Trinidadian entrepreneur frustrated

One Trinidadian entrepreneur is this afternoon is expressing frustration with the Jamaican authorities in facilitating imports from Jamaica.



Dr Gillian Goddard has been trying to establish a partnership with some Jamaican producers of organic crops.



The trade is yet to start because of the length of time it is taking to set up the necessary pest risk unit in Jamaica before the exports can begin.



This was one of the issues raised at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture now on in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.



These are frustrating times for Dr Goddard, who has been trying to import organic produce from Jamaica for almost a year, but she says a sluggish response by the authorities in Jamaica has made the process agitating.



The trade of organic produce could not have started immediately after Dr. Goddard’s request because there was no protocol in place.



This is because it was the first time a partnership was being established to export produce, which was not grown with chemical fertilisers, from Jamaica to Trinidad.



As a result, the Jamaican agriculture ministry needed time to undertake a pest risk analysis.



It also wanted time to set up a pest risk unit to ensure that only safe only produce are sent from Jamaica to Trinidad.



However, for Dr Goddard the wait has been peevish especially given the utterances by regional officials for more trade between Caribbean countries.



The Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Donovan Stanberry, said efforts are far advanced to facilitate the beginning of the trade.



Mr. Stanberry, who is also attending the agri-conference in St Vincent, said the pest risk unit has been budgeted for and should be up and running by the end of this fiscal year.