A farmer in Tobago staged a one-man protest
One young Tobago farmer is calling on the Tobago House of Assembly's authorities responsible for agriculture to "get more serious about farming."
Dressed in a suit, Rondon Arthur, 28, of Cow Farm Road, Mason Hall, staged a one-man protest on the Claude Noel Highway yesterday to bring attention to the situation.
The youngster, who farms four acres of leased THA lands, says he chose his protest attire carefully because authority figures tend "to only listen to well-dressed people. "
He reminds the authorities that Tobago will not receive agricultural produce from St Vincent for a while.
In addition to plating coconut trees, Arthur plants shorts crops such as tomatoes, dasheen, bananas, and plantains.
He says he faces additional hardships as he is battling rhinoceroses beetle infestation and "poor work attitudes" of some persons directly responsible for the THA's Tractor Pool department.
He says since he began farming over 10 years ago, not enough has been done for farmers, and many like him, are without necessities like running water and electricity.
Recounting a recent experience at the Shaw Park office, Arthur claims he was escorted off the compound after demanding when his land be ploughed.
"I have been trying to access tractor pool services for a while. Last year I paid to get an area ploughed, and it took me over a year before I was able to get that area ploughed up. So I started to visit the office daily," he told Guardian Media.
"I planted over the last four years 658 coconut trees. Presently I only have only 50 trees because there is a dangerous rhino beetle that is affecting coconut production here on this island," he said.
Arthur says he staged the protest as a last-ditch effort to bring urgent attention to Tobago's farmer's plight.
He said he is losing faith in the sector as they have not tackled Tobago's rhinoceros beetle infestation, although he has made several reports.
Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis, who recently became the THA's Food Production Secretary, said he would make a statement on the farmer's issues when he has all the facts.
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