The annual 'Tribute to Bob Marley', the stellar attraction on Negril's entertainment calendar, will be celebrating its 16th anniversary this year and to commemorate this major milestone, the event has been expanded from a one-night to a five-night event, spanning February 2-6.

"Sixteen years has been a very long time so we feel compelled to mark this special anniversary with something extra," said businessman Clive 'Cubba' Pringle, the proprietor of MXIII Negril and founder of the event, "We want to make this year very special."

Strong commercial flavour

The year's event, which has a strong musical, cultural and commercial flavour, is being staged in tandem with MXIII and the Negril and Western Jamaica Cluster Initiative, which was recently formed by the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprise (MSME), a group of business operators predominantly from the West End Road area of Negril.

"We are heavily impacted by the hospitality industry in this area so we would naturally gravitate to projects like these," said Pringle. "We are quite pleased that we continue to enjoy the endorsement of the Marley family."

The 'tribute concert', which is expected to take pride of place, already has confirmed top-flight reggae artistes such as the Tamlins, Tony Rebel, Luciano, Anthony B, Queen Ifrica, Gyptian, Mickey General, Tonya P, Ali C. Princess Tia, Iyahblaze and Anthony Able alongside backing band SANE.

"This cluster partnership is to build on the brand (Negril) so as to develop a worldwide product that will be a high-value calendar event for both foreigners and locals," said Pringle. "The approach and partnership is also intended to broaden the offering for patrons while expanding the product to have a far and more reaching impact on the local economy."

Negril is fast becoming Jamaica's entertainment capital sometimes featuring one major show each night of the week. Interestingly, approximately 70 per cent of the patrons at these events are tourists.

The five days of activities are as follows:

Day 1: Saturday, February 2 - Bob Marley Funky Reggae Party at Jungle Night Club Negril.

Day 2: Sunday, February 3 - Beach Party and Football Competition at Negril Beach Park.

Day 3: Monday, February 4 - Mi Yard- Bob Marley Star Search at MXIII

Day 4: Tuesday, February 5- Dancehall session featuring Stone Love alongside GT Taylor and Barry G @ MX 3.

Day 5: Wednesday, February 6 - Bob Marley Tribute Concert at MXIII West End Negril.