Produce traffickers happy

Traffickers in agricultural produce who once had their goods tagged and graded at the National Properties Building near the Grenadines wharf now have a more spacious compound at the Geest Shed.

Approximately three weeks ago the National Properties Ltd. evicted the traffickers who had been using their storeroom for some time, stating that they urgently needed their building to store sugar.{{more}}

This left the traffickers, who ply their trade in Barbados, and their produce, on the streets. After revealing their plight to Minister of Agriculture Montgomery Daniel, he quickly acquired the Geest Shed for the use of the traffickers.

Now in their new location, the traffickers say that they are comfortable. Cora Forde of Clare Valley explained, “This area is much better, it (is) more spacious, I am very happy.

We were out of a place but when we went to Mr Daniel he didn’t just give us a place, he also gave us words of comfort.”

Trafficker Deca Pope of Lowmans also confessed, “It was hectic and jammed up before and then we were kicked out in the street, but Mr Daniel rescued us. We were in a bad condition and all we goods was in the road in all the sun and rain.”

Speaking with the Searchlight, the Agriculture Minister said that he was pleased to make the environment conducive for the traffickers and pointed out that it was unfortunate that the traffickers had to “urgently vacate” the National Properties Building.

He said after discussions with the Port Authority and Banana Growers’ Association, the traffickers were given permission to store their goods at the Geest shed because he not only had a responsibility to ensure that the traffickers were comfortable, but as Agriculture Minister he also had to guarantee that the fragile produce was stored properly for consumption.

Daniel said that banana growers deliver and ship their fruit by 1 a.m. Monday and from then on the traffickers, trading their produce such as mangoes, coconuts, plantains and other crops register and grade their produce in the same shed so there is a smooth flow from one group of shippers to another.

He said in the Geest shed, each trafficker has a stamp on their consignment to certify that their goods have been inspected and is free from pests and other diseases.

The Minister said this makes the operation more efficient and they hoped to extend the facility so the goods would be stacked in boxes and bags appropriately.

The Agriculture Minister said that occasionally spot checks would be made to maintain a certain quality for export and that all bags and boxes would be tagged so that it could be traced back and monitored.