Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
Visitors to the island were also caught enjoying the tasty jerk meats at the annual Portland Jerk Festival in Boston, Portland, on July 2. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE WORD from some patrons at the Pepsi Portland Jerk Festival, held last Sunday, is that the coordinators should be given a passing grade for the organisation of the event, which was also sponsored by The Gleaner.
"I didn't encounter any traffic jams. The exit and entrance were easy. The bathroom facilities were easy to find as well as clean and we didn't have to wait in line a long time. The only problem I noticed was that some of the booths were too close together. Hence, persons wanting to go to a specific booth were sometimes blocked by a spill-over from the one next door," said Alecia Martin. "It was my first time and I would definitely go next year," continued Miss Martin.
NO TRAFFIC
The long traffic pile-up and blocked streets that sometimes put a damper on patrons' moods seemed almost non-existent this year. "The traffic moved fast and me no hear nobody say them get block-up or anything like that," Anthony Harris said.
The Gleaner noticed a contingent of police officers at almost every stop. They were also at several locations inside the venue, at the entrances and exits, at the car parks, on the roadway and backstage.
"The police were everywhere. At one point, in the late afternoon, there was a slight traffic pile-up and shortly after the police came on the spot and cleared up the traffic," says Marlon Roberts.
'I FELT SAFE'
"I felt safe, as I thought that if anybody tried anything foolish there was a cop to protect me. They were not only present, but they were also working," says another patron, Marsha Thompson.
Cynthia 'Polly' Perry, vice-chairperson of the festival committee, said the feedback to the event has been mixed. While some persons gave a thumbs down for the entertainment package, others said this year it was well managed. The cultural village that featured jonkunnu dancers and steel band players, transportation, specifically shuttle service, and the layout and use of space received excellent reports, Ms. Perry said.
"This is the seventh year and we must learn by mistake. It is not 100 per cent but we are learning," she said.
Approximately 12,000 patrons attended the festival.
