For over twenty years, Marjorie Vernon has been involved in cultural administration.

“I love it, I enjoy what I do, even when the going gets rough,” she still proclaims with conviction.

As the regional manager for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland operations, she is fully aware of the contemporary challenges facing her organisation in the form of the competition for audiences posed by the myriad of other available entertainment options.

The parishes are all vibrant participants in the JCDC’s annual activities with St James usually boasting the most entrants.

Westmoreland and Trelawny can be counted on as the indigenous folk parishes where Gerreh and kumina dominate. Tambu, is one of the least known traditional forms, but its signature cloth -around -the -girl -waist and provocative shimmy are alive and well in Trelawny where it is practiced by children and adults.

Right now Vernon and her team are preparing for a four-day workshop in Duncans, Trelawny. Workshops and training are an important part of the JCDC’s mandate and these are used to sharpen skills and help develop talent. Recalling the initial thrill she got when as deputy Head girl of Herbert Morrison Comprehensive in Montego Bay, she won a medal on singing with a trio in the music festival, She wants to facilitate a similar experience for others. So she encourages schools and community groups to participate in the annual events. “I was among the first set of graduates of the newly- formed Herbert Morrison High school and it gave us pride to have won something for our school, ” she said.

Among the JCDC’s annual events are the annual Birthday Tribute for the Rt Excellent Bustamante, in his native parish of Hanover. This along with Heritage week and Emancipation Week activities are on the regional manager’s organisational schedule. With a structure which includes a manager for each parish she has capable support in the region to undertake these special activities.

In 1986 while teaching at Mannings High school, the calm and gentle-voiced Marjorie Vernon was encouraged to participate in the Annual Festival Queen Competition. She was crowned parish queen for Westmoreland. That success led to her becoming chairman of the parish Festival Queen Competition in 1991. Following the completion of her Masters degree, she joined the JCDC head office in charge of Public Relations and Marketing. Two years later, she heeded the call of the west and returned to Sav-la-Mar to support the development of culture in western parishes and pay closer attention to her two young daughters.

Traversing the parishes, she and her team scout for new talent to showcase at the various contests and exhibitions.

Interest in the arts covers performing, plastic and culinary forms. Painters, writers, sculptors and artisans in general can participate in the appropriate competitions and earn visibility and recognition they could not achieve on their own.

Vernon anticipates the current global financial crises will create greater pressure on the funding support required to undertake activities in the parishes. However she hopes those good and faithful corporate sponsors will continue their commitment, as her work requires partnership with all sectors, especially the business community, creative community and the public.