THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JUNE 2 - JULY 2, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 6 Sophia Findlay/Gleaner Writer TORONTO: GLOBALLY, JAMAICANS are gearing up to celebrate the country’s diamond jubilee, come August 6. In the lead-up to the milestone anniversary, the Jamaica Tourist Board recently hosted a Canadian diaspora press trip to the island for journalists from several media houses. The media practitioners, who are Jamaicans, used the four-day excursion in the capital, Kingston, and attractions in St Mary and Portland, to experience, explore, and re-connect to their roots. Their follow-up mission is to entice Jamaicans in the diaspora to visit during this year of celebration. Among the enchanting offerings were guided tours of the Craighton Coffee Estate, located over 3,000 feet in the Blue Mountains ,and the SunValley Plantation in Oracabessa, St Mary. Jerome Thomas of the Craighton Coffee Estate, who did an educational-packed presentation on how the coffee plants grow, and how the beans are reaped and processed, remarked that women are usually commissioned to help with selecting the best beans. “Women are considered gentler in picking out the beans and choosing the right colour, because that sex is not considered colour-blind,”he stated. “In order for coffee to be labelled ‘Blue Mountain’ it has to grow in the Blue Mountains, [just] as champagne in Champagne, France,” he pointed. Craighton Estate is now owned by the Japanese Ueshima Coffee Company, who directly manages the estate and exports most of the coffee beans to Japan. The group visited the statue of Jamaican reggae legend, Bob Marley, Heroes Park, the National Stadium and Devon House, a heritage site and one of the island’s most celebrated historic landmarks which is the architectural dream of Jamaica’s first black millionaire, George Stiebel. The heritage site also boasts the flagship store of the popular Devon House I-Scream that has over 27 flavours of ice cream, including‘Devon Stout’and‘Strong Back’. The tour included the new Devon House facility designed in honour of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, which was opened recently by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. Called the Edward Seaga Suite, it is a space that may be used for weddings and other events. The Duppy Rumwas also unveiled to honour the late head of state. In fact, an interactive cooking session was put on for the media delegation to learn about and make a traditional Jamaican Sunday dinner. The wordsmiths learned about the areas surrounding the Blue Lagoon and the Monkey Islands during the boat tour operated by Norman Livingston, commonly known as ‘Boxer’, who has guided celebrity guests, including Beyonce, Rihanna, and Tom Cruise. He pointed out, and gave commentary on, the unique homes featured in Hollywood blockbuster films such as Cocktail, NoTime to Die, TheMighty Quinn, and Barbadian Rihanna’sMan Down video, shot in Portland. Piggy’s Jerk Centre, a popular eating spot during the filming of NoTime to Die for British actor Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond, was a pit stop that served spicy jerk chicken and festival, washed down with bottled coconut water. But it was Sun Valley Plantation in St Mary that is the highly recommended must-see for visitors who want to learn about the flora and fauna associated with the island. Lorna Binns, and her son, Brian, presented an educational walk through on a section of the 34-acre property which bore Jamaica’s national flower, the lignum vitae, and national tree, the Blue Mahoe, and later a cooked version of the national dish, ackee and salt fish. Herbs, flowers and trees of all sorts, including black pepper, allspice, jackfruit, breadfruit, sugar cane, fever grass, mint, rosemary, avocado pear, green bananas, plantains, otaheite apples, mammee and their specialty, coconuts. The 90-minute tour involved seeing specimens from the era of slavery to Jamaica’s national bird, the hummingbird, otherwise known as the doctor bird. Aloe vera, commonly called sinkle Bible’, was showcased and its exponentially healing properties demonstrated. It’s a great teachingmoment for parents in the diaspora to introduce their children to their Jamaican heritage. In the meantime, the Harbour View Roundabout street food experience, the IrishTown Café operated by Natoya McFarlane, and Gloria’s in Port Royal, would authenticate the Jamaican food and culture experience, magnifying the eclectic and organic offerings of the island. For culture, The Kingston Dub Club is the leading spot for conscious roots reggae music and entertainment in the capital city. Located in the hills of St Andrew, with a bird’s- eye view of Kingston, the place encourages dancing and friendly revelling. The launch of Jamaica 60 Canada was held on March 26 in Toronto, and an array of events are scheduled across Canada tomark the diamond jubilee of Jamaica’s Independence. The illumination of the Niagara Falls on August 6 and many flag-raising ceremonies in different cities across the country are A tantalising cultural reconnect - Canadian diaspora media enjoy island hotspots for Jamaica 60 At her Irish Town Cafe, Natoya McFarlane serves up a scrumptious meal of jerk snapper, complemented with festival, fried bammy, roasted breadfruit and sweet potato. PHOTOS BY SOPHIA FINDLAY Lorna Binns, and her son Brian of Sun Valley Plantation in St. Mary. Devon House’s senior tour guide, Barbara Beckford. Norman Livingston, popularly known as ‘Boxer’ at the world-famous Blue Lagoon attraction in Portland. jamaica at
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