Hits & Jams Promotions is promising Guyanese an “explosive affair” during their popular summer break with the traditional Miss Jamzone pageant being a thing of the past since it will not only be Guyanese faces gracing the stage, but the faces of contestants from seven other Caribbean countries.
The regional touch coupled with the performance of international R&B sensation Neyo – an upcoming event that is the talk of many – as well as those of popular Caribbean artistes such as Movado, will certainly ensure that Guyanese are treated to a rollicking time this summer.
Eight women will vie for the coveted first prize of US$10,000 come August 22 at the Splashmins Fun Park and Resort. Mean-while, a total of US$15,000 in cash and prizes will be distributed among the other finalists of the pageant.
Kicking off under the HJTV label, the popular Jamzone summer break has now been transformed into ‘Jamzone Inter-national’ and according to Kerwin Bollers, Director of the Pageant with whom The Scene spoke, this year’s event promises to be an “explosive affair.”
The overseas performers for the various concerts are drawn from the US, Trinidad, Suriname, St Lucia, Jamaica, Dominica, Barbados, and Antigua.
In an interview with The Scene, Bollers said that as Jamzone celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, the coordinators decided to take the event a step forward by including other Caribbean nationals so that Guyana’s tourist potential can be realized.
When the pageant first started, he said, its purpose was to showcase Guyana as a tourist destination. While this objective had been largely achieved, the coordinating body of the pageant decided that by inviting contestants from other parts of the region Guyana’s tourism industry would be boosted even further.
“Guyana can only stand to benefit by having girls from the region participate. By including the foreigners and inviting them in our country, we sell Guyana as a tourist product to them so that they can go back to their home countries and tell of the wonders Guyana’s tourism industry has to offer,” the Director said.
It is against this backdrop that each contestant would be treated to visits to various tourist destinations around Guyana.
When asked about the criteria for selection, The Scene was told that the girls had been judged by their varying coordinating bodies in the areas of intelligence, public speaking, posture, and confidence, to name a few.
Bollers said that the contestants would be judged in three categories including swimsuit, intelligence and the grand finale, which would comprise a national costume segment, fantasy wear (creative beach wear designed by a local designer in each participating country) and a final question set by the judges.
The swimsuit segment is slated for August 15 at 7 pm at the Princess Hotel and Casino poolside; the intelligence segment will be held on August 18 at the National Cultural Centre at 8 pm; while the final segment will be held at the Splashmins Fun Park.
‘Fun-filled’
Bollers said that the events which will be held over a two-weekend period from August 14 to 22 will include loads of fun-filled attractions in addition to the entertainment by local, regional and international artistes.
Jamaican dance hall superstar Movado is slated to perform on August 20 at a regional night. In addition, other regional performances include Trinidad’s “number one cross-over band,” Karma. Performing also from Trinidad are the champions of this year’s Carnival celebrations, the JW and Blaze team known for their hit song Palas. Meanwhile, Guyanese artists expected to appear on stage include the Heat Wave Band, First Born singer Rollo, and dancehall rising star, Jory. The regional night will be held at the National Stadium at 8 pm at a cost of $1500 per ticket.
The international night is expected to attract performances by international Grammy singer, songwriter and actor, and number one R&B recording artist in the world, Neyo. Tamika Marshall, X2 and the Mingles Sound Machine are all expected to perform on this night which will kick off at the National Stadium on August 21 at 8 pm. Tickets cost $2000.
On August 14, a chutney night will be held featuring the biggest names in the business, including the Hunter, De Hitman and Adesh Samaroo, Guyana’s chutney princess Feona as well as Mahendra Ramkellawan, among others.
According to Bollers, the hosting of events of such magnitude has been made possible because of the support given by an eighteen-member sponsorship team which caters for 80% of the pageant’s budget. He noted also that substantial contributions had also poured in from various government ministries.
The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry had been instrumental in providing overseas promotion as a means of advertising the summer break and ultimately Guyana as a tourist destination, through the agency of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).
In addition, both these ministries made venues available and provided monetary donations and day tours.
He mentioned also that President Bharrat Jagdeo had been supportive of the event by facilitating the waiver of certain travel taxes on overseas artists coming into Guyana to perform for the pageant.
Also onboard is the Ministry of Home Affairs whose noteworthy role is that of providing security in the form of the Guyana Police Force at all Jamzone venues.
The director said that the overseas contestants who are not yet in Guyana are expected to start arriving on August 12 and will shortly thereafter be introduced to the public on various television programmes.