Falmouth’s new sign unveils rich history of rum

March 31, 2025

Photo

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (third left), stands in front of the newly unveiled Falmouth Jam-Iconic Experience sign in Trelawny on Friday, March 28. He is joined by (from left) Chairman of the Falmouth Destination Assurance Council, Dr Shaun Jones; Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern, Tova Hamilton; Member of Parliament for Trelawny Southern, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert; Mayor of Falmouth, Collen Gager; and Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company, Wade Mars.

Falmouth's Jam-Iconic Experience sign was unveiled last Friday by Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.

The project was spearheaded by the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCO) and the Trelawny Municipal Corporation.

The eye-catching sign, which is strategically located at Foreshore Road at the entrance to the town, was done by sculptor Scheed Cole.

It is beautifully crafted and includes two storyboards and rum barrels capturing the town's history of rum and sugar production.

It is the third Jam-Iconic Experience sign erected by the TPDCO, with the others located at the airport roundabout in Montego Bay, St James, and Negril in Westmoreland.

Bartlett said that Falmouth holds a special place in the island's history, noting that it was once one of the wealthiest towns in Jamaica, with nearly 100 plantations that manufactured sugar and rum for export to England.

"It is no surprise that Falmouth continues to be a town of great cultural and historical significance. This project honours that legacy while looking ahead to a future where our tourism industry is inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all," he expressed.

Bartlett said that the sign highlights Falmouth's inimitable history and gives it a modern twist, allowing locals and visitors to learn, experience, and appreciate all that the town has to offer.

"When we talk about tourism, we're talking about more than just visitors. We're talking about a shared experience where locals and tourists can come together, interact, and celebrate the very essence of Jamaica," he said.

Executive director of TPDCO, Wade Mars, said that the erection of the Jam-Iconic signs not only provides photo opportunities for visitors and locals, but also draws attention to the destinations.

"In this day and age of social media, people want to make their own postcards. So, by being able to have these sites...they can capture the history of a town visually, without telling the story, so to speak. This one [Falmouth] has two storyboards that articulate historical aspects of the town. It really captures in real life what the town is about," Mars said.