The opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) candidate for Marriaqua, Phillip Jackson, says he has a plan to restore the constituency to its status as the “bread basket of the Caribbean”.
He said at an NDP campaign event in Mt Pleasant that the district attracted this name for good reasons
“Anywhere you stood up and look, you can see a land transformed by agriculture, the fruits of the hard labour of our farmers, but now, as far and wide as you can see, all you are seeing is the latest product of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They call it elephant grass.”
He said this is the case because the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) kept its promise.
“They don’t keep promises good. They are very poor,” Jackson said, adding, “But if it’s one promise they kept is to ensure that they kill agriculture.”
Jackson is making his first bid to win the Marriaqua seat, which the ULP has held since 1998.
He will come up against Health Minister, St. Clair “Jimmy” Prince, a retired communications professional, who is bidding for a third consecutive five-year term.
Jackson told the campaign event that the ULP said agriculture is a thing of the past, and tourism is the new thing.
The candidate said that just recently, Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves had to admit that the country has to source overseas the people with the right skills for the tourism industry.
“How then is it possible that after 25 years, and you brag about an education revolution, and you say agriculture is a thing of the past, and tourism is a new thing, … you have not produced the type of skills in tourism that Vincentians can take those jobs and benefit from?”
Jackson said this was a “massive failure” on the part of the government.
He said politics is about politicians creating a partnership with the people for the people’s advancement.
“And so, my message to my Marriaqua, Mt Pleasant, partner with Philip for a powerful Marriaqua. This is possible when we work together.”
He said the NDP has a plan to revive agriculture, with the farmer at the centre of the plan.
“But listen, we’re not just about traditional farmers only. We need young people to see agriculture as a business. We need our young people to see agriculture as an investment,” Jackson said.
He said the NDP will establish an entity to market farm produce and suggested it could be called the marketing board or agricultural export corporation.
“No farmer in St. Vincent should have to waste time planting and harvesting and then bust their brain trying to find out how and where to sell their produce,” Jackson said.
He said the marketing entity will have professionals tasked every day to find markets so farmers can focus on producing.
“… that export corporation will make sure it gets to the market, whether it’s local, regional or international.”
Jackson said he had a session with farmers recently, during which it became clear that they want a government that takes agriculture seriously.
Issues affecting agriculture include feeder roads that have “gone to zero,” he said, adding, “It’s expensive to get to your farm, even you have a vehicle, it’s mashing up because the road is not good.”
He said that the NDP will take care of the feeder roads, adding that another part of the plan is quality agricultural extension officers to guide farmers.
“If you are a young person wanting to get into agriculture, you will come to the ministry, and you would have proper persons there to advise you, but more than that, they will come meet you where you are.”
He said the Ministry of Agriculture will produce a booklet with information about investing in crops, “so that you can see where the money is.
“We need to make sure that we have a new breed of farmers that sees farming as an investment, and they have the knowledge, and they have the support from the experts to make it happen.”
He said access to land for agriculture will not be a problem because an NDP will institute a proper land bank.
As regards financing, Jackson said an NDP government will establish, as a matter of urgency, the National Development Bank.
“And so, take your agricultural investment plan to the bank, our development bank, and say, ‘This is what I want to do. Here is a plan.’ and you can be sure that you get the money you want at a very low interest rate.
“So by the time you’re finished, you are ready to go, ready to plant, ready to employ. That is how you create wealth for your citizens,” Jackson said.
He said the NDP is the only party that is interested in making sure farmers have all they need “to combine your hard work to create wealth.
“And we have a plan. We have all the parts put together, and we’ll have from the minister right down to the technical staff, ensuring you have all you need to be independent and create wealth,” Jackson said.
“Don’t be afraid of making money. The NDP wants you to make plenty money so you could take good care of your family and you could look out for one another.
“The ULP wants us to stay in poverty forever so that we can commit our begging bowls looking for a handout. That’s not the plan for the NDP. The NDP wants you to create wealth that you can develop yourself, your family and your community. That’s the difference here,” Jackson said.
He told constituents to “get accustomed to wanting to be rich. Agriculture can make us rich.”
Remember it was said that farmers ah buy vehicle for themself , buy for their wife and buy for their keeper ? ” and agriculture ah thing ah the pass? massa , keep them poor , the people love it so, they are very proud to be poor .