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photo by Richard Morais - The project director for The Historic Port of Falmouth, Fay Pickersgill, is back in the classroom and communities as she educates the public on the port. Here she is at the Falmouth All-Age School addressing the teachers of this institution and Holland High School.

Falmouth sensitised on opportunities ahead

Richard Morais - Hospitality Jamaica Writer
FALMOUTH, Trelawny:

The developers of the historic Falmouth Port are now engaged in a new education thrust to sensitise the populace on the benefits and expectations that are expected from them when the cruise shipping base begins operating.

Former tourism director Fay Pickersgill is spearheading the Port Authority of Jamaica project. The tourism icon has been addressing schools in Trelawny and the larger community, seeking to carry out this mandate.

Hospitality Jamaica caught up with the project director last Friday at the Falmouth All-Age School where she was addressing teachers of that institution and the nearby Holland High.

"The community and the populace have to buy into the project and you cannot endorse or support something which you know nothing about; therefore, it is part of my mandate to educate," Pickersgill told the educators.

She revealed that the first ship will be calling in November, which is a revised date from the original January 2011. Although the port will commence its welcoming of vessels, the world's largest ship the Oasis of the Sea will not grace the Falmouth port until March 2011, stated the project director.

Her meeting with the educators stems from the need to press the point that, "This is a new port that cannot operate as usual; the pushing of the commodity on the tourists and the near force, to get them to buy cannot be allowed to happen," she urged.

She expects the interaction with the guests will be as if they are Jamaicans, who are allowed free access to purchase items of their choice.

To underscore her message, Pickersgill brought along Royal Caribbean's vice-president of government relations, Michael Ronan, who conveyed greetings on behalf of one of the largest cruise companies in the world.

During the next few months, Pickersgill is expected to take her message to the churches, community meetings, and youth clubs among other organisations.

hospitalityjamaica@gleanerjm.com