Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

(From left) Macka Diamond, Beenie Man, Lena British and D'Angel at one of the popular British Link Up shows at La Roose, Port Henderson Road. - Nathaniel Stewart

While the major summer events are noted for bringing in party people from overseas, especially over the near double holiday of Independence and Emancipation Day, during the year many 'fly in' for many smaller parties.

And often it is a case of the promoter being based in the foreign land from which most of the guests come to Jamaica for a night of partying.

Of course, these activities tend to be centred around the prime migration destinations for Jamaicans and quite a few proudly proclaim the connection, with names like the 'British Link Up' (which will be next held at La Roose, Port Henderson Road, Portmore, on Saturday night) and 'New Jersey Link Up'.

Lena British who is the promoter for this year's 'British Link Up-A Buckingham Affair' says she expects a large following for her party, including entertainers like the Alliance Crew and Elephant Man.

"We do have one in England but this is the one. This is the main one. It is the party that people look forward to from when it started 15 years ago till now," she said.

She continued, "It is something that people can come out to and walk on the red carpet."

However, two of three upcoming events put on by persons based in Toronto, Canada, do not have names which immediately bring the Maple Leaf land to mind. Carlton Brooks will be staging 'Men in Suits, Ladies in Blazers' at Curphey Place, Swallowfield, on Saturday, March 29, while Lloyd Dwyer will be putting on a 'Canadian Invasion' inside the Asylum Nightclub on Thursday, March 27, and 'Jeans N' Blazer' the next day at Stone Love's Burlington Avenue headquarters.

Brooks, who put on 'All White' at Curphey Place in January, told The STAR that while he stages parties in Toronto he also does so in Jamaica because "I need a different scenery, energy and people".

Like 'All White', 'Men in Suits, Ladies in Dresses' will be a retro style party, this one featuring Senor Daley, Gladdy, Squeeze and Colin Hines. He has targeted this niche because "there are no theme events targeting the grown and sexy in Jamaica, so I linked up with Senor Daley and the rest is history".

Dwyer, who operates under the name Pictureman Lloyd Promotions, said "I stage events in Jamaica to create a different vibe and help to attract more visitors to the island to enjoy the beauty of the country". His first event was also a 'Canadian Invasion' and he describes 'Jeans n' Blazer' as "a lifestyle event for the party fans with a difference".

"It's an event that we promote in Canada, so there are always Canadians in town for this annual event," Dwyer said. This year's 'Jeans N' Blazer' will feature Stone Love, Rebel T, DJ Smurf, Lil Richie and from Canada Military and Nitro Sound.

Brooks said that while persons come in from Canada for his parties "they also go shopping, to the beach, clubs, restaurants, visit family and so on. And when you step back and look at the big picture Jamaica benefits and that`s all that matters".

Lena British says there is no doubt that her party brings in revenue for Jamaica. "It brings in a lot of tourist everytime this year people come down to Jamaica and it brings in business for Portmore around the strip," she said.

Both Dwyer and Brooks have teams of persons in Jamaica who take care of business until they come in and Brooks said that as part of his promotions he has to make a significant investment, as "I have to pay for lighting, security, clean-up staff, bathroom attendants, designer, co-ordinator, flyer staff and too many more to mention".

He says that it is more profitable to put on parties in Canada, while Dwyer says that in putting on events in Jamaica "the stakes are high. You win some, you lose some, but for the better part of it it's good for the country".

Foreigners frequent overseas-based local parties like Canadian Connection and British Link Up. - Nathaniel Stewart