THE JAMAICA Agricultural Society (JAS) is to unveil a $1 billion five-year development plan to transform the Denbigh show grounds, the venue for the annual Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, into a theme park.
Senator Norman Grant, president of the JAS, said the development, which is aimed at transforming the Denbigh show into what he described as the agricultural 'mecka' of the Caribbean, "will bring so much life in the mid-island that it will help to drive the development of agriculture in the region."
He said the JAS was currently engaged in discussions with stakeholders in the agricultural sector to have them invest in the development. Senator Grant explained that all the parish pavilions will be refurbished with the intention to have them display agricultural produce all-year-round, the fish pond on the grounds developed and the 4-H Club hostel refurbished
to accommodate farmers commuting between Kingston and the rural areas.
MORE RECOGNITION
The Denbigh show has been gaining more recognition in the last three years, with profits moving from $1 million in 2003 to $6 million in 2004. However, the JAS managed to make only $1 million as a result of the significant damage done to the show grounds by Hurricanes Dennis and Emily last July. Senator Grant said profits from the show could have reached $9 million if not for the $8 million repair bill.
