BARBADOS – Crop producers across Barbados are coming together to form a national farming group to make a stand against new water rates. The Barbadian government has been making some major changes to its financial laws and are raising the prices and rates on everything.
This was the main development coming out of a meeting of close to 25 upset farmers at the Wildey Gymnasium on Wednesday night. The farmers were not happy with this as they are not making the kind of money to make the new rates.
Farmers who lease land from the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) or receive BADMC water attended the more than two-hour meeting.
They come from farming communities such as Gibbons Boggs in Christ Church; River Plantation, St Philip; Spring Hall, St Lucy; and The Pine Basin in St Michael.
The Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) was also represented.
During the Financial Statement And Budgetary Proposals presented by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mia Amor Mottley in March, it was announced that a fixed water rate of $1.80 per cubic metre (264 gallons) across the agricultural sector would be introduced effective May 1.
