BARRETT TOWN, St James – Florida-based radio personality Bevan “Duke of Earle” Earle, a native of Barrett Town, on Christmas Day gifted the Barrett Town Police Station with two television sets and chairs, and feted over 100 students and parents from the community.

The event was held at the police station.

Constable Clovis Francis, who received the gift on behalf of the police station, expressed gratitude for the gesture.

He told the Jamaica Observer West that the station has been without a functioning television set for quite some time.

Meanwhile, shortly after noon on Christmas Day, scores of children from Barrett Town and its environs — some with their parents — began to gather on the grounds of the station for the annual Christmas treat, hosted by Earle.

All were gifted with school bags and exercise books while several received tablets after a quiz competition. Food for the children and their parents was provided by Sandals Resorts.

Earle, who immigrated to the United States in 1989 after serving 18 years in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, is well known in western Jamaica for his philanthropic deeds.

Among them is the payment of a $314,000 medical bill for Tamara Pryce who underwent treatment at the Kingston Public Hospital for multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by her estranged husband.

The Florida-based radio personality has also gifted $200,000 to paralysed ex-cop Lorenzo McLeggon, and was instrumental in setting up a computer centre in the community of Zion in St James.

He is also credited with bringing hundreds of visitors to the island from Florida over the past two decades under his ‘Jamaica Homecoming’ initiative.

Earle told the Observer West that he was encouraged to give back to his native community by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, the founder of Sandals Resorts International.

“The Christmas treat, founded by me, has been going for the past 23 years and was started because of the late Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart who always tells me to give back to the people in my community,” said the veteran radio personality.

He said the bulk of the funds for the treat over the years have been provided by his listening audience in South Florida and other sponsors.

He lauded Sandals Resorts for their support over the years.

“Sandals, as usual, normally provides the food for the treat; they are very instrumental in making this project a reality. Every year, they are the ones who are responsible for the shipment of supplies given to the children and also to get the food at the venue for the children,” he explained.

Brittney Grant, a Barrett Town resident who brought her two children to Sunday’s Christmas treat, commended Earle for the initiative.

“It’s very good for the kids. I really do appreciate it. I look forward to it every year. We are really grateful for it,” she said.