By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE JAMAICA Agricultural Society (JAS) realised just over $6 million in profits from the $24 million raised at the 2004 Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show in Clarendon, from July 31 to August 2.
Addressing a press briefing at the JAS Board Room on Church Street in downtown Kingston last Friday, Senator Norman Grant, the president of the organisation, said this year's revenues represented a significant increase over last year, when the money raised at the Denbigh Show just "broke even" with the cost to stage the event.
However, he said in 2002 the Ministry of Agriculture had provided the JAS with $5 million to assist with the staging of the event, while this year the JAS received only $500,000 from the agriculture ministry.
This year, the show was staged at a cost of just over $18 million.
Senator Grant said audits indicated that some 76,000 patrons were in attendance at the show over the three days and that this number was expected to be further increased next year when the show takes on an "international flavour".
This year, the Denbigh Show, dubbed the Caribbean's premier agricultural event, saw five Caribbean delegations in attendance.
Senator Grant said the revenues from this year's event would be used to fund establishment of the Denbigh Theme Park, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years. The ground-breaking exercise for the park, projected to cost $1 billion, will be held by the end of the year, Senator Grant said.
Noting that there were several weaknesses in staging the event this year, Senator Grant said a survey has been commissioned by the JAS to ascertain the areas that were unacceptable. "Where you implement changes it is not going to be gain without pain," he noted.
WIDESPREAD COMPLAINTS
There were widespread complaints from patrons that directional signs were inadequate on the main roads to the venue as well as on the show ground and that there were too many plastic toys on sale at the event.
Livestock farmers also complained that the $1,000 prize package for winning each category was minuscule and worse, the conditions for their animals were sub-standard. They have threatened to boycott the show in 2005 if there were no improvements, but Senator Grant assured last week that there would be better prizes next year and the conditions for the animals would be advanced.
