Treasure Beach to serve fresh 'Bread'

New festival to replace Calabash

André Gordon, Gleaner Writer

Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth

The Treasure Beach community in St Elizabeth has come together to host a cultural festival following the decision of organisers to call it curtains on the Calabash International Literary Festival.

The new event, dubbed Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival, is being sponsored to the tune of $3 million by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

According to Judy Schoenbien, chairman of the south coast chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the group approached the TEF and was granted the funds.

"We would like to thank the TEF for recognising that the south coast is a valuable part of the Jamaican tourism product," she said.

"This is a real show of community participation," added JHTA South Coast Chapter councillor Jason Henzell.

"Calabash meant a lot to the community, but instead of crying about its absence, we have come together to launch a new brand and a festival. We believe the events that we do help to shape our identity. In a perfect world, we hope Calabash will be back on this weekend next year, and we hope to move this one to another weekend," he said.

The Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival will open on Friday, May 27, with Taino Cove hosting Culture Night.

The Breadbasket Festival organisers say the event is not meant to replace the Calabash Literary Festival and are also indicating to the Jamaican public that regular Calabash supporters are invited.

Calabash International Literary Festival provided a platform for the literary arts. The festival was first held in 2001 and had its final staging last year on its 10th anniversary.