Hugh Dixon, Executive Director of the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA), the organization running the festival revealed the reason behind the selection of the new venue.

He said, “The national Works Agency (NWA) did not give permission for the event to be staged in the street of Albert Town and a new venue which was considered, Cashew Park also in the general Albert Town area, did not have he infrastructure ready.”

While the southern part of the parish is the yam belt of the nation and as such it is fitting to hold such an event where the yam is produced Dixon stressed that it is a, Trelawny Yam Festival, emphasizing Trelawny and therefore must not be seen as a south and north divide. He said such divide hurts more than helps and although there is this constituency divide, people should view the parish as a whole.

He again emphasized that wherever the festival is held there are going to be activities across the parish to show the non-insular nature of the festival. The activities are as follows: -

·  School Song, Poetry and Cultural Dance Arts Competition – this is open to all schools and will be judges at the Westwood High School on February 28
·  Farmers Field Celebration – this will be at Thompson Town on March 7
·  Trelawny 1/2 Marathon – Falmouth to Bounty Hall and Back, March 18
·  King & Queen Pageant – Starfish Resort, March 25
·  50k Cycle Race – Falmouth to Albert Town, April 1
·  Grand Yam Festival Day – Hague Show Ground, April 9
 
With the heightened awareness of the parish because of Cricket World Cup STEA is promising this to be a huge event for the entire family.