When Ann-Marie Vaz speaks about Portland, she doesn’t just talk about its beauty. She speaks about its potential, its people, and its pulse. As the parish prepares to host Camp Porti’s debut this Easter weekend, the Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern sees the event as timely, necessary, and exactly the kind of investment the parish needs more of.

“Camp Porti adds to the limited but much-needed lifestyle offerings in Portland,” she says. “This is exactly the kind of event I want to see happening here: something creative, intentional, and community-driven.”

Camp Porti, which will take place April 18 to 21, brings together music, wellness, fashion, and food in a four-day experience hosted across venues, including the Trident Hotel, Frenchman’s Cove, Geejam Beach, and Goblin Hill Villas. Its founder, PJ Wright, describes it as a curated journey through Jamaican culture, designed with care and rooted in soul. For Vaz, the way it has been built with local vendors, chefs, and partners at the centre is what makes it meaningful.

“All will benefit,” she says. “Economic prosperity for my people is at the top of my agenda. When something like Camp Porti happens, it’s not just good for visibility. It brings real opportunities. It fills rooms. It employs caterers. It puts money in people’s pockets.”

In recent years, Portland has quietly become one of the most desirable destinations for independent travellers. The parish now ranks number one in Airbnb rentals across Jamaica, a statistic Vaz points to as proof that people are already drawn to the area’s peace and beauty. But she wants more than just bookings—she wants engagement.

“Portland is not new to visitors. What we need now are experiences that encourage people to stay longer, explore more, and connect with the parish in deeper ways,” she says. “Events like this help do that.”

She also sees moments like Camp Porti as part of a broader effort to shape the parish’s cultural identity. Known for its landscapes, Portland is also home to creativity, talent, and ambition that often go unseen.

“I want Portland to be known not just for being beautiful but for having something to say,” Vaz adds. “We have culture. We have food. We have vision. We just need more people who are willing to invest in it and build it with us.”

Camp Porti may only last four days, but for Vaz, it represents the direction she’s working toward every day one where Portland’s growth is thoughtful, inclusive, and distinctly Jamaican.