Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
A 15-member delegation from the French island of St. Maarten is in Jamaica on a one-week fact-finding tour, aimed at developing their knowledge about agriculture in Jamaica.
The tour is part of an initiative which was started last year by Mayor of St. Ann's Bay, Delroy Giscombe. It is aimed at assisting the people of St. Maarten in revitalising that country's once productive agricultural sector.
The delegation which arrived in the island last Thursday night is headed by director of the St. Maarten Agricultural Society, Rose Rumnit, and also includes the head of the animal husbandry department in Guadeloupe, Eli Chitelli.
Since Friday, members of the group have been visiting several farms in St. Ann, and on the weekend they were in attendance at the annual Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show.
EXTREMELY PLEASED
Ms. Rumnit said that so far members of the delegation have been extremely pleased with the experience in Jamaica, and are looking forward to developing as much knowledge as they can.
"We want to say that it is a great honour for us to use the parish of St. Ann to better understand new developments in agriculture and I would like, on behalf of everyone, to say how much we appreciate the hospitality," she added.
Ms. Rumnit said the formation of the St. Maarten Agricultural Society was a direct result of the decision by Mayor Giscombe to assist with agricultural development in her country.
Meanwhile, instructor at the St. Ann Farmers Training School in St. Maarten, Leroy Santiago, noted that the initiative aimed at redeveloping the agriculture sector in St. Maarten is seen as a tremendous effort on the part of Mayor Giscombe and the people of St. Ann.
Mr. Santiago said the experience gained at the Denbigh Agricultural Show will be used to organise the St. Maarten Agricultural Fair in August next year, and that the people are already looking forward to having Mayor Giscombe as their special guest.
