Fairtrade in the Windward Isles
Interview with Cornelius Lynch, St Lucian Banana Farmer
Mar 23, 2009
How long have you been a banana farmer?
I was one of four children raised by my mother who funded her children’s education by growing bananas so I have been used to this way of life from a young age. After a period of studying and working for the Ministry of Agriculture, I worked for 13 years as a banana farmer on my mother’s land. During this time we saw the number of banana farmers decrease from 5000 to 3000 due to the effects of trade policies that squeezed the farmers’ profit margins.
Membership of Fairtrade and how it benefits communities
How did you become involved in Fairtrade?
It was in 2000, that I became closely involved in the introduction of Fairtrade to St Lucia which was possible through close collaboration with WINFA (Windward Islands Farmers Association). By July 2002 the first shipment of Fairtrade bananas had left St Lucia. We noticed the price difference immediately. There was a significant rise in numbers of farmers joining the scheme between 2002 and 2006; 12 Fairtrade groups were established with a membership of over 1400 farmers. It succeeded way beyond our expectations.
What do farmers have to do to achieve Fairtrade status?
Membership of Fairtrade is voluntary but farmers must meet strict criteria to ensure fairness for all; equality, democracy and transparency are the watchwords here. Fairtrade farmers also demonstrate a commitment to respect the environment by using non-GM seeds and by ensuring that the plastic used to protect the banana trees is collected and disposed of responsibly.
What is the biggest difference that Fairtrade has made in your community?
Community projects have benefited from the ‘social premium’ which is paid per box of bananas and the importance of this premium lies in the fact that the farmers’ groups get to decide where and how the money is spent unlike previous projects. The current social premium rate is US$1 per box. We have been able to purchase fans for a medical centre to keep patients cool in the heat and a hospital received an autoclave – expensive sterilising equipment – to replace the pressure cooker they had previously had to use to sterilise medical items. Local schools have also benefitted and a new truck was purchased to distribute banana packaging materials and fertilisers.
Fairtrade Fortnight and the Future for Fairtrade in St Lucia
What has been your experience of Fairtrade Fortnight in the UK?
Very interesting. I have spoken all over the UK, including several schools, one of which was the first school in the UK to achieve Fairtrade status (Trinity High School in Renfrew). I have been amazed at how proactive people are in promoting Fairtrade. I thought people just went out and bought the products; I had no idea of the extent that people were actively involved in spreading the word about Fairtrade by taking part in Fairtrade Fortnight events.
What does the future hold for Fairtrade in St Lucia?
There is a threat hanging over the success of Fairtrade in the Windward Isles. If the World Trade Organisation resurrect talks that aim to reduce trade tariffs on bananas, this could have a disastrous outcome for the farmers. It would mean that the market would be flooded, possibly forcing the Fairtrade farmers out of business. This is my biggest fear and definitely is worse than any hurricane for us if it ever happens.
Acknowledgements: thanks to the Lochwinnoch Fairtrade Group who hosted Cornelius Lynch during Fairtrade Fortnight 2009.
