Go beyond Cayman
published: Monday | August 11, 2003

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE CALL from Cayman to our Jamaican farmers is a most welcome one. I have longed thought that the future of this great little nation lies in agriculture and every effort should be made to eradicate the stigma of slavery which our people are prone to give to that industry.

Recently, in my article in The Gleaner, dated Monday, January 6, 2003, entitled "Plant more food", I made the public appeal to Government to endeavour to establish trade links of our agricultural produce with out closest island neighbours, especially in crops which are susceptible to being destroyed by adverse winter conditions. We need to, and can, produce agricultural products which can compete with products from any first world nation and large food corporations should be encouraged to increase their leasing of vast agricultural tracts, specifically for the export market. The young unemployed men of both rural and urban Jamaica could be transported to and from these farms where they would be employed on a five-day week basis with staggered hours on the weekend ­- this would immediately have an enormous impact on our rampant unemployment.

So, to the Minister of Agriculture, I say, "Do not stop at the Cayman Islands" but extend your tentacles to reach the Turks and Cacios and the Bahamas which import every item of food that their inhabitants consume.

I am, etc.,

HOWARD HAMLTON,

Q.C.

Public Defender

78 Harbour Street

Kingston

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