WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland – Wilfred Emanuel-Jones, the successful Jamaican-born British entrepreneur nicknamed ‘The Black Farmer’, will reconnect with his roots tomorrow during a specially prepared lunch at the home of his aunt, ‘Miss Edna’, in Frankfield, Clarendon.

Tomorrow’s reunion – one of the highlights of Emanuel-Jones’ five-day visit – will be a celebration of his considerable achievements since migrating at age four, to Birmingham, England, where he conquered the barriers of poverty and racial inequality to achieve success as television producer, businessman and potential member of parliament for the Conservative Party.

Emanuel-Jones, one of the few black farmers in Britain, arrived here last week as a guest of Sandals Resorts International (SRI).

He also wants to establish a market here for his ‘Black Farmer’ brand of pork sausages and sauces, which was unveiled at the Sandals Whitehouse resort in Westmoreland on Friday night.

His activities are being closely trailed by the international press, including the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC’s) Channel Four Television station, which is gathering footage for a possible documentary chronicling his political aspirations to the British Parliament where he hopes to serve as the representative for Chippenham in Wilthshire County.

“It’s a fascinating story… the similarities between these men – Jamaicans – kings of their craft,” one of the UK media practitioners noted as SRI’s chairman, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, regaled Emanuel-Jones over an appetising breakfast of fried flour dumplings, avocado pear, ackee, ripe plantains and bacon on Friday.

Freelance food and travel journalist, Peter Zaremba, who is representing the New York Daily News, Caribbean Travel and Life, Modern Bride, Elite Traveler and Magaritaville on Sirius Radio is also following the series of activities.

A somewhat controversial figure in Britain for his outspoken stance on the need for justice and more opportunities to be extended to ethnic minorities, Emanuel-Jones last year created the Black Farmer rural scholarship, which was the subject of a televised documentary on Channel Four.

The scholarship – Emanuel-Jones’ attempt to expose Black and Asian inner-city youth to available opportunities in agriculture – was extended to eight candidates, two of whom earned jobs on his 30-acre farm in Devon.

– Pat Roxborough-Wright