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I am so heartbroken right now. Had my dates and vacation time all set and ready to go! aaarrrggghhh!!!
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www.jamaica-gleaner.com
<span style="font-weight: bold">Calabash gone to bed - Literary festival cancelled due to lack of funding</span>
Published: Thursday | March 26, 2009
The entire south coast community of Treasure Beach is reeling from shock and disappointment because of the cancellation of the 2009 Calabash International Literary Festival.
Organisers of the annual event said they were forced to make the decision because of lack of funding.
"We requested US$40,000 from the JTB (Jamaica Tourist Board) and they approved US$25,000 on Tuesday," Justine Henzell, one of the organisers, told The Gleaner. She added that the not-for-profit event was also having problems getting corporate and private donations. "Companies such as CHASE Fund also gave us less than we asked for," Henzell said.
Henzell and her brother Jason, operator of Jake's Treasure Beach where the event is held, said they understand that the JTB has a set budget for its events marketing, but as was proven with the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival, there are exceptions where additional funding can be requested through the Tourism Enhancement Fund, "And this request was made and unfortunately the amount needed was not granted. We fear that the international exposure that Calabash generates is far greater than any other event in Jamaica," said Jason.
The news has left the communities between Manchester and St Elizabeth, which have been the beneficiaries of the festival, in mourning, with business people describing the announcement as tragic.
"It's a terrible, terrible mistake that the Ministry of Tourism has made by not coming up with the sponsorship needed for this world-class event," lamented Corey South of the Sunset Hotel in Treasure Beach.
Staggering line-up
This year's event had a staggering line-up of authors, including South African Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, 2008 Pultizer Prize winner Junot Diaz, US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, Jamaica Kincaid, George Lamming and former prime minister Edward Seaga reading from his memoirs for the first time.
The economic impact of the festival is usually felt throughout Treasure Beach, with every hotel, guest house, villa and home fully booked, most a year in advance and at premium rates.
"You can't even find a closet to stay in down here during Calabash. It's a huge marketing opportunity for Treasure Beach," added South.
Deeply hurt by the news, Courtney Hamilton, owner of Idler's Rest in Black River, described it as a very sad day in the country. "Any cancellation would result in a major dislocation not only for us, but for many other small hotels on the south coast."
In addition, vendors, transportation operators, fishermen and restaurants are some of the greatest beneficiaries of the event, which is in its ninth year.
In shock
Still in shock when The Gleaner contacted her, Rebecca Wiersma of Treasure Tours, was at a loss for words, but she was quick to point out that the event is the pride and joy of the community. "It gives us an opportunity to shine. Professionally and economically, the cancellation comes as a major blow, but it is even more disappointing that this could happen to a festival that highlights the literary prowess of the people in the region," Wiersma said.
The commitment by the community stretched as far as Jason Henzell giving up rooms at his exclusive and rustic Jake's Resort for free to authors for four nights, losing approximately US$50,000 in revenue for the period.
"And none of us gets paid or earns from this," he stated.
Efforts to get a comment from deputy director of tourism Zachary Harding, who has responsibility for tourism events, proved futile and The Gleaner was referred to chairman and director, John Lynch, who was overseas.
<span style="text-decoration: underline">Seet here \o/:</span>
www.jamaica-gleaner.com
<span style="font-weight: bold">Calabash gone to bed - Literary festival cancelled due to lack of funding</span>
Published: Thursday | March 26, 2009
The entire south coast community of Treasure Beach is reeling from shock and disappointment because of the cancellation of the 2009 Calabash International Literary Festival.
Organisers of the annual event said they were forced to make the decision because of lack of funding.
"We requested US$40,000 from the JTB (Jamaica Tourist Board) and they approved US$25,000 on Tuesday," Justine Henzell, one of the organisers, told The Gleaner. She added that the not-for-profit event was also having problems getting corporate and private donations. "Companies such as CHASE Fund also gave us less than we asked for," Henzell said.
Henzell and her brother Jason, operator of Jake's Treasure Beach where the event is held, said they understand that the JTB has a set budget for its events marketing, but as was proven with the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival, there are exceptions where additional funding can be requested through the Tourism Enhancement Fund, "And this request was made and unfortunately the amount needed was not granted. We fear that the international exposure that Calabash generates is far greater than any other event in Jamaica," said Jason.
The news has left the communities between Manchester and St Elizabeth, which have been the beneficiaries of the festival, in mourning, with business people describing the announcement as tragic.
"It's a terrible, terrible mistake that the Ministry of Tourism has made by not coming up with the sponsorship needed for this world-class event," lamented Corey South of the Sunset Hotel in Treasure Beach.
Staggering line-up
This year's event had a staggering line-up of authors, including South African Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, 2008 Pultizer Prize winner Junot Diaz, US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, Jamaica Kincaid, George Lamming and former prime minister Edward Seaga reading from his memoirs for the first time.
The economic impact of the festival is usually felt throughout Treasure Beach, with every hotel, guest house, villa and home fully booked, most a year in advance and at premium rates.
"You can't even find a closet to stay in down here during Calabash. It's a huge marketing opportunity for Treasure Beach," added South.
Deeply hurt by the news, Courtney Hamilton, owner of Idler's Rest in Black River, described it as a very sad day in the country. "Any cancellation would result in a major dislocation not only for us, but for many other small hotels on the south coast."
In addition, vendors, transportation operators, fishermen and restaurants are some of the greatest beneficiaries of the event, which is in its ninth year.
In shock
Still in shock when The Gleaner contacted her, Rebecca Wiersma of Treasure Tours, was at a loss for words, but she was quick to point out that the event is the pride and joy of the community. "It gives us an opportunity to shine. Professionally and economically, the cancellation comes as a major blow, but it is even more disappointing that this could happen to a festival that highlights the literary prowess of the people in the region," Wiersma said.
The commitment by the community stretched as far as Jason Henzell giving up rooms at his exclusive and rustic Jake's Resort for free to authors for four nights, losing approximately US$50,000 in revenue for the period.
"And none of us gets paid or earns from this," he stated.
Efforts to get a comment from deputy director of tourism Zachary Harding, who has responsibility for tourism events, proved futile and The Gleaner was referred to chairman and director, John Lynch, who was overseas.
u wud tink dat a budget amount as low as dat would have been chickenfield fi di names bandied about wid 'intellectual' pursuits a yaad...mek u wonda how hard tings really r wen it come to liquidity fi some 
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