Government States it's Position on Banana Sales to Libya

Contact: John Emmanuel

Wednesday, October 10, 2001 - The government of St. Lucia will not sell bananas produced by St. Lucian farmers to Libya. This announcement has come from St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony in a letter to the president of the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture.

Following a recent meeting with the representatives of the Chamber, the Prime Minister agreed to make a public statement on the matter of sale of bananas to Libya.

In his letter, a copy of which was released to the local media, the Prime Minister stated “I wish to state categorically that the Government of Saint Lucia will not encourage or sanction the sale of bananas produced by Saint Lucian farmers to Libya.”

Dr. Anthony stated that selling bananas to Libya would lead to a reduction in the financial support, which Saint Lucia and other the Windward Islands receive from the European Union. The Prime Minister noted that the problem facing St. Lucia’s banana industry was not brought on by a collapsing market or insufficient demand but rather by low production. As a result the Government has injected $2.5 million into the industry to make much needed inputs available to farmers. Another one million dollars ($1m) will be injected to broaden the input credit scheme.

The Prime minister also said “the Government of St. Lucia has no intention of entering into any trading relations, which would compromise our standing with other Governments or Donors of Development Assistance.”

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