The Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office, Maurice Merchant, addressed growing public concern regarding disruptions in animal feed imports and veterinary supplies during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing which said that recent delays, including a shipment from Jamaica held up at the start of the year, were caused by shipping interruptions in regional waters.
These challenges have reinforced the government’s focus on national food security, a priority frequently championed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne to reduce dependence on external sources.
“While specific updates on the timeline for the Agro-industrial park at Diamonds and the Eco-park at Christian Valley were not the primary focus of yesterday’s session, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy Anthony Smith Jr provided a comprehensive update on the arrival of essential equipment intended to support local farmers. The Minister reported that equipment for the construction of two new abattoirs has arrived, noting that these facilities are critical to the country’s agricultural infrastructure and cannot be completed soon enough to meet current demands,” Merchant informed.
