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Bananas, Roads, Water, Electricity, Telephones and Tobs Top concerns during Micoud South Tour

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September 6, 2000 - Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony earlier this week concluded his seventh official consecutive constituency tour, which took him to several areas between Desruisseaux and Blanchard in the Micoud South constituency represented by Agriculture Minister Cass Elias. Bananas was the main topic on the minds of those who came out to meet and speak with the Prime Minister at the three public question-and-answer sessions he held over the two days at Desruisseaux, Blanchard and Ti Rocher.Farmers from those areas asked the Prime Minister bluntly: "Should we stay in bananas, or not?" His response: "Hold strain, because things are likely to get better by January."

Revealing (to those who didn’t know) that he was himself a banana farmer, the Prime Minister reminded the audiences in both communities of the many steps his administration had taken in the interest of the banana industry. These included payment of $46 million in debt, removal of all taxes and duties on vehicles purchased for banana farming, removal of all taxes and duties on fertilizer and other inputs.

Dr Anthony said "the worst was over for the industry and things looked better around the corner" – a point underscored by the technical personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture who accompanied the Prime Minister and the other ministers. They said measures and steps being taken here and abroad at present will enable the country to begin turning the curve by the beginning of the year 2001.

The tour included several community meetings that also provided the Prime Minister with the opportunity to learn of and correct what he described as "misinformation being spread among banana farmers" about government’s role in the industry. Several farmers told the Prime Minister they had been told (by named private banana company officials) that his government was uncooperative and not assisting in the banana recovery efforts. They were also told that government was "not issuing licenses" for one particular company to sell bananas on the UK market. However, the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister, backed by Director of Agriculture Julius Polius, all reiterated that the government’s efforts continued to be in the direction of standing side-by-side with and defending the rights of St. Lucian and other Windward Islands farmers to receive proper prices for their fruit.

But it was not just all talk about bananas. Constituents quizzed the Prime Minister about feeder roads, drainage, street lamps, street signs, bus shelters, water, electricity, telephones, cost of school books, employment opportunities and sports, among other things. The Prime Minister and the MP, accompanied by the ministers of Communications & Works and Community Development and Local Government, Senator calixte George and Minister damian greaves, respectively, began the day with a church service at the Desruisseaux Roman Catholic Church and embarked on visits to several areas. The ministers and technocrats saw first-hand the state of the agricultural feeder roads, bridges and rivers. They heard from the people themselves, how they felt the problems should be tackled. There were frank comments about everything, from the level of representation by the MP and the government to the cost of school books, to which the ministers and technocrats responded on he spot.

The PM’s visit continued Monday with several visits planned to areas spanning from Blanchard to Ti Rocher, with stops at Dugard and Lacouville, Pais Bouche and Wishbwa, Moreau and Tou Cochon, ending with another of those increasingly popular community meetings at the Ti Rocher Multi Purpose Centre on Monday evening.

 

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