DESPITE an earlier notice of cancellation, the cash-strapped Calabash Literary Festival is to be held this year, following the CHASE Fund’s offer of sponsorship over the next three years.

“[The] CHASE Fund [has] informed us of their commitment to fund the festival for the next three years,” organisers said in a release to the media Friday.

The commitment comes a week after Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett told reporters that the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) would be making a US$40,000 donation to the festival to ensure its staging.

Last Wednesday, Calabash organisers Colin Channer and Kwame Dawes announced that the ninth staging of the festival, scheduled for May 22 to May 24 at Jakes in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, would not be held due to a lack of government and corporate support.

“… Calabash will be cancelled for the very first time. We hope it will also be the last. There will be no Calabash this year,” they said at the time.

In announcing the CHASE Fund’s bailout on Friday, organisers said the festival was to be held as originally scheduled.

Friday also saw the JTB affirming its pledge to the event, “despite the strain on the limited 09/10 budget, as the Calabash Festival is a unique event which brings much-needed attention to the south coast”.

But before the good news about the festival got out, residents and business operators of the Treasure Beach and Alligator Pond communities expressed disappointment at the announced cancellation.

“I am very disappointed that the festival is not going to be held because of a lack of funds,” said a passionate Evrol Christian, owner of the Little Ochie Seafood Restaurant last Friday. “Any true investor who declines to invest in such a venture is really short-sighted and does not care about the education stand of the country. It was highly anticipated because people from all over Jamaica, as well as overseas, always come to the festival and they always take the opportunity to visit Little Ochie. But it’s much more than the money; it is the educational impact for the south coast and the venue that it provides for the literary work.”

He noted that Cookie Kincaid, an avid supporter of the festival, had launched a ‘Save Calabash Fund’ for which she had collected US$3,000. Other contributors to the festival were Peter Williams, who gave US$2,000; and Jean Lowrie Chin, who gave US$1,000.

Jason Henzell, owner of Jake’s Guest House and co-ordinator of the festival, has been moved by the fund-raising effort and the overall concern.

“We knew that people were very passionate about the festival, but the recent outpouring of support and love for the festival has proven just how much the festival means to people,” he said, adding that organisers have received numerous calls and e-mails from people locally and internationally, in support of the festival.

Henzell said also that several people from overseas had made monetary contributions.

“Everyone around here benefits, and so we are all greatly disappointed,” said Chanoy Henry, as she manned the family-owned business, South Jammin Restaurant and Sports Bar in Treasure Beach. “During the festival, all hotels and guest houses are booked and all restaurants are packed. It’s a major event that we all look forward to on a yearly basis.”

Radydion McPherson, who said he met his overseas girlfriend through the festival and had developed lasting friendships with its supporters, said: “I am saddened by the cancellation as I benefit from the festival. I usually rent my house, so if it does not happen it will be a great loss for me.”

Wosley Honeyghan, a fruit vendor who was building a jerk centre and fruit shop in anticipation of the festival, exclaimed: “It terrible! It affect we bad ’cause me usually sell boiled corn over Jakes during the festival and mi use to mek over $100,000, so it will be a great loss for me.”

Honeyghan said that his family and friends who sometimes rent out their homes during the festival also stand to lose but held out hope that the festival would go on.

Charmaine Moxam, a shopkeeper and mother of eight children, also expressed her disappointment.

“Bwoy the cancellation hurt me, from morning ah it mi a talk ’bout because me could a credit all $100,000 worth of goods and after the festival me would see miself with all $50,000,” she told the Sunday Observer.

Her neighbour and businessman, Morris Sutherland shared her disappointment.

“It hurt me say it cancel. The last time it keep, mi owe $110,000 and mi work only two days and was able to repay mi debt and had a little small change left that could have bought a few cases of beer,” Sutherland said. “The festival is a big benefit to the community and to everyone, so I am hoping it will still keep, and if it is on, I will be very happy.”

Manager of the Sunset Resort and Villa, who gave her name only as Janet, was confident that things would work out for the festival.

“I know that Calabash Festival is going to keep. I have much faith in Jason [Henzell] and everyone who co-ordinates it. It is going to happen and I am not really thinking about cancellation of rooms right now,” she said, noting that all 14 rooms at the property were booked. “We have not given up hope yet, and it is the biggest event for us on the south coast, so I think all business people will have to put hands and heart together as we do understand the economy crisis.”