HC Deb 21 February 1955 vol 537 cc116-9W
Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Evans Commission in respect to British Honduras and British Guiana; what schemes have been launched and abandoned, and by whom; and what economic and social projects are in contemplation.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Investigations and developments since the Commission reported have shown that there are no immediate prospects for settlement in the two territories. The schemes recommended by the Commission have been taken into account in current development plans and the present position is as follows.

BRITISH GUIANA

Surveys. Government topographical surveys have been continued but bad weather has made aerial photography slow and difficult. Nevertheless, over 20,000 square miles have been covered. Geological surveys have made good progress and several mining enterprises have started operations as a result of the Department's reports.

Rice. A Government controlled Rice Development Company, financed largely by the Colonial Development Corporation, has been established and is engaged in increasing the production of rice and providing additional and up-to-date milling facilities.

Agricultural Development in the Interior. A number of trial plots for cocoa have been established by Government on the coastlands and in the interior. Recently a reconnaissance soil survey was completed and it is hoped to start a full scale soil survey soon.

Bananas. A bacterial wilt disease, for which there is at present no remedy, severely attacked the trial plots and the Government with the two commercial firms associated with the experiment decided to abandon trials for the present.

Timber. The Colonial Development Corporation has an extensive forest concession in the Bartica triangle and is now operating a large new timber mill at Georgetown. The Government have set up a Central Timber Manufacturing Plant which will assist the small loggers and millers to season and finish their timber properly and popularise secondary timbers.

Rupununi Livestock Development. Following the recommendations of the expert supplied under American assistance, the Government have embarked on a five-year programme of experiments and research in grassland and livestock management and cattle breeding to increase beef production in the savannahs.

Communications. Road communications in the interior must largely depend on the results of the soil survey but certain areas which are already known to be capable of development are being linked with the coast. Communications in the coastlands continue to be progressively improved.

Present Plans. In British Guiana a total of £9.million has been provided for development during 1954 and 1955, mainly by way of Colonial Development and Welfare grants and Government loans. Of this sum, £2 million is being spent on housing, including land settlement housing, and a further £500,000 on other social projects. The remainder of the money is mainly for communications, including interior communications, and agricultural and forestry projects. Large scale drainage and irrigation works are in progress on the coast and settlement schemes for newly drained areas and on the river banks are being planned. Separate Departments have been set up for Drainage and Irrigation, Land Settlement and Housing, respectively. The Government have also established a Credit Corporation to stimulate private investment by providing loans for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry and housing.

BRITISH HONDURAS

Government Farm. The Central Farm at Baking Pot is continuing its experimental work on the better cultivation and production of the principal food crops.

Surveys. The Ecological Land Use Survey Unit has completed its survey and its report is in preparation. A systematic geological survey of the Colony is continuing.

Rice. Preliminary investigations have been carried out by a Rice Expert, and pilot schemes designed to provide sufficient rice for local consumption and eventually, it is hoped, an exportable surplus have been prepared. These schemes are to be implemented during the next three years.

Dairy Farming. In January, 1951, the Colonial Development Corporation obtained capital sanction for a cattle ranching project. The project was abandoned in March, 1952. The Government livestock programme is continuing under the supervision of the Livestock Officer. The appointment of an Animal Husbandry Officer to be responsible for stock policy is contemplated.

Bananas. In 1949 the Colonial Development Corporation commenced a scheme for the development of a banana estate. Considerable difficulties were encountered, notably leaf-spot disease, and in April, 1953, the scheme was abandoned.

Cocoa. In 1949 the Colonial Development Corporation commenced an experimental cocoa scheme in the Sittee River area. This was transferred in April, 1953, to Stann Creek where it was combined with a citrus pilot scheme. The Government have prepared an extensive cocoa production scheme which is at present under consideration.

Ramie. The Colonial Development Corporation started an experimental ramie estate in May, 1950. At the end of 1953, the first year of harvesting on a commercial scale, growth was so disappointing that the project was reduced to pilot scale only.

Hotel. The Fort George Hotel, construction of which was commenced by the Colonial Development Corporation in 1950, was completed during 1952. The hotel opened in January, 1953.

Communications. Construction of the Humming-bird Highway (Middlesex to Roaring Creek) was completed in April, 1954, at a cost of, approximately, £½million. Work is continuing on the Feeder Road programme throughout the Colony. A Port Advisory Committee has been formed to report on the provision of pier facilities, improvements to wharves, etc.

Hydro-Electric Development. An investigation completed in November, 1952, revealed possibilities for hydro-electric development but the present demand for power in the Belize and Stann Creek areas does not justify the capital cost involved.

Tobacco. A tobacco Expert has completed preliminary investigations and is now carrying out trials, including harvesting and curing experiments. There are reasonable hopes that an economic industry can be established.

Cotton. Trials have established that this crop can be grown. A comprehensive investigation, covering both British Honduras and British Guiana, is planned to discover whether economic production is possible.

Sugar. Expansion of the existing sugar factory is in progress. It is estimated that the present cane plantings will allow the Colony's current quota under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement to be fulfilled.

Present Plans. £600,000 was allocated from Colonial Development and Welfare funds in 1945 towards the cost of the British Honduras Development Plan. As a result of the Evans Commission a further £850,000 was made available. The emphasis in the first stage of the Colony's Plan was on internal communications (74 per cent. of total expenditure, including £500,000 for the Humming-bird Highway). Emphasis in Part II of the Plan, for which a further £800,000 was allocated from Colonial Development and Welfare funds, is on the expansion of agriculture (including crop investigations and experiments) and the restoration of the country's forest resources. The Part III Plan continues and consolidates the present trend of development in the Colony and an initial allocation of £1.25 million for the next three years is to be made to the territory.