Thursday, June 29, 2006

Cabinet has mandated two other government agencies to assist the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in the fight against the pink hibiscus mealybug, which was recently discovered in George Town.

The DOA now has the services of the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) and the Mosquito Research Control Unit (MRCU) as Government moves in haste to arrest the situation.

Last week, news broke that some sections of the capital, George Town, were quarantined to contain the spread of the pink hibiscus mealybug, which is well known to destroy citrus plants.

About twenty species of the mealybug have been discovered in the affected areas, according to one official.

One government official said the pooling of resources was necessary to keep the pests under control, while eradication methods get off the ground.   

The decision apparently stemmed from an increasing number of calls by farmers and households who claimed that they have spotted strange occurrences on their farms and flowerpots.

At a forum to heighten awareness of the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHB) in the Cayman Islands, the attendees heard that the hotlines were flooded with calls of abnormal sightings on plants.

The Monday meeting at the Stacy Watler Pavilion in Lower Valley was informed that the calls were overwhelming and came from several communities in Grand Cayman.

Leader of Government Business and Agriculture Minister Hon. Kurt Tibbetts was on hand with Department of Agriculture (DOA) officials who made presentations to the audience.
A very large turnout by farmers and other residents pointed to the seriousness attached to the discovery of the plant killer on the Island, an observer told Cayman Net News. 

President of the Agricultural Society Errol Watler said the picture painted at the meeting indicated that situation required urgency.

"It's a national emergency, so everyone needs to come together to control it or eradicate it," he said.

The head of the farmers organisation said there was no need to panic but for stepped up vigilance island-wide.

"We should not panic about it but we have to be realistic," Mr Watler said at the end of the meeting with agricultural officials.

During the discussions, the farmers expressed concern about the latest development and inquired from the officials how they could assist in identifying and controlling the spread of the pests. 

So far, no other areas outside of George Town have been identified as having the pests but test results are being awaited on samples taken from several out of town communities.
Mr Watler noted that the role of media would be very crucial in the control and eradication campaigns, which would be mounted by the Government.

He said an all-out effort must be made to rid the Island of the pests, saying everyone from landscape personnel to farmers and adults to children should be on the alert for the pink hibiscus mealybug.

On Wednesday, a meeting was scheduled with plant nurseries, gardening and landscaping companies at the Family Life Centre off Walkers Road to discuss the George Town pest problem.

Several Caribbean islands have had their farms and citrus industries decimated by mealybug infestation.

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