Senior ministry official takes up top job at DoA
(CNS): Wilbur Welcome, who was previously acting as the deputy chief officer in the Ministry of District Administration, has taken up the top job at the Department of Agriculture. According to a release about the appointment, Welcome brings a strong track record of excellence in public service, leadership, and a passion for agricultural development, and he is “well positioned to lead the department through its next phase of growth and modernisation”.
Welcome, who is taking over from Brian Crichlow, will oversee the strategic direction and daily operations of the DoA, focusing on supporting local farmers, improving food security, and enhancing the islands’ agricultural sustainability and resilience, the release stated.
Welcome said he was honoured to take on the role and looked forward to working closely with farmers, stakeholders and team members to ensure the continued success and sustainability of agriculture in the Cayman Islands. “I am able to build on foundations that have been laid before me, and I thank Mr Crichlow and Mr [Adrian] Estwick, before him, for building that foundation,” he added.
According to the release, Crichlow will continue to work within the planning ministry, which has responsibility for agriculture, “to drive national policies around agriculture, food security and regulatory infrastructure for the Department of Agriculture.”
Thanking him for his years of service, officials from the ministry said he had overseen several important milestones, including advancements in animal health services, farmer outreach programmes and agricultural education initiatives.
Chief Officer Eric Bush said Welcome’s proven leadership and commitment to the Cayman Islands would continue to drive the department forward in meeting the evolving needs of the agricultural sector. “We are confident to work alongside him in advancing key initiatives that support local food production, empower our farmers, and build long-term resilience in the sector,” he said.
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Category: Government Administration, Politics
So exactly what are Mr Welcome’s qualifications in agriculture?.It seems he will have his predecessor on hand to help him out.
DoA is Govt’s way to subsidise small hobbyist farmers. It would be cheaper just to dole the cash out to the farmers direct than to fund an entire Govt department to act as the middleman. DoA is just another CIG “busy work” scheme.
Hiluxes for all!
You are misinformed. Qualifying for DoA discounts on farming materials is difficult enough, requiring inspection and documentation of farming/animal operations. Qualifying for farming grants is quite difficult.
The photoshopping is so terrible… stretching Wilburs torso to make him look close to a 6ft tall man and then widening Erics torso? #Sigh .. why edit the photo?
Congratulations Mr. Wilbur! With best wishes.
Come on commentators this is not for criticisms of peoples weight etc. Let us congratulate another smart, outstanding Young Caymanian accelerated to manage a head of Department. My heartiest Congratulations to Wilbur, I know you will do an excellent job. I trust and hope there will be many more young Caymanians who will rise to the top like yourself.
Talk about being promoted past level of competence.
I thumbs down because i thought you were talking about Wilbur.
But i would have given 3 thumbs up if you were talking about eric
Every day we shufflin, shufflin..
Eric’s waistline reflecting the good life he’s been enjoying with his millionaire friends and their party circuit.
Ministry of District Administration…
Department of Agriculture.
Are these ministries and departments for real? What are they doing? There is no agriculture in Cayman.
You are seriously out of touch. We have local egg and honey production, cattle husbandry, backyard farmers, and a couple other initiatives. Stop hating; start researching.
No hating. Just curious.
Is this small scale farming or industrial agriculture?
@5:03:
Small or large, it is all “agriculture”.
The stupid statement–now refuted–is:”There is no agriculture in Cayman.”
amen on that one. some just post for posting sake. no contribution.
Hobbyists don’t need a ministry or department to oversee their use of their free time.
@4:56pm I remember they discussed department of agriculture in parliament and I was actually surprised about how much stuff they do. They offer a training platform for returning Caymanian vets. They provide artificial insemination for cattle; they guide and advice people who want to start farming in their own land, they sell feed and fertilizer. That department is really busy.
The whole point is to try to grow agriculture, make the island more self sufficient and less reliant on imports from foreign countries. This involves not only supporting local agriculture but also conducting research that will assist agriculture in our climate. I think this ministry is badly needed.
Eric and Franz need to retire or be fired for a catalogue of events that would get them removed from senior management roles in the private sector. Fish rots at the head
Yep 3:56. Those lunches with a bottle of wine at Grand Old House are going to his waist.
Fancy friends seeking favors..Expensive red wine is all a part of the who you know game.
Bad picture. He is average size. Not like that cookie monster Jay Ebanks.