Carnival at its best in MoBay

Montego Bay’s first sky lounge in Blue Diamond, Ironshone is set to ignite come this Sunday (Mar. 6) when Ralph Next Level Promotions host their carnival party at the entertainment facility.

Mark Kirkpatrick, who goes by the popular moniker ‘Ralph Next Level’ will host the official BritJam Launch party at Vegas Flamingo Sky Lounge, something he revealed patrons will find very interesting.

“It is my intent to ensure that patrons get value for their money and Ralph Next Level Promotions is about raising the bar in entertainment while ensuring that patrons are fulfilled. I believe the sky lounge at Blue Diamond will offer that heightened experience that is synonymous with the parties I have done over the years”. the event promoter noted.

The event, he revealed is apart of the week-long BritJam parties that officially begins on March 8-14th. BritJam is in its second year and is hosted in the tourism capital during the Spring Break period. It will feature seven days of non-stop partying in Montego Bay.

However, the promoter explained that this is the first time he has partnered with the BritJam team in hosting an event, something he believes is good for the second city.

“I am confident that the partnership will be beneficial especially to the patrons who will be supporting the events and for the local economy. It will be a carnival-themed party on Sunday and we will have three tiers of admission. Ladies will enter free while regular admission for males will be $500, VIP $1,000 and ultra VIP will be $20,000. The ultra VIP package comes with an ultra luxurious private area, personal security and waitress along with a bottle of Hennessy or Nuvo coupled with chasers of your choice”.

In addition, Mark outlined that his promotions company will be hosting the BritJam Spring Rave party on Ash Wednesday, March 9th at the CariBlue Hotel that will feature Chi Ching Ching and Mixing Lab.

“It ‘s going to be a bikini party on Ash Wednesday so ladies are encouraged to stick to the theme and come with the intent to have a responsible yet fun time at Spring Rave” he concluded.

BritJam to ignite MoBay

Montego Bay is expected come alive during March 8-14 when the highly anticipated Spring Break event dubbed BritJam will satisfy carve for entertainment in the tourism capital.

According Rohan Woolery owner of the BritJam brand, they intend to increase the presence of patrons from the United Kingdom after meeting their 300-patron target last year.

BritJam is a replica of the popular Dream Weekend and ATI that is hosted in Negril every August. However, this series of parties is in its second year and is hosted in the tourism capital during the Spring Break period. It will feature seven days of partying along the Hip Strip and culminate with a major stage show that will feature Mavado, I-Octane among other entertainers

“We had a tremendous local support of the event over 10,000 persons attended the various BritJam events, in addition we had over 300 persons from the UK who came to Jamaica for the event so we hope to boost the international numbers with this year’s staging” Woolery, who is also known as DJ Face noted.

He further added that with the intense yearlong promotion of the event with the UK should reap 500 visitors from the UK alone coming in for the event, this Woolery noted translates into revenue for the second city at a time when it is well needed.

 "It is very important that corporate Jamaica come onboard and be apart of this event because it will not only benefit us but Jamaica in the long run. As we all know tourism is a major income generator for the economy and we are doing our part to help boost the economy” Woolery appealed.

The former president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Lloyd B. Smith advocated for corporate Jamaica to support the entrepreneurial effort of the youths who are trying to assist in boosting the local economy.

“What I would urge is that in the same way that the Jamaica Tourist Board and sponsorship entities are eager to support other brand name events, they will look at an event like this and support this entrepreneurial effort and give them the opportunity to make this thing work” Smith revealed at the BritJam launch hosted at the Twisted Kilt in Montego Bay.

Jamaicans happy to 'Payless'

 After years of being asked “when are you coming to Jamaica” the international chain of affordable footwear, Payless ShoeSource have finally answered the call to invest in the island.

It was a carnival-like atmosphere of the grand opening of the renowned Payless ShoeSource store in Montego Bay as scores of shoppers waited hours for the store to open its doors.

Although the store was scheduled to open at 10 a.m., several eager shoppers flocked the Fairview location recently from as early as 8 a.m. to be among the first persons to enter the store that is the most highly anticipated introduction to Jamaican retail sector.

“We are very encouraged by what we saw here today” according to Payless ShoeSource executive vice president Steve Gish said in response to the overwhelming turnout of shoppers at the grand opening of their first store in the Jamaica’s tourism capital.

As to why it took them this long to get to Jamaica after being in other Caribbean islands, Gish said that “we had to make sure that we had the right systems in place to do business in Jamaica and that we understood the market”.

“You have a lot of Jamaicans who travel to the United States and visit our stores and they have been asking when are you coming to Jamaica to open a Payless ShoeSource and coupled with the good economic activity now, we were encourage to come to Jamaica” he stated added.

 

“For me, I would have liked to be here from as early as last year but we had to work through some things from our end. Nonetheless, this is a great time for us to be here from an economic standpoint because the Jamaican economy is growing and we see it as a great opportunity as we have had great success in other Caribbean countries and we thought Jamaica would fit right into that” Gish further revealed.

Payless ShoeSource currently has three stores in Jamaica, two in Kingston and now this one in Montego Bay. However, in the next five weeks they plan on making another Payless addition to the second city, as constructions are currently underway at the Whitter Village in Ironshore, Montego Bay to have a second branch in the tourism capital.

“We are looking at other towns such as Spanish Town, Portmore, Mandeville, Ocho Rios and more stores in Kingston,” the Payless executive said.

Jamaica's new tourism capital?

With thousands of cruise ship passengers expected to dock in Falmouth over the coming weeks, the region’s top adventure attraction company has dug deep into its pockets to boost Trelawny’s tourist attraction landscape.

 Chukka Caribbean Adventure Tours have invested some US$2.5 million in creating a 10-excursion tourist attraction site at the Good Hope Estates in the parish and has partnered with Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours to be their destination marketing company.

“Our company will be employing 120 persons directly for what we are doing here and most of persons from Trelawny.  While 70 percent of the persons have never been involved in tourism, we have done extensive training to ensure that persons are familiar with the product we are offer and how we deliver it and the tourism sector” according to co-managing director of Chukka Caribbean Adventures Marc Melville.

Island Routes hosted a group of journalists over the weekend as apart of their Caribbean Marketplace activities to experience a preview of the attractions at the historical site. The Chukka Caribbean Adventure site will be opened to the public in time for docking of the first ship at the Falmouth Heritage Dock in February.  

Melville, who is also the president of the Association of Jamaica Attraction Limited (AJAL) further revealed that to be able to develop such a variety of attractions in one location is ‘like a dream come true’ as the area has the type of diversity to make the tourist experience unique.

“We have never built 10 tours on one site so that’s a first for us and its direction we are heading as a company. This is what we think is a perfect mix adventure with history, culture and culinary tours in one central location” an enthused Melville explained.

According public relations and social media manager at Island Routes Hope Evans, the Good Hope Estates serves as the newest series of tours under the Island Routes roster that the destination marketing company will be selling for Chukka Caribbean.

 “It is one of the best partnerships that we have as they (Chukka Caribbean) really place a high standard on their safety for visitors which are important for us when we are marketing an attraction. All of our partners have to pass an aggressive test in order for us to do business with them and so excited about what this venture by Chukka and what they will be doing on this beautiful site” Evans revealed.

Among the tours persons will experience includes river tubing, zip line, a tour of the Good Hope Great House, ATV and Dune Buggy tours along with several others.

Chronicles of Paul Lewis trial

The following series of stories on the Pastor Paul Lewis written by Sheena Gayle (who is a Gleaner Writer, Photographer and Blogger). Note: The international televangelist is currently before the Jamaican Court on charges sexual assault of a minor and perverting the course of justice. This is an interesting chronicle of the trial that is ongoing since 2009.

CHAPTER 1: Challenges

The case against celebrated pastor Paul Lewis took a dramatic twist in the Savannah La Mar Resident Magistrate Court on September 17, 2010 as his lawyers challenged the validity of the forensic evidence that was submitted by the prosecution.

Lewis, who is facing carnal abuse and indecent assault charges, was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 with surety. It is he alleged that the renowned minister of religion sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in 2009.

"Paul Lewis feels that it is nothing short of a travesty of justice that the matter has been sent to the next sitting of the Circuit court” an obviously upset attorney-at-law Keith Bishop representing the pastor revealed following the ruling by judge.

“All of us as defense counsel made no case submissions. It's important to point out that an important element of carnal abuse is penetration, there's no evidence of penetration and the judge still commits the matter to Circuit” Bishop revealed.

The lawyer further argued that why the defense believes the matter should be thrown out is that the complaint retracted the statement of indecent assault; something according to Bishop was not taken into consideration by the judge.

 “We were denied statements from the forensic expert and we do not know to what extend the judge might have relied on those forensic evidence to determine whether or not this case should go forward. We believe that what has gone forward is an extremely weak case and we are appalled and disappointed that the matter has been committed to trial” Bishop said.

The accused pastor holds a doctorate in divinity and is an ordained minister. The United States-based pastor, who has a massive following both locally and overseas through his The Messengers For Christ Ministries World Healing Centre ministry looked very dejected during recess. A teary eyed and remorseful looking pastor Lewis sought comfort from a friend who came to support him at his trial.

Allegations against the pastor are that in June, he met the 15-year-old at a convention in Little London, Westmoreland, where he was a guest preacher. He reportedly exchanged telephone numbers with the girl and, in a subsequent meeting, took her and a 14-year-old female companion with him on a trip to Clarendon. On their return to Westmoreland, the girls stayed with him at his Negril hotel. It was during that night that the alleged sexual encounter took place as her companion watched.

Persons became suspicious when they saw the pastor with the girls and alerted the police. Lewis was subsequently arrested and charged based on statements from the girls.

He reappeared in Court on October 11.

CHAPTER 2: Inconsistencies

A major development in the case involving international preacher Dr. Paul Lewis revealed a discrepancy with one of the witness statement submitted in the carnal abuse case against him that is now before the Court.

An official Deposition of the Witness signed by the judge and the witness revealed this inconsistency that contradicts the original statement given to the police. 

According to the deposition, the 15 year-old female complaint said that two police officers  were present while she was being questioned. She explained that one of the police personnel told her that when she is in Court that she must say what is in the police a statement (the 15 year-old signed to without the presence of her parent) or else she will be sent to Copse (a facility for juvenile delinquents) . The police further uttered according the youngster that Pastor Lewis has a lot of money and that $15,000 was needed.

His attorney-at-law Keith Bishop expressed confidence that the defense will win the case based on the information that has been presented before the Court. Dr. Lewis has authored several books, with his recent being ‘Walking In The Spirit’. He baptized Ninja Man.

Trial date was then set for October 27, 2010.

CHAPTER 3: Checkmate

 High drama unfolded in Court in Westmoreland on October 27, 2010 with the case involving internationally renowned pastor Dr. Paul Lewis as fresh charges of perverting the course justice were laid against him.

This about turn in the highly publicized carnal abuse case against the pastor came when the deputy director of public prosecution Dirk Harrison told Resident Magistrate Collymore Gordon that the televangelist allegedly paid and arranged to have a Nadine Fray coach the girls on what to say when the matter goes to Court.

This allegation was however thrashed by Lewis’ defense counsel Keith Bishop who argued that the source who provided evidence on this new charge being laid out by the prosecution could not be trusted as Nadine Fray (who is now a witness for the prosecution) is acting out of malice against the pastor.

The attorney-at-law supported this claim by revealing that Nadine Fray was a good friend of the reverend, however the association went sore when Nadine’s brother allegedly broke into an apartment in Kingston where pastor Lewis was staying at the time.

Bishop further revealed that when Dr. Lewis reported the matter to the police, Nadine insisted that the pastor did not press charges against her brother. The pastor reportedly went against her request and continued the matter in Court. Bishop revealed that Nadine Fray subsequently told the pastor that see is going to bring him down.

 Pastor Lewis was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 with surety for the new charges of perverting the course justice. His bail was also extended in the carnal abuse case.

The pastor attended both matters in the RM Court and Circuit Court on that same day

Trial was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 27 however this new development postponed the trial until November 3, 2010.

When Circuit Court Justice Lawrence Beswick heard the new and existing charges against the pastor she ordered that subpoenas to be prepared for all the witnesses involved in case and served in time for the new trial date.

CHAPTER 4: Stinging Revelation

The new Bail Act has apparently stung renowned televangelist Dr. Paul Lewis, as he was remanded in police custody on Wednesday evening; mere hours after he was granted bail in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate’s Court in Westmoreland.

This reversal occurred after the prosecution - represented by deputy director of public prosecution (DPP) Dirk Harrison - made an out-of-court appeal that caught the Lewis’ defense team off guard.

Defense attorney Keith Bishop had originally secured bail in the sum of $300,000 before Resident Magistrate Collymore Gordon on the new charges of perversion of the course of justice.

Keith Bishop was not happy at the prosecution’s move to stall bail for the Dr. Lewis, who was initially before the court on carnal abuse charges.

“We believe that the Crown did not give the oral notice of appeal to the court in accordance the Section 3A of the bail amendment,” Bishop explained.

“As we understand, the judge was advised much later while the court was not in session, and not on the building but while on his private business.”

Section 3A of the new Bail Act states that: “where the prosecution intends to appeal the decision to grant bail to a defendant, the prosecution at the conclusion of the proceedings in which the decision was communicated and before the release from the custody of the defendant, give oral notice to the Court of that intention”.

It is on this basis that Bishop is questioning the RM Gordon’s new ruling.

“The judge was in error by telephoning the clerk of court to say that the bail process should stop, and we are contending that the judge made no notation in the court sheet, while Court sat, about an oral appeal from the Crown,” the attorney argued.

“Our client’s continue incarceration is illegal and someone should be held account for his continued incarceration.”

However, Harrison confirmed that under the new Bail Act, the Office of the DPP is allowed to make such a request.  He also said that the relevant documents had been filed in the Court of Appeal.

CHAPTER 5: Lunchtime

After a lengthy jury selection process, the carnal abuse trial of televangelist Reverend Dr. Paul Lewis hit a snag when one of the empanelled seven-member jury failed to return to Westmoreland Circuit Court after lunch.

The accused pastor’s $300,000 bail in the carnal abuse case was extended.

Dr. Lewis appeared before the Sav RM Court on Thursday, November 11, to answer to new charges of perverting the course of justice.

“The matter will continue throughout the course of the week,” Dr. Lewis’ attorney Keith Bishop said briefly after the matter was adjourned.

The defense counsel for the Jamaican-born pastor secured huge victory on Wednesday, when the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal brought by Deputy Director of Prosecution Dirk Harris, to grant the embattled pastor in relation to the perversion charges.

Dr. Lewis took up his $300, 000 bail last in the new matter.

CHAPTER 6: Not Moving

“Not at this time!” outspoken defense attorney Keith Bishop responded, to the likelihood of transferring the carnal abuse trial of international pastor Reverend Dr. Paul Lewis outside of the jurisdiction in the parish of Westmoreland.

With the backlog of cases before the Savanna-la-Mar Circuit Court; Justice Carol Lawrence Beswick suggested that the Crown and the defense might want to consider the possibility hearing the matter in another court.

“We will see what happens but at the moment we have no instructions from my client as to the consideration to move the matter to another court,” Bishop explained after one of the court hearings.

CHAPTER 7: ‘Free’ Christmas

The Walking In the Spirit author and international pastor Dr. Paul Lewis strolled into Christmas without any trial hearings, as his carnal abuse trial was put off until February 2, 2011.

“Well at least he won’t be spending Christmas at the Crown’s leisure (in reference to the prosecution),” Lewis’ attorney Keith Bishop told reporters after the Westmoreland Circuit Court in Savanna-la-Mar.

Bishop further stated that the additional time would be used to further strength their defense in pleading Lewis’ innocence.

Dr. Lewis’ new charges of perversion of justice was also put off until February 2.

His $300,000 bail in the carnal abuse matter has been extended. He is also out of $300,000 bail in the perversion of justice charge

CHAPTER 8: New Year, Same Problems

With his bodyguard and his lawyer by his side, the dapperly dressed international televangelist Reverend Dr. Paul Lewis survived yet another day in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate’s Court in Westmoreland on Wednesday, February 2.

Dr. Lewis, who is answering carnal abuse and perversion of the course charges, will return to court on February 17.

According to his lawyer Keith Bishop, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) filed some additional papers related to the case, and as such he (as entitled by law) requested an adjournment. As a result, the carnal abuse trial in the Westmoreland Circuit Court was further delayed.

"The paper that they filed in court is nothing new, so by law we have a right to ask that the matter be adjourned,” Bishop reiterated.

In addition, Bishop said that the Resident Magistrate Court had several outstanding cases and was therefore not able to hear the perversion of justice charge in court. Therefore, both matters against Dr. Lewis were pushed back until February 17.

The pastor seemed calm as he entered and exited the courtroom. The pastor's $300,000 bail in the carnal abuse matter has been extended. He is also out on $300,000 bail for the perversion of justice charge.

Note: more chapters will be added, as the case is still in the Jamaican Court.

HIV slowly eating away Hanover?

Jamaica's smallest parish of Hanover once recorded the lowest figures of cases of persons living with HIV, but not anymore as the parish is now ranked third behind St. James and Kingston in the amount of persons living with the virus.


“Many of our young people are affected and infected by it (HIV/AIDS) and we recognized that even though we have been we have been doing our education programme, many of the persons are unemployed and it makes them powerless” a concerned Christopher Fogo, regional behavioral change communications coordinator for the western region (HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme) informed


He added that such trends are a huge concern as the island’s smallest parish of approximately 70,000 residents is ranked third in the island behind St. James and the Kingston and St. Andrew area. The rate of HIV infection in Hanover is 890 persons per 100,000 people in within the population in the parish.


This issue of unemployment he added is behind "some of the decision that they make as it is not because they really want to do it, but the whole issue of survival is important so people will do almost anything to survive. We must also bear in mind that the tourism and entertainment industry in Hanover which also attracts sex.”


In a bid to get the message of safe sexual practices out Fogo stated that their health department has been doing training with the young people, parents and different groups, in addition to promoting safer sex in the communities and working within the schools.


While the efforts has steadily gained traction among the various groups Fogo was not too pleased with the idea that several under aged children were being left unattended by parents or guardians who then become susceptible to negative influences.


“Some of the young people (school-age) are often left unattended they often times find themselves into some places where they’re influenced and would really like the support to ensure that is does not happen. If you look at what is happening in St. James where young people get involved in the lottery scam and after a while they don’t even want to hear about HIV prevention because the now have money and that also will fuel the epidemic and that is also filtering into Hanover so we have to be careful” Fogo warned.

She was a KING at Jazz!

Shy Guy singer Diana King was the surprise performer of the 2011 Jamaica Jazz and Blues held at the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny from January 27-29.

With her powerful vocals and charismatic approach to delivering her set to the thousand of hunger jazz fans, she hypnotized the audience and had then engaged in an almost helpless sing-a-long as she performed the song Shy Guy.

It was only fitting that she did the song as when she performed on the first night of the event, that had marked the 15^th year since the song Shy Guy was released and the Jamaica Jazz and Blues in now in its 15^th staging.

A remix to Shy Guy was equally as brilliant as she made patrons sing and dance to the upbeat, high tempo version. While she did not perform a sermon but she did Say A Little Prayer to men were insistent on telling La La La Lies.

Describing herself as “a strong brew of genres…seasoned with reggae. I only want to be one thing, to be my  no one else but myself” according to her personal website www.dianakingdom.com , she did just that at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues and even reminding the audience when she paused during one of her sets.

“This is how I dress” referring to her plain black denim jeans and black fitted T-shirt complimented by a tiger-striped scarf,  King said with a smile “I have tried everything already and I just want to be comfortable while I am performing for you”.

As it relates to how she felt about her performance Diana noted in her blog that “I was pumped like a prized fighter, adrenaline way up .. I gave my all and I had a Blast. The audience ROCKED!! .. I could feel them, that they were having a good time. I was so high off the performance that I didn't sleep the whole night. It all happened so fast, I wanted to sing more. So many tunes I didn't get to sing”.