Minister takes ‘fruitful’ scoping trip to Honduras
(CNS): Agriculture Minister Jay Ebanks has said his ministry is looking to establish and promote a direct shipping route between the Cayman Islands and Honduras in order to import fresh fruit and vegetables and other agricultural products from that country. As the government seeks to improve direct trade links in the region to strengthen Cayman’s food and nutrition security, the minister said last week’s exploratory was “fruitful”.
During the visit, the team met with Bader Dip, the mayor of La Ceiba, and his council to discuss trade with the Cayman Islands. Discussions were also held with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Atlántida and various cross-industry business executives.
“We largely depend on the United States for our fruits, produce and other goods,” said Ebanks in a press release. “With the increasing cost of living, the government is committed to exploring various avenues to lessen the burden for the people of the Cayman Islands.”
He added, “We are looking to establish and promote a direct shipping route between Cayman and Honduras later this year. In an effort to diversify our food sources in line with our food and nutrition security policy, Honduras is one of the targetted countries due to its proximity and our strong cultural ties. They can provide agricultural produce and other value-added products that are fresh, low cost, nutritious and high quality. We have a direct air route with them so the next logical step is to establish a shipping route between the countries.”
Chief Officer Eric Bush noted that expanding intra-regional trade is critical to Cayman’s food security and economic stability. “The ministry will be working closely with the private sector to ascertain the needs of the Islands and to assist and support the logistics to make the trade bridge as smooth and effortless as possible,” he said.
The delegation also attended a Chamber of Commerce expo in La Ceiba and toured several dairy farms, meat packing plants, and an aggregate plant in San Pedro Sula and the Port of Cortes. They also visited the Port of Cabotaje in La Ceiba.
In May, the Ministry of Agriculture approved a broadened list of agricultural produce that can be imported to the Cayman Islands under a new import-export arrangement with Jamaica. Added to the list are plantain, breadfruit, soursop as well blanched and frozen ackees. Officials have not yet said what they hope to import from Honduras but the country exports a significant amount of fruit, such as apples, melons and bananas.
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Category: Agriculture, Business, Policy, Politics
It is a good idea; Cayman needs to reduce the cost of living, and if implemented this would help in the area of Agricultural products. I recall McKeeva as Premier going to Honduras as well – nothing came of that (except expenses of the trip for taxpayers) and unfortunately I suspect nothing of any substance will come of this trip as well.
Jay needs to eat more fruit!
Well, either Jose lanza looks alot like Ozzie Bodden or Ozzie Bodden looks alot like Jose lanza.
Pound for pound, we must have the fattest politicians on the planet? That trough never empty.
Jay and Wayne are big fellas.
Bernie, Chris and JuJu not exactly small
Dwayne “donkey-fertility-professor” Seymour isn’t either.
Sounds our cocaine market will be stabilized.
@6:09 you’re not wrong. This is just plain stupid but then again,this decision is in line with the calibre of politicians we have.
It’s very scary that our islands are in the hands of such daft people.
Maybe prices will come own. Lobo is looking for a good re-entry point.
Jay, you are about as useful as a flashlight without a bulb. You should be ashamed of yourself to be seemingly supporting overseas farmers but yet have local farmers here who are dying for the want to be able to sell what we produce.
Cow manure has more for local farmers than you do. You truly have slapped most farmers in the face with your uneducated move.
I wonder how your boy “Geoff” feels about this seeing that his parents have farmed all their life. You truly are a royal embarassement to the farming community- but thats what we get when we elect high school drop outs. Your facial expressions remind me of Elmer Fudd.
I hope and pray that Wayne sees further than his nose and stops this circus, as its not only foodstuff that is being hoped to be imported.
Wayne needs to get his fence jumpers to stay happy or he is no longer Premier.
Perhaps you should ask the local farmers why the can’t come together to form a co-op. Instead they try to out price one another and even refuse to tell a fellow farmer if it rained by them. Government can make policies and facilitate the opportunity for a farmer to sell their produce. Problem is, most farmers want top dolly for their produce as if it’s organic, knowing very well that they’re not organic! The farmers, with the Agriculture Society need to form a cooperative. Simple. Better bargaining power, strength in numbers.
Instead of being to greedy and racing each other to the bottom.
Most of them from Jamaica
I been there a few times and planted quite a few seeds . Thank God nothing became of them 😛
Jay Ebanks is developing the physique of a top-class Caymanian politician.
Once they’re appointed to Cabinet, does government send them to sumo school?
Eating school maybe.
Some MPs, especially PACT, appear to be gaining weight.
Honduras. Is that not where the ” fresh fish” comes from that is sold at the fish marker.,
Bingo
Along with the “fresh” fish at Bananas and Chelsea’s.
Fool, those are from DR and Colombia😂
We have a large enough population to support a chicken farm or large scale shrimp farm. There are so many natural brackish ponds in Cayman we could grow enough shrimp to supply Cayman and even export it.
Incorporate solar into the idea and it’s a great food/protein security option and the money stays here in Cayman.
Meanwhile, Raúl Castro’s former son-in-law, Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, Cuba’s top general, head of GAESA, Fincimex businesses, heir apparent, and top economic Czar, dead at 62, and not a word of it in Cayman’s media. Rodríguez López-Calleja had amassed enormous power as a former son-in-law of Raúl Castro and was seen by many as one of the key figures in the future of the island after Castro, who is 91, dies. The general was also linked to a network of offshore companies that moved the government’s money around the world to run businesses and skirt the U.S. economic embargo. This is a top regional story.
Not relevant content to this conversation.
Jesus! How Jay got so big?
Food? Stress?
All the free 5 star lunches.
Lot of gravy on the ministerial train.
For all that are not aware we get aggregate from Columbia. So what’s the difference
Spelling, for one.
Wow. Lots of hate for Hondurans here, but totally not shocking, considering the hate for Jamaicans and Filipinos. Did I leave any scapegoat, er, culture out?
No hate for Filipinos.. they work hard and don’t steal.
Filipinos are polite, and hardworking and don’t go around robbing and shooting up the place. Unlike some!!!
‘If your thing is gone and you want to ride on, cocaine’
JJ Cale
Way to bring cartels directly to Cayman. Hope NCA are keeping a close watch on this one.
Not one word about increased security of our ports and shoreline. This is going to be a free for all drugs and guns bonanza
Not sure your right about that.
I wonder what he is scoping ? Must be bored with the scenery at Dump Bar
Boys Trip!!!! Who is going?
Why stop there? Why not go for the narco trifecta and set up watermelon corridors with Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru? Cut out the Honduran middle market completely, if you’re going to be this obvious.
Watermelons are hard as a rock. Breadfruits are spoiling her in Cayman, bring in the provisions that are scarce.
Whenever we strengthen a travel or trade link, we end up importing the culture and people from that region. Produce is highly perishable and comes from the US every 3 days. Produce imports from Honduras won’t happen in any meaningful way, but we will get 1 step closer to 3rd world status and our politicians will get to play “big man” on these all expenses paid party junkets. Cuba next.
I thinks you are behind in on that issue… we have direct flights there. Those who aren’t coming now, won’t be coming in cargo ship. And, if it’s drugs you all are worried about… they already come as well. You all believe the boardrooms on this island are all dry?!
So you think Cayman airways will ship produce in at a comparable cost.
MacKeeva I don’t see you and Mario (Ebanks, used to wuk wid u then) in this photo.
Wha happen?
I remember the tales from your last Honduras trip together 😂
Inaccurate.
Mario, stop it!
You used to “wuk wid him” and you went to Hondoland with Mac in the past!
I don’t know if Mario was there this time but I am sure Big Mac was. Smart move by Jay to keep him out of the picture but everyone knows he doesn’t travel without him.
I wonder if they use pesticides or other harmful chemicals on their produce.
San Andreas trips were always interesting to see who was on the plane….then at 3am.
Oh, do tell
Too expensive…they spray crops with diluted diesel.
Of course they do, everything that’s cheap and banned elsewhere.
Of course they do. All of their major producers are owned by the big boys.
He should have invested in a proper fitting jacket whilst he was there. In any event, is this visit to Honduras and the previous one to Jamaica only about fruits and vegetables???????? Inquiring minds want to know.
But I always thought that black clothes would help you appear slimma
Neither of these guys are eating fruits or vegetables.
Vegetable matter maybe.💁♂️💁♂️
ITS ABOUT TIME!!!!
Oh no Eric again……this is not going to end good.
Eric is bad for perception and results in reality. Need to get away from EB, who is a PPM-Lodge die hard, that draws negative attention for all the wrong reasons.
Good opportunities for some!
I’ve made a few fruitful trips there also so many delightful things there.
Do not forget that JUJU and Mac made this same declaration ten years ago after a simular jaunt to Honduras.
But they did nothing. That the difference that remains to be seen.
BVI comes to mind.
Two heavyweights in the industry
What a great way to kill local agriculture, by importing. Make up your minds are you for local agriculture or against it. This completely catridicates everything they have said about local agriculture or was this a free trip.
Election time will soon be here.
OMG.. it would be smart to educate yourselves before making such remarks… investigate to know where some agriculture goods come from out of the US… HMMMM some do come from Honduras…. The US don’t grow everything on their soil..so you are paying more from a second hand purchase.They also have other groceries produced in Honduras that are lower in cost than the US goods.. if our Govt buys direct then we save too.. smart move! Would be nice to see something good happening in the middle of this extreme high cost of living!! We are drowning… we need to support a move like this as a PEOPLE, we all need to survive.
Grow your own.
They prefer to complain. Assuming that they are local.
Does the Minister seriously think the food supply out of Honduras will be either cheaper or more reliable than that out of the US.
About the only reliable and cheaper things to come of this will be more drugs, criminals and hookers.
The abitor needs a bigger hog scrapper the one they have now is too small . I’m sure if you talk to other pig farmers they would agree.
We also need affordable water for our crops and animals. many farmers well water is too salty and city water has to much chlorine and expensive
Promote eat what you grow and grow what you eat. Can also help the local farmers
Cut back on the imports and give the farmers a chance to fill the gap.
Jay your not too young to have a heart attack. Try and live long. Lose the weight my friend. One love
Water is a good point. How are you ever going to make money in agriculture using city water produced by reverse osmosis. But where else is it going to come from – the ground water is as you say often brackish and there isn’t a hell of a lot off but. So what’s the solution – how is CIG going to make water?
Collect rain water off the buildings and road drains. Assist the farmers with the cost of large water containers and cisterns. Millions of gallons are wasted every year and it is free for now.
two guys who could definitley do with eating more fruit and veg
Have they heard of Jamaica?, we still ban their delicious mangoes.
Best way to import contraband official trade with two corrupt governments
Yes. Nice picture. Peas in a pod.
CAL will still loose $10mln+ a year
What comes from Honduras? Oh yeah. “Barmaids”. Nice and fresh off the plane. They’ll sell em by da pound.
Can only imagine how much of another popular regional product will be arriving by the kilo in with the fruit and veg. To be fair it’s far more popular on island than cabbage and squash…