Last week, Saint Lucia received 8,500 boxes intended for local farmers from St Vincent and the Grenadines, in order to address a supply shortage. This shortage was previously identified as a critical issue by Minister of Agriculture Alfred Prospere, attributed to the unavailability of boxes from WINERA.
Maurice Isaac, Chairman of the Grace Farmers Group, voiced concerns over the dimensions of the received boxes, which are two inches shorter than usual, potentially causing damage to longer bananas due to inadequate cover fit. Isaac criticized the government's decision to procure these boxes and highlighted the negative impact on farmers, emphasizing the need for immediate resolution and compensation for losses incurred during the period without suitable boxes. Isaac also stressed the importance of involving farmers in decisions affecting the industry, and reported unsuccessful attempts to discuss the issue with Minister Prospere.
Source: stlucia.loopnews.com