For the 17th year in a row Cable & Wireless is a Premium Gold sponsor of St Lucia Jazz, providing financial and in-kind support for this weekend’s main-stage shows at Pigeon Island National Landmark. St Lucia’s leading full service telecommunications service provider, Cable & Wireless was also a Gold Sponsor of Fond d’Or Jazz, donating $30,000 in cash, along with mobile phones, free mobile airtime, free fixed-line connections and fixed-line calls, free broadband service, technical and manpower support and tents. C&W contributed $15,000 to the Chamber of Commerce to assist with Jazz on the Square.

And, as usual, Cable & Wireless Diamond Steel has been wowing Jazz fans with their sweet pan rhythms. They were one of the star acts at Fond d’Or Jazz. On Tuesday Cable & Wireless presented a cheque for $200,000 to the St Lucia Tourist Board to assist with the main-stage shows at Pigeon Island. As the Official Telecommunications Provider of St Lucia Jazz, C&W is also providing a reliable, world-class communications infrastructure, lending additional support in the form of mobile phones and free mobile airtime, free fixed-line calls, Direct Internet Access and free wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) Hot Spot service at Pigeon Island, as well as technical teams to ensure that the necessary telecoms support is in place throughout the shows. The latter is valued at some $150,000.

"For the benefit of the media, we are providing, free of charge, ISDN lines for live radio coverage of the shows. For those Jazz fans who are unable to attend the shows and are looking forward to following the excitement over the airwaves, I wish to assure them that they will not be disappointed. We are also providing broadband and fixed-line services to the St Lucia Jazz Press Office to facilitate data transmissions direct from the venues," said C&W Vice President of Marketing & Mobile, Cheryl Francis. "Cable & Wireless is the only company in St Lucia that can provide the diversity of services required for an event of such magnitude. We are very confident of our ability to provide the high-level communications solutions needed throughout all the events," she added.

Tuesday’s cheque presentation was held at the bmobile Store on Bridge St Receiving the cheque on behalf of the St Lucia Tourist Board was Acting Director of Tourism, Louis Lewis. Also in attendance was SLTB Public Relations Manager, Kirby Allain. The Tourism Director cited Cable & Wireless’ 17-year long support for St Lucia Jazz as a milestone in the development of the festival.

"Cable & Wireless’ leadership in this regard has been tremendous and very important. Their in-kind contributions are also very significant and have been crucial in assisting the Tourist Board’s with our local and international marketing activities," said Mr Lewis. He also lauded C&W for continuing to provide support to other Jazz venues other than the main-stage shows.

This year C&W customers are in for major treats at the C&W-sponsored Jazz venues. bmobile customers topping up $50 at Pigeon Island and Jazz on the Square are rewarded with a bonus of $20 free minutes plus fabulous Jazz gifts, including free tickets and C&W VIP passes, t-shirts, umbrellas, notebooks, bags, towels and more. Customers topping up $30 get a bonus of $10 free airtime, plus gifts. C&W also has Jazz mobile specials available at the venues and its retail outlets. Customers signing up for Cable & Wireless Broadband and NetSpeak voice over IP are also rewarded with Jazz gifts.

Caption: Cheryl Francis, Cable & Wireless VP of Marketing hands over hefty cheque to Louis Lewis, Acting Director of Tourism.