CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC - The Windward Islands Banana Development (WIBDECO) and the St. Lucia Banana Corporation (SLBC) have agreed to discontinue a court battle for control of the local banana industry, officials confirmed Monday.

 

They said the two parties have entered a "consent order", which effectively terminates a court injunction granted to the SLBC in March preventing WIBDECO from terminating a banana supply contract it had with SLBC on March 31.

 

The SLBC was removed from the list of companies qualified to sell bananas since it had not obtained certification from the British-based Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO).

 

In the consent order entered into on Friday, WIBDECO agreed to cooperate with SLBC in its application to acquire FLO certification.

 

WIBDECO has also agreed to use its "best endeavours" to encourage the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) to enter into a supply sub-contract with SLBC "without delay pending FLO certification".

 

The officials said that after the SLBC gains of FLO certification, WIBDECO would then provide it with a sale and purchase contract.

 

Earlier this year, Agriculture Minister Ezekiel Joseph said the SLBC had an opportunity to get certified and protect its status in the market, like its sister organisations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica, but failed to do so.
 
"The SLBC did not grab the opportunity to invest in Fairtrade bananas unlike St. Vincent and Dominica which have only one banana company. In St. Lucia there are three," he said.
 
CMC/es/pr/dmb/08