PM and Mitchell working together for cocoa industry

Preliminary talks into the possibility of the establishment of a cocoa industry here got underway Tuesday, April 5.{{more}}

This after Jose Luis Idarolla, Technical Specialist with Armajaro, met with Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Prime Minister made the announcement at Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament, where he announced that former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell had established contact with officials from the company (Armajaro) and had subsequently contacted the government to begin looking into cocoa production.

Talks included Minister of Agriculture Montgomery Daniel, Reuben Robertson, Chief Agricultural Officer, and Louise Mitchell-Joseph.

According to the Prime Minister, the Unity Labour Party (ULP), during the election campaign last year, had announced that they had a programme for the production of cocoa, but on a small scale.

“We may not be able to do it as big as the banana industry,” Gonsalves explained.

When contacted, Mitchell-Joseph told SEARCHLIGHT that the discussion went well and that there was optimism that the project will get off the ground.

She explained that Idarolla was here on a fact finding mission and that he will be conducting a feasibility study within the next few weeks.

According to Mitchell-Joseph, it had been recommended that a committee be set up to take the project forward.

Meanwhile, Sir James told SEARCHLIGHT that he was pleased to have been instrumental in making the initial steps to getting a cocoa industry set up here.

He said that he had experience in cocoa production and experience in cocoa in general.

“I did research on the market and made contacts with Armajaro,” Sir James explained, adding that he met with an official in Bequia, where he proposed the idea of producing the crop here.

The former Prime Minister added that the effort was being spear-headed by himself and Lenny Daisley, former chief agricultural officer.

He further explained that the company then indicated that they will be sending a specialist, but will require permission from the government to bring in planting material.

It was at this point that Sir James said that the Ministry of Agriculture, and by extension the government, was contacted and informed of the development.

He contended that there was a good market for cocoa, especially due to the political instability of the main cocoa producing countries in West Africa.

However, Sir James refused to comment when questioned on the collaborative effort with the present government as he seeks to get cocoa production going here.

Earlier in the day, Gonsalves indicated that he had no qualms working with the former Prime Minister.

“It is not because individuals come from opposing political sides that they can’t work together,” Gonsalves said.

He added that Sir James had also been communicating with him on a matter known as the universal declaration of human responsibilities.