FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The statue of legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, erected on the fountain in Water Square, Falmouth, has been attracting a steady stream of visitors from around the world.

Scores of people are now visiting the location and take photographs at what has become one of the parish’s most sought after tourism attractions.

The fountain is an extremely popular spot with people who disembark cruise vessels at the historic port in the coastal town.

On Wednesday, the Jamaica Observer caught up with an excited cruise passenger — who gave his name only as Andy — and tour guide Dillion Wilmot, at the site of the replica of the 10-foot bronze monument located at Statue Park in Kingston’s National Stadium.

“It is great! Fantastic! I just found out that the statue is here. My guy here is giving me a tour and he brought me here and I just had to take pictures with him. I am from New York,” said Andy.

Wilmot underscored that the statue of the retired sprinter has added to attractions in the town.

“A lot of people come off the boat and they do love to come and take pictures at the statue of Usain Bolt because everyone hear about him and most people haven’t seen the statue of him and haven’t seen Water Square as yet. When they come off the ship they love to come and see these historical site and see these great people,” Wilmot said.

“More and more people take picture with the statue. People love the statue in Water Square and when we give them the history about the fountain and everything, they do like it,” added Wilmot.

Water Square is the site of one of the Western Hemisphere’s earliest piped water systems, established in 1798.

Recently the Observer spoke with a group of Americans who came off one of the cruise vessels at the Falmouth Port, among them, Elliot, from Idaho.

“I like it because we saw Bolt on television and the way his people greeted him when he came home, it was a big excitement for his country. He’s special,” Elliot said.

The Jamaica Defence Force and the Trelawny Municipal Corporation partnered to build the fountain on which the statue of the iconic Trelawny native is mounted, but it remained closed to the public before Hurricane Melissa slammed into the island last October. The Category 5 storm, packing winds of up to 185 miles per hour, ripped off the material covering the fountain unveiling the statue.

On Friday, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports Olivia “Babsy” Grange, said that a dedication of the statue, which was initially scheduled for last Christmas, will be held shortly.

“I have to speak with the mayor [of Falmouth]. We had planned to do it at Christmas [but] we didn’t do it at Christmas. So now we have to select an appropriate date. But it’s ready, “ Grange said..

According to Grange, the delay in erecting the statue was due to the time it took to source parts needed to be installed on the redesigned fountain where it is mounted.

In the meantime, Mayor of Falmouth, chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, C Junior Gager on Wednesday said the new date for dedication will be announced after it is settled with Grange.

Gager reported some time ago that the redesigned fountain features eight spouts from which water will jet into the air. He added that two storyboards — one of the iconic athlete, who is a native of Trelawny, and the other of Water Square are to be placed at the fountain in the pedestrianised area of the town centre.

The design of the original fountain, which dates back to 1805, has evolved over the years. The redesigned fountain will be lit up in different colours to commemorate national holidays such as Emancipation Day and Christmas Day and Grange has indicated that everything is in place for that feature.

“They haven’t turned on the lights but the fountain, it’s all lit and everything. When we turn the water on it’s going to be lit. It’s complete, it’s ready,” declared Grange.

Bolt, a native of Sherwood Content in Trelawny, holds world records in the 100 metres and 200 metres, as well as the 4x100m relay.

In his decorated career he won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championships gold medals.

A group of cruise passengers pose at the fountain in Water Square, Falmouth, Wednesday, on which the statue of sprint sensation Usain Bolt is mounted. (Photo: Horace Hines)

Visitors to the island ensure that their picture is taken with the statue of Usain Bolt in the background. (Photo: Horace Hines)

A male cruise passenger (left) takes pictures of a mother and baby at the site where the Usain Bolt statue is mounted on a fountain in the historic Water Square, Falmouth on Wednesday. (Photo: Horace Hines)

A female cruise passenger caught taking pictures of two children making the ‘Lightning Bolt’ symbol in Falmouth on Wednesday. (Photo: Horace Hines)