KINGSTON, Jamaica — Republic Beach Club and Fete Republic Jamaica have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) to strengthen road safety and streamline transportation ahead of its 2025 event series.

JAA is set to offer its wide-ranging suite of transportation solutions, including shuttles, charter services and logistics coordination, to help power the staging and execution of the highly anticipated Republic Beach and Night Carnival events.

Coswayne Samms, sales and marketing manager at JAA, said the partnership is expected to enhance transportation efficiency for the events.

“The Republic Beach, Fete Republic team have done a great job curating their events over the years and it brings out a lot of people. We’ll be providing shuttle services from Kingston and Montego Bay for people who want to go to Republic Beach [in St Ann] specifically and we’ll also be providing buses for the organisers to shuttle persons from that event’s parking lot to the beach because it is a very big venue. The team also has access to our box truck, if they need to use it to transport equipment, etc. as well as our chauffeur services if they need to transport DJs or artistes from the airport or to and from hotels,” he shared.

He added that the collaboration is also designed to support national road safety goals by encouraging the use of designated transport services and alleviating congestion near event sites.

He stressed that JAAs proven expertise in transportation logistics will not only ensure smoother, more efficient event operations but will also play a key role in promoting safer road usage and minimising the risks linked to large, high-traffic gatherings.

“JAA is a strong advocate for road safety across the island and it’s something we are deeply committed to,” he said. “Jamaica has a vibrant party culture, people love to attend events, but too often we see people going to events and having incidents and not getting home safely. So we decided we wanted to step in and play our part in the space.”

“As a member of the JN (Jamaica National) Group, we also have the advantage of accessing JN Group facilities. For example, in Kingston, we’ll be utilising the JN Bank parking lot in Half Way Tree, where patrons can park securely, board our buses, travel to the event and return to Kingston safely and comfortably. It’s a convenient option that helps them save on gas, avoid toll costs and focus on simply enjoying the experience,” he added.

The partnership will also offer added perks for JAA members, including special discounts on event tickets.

Republic Beach Event Director, Shaquille Blake, said the team is happy to formalise their partnership with JAA, reiterating its potential to both elevate the patron experience and actively promote safer travel habits.

“Our logistics partners play a critical role in the success of our events with the extensive resources they bring to the table. We’ve done soft launches and pilot programmes with JAA and it has gone well so we’re making it official this time around,” he shared.

Timothy South, another director, noted that the partnership is poised to immediately benefit roughly 10 per cent of the more than 5,000 patrons expected at this summer’s Republic Beach Club event, slated for July 26.

“Many of our patrons rely on transportation, whether it’s personal chauffeuring or reliable shuttle services and we believe this collaboration will significantly enhance the overall event experience,” South said. “The fact that JAA is a trusted, safety-focused provider also makes them a perfect fit for us. We are confident patrons will receive excellent customer service while getting safer, more convenient travel options.”