The Tribune

By LESH


Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

SANDALS is the place to be this Saturday when the luxury all-inclusive resort hosts its second annual Vibes On The Island concert.

The concert will be headlined by international reggae artists Chronixx, with his band Zinc Fence Redemption and Tarrus Riley, with special guests Dean Fraser and the Black Soil Band also performing. It all kicks off at 6.30pm.

Tickets are $195 per person, inclusive of food and drink. Proceeds go to the PACE Foundation in support of their multi-purpose centre for teenage mothers in the Bahamas.

PACE (Providing Access to Continued Education) is an initiative that aims to provide greater opportunities for these young women.

Chester Robards, public relations manager at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island, said last year they hosted dancehall and reggae artist Shaggy and were able to raise $76,500, which allowed PACE to hire contractors and builders to get started on putting a new facility together for the teenage mothers.

He said so far ticket sales are going really well and Vibes on The Island is taking off in a positive direction.

“The Sandals Foundation made a commitment to PACE to help finish this building, and even if we don’t make it to the $200,000 that they need to complete the building, we are going to keep pushing along with them to help them to get there,” said Mr Robards.

He said the Sandals Foundation has no doubt that these two artists, Chronixx and Tarrus Riley, will assist them in putting on a successful concert so that they can be one step closer to their ultimate goal.

“We are bringing Tarrus Riley because the Bahamian people love him and he has lots of hits that the locals enjoy. He is such an international sensation that we are sure that a lot of our guests who are coming in next weekend will enjoy him as well. Chronixx is a rising star in Jamaica and across the Caribbean and the world. He was recently featured on the Jimmy Fallon Show, so that is another big name to enjoy,” said Mr Robards. For those that have never experienced the Sandals Island, Mr Robards said guests can expect to see a serene and beautiful property with food and drink areas, and the stage just literally feet from the water.

“Last year, we actually wowed all of our guests who came for Vibes On The Island. We did a short tour through the Sandals property, the Royal Bahamian property, displaying the fire pits, the restaurants and the theatre. We did a tour until we got to the dock and from there we took them over to the island. When we got there, the decor, the food and drink stations, and the stage set up was second to none. We spared no expense to bring a world-class event to Sandals Island. It is beautiful property with three other beaches, a pool, another restaurant and a spa with outdoor treatment over there,” he said.

Mr Robards said valet parking is available at the Sandals Resort and there will also be personnel at the entrance who will assist in escorting guests to the dock and onto the boats. Once on the island, greeters will be present to show the concert-goers the way to the stage and the food and drink areas. The ferries will be going back and forth all night long.

Mr Robards said a lot of organisations are known to host benefit events in the form of gala balls and dinner parties, but the Sandals Foundation chose to celebrate and give back in this way because their aim was to have a more laid-back atmosphere.

“When you think about a Sandals Resort you think about the beach and a more laid-back atmosphere. So that is why we even called it Vibes on The Island. We wanted people to come to a benefit event, but not have to rent a suit or buy one. We want them to let loose and feel the event, so that is why we chose to do a concert series,” he said.

Mr Robards said the PACE Foundation is pivotal in turning around the lives of girls who might otherwise be lost because of the stigma attached to teenage pregnancy. Through PACE, these young women have a refuge and can continue their education without missing a beat, he said.

“That saves another mother and child from the social deterioration that sometimes happens when teenagers get pregnant. If they have their education they can be gainfully employed and continue on their lives positively,” said Mr Robards.