By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer 
Tony Rebel, in performance at East Fest 2004 at Good Year Oval, St. Thomas, recently. - Carlington Wilmot/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THERE WAS a sense of accomplishment in the main ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday night, as Tru-Juice Rebel Salute '05 was officially launched.
Billed as the 'Home-coming of Jimmy Cliff', the 12th staging of the festival takes place at Port Kaiser in St. Elizabeth on Saturday, January 15, with a stellar line-up featuring Cliff, Sly & Robbie, Luciano, Mutabaruka, Tanya Stephens, Assassin, Tony Rebel, Max Romeo, Queen Ifrica and many others.
Senator Delano Franklyn, put the festival in perspective saying, "it is an event that has brought good music and good production not only to the Jamaican society but also the international arena."
For his part, the show's organiser, reggae artiste Tony Rebel, said he was "proud to be a part of an organisation that is trying to preserve the healthier aspects of our music."
Noting that change was in the air on radio, in politics and all over the world, Rebel stated that there is also change in the popular year-end Sting, saying that the artistes the people were jumping for were those who Rebel Salute uses.
"We don't expect 60 members of Parliament to change the things that need to be changed in Jamaica. We have to take individual responsibility for our lives and then take it further," he said.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
Part of that individual responsibility was underscored by Ruth Jankee of Jamaica Aids Support, who emphasised personal responsibility in containing the spread of the virus.
While, as guest speaker, Minister Portia Simpson Miller said, "Rebel Salute has been offering the vital link between music and the community, each supporting the other", it has also developed into a bridge between music and business, a link emphasised by the presence of various sponsors' representatives.
Kim Lee, marketing manager of Tru-Juice, the title sponsors of Rebel Salute '05, described the festival as a mix of "good juice and good music", noting that the next Tru-Juice product is vegetable juice with roots. There was keen attention as she listed the ingredients, culminating in appreciative laughter as she ended with 'salsiperilla and strongback'.
Dianne Thompson of Nestlé Suppligen Soya said Rebel Salute was a matter of "fine performances against a display of vegetarian delights", leaving the details of the drink to spokesperson, singer and performer on Rebel Salute '04, Nadine Sutherland, who testified to not only the drink's nutritional benefits but also the great taste.
Vinton King of Atlas gave some information on the security arrangements for the festival, including a special team for Jimmy Cliff, without giving away too much, concluding that "from our viewpoint Rebel Salute should be and will be incident free." Worrell King gave an overview of the logistics for the show, saying the production level has been stepped up with the growth of the show.
IDEAS OF MARCUS GARVEY
Guest speaker Portia Simpson Miller said that Rebel Salute embodies the ideas of Marcus Garvey, quoting from the National Hero to illustrate her point. And Jimmy Cliff himself, as part of an overview of Rebel Salute that covered from Garnet Silk through Sizzla, Capleton, Buju Banton and Culture, expressed his delight at making his homecoming on Tru-Juice Rebel Salute '05.
It was not a matter of all talk, as there were highly appreciated performances from Tarrus Riley, Marcus I, Abdel Wright and Marsha, the last being called back for a second dose of her poetry, at the Hilton ballroom on Tuesday night.
