EFFORTS TO IMPROVE food security in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have been further strengthened with the launch of a Food Terminal at the former La Croix Palletization Plant in Marriaqua.

FROM LEFT: Farmer Philemon Allen; Parliamentary Representative for Marriaqua St Clair Prince; Global Medic volunteer Kathy Rigby; and Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar

The Government of (SVG), through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in conjunction with Global Medic, Diamond Trust and local entrepreneur Mont-Gomery King, recently formed a strategic partnership to establish the La Croix Food Terminal.

Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar noted that Global Medic became a reliable partner during efforts to provide emergency relief supplies to Vincentians affected by the eruptions of La Soufriere volcano. Global Medic, he said, is seeking to purchase an estimated EC$24,000 worth of food from farmers for local distribution every week.

In addition to providing another outlet for local consumers at the La Croix Terminal Market, Caesar added that the ministry intends to transform other palletization facilities into decentralized market spaces for the promotion of commercial activity among consumers, farmers and other entrepreneurs.

Kathy Rigby, a volunteer with Global Medic said the company bought 7000 pounds of locally grown produce from Vincentian farmers in just eight hours, valued at EC$11,000. Rigby said the charitable organization is happy to support local farmers, help to provide healthy local produce and maintain relations with the Vincentian community.

Minister of Health and Parliamentary Representative for Marriaqua, St Clair Prince, in welcoming the operationalization of the La Croix Food Terminal, identified marketing as one of the main issues affecting farmers. Prince said he is pleased that the programme will continue throughout the remainder of 2022, and later evolve into a permanent outlet for Vincentian farmers and consumers.

PEPPERS ON DISPLAY at at the Food Terminal.

On its website, the David McAntony Gibson Foundation, which operates as GlobalMedic, described itself as a registered Canadian charity that has provided disaster relief and life-saving humanitarian aid since 2002.