Trelawny Homecoming - March '07 ....(Thru the eyes of Foody) Patrick Beckford e-mail: pbeckf01@yahoo.com

Friday - March 2nd
Arriving in Montego Bay started what was the most enjoyable return trip to Jamaica ever. In flight I had a conversation for the last hour or so with the Pursar of the flight who happen to be Tripey’s wife best friend, once we touched down she announced "Welcome to Jamaica and especially to those coming for Cricket and Trelawny Home Coming 2007"...aint that special.

I was blown over by the welcome as once the JTB folks realize we were here for the WC & HC we were shown express route to the Immigration officer. I was already pleased with the professionalism. Picking up the luggage (I had seven pieces for two of us) 3 boxes of stuff for Barracks School, the walk to customs was longer, but what a surprise the place was excellent, better than Newark Airport’s, the lady officer who dealt with me should be the example of how custom officers should operate all the time, she was only interested in the boxes, once she opened them and realize that they were school supplies, she even helped to get tape to re tape the boxes.

Getting my travel partner and I settled we went on a night tour of Falmouth to see the progress, things were looking up, despite my personal apprehension, thanks to my nephew who gave me the tour and could answer my questions. Herby’s place in Bottom Rock was our next move, ran into Massa, Paul and the gang drinking Vodka, conch soup and roast fish. John (my church brother from NJ) dived into the fried fish and dumpling, later we had steam fish and conch soup - to John he had not had anything so great in all his life.

Saturday - March 3rd
Morning was very adventurous...went to MoBay, for personal (hair cut etc) spent the evening in Falmouth as some invited friends from New York came in town and had to entertain at Falmouth Resorts.

Sunday - March 4th
What a glorious service at Knibb Baptists Church - Custos, MP, Mayor and others, spoke briefly on behalf of the HC group, nice when you go home and feel love of the folks. Meanwhile on Sunday met up with the Canadian posse who arrived on Friday, but spent a lot of time in MoBay visiting sick relative in hospital. Spent some time at Madge Hamilton- Fisher’s home at site, went up town and back to visiting a number of folks at the resort.

Monday - March 5th
Was awaken very early by my cell and later my nephew as I was scheduled for a live TV interview with Flo Logan, when I got to the Square I was turned off by this Simon guys attitude, so negative which got me steamed, I was really waiting to challenge him, however during the break I asked him why was he so negative and we got into a debate, he realized then I took offense to his negativity, and so by the time he interview both Flo and myself folks were asking how come he was so calm with us? After all this was a really great opportunity for Falmouth, Custos, MP Janet Silveria and some local craft and indigenous vendors were interviewed and got to showcase their products. We had the planned welcome home reception (given by Mayor and Custos) at Glistening Waters. During the day we had to travel with the Councilor who was making every effort with Mayor to ensure that the town was ready. Wow! A politician in Jamaica is such a stressful job; do not know how they do this on a daily basis. Folks who worked did not get pay, so that had to be dealt with as they want to block road and protest. Anyway the reception was excellent and everyone (business, social and other sectors of the Trelawny society was present). We ended up at Falmouth Resort where I met Meadows for the first time, HMN!!! and as usual Mr. Gracie started is favorite subject with the friends from New York, seem he was trying hard to engage me in the conversation in light of the “Are we Just Talkers Post” did not take the bite.

Tuesday - March 6th
Went to Burwood with John, was he blown over as Sunday evening when we first visited it was a little chilly and high tide, now he saw what I have always described to him the best public beach in the world now in its glory. Met Ms Elaine (Cornwall Street restaurant) , chatted, then we returned to Falmouth, to complaint by some of MP Harris’ supporters who mentioned that the police had lock up some youth who had done nothing, this told me that they were serious about know trouble makers. Returning home to get changed, I saw the Netherlands vs India, man I realized we could not pay for the free advertisement, the commentator described Falmouth, its history, what a beautiful view on the TV, if I did not know the place, I would want to visit. With tickets available from LOC, I had to distribute a lot to local folks as most of us were not really interested in going. Most folks were interested in Friday’s game India vs WI, of which I had but a few (more on this later) Later in the night we went to R&B for domino tournament, but the USA(NY) team did not show as they were not able to play the style of domino (code) and they were running late from an earlier visit. Despite that the locals played among themselves.

Wednesday - March 7th
I took the visitors to Upper Trelawny for 20/20 cricket game and their "Thompson Town Yam Festival" what a treat, the various games and competition and natural grown food been prepared. Further in Warsop we had the USA team vs local in a fun filled game as the mostly local teenagers took to ribbing the mostly older USA team, but I guess age/maturity prevailed as USA won by 7 runs. We journeyed back to Falmouth caravan style for an evening of festival, fry fish and other sumptuous snacks prepared compliments of Judy at the resort. Another excellent day!

Thursday - March 8th
Investment Seminar at Star Fish, however late start as we all just keep partying, also had to juggle at Falmouth Barracks school judging a reading competition. The presentation at the seminar was excellent; too bad a lot of the folks did not get to see this. I f all goes well we should be a parish well ahead of the rest of Jamaica. Kudos to former MP Keith Russell and his lovely wife for the foresight in development. Later in the afternoon Paul Earle arrived (and the trouble started). Despite the attendance the seminar was of a high quality and we hope repeated at some other opportune time. Later the evening another domino tournament at V’s place in Clarks Town.

Friday - March 9th
What a day, early they started to block off from shell as they started to set up the booths for the "Brand Trelawny Day", they were busy trying to complete the mason works at welcome, and so Ms Mac and myself got to work to put it back together. I had John with me and so we went to Rick( my nephew) to get a couple of guys to assist in the clean up, Ms Mac went and got Palms, I got Dunbar (Ms Helps son) to use his weed whacker to trim the place, while another youth started to "white wash" the walls. The sweltering sun was in my old body by this, had to cool down beer after beer, Mayor came by to offer his suggestions, while Tom Brown (Public Works) stopped by and gave the two young men I had with me contracts as all along I thought I was responsible to pay them. We also used the original stones to spell out "Welcome To Falmouth" had them whitewashed. The disheartening thing is I thought many locals would have been put to shame that I a "foreigner" had to come and take the lead, I guess my "Are we Talkers Posting" is definitely on the mark. Anyway in the end I was pleased with the look of the place and I asked the Chinaman to assist with the watering while a young organization - Youth Inc. promised they will see to it’s maintenance. Funny, a young man was on the other side in the shade watching us all along, when I called the guys working for me to get them some patties and drinks he had the audacity to ask me for a Guinness, a lady who operate the store across (Barber Palmer’s premises ) took him on as I ignored his request. All the while I had hoped to go see WI vs India warm up game as it had promised to be great, well WI got their butts handed to them and so we had to go to Herby’s at Rock as Massa and the guys had planned a goat feed after the game for us. I wish all games at the stadium finish this early, because all the folks who went were not ready to go home and so the invaded Falmouth, all the bars, restaurants were overflowing with folks, now folks start to see the connections in reality of the stadium.

I was so tired when I got home took a shower and fell asleep, had to be awaken as I needed to get ready for the Ball as the GG etc were expected at 9:30pm. Made the Ball, all was well Ancel at gate like Fort Knocks, GG arrived spent time been introduced and had to sit like a well behaved young man at the head table. Had a really good debate with them about the Diaspora and wanting to feel totally belonged and not used when they need good prop and how difficult it is when we want a loan how we have to put up with so much hassle. Anyway the entertainment for the ball was arranged by Bim and it was great, we all had a superb time, till the place closed. Once that was over we all trekked to Glistening Waters to catch the end of the John Holt Show in progress, then to get some sleep for Saturday.

Saturday
After only a few hours sleep I decided that John and I would head to Burwood, while my nephew get some well deserved rest. At Burwood, we ran into Raggy, Father Hyatt, Man Man, Big and Little Pugh among the folks who went for an early dip. When we went to Herby at Rock they were just cleaning up from Friday having just got a few hours sleep, so we went into Falmouth to see the place already buzzing with Councilor making last minute fixtures etc, I sent John home to get ready, while I do some running around myself as we noticed the GG’s entourage on its way to the square to hit the Brand Trelawny Celebration. Going home to get ready I could already feel the energy, as you could here the description on live radio with Stephenson MC from the square. Johnkunoo, leading the effort in Falmouth, Dreadlocks guys with some superb drumming, Kumina, and Breda John type folks to kick off the entertainment. The town was buzzing already this early as no traffic from Shell to Market & Duke Streets. Market Street was turned into a full food court. Meanwhile the crowd just kept building, money was flowing, vendors were doing excellent especially the food court who had not enough to sell. Wow I saw someone who I had not seen in 30+ years, what a sight, Paul Stewart, Carrie Johnson, Count, Glanville of NCB fame, Venora Marrett, Bev Davis among the old friends. What a great historic evening, entertained in your home town with 50,000 other folks incident free, not an arrest even for drunkenness. Shaggy, BL&D, Third World, Nadine Sutherland Luciana, Luvindeer, Lucky Dube from South Africa, a DJ Cop (local police), I could not leave until the last song "Amazing Grace" sung by Luciana at 4:00 am Sunday Morning.

Sunday Morning
After I got in John was supposed to be leaving for the airport, I opened my eyes, the next time I jumped up and did realized my niece in law took him to the airport, wow! dodged the bullet. I then went to Herby at Rock for breakfast with Massa and the boys, Ackee & salt fish, corn pork and ackee, goat liver, banana, fry green plantain gushed down with ginger beer, then on to Falmouth stopping at various spots, of note is the cleanliness of the square, damn good job in after clean up. I was told sometime after 3:00 pm residents in droves were heading to the square to watch the opening ceremony on the 4 jumbo Tran screens provided as a part of the HC committee’s request. I was picked up by my friend of over 30+ years whom I had not seen and traveled to the stadium, the site and memory of going into a stadium in my home town sent chills up my spine. I leave the description to the remainder of the day to the best word I can find just absolutely fantastically historically the greatest. Ending with a Gucci type fireworks, I can now be called to glory. Now on to making this property work for our town.

Monday
This day we had planned to go back to Barracks school, I went early and visited a few classes relating to the student, I encourage all who visit during school time to spend even a half hour with the children. After a brief concert we ended the day serving the children and teachers with ice cream and other snacks from Spree Boy’s cart. To see Cleve Grant, Ms One, John John and other working the kids was just awesome, what a day. I ended the day with the finals of the domino tournament with Deefix bar team taking the J$30,000:00 prize money over a Clarks Town Team at Falmouth Resort. What a fulfilling 11 days, I was so happy that I spent all this time to witness history in my home town.

Finally as a result of my friend’s visit my church is planning on taking a team of 20 - 30 to do a project in Falmouth in July. So now the talk is 2009 a similar week of activities, suggestions please, we must make this work, it is our stadium, let us show the rest of naysayer’s that together we can make this work to our fellow citizens benefit.

PS:
Despite Pablo Earle’s absence, he called in after every event to get a report form me and others, but some say he was just wanting to keep an eye on me and his legacy from January.

link: >>> HOMECOMING PHOTOS

--by: Patrick Beckford
March 2007