NORTH CAICOS, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, December 5th, 2008 - Residents and farmers in the North Caicos West district of Kew were given some clarity last evening, as Premier the Hon. Dr. Michael E. Misick, joined by three Members of Parliament - held a town hall meeting in TCI's Breadbasket to allay their concerns on matters arising.
At the commencement of the meeting, Premier Misick spoke of the millions of dollars in investment Government has made for North and Middle Caicos, and more that that is to come. He stated that the North Caicos port, which is currently under construction, would reduce cost tremendously for residents when it is up and running. The North/Middle Caicos Causeway, that too was dream; but owing to the passage of two storms back-to-back, will be rebuilt stronger and able to withstand even great forces from Mother Nature.
The Hon. Minister went on to add that Government will be rebuilding the Raymond Gardiner High School, which was also damaged by hurricane Ike, turning it into a state of the art institution of higher learning. What is more, Government has, and will continue to stimulate the economy of both islands, at a rate that has been unprecedented in recent times.
The meeting then turned contentious when the main topic of discussion came to the fore, that being the alleged selling of the Kew farmland to developers on Dellis Cay. This was not the case declared Premier Misick, "the Government has not sold the land, and the Government will not sell the farm." He stated that Government has discussed that possibility of leasing and licensing the land, giving someone the opportunity of farming the land, providing administration over it and employment on it.
Premier Misick stated that a proposal was put forth in principle by Dellis Cay developers to lease the land that is currently being harvested by local farmers, affording it the potentiality to produce crops in even greater numbers for wider distribution. This plan would take farming in North Caicos to the next level.
"The farm in Kew North Caicos as we know it has been around for many years," said Hon. Dr. Misick, "Prior to my administration, it has been virtually abandoned." Since his administration took office Government solicited support from UNDP which put together financing to support it, so that it can be self-sustaining and revitalise the Kew farming industry.
MP for North Caicos West, Hon. Royal Robinson said that farming as we used to know it has changed, "no longer do we slash and burn; it has modernized and mechanized, and we have to accept and welcome the change that comes with it."
Though there was a food market in recent times noted Hon. Robinson, however, the produce that was sold cannot be self-sustaining over a long period and to greater consumers if it is continually harvested in the same manner. "We have to make it a viable product for all, not just the farmer here in Kew; it must be viable for all to enjoy."
Hon. Jeffrey Hall, Minister of Housing, Agriculture and Works said that Government is proposing to construct an official Farmers Market on Providenciales, where farmers from North and Middle Caicos could bring their goods to sell. However, he mindfully informed all that there is a cost to this; costs such as marketing, transportation, management and other incidentals that will come to the fore.
Additionally, there is a plan that will create a water pooling system with farmland owners who are adjacent to the Kew farm for irrigation purposes.
Before closing the town hall meeting, Premier Misick informed all that in the interim, the Minister Agriculture will be meeting with members of the local Farmers Association to further discuss the issues surrounding the farm itself and the leasing of farm land to farmers for growing various crops. Moreover, if a decision is made that the proposal should be rejected, then Government will turn it down, and the land will remain in Government's control, and farming will continue in Kew as per the usual.
