A view of Falmouth Water Square in Trelawny. - File

TRELAWNY is already experiencing the presence of visitors who have journeyed for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC).

The parish capital, Falmouth, is expected to be buzzing in a few days as the date for the tournament's opening ceremony draws closer. Development interests in the parish have pledged to ensure many of the visitors who are here for Cricket World Cup not only see the event, but taste the rich history and culture of the parish.

Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Dr. Patrick Harris, has noted that while the CWC will be around for just a few days, Trelawny has a magnificent chance of selling itself as a return destination for tourists.

Parishioners have noted that now, more than ever, the concept of community tourism means so much, they won't allow the opportunity to pass. Under the name Brand Trelawny, they have developed a two-day festival which will showcase the heritage and culture of a parish which once had the most sugar plantations in Jamaica.

As Dr. Harris puts it, Trelawny is "seeking to maximise the effect of the community in this period of time and to go on into another 20 to 25 years of sustained development."

Biggest weekends

Trelawny, with arguably one of the biggest weekends of the World Cup (West Indies playing India in a warm-up match on March 9 and the Opening Ceremony on March 11) - will close off Water Square in Falmouth to facilitate an important part of its Brand Trelawny idea. The two-day fiesta will feature music, industries and cultures of the rustic parish.

The picture painted by Janet Silvera, event manager of Brand Trelawny, is one of awe.

Imagine some 60 booths lining Water Square all offering things uniquely Trelawny. The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC),which have been assigned responsibility to decorate the town, says it will be very pretty.

"The town will be adorned with national colours of Caribbean countries ... lamp posts, the entrance to the town, the fountain. Just about everything," Michael Nicholson of the JCDC says.

With a well decorated town in the backdrop, the best of Trelawny - from yam fruit cake to craft - will be brought into the foreground.

"We have gone into the different communities and selected the best of Trelawny to be showcased at the expo for the two days," Ms. Silvera says.

During this two-day festival, which starts on March 10, Water Square will be closed off to vehicular traffic. Celebrations will culminate with a One Love concert in the square. The concert will feature top South African Reggae Act Lucky Dube and reggae band African Drum Cafe. Local acts include Third World, Richie Stephens, Byron Lee and Dragonaires along with Nadine Sutherland.

A brand to be nurtured

It, however, will not be the last of Brand Trelawny as Ms. Silvera says it will be nurtured and made even bigger with each passing day.

"We are hoping that at the end of this, Trelawny will be known as the parish that is buzzing. The parish with the potential to take you to the 21st century of the sporting arena.

"We were the 18th century commercial capital, we are now the 21st century sporting arena and we are going to ensure, that everybody that comes into this parish understands that this parish is the parish of the future," Ms. Silvera adds.