St. James Parish Councillor Elected President of JAS

Farmer, businessman and Councillor for the Maroon Town division of the St. James Parish Council, Glendon Harris, has been elected President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS).
Mr. Harris defeated his opponent, the President of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association (AIJCA), Allan Rickards, by 210 votes to 205, in the most closely contested election for the leadership in many years.
Outgoing President, Senator Norman Grant, was elected First Vice President, easily defeating his opponent, Bob Miller, by 175 votes to 136, while attorney-at-law Glen Cruickshank defeated former champion farmer, Maria Azan, by 159 votes to 144.
Voting took place at the 114th annual general meeting of the JAS at the society’s Denbigh Showground, Clarendon, on Wednesday (July 8).
In his final speech as President, Senator Grant, who had led the society since 2003, told the annual conference that the JAS has been “totally re-positioned.”
“This is evidenced by a surplus for the year of $15.2 million, and recording a surplus for the past six consecutive years,” Senator Grant said.
He said that revenues improved from $50 million per annum in 2004, to $113 million in 2009, and the association’s cash position moved from $7 million in 2004 to $48 million in 2009.