Denbigh security issues to be addressed
Published:Saturday | August 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Christopher Serju, Gleaner writer
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
Christopher Emanuel, chief executive officer of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), has admitted that the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show has been adversely affected over the years by security concerns. He pointed out that over the years, efforts to use local security personnel had backfired because of what he called "community influence".
Then there is the political pressure.
"In former years we have had discussions with the member of parliament as it relates to trying to assist, because the mentality of the Clarendonians is that Denbigh is the only large-scale economic opportunity and so they must eat a food (make an earning), but this eating a food pretty much comes at a cost," relates Emanuel. This time I did not have any discussions with him (MP) as to allowing them (vendors) to come in."
While giving this year's show a high rating, Emanuel said there were some problems, however, which the organising committee will be moving to effectively address. He explained that the habit of some companies to wait until the last minute to indicate their participation this year has thwarted plans to develop a comprehensive map of the area showing the location of all booths. This will no longer be tolerated as the organising committee has adopted a get-on-early or get-left-off stance.
"There are a lot of things that were done in a rush. I want to move that out of the show completely. There is this tendency for persons to wait until the last two weeks to sign on. Some are waiting on their budget, some say it's a tough year and they don't know," said Emanuel. "Well, 2012 will be the 60th anniversary of the Denbigh Show and we are pulling out all our stops to make it the show of all shows. Against that background, 60 days before the show we will be closing off on every aspect of the show. When I say every aspect, you will have to be on by then. It can't be a situation where it is an afterthought," he declared.
The behaviour of some companies in promoting their products saw them 'clashing' with competitors, playing music or promotional jingles at very high volumes or at times which clashed with the official ceremony. The CEO vows that this will not be allowed to happen again as the ground will be segmented and companies provided with a schedule of the official programme as well as guidelines for hosting promotional events.
"We got some complaints about two or three instances about music. Some of the exhibitors were not too pleased as it relates to the behaviour of their neighbours. In one instance I had to go over and ask them to turn ( the music) down or turn it off."
All of this notwithstanding, Emanuel insists that this was one of the better Denbigh Shows, and plans for next year will see patrons enjoying better underfoot and parking conditions, with special attention being paid to enhancing the facilities to allow wheelchair access.