Councillor for the Maroon Town Division of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Everes Coke has announced that plans are being finalized for the return of the Flagstaff Emancipation Festival on August 1, this year.
Speaking at a community stakeholders meeting in the Flagstaff Square on Sunday, March 06, 2022, Councillor Coke said celebrations will return after a break of several years.
“This year, we are in for something great here in the Flagstaff community. The return of the Emancipation celebrations will bring back life to this area in a holistic manner. This area is rich in cultural heritage and was once a part of the St. James Heritage Tour. However, over the years, it lost momentum and eventually disappeared from the social calendar. We will be back this year!” Councillor Coke said.
Councillor for the Maroon Town Division, Everes Coke (left) speaks with Dr. Joan, the Local Economic Development Officer at the St. James Municipal Corporation during a community stakeholders meeting in the Flagstaff Square on Sunday March 06, 2022. During the meeting it was announced that the Flagstaff Emancipation Festival is set to return on August 1, this year.
He added that the aim is to offer the Flagstaff Heritage tour as a product in the hotels and that will not only bring exposure to the area, but will further cement the relatively untapped community tourism potential of not just Flagstaff, but the general Maroon Town area.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for St. James South, Minister of State I the Office of the Prime Minister (West), Hon. Homer Davis in endorsing the upcoming festival, said the event is highly anticipated and he will be working with the relevant stakeholders to organize, package and sell the festival as an annual attraction.
SUPPORTING THE FLAGSTAFF EMANCIPATION FESTIVAL: Member of Parliament for St. James South, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (West), Hon. Homer Davis (left) consults with Councillor for the Maroon Town Division, Everes Coke. In his address at the community Meeting on Sunday March 06, 2022, Minister Davis said he will be giving the festival his full support.
“We will be working to re-establish the Community Development committee, CDC, in this area. Once that is done and with the support of agencies such as the Tourism Product Development Company, TPDCO and other groups, Emancipation Day 2022 celebrations in Flagstaff will return with a bang”, Minister Davis said.
He is also encouraging the residents of Flagstaff and adjoining communities to avail themselves for the training and job opportunities which will come with the festival’s return.
Minister Davis said “agencies such as TPDCO will be undertaking training of residents with a view of getting them ready for jobs in the hospitality sector and to be good customer relations representatives in the area when the patrons of the festival come here. I ask that you participate in the training which will equip and empower you to become active participants in the Flagstaff Emancipation festival and other areas of tourism”.
Western Regional Manager of TPDCO, Kenya Kedoo-Laing who also addressed the meeting gave her agency’s endorsement and committed to play a role in the successful return and continuation of the Flagstaff Emancipation Festival.