Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Egbert Hamilton (right) of Trench Town Craft Producers shows his wares to teachers Rachel Boxhill (left) and Kezia Page at the 'Kumba Mi Yabba' art and crafts fair at Devon House, St. Andrew, yesterday.

Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

If you are still uncertain about gift ideas just days before Christmas, you could consider the Kumba Mi Yabba Christmas Village art and crafts fair at Devon House, St. Andrew.

Now in its fifth year, the fair offers 141 producer stalls selling local arts and crafts, including clothes, ceramics, woodwork, sculptures, accessories and, of course, traditional foods.

Launched yesterday, the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC-organised event is also intended to provide a show window for craftsmen and women. The event will be open all weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. free to the public.

"You don't have to buy anything that's made anywhere else," urged JBDC Chairman Doreen Frankson, who as president of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association has spearheaded the 'Buy Jamaican, Build Jamaica' campaign. Mrs. Frankson insisted that all her gifts this year were locally made.

Liguanea-based Bellina Collection, which makes painted woodcraft, was one of the stalls present yesterday. What has been a bumper season this year means that shoppers will need to visit the stall to buy their products, handmade by an artist and a carpenter, said office clerk Camille Ricketts, who manned the stall.

Out of stock

"We are out of stock and have had to be refusing people ... A lot of people this year are buying the goods and sending them overseas," said Ms. Ricketts.

Foreign sales have boosted the fortunes of Egbert Hamilton of Trench Town Craft Producers. Sculpting from alabaster stone since 1969, Mr. Hamilton said the fair was an opportunity to meet with customers who might otherwise not venture into inner-city communities such as his own.

"I think that it's mostly foreigners more than Jamaicans who are buying, but I think more people do buy now to send to relatives overseas," he added.

- ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com