Dear Editor,
The Sounds & Pressure Foundation is very pleased with the recent announcement that United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has designated Kingston as a member of their Creative Cities Network.
“The UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy,” it states on the UNESCO website.
Sounds & Pressure, since its formation in 2006, has advocated the importance of Kingston, in particular downtown Kingston, as the crucible of Jamaica’s popular music culture. We have identified 16-music heritage sites and commenced a reggae music-heritage tour of downtown Kingston in phase one of our business model.
But, as the adage states, “It takes cash to care.” And, while we have been praised for the several initiatives we have presented to the Urban Development Corporation, Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, United Nations Development Programme, and UNESCO among others, it has been virtually impossible to raise the requisite funding to implement these initiatives.
We are,however, making progress and remain very optimistic that our vision for Kingston as a cultural tourism destination — akin to New Orleans, Nashville, New York, London, and Paris — is becoming a reality.
It’s, however, of paramount importance that the availability and accessibility to affordable capital to drive this engine of growth, be made possible to those with the vision, the passion, and the capabilities to execute.
Too often in Jamaica — and to its detriment — money is used as the obstacle to socio-economic development, equal rights, and justice. And, as we savor this significant development mounted by UNESCO, let’s recognise those who championed the initiative, and remember those, many no longer with us, who laid the groundwork. People such as Ken Khouri, Arthur “Duke” Reid, Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, Vin Edwards, Edward Seaga, Cecil “Prince Buster” Campbell, Byron Lee, Sonia Pottinger, Delroy Wilson, John Holt, Alton Ellis, The Skatalites, to name just a few.
Long live Kingston.
Julian “Jingles” Reynolds
CEO, Sounds & Pressure Foundation Limited
125 Orange Street
Kingston
sounds_pressure@yahoo.com
The Sounds & Pressure Foundation is very pleased with the recent announcement that United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has designated Kingston as a member of their Creative Cities Network.
“The UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy,” it states on the UNESCO website.
Sounds & Pressure, since its formation in 2006, has advocated the importance of Kingston, in particular downtown Kingston, as the crucible of Jamaica’s popular music culture. We have identified 16-music heritage sites and commenced a reggae music-heritage tour of downtown Kingston in phase one of our business model.
But, as the adage states, “It takes cash to care.” And, while we have been praised for the several initiatives we have presented to the Urban Development Corporation, Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, United Nations Development Programme, and UNESCO among others, it has been virtually impossible to raise the requisite funding to implement these initiatives.
We are,however, making progress and remain very optimistic that our vision for Kingston as a cultural tourism destination — akin to New Orleans, Nashville, New York, London, and Paris — is becoming a reality.
It’s, however, of paramount importance that the availability and accessibility to affordable capital to drive this engine of growth, be made possible to those with the vision, the passion, and the capabilities to execute.
Too often in Jamaica — and to its detriment — money is used as the obstacle to socio-economic development, equal rights, and justice. And, as we savor this significant development mounted by UNESCO, let’s recognise those who championed the initiative, and remember those, many no longer with us, who laid the groundwork. People such as Ken Khouri, Arthur “Duke” Reid, Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, Vin Edwards, Edward Seaga, Cecil “Prince Buster” Campbell, Byron Lee, Sonia Pottinger, Delroy Wilson, John Holt, Alton Ellis, The Skatalites, to name just a few.
Long live Kingston.
Julian “Jingles” Reynolds
CEO, Sounds & Pressure Foundation Limited
125 Orange Street
Kingston
sounds_pressure@yahoo.com