Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says St. Vincent and the Grenadines has to grow more food and do so more efficiently and effectively amidst the tariffs that the United States have imposed on imports from most countries.
He told Parliament that the tariffs are likely to have a greater impact on the prices of goods that SVG imports from the United States, especially as Miami is a major transshipment point.
“We have to try and grow more food, and we have to grow that food efficiently and effectively,” Gonsalves said, even as he noted that SVG is no longer in the business of large-scale production of single crops that enjoyed preferences.
“No! Fruits, vegetables, ground provisions and the like. We have to do that better, and we have to do that faster,” he told Parliament while responding to a question from opposition MP, Fitz Bramble about the impact of the tariffs.
To illustrate “the challenge which we have”, Gonsalves said farmers “responded magnificently” after Parliament approved US$10 million (EC$27 million) to help them recover from the impact of Hurricane Beryl in July.
“But what is happening, the farmers overproduced for St. Vincent, for us to sell to Trinidad,” he said, adding that Vincentian farmers are having problems converting TT dollars to Eastern Caribbean dollars.
“In fact, just over a year ago, a pound of tomatoes was $8, $9. Now, … people are selling it for less than $2 a pound, and we (the government) had to enter the market,” he said.
He said that the Ministry of Agriculture is buying the surplus tomatoes at EC$4 for use in schools, hospitals, etc.
“They have a whole set of TT dollars, what you’re going with it? And we are seeking to see how Barbados — what they can take up. The Minister of Agriculture is working in that regard,” Gonsalves said, adding that in the meantime, the government has to step in to try to stabilise the price.
There is a similar situation with plantains, which were scarce after the cyclone on July 1.
“Right now, you can get plantains for 40 and 30 cents a pound, and the ministry is now paying $1. Just over a year ago, planting was $2, $3 and more,” the prime minister said, adding that he was giving a different dimension to the issue that the East Kingstown MP had raised in his question.
“We know what we have to do, but there are challenges all the way along. It’s not an easy, straightforward matter,” the prime minister said.
He said the government was also looking at other suppliers of food, saying that, for example, some importers were buying chicken from Brazil at 20%, 25% lower than from the United States.
“And the quality is good. And there’s one importer which is ahead of the others with it and passing it on to the consumer. So, depends on where you buy,” Gonsalves said, adding, “So this is a mix of things which you have to do.”
Ralph you hypocrite!
You took the farmers from North Leeward lands and now you want to come talk about grow more… You really think you could fool all ah e anuh but that only works on the lazy ass vincentians who want you to drag yourself on because they benefiting and they neighbors not.
Ralph Gonsalves only wants to beg and borrow abroad. Why doesn’t he subsidize the farmers with the money he is borrowing in the name of the Vincentian people. That would be a good incentive. Not only running your stinking mouth and doing nothing.
agriculture na ah ting of de past ? an farmers ah buy vehicle fo dem self, dem wife and fo dem keeper.? wat ah bunch ah hypocrites.
By farmer he means Saboto. Only he one could eat.