Positive Tourism News

Kingston, Jamaica: May 27, 2015 – The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has expended billions of dollars on tourism projects since it began operations ten years ago on May 1, 2005, in fulfilling its mandate of promoting growth and development in the tourism sector.

The Tourism Enhancement Act allows for a Tourism Enhancement Fee of US$20.00 to be charged to incoming airline passengers and US$2.00 to be charged to cruise passengers. The monies collected are paid into a dedicated Tourism Enhancement Fund.

“As our arrival figures have grown so too has the amount available for the operation of the TEF,” said Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, “allowing us to do more and more meaningful and costly projects which would not have been possible without the Fund. The tenth anniversary is a significant landmark for one of the most game-changing developments in our industry. The management and staff of the Fund are to be heartily congratulated for their record of achievement in fulfilling TEF’s mandate.”

Chairman of the Board of Directors of TEF since 2012, Senator Noel Sloley, expressed his satisfaction with the transformational projects carried out by TEF.  In the area of national heritage projects he cited the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in Sam Sharpe Square with its  National museum of Jamaica West and auditorium for live performances, carried out at a cost of J$62.5. Another major heritage project was the refurbishing of the birthplace of the Rt. Excellent Norman Manley and establishment of the Roxborough Museum at a cost of J$42.6 million.

Kingston, Jamaica: May 26, 2015– History will be created when Jamaica, represented by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, chairs the 100^th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), being held in Rovinj, Croatia, from May 27-29, 2015.   Minister McNeill left the island on Monday, May 25.

Jamaica was elected Chairman the UNWTO Executive Council for the year 2014-2015, a first for an English-speaking Caribbean country.

Some 200 participants from UNWTO Members States as well as representatives of the UNWTO Associate and Affiliate Members are expected to attend the Session.  Among the issues to be addressed at the high-level meeting are strategies to mainstream tourism in the global agenda, an assessment of the performance of international tourism in 2014 and the outlook for 2015.

Following the UNWTO Executive Council session, Minister McNeill will travel to London, England, to meet with representatives of the Jamaica Tourist Board as well as other strategic tourism partners.

Jamaica. Tuesday, May 19, 2015. 

The Medical Correspondent for Let's Do it in the Caribbean News, Dr Azadeh, Senior Lecturer at the University of the Gambia W. Africa, Senior Physician, Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Africmed asks us to ponder the question: What causes leukaemia?

The Greek words “Leukos” and “Heima” are nothing but Leukaemia, which means white blood and it actually means excess of white blood cells in a human body. It is a type of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which encompasses an abundantly huge range of health problems. The white blood cells are produced abundantly and profusely, which later on causes Leukaemia. Bone Marrow aids in production of blood and is called the blood factory of the body. In Bone marrow, the blood cells divide to form new blood cells. The old blood cells are replaced by new blood cells, which imply the old blood cells die. But the person starts suffering from the deadly cancer if the old blood cells do not die and there is over production of blood cells as they start dividing at a faster pace. There is excess production of white blood cells in the bone marrow and these white blood cells are known as leukaemia or leukocytes. This further leads to poor immune system and poor resistance power and the patient’s body is unable to fight infections easily.

Then in the year 1970, it was discovered that leukaemia can be treated. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukaemia were treated which was a new ray of hope for leukaemia patients. Yet people don’t realize which disease they are actually suffering from and which disease are they fighting with.

Ministry of Tourism. Kingston, Jamaica – May 18, 2015: Tourism Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, today (May 18) commended the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) on spearheading a campaign in major international markets in partnership with the local accommodations and attractions sectors. The campaign is to drive continued increase in arrivals during the Fall Season.

“The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) continues to be a strong partner and it is most heartening to see the attractions sector join with us in this new initiative.

“We continue to work to increase visitor arrivals in the sector with all its spinoff benefits.  It is also heartening to acknowledge another positive development in the sector which has seen crimes against visitors continuing to trend downwards over the past three years.

“The Ministry is also engaged in an awareness campaign to educate all Jamaicans on the benefits of tourism not only to residents in resort areas but to all Jamaicans,” he concluded.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Caribbean Health & Wellness. Let's Do It In The Caribbean presents our Weekly Medical Correspondent, Dr Azadeh Senior Lecturer at the University of the Gambia, Senior Consultant Physician and Head of the Department of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Africmed. He is speaking on Epilepsy.

A person having a severe seizure may cry out, fall to the floor unconscious, twitch or move uncontrollably, drool, or even lose bladder control. Within minutes, the attack is over, and the person regains consciousness, but is exhausted and dazed. This is the image most people have when they hear the word epilepsy. However, this type of seizure (sudden violent attract) generalized is only one kind of epilepsy. There are many other kinds, each with a different set of symptoms.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. Neurons normally generate electrochemical impulses that act on other neurons, glands, and muscles to produce human thoughts, feelings, and actions. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior, or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. During a seizure, neurons may fire as many as 500 times a second, much faster than normal. In some people, this happens only occasionally; for others, it may happen up to hundreds of times a day.

Marijuana and forest bathing: Wildest new trends in the wellness world

By Laura Powell, for CNN

(CNN)Walking in the woods, cannabis day spas and rolling around in sand.

These are just a few of the hottest trends in wellness according to SpaFinder Wellness 365, which claims to be the world's largest spa media and marketing company.

Acupuncture is an ancient practice of medicine. It originated over 2,500 years ago in China making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world. The procedure of acupuncture has been used to treat and relieve symptoms of a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Health Matters: What is actually the definition of Acupuncture procedures?

Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that has been practiced for centuries. It’s based on the theory that energy, called Qi (say “chee”), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians.

Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your Qi. Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence Qi and help it flow back into balance.

BRACO, Trelawny: April 26, 2015: As ongoing investment in the tourist industry continues to fuel the country’s economic development, hundreds of additional hotel rooms and jobs are being added to the sector. This trend is set to continue as the 225-room government owned Braco Village, is slated to reopen for the 2015/16 winter tourist season as the Meliá Braco Village.

A ground-breaking ceremony at the Trelawny property on the weekend, signalled the start of a comprehensive renovation project ahead of the hotel’s grand re-opening as part of the Meliá Hotels & Resorts’ brand all inclusive portfolio.

While addressing tourism interests at the event, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill welcomed Meliá to the growing list of top hotel and resort chains that are investing in Jamaica as the preferred Caribbean tourist destination, describing their presence as a show of confidence.

“As minister, I want to welcome the Meliá group, it’s one of the largest hotel chains in the world, and their coming to Jamaica in this expansion programme is a show of confidence in our destination and in Brand Jamaica,” said Dr. McNeill. He added that “I believe we’re going to have a long and successful relationship.”

Kingston, Jamaica (April 20, 2015). Under the new Fiscal Incentives Act, better known as the Omnibus Act, the number of tourism properties eligible for tax benefits for re-investment and refurbishing has increased from 100 to some 400 entities.

“The majority of the newly eligible properties are small and medium ones that have not been eligible for decades to benefit from tax incentives for the refurbishment and improvement of their properties,” Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, revealed in his recent Sectoral Presentation in the House of Representatives.

Another positive development the Minister pointed out is that under the new Act other tourism sub-sectors such as transportation and attractions are now also entitled to tax relief of various kinds while under the old incentives legislation only the accommodations sub-sector benefited.

“Further, the Minister stated, “under the old regime businesses had to seek the approval of the Minister in order to receive tax benefits.  Under the new law this is no longer required. Entities need only be tax compliant, licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment.”

Benefits under the new regime include employment tax credits lower corporate income tax, product input relief,  that is relief from customs duty for raw materials and other inputs for their operation as well as favourable capital allowances.

Negril, Jamaica (April 14, 2015) Dubbed as Jamaica’s largest summer paint party, “Painted Summer Bacchanal” (Painted) is in its fifth annual staging,  to be held June 27, 2015, at Cayenne Beach in Negril. This year’s highly anticipated event is themed “THE WORLD OF COLORS”.

Promoters; BlackGold Entertainment explained this theme as simple as “the Jamaican motto “out of many one people”, it does not matter your nationality, bring your flags and represent.” 

Painted “Summer Bacchanal, brings the world to Cayenne Beach. Patrons will continue to get the real experience at the 2015 staging of Painted, as more paint will be available to patrons and the introduction of the new paint cannons and water nozzles. BlackGold Entertainment has signed with partners Charley’s JB Overproof Rum for another year and new partners Rush Energy Drink to intensify the taste and entertainment packages.

The production team promises an unforgettable experience at the 2015 staging with high-

Today it was good to have big grinders on your Les Voiles de St. Barth sailing team, but it wasn't because the wind was overpowering. It was officially Lay Day--a day to take a break and have some fun midway between the four days of racing--and many of the 70 teams competing in the regatta decided to join in organized water games at the famously spirited Nikki Beach.

Even without hundreds of energetic sailors around, it's hard to hang out at the sand-floored Nikki Beach Restaurant without consuming massive amounts of sushi (served family-style but in an oh-so elegant St. Barth way), enjoying a glass of rose (mostly poured from jeroboam bottles), or dancing (on the tables).  But today there was all of that to enjoy plus the additional attractions of Paddle Board Jousting, Water Polo, and even an Underwater Treasure Hunt…for what else, but caviar.

Five Roman Kaviroff Caviar tins, each with a white pearl inside, were hidden in the reef off Eden Rock, and swimsuit-clad teams from Intuition, Hamachi, Triple Lindy, Otra Vez, Toccato, Spirit of Nereus and Pocket Rocket donned snorkels and dive masks to find them. If Hamachi was the winner for finding three of the tins, then it wasn't so bad to be the loser, finding fewer tins or no tins at all, since all contestants got to eat their fill of the ‘black gold' back at the beach.

Turning it right around to enter the water polo tournament, Team Otra Vez was the perfect example of a team that came here to fully participate in outstanding racing, as well as anything organizers had up their sleeves for making this regatta truly unforgettable. After cheering from the beach when his team's biggest, strongest sailors helped put away their first match, skipper William Coates said with a sly grin, “Our motto, always, is ‘Have fun, look good, and place well.'”

LET'S DO IT IN THE CARIBBEAN HEALTH CORRESPONDENT SPEAKS ON WORLD HEALTH DAY: The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. The World Health Day is held to mark WHO’s founding, and is seen as an opportunity by the organization to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year The WHO organizes international, regional and local events on the Day related to a particular theme. Resources provided continue beyond 7 April, that is, the designated day for celebrating the World Health Day.

World Health Day is acknowledged by various governments and non-governmental organizations with interests in public health issues, who also organize activities and highlight their support in media reports, such as through press releases issued in recent years by State Hillaryand the Global Health Council.

World Health Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by WHO, along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Hepatitis Day, and World AIDS Day.

CTO News - Distributed by Johnson Johnrose
(St. John’s, Antigua) – V.C Bird International Airport will serve as an important hub for UK based carrier British Airways, as the airline, on Sunday, launched their inaugural flight service from Antigua to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

 The route is historic, as it will be the first, direct flight connection between the Eastern Caribbean and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Asot Michael, at a reception to launch the service, said to a gathering of Tourism officials from the Turks and Caicos Islands and Antigua and Barbuda:

 “The rise in popularity of Antigua and Barbuda and Turks & Caicos is demonstrated by British Airways agreeing to add a direct link between our two destinations.”

Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. & Aarhaus, Denmark (March 29, 2015). Jam Yard Promotion, Reggae and Jamaican Cultural Association based in Denmark have extended the Yasus Afari Roots Reggae & Dub Euro Tour slated for April 1- 30, 2015 to mid-May, due to additional interest and increased booking. This exciting tour will now kick off a week later than originally planned.

Yasus Afari affectionately known as "The Rasta Guru” will make his appearance in Europe/Scandinavia like a true Roots Maestro with his full ensemble of edutainment which includes activated poetry festival, literature reading, reasoning sessions, school lectures. Even the churches in England are grabbing after the Jamaican Rastafarian Dub Poet Ambassador. It is no wonder, this Rastafari Ambassador “stunned and inspired international delegates at the Parliament of the World’s Religions held at the newly constructed Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre in South Australia in 2010 with his highly anticipated presentation, inspired by his book ‘Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica’s Gift to the World’ ” (http://rastaites.com).

After 19 weeks in the Mikey B top 10 chart  on WAVS1170 Radio  in South Florida. Mackie Conscious song "Reggae Music Rise Again" is at the number one position. The music Video is also getting several hits on YouTube and rotation on cable and TV all over the world

Mackie Conscious the rounded musician and prolific song writer never look back since he  burst on the seen in 1997 with the hit single "what if" (from the album of the same name), followed by several songs like “Cell phone on his hip”, “Can’t be a king”, “Should I run”, “Leave the Crumbs alone” (collaboration with Taddy P 2010 Video of the year) just to name a few.

Mr Conscious is set to release one of two new albums titled "Leave The Crumbs " with songs like “Plant some trees”, “Reggae music rise again”, “One day down”, “It’s All Good”, “Too Many Broken Homes  and much more.

"I was born a disciplined child" Mackie's cover of the Jacob Miller's Classic is suddenly getting heavy rotation from several Radio station all over the world. This is obviously since the release of the Chronixx collaboration with inner Circle. The name Jacob Miller is suddenly on the lips of everyone after his death over thirty years ago. Mackie Conscious is one of the few if not the only person to cover a Jacob Miller song. "I WAS BORN A DISCIPLINE CHILD".

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 28, 2015: Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has expressed regret at the fire at the Moon Palace Resort in Ocho Rios but has been informed that work on the construction of the property is expected to resume on Monday.

“My information from the management is that the blaze was confined to a small area of the hotel and the cause is still under investigation,” Minister McNeill said. “I am in touch with officials and as soon as a report is available I will issues another statement,” he added.

The landmark property, which was acquired by Mexico’s Palace Resorts in July 2014, is set to be officially reopened as Moon Palace Jamaica Grande this year. Throughout the construction and refurbishing of the property, over 400 staff, formerly employed to Sunset Jamaica Grande, have been kept on the payroll by the company. Some of the staff have received training in Mexico.

“This US$40,000,000 investment will mark Palace Resorts’ first step outside of Mexico and is indicative of the quality new players who are entering the Jamaican market.  I am hopeful their schedule will get back on track soon despite this setback,” said Minister McNeill.

Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. (March 22, 2015) Patricia Berry-Greenidge has crisscrossed the Atlantic and Caribbean Seas in her quest to bring ITEC (International Therapy Examination Council) standards to the Caribbean. She began blazing trails as the Principal of Personal Body Healthcare Clinic and School of Holistic Therapies Inc., which is accredited by ITEC and IFPA (International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists).  The first graduating class of PBHC Jamaica, comprising of ten graduates, received their ITEC Holistic Massage diplomas on March 14, 2015 at Sunset Beach Resort & Waterpark, Montego Bay.

Prior to establishing the Clinic & School in 2007, Patricia was a university lecturer,  professional therapist and Spa Consultant in Barbados, teaching Holistic Massage Therapy, Business Professionalism, Reiki and Alternative and Complementary Therapies, to name a few. Having travelled the world, she possesses intimate knowledge of exotic and indigenous spa and wellness therapies and products. She is the mother to a son who is a practicing lawyer, and a grandmother to three boys.

Her contribution to humanity is through teaching her students how to be conscientious, professional and responsible in providing alternative & complementary therapies.   Through her practice and training in holistic massage and alternative healing therapies, she has changed the lives of many. Dudley Malcolm is one such graduate, employed as an ITEC Massage Therapist at Sunset Beach Resort & Waterpark, sponsor of the graduation exercises.

The graduate therapists aware of the tremendous impact this phenomenal woman has made upon them during the course of their study of holistic massage from July 2014 until December 2014, are now charged with the responsibility to provide ITEC professional care and standard for their own clients and students. ITEC graduate, Janet McLeod, CEO at Plantation Soapworks, Jamaica has decided to become an official ITEC trainer, which would facilitate those seeking ITEC accreditation.