Bordelais Correctional Facility’s farm is moving closer to producing more organic fertilizer to offset the use of synthetic fertilizers. This latest move comes as the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia handed over a new two-chamber compost shed to the facility and facilitated training for inmates and staff on how to compost discarded organic waste.
The official handover ceremony for the compost shed and presentation of certificates was held on the Dennery-based prison’s farm on Thursday, October 30, 2025, where officials underscored the need for recycling while boosting production on the farm where vegetables are cultivated.
H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, noted that the building of the compost shed on the prison farm by the Taiwan Technical Mission was part of continued collaboration on capacity building by sharing practical skills, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting recovery efforts.
Over the past two years, she said, the Taiwan Technical Mission has been working with the facility to provide vocational training for the residents. For instance, soap-making workshops were held there last year, sharing the know-how, materials and equipment, so that residents could produce their own soaps at the facility. These initiatives not only equipped the residents with practical skills, but also fostered creativity, self-reliance, and confidence.
“This year, we are happy to support the introduction of a small-scale compost system through organizing the workshop and setting up the compost shed,” Ambassador Su said. “I’m impressed to see that 25 people participated in the workshop on composting, including 20 residents at the facility, as well as 5 teachers and students from Sir Arthur Community College. During the workshop, our agricultural experts from the Taiwan Technical Mission introduced both the theory and hands-on application, and we built the compost shed together.”
Ambassador Su explained that the purpose of the compost shed is to transform organic waste from animals as well as kitchen scraps, leftover food, and gardening waste, into valuable compost. She emphasized the multiple benefits of composting, including not only waste management, but also economic and social benefits, and its positive impact on the environment.
“By turning organic waste into resources, we no longer need to spend money on buying chemical fertilizers,” she said. “In fact, compost is useful to support our crops to grow healthy and to suppress plant diseases and pests. Using compost will provide nutrients and increase water retention in the soil, which will also improve the health of the soil. By composting organic waste that would otherwise be transported and disposed of in landfills, we are saving the transportation cost of waste disposal by making compost locally here, and at the same time protecting the environment by reducing methane emissions from landfills. In short, this project encourages sustainable practices and empowers us with valuable agricultural and environmental management skills.”
Ambassador Su thanked Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Crime Prevention and Persons with Disabilities, and Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, for their guidance on the project. She also commended Director Albert and the dedicated officers and staff of the Bordelais Correctional Facility. The participants were also congratulated.
Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, pledged his Ministry’s commitment to make the necessary resources available to improve the facility’s farm. He also thanked the Government and people of Taiwan for their continued generosity to Saint Lucian farmers.
“I want to thank Ambassador Su for her interest in ensuring that the sector continues to survive and grow, and that the farmers of Saint Lucia continue to benefit from the invaluable contribution that the Seven Crops Project is making in the sector,” he said.
He added: “We are in the process of getting some funding from the Government of Saint Lucia for a five-year development plan in food production. We are focusing on a number of crops which I hope the Bordelais Correctional Facility will be engaged in, such as ginger, cassava, and plantains.”
Hon. Prospere also mentioned that, in the past year, the local production of crops that are the focus of the Seven Crops Project has increased by 25%. However, he stated that he would be happier if the Region’s food import bill were reduced by 25%.
Mr. Ricky Quinlan, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Crime Prevention and Persons with Disabilities, said his Ministry was appreciative to the Government of Taiwan for the timely and meaningful donation. He said the project not only reflects Taiwan’s continued commitment to supporting Saint Lucia’s development, but also demonstrates a shared vision for sustainability, rehabilitation, and environmental stewardship.
“The compost shed will play a vital role in advancing the Bordelais Correctional Facility’s agricultural and rehabilitation programmes,” he said. “It promotes eco-friendly practices, provides residents with hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, and contributes to reducing waste through composting. In essence, this initiative turns waste into opportunity – transforming discarded materials into a source of growth and learning.”
Ms. Adline Eudovic, Coordinator of the Seven Crops Project, said the compost shed was the third of its kind to be constructed under the Seven Crops Project, the others being constructed at the Saint Lucia Marketing Board’s Odsan packaging plant, and at the National Landfill at Deglos. She said composting forms an important role as the project aims to lower food imports by increasing local production.
Mr. Chris Felix, Deputy Director of Bordelais Correctional Facility, said the facility has faced many challenges over the years in meeting its goals of being self-sufficient crop production, including changes in weather patterns and soil health. This led the facility engaging a number of stakeholders – including the Taiwan Technical Mission, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Ministry of Agriculture – all of whom have expertise in these crucial areas.
Meanwhile, Mr. Davis Poleon, Landfill Supervisor at the St. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA), who facilitated the compost training workshop with the participants, said the new compost shed will deliver the required results once it is put to great use.