Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick came out swinging in the House of Assembly yesterday, defending improvements in the agricultural sector since the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) took over the country eight years ago.
Estwick said he felt obligated to bring a level of calmness to the Lower House, after a number of opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) MPs accused Government of overseeing a decrease in development of the important sector.
His comments came after Government tabled a resolution to approve the guarantee of the payment of principal and interest in respect of the issuance of $73 million bond for providing capital and funding relating to the island’s Cane Industry Support Project at Andrews, St Joseph.
The minister reiterated it was “an absolute necessity” to explain why Barbados still needed to move towards a full sugar cane industry, which would assist in leading the island’s renewable energy sector, as well as protect jobs and foreign exchange. He produced statistics which showed increased levels of production in many areas. (BA)
Please read the full story in today’s Midweek Nation, or in the eNATION edition.
