MINISTER of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda informed the House of Representatives yesterday that he has now paid up $546,000 for the Mombasa grass planted on his property in Knollis, St Catherine, by the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB).

Samuda also told the House that he has the names of other major farms, some politically linked, which have also benefited from the 500 acres of the grass already planted across the country to boost dairy production.However, he said he currently has no intention of releasing those names.“Similar treatment was offered and available to all diary, beef and small ruminants farmers,” Samuda told the House, in an impromptu response to the allegations made by Opposition spokesman on agriculture Dr Dayton Campbell in Parliament last week Wednesday.Samuda said that, unlike claims made by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), the project was not restricted to small farmers and many of the major farms had received “a considerably larger contribution” of grass than he had, and were not required to pay for the service.“I do not wish to name them now, and I will not. The fact of the matter is that persons who have participated in this programme were not only related to non-political figures. But I have no intention whatsoever to match like with like,” he said.“I would not seek to strengthen my presentation by drawing reference to anyone that it might eventually hurt, because I am satisfied that anyone who took advantage of this programme did so in the earnest belief that it would improve their contribution to the development of the country through agriculture,” he added.He said that he was aware that the programme does not cater to receiving payment for the current planting process, which is primarily to promote the benefit of the grass to the dairy industry. However, he said that he felt more comfortable now, having doing that.Samuda also took the blame for the controversy which developed around Campbell’s revelation in the House.“Had I thought of it more carefully, and if the opportunity should ever arise again, I would not have gone the route that I did. It raises questions, it gives rise to speculation and, in that regard, it is unquestionably an error on my part not to have safeguarded myself appropriately,” he said.He said that, initially, he was reluctant to accept the suggestion, which came from acting CEO of the JDDB Byron Lawrence.“I did not initiate this suggestion and, in fact, was prevailed upon to accept.As I have said before, I regret not having taken appropriate measures to protect my integrity in the whole process,” Samuda stated.He said that since the controversy he had insisted on getting a bill, and that whatever was done on his farm be costed, and a statement sent to him.“I received that statement, and I have here the receipt for my payment for all the work done at my farm, for $546,000, that I paid today,” Samuda told the House of Representatives.“Why? Because I knew I was coming to this House and I did not want to promise to pay. I paid it, knowing fully well that there is no provision under the programme for any participant to pay for the services that they have received,” he admitted.Last week, the PNP called on Contractor General Dirk Harrison to investigate the circumstances in which Samuda benefited from the grass-planting programme.According to the PNP, Samuda, a cattle and dairy farmer, was able to benefit from a 15-acre demonstration plot of Mombasa dairy-feeding grass at his farm by the dairy board.The trial project was aimed at assisting dairy farmers in Jamaica to explore the potential of the grass, as a component in dairy farming.