The government has purchased the former Ken’s Club property at Cassada Gardens for $9.3 million, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced during his Independence Day address.
The five-acre property will be converted into a retail and wholesale hub for the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC) as part of a broader national drive to strengthen food security, expand local production, and support farmers.
Browne said the new facility will feature cold storage and agro-processing plants, enabling farmers to preserve, package, and market their produce more efficiently. He added that the CMC has been instructed to prioritize domestic purchasing, guaranteeing local farmers a stable market and fair returns for their goods.
The Prime Minister said the initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to achieving food sovereignty within this generation, backed by millions of dollars in new agricultural investments.
These include the acquisition of heavy equipment for the Ministry of Agriculture to construct feeder roads, ponds, and dams, and to clear and plough farmlands across the country. Two new abattoirs, including a dedicated poultry processing facility, will also be established to support livestock and poultry farmers.
“Our goal is clear and achievable — food sovereignty within this generation,” Browne said. “By feeding ourselves, we are feeding our pride and preserving our sovereignty.”
He added that the government’s efforts also aim to create new entrepreneurial opportunities for young people in farming, agro-processing, and food distribution — part of a wider strategy to ensure that national independence is reflected in economic self-reliance.
