CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Tempo, a new cable television network dedicated to Caribbean music and culture, will be launched by MTV Networks on eight Caribbean islands starting on Saturday, October 15 in Jamaica, culminating on Sunday, October 30 in Nevis. “We are launching the channel in October, with eight launch events across the Caribbean. We gonna be in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, right here on St. Kitts and Nevis, right here on Nevis I should say,” founder of the new channel, Mr Fredrick A Morton, Jr., revealed on Sunday night in Nevis. Addressing an enthusiastic crowd on the grounds of Old Manor Hotel, Mr Morton remarked: “By the way, Nevis is our main launch event. We will also be in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Maarten. Those islands were selected because the idea here is that there is a Caribbean identity.” The idea, noted Mr Morton, was to select those eight islands that represent the Caribbean - Spanish, French, English and Dutch speaking. There would be concerts in every one of those islands to celebrate the launch of the channel, Tempo. In Nevis, the event will be held on the grounds to the west of the Mt Nevis Hotel, adjacent to the historic Cottle Church. Mr Morton, who is also the Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Business and Legal Affairs for MTV Networks, though born in St. Croix US Virgin Islands is of Nevisian parentage. He observed that there was something that made Caribbean people more common than different whether they were from the Dominican Republic or from Nevis, as they share similar patterns. “I had an idea, because I am a Caribbean man, a real Caribbean man, and two years ago I introduced to the company (MTV Networks) an idea about launching a channel focused on the Caribbean and I am happy to say that in November that becomes a reality,” noted Mr Morton. He pointed out that the channel was particularly important because it would finally recognise a culture that has contributed in an enormous way to the world. He added that Caribbean people have left the Caribbean and entered the Diaspora, North America, Europe and other parts of the world and made significant contributions in politics and the arts. “The Caribbean is second to none as a destination, and Nevis tourism is brand leader. 40 million people (the Caribbean Tourism Organisation will tell you) visit the Caribbean every year. 53% of them come from North Americans and they don’t just come for the sand and the sun, they come because they like us - they like our culture, music and they like the way we move.” Tempo channel would be launched in the Caribbean in November while it would be launched in the USA in the third quarter of 2006. It would also be launched in Canada and the UK. It terms of promotion for Nevis, he noted: “Every time there is a retrospective of the channel, Nevis will be promoted internationally for ever as the official launch site of Tempo. I cannot tell you how important that is. So congratulations to the people of Nevis for all the exciting things that are happening.” He further observed: “I call the Caribbean a brand, because it is a brand, and I call Nevis a brand leader in that brand and the visionary government of Nevis have definitely lived up to that visionary aspect and so tonight, I thank you for being here. I thank my parents for instilling in me a pride in this country, for this country has a lot to be proud of.” Mr Morton said he was in Nevis because “there is an emotional connection to this island. It is my home; it is my roots. But the Government really embraced me and this project and saw all the vision of it and for that reason Nevis is going to be forever in the annals of history, the official launch site of this international channel, brought to you by MTV Networks.” Mr Morton also took time to welcome back to Nevis, his parents, Mr Fredrick Morton Sr. and Mrs Deloris Morton, who returned to Nevis last week after nearly thirty years in the US Virgin Islands. “My dad who is here tonight as well as my mom I cannot remember a day in that past when I didn’t hear about their longing to the return and I have to say that that dream has come true and so my parents after some thirty odd years have moved back to Nevis just this past week and I would like you to welcome them back,” remarked Morton Jr. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com