International Dancehall Queen Contest to help boost tourism

Adrian Frater, News Editor

From left, Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Brian ‘Big Head’ Martin, the promoter of the International Dancehall Queen Contest, and Robert Russell, chairman of Summerfest Productions, the promoters of Reggae Sumfest, in discussion during Tuesday night’s launch of Dancehall Queen 2014. – Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, says the International Dancehall Queen Contest, staged in Montego Bay annually, is tailor-made for the government’s new Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways initiative, which is designed to boost both tourism and entertainment.

Cooper, the guest speaker at Tuesday night’s launch of the 18th renewal of the Big Head Promotions event, to be held at Pier One on August 2, says grassroots events like ‘Dancehall Queen’ are integral to the preservation of Jamaica’s culture.

“90 days of summer is designed to showcase a range of entertainment activities over the 90 days of summer,” said Cooper. “It has the capacity to boost tourism and other business-related spin-offs associated with entertainment, so ‘Dancehall Queen’ would fit perfectly into the concept.”

Commending the organiser for keeping the contest alive over so many years, Cooper spoke to the global appeal of Jamaica’s music as girls travel from all over the world annually to vie for the title.

Promoter Brian Martin, who started the contest to help expose talented inner-city dancers and has since taken it to over 40 countries, said he is not convinced that dancehall and its various spin-off activities are getting enough respect locally.

This year’s event, which will be streamed all over the world via the Internet, will see the winner walking away with a whopping J$1 million in cash and prizes. The second- and third-place finishers, as well as the winners of sectional awards, will also be handsomely rewarded.

“So far, we have had confirmation from more than 40 countries, to include newcomers Slovakia and South Africa and, as usual, we will be expecting the usual strong representation from Japan, Poland, the United States, and across the Caribbean,” said Martin.

In last year’s contest, Keja ‘Tall Up’ Christie, a student of the G.C Foster School of Physical Education, copped the coveted title. Brandi Watts, of the United States, was second; while Lillian Wamini, of Canada/Uganda, was third.

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International Dancehall Queen Contest to help boost tourism

Four Jamaicans among 11 winners in Proof of Concept contest

The Caribbean Climate Innovation Center (CCIC) — a project of the World Bank and its global entrepreneurship program infoDev — has announced the 11 winners of its first regional Proof of Concept (PoC) competition.

The successful applicants will receive grants of up to US$50,000 to develop, test, and commercialize innovative, locally relevant climate technology solutions.

There are four Jamaicans among the 11 winners. Shirley Lindo’s project is for Organic Soil Conditioner & Fuel Briquettes from Castor Oil Waste. Brian Wright won his award for the Pedro Banks Renewable Energy Project, while Harlo Mayne’s is the H2–Flex Hydrogen Hybrid Project. Kert Edwards was selected for his Fiber-Optic Solar Indoor Lighting (FOSIL)  project.

The PoC grants are designed to help entrepreneurs prove the value of their business concept by providing the resources and the skills necessary to prototype, test, develop, and commercialize services and products. In addition to funding, the PoC winners will also get access to the suite of advisory services offered by the CCIC, as well as considerable exposure and networking opportunities through the center’s media events.

Officially closed on April 20, the PoC received more than 300 applications from 14 countries, including territories within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Entrepreneurs were asked to submit proposals for innovative products, services, or business models in sustainable agribusiness, water management and recycling, solar energy, energy efficiency, and resource use sectors.

“This overwhelming response is very encouraging for the future of the CCIC and its activities,” said Everton Hanson, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean CIC. “The process was very competitive and even the unsuccessful applicants submitted interesting ideas that show great potential,” he added.

The 11 winning proposals represent seven Caribbean countries — Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Belize.

Four of the winning concepts were submitted by female applicants.

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Four Jamaicans among 11 winners in Proof of Concept contest

Ballots to be recounted in JTA's President-elect contest

There’s disquiet among the ranks of  the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, JTA due to a hotly contested election for the post of  President Elect for the 2014/2015 conference year.

A preliminary count of  the votes and a subsequent release from the Association’s Public Relations Officer, has been recalled and withdrawn by the President. A statement issued last night by JTA Public Relations Officer Leaon Nash said following a preliminary count Principal of  Harmon’s Primary School Georgia Waugh Richards received the highest number of  votes following yesterday’s counting of  votes from last month’s election.

She secured 6-thousand and 79 votes to Principal of  Four Paths Primary and Junior High, Norman Allen, who received 5-thousand 996 votes. JTA President, Dr Mark Nicely, states that the results are not final so the contents of  the release should be disregarded.

The president-elect will succeed Doran Dixon who vacates the post next month to take up duties as President.  
   

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Ballots to be recounted in JTA"s President-elect contest

UWI students excel at Texas leadership contest

TWO members of the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Department of Government High Achievers’ Society (HAS) placed in the top five of the 26th annual Charles E Williams II Advanced Leadership Oratorical Contest at the Southern Black Student Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas earlier this month.

The two are Renee Osbourne and Cleopatra Parkins.

The conference, which was themed ‘Leaders over Limits’, focused on developing the youth leaders skill sets and characteristics, to aid in motivating them to achieve goals and objectives despite societal and personal limitations.

The oratorical contest is aimed at challenging and stimulating the minds of participants, and providing them an opportunity to display their talents of speaking and interpreting their ideas on a specific subject. The competition was open to more than 600 students from over 50 universities across the United States. The Jamaican students were successfully placed in the top five, with Parkins placing second in the competition.

Their success has been welcomed by the Department of Government, given the new vision and focus of the head of the department, Dr Lloyd Waller, who has paid significant attention to youth development and mainstreaming. This has led to various new initiatives and a greater focus on advocacy for youth-led participatory programmes placing youth at the centre of the development process.

The department has also placed youths as the drivers of development and good governance. Its upcoming Research Day will feature a youth-led initiative, spearheaded by the HAS. The focus of HAS is that of Vision 2030′s Youth Perspective. The forum will consist of individuals with a vested interest in youth and youth development, as well as young leaders of the nation.

The Good Governance Society, under the theme ‘You think it, We do it’, will be participating in civic tours across Jamaican high schools, with the aim of educating students about various tenets of good governance, such as accountability, transparency, participation, the rule of law, the equity and inclusiveness, as well as how the Jamaican youth can play their role in preserving these ideals for the good of the nation.

The students were accompanied to the Texas contest by facilitator Shinique Walters. The Office of the Principal assisted in sponsoring the students to attend the conference.

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UWI students excel at Texas leadership contest

CPL organisers launch ‘Show Us How You Celebrate’ contest

Latest News

Tuesday, August 06, 2013 | 6:46 PM

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Organisers of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Tuesday launched a competition designed to highlight how Caribbean fans enjoy cricket. In the promotion called “Show Us How You Celebrate” fans may take photos of themselves at the games supporting their favourite team and upload it to the promotion website (www.ShowUsHowYouCelebrate.com) for the chance to win an all-inclusive trip to the LCPL T20 finals in Trinidad & Tobago, among other prizes.“As a people, one of our unique characteristics is our fondness for and creativity in showmanship.  We love to look good and show off as we do so.  This promotion provides the ideal opportunity for cricket fans to tell their story, as we look at the games – whether with friends at home, at our favourite sports bar, or at the stadium itself,” said Larry Olton, Group Vice President, Integrated Marketing Communications. “A picture paints a thousand words.  Cricket fans are passionate about the game and are always full of excitement and energy so we know that they will embrace this opportunity.”The “Show Us How You Celebrate” competition will run until August 19, after which the winner of the grand prize will be announced.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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CPL organisers launch ‘Show Us How You Celebrate’ contest

Club Stars, Heights to contest St James Div 2 final

Sport

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer Monday, July 22, 2013

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Club Stars FC and Heights FC will contest the St James Football Association Guardian Life Division Two final following exciting one goal wins over Somerton FC and Faulklands FC in the return-leg semi-finals played at the UDC Field on Thursday.Faulkland FC rallied from a 0-2 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Heights on Thursday, but Heights’ first-leg 1-0 lead gave them the edge 3-2 on aggregate, while Club Stars beat Somerton 2-1 in the second game for a 4-3 aggregate win after the first leg a week prior had ended 2-2.Both teams have earned automatic berths into the Division One competition next season by virtue of making it to the final.After coming from 0-2 down to earn a draw in the first game, Club Stars took the lead when Micoi Myers scored the first of his double in the 16th minute.The lead lasted until the 78th minute when Marvin Ellis headed a corner past the Club Stars goalkeeper to tie up the scores once again, 1-1 on the day, and 3-3 on aggregate.Myers responded soon after with a low shot that found the net to give Club Stars the lead for good.Heights took a 1-0 lead into their game and Jason Taylor scored twice in the 25th and 32nd minutes to extend their lead.Richard Robinson, in the 41st minute, and Gary Taylor, in the 56th, cut the deficit to one, but that was as close as they would get.Errol Anderson (foreground) of Somerton shields the ball from Club Stars’ Sean Sutherland in last Thursday’s St James Football Association Guardian Life Division Two return-leg semi-final at the UDC field. Club Stars won the game 2-1 for a 4-3 aggregate win and a place in the final against Heights FC, who beat Faulklands FC. (PHOTO: PAUL A REID)

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Club Stars, Heights to contest St James Div 2 final

Keon Plummer wins mixology contest

Entertainment

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

IT was battle the of the bartenders at Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa’s bar mixology and showtending competition held at the resort recently.The competition, designed to showcase the talents of the resort’s mixologists, saw nine team members vying for cash prizes, choice liquors, and the title of top showtender.Bartender Keon Plummer, however, earned bragging rights when he was named winner after raising the roof with his presentation of The Somalian Warrior. He received a cash prize of $10,000.“This is one of the most rewarding events I have ever been part of. Seeing how much the team members and guests valued our talent as bartenders boosted my self-confidence and I want to give a big shout-out to all the organisers and supporters of the event — especially my bar manager, Mr Gilbert Piper,” said Plummer.Avril Robinson placed second with his Smooth Operator Martini, while third place went to Kevon Jackson with Tropical Twist cocktail.PLUMMER… this is one of the most rewarding events I have ever been part of

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Keon Plummer wins
mixology contest

No contest: Miss Universe Ja competition off

Entertainment

BY BRIAN BONITTO Associate Editor — Auto and Entertainment bonittob@jamaicaobserver.com Wednesday, July 10, 2013

THERE will be no Miss Universe Jamaica contest this year. Dimitris Kosvogiannis, holder of the local franchise since 2011, announced his resignation on Monday evening.The final was scheduled for Emancipation Park in St Andrew on Sunday.“Due to ongoing professional obligations, which require significant commitments outside Jamaica, we believe the interests of Miss Universe and Miss Universe Jamaica would be best served by someone exclusively committed to the organisation, recruitment, and production of the pageant,” Kosvogiannis said in an email to the Jamaica Observer.A Greece-born hotelier, Kosvogiannis succeeded Invyte Promotions as franchise holders. Prior to that, Kingsley Cooper of the Pulse model agency ran the contest for 20 years.Kosvogiannis spoke of his commitment to the pageant even though he is no longer at the helm.“I remain steadfast in my commitment to assist in any way possible,” he said.Holders of one of the most popular beauty contests, the Miss Universe Organisation was founded in 1952. It is owned by American businessman Donald Trump.Though a Jamaican has never won the title, the country has consistently been in the top tier. Yendi Phillipps was first runner-up in 2010; while Sandra Foster (1989), Kimberly Mais (1991), Nicole Haughton (1999), and Christine Straw (2004), were all Top 10 finishers.

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No contest: Miss Universe Ja competition off