THE FARM PROGRAMME at the new prisons at Dodds, St Philip, has met with some stumbling blocks.

Minister of Home Affairs Freundel Stuart, who toured the St Philip facility recently, said some town planning and environmental issues had to be ironed out before the programme could kick into high gear.

"The farm programme is critical to what is going to be happening here at Dodds . . . . The idea of a modern, state-of-the-art facility like this without a farm programme is really an absurdity. We are determined to push the farm programme," Stuart stated.

It is envisaged that the farm could make the prison self-sufficient in terms of meat and produce and should eventually be able to supply other Government departments. (YB)