Chairman of the Civic and Community Affairs Committee of the Trelawny Parish Council, Phillip Service, says the parish is facing a shortfall of $2 million in its budget for staging the Trelawny brand of Jamaica 50, and is making a special appeal to the culture ministry and the local business community to help in making up the shortfall.

Speaking at a media briefing Monday in Falmouth to outline the events planned for Trelawny in celebration of Jamaica 50, service said $3 million allocated to the parish by the Ministry of Culture will not adequately cover the cost to stage the events.

“The information that we have gotten from the JCDC, given the fact that we have already agreed that we are unable to do the grand gala and the float parade, an additional $2 million would be appreciated to really ensure that we can really do this thing Trelawny Style,” said Service.

The parish councillor, who also heads the parish planning committee for the Jamaica 50 celebrations, while acknowledging the support of all the agencies and volunteers involved in the planning, made a special appeal to corporate Jamaica and the Trelawny business community to help offset some of the cost. He said given the success that Jamaica hopes to achieve at the London Olympics, in which son of Trelawny Usain Bolt will defend his 100m title on August 5, it is important that the parish where Bolt is from puts on a good show for the international media attention that will be focused on Jamaica, and Trelawny in particular.

The parish kicked off its diary of events yesterday with a library exhibition at the parish library in Falmouth and will follow with a road race and fisherman’s regatta on Sunday. There will be an emancipationvigil on July 31 in Southern Trelawny, brand Trelawny independence village in Water Square on August 3, and a church service and gospel concert on August 5. The celebrations will culminate with a civic ceremony at 9 a.m. and grand gala and street dancing at 8 p.m. in Water Square on August 6.