Photo by Small Fry Stills
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In the
morning, there was a lot of
cooking by members of the Jeffrey Town Farmers’ Association for
disabled people and senior citizens of Jeffrey Town at our radio
station as we
have a kitchen there. The food was packaged along with drinks and
delivered.
Immediately
afterwards in the
afternoon, we started preparing things for the children of the
community for the Fun Day. There was a bounce about, even though
the weather wasn’t very good. It was similar to the weather in England.
In fact, it was so cold that I was wearing a coat that was given to me
by niece when I was in Brussels! Although the weather was
inclement, the children did enjoy themselves with their ice-creams and
food - and some received toys.
I didn’t
stay for the
entire day because we had our own Archer family re-union plus visitors
from abroad. I was knocked off
my feet that day! A lot of nieces and nephews plus my
grandchildren and great-children were there and many people stayed on
until late in the evening when they were playing music.
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This
year, we
were
unable to secure enough funds to put on the Jeffrey Town Breadfruit
Festival. However, everyone from far and wide was so disappointed,
that PANOS Caribbean stepped in to sponsor a free family fun day and
concert on the 19th of August.
A great
day was
had by all, with
live concert appearances by Jamaican artists Lovindeer, Pam
Hall, One Third and Kalie to name a few. In its usual style,
the Jeffrey Town Farmers' Association organised volunteers to
prepare the venue and build the stage. The children of the community
thoroughly enjoyed the free fun fair rides and
refreshments were provided by a few local people took stalls,
providing some mouth-watering jerk chicken, jerk pork and soft
drinks.
Everyone
hopes
that next year, we
will see the return of the Jeffrey Town Breadfruit Festival for
Emancipation Day, 2011!
In the spring, Maas Roy
reported:
“I'm pleased to inform everyone that the
Jeffrey
Town Grade 1 Health Centre was officially opened on April 16th.”
When asked whether the
event was well attended, Maas Roy had this to say:
"Oh lord - too well attended! It was
over-subscribed and we ran out of chairs. It was standing room only.
Also, it looked like most officials came one per car, so roads, side
roads, driveways, main road, yard - it was choc-a-block.”
So who was there?
“Major sponsors - Digicel Foundation
and Chase Fund. In addition, the Jamaica Ministry of
Health; Bobby Monatgue our local MP who's also the Minister of Local
Affairs & Community; St Mary Health Authority and a lot more
dignitaries - as well as Nurse Gordon who kept the clinic going
single-handedly for many years and is
now retired."
"R.White
Builders donated a
goat. It was a good thing that we know how to stretch food in Jeffrey
Town because the one goat made mannish water and curry goat
for the rice with plenty of gravy - and we had to
s-t-r-e-t-c-h it
to feed everyone. "
"Luckily, one of the hotels
in Ochi sent over
some platters to feed the dignitaries and the children at Jeffrey Town
Basic School recited an item to mark the occassion. By the time
I finished running around and seeing to this
and
that, and people calling me – the curry goat was all gone
– but I managed to get a small cup of soup.
But the day went very, very
well for Jeffrey Town.”
So Maas Roy - what
did
you wear? Were you dressed in your suit, etc?
"No! I had on my cargo pants
with the many, many pockets in and a polo shirt because I was busy
in charge of operations in the back. Building fires, putting up signs
and at one time directing traffic. I came out to the event when I
was called to watch the ribbon being cut by Nurse Gordon and to be
interviewed by TVJ I think. The interview was shown on the Monday and I
kept getting calls on my cell phone from all
quarters asking whether
I'd seen myself on television.
Unfortunately, I was on the farm.”
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