Edison James says that farmers are ‘out on their own’

Former prime minister and local farmer Edison James says the rise in cost of fertilizer is a major concern for Dominican farmers.

James is calling on the government to subsidize fertilizer for farmers, which he says is greatly needed.

According to James the Dominica Banana Producers limited is unable to assist farmers with subsidies for fertilizers due to the constraints that they are now faced with.

James is calling on the government to pay what is due to the Dominican farmers.

“Farmers need to be assisted. Right now they are out on their own and particularly we heard about subsidies. When I called for them to provide subsidies, the minister has all sorts of things to say about me and yet they went on to say that they are going to subsidize,” he said.

According to James, farmers are in danger of having to pay high prices for fertilizers because the organizations will not be able to honor any commitment to sell the fertilizers at a subsidized price.

He said government has failed to pay the organizations monies owed hence farmers are being punished.

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10 Comments

  1. Rajeju
    June 29, 2010

    Edison. Have you given up the passport you have? Likewise Ron and you guys are just jokers because so many of you contested the election with dual citizenship and you now want to crucify skerrit. Wiltshire, Ron, Edison and others are all guilty of the same act yet they are taking skerrit to court.

    Declare to the nation whether or not you possess a foreign passport.

  2. Cassandra
    June 28, 2010

    what kind of convoluted thinking is this? Are you really telling the tax payers that by giving their money to the farmers first place they will be able to buy their produce cheaper later?

  3. JOE
    June 28, 2010

    They DO NOT PASS ON THE SAVINGS!!!!!!

  4. Cassandra
    June 28, 2010

    ..how many farmers pay income tax or import duty on their vehicles? And, do they not enjoy protection by way of high import duties on food? Who was the leader who handed out EU assistance to banana farmers as subsidy instead of applying it to improve the productivity of the industry as intended? Not the same banana growing leader, who now wants to benefit from governments largesse by way of subsidized fertilizer? Self interest???

  5. Duttytuff4u
    June 28, 2010

    one of the factors determining price is cost of production. if the farmers are able to receive subsidies this would increase production and drop the cost of producing goods which could then be passed on to the consumer. so if things are too expensive support the farmers plight.

  6. Ya
    June 28, 2010

    Adult education would allow you to understand that this is just saying “teach a man to fish” rather than give him a fish which relates to the hand-outs system in Dominica. Lord help this country and its people.

  7. JOE
    June 28, 2010

    My only question is when we call for subsidy for farmers will we see these same farmers dropping their unreasonably high prices?

    Imagine Dasheen selling $2.50 a pound! AH MAHGWASAR!!!!! We keep doing as if farmers are the worse off in dominica, but i for one do not support subsidizing farmers unless they agree to pass back the savings to the populace!!!!!!!

  8. Ya
    June 28, 2010

    Please try to understand the message and ignore who the messenger is. I am no fan of Mr. James, but he is very correct. When he called on the government a few months ago to subsidize the price of fertilizer, he was attacked in the same matter being displayed here. The government subsequently promise DBPL that they would subsidize the price, so why then did they attack him for suggesting it? Look allu ready to attack the man for calling on government to honor their promise, because as we speak Farmers are paying $15 plus more on one bag of fertilizer.

    Sometimes, allu really need to read and understand what someone is saying and put aside the petty political anger that allu not even sure about.

  9. Earl Francis
    June 28, 2010

    Ohhhhhh….. cry, cry, petty Edison

  10. yout
    June 28, 2010

    EDISON SAYS….EDISON SAYS…..EDISON SAYS….TO BE QUITE HONEST I HAVE BEEN A WORKER FRROM 1993 BUT I AM NOW FED UP WITH EVERYTHING EDISON SAYS>>>>EVERYDAY EVERYDAY……JUST CHILL AND LET OUR PARTY REBUILD IT IS NOT YOUR PARTY MR JAMES

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