Green to order return of RADA office to Manchester North Eastern
Published:Friday | August 1, 2025 | 9:36 AM
Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Floyd Green says he will give instructions to re-establish an office for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Manchester North Eastern, noting that the constituency has some of the best farmers.
Green said the thought occurred to him after touring the constituency on Tuesday and speaking with Senator Audrey Marks, the prospective candidate for the constituency, and farmers.
“So, we are going to take steps because the truth is there are so many farmers in northeast. Every community you go in, you find farming happening. You should have an office that is close that you can go to RADA, make your request, get your ID and get some support,” Green said to loud cheers from bell-ringing Labourites.
“So, we are going to put that in place to serve you the farmers of northeast and I can assure you, your next MP (member of parliament) already, along with Councillor Omar Miller, submit some farm roads that them want to get done and you don’t have to worry because when it comes to farm road, a me a the farm road boss,” he added.
He criticised the previous People’s National Party (PNP) Government, asserting that only 24 farm roads were repaired during that four-year tenure.
He said that, during the last financial year, the Holness administration repaired 81 farm roads, and claimed that, since 2020, approximately 400 were rehabilitated.
Further, he said that, since 2017, 700 farm roads have been repaired and $900 million has been allocated to repair more. He said the previous PNP government allocated only $200 million for these repairs.
“So, we are going to move through the communities and ensure you can get to your farms and you can get your produce out of your farms. That is how your government works,” said Green.
He challenged Labourites to, on Election Day, ensure that they get out the votes for the JLP.
“This election, we nuh want to just win. We want to win big. We want to give them a beating that they have never seen before,” he said.
His comments followed an announcement that a contract for $293 million was signed early Tuesday to refurbish eight storage bins at Coleyville and for a solar photovoltaic system.
He said the latter is to generate renewable energy that will drive Coleyville. Additionally, he said the allocation is to also fund a rainwater harvesting initiative and office spaces.
Green said the move is to ensure that farmers in the constituency will have locations to store produce.
“We don’t make promise and that’s why them vex because, if we naah cut ribbon, we a break ground. That is how your government operate and me tell them, election can call anytime, you know, because every week we either a break ground or we a cut ribbon,” the minister said.
“That’s why we say, ‘Cut it, Andrew, cut it’,” he said.