Photo by Janet Silvera - The men of the 'Breakfast Club' at the Pelican restaurant in Montego Bay make a toast to the outstanding women of athletics last Sunday.

It's all in the yam

An Israeli reporter sent me a series of questions last Sunday morning, asking me to comment on the victories of Jamaican women.

He wanted to know if the clean sweep by Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart in the 100 metres finals would elevate women's position in society and whether or not it had an effect on other areas of life.

My response was: "It's a very proud moment for Jamaican women! We are known for our immense strength and have been the breadwinners in our families for years, playing the role of single mothers. We had, until recently, a woman serving as prime minister. So, being at the top is nothing new to us women.

"In corporate Jamaica, women play critical roles in the boardrooms, while holding powerful and influential positions in many professions. We are not marginalised in Jamaica in the way some women are in other countries.

"Within our universities, 70 per cent of the students graduating annually are women and they are at the top of their classes.

great difficulties

"What the race has done for us as women is to reassure us that whatever we put our efforts to, we can accomplish.

"Shelly-Ann Fraser had great difficulties finding bus fare to attend high school. And, her case is not unique. If you go into several communities in this country, you will find similar success stories about our young women.

"Ideally, all young women watching today's (Sunday's) race will try to emulate, but this is commonplace because we are high achievers and our athletic programme is world renowned."

In the same tone in which I now speak confidently about our women, is the way I wish to speak about the people of Trelawny who will capitalise on their 'golden' yam.

That yellow yam needs to be packaged and marketed overseas, just like all other products that this island boasts. Whether it is the yam 'stand up inna' Bolt when he bolted across the 100 metres finish line or our African genes which make us great sprinters, it doesn't matter.

Now, that we are riding on cloud nine, let us grasp the opportunity and ensure that the yam is not left out in all our marketing efforts.

You may not know this, but the Trelawny yam is being used to make fruit cake - the best cake I have ever tasted.

There is yam wine, beer, ice cream, pizza, salad, chips, pudding, punch and porridge, and those are the things that I am aware of. Can you imagine what secrets the country people have not divulged to us?

organic yam farming

Already, Custos Roylan Barrett and Linvern Wright, principal of the Troy High School, are about to embark on yam farming organically.

The custos told me that he and his team will ensure there is consistency, attractive packaging and quality departing our shores for the kitchens of housewives overseas.

Let's see how many other persons will see the worth in this untapped treasure.

Email feedback to janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com or columns@gleanerjm.com