Twenty-two (22) individuals from the farming, pest control, landscaping, lawn and garden maintenance and plant nursery industries recently completed the Department of Agriculture’s (DoA) “Safe Use and Handling of Pesticide Products” course.  The six-day workshop consisted of presentations by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Health, Health Services Authority and the local representative for the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) followed by practical and written examinations.  Course topics included Ethics and Issues Surrounding the Use of Pesticides in the Cayman Islands;Handling Pesticides; Pesticide Application Methods & Personal Protective Equipment; Symptomatology & Recognition of Pesticide Poisoning; Storage, Transportation & Disposal of Pesticides; and the Biology of Pests.

“Both the Ministry and the Department of Agriculture recognise the critical importance of the safe, judicious and effective use of pesticides within the sector and view this course as a key component of achieving this overall objective,” said Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Minister for Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture, and Lands.  “Pesticides are an important and almost indispensable tool in the maintenance of an aesthetically pleasing environment, for our living comfort and for food production and storage. I commend these participants and their respective employers for seeking out more information and arming themselves with the necessary knowledge to carry out their jobs safely, more efficiently and in a manner that protects both themselves and the community.”

“Having now completed this course, these students are now well versed in methods to properly select, apply, store and dispose of pesticide products thereby maximising their effectiveness and minimising any potential harmful impacts,” said Mr. Adrian Estwick, Director of Agriculture who awarded certificates of participation, achievement, merit or distinction to the participants based on their exam results with Department of Agriculture employee Jason Berry taking top marks in both the written and practical exams.   The ceremony was hosted by Assistant Director of Agriculture Brian Crichlow; other speakers included the course coordinator and DoA Plant Protection Officer Joan Steer and Sharon Bello of Dart Enterprise Ltd. who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of her fellow classmates.

First held in September 1996 in conjunction with the University of the West Indies, this is the fifteenth (15th) staging of the course which is now hosted exclusively by the Department of Agriculture.  To date almost 300 persons have been trained.

For more information about courses offered by the Department of Agriculture call 947.3090 or email [email protected].

 IMAGES:

PHOTO CAPTION 1:

Top student Jason Berry with his certificates

PHOTO CAPTION 2:

The 2018 participants