Director of Tourism, Basil Smith (right), receives a specially designed clock from Xernona Clayton, founder and CEO of the Trumpet Foundation. Looking on is Diane Pollard.

Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Sixty-four black Americans from all across the United States journeyed from their homeland on a familiarisation expedition to Montego Bay, Jamaica, last week.

They all had intimate connections with the Trumpet Foundation, one of America's foremost organisations, which primarily seeks to identify and award individuals for their invaluable service to humanitarian development across the world.

Headed by its founder and chief executive officer, Xernona Clayton, the Trumpet Foundation is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is widely known and talked about in over 185 countries across the globe, where recorded versions of its awards ceremonies are distri-buted, according to Ms. Clayton.

The Trumpet Foundation is in its 16th year of existence and has honoured numerous persons, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, actor Clint Eastwood, internationally acclaimed musician, producer and song writer Quincy Jones, freedom fighters and athletes, Dr. Tommie Smith and Dr. John Carlos, to name a few.

The group came to Jamaica on a special invitation by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), through the instrumentality of Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Assamba. "Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and I were invited to the Trumpet Awards in the U.S. in February. It was then that I had learnt about it and I felt I wanted them to come to Jamaica," Minister Assamba said.

The group was treated to a welcome reception on the lawns of the Half Moon Hotel on Tuesday - an evening which was packed with entertainment provided by members of the Showjam team, the Hatfield Cultural Group and the Pace Band. Ambassador-at-large Courtney Walsh anda host of movers and shakers in Montego Bay were among the invited guests.

Commendations were paid to Air Jamaica, the JTB and its staff, as well as staff at the Half Moon Hotel for making the group's experience on the island a memorable one. The JTB hosted the group to a gala dinner at the Half Moon Hotel on Thursday.

The evening was punctuated with exchange of awards, modelling by members of the Uzuri International fashion designers, and entertainment by Florence LaRue, lead vocalist of the 5th Dimension, Bobby Jones and Oliver Sueing, all of the U.S.; Jamaica's own Dwayne Foster, saxophonist, Nadj'e Leslie and her father, Michael, and the United Force Band.