WESTERN BUREAU: A number of Montego Bay hotels, villas and guest houses are overbooked while patrons scramble to secure accommodation for this weekend's Reggae Sumfest. And the promoters of the festival are in a quandary to find accommodation for some artistes slated to perform on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
"We don't have a clue what to do. You can't very well send the artistes to Ocho Rios or Negril, that's just not an option", said Johnny Gourzong. Showtime was further informed that desperate efforts were being made to find alternative accommodation, even at high-priced hotels.
The artiste Joe has an entourage of 19 persons; Wyclef 25; Luciano 22; Beres Hammond about 12 and Beenie Man 10.
"We approached the hotels very early. The ones who promised us came through. These included Half Moon, Round Hill, Jack Tar, Coyaba, El Greco, Seacastles, Holiday Inn, Wyndham and Doctor's Cave," Mr. Gourzong said.
VOX POP
MONTEGONIANS ARE waiting anxiously for the start of the reggae festival. A number of the people interviewed said they were looking forward to the show and felt the line-up this year was good.
Leroy Johnson, transport inspector
"The-line up is good. I feel if the arrangement is properly put together, the show will be fabulous. I like the international setting this year. I plan to go the night Joe and Beres are performing".
Sonny, taxi driver
"It's a vibes show this year. Bounty is my DJ. The three International Nights is a good idea. After all dancehall is here and available to us all the time".
Richie McGilvery, labourer
"$1,000 is too much to go into Sumfest this year and the show looks soft. There should be two Dancehall Nights, as last year, but with the economic conditions today the price is too high".
Doreen Montaque, cashier
"I think the festival is going to be good this year. I am already in the mood, being a Bounty Killer fan. I want to thank the organisers for putting up a good line-up this year".
Clean-up campaign
The St. James Parish Council has started cleaning the verges from Rose Hall to the town centre in preparation for the festival. However, the cuttings are left on the side of the road for days, creating an unsightly picture.
Over the years the festival has attracted a number of pick pockets from out of town, but the police say they have put certain security measures in place to control that.
"We will be deploying more than 200 policemen from Areas One, Two and Three, so there will be an increase in police presence," said Senior Superintendent Gilbert Kameka, of the Area One Headquarters.
Restaurants in the resort town are also stocking up on extra food, to ensure they can feed the influx of visitors to the second city during the Reggae Sumfest, Emancipation and Independence activities.
- Janet Silvera
