BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 21, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — While production of sugar on a commercial basis ceased in St. Kitts in 2005 to provide greater opportunities for expansion in non-sugar agriculture, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is pointing out the Covid-19 experience has solidified the realisation that the country needs to produce more of what people consume.
“Agriculture has seen a budding revival over the last several years,” said Prime Minister Harris. “The onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic has reminded us of the very important need to be able to feed ourselves.”
The Honourable Prime Minister made the remarks on Tuesday April 20 when he appeared on the popular Leadership Matters on ZIZ Television with four other panellists, where the topic of discussion was ‘agriculture and food security’, which he said was one of most important considerations for the country at this time.
Panellists with Prime Minister Harris on Leadership Matters were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture et al, Mr Ron Collins; Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Tracy Challenger-Clarke; Technical Specialist, St. Kitts and Nevis IICA Delegation, Ms Sharon Jones; and a longstanding farmer, Mr Winston Morris.
According to the Prime Minister, the Covid-19 experience solidified the realisation that the country needs to produce more of what it consumes. After the Government became cognisant of the fears of the people it responded to protect the population against supply chain being negatively affected by ensuring that it systematically diversified source markets for food including poultry, meat and fish while it aggressively worked to near self-sufficiency in those staples.
“This is why as part of the stimulus package my Government allocated ten million dollars to boost agriculture and agricultural production,” said Dr Harris. “Building on the commitment made to expand our agricultural base, we in our 2021 budget, allocated $5 million to continue the stimulus programme for the agriculture sector.”
The concessions the Team Unity Administration delivered to the sector are bearing fruit as there has seen increased production, and interest in crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries. He pointed out that fisheries output recorded a 3.6 percent increase in 2020 after an 83 percent reduction in output in April 2020, which was a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated curfews and lockdowns, which brought fisheries to a standstill.
“Over the past almost six years, my Administration has given much, and will further increase its support to the sector,” said Dr Harris. “Indeed the 2021 allocation of just over ten million dollars plus a further five million for the stimulus programme represents the largest budgetary allocation to the sector in a very long time.”
Prime Minister Harris said that he understood the vital importance of the sector to the country and economy, and also the challenges. He noted that he appreciated the vast potential of the agricultural sector to contribute to the country’s sustainable growth and development.
He however pointed out that for this to be achieved there must be a focused goal, and a cohesive strategy, and that way the country can produce more and better quality products for the population to consume domestically, and for export. He added that better quality foods lead to improvement in people’s health condition, which in turn should mean lower healthcare costs, as the population’s health is critical to the nation’s wealth.
According to Dr Harris, working together the farmers can create more jobs within the sector, wealth for the people and a source of foreign exchange for the country.
“Before concluding I must again encourage all farmers and fishers to get vaccinated,” said the Honourable Prime Minister. “Do it to minimise the risks of contracting Covid-19 or transmitting Covid-19 to anyone. Do it for yourselves, do it for your families and very importantly do it to put our country on a sustained path to recovery. Do it to facilitate our herd immunity target being realised, which in turn will lead to more business opportunities at our hotels and at other business places.”
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 17, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Prime Minister and Area Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Seven, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, presented to the communities of Lodge-Ottley’s and surrounding areas a $3.2 million multi-purpose community centre at a ceremony held on Tuesday February 16 to commission the facility.
“I feel proud today because my government is delivering the best community centre in the country to you the wonderful people of St. Christopher Seven and Eight,” said Prime Minister Harris as he delivered feature remarks at the ceremony. “I am proud that today we are able to deliver this edifice so soon after my re-election – I am delivering this to you. I am keeping faith with you.”
According to the Honourable Prime Minister, the Team Unity Government was giving the residents of Lodge-Ottley’s and the surrounding communities a new beating heart, which he termed a fresh start at resuscitating the communities. He noted it was a centre to which the residents can come to organise, to plan and deliver programmes to advance and improve themselves and their communities.
“We heard that message coming from PS Janelle Lewis-Tafari,” said Dr Harris in reference to opening remarks delivered by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development. “PS Janelle Lewis-Tafari said that community centres should be the centrality of the organisation of community life and community activity, and that is so true. That is what we hope that this building will represent.”
He told the gathering that also included the Area Parliamentary Representative for the neighbouring St. Christopher Eight and Minister with responsibility for Social Development, the Hon Eugene Hamilton, that the centre is an example of Team Unity Government’s commitment to inclusiveness. The government, he added, was determined that no one is left behind, and said all people, regardless of circumstances, should be able to actively participate in their local community.
“The old community centre at Lodge Project was not fit for purpose,” observed Dr Harris. “It was not what this community deserved. It was not what our community expected. Some have said repeatedly the old centre showed how the previous government neglected this area. They deliberately refused to renovate the old centre. Today we come and we move beyond that victimisation and neglect of the past to the delivery of this modern first class edifice that will be part of our stronger and safer future.”
The old community centre at Lodge Project was the unofficial home for the longest running domino league in the country, St. Christopher Seven Domino League that is sponsored by Prime Minister Harris, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Games had to be played at different venues as the maximum number of games it could host was four, while the area around the centre had no parking spaces.
Prime Minister Harris said that he had been informed that the new centre could host all the 14 teams in the league and had ample parking space. He requested President and organiser of the league Mr Calvin Farrell, and his deputy Mr Simeon ‘Cuban’ Liburd, who were present and played an exhibition game, to take note. The 26th edition of the league will commence in July this this year.
Added Dr Harris: “Our footballers also have a venue to meet, as do other sporting teams and community groups.”
Present at the opening ceremony which was chaired by Dr Patrick Welcome, also included the Minister of Health et al the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, the Minister of Education the Hon Jonel Powell, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan His Excellency Tom Lee, Deputy Speaker Senator the Hon Dr Bernicia Nisbett, Ambassador His Excellency Kevin Williams, and Permanent Secretaries Mr Osmond Petty, Mrs Elreter Simpson-Browne, and Mr Ron Collins.
“Importantly, we have remembered the specially-abled in the design of this facility,” said the Honourable Prime Minister. “That is why this new centre includes ramps for specially-abled persons. We want all people to be connected with their community. My Government wants our specially-abled children to enjoy the blessings and gifts of life. We are doing all that we can to incorporate them more fully in our society.”
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 20, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The annual Budget Estimates Committee Meetings that are designed to help shape the Budget for the upcoming financial year, January 01 to December 31, continued today (Tuesday, October 20) with presentations from various Ministries and their related departments.
Among the ministries that presented before the Federal Cabinet was the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources. The presentation was led by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ron Collins, supported by the Director of Marine Resources, Mr. Marc Williams.
Permanent Secretary Collins commented afterwards that they remain optimistic about the future of agriculture in the Federation and is confident that with the assistance of local farmers and fishers a significant increase in production can be realised.
“One of the things that we would have focused on during the presentation of our Budget Estimates is the increase in local production – crop production, livestock production and also fisheries. So we are seeking to do more in the sector and to decrease the import bill right across the sector, and to provide the kind of support that is needed to the farmers, the fishermen and so on to make sure that they can make this happen in partnership with us,” Mr. Collins said.
Mr. Collins further noted that in every aspect “the sector looks promising because of the commitment that is there right now [and] the motivation that came from the COVID situation and so the sector looks bright with lots of potential.”
The Permanent Secretary said he was also pleased with the discussions during the Budget Estimates meeting and the subsequent commitment made by the Government to support the ministry’s proposals going forward.
As part of its effort to boost production in the Federation, the St. Kitts and Nevis Government committed $10 million of the $120-million COVID-19 stimulus package to the Ministry of Agriculture.
This resulted in the provision of financial grants, free seeds and seedlings, and the allocation of additional lands for farming. Additionally, more than 200 fishermen have benefited from the provision of fish trap wire, fishing line, hooks, rope, buoys and safety equipment.
The Budget Estimates Committee Meetings are expected to continue on Wednesday (October 21) with presentations from the Ministries of Entrepreneurship and Communication, Environment and Cooperative, Youth, Sport and Culture, and Health among others.
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