The government agricultural station at Cedar Valley, Dunbar, has been handed over to the National Housing Development, raising concerns about the fate of crucial agricultural research and produce. George Wehner reports live from the scene, highlighting the perplexing and controversial decisions made by authorities.
The Dunbar Agricultural Station, established in 1969, has served as a vital hub for crop research, conservation of local germplasm, and experimentation with various crops.
However, the recent development has left agricultural officials and workers in dismay as valuable crops, including sweet potatoes, cassava, and citrus plants, are being uprooted to make way for housing development.
Despite the pleas from agricultural officials, including Elabanjo, an extension officer, and others present at the scene, the transition to housing development continues unabated.
Wehner points out the destruction of rich agricultural lands, irrigation systems, and valuable produce that could have been harvested and distributed to those in need.
The controversy deepens as it is revealed that the station had been working in adverse conditions for the past two years following a fire that destroyed the facilities.
Workers have been enduring a lack of electricity, proper lunchrooms, office facilities, and restroom amenities.
The dire conditions have persisted without any significant efforts from the government to address the situation.
The agricultural officials and workers, including senior research officer agronomist Miss Bredford, express their frustration and helplessness in the face of the abrupt transition.
Miss Bredford emphasizes the importance of the station for crop research and the conservation of essential varieties of crops.
Questions are raised about the lack of communication and transparency from government officials, including the Minister of Agriculture, as the workers face uncertainty about their future placements.
Wehner exposes the apparent disregard for the agricultural sector, with thousands of dollars’ worth of investments in irrigation systems being destroyed without consideration.
As the fate of the Dunbar Agricultural Station hangs in the balance, citizens are left wondering about the government’s commitment to food security and the welfare of agricultural workers.
The controversial decision to repurpose arable lands for housing development, without allowing the harvest of existing crops, has ignited a heated debate on the government’s priorities and its impact on the agricultural sector.
The situation at Dunbar Agricultural Station serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those working in the agricultural sector and raises critical questions about the government’s commitment to supporting food production and security in Antigua and Barbuda.
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Mr Whenner so far as an opposition agent, you are doing a good job…. That is your role to keep the incumbent’s feet to the fire…. However, you & your UPP colleagues & supporters will continue to remain in opposition because that is where u guys belong and just not qualified r ready to run a country. The nation gave you guys a chance & you all failed miserably & ran the country into a failed state….
And 40 years of Birdism and Browneism has made Antigua & Barbuda an economic powerhouse has it @ Bluddy Bloke?
Again, 53 (of the ABLP) – 13 (of UPP) = 40 wasted years. Bluddy
YOUR DELUSION IS REAL!
‘enough’
This is a poor attempt at deflection from the very real and relevant issues plaguing the agricultural industry! This administration has failed the farmers and all public servants. The general public has been subjected a failing health system and poor infrastructure. Why not address these you bloody Bloke!!!? Oh I forgot, you are blind, deaf and dumb , I apologize for expecting more objectivity
Are you saying that what’s happening at Dunbars is OK? I just want to know .
@ Bluddy Joke
You sound so dumb and stupid.
Kublai ‘ if Gaston give you minions CHIT to eat you will just eat it’. You guys are beyond belief. I could never ever ever support a party that only seek to further their ministers with riches.
Gaston, Chet and Maria were all like paupers before 2014 and they all seem to get along because they all engaged in the bouncing of cheques and now they are making up for it- they are destroying this country and leaving no resources for the next incoming government to work with.
@Bloody Bloke. Has it ever occurred that every month the govt must find money to pay: Mr Spencer, Lovell, Jackie, Wilmouth etc?? They have nothing to lose here. It’s you, if you live in Antigua, your children and family that are been affected here. So keep up this UPP bashing while the country go to hell in a hand basket. Hope you will be around when the real s..t hits the fan.
There is no excuse for what is happening here. There is enough land around the island that could have been allotted for housing. Dunbars should never have even been under consideration for housing. This is 1000% wrong and there’s no excuse for it. Thanks for bringing this to light. The PM stated that agriculture would be a focus in 2024, so he owes the nation an explanation for this nonsense.
Gaston Browne knew about the intended misuse of Antigua’s most arable land at Dunbars being desecrated for housing, yet his liard ‘+++ talking about agriculture being high on the priority list. I have said it ad infinitum, this man is not trustworthy. NOTHING he says is worth listening to. It is beyond explanation how the minions and ALP red cool aid addicts, most of whom are barely literate( the DAWG himself admitted this) just accept his garbage and lies.
Historically, ALP has scoffed at agriculture deeming it too reminiscent of slavery. Therefore they have reduced their supporters to unconscionable beggars, hanging unto the crumbs they feed them as if it’s the greatest of delicacies.
If you think Dean Jonas and Samantha Marshall were bad as Agricultural ministers, well think again. Chet Green will do nothing. The man does not have the capacity to produce any cutting edge, constructive plans for anything, especially agriculture. He sat in cabinet and said nothing when the DAWG, for I am sure he is behind this, proposed the desecration of Dunbars.
What is in this for whom? We can only wonder.
Antigua has to be a planet all by itself, wah really can go so, and people in government not hiding from getting the bullbud, Antiguans are extra special, defence force and police should be guarding every single government minister property.
I am a labour supporter but this makes me sad and yes this food should of been donated to the schools or less fortunate!!
This really is a threesome case of “stupid is as stupid does” along with abuse of power. There are most definitely food shortages happening in the world today due to the war in the Ukraine and the USA is not exactly dependable at this time. Common sense should be telling the self-centered ignorance being displayed by these three that Food security is far more important than corrupt unnecessary housing projects. WAKE UP ANTIGUANS. Browne, Browne and Green are not going to feed or help anyone but themselves!
And I may add that Browne, Browne and Green (aka Boggis, Bunce, and Bean) more than likely have their basements/fallout shelters stacked with goodies should the worst occur.
Others may not agree with my statement, but I live in the real world, and I have never met anyone more afraid of death and dying than the wealthy and politicians so to believe they do not have such contingency plans in place is ignoring the obvious.
There is a shortage of land for housing for young people near the city. There are good agricultural lands outside the city. I have no problem with lands being provided for housing, but I think the produce should be saved and the employees should have been advised on the developments. Hopefully the lands will be sold to people who need a place to live and not to speculators.
@Brixtonian.
This Buddy Bloke needs his head examined like the pack of half wits running this country. Did I say ‘running’? Sure ennough running Antigua and Barbuda into the ground, no pun intended. For crying out loud, and I do not intend to be offensive, what on earth does the minister responsible for this piece of madness use for brains? Does she not recognize the purpose of this area of very fertile and arable agricultural land and why it was designated for its current use? Sometimes I feel apprehensive when asked where I come from. The problem lies with the substandard quality of the ministers that run this administration and I mean from the very top downwards. First class agricultural land with underground produce uprooted for housing development without sparing a thought for its consequences. Despair is the least of emotions that afflicts me the more I view this video. Don’t tell me there aren’t other lands more suitable for housing development, I won’t believe it. Goodness gracious! Whatever make some people enter the political is not hard to understand.
Housing developments are good, but so is agricultural land. Is there no other land available? I thought they were planning highrises in Potters and townhomes in another location to save on space. What happened to those projects?
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