Sunday, 29 August 2010 Written by Jamaica Information Service

Several cruise liners are scheduled to make calls at the Ken Wright Pier in Port Antonio, Portland, during the course of this year, as efforts continue to reposition the town as a major cruise ship destination.

This is in keeping with a trend established last year, when 11 calls were made to the Ken Wright Pier by cruise liners.

Among the vessels expected to visit are the Zenith, Windsurf, Sea Dream 11, Saga Ruby and Regata.

Donald Barrant, Manager of Maritime and Transport Services Limited, the company which operates the Ken Wright Pier on behalf of the Port Authority of Jamaica, told JIS News that 13 calls are scheduled for the remainder of this year, adding that five visits were made between January and February.

He said the schedule of calls were made as a result of representation by the Port Authority of Jamaica to cruise shipping companies in both Europe and North America, in its attempt to market Port Antonio as a cruise ship port.

Mr. Barrant noted that the vessels scheduled for calls were smaller than those which make regular stops in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, as the Ken Wright Pier was not able to accommodate the larger ones because of the size of the channel leading to the pier.

He said this limitation had implications for the visit of the Zenith because of its size, and that the Port Authority has appointed a special committee to look into the possibility of making the necessary adjustments to enable the accommodation of that vessel, which is scheduled to call in November and December of this year.

Mr. Barrant also said the Port Authority has extended the acceptable length of vessels calling at the pier from 550 feet to 660 feet, to enable the accommodation of medium sized vessels, which were among the cruise liners scheduled to visit during the course of this year.

From Cruise Ships to Visit Port Antonio this Year | Portland JA Parish Portal.

Published: Saturday | August 28, 2010
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

The Couples Resorts chain has reason to celebrate. For the second year running, all four Couples Resorts properties are ranked on Travel + Leisure's Top 25 World's Best List for resorts in the Caribbean.

These are Couples Tower Isle and Couples Sans Souci, both in St Mary; and Couples Swept Away and Couples Negril, both in Negril, Westmoreland.

This makes Couples the first all-inclusive resort chain to have all its properties listed in the prestigious magazine's top 25 list for two years running.

The recently refurbished and renamed Couples Tower Isle (formerly Couples Ocho Rios) comes out best of the four, being ranked at number four. It leads Couples Swept Away and Couples Sans Souci in the top 10, the two being ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, while Couples Negril is ranked 19th.

Additionally, the Swept Away and Negril properties are making the list for the fourth consecutive year. Tower Isle and Sans Souci are on the list for two years running.

For specialised services, there is also great news for three of the properties: Sans Souci, Negril and Swept Away. Thousands of travellers have ranked the hotels first, second and third, respectively, on the World's Best Spa, as listed by Travel + Leisure.

The latest news comes just a month after all four properties made the World's Best Service list, announced by Travel + Leisure in July.

Dubbed the Caribbean's most inclusive all-inclusive, all Couples resorts include a wide array of services, including beachfront locations, water sports, swim-up pool bars, Wi-Fi and Internet cafes, cooking and dance classes, among other entertainment options.

From Jamaica Gleaner News.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay welcomed its one millionth visitor on Saturday, August 28, 2010. The couple, Aaron and Angela Wilson, arrived in Montego Bay onboard AirTran from Baltimore. The couple, visiting Jamaica to celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary, will be staying at one of the island’s small hotels, Catch-A-Falling Star Resort in Negril.

“We are pleased to welcome our one millionth visitor for the year to the Sangster International Airport in Jamaica’s tourist capital. Despite the challenges of the past year, we are thrilled that Jamaica has been able to achieve this milestone,” noted John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “We congratulate our lucky couple who are visiting Jamaica to celebrate their wedding anniversary as Jamaica remains a popular wedding and honeymoon destination, and the frequency of airlift from the United States makes it more accessible and affordable to visit Jamaica.”

“We are proud to be the airline that delivered the island’s one millionth visitor,” remarked Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales at AirTran Airways. “This is a great milestone for AirTran to be a part of, seeing that we have been offering service to this remarkable destination for six months. We look forward to a successful partnership with Jamaica as we continue to allow travelers to experience the island’s vibrant and welcoming culture.”

Aaron and Angela Wilson were greeted warmly upon arrival at Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport by Director of Tourism John Lynch, Minister of Tourism the Honorable Edmund Bartlett, AirTran Station Manager Owen Campbell, Co-Chairman of the Montego Bay Chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Omar Robinson and other tourism officials. The couple was presented with a pair of tickets for future travel from any AirTran gateway, valid for one year, as well as accommodations at Catch-A-Falling Star Resort for the return trip.

From South Florida Caribbean News.

By Ras Achis
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

On the tail end of the Jamaican "Roots Reggae uprising" of a few years back which included the rises to prominence of such big named artists like Tarrus Riley, Etana and Queen Ifrica was Duane Stephenson, an artist who, while not receiving acclaim on those lofty levels, certainly secured his place amongst many hardcore Reggae heads with tunes like the remake of Tyrone Taylor's classic "Cottage In Negril" and "August Town". Those big tunes would appear on his very well received debut album, From August Town in 2006 and ultimately lead him back again four years later, for his much anticipated sophomore solo release, Black Gold.

Just like the first album, Black Gold comes via VP Records and features production work from the legendary Dean "Cannon" Fraser. Also on board joining the August Town, Jamaica native are the likes of the incomparable Mutabaruka, the aforementioned Queen Ifrica, Gramps Morgan and the underrated Ras Shiloh, who chimes in on the Kemar "Flava" McGregor produced "Soon As We Rise".

Whether you caught on three years ago or back during his days as the frontman of the well respectable To Isis group, fans of Duane Stephenson can catch up to what he's been working on lately as the potentially excellent Black Gold drops worldwide on September 13 and 14.

From United Reggae.

LOS ANGELES – Dancehall Queen, Lady Saw (Marion Hall), has announced the release of her first album since 2007, "My Way," due out on September 7th, 2010 through new partnership with Toasting Music, alongside her label Diva Records, distributed by Fontana/Universal.

Jamaican-born Reggae singer and “Queen of Dancehall,” Lady Saw was the first female DJ to win a Grammy Award, and the first female to be certified triple platinum as a result of her work on No Doubt’s "Underneath It All" in 2003 after reaching #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Saw also received gold certification for her work "Smile" with Vitamin C. Previous releases "Lover Girl," "Give Me A Reason," and "Passion," paved the way for her best-selling album, "Raw, the Best of Lady Saw" in 1998, which received four and a half stars by AMG.

With the release of "My Way," Saw brings back her famous Dancehall beats and gritty lyrics that first gained her acclaim and widespread popularity at Dancehall shows. The album features fourteen tracks including lead single, "Party Till December," which will also feature a music video due out in late August. Other tracks include "He Is At My House (feat, Eve)," "Every Way Mi Go," and "I Can’t Wait (feat. Ding Dong)".

“Lady Saw exudes a strength and determination in her music both lyrically and melodically that resonates with her fans. My Way continues that sound, and will likely permeate through not just the dancehall and reggae communities, but to Hip Hop and Dance fans as well. That makes her a perfect fit for Toasting Music,” says Steven Weber, President of Toasting Music.

Lady Saw will be playing a number of shows throughout the late Summer and early Fall, including appearances at Hot 97 ‘On the Reggae Tip’ in NYC September 3rd, and at Miami Carnival on October 9th.

Track Listing

1. Every Way Mi Go
2. Your Chick
3. Bigga Than
4. He Is At My House (feat. Eve)
5. My Way
6. Party Till December
7. Tighta
8. Cyaan Get Me
9. Crazy Love
10. My Money
11. Muscle Control (feat. Camar)
12. 5 Minutes
13. Facebook
14. I Can’t Wait (feat. Ding Dong)
15. I’m A Woman

From South Florida Caribbean News.

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Trenchtown returns to Ireland's Electric Picnic to add a touch of the Caribbean to the festivities. A Jamaican village right in the heart of the festival, Trenchtown offers the sites, sounds, tastes of the island in the Stradbally forest. Curated by Martin Hickey who spends 6 months of the year sourcing the finest that Jamaica has to offer.

Jamaica's answer to Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club, The Jolly Boys will be making their first ever visit to Ireland, to make their debut appearance. Joining them in the woods will be the roots, drums from West Africa gospel and ska straight through reggae to Jamaican dance hall; when the sun goes down the bass goes up.

Music over the three days is provided by a One World Sound, Ireland's first integrated Gospel choir - Discovery Gospel Choir, West African song and dance group Wassa Wassa, new Irish Reggae band The BaRLey Mob, a shamanic dub trotting session from Wiggle, Roots Factory, Skaz, Present Arms, Dub Investigation, 7 piece Ska/reggae band The Bionic Rats, Treasure Beach International featuring DJ Floyd Cide and Sou-Wes Krew, and Worries Outernational serving up a crucial mix of Roots Reggae and Dancehall.

Plus reggae stylings from The Launch Crew, 8-piece roots band Indica, roots riddims from The Italics, and finalists of European Reggae contest Intinn and old school professional reggae stalwart DJ Will Softly.

Aside from the music, Trenchtown offers all the delicious foods, drinks and aromas you'd expect to find in Jamaica.

Electric Picnic is held from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September at Stradbally Hall Estate, County Laois [Ireland]. Tickets are priced at 240 euros for an adult weekend ticket. Family Camping Tickets, and Campervan Tickets priced at 60 euros are also available.

To buy tickets, click here.

The line-up includes the previously announced Roxy Music, Leftfield, and Massive Attack lead the acts announced that include LCD Soundsystem, The Frames, Public Image Ltd, The National, Imelda May, Mumford & Sons, Seasick Steve, Modest Mouse, Hot Chip, Gil Scott-Heron, Fever Ray, Jonsi, Fat Freddy's Drop, Bad Lieutenant, Crystal Castles, Afro Celt Sound System, Booka Shade, Bloody Beetroots Death Crew77, and more. For the line-up details as available please click here.

From efestivals.co.uk.

By Simon Evans
MIAMI | Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:56pm EDT

MIAMI (Reuters) - Jamaican triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt could compete in the long jump or over 400 meters at the 2013 Moscow world championships, the sprinter told Reuters on Tuesday.

In a telephone interview from Jamaica, Bolt said he was aiming to emulate American Carl Lewis by successfully defending his Olympic 100 meters title at the 2012 London Games.

He said if he completed the 100-200 double again he would then look to try new events, some years earlier than he has previously indicated.

"My aim is to defend both of my titles, I have to focus on those first and then after London, I will decide if I will try either of those events," said Bolt, who is resting at home after cutting his season short to recover from a back injury.

"I really think I will be a good long jumper, that's what I think, I don't know what my coach will think, maybe he'll say try 400 meters."

Bolt's coach Glen Mills and many other Jamaicans, have long felt that the man who smashed the 100 and 200 meters world records in Beijing two years ago, would make an outstanding 400 meters runner.

"A lot of people think I will be a really good 400 meters runner and if he says let's try maybe I will try and see what happens. I will listen to my coach because he has been my inspiration throughout all these years," Bolt said.

Bolt, who on Tuesday announced a new sponsorship deal with Puma, was more enthusiastic, however, when talking about the long jump.

As a school kid growing up in the parish of Trelawny on Jamaica's North West coast, Bolt first got a taste of the long jump, one of the many sporting activities, including cricket and football that he took part in.

But it was a casual jump during a warmup at an event in the Czech Republic two years ago that gave Bolt the taste for the event.

"I did long jump in (school) sports day but it wasn't anything serious, I went Ostrava one year and I tried it out and jumped quite a distance, in my tracksuit. I decided. I'd like to try this before retiring, at the end of my career," he said.

Last year Mike Powell, holder of the world long jump record which he set in 1991, said Bolt could break that record of 8.95 meters.

In the more immediate future though, Bolt is focused on getting back in shape -- he returns to training in Kingston on October 4 -- for next year's world championships.

Prior to taking his break, Bolt was beaten by American rival Tyson Gay in a Diamond League event in Stockholm and he is keen to avenge that loss next season.

"I never like to lose but I knew that I wasn't in the best of shape this season. I didn't train as hard so it wasn't something that impacted me that badly.

"But I know that it's a loss. It makes the sport more exciting now because I know that the next time and Tyson line up it is going to be really big clash and I am looking forward to it.

"Definitely it will (be a different story) -- he knows that and I know that."

From Reuters.