Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Food security remains top priority of VIP Gov’t – Hon Malone

-as Legislators tour new KNK poultry farm facility in Paraquita Bay
Government legislators on Friday, January 14, 2022, toured the KNK Poultry Farm located in Paraquita Bay, Tortola; a company that has reportedly doubled its chicken capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 birds through the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government support to foster greater food security in the VI. Photo: Team of Reporters
Minister of Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) in providing an update on the tour, pointed to the facility as a testament to the government’s agenda to boost local food security. Photo: Team of Reporters
Minister of Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) in providing an update on the tour, pointed to the facility as a testament to the government’s agenda to boost local food security. Photo: Team of Reporters
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI – Government legislators on Friday, January 14, 2022, toured the KNK Poultry Farm located in Paraquita Bay, Tortola; a company that has reportedly doubled its chicken capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 birds through the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government support to foster greater food security in the VI.

Minister of Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) in providing an update on the tour, pointed to the facility as a testament to the government’s agenda to boost local food security.

“Food Security is top of your government's agenda. I was joined by the Minister for Natural Resources and District nine Representative Hon Vincent O. Wheatley and by Deputy Speaker and Territorial-at-Large Representative, Hon. Neville A. Smith at the BVI's newest and most modern 20,000 units chicken incubation facility,” he said.

Deputy Premier must be commended - Hon Malone 

Hon Malone noted that Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) must be commended for advocating such a project and giving unreserved support to local farmers and entrepreneurs.

The KNK poultry farm is owned by Albert Pickering and the Paraquita bay farmlands came through land leases signed to support food production via the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries, and Agriculture with businesses that approached the government for support.

In November 2020, Subject Minister Hon Wheatley said the VI must be ready for any food shortages that occur internationally. 

Dr Wheatley vowed that the Government will be working to revitalize both the agriculture and the local fishing sectors in addition to providing support for sustainable farming in the VI.

18 Responses to “Food security remains top priority of VIP Gov’t – Hon Malone”

  • KING FISH (15/01/2022, 11:41) Like (15) Dislike (7) Reply
    This is good stuff a government at work
    • Why (15/01/2022, 14:34) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
      Why do governments always tell us that whatever the subject, that’s their top priority? Only one thing can be the top priority. Surely whether or not we eat chickens is not exactly critical.
    • long look (15/01/2022, 14:37) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      This only makes sense if we grow what the chickens eat. Otherwise it ain’t secure. more stupidness.
  • Youth (15/01/2022, 11:44) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    I LOVE THIS!
  • facts (15/01/2022, 11:45) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    Only good things happen when Government helps its people.
  • Make it quick, you sellouts (15/01/2022, 11:54) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    We ain’t got much time before this food shortages start to affect us

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy5UJKz5igY
    • farmer brown (15/01/2022, 12:23) Like (16) Dislike (21) Reply
      If you have to import all the feed for the chickens , this is not food security.
  • Photo Government (15/01/2022, 11:57) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    If you so care give the farmers water at Paraquita Bay
    • @ photo Government (15/01/2022, 12:25) Like (23) Dislike (5) Reply
      NDP haters at it again! So the water problem just started in 2019? This government has done much to provide water for the farmers so go sit down with your chicken droppings!!! VIP ALL THE WAY bossie
  • This is Good.. (15/01/2022, 12:16) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Keep them healthy. Make them plenty keep the price low....We need lit more...
  • Bread alone (15/01/2022, 14:19) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Food security should not be a mere jargon or a popular phrase ….. it should mean real action, real farm with yield that can be found in market and supermarkets talk alone can’t feed the nation. Only real farm and real produce planted and reap locally in abundance.
  • Liat 521 (15/01/2022, 16:16) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
    The vip is still the best hope we not going back to Myron and Marlon
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (15/01/2022, 21:15) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Food security is the l greatest necessity worldwide. We produce lest than 1% of our food needs. What is there to Bragg about? The chicken farm is needed though. However, we need many more of the same, and also of other local food products.
    Thànk God for the various food markets that weekly import food into our country. If not, we will have a situation far worst than the Covid-19 virus pandemic, and crime in our country Will rise dramatically.
    Yes, yes, yes, we need produce locally more food, but hear lest political hype from politicians.
  • wooiiee (16/01/2022, 07:57) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    These men don't even know where to wear 3peace suit
  • Fair (16/01/2022, 08:48) Like (0) Dislike (10) Reply
    Government had nothing to do with with this;this was way before them.Malone 8s a total was as a Government minister and all weathley check on is land for medical ganga.If our Government was serious someone else would have been in charge of the DOAF.
  • Windy (16/01/2022, 13:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm sure that they're disposing all that chicken poo in a responsible way ?
    • @windy (17/01/2022, 13:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Of course they are,,,, it goes in the dumpster with everything else .
  • Island Peep (28/01/2022, 12:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Back in the 1990s, the VIP Government looked at supporting BVI chicken and egg producers. At that time, the study's conclusion was that as virtually all chicken food had to be imported and as the resultant costs of the locally-produced items were MUCH more expensive than imported items, then it did NOT make economic sense to proceed. The economic law of Comparative Advantage is at work here and being so close to the USA, it is very hard for BVI producers to produce food more economically than importing it. The only way to make local production viable is through import duties or producer subsidies, which means that consumers pay more AND Government gets to decide which local producers will be helped (i.e., the situation is wide open to corruption). "Food security" is a fallacy for the BVI. The Government should better ensure that people get paid a decent wage, so that they don't have to go hungry.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.