FROM LEFT: Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir speaking with Rudy and Head of the Alkebulan agricultural programme Anthony ‘Ras Levi’ Burrowes yesterday at the dumping site at Bath.
As the COVID-19 pandemic comes close to a year of having its effects felt in Barbados, the Rastafarian community is doing their bit to ensure that the vulnerable are not forgotten.
Now armed with several acres of land at Bath by the government, the Alkebulan agricultural programme is committed to feeding those who are unable to feed themselves.
At the centre of a viral video that highlighted illegal dumping that impacted their operations, the non-profit programme was started with the sole interest of providing food for those who were not in a position to do so. Working the land at Bath for a few months now, the initiative was thrust into action from the beginning of the pandemic when they noticed the burden that many Barbadians were faced with.
Speaking to members of the media yesterday at the dumping site, one of the farmers who gave his name as Rudy said that they were thankful for the lands, but also noted that they needed some assistance to carry out their charity work.
“Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir is trying his best to make food security a success in Barbados. As far as it goes, Rastafari is the only person that is really coming forward to work without money because we have no money here. We would like some assistance from government. The same way how you put $300 million in tourism, give us some money here, even if it is a loan or grant that we could do things. We need irrigation and we need certain things. We are going to plant 100 acres of land at Bath and feed Bajans free,” he said.
Going on to say that they are also in the business of preparing care packages for persons that need them, Rudy lamented that it is sad that not having money could disqualify a person from being able to get food.
“This system is designed funny that you need money to get food. The vulnerable people don’t have the money and we try to create something that they can get food. So if a person wakes up and they don’t have food, they can come to Bath and get food free. That is what Rastafari is doing for Barbados,” he said.
Head of the programme Anthony ‘Ras Levi’ Burrowes, said that it is much more than just Rastafarians growing food. He noted that they have witnessed the local armed forces handing out care packages and that they were concerned about how much of it was produced in Barbados.
Adding that the programme would remain free, Ras Levi stated that food is the most important thing for human beings.
“We see what COVID is causing. We don’t know what the future monetary market is going to be like, so to take Alkebulan and venture into an entrepreneurship, to me, is ludicrous. Right now my heart has to be with feeding the people because it is evident we see the people don’t even have money. As a farmer, am I supposed to prepare myself to put money in my pocket off the suffering of the people? But everybody is. This is what makes Rastafari different. This is a time when man and man has to be selfless. We know we do not need wifi. We know we do not need BMWs and diesels, but we know we need to sustain this,” he said as he gestured to his body.
(MP)