Saint Lucia’s sea moss subsector is growing fast, with hundreds of people producing the commodity.
But, Agriculture Minister Alfred Prospere has concerns about quality and standards.
Prospere disclosed that over four hundred individuals produce sea moss, especially in rural areas.
In addition, there are more than sixty-five exporters.
“But what my fear is about the sea moss is the quality and standards. You have a number of people; the drying of the sea moss is not the best,” the Minister told reporters.
He noted that the government had supported the sea moss sector, including providing more than seventy drying tables to Savannes Bay farmers in May.
Prospere asserted that Saint Lucia has a reputation for producing ‘the best sea moss in the world’.
Nevertheless, he believed that ‘value-added ‘needed to be improved.
In this regard, the Minister wanted to see more local processing to facilitate export rather than focusing on producing raw materials.
“So the sea moss rum, the sea moss gel, the sea moss cake, everything we can produce from sea moss, I think it augurs well for us as a country, Prospere told reporters.
Ministry of agriculture is non existent in st lucia and full of staff. No new ideas. This department is more of a leech on the public purse.
Put inspectors for quality control to work before we lose the market. Money, money, money ! Money ! No shut cuts otherwise you lose it all.
So Another minister that is concerned. Aa WHO IS MISSING ON THE LIST OF CONCERNED MINISTERS? Alva?
Sea moss only. Have you seen or tasted the bananas on offer at the supermarkets?….yuck! I don’t know what it is (fertilizer,harvesting to early)but they have not tasted like banana s sine TS Elsa. The green ones are no better. Farmers refuse to let the crops mature and the supermarkets are enabling this behavior by buying it from them and si is the consumers.
You tell them fellas that SaintLucia has a reputation for producing ‘the best sea moss in the world’? They themselves tell themselves that?
That is why government (know this Mr Agriculture minister) has put a BUREAU OF STANDARDS in place. The policy is there for the sea moss producers to allow the BoS to ensure the product reaches quality standards. The minister should know that and ensure the policy is practiced. The BoS has been in existence for years.
@SMBH. How right! Almost every person at the top of the totem pole is showing concern or urging. It never ceases. “We urge you not to drive at 180 mph.” “We are concerned that you are dynamiting the fish.” The list goes on. Most times, they don’t have enforcement tools for anyone to take their words seriously. Essentially, these people are undermining their own credibility. Hardly anyone is cowering or paying attention to those department heads after decades of saying the same crap. Until the tools of enforcement come into play, don’t expect a turn around in behaviors.