Laura Matthews, Gleaner Writer
A TRUCK carrying equipment and supplies for the Suarez Brothers Circus overturned in the Fern Gully in Ocho Rios yesterday morning after hitting an embankment.
The accident was confirmed by the Ocho Rios police. Trucks are barred from entering the Fern Gully but it is unclear whether the driver will be charged in connection with the incident.
The Suarez Brothers Circus will be opening its doors to the public in Ocho Rios on Friday evening.
"The driver of the truck is from overseas, and he lost the convoy along the route because the intention was not to go through the Fern Gully. But somehow, he ended up in Fern Gully by himself, and the truck overturned. No animals were injured," Michael Lunan, public relations officer of Shamar Enterprises Ltd., said.
Shamar Enterprises Ltd. owns the franchise for the Suarez Brothers Circus in the Caribbean.
The circus hopes to travel all over the island, but only a few other locations have been confirmed such as Montego Bay and Portmore.
"There are a lot of new rules, such as the stipulation by the vets that the animals not be allowed near to school properties, and not being allowed to operate within a certain distance of churches, and so on," Ronnie Burke, an associate said.
"We are trying to get a venue in Mandeville right now. And we intend to go to Negril, Portland, Savanna-la-Mar, Brown's Town, Black River, and some of these are subject to the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture for an extension of our licence."
RECOVERED FROM BAD START
The circus appears to have recovered well after a bad start when the planned opening had been aborted after the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) announced that the organisers had failed to secure the necessary permits.
"We have had good dialogue with the St. Ann parish council, we have gone down to other parish councils, knowing what we know now. It's been smoother, we have learned," Mr. Burke said, laughing.
