work together

THERE is a view that state agencies in Barbados ought not to compete with local businesses in the private sector, but instead complement their efforts.

 

It comes from Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, as he highlighted some of the challenges facing the local poultry industry and the impact of the move by 

the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) to allow chicken wings to be imported.

 

According to Paul, “We don't understand that when you have a name inside your name called development – development requires certain responsibilities; it means facilitating; development means helping. It does not mean crowding out. It does not mean competition... 

 

“In a market that only has 280 000 people, this is very simple maths...that we can consume a certain amount of food, and the food is either produced locally or we import it. The more food that we import, the less food that we consume that is produced locally. It is not rocket science,” he said.

 

“So when we have stateagencies telling us that they are compelled to increase the amount of poultry that they are importing and are allowing to be imported in this country, the 

fact of the matter is you are now crowding out what local producers are producing. We need to understand and appreciate the fact that this is important... that we support our local producers,” Paul added.

 

It is against this backdrop that he commended Star Chick – a 20-year-old egg and poultry production company – for re-branding its business.

 

“Businesses such as Star Chick have taken the bold step to actually invest not only in terms of the physical plant, but also the the people of the country. We produce young people who are very educated, and they need a chance too to develop. I do not see why we should be borrowing money to give to importers to go and import goods from overseas in order to help somebody overseas, because that is where we are creating the jobs, not Barbados,” he lamented. (JH)