In International Reggae & World Music Awards
Director of the Tallahassee-Sint Maarten Foundation (TLH-SXMF) Arthur (Arturo) Lugisse, who was instrumental in recommending Isidore York, the "Mighty Dow", to be an inductee in the Hall of Fame/Lifetime Award in the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), and local artist Addie Richardson better known as the "Shadow Man," as a presenter, is looking forward to the support of the business community.
The IRAWMA will be celebrating its 30th event that will be held at the state of the art National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on May 28, 2011.
According to Lugisse, Ephraim Martin, President of IRAWMA stated that this year’s edition of the awards show will be groundbreaking and history making. He further shared that this 30th anniversary ceremony will award and acknowledge a diverse group of individuals and entities representing North America, the Caribbean, as well as the African and Latin American Diasporas and that he is pleased with 2011’s world class collection of nominees and special awardees.
The 30th IRAWMA is presently sponsored by B-Mobile, T & T’s #1 mobile network, Angostura, Single Barrel Rum, Hyatt Regency Trinidad, TrinJam Foods, TDC and other supporting sponsors.
For tour package, (May 26-30, 2011) special discounted tickets or for further information on IRAWMA and to vote for these international music and humanitarian nominees visit www.irawma.com or call 312/427-0266, in the Caribbean 868/475-1000.
"The ongoing connections and efforts by TLH-SXMF to make a difference based on the Tallahassee-SintMaarten Sister City Agreement has brought a marketing and promotion opportunity for both Sint Maarten artist and the island – cultural tourism.
"I am also anticipating public sector support from both public and private sectors in order to maximize the cultural marketing opportunity for Sint Maarten based on the two musical geniuses The Mighty Dow and Shadow Man at this event. Family and friend and cultural representatives are also expected to make the trip to Trinidad.
"Donovan Neita and President Ephraim Martin Martin’s International/Martin’s International & Associates are working feverously to make this event one of the best every, and is looking forward to also maximize Sint Maarten presence at the event in Trinidad because consideration can also be given to have the event in Sint Maarten in the future.
"I would like to thank IRAWMA for the opportunity extended to promote Sint Maarten and its artist at the upcoming 30th Anniversary of the International Reggae & World Music Awards . We hope this opportunity will open the door for future exposure for our local artist and hoping to create Cultural Tourism for Country Sint Maarten," Executive Director of TLH-SXMF Arthur Lugisse said on Sunday.
The greatest economic resource a Country has is its "ability" to create, package and sell cultural tourism. Carimerica’s definition of cultural tourism is simply put: "Cultural Tourism involves community residents creating, packaging and selling products and services directly relevant to their individual, organizational and community development so that they and their guests/visitors may discover finer, grander and more enjoyable concepts of themselves".
Music has always been a way of life for our ancestors who never really got the economic benefits that they deserve, we need to make them proud by stepping up to the plate and making a difference for the art form and the groups and artist that’s giving their life development to that way of life today, Lugisse explained.
The primary objective of Martin’s International & Associates is to promote reggae, Caribbean, African and other world music as an art form and as a vehicle for the expression of the voiceless peoples of the world.
Each year, the IRAWMA honours entertainers and others associated with world music for their contributions to the industry and to humanity internationally. More than 17 million fans viewed broadcast and clips on television and the internet, of the 29th IRAWMA last year.