Very Few Garifuna Farmers; A Call to Action
Perhaps what is interesting to note is that registered Garifuna farmers only make up twelve percent of the total number of farmers in the Stann Creek District. That’s according to the records kept in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Belize Agricultural Management Information System. Dr. Peitra Arana, on the other hand, issues a call to action based on the position of the high courts in 2017.
Marvin Blades
Marvin Blades, Panelist
“The total amount of farmers in the listings for Garifuna people, Garifuna farmers, was ninety-five. That’s twelve percent of the total amount of farmers for the district. So the total for the Stann Creek District is seven hundred and ninety-one and of those, ninety-five of them are Garifuna. That’s in our system of course. Moving on, now Garifuna people, like every other farmers, are involved in an array of different productions that include coconut, mangoes, you can name it, the list is there. Of course, a lot venture into the cultural foods of cassava, plantain, coco yams, the root crops. Of course there are others who are into citrus and I will get to that.”
Voice of: Dr. Peitra Arana, Panelist
“Did we not hear what the learned judges told us on May 6th, 2017 when Justice Conteh and Justice Morrison clearly outlined the situation for us. Today, Ms. Cristina [Coc] who was invited to that presentation is again being asked to present on an issue which commissioner Greg Ch’oc also shared in May. So my question to you, members of the audience, is why are we still talking?”
