Termites attack Bees

[Don1]

PNP takes issue with bees

Monday, January 03, 2011


THE Opposition People's National Party (PNP) has raised concerns about Government's plans to import queen bees into Jamaica from Hungary.

In a statement this morning, Opposition spokesperson on agriculture, Roger Clarke, said based of the fragile and vulnerable state of our bee keeping industry, he would caution the Ministry of Agriculture to rethink this decision if it is being contemplated.

"The devastation caused by diseases affecting bees throughout the world is reason enough to tread warily in bringing any foreign brood stock into the country," Clarke said.

"Serious and detailed discussion must take place between all stakeholders before any such decision is taken."

Clarke said he believes Jamaica has the capabilities to enable us to expand our queen bee production locally, without us having to import and run the risk of destroying our local industry.



Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1A2CwfQbv

[Assasin]

Ministry defends decision to import bees

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

The agriculture ministry yesterday defended a decision to import a number of queen bees from Hungary, saying that they were needed to improve the genetics of local stock.
The ministry's decision was explained by Reginald Peddie, head of the Apiculture Division at the Bodles Research Station. Peddie was responding to a caution issued by former agriculture minister Roger Clarke yesterday against the importation of the bees.

Clarke had argued that "the devastation caused by diseases affecting bees throughout the world is reason enough to tread wearily in bringing any foreign brood-stock into the country".
According to Clarke, the Opposition People's National Party spokesman on agriculture, "serious and detailed discussion must take place between all stakeholders before any such decision is taken" as the island's bee-keeping industry is in a "fragile and vulnerable state".
Clarke insisted that Jamaica had the capability to expand queen bee production without having to import and run the risk of destroying the local industry. As such, he cautioned the Ministry of Agriculture to "rethink this decision if it is being contemplated".
However, Peddie, when contacted by the Observer, said: "We have issued a permit to import only ten queen bees, not a hundred, to boost the genetics of some of our local stock."
"The bees that we have here, although performing, are not of the best stock," he said, adding that the method of bee-keeping over the years has contributed to a decline in the genetic quality of the local stock.
"No new bloodlines have been introduced in over 40 years and there is a lot of in-breeding," said Peddie. "The permit that we have issued asks for mite-free bees and must be accompanied by relevant certification."
Clarke, at the same time, also questioned what he said was a delay in the takeover of the island's sugar companies by their Chinese purchasers.
Clarke argued that based on agreements between Chinese company Complan and the Jamaican Government, transfer of ownership should commence as soon as reaping started.
However, he charged that reaping of this year's sugar cane crop has begun without indication of a Chinese takeover.
"Reaping has commenced at Frome and there are no tangible signs of this takeover," Clarke said, adding that in any well-run agricultural enterprise "timing is of the essence, moreso in the case of sugar cane."
"It is therefore imperative that the transition begins immediately if the next crop is to be secured," said Clarke.
He called on the Government to facilitate discussions between Complan and the Opposition to "enable clarification on certain issues".
Last July, the Government sold three sugar factories -- Monymusk, Bernard Lodge and Frome -- to Complan for approximately US$10 million and leased some 30,000 hectares of sugar lands in a US$120 million deal aimed at increasing cane production islandwide.
At the time, Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that the signing was two-fold, one for the purchase and lease of assets owned by the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica, and the other to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of a sugar refinery and ethanol facility.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1A64e4AOY

[Mosiah]

"No new bloodlines have been introduced in over 40 years and there is a lot of in-breeding," said Peddie.

what's he talking about, bees or Jamaican politicians?

[Assasin]

good one

[Mosiah]

termites winning..for now!

Plans to import bees from Europe placed on hold


Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has put a hold on plans to import queen bees from a European country, to augment the local stock, less than 24 hours after a senior government official vigorously defended the original decision.

On Tuesday, the Agriculture Minister intervened in the decision to import 10 queen bees from Hungary, and ordered a hold on the permit, pending a risk assessment.

According to Dr Tufton, although there is need to diversify the genetic base of the country's local bee population, a proper risk assessment by the Veterinary Services Division is strongly recommended.

On Monday, Reginald Peddie, the head of the Ministry's Apiculture Division, said there was no need for grave concern about the pending importation, because the permit was granted for the importation of only 10 queen bees to boost the genetics of the local stock.

Mr. Peddie contended that while the local bees were performing, they were not of the best stock.

Meanwhile, the People's National Party's Spokesman on Agriculture, Roger Clarke, says he's relieved that Dr. Tufton has decided to withhold the queen bee importation permit.

Mr. Clarke told RJR News that the move is an obvious step in the right direction which, he hopes, will clear the way for full dialogue with local bee industry stakeholders.

He maintained that the initial due diligence was lacking in scientific evidence, to warrant the importation of the Hungarian queen bee.

"It's a very vulnerable industry and we needed to have a serious look at it to see exactly what the situation was before anything like that could be done, so the Minister putting a hold was the correct thing to do at this time. And there was no consultation between the people that it would affect most - the beekeepers" Clarke said.

[Mosiah]

yet another misstep from this regime.

[Don1]

termites winning..for now!

Plans to import bees from Europe placed on hold


Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has put a hold on plans to import queen bees from a European country, to augment the local stock, less than 24 hours after a senior government official vigorously defended the original decision.

On Tuesday, the Agriculture Minister intervened in the decision to import 10 queen bees from Hungary, and ordered a hold on the permit, pending a risk assessment.

According to Dr Tufton, although there is need to diversify the genetic base of the country's local bee population, a proper risk assessment by the Veterinary Services Division is strongly recommended.

On Monday, Reginald Peddie, the head of the Ministry's Apiculture Division, said there was no need for grave concern about the pending importation, because the permit was granted for the importation of only 10 queen bees to boost the genetics of the local stock.

Mr. Peddie contended that while the local bees were performing, they were not of the best stock.

Meanwhile, the People's National Party's Spokesman on Agriculture, Roger Clarke, says he's relieved that Dr. Tufton has decided to withhold the queen bee importation permit.

Mr. Clarke told RJR News that the move is an obvious step in the right direction which, he hopes, will clear the way for full dialogue with local bee industry stakeholders.

He maintained that the initial due diligence was lacking in scientific evidence, to warrant the importation of the Hungarian queen bee.

"It's a very vulnerable industry and we needed to have a serious look at it to see exactly what the situation was before anything like that could be done, so the Minister putting a hold was the correct thing to do at this time. And there was no consultation between the people that it would affect most - the beekeepers" Clarke said.

Termites!! Termites!! Termites!!!

[Muadib]

Ministry of Agriculture full a misstep under Tufton !

Read up on the boy who cried Wolf...

[Willi]

Him really think seh is disease a kill di bees?

Try poisoning from toxic buildup.