(Adapted)
Honourable Minister of Agriculture Claude Hogan on Sunday afternoon declared Agriculture Week 2015 Open.
Hogan addressed the fishers and other attendees at the first day of activities at Marine Village in Little Bay. The day included the judging of a lionfish chef competition and an appreciation ceremony for both male and female fishers for their contribution to feeding the population of Montserrat.
Minister Hogan welcomed guests at the Agriculture Week 2015 and said:
“As Minister responsible for the portfolio which includes among others the Departments of Agriculture and Environment, this activity is quite timely as it comes on the heel of the Conference of Parties (COP) 21 meeting in Paris at which the world’s leaders and top environmental and agricultural scientists met and agreed to address climate change because of how it will affect our lives and livelihoods if we do not pay attention to rising sea levels, droughts and increasing pollution and carbon dioxide production. The world has agreed that we need to adopt climate smart strategies in our daily lives. I think in Montserrat we are ready to do our part in the billion dollar effort to save and protect ourselves and our planet and as the WAITT Institute has taught us, to leave a heritage for our children and for generations to come.”
He continued as he highlighted some events for the week: “We are opening the week with a fishing activity to show that we realise that the marine environment is just as important as the terrestrial environment in promoting good health and nutrition as well as healthy lifestyles. A lot of the wealth of Montserrat is in our sea and we welcome all the attention and help we are getting to explore and exploit it sustainably,” he said, adding as he referenced the Waitt Institute, “which is a co-sponsor of this afternoon’s activity is working along with us to ensure that we have a sound scientific basis on which to guide our ocean governance policies.”
Hogan said when this policy is completed and implemented, Montserrat will be able to boast of having created the environment for our fisher folks to enjoy a sustained resource. “This will ensure our fishers livelihood, while we also share our oceans’ vast resources for recreation on jet skis, windsurfers, divers; and afford me and the many children being trained by Aqua Montserrat the opportunity to safely pursue our hobby – snorkelling.”
“In addition,” the Minister continued, “over the next few weeks my Ministry will be giving out incentives to 25 fishers as part our drive to increase production in the sector.”
He said also that the British are now also showing an interest in the development of our fisheries sector, “so we should all start gearing up for better or for worse in this industry going forward, because there will be action. I know that we know how to “hold on to our property and will it for our children.”
Hogan said that the event is more than about showing off agriculture. “It’s about continuing to demonstrate for learning and inclusion of our people in team work and team activities and to see how fishers appreciate each other. Look at the commaraderie, the backing of each other, the support with a smile and laughter,” he said. Our future relies on Montserratians working together. We need to see this big picture and not focus on the small hiccups and challenges,” he encouraged.
Shooting straight he hit out: “We need to check our complaining and lamenting that our co-workers are low and failed capacity. We need to check on others, but also help them to help ourselves. Nobody from anywhere is better able to serve us than we ourselves, and that is how we will grow. The development of Montserrat means our personal and collective development. We need to grow our community by working together. It really saddens and grieves me to see the increasing number of technical workers and consultants that have been made available to the Government of Montserrat, because we are failing to establish and work with systems and through team effort all across the private and public sectors of this little island. The reliance on expert help and plans from everywhere can go too far. I therefore implore our fishers to remain steadfast and strong. Our other workers, children, public servants, private sector, NGOs, all – let us together work to a good programme of watching and helping each other. They call it checks and balances…”
During this week you will also get an opportunity to visit our new abattoir and see the slaughtering process with the highly sophisticated gear which should bring us into accord with international standards. This will improve our health and safety standards for meat production and could result in our meat and meat products access to export markets.
According to the Minister the week activities would end today, Friday, with ‘market day’ at the Little Bay public market. “You will get an opportunity to see the range of agriculture related items we have produced despite an extremely long and crippling drought,” he promised.
He thanked who he referred to as: “sponsors and partners in agriculture and fisheries; the Waitt Institute, Phenomenal Creations, Flow and especially the Department of Agriculture and Ministry staff along with the Permanent Secretary for being able to pull this worthy event together,” as he declared Open ‘Montserrat Agriculture Week 2015.’
