The south coast village of Laborie is preparing to host its Farmers’ Market on Friday, March 22, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Farmers’ Market will be held in the temporary market space behind the Laborie Square, as the old market is currently being rebuilt. The event is a tripartite collaboration that involves the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM), Laborie/Augier Constituency Council, and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development. 

Hon. Alva Baptiste, Parliamentary Representative and Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs, and H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, are among the officials expected to offer brief remarks at the event.

At the Farmers’ Market, farmers, fishermen and agro-processors from local and neighboring  communities will showcase a wide variety of items, including ground provisions, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil, castor oil, sea moss, cocoa sticks, meals, local juices, and jewelry. Entrepreneurs from the Youth Economy Agency (YEA) will also showcase their goods and services. Officials from the Ministry of Health will be present to conduct chronic diseases risk assessment, blood sugar testing, blood pressure testing, and body mass index (BMI).

Among the other highlights on the day will be live music performed by the Laborie Steel Pan Orchestra, as well as stilt walkers.

Joni Meluce, Clerk at the Laborie/Augier Constituency Council, said the community needs such a grand event.

“We’ve heard of similar events being held in other communities, and we are happy that we will be hosting our own,” she said. “People from Laborie love to see things like this happen, especially when they know that their people are involved.”

Meluce said patrons are in for a mouthwatering treat, including the experience of the live preparation of dishes such as lambi, black pudding, and fish. She said the event is intended to jump-start the community’s economic potential.

“In the past, we hosted Festen Labowi on the last Friday of each month. It has been paused for a while, but we’re trying to revitalize it. So this event is a great way to continue the Festen Labowi. We’re inviting people from across Saint Lucia to come out and taste what we’re offering while enjoying the beautiful Laborie scenery.”

First held in June 2015, Festen Labowi aimed to promote the economic development of the community and to enhance the livelihoods of residents through sustainable programmes which create and improve access to investment and opportunities.