Trelawny Parish Reunion for New York, May 27 – 29

WASHINGTON, DC – Just over 7,000 persons from Trelawny who reside in the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, and the United States, will gather in New York on the Memorial weekend holiday (May 27 to 29) for the 30th annual parish reunion.

This calendar event organised by the Friends of Trelawny Association (FOTA), is under the distinguished patronage of Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey P. Marks.

Activities for the weekend will begin on May 27 with a welcome reception and dinner at the Fish Eye Bar and Grill in Brooklyn, New York.  On Saturday, May 28, the 7th  Annual Trelawny Business Symposium and Expo will be held at the International JFK Airport Hotel in Queens, New York. 

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Hon. Noel Hylton, O.J. will deliver the keynote address, while panellists will include Falmouth's Mayor, Colin Gager; Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Dr. Patrick Harris; Vice President and General Manager of Scotia Jamaica Building Society, Gladstone Whitelocke  as well as representatives of Royal Cruise Lines. 

The forum will be moderated by Division Manager for Transportation Engineering for the city of Orlando, Florida, Charles Ramdatt who is from Falmouth.  Following the symposium, election for vacant positions on the Board of FOTA will be held.

According to President of FOTA, Caroldine Smith, the symposium will showcase and promote business and investment opportunities in Trelawny.  It will also highlight the myriad of exciting business developments in the parish and the emerging opportunities. Attendees will be informed about the developments and reinvestment opportunities in the parish. 

Mrs. Smith pointed out that the Trelawny reunion weekend grew out of a handful of families gathering on the Sunday of memorial weekend in Rockland County State Park in Nyack, New York, to now over 7,000 former and current residents.  She explained that because of the popularity of the picnic and the large  numbers of persons who attend, the event had to be moved from the original park to its current location at the Anthony Wayne Park, to accommodate the gathering.

"Trelawny is the only parish outside of Jamaica to stage an annual weekend event of this magnitude.  It reunites old friends, brings together a mix of the young and old, gives one an opportunity to reminisce and provides an opportunity to see how former residents can assist their beloved parish," she said.

The activities will climax on Sunday, May 29 with the staging of the 30th anniversary picnic at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Park. The picnic will be declared open at 1:00 pm by Ambassador Marks, which the day's activities including various sporting activities, such as soccer, volleyball, cricket, and dominoes.

This year's re-union is being sponsored by Scotia Bank, Western Union, Grace Kennedy, Fish Eye Bar and Grill, Gore Housing Development, and Holland Estates.