FARMERS and business-owners in St. Lucia’s agriculture and business sectors are being urged to seize the golden opportunity presented to them following the temporary setback faced by Dominica after the passage of Hurricane Maria last month.
Former Prime Minister of Dominica, Oliver Seraphine, is calling on St. Lucians to act fast in order to capitalise on the chance handed to them on a platter before other countries swoop in and take it from them.
Dominica, he said, has lost its market share in terms of agriculture export, particularly to the British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and Antigua, and this has given St. Lucia the opportunity to export and replace Dominica in that regard, at least in the interim period, for the next 9 to18 months.
“My concern is if we do not move at a speed that is required by the marketplace demands, that places like Santo Domingo might just come in and replace Dominica, and if you wish, the OECS countries like St. Vincent and St. Lucia,” Seraphine said this week. “So the governments of the ministries of agriculture of St. Vincent, marketing boards etc, and of St. Lucia, may have to move a little bit quickly in replacing Dominica in the short-term for the agricultural supplies that we have.”
Prior to the devastating hurricane, Seraphine said his island would use around 10 boats to ship goods to Antigua and other islands every week.
Seraphine said it is vital to remember that Dominica is still in dire need of help, adding that energised efforts are needed for the private sector and for the commercial activities to increase from St. Lucia to Dominica.
“Although we have suffered, you can benefit. Because we have suffered, we need you to assist us,” he said.
Seraphine is part of the Dominica/St. Lucia Humanitarian Network, an agency operating in St. Lucia providing assistance to Dominica. The concept of the organisation is to integrate some of the efforts that have been done in St. Lucia on behalf of Dominica; however, he said the current state of the organisation is ad hoc and attempts to bring coordination to the organisation that would emphasise the needs in specific areas in Dominica is an ongoing exercise.
Nevertheless, Seraphine said he is extremely heartened with the efforts of St. Lucians: “We are very happy that St. Lucians have come to the rescue of Dominica. In fact, you have embraced us in a way that we didn’t anticipate.”
He continued: “Almost every organisation and business-house in St. Lucia has come forward. I’m not sure that people in St. Lucia understand the gravity of difficulties in Dominica and the damage that’s been done, not only to the environment and business-houses, but to the lives of people who have been disrupted.”
Referring to St. Lucia as Dominica’s current shopping mall, Seraphine said he is trying to inform St. Lucians that their aid should be an ongoing effort that will probably last for another 6 to 9 months, if not a year.
Seraphine said he was speaking independently from the government of Dominica, even though he informed the island’s Cabinet Secretary of what he is doing. He also urged his countrymen to step in to help their fallen nation.
“I’ve had the experience because I was the Prime Minister during Hurricane David on August 29, 1979 and, having gone through it, I know the seriousness and the difficulties that this PM is going through. I believe Dominicans in the Diaspora would be well advised to do the best they can to assist,” he said.
“Consequently, we are very happy that homes in St. Lucia are being opened to Dominican students, and we will be increasingly looking for more of that. The elderly also have suffered and so we are looking for whatever hospitality that is available in St. Lucia,” he continued.
Seraphine revealed that he, too, was not spared from Maria’s wrath. “I have not been complaining but I am one of those who have suffered. I lost my house! I’m basically homeless. When I came in, I came for a short term just before the hurricane on a private matter, and so all my clothes, my suits, everything has been lost. My papers, all my documents are gone. So, I’m as much a victim of the hurricane as anybody else, but I’m not complaining. I accept it as reality. I have my life and I’m continuing to do what I can for my country.”
