Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports

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Head of the Projects Committee for Labour Day, Dorothea Clarke, has added her voice to the impassioned pleas being made by Government officials for Jamaicans to 'eat what we grow (and) grow what we eat.'

Miss Clarke was speaking against the background of this year's theme for Labour Day, which reflects Government's thrust to encourage Jamaicans to grow food to supplement what they buy to cut down on the nation's food bill. Jamaica is faced with high and escalating food prices on imported items as a result of high international fuel and grain prices.

"I am appealing to Jamaicans on Friday (Labour Day) to go out.plant up your back gardens. Get your containers, get your seeds and plant," Miss Clarke urged while addressing this morning's JIS Think Tank.

"We realize that food security is going to become even more important. It is imperative that Jamaicans learn to feed ourselves, to eat what we grow and grow what we eat," she added.

Miss Clarke entreated Jamaicans to start eating as healthily as their fore parents. She reasoned that the lifespan of Jamaicans would be longer if they ate less processed foods, "and we can achieve this goal if we grow our own fruits, vegetables and tubers."

"Our root tubers.those are the healthiest things to eat," she continued, referring to starches such as yams, potatoes and cassava.

Miss Clarke encouraged Jamaicans to use Labour Day as a special day to join with friends and family to "start our own gardens."

The National Labour Day Project is at the Buff Bay High School in Portland, with a 'baby' project at Tranquility Primary School, also in the parish, where 70 fruit trees will be planted.

At Buff Bay High, a plant nursery will be established to supply the school and farmers in the area. The school will also benefit from the construction of a perimeter wall to prevent praedial larceny. This wall will start this week, continue on Labour Day and will be completed soon afterwards.

The Buff Bay site is about one-quarter of an acre of land, while that of Tranquility is approximately one acre in size.

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