HOLNESS… Jamaica ought to be seen as the center of the Caribbean—

PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says that his Jamaica Labor Party Government plans to restore tourism in Kingston in a big way.

“We do have tourism (in Kingston) now. People do come, but we want to make it a big thing,” Holness told the large crowd attending Wednesday night’s launch of the Peter Tosh Museum at the Pulse Centre, Trafalgar Road, Kingston.

Jamaica, said the prime minister, ought to be seen as the centre of the Caribbean, “not just geographically”, but as the centre for culture and lifestyle and for innovation and creativity.

“When we put up institutions like these we are stamping our authority on this position,” he added.

 He said that he has asked Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett to support the museum because it will eventually support the Government’s tourism aims for the city.
Kingsley Cooper
Kingsley Cooper

He praised Pulse’s chairman, Kingsley Cooper for seeing fit to use his company’s funds and the contribution of its staff and consulting experts to invest in the establishment of the Peter Tosh Museum.

“You have given something of immeasurable value to the country and the Government endorses this initiative,” Holness said.

In June this year, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job creation, Daryl Vaz, announced that the Development Bank of Jamaica was reviewing proposals for the development of Kingston as a cruise ship destination.

Kingston
Kingston

He said that there were plans to make downtown Kingston a destination — including the construction of a cruise ship pier and the revitalization and restoration of downtown Kingston area and other waterfront areas — of world-class standard, along with existing places of interest, to attract cruise ship lines.

A number of current and former members of the Jamaican Cabinet attended the launch of the Pulse event, which was also addressed by . Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange; as well as former Cabinet ministers Lisa Hanna, Dr Wykeham McNeill and Dr Omar Davies.

Olivia "Babsy" Grange
Olivia “Babsy” Grange

Members of Tosh’s family, including his youngest daughter, Niambe McIntosh — who was only five years old when he died — and his former female partner, Marlene Brown, also spoke at the event.

Tosh, a major reggae star, was a founding member of the famous Wailers singing group which also included reggae icon Bob Marley and Bunny “Wailer” Livingstone.

Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh
Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh

He was killed by robbers at his home in Barbican, St Andrew, in September 1987. Tosh, who was born in Westmoreland on October 19, 1944, had hits that included

Get Up Stand Up (For Your Rights)400 years and I’m the Toughest.

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