Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton (left) and Dr Ken Baugh, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, nail mesh on to a greenhouse being constructed at the Buff Bay High School in Portland. The greenhouse is the National Labour Day project for 2008.

Jamaicans came out in their numbers yesterday to plant fruit trees, refurbish buildings and fix roads as they took part in annual Labour Day activities, which are this year intended to facilitate increased food security.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ken Baugh, who travelled to Portland for the National Labour Day Project and to his own St Catherine West Central constituency, described those activities he could account for as successful.

"The National Labour Day Project was well attended with a lot of young people and citizens. There we set up a garden as well as a greenhouse," he told The Gleaner yesterday afternoon.

Also in attendance for the Portland project were Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles and Olivia Grange, minister of information, culture, youth and sports.

"Chris Tufton also visited St Elizabeth and he said that there was a good turnout," Baugh said. "I am currently in my constituency and there was a fair turnout."

Earlier in the day, at the Buff Bay High School in Portland, the Govern-ment launched the National Labour Day Project under the theme 'Grow what we eat ... eat what we grow'.

Avert crisis

In the main address, Dr Baugh - who is acting prime minister in the absence of Bruce Golding, who will be returning to the island from the United Kingdom tomorrow - encouraged Jamaicans to respond to the food-security crisis by turning an adversity into a benefit.

"It (Jamaica) is a place which has potential and, if we mobilise the will of the people and the energy of the people in a collective way, I know that there is no limit, the sky is the limit."

With food prices soaring because of the increased demand across the world, Baugh said Jamaicans need to get back to the land to mitigate the effect in Jamaica.

The project, a greenhouse constructed at the school, will grow seeds to be used by the school and the wider community.

It is this path that Tufton, whose ministry is spearheading the drive, is hoping the island will follow. He said the ministry was on track with its programmes, which should get the island planting in earnest.

Meanwhile, at the Tranquility Primary School in the parish, a variety of plants, including mangoes, apples, banana, sweet pepper, callaloo, and tomatoes, were planted by community members.

There were at least 500 other agricultural projects across the island yesterday for Labour Day.