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PM says Banana Task Force Report Can become Blueprint for Industry's Future

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Contact: Prime Minister's Press Secretary

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny AnthonyJune 16, 2001 - Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony says the final report of the Banana Industry Strategy Task Force can become a blueprint for the future of the all-important industry. The Prime Minister made the remarks Monday morning, as he accepted the report from the Chairman and Members of the Task Force at his office.

The report was presented to the Prime Minister by Mr. George Theophilus, who heads the 12-member task force that comprises representatives from various stake-holding interests in the local banana industry.

The Chairman said the work of his committee was of “a challenging and complex task” because of the structure and integrated nature of the industry. But, he added, members of the Task Force realized the importance of their task and approached it diligently.      

Task Force Chairman Presents Banana ReportMr. Theophilus, a former Chairman of the St. Lucia Development Bank who now runs his own private financial enterprise, FICS, noted: “Although the Government is ploughing much into the industry, we hope it also sees the importance of taking certain steps that we have recommended.”    

The Chairman said his team’s assessment was that the current economic rate of return in the banana industry is 27%, with a net value of $145 million. He also noted that  “notwithstanding the significant cost element, it is still possible to reorganize and survive.”

The Prime Minister said the report “represents a fusion of the minds, vision and spirit of all competitors and stakeholders in the industry” and promised, “it will become a familiar policy document,” and, eventually, “a blueprint for the future of the industry in St. Lucia.”

Dr. Anthony congratulated the team for the speed with which the report was compiled and presented, saying they “have delivered in fine style, but not in vain.” He promised that “the report will not be one of those that suffers from lack of implementation,” indicating that it “will be shared with parliament and the public, particularly the farming community, as well as with St. Lucia’s Windward Islands partners.”

According to the Prime Minister: “St. Lucia is the first country to extend ownership to the policy process…and our successes and failures need to be properly assessed and shared collectively with our Windward Islands partners, with whom we have a common sense of purpose.”

Dr. Anthony tasked the Ministry of Agriculture with the responsibility of combing through the report and making comments and recommendations for its implementation.

The report comprises three volumes. The first contains the Main Report, the second contains Appendices and the third comprises a Summary of the Consultations held with Stakeholders.

The Task Force was appointed by the Prime Minister on March 1, 2001, with a mandate to refine and refocus “The Windward Islands Banana Strategy” to make it more relevant to the needs of the St. Lucia banana industry.

Its Final Report was completed two and a half months later on June 15, 2001 and was officially handed over to the Prime Minister on June 18.

Members of the Task Force are: Mr. George Theophilus (Chairman), Mrs. Heraldine Rock (Deputy Chairperson), Francis Leonce, Julius Polius, Andrew Desir, Fred Flood, Herbert Roserie, Cuthbert Joseph, Omar Davis, Ezra Jn Baptiste, Luvette Thomas-Louisy and Hilary La Force.

The institutions represented by the members are: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Planning, Chamber of Commerce, Employers Federation and the four private banana marketing companies ATCO, BSML, SLBC and TQFC.

 

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