Caribbean-Themed New York Concerts Scheduled For Labor Day Weekend 2013

CaribPR Wire, New York, NY, Weds. May 22, 2013: Today White-Mark Entertainment (WME) announced its contract with the 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival, a premier celebration of Caribbean cultures, cuisine, fashion and music.  Presented in partnership with Irie Jamboree, Inc., the Caribbean Fever Music Festival is a three-day live event taking place during Labor Day Weekend on Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1, 2013 at the landmark Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, New York. The music festival will feature big-name performers and bring together thousands of concert goers, music press and supporters from across the United States and around the world.  The Caribbean Fever Music Festival will also enhance Labor Day Weekend cultural activities for New York’s vibrant Caribbean-American communities as a lead-up to the famed West Indian American Labor Day Carnival Parade in Brooklyn that attracts over three million participants.

The Caribbean Fever Music Festival weekend is a joint production with Irie Jamboree, North America’s leading reggae festival.  Irie Jamboree built a solid reputation globally for being the best one-day reggae festival in the U.S. and set a record attendance in 2008 with 25,000 patrons.  Back by popular demand after a three-year hiatus, the Irie Jamboree reggae showcase is being presented on of the three nights of the Caribbean Fever Music Festival and is moving from its regular venue in Queens for a grand debut at the state-of-the-art Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.  As one of New York’s most sought-after arenas, the Barclays Center has featured some of the world’s leading entertainers since its opening in 2012 and is also home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.  The Caribbean Fever Music Festival will also commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Irie Jam Radio, New York’s primary source for Caribbean local radio entertainment

White-Mark Entertainment, a new entertainment marketing company targeting multicultural audiences across major live-event platforms, is serving as the full service event sponsorship and marketing agency for the 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival.  Launched in 2012, the newly formed company is comprised of a seasoned marketing and creative team led by founding partners Blandine Jean-Paul and Jean “Marco” Guerrier. Together Jean-Paul and Guerrier bring more than 27 years of combined industry experience.  Created to deliver unparalleled services and change the landscape for multicultural events, White-Mark Entertainment’s mission is to help more brands maximize their reach among affluent Caribbean immigrants, Caribbean-Americans and Hispanics.

Haitian-American marketing executive Jean-Paul is principal and executive marketing director of White-Mark Entertainment and has led marketing initiatives for the annual Irie Jamboree event since its 2003 launch.  With nearly two decades of multi-media experience leading all facets of partner activation and integration across various platforms, Jean-Paul is a key playmaker and strategist for some of the biggest sporting events and awards shows, driving millions of dollars in advertising and sponsorship revenue.

Commenting on White-Mark Entertainment’s key role with the 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival, Jean-Paul noted, “We are very proud to partner with this year’s dynamic Caribbean Fever Music Festival and look forward to delivering a memorable three-day experience for sponsors and guests at the renowned Barclays Center.”

Haitian-born Guerrier, who serves as principal and executive creative director of White-Mark Entertainment, has over a decade of experience helping businesses design, create and implement creative solutions that increase their presence in the marketplace.  As founder of Icon Graphix, Guerrier has a strong track record of working with diverse clients and exceeding their marketing and sales objectives.

“It is very exciting to join creative forces with this year’s Caribbean Fever Music Festival, which will be a non-stop weekend of spectacular music, culture and entertainment,” stated Guerrier.

The 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival and Irie Jamboree co-production will feature a stellar lineup of legendary reggae, dancehall and soca artists across the Caribbean Diaspora, as well as several other genres of music.  Notably, one of the three nights will showcase R&B music with iconic performers spanning the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Previous Irie Jamboree musical acts have included:  Admiral Bailey; Anthony B; Beenieman; Buju Banton; Baby Cham alongside hip-hop pioneers KRS-One, Doug E Fresh, Chubb Rock, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane and Black Sheep; Da’Ville; Macka Diamond; Etana; Beres Hammond; Morgan Heritage; Queen Ifrica; Gregory Isaacs; Barrington Levy; Luciano; Beenie Man; Elephant Man; Jr. Gong Marley; Stephen Marley; Wayne Marshall; Tony Matterhorn; Freddie McGregor; Tanto Metro & Devonte; Gramps Morgan; Munga; Frankie Paul; Sean Paul; Tarrus Riley; Lady Saw; Shabba; Sizzla; Richie Spice; Tanya Stephens; Coco Tea; Mr. Vegas; Wayne Wonder; and Yellowman, among others.

Production of the Caribbean Fever Music Festival weekend is led by a management team of prominent media and entertainment industry insiders: Robert Clarke, executive director and founder, Irie Jam Media Group; Dahved Levy, executive director, Devonish Productions and founder of Caribbean Fever Music Festival; and Steven Williams, executive director and founder, Irie Jamboree.
For additional event information and sponsorship opportunities for the 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival, contact Blandine Jean-Paul, principal and executive marketing director, White-Mark Entertainment, at 516-984-6286 or via email at info@white-markentertainment.com

ABOUT WHITE-MARK ENTERTAINMENT (WME)

White-Mark Entertainment (WME) is a new entertainment marketing company that leverages nearly three decades of unparalleled industry experience among its founding partners.  Founded in 2012, White-Mark Entertainment’s mission is to change the landscape for multicultural events and help more brands maximize their reach and target affluent Caribbean immigrants, Caribbean-Americans and Hispanics. For more information, regarding White-Mark Entertainment and its services, please contact info@white-markentertainment.com

ABOUT CARIBBEAN FEVER MUSIC FESTIVAL AND IRIE JAMBOREE

This year, the annual Irie Jamboree reggae festival is presented as part of the Caribbean Fever Music Festival at a new home, the Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn. The festival will take place over three days (Friday August 30 – Sunday, September 1, 2013). The event will transform the Barclays Center into an explosion of Caribbean cultures such as cuisine, fashion, reggae wear, music products, beverage, books, magazines, flags and other assorted Caribbean paraphernalia will be on display and on sale. One of the three nights will be dedicated to R&B music and will feature some of the most accomplished stars from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s era. The festival is expected to be a media feeding frenzy for the international music press, with coverage expected from journalists from Japan, Europe, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, and various states across the USA.

May 20^th, 2013

News Release

Ben Cohen, Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, INC.

CaribPR Wire, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Mon. May 20, 2013: The 3^rd annual Caribbean Investment Forum, (CIF), takes place on June 10^th and 11^th, 2013 with an exciting line up of local, regional and international speakers, headlining with Ben Cohen, Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, INC.

Ben is the part of the duo which has helped to build a store-front venture into a $300 million ice-cream empire by making social responsibility and creative management, strengths instead of weaknesses. His business plan has been featured in his 2007 book “Values-Driven Business: How to Change the World, Make Money, and Have Fun” and explores the road map for starting a successful business. Ben has maintained that successful businesses can be environmentally and socially conscious and uses real-life examples in his book to show how “triple bottom line” practices-profits, people and planet, have helped businesses thrive.

The Ben & Jerry’s community –oriented approach to business where by good will, good times and good ice-cream are shared, will come to life at CIF 2013. Today a model for business success Ben and Jerry have been recognized for fostering their company’s commitment to social responsibility.

Ben’s presentation will deliver a rousing tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit, full of anecdotes and focusing on the importance of bringing social responsibility to the business world.

Ben Cohen will speak at the Opening Plenary of the Caribbean Investment Forum on June 10th, 2013, with a presentation titled: “Ben & Jerry’s Homemade – A Radical Business Philosophy,” and on Tuesday June 11th, 2013, he will share “The Ben & Jerry’s Story.”

Caribbean Investment Forum is an initiative of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment (MTII) and presented by invesTT, the investment promotion agency of Trinidad and Tobago. CIF takes place on June 10th and 11th 2013 at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre and will feature sessions on industries targeted for growth inclusive of Maritime, Agribusiness, Tourism, Business Process Outsourcing, ICT, Creative Industries and Energy.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Trade, Industry & Investment Minister, Vasant Bharath, second from right, chats with (l to r): President of InvesTT , Kelvin Mahabir,; TIC Chairman, Anthony Aboud, and Managing Director Full Circle Animation, Jason Lindsay, during the formal launch of the Caribbean Investment Forum held at the Hyatt Hotel on May 14, 2013. (PHOTO: SHIRLEY BAHADUR)

CaribPR Wire, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Tues. May 14, 2013: The 3^rd annual Caribbean Investment Forum, (CIF), an initiative of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, (MTII), and presented by invesTT, was launched today at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port of Spain. CIF 2013 will take place on June 10^th and 11^th at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre and is expected to deliver two impactful days of high level discussions on investment opportunities in the Caribbean.

Emphasizing the forum’s mandate to attract potential investors was feature speaker Senator the Honourable Vasant Bharath, Minister of Trade, Industry & Investment. The Honourable Minister noted that meticulous planning was involved in the staging of CIF 2013 with the aim to not only bring investors to Trinidad and Tobago but to keep these investors here.

According to Mr. Kelvin Mahabir, president of invesTT, “As a platform for face to face discussion, Caribbean businessmen and industry experts have the opportunity to showcase the competitive advantages that their businesses and countries have to offer to the potential investor. It is an avenue for direct engagement of international counterparts and a direct link to new projects and investment profiles.”

CIF 2013 will build on the success of last year’s forum which welcomed more than 500 business persons and over 60 international, local and regional speakers to Trinidad and Tobago in an effort to develop industries with the potential for growth.

The targeted industries which will be the focus of parallel and plenary sessions at CIF 2013 include Maritime, Agribusiness, Tourism, Business Process Outsourcing, ICT, Creative Industries and Energy. The presentations will surround the 2013 theme: “Caribbean Competitiveness- The nexus of Innovation & Entrepreneurship” and will provide real and imminent examples of opportunities for development and growth. Leading the cadre of international speakers will be Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry Homemade Inc. who will present on successful business models.

The launch also served as an opportunity to highlight successful outcomes of CIF 2012, with a presentation by Mr. Jason Lindsay, Managing Director of Full Circle Animation. The animation sub-sector of the Creative Industries has benefited from the CIF model and is poised for further growth with the announcement of an animation incubator project which was recently established. This seeks to develop pilot projects of independent animators and the animation industry within Trinidad and Tobago and will be elaborated further at CIF 2013 during the parallel session on the Film Industry.

Foreign participation and potential investors are expected from the US, CARICOM, Canada, UK, Poland, United Emirates, India, Korea, Ghana, South Africa, and in Latin America-Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

Caribbean Investment Forum is the first event in a packed week of business activity in Trinidad and Tobago, and is followed by the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC). CIF 2013 is presented by invesTT, Trinidad and Tobago’s investment promotion agency.

NEW ORLEANS, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG), a leading provider of insurance and financial services throughout the Americas, today announced financial results for the full year ending December 31, 2012.

Revenues grew 19 percent to $560 million, while pre-tax operating earnings were down 27 percent to close the year at $25.6 million as a result of one-time acquisition-related charges of $19 million.  Excluding these charges pre-tax operating income increased by 13 percent.  Revenue gains were primarily attributable to growth in the Latin American markets where PALIG operates and the acquisition of MetLife Algico/Alico assets in the Caribbean, Panama and Costa Rica.   Net income for the year was $46 million compared to $32 million in 2011, reflecting strong operating results in all segments and one-time adjustments such as increased acquisition expenses, investment gains and the impact of M&A activity during the year.

“This was a milestone year for Pan-American Life and we’re beginning 2013 in an excellent financial position,” said Jose S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group. “This year we’ve been successful in continuing to execute our core strategy by expanding our operations in growth markets, while maintaining conservative financial management and a prudent risk profile.  Our improved revenue and operating earnings reflect our continued focus on execution exemplified by the acquisition of certain MetLife operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, the initial realization of value in markets such as Costa Rica and our continued investment in promising opportunities, such as Mexico and the Private Client Major Medical business.”

In addition to the MetLife acquisition and the opening of Pan-American Life’s Mexico office, the company also launched several new products in 2012, including LifeAccess, a competitive universal life product in Latin America and PanaBridge Advantage in the United States to capitalize on the supplementary health insurance market.

During the last six months of 2012, PALIG closed its acquisition on select businesses and assets from MetLife’s Alico/Algico units in the Caribbean, Panama and Costa Rica, providing the company with additional scale in its life and health segments and expansion into 13 new markets.  Operating results of MetLife businesses acquired by PALIG are included in the company’s 2012 consolidated financial statements.  2013 financial statements will reflect full year impact of these operations.

“The MetLife acquisition advances Pan-American Life Insurance Group’s strategy to become one of the leading life and health insurance providers in the Americas,” added Mr. Suquet. “This purchase enhances PALIG’s financial strength and expands our size and geographic footprint, and makes our high quality services available to customers in the Caribbean.”

“The acquisition adds 36 percent to our asset base, which now stands at more than $3 billion, increases our statutory gross earned premium by 42 percent to more than $685 million, more than doubles the number of countries in which we offer products to 22, and increase the number of insured lives by 54 percent to more than 1 million,” said Mr. Suquet. “The added scale, financial strength, depth of product offerings and added expertise offers PALIG the opportunity to continue to meet our growth objectives and become the preferred provider in all the markets in which we compete.”

PALIG’s financial strength and stability continue to be recognized within the industry. Earlier in 2012, Fitch Ratings and A.M Best reaffirmed Pan-American Life’s ratings with ‘A’ Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating and Stable Outlook.

2012 financial and sales highlights follow:

2012 Financial Highlights

• Total Assets: $3.0 billion
• Total Equity: $600 million
• Net Income: $46 million
• Total Revenues: $560 million

2012 Sales Highlights

• Overall sales in 2012 increased 15 percent
• Global Life showed a 9 percent increase
• International Group increased 28 percent
• Domestic Markets showed a 7 percent increase

About Pan-American Life

The Pan-American Life Insurance Group is a leading provider of insurance and financial services throughout the Americas. New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Company, the Group’s flagship member, has been delivering trusted financial services since 1911, employing more than 1,300 worldwide, providing top-rated life and health insurance, employee benefits and financial services in 47 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Group’s member companies offer individual and/or group life and health insurance throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The Group has branches and affiliates in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and 15 Caribbean markets, including Barbados, Cayman Islands, Curacao and Trinidad and Tobago. For more information, visit the Pan-American Life Web site at palig.com.

Anthony Eterno, of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Caribbean Affairs, Western Hemisphere division, will attend the June 5^th forum in New York City and speak on the US’ views on trade and investment in the Caribbean.

Eterno is a 15-year veteran diplomat with the Department who has worked in the Caribbean for close to two years and whose expertise includes economic affairs.

Invest Caribbean Now is organized annually by The Caribbean Tourism Organization and digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications, during Caribbean Week in New York. This year it is being presented by marquee sponsor, Avalon Partners in conjunction with The Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency and One Caribbean Television.

This year the event is set for the Radisson Martinique hotel in New York City from 7:30- to 11:30 a.m. and will be preceded by an invitation only reception at The Yale Club on June 4^th.

Other speakers will include Alan Lowenstein of Wedgewood Investment Group; Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing; Finance Minister of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Washington Misick and panellists on Development Tourism as well as on China and the Caribbean.

Government attendees will include Governor of the US Virgin Islands, John Percy de Jongh, Jr; Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes; Chairman of the CTO and Commissioner of Tourism For the USVI, Beverly Nicholson Doty; Minister of Tourism & International Transport, International Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs St. Kitts, Ricky Skerritt; Lorne Theophilus, Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, St. Lucia; Stephen Cadiz, Minister of Tourism, Trinidad &  Tobago; Orville London, Sec. of the House of Assembly, Tobago; Assemblyman Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary, Division of Tourism and Transportation – Tobago and Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley. Private sector reps will come from JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Nomura, CIBC World Capital, Ibis Investments, Aegis Capital, Portfolio Credit Management Limited, DHL, Marriott International, Spackman Capital, the Lugano Group, Damoola, One Caribbean Television, Avalon Partners, Digicel, TCI and Scotiabank TCI.

Only a few tickets at $185 each are still available for the June 5th forum at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e6oz57kp0f880fbe

Supplementary information on the event can be found on the event’s pages on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/invest.caribbean and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib

West Indies Cricketer, Kieran Powell.

CaribPR, LONDON, England, Mon. May 13, 2013: West Indies opening batsman, Kieran Powell, has sealed a deal with the ultra-exclusive Pinneys Plantation Resort, in the Caribbean island of Nevis.

Powell, the dashing cricketer recently described in global media reports as “enigmatic,” will partner with a prominent UK-based group of companies, who are set to develop Pinneys.

The deal comes on the heels of a successful ad campaign featuring Powell and a leading national Bank, which is set to air later this month, with the charismatic player also recently re-signing a two year deal with his long-term sponsor, Indian cricketing gear giant, Sareen Sports.

The gifted left-handed batsman, a former student of the exclusive Millfield school in England, is a star undeniably on the rise.

He has even stirred interest from Bollywood film producers out in India, owing to his model good-looks and eloquent mannerisms.

This, despite an unfortunate blow, that resulted in surgery to the finger of the stylish 23-year-old left-handed batsman two weeks ago, following an injury acquired during a regional match in early April, which has left him out of contention for the 2013 West Indies Champions Trophy squad that will compete in England next month, much to his disappointment.

Powell, however, says he is determined to get back to blistering form quickly and is concentrating hard on becoming fully fit in time for the West Indies’ forthcoming Tri-Nation Tournament against India and Sri Lanka, in late June.

One of the most successful cricketers to emerge out of his native island of Nevis, he made his Test debut against India in 2011 and scored two centuries in a single match during the Test series against Bangladesh in November of last year to become only the first West Indian player since Brian Lara, and the ninth West Indian player in history, to achieve the feat.

Powell has displayed elegance, confidence and maturity beyond his years, which saw him kick off his recent tour of Australia with a sensational knock of 83 (his highest ODI score to-date) during the West Indies v Australia ODI series, in February this year.

But it’s not all about chasing runs and bearing the fruits of his on-field success for this exciting young cricketer. Kieran Powell is also both eager and willing to give back to the game, to his fans, and to the community.

Following the ODI match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, (SCG), during the same tour, Powell took time out to meet and greet cricket fan Callum, (pictured), an 11-year-old patient from Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. The personal invitation from the international star and his Manager for Callum to attend the SCG game was an inspiring experience for the youngster, who is in remission from cancer and had just been through hip replacement surgery.

PHOTO CAPTION: Powell recently took time out to meet and greet cricket fan Callum, (pictured), an 11-year-old patient from Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick.

Powell also recently arranged for a cheque to be presented to the family of former West Indies cricketer and his Leeward Islands teammate, Runako Morton, who was tragically killed in a car crash in 2012.

Despite the buzz surrounding his incredible ability, the end-focus has remained firmly unchanged for the popular batsman. As the world watches in anticipation, the next steps of an exceptionally talented international cricketer, Kieran Powell remains humble, focused, committed and diligent about perfecting his craft and his first love; playing cricket and representing the West Indies.

Sponsors, advertisers, media, international leagues and tournaments seeking partnerships with, or further information on Powell, are urged to contact his London-based Manager, Emma Everett via management@officialkieranpowell.com

Persons who lost money from investments in companies operated by David A. Smith, doing business as Overseas Locket International Corporation (”OLINT”), and related companies may be eligible to receive compensation from the United States Government.

Smith claimed that the companies were private investment clubs that purportedly traded in foreign currency on investors’ behalf. Smith made false and fraudulent statements indicating that members could expect high returns on their investment with low risk to principal. Rather than investing the funds as promised, Smith used them for personal gain and paid returns using new investors’ money, in a classic Ponzi scheme.

Smith was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in September 2011 on multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering, in the case of United States v. David A. Smith, No. 6:10-cr-232-35DAB (M.D. Fla.). As part of his criminal sentence, Smith was ordered to forfeit assets seized by federal authorities.

The forfeited funds will be returned to victims of the scheme through a process called Remission. To be considered for Remission, a Petition for Remission Form must be submitted to the Remission Administrator. A copy of the Petition Form can be obtained from the Remission Administrator’s website: www.gilardi.com/DSmithRemissionFund. The Petition Form must include evidence of relevant investments and returns, including copies of all required supporting documentation.

Persons needing assistance in completing the Petition Form or with questions about the Remission Fund may call 1-877-281-4446; or send an email to classact@gilardi.com; or visit the Remission website at www.gilardi.com/DSmithRemissionFund.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 3, 2013: The deadline for exhibitors and advertisers to sign up for the Avalon Invest Caribbean Now 2013 forum is drawing to a close and so is the opportunity to reach and do business with almost a dozen Caribbean governments, investors and high net worth delegates.

Invest Caribbean Now, (ICN), which is presented annually by The Caribbean Tourism Organization, (CTO), and digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications during Caribbean Week in New York and Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States, is set for June 5^th from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Radisson Martinique Hotel, 49 West 32 Street in New York City. An invitation only VIP reception at The Yale Club, presented by The Government of The Turks & Caicos Islands, will precede the event on June 4th.

The definitive Caribbean investment forum, will feature a United Nations-type “general assembly” of ministers from about a dozen nations from the Caribbean, including a delegation from the Turks & Caicos Islands led by Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing Finance Minister and Washington Misick; Minister of Tourism & International Transport, International Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs St. Kitts, Ricky Skerritt; Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes; Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, St. Lucia, Lorne Theophilus; Chairman of the CTO and Commissioner of Tourism for the USVI, Beverly Nicholson Doty and Assemblyman Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary, Division of Tourism and Transportation of Tobago, among others.

Only six exhibitor table spots are available and four ad spots remain in the 2013 Program Directory. Interested companies can email Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com before May 7^th to sign up or get more information at http://investcaribbeannow.com/partnership-options/

Speakers will include Alan Loewenstein of Wedgewood Capital; Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing and Minister Washington Misick of the Turks & Caicos Islands; Sun Guoxiang, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in New York City; Chair of the CTO, Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and One Caribbean Television, Ganesh Ramanathan of Hard Beat Communications, and Grace Lappin of Avalon Partners.

Tickets for the June 5th forum are now $185 and only a few remain at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e6oz57kp0f880fbe

Invest Caribbean Now is the most promoted event on the Caribbean Week in New York calendar, with over 200 media placements to date in the US, Caribbean and Latin American media and advertising via 30 media partners – on television, on radio and the web.

ICN 2013 is made possible with sponsorship dollars from marquee sponsor Avalon Partners, gold and reception sponsor, The Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands; and bronze sponsor, One Caribbean Television.

CaribPR Wire, PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Weds. May 1, 2013: Latin American buyer attendance at The Trade & Investment Convention is on the upswing for 2013, as Argentina, Brazil and the Dominican Republic have made commitments to bring delegations from leading businesses from their countries to conduct trade on the showroom floor.

Buyers, (businesses seeking suppliers of goods and services from exhibitors on the tradeshow floor), are also registered from Poland, Panama, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Belize, Canada, the United States of America, Curaçao, the UK, Saint Maarten, Peru, Venezuela and as far afield as the United Arab Emirates.

Representatives from these countries will include distributors, exporters, importers, manufacturers and service providers interested in several local sectors such as agriculture, construction, energy, paper and printing, packing and labeling and food and beverage.

According to Anthony Aboud, Executive Chairman of TIC: “TIC has always received tremendous support from our local manufacturers and businesses and so it is even more rewarding to know our foreign counterparts understand that for anyone serious about doing business in T&T, TIC is the place to be.”

Hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, the Trade & Investment Convention, (TIC), will celebrate its Fourteenth Anniversary from June 12th – 15th, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

One of the largest and most influential business-to-business events in the region, TIC is focused on business networking and trade, and includes a tradeshow, business to business matchmaking, a business education programme and multiple networking events.

TIC is sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, First Citizens and the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago.

For more information on TIC please contact:

Ms. Natasha Brown

Email: ticbuyers@ttma.com

Tel: (868) 675-8862 ext. 227

Fax: (868) 675-9000

Jamaican-Born Jazz Great, Monty Alexander. (Photo credit: A. Nahigian)

CaribPR, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 1, 2013: Birdland Jazz Club will be springing to life this May, as Grammy-nominated artist Monty Alexander and his Grammy-nominated band, The Harlem Kingston Express, returns with their foot-tapping, hip swinging Caribbean infused jazz.

The Jamaican-born, Caribbean-raised jazz great, who recently released his new album and entered his 51^st year as a musician, will play New York’s premier live music venue, Birdland, at 315 West 44th Street in New York City, from May 7^th to 11^th at 8:30 and 11 p.m. nightly.

The performance comes as Alexander’s new album release “Uplift 2” on the JLP label, sits at #4 on the Jazz charts. Tickets for Birdland are $30-40 and can be obtained by logging on here or to http://www.birdlandjazz.com/event/243141-monty-alexander-harlem-new-york/

“I look forward to having another opportunity to play with my ensemble, Harlem-Kingston Express, in one of the finest music venues in the world – Birdland – for my long time faithful friends, as well as new friends who may visit with us,” said Alexander. “I and my colleagues will be celebrating our One Love experience as well as the Joy of Life.”

The musician, whose 50^th anniversary album, “Harlem-Kingston Express: Live!” was nominated for a Reggae Grammy and won rave reviews from The Wall Street Journal, The London Evening Standard and Jazz Times among dozens of other media houses, is fresh from performances  at the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland and Boston’s legendary Scullers Jazz Club.

Jamaica’s Commander of Distinction and ‘Luminary Award’ 2012 recipient, will next head to the nature isle of Dominica for the first time, where he will headline the increasingly popular, Dominica Jazz ‘n Creole Festival on May 19^th at the Cabrits National Park.

Following his Dominica debut, Alexander, will again join his Harlem Kingston Express to bring his brand of jiving jazz, to Washington, D.C.’s popular Blues Alley from June 20th to 23^rd and Pittsburgh, PA on June 28^th at the South Park Band Shell.

He and his band will wrap up the first half of 2013 in Rochester, NY with a scintillating performance at the Rochester International Jazz Festival on June 29th. For more see http://www.rochesterjazz.com/artist_lineup/?artist_id=934.

Monty’s Other 2013 Performance Dates:

Dominica, W.I. – Dominica Jazz ‘n Creole Festival – May 19^th.

Washington, D.C. – Blues Alley – June 20^th to 23^rd.

Pittsburgh, PA – South Park Band Shell – June 28^th.

Rochester, NY – Rochester International Jazz Festival – June 29^th.

About Monty Alexander

Over his stellar career, Alexander, whose influence combines that of Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris and Nat “King” Cole, has performed with international stars including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Barbara Hendricks, Bill Cosby, Bobby McFerrin, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.

In fact, it was Sinatra and his best friend Jilly Rizzo who hired Alexander after he moved to the United States in 1961 at the age of 17.  And it was at Jilly’s famed New York City nightclub that this Jamaican teen caught the ears of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Milt “Bags” Jackson.

Bags introduced him to the great bassist Ray Brown, and the rest as they say, is history, including Alexander’s 1976 Montreux (Switzerland) Jazz Festival performance with drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist John Clayton, which has become one of the most celebrated live recordings in contemporary jazz.

For more on the Caribbean’s greatest jazz pianist and his music visit www.montyalexander.com.