Agriculture Minister, Ambrose George

According to George, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, the decision of the Government to invest over $306,000 in this facility is a manifestation of the Government’s understanding of the importance of the banana industry to the Dominican economy as a whole. 

“I believe that the investment of over $306,000 is an important investment in the banana industry in Dominica. We continue as a Government to speak to the importance of bananas as a major crop despite the efforts which are being done in terms of other sectors in the economy, tourism for example; but as a Government and as a people I am sure, we would want to see the continued success of a vibrant, viable and sustainable agricultural sector in Dominica and this is what the Government is planned on doing and continues to manifest in several ways.”

George also said that the investment by the Government in this facility says much about the confidence of the Government in the banana industry and the confidence of the European Union as well.

“The fact we were able to put that level of investment in such a facility, it speaks to the confidence of the Government in terms of the banana industry; it also speaks to the confidence of the EU in terms of making that amount of money available not only for bananas but for the agricultural sector in Dominica.

“And of course it also speaks volumes in terms of the confidence the farmers continue to show in the banana industry and in agriculture as a whole.”

Referring to the millions of dollars invested through the Banana Industry Trust on irrigation and farm access roads in the last twelve months, and with the construction of three Inland Reception and Distribution Centres set to commence soon, George told Dominican farmers that there is money to be made in agriculture and they should not be afraid to invest in agriculture.