Kingston renaissance

[Jangle]

Living in Jamaica and trying to make a difference in the lives of the people through politics can sometimes be a jarring experience on your psyche. Starkly different realities exist side by side in Jamaica, and the inequality seems to have got worse.

Restaurants at Market Place in Kingston are filled with Jamaicans and expats genuinely enjoying our natural vibe. Yet in communities like Rae Town, Denham Town and Olympic Gardens, the emptiness in the eyes of teenagers, the inability of too many men and women to dream about the future, the generations of economic stagnation are heart-wrenching.

Connecting Heartbeat to Body

The heartbeat of Kingston gives us our pulsating and soul-stirring reggae and dancehall. The heartbeat is where directors of leading global fashion houses visit to see the next unique trends in style. In the heartbeat, people have an innate will to survive and a burning desire to succeed. Connecting the heartbeat to the body will make Jamaica thrive.

Such hubs embedded within communities can drive the needed connection and dynamism. Imagine a redesigned Rae Town beach park on the Kingston Harbour as an entertainment and cultural hub, holding live music events nightly; fresh fish from the nearby fishing cooperative – fried, steamed or stewed; a Bobo Shanti house for the holy sacrament of ganja with a museum honouring its contributions to our natural medicinal and spiritual development as a people. This has been a vision in the works by MP Thwaites and a great team over the last two years. We will bring it to life.

Imagine a boardwalk with benches along the coastline with a playground by the beach for children and families to enjoy by day as yachts are docked and serviced at the new pier. Yes, there is a tank underground there, and it was used to gas the fishermen’s boats back in the day.

With a licence to be an entertainment zone to stay open late, the right partnerships to attract Kingston and north coast tourists, and with the right investments, this could be a catalyst for economic dynamism in Rae Town, Southside and nearby downtown communities.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/f...on-renaissance

[Jangle]

'Jamaicafied' tour experience with FIWI Jamaica

Harvel Jackson is a 50-year-old tour guide and entrepreneur who operates a Kingston-based business called FIWI Jamaica Experience Tours.

Jackson lived in the United States for most of his adult life and worked in the IT industry. He came back to Jamaica with the intention of going into both catering and the tourism industry but eventually focused only on the tour business.

Jackson utilises transportation companies when necessary and sometimes he may hire assistant tour guides for particular jobs but ultimately FIWI is a personalised service and a one-man operation that offers tours around Jamaica.

The excursions range from Blue Mountain tours, culture, nature and city tours which involve sites like Devon House, Bob Marley museum, Blue Hole hidden falls, Lime Cay, White River tubing, a coffee tour and a lot more.

What is the profile of your customers?

In Kingston most of the guests are business-oriented, but they are into adventure. They love nature, adventure and culture. Most of them come for business and then do a tour. I get some that come for vacation, but I would say that is probably 20 per cent. 80 per cent would have been here for business.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sunda...2?profile=1056