Rupert Roberts, president of Super Value Food Stores Ltd., has announced that all Super Value supermarkets in The Bahamas will not only be sales outlets for tickets to October’s Caribbean Muzik Festival, but they will also accept payment in quality stamps.

The festival, which will celebrate the widely popular music of the region, is scheduled to take place in Nassau on October 28 to 31.

“At Super Value we have always taken pride in finding innovative ways to bring quality and value to the Bahamian public,” said Roberts.

“I remember how much enjoyment the festival brought to Bahamian music lovers in the past and saw an opportunity to satisfy the demand for tickets through our supermarkets, with the additional option of paying in quality stamps,” he added.

The festival, which drew thousands to celebrate the music of the Caribbean when last staged in Nassau, will feature a variety of events over the three days, in addition to a spectacular concert on its final day. The Bahamas has exercised a five-year option on hosting the event.

“We are glad to be back in The Bahamas,” said Michael Tomlinson, chairman and CEO of Caribbean Music Festival (2000) Ltd., promoters of the festival.

“We are also delighted at the warmth of the reaction to our return. Mr. Robert’s innovative idea, to accept quality stamps in payment for tickets, added enormous value to his offer to enable ticket sales through Super Value outlets.”

Highlights of the festival will include the recognition of outstanding Caribbean artists, who will be presented with a Living Legend Award. Former recipients have been Bahamians Freddie Munnings and Tony “Exuma” McKay, Montserrat’s Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell, Jamaica’s Cecil “Sony” Bradshaw and Slinger “Mighty Sparrow” Francisco, who a year ago also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest civilian award.

This year’s Living Legend awardees will be Ronnie Butler (Bahamas), Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica), Omara Portuondo (Cuba), Emile Straker (Barbados), McCartha Sandy-Lewis “Calypso Rose” (Trinidad and Tobago) and Hugh Masekela (South Africa).

The decision has been taken to use the occasion to mark the 30th anniversary of the Nassau Accord, that was signed in October 1985 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference. It helped lead to the dismantling of the pernicious apartheid regime in South Africa.

Consequently, a Living Legend award will be presented to South African musician Masekela and the Soweto Gospel Choir will stage special performances during the festival. The impressive list of artists booked to perform at the festival will be announced shortly.