Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterDenbigh, CLARENDON:
GILBERT MCLEAN, the minister with responsibility for agriculture in the Cayman Islands, has said that his country will be lifting the ban imposed more than two years ago on some Jamaican produce, because of the mealy bug scare.
"There is every likelihood, that within the very immediate future, we will be extending the number of products that can be imported in the Cayman Islands from Jamaica," he told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.
SEVERAL CONSULTATIONS
According to Mr. McLean, the decision emerged after several consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture and more recently after a technical team from the Cayman Islands visited Jamaica and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture conducted several analyses, which revealed that it was safe to revise the list of products that may be allowed in the Cayman Islands.
A list of the revised products has been sent to the Ministry of Agriculture for its approval. The items will include, citrus, chocho, Scotch Bonnet pepper, ginger, orchid and ackee seeds, as well as tissue culture. He said that the Ministry of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Unit, would be required to monitor all goods leaving the ports destined for the Cayman Islands, which will reduce the amount of inspection necessary upon arrival.
Despite the ban on some produce from Jamaica, the Cayman Islands had continued to import products such as yam and sweet potato. In the meantime, he said the country was considering forging stronger partnerships with Jamaica to provide tertiary training in agriculture for students.
"There is a growing interest in agricultural studies among Cayman students," he said. "Agriculture is really taking on a new meaning in the Cayman Islands."
