CARIBBEAN CONNECTION CARIBBEAN JOURNAL STAFF
Ziggy Marley on His Father, Reggae and Jamaica BY BOB CURLEY, CARIBBEAN JOURNAL
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iu Hotels and Resorts has debuted its newest adults-only resort in Jamaica, the product of a complete transformation of the Riu Montego Bay resort. The new adults-only Riu Montego Bay officially opened its doors this week, set on the beach in Montego Bay alongside the Riu Reggae and Riu Palace Jamaica resorts. The new-look, 800-room, all-inclusive property has a completely redesigned pool system, along with a new Splash Water World park on site. In total, the property now has five pools, one of which comes with its own swim-up bar. The property has also launched a new wellness center, with spa treatments on offer and a new fitness facilities. The new-look Riu Montego Bay has five eateries, including the new Kulinarium – featuring international cuisine - along with a new casual poolside grill called Pepe’s Food. It’s the latest effort in what has been a years-long push by Riu to transform its resorts in the wider Caribbean-Mexico region. Jamaica is currently open for tourism; you can find more on the country’s health protocol log on to visitjamaica.com/travelauthorization. For more info on the resort, visit riu.com/en/hotel/ Jamaica/montego-bay/hotel-riu-montego-bay/. The OTC is happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor-In-Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean journal, and his staff. Check them out online at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all of the fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean. 22 | January 2021
Bob Marley would have been 75 years old this year, and while the reggae legend’s life was tragically cut short, his oldest son, Ziggy, has not only carried on his father’s musical legacy but his quest to make the world a better place, too. Days after being wounded in an assassination attempt at his home in 1976, Bob Marley performed at a peace concert in Kingston, Jamaica, famously saying, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?” That’s a lesson that Ziggy Marley has taken to heart. Winner of eight Grammy awards for his music, Ziggy’s humanitarian work has included serving as a Goodwill Youth Ambassador for the United Nations and participating in Bob Marley Foundation initiatives worldwide. His own charity, U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization whose mission ranges from building new schools to operating health clinics, receives a portion of the proceeds from his latest project, More Family Time, a new children’s reggae album featuring four of his school-age children as well as the voices of Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Angelique Kidjo, Lisa Loeb, Tom Morello, Alanis Morissette and Busta Rhymes. Marley’s first children’s album, Family Time, won a Grammy in 2009. “My children play an important role in
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Old Town Crier
