A proposal has been made that the concept behind the greenhouse project at Paraquita Bay be changed in order for the Virgin Islands to benefit from the technology. Photo: VINO/File

Douglas Wheatley suggested that the current or subsequent government should be able to tweak the greenhouse project in order for it to benefit the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr The Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering blamed the delay of the greenhouse project on outstanding bills and stated that the project would not be rushed for political points or emotional reasons. Photo: VINO/File

Commentator Douglas Wheatley said on his Speak Out BVI radio programme aired on May 28, 2013 that a very serious attempt was made to diversify agriculture within the previous administration.

He felt though, that the planning on the issue may have been somewhat insufficient and it appeared that “we went in a little over our head”. As a result he stated, “We have not been able to reap the benefits so far of that [greenhouse] technology.”

Wheatley said this did not mean that subsequent governments could not tweak the issue of the greenhouse in one way or the other.

He said sometimes one government may introduce something and the opposition may criticise it heavily, but realise after a number of years how useful it has become. Wheatley said the purchase of the London House by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) which was criticised very heavily by the Opposition as a waste of time, is a classic example of this.

The host also suggested that agriculture should be tied into the tourism aspect of the economy. He related a story of someone selling eggs to local hotels in the past as an example of how this could be done.

Wheatley said local hoteliers had complained that there needed to be a guaranteed supply of produce in order to include items on their menus. They had also complained that the lack of any regularity prevented this from being done.

“We need to work on that,” Wheatley said, “We don’t have to think of agriculture as just back breaking work as in the past…” He noted that there were many modern techniques to allow this to be done.

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering announced previously that the delay with the greenhouse project was as a result of “outstanding bills”.

At a meeting held with farmers on April 15, 2013, Dr Pickering disclosed, “When I took over the Ministry in November, 2011 I discovered that there were some outstanding bills with respect to the greenhouses."

He also stated that the greenhouse project would not be rushed for political points or emotional reasons.

The Natural Resources Minister stated at the time that all issues needed to be worked out before anything could be done about the greenhouses at Paraquita Bay.