Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Thursday, September 07, 2000 – Saint Lucia is set to begin producing baby food and a dietary supplement from bananas. Two factories for that purpose are to be set up shortly.  The initiative, the brainchild of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Honourable George Odlum, will bring about greater diversity of the local banana industry and improve prospects for farmers. It also promises to breathe new life into the industry that has seen its fortunes change so dramatically in the past several years.

Mr. Odlum has already signed a letter of intent with a company in Cuba and through discussions between Agriculture Minister Honourable Cassius Elias and Mr. Odlum, a formal letter will be sent to the company inviting them to visit Saint Lucia for further discussions.

Mr. Elias says local banana farmers will benefit from the project as the Government of Saint Lucia continues to develop the industry, making it more cost effective and efficient as well as increasing productivity. "As you know we have tremendous capacity to produce bananas. We’ve always had a problem of quality and price and given the problems we have on the European Market and the competition, this initiative will actually allow banana growers who cannot produce the quality that is demanded of them for the export market to continue to produce bananas.  Since they know how to produce bananas they will be able to produce for local initiatives such as this and secure a good enough price that will allow us to have a two pronged attack in respect of banana production," the minister said.

Minister Odlum says a number of projects can develop from this joint venture. Recently, Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony held talks with officials of the Cuban firm about the possibility of producing rat poison. The poison was tested on the Saint Lucian pests, which was very effective and will soon be implemented.

Representatives of the Cuban company will be on island in October and production will commence early in the new year.