Denise Reid, Freelance Writer

Carlington Bell and Lajune Stewart are jubilant after placing the highest bid for a 20-inch flat-screen television at the Western Focus grand auction which was held at the Dump-Up beach in Montego Bay, St James on Saturday. - photo by Denise Reid

Western Bureau:

As the last article was auctioned, Dump-Up Beach in Montego Bay was filled with excitement as people eagerly anticipated a winner in a gruelling battle for the highest bidder at the third Grand Western Focus Auction.

During the day, which was laced with expectation and tinged with disappointment, buyers who realised they did not have enough Western Focus money (WF$) to purchase their choice prize poured out their cash to buyers they wished to see win.

Bag of money

And so it was that Tanya Hylton of Paradise, Montego Bay, whose uncle, Nathaniel Barrett, had died on Friday night leaving a bag filled with Western Focus money that he had planned to use at the auction, was able to secure her position in a stiff competition for a 20-inch flat-screen television.

Hylton, previously, had successfully bid WF$4.5 million for the television when, to her dismay, she discovered she had been disqualified because the slogans on the monies had not been completed.

At the end of the day, when the television had to be reauctioned, Hylton again had her sights set on it but, out of nowhere came Lajune Stewart and friends from Westmore-land, placing bids which threatened to knock Hylton out of the competition.

At the end of a long battle, it was Stewart and her friends who emerged victorious with a bid of WF$33.2 million.

Preparing since last year

They had brought an end to a day that was well supported by many, some of whom had been preparing for the auction since last year. Courtland Watson, an elderly crowd favourite dubbed 'Daddy' by the MC, came with a briefcase full of money for the second consecutive year. This year, he purchased a three-piece patio set.

Western Focus, a Gleaner publication, is a tabloid which focuses on the five western parishes. The grand auction promotion ran from March 6 to May 16 this year. During this time, patrons were able to cut out and collect Western Focus money that they then used to bid for a range of gifts on the auction day.