Chamber of Agriculture and SLBC in War of Words
The Chamber of Agriculture is again calling on the St Lucia Banana Corporation to come clean on millions of dollars it's says should have been paid to local banana farmers.
The SLBC had responded previously, saying the money was used to clear its debt.
However in a statement issued today, the Chamber rejected that response, calling it disappointing.
At issue is more than five million dollars which the Chamber of Agriculture says belongs to the farmers.
Of that amount, the chamber says 3.6 million dollar was paid to the corporation by WIBDECO.
That money, it says, represents a loan given by the farmers to WIBDECO for the acquisition of Geest.
Another two million dollars was allegedly received by the SLBC for a pension scheme in addition to one million dollars in dividends reportedly paid to the company.
The Chamber wants to know whether was authorized to spend the money.
It added that farmers would hold the SLBC Directors personally liable for the money.
SLBC Chairman was unavailable for comment.