COLDWELL BANKER JAMAICA REALTY

Jamaica’s Dustin Brown has no coach, no extra money, no major financial backing.  He also had no experience in front of huge crowds, but he does now, after advancing to Round 2 and playing Britain’s Andy Murray at the US Open.

The 26-year-old German-born player won his first Grand Slam match on Wednesday, ousting Spain’s Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

Brown, ranked 123rd, has risen nearly 300 spots in the world rankings as a low-budget player.  “The last year has been a very good year for me, ranked maybe 400-something to inside the top 100 and that with limited support from federations,” he said.  “If I get financial backing and a coach traveling with me, we’ll just see what happens. Either way I think there’s definitely much more to come.”

By winning on Wednesday, Brown became the first Jamaican to win a match at the Open in 40 years. He’s also the first Jamaican to crack the world’s top 100.

Brown pays his own travel and expenses to events, saying, “If you lose first round, you could go out with a minus.”  But he doesn’t envy Murray’s riches, explaining he has a freedom that comes with not being beholden to sponsors’ desires.

Brown kept the 1st and 2nd sets close, 5-7 and 3-6, but Murray’s experience and speed in returning closed out the match in the 3rd set, 0-6.  He enjoyed the vocal support of Jamaican fans during both matches.

With the hurricane season well underway here in the Caribbean, a few thoughts at preventative care and 1st-line reaction seem timely.

Homeowners should begin their disaster preparations by developing a plan. A good plan includes not only an emergency preparedness kit, with important papers, food and water, and extra blankets and flashlights, but also a well-thought out plan for how family members will evacuate and communicate—making sure that everyone in the family is familiar with the plan and knows what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.

Homeowners who live in high-risk areas should have a “go-bag” ready in case they need to leave quickly; including a change of clothing, insurance policy and agent contact information, and toiletries as well as money, an evacuation route and a place to stay.  If you rent your property, it is only common sense and considerate to leave a hurricane preparedness information packet for your guests.

It’s smart to catalog all of your possessions using a digital camcorder or camera and move expensive items to a higher location such as a second floor or attic.  This is also true if you are an absentee owner and leave your own possessions in an empty or rental property.

Make sure your home is properly insured against natural disasters, since many plans don’t cover earthquakes, hurricanes and floods—especially in high risk areas—and consider supplemental disaster insurance policies that cover losses from specific catastrophes that traditional policies don’t cover. Homeowners should first review their existing policy to determine what’s covered since supplemental plans can cost a few hundred dollars to several thousand each year depending on the type of disaster and the home’s location, size and type, and then determine their area’s disaster risk.  If you are a condo owner, then be sure you know what the association policy covers and what is left to you.

In the event of a hurricane, reinforce doors and windows against strong winds. Hurricane film is an inexpensive, clear plastic film that keeps glass shards from becoming dangerous missiles and can be left in place year-round, however it can’t prevent heavy winds from blowing in the entire window frame. Another less expensive alternative is plywood; its downside is that it’s temporary and is often put up at the last minute when a hurricane is approaching. An easier but more expensive alternative is roll-up or accordion-style storm shutters that are permanently attached to a house. The most expensive option may be high-impact windows, made of two panes of tempered glass separated by a plastic film. They are always in place and since they look like standard windows, they don’t affect a home’s appearance.  Many homes in the Caribbean do have hurricane shutters.  Know what you have available.

Preventative maintenance can also lessen property damage.  Leaky roofs and foundation cracks can let water into a home more readily and weaken the structure, so it’s important to make repairs quickly. It’s also good to clear gutters and drains, invest in a battery-powered sump pump, and prevent sewage backup by installing a check valve, which allows waste to only flow one way. It’s also smart to catalog all of your possessions using a digital camcorder or camera and move expensive items to a higher location such as a second floor or attic.

If flood waters do make their way into a home, be proactive within the first 24 hours. Before entering the home, check for any visible structural damage. Turn off all water and electrical sources, even if the power isn’t currently operational. Before making repairs or removing any water, fully document the damage by taking photos or video and notify your insurer as soon as possible. Wear waders or waterproof boots and rubber gloves because water could be contaminated by sewage or household chemicals. After the insurer has approved removing the water, use a sump pump or wet vac, open doors and windows, and remove wet contents, including carpeting and bedding, to mitigate mold damage.

For more information, visit www.houselogic.com.

(resource:  RISMedia.com)

The Jamaica Tourist Board and JetBlue launched the All You Can Jet Pass  together with an all-inclusive Jamaica trip giveaway. KISS 108, Boston’s number-one hit music station, announced a contest for which the prize is an all-inclusive four-day/three-night vacation for two with accommodations at Sunset Resorts’ Sunset Beach Resort, Spa & Waterpark in Montego Bay, plus two All You Can Jet Passes from JetBlue.

John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “JetBlue’s new All You Can Jet Pass is a major innovation in the travel industry,” he said. “With the carrier’s continually growing service to both Montego Bay and Kingston, this promotion is a perfect fit for the Jamaica Tourist Board, and we’re excited to join JetBlue in this venture.”

The All You Can Jet Passes each provide unlimited air travel for one person on JetBlue-operated flights within the JetBlue route network. Bookings must be made between August 23 and October 3 for travel between September 7 and October 6, 2010.

Readers of Lonely Planet Magazine and its web site voted Reggae on the Beach, held on Jamaica, as the Greatest Cultural Experience.  More than 3,000 voted in the survey, described by Lonely Planet as awards that celebrate the experience that make us travel.

The award was just announced this month. Reggae on the Beach placed first, ahead of ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, salsa dancing in Havana, opera in Italy, and authentic blues in Chicago.

Richard Koss, Lonely Planet author, offered his interpretation of Reggae on the Beach as a night on the Black Sand Beach, an isolated cove about a half an hour walk from River Lodge, West of Robin’s Bay in St. Mary. Koss described lying in a hammock at the Natural Vibes bar overlooking the sea with a beer in hand and reggae music drowning out the pounding of the waves as unbelievably soothing.

Reggae music is an ingrained part of the Jamaican culture.  It is difficult to go anywhere on the island and not find a small local band, sound system or bar playing this music.

Jamaica is the top-ranked Caribbean nation to live in terms of education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and political environment, according to Newsweek magazine. 

The magazine compiled metrics across those five categories, which ranked the island 47th, three places above Cuba, among 100 countries surveyed.

Newsweek’s first-ever Best Countries special issue attempted to answer the question, “…if you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous, and upwardly mobile life?”

(resource:  JamaicaObserver.com)

As reported in the JamaicaObserver, “MEDSERV Jamaica Limited on Thursday launched its air ambulance service for the island, operating under the brand JamaicaMed, with junior industry minister Michael Stern saying that the new service will allow access to affordable air ambulance service to just about anyone.

“‘Jamaicans can access flexible plans that provide dedicated medical airplane transport to an appropriate health-care facility overseas in the event that the required medical care is not available on the island,’ Stern said.

“The minister added that services would be provided at substantially discounted rates based on the business links of the investment partners MedicaView International and Emergency Medical Services International.”

Tammy Boise, one of the stakeholders of the venture, explained their vision.  “What we plan to do is make Jamaica a hub, and whatever treatment you can’t get in Jamaica then we will fly persons there. We have a wide network of hospitals all over that we fly persons to depending on what that individual treatment should be,” she said.

Stern added, “MedicaView brings to Jamaica a wealth of experience in establishing destination health-care centres that could leverage Jamaica’s central location, its current and improving health-care system and its outstanding hospitality industry to position Jamaica as a health tourist destination.”

(resource:  JamaicaObserver.com)

Sweet Patootee is an independent media production company, which specializes in producing history documentaries for television.

Their reputation for research and writing reveals how diversity and citizenship issues have played a defining role in shaping British history and culture. Their projects build national and international networks to bring neglected historical sources into the public domain, and the cornerstones of their approach are oral testimony and archive retrieval.

Sweet Patootee is currently working on a 1937-1948 Caribbean reminiscences project. As part of their approach they are searching for American contributors. They would like to make contact with American women and men/and or their relatives, who would contribute reminiscences of the Caribbean from 1937-1948 (whether as civilians or as members of the armed forces).

Contact information is as follows:
Rebecca Goldstone
Sweet Patootee
Tel/Fax; 01144 207 686 5101
Web: www.sweetpatootee.co.uk

The Jamaican government, as part of efforts to boost the tourism sector and grow revenues, has unveiled a new incentive program – the Tourism Industry Refurbishing Programme (TIRP) that is expected to further improve the operations and competitiveness of tourism entities.

With tourism being one of the island’s leading growth sectors, the introduction of the TIRP is expected to encourage more tourism entities to refurbish their properties more often, thereby creating more employment and revenues for the government through customs duties and other consumption taxes. It will also enhance the linkages between the tourism industry and the local manufacturing and furnishing sector.

Under this new initiative tourism entities which are licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board and are tax compliant will be allowed a concessionary import duty rate of 10 percent on a specified list of items for the refurbishment of their properties.

Importantly, those entities which opt to purchase locally will be given a 15 percent Income Tax Credit on the total value of the local purchases.

However, they will still be required to pay the applicable General Consumption Tax, Bureau of Standards Fee, Environmental Levy and Customs User Fee.

The TIRP will be available to hotels, villas, guest houses and apartments, attractions and water sport operators which have been in operation for at least five years. The offer is only available to tourism entities and therefore does not extend to importers and suppliers. Also, tourism entities which are currently enjoying benefits under existing or similar programmes will not be eligible to benefit from the TIRP.

(resource:  SFLCN.com)

Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty announces the July release of its revamped real estate magazine, KÚYA.

According to Andrew Issa, Broker, “Two years ago we took a chance and published our first magazine of which over 10,000 copies were distributed. Based on positive feedback from readers, we’ve created an exciting new look magazine called KÚYA, that showcases much more of our beautiful island. We’ve added more editorial content, lifestyle and fashion features and of course, more listings of the fantastic properties available in Jamaica.”

The name KÚYA is a play on “cooyah” which means “look here”. “We’ve put exceptional resources in place to make KUYA a magazine that will make every one sit up and take notice,” says Issa.

KUYA will be distributed to individuals and prominent business locations in Jamaica, USA, UK and Canada.For your FREE copy, email your name, mailing address and contact number to sales@cbjamaica.com. After the July release, an online version of KÚYA will be available at Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty’s web site www.cbjamaica.com.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced its expansion in the Caribbean with the opening of the 303-room-and-suite Wyndham Kingston, Jamaica.  Just ten miles from Jamaica’s Norman Manley International Airport, the Wyndham Kingston Jamaica is located in the heart of the capital city’s financial and diplomatic district on the southern coast, making it an ideal home base for business and leisure travelers.

The Wyndham Kingston Jamaica will undergo extensive renovations of the hotel’s public spaces and guest rooms to further enhance the guest experience and meet Wyndham standards.  The hotel is situated on 7.5 acres overlooking Emancipation Park and is within close proximity to many of the area’s top attractions, including championship golf courses, the National Gallery, the Bob Marley Museum and Castleton Botanical Gardens, located on the banks of the Wag Water River.

Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by calling (800) WYNDHAM — (800) 996-3426 — or visitingwww.wyndham.com.