Half-Way Tree, the culture capital

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

In an effort to bring more life to Mandela Park in Half-Way Tree and do more for the creative industries in Jamaica, Joan Webley, of Nanook Enterprises, came up with the idea for Half-Way Tree Live.

At Monday's launch of the event in the park, Webley said it was a "culmination and the beginning of a 10-year dream".

She explained that the park was under-used. In addition, Webley said the park had an amazing amphitheatre, perfect for the creative arts.

"Really, I just got frustrated of reading research reports and recommendations of what needs to be done in the creative industries and no one is doing it," she told The Gleaner.

"I love it, I love this music, I love being Jamaican, and that's an important part of me. So the Half-Way Tree Live project is really about celebrating all things Jamaican."

At Half-Way Tree Live, Webley said there would be a children's village, drama, poetry, dance, music and even a food village.

Some of this was also on show at the launch.

There were performances from the dance group Fyah, poets like Yasheka Graham, Omaro and Majah Bless, and recording artiste Anthony Cruz.

Excellent venture

There was also a demonstration from Grace Foods.

Executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Joan Gordon-Webley, was also at the launch and lauded it as an excellent venture.

"We are going to do whatever it takes to lift it up. And, we know that this is going to be very big," she said.

Meanwhile, Webley said she was optimistic about the first staging of the event, which will take place from December 13-19. It will be held on a quarterly basis thereafter, with the next one scheduled to take place in March.

"I am cautiously optimistic. I think what we are offering is a very great project and it's really a minimal charge; $500 for adults and $200 for children. And that is really to keep numbers down and crowd control. But I am not too concerned," Webley said.

While she is optimistic, Webley said she knew there were some people who might be scared to come to the park for fear of crime and violence. However, she said extra security measures would be put into place.

"I would be naive to think that they wouldn't be (scared). We have been very strategic about it and we are working with the NSWMA and they already have security in the park, and we will be beefing up that security. We are working with the police. The aim of the project is to revitalise this space. Historically, it was 'the' meeting place for people, and we would like for it to be that again," she told The Gleaner.