MAJOR UPGRADING work is under way at the eight-hectare Montpelier Agricultural Showgrounds in St. James.
Re-elected president of the St. James Branch Societies, Glendon Harris, said a variety of fruit trees, forestry trees and shade trees have been planted on the property, which should make it a showpiece in the near future and fit for agricultural tours.
Mr. Harris said development plans for the property provides for construction of a skating ring, amphitheatre, fishing pond, ice cream bar and jerk bar, adding that the improvement plans would cost about $43 million. He said the fish pond, skating ring and amphitheatre would be in place for the 2007 Agricultural Show.
"We have offered the horticultural society a plot here on the grounds, so that they can have a permanent place where they can also display their horticultural products," he added.
Mr. Harris said that tours of the property, if properly organised and marketed, would do well with the many cruise ship passengers who visit Montego Bay on a regular basis.
"We need to ensure that this showground is active for the whole year," he emphasised. The president pointed out that volunteers were doing some of the improvement work on organised workdays.
Crops that are already planted at various points on the property include cocoa, coffee, naseberry, otaheite apple, nutmeg, coconut, jackfruit, June plum and guava, among others, while the forestry trees include mahogany, pine and blue mahoe.
