By Sue-Ann Wayow
FARMERS continue to be faced with pressing issues such as flooding and praedial larceny and these must be addressed by the government if they want a thriving agricultural sector.
This is according to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar who said while she had no issue with the Agri Expo that was concluded on Sunday, she was more concerned with how it will be assisting the local farmers.
She added that nothing substantial will come out of the event.
Speaking at the United National Congress (UNC) virtual meeting on Monday night, she said, “I have no issue with the Agri Expo, but tell me how is this expo helping the farmers who are flooded out every time a little rain falls?
“How is this agri expo meant to attract foreign investment in agriculture when all indicators show us that investors are fleeing and leaving Trinidad and Tobago, we have reverse investment due to red tape, due to corruption, due to crime.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s ease of doing business has consistently fallen under the present administration and instead of fixing the underlying structural problems deterring investment the government “instead just wants to put on a pappy show” Persad-Bissessar said.
She asked Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, “How will that help farmers who have to face praedial larceny all the time? How have they helped any farmers who struggle with the high costs of fertilizer, feed, chemicals and so on? Nothing.”
Referring to fishermen, Persad-Bissessar said they continue to face pirates, murderers, thieves and traffickers.
She said since January 2021, she had been warning the country of a looming food crisis that needed to be addressed with a sense of urgency.
“Things as we say only got more difficult since then and nothing has improved,” Persad-Bissessar said.
