Endorsed on national calendar…
THE ‘Jamzone Summer Break 09’ programme, that takes place in August with four days of packed entertainment and leisure activities, was announced yesterday.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad sharing a light moment with H&J Directors Mr. Rawle Ferguson (at left) and Kerwin Bollers.

The show, aimed at attracting domestic and international tourists, is in its ninth year on the national tourism calendar of events, was officially endorsed in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, in South Road, Georgetown.

Three nights of concerts, beginning August 27, are slated for the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, featuring a host of local and regional artistes and the curtains will come down on August 30, with festivities at Splashmins Fun Park and Resort, along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The annual Miss Jamzone Beach Pageant is slated to be even more exciting and competitive, as local beauties showcase Guyana’s offerings under the theme ‘Community-based tourism’.

The transformation of ‘Jamzone’ into a four-day event was decided on after a meeting, last April, hosted by President Bharrat Jagdeo, with promoters and entertainers “to create a more touristic buzz for the country.”

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, responding to comments on the usage of the word ‘Summer’ said: “The reason why we speak of Summer, although we do not have Summer in Guyana, is, if we want to attract tourists and people from North America and Europe, we have to speak the language they understand.”

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad (fourth from left) and H&J Directors, Mr. Kerwin Bollers and Mr. Rawle Ferguson with others at the launching

He said the same is happening throughout the Caribbean with Summer activities in places such as Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua.

“I am happy to see it is not daunting the spirit of Jamzone because they have this Summer Break,” Prashad remarked.

Recalling the consultative process involving the Head of State, Prashad said his ministry has worked with promoters and stakeholders to concentrate on a series of events including the Jamzone one.

Dynamic
Commending the efforts of the organisers, he observed that they are young, dynamic entrepreneurs who not only host programmes but deliver on promises.

Prashad said, too often, people who organise pageants and other shows do not fulfill what they promise.

He said the current organisers are taking entertainment to a high level which could be compared and is recognised throughout the Caribbean as, sometimes, Guyanese only look outside despite having their own talent here.

“We have organisers, we have promoters and producers who do an excellent job and these gentlemen are recognised throughout the Caribbean and further a field,” Prashad attested.

He said he was satisfied that, throughout the shows and pageants, there is a element of tourism and, this year, the focus is on the community-based type, for which Guyana is very famous.

Prashad referred to the recent awards to Yupukari and Surama villages, for their work in community-based tourism and said: “We are on the map and we are recognised.”

He said it augurs well, with Guyana’s niche market being eco-tourism, nature tourism and adventure tourism.

“If our promoters can recognise this at an early stage and they were to promote their events with this bias, then we are very happy,” Prashad said.

According to him, the Jamzone festival standard has always been high and people look forward to it as it has, indeed, gone bigger this year.

Reiterating that it is a Guyana calendar event, he said people would plan their activities around this time and all the flights coming into Guyana for the month of August are fully booked.

Prashad hailed this year’s Jamzone as “innovative and new”, noting it is a blend of activities boosting various artistes.

He also outlined other events on the 2009 calendar, which will take place countrywide in August, among them the first ever Mahdia Expo that will be advertised in the Diaspora and on the Guyana tourism website.

Prashad said that decision emerged from the consultative session with President Jagdeo.

Hits and Jams Entertainment Director, Mr. Kerwin Bollers acknowledged the major sponsors as Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Ansa McAl, Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and Caribbean Airlines.

“We saw Guyanese enjoy themselves last year at CARIFESTA X and we think that we have a really good package this year to continue what would have started last year,” he stated.

Security
Fellow Director, Mr. Rawle Ferguson assured that security arrangements will ensure an incident free event.

“This year, we are going over the top. This initiative, that the President and Ministers took, helped us move forward to get Jamzone to a bigger level,” he revealed.

Pageant Coordinator, Ms. Carla Halley said the Miss Jamzone pageant has become a staple and a main attraction to conclude the Jamzone Summer Break.

She said, after careful processing of 55 applications, the Jamzone Committee shortlisted 15 local beauties to compete for this year’s crown.

Halley said the 2009 focus will be on Amerindian villages which form the basis for their platform and the queen will drive away with a car while the runner-up gets a motor scooter.

“This lot is among the more intelligent of local beauties who, in most cases, can represent Guyana internationally,” she said of the contestants.

Halley said training has commenced and the contestants will undergo six weeks of it, during which period they will make several public appearances.

She said judging will be done on the basis of intelligence, swimwear and creative costume related to Amerindian villages, on which their platform is based.

Prior to the pageant, the intelligence segment will be conducted live on National Communications Network (NCN) Channel 11 and STVS HJ Entertainment Channel 72 on August 24, Halley reported.

However, she said not all the delegates will make it to the final as the public will be allowed to vote for their last eight who will compete for the coveted crown.

On August 27, the first night of the concerts will feature Chutney artistes Kenneth Salick, Neesha B, Ravi B, Anil Singh and Karma Band.

The second night, August 28, will be the reggae and dancehall night, featuring Busy Signal, Mr. Vegas and Peetah Morgan in addition to several local artistes.

The last concert will be an all out Soca with regional and international performers out of Trinidad, including Machel Montano.