MoBay mayor eyes abattoir money
Published:Monday | April 28, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
MAYOR OF Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Parish Council, Councillor Glendon Harris, has said he is hoping that the parish will benefit from the $30.6 million allocated in the 2014-2015 Budget to improve some of the abattoirs across the country.
"We have not been so advised," Harris told The Gleaner last week. "We would hope that if this is being done through local government, we would be considered.
"It is a critical component in our parish's infrastructure and as development increases, there will be a greater demand for such a facility," the mayor added.
In his Budget presentation on Holy Thursday, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips announced the $30.6 million allocation for the abattoir project, which will be done under the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of Small Ruminants project.
Ruminants are mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialised stomach prior to digestion.
The municipal abattoir in St James was closed in 2002 by the St James Health Department due to a number of deficiencies that were negatively affecting its services. The closure was originally slated for three months.
deficiencies
Among the deficiencies identified at the time were: liquid waste from the abattoir being channelled directly into the sea, polluting the coastline; smoke nuisance caused by the burning of wood used to heat water in the absence of a boiler; poor refuse management; and lack of security.
The Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of Small Ruminants project's goal is to contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in regional meat consumption initially through the development of the small ruminant industry.
The objectives of the project are to increase the availability of high-quality breeding stock at affordable prices; to transfer and disseminate technology in the use of improved feed and feeding systems; and to increase the production of meat and ancillary products from small ruminants.
The project is being funded jointly by the Government with a J$20-million investment and the Caribbean Development Bank's Common Fund for Commodities under a grant of $10.628 million. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.