ON the 15th anniversary of the Jamaica Observer newspaper that he founded, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart has fulfilled a promise made last December to provide Jamaica with a second daily afternoon newspaper, Chat!, which hit the streets today.

Stewart publicly announced the decision to begin publishing on March 7.

Chat!, which was named by the public after a "Name-The-Paper" competition launched by Stewart on radio, will carry a heavy focus on entertainment and leisure, drawing on popular features of the Jamaican culture and way of life to "get Jamaicans reading again", the mandate set by Stewart, the Observer chairman.

This morning the afternoon tabloid will have a soft launch on a live IRIE-FM radio broadcast from the Observer's Kingston offices at Beechwood Avenue. The paper will be distributed islandwide through street vendors and agents such as pharmacies, supermarkets, gas stations and other popular outlets.

"It is my strong belief that there can be no better gift to a proud nation and people than the gift of reading," said Stewart.

"People will read if they have something worth reading, something that is fun and relaxing and still reflect our way of life. Jamaicans like to laugh and to chat and to have a good time. We aim to provide them with things to chat and laugh about," Stewart said.

He congratulated the "creative and hard-working staff for putting in long, arduous hours to put out an excellent paper".
Observer CEO, Ed Khoury, said he was proud to be at the helm of the management of the Observer "at a time when it is again creating history" in the publication of Chat!

STEWART. there can be no better gift to a proud nation and people than the gift of reading

Khoury noted that it would be the first daily afternoon tabloid to be published in Jamaica since Chat!'s main competitor began publishing in 1951. "Now the competition is about to heat up. We have a winner on our hands and we are confident that this is the kind of product that readers and advertisers want in an afternoon newspaper," Khoury said.

The editor of Chat! is Yasmine Peru, who is among the most experienced entertainment editors in Jamaica. She will work under the direction of co-executive editors, Vernon Davidson and Desmond Allen.

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating. We expect our readers to eat up Chat!," Peru commented.

In preparation for the new paper, the Jamaica Observer has established a separate desk, manned by reporters, photographers and paginators utilising new state-of-the-art publishing technology and equipment. The western areas of Jamaica will be covered from its offices in Montego Bay, the mid-island from Mandeville and northern Jamaica from Ocho Rios.

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