KINGSTON, Jamaica —President of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) Norman Grant is assuring the public that concerns raised by the Ministry of Health about the staging of the 2017 Denbigh Agricultural Show are being addressed.

In a release today, Grant said the committee was “working in harmony with the Clarendon Health Department (CHD) and with their guidance through our weekly meetings, we are satisfied that we will meet the required regulatory requirements”.

The release said that the JAS (which manages the staging of the show) had communicated with all exhibitors/parish pavilion operators and all other food handlers the requirements for meeting the public health regulations.

The JAS is also reportedly assisting food handlers participating in this year’s staging in acquiring their food handler’s permit and agreed to host an onsite food handler’s clinic in conjunction with the CHD on the Denbigh show grounds on Thursday, commencing at 9:00 am.

The JAS has reportedly also written to the May Pen Parish Council to assist in the cleaning of the council’s main drain that traverses the Denbigh show ground.

JAS said it is now dumping the pond and other ground cavities to prevent the settlement of water that encourages mosquito breeding. According to JAS, the CHD continues to carry out vector control activities on the show ground, with the effects described as “noticeable” by Grant.

Concerns about the staging of the event originated when the CHD cited a number of concerns related to the staging of the show and identified several breaches to include vendors preparing meals without a food handlers’ permits, dysfunctional toilet facilities and active mosquito breeding sites at the showground, among other issues.