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‘Outstanding bills’ cause for greenhouse delay – Dr Pickering

- says project won’t be rushed for political points or emotional reasons
Natural Resources Minister, Dr The Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering disclosed that 'outstanding bills' to designers have caused delays in launching the greenhouse project at Paraquita Bay. Photo: VINO
Dr Pickering stated that the greenhouses at Paraquita Bay would not be rushed for political points or emotional reasons. Photo: VINO
Dr Pickering stated that the greenhouses at Paraquita Bay would not be rushed for political points or emotional reasons. Photo: VINO
Some of the participants at today's Agribusiness Training Seminar. Photo: VINO
Some of the participants at today's Agribusiness Training Seminar. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering has revealed that ‘outstanding bills’ to designers have been responsible for the delay surrounding the greenhouse project located at Paraquita Bay.

At an opening ceremony for farmers in an Agribusiness Training Seminar today, April 15, 2013 Dr Pickering expanded on what he had referred to previously for many months as ‘intellectual property’ rights issues.

Indicating that the government is aware of questions being asked about the greenhouses, Dr Pickering noted that persons may be asking, “What is the government doing about the greenhouses? Why are these monstrosities still sitting up at Paraquita Bay and we haven’t done anything with them?”

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."

Adding clarification to his previous mentions of the intellectual property rights issues surrounding the greenhouses, Dr Pickering explained, this meant that designers of the greenhouses were going to claim ‘ad infinitum’ from the government of the Virgin Islands.

“In other words,” Dr Pickering added, “for the next two hundred years they’d be claiming money from government if we had proceeded along the same pathway.”

He reiterated that the issues needed to be sorted out before anything could be done about the greenhouses.

He also noted that government was close to coming to an agreement with individuals to whom the government owes outstanding monies for the project.

Gov’t plans private investment for greenhouses

According to Dr Pickering, once government has completed the payment process to the persons it is indebted and has a ‘clear pathway’ to move forward, it is intended that the greenhouses will be opened up for private investment.

“This Minister,” he said in self-reference, “will not advise the government that the government should run the greenhouses.”

Dr Pickering continued, “Nothing that I have read, no research that I am privy to, suggests that government can run the greenhouses.”

He suggested that farmers find ways of investing in the greenhouses once the way is clear. Dr Pickering proposed that farmers will acquire greenhouse placements in similar fashion to the way land was leased to farmers at Paraquita Bay to do individual farming. “That is sort of the principle that we have to adopt,” he added.

The Natural Resources Minister also noted the need for the expertise to be able to transform greenhouses into raw cash for the Virgin Islands.

“I’ve had any number of interests from various companies and individuals about what they can do for the greenhouses, but what I think is very clear, is that the people who know about greenhouses say that one, just one of those buildings up there can produce enough food for the entire BVI and beyond,” he stated.

Dr Pickering likened the process to a pregnancy and stated that there was a labour and delivery period that the government has to go through. “That’s where we are with this process with the greenhouses,” he said, “and I’m deliberate and determined to do it right.”

He said the project would not be completed for emotional purposes or political points adding that if it took the next six months, “then so be it”.

18 Responses to “‘Outstanding bills’ cause for greenhouse delay – Dr Pickering”

  • VERY Concerned (15/04/2013, 12:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is increasingly frightening to hear the ideas, explanations, projects, and such of many of our Ministers....Not one, but several are definitely loose cannons...and are Heading Governmental sections truly out of their areas of knowledge. It is, indeed, very scary ...with very open racial and socio divides...
  • Native Boy (15/04/2013, 14:01) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    I just cannot understand how come this minister could do no wrong and dem always on poor funny man
  • she the cat mother (15/04/2013, 14:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    somebody is laughing all the way to the bank over deeds green houses.
  • tola (15/04/2013, 14:20) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Doc is a good man an thats jus it
  • vince (15/04/2013, 14:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    another vip blunder my god.
  • redstorm@hotmail.com (15/04/2013, 14:50) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    I have never come across a minister so bold and brave in his comments, when he have to speak is all about the truth,I know something were wrong, but to see that my grandbabies them would had to pay somebody for hundered a years for a green house rights. Na Na Na, I am waiting to see how this biwater thing pan out. I need a extra cistern build at the side a my house, I would not pay no biwater 2$ or 3$ a gallon for no water. I am glad Doc got ghuts, and he look out for the BVI.
  • ooooo (15/04/2013, 15:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    mayson pay the people them and lets move on
  • Shelter (15/04/2013, 16:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can there be oustanding bills on this project when we spent so much on it? Somebody needs to be accountable for where all that money went to! This is just foolishness now man!!!
  • So (15/04/2013, 19:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They would only be collecting money for about the same amount of time it will take to pay off the airport. What's the big deal??
  • wise-up (15/04/2013, 20:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr, just tell them you come meet the problem and all you can do is try fixing it; them need to ask the cookie-monster where the money went; some people saying La Romana
  • to wise-up (16/04/2013, 00:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Schools childen say Mark planning to move there.
    • wise-up (16/04/2013, 07:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      No!!!! Mark not going there; he will import "food-stuff" from la romana; my stepfather say the food-stuff from there is sweeter & cheaper-the US dollars goes further
  • pete (16/04/2013, 23:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    “Nothing that I have read, no research that I am privy to, suggests that government can run the greenhouses.”

    So why was the government so bent on building them? They are a waste of money and are the last thing BVI needs in the land of sun, climate and soil. With a fraction of the money spent, farmers could have had irrigation water for their plots and would create a real farmers market. there is no need for these here.
  • ABC (17/04/2013, 17:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't you worry, Pickering is presently working out a deal with a gentleman of his favourate colour, who will take over the Green Houses. One of our top local farmers tried to lease one without success. Very soon we will be supplying P>Rico, Dominica and St. Vincent with Agri. produce.


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