ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Shahine Robinson, has hailed the Canada-Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (CCSAWP) for 50 years of contribution to the Jamaican economy through the inflow of remittances.

“From a macro perspective, remittances go a long way in advancing our social and economic (progress) by assisting to stabilize our foreign-exchange market and increasing the levels of savings and investments in the country.  But more importantly, they help to improve on our social conditions through the reduction of poverty,” Robinson said.

She was delivering the keynote address at the 50th anniversary and awards ceremony of the CCSAWP held on November 13 at the Meliá Braco Village resort in Trelawny.

Robinson noted that the partnership between Jamaica and Canada, through the farm-work programme, “represents an insightful and profound commitment on both sides… to uplift our people and by extension, to develop our countries”.

She also lauded the more than 20 participating farms that have been sustaining the partnership.

“Let me express profound thanks to the farms as well as to the farmworkers and their families.  You are the bedrock of the programme and in honoring you, we are affirming the significance of your contribution to this bilateral programme,” she said.

Approximately 25 farmworkers serving between 32 and 47 years, as well as 21 farm companies, were presented with special long-service awards during the ceremony.

Some 8,800 Jamaicans were sent to Canada under the CCSAWP this year compared to 100 at the inception of the programme in 1966.