The parish of St. Elizabeth will be on show up to November 25, with several activities and festivities celebrating the 17th Annual St. Elizabeth Homecoming Week.

The celebrations, which began on November 2, will promote investment, and the tourism and cultural aspects of the parish, showcasing the best of what the parish has to offer, as well as highlighting the outstanding achievements of parishioners locally and internationally.

Outlining this year's festivities at a press launch at the Medallion Hall Hotel, in Kingston, today (November 11), Chairman of the Homecoming Week Committee, Mr. Kenry Jackson, explained that the schools' motivation programme had already been held on November 2, as well as the National Health Fund-St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation 6k run and walk at Holland Bamboo on November 8.

On Sunday, November 15, a Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Emmunus Gospel Chapel, Balaclava; while on Thursday, November 19, an agricultural expo will be staged in Santa Cruz, at the Sharon Baptist Church Hall. On Friday, November 20, an important land titling forum will be hosted at the St. Mathews Anglican Church Hall in Kingston, and on Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24, there will be bus tours of tourism and cultural sites across the parish. The festivities will culminate with the Golden Awards Banquet and Ball on Wednesday, November 25, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, in Kingston.

In a message read by Principal Director of Culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Sydney Bartley, the Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange said that over time, the Government has given its support to the Foundation, specifically through the Social Development Commission (SDC).
"The SDC has worked with the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation in the staging of a farmers' forum in the parish, typifying the successful collaboration between the Foundation and the SDC," she added.

Pointing to other support being given to the Foundation and the parish as a whole, Miss Grange noted that last week, a high level team led by Chairman of the SDC, Mr. Lloyd Pummell, visited the Goshen Sports Complex to assess the repairs needed for the complex, which suffered hurricane damage a few years ago.

"The repairs include putting in a slab roof, repairing the perimeter fence and resurfacing the multi-purpose courts. The plan is also to fence off a section of the grounds for use as a play area for children attending the Goshen early childhood institution located on the property. We have also determined that management of the complex is in need of improvement and I have taken the decision that two Officers of the SDC will work with the management team at the complex," she outlined. The Braes River Sports complex will also receive some attention, with support from the SDC.

Meanwhile, she noted that the SDC has provided support for the planning and execution of domino and netball competitions in the Maggotty area.
Turning to activities by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD), another agency of the Ministry, Miss Grange highlighted the establishment of a Youth Information Centre at the SDC premises in Santa Cruz, as well as the adoption of the Black River Primary School for the purpose of creating a satellite Youth Information Centre.

"The Youth Information Centre is the resource centre for young people where they can access the Internet and are exposed to empowerment sessions for personal development. They are also informed about employment and scholarship opportunities," she explained.

"With the great work that the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation is doing, and with the efforts of the Government, the parish of St. Elizabeth is in good hands," Miss Grange said.

The Homecoming celebrations are sponsored by the Jamaica National Building Society, Capital and Credit Merchant Bank, Wray and Nephew Limited, Sports Development Foundation, Air Jamaica, FiMi Wireless, Medallion Hall Hotel, Sunshine Auto Parts, Sea Splash Hotel, Idler's Rest, The Gleaner Company, JEN Auto Sales Brokerage and Repairs Limited, and the Development Bank of Jamaica.