Dear Editor,

As a proud native of St James and a long-time patron of Dream Weekend I want to express my excitement and gratitude regarding the event’s relocation from Negril to our beloved city of Montego Bay.

For years, every August, with the exception of the COVID-19 years, I’ve made the trek from Montego Bay to Negril to participate in what has undoubtedly become Jamaica’s premier summer event. I’ve witnessed Dream grow from a few parties to a major festival that has attracted thousands of patrons from all over the world. But alongside that growth, I’ve also seen its increasing limitations, primarily due to space, infrastructure, and logistics.

That’s why the announcement of its move to Montego Bay feels like a long-overdue and welcomed decision. There’s already so much happening in the parish right now that makes it the ideal home for Dream’s next chapter. The Montego Bay Bypass, currently under construction and set to be completed ahead of the 2026 staging, will significantly improve access and traffic management in the city. Not to mention world-class venues, like the Harmony Beach Park, where the government has made substantial investments, are just waiting to host events of this calibre. In addition to this, there are many more hotel rooms available here to cater to the accommodation needs of the growing number of out of town and international guests.

As a Montegonian, I can’t overstate how thrilling it is to no longer have to go out of town for Dream Weekend again. The savings on accommodation, food, and travel alone are worth celebrating, but beyond that, it simply feels right to have such a major, high-energy festival unfold in the heart of western Jamaica’s cultural and entertainment capital, and the country’s tourism epicentre.

I must extend a hearty thank you to the organisers and all stakeholders involved for their forward thinking in making this possible. Their decision to relocate to St James not only supports Dream Weekend’s continued growth and expansion but also acknowledges the parish’s capacity and potential, and brings a much-needed vibrancy to the parish. And it also provides increased revenue opportunities for residents and businesses here in Montego Bay, so I welcome it to our parish with open arms and look forward to what the future holds.

Antonio Rochester

rochester.a@hotmail.com