PRESS RELEASE
The Sign Man Ltd, in collaboration with the Jacko Foundation and Creole Heartbeat, is extending an invitation to you on the occasion of a Press Launch of a billboard to be located at Jacko Flats in Belles. This is to take place on March 19, 2024, at 11.00 am. The location for the launch is situated just after the Belles Primary School. More information can be provided.
The objectives for the launching of this billboard are to sensitize the general public and visitors to 2 points:
- Getting the public and visitors familiarized with the location
- The importance of the historical aspect of the place.
Having been involved in hiking for the past 20 years, I have found out that many nationals are not aware of this historic area. Being a patriotic Dominican, and having a passion for Cultural and Heritage tourism, I saw the importance of adding value to this significant site.
To highlight the important ancestral legacy of our people, Sign Man Ltd has financed this notable project of erecting a billboard. This will significantly enhance our Tourism product and assist nationals and visitors to easily locate the area. The caretaker of the area, who initially articulated the challenges of locating this historic site has welcomed this project which will significantly add more visibility and purpose to the area.
On the right side of the billboard, there is a description of the area that allows people to learn about Jacko Flats. This information was provided by Dr. Lennox Honeychurch. It gives an artistic impression of Jacko’s Camp and a description of how the camp was set up.
We see this venture as our civic responsibility to assist and to further sensitize visitors on the history of Maroon Leader Jacko and other slaves who had escaped captivity and how they survived in this part of the forest named Jacko Flats. Educational tours can be organized by the Ministry of Education and Principals of other schools to enlighten our students about this valuable and important aspect of our history. It is also our view that the general public will embrace this opportunity to visit this site with a sense of pride and dignity and learn about the history of Jacko Flats.
This is the commencement of a signage revolution around Dominica. We also hope that this undertaking will encourage other Government and Private Sector entities, to partner with us for the further visual enhancement of this and other historic sites. We are also conceptualizing the installation of safety ropes along the steps leading to the river, thus making the trail safer for users.
I sincerely hope that Discover Dominica Authority and the Ministry of Tourism will see this launch as significant.