Trelawny is one of the fourteen parishes that make up the island of Jamaica. It is the fifth largest and is bordered by Manchester, Saint Ann, Saint Elizabeth, and Saint James. It is situated in the county of Cornwall. The capital of Trelawny is currently Falmouth but this was not always the case, as in former years that designation was held by Martha Brae.
While plains make up a significant portion of the parish’s terrain it does possess some mountainous terrain too, as evidenced by the presence of Mount Ayr and sections of the Cockpit Mountains. Because of their proving to be somewhat challenging for human habitation, some parts of these mountainous regions have been made into nature reserves. It is here that it is possible to find species of plant and animals endemic to Jamaica that are not found anywhere else on the island. One such example is the giant swallowtail butterfly. An outstanding feature of Trelawny is its preponderance of caves. There are also a few rivers, the more prominent of these being the Rio Bueno and the Martha Brae River.
Despite not having as many schools as some of the other parishes, what Trelawny lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality where educational institutions are concerned. Two of the nation’s top high schools hail from this parish in the form of the William Knibb Memorial High School and the Westwood High School for girls. With regards to health services the Falmouth Hospital is the parish’s primary provider, with clinics and private medical practices playing supporting roles. Getting around Trelawny is done via buses and taxis but rental cars are also available for those that require them. Comfortable and affordable accommodations can be had at hotels, guesthouses, or bed and breakfast type lodgings in the parish. Among the providers of this service are the Grand Lido Braco, FDR Pebbles Resort, and the Starfish Trelawny Beach Resort.
Up until quite recently agriculture was deemed the major player in the economy of the parish of Trelawny. This was by virtue of the sugar cane that was cultivated to produce rum and sugar, a lot of which was exported to earn valuable foreign exchange. Since 2011 Falmouth has undergone a major facelift and a new pier has been opened to accommodate cruise ships. What this translates into is hundreds of tourists stopping by on a weekly basis so tourism will now assume the lead as the parish’s top income earner. Trelawny residents also indulge in small scale farming where bananas, coconuts, coffee, ginger, vegetables, and yams are grown. They also rear livestock and some of the men folk make their living from fishing out at sea.
The Parish of Trelawny is filled with history for those so inclined. This was the parish that housed the largest group of maroons on the island. Visitors to the parish will naturally be expected to visit the lovely beaches but they should not limit their water-based activities solely to the beaches. The Martha Brae River is ideal for rafting and there are guides willing and able to facilitate interested persons. Golf courses and tennis courts are also around for the sports enthusiasts wanting to hit a ball or two. From time to time international and local sporting events are held at the Trelawny multi-purpose stadium, which is quite a short distance from some of the hotels. If you happen to be in the parish just around Easter, or in Jamaica for that matter, the annual Trelawny Yam Festival is an event not to be missed. On a point of interest, the world double record holder for the 200 meters and 100 meters, the Honorable Mr. Usain Bolt, was born in this same parish.