Relocation of the Saint Lucia Marketing Board

After five decades, agriculture leaders are now shifting gears to align the retail department of the entity with international standards. The vision, according to the Senior Representative of the Saint Lucia Marketing Board, Theresa Desir, is to reopen the doors of the St Lucia Marketing Board in a facility that exceeds the growing demands of its consumer base and that of the agri-food sector as a whole. In the meantime, the temporary relocation of the establishment to the former home of the Central Market Bakery has taken effect. That move that will allow continued service to the public while working on the next phase in the entity’s life.

“After 54 years in operation, the structural integrity of the building has become weak and outdated and as such, it has become necessary to demolish this building and to construct a new one that is sound, conducive for shopping and with the right ambience for the 21st century,” Ms. Desir said. “It is important to note that this is where the retail outlet carries out most of its function and it normally attracts large numbers of customers daily. Because of the significant role that the department carries, it has become necessary for the St Lucia Marketing Board to temporarily relocate the retail function in preparation for the demolition of this building on Jn Baptiste Street.”

Permanent Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Barrymore Felicien holds high expectations for the agri-food sector saying that the marketing Board plays a pivotal supporting role in linking local farmers to consumers; an active illustration of the Agriculture ministry’s slogan, “Eat Fresh; Saint Lucia’s Best.”

The Marketing Board still has a dominant or prominent role to play in the agriculture sector today. What we want to see is a marketing board that comes back to its dominance, that features highly in the distribution, purchase, marketing sales, packaging and export of agricultural produce.”

Established in November of 1967 by an Act of Parliament, the Saint Lucia Marketing Board has been serving the agriculture economy by fulfilling its mandate to stimulate, facilitate, and improve the production, marketing and processing of fresh agricultural produce, and by securing the most favourable arrangements for the purchasing and resale, handling, transportation and exportation of the island’s agricultural produce both locally and internationally.