Putting Portland back on the map
LOCATED in Port Antonio’s outskirts, Native Broadcasting Network Limited is home to Portland’s state-of-the art studio and radio station Stylz 96.1 FM.
Operated by father-and-son team of Earl and Anthony Jackson, the station and studio are a realisation of a dream.
“This is a dream from the 1980s my son and I brought it into being,” said 60-year-old owner, Earl Jackson.
According to Jackson, Native studio has been around since the 80s and in its heyday recorded tons of dubplates for local sound systems.
He said the studio has also nurtured a lot of local talents since opening its doors. However, most of them have migrated.
Jackson, a former bass guitarist in a mento band Tornadoes, feels his native parish has a lot to offer musically.
“I feel that Portland has a lot to contribute musically and I hope to bring that out,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
He said Portland native Junior Murvin, who is best known for his 1976 single Police and Thieves, recorded his album there eight years ago.
“He recorded Junior Murvin On Stage here,” he said.
The studio is currently being used to work on radio productions and is used for private bookings.
“When I am finished, it will be back to promoting the talents out of this parish for the international stage,” he said.
Stylz FM, started in November 2009 and serves both Portland and St Mary and has, according to Jackson, stretched beyond the island’s shores.
“We’re streaming programmes live over the Internet and hope to bring more awareness to the parish,” he said.
Jackson said the station enjoys some support from the business community, but could do with more.
“It will take time though; it’s coming along slowly but surely,” he said.
In addition to playing music, the 24-hour station hosts a talk show, provides community service announcements and information.
“The whole idea for Stylz is to put Portland back on the map. Somewhere along the line, we lost that presence we had,” he said.
Since the 1950s, rustic Portland has been a haunt for the world’s wealthy. American Hollywood actor Errol Flynn made Portland his home with an expansive estate to the east of the parish. His wife Patrice still resides there.
