NDP Proposes Split of Agriculture and Fisheries

By S. Browne. Updated 8:46 p.m., Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Dr. Godwin Friday, Opposition Leader and President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), proposed splitting the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries into two separate ministries to improve efficiency if his party wins this year’s general election.

He made the announcement earlier today (October 1) at a press conference held by the NDP.

“We are going to separate the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries into two separate ministries. We have our four pillars of the economy of outlying agriculture, tourism, the blue economy to involve fishing, and the new economy,” Dr. Friday said.

“We have to have separate ministries dealing with agriculture and one dealing with fisheries. So we will create a separate ministry of our fisheries and marine conservation to manage and promote the use and the benefit that we will derive from our marine environment, from our fishing industry. That, I believe, will also generate a lot of opportunity for people and create wealth for us here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the opposition leaders said.

Currently, there is a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour, with senior ULP member of Parliament Saboto Caesar at the helm.

In addition to his proposed separation, opposition leader Dr. Friday said his party will provide farmers and fisherfolk with credit, marketing support, and infrastructure improvements to boost efficiency and productivity.

“We have the backs of the farmers in this country. We will provide marketing support. That is critical for helping the farmers to know that when you plant today and you reap six months later, the market conditions are not such that you are taking a gamble whenever you put something in the ground.”

“To the fisher folk, credit will be available too through the National Development Bank. And this will enable them to buy, upgrade their tools, that is mainly their boats and their fishing tools, so that they can become more efficient, more effective, and able to generate greater surplus and make themselves better off,” he added.

He further stated: “I believe it will also generate a lot of opportunity for our people and create wealth for us here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

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