To have missed the opportunity at this line up of dishes would have been a lost opportunity at some delicious Jamaican food. Photo: VINO

While the aki and salt fish and curry goat ran out of supply early, other foods kept coming in to replenish supply. Photo: VINO

Some of the supporters at the funday activity. Photo: VINO

The games of small goal football saw the participation of persons from across the Caribbean. Photo: VINO

Some men enjoying a game of domino at the funday. Photo: VINO

This was the children's Bulla eating competition. Guess who won?! Photo: VINO

The greater part of the day's activities catered for the involvement of children. Here they are seen enjoying musical chairs. Photo: VINO

Their efforts were evident yesterday May 20, 2013 when they turned out in large numbers at the playground of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School on Station Road, Tortola. It was a national holiday and the Jamaicans, through their organization ‘The Association of Jamaican Residents (BVI)’ which carries the motto ‘Extracting from our past, affirming our future’, did not fail in their efforts to draw a large crowd to support their cause.

It was a day of fun with the playing of a line of games of male, female and children dancing competitions, domino competitions, small goal football, and the eating of the ‘bulla’ competition. There was also a wide variety of Jamaican dishes and beverages on sale, which Association  President Mr James Angus said hit the nail on the head as they managed to stay on par with demands as it related to the availability of most dishes and beverages from the beginning to the end of the day of fun.

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Angus said next year the Association intends to make the event even bigger and to make sure they have available the foods that they did not have this time around, mainly the "baked stuff". He said there were some challenges with getting persons to prepare baked foods.

“I was really pleased with the turn out here today and very happy we were able to keep up with the food. As usual though, the aki and salt fish and the curry goat didn't last very long so there were a few disappointed persons, but those things just don’t last real long so when people reach four, five O’clock they just not going to get any aki and salt fish and curry goat, so to them I can only say next year be early.”

He was confident that the Association had made much success with the activity this year, which was also made possible by a line of sponsors including Digicel. The attractive give-aways by Digicel led to the success and massive participation of persons in the social activities. Others who supported by way of sponsorship included Travel Wise, Nagico, Dario’s, Mutual Insurance BVI, VI Motors and Premier Dental.

“We use the funds basically to do community work and we take care of various charities both here in the Virgin Islands as well as in other places. We do make contributions to relief efforts all over the Caribbean,” said the President.

Mr Angus said the Association not only aims to raise funds at the activity but also seeks to bring people and families together in one place to interact and socialise in a comfortable and friendly setting. “It’s to bring people and families out to have a good day in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.”

He added that the event was not only for Jamaicans but people from across the Caribbean region and further afield. This particular objective was achieved as in the competitions there was evidence of a mix of people from different countries. The male musical chairs competition was won by a Vincentian, the small goal football competitions had persons from Guyana, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Virgin Islands and Jamaica among others; while the first winner of the Association's raffle was a Guyanese.