Operators of the Logos Hope are encouraging schools who plan to take groups of students on board the floating book fair scheduled to be at the Cement Company’s Rockfort Pier in Kingston from February 17 to make advance bookings with the ship.

Today, the operators confirmed that most of the identified dates and times allowed for groups of students to participate in the interactive educational 45-minute programme, The Greatest Treasure, have been booked.

“We are discouraging schools from turning up at the dockside with groups of students without a confirmed booking, as there is no guarantee that the students can be accommodated on board on that day”, the operators warned.

However, those students whose schools do not have confirmed bookings are still welcome to visit the ship, once they are accompanied by parents or guardians, and are part of the general public expected on board.

They cited incidents in Montego Bay where scores of students without bookings waited in the mid-day sun for hours without food and drink in the hope of getting on board.

“We do not want our friends in Jamaica to be inconvenienced and so we appeal to all the schools invited to participate to get in touch with us right away to firm up their appointments to visit the ship while it is at the Rockfort Pier,” the operations asked.

About 1,200 students are expected to visit the Logos Hope on Tuesdays to Thursdays from February 23 to March 19 and to participate in the interactive programmes for young people, aimed at exposing them to different cultures and how the ship’s volunteers from 45 countries are able to live in harmony for extension periods of travel around the world.

Young producers and performers needed for 2010 festival song

Young producers, singers and songwriters are being invited to submit entries for the 2010 Jamaica Festival Song Competition. The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), organisers of the annual competition is encouraging the full participation of upcoming music professionals in this year’s staging.

According to newly appointed Festival Song co-ordinator, David Reid, the competition will return with a fresh and youthful approach. Aspiring artistes and their producers will not only vie for the million dollar prize, but will have the opportunity to expose their talent and position themselves for success in today’s competitive music industry.

Selecting the winning song will begin with the submission of a recorded version of the entry followed by rigourous live eliminations before the top ten finalists are selected. According to Reid, workshops and other training will also be an integral part of the selection process.

2010 participants will be involved in the production of a compilation album, individual music videos and an island tour before the finals set for July. In addition, finalists will also benefit from increased marketing and public relations support to be provided by the Commission this year.

Interested persons may contact the offices of the JCDC or log on to www.jcdc.org. jm for more information. Entries must be submitted by Friday, February 26 and accompanied by a type-written lyric sheet.

Over the years, the Festival Song Competition has been responsible for developing the careers of many artistes, including reggae icon Bob Marley, Ernie Smith, Toots Hibbert and more recently, Bescenta, Khago and I-Eye.