Windwards leaders planning major meeting with banana stakeholders

by Paul Charles

Saturday, February 21, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica:  Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit disclosed here on Thursday that the Windward Islands' leaders will meet with stakeholders to save the banana industry, a major income earner for the sub-region.

Skerrit, who was part of a team of Windward Islands' Prime Ministers who discussed the banana issue with the European Commission in Brussels last week, told reporters two important instructions came out of the meeting in Brussels and London. 

''One, that we believe it's imperative that we have a confab discussing only bananas and that will be held sometime March/April in St. Vincent where we shall bring all the stakeholders…to really look at one issue, one topic one bananas, and how do we maintain our market,'' he disclosed.

Skerrit also state that the sub-regional leaders were fine-tuning plans to have a ''special mission'' in Brussels to ensure the islands' key banana sector survive amid new trade rules.

''Their task really is to work with the commissioners, work with the European Commission…to seek to bring our message across the wide cross section of the European Community in order to ensure that whatever the level the tariff and quota are pegged it will be down to our benefit in the islands'' he said.

The Dominican Prime Minister noted that major retailers in the UK reiterated their interest in patronising Windward Islands' bananas once they meet the quality standards. 

Skerrit added: ''Some of the commissioners we met have given us the commitment that they would seek to do everything within their own powers and limitations to assist the Windward Islands in its quest to maintain the banana industry and their fair share of the market.''

Skerrit returned to the island on Monday after the weeklong lobbying mission in Europe with his Windward Islands' colleagues. 

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