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‘Cannabis cannot replace food’- Bishop John I. Cline

- urges gov't to not ignore cash crops in quest for medicinal marijuana industry
Pastor and Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duffs Bottom, Tortola, Mr John I. Cline is urging the Andrew A. Fahie Government to not ignore the cash crop industry in pursuit of the medicinal marijuana industry. Photo: VINO/File
Pointing to counties like Jamaica with soursop and Mexico with avocados, he said the Virgin Islands need a similar cash crop and to focus on fishing and farming, 'Not that we cannot do cannabis, but it should not take priority over farming and fishing,' he said. Photo: Internet Source
Pointing to counties like Jamaica with soursop and Mexico with avocados, he said the Virgin Islands need a similar cash crop and to focus on fishing and farming, 'Not that we cannot do cannabis, but it should not take priority over farming and fishing,' he said. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, Mr John I. Cline is urging the Andrew A. Fahie Government to not ignore the cash crop industry in pursuit of the medical marijuana industry.

Bishop Cline was at the time speaking about the importance of food and agriculture in the Virgin Islands while a guest of the My BVI Radio Show on February 23, 2021.

Greater demand for food - Bishop Cline 

“When all of your population have to eat food, probably 90% will not, whether [they] use CDB Oil or use Marijuana recreationally,” he said.

Bishop Cline said regarding food; hotel, restaurants and all homes in the Virgin Islands use everything that is considered cash crops.

“There is no supermarket that is going to put cannabis on the shelves, so you cannot ignore your farming, cannot ignore your cash crops,” he said.

Pointing to counties like Jamaica with soursop and Mexico with avocados, he said the Virgin Islands needs a similar cash crop and to focus on fishing and farming, “Not that we cannot do cannabis, but it should not take priority over farming and fishing,” he said.

Need for a 'champion' of agriculture

The Bishop called for local agriculture to be championed and more focus to be pushed in the area.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honorable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) currently has oversight for the sector; however, Mr Cline remarked that the area would need more purview.

Bishop Cline suggested that the champion of such a cause should not necessarily be the subject minister, rather for another individual or consulting group to execute the vision, then report to the Minister on progress.

17 Responses to “‘Cannabis cannot replace food’- Bishop John I. Cline”

  • Excuses Government (02/03/2021, 16:35) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    We know the government will make whatever they can ss an excuses, Marijusna plan is not bad but its their excuse for their failure in agriculture...Here is where I disagree with you,, A cash Crop need infrastructure, good land space, we are looking atlease 150 acres of good fertile land to produces a cash crop, do we have that land available, plus the appropriate infrastruture..
    • sad story (02/03/2021, 18:19) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
      There always was land at Paraquita Bay but farmers choose to build homes on what government leased to them for cultivation of crops. Government has lots of crown land that can be used for agriculture but cannabis and paying a barge for nothing is of more importance. hmmm
  • Linda (02/03/2021, 17:04) Like (16) Dislike (7) Reply
    We need both agriculture and medical marijuana to bring well needed monies into our islands, this way we won’t have to worry about only having one income. The entire world is getting rich while we are still trying to play holier than thou. Ridiculous! Those who live in glass houses should not be throwing stones. Allow our people to make a living too so we can all eat, not just some who are well off.
  • asking for a friend (02/03/2021, 17:53) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why can’t we have both?
  • sense (02/03/2021, 18:35) Like (23) Dislike (6) Reply
    The people of the territory cannot eat marijuana.. They need food. You talking about self determination and cannot produce food for the people.. The week a boat does not come in you will see where your priority should be. Soon some countries will not export their food.What plans do we have to feed our people?
  • johnny (02/03/2021, 19:13) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    We grow and export nothing here. Be honest.
  • SERVANT OF THE MOST HIGH GOD IN CHRIST JESUA (02/03/2021, 19:27) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    I have in the past disagreed with Pasror John Cline on a number of his positions on various issues, but on the choice of food rather than medical marijuana as one of our needful priorities, I highly aplaude him for having the corrage to and did chose food by far a more needful can't-do-without priority need than medical marijuana is and will ever be.
    HIP HIP HURAY! THAT'S THE WAY TO GO PASTOR JOHN CLINE. STAY POSITIVE. GOD BLESS YOU.
  • ausar (02/03/2021, 19:45) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Asking", you have made salient points!

    Yes, we can have both!

    And can I suggest, that since we're unsure of what our "cash" crop should be, let's involve our students as to what we like to eat most and what they believe is better exportable, and put their findings to the leadership for a vote.

    This could be a first step..
  • Mannix (02/03/2021, 22:38) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    But Cline want land to cultivate the same mariganga. Hmm
    • IVANDMAN (03/03/2021, 11:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Cline told you he want to plant any Marijuana or he wants to sell your office a copier for $25K. Lord, leave our people alone. We need to stop this pulling down of our own people. John is the man. I admire his strength and courage.
  • musa (03/03/2021, 12:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    MUST SAY THIS OUR LEADERS NEED TO GO AROUND AND LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A ACTIVE FARM AND CALL THEM INFOR A MEETING AND HAVE A FEEL OF THEIR INPUT
  • VIslander (03/03/2021, 18:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why do we have to have an either OR and not AND? Is there any other local cash crop better than ganja? How much for a pound of cassava vs pound of cannabis? After using the cannabis people go eat so why not have both. Seems like sense alone to me. More plantain & peas yes but we can grow ganja too lol Can we get enough guavaberry to produce something exportable out of it? Can we make some wine and liquor. Where are the think tanks?
  • de (03/03/2021, 18:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    antiman can't run church on food its money
  • Bomba shack (03/03/2021, 19:43) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Big man of the cloth, just like the other cloth man, ONLY FOR YOU POCKET. WE DO NOT NEED ANY HYDROPONIC FARMING TO FEED OUR SMALL COMMUNITY. KEEP YOUR INVESTOR AT BAY, WE CAN FERTILIZE THE EARTH WITH DEAD LEAVES, FOOD PEELINGS, ANIMAL MANURE AND OTHER NATURAL FERTILIZERS . WE DONT WANT TO BE ANOTHER MONSANTO PRODUCTION. YOU TOO IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED!

    A
  • musa (03/03/2021, 20:19) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    This pastor is a very good man to stay far from.
  • Uncle (04/03/2021, 09:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where John live? The government just had a farmers and fishermen stimulus so that we sustain our locally grown food supply.
  • Nice (04/03/2021, 15:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on bishop I an with you a hundred and one percent that d way I like it


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