He did seem to know that the current laws governing the regulation of quarrying are inadequate, and added that while the Minerals Act is being revised, government would implement some stopgap regulations.

Williams also admitted that a new law to replace the inadequate Minerals Act would take longer than expected.

In the meantime, government hopes to come up with an “equitable and transparent” policy that would allow both large and small operators, and at the same time, protect the environment.

How soon would the population see these regulations, and eventually, the new laws implemented, and what would the environmental cost be while government takes its time to formulate these “equitable and transparent regulations?”

Heaven knows, but the minister doesn’t.

On a lighter note, housewives all over the country were thrown into panic mode when Minister of Health and Acting Minister of Agriculture John Rahael announced a ban on the importation of poultry products due to avian influenza (bird flu) disease.

Bird flu has so far led to the virtual destruction of the poultry industry in parts of Asia, especially since the disease has spread to humans and is responsible for several deaths.

Even if the average Trini housewife didn’t start screaming with anguish on hearing Rahael’s announcement, the print media’s reaction was sure to get them going.

“No Turkey for Christmas”, “Turkeys banned!” the headlines blared, and Front Page to boot, what a calamity, what misfortune, having to eat local meat on Christmas day!

Rahael is convinced government is doing the right thing: “We would be very irresponsible to allow something to come into this country that may put our country at risk,” he said.

However, the fact that Trinidad and Tobago is not self sufficient in poultry products, to the extent that a ban on its importation could lead to a shortage of the commodity is an indictment on the Ministry of Agriculture.

Is there any good reason why this country continues to spend millions in imported foods?

Maybe the bird flu is a blessing in disguise, at least for local farmers.

Since independence, no government has seen it fit to pay more than lip service to the agricultural sector.

Successive PNM administrations and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) did almost nothing to boost the sector.

Even the United National Congress (UNC), the party supported by most farmers when they took the reins of government in 1995, did very little to boost the sector.

The programmes and incentives offered by the Ministry of Agriculture to increase production have been accessed by a small number of farmers.

This is so because incentives are offered only to registered farmers, and most farmers are unregistered.

Why aren’t they registered?

A farmer has to own the land he farms on to be registered.

This rule effectively excludes farmers working family-owned lands.

Those on State lands could apply for leases, but this process takes years, and government’s so-called Accelerated Land Distribution Programme is a cruel joke.

Meanwhile, the countries from which Trinidad and Tobago buys food provide their farmers with a broad range of support from price control and subsidies to cheap land, and no waiting for years to get a lease.

They also place barriers to keep out exporters while pressuring poorer nations to remove subsidies and trade barriers and to import their cheaper food to the detriment of local farmers.

Maybe the bird flu, and the increased price of scarce local meat would finally provide the incentive to farmers to increase production.

Hopefully, it won’t take so much for both government and citizens to wise up and support local agriculture.