Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Beres Hammond - FILE
FOR THE more than 40,000 persons who attend Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest annually it is the drum, the bass, the lyrics and the melodies that count. For many of the persons gathered for breakfast at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road, St. Andrew, on Tuesday morning, the prospect of profits was mouth-watering.
Richard Russell, chairman of Summerfest Productions which stages the annual festival in Montego Bay, St. James, told the assorted business representatives of the 5,000 overseas visitors the festival attracts and the $500 million which is spent outside of direct sales at Sumfest itself. He also painted a picture of full hotel rooms, a busy transportation sector and happy small vendors.
"Everybody does well. It is, in fact, our Christmas in Montego Bay, because Christmas is not as brisk in terms of spend and the circulation of money," he said.
This year's season takes place from July 16 to 22, and is dubbed 'Jamaica's Greatest, the World's Best', Montego Bay being entitled 'The Vibes City' for Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2006. Russell noted that, "The festival would not be the festival that it is without the valued support of the business community."
HIGHLIGHT EVENT OF THE YEAR
Chief among those is title sponsor Red Stripe, and the drink company's group marketing manager, Carlo Redwood, said Sumfest is "shaping up to be the highlight event of the year".
"Once again we are going to put the greatest Jamaican entertainers on stage with the best in the world," Summerfest's director of marketing, Jomo Cato said. While the 'best in the world' is still being worked on, some of Jamaica's best are already scheduled, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Beres Hammond, Capleton, Mr. Vegas, Wayne Marshall, Aidonia, Sizzla, Baby Cham, Busy Signal, Macka Diamond, Gyptian, Black-er, Richie Spice, and Leftside and Esco.
