OVERSEAS INVESTORS AND FORMER RESIDENTS OF TRELAWNY SUPPORTS THE TWO MEGA DEVELOPMENTS FOR THAT PARISH

by: Derrick A. Scott & Michael Wattkis

Faye Pickersgill talks about the "Harmony Cove" project

Overseas investors and former residents of Trelawny have expressed overwhelming support for the two mega developments planned for the parish. The $72 billion Harmony Cove colony resort and the proposed $26 million Greenfield stadium facility.

The enthusiastic support for both projects came at an Economic Investment & Opportunity Symposium organized by Friends of Trelwany (FOTA) at the JFK Radisson Hotel in Queens, New York last weekend. It was one of the highlights of the organization's 22nd Annual Memorial Weekend Reunion, sponsored by Victoria Mutual Building Society, that included a dinner/dance and a picnic at the Rockland County Park in Nyack, NY, attended by some 5,000 former residents of Trelawny and friends who journeyed all the way from Jamaica, Canada, UK and throughout the US.

It was the first time that both projects were being presented to an overseas group since it was announced by Prime Minister Patterson in his recent budget presentation.

Some 300 participants from prominent developers and builders from the US and Canada to small investors individuals looking for opportunities packed the Radisson ballroom to hear from a panel of speakers that included Mrs. Faye Pickersgill, a consultant with the Jamaica Development Bank, Desmond Leaky, former N. Trelawny MP, David Wan, general manage of Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Ltd., Dr. Patrick Harris, MP for North Trelawny, and Falmouth's Mayor Fred Bartley.

Mrs. Faye Pickersgill, a former tourism director, presented the Harmony Cove project and Mr. Desmond Leaky presented the Greenfield project.

Both using colorful slide presentations that detailed everything from landscaping to architecture. They touted the developments as unprecedented and said they will radically redefine the landscape of Trelawny and Jamaica's north coast.

Members of the audience listening to Faye Pickersgill

According to Mrs. Pickersgill, Harmony Cove is the first development of its kind to be undertaken in Jamaica. Noting that Trelawny will reap a wealth of residual benefits that ranged from employment to improved infrastructure. "This is beautiful as it is exciting," she said. When you take a look at it someone will have to feed all these people coming here, someone will have to transport them, someone will have to landscape the properties. She said the project was carefully planned and when completed, there will be none like it in the rest of the Caribbean. Spanning 1,400 acres of prime beachfront property between Silver Sands and Braco, Mrs. Pickersgill said the upscale colony resort is designed with three major luxury hotels, three themed boutique resorts, two PGA-caliber golf courses, more than 200 exclusive residential homes, more than 200,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment, as well as a world-class marina with 300 boat and a private airport.

The former tourism director wetted the rapt audiences appetite with pictures that include the Marina Village, which she said will anchor the development, and feature pieces such as a spectacular 150-foot man-made waterfall, a 1,000-room convention center, and an exciting blend of entertainment, retail and dining venues. Other resorts in the development include the Aston Vale with amenities of a five star, five diamond hotel; Buccaneer Bay, a five-star plus family resort with at least three waterslides, and the luxurious Akwaaba Spa with its Jamaican Maroon architecture.

Mrs. Pickersgill said it will be unfortunate if residents of Trelawny, especially those living abroad, sit back and not grab the investment opportunities that were immediately available to them. She also urged overseas investors to also get involved in this project. Mrs. Pickersgill said "that this project which is on the drawing board, is happening as I speak to you."

Folks milling around during the intermission - coffee break

Mr. Desmond Leaky, who heads the Greenfield Lobby Group, said the site will be developed as a state-of-the-art multi-purpose stadium to host some of games for 2007 World Cup Cricket. Jamaica is bidding for both Greenfield and Sabina Park in Kingston to host games, but Mr. Leaky said Trelawny has the upper hand.

He said the hilltop stadium, which provides a sweeping picturesque view of the ocean, offers the ideal backdrop for television coverage. Mr. Leaky also bragged about the accommodations near the facility, some 4,000 rooms between Montego Bay, Trelawny and Ocho Rios, and better transportation from the highways being built. The fact that when the 30,000-seat facility is built, it could be used to stage other events such as major concerts and as training for overseas sports clubs and universities. He said once the stadium is built there is a plan to franchise out the stadium. Here lies an opportunity to invest, he told the audience.

On a whole, Mr. Leaky said Trelawny will benefit through employment and improved quality of life.

Falmouth's Mayor Fred Bartley, in his presentation, said he will be doing everything possible to make sure the infrastructure of the parish's historic capital, Falmouth, is in place to meet the demands of new development.

Fred Bartley, mayor of Falmouth, mingles during the intermission

With the development coming on stream, member of parliament Mr. Patrick Harris told the audience, "It's Trelawny's time now!" Mr. Harris outlined his vision for the development and implored participants not to sit idly by while other investors from elsewhere reap the benefits that are now available.

David Wan (GM Victoria Mutual Wealth Management) speaks

David Wan, General Manager of Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Ltd., gave the audience and overview of the state of the Jamaica's investment climate and how it became ripe for foreign investors. Using the Harmony Cove and Greenfield developments, he gave the potential investors special insight into viable ways getting a piece of the action through indirect investment such as the local stock.

In a question and answer session that followed the presentations, former New York Councilwoman Una Clarke told the presenters that she was willing to assemble a cross section of New York investors to invest in the two projects which she lauded as "breathtaking."

Elsie Foster-Dublin, councilwoman and president of Highland Park, N.J., along with New York's Councilwoman Yvette Clarke, commended FOTA for their foresight in organizing the symposium and praised the association for their 22 years of being together and supporting the parish.

They urged the leaders of other Jamaican parishes organizations overseas to follow in the footsteps of FOTA.

The annual reunion weekend kicked of on Friday, May 28, 204 with revelers dancing to Falmouth's own Sly, Slick and Wicked Disco with Stevie Gregg at the control who took partiers back in time with oldies galore. The successful dance and the symposium seemed to energize the weekend as Trelawynies flocked Rockland County State Park in droves to attend FOTA's annual picnic.

According to the park police, some 5,000 attended. This was a total family affair as everyone had an opportunity to share with each other in what they brought.

According to Patrick Beckford, Chairman of FOTA, the weekend was a success, all funds from the weekend activities will go towards assisting basic schools throughout the parish.

The weekend activities were also sponsored by Senvia Money Transfer and Dennis Shipping, Co. Inc.

Derrick A. Scott
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June 2004