St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation gets new head

She has been less than two months in charge, but Suewon Burton is settling in comfortably as CEO of the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation.

Burton, who hails from Banton Town, Top Hill in the south of the parish, was initially contracted to help plan one of the Foundation's events, but after an internship of sorts with long-time CEO G. George Watson, she was offered the post. A Hampton old girl ("best school in Jamaica"), Burton also majored in International Relations at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, with a minor in Criminology.

"But while I was at UWI, I always wanted a job where I could give back to my parish," she said. The Foundation provides that opportunity, and Burton says she wants to continue the work started by Watson and and the founding directors.

"I want to incorporate the old tendencies with some of the new ideas that I have, including the use of technology," she said. "What we want to do is continue to push for the socio-economic development of the parish." Homecoming Week celebrations were in November, so the next big event is the annual brunch in March.

"We're hoping to raise some funds to put towards our scholarship fund," Burton explained. "We are planning to give bursaries and grants to students from primary schools, for now." There is also the Scribbles Early Childhood Centre that is in dire need of educational material and furniture. Burton has been with the foundation for just about a year but "it feels like forever".

community development

"I absolutely adore the work the Foundation has done," she said. "A lot of persons are not aware that we do much behind-the-scenes work, so while we may not be on the forefront, we are there pushing for development in whatever way we can." Burton said she now truly appreciates the effort that goes into planning events and spoke about the weekly meetings, the meticulous analysis after each event is done, and the intense planning before the next one begins. She also manages the Foundation's website and Facebook account, so her days are usually busy, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I am from the parish and I know the hardships that some people face out there," she said. "So things I would have wanted for myself, I would love to give back to them in whatever way I can."

- D. K.