Former General Manager of the Dominica banana Marketing Corporation (DBMC) Edison James is calling on the Agriculture Minister to act to secure the island’s banana export market by dialoguing with countries that have placed restrictions on the importation of Dominica’s agricultural produce.
Agriculture Minister Matthew Walter told a press conference last week that several countries have indicated their intention to ban the importation of fruits from Dominica because of the presence of the deadly Black Sigatoka Disease on the island.
Two countries, Montserrat and Antigua, have already imposed restrictions on the island’s agricultural produce, adding another blow to the already struggling industry.
According to James, Walter should dialogue with the other countries and persuade them to keep their markets open while Dominica tries to control the Black Sigatoka outbreak. “Black Sigatoka is in other countries – they told us so in Martinique and in other countries south of us – but yet still these countries are shipping their fruits, so Mr. Walter apparently does not understand what is involved here,” James told Dominica News Online.
James said Walter should not simply surrender in the face of countries refusing Dominica’s products. “He cannot just throw his hand up in humble surrender because Montserrat has indicated they will not take the fruits and then go on to tell us he expects other countries to follow suit. He is almost encouraging other countries not to take our fruit,” he argued.
In a press conference recently Walter outlined several strict measures as the island stepped up its fight against the disease. “All plantain and bananas for export must be de-handed, dipped and parked in a carton box on the farm or as close to the farm as possible, within the same locality,” he said. “Trash and leafing material are prohibited to accompany banana and local plantain to local markets.”
Additionally, movement of planting material was placed under restriction and planting material can only be moved with the permission of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit.
August was also declared Banana and Plantain Field Sanitation Month with a number of activities and measures expected to be undertaken by farmers. Some of them include the ‘de-leafing’ of plantain and banana trees, correct spacing and crop density and destruction of abandoned fields.
The measures took effect on Monday, August 6 and the minister warned that farmers who failed to comply with them face prosecution under the Agriculture Act.
Can someone elaborate on the current status of the “Black Sigatoka” virus that is currently ravaging our Agricultural sector?
Mr. James is correct with his criticism of the actions “to date” by governance. Whenever a GDP commodity is threatened, it ‘must’ be addressed along partisan lines ensuring corrective actions are immediately implemented!
edison arlay soockway sack oo larw van shabonwh
I think Mathew Walter should be called lie down and die minister
Haa boy Eddo…once again…you in form….line and length…bang on target.
Never mind those labahrats on here who will bash you just cause its you who made the recommendation….skerrit paying their internet….so they have to play their role…….
the right thinking people are with you….let the clock tick!
Can’t blame Walters for his statement, remember he is just a figurehead because Skerritt is the one making all the decisions. Untill skerritt decides what should be done and when Walters hands are tied,
At this point we do not have a rampant ourbreak of black sigatoka, the disease has been spotted in couple corners of the country, a speech claryfying that the disease is firmly under controle, with necessary imputs inplace for treatment of the disease, coupled with all active husbandry practises with a view to eradicate it and that our traditional importers need not worry.
EDISON is a joke. Political points he trying to score!That man so that kill the Banana Industry.
Its people like allu that does cause persons to spell Dominica like Dumb-inica
JAMES for min of agri! heheheh
we want eddo …thats de man who took de industry from crisis to recovery ….boots on the blasted ground u hear
I appreciate you comming forward with recommendations to help the country,but you know that regardless to how many excellent recommedations that are made,once it comes from you or the UWP, them jokers will not accept them. For the sake of the country,I wish to advise you and your party to keep on trying.
Wisdom…
We need to put politics aside in matters like these. If someone has experience in what is affecting the country whether red,blue,green they should be allowed the opportunity to apply their inputs. I believe Mr.James can give some ideas in this matter.
yor so right mr james when that man came out on the news its like he was just saying to dom,in,can’s I got one call and am there waiting to get calls from the rest is.lands that thay dont want nothing from dominica what are J minister we have but thats how dom.in.can’s whant it the next thing i love is are lot of them thats all thay do to get cash lets see how thay work that out with our P.M and the rest
Alas poor Dominica! Papa mete! Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is reproach!
You are so right.
If our people believed in giving one tenth of the first havest of their crops to God, through the Church, one tenth of the monies received after selling their crops as a way of saying thank you God for giving us such rich, fertile soil, abundance of water, sunshine ect, and strength for working the soil, wisdom to maintain good quality production, techniques for controlling the local pests and mercy for keeping new pests away, even the agricultural terrorist and those who would want to sabotage the agri sector with their lies and deception we would be the bread basket of the Caribbean. But instead the first thing we buy after getting paid whether monthly/fortnightly is a beer, a KFC, a new dress, shoes ect. Look at the nation of Israel, you know why they are so blessed in everything, it’s because they pay tithes to God. Practice this people and you will be blessed, no matter how small the sum of money is, when you receive it, remove one tenth from it, set it aside and tell yourself that’s for God. PUT IT IN THE OFFERING. If it’s crops, tangible goods, share with your neighbours, friends, give to a charity, a stranger in need, God will bless you spirually, physically, financially, emotionally, mentally and He will extend those blessing to your family and their generations aswell.
Mr James u got that so right that was the same way i thought when i heard the minister’s comment last weeek.ohhhhhhhh Dominca.
@rc assive..i tend to agree with u on that one.how more dumb can that statement by the minister be? is like he inviting other countries to follow suit..wonder what the pm thought of that statement but again we done know is next level so anything goes…