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Contact:
Primus Hutchinson
Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - The Windward Islands Banana Development and
Exporting Company Limited (WIBDECO), is presently engaged in implementing
various adjustments, towards improving its own efficiency regionally and in the
United Kingdom.
According to Agriculture Minister, Honourable Ignatius Jean, recent reports
reaching his Ministry indicate that WIBDECO had acquired some 26 “Refer
Containers.” The containers are expected to significantly assist the efforts of
banana farmers in getting better harvesting days for their bananas, thereby
reducing to a great extent, the time it takes for Windward Islands bananas to
get to the UK.
Mr. Jean, who spoke at Tuesday’s August 10, 2004, House of Assembly session,
stated that the introduction of the IRDC’S has also facilitated considerably,
the transition from what obtained previously during banana harvesting days. The
Agriculture Minister added that the introduction of the additional refrigerated
containers would make it possible for fruits to arrive in the UK on a Monday
instead of the usual Sunday, thereby reducing extensively, the cost usually
incurred for the Sunday operations.
Currently, the vessel arrives at the UK port on a Sunday, thereby increasing the
costs to WIBDE, because works have to be paid double time and triple time.
However, when the Vessel will arrive on a Monday, it will help to reduce some of
that (Sunday) cost, and those savings will translate to improving WIBDECO’s own
efficiency. In addition, the fruit from the boats will then be able to be
delivered directly to the ripening room on a Monday. Also, within the same week,
most of the Supermarkets will be able to receive fresh fruits out of the
Windward Islands, Minister Jean informed.
“As a result, the transition for the new harvesting days will take effect in the
coming three weeks, which will be on Mondays and Tuesdays, using those
refrigerated containers”, he said, adding, “Under control temperature, it may
well be possible now to harvest on a Sunday, and as soon as the vessel gets in
on the Tuesday or the Monday, you can begin the loading. That will reduce the
time that the fruit spends out of the control temperature so that we should be
able to bring in much better quality fruit and to be able to secure better
prices.”
During Tuesday’s House of Assembly session, the House authorised the Minister of
Finance to guarantee a loan of US$10 million from the Citibank of Trinidad and
Tobago Limited by WIBDECO for the purpose of refinancing existing debts.
WIBDECO has been on the move, educating farmers in the region through a live
radio and TV programme from the studios of the Government Information Service
(GIS).
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