Saluting a stalwart

The passion of art for Leslie ‘Ted’ Williams has subdued his drive to continue working within the financial sector as he retired from the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) after 38 years of stellar service.

“Over the years it has been an absolutely wonderful experience, I have met very many characters” Williams expressed at his Farewell Dinner at the Montego Bay Yacht Club.

Although this affable financial whiz and artist contributed to the success of JNBS, throughout his tenure Williams confessed that never aspired to accumulate great wealth as many would have thought.

“After being with a financial institution for such a long time, I have never developed the affinity for money, which means that when I should have spent a lot of time garnering it I spent the time saying ‘Just being on earth, just fulfilling myself was adequate’. I have also said I never wanted to be rich because I have never seen a rich artist produce work of substance” the retiree and artist noted in his address.

Williams continues to produce masterpieces in paintings and sculptures and as for whether the decision to pursue wealth over art ever came to his mind he jokingly said “I want my own punishment as an artist so I can’t hide under the shelter of being with a financial organization”. Nonetheless, he does not regret his time spent at JNBS and the people he has had the opportunity to work with.

General manager for JNBS Earl Jarrett was heartened by the unyielding support that Williams have offered during his tenure at the bank.

“Ted represents one of the finest examples of dedication and unswerving contribution to JNBS. As an associate his coworker s commend him for his stewardship and deem him to be a font of wisdom and a man of compassion” Jarrett said of Williams who retired as a senior regional manager at JNBS.

In his closing remarks he wished Williams success in his future endevours and “we are proud to honour you, we wish you continued success as you express yourself through art”.

The allure of Dream Girls

Montego Bay fell under the allure of the Dream Girls models during the Dream Girls Fashion Show as lingerie for both men and women offered a risqué approach to activities in the bedroom.

The Cariblue Hotel in the second city was transformed into a mega arena for the fashion demonstration. The feeling of being at an international fashion show took over Montego Bay, as the professional coordination of the high catwalk was like that of its international counterparts.

The stage, which was constructed in the centre of the pool, unleashed several provocative apparels from swim wear, elegant wear and lingerie line of Dream Girls Clothing.

It was not difficult to notice how excited males kept their eyes glued onstage as the female models paced the catwalk. The female patrons were equally engrossed in the proceedings, as male models spared no effort in arousing the excitement of fans.
With Jackie Norman handling emcee duties, it was clear that although Jamaicans love to party, they also have an avid passion for fashion. From sexy to petite to conservative and endearing, Jamaica's culture was projected through this fashion expo.

According to the owner of the Dream Girls line of products Nelcia Salmon “we wanted to bring something new and endearing to Montego Bay, there is a market for it here and we showed that last night. The response to the show has been overwhelming” an excited Salmon explained.

She added that male has also been excluded from these types of apparels (underwear) and it was time to showcase a line of products that males can experiment with and excite their lives a bit within the bedroom.

“We showcased models that are petite, heavy set and average because we wanted persons to relate to the models and not stereotypes. We want persons to feel comfortable in what we offer and getting regular persons to model our line was the best fit” the Dream Girls owner noted.

Negril is on top...AGAIN

The unique charm of Negril in Westmoreland has secured a place in the hearts of travelers who placed the tourism destination in several categories of the Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice 2010 Best Destinations.

Widely touted as one of the world’s largest and renowned travel sites, the Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice 2010 Best Destinations gave travelers the opportunity to rate their favourite destination in different categories.

For the Top 10 Romance Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico and Top 10 Relaxation & Spa Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico, Negril was at number four respectively.   In the category of Beach & Sun Destinations in the World, Negril was placed seventh out of ten other destinations in the world. Top 25 Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico they were number 21 and in the Top 10 Nightlife Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico, Negril was eighth.

According to Evelyn Smith, chairperson for the Negril Chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Negril’s variety of small, medium and large properties coupled with its unique product offering contributed to their success.

“We try to engage a variety of travel options. For Negril 85 percent of the properties small entities (fewer than 100 rooms) and therefore this offers a very intimate environment that is heavily driven on guest services” she explained.

In addition, Smith quipped that the annual Appleton Dream Weekend held during the Independence weekend is one of the factors why Negril has secured a spot on the Trip Advisor’s Top 10 Nightlife Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico.

She noted that their niche market of boutique options for spa has also played a role in Negril copping an award in the Top 10 Relaxation & Spa Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico.

Nonetheless, the JHTA chairperson stressed the importance of continuing this momentum through “our small properties becoming more e-savvy by using blogs and social site to keep the buzz out there about Negril”.

Among the other Jamaican tourist destinations that were awarded are:

Ocho Rios

Top 25 Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico: Ranked at 10

Top 10 Relaxation & Spa Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico: 10

Montego Bay

Top 10 Family Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico: 9^th

Top 25 Destinations in the Caribbean & Mexico: rank 23^rd