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Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is to spend $12 million to stage its New Year's Eve fireworks display on the Kingston waterfront.
"We have a budget of $12 million," Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC) chairman Francis Kennedy told the Observer at a news conference last week to announce the event.
Kennedy said the show attracted approximately 100,000 spectators last time it was held and near 100 vendors who live in and around Downtown Kingston had stalls selling food and other items.
The show, which is returning after a two-year hiatus, is part of the UDC's plans to revive Downtown Kingston.
After four consecutive years, Fireworks on the Waterfront was cancelled in 2006 as a result of an outbreak of malaria in some sections of the island and again in 2007, owing to the Hurricane Dean recovery effort which saw corporate sponsors diverting funds to humanitarian relief.
There was another hiatus in 2001 after two previous stagings in 1999 (to herald the year 2000) and in 2000 (to signal the dawn of the 21st century).
Friday, UDC chairman Wayne Chen told the Observer that the corporation had not yet secured all the funds to host the event
and agreed that it was difficult to secure sponsorship, given the soft
economic conditions.
"...We have secured the significant part of it... (which runs into) several millions," he said, adding that he had just received word that another sponsor had come on board with an amount that "should put us right there".
"It is difficult to secure sponsorship and we are glad that despite the difficulties and despite what I'll call the downturn in the general economic outlook, that we still have enthusiastic private sector partners who see the value of this event," he said.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/..._COST____M.asp
The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is to spend $12 million to stage its New Year's Eve fireworks display on the Kingston waterfront.
"We have a budget of $12 million," Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC) chairman Francis Kennedy told the Observer at a news conference last week to announce the event.
Kennedy said the show attracted approximately 100,000 spectators last time it was held and near 100 vendors who live in and around Downtown Kingston had stalls selling food and other items.
The show, which is returning after a two-year hiatus, is part of the UDC's plans to revive Downtown Kingston.
After four consecutive years, Fireworks on the Waterfront was cancelled in 2006 as a result of an outbreak of malaria in some sections of the island and again in 2007, owing to the Hurricane Dean recovery effort which saw corporate sponsors diverting funds to humanitarian relief.
There was another hiatus in 2001 after two previous stagings in 1999 (to herald the year 2000) and in 2000 (to signal the dawn of the 21st century).
Friday, UDC chairman Wayne Chen told the Observer that the corporation had not yet secured all the funds to host the event
and agreed that it was difficult to secure sponsorship, given the soft
economic conditions.
"...We have secured the significant part of it... (which runs into) several millions," he said, adding that he had just received word that another sponsor had come on board with an amount that "should put us right there".
"It is difficult to secure sponsorship and we are glad that despite the difficulties and despite what I'll call the downturn in the general economic outlook, that we still have enthusiastic private sector partners who see the value of this event," he said.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/..._COST____M.asp
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