Minister of Agriculture Hon. Saboto Caesar, while speaking on radio earlier this week discussed the Canadian Farm Workers program, and how it has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The program has been slowed down a bit quite naturally because of the impact of COVID-19. What is taking place is that in Canada today, the requirements for the farm workers program, the requirements which must be met by the farm owners are extremely stringent and it has basically to do with them adapting to the COVID-19 guidelines.” He said.
The Agriculture Minister pointed to the lack of direct flights between SVG and Canada as another reasons for the slow down.
“Because we do not have the direct flights currently on Air Canada and they have to wait on a certain number of persons to be ready at a particular time and these farm owners have to charter their own jets to bring persons into Canada, it has basically slowed down the process.”
Minister Caesar said that the department of labour is working along with the foreign affairs ministry as well as the consulate in Canada and the farm owners to ensure that the program is operating at full capacity by August of this year.
