Jamaicans take off for Canada farm-work project

Of the estimated 6,000 farm workers awaiting deployment to North America, under 200 men were employed and departed for Toronto, Canada, yesterday.

Pearnel Charles, minister of labour and social security, met with the 177 men who left this morning as they made up the first group to have left for 23 farms since the start of the year.

Yesterday, the minister noted that this is a successful deployment despite the global recession.

"I am appealing to you this morning to let us keep this programme going and to tell you the programme can only go on based on your performance," Charles said. "A negative performance destroys the programme. A positive performance increases the need for the Jamaican farmer."

The minister also reflected on Paul Roach and Ralston White, the Jamaican farmers who died in Canada last year from environmental suffocation while fixing a tank on an apple farm.

As he lamented the deaths, he encouraged the workers to keep their safety in mind and to maintain vigilance.