- PHOTO BY JANET SILVERA
The Air Jamaica crew literally invaded Puerto Rico's Old San Juan city. Showing off the latest dance moves at the Caribbean Marketplace farewell party on Tuesday night are (from left) Joan Boxer, regional sales manager based in Miami, Campbell Rudder, regional director of sales, north-east, and Claire Robinson, regional sales manager, mid-Atlantic region.
Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
JUST WHEN the Jamaican party fanatics thought the foreplay by the Puerto Rican Tourism Authority was not about to cause any arousal, the Hispanics came through - creating the perfect climax for the 'islanders'.
Foreplay for the Puerto Ricans meant a satiating oasis of gastronomic delights set in the historic city of Old San Juan, while a farewell party at Caribbean Marketplace 2006 for the Jamaicans said, 'you must outdo Shaggy's 2005 performance at Rose Hall Great House in order for us to go back home and say it was good.'
On Tuesday night, the Puerto Rican Tourism Authority may not have done that, but came pretty close to claiming several stripes at the final night function of the tourism marketing event.
As early as 7:30 p.m., Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley's Welcome to Jamrock blared from the speakers of the DJ in the venue called La Arcada, a precursor of the newly-adopted Reggaeton.
REGGAETON
Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s.
This music blends Jamaican influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba and plena, as well as that of hip hop, and has empowered the Spanish Caribbean youth, specifically those of Puerto Rico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic and the Latino communities in the United States, with a musical genre as a voice.
To another section of the venue the dominant rhythm of the islands - salsa - shook one of the two impressive stages, as musicians alternated giving the best of Puerto Rico.
As fantastic as the salsa, meringue and orchestral techniques were, the only thing that could satisfy the appetite of the Jamaicans was anything with the slightest resemblance of reggae.
'YARD' VIBES
Creating their own vibes, the 'yardies', led by SandCastles Ocho Rios' Winsome Chambers, Point Village's Louis Stephenson and Crane Ridge Resorts' Francine Pinnock, took control of the dance floor, giving reggae dance classes freely.
Before long, they were flocked by standby performers including Half Moon's Tricia Bridge (who tries not to have any fun when she is on the job), Jamaica Tours' Noel Sloley, Jr. and Michelle Whittaker, Point Village's Evelyn Smith and Stacy-Ann Greenwood and Heart Runaway Bay's Shorna Myers.
Within minutes, Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun N'Dombet Assamba, showed off her prowess of the 'Willy Bounce' and her special adviser Raymond Price was on top of a stand doing the 'price is right'.
Fisherman's Point Brian Gordon, Air Jamaica's Campbell Rudder, Claire Robinson and Joan Boxer shied from the camera, while Godfrey Dyer, as fit as a fiddle, stole a dance from Scott Robbins' fiancée, Tricia Bridge.
It was an evening which saw Deta and Donald Brooks out on the town, Fred Smith, Garfield Williams and Robert Hendriks in tow, Suzette Thompson, Ingrid Foote, Valrie Lawrence, Claudeth James, Tony King, Carolle Guntley, Caesar Campbell and several others having a ball.
