Thursday, September 11, 2014 - Madam Speaker, my last update to this Honourable House confirmed our resolve to push forward with the completion of the Greenhouse Project.
Our Territory’s ability to increase the current level of food production is very much dependant on this technology. The period of quiet which lasted for a few years is now over and we are poised to move forward.
As was indicated in my earlier statement, this period allowed us to sort through some issues that had to do with outstanding payments.
I am now happy to report to this Honourable House and the people of this Territory, that these issues have been sorted out and we are now moving forward.
As a matter of fact, on the 27th August, 2014 Cabinet ruled on this matter and asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour to put in place a negotiating team comprising officers from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Attorney General Chambers.
These negotiations will be between the Government of the Virgin Islands and International Business Trader LLC (IBT). It is worthy of note that these negotiations will keep in mind the involvement of the local farming community to facilitate the transfer of knowledge.
Also worthy of note is the fact that we still have local entrepreneurs very much interested in this project. As a matter of fact, my Ministry and the Department of Agriculture conducted a site visit with one of these interested persons on September 10, 2014. It is expected that a proposal will be completed and delivered by the end of October 2014.
Madam Speaker, the completion of this project does not mean that I have forgotten those farmers who are successfully using the traditional methods of farming.
I appreciate very much their efforts in keeping the industry alive and we will continue to support them both technically and otherwise.
Our commitment to this promising industry and indeed to the farmers of this Territory is unwavering; therefore, as Minister responsible for the subject of agriculture I assure you that I will do my best in the best interest of this Territory.
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