WHAT A GWAAN? - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 16
If this is your first time to the island, we suggest that you not only enjoy the warm weather and stunning beaches to the fullest, but also take part in some Jamaican style fun. While you can get the latest events and gossip on the street ‘word of mouth’ style, our ‘What A Gwaan?’ page is a reliable source for updates on happenings around the island of Jamaica.
MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE ON SCHEDULE FOR CARIBBEAN MARKETPLACE 2011
“2011 Caribbean Marketplace”, the main tourist trade event of the Caribbean region, is set to take place at the Montego Bay Convention Centre January 16-18, 2011. The trade event is the inaugural event of the brand new stateof-the-art conference facility, which is on target for completion by the end of this year. Said Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett; “Caribbean Marketplace is the premier tourism marketing event of the Caribbean region, showcasing the best of the Caribbean. It’s an ideal time for the industry to preview the largest convention center of the English speaking Caribbean region.”
NEGRIL ROTARY DONKEY RACES AND FAMILY FUN DAY 2011
The Negril Rotary Club is bringing its 6th “Family Funday” with donkey races to Wavz Negril Beach, Sunday February 13, 2011. Fun is guaranteed with children’s fairground rides, games, amusement stalls and prizes along with music, food and bar. Thrilling donkey races are set to provide a unique spectacle. Proceeds are directed at early childhood education for youth in the Negril area. Last year, several schools received financial assistance for building and school ground upgrades, while financial assistance was given to 8 children. Call 957-0230 for further information.
30TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE OF MARLEY’S FINAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
To mark the anniversary of Bob Marley’s historic last concert at Pittsburgh’s Stanley Theatre on September 23, 1980, Tuff Gong Distribution has released a new album called Live Forever. Spectators who attended the event remember Bob Marley standing tall and proud on stage, beckoning the audience to “Get Up, Stand Up”. Captured on tape by Marley’s engineer Dennis Thompson, the original, live recording has been lovingly preserved and re-mastered for the 30th Anniversary album, released exclusively in the Caribbean. The historic album entails Marley’s greatest hits along with live renditions of Uprising, Coming In From The Cold, Work, Zion Train, Redemption Song and Could You Be Loved. The collectable double CD album, is available in special eco friendly packaging.
BILL CLINTON VISITS JAMAICA
President Bill Clinton visited The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston on October 25, 2010, to give one of his inspirational public lectures on the subject of common humanity. The guest speaker visited the island as part of a longer trip to the region in support of the Clinton Global Initiatives. After leaving the White House, Clinton established the William J Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the U.S. and the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. Today, staff and volunteers around the world are working to improve lives through several initiatives, including the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, which is helping two million people living with HIV/AIDS access lifesaving drugs. Other initiatives have been undertaken worldwide to fight climate change and develop sustainable economic growth in Africa and Latin America.
15TH JAMAICA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL ON THE HORIZON
Get your calendar out and mark the dates! The Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, the island’s premier musical event attended by 40,000+ patrons annually, is set for January 23 - 29, 2011 at the Greefield Stadium in Trelwany. 2010 saw one of the event’s best staging ever at its new permanent home at the Greenfield Stadium, with performances by British soul and R&B singer Joss Stone, singer and songwriter Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Joe Roy Jackson, Monty Alexander, The Whispers, Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean, Robin Banks and the Queens Project with Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox, Hall & Oates, song diva Gladys Knight and reggae ambassadors Third World. A must visit for music lovers of all ages and genres. www.jamaicajazzandblues.com
RISEUP MOVIE SCREENS IN KINGSTON
Welcome to the Jamaican underground music scene! Shot over several years, RiseUp is a journey into the heart of Jamaica - the island that gave birth to the worldwide cultural phenomenon of Reggae music. In a society where talent abounds and opportunity is scarce, three distinct and courageous artists fight to rise up from obscurity and write themselves into the pages of history. With music and appearances by legends Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare and a slew of soon-to-be superstars, RiseUp follows artists in the streets, back alleys and crowded dancehalls of Kingston and the countryside to demonstrate raw power, hope and courage. RiseUp is directed by Argentinian native Luciano Blotta who studied film production at the University of Miami, produced by Blotta and Darrin Holender with Mark Hart as Executive Producer. For screenings in your area, visit www.riseupmovie.com.
MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE ON SCHEDULE FOR CARIBBEAN MARKETPLACE 2011
“2011 Caribbean Marketplace”, the main tourist trade event of the Caribbean region, is set to take place at the Montego Bay Convention Centre January 16-18, 2011. The trade event is the inaugural event of the brand new stateof-the-art conference facility, which is on target for completion by the end of this year. Said Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett; “Caribbean Marketplace is the premier tourism marketing event of the Caribbean region, showcasing the best of the Caribbean. It’s an ideal time for the industry to preview the largest convention center of the English speaking Caribbean region.”
NEGRIL ROTARY DONKEY RACES AND FAMILY FUN DAY 2011
The Negril Rotary Club is bringing its 6th “Family Funday” with donkey races to Wavz Negril Beach, Sunday February 13, 2011. Fun is guaranteed with children’s fairground rides, games, amusement stalls and prizes along with music, food and bar. Thrilling donkey races are set to provide a unique spectacle. Proceeds are directed at early childhood education for youth in the Negril area. Last year, several schools received financial assistance for building and school ground upgrades, while financial assistance was given to 8 children. Call 957-0230 for further information.
30TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE OF MARLEY’S FINAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
To mark the anniversary of Bob Marley’s historic last concert at Pittsburgh’s Stanley Theatre on September 23, 1980, Tuff Gong Distribution has released a new album called Live Forever. Spectators who attended the event remember Bob Marley standing tall and proud on stage, beckoning the audience to “Get Up, Stand Up”. Captured on tape by Marley’s engineer Dennis Thompson, the original, live recording has been lovingly preserved and re-mastered for the 30th Anniversary album, released exclusively in the Caribbean. The historic album entails Marley’s greatest hits along with live renditions of Uprising, Coming In From The Cold, Work, Zion Train, Redemption Song and Could You Be Loved. The collectable double CD album, is available in special eco friendly packaging.
BILL CLINTON VISITS JAMAICA
President Bill Clinton visited The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston on October 25, 2010, to give one of his inspirational public lectures on the subject of common humanity. The guest speaker visited the island as part of a longer trip to the region in support of the Clinton Global Initiatives. After leaving the White House, Clinton established the William J Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the U.S. and the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. Today, staff and volunteers around the world are working to improve lives through several initiatives, including the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, which is helping two million people living with HIV/AIDS access lifesaving drugs. Other initiatives have been undertaken worldwide to fight climate change and develop sustainable economic growth in Africa and Latin America.
15TH JAMAICA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL ON THE HORIZON
Get your calendar out and mark the dates! The Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, the island’s premier musical event attended by 40,000+ patrons annually, is set for January 23 - 29, 2011 at the Greefield Stadium in Trelwany. 2010 saw one of the event’s best staging ever at its new permanent home at the Greenfield Stadium, with performances by British soul and R&B singer Joss Stone, singer and songwriter Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Joe Roy Jackson, Monty Alexander, The Whispers, Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean, Robin Banks and the Queens Project with Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox, Hall & Oates, song diva Gladys Knight and reggae ambassadors Third World. A must visit for music lovers of all ages and genres. www.jamaicajazzandblues.com
RISEUP MOVIE SCREENS IN KINGSTON
Welcome to the Jamaican underground music scene! Shot over several years, RiseUp is a journey into the heart of Jamaica - the island that gave birth to the worldwide cultural phenomenon of Reggae music. In a society where talent abounds and opportunity is scarce, three distinct and courageous artists fight to rise up from obscurity and write themselves into the pages of history. With music and appearances by legends Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare and a slew of soon-to-be superstars, RiseUp follows artists in the streets, back alleys and crowded dancehalls of Kingston and the countryside to demonstrate raw power, hope and courage. RiseUp is directed by Argentinian native Luciano Blotta who studied film production at the University of Miami, produced by Blotta and Darrin Holender with Mark Hart as Executive Producer. For screenings in your area, visit www.riseupmovie.com.
