CARIBBEAT: With everyday people and VIPs, there’s a big buzz brewing for …

THE BUZZ around Caribbean Week New York 2015 is growing — reverberating from the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s headquarters in Barbados all the way to New York, where the staffers at the CTO’s USA offices in Lower Manhattan are making final preparations for the anticipated event.

Caribbean heads of state, government ministers, travel industry executives and other VIPs will be focused on tourism, investment and business opportunities in the region, in addition to taking part in a number of popular activities, which are open to the public during the week of June 1-7.

From CTO chair Richard Sealy, the Barbados Tourism and International Transport Minister, to New York-based CTO-USA Director Sylma Brown, the organization is working hard to fulfill Caribbean Week’s goal to “showcase the warmth, spirit and vibrancy of the Caribbean.”

Christopher Gill

Chef representing the British Virgin Islands flexes his culinary muscles during 2014 Caribbean Week.

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION

Tasty Caribbean concoctions are featured in the annual “Rum and Rhythm” auction and benefit. The 2015 event will be held on June 5 and is open to the public.

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION

There will be several public Caribbean Week events and happenings for tourism VIPs, such as Sandals Resorts chairman Gordon (Butch) Stewart (center), seen at the Caribbean Tourism presentation in 2014 .

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There are a number of pleasurable and informative events for New Yorkers.

All week long, Caribbean chefs will be demonstrating their skills and sharing culinary secrets through the Celebrity Chef Program at locations around town. Up close and personal, Caribbean Diaspora Forum brings government officials from the region together with Caribbean New Yorkers on June 3 to discuss tourism and developments affecting persons living in and outside the region.

And the Rum and Rhythm Benefit and Auction is another opportunity for the public to take part in the activities to aid the CTO Foundation that helps students in the region.

CARIB WRITER ON ‘DISCOVER BEIJING’ PROJECT

With some help from a Guyanese-American Felicia Persaud, ABC-TV’s “Discover Beijing” series honors the May commemoration Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month with its latest tourism episode – “A Modern City in Motion.”

Persaud – chief marketing officer and founder of Hard Beat Communications – prepared the script for the third episode of the popular television series, which has been highlighting the China’s political and cultural capital. This latest episode looks at modern transportation, the changing architectural landscape and Beijing’s transition into an international city – with art, shopping and nightlife.

The first part of the segment aired May 23 and part two of “A Modern City in Motion” can be seen on June 30.

For several years, Persaud, who has been worked with Chinese public and private sector representatives, held an impressive gathering of VIPs from the Caribbean dignitaries and China at the 2014 Invest Caribbean Now! investment summit in New York.

“Discover Beijing”

Screen shot from the “Discover Beijing III: A City in Motion” travel video. Guyanese-American journalist Felicia Persaud, who heads Hard Beat Communications, wrote the script for this episode of the series, which airs on ABC-TV.

“Discover Beijing”

Screen shot from the “Discover Beijing III: A City in Motion” travel video. Guyanese-American journalist Felicia Persaud, who heads Hard Beat Communications, wrote the script for this episode of the series, which airs on ABC-TV.

“Discover Beijing”

Screen shot from the “Discover Beijing III: A City in Motion” travel video. Guyanese-American journalist Felicia Persaud, who heads Hard Beat Communications, wrote the script for this episode of the series, which airs on ABC-TV.

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“Beijing has a history of over 3,000 years and is home to seven World Heritage Sites. But much like New York City is to the US, Beijing has experienced a transformation,” says Li Li, president of Cimagine Media Group. “Our focus is on showing the Beijing of today and we hope it will become a guidebook for foreign tourists who travel there.”

“Discover Beijing III: A Modern City in Motion” broadcast just after of the 35th anniversary of the sister city relations agreement between Beijing and New York City, is an excellent travel guide to the Chinese city, which is home to 23 million persons. Travel to is made easier through a 72-hour visa-free transit policy for visitors.

The latest episode focuses on the transition of Beijing to an international city complete with modern transportation and a changing architectural landscape as well as a melting pot of diverse cultures, cuisines, art, shopping and nightlife. Yet, as viewers will see, Beijing’s history remains preserved especially through ancient foods and cultural norms, including traditional Chinese medicine.

HONORS FOR CAYMAN’S HEALTH CITY

The Health City Cayman Islands healthcare services provider, which recently celebrated its first year of operation, received a deserving post-birthday present – a Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission International healthcare accreditation organization.

The endorsement from the prestigious standards-setting and accrediting body was welcomed by executives and staff of the Health City Cayman Islands, a provider of “high-quality, affordable healthcare services,” such as adult and pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery, pulmonology, medical oncology, pediatric endocrinology.

Health City Cayman Islands, run by heart surgeon and humanitarian Dr. Devi Shetty, is supported by the India-based Narayana Health and the U.S.-based Ascension health systems.

“We have spent a lot of time carefully selecting and attracting some of the best doctors and surgeons – with world class supporting services – to our facility, so it is rewarding to see our efforts recognized with this accreditation by JCI,” said Dr. Shetty.

Health City marketing director Shomari Scott noted that Health City and a Bahamas hospital are the only Caribbean institutions to receive this “hospital accreditation.”

“We opened ourselves up to JCI inspection teams because we are confident we have built a leading international medical facility staffed by world-class doctors attracted by the opportunities available at Health City to practice the best medicine of their lives,” Scott said.

ST. KITTS MUSIC FEST GROWS

Believe it, the sizzling lineup for the 2015 St. Kitts Music Festival has gotten hotter with the addition of RB star Trey Songz, event organizers announced recently.

The multi-Platinum recording artist/actor joined an impressive list of performers for the festival – June 25 through 25 – including Bounty Killer, Christopher Martin, Aswad, Roy Cape, T-Vice, Tono Rosario, Ricardo Drue, Kerwin DuBois, Patrice Roberts, Blaxx and Benjai.

“Trey Songz is a renowned RB artist, with international appeal. Having him perform at the St. Kitts Music Festival will certainly reinforce the event’s reputation as a dynamic Caribbean music festival with exhilarating performances and an experience like no other,” said St. Kitts Minister of Tourism Lindsay Grant.

TOUTING ST. LUCIA’S ‘LANDINGS’

“I’ll be back” was the message from Kashmie Ali, the new managing director of The Landings St. Lucia who recently visited the New York and plans on returning to the city during Caribbean Week New York to promote the luxury all-suite resort.

As he did during his recent NYC stay, Ali, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, will meet with travel industry professionals and other decision-makers and tout the details of the property – such as its the recent partnership with the Kiwi Collection (the world’s largest independent group of hotels), the addition of the authentic St. Lucian fare-themed “Callaloo” pop-up restaurant, and the “Turquoise Beach Bar.” After a “soft” room renovation in September, there are plans to add 12 villas by the end of the year.