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Back to Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

19. Powers of the Board

The Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, have power to carry on such activities the carrying on of which appear to be necessary, advantageous or convenient for the proper discharge of its duties and functions under this Act and in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing the Board may—

(a) buy, sell, import and export any produce by wholesale or retail.

However, it shall not without the consent of the Minister deal in any produce the marketing of which is under the control of another statutory authority or statutorily controlled;

(b) act as sole importer of any article of produce for which it offers a guaranteed buying price;

(d) enter into contracts for the purchase and sale of produce upon such terms and conditions as it may determine;

(e) enter into contracts for the transport of any produce, and such other commodities as may facilitate the operations of produce;

(f) establish itinerant systems for the purchase and sale of produce;

(g) establish and operate any plant or factory for preparing, processing or packing produce;

(h) establish and operate cold storage facilities or any other facilities for the storage of produce;

(i) regulate the grading of produce and prescribe the grades which shall be employed in the purchase by the Board of such produce;

(j) dispose of produce on behalf of any producer or co-operative society;

(k) trade and deal in fodder and feeding stuffs for livestock, seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and other production requisites;

(l) purchase, transport, store, insure, handle and sell any packing material used in connection with produce;

(m) fix guaranteed minimum prices at which it shall purchase stated kinds, quantities, and grades of any produce;

(n) advance money to producers for such agricultural purposes and on such security as it may from time to time determine;

(o) make initial payments to producers, under such terms and conditions as it may determine in respect of produce purchased from them for the purpose of re-sale and make such further or bonus payments to such producers as may prove equitable on the out-turn of such re-sale;

(p) act as agent for the Government for any purpose relating to the marketing of produce;

(q) to initiate, supervise and finance, research for improvement in production of crops, quality control, marketing and processing;

(r) to undertake advisory functions where necessary and in support of production marketing and processing;

(s) to undertake pilot projects of high economic potential for the development of alternative uses of produce or the production and marketing of new crops;