OMG Digital Magazine OMG Issue 275 7th September 2017 | Page 43

OMG Digital Magazine | 275 | Thursday 7 September 2017 • PAGE 43
ECONOMIC VALUE IN HERBS
PLANS FOR
REWARD SYSTEM
A new reward system is to be implemented for Tobago athletes. This was announced by
Secretary of Sport and Youth Affairs Jomo Pitt, who said the Division is finalising a policy
to reward outstanding performances. “We do have a committee in place that is going to
submit their final report within the next week, which will be taken to Executive Council to
be ratified before it’s made public,” Pitt said during Wednesday’s (August 23) post Executive
Council media briefing at the Administrative Complex, Calder Hall.
“Going forward, once we have this policy, it will make it easier for athletes [and] coaches
to know, in advance, what they can expect from the Tobago House of Assembly.” Pitt
also took the opportunity to commend the athletes who have recently brought glory to
this country, including double para ‘Worlds’ gold medallist Akeem Stewart and Lalonde
Gordon, who anchored Trinidad and Tobago to World Championships 4x400 metres relay
gold. He also lauded the coaches who “paved the way, providing [athletes] a platform for
them to launch their career”.
Culinary herbs offer much more than just garnishes. That’s the view in Tobago’s
agriculture sector, as farmers are being trained in various aspects of herb production.
They attended a workshop yesterday, hosted by the Department of Agriculture’s
Kendal Farm School (August 23).
Herbs are also prized for their health benefits and medicinal properties, and are also
used in concentrated forms, as well as in teas. And the economic value is also being
acknowledged, as the participants of the workshop learned about cultivation, and
explored various techniques in the harvesting, drying, curing and packaging of herbs.
It’s part of the efforts of the Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries to
promote agriculture as a viable business and boost food security on the island. The
workshop took place at the Blenheim Sheep Multiplication Project Conference Room.
HERB TALK: Facilitator Potter Bruno has a discussion with a group of participants
at a workshop about culinary herbs, hosted by the Department of Agriculture’s
Kendal Farm School yesterday (August 24) on the cultivation of herbs and the
value they provide. The programme explored various techniques in the harvesting,
drying, curing and packaging of herbs.