Food Security bill to tackle water, funding and land use problems

Agriculture & Fisheries Minister, Dr Natalio Wheatley said government’s proposed Virgin Islands Food Security and Sustainability bill will tackle several issues that affect the industry including water shortage, lack of capital, and inadequate land space.

Speaking at the public consultation for the bill last evening, Dr Wheatley said he believes the legislation has been one of the most thoroughly executed and consulted bills within this administration and possibly the history of the territory.

He noted the process started in December 2019.

Dr Wheatley highlighted that the provisions in the bill are consistent with his government’s manifesto of calling for a regulatory authority as well as conditions to develop a viable agriculture and fishing industry that will provide business and job opportunities as well as government revenues.

“And to be able to provide healthy food for our bodies, food that we basically know what is going in the food and free from pesticides that will impact the health of our body. Also, maintain our culture of people who depend so greatly on agriculture and fisheries,” Wheatley said.

He said his department believes the bill must be responsive to the need of the people in the agriculture and fishing industry and consequently, the department is modernising the legislation, some over a century old, to consolidate the Food Security and Sustainability Bill.

Dr Wheatley said the industry has been plagued by water shortage and a water policy will be in place to alleviate the problem.

“We have challenges with water and therefore we are introducing a water policy and we are making plans to build a reservoir specifically for Paraquita Bay to continue the rehabilitation of wells and even drilling new wells,” the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister said.

“We ran through the Water and Sewerage Department, a new water line from the Spring Ghut community that is coming from the Sabbath Hill community, and we will continue to do things to see if we can improve the supply of water on Paraquita Bay and any other agricultural land that we designated for use and lease,” Wheatley added.

The bill will also make provisions for the utilisation of a portion of the miscellaneous funds from the seven percent tax levied on money services transactions designated for the agriculture and fishing industry.

Minster Wheatley said the fund has amassed millions already and provides a dedicated stream of income to support the people within the industry.

“This legislation has made provisions for us to be able to provide microfinancing schemes through the agriculture and fishing authority, insurance, grants and even loan which the development bank use to be known for support the agriculture and fishing industry through loans,” Dr Wheatley continued.

Meanwhile, the minister said the bill also seeks to ensure the territory’s land use is more productive and efficient. He mentioned the land management committee implemented for Paraquita Bay and noted it will be repeated in other areas.

“Of course, the legislation makes provision for master plans of land designated for agricultural purposes to be put in place. We want to get the best out of our lands, an assessment was done, and it indicates that our lands are not utilised properly in many instances underutilised. So, we are putting plans in place to rectify those things,” Dr Wheatley said.

The stakeholder meeting last night was the last in a series of consultations hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Last week, the department met with farmers and fisherfolks to address concerns with the new bill.