The Jamaica Poetry Festival, which is the leading cultural poetry affair in the country, has continued to grow in stature and momentum over the years. This year marks the 12th staging of the event, dubbed the Jamaica 60^th Anniversary Edition.

This year’s production, set for August 14 at the AC Hotel Kingston, will feature a Jamaica 60th anniversary dinner which will be in support of the deaf community.

Three musicians will be honoured at the festival, with jazz pianist Monty Alexander receiving the Award of Honour; lecturer, vocal coach, pianist and percussionist Marjorie Whylie being presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Skip Marley being named the JPF Ambassador.

The festival will feature Alexander, Marley, Professor Mervyn Morris, Yasus Afari, Dr Michael Abrahams, Poet Laureate of Toronto in Canada George Elliott Clarke, Ghanaian-American Ebony Payne, Sammoya Banton, Kai Falconer, Calvin Mitchell, Simone Absolom-Gayle and Mark Stephenson.

Regular ticket prices have been set at $5,000, while all-inclusive dinner tickets cost $15,000 each. Doors open at 4 pm, with dinner from 4:30 pm -6:30 pm. Showtime is 7:00 pm sharp.

Tickets are available at Bookophilia, 92 Hope Road, Fontana Pharmacy, Barbican, Waterloo Rd New Leaf, Music Mart and Rubis Service Station HWT Rd.

Some of the sponsors for the event include Jamaica National Group, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, JPS, Proven Wealth, PBC Jamaica, and Digicel Foundation.

The event is organised by Sen-Yacum – Edutainment Promotion.