Ships Ahoy for Portie

The parish of Portland figured prominently in the Saturday edition of the Gleaner, what with the upcoming Boston Jerk Festival and other events (see my upcoming post on "Super Sunday"). this one highlights potential opportunities for the Marina against the backdrop of initial signs of a thaw in strict US snactions against travel to Cuba.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120331/news/news1.html

Boston in the News (I): Jerk Swings Home

Having secured a ringing endorsement from newly elected Member of Parliament Dr Linvale Bloomfield, the coastal town of Boston, Portland, will see the return of its jerk festival on Sunday, April 8.

For residents, the news couldn't have come at a better time, with many saying they had given up hope of ever seeing the festival again staged in the popular east Portland community.

"Boston is the official home of jerk and there's no way this community should not have its own jerk festival," said Karen James, a resident of neighbouring Fairy Hill. "Anywhere you go in the world and you see people jerking they will always claim they are from Boston. It is great that Jamaicans will once again be given the opportunity to come and be treated to the finest jerk dishes in the world."

Instant hit

The Boston Jerk Festival began in 2000 and became an instant hit with patrons across Jamaica. However, in 2007, organisers, saying the festival had "outgrown" Boston, moved the event to the Folly Great House in Port Antonio. The event also changed names to become known as The Portland Jerk Festival.

Dr Bloomfield, however, noted that the Boston name was not only synonymous with jerk worldwide, but that a festival "at the home of jerk" was a fitting way for Portlanders to commemorate Jamaica's 50th anniversary celebrations.

"I am very pleased with this initiative and it has my full support," the MP explained.

Coordinator of the event, Stephen Williams, was quick to point out that the Boston festival has nothing to do with the annual Portland Jerk Festival which is held on the first Sunday in July, noting "it's very important that the distinction is made".

"Ours will be the Boston Jerk and Cultural Festival," Williams noted. "We will be assembling some of the finest jerk men in the world and patrons will again have the opportunity to taste the real Boston authentic jerk dishes. If you have never been to Boston then you have never truly tasted jerk."

The festival, he said, will be a day filled with entertainment and great food, including the traditional jerk pork and chicken, roast fish, breadfruit, festival and other delicacies.

Parking facilities, Williams added, will be at Fairy Hill, the Boston playing field, and also at neighbouring Castle.

"We will also have a two-way shuttle bus system for patrons coming in from the Port Antonio route and those coming from the St Thomas side. We have also moved to a bigger venue at the Boston Community Centre," he said.

Safety of patrons

The police, he said, will be on hand to direct traffic, and to ensure the safety of patrons. The entertainment package will include popular reggae artistes George Nooks, Jimmy Riley, Tinga Stewart, Specialist, Harry Toddler, Hero, Contractor, Toya, Foota Hype, Dadda, Junior Mervin, Javaughn Genius, Major Mackerel, Food Kartel, PZ, Leroy Gibbons, Eddie Fitzroy, Carl Dawkins, Foxy Brown and Ruffian.

Section of Boston Jerk Centre

There will also be a cultural village, a kiddies' village and other local acts. Admission is $800 for adults and $400 for children.

The venue is located just a stone's throw from the Boston Jerk Centre, and less than half an hour east of Port Antonio's town centre.

This year, patrons can expect a wide variety of foods, with the addition of conch, mutton, shrimp and lobster, all cooked in traditional authentic jerk sauce. Vegetarian meals will also be available.

Title sponsor for the event is Wisynco. There is a host of associate sponsors, including Tropical Vibes, Downsound Records, Petal's Variety, Bay View Villas, IRIE FM, and North Coast Times.

-From The Gleaner, March 15, 2012

Bacchanal a Portie

The latest on this year's Carnival season in Portie, from the Gleaner.

It's the season for carnival and Tristar Entertainment is in the thick of things with their yearly calendar of events. The organisation will be in Portland to spread the musical energy at Portland Carnival, Soca Mesmerized.

Julius Morgan explained that Portland Carnival is a crowd puller. "We kept it last year and it was excellent. We got over 4,000 patrons and we are aiming to top it this year," he said.

The party will be staged at the Old Marina, Port Antonio, on Saturday, March 3, from 6.p.m to 3.a.m. DJs slated to mesmerise the audience with carnival music are DJ Charm, Arif Cooper and Urban Legends. Morgan also said that a dancehall artiste is expected to make a guest appearance.

According to Morgan, Portland Carnival comes as a part of a general movement to increase entertainment activities in the parish. "The goal is to change the carnival product in Portland. We want it to be as big as even the Jerk Festival," he said. "Portland is one of the most beautiful parishes in Jamaica, and it is often overlooked. We are building a product that tourists can look forward to being a part of in order to enjoy Portland. They don't normally have a lot of parties like Kingston, so this event is bound to get them out," he said.

Morgan said there is a high level of anticipation for Portland Carnival, Soca Mesmerized, and many persons have already committed to attending. Still, the planning committee intends to pull out all stops to get the revellers out in numbers. "Our promotions are concentrating on radio ads and ground work. We also intend to use up the community-based radio stations, because they have the potential to bring the people out," he said.

There will be incentives such as cellphone and Digicel phone card giveaways at the party. Along with 2-4-1 mixes for the entire night and free Supligen mixes as well as free entry to College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) students between 6.p.m and 9.p.m., Morgan is confident that he will have a full house.

Detox refreshments will be on sale, while security will be provided by the Portland police and a security firm. There will be a designated parking area with assigned persons directing the flow of traffic. Presold tickets cost $500, entry costs $700 at the gate, and it is $2,000 for the premium liquor inclusive VIP area.

Sponsors include Digicel, Supligen, Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica 50, Red Bull, Pure Country, I Shango photos and Smirnoff.

"Come out. Last year was excellent, this year we have surprises. Portland people love carnival and this one is going to be of top quality and very exquisite," Morgan concluded.