Closing Remarks at the CFCS Banquet

 October 25, 1984

 Alejandro Ayala
 Chairman, CFCS Board of Directors



 Master of Ceremonies, former Commissioner Henry, Mr. President of CFCS, Lieutenant-
Governor Brady, President Richards, Commissioner Williams, Under-Secretary Bentley, other
members at the head table, ladies and gentlemen: it has been, indeed, a real privilege to share this
extraordinary St. Croix Homecoming Week with all of you. It has been very fitting to celebrate
this Twentieth Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Food Crops Society on this beautiful island.
After all, St. Croix was the cradle of the Caribbean Food Crops Society. We were born here, and
here we are after 21 years, celebrating our coming of age.
 Many changes have taken place throughout the Caribbean during this interval. Agricultural
science, in particular, has grown enormously. The potential for increased food production in the
Caribbean Basin has been duly recognized. During this period, our Society has been actively pur-
suing its objectives and has been filling a gap by providing a mutually beneficial interchange of
knowledge, by creating institutional linkages, and by strengthening working relationships among
scientists and agriculturalists who are often isolated. This relative isolation arises mostly from
geographical factors, but also sometimes from differences in culture and language, or because of
financial limitations. The Caribbean Food Crops Society has been, over the years, overcoming
these constraints and creating the needed environment for collaborative efforts.
 We can all feel very proud of CFCS achievements throughout the years. The small group that
the late Dr. Richard Bond, Hugh Miller, Arnold Krochmal and others among the founding fathers
gathered together in 1963, has become the core of a truly great professional society, unique in
many ways. The society that they envisioned has grown to productive maturity. I am happy that
some of the founding fathers have been here during this homecoming week to share and enjoy the
harvest of the blessings forthcoming from the seed they planted 21 years ago. They should feel
proud of their achievement. I am particularly happy that we have been able to pay them our
respects and our tribute on this memorable occasion. Those that followed them, and in due time
took over the leadership of the Society, also deserve our recognition. I am happy that President
Padda provided for that since the very inception of this Twentieth Annual Meeting.
 A review of the history of CFCS, including the financial constraints under which it has operated,
reveals that reaching this age has required tremendous inputs and insight from some particular in-
dividuals. This reaching of age is, by itself, an amazing achievement. Just looking at the program
of this meeting and at the number and quality of the papers presented, one can assess the substan-
tial and sustained growth and strength of CFCS. More important yet is the recognition that CFCS
has achieved throughout the years: the high regard that it commands and the esteem that it has
earned. In the Caribbean Basin, in Canada, in the United States of America and elsewhere, the
CFCS has indeed earned a valuable reputation. In the years ahead, I expect that as a group, we will
be looking into further opportunities for regional interchange and cooperation. This will involve
technology development and technology transfer and other items stemming from this pool of
talent and resources that is today the Caribbean Food Crops Society.
 This may be the best time to publicly and collectively recognize and commend the efforts of one
of our foremost and outstanding Caribbeanists in putting our Society on the front pages, so to
speak. He comes as a gift from ancient, historical India to the Caribbean. He has done wonders, in
a short span of time, with the Agricultural Research and Extension programs at the College of the
Virgin Islands. He has developed, together with President Arthur Richards, a conceptual approach
leading to the more encompassing and broader role of the College of the Virgin Islands in the
Eastern Caribbean. I can assure this man that, at the University of Puerto Rico, we stand ready to
cooperate with him in this task. I can also assure him that CFCS will be ready to provide the re-
quired assistance and support. I am firmly convinced that in his new role as Vice-President of
Research and Land-Grant Programs of the College of the Virgin Islands, he will be able to provide
the leadership necessary to successfully pursue that concept. Ladies and gentlemen, as you realize,
I am referring to our distinguished President, Dr. Darshan Padda.


VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY