PNM to focus on food security

AS IT bids to hold on to power in Tobago, the PNM is promising to focus on food security and agro processing as it launched its 2021 THA election manifesto virtually on Thursday.

Speaking at the launch, Political Leader of the PNM Tobago Council Tracy Davidson-Celestine also listed business development and digital transformation as some of the focuses of the
party.

“In terms of the local development of the island, we have done almost everything. We are focused now on the creation of industries, entrepreneurship and business development, so that we can expand our economy and make a greater contribution to our GDP as well as driving revenue for this island,” Callendar said.

THA Chief Secretery Ancil Dennissaid TT has a “very unique opportunity” as TT is importing too much food. In 2019, TT imported more than $5 billion in various foods.

“The government of the day is making sincere efforts to decrease the food import bill. Where in the country has the best soil, the most hardworking people? Where in the country? And I would want to suggest to us that is nowhere short of Tobago.”

He added that Tobago was not necessarily affected by the same issues as Trinidadian farmers, such as flooding. He said the THA already developed the Tobago Agri-Business Company, TADCO, commissioned the agricultural revitialisation arranged funding from the Agricultural Development Bank and bought equipment to support the industry.

Now, the THA intends to promote an island-wide campaign to further encourage youth to join the industry.

“We want to create a mentorship programme where the older more experienced farmers could provide technical support to the younger ones.

“We also want to introduce the idea of school gardens. We want to involve the students from even the primary school level so that they are exposed to this very serious issue of food security from early.”

Candidate for Mason Hall/Moriah Kwesi Des Vignes boasted that the THA had already spent a quarter-billion dollars in the development of Tobago East and intended to do more.

“We recently opened the Charlotteville micro-enterprise center. We are constructing a brand-new terminal for the ANR Robinson Airport. We built the

Roxborough Administrative Complex which is bringing services closer to the people of Tobago East.

We have developed the Roxborough Fire Station, police station and hospital. “We have transformed Tobago East by investing in Tobago East, and that is something that we all can be proud about.”