2018 Festival Queen Contest Gets Under Way June 9

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is inviting members of the public to support the 2018 Miss Jamaica Festival Queen competition, which gets under way this weekend with parish contests.

Winners at the parish level will vie for the national crown at the coronation show scheduled to take place in Kingston on Emancipation Day, August 1.

On Saturday, June 9, parish coronations will take place at St. Mary’s Anglican Church Hall, Port Maria, St. Mary and Colonel’s Cove, Morant Bay, St Thomas, beginning at 8:00 p.m., while on Sunday, June 10, a competition will be held at Louise Bennet Garden Theatre, 36 Hope Road, Kingston, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

On Saturday, June 16, contestants will vie for the parish crown at Jockey Factory, Lucea, Hanover, and at Alpart Sports Club, Nain, St. Elizabeth, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Competitions continue on Saturday, June 23, at Glenmuir High School, 10 Glenmuir Road, May Pen, Clarendon, and at Sean Lavery Faith Hall, Lewis Street, Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

The final two events will be held at Bishop Gibson High School, Mandeville, Manchester, on Sunday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. and at Falmouth Cruise Port, Falmouth, Trelawny, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Director of Marketing and Public Relations, JCDC, Stephen Davidson, told JIS News that the parish coronations are a “good family show and just as exciting as the national competition”.

“It is important for persons to come out and to see what is happening, see how the young ladies can showcase themselves, and the training they have gone through,” he said.

He informed that the girls go through rigorous training sessions, which focus on leadership qualities, community involvement, cultural awareness, appreciation of the role of women, creative talent, deportment and current affairs.

“Once they participate in the competition, they really benefit from being a part of the programme and learn various skills, which they would carry on to other phases of their lives,” he pointed out.

Mr. Davidson told JIS News that leading up to the national coronation, the parish queens will participate in further training and various activities in Kingston, such as courtesy calls on the mayor, government ministers and sponsors.

He informed that the National Festival Queen is required to carry out an outreach or community development project focusing on youth or education.

“So, that is a very important component and, of course, that person is active year-round as a role model visiting schools, attending various events and functions,” he said.

The Festival Queen Competition, which began in 1963, is one of the highlights of the Emancipation and Independence celebrations.

For further information, persons are asked to contact the JCDC head office at 926-5726-9 or the JCDC parish offices island-wide. Members of the public can also visit the JCDC’s website at www.jcdc.gov.jm