Friends of the Georgian Society of Jamaica

Georgian Jamaica December Issue - "Exciting developments planned..."

The  Hon. Philip Paulwell, Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, unveiled exciting plans for the planned transformation of Jamaican post offices to meet the demands of the age of the Internet when he spoke at the function arranged by Dr. James Parrent, chair of the Falmouth chapter of theGeorgian Society of Jamaica, and  the Postal Corporation of Jamaica,  to recognise the FGSJ's contribution to the restoration of the Post Office building.  This was good news for the restored building's future and the occasion also broke new ground for the Georgian Society in being the first function to be honoured by the presence of a government minister. 

Dr. Blossom O'Meally Nelson, Postmaster General, who won hearts with a lively speech, also outlined her plans for the establishment of a postal museum in the restored building.  The Jamaican postal service has a long history, being the first to be introduced in a British colony. 

The  function was addressed also by the Custos of Trelawny, the Hon. Roylan Barrett, a stalwart and long time supporter of the preservation of historic Falmouth; His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Jonathan Bartley and Dr. Patrick Harris, MP for Northern Trelawny. George Faria, President of the Georgian Society of Jamaica welcomed the visiting group from the FGSJ,  and James

Parrent gave a full account of the progress of the restoration. Two cultural items were presented, firstly by Antonett Henry and the Bellevue Primary and Junior High, and  then by  the Wakefield Tambu Dance Group.  Both earned enthusiastic applause from the assembled company. 

Dr. Pamela Beshoff, who attended with 15 other FGSJ members in Jamaica on a fortnight's tour of Georgian sites, outlined their explorations in St. James, Hanover, Clarendon, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, St. Mary, St. Ann and Trelawny.  She described how tour members were greeted with great warmth by local people, who gave  invaluable help  in   locating remote sites.  The FGSJ president  stressed   the socie- ty's continuing interest in Falmouth, but noted  en      passant that the church clock, whose repair the FGSJ had funded in 1996, had appar - ently stopped working. She also pointed to the benefits the local business community might  expect to reap were Falmouth to be transformed into a heritage site on the lines of Colonial Williamsburg in the United States. Other speakers touched on the need for a strategy for Falmouth now that the North Coast highway was by-passing the town and also took up the Willamsburg theme.

The local MP made the point that the establishment of a slave museum should form a part of  the historical record  in any  heritage plan.