Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

FRANKLYN

WESTERN BUREAU:

Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Delano Franklyn, says the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) needs to place far more focus on the Jamaican diaspora with the aim of engaging them in the country's development.

Lauding the Trelawny Homecoming Committee and the Friends of Trelawny team that have been aggressively marketing a series of activities to coincide with the advent of Cricket World Cup 2007 in their parish, the minister challenged the JTB to get behind the wheels and drive the relationship between Jamaica and its overseas nationals.

Homecoming events

During Homecoming Week, there will be a number of activities commencing with a church service on Sunday, March 3, at the Falmouth Circuit of Baptist Churches. Visitors to the parish will also commemorate the 180th anniversary of the William Knibb Baptist Church.

On Tuesday, March 5, the Custos of Trelawny, Roylan Barrett, and Falmouth Mayor, Jonathan Bartley, will host a welcome party.

Two days later a Twenty20 cricket festival tagged 'Curry Goat Cricket Classic' will run from March 7-12 and a domino tournament from March 6-12.

A cultural concert will be held in Water Square on March 11 and a food exposition takes place on March 12.

"The diaspora community has always been very important to the Government of Jamaica and Jamaicans in the diaspora are capable of infusing a lot of cash into the economy on their visit to the country," Mr. Franklyn told a large gathering of attendees at the official launch of 'Trelawny Homecoming 2007' last Tuesday at Starfish Resort.

Commenting on the minister's statements, David Shields, the JTB's deputy director of tourism, who has responsibility for marketing, said that his organisation's 2006 programme and marketing activities with the diaspora had stepped up considerably and would continue through 2007.