Why can’t we have a yam festival?
THE cancellation of this year’s Easter Monday staging of the popular Trelawny Yam Festival left a decidedly bitter taste in the mouths of Trelawny residents, particularly those in the Southern section of the parish.
Although its not the first time that the annual festival, which began in 1997 has suffered a similar fate, this year more than ever, the residents including, a slew of farmers have felt a profound loss.
The news of the cancellation came at a time when there has been a resurgence of yam production in the parish, in the wake of the recent opening of the $16-million yam packaging facility at Wait-a-Bit in South Trelawny.
That facility is providing tremendous opportunities for yam farmers in the parish through the export of the produce to the USA and England.
Operators of the facility, Sure Exports Limited, plans to export roughly 120,000 pounds of yellow yams produced primarily by South Trelawny farmers to both countries on a monthly basis.
And bearing in mind too that there is a paucity of quality entertainment in the parish many communities in the parish were looking forward to the staging of the festival which is usually of a high standard.
Organised by the Southern Environment Agency (STEA) the festival– which has showcased yams in countless varieties, sizes and dishes– has over the years experienced phenomenal growth.
It was first held on the grounds of the Albert Town High School but later moved to the Albert Town square.
But as the event grew larger– at times attracting in the region of 15,0000 patrons –organisers took a decision to stage the 2007 event at the spacious Hague Agricultural Show Grounds in North Trelawny.
The decision, however, seemingly did not receive the full backing of the majority of yam farmers and patrons in the parish.
Subsequently, many farmers, as well as scores of residents from the southern section of the parish who usually support the festival, decided to boycott the event in protest against its staging at Hague.
STEA’s executive director, Hugh Dixon has cited a lack of funding for the cancellation of this year’s show.
“I would have really loved to get the level of sponsors and stakeholders on board to have allowed us as organisors and planners to put on a really good festival; (but) I can only do that if stakeholders participate in covering the costs,” Dixon has said.
He added that sponsorship anywhere in the region of $4 million would allow his organisation to stage the event.
But the absence of the festival this year has raised a number of questions in the minds of Trelawny residents.
Some are questioning STEA’S ability to garner the requisite sponsorship for staging such a festival, which has the potential to provide tremendous financial benefits for them.
While others are expressing the view that another entity should be formed with a view of staging a similar event.
Perhaps, MP for South Trelawny, Marissa Dalrymple Philibert should consider playing the lead role in such an initiative. Or maybe, a collaborated effort between STEA and the MP could do the trick.
Yam is too vital to the local economy of South Trelawny for it not to be promoted and celebrated.