( L - R ) Lynch, Stephenson
WESTERN BUREAU:
Jamaica will lose the multimillion-dollar Caribbean Classic Golf Invitational (CCGI) to Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic or Las Vegas, United States, if tourism officials here fail to show some serious commitment to the event, philanthropist Richard Stephenson has warned.
Stephenson, who through his organisation, RISARC, has donated some 600 com-puters to primary schools across Jamaica over the last four years, and who plans to contribute 400 brand-new Dell machines valued at US$500,000 (J$45 million) this year, said he would not stop supporting education here, but would take his massive US$3 million (J$267 million) production to another country.
The CCGI event, which was held at the Aqueduct in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, St James, last weekend, was beamed into the homes of some 400 million pay-per-view customers worldwide, creating mass publicity for the island's lifeblood industry - tourism.
The pay-per-view airing will run for 30 days, complementing an IMG distribution of six one-hour shows featuring Jamaica right across the world.
International exposure
In addition, the event's choice of Jamaica saw the destination being showcased on US entertainment television programme, Extra, and featured in fight and fashion magazines, while having access to some 70 million web surfers on the Internet.
"The kind of exposure Jamaicais getting, the country couldn't possible pay for," argued Stephenson.
In a 'no-holds-barred' discussion with The Gleaner on Saturday night during the closing gala and dinner at the Iberostar Rose Hall Resort and Spa, he said he felt he and the international community had carried the event for the last five years and it was now time for Jamaica to seriously support the effort.
Disheartened and extremely dissatisfied with the support he received from the Ministry of Tourism's marketing arm, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Stephenson said the US$50,000 (J$4.5 million) sponsorship money he was promised remains just that - "a promissory note".
"Jamaica doesn't recognise what we are doing," he stated, adding that when he started CCGI, the objective was to change the image of Jamaica, a job he believes he has done successfully.
Last night, JTB Chairman John Lynch told The Gleaner that the tourist board's commitment to Stephenson would be honoured.
"We are dealing now with a very tight financial situation and are doing the best we can," Lynch said.
This year alone, Stephenson chartered a plane and flew in more than 40 celebrities, including comedian Cedric the Entertainer; Marked for Death actor, Jeffrey Anderson Gunther; and former MTV host Bill Bellamy.
Stephenson also brought in more than 1,000 guests who stayed at the Iberostar Suite hotels.
Deep debt
In the past, the event has attracted the likes of radio disc jockey and comedian Steve Harvey.
In response to the issue, Minister of Education Andrew Holness, who was at the gala event, said Jamaica owed Stephenson a deep debt of gratitude.
"Jamaica's children owe you, so don't lose faith," Holness implored, hoping Stephenson's threat to move the event to another destination would not prove true.
"It is obvious that Mr Stephenson is a man of vision. You are a man who gets things done and we are listening," he promised, assuring the audience that come next year, CCGI would have a massive show.
"I am now appealing to the private sector to take a leaf out of Mr Stephenson's book."
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com