Kingston, Jamaica: April 15, 2014 – Distinguished poet and academic, Professor Emeritus Mervyn Morris, OM, has been selected to serve as the new Poet Laureate of Jamaica, becoming the first person to hold this eminent title in 60 years.  The national honour was announced today (April 15) by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, at a press conference at the National Library of Jamaica, Downtown Kingston.

In making the announcement, Minister McNeill said Professor Morris “remains arguably the most resourceful and technically brilliant of Caribbean poets.”  Jamaica’s new Poet Laureate studied at Munroe College, the University College of the West Indies and, as a Rhodes Scholar, at Oxford University.  He worked at the University of the West Indies from 1966 to 2002, retiring as Professor of Creative Writing and West Indian Literature. He received the Order of Merit in 2009. 

Alongside his own collections, including The Pond, Shadowboxing and Vestiges, Professor Morris has written extensively on West Indian literature, and edited various anthologies, as well as the selected poems of iconic Jamaican poet and performer, Louise Bennett-Coverley.

Minister McNeill said Jamaica’s Poet Laureate programme would help to positively position the island as a key cultural tourism destination by helping to revitalize the arts and preserve our rich literary history.
“The project dovetails perfectly with our efforts to use programmes such as Arts in the Park, 90 Days of Summer and Reggae Month, its Kingston for February to increase support for and give greater exposure to our local art forms, while using Jamaica’s cultural strength as a tourism attractor,” the Minister said.

“We are therefore pleased to be giving an even greater voice to Jamaica’s literary arts though our support of the Poet Laureate Programme.  Developing the literary arts remains a key component of our strategy moving forward and this new programme will help to further bolster this initiative,” Minister McNeill added.

In commending the initiative the Principal Director of Culture in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Dahlia Harris, noted that “the Poet Laureate Programme is a significant part of how the government not only intends to preserve and archive national memory but will also be instrumental in how we develop and encourage the talent of poets islandwide.”
In his response, Professor Morris said “I am keen on helping to put more poets in contact with the potential Jamaican audience.”  Citing this as his priority, he explained that the media is extremely important in this regard.  “If we can put Jamaica’s poems in front of a wider public than is currently available this will be of major service to culture and entertainment,” he said.

The Poet Laureate of Jamaica is a national honour that recognizes a distinguished Jamaican poet for his/her significant contribution to the literary community. The Poet Laureate is expected to stimulate a greater appreciation for Jamaican poetry, write poems for national occasions, and preserve and disseminate the island’s cultural heritage through prose.

The Poet Laureate Programme is a joint initiative of the National Library of Jamaica, the Entertainment Advisory Board of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, and the Ministry of Youth and Culture. It is being financed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund at a cost of $3.4 million. The National Library will serve as the secretariat for the programme.

Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board, Kingsley Cooper emphasized that “the selection process was a very inclusive one as the public was invited to submit nominations for the post of Poet Laureate, with nominations closing in December, 2013. A nine member Steering Committee then made the final selection which will see Professor Morris serving in the capacity of Poet Laureate for three years.”

Kingston, Jamaica: April 29, 2014 - Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has revealed that demand for destination Jamaica is growing in some markets that were previously unresponsive or unreachable, due to visa requirements or lack of airlift. Speaking at the opening of Jamaica's newest hotel Minister McNeill underscored that with efforts to boost airlift and relax visa restrictions, “we’ve changed that and markets are responding in a very positive way.”

Minister McNeill was addressing tourism partners including executives from TUI, Karisma, Thomson and Sunwing at yesterday’s (April 28) official opening of the 140-room Azul Sensatori Jamaica by Karisma.

The new 5-star hotel, located on Negril’s famous 7-mile beach, is the first Sensatori hotel in the English-speaking Caribbean and is operated as a partnership between Karisma Hotels and leading holiday company, TUI Travel PLC.

The Minister noted that "our partnership with TUI has grown from strength to strength and as Europe's largest tour company they have multiplied the number of seats into Jamaica and now they are complementing that arrangement with the opening of their premium brand hotel which will provide additional rooms."  He added that “this investment also comes at a time when we are seeing market response to our visa relaxation initiatives and when air-lift to Jamaica is arguably the best it’s ever been.”

“This development adds a significant dimension to the island’s tourism product and this valuable partnership with TUI adds formidable muscle to Jamaica’s tourism team,” said Minister McNeill. “It is good that we are attracting such premium brands that complement brand Jamaica. Recognition of the Azul Sensatori brand will resonate with an important and discerning demographic in the travel market," he explained.

“We are obviously delighted to welcome such a prestigious brand to the family. We greatly appreciate the opportunities offered for employment and, in turn, we undertake to work with TUI and look forward to a continued relationship,” Minister McNeill stated.

In his remarks, Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC, Peter Long, said, “your success at the London 2012 Olympics has helped to re-awaken Jamaica as a destination, in particular for our UK customers, where this year we will see some 100,000 of those customers coming to the island, a 60% increase year-on-year.”

“Being able to offer not only a wonderful destination but an unrivalled flight experience on our Boeing 787’s is putting Jamaica high on the wish list for our customers. In fact, Thomson Airways operates more direct flights to Jamaica than any other European airline - five times a week,” Mr. Long outlined.

TUI has increased air service out of the UK from 50,302 seats in 2013 to 90,832 into Jamaica in 2014. In November 2013, Jamaica was the first country in the Caribbean to welcome the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft through a partnership with Thomson Airways and its parent company, TUI Travel PLC.

The growth in customer numbers from TUI Travel is not coming only from the UK but also from TUI’s other markets such as Canada. “In total, during the upcoming Summer and Winter seasons 120,000 TUI customers will holiday on the island and our joint-venture with Sunwing will bring a further 100,000 Canadian customers,” Mr. Long revealed. “Based on length of stay for 120,000 TUI customers, we are talking about 1.4 million bed nights. That’s substantial and delivers great value to the island,” he added.

Mr. Long emphasized that for TUI to maintain and grow its capacity in Jamaica, it is going to have to develop its unique and exclusive hotels, like the Sensatori Resort Jamaica further, and he also outlined plans to add another 150 rooms to its tally in Jamaica. TUI regards Jamaica as a volume mainstream destination and will look to work with its hotel partners to grow the company. In the winter of 2014/15 it will operate the first British cruise ship to home port in Jamaica - the Thomson Dream.

TUI Travel PLC is one of the world’s largest leisure travel companies serving more than 30 million customers in over 31 source markets.

Karisma Hotels & Resorts is a renowned leader in hospitality management and enjoys worldwide recognition for its creative approach to hospitality management and innovation. Their collection of award-winning properties is known, in particular, for offering a gourmet-inclusive product.
 

Montego Bay, Jamaica, April 29, 2014: The first cohort of students from a Russian and Spanish Languages Skills Training Programme introduced in November by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), are already seeing positive results from their interaction with visitors.

President of the National Craft Traders and Producers Association, Mrs. Melody Haughton-Adams, says participants in the training programme have been able to use their newly acquired language skills to make more money in their trade.

The six-week programme targeted front-line tourism sector workers who have to interface with visitors from emerging Russian and Spanish speaking markets. Another objective was to sensitize service providers to the various cultures of these visitors.

The 262 craft traders, tour operators, drivers and tour guides from Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios who participated in the programme were trained free of cost through funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). Their graduation ceremony was held yesterday (April 28) at the Western Jamaica Campus of the University of the West Indies and graduates were able to show off their newly-acquired language skills as the ceremony was conducted in English, Spanish and Russian.

Keynote speaker, Executive Director of TPDCo, Dennis Hickey, said the training programme would continue but “those who participate after this will have to see it as a small investment in their future.” Mr. Hickey said, “we will endeavour to keep the costs at the minimum to make it affordable for those who wish to pursue it. Some graduates have also expressed an interest to pursue level 2 of the programme and we will be examining this in the immediate future.”

He disclosed that "the number of arrivals from Russian and Spanish markets has been trending upwards. Mr. Hickey also noted that the number of Spanish managed hotels had risen to some 12 properties and account for a substantial number of the total inventory of rooms in the country.

“The relaxation in visa requirements and increased airlift spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and its agencies, have had a positive impact. We also know that these visitors stay for longer periods of time, typically ten days. They are interested in experiencing the Jamaican culture, not just sand, sea and sun and they have high purchasing power,” said Mr. Hickey.

Outlining the role of TPDCo, he said part of the company’s mandate was “to build the capacity of workers in the industry.”

Noting that the language training initiative would help to better cater to the needs of visitors from emerging markets, Mr. Hickey said, “as a destination we are moving to diversify our markets and our products; this programme forms part of our effort to make the necessary adjustments to diversify our skills to meet this new wave. It requires breaking down the language barriers through consistent interactions and immersing ourselves to ensure a better understanding of the culture of these groups.”

For participant Lewin Haughton, a Red Cap Porter for the past 14 years, being able to communicate with Russians in their own language “is an eye opener.” He described the experience as “a life changer for me, in terms of improving my service to visitors; it helps you to interact with them, because sometimes they need the service and if you don’t know even a little bit of their language you seem cold.”

Having had the opportunity of using what he has learnt, he said “the people are happy I’ve been able to assist them.”

Althea Bennain, an employee with TPDCo who took the Spanish course, said, “it has helped me a whole lot because in conversing with the Spanish speakers it has helped me to assist them more with the directions and information on places to go... making them feel more comfortable that they are welcomed in Jamaica.”

Valedictorians Byron Chung and Kameisha Douse skillfully displayed their newly acquired language skills by addressing the audience in Russian and Spanish respectively.

The graduates were also addressed by other stakeholders including Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Clyde Harrison; Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Martha Corbett-Baugh; and Vice President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Vanna Taylor.

Kingston, Jamaica: May 22, 2014 – Distinguished poet and academic, Professor Mervyn Morris, was officially invested as Poet Laureate of Jamaica at a ceremony at King's House yesterday, May 21, 2014, under the patronage of their Excellencies the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General and the Most Hon. Lady Allen.

At the investiture ceremony, Professor Morris received the insignia of the Poet Laureate, becoming the first person to hold this eminent title in over 60 years and the third Poet Laureate to be appointed in Jamaica.  The others who held this distinguished position were Thomas MacDermot, commonly known as Tom Redcam (posthumously in 1933), and John Ebenezer Clare McFarlane (in 1953).

The Governor-General, in his remarks, said he was pleased that the history of the King’s House Ballroom, which has been the site of so many significant events, was now being enriched by the momentous investiture ceremony. “My dream is that Professor Morris will not only help our people to understand and appreciate the work of existing poets, but he will also encourage that spark of creativity which bubbles in so many of our young people,” the Governor-General said as he lauded the re-institution of the office of Poet Laureate.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, called the occasion “a red letter day in Jamaica’s cultural history, the significance of which will not be lost on those who understand and appreciate the immense value of the written and spoken word to the expression and retention of a nation’s evolution.”

He described Professor Morris as a fitting literary ambassador whose vast resume as a poet had carved a noteworthy imprint on both the local and regional literary landscapes.

The Minister said the Poet Laureate initiative is an important programme that will showcase Jamaica’s literary arts to the world and likened it to the Jamaica Tourist Board’s ‘Genius of Jamaica’ campaign, which in former years celebrated giants in the island’s musical, social and cultural history.“Similarly, this programme is a celebration of genius, literary genius, which says to the world that our poets can stand on the world stage with our athletes and musicians,” he said.

In congratulating the new Poet Laureate, Principal Director of Culture in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Dahlia Harris, lauded him for his outstanding work over the years. She said “Professor Morris represents a generation of distinguished Jamaican poets and thinkers including Claude McKay, Louise Bennett and the Rt. Excellent Marcus Garvey, whose words have propelled us to global recognition.”

In his response, the newly invested Poet Laureate said he was deeply grateful for the honour bestowed upon him. Outlining initiatives he hopes to implement during his three-year tenure as Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Professor Morris expressed his commitment to,  among other things, arranging poetry reading sessions across island as well as establishing self-financing workshops to promote the development of Jamaican poetry.

The Poet Laureate Programme is a joint initiative of the National Library of Jamaica, the Ministry of Youth and Culture and the Entertainment Advisory Board of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment. It is being financed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund at a cost of $3.4 million. The National Library will serve as the secretariat for the programme.

Kingston, Jamaica: July 29, 2014 - Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is scheduled to participate in several activities aimed at marketing destination Jamaica during the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 3, 2014.

Minister McNeill is currently in Trinidad where he represented Jamaica at the first Japan/CARICOM Summit, which took place on Monday, July 28. He will depart Trinidad for Glasgow this afternoon (July 29).

While in Glasgow, Minister McNeill will attend a host of Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) promotional events, which are intended to promote the destination and further strengthen the close links between Scotland and Jamaica. These include two exclusive media and travel-trade client receptions and a meeting with executives from TUI Travel PLC.

The JTB has again activated the Jamaica House concept for this year's Commonwealth Games.  Jamaica House Glasgow is being hosted in Royal Exchange Square in the heart of Glasgow, and seeks to leverage the anticipated global focus on the Jamaica track and field team at this major sporting event. 

Modelled on Jamaica House, London 2012 and Jamaica House, Moscow 2013, activities for the Commonwealth Games will seek to present an alluring ‘snapshot’ of Jamaican culture, food and music, highlighting the destination both as a place to visit as well as to do business.

Tour operators Tui Travel and Virgin Holidays both credit meetings at Jamaica House at the London 2012 Olympics with their decision to increase service and investment in Jamaica.

Minister McNeill, who is being accompanied by the newly appointed Director of Tourism, Mr. Paul Pennicooke, returns to the island on Monday, August 4, 2014.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, July 23, 2014: A DNA test for her job as CNN anchor has led Michaela Pereira of Canada to Cambridge in St. James, Jamaica to unearth her genealogical roots.

“I was adopted as an infant in Canada and I always knew that one part of my heritage came from Jamaica,” she related. But she was unsure of how the connection came about. “I didn’t know if one of my parents was Canadian-Jamaica or Jamaican-Jamaica,” she said.

Now living in New York, USA, and working with CNN, she needed to do a DNA test for her job and an idea emerged. “We decided to tell the story of each of our anchors that present on air and we discovered that my roots on my paternal side came from Jamaica, but specifically from Cambridge, St. James.”

With the curiosity of Alex Haley (author of the book ‘Roots’), Mrs. Pereira decided she wanted “to connect with my roots.” That decision led her to Jamaica, supported by her husband and a film crew, and a journey to Cambridge in south St. James. She said her visit was aimed at “really looking to connect with my ancestors, place and time and contacts.”

Mrs. Pereira and her film crew did not find anyone alive who could be identified as a direct family member, but she did find some graves that offered a link with her past and she has “learnt so many interesting facts” about Jamaica.

Prior to her departure, Mrs. Pereira paid a courtesy call on Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, on Saturday (July 19), at the Half Moon, A Rock Resort, and was presented with a hardbound copy of the book, “Jamaica Heritage in Pictures” produced by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and which captures captivating images of Jamaica.

 “This is my first visit to Jamaica, and I’m ashamed to say that,” she admitted, but hastened to add, “I’m here now and I can come back as many times as I want.”

Mrs. Pereira ended her four-day visit on Sunday having learned many things and praising the Jamaican people. “First of all, the thing that has struck me the most, everyone without fail; rich, poor; black, white; young old, have said welcome home and it makes me cry.

“The second thing I have learned is how beautiful and warm and welcoming Jamaicans are. Everywhere I’ve gone they greet you with a smile and a hug – and not just me, there are five people travelling with me and they welcomed everybody as if they were a member of the family. We leave with new friends,” she said beaming.

So overwhelming has been the welcome she received, Mrs. Pereira said, “I don’t feel like someone who came to visit Jamaica; I feel like Jamaican emphatically.”

Minister McNeill said “I found Mrs. Pereira’s visit very interesting and was pleased that she regarded what she has found to be so amazing. We welcome her home to Jamaica with open arms.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: Friday, July 20, 2014: Montego Bay’s Elegant Corridor is slated to be brightly lit at nights before the middle of next year, following the signing of a contract for a $248 million lighting project financed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Combined with more than $4.5 million already spent on a palm tree maintenance programme for that stretch of the North Coast Highway, which runs from the Sangster International Airport round-about to Iberostar Hotel in Lilliput, this is the largest investment by the TEF in any single project in the Montego Bay area.

The contract for the lighting project, which has been awarded to Y.P. Seaton & Associates, was signed at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday, July 18, 2014. Participants in the signing ceremony included Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, and Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies.

Among the signatories were Executive Director of the TEF, Clyde Harrison and Director of Y.P. Seaton, Calvert Mundle.

Minister McNeill thanked the TEF for “the tremendous job” it has been doing and the “significant expenditure that is going into the infrastructure of the city.”

Minister McNeill underscored that, “many of these projects that we’re doing here, whether it is the cultural centre or the lighting of the Elegant Corridor, we’re doing these things as projects for Jamaicans – they benefit us first – and our visitors who come will also benefit from them.” He added that “it is important that we understand that tourism generates the funds, through the TEF, to undertake these projects which benefit us as Jamaicans.”

The TEF is funded by a fee paid by visitors traveling to Jamaica via airline and cruise ship

Minister Davies welcomed the funding support provided by the TEF for the project. He noted that “over time, this stretch of road has become a safety concern for pedestrians and motorists alike due to speeding along the corridor and the absence of street lights to improve night time visibility.”

The use of solar lights was being considered as an option but Dr. Davies disclosed that no bids were received based on the use of that energy source. LED lamps will be used instead and assurance has been given that for the eight-month duration of the contract, the flow of traffic along the 17 km (10.5 miles) corridor will not be affected and there should be minimal damage to the road surface.

The National Works Agency (NWA) will be monitoring the execution of the contract and consideration has been given to implementing it in phases so that users of the highway will not have to await its completion to start benefiting from the lights.

It was also noted that, soil tests were conducted earlier this year by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries along the entire length of the Elegant Corridor to determine the reason why palm trees in the area were dying, as well as to determine the best recommendation for the treatment of the soil where the palms are planted.

Subsequently, 60 additional palms have been replaced and are being maintained.

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, Thursday, July 17, 2014: The variety and vibrancy of Jamaica’s cultural expressions are being packaged to promote the destination to worldwide tourism markets as the land of not merely sun, sea, and sand but excellent entertainment.

The innovative summer entertainment programme branded as “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways” was launched at the picturesque Sandals Royal Caribbean Island in Montego Bay yesterday (July 16) by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, and endorsed by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

Minister of State in the ministry, the Hon. Damion Crawford, said, “entertainment is the aspect of culture that is capable of being sold and we have a culture that is so dominant in so many aspects.” He said the tagline for ‘Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways’ reflected the fact that “Jamaica offers a multiplicity of ways to enjoy the country”. The concept, therefore, is to use entertainment to attract visitors to the island between May 15 and August 15 each year to address the traditional dip in arrivals between the winter and fall seasons.

Minister Crawford said Jamrock Summer will capitalize on all genres of Jamaican cultural expression – ‘90 Days, 90 Ways’ includes parties, music, sports, culinary, literary arts and other events to entice everyone to experience the country in a special way. That is, 90 ways over 90 days, segmented into nine 10-day series of events. These will leverage Jamaica’s entertainment offering and complement existing events such as Sumfest to offer added value.

Minister Crawford also pointed out that “at the macro-level entertainment is an industry with many linkages,” adding that, “if we can have Jamrock Summer drawing 20,000 people in the next five years many other areas of the economy would benefit and develop.” He noted, however, that while government will facilitate the promotion, it was expected that the private sector would play its role as promoter.

He explained that although the initiative will include various types of music festivals, culinary, sports, fashion and other cultural offerings, reggae would be a central cog around which Jamrock Summer is built.

With the worldwide acceptance of Jamaica’s music from ska through reggae and dance hall, Minister Crawford said the success of “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways” would also offer the added advantage of underscoring the fact that Jamaica is the home of reggae, despite attempts by other countries to present it as if it is their own. “We want to have the largest reggae show; our largest reggae show is ranked 19^th in the world. You can’t be the home of reggae and be ranked 19^th. We’re also seeking to protect the name reggae and we’ll be giving a stamp for authentic reggae.”

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill also expressed his full support for “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways”.  He stated, “for years people have seen Jamaica as a place that you can escape to during the winter; now we are providing the ideal destination where you can go and enjoy the summer in a myriad of ways. This initiative forms part of our ongoing effort to provide more unique and exciting things for our visitors to do and to give them a more authentic Jamaican experience.”

He commended Minister Crawford, Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board, Kingsley Cooper, and his team for creating the concept, and lauded the support of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

President of the JHTA, Nicola Madden-Greig, said, “it’s something that we are all passionate about” and her association saw it as “an absolutely positive thing for Jamaica.  All the JHTA’s resort areas are very excited (and) we will be working with promoters in different areas to make sure that we help to market the initiative.” She also anticipates that association members will put together “really good rates so that persons can take advantage of all the activities that will be offered.”

To maximize exposure and reach “Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways” will be supported by a social and traditional media network promotion, including an interactive website.

Kingston, Jamaica: July 17, 2014 – Effective Friday July 18, 2014 the operation of private Personal Water Crafts (PWCs) will be re-opened across the island for licensed PWC users. This after an island-wide ban was imposed in February to allow for the regularization of the commercial operations; and for steps to be taken by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) to register all PWCs or jet-skis in the island.

The general ban was among a raft of measures announced to streamline both private and commercial PWC operations. The measures were applied in the wake of three accidents involving PWCs between August 2013 and January 2014. In announcing the ban in Parliament in February, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill had indicated that the suspension of the operations will be lifted in each area as the relevant measures and regulations are implemented and persons become compliant.

Over the last few months the MAJ has spearheaded a process to register all PWCs islandwide.To date, 90 private and 29 commercial vessels have been registered.

A Task Force was established as one of the measures to bring PWC activity under stronger management and enforcement. The PWC Task Force is being guided by the MAJ and  the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), with enforcement by the Marine Police Division.

The announcement to reopen the operation of private PWCs was made following a recent meeting of the task force. The move follows the recent reopening of the operation of commercial PWCs at the UDC beach in Ocho Rios Bay, St. Ann on June 2, 2014. However the ban on the importation of PWCs will remain in place until further notice.

Minister McNeill said “guided by the recommendation of the Task Force, it was determined that the suspension of private PWC operations  for licensed PWC users should now be lifted, as adequate measures and regulations have been put in place.” He added that “the owners and operators of private and commercial launch sites will be required to inform the MAJ of these sites to facilitate the effective monitoring of the activities across the island.”

A launch site refers to an area on the foreshore (a channel between 20 and 40 metres wide) through which PWCs are permitted to leave and return.  PWCs will be launched from such sites in accordance with specific guidelines and recommendations which include - the existence of a ramp or other suitable area for the safe launching of the PWC and erection of prescribed signage.

Launch sites will not be established in close proximity to high risk areas such as places where members of the public customarily swim. These include the Blue Lagoon (Portland), licensed beaches, public bathing beaches including in Negril, Montego Bay and Hellshire Beach, where PWC operations will be prohibited.

The Minister explained that “private PWC operation will also be allowed at Lime Cay and Maiden Cay, where temporary measures will be put in place to facilitate PWC activity, while some remaining concerns including issues related to launch sites are addressed.”

Upon registration, PWC operators are issued with registration certificates and decals which have been provided in two colour codes, to differentiate between private and commercial crafts.

Private PWC use will be allowed under the following conditions:

1. PWCs must be registered and have the appropriate decals affixed (PWCs not possessing private decals will be liable for detention by the authorities)
2. PWCs that are registered for private use cannot be utilized commercially
3. All operators of PWCs must have received training in the operation of the vessel from the MAJ
4. PWC’s must be issued with valid small vessel safety certificates which will reflect the following:

• PWCs are permitted to operate in daylight hours only and shall not be operable between sunset and sunrise
• PWCs should enter and leave the shore at a slow speed of 3 knots
• Occupants of PWCs must wear life vests at all times and the area of operation is at least 200m from the shore.

5. PWCs must not be refueled at sea
6. PWCs must observe the collision (at sea) regulations

Minister McNeill also indicated that steps are being taken to facilitate the reopening of PWC operations in other areas including Negril, adding that as the task force moves ahead to regularize operations in these areas, consultations will be held with the relevant stakeholders including a meeting which will be held in Negril next week.

MONTEGO BAY, St. James: July 13, 2014: The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has invested over $100 million in the creation of Montego Bay’s first cultural centre.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, disclosed at the official opening of the Montego Bay Cultural Centre (MBCC) in the historic Sam Sharpe Square on Friday (July 11), that to date the TEF has contributed some $109 million to its development.

The Minister also hinted that more was in store for the square which has played an important role in several stages of national development. The former civic centre stands on the site of the old courthouse. In 1832, it was in that very court house that the trial of national hero, the Rt. Excellent Samuel Sharpe and hundreds of other slaves, who were accused in the slave rebellion of December 1831, were conducted.

Labelling it “an iconic spot in its own right,” Minister McNeill said, “discussions are already underway involving the parish council, the TEF, owners of businesses in the area and other stakeholders to transform Sam Sharpe Square into the architectural jewel I know it has the potential to become.”

With details to be worked out, Minister McNeill said this will be a major logistic and planning undertaking, but given the status of the square in national life “it certainly has the potential to be an attraction in its own right.” He has urged civic leaders and private sector interests to support this initiative.

Originally named Charles Square, the city’s commercial centre was later renamed Sam Sharpe Square in honour of Samuel Sharpe, whose life was taken on the gallows in the square for his leading role in the rebellion. A monument to the hero and the many other slaves who were also hung graces the square beside the building known as The Cage, which during that era, was used as a slave lock up.

Minister McNeill lauded the pivotal role other ministers, government officials, as well as public and private sector entities played in transforming the facility into Montego Bay’s long desired cultural centre. He noted that “over the years there have been cries from the people of Montego Bay for the transformation of the city into; not merely a tourism centre which focuses on sun, sea and sand, but a cultural tourism centre.” The Minister added that “people also want to see visible signs that represent the city’s contribution to tourism and the Tourism Enhancement Fund has been responding in a very big way.”

He asserted that the TEF is dedicated to fulfilling its mission “of promoting growth and development in the tourism sector, recognizing that tourism does not exist in a vacuum but is closely linked to various other sectors important to national development and improving the quality of life of Jamaicans.”

The Montego Bay Cultural Centre will house the National Gallery West, National Museum West, facilities for the performing arts and a bistro and will also have a gift shop and an artisan village. These are complemented by an impressive cenotaph bearing the names of slaves who were killed in the 1831 rebellion.