MONTEGO BAY, St James - Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Northern Trelawny, Patrick Atkinson, will deliver the keynote speaker address at the opening ceremony of the 31st staging of the Friends of Trelawny Association (FOTA) annual reunion weekend, which begins tomorrow in New York.

The event brings together former residents of Trelawny from all over the globe, including Australia, UK, Jamaica, and Canada as well as throughout the United States on the Memorial Day weekend.

It allows Trelawny residents to showcase the parish and give them a first-hand look at developments in their parish that is abuzz with an assortment of new tourist attractions, and to also whet their appetite regarding available investment opportunities.

The three -day event kicks off tomorrow night with a "Tribute in Gold" commemorative black-tie gala, at the Hilton JFK Airport hotel in Queens, New York, where Atkinson, will deliver his address at 8:00pm.

The Reunion continues on Saturday, with FOTA's 8th annual Trelawny Business EXPO & Symposium at the Hilton JFK where more than 100 businesses from throughout the New York metro area and Trelawny will be showcasing their products and services.

Junior Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams will declare the Expo open and deliver the keynote address.

FOTA is collaborating with the Jamaica Diaspora's Health Sector to present a health symposium at 11:00 am The health sector leaders will present the International Health Care Fact-Finding Mission Report on the healthcare system in Jamaica. Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson is the scheduled guest speaker.

On Sunday, the weekend comes to a close with FOTA's 31st annual picnic at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area in Bear Mountain, New York. The family fun day typically attracts just over 8,000 former residents and friends of the parish.

The picnic will be officially opened by Jamaica Council general to New York Herman Lamont at 1:00 pm, while Falmouth's Mayor, Councillor Garth Wilkinson and Atkinson will also address the gathering.

Part proceeds from this year's activities is being earmarked for FOTA's Primary School Projects in Trelawny.