 The most recent leg of the familiarization tour of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries Rural Development and Food Security, Hon. Alfred Prosper, began with a visit to the Department of Forestry, which he once led as chief forestry officer. The minister was briefed by Department officials who provided an overview of all ongoing initiatives as well as department concerns. Minister Prosper noted the significance of the forestry division for the country's future development. He emphasized the importance of close collaboration with the Water Resource Management Agency in protecting St. Lucia's resources, as well as the department's significant progress. It was a very, very, very pleasant opportunity to meet colleagues that I worked with just less than a year and a half ago, and it was a very good feeling to get back to my old home, if I can call it that way. He would really interact with colleagues who I've worked with many years, but more importantly, to get an understanding as to what happened since March last year when I retired from the public service. I must say, from the Forestry Department standpoint, a lot has happened in the last year and a half, and I'm very, very happy that the staff complementing the department still understand and continue to make that commitment towards effective management of the forest resource, and more importantly, protecting the forest resource. The ministers to all continued with a visit to the fisheries department, where he met with department staff who provided insight into current developments in the fisheries sector. The familiarization tour, according to Minister Prosper, has given him a better understanding of the fishing industry, which will allow him to make more informed decisions. But it's the first time I'm really getting a good picture as to what's happening in the fisheries department, and I was very happy to get a feel as to what the rebate is all about, and what the distress fund is all about, including a very important industry that I see is growing rapidly, the CMOS industry, where a number of persons are getting attracted to this industry because of the livelihood opportunities for them. I was told that there's a very lucrative market for CMOS locally and outside of St Lucia, and I think it's a very good opportunity for our unemployed, especially persons in the rural areas benefiting from that sector. I'm hoping that the fisheries department and ministry agriculture as a whole can work with those CMOS farmers in particular to really regulate the industry. Minister Prosper affirmed his commitment to the agriculture industry and to improving the lives of all those affected by it. From the communications unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anicia Antoine reporting.