The photo above was taken at the Civic Reception hosted by City of Bangor
Mayor John Wynn Jones in August 2018 for the Jamaican High Commissioner,
His Excellency Seth George Ramocan, and his wife Dr Lola Ramocan, who is now
Patron of the Jamaica Wales Alliance - Pennants Project Initiative. 

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Croeso / Welcome
.........   to the 'Building Bridges of Friendship' project site.

This site is to use to reflect on the first delegation visit from Wales to Jamaica 
with reports from our first 'inward mobilities' Barrington Richardson and Dr Kirt Henry 
with information and resources to help with your research opportunity
to learn more about the shared histories of Jamaica and Wales 

Thanks to Taith we are able to offer these exchange visit opportunities
to those taking up this Adult Education opportunity.

This Introduction Page is also a sort of Blog, updating you each time you log in.

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Update  Saturday 2nd November:

Welcome to Jamaica !

Over the past week of preparations we have been communicating through emails and on the Building of Bridges of Friendship Facebook Page. 

Here is the draft programme for the week:

Saturday 2nd Nov - Jamaican Tourist Board will welcome you as you arrive off the flight at 3.25pm, then Garrick, Lesley and I will meet you and show you to the Deja Resort shuttle bus to transfer you to this All Inclusive hotel. You can then chill, relax, swim .....  but remember our security advice.

Sunday 3rd Nov - transfer by Coach to ROK Hotel in Kingston approx 4 hours with stop/stops  Then at 4.30pm in the Group Room at the ROK we will go though some housekeeping and plans and then be welcomed by the Jamaica Wales Alliance Patron, Dr Lola Ramocan and her husband, His Exelency Seth George Ramocan, then time to chill, relax and eat ....  We have meals planned during the week which we will pay for, but at other times you can chose where tand what to eat. Breakfast is included at the ROK - which should set you up for the day! 

Monday 4th Nov - 9.30am please be ready in the ROK Reception and the bus will take us a short distance to the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica / Jamaica Memory Bank in Kingston - we will then drive out to Port Royal to explore the istory and have a meal together at Glorias original restaurant in Port Royal NB there is a tropical storm forecast so plans may change 

in the evening at 6pm we will be sorting the toys etc in the Group Room.

Tuesday 5th Nov - 9.30am please be ready in the ROK Reception Visits to  Pennants Basic School, John Austin Primary School and Robert Rumble Community Centre  - but this may be challenging if the storm has left flooding  - Lunch snack will be provided 
- then back to May Pen for meal at Murrays https://murraysfishandjerkhut.com/

Wed 6th Nov - 9.30am please be ready in the ROK Reception
NB we are currently reviewing options in the morning butare likely to go to the National Library for a workshop session to review and plan forward.

12.00 Reception at British High Commission in Kingston - presentations etc and buffet

Afternoon sightseeing tour - your choice for evening meal 

Thurs 7th Nov - 9.30am please be ready in the ROK Reception

Back out to Clarendon - Various visits planned including Denbigh Plantation 

Please bring snack from ROK Breakfast to keep you going! 

Back to May Pen for Jamaican Eisteddfod with local schools performing at Juicy Patties site - followed by tasters and trip around factory 

Then at the same site - The Verandah - an evening and farewell meal with local dignatories hosted by the Rotary Club of May Pen

Smart evening clothes please - we are still sorting where you can change! 

Fri 8th Nov - 9.30am please be ready in the ROK Reception with yur cases etc.

Leave ROK Hotel - on the Bus with beachwear in small bag - as we drive back to Monego Bay, taking a tour of Oche Rios before stopping off in DIscovery Bay for a real treat 

NB at the venue - you choose and pay for your own drinks and food - no food or drink to be taken into venue 

Then we drive on to the Deja Resort in Montego Bay for an All Inclusive night and morning.

Sat 9th Nov - leave Deja Resort at 2.00pm (we will check this) by shuttle bus to Monteo Bay airport by 2.45pm and fly out of Montego Bay at 5.45pm 

Sunday 10th Nov - arrive Heathrow at 9.20am - and make your way back home to Wales - having had a life changing experience and fun! 

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Update: Wed 9th October 2024 at 9am:

Apologies - we realise that we took on a lot with this project - so bear with us!
We only got the Welsh Government funds later in September

We are now getting your flights booked and we are working on hotels now!

You will receive your electronic ticket today or tomorrow.

You do not need a visa to travel to Jamaica with a British Passport, but all passengers travelling to Jamaica are required to complete the Online Passenger Declaration Form (C5) before arrival. This form must be completed online and replaces the printed version previously given out on airplanes. Each passenger needs a separate form. The form can be completed up to 30 days before travel and is free of charge.

We are exploring getting an Airport Transfer bus booked from Bangor to Heathrow and back. Please check email sent to you today and reply.

We are working with Diamond Travel, an experienced Jamaican led travel company in Birmingham, to get flights etc booked.   They are super knowledgable and very helpful with sound local knowledge. 

PLEASE: check with your Doctor / Nurse to check your vaccination status 

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/jamaica/health

We will have hotel details confirmed by Friday - so check in again and check the rest of this site.

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Update: Sunday 6th October 2024:

An email has been sent round to all those who are signed up for the 'JWA Delegation 1' visit to Jamacia during first week of November 2024

This post confirms flight times etc and also it emphasises our approach to protection of participants data:

Garrick and I will meet you off the flight at 3.25pm and we will have a bus to transfer you to the hotel. You can then chill, relax, swim ..... or get out to see Montego Bay at night - Geoff will you lead on this option? 

Sunday 3rd Nov - transfer to Knutsford Express Coach - then travel to ROK Hotel in Kingston approx 4 hours with stop/stops - no food to be eaten on Coach

Then time to chill , relax and eat ....

Monday 4th Nov - Reception at Institute of Jamaica in Kingston - drive out to Port Royal - visit port - meal at Glorias (in Port Royal or by ROK Hotel in Kingston)

Tuesday 5th Nov - Reception in May Pen with Mayor, Custos and others - at Clarendon Council Officers - then visit Pennants Basic School, John Austin Primary School and Robert Rumble Community Centre - back to May Pen for meal at Murrays https://murraysfishandjerkhut.com/

Wed 6th Nov - Reception at British High Commission in Kingston - presentations etc and buffet

Afternoon / evening small groups exploring Kingston organised by Geoff or visit to JCDC 

Thurs 7th Nov - Back out to Clarendon - Denbigh Plantation and Pennants, Kupis, Cotes Pen etc. Packed Lunch?

Back to May Pen for Jamaican Eisteddfod at Juicy Patties - with tasters - trip around factory and farewell meal with local dignatories and Rotary Club

Back to Kingston

Fri 8th Nov

Leave ROK Hotel - Knutsford Express to Oche Rios - stay at beachside hotel - chill or adventure out to Dunns River Falls and other tourist places 

Sat 9th Nov - leave Hotel in Oche Rios at ?? am  transfer from Hotel to Knutsford Express Coach - then travel to Montego Bay along north coast  (approx 2 hours with stop / stops - NB no food on Coach  

Get to Monteo Bay airport by 14.45pm and fly out of Montego Bay at 17.45pm 

Sunday 10th Nov - arrive Heathrow at 9.20am - Airport Transfer Coach or train back to Bangor.

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Garrick and I are staying on til Sat 16th Nov to complete our Preliminary Visit activites - as we plan forward for other visits, with a few days at our own expense - Garrick will be with his family, I am going to stay in May Pen - where I know folks, and Simon is also taking another week independently traveling.

Afterwards .....

We'll meet up at Bwyd Da Bangor or Penrhyn Hall on Wed 20th Nov 3pm - 8pm to share our stories and we might even have Dr Kirt Henry in Bangor over at this time!