‘Follow the rules’ on plant imports

THE ILLEGAL IMPORTATION of plants continues to pose problems for officials at the Ministry of Agriculture.
While he could not say if there had been an increase in the illicit act, Senior Agricultural Officer Michael James told the SATURDAY SUN some diseases and insects that were not present in the island before had been traced to imports.
“People need to be more savvy [and] take into consideration what you’re going to bring into the island. We still have people bringing crops into the country without the proper certification or paperwork,” he said.
James encouraged people who want to bring in “exotic” things to go over to the Plant Quarantine Unit and obtain an import permit, which is issued free of cost.