Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2000, Taniesha McGhie greets Minister of Local Government, Arnold Bertram, after helping herself to a variety of Jamaican dishes served at the JCDC 'Thank you after work session' held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, Kingston. THE TURN out at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, Ranny Williams Entertainment Complex, for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission JCDC 'Thank You' after-work session was rather disappointing.
Originally slated for August 24, the event had to be put off because of inclement weather, spurred on by Hurricane Debby.
Marcia Hextall, executive director of the JCDC, said she expected more guests, but felt the low turn-out could have been because of the postponement.
Lovers of Jamaican culture who attended, enjoyed an evening of reflections as the JCDC showed re-runs of the JIS cultural programme, 'Festival Focus', hosted by the talented Christopher 'Johnny' Daley, as 'Pa Ben'. Patrons watched a selection of the best performances for 2000 and some from the past. There were even clips from the 1950s.
Festival then seemed to have been a much more vibrant event, with national support.
Guests indulged in an offering of Jamaican culinary delight. A buffet of peppered shrimp, fried fish, stamp and go, sweet potato pudding, gizzada, grater cake and drops were available for the taking.
Among those in attendance were Arnold Bertram, Minister of Local Government and Taniesha McGhie, Miss Festival Queen 2000.
