annually during the CHO Caribbean-American Heritage Month Salute to Hollywood & Excellence Awards gala held in Los Angeles in June.

“Bob Marley was not only the greatest reggae singer that has ever lived” says Marva Griffiths Herman, Founder & Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based organization, “but he was a global ambassador of peace, equal rights, justice, brotherhood and generosity. We are very humbled that the family has allowed us to dedicate this award in his honor.”

The Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals/entities that are making positive impact on society with their time, actions and dedication.

“We are honored to have our father represent this prestigious award that pays tribute to those who are positively impacting their communities through their good works and the inspiring examples they set for others. Both our parents instilled in us the idea that the success of the individual means the success of the community, and it is a blessing to see that idea continues to flourish around the world. We give thanks to the Caribbean Heritage Organization for recognizing those who are carrying that legacy forward into the 21st Century.” – The Marley Family.

Source: Caribnewsroom.com by Hope Heaven & Sharon Parris-Chambers

Photo Caption: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) shares a special moment with Jimmy Cliff, IRIE FM Lifetime Achievement awardee, and former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson (right). They are pictured here together on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the inaugural IRIE FM Lifetime Achievement awards ceremony, held at the Somerton All-Age School, St. James, Jamaica.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism

Nestled in a lush green valley where a river once ran, is a town called Somerton. It is the childhood hometown of musician, actor, rock and roll hall of famer, the honorable Doctor Jimmy Cliff, OM.

Source: Ministry of Tourism Jamaica

HM Falmouth Invasion: Five schools received Awards on Wednesday, February 8, 2018 for their successes in the recycling competition for schools in and around Trelawny. They were awarded prizes for collecting plastic bottles. The winner, Holland High School, won $2.5 million, which was presented to them by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during the Falmouth Invasion lunch hour ‘awareness raising concert’ in Water Square. Seen here flanking Minister Bartlett (6th from left) as they received the first place certificate and a cheque are Holland High’s Tourism Action Club members (l-r):  Charmalee Smart, Ramonia Sterling, Neoka Williams, Tanya Walters, Tavion Ross, Club Coordinator, Aiyesha Lawrence-Reid, Adrian Bonney, Shamoya Anderson, Abigail Black and Kerrian Bell. Other awardees include Hague Primary and Infant School in 2nd place; William Knibb Memorial High School, 3rd place; Duncans All-Age 4th and Salt Marsh Primary School 5th place.

For further information contact:

Kingsley Roberts

SOURCE: Theo Chambers, Caribnewsroom.com 
This is one of the contributed articles for Black History Month by Caribnewsroom.com

Born in Colon, Panama to both Jamaican Maternal and Paternal Grandparents, I remember at the tender age of 12, being introduced to the teachings and ideology of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey by my mentor and good friend, Professor Alfred Rowe.

While stationed at RAF Alconbury (US Air Force) in England, my second child was born, whom I named, Malcolm X Chambers, which is on his birth certificate.   I admired the philosophy and ideology of Malcolm X after Mecca, which was more tolerant and universal.

Having exposed myself to the Rastafarian movement, and the struggle they have gone through, especially in their quest for reparations from our former slave masters and Colonial Imperialists, I am impressed to witness that Caribbean leaders have finally joined together in admitting that the damage created by slavery, and the depletion of local resources that were used to build what is now known as first world countries, were wrong then, and the long-term negative effects should be reversed through financial and social compensation.

Source: South Florida Caribbean News (Sflcn.com)
Caption: Mr. Noicely with his daughter, Miss Jaime Noicely (previous scholarship recipient) along with members of JWOF.

JWOF accepting applications for “Powerful Women…Next Generation” Scholarship

MIAMI – Applications are now being accepted for the Jamaican Women of Florida “Powerful Women…Next Generation” scholarship.

The scholarship, renewable annually, is awarded to a first or second generation, Jamaican-American female high school student attending college in Fall 2017.  Valued at $1,000 yearly, the scholarship will encourage the recipient to achieve her four-year educational goal at a tertiary institution. So far, three students have been recipients of the JWOF Scholarship.

Source: Ministry of Tourism Jamaica

Scores of tourism officials and stakeholders led by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Colin Gager and Custos of Trelawny, Paul Muschett will participate in a sensitization march through the streets of Falmouth on Wednesday, February 8, 2017. 

The march is aimed at encouraging residents and business interests to keep the resort town clean and foster civic pride. Following the march, participants will converge in Falmouth square for a high energy lunch hour ‘awareness raising concert’, which will see performances from entertainers Aaron Silk and Mackie Conscious to name a few.

Dubbed the Falmouth Invasion, the march will start at 9:30 am in Water Square and proceed along Seaboard, Tharp, Market, Duke, Victoria, Rodney, Queen and Cornwall Streets ending in Water Square. The efforts are being led by the Ministry of Tourism working in collaboration with the Solid Waste Management Working Group of the Sustainable Destination Alliance of the Americas (SDAA) initiative.

SOURCE: JIS. GOV

PHOTO CAPTION: ["Prime Minister Andrew Holness is presented with books on the development of Singapore by Daniel Seah (third left), Deputy Director, Singapore Corporation Enterprise during a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister today. Looking on are: (L-R) Mrs Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister; Diana Edwards, President, Jampro; Metry Seaga, Chairman, Special Economic Zone and Dr Eric Deans, CEO, Special Economic Zone .]

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, this morning (January 26) met with Daniel Seah, Deputy Director of Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and representatives from the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) to discuss the partnership between both governments to develop Jamaica’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Prime Minister Holness said that the “development of the SEZ will greatly impact Jamaica’s economic development as all Jamaicans should benefit from the Zone."

Photo Caption: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (center) Karen Pence (Left) Jamaica’s Ambassador Hon. Audrey Marks

Source Article by: Derrick Scott ~ Source: South Florida Caribbean News

Washington, DC – Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Her Excellency Audrey Marks, extended best wishes to United States President Donald Trump and his Cabinet for a successful tenure in office.

Ambassador Marks who was the nation’s representative at the Chairman’s Global Dinner, hosted by Presidential Inaugural Committee Chairman Thomas Barrack, on January 17, used the opportunity, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica to congratulate the President on his election victory.

Source: eturbonews.com

He wants to become the new top executive, the new Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Competing with numerous candidates he is optimistic to be the new leader of World Tourism after the UNWTO General Assembly meets in September 2017 in China.

Zimbabwe’s minister of tourism and hospitality, the Hon. Walter Mzembi has been working day and night for many months, trying to earn the trust, show the courage and knowledge to lead this top post. Even though for some time he was the only contender for Secretary General, he never missed a meeting or an opportunity to show up anywhere in the world to contribute his fresh global approach of thinking.

He is African, he thinks Africa should be leading the next UNWTO, but he certainly is a global citizen.

Source: SFLCN.com

KINGSTON, Jamaica – This year’s UWI Awards and Symposium is scheduled for February 22, 2017 5-8pm at the Open Campus Learning Centre, University West Indies, Mona and will showcase tourism, education and culture with all proceeds to benefit Christian mission and school project.

UWI Awards Patron Ambassador of China to Jamaica, Niu Quinbago, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith will join in paying homage to Business Man of The Year, Top Caribbean Resort destination, and Caribbean Airlines superpower CAL, the warmth of the islands.

The red carpet event will be covered by local and international media as well as augment Jamaica’s event tourism calendar while providing millions of dollars in marketing revenue for sponsors for twelve months.

Source: Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 25, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica’s tourism sector received a massive boost last week with the announcement that some US$250 million is being invested in the sector to develop hotels under three major tourism development projects.

Speaking at the press launch of the expanded Spruce Up Jamaica programme at the historic Devon House recently, the Minister said, “the third week of January was the most powerful for Jamaica’s tourism industry in a long time. This is the largest set of investments we have had announced in the space of a week, as combined they value approximately US$250 million.  The accumulated job potential of this is significant with nearly 5,000 jobs being created.”

Just last week, while he was in Spain, Minister Bartlett signed an agreement with representatives of the Excellence Group of Luxury Hotels and Resorts to build two hotels in Oyster Bay, Trelawny, which will add over 700 rooms to the island’s room-stock.  The first hotel, which will open in the first half of 2018, will be built at a cost of US$110 million. The project is expected to generate some 2,000 new jobs in the construction and operation phases.

Ministry of Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 24, 2017: The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) today (January 24, 2017) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to develop a Craft Development Institute (CDI) in St. Ann’s Bay.

The signing, which took place during the press launch of the expanded Spruce Up Jamaica programme, is significant as the institute will be the first of its kind in the country.  

The MOU outlines in detail, the role the entities will play in the development and management of the craft institute. TPDCo will play a major role in the project as they will execute the development of the CDI, as well as all the activities directly related to the Spruce Up Jamaica programme on a day-to-day basis.

Source: South Florida Caribbean News (SFLCN)

Singer Estelle, International Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Paul Salmon and the Inaugural Shirley Chisholm Award Highlights the Evening

New York – Doug E Fresh, Barbadian born American rapper, record producer and beat boxer, known as ‘The Human Beatboxer,’ is among the 2017 honorees at this year’s Annual Legacy Awards Gala of the American Foundation for The University of West Indies (AFUWI), a registered US charity.

The New York City, black-tie event which will be held on February 23 at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, is AFUWI’s signature event. Now in its 20th year, proceeds from the Gala provide an average of 50 scholarships annually for students across The UWI’s four campuses.

Source: Ministry of Tourism ~ www.mot.gov.jm.

ACCOMPONG TOWN, Cockpit Country, Jamaica; January 9, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the 279-year-old Maroon community of Accompong is to have pride of place as the first cultural heritage location to be promoted worldwide as part of a new marketing initiative being driven by the Ministry’s Tourism Linkages Network.

“We will make Accompong the first destination and we will now place the anniversary festival on the calendar of events and market the community alongside the destination when we go abroad to market experiences in Jamaica”, said Minister Bartlett. He noted that, “we are satisfied that the authenticity of this experience will enhance Jamaica’s presence in the global arena.”

The Ministry’s plan for the community was outlined by the Minister as he gave the keynote address at last Friday’s festival commemorating the 279th Anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty by the Maroons and the British. “We are going to work with Colonel Ferron Williams and his cultural committee to build out this festival experience to make it a calendar event that is promoted to all visitors who come to Jamaica,” the Minister said.