Review of Paraquita Bay farmland use underway

The government has made good on a promise to assess farmlands at the Paraquita Bay Estate in order to ensure that the plots are being used efficiently and for their intended purpose.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley previously commented that farmlands in the area had been poorly managed.

“We often get questions from quite a number of persons about farmlands and I would say to you that our farmlands up until this point, particularly at Paraquita Bay, have been managed very poorly,” Premier Wheatley said at the time.

He added: “There hasn’t been a proper process in place to ensure any level of accountability in terms of the use of the plots and even a transparent process to even be able to receive a plot. So it’s been very poor.”

Last week, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change informed farmers using agricultural plots on the Paraquita Bay Estate that a project is underway to review the use of the land and demonstrate sustainable land farming practices on eligible livestock and crop farms on the estate.

Assistant Secretary in the Ministry, Tessa Smith Claxton, said the purpose of the exercise is to support the orderly development of the farm plots at Paraquita Bay using sustainable farming practices that make the best use of Crown land to increase agricultural production in the territory.

The government announced that the project was made possible through the “Integrated Landscape Approaches and Investments in Sustainable Land Management in the OECS” project, managed by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and funded under the European Union Global Public Goods and Challenges Programme.

According to the Ministry, a company called Innov8, has been contracted by the OECS to carry out the works and is meeting with farmers and other stakeholders from October 10 to 26.

Innov8 is expected to examine the current and planned farming areas, including their size and layout in addition to soil properties, natural vegetation, water availability, and surrounding activities.

A spatial plan for farming plots will also be developed, and sustainable farming designs and practices will be recommended and demonstrated on specific plots within the estate.

Premier Wheatley previously explained that the government is seeking to implement a transparent, fair and accountable process for persons to be able to apply for and be awarded plots for which they will receive a lease.