Persons from Trelawny Gather for Reunion this Month

Persons from Trelawny who are now residing in the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe and the United States will gather in New York from May 25 to 28, for their annual reunion weekend. The annual reunion, which is in its 25th year, is organized by Friends of Trelawny Association (FOTA), under the distinguished patronage of Jamaica’s Ambassador to the USA, Professor Gordon Shirley. Some 8,000 persons are expected at the reunion. Activities for the weekend get underway on May 25 with an awards dinner/ dance and recognition ceremony at Chef’s Orchid Restaurant at JFK Airport Building in Queens, New York, and culminate with the 25th reunion picnic at the Rockland County Park in Nyack, New York. The main highlight of the dinner will be the public recognition of the original organizers of the first picnic held in May 1982, including Mr. and Mrs. Horace Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Brown and the first FOTA President, Mrs. Carlise Mullings. FOTA will also honour Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Air Jamaica, and Grace Kennedy for their continued sponsorship over the years.
Custos of Trelawny, Hon. Roy Barrett, will deliver the keynote address. Falmouth’s Mayor, Jonathan Bartley; Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Dr. Patrick Harris and Florence Logan, former President of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will be among the special guests. Bevan ‘Bim’ Green, from Falmouth, will entertain with his one-man band, while patrons will dance to the sounds of DJ Rocky from Brooklyn. On May 27 at the 25th anniversary picnic at the Rockland County Park, there will be sampling of various yam products from Southern Trelawny, displays by VMBS, GraceKennedy, Jamaica National and Western Union. The day will also feature various sporting activities, such as soccer, volleyball, cricket and dominoes. Funds raised at the event this year will go toward providing scholarships for students from the parish attending the University of the West Indies; and assist a number of high school students with their first year fees.