By
Rebecca Gibson |
Nestled in the north west of Jamaica, the parish of Trelawny east of Montego Bay boasts a rich colonial history and vibrant commercial industry focused mostly on agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.
With history dating back to when it was established in 1770 and now with a population of 74,000, Trelawny ranks as the fifth largest parish of 14 in Jamaica. Although relatively flat – Mount Ayr is the high point at 3,000 feet above sea level – the parish is largely characterised by limestone features including sinkholes, cockpits, underground passages and caves. The Windsor and Carambi caves are recognised for their phosphate features and exceptional beauty. At the southern end of the parish the uninhabitable Cockpit Country creates a natural habitat for flora, fauna and indigenous species. This probably explains why so many of Jamaica’s 27 native bird species are found here, including the Giant Swallowtail, the largest butterfly in the Western Hemisphere.
The capital, Falmouth, is home to the parish’s newest landmark, the critically acclaimed Historic Falmouth Port, arguably the ninth wonder of the world. But historically, Trelawny is renowned for its sugar plantations and factories which created the need for a coastal town to export the crystalline white granules among other manufactured products. Falmouth fitted the role becoming a thriving seaport and social centre which forms the foundation for the present day port development.
The town’s past and its vibrant culture provide an ideal backdrop for the Historic Port of Falmouth. A joint initiative between the Port Authority of Jamaica and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines kicked off operations in February 2011. Falmouth Pier is a Georgian-style development designed to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world with its unique offerings and state-of-the art facilities not unnoticed. The port received four awards during its inaugural year including World Travel Awards 2011 for ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourism Development’ and ‘World’s Leading Tourism Development’ along with Seatrade Insider 2011 ‘Port of the Year’.
Falmouth sits close to some of Jamaica’s leading attractions and experiences including rafting on the Martha Brae River, the Greenwood Great House, Dolphin’s Cove, nature adventure tours at Good Hope Estate by CHUKKA and the island’s free-spirited Cockpit Country.
The myriad of activities available caters to the wide-ranging interests of cruise tourists and makes a significant contribution to raising the island’s profile as a superb destination for all. The Historic Falmouth Port also plays an important part in Trelawny’s success, with its capacity to simultaneously accommodate two of the largest cruise vessels in the world and an ongoing commitment to increasing the number of cruise passengers to the parish and by extension, the island.
Intertwined in Trelawny’s history is that it is home to many of Jamaica’s athletic ‘greats’ including sprint sensations including Olympic double-gold medallist and reigning 200m world champion – among other her other athletic accolades – Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB) and the legendary Usain Bolt. Widely recognised as the most marketable track and field athlete globally prior to the 2012 London Olympics, Usain holds the world record in the 100m and 200m and is an Olympic double-gold medalist in both. With this performance and a few world championships under his belt, the iconic athlete is now the face a number of products and global brands.
And yams, a rich-in-carbohydrate food staple of the parish, are credited by many of contributing to the sprinting prowess of local athletes.
Symbolising the parish’s sporting pedigree is the Trelawny Stadium, which not only held the opening ceremony of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, but hosts the island’s Jazz & Blues festival. Held each January, the event showcases the best of the genre worldwide.
So there is much for the cruise visitors to see and experience in Trelawny. It’s cultural and historical offerings are unmatched and an asset to the Cruise Jamaica brand. A coastal gem, Trelawny – and its capital Falmouth – is one of the Caribbean’s most culturally vibrant cruise destinations. And one that is successfully capitalising on its rich history by offering visitors a distinctive sensory experience of its colonial era.