The Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company (WIBDECO) said Tuesday it will provide EC$4 million (US$1.4 million) of aid to farmers whose banana crops were ravaged by Hurricane Dean earlier this month.

WIBDECO said the package would comprise EC$2.75 million (US$1.01 million) to be distributed through the governments of the Windward Islands and EC$1.25 million (US$462,000) to be used by the company for providing critical production inputs to the affected farmers.

Hurricane Dean caused widespread damage to the banana industries of the Windward Islands, especially Dominica and St. Lucia, when it made its way across the Lesser Antilles on August 17.

WIBDECO Chief Executive Officer Bernard Cornibert said the company would continue its shipment of bananas from the Windward Islands to its markets in the United Kingdom with less frequency.

"In fact, our last shipment left for the United Kingdom last Tuesday and we expect to export banana once every week instead of twice weekly as was the case before the storm," Cornibert noted. A number of farmers are already rehabilitating their fields, said the CEO, adding that WIBDECO was in contact with buyers of the fruit.

"We will ensure that the Windward Islands industry will continue to have a place in the market when production returns to normal in early 2008," he said.

- CMC