Dear Editor,
I recently attended the annual general meeting of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) on the Denbigh grounds, where the main activity was the election of the national executive.
At the meeting, various reports were given and announcements made about the progress of the JAS and the plans for the future. The keynote speaker was Derrick Kellier, minister of agriculture and fisheries.
The minister, in my view, made what I would describe as a step in the right direction when he announced that he would be giving the JAS access to a number of the farm work applications forms.
It is my belief that the JAS is the largest and most successful farmers organisation in the western hemisphere, and it has been a great injustice not to have sought their participation before in the recruiting of workers for the work programme. I believe that the JAS should be the main agency used to recruit workers for the farm work programme.
In recent years there has been a lack of equity in the distribution of these forms, where only members of parliament and councillors are the only source of forms for those interested. While I believe that this an excellent route through which the forms can be filtered, I also believe there are other agencies, such as the Social Development Commission (SDC), as this organisation is mandated to assist community development, who should be a part of the process. There are also churches, non-government organisations, police youth clubs, and neighbourhood watches who can also be a part of the family.
Such a move could reduce the possible corruption associated with the distribution of the forms. It would also encourage the participation of many other people.
In the final analysis, I believe that the JAS should be given a greater role in the recruitment of farm workers.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com
Good move, Kellier
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I recently attended the annual general meeting of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) on the Denbigh grounds, where the main activity was the election of the national executive.
At the meeting, various reports were given and announcements made about the progress of the JAS and the plans for the future. The keynote speaker was Derrick Kellier, minister of agriculture and fisheries.
The minister, in my view, made what I would describe as a step in the right direction when he announced that he would be giving the JAS access to a number of the farm work applications forms.
It is my belief that the JAS is the largest and most successful farmers organisation in the western hemisphere, and it has been a great injustice not to have sought their participation before in the recruiting of workers for the work programme. I believe that the JAS should be the main agency used to recruit workers for the farm work programme.
In recent years there has been a lack of equity in the distribution of these forms, where only members of parliament and councillors are the only source of forms for those interested. While I believe that this an excellent route through which the forms can be filtered, I also believe there are other agencies, such as the Social Development Commission (SDC), as this organisation is mandated to assist community development, who should be a part of the process. There are also churches, non-government organisations, police youth clubs, and neighbourhood watches who can also be a part of the family.
Such a move could reduce the possible corruption associated with the distribution of the forms. It would also encourage the participation of many other people.
In the final analysis, I believe that the JAS should be given a greater role in the recruitment of farm workers.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com
Good move, Kellier
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