KINGSTON, Jamaica – Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Dairy Development Board, Byron Lawrence has come out in support of Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, who has refuted claims by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) surrounding the dairy-feeding grass programme.

Opposition spokesman on agriculture, Dr Dayton Campbell, recently accused Samuda, who is a dairy farmer, of using his position as minister to benefit from the establishment of demonstration plot of Mombasa grass on his farm in St Catherine with resources of the Dairy Board.Lawrence, in a letter to the minister, confirmed that he was the one who introduced the idea of planting the Mombasa grass on Samuda’s farm and that he initially rejected the offer but eventually accepted on Lawrence’s insistence, on the condition that he be billed.That letter was reportedly signed-off on by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Donovan Stanberry and Dr Osbil Watson, Director of Veterinary Services, who were present at the informal meeting involving Lawrence and the minister.Campbell in his statement during the Sectoral Debate said Samuda was the beneficiary of a 15-acre plot in Knollis, St Catherine, adding that the Dairy Board only agreed to five acres of land being planted.He further stated: “It is understood that the dismissed Dairy Board CEO had also disagreed to a further 35 acres of grass being planted on the minister’s farm and pulled the technical team from the project that was being escalated without official approval.”Lawrence in his letter said “as the current CEO (acting) of the Dairy Board, I should like to categorically state that the allegations are patently false and without basis.”He added that he had the privilege of representing the then CEO, Hugh Graham who was unavoidably absent due to travelling engagement at a meeting with the minister to discuss aspects of the dairy industry.Graham was last Friday sacked as CEO of the JDDB.Lawrence said following the conclusion of the discussions on the substantive issue, a general discussion ensued, where among other things, Samuda, a practising livestock farmer made a reference to the difficulty he has controlling piano grass.Lawrence added that the piano grass is an invasive species regarded as a bane among livestock farmers.“As a representative of the JDDB, I suggested to him that there were some new grass cultivars being promoted by the JDDB that could control the growth of piano grass due to their aggressive growth characteristics, among their many commendable traits. I made the offer to the minister to establish on his farm a demonstration plot of these cultivars to exhibit their effectiveness in controlling piano grass. The minister declined the offer. I implored the minister to accept the offer, given the demonstration effect the plots would have. He responded by requesting that whatever it is that is done, if done; should be billed for the cost of the establishment.”Lawrence however, disclosed in his letter that the JDDB refrained from billing the minister because it was not a practice to bill farmers for similar assistance.