Lenworth Fulton | Finding middle ground on Bernard Lodge

The Sunday Gleaner lead editorial (October 6, 2019), with the unfortunate headline ‘Has Mr Fulton caved in on Bernard Lodge?’ provides an opportunity for clarification of my positions, with some background.

In April (and on many occasions prior and since), I made the assertion that it is always our first wish – as the voice of the farming community – that agricultural lands be kept primarily for agricultural use. That position has not changed.

The proposed development of the former Bernard Lodge Estate, one of the largest in the English- speaking Caribbean, brings that into sharp focus, not least because The Greater Portmore Development, and, indeed, most of Portmore – which largely originate from parts of this estate – sit on some of the best alluvial soils in the region, if not the hemisphere.

Over the years, such developments have been sanctioned and effected in that area by both political parties to the point where most of the lands have been used for various types of infrastructure, but there is still 2,700 acres available for agriculture. In retrospect, this should have been tackled from the early 1980s.

MORE ANALYSIS

As the editorial states, my view of the proposed Bernard Lodge development is that it is a case to be analysed further, against the backdrop of deterioration and saturation of both Kingston (the east) and Spanish Town (the northwest), which make these municipalities unlikely to sustain any new substantial metropolitan inputs for the foreseeable future.

Further, it remains my position that a new city is needed in the east. Where then are the possible locations for such a municipality: Caymanas lands? Hill Run? Portmore? Having regard to the latter, the Bernard Lodge Estate is the only feasible spot. Indeed, the other location stated is good agricultural land as well.

My disagreement with the proposed construction of 17,000 housing units on that site stands. I wish to recommend that at least 10,000 of that number be relocated to an alternative site so as to keep an optimal amount of land for agricultural use.

To date, I have had consultations twice, both with Minister Daryl Vaz and the coordinator of the project, Joseph Shoucair. In those consultations, we sought an allotment of additional lands, and we have received word of 1,300 acres being added to the initial allotment. We have also asked for the development of a modern market, which I have repeatedly said would aid the improvement of the farmers’ living standards by drawing consumers to purchase agricultural produce, and which is part of the plan put forward under Gassan Azan’s multibillion-dollar project.

Beyond those items, our advocacy for the farmers’ welfare extends to seeking the installation of a state-of-the-art, best-in-the-Americas medical facility, recognising that the two major hospitals in the aforementioned municipalities – KPH and Spanish Town Hospital – are incapable of offering this level of service.

University of Portmore

Similarly, it is not far-fetched to envisage, as part of this development, a University of Portmore, offering the kind of leading-edge courses and research opportunities that neither The University of the West Indies nor the University of Technology can currently offer. This could offer a springboard to courses in value-added products, new design in food processing, with export potential, and local employment.

Our advocacy is not focused merely on agricultural practices and conditions. We take a holistic view that incorporates the welfare of farmers and the overall transformation and enhancement of the communities in which they live and operate.

This fits well into the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s vision to be the leading community-based organisation that addresses the needs and protects the interest of farmers and their families, helping to reconstruct rural communities into viable economic and social entities in the same way other townships like Junction in St Elizabeth and Brown’s Town in St Ann have developed into commercial centres.

Lenworth Fulton is president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.