South Coast Rum Festival 2017

A diversity of food, music and culture will be on display at the 3rd annual, South Coast Food Festival, July 15, 2017 on the grounds of the Milk River Hotel from 9am – 2am next day.

The Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica National Bank, two key players in the tourism industry, JTB for promotions and JN Bank offer tourism product loans, has come on board as key sponsors.

South Coast Rum Festival will be on the lips of every Jamaican who has an appreciation of our authenticity, as this year’s festival will boast, top personalities displaying their culinary skills and the varied offerings from our food vendors, to include, top promoter of one of the best promotion in Clarendon, Murray’s Fish Farm, promoters of ‘Chillin on the Farm’. There will also be a Kiddies Village, Culture band and a recreation of a Taino Village by students of the Garvey Maxeo High School among others.

The highlight of the event is the promoter’s concept, Rum Village, where Jamaican rum companies get to offer patrons drinks masterly mixed with rum. Patrons are advised that they must be 18 and older to drink and to drink responsibly.

Stage performances will include some of Jamaica’s best including Grammy Nominated Devin D Docta, Lucas Musiq and long time veteran, Little Hero, Clarendon’s upcoming artists Payne medez and Tommy B among many others.

The festival will honor the cultural richness of the area, highlighting the Milk River Hotel, a hidden gem, plummeting it to retain its rightful place that offers the number one healing waters in the world. The rich history of the area will be focused on to show that Milk River, has the potential to be the mecca of community tourism in Jamaica.

Tickets can be purchased at www.gustazos.com or at the gate on the day of the event.

SOUTH COAST RUM FESTIVAL 

For general information, call our 1 (876) 449 4179.

Like us on Facebook – South Coast Rum Festival

Follow us on Instagram – @876_compass

Twitter – 876compass

Vendor information, contact 1 (876) 449 4179

All media inquiries should be directed to Stephanie Elliott at 876-449-4179 or email compasscommunicationja@gmail.com 

South Coast Rum Festival – the rebranding

For five consecutive years, amidst challenges, promoter of the South Coast Rum Festival, Stephanie Gyles- Elliott has successfully staged her event, borne out of her concept that rum was not truly celebrated in its cultural context and this needed to be addressed in Jamaica.

Jamaica is historically known for its production of internationally favorable rums. But, rum were being viewed in the negative as something that one imbibes in at certain stages of their lives or just a party drink.

After seeking the Jamaica Tourist Board’s commitment to sponsor, the festival broke ground and has been promoting the ways of Rum eversince.

The event has caught the eyes of international companies and individuals as well, and as such, Gyles-Elliott now partners with Swedish media practitioner, Susanne Härlin to stage the event twice yearly. Sweden and Jamaica.

Gyles-Elliott explained that her company took the initiative and ventured into Europe and met with sponsors, travel agents and patrons and have created a buzz in that region

She explains, “we are bringing the tourists here to partake of and enjoy the best of our rums, foods and music under our rebranding”.

Miss Elliott explains that much of the rebranding will be disclosed at the launch in Sweden “but we already have several buyers and distributors excited about us bringing brand Jamaica to Europe, but our sponsors need to know that this elevation of the event will be to premium status.
This strategic marketing move will not affect the brand but will more impress upon our sponsors, past and present that we were and have always been serious about our commitment to promote Jamaica’s culture worldwide!

Attractions
‘Rum Village’ is our major attraction where our mixologists perform their magic using rums. It was major in our last event staged in Portmore. Patrons also gets to purchase from our vendors local cuisine, and we implore our vendors to be versatile in utilising rum in their food preparations.

South Coast Rum Festival was also a platform for emerging performing artiste and have seen the likes of Alex Marley, Anthony Cruz and D’Angel among other prominent artiste performing on the show. But, as it evolves, Miss Elliott explains “We are taking nothing from that except we will limit the amount of artists who will be performing this year. There is a special selection process in place for that.

Based on projections, the event will attract an estimated 800-1200 European and American tourists to Jamaica plus it’s local based support. This initiative has the earning potential of over a million US/EURO between

businesses earmarked to benefit.

“There are so many ‘news’ to the event this year and we await the final decisions on the finishing touches that relevant ministries and agencies will be adding”, added the chief promoter #rumqueen #rumlovers #winelovers #brandjamaica#localtourism#journeytosouthcoastrumfestival #jamaicatouristboard #mces #babsygrange #edmundbartlett#edbartlett #blackwellrum#rumenthusiasts #rumexperience #rumtour #southcoastjamaica #smallhotels #sweden #europe #switzerland #france #germany #nigeria #poland #southafrica #rumfire #jampro#rumbar #rumblends #dancehall #reggae #bobmarley #kingstonjamaica #wines #whiskey #vodka #pegasushotel

How I earned the name Rum Queen

Hi Readers!

The name is Stephanie Elliott and people call me the #rumqueen.

Not because I frequent rum bars nor is an avid drinker. Quite the contrary. It’s as a US based journalist said to me during a recent interview- “Damned, what was Jamaica waiting on to celebrate rum? To which I responded “me, of course”.

History

I’m a deep thinker. Paranoid, according to my sons. But for years, during my sojourn in media and observing things Jamaican, I often lamented how Jamaica never truly celebrated rum.

When I first conceptualised the South Coast Rum Festival a few years ago and built a business plan around it, persons discouraged me stating no company would sponsor my brand with the name rum. I got very little financial support but I’m happy for the commitment of the Jamaica Tourist Board over the years plus other companies who saw the vision and committed continued support!

Celebrate rum in its cultural context went over the heads of many. I see today they have caught on, but instead of join me they decide to beat me. The event though was planned as a platform to build the tourism industry along our neglected island’s south coast. Small and large hotels, tour companies, peanut vendors etc are to benefit.

Events are not supposed to only line the pockets of promoters but be beneficial to other entrepreneurs across the island.

Local jerk chefs, small restaurant owners, artists and various craft vendors plus upcoming singers/DJs got a platform, through the promotion of this little event to get the airtime other large scale events would not afford them.

Our stage show has been touted as one of the few remaining platforms that allows for upcoming artists to showcase their talents.

The Vision

I alone will not take credit for the concept to celebrate our rums. Horace Peterkin, a good friend and entrepreneur was about the enter the highly competitive rum market by producing a rum for women. Don’t know if it would be good to discuss here and now his idea but he was on to something with his exotic flavoured rums. Horace’s products were showcased at the first festival I partnered with a group to deliver and needless to say, his booth was the most popular. I garnered positive vibes from what I witnessed and sat a few days later to craft a business plan around the hosting of Jamaica’s first ever rum festival.

A rum festival in Jamaica should be a community initiative and if anyone from the hotel and Tourism industry, food, travel etc needs to find out how – I’m here to discuss in an effort to partner.

Jamaica is a far cry from ensuring that the tourism dollar goes to small and micro businesses. Bed and breakfast is not as widespread as it should be.

After 5 years, 5 festival stagings South Coast Rum Festival is going global. As part of our drive to get the tourism we needed to get our event where we needed it and the economical spin offs expected – we went and got them ourselves! Our target, Europeans, Asians, Africans, USA tourists. We got their interests.

The support of the Jamaica Tourist Board a major boost in this effort!

Will you join me on my journey to extend the tourism dollar to every Jamaican?

#journeytosouthcoastrumfestival #rebranding #relaunch #sweden #jamaicatouristboard #jampro #brandjamaica #localtourism #holland #kingston #bobmarley #usainbolt #bloggers #rumlovers #foodbloggers #wearerumpeople #winestoo #brandsweden #brandeurope #trendsetter #globaltrotter #travelholic #readyfortheworld #nigeria #gastronomy #coffee #rumcakes #barbados #trinidad #southcoastjamaica #manchester #clarendon #stelizabeth #westmoreland #stcatherine #tourismenhancementfunds #mces #babsygrange #edmundbartlett #edbartlett #blackwellrum #portroyalrum #rumbar #rumfire #monymusk #brandjamaica #lifestylemagazinesweden #gleaner #star #jamaicaobserver #nnn #andrewholness #compasscommunication #southcoastrumfestival #theoriginalandbest

Update on Tivoli Gardens Enquirers

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/I-cut-off-all-communication-with–Dudus—says-Bruce-Golding

Jamaica’s Former P.M. Opens up About Coke Arrest, Extradition

Makes an interesting read. What are your feed backs on this?

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/jamaicas-former-p-m-opens-up-about-coke-arrest-extradition

SOUTHERN JAMAICA POISED FOR COMMUNITY TOURISM

Community Tourism is to be one of the leading drives for job creation along Jamaica’s South Coast.

Treasure Beach, St Elisabeth should be the epicenter of this development, and rightly so, as major thrust to encourage community tourism is evident in that section of the island.

Our southern plains are ripe for this form of development, as the ‘Sun, Sea and Sand’ concept have been over ridden. Visitors to our shores are to be encouraged to enjoy our land, people and culture and defer (not totally) from hotels, guarded beaches and enjoying North American cuisine.

The encouragement of tourism ventures along the south coast will reap major benefits for many unemployed persons, farmers and skilled residents. Bed and breakfasts, small villas, Festivals, Artistes, tour guides, unique history and attractions will greatly benefit from tourists being encouraged to visit and experience authentic Jamaica

Southern Jamaica encompasses St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elisabeth and sections of Westmoreland. There are numerous attractions in these areas to keep any tour guide busy, and an ordinary housewife the ability to offer her unique Jamaican hospitality skills to the test by their offerings of Bed and Breakfast for the eco tourist yearning to truly have a Jamaican experience.

And, for the environmental and history enthusiasts, there is the iguana protected habitat in Hellshire, St. Catherine, Milk River Hotel Bathe and Spa, Milk River Clarendon, known for its therapeutic qualities, Lovers’ Leap, St Elisabeth, among other numerous attractions which when thoroughly researched and presented, can be an eco tourist’s dream. Many locations should consider offering camping options for these visitors.

How the expansion of community tourism will be managed by our governments is another aspect to be examined on the way forward. There will be need to implement security measures, establish standards for persons offering accommodations to our visitors and of course, training and sensitization should be ongoing in communities preparing to take on these ventures.

HOLDING OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE

Despite the earlier warnings of the outbreak of the dreaded ‘chikungunya virus’, I suspect, as usual, many Jamaican sat around to see if it would reach their neck of the woods before they raised an alarm!

Yes, in our typical lethargic style, we browse the net and out of curiosity ask a few questions but never enough, and definitely not the one that demands a solution to an evidently growing problem.

Now the virus has become an epidemic, and here we are, running around like chickens without heads (pun intended), demanding that the current government provide immediate solutions!

Wait!

Are we not cognizant of the fact we are responsible for making our environment so sterile, as not to encourage the settling of vectors in our communities? Who is dumping their wastes in the rivers, on the beaches, in gullies and nearby bushes, road sides and lastly, in our own back yards?

Fogging you say? I personally do believe that mosquitoes have become immune to the chemicals used in this treatment for vector control and contributes to many a breathing problems in children and some adults as this exercise is conducted in communities across Jamaica.

Here is what I think: Recently, the world celebrated International Coastal Clean Up Day… the dreaded Chik V was already, by this time of grave concern to the citizenry of this country. Why didn’t we, instead of only jumping on the wagon to go pose on a beach to say “Let it not be said I wasn’t here”, take a few pics and post on social media and celebrate your contribution, not ask the government then, to assist by providing additional revenue and instead of just our coasts, clean our in lands to to help in the eradication of the Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes?

Where we not concerned that contracting this virus would lessen productivity? And for our children? Do we want them sick?

Careful now! I by no means am defending the government. I too believe that we were denied certain pertinent information that could have served us well in recognizing the impending dangers of Chik V, but we cannot, whichever party in power, depend on government to find the solution for us.

With or without a virus pending to escalate into an epidemic, we as Jamaicans need to realize that we absolutely have to keep our environment clean. I have passed restaurants, perched precariously beside gullies and one look in the drain is enough to churn one’s stomach. Patrons and restaurant owners dispose of their wastes in the gully. and as soon as it rains and the area floods they staged a road block, demanding the government to come and clean the very drained they clogged!

Come on Jamaicans; we have to do better than this! We have to take responsibility and clean our communities.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140919/lead/lead14.html#.VBwa6GRcW-8.facebook