#KINGSTON, March 5 (JIS): Earlier this week, the lawns of Jamaica House came alive with the pulsating sounds of authentic reggae music, with the staging of the Prime Minister’s Reggae Month Reception.
Photo by JIS News
The venue was transformed into the
centerpiece for a live stage show, which culminated Reggae Month celebrations
in February. The setting was replete with the customary trappings of a popular
stage show, including professional lighting and the rhythmic instrumentals of
renowned live band – Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band.
The celebratory atmosphere was
punctuated by swaying bodies, bobbing heads and tapping feet. So infectious was
the music, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; and members of the Diplomatic
Corps could not resist ‘dropping legs’ to the sounds of reggae acts such as Luciano,
Shuga, Julian Marley, Gee Wiz, Rohan Morris, and Michigan, who gave electrifying
performances.
Prime Minister Holness, who spoke to JIS News following the event, said it
signified a celebration and appreciation of Jamaican music.
From Bahamas Ministry of Health
“This is the event which marks the end
of the Reggae Month celebrations. It was truly a great event, a great display of
talent and celebration of what is good about reggae. It is also a demonstration,
in a real way, of the Government’s commitment to standing by the development of
what is probably the greatest music form to have been created in the 21st
Century,” he said.
Mr. Holness noted that through the
staging, the Government is ensuring that the organisers of the music, the
singers, the managers and all the people who are involved in the industry are brought
together to reflect on the music, to discuss the issues and also to have a
fraternity.
“As
we socialised, we managed to get in a few conversations about what is important
for the Government to develop music. Infrastructure came up. The music fraternity
is saying they need a place or several places where they can truly develop the
art form without having to contend with permits and lockdowns and all the other
issues that plagued the music industry last year,” he said.
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“We are committed to that. Minister Grange
has started one of the entertainment zones, which we have committed to, and I
know that this year there might be one or two more developed,” the Prime
Minister added.
For her part, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange,
said the reception marked the end of the “biggest and the best” staging of
Reggae Month.
“We have been able to cover all the
genres, all the age groups, and the different aspects and elements that have
gone into making Jamaican music the best in the world,” she added.
Ms. Grange said the celebrations also
involved the diaspora for the first time, noting that Reggae Month celebrations
were held in Miramar, Florida, in the United States (US) this year, and that
there are plans to extend the celebration further across the US to Los Angeles,
New York and Toronto next year.
Vice-Mayor, City of Miramar, Florida,
Alexandria Davis, who was also in attendance, shared with JIS News that when she visited Jamaica for the launch of Reggae
Month in December last year, she decided at that point that she wanted to be a
part of “spreading this love of reggae music outside of the island of Jamaica and
celebrating Reggae Month”
“I had not heard of such a month… so I
wanted to add that [to our other celebrations] and it was very fitting that it
fell in the month of February as we celebrate black history, and so we dubbed
it ‘Black History Meets Reggae’.”
Ms. Davis further mused that a “sound
clash” could be a “nice addition” to the activities for Reggae Month next year.
In the meantime, Chairman, Jamaica
Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), Ewan Simpson, said he was heartened by
Reggae Month activities, which he said “brought extra life, extra energy, and extra
visibility to brand Jamaica through reggae music.”
Public Relations and Marketing
Director, Reggae Month 2020 Secretariat, Jacqueline Knight Campbell, told JIS News that she was extremely excited
and pleased about the exposure that the brand, Reggae, has achieved for 2020.
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She noted that reggae was exposed
globally through multiple marketing streams and activities, including live
streams, through the Reggae Month mobile app, which was installed on thousands of cellphones
in six different languages across the world.
“We have had over 3,000 [persons] log
on to the app [and] over 30 countries being exposed [to Reggae Month
activities],” she said.
The reception also featured the work of two
local artists – Christopher McKenzie and Patrick Kitson – who have done paintings
and illustrations of many of Jamaica’s musical greats.
The Prime Minister was quite impressed with
the work of Mr. McKenzie, who was recently diagnosed with a progressive
neurodegenerative disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Mr. Holness bought a painting
of artiste Koffee, made of coffee. The Prime Minister was also given a painting
Mr. McKenzie did of the late former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga,
as a gift.
Reggae Month activities were
celebrated under the theme ‘Come Ketch di Riddim’ and included an exhibition
titled, ‘Jamaica Jamaica,’ at the National Gallery, which showcased the
evolution of Jamaican music; the ‘Children of the Icons’ concert, that featured
the offspring of some of the industry’s most influential artistes; and the
Echoes of Sound
Systems event at the National Indoor Sports Complex.
Reggae Month involved collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, JaRIA, public and private-sector entities and other major stakeholders.
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~Sandals Resorts hosts the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards Caribbean and The Americas Gala & celebrates its 32nd consecutive win as The Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand~
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, October 8, 2025 – Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts have been honoured with 16 awards at the 2025 World Travel Awards Caribbean and The Americas, underscoring their continued leadership across the hospitality landscape.
The Gala Ceremony held at Sandals Grande St. Lucian honoured the visionaries and trailblazers shaping the travel and tourism industry. The evening united government leaders and hospitality professionals for a night of celebration, recognition and inspiration.
Among celebratory toasts, Sandals Resorts International was named the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand for the 32nd year in a row. Beaches Turks and Caicos also celebrated its 18th win as the Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort, a recognition that comes ahead of the debut of its Treasure Beach Village, the resort’s $150 million expansion set to open spring 2026.
Other key wins include Sandals Dunn’s River, recognized as the Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort for the third year in a row after opening its doors in 2023 and Sandals South Coast, awarded the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort.
The 16 awards won under Sandals’ portfolio are:
Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand 2025: Sandals Resorts International
Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2025: Beaches Turks & Caicos
Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica
Caribbean’s Leading Dive Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Curaçao
Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2025: Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Dunn’s River, Jamaica
Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort 2025: Sandals South Coast, Jamaica
Bahamas’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Bahamian
Curaçao’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Curaçao
Grenada’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Grenada
Jamaica’s Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Negril
Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2025: Beaches Negril
Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Montego Bay
Jamaica’s Leading Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Caribbean
Saint Lucia’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Saint Vincent & The Grenadines’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Surrounded by the beauty of Gros-Islet, St. Lucia, the peninsula location of Sandals Grande St. Lucian created the perfect backdrop for World Travel Awards’™ guests to enjoy an unforgettable dining experience and breathtaking island views.
“At the heart of every Sandals and Beaches vacation is pure, inviting Caribbean soul, paired with world-class hospitality experiences for all our guests. The recognitions bestowed to our brands tonight are truly meaningful. They serve as a testament to the incredible passion and dedication of our talented team members,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts. “It is yet another reminder of why we will never stop evolving, listening to our customers and refining our experiences year after year.”
Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson is the keynote speaker at CaribCon
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
September 27, 2025 – In a shocking breach of public trust and institutional oversight, Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, who is a citizen of Guyana, was arrested on September 26 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a string of serious offenses that raise troubling questions about hiring practices, accountability, and public safety.
Roberts, born in Georgetown, Guyana, is a former Olympian and accomplished scholar. According to online reports, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Coppin State University after transferring from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where he played soccer. He holds two master’s degrees—from St. John’s University and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business—attended an Executive MBA program at MIT Sloan School of Management and earned a doctorate in education with a focus on urban educational leadership from Trident University.
Despite these accomplishments, Roberts was living and working without legal authorization. ICE reported that he fled a traffic stop and abandoned his school-issued vehicle. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. He also has a prior weapons-related charge.
ICE officials questioned how Roberts could hold such a prominent role while subject to a final deportation order issued in May 2024. The school district said they were unaware of his immigration status, noting that he had undergone background checks and completed an I-9 form confirming work authorization. Roberts was placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.
This case highlights vulnerabilities in systems meant to safeguard public institutions and underscores the challenges ICE faces in identifying individuals operating outside U.S. immigration laws while in positions of authority.
For many, Roberts has become a near-literal poster child for these enforcement gaps.