Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness
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Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has pushed back at critics who have claimed that the so-called "small man" is not benefitting from development within the country.
Speaking at Wednesday's commissioning of the Parnassus Irrigation System and launch of the Parnassus Agro Park in Clarendon, Dr. Holness stoutly defended his administration's policy of fostering inclusive development.
He explained that small farmers, women, youth and persons with disabilities will benefit from the land at Parnassus Agro Park.
"Four hundred of those 700 acres [are] specifically for small farmers. So I don't want to hear this argument that we leaving out 'small man' out of development. Rubbish! Everything that we do, we think about every sector of Jamaica. So we're making sure that the small farmers are incorporated and included right here at Parnassus," he insisted.
Dr. Holness noted that most of the farmers who were using the old sugar cane field before it was transformed into an agropark have been given formal leases and were trained by HEART/NSTA Trust.
"That's how we take care of our people. Yes. So, 240 farmers were trained. Yes. So, you know, that is how growth and development and inclusive development looks like. So all dem a talk and a call up mi name, dem cyah get mi outta di game," the prime minister declared.
The development of the Parnassus Agro Park was also supported by funding from the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund and the Caribbean Development Bank. It forms part of a greater thrust aimed at making farming sustainable, competitive and climate smart.
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