Food security bill revised and going to HOA soon

The revised draft of government’s proposed Food Security & Sustainability bill has moved one step closer to becoming a law.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for World Food Day on October 16, Agriculture Minister, Dr Natalio Wheatley said the new bill will soon be presented to Cabinet for a decision.

“We’ve recently obtained a revised draft of the bill from the Attorney General’s Chambers and we are now aiming to submit it to Cabinet in the coming weeks and then to the House of Assembly,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Minister said he has spent his time, since gaining the portfolio, advocating for a better and stronger legislative framework to properly govern the agriculture and fisheries sector in the territory. He also said most of the laws relating to the agriculture sector are approximately a century old.

Wheatley said the bill will look to provide better opportunities for farmers and fisherfolk in the Virgin Islands.