Mark Titus, Freelance Writer
Gleaner employees hard at work as they rush to count Western Focus money during The Gleaner's Grand Western Focus Auction at Dump-Up Beach in Montego Bay on Saturday. The bids were not considered final until all the money was counted. - photos by Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU
Montego Bay came alive with the staging of The Gleaner's Western Focus auction on Saturday, where enthusiastic readers spent more than $10 million to bid for prizes.
The event, where bidders could only use Western Focus cash coupons, which had denominations of $5,000, $4,000, $2,000 and $1,000, attracted hundreds of patrons from across western Jamaica.
"Mi a collect Focus money from the first day them start print inna the paper last September," said Courtland Watson, an avid Gleaner reader from Black River, St. Elizabeth.
Mr. Watson was the first to arrive at the auction venue inside the Dump-Up Beach Park with his briefcase filled with $2.4 million in Western Focus cash.
His winning prizes were a pair of Guess? eyeglasses courtesy of City Optical and a 20" television set sponsored by Getway Services.
"Every auction di Gleaner put on mi go, even the one dem a Kinston," added Mr. Watson.
Patrons cut out Western Focus money moments before the start of The Gleaner's Grand Western Focus Auction at Dump-Up Beach in Montego Bay on Saturday January 20, 2007. Additional copies of the Western Focus were on sale at the venue for persons who wanted to increase their bidding power.
It was a carnival-like atmosphere at the event where Montego Bay's DJ Kentucky provided musical selections, while 2006 Digicel Rising Stars finalist, Inga Stewart, gave an upbeat performance
The auctioneer was Linkz FM's Steve 'DJ' Patrick. Lucky bidders took home prizes such as a 30-gallon water heater, a seven cubit-foot refrigerator, an entertainment centre, a three-piece patio set, a plant stand and table, a bathroom vanity set and a digital camera.
One female patron who made several unsuccessful bids, resorted to selling her Western Focus cash to her stronger competitors. She raked in at least $500 in her 'quick- thinking' scheme.
Editor-in-chief of The Gleaner, Garfield Grandison, said he was impressed with the crowd turnout. "This shows that the public is reading the product, and indicates the kind of support it is getting."
"This is just a start. The Gleaner will be hoping to do this through the various regions," he stated.
Other corporate sponsors who partnered with The Gleaner were Discount Lumber & Hardware, Tank-Weld Metals, Jacque's Treasure, ShopSmart, Custom Marble and Designs, Computerz & Beyond and Linkz FM.
Left: Patrons compete against each other as they bid for an entertainment centre, courtesy of ShopSmart. A resounding success, the event saw some 200 patrons and more than 90 bidders competing for items such as a seven cubit-foot refrigerator, a 20-inch television and a 30-gallon electric water heater. The Western Focus is published in the Thursday Gleaner in all five parishes of the county of Cornwall. The event was carried live by Links 96FM. Right: Her number is torn but she is still competing. This anxious patron was one of the more than 90 bidders who turned up for The Gleaner's Grand Western Focus Auction at Dump-Up Beach, in Montego Bay.
