PS: Greenhouses to be running by early 2017

After years of delays and other problems, the greenhouses in Paraquita Bay are expected to be fully functional by the 2017 agricultural exhibition, according to Ronald Smith-Berkeley, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.

Finishing the facilities will cost about $1.5 million, an expenditure that will cover irrigation, computerisation and replacement coverings, Mr. Smith-Berkeley told legislators during the recent Standing Finance Committee deliberations, according to a report on the closed-door proceedings.

He also said International Business and Trade LLC, the company in negotiations to finish the project, would only need three months to make the greenhouses fully operational. It is unclear in the SFC transcript if Mr. Smith-Berkeley’s use of “operational” and “functional” mean different things, considering that the next agricultural exhibition is likely to be about 10 months away.

Mr. Smith-Berkeley did not respond to requests for comment.

See the April 14, 2016 edition for full coverage.

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