The Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Culture, has embarked on its latest job creation initiative, Digital Jam 2.0. The initiative, being undertaken in collaboration with the World Bank and other major partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and communication firms, Flow and LIME, comprises a programme of events, competitions and other activities, to be executed over the next six to eight weeks targeting the nation’s unemployed youth.

Digital Jam 2.0, which is being financed with grant funding and other inputs totalling upwards of US$200,000, will seek to introduce the young people to trends, training, job and entrepreneurial opportunities in the virtual economy, while showcasing their talents, ideas and successes. The initiative was formally launched by Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, during a ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), on May 8.

Ms. Hanna noted that Jamaicans are the most critical component to the nation’s survival, while pointing out that the majority of the population comprised young people. She lamented statistics from agencies, such as the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the World Bank, which showed that young people under 30 contribute to 75 per cent of the crime committed in Jamaica. Further, that 70 per cent of the nation’s young people are not trained; 55 per cent left high school without attaining the requisite qualifications for matriculation into higher education; while 85 per cent of young people indicated a desire to migrate.

“But, when you go out and you speak to our young people, you recognise the tremendous talent and enthusiasm that reside in their souls for things that are Jamaican. You recognise that they want things and they want it now. They live in an environment, not only with expectations of instant entitlement, but where they believe that they can achieve anything, if given the right opportunities,” she said. “So, what is important to understand is, we have to get creative to keep their attention,” the Minister said.

To this end, Ms. Hanna said the Ministry is now “positioning itself,” not only by strengthening the institutional framework and capacities, through the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD), National Youth Service (NYS), and Child Development Agency (CDA), but by coming up with new and creative initiatives to drive young people’s understanding that Jamaica is now a country competing with some of the larger manufacturing countries for their pride of place in the global market. “And, the only way that we are going to get economic growth is if you, as a population, become productive, and to understand that you (youth) have to help us drive that,” she underscored.

Source – JIS

Activities in the United Kingdom (UK) to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence are gathering momentum, with a flurry of events to take place from May 16 to October 16. The first of three ‘Jamaica 50’ Lectures will be held at the Jamaican High Commission in London on May 16, with Executive Chairman of GraceKennedy Limited, Douglas Orane, to speak on the topic: ‘Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit: Jamaica at 50’.

Distinguished Jamaican judge and President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Justice Patrick Robinson, will deliver the second lecture on:‘Human Rights: Jamaica to the World: Jamaica at 50’ on June 18 at Brunel University. He will repeat the lecture the following day to an audience at the University of London.

The lecture series concludes on October 16, with Rev. Robert Beckford delivering the ‘Sam Sharpe Lecture: Jamaica at 50,’ at the High Commission in London. Cricket enthusiasts will enjoy a match between Jamaica and England on July 8 at the Kennington Oval, London, while a national church service is scheduled for July 21 at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London.

The best of Jamaican culture in art, music, and food will be on show at the ‘Jamaica House at the O2’ event, which will be held from August 2 to 12 at the O2 Arena, London. The event will be used to promote Brand Jamaica and attract tourists and investors to the island at a time when the world’s eyes will be on the country, as the athletes complete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Jamaica House will be close to the games as it will be staged at an area, which is part of the Olympic site where the basketball, gymnastics and some events for the Special Olympics will be held. Activities conclude on August 16, with the Jamaica Independence UK Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Arsenal Emirates Stadium, London.

Source – JIS

Finally! Edwin Allen threw the 800-lb gorilla off their back after close misses in the last two years to finally crown themselves queens of Jamaica’s high school track and field after a brilliant and almost flawless display over five days, ending with their coronation at the National Stadium last night as the 102nd ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships came to a close. Meanwhile, Calabar captured their 23rd lien on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy for Boys to celebrate their 100th anniversary in style.

Calabar amassed 287.5 to beat Kingston College (KC) 265 and Jamaica College (JC) 220.5, with Wolmer’s Boys’ fourth on 140. Unlike the last two years, when they were tipped to win but came up short due to a mixture of misfortune, and some would say bad tactics, it finally came together for coach Michael Dyke.

Edwin Allen, who won two of the four sprint relays in Classes One and Four to cap a fine week’s work, tallied 365 points, 131 ahead of Holmwood Technical’s 234 with St Jago High holding on to third place with 180 points. The vanquished Holmwood had their nine-win streak snapped. Vere Technical scored 150 points, Hydel had their best- ever showing with 114 points, while St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) scored 105 points.

Read more – Jamaica Observer

On February 22, on an eventful Ash Wednesday. Jamaica will be back in action and will be facing Caribbean Rivals and neighbors Cuba. Cuba is one opposition that the Jamaicans know always give them a hard time. In the past, the Cubans have always given the Jamaicans a run for their money. Cuba has been proven to be one of the fittest teams in the region, they are also known for their ball possession and their long range shooting.The Lions of the Caribbean and the Reggae Boyz have met 24 times in their history.With the Jamaicans winning 7 times, the Cubans winning 11 times and both teams drawing 6 times. The last time both teams met was in the Digicel Caribbean Cup back in 2005 in Barbados. It was fondly remembered as Luton Shelton got the goal that helped Jamaica clinch their 3rd Caribbean Cup at the time against a very robust Cuba team. The Cubans played in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup like Jamaica did but got knocked out of the 1st round without even picking up a point.

With Cuba reaching the Final Round of the Olympic Qualifiers, it is said that Cuba will be playing a U23 team vs Jamaica on February 22 and 24 and Febuary 29 vs Bolivia. Cuba’s main threat should come from 20 year old Yaudel Lahera who was part of that 2011 Gold Cup squad. Lahera is recognized in Cuba as a natural goal scorer and carries a strong presence. He plays for La Ciudad de la Havana in the Cuban League.

With the news that Jamaica will be calling up a few more players to finish putting the pieces to the puzzle, this should be the finishing touches in experimentation of players. The Jamaicans are expected to pick a competitive squad and the Boyz should be a able to get a positive result. Jamaica has got positive results in the past on Ash Wednesday. Like back in 2001 vs Trinidad with a Tyrone Marshall rocket from 35 yards out and in 2008 vs Costa Rica where he penetrated the Costa Rican defense with an expeditious header.

With the Boyz Unbeaten at the Office since 2007, that should be a sign to CONCACAF to show that we mean business and Cuba will have a hard time in the next few weeks.

The Jamaica Film Academy announces that the 2012 Jamaica REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL it organizes annually, will be held April 17-21, 2012 in Kingston, Jamaica. In a preview event, the Jamaica Film Academy will host a screening of the “BEST OF THE REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2011” feature, documentary, short and animated films in Reggae Month, February 18, 2012.

In keeping with the format initiated at the event’s February 2008 beginning, the 2012 Reggae Film Festival will showcase films in which aspects of Jamaica’s Reggae music culture are displayed, documented and memorialized in feature, documentary and short films, animation and music videos. The 2012 Festival will once again feature the Make A Film In 24 Hours competition sponsored by RBC Bank – Jamaica, that in 2011 saw 15 film crews competing to shoot a 5-minute film on a selected theme in just 24 hours for cash prizes and awards.

Inspiring New Jamaican Film Talent 

Assisting the Jamaica Film Academy’s objective to increase and improve the output of Jamaican film making, the RBC Bank sponsorship of the annual Make A Film In 24 Hours competition has inspired and produced new Jamaican film making talent. The Festival has also discovered and supported the surprising wealth of Jamaican talent in digital animation. The acknowledged expertise and innovation of Jamaican music video makers exposing the talents of Jamaica’s powerful musical artists, provides another area highlighted by the Reggae Film Festival.

JAMAICA 50, International Programmes

A special Jamaica50 Programme will feature retrospective screenings of early Jamaican films, including the classic “The Harder They Come” that marked the start of an indigenous feature film industry, the award-winning documentary “Life and Debt” covering the politically turbulent 70′s, and the short films of cinematographer Chris Browne, director of “Ghetta Life”. In 2012 the Reggae Film Festival will introduce an International Programme of films outside the reggae genre, so as to enable the programme to include entries already received from Africa, the USA and the Middle East, including an entry from Iran.

In five years the Reggae Film Festival has showcased more than 200 films highlighting reggae culture made by Jamaicans, global reggae researchers and fans from the Caribbean, UK, USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Africa. The focus of many documentaries on the history of Jamaican music and music makers, has given the Jamaica Film Academy an archive of historical material on the genre genre that preserves on film the oral memories of a culture that that emerged from the Rastafari movement and spread to and been honored by the world.

Annual Awards are presented in several categories and and the international interest in the unique music and culture of Jamaica has given prize-winning films further international awards and distribution.

Schools across the country will be celebrating Jamaica Day 2012 on Friday, February 17, under the theme: ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Goals for Gold’. It is an opportunity for schools to facilitate their students in understanding the accomplishments of the past 50 years that have propelled Jamaica to prominence in all disciplines of the world stage.

Speaking at the official launch of Jamaica Day, on February 2 at the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Library, Minister of Education, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, noted that Jamaica Day should be used to emphasise the goodness and grace of the Jamaican people.

“This is our identity, it is our hope. Some of us allow our minds to be diverted by some of the things we see on cable television or we think that bling and bacchanal is all that there is to success in life. So, Jamaica Day calls us to something far more intrinsic, far more beautiful and far more long lasting than that,” Rev. Thwaites said.

He added that the Ministry of Education is pleased to support and promote Jamaica Day activities in the schools.

“Many of us aren’t really happy in our educational enterprise. School is supposed to make you happy. It involves lots of work and effort, but it’s supposed to make you feel happy and fulfilled rather than bored and full of drudgery. So, Jamaica Day is an integral part in making that happen and I am very pleased to be a part of this observance,” Rev. Thwaites said.

For her part, Director, Culture in Education Programme at the Ministry, Amina Blackwood Meeks, said that Jamaica Day is celebrated in February, so as to facilitate the Primary Schools whose culture module end in the middle of February.

“So, it would have some meaning to them, as the Secondary Schools we believe would already have the foundation for that kind of appreciation,” she said.

She informed that York Castle High School, in St. Ann, has been chosen as the national focus school this year, as it best exemplifies the theme of this year’s Jamaica Day.

Jamaica Day is one of the flagship projects of the Culture in Education Programme. This year will mark the 10th anniversary of the celebrations and will represent a major contribution of the Ministry of Education to the yearlong celebrations of Jamaica’s golden jubilee independence anniversary, popularly referred to as Jamaica 50.

via – JIS

Bella Luna Yoga is on a mission to celebrate a global, ever-expanding yoga consciousness. First stop, the tropical climate of the Caribbean! The inaugural Caribbean Yoga Conference will be held February 2-5, 2012 at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Bella Luna Yoga is the brainchild of Kimberly Moon, an educator, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur. Born from her passion for yoga and travel, Kimberly founded Bella Luna Yoga, an innovative business that provide resorts with world-class yoga and wellness programming and offers skilled yoga instructors the means to share their love of yoga with the world. Bella Luna’s team of experts offers professional consultations and program development in a variety of areas from yoga and wellness program development and lifestyle coaching to recruiting and placement of professional yoga instructors.

Moon is excited to announce the addition of the Caribbean Yoga Conference to Bella Luna Yoga’s agenda to enhance the world’s passion for yoga. “We are excited to bring people together from around the world who are inspired by the practice of yoga, curious about exploring our planet, and ready to embrace a growing community of practitioners from all walks of life,” says Moon of the warm celebration of sun, sadhana, sand, seva and sangha.
The conference lineup includes workshops for all abilities with world-class instructors including Toni Bergins, Gaia Budhai, Kathryn Budig, Jeffrey Cohen & Andrea Boyd, Seane Corn, Sharon Feanny, Scott Feinberg & Amy Lombardo, Moses Jas Jeet, Noah Levine, Nadine McNeil, Sadie Nardini, Jason Nemer & Jenny Sauer-Klein, Simon Park, Stacey Shanks, and MC Yogi & Amanda G. Topics range from Vinyasa Flow and Journey Dance to Core Strength and Kudalini. The conference will offer two 2.5-hour sessions each day with opportunities for morning meditation and Noon yoga on the beach.

A unique element to this conference is the outreach to the community, and country, where the conference is being hosted. In partnership with Shakti Mind Body Fitness in Kingston, Jamaica, The Caribbean Yoga Conference is pleased to offer The Shakti Love Scholarship. Through The Shakti Love Scholarship, Jamaican youth councilors, social workers, and teachers are invited to bring their passion, knowledge and curiosity to the conference at absolutely no cost. In addition to their own restorative R&R, each scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to learn to yoga-related skills to bring back to their professional lives from some of the world’s most beloved yoga teachers.
The conference will deliver a strong sense of giving back to the community and making a difference in the world we live in. A “Karma Korner” will be setup throughout the conference for participants to learn about different ways to spread good karma in everyday actions. In addition, an off-site karma yoga workshop will be held at The SOS Children’s Village in Montego Bay on Saturday, February 4, 2012, giving participants an opportunity to get involved right away.
“Many yoga conferences involve sitting on a mat, learning and practicing. I want to honor the practice on the mat, but give participants a chance to take immediate action beyond their mat,” Moon says of the importance of the conference’s off-site karma workshop.

Sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $700. The yoga community is an economic power house spending $5.7 billion a year in the US alone, becoming a part of the Caribbean Yoga Conference will give any company’s services and products international recognition, marketing power, and an audience of approximately 500 participants. Current supporters include PRANA; Shakti Mind, Body, Fitness; Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, a Hilton Property; YOGANONYMOUS; Ancient Language Collection; Jade Yoga; Be Present; Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association; I Love Yoga; Yoga & Life; and the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Complete conference details are available at CaribbeanYogaConference.com. Registration is $345 per person and includes access to all the conference events including your classes, morning meditations, Noon yoga sessions, keynote address, closing address and evening events. Transportation, meals and accommodations are not included.
For additional information visit http://www.CaribbeanYogaConference.com or contact ShawnnaLea Zemanek at (802) 233-6510 or shawnnalea(at)bellalunayoga(dot)com.

The 18th Annual Pepsi Rebel Salute has returned and will feature a superstar line-up, including Stephen Marley, Johnny Obsourne, Maxi Priest, Gramps Morgan, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Luciano and Tony Rebel, the festival organizer. The Pepsi Rebel Salute will take place on Saturday, January 14, at the Port Kaiser Sports Club in St. Elizabeth. The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is among the sponsors for the concert event.

Jamaica’s top roots reggae show, the event attracts visitors from the United States, Canada and Europe, who are looking for reggae in a family-friendly environment. The show’s mantra focuses on the principles of positive living. Attendees of the Pepsi Rebel Salute have healthy food and beverage choices including fresh juices, vegetables and fruits. “The continued success of the festival provides yet another opportunity for us to promote Jamaica and its rich musical heritage to a global audience,” said Jamaica’s Director of Tourism John Lynch. “We salute the organizers for creating an environment in which quality reggae can be enjoyed.”

According to festival organizer Tony Rebel, he and his team are working to expand the concert to two days in the future. “We want to redefine and re-imagine the festival experience while expanding the Rebel Salute brand,” said Rebel. “This festival is in a unique position to lift up and support other artistic disciplines while breaking new ground on the festival circuit.

The “Sigma Corporate Run” is a 5K (3.5 mile) Run, Walk, Wheelchair event that began in 1999 in Downtown Kingston at Breezy Castle with a target of $500,000.00 for the Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease. The theme was “Straight from the Heart” with 297 finishers. Since then, PanCaribbean’s Sigma Corporate Run moved to Emancipation Park in New Kingston and has grown consistently – in its 13th year, over $15M was raised with almost 15,000 registrants.

Over the years, funds raised have purchased much needed equipment for charities such as Sophie’s Place & Mustard Seed Communities; The University Hospital Labour Ward; Jamaica AIDS Support for Life; The Renal Units of the Cornwall Regional, University Hospital and Kingston Public Hospitals and in 2011, the Victoria Jubilee Hospital Neo Natal Care Unit. The 2012 recipient, Chain of Hope Jamaica will benefit from all funds raised under the Patronage of Her Excellency The Hon. Lady Patricia Allen, Dr. The Hon. Usain Bolt, OJ and Dr. The Hon. R. Danny Williams and with the support of our partners, sponsors, participants and other donors.

2011 Registration: 126 Corporate Companies, 85 Non-Corporate Groups and 777 Individuals for a total of 14,729 persons; 6,761 runners, an increase of 40% and 7,954 walkers, an increase of 25%.

PARTNERS: The National Health Fund, Reggae Marathon, Sagicor

PANCARIBBEAN’S SIGMA CORPORATE RUN – FEBRUARY 19, 2012

• CHARITY: Chain of Hope Jamaica
• FOCUS: Assisting the cardiac programme of The Bustamante Hospital for Children
• PATRONS: Her Excellency The Most Hon. Lady Patricia Allen, Dr. The Hon. R.Danvers ‘Danny’ Williams OJ, CD, Hon. LLD., J.P., CLU, Dr. The Hon. Usain Bolt O.J., C.D.
• TARGET: at least $50,000,000 (Fifty Million Dollars)
• REGISTRATION OPENS:     January 2, 2012
• REGISTRATION CLOSES:     February 3, 2012
• FEES: Teams up to 75 – $55,000, over 75 – an additional $700 per person;

2012 Sponsors

Gold:
Catherine’s Peak
Digicel Jamaica
The Gleaner Company Ltd.
National Baking Company Ltd.
PUMA
RJR Communications Group

Silver:
Advertising & Marketing
King Alarm
Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. Ltd.
Stewart’s Auto

Bronze:
Caribbean Broilers
National Outdoor Advertising
Nestlé Jamaica

Volunteers:
Jamdammers Running Club
Sports Medicine Association
Sagicor/PanCaribbean Team
Scouts
JAAA

•Prize Categories:
•Wheelchair M/F (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
•Individual M/F Walk/Run (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
•Corporate M/F Walk/Run (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
•Under 16 M/F Open
•Overall 1st place Corporate Walk Team
•Overall 1st place Corporate Run Team
•Largest Corporate Team
•Best T-shirt Design
•Executive Management Award (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
•Perfect Roster

Tickets for the most highly anticipated show in the region, the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival – The Art of Music, are now available for purchase online as well as at select locations in Kingston and Montego Bay. Patrons can purchase tickets for the 2012 mega event for either single nights, the weekend, or the entire season. Single night tickets grant entry to Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, while the weekend package provides patrons with access to Friday and Saturday nights. Season tickets grant access to all three nights of the stellar event.

In tribute to the celebration of Jamaica’s 50th year of independence in 2012, general admission single night tickets for Thursday January 26 will be only US$50 while VIP tickets are priced at US$120. On Friday, general admission will be US$100 with VIP tickets at US $200. The final night of the show, Saturday, January 28, will see general admission at US$80 while VIP access can be attained for US$120.

The two-day weekend pass can be had for US$175 general admission and US$315 VIP. The three-day season pass is priced at US$250 for general admission and US$430 for VIPs. Excitement about the Festival is already building and as “Jazz and Blues” fever grows, patrons are urged to get their tickets early, as prices will increase, as the event gets closer. With the addition of the added convenience of buying tickets online, patrons will find that gaining entry to the event is now that much easier. However, tickets bought online will be gained at a slightly higher price as there is a 8% handling fee for online purchases. Tickets are also currently available at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel and Pampi’s Blue Note Jazz Bar in Montego Bay. Organisers will soon announce the full complement of island wide ticket outlets.

As the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival – The Art of Music once again transforms the Trelawny Stadium into a musical milieu of fun and excitement, VIP tickets will grant access closer to the stage, with limited seating provided on a first come basis.  Patrons with general admission tickets will have access to general areas of the Festival grounds. While no seating is provided in this area, patrons can rest their legs during the event by taking advantage of the unreserved seating area of the stands.

The 16th staging of the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival – The Art of Music will feature a world class line-up including multi award winning songstress Celine Dion who has sold over 200 million albums worldwide. The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, Jamaica’s very own golden-voiced Richie Stephens and Germany’s Gentleman are also booked for the 2012 edition.

Corporate support for the Festival has been favourable with the Jamaica Tourist Board, Iberostar and Flow returning along with RIU, Half Moon Resorts, Hilton Rose Hall, CVM TV (the official television partner), The Gleaner (the official print partner), Scotiabank, Pure Country and Loyal Haylett Management Services.

The three night event will also see performances from Canada’s reigning R&B queen Jully Black, jazz sensation Nicole Henry and Trinidad and Tobago’s soca queen Destra.