Tobago Bureau reports that

THE international acts for this weekend’s second annual Plymouth Jazz Festival began arriving in the sister-isle yesterday afternoon. First to arrive at the Crown Point International Airport was legendary MC Doug E Fresh, who first stopped off in Trinidad and was then flown to Tobago by a chartered flight around 3.30 pm.

A hyped Fresh, who was one of the acts from last year’s show, told reporters in an interview on his arrival at the Le Grand Courlan that he was excited to be back in Tobago. “It is great to be back on the most beautiful island in the world. The vibe is good, the people are nice and I love it,” he gushed.

Fresh promised to “mix it up a bit and make it more like a party vibes” during his performance this evening and disclosed plans to perform a few of the classics with rap superstar Diddy.

Diddy however, reportedly told CEO of CL Communications Tony Maharaj that he was unsure of the exact time he would “feel like flying in” for his performance. Diddy will be arriving on his private jet.

Diddy and Doug E Fresh are the international acts for this evening’s line-up which also includes 2006 Soca Monarch Shurwayne Winchester and Traffik, Calypso Rose, Roy Cape and Maximus Dan. Diva of Soul, Patti La Belle and her entourage also arrived at Crown Point via private jet around 8.50 pm. La Belle will be part of tomorow’s line-up which includes returning sensation, Natalie Cole, R&B singer Toni Braxton, Johnny Gill and local diva Destra with Atlantik.

Last year’s headliner Stevie Wonder along with actor and comedian Chris Tucker are expected to make guest appearances. While it is unclear exactly when the artistes will be arriving, Newsday was told that Natalie Cole and this year’s top act Sting, are scheduled to arrive on the island tomorrow.

Sting, Vanessa Williams, Barrington Levy, Najee, Machel Montano and H2O Phlo will bring down the curtains on the much anticipated event. The organisers also refused to disclose the exact locations where the artistes would be housed but Newsday was informed that the Le Grand Courlan, Hilton Tobago and Mt Irvine Bay Hotel were some of the big picks. Maharaj yesterday expressed confidence in the success of the show and noted that preparations to date, were way ahead of last year. He told Newsday that they had corrected many of the problems experienced last year such as the traffic flow in and out of the venue as well as the illegal sale of tickets by scalpers.

“The people that had tickets and were selling them on the streets for ten dollars and five dollars, wherever those tickets were stolen from or came from no longer exists. We are in total control of the tickets and they are being sold legitimately at a legitimate price,” Maharaj said. He however disclosed that, most importantly, the land dispute between the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and a Plymouth land owner who has threatened to stop public access through his property to the venue will not affect the plans for the event.

The THA had built a road as a temporary public access to Plymouth through his property while the THA constructed a bridge over the Courland River.

However, Maharaj disclosed that, following extensive talks with the THA yesterday morning, the new bridge will be opened at six o’clock this morning, just in time for the first show which starts at seven o’clock tonight. Maharaj heaped praises on Tobago Express for “going the distance” and adding 11 flights to its schedule although it had already added extra flights last month and to the Port Authority for its assistance.

Meanwhile, the THA Tourism Secretary has expressed his pleasure with tourist arrivals to the island reporting that the hotel and guest house rooms as well as international flights to the island were fully booked.

It was also reported that the joint police/army and coast guard team that were on patrol over the Easter weekend would still be present to ensure the public’s safety.