FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Hon. Anthony Smith Jr., Moves Swiftly to Address Agriculture Workers’ Concerns
St. John’s, Antigua — 28th November 2025 — The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to clarify the events of Thursday, November 27, and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the wellbeing, safety, and fair treatment of all agricultural workers.
From his first day in office, Minister Smith has been working to address and modernize longstanding infrastructure, operational, and staffing challenges. Consistent with this mission, in the wake of the workers’ recent actions Minister Smith took immediate action to address staff concerns.
Contrary to claims publicly circulating, Minister Smith did not pass workers on the picket line or ignore their concerns. Upon being informed of the day’s developments, the Minister immediately contacted the unions and senior officials and convened a series of urgent meetings to review the issues raised and to fast-track solutions that have been under discussion.
Earlier in the day, Minister Smith visited several agricultural stations, including the abattoir, the tractor division, and Greencastle, conducting on-site assessments of the working environment. These inspections confirmed that while certain matters, such as compensation, require long-term budgetary planning, many of the health, safety, and operational issues can and will be addressed without delay.
The Ministry has already drafted plans involving improved transportation and infrastructural upgrades to strengthen conditions across all stations. Minister Smith emphasized that these improvements are urgent and essential.
“Our staff want and deserve safe, functional, and respectful working conditions, and the government is committed to ensuring these are delivered,” Minister Smith stated. “I take every worker’s concerns seriously, especially issues related to health and safety. Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to moving quickly, engage openly, and ensure that staff concerns are treated as a top priority.”
The Ministry will continue ongoing engagement with staff and union representatives to ensure open communication, timely responses, and a shared path forward. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled shortly to provide workers with clear updates on implementation timelines.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries and the Blue Economy thanks all employees for their continued dedicated service and assures them that meaningful steps are already underway to resolve longstanding concerns.
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