FARMERS of Bois Cannon in Micoud, Compere in Dennery and Morne Cayenne in Vieux Fort will soon have better vehicular access to their farms and should able to fully restore their livelihoods within the next few months.
Rehabilitation work on agricultural feeder roads in these farming communities is due to commence before year-end under the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) Programme being funded by the European Union.
At a sod turning ceremony to mark the commencement of works on the feeder roads in the east coast farming communities, Parliamentary Representative for Micoud North, Dr. Gale Rigobert said after the passage of Hurricane Tomas in October of 2010, she toured many of the agricultural communities with then Prime Minister Stephenson King, and saw ‘first-hand’, the damage that was done to many of our feeder roads.
Reflecting on the state of agricultural feeder roads in the aftermath of Tomas, Dr.Rigobert, who was then Advisor to Prime Minister King, said: “We wondered whether we would ever be able to generate adequate revenue to engage in a full scale rehabilitation of agricultural feeder roads. There are farmers whom I have had dialogue with, who lament the state of the roads leading to their farms.”
Dr.Rigobert thanked the farmers for their patience and understanding. She opined that the strength and resilience of farmers is synonymous with that of the bamboo, in that, no matter what they are subjected to “somehow they bend but do not break.”
She told the gathering: “It is that strength that infuses people in communities such as ours…that ethos, that resilience, that commitment to continue no matter what. That is why we can be here today, and say we’ve come a long distance. There is some distance yet to go, but we must stop, pause, and celebrate our wins, our achievements along the way.”
Dr.Rigobert thanked the farmers and farmer groups for partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Office of the NAO to ensure that this project comes to fruition for the benefit of the farming community and the nation as a whole. Agricultural Feeder Roads in the farming communities of Mighney and Derache in Soufriere, Compere in Dennery, Bois Cannon in Micoud, and Morne Cayenne in Vieux Fort, are being rehabilitated under the BAM Programme to the tune of 1.57 million Euros. The contractors for these projects are Construction and Industrial Equipment Limited (CIE), and Gregory Mongroo. The road works will be supervised by the engineering firm, Theobalds Consulting.
Addressing the gathering, farmer Abraham George said Bois Cannon has a long tradition of farming, dating back to generations of farming families in Micoud including the families of William Biscette, Norics Arnold, ElizeIsmonde, Janet Toussaint-Christophe, Dolowes Gaspard, Cuthbert Henry, Claude Richards, Valence Leon, Thomas James, Jenny Ismonde, Joseph Toussaint, and Didas Joseph – whose son John now owns and operates Latille Falls nature and heritage park.
George said what obtained decades ago was a narrow track, from the Mahaut Junction to the top of Bois Cannon. This track facilitated both human and animal traffic. He said back in the day, farmers walked to their farms and almost every farmer had a donkey, which they rode to and from their farms. The donkeys also carried farm equipment as well as produce from the farms after harvest.
According to George, after countless trips to Mahaut to then Premier John Compton to plead with him to build them a road, the Bois Cannon farmers undertook to manually construct a road to their farms. With the help of the entire Micoud community, the road was built up to the second river. Seeing the resolve of the farmers, the government awarded a contract to a Mr. Harrison Rigobert to build two bridges over the rivers. Over the years, the road has deteriorated considerably. George said Hurricane Tomas washed away the second bridge and farming in the area was “totally obliterated.”
George expressed optimism and delight that the rehabilitation of the road will revive farming in Bois Cannon and motivate the farmers to get back to full production. He is also hopeful that the new road will open-up new opportunities for eco-tourism in the Bois Cannon area, which is blessed with beautiful waterfalls, parrots and other wildlife.
He made an impassioned plea for farmers to commit to sustainable use of the natural resources in Bois Cannon, as well as maintenance of the road when completed, especially the verges and drains. George cautioned against the indiscriminate use of pesticides, and called for safe and environmentally responsible agricultural practices to preserve the rich biodiversity of Bois Cannon.
A big thumbs up to that. Positive is positive regardless who the watchman is.