2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“Association” means the Saint Lucia Banana Growers Association; a Statutory Corporation established under the Saint Lucia Banana Growers Association Act;
“Authority” means the Banana Quality Control Authority constituted under section 3;
“bananas” means bananas of the varieties known as Robusta, Puerto Rique, Poyo, Lacatan, Giant Cavendish, Valery and such other varieties as may be prescribed by the Authority;
“boxing plant” means an installation where bananas are dehanded, deflowered, washed, treated and boxed and which is licensed for this purpose under section 8;
“boxing plant operator” means a person who in the opinion of the Authority is competent to operate a boxing plant or to be engaged in the boxing of bananas and who is licensed for this purpose under section 8;
“buying companies” means Geest Industries Limited, a company duly incorporated under the laws of the United Kingdom or Geest Industries (W.I.) Limited, a company duly incorporated under the Commercial Code of Saint Lucia, or the person who has the statutory or contractual right to purchase exportable bananas from the Association;
“cutting period” means either the period commencing not more than 36 hours before the announced end of a reception period and ending with the end of the reception period or such other period as may be prescribed by the Authority;
“exportable bananas” means bananas which have been reaped or harvested from a holding during a cutting period and which are not rejectable bananas;
“field packed bananas” means bananas which have been packed for export without being washed and processed in a boxing plant, and which have been grown, harvested and packed in accordance with the regulations for field packing;
“field packing” means the process by which bananas are packed for export in accordance with the regulations for field packing;
“field pack shed” means a shed which is constructed for the storage of empty and packed cartons for field packed bananas, and which shall so be constructed in accordance with the regulations for field packing or in a manner approved by the Authority and which may have facilities for field packing;
“field packer” means a grower who has been licensed by the Authority to be a field packer;
“Governments” mean the Government of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
“grower” means a person in possession or control of a holding, and who is registered with the Association;
“inland buying depot” means any installation at which boxed bananas are delivered by growers to the Association for purchase;
“islands” means Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
“member associations” means the banana associations registered in the islands;
“Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for Agriculture is assigned;
“reception period” means the period publicly announced or advertised by or for and on behalf of the Association for the delivery of bananas to the Association or to the buying companies;
“reception depot” means a depot at which exportable bananas are delivered to the buying companies;
“rejectable bananas” means bananas which are rejectable under regulations made under this Act;
“ship” means any ship engaged to carry exportable bananas;
“vehicle” means any truck or other mechanical means of conveyance used during the cutting period to carry bananas to an inland buying depot, boxing plant or reception depot;
“WINBAN” means the Windward Islands Banana Growers Association – A company incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica.