JCDC Launches Festival 2007

Jamaica Festival 2007 was launched on June 14 by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), at the National Indoor Sports Centre, under the theme: ‘Taking It To Another Level’.
Chairman of the JCDC, Vivian Crawford noted that this year’s festival would be a celebration of several significant milestones in the history of the country and all Jamaicans.
“This year we celebrate 45 years as an independent nation, 200 years since the abolition of the Transatlantic Trade in enslaved Africans and the 120th anniversary of the birth of National Hero, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the theme, Field Services Director at JCDC, Delroy Gordon explained that the theme spoke to the increased focus that the Commission intended to place on the overall delivery of the island’s largest and most diverse cultural festival.
Mr. Gordon pointed out that for Festival 2007, a number of new strategies would be introduced to bring the celebration into every home, school and church across the island.
“Out of last year’s review, we recognize that one of the recommendations is that festival become more visible and so in keeping with the theme, we will be making full use of technology,” he said, noting that persons would be able to participate in the various competitions by texting in their favourite artiste or contestant.
The main highlights of Festival 2007 include the Jamaica Popular Song and Gospel competitions, which afford Jamaican singers, songwriters and producers the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents; and the Jamaica Festival Queen competition, which encourages young Jamaican women between 18 and 25 years of age to participate in and be identified with their culture and community activities, both at the parish and national levels.
Other festival activities include: the World Reggae Dance championship; National Marching Band competition; Best of Festival concert series; Heritage Fest; Independence celebrations; Mello Go Roun’; August Fair & Jamaica Nite and Jamaica Food Festival. In terms of sponsors, Jamaica Festival 2007 has received sponsorship support exceeding $60 million. The official mobile provider for festival, Digicel, has committed $30 million towards the staging of all festival activities over the next three years while media sponsors have offered over $38 million to promote the various activities.
Other sponsors include: IGL Limited; GraceKennedy Limited; Jamaica Trade and Invest (formerly JAMPRO); Juici Patties; CHASE Fund; Zesti; Capital & Credit Merchant Bank and Money Gram.