$1.9M set aside for new agri and fishing complex
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has advised that nearly $2 million has been allocated for the construction of the much-anticipated Agriculture and Fisheries Complex.
“My government is committed to building the Virgin Islands Agriculture and Fisheries Complex in Paraquita Bay, which has been spoken about for too long,” Premier Wheatley said during the budget presentation. “One point nine million dollars has been allocated towards the development and construction of a Virgin Islands Agriculture and Fisheries Complex.”
The Premier explained that the development of the territory’s agricultural sector will assist with some measure of food security while also creating economic opportunities for farmers and farm workers.
The government passed the Food Security and Sustainability Act last year and Premier Wheatley said at the time that he intended to advance agriculture in the territory.
However, Premier Wheatley revealed late last month that even though the law was passed, it has not yet been enacted as the government is awaiting regulations to support the act.
He noted at the time that a consultant had been engaged to assist with the development of an implementation plan for regulations to establish and operationalise the Agriculture and Fisheries Management Unit and the Virgin Islands Agriculture and Fisheries Authority, and to draft regulations supporting the financing and management of the Authority.
The Premier also noted at the time that the government intends to implement the Agriculture and Fisheries Authority’s Board next year and advised that applications will be sought by year-end.
“The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change is working closely with the Recovery and Development Agency on developing the Agriculture and Fisheries Complex at Paraquita Bay to store, process and sell local produce and fish,” Premier Wheatley advised.
He added that development works are underway to install a large water storage tank to support productive farming in Paraquita Bay.
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That will get you a few tin sheds baking under the sun if the market square is anything to go by.
Why nit fund Health Services so that residents can have access to quality health care?
It is impossible to please everyone.
The government needs to commit to being transparent about how ANY funds for agriculture and fisheries is spent. Not 1cent is reaching the real fishermen or farmers or this territory… NOT 1. Yet every year their budget is spent. This year we saw a group of office workers go to St. Croix for their agriculture fest. They made OUR farmers and fishermen PAY to attend our own agriculture fest. The college want to put on a course for local farmers, needing funds of less than $5000 to accommodate this – the department of agriculture said they were unable to contribute to this. Yet here we go again… $1.9M on a building – the results of which will be a building worth substantially less than this ($800,000 if we are lucky), which will sit derelict next to the derelict greenhouses… all whilst some well connected contractor reaps the majority of this portion of the budget.
Every election we see politicians using this industry to get votes. That is exactly why the premier wants this ministry in his portfolio – he can bulk up his budget because this is an important portfolio. BUT in reality, what do they actually do for agriculture and fisheries in the BVI? NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Its enough to make me want to rip the Honorable from in front of all their names. Nothing honorable about any of them.
Why 1.9 million and not 2 million? does the odd $100.000 make any difference? All ‘pie in the sky’ but no vegetables as usual!
@Sweet Dreams. The other $100,000 is for the LAW.
REALLY. the industry is so small in the BVI that the spending is out of proportion . How about fixing schools and clinics first……
The Goverment is using the 15% seafood duty to support this industry. its a tax on fish were all paying to eat imported fish. The fisherman can not catch enough fish for the volume of people eating fish.
Everything should go through fisheries then be sold. not whats left sold to fisheries.
If this industry was working why all the subsidies and what would a complex change about the fishing industry.
We have not had a fishery complex since irma so why do we need one now?
The fishing complex was actually insured during Irma soooo… Where did the insurance money go???
What is that, 1/3 of what Fat Albert gave to the fake farmers and fishermen?
10 mil spent on green houses. Where is he fruit?
I don’t understand what the farmers or fisherman are going to do in this expensive building . The farming doesn’t take place in an office , it takes place in the field . For fishing you need water and a boat unless you have a dock . This money should be spent on supplies for the people actually engaged in these activities . Not cash grants but actual supplies to genuine farmers and fishermen who prove that they have a track record and actually provide products to the market.
….and the fishing and agricultural complex gets about half a percent? It will be a glorified shed.
Something is wrong with us.
And the silliness continues.there is an animal pound established in Paraquita bay. Can the minister say how many animals was impounded for the fast two years? Should I say 1 thousand ,2 hundred ok, 50 animals, na. It’s 5. We’ll see the same with some thing else of what’s developing.
Why do government compete with its farmers and fishermen? They go out do the hard work and sell their fish and produce at a fraction of the price , then government turn around and sell it for way higher than more than its purchase price. Let the people be ! Give them a place where they can come pari at a certain day and time and sell their fish and produce. Teach your people empowerment skills, and let them be.
Why dont we have a proper fish and food market in Road Town where the consumers are?
Aunty Susan,
RoadTown is a commercial capital and it should remain so. Why do you need a smelly fishy RoadTown. Oh, please,every establishment cannot be in RoadTown.