Mandeville Lions have much to roar about

Special guest chef, Teddy Price (left), serves his fish Italiano to patrons.
Winston Sill, Freelance Photographer

Barbara Ellington, Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT of the Lions Club of Mandeville, Marvin Johnson has much to be proud of.

"I find it interesting," he says of the organisation of which he's been a member for 10 years.

"I've achieved 90 per cent of the targets I set myself at the start of my administration," he said at a recent staging of the club's annual 'Men Who Cook' fund-raiser. It was held at poolside of Alpart's Bloomfield Housing Complex, Montego Bay.

The event has become so popular, people journey from as far as Kingston and St. James to partake of the 11 mouth-watering entrees prepared by some of the island's top politicians, businessmen and entertainers.

This year, the following were a treat for the gastronomic senses: Maxi Bell's curried goat a la Mandeville, John Junor's gira pork and chicken which simmered while he showed off his basket of exotic spices; Tim Damon chose a New Orleans theme of masks and coloured beads to showcase his chicken in piquant sauce, while Trevor Lue's chicken and fish Chinese style, proved too succulent to resist.

Erwin Burton carved away at his Grace country pride ham, while patrons sipped assorted juices and David Panton explained his method of preparing jerky shrimp with confidence that would make Wolfgang Puck burst with pride.

Actor, Teddy Price's culinary skills have been in demand in recent times, and he was invited to be the special guest chef of the Lion's Club. He prepared shrimp Italiano and dispensed cooking tips to patrons eager to learn his secrets.

Mr. Johnson said the focus of the club this year is health with emphasis on diabetes and eye care.

"A Canadian vision care team recently visited and saw over 900 persons over a two-day period; doing testing and issuing glasses. The Cansee team, also from Canada, visited and performed 70 cataract surgeries in two days, assisted by Mandeville doctors," he said. The Mandeville Lions also focus on young males, giving them talks about their rights and responsibilities with a view to garnering positive changes in their behaviour. "We want to help them because they are falling behind the girls," Mr. Johnson said.

The Mandeville Lions Club, with the assistance of USAID, has completed phase one of a health and civic centre facility, located on Wint Road. They also assist with fire and road safety education in schools.

Ongoing projects are: Hanbury Home, The Manchester Infirmary, New Hope Children's Home and the School of Hope.

"We are in discussions with other service clubs, the church and Mandeville Weekly on the "Dedicated to the Development of the Disabled" (3 Ds), programme. We need to find a new home for those persons," Mr. Johnson said.

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