By Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE USUAL tranquil tourist getaway, Negril, which has already been transformed into a noisy hub of activities with Spring Break 2001 some three weeks under way, will again see further excitement come next week.
Russell Simmons, one of the heavy weights of American black entertainment and president of Def Jam will arrive in the island to stage a massive fashion show and concert in Negril.
The fashion show will feature designs from the Phatfarm label and comedians and other artistes on the Def Jam label are expected to perform. Top-flight local DJ Capleton is one of the reggae acts sign to the label.
Def Jam is responsible to a large extent for the rise of noted African American comedians such as Chris Rock. The comedy hour which is available on Black Entertainment Television (BET) has attracted a significant following here.
Today, Simmons is recognised in the United States as one of the most influential black men in the twentieth century.
He is expected to be accompanied by his wife and personal public relations officer Gary Foster.
Foster a Jamaican, came to fame in the United States through his involvement in the work of the Nation of Islam and its leader Minister Louis Farrakhan.
But while Spring Breakers in Negril are expectant, they are not sitting and waiting for Simmons' arrival to have fun. And their continuous quest for the dramatic has irked some in the tourist industry. The massive invasion of the fun-seeking American teens is said to be having a bad effect on the town's image. "The town is so noisy that some of us have to be taking tranquillisers to get some sleep at nights," said businesswoman Sylvie Grizzle, who thinks the round-the-clock partying associated with Spring Break is turning the town into a ghetto. The teens party round the clock, drink and smoke heartily, and on the beaches, they leave nothing to the imagination. "Things have gotten so bad that some of our more traditional visitors have cut short their vacation and have left," said Grizzle, who owns the Negril's Charela Inn, in regards to the current situation in the town best known and loved for his gorgeous seven miles of white sand beaches. "There is no longer peace on the beaches as music stages are being erected all over the place."
It would appear that at least one major tour operator shares the opinion of Grizzle and the other residents who are disgusted with the Spring Break culture. The German Company TUI has sent a letter to tourism interest in Negril, which has been copied to the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), threatening to stop doing business with Negril during the Spring Break period. However, the average man in the street and many small hoteliers are keeping their eyes fast on the US$22 million Spring Break is expected to bring in.
"It is only during Spring Break that the ordinary man is able to make a decent money out of Negril's tourism business," said Michael Robinson, a long time craft vendor in the town. "When the so-called regular tourist come to Negril, only the big hotels make money and that is what the fat cats (big hoteliers) seem to want." Despite the complaints, the Jamaica Tourist Board is satisfied that the teens are behaving in the resort town. While not dismissing the complaints about the night noise associated with the continuous partying by the spring-breakers, a JTB source in Negril said the situation is not as bad as is being stated by those complaining. According to him, unlike former years, there has be a significant tone down of the raucous behaviour normally associated with spring break. "For the most part the spring-breakers are adhering to our request for them to tone down from their wild ways of the past and they are doing so," said the JTB source. "Contrary to what is being said, I see absolutely no evidence to suggest that the town is being turned into a ghetto."
Spring Break 2001, now into its third week, is expected to bring 25,000 American University and college students to Jamaica's major resort towns. The figure could rise significantly come next week with Simmons' arrival.
