MAY PEN, Clarendon — In a parish recently rocked by brutal murders that claimed multiple lives, the 68th staging of the Denbigh Agricultural Show in Clarendon will provide a much-needed distraction.

“It brings a lot of energy to the parish of Clarendon and it brings commerce to May Pen, so persons are really looking forward to this show. Additionally, some persons use it as an opportunity to re-acquaint with old friends, while others use it to seek job opportunities,” said agricultural manager for Clarendon’s Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Wayne Reid.

“Since COVID, it has been two years without a Denbigh. The Denbigh show is a calendar event, so people look forward to this and the Emancipation holiday,” he added.

The show will be staged from July 30 to August 1 and it comes as no surprise that preparations are well underway. A visit to the site showed workers painting and setting up the tents and pavilions, which will be visited by an anticipated 60,000 patrons. This includes delegations from various Caribbean islands and the African continent.

Custos of Clarendon, William Shagoury, told OBSERVER ONLINE that the parish’s unique pavilion will be well equipped to facilitate guests. He has spearheaded oversight of the structure for the past 12 years.

“This pavilion is air-conditioned; it has its own light, its own water, and it’s also solar… We are going to try to show as much as [possible of] what is done in the parish — what we grow,” he said.

He cautioned, however, that with COVID-19 still a threat, health protocols will still be observed.

“We are trying to make it… comfortable for people, but you can’t go in there without a mask. But we will give you a mask,” he said.

RADA’s Reid explained that the host parish’s pavilion will focus primarily on cassava, highlighting different varieties from “farm to plate”. He underscored that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has been focusing on certain crops, such as cassava, for import substitution and to beef up the country’s food security.

“There will be plots on the outside of the pavilion to showcase products and, as we move inside, we’ll move into valued-added and finished products,” he said of what to expect.

The Clarendon pavilion will go up against structures from other sections of the island in a highly anticipated competition.

In addition to that contest, there will be the National Farm Queen Coronation, the staging of various villages, a gospel concert, and a reggae fest along with many other activities that fit in with the theme ‘Grow What We Eat … Eat What We Grow: Grow Smart … Eat Smart’.

– Oneil Madden