The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has achieved another major milestone in regional agricultural cooperation and food security with the successful dispatch of 500-day-old chicks from the Bayfords Layer Chicken Hatchery to St. Eustatius (Statia) on Monday, October 27, 2025.
This historic achievement comes less than one year after the official commissioning of the state-of-the-art Layer Chicken Breeder Farm and Hatchery at the Bayfords Livestock Centre of Excellence on October 31, 2024. The milestone underscores the transformational agenda being advanced by the Ministry of Agriculture under the leadership of Honourable Samal M. Duggins, which continues to position St. Kitts and Nevis as a hub for agricultural innovation, sustainability, and regional cooperation.
The batch of chicks was collected by Dr. Sharon Veira, Unit Manager of Veterinary Services at the Department of Agriculture in St. Eustatius, who was accompanied by a student intern from the University of Gent in Belgium. Upon her return to the neighbouring island, the chicks were distributed to farmers the same day, providing immediate support to local poultry producers and strengthening the island’s food production capacity.
In an interview with the Ministry’s Media and Communication Unit, Dr. Veira expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for this new partnership, noting the significant impact it will have on St. Eustatius’ agricultural development.
She said, “We are in the midst of developing agriculture and livestock and fisheries in St. Eustatius and this is one of the programs where we want to develop poultry production and specifically layers, egg production. Our aim is to collaborate more with St. Kitts, so this is one of the parts where we collaborate in getting our chicks closer than getting it from all the way in the U.S. This is our first time because we have tried for a while, but we had to wait. I am happy that today is the day that I got here and I got the chicks that we were requesting and waited for. So, with these chickens that will be a start in getting them from closer by and developing our poultry sector and of course we are going to continue, and I want to thank the manager of the hatching facility, I want to thank the Chief [Vet] Dr. Sylvester for arranging everything. The pickup, the logistics, everything was great. I want to thank you all for doing this and of course we are going to continue.”
In an official statement shared via its social media platform, the Government of St. Eustatius extended its appreciation to the Federation for the successful delivery.
“On behalf of the Statia Government, Sharon Veira, Unit Manager of the Department of Agriculture and Veterinary Services (LVV), extends warm thanks to Saint Kitts Hon. Samal Duggins, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Bayfords Layer Chicken Hatchery for the successful first regional dispatch of 500 chicks to Statia on Monday, 27 October 2025. This partnership strengthens food security and highlights the value of regional collaboration. Looking forward to continued cooperation and shared growth.”
Speaking on the significance of the achievement, Honourable Samal M. Duggins, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, commended the collaborative efforts that made the milestone possible and reaffirmed his Ministry’s vision for a more resilient agricultural future.
He said, “This milestone is yet another demonstration of what visionary partnerships and consistent delivery can achieve. When we first set out to establish the Bayfords Hatchery, our goal was simple — to build a stronger, more self-reliant food system for our people. Today, seeing St. Kitts not only producing but exporting to our regional neighbours shows that we are on the right path. This is what transformation looks like — progress that moves beyond words to impact lives, strengthen industries, and position St. Kitts and Nevis as a leader in Caribbean agriculture.”
The Bayfords Hatchery was constructed under the Layer Chicken Industry Sustainable Development Project, a joint initiative between the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources. The facility represents a major investment in agricultural modernization, designed to advance the poultry sector, promote self-sufficiency, and reduce reliance on imports.
With this successful regional shipment, St. Kitts has reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient and innovative agricultural sector—one that supports both domestic and regional farmers and contributes meaningfully to sustainable food production across the Caribbean.
