Seldom surprised, our CCRP tour organiser could hardly believe the overwhelming response to our Calabash excursion. She had to stop taking bookings when the numbers topped 100.

Last Sunday five busloads of these fun-loving folks arrived to find the perfect seating area reserved for them, great food stalls, and danced their way into the evening to Third World’s rousing music.

This literary festival, founded by Justine Henzell, Colin Channer, and Kwame Dawes, started in 2001 in the little town of Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, where Perry and Sally Henzell had made their home and created Jakes Hotel. Beyond that, they nurtured the Treasure Beach community and founded Breds Foundation, which has been promoting education, entrepreneurship, and sports. At the launch of the sports complex seven years ago, the conviviality or “livity” among residents from all walks of life gave us an insight into what all Jamaica could be if we had that synergy between business and community.

Therefore, what better place for Calabash than Treasure Beach, where locals and visitors could enjoy the warmth of the setting. The icing on the cake was the celebrity sighting of Angelina Jolie and Padma Lakshmi. Top Chef star Lakshmi found out that our Bombay mangoes were the most delicious she had ever tasted, posting photos and videos enjoying the fruit. Mutabaruka became the envy of the Jolie fans when he was pictured in an embrace with the world-famous star.

In her review of the festival for Essence magazine, writer Kristin Braswell quoted a fan of Calabash who described it as the “greatest likkle festival in the greatest likkle district in the greatest likkle country in the world”.

She explained, “Calabash is not a festival of pomp and who knows who. It’s an experience where you’ll sit next to a Pulitzer Prize-winning author or Oscar-nominated actress, share a rum punch and move into a midnight concert replete with dancehall and Afrobeat tunes. Here it’s art, not titles, that takes center stage.”

Jamaica shone at the festival, and we must single out Justine Henzell who, like the movie, was “everything, everywhere, all at once” for her beloved Calabash. She and her team garnered support from Amazon Audible, Jakes Hotel & Villas, The Jamaica Tourist Board, The Tourism Enhancement Fund, Wisynco Trading, the Embassy of the United States, the Canadian High Commission and individual donors, including author Beverley East.

Marubeni celebrates with JPS

Senior executives of Marubeni Power Company in Japan Ryota Kobayashi and Yuji Sato journeyed to Jamaica to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), in which they are significant investors. Regional and local Marubeni senior representatives Mohamed Majeed, Damian Obiglio, and Keisuke Harada accompanied their colleagues on courtesy visits to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith, Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President Metry Seaga, and PSOJ CEO Imega Breese McNab. Their discussions centred around continued cooperation between the two countries, which have well-established diplomatic relations since 1964.

Minister Johnson Smith was pleased to know that Jamaica’s Ambassador to Japan Shorna-Kay Richards is well known to Marubeni, who has supported some of her activities. The minister noted on social media, “We discussed Marubeni’s global work in renewables and #GreenTransition, as well as the correlation between #SustainableDevelopment, private sector investments and social cohesion.”

The issue of the cost of electricity supply to the commercial sector was discussed at the PSOJ meeting, against the backdrop of massive investments by Marubeni in increasing available capacity while reducing carbon footprint, in particular the South Jamaica Power Plant in Old Harbour.

Mr Seaga noted the ongoing process of incorporating emerging technologies in Jamaica and opportunities for Marubeni to further contribute to the Jamaican economy through the sharing of its long-standing and diverse global operating expertise. Founded in 1858, Marubeni is one of Japan’s largest industrial conglomerates.

A special Pentecost Sunday

I could not be at Calabash because it was Pentecost Sunday and a very special moment for our family as my brother Sydney ‘Tony” Lowrie was ordained a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. Tony is a retired University of Technology, Jamaica, lecturer in communications and a well-known public relations executive. As Deacon Ronnie Thwaites commented, we knew our late mother and special minister of the Eucharist Maisie Lowrie was “dancing in heaven” as she saw her son vested by her daughter Sandra.

We also witnessed the ordination to the priesthood of former Deacon Patrick Muchiri Kihugi and to the diaconate of Kurt Andrews, Colin Christie, Andrew Daley, Mark Hitchener, Anthony Jones, Andrew Thomas, Glendon Thomas, and Dario Wilks.

Led by Archbishop Kenneth Richards, clergy and congregants from parishes across Jamaica gathered at the National Arena for a day-long celebration of one of the most important feasts of the Christian church. The event was addressed by both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding. Coincidentally, they both attended Catholic high schools: St Catherine High, founded by the Sisters of Mercy and Campion College, founded by the Jesuits.

The combined choirs of the churches gave resonance to the worship. We were happy at the turnout of young people and the strong cadre of clergy, including lead organiser, our pastor, Father Richard Brown.

Now to use the spirited energy which graced the arena to nurture the values needed to bring comfort and hope to our people. There is a lot of work to be done and our churches have the schools, the services, the Sunday schools where they can make a meaningful impact. The real celebration of Pentecost is meaningful participation in the upliftment of our people.

Corpus Christi Procession

St Thomas Aquinas is hosting a procession to celebrate the Solemn Feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, June 11 together with Christ the King, Sts Peter and Paul, St Martin de Porres, Stella Maris, Holy Cross, and other parishes. The procession starts at St Thomas Aquinas and ends at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

“We are looking forward to this marvellous opportunity to give public witness to the wonderful mystery in the sacrament of the Eucharist, celebrating the true presence and divinity of Christ,” noted Father Clifton Harris.

They will have a special focus on the youth and anticipate strong participation from our first communicants and confirmation candidates.

The schedule is:

• Eucharistic Adoration at St Thomas Aquinas at 2:30 pm

• Corpus Christi Procession starting from St Thomas Aquinas at 3:00 pm

• Final Benediction at Sts Peter and Paul Church Hall at 5:30 pm.

The procession route is about two-and-a-half miles and will take approximately two hours. They will have two altar stations for benediction on the route. You may join at any point along the route or for the final benediction at Sts Peter and Paul church hall.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is executive chair of PROComm and CCRP.