Record number of tourists expected for Jamzone 2010!

The organizers of the Jamzone Summer Break and Beach Pageant are anticipating a record-setting influx of both domestic and international tourists for this year’s Jamzone events.
The Hits and Jams Entertainment team is very optimistic about the outcome of this year’s activities since the project will undergo major changes to create a more splendid experience.

“Last year approximately 50,000 persons attended the events over the four- day span however; we estimate a definite 60% increase in that statistic. Based on the convenient dates, hotels and airline representatives that have shown eager interest in Jamzone and the fact that delegates from around the Caribbean will be included in the Inaugural Miss Jamzone International Pageant we are confident that the amount of tourists will increase drastically”, said Hits and Jams Director Kerwin Bollers.

The event which took a new format last year provides local and international tourists with four days of super concerts which include some of the biggest names in the local and international music industry and the renowned beach party and pageant.

Jamzone Press Release

Jamzone goes International to celebrate its tenth anniversary set to commence on August 13th and concludes on August 22nd.

Hits and Jams Entertainment will be celebrating its tenth anniversary for “JAMZONE SUMMER BREAK”  this year and the promoters have already planned various activities that will be held to commemorate this special occasion.

Since 2001, when Guyana experienced the first Jamzone Summer Break, Hits and Jams has consistently maintained a very high standard and a level of professionalism and this year will not differ as the team ventures to raise the bar with an unsurpassable level of entertainment and leisure aimed at attracting both local and international tourists and sustaining their ardent contributions to the tourism industry.

In 2009, Jamzone was transformed into an inaugural four days event which featured several super concerts and the renowned Miss Jamzone Pageant and Beach Jam held at the Splashmins Fun Park and Resort. However, this year will see major changes as the pageant will feature delegates from around the Caribbean including Guyana who will vie for the coveted crown and top prize of US$10,000, runner ups will also benefit from prizes valued at US $15,000.

The organizers promise to make this the mega event of 2010 by hosting several Super Concerts which will feature some of the biggest names in Reggae, Chutney, Dancehall and R&B/Pop/Rap.

Jamzone 2010 goes International for 10th Anniversary

Jamzone will mark it 10th anniversary in 2010 and we have planned a series of activities to celebrate those successful years of adding to the development of the local tourism sector.

As a prelude to the August Jamzone Anniversary we have a calendar of activities to celebrate with our fans and committed supporters.

For our 10th year we the Hits and jams entertainment group will be upping our game yet again in the interest of promoting tourism in Guyana. As such for 2010 our event will feature delegates from Latin America and the Caribbean competing against a Guyanese beauty ambassador for the coveted Miss Jamzone title. The

“We plan to have eliminations to select Guyana’s representative to the pageant” said Kerwin Bollers. Preliminaries will be held in all participating countries. The prizes will amount to US 15,000 including US$13,000 cash.

As was done this year the event will continue to be dubbed ‘Jamzone Summer Break Weekend’ and will feature four nights of super concerts, beach parties and one fantasy pageant. Planning is on going. “The queen takes home a Motor car or US $10,000”, Bollers said.  More details as plans progress.

Teacher drives off with $3.5M Jamzone reward

Miss Jamzone 2009 - Charis JosephWith an expressed need for more pomp and ceremony and better stage decor for tourism promotions, the organisers of the Miss Jamzone 2009 pageant lifted the standards while showcasing a commendable bevy of possible Miss Guyana delegates Sunday night at Splashmin’s Fun Park on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

An estimated audience of 15,000 was treated to spirited competition among eight beauties with 23-year-old school teacher, Charis Joseph, proving the pick of the lot, and securing the ninth Miss Jamzone crown.

Joseph, who was a clear crowd favourite from her initial appearance on stage, used an infectious smile and charming personality to woo the crowd. Her response to the final question sealed the deal.

Her success ensures that she drives away with the $3.5M Toyota IST first prize, while she also will be rewarded with other prizes for copping the Miss Body Beautiful and Miss Intelligence titles.

The Noitgedacht, Linden resident is a graduate of President’s College and Cyril Potter College of Education.

In addition to her good looks, Joseph left no stone unturned by confidently expressing that she is the best suited to be queen as “people see me as an outspoken individual who can make an excellent ambassador and I’m always talking about Guyana. This pageant gives me the platform to really sell Guyana if given the opportunity.”

First runner-up was the petite 19-year-old Marsha Chester of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. A graduate of School of the Nations and a one-time Miss Guyana Talented Teen first runner-up, Chester is the Assistant Manager of “Big and Tall Boutique.” She receives a motor scooter for her efforts.

The second runner-up prize of a laptop computer went to Lindener, Tunisha Elexy.

The 23-year-old, also of Linden, and Princess Street Werk–en–Rust in Georgetown, is a graduate of New Silver City Secondary School, Critchlow Labour College and Winclex Computer School.

Kerry Woolford and Lashawn De Souza were third and fourth runner-up respectively.
Prize giving is set for Friday.

By Mondale Smith

Jamzone Summer Break Soca show lives up to the hype – Machel ‘sell off’

A soca therapy session administered by ‘Dr. Machel Montano’ and his High Definition band at the stadium on Saturday night, has certainly erased any doubt that he loves Guyana as a performing stage.

There was hardly a person with dry clothing on Sunday morning when “the one time” too young to soca artiste concluded his performance at the Jamzone Summer Break Weekend. This came after several years of shows void of the artiste.

Some commendable Guyanese acts raised the curtain with a mixed bag of music ranging from dance hall, to hip hop, to Soca that reached crescendo with Guyana’s rubber waist Jomo Primo dishing out some of X2 hot hits including the energetic  ‘crazy’ soca song.

During his performance Jomo proved why he’s among the few Guyanese acts with mad international entertainment abilities with a bias mainly for the ladies. He caused mad frenzy vocally and with his every gyration and instruction they screamed in wild abandon.

By the end of his steamy high energy performance he was topless and dripping and so were some of the local fans.  But this was a set up for the show stopper of the night: Machel Montano.

The mere mention of his name sent a contagious fever that saw the already packed VIP area being invaded by Machel crazy fans who simply wanted to come closer.

It couldn’t have been something in the drinks because the variety represented every beverage company on the local shores and they were all well supported. And it certainly could not have been the temperature in the Providence stadium because that location is an open air venue.

Machel with help from Patrice Roberts, Farmer Nappy and one other artiste caused a soca tornado that caused even those with inhibitions to lose their selves.

They dished out hit after hit and his dancers added to the party mood too. The crowd numbering in the tens of thousands certainly had a good time void of any incidents. Some people saw it fit to steal wine here and there without rejection in most cases.

Then came the ‘toro toro’ charge that heated up the stadium. “A grade, A grade and A grade” is the verdict from the tens of thousands of Guyanese who flocked the Providence stadium for the Inaugural Jamzone Summer Break Weekend soca show.

Guyanese soca lovers have concluded that the long overdue wait for Soca king Machel Montano was certainly made up for on Saturday night into Sunday morning at the national stadium. There was not one person with dry clothing at the end of the inaugural Jamzone Summer Break weekend. Neither were there any notable complaints.

He also made a promise to the fans that if they chanted hard enough he would be back for Mashramani 2010. And they certainly did.

By Mondale Smith

Miss Jamzone prize Up by $1.2m

As the Hits and Jams entertainment group continue to up their game in the entertainment industry they have once again increased the value of the first prize. According to the promoters when the pageant first started in 2000 the queen walked away with $40,000. Three years later the 1st prize changed to a motor scooter. The years that followed the winner and the runners up for the six years have walked away with cars and motor scooters and Loptop computers.

The cars then were valued at $2M each.

This year the queen walks away with a 2005 fully loaded Toyota IST car valued at $3.2 on August 30. An increase of $1.2M- the biggest first prize ever put up for a beauty pageant in Guyana in recent times.
Originally 15 local beauties made the shortlist but five are no longer in the competition by way of elimination and opting out. The remaining ten delegates will be sashed by theirs sponsors on Sunday August 9 at the Kings Plaza hotel on Main Street.

By Mondale Smith

15 Shortlisted For Miss Jamzone 2009 Beach Pageant

Jamzone Girls GroupAfter careful processing of fifty five applications the Jamzone Pageant committee headed by Carla Halley has shortlist 15 local beauties to contest this year’s crown. The queen walks away with a car while the runners-up will ride away with a motor scooter and will pocket other prizes.

In its 9th year the Miss Jamzone Pageant has become a staple and a main attraction to conclude the Jamzone Summer Break and this year promises to be even more exciting as a bevy of local beauties showcase Guyana’s tourism offerings.

As the coordinator Carla Halley says the pageant will feature segments such as intelligence, Swimsuit (creative Swim wear) and costume with major focus on promoting Amerindian villages.

Their platform will be focused on promoting Amerindian Villages including Yupukari, Rewa, Rupanau, Anni, Massakenyari, Moco Moco, Karasabai, Aishalton, Sand Creek, Aranaputa, Nappi, Fair View, Surama, Wowetta aqnd Toka.

Halley said “This lot is among the more intelligent of local beauties that in most cases can represent Guyana internationally.”

They include three University students, a legal clerk, a teacher, a customer care representative, a banker, a Mary Kay consultant, a pharmacy assistant and a cosmetologist. The list also includes two perspective nursing students.

Training has commenced under Halley’s watchful eyes and she says “they will undergo six weeks of training and will make several public appearances.” Prior to the pageant the intelligence segment will be done live on NCN and Stvs H&J Tv 72 on August 24.

However, not all the delegates will make it to the final slated for August 30 at the Splashmins Fun Park.

The public will be allowed to vote for their final eight and that lot will compete for the coveted crown.

Previous queens include Nicole Austin, Sharon Osbourne, Eleta Stewart, Shonette Moore, Samantha Arthur, Alana Williams, Christa Simmons and Lavonia Springer.

To get the names of the delegates please call Pageant Coordinator Carla number 648-8897

Jamzone Summer Break Weekend Update

Busy, Machel, Karma Band confirmed for Jamzone
Pageant to spotlight climate change, low Carbon initiative  
 
Plans are accelerating and promises much Caribbean spices that cater to entertainment seekers at all levels.  Promoters HITS & JAMS are reporting that they have secured several international acts to offer live performances at the Guyana National Stadium and the Splashmins Fun-Park.

From a private national perspective the Hits and Jams Promotions group notes  “the idea of making the event into a four day affair was birthed after a meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo earlier in the year that included promoters as well as officials from the private sector, airlines and Corporate Guyana.”

Director Rawle Fergusson said “in previous years, our one day event, Jamzone has been on the National tourism calendar but following the meeting with President Bharrat  Jagdeo we have upped it to four days with much more on the entertainment/leisure platter for domestic and international tourists.”
The final day will be at the resort in the form of a grand beach party with all the major offerings in sports, aquatic and leisure entertainment and will conclude with the crowning of the 9th Miss Jamzone Queen.

Director Kerwin Bollers explaining the four day concept said the three additional nights will be memorable and will boost international leisure seekers interest and over time could see more tourists flocking to Guyana like they do for other Summer Fest, internationally.
President Bharrat Jagdeo had encouraged those at the meeting to create and promote events that can be used as a tourism attraction to the local shores.
Bollers said the environment, preserving Guyana’s standing forest and climate change will be among our main focus for the pageant where the delegates will be tasked with creating costumes with various message. They will also have to research those topics for presentation. So far more than 75 applications have been distributed and the promoters are asking that those who still have forms in their possession to fill them out and return them on or before July 3.

Mega Entertainment guaranteed for Jamzone summer Break Weekend Fergusson says as momentum builds HITS and JAMS in its quest to offer mega concerts like those experienced for CARIFESTA the group is pursuing several contracts with some major artistes. “Already we have secured contracts with Caribbean soca sensation Machel Montano and Jamaican dancehall artiste Busy Signal as well as Karma the number one chutney band in the region,” Ferguson said. He assures too that “this release of names is just the beginning of the proposed line up of artistes heading to the local shores.”

Mondale Smith for Hits and Jams

For more information contact: Kerwin Bollers 227-0580

Jamzone Summer Break Weekend 2009

In keeping with a mandate to ensure that leisure lovers enjoy quality entertainment on the local shores during the August holidays we, the Hits and Jams group announces that the event is definitely happening again this year but on a larger scale.

Entering our 9th year, we have upped our game yet again to make the event bigger and better. As such this year’s event dubbed “Jamzone Summer Break Weekend” will be held in four stages starting August 27 and ending, August 30.

This year, borrowing from the CARIFESTA concept, the group proposes that the event will include a concert night for Dance Hall and Reggae as well as a night for Soca and Chutney that will feature the best artistes in Guyana, the Caribbean and the world.

Jamzone Summer Break Weekend will culminate with the fun-day/ Beach Jam that climaxes with the crowning of the 9th Miss Jamzone queen on August 30 at the Splashmins Fun Park.

We have already secured most of the artistes for the events and more details will be released as plans progress.

Note: Each event will be affordable individually and as a package deal through the purchase of season tickets.

Pageant

Our recruitment drive has commenced to select local beauties to contest the ninth Miss Jamzone crown from which the queen walks away with a multi-million dollar car. The runners up will take home a scooter among other prizes.

Closing date for applications is June 30. Interested ladies aged 18-26 can pick up applications at Nanda’s Boutique, Street Styles, Lifestyles, changing Room, Fusion Taxi service and at HJtv-72.

PRO Mondale Smith
For Hits and Jams
For more information Contact
679-6111 or 227-0580

Jamzone Summer Break 2K8: A Review

The highly publicized, most anticipated and most talked about event of the summer was undoubtedly Jamzone Summer break 2k8. Well Jamzone has come and gone and for those of us who attended can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that the event lived up to the hype that was created over the past few weeks. The event was held at Splashmins Fun Park and Resort on Linden Soesdyke Highway on Sunday August 17, 2008.

Judging from the turnout and the views expressed by persons attending the event, the promoters and sponsors lived up to expectations and delivered an unforgettable, incident free event.

During the daylight hours the event was filled with activities and games namely; beach games, water sports, swimming,  jet ski rides and canoeing. Finding persons to take part in the activities was no hard task considering the large crowd at the location, in addition to the incentives being offered to the winners. The winners of each event were given five thousand dollars and free credit compliments of GT&T. In an effort to ensure maximum participation the only stipulation was persons were only allowed to participate in one event.

The were several games organized for persons to win prizes. One of which was “basody”. The object of this game was simple;

Two teams of three, each person had to put their head on a short pole and go around it 10 times then run fifteen metres to tag the other partner without getting “basody” and falling to the ground. I must admit this was hilarious to watch. Another activity that attracted a lot of attention was the ugly man contest. I doubt there’s any explanation required for this contest. To see who won feel free to check out our gallery. The crowd was given a treat when three couples were put on stage with whipped cream. The girls were decorated with whipped cream and the guys had to lick them as clean as possible. The most bizarre game was the fear factor segment where several food items were blended for consumption by participants. In order to give you an idea of what was in blend, these were some of ingredients: salt beef, salt fish, eggs, corned beef, mushrooms, sardines, mustard, milk and ham, just to name a few. Hopefully the mixture did not cause more than a momentary discomfort to the persons consuming them. Though the events were fun filled for those watching and participating there was a slight hiccup. In a drinking game organized by a sponsor, the instructions were to drink the shots off using a straw faster than the other team. One person, however choose not to follow this instruction and suffered a minor burn on his face, causing the game to discontinued. This did not throw a damper on the proceedings since it was recognized that the rules were not followed by that individual.

The evening part of the event saw the staging of the Miss Jamzone Pageant. The evening was colorful and saw an outstanding display of local beauty, talent and potention as portrayed by the contestants as well as performances by some of Guyana’s best music artiste.

Bearing in mind the coming home of Carifesta to Guyana, the designers sought to incorporate the national colors of various Caribbean countries into the costumes worn by the contestants.

The likes of Fojo, Celeste David, Lilman, Platinum Mobbs, Ballys, First Born, Allabama and overseas based Guyanese Monica Greene were apart of the musical entertainment of the evening. The main live performance of the evening was that of First Born. Fresh from a tour out of Europe and the US, First Born provided those in attendance with some of their most popular selections much to the delight of the large crowd gathered.

The pageant was a display of some of Guyana’s most beautiful young ladies. Though beauty and talent were essential to the outcome of the pageant, intelligence played a critical role in the selection of the winner. In the end only one could be crowned Miss Jamzone 2k8. In the end it was Lavonia Springer was crowned Miss Jamzone 2k8.

Taking everything into consideration the event should be hailed as a success and based on the support received, it would be fair to assume that the Guyanese public was in full support of the event. Check out our gallery for all the great pictures from the event.