Veteran Urges Fellow Farm Workers to Plan, Stay Focused

Veteran farm worker, Arnold Campbell, is encouraging his fellow Jamaicans participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP) to stay focused and set clear goals as to what they want to achieve.

The native of Brown’s Town in St. Ann, who departed the island for Canada earlier this month for his 28th trip under the SAWP, told JIS News that having a plan in place has allowed him to maximise the benefits of the opportunity over the years.

“You have to have a plan,” he said.

“I made use of it. I built my house and bought a little ‘drive’,” he pointed out.

Mr. Campbell was among the first batch of 183 agricultural workers who departed the island earlier this month to take up employment in Canada.

The group was officially sent off during a farewell ceremony at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Overseas Employment Centre on East Street in downtown Kingston.

The workers travelled to Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, where they will be engaged primarily in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, including greenhouse farming, over the next eight months.

Offering advice to first-time participants, Mr. Campbell stressed the importance of mental preparedness, discipline and a strong work ethic.

“When they go into the country, they will have to condition their minds to work,” he pointed out, noting that a lack of commitment could result in contracts not being renewed.

The 2026 SAWP holds special significance, marking six decades of partnership between Jamaica and Canada.

As part of the updated agreements, Jamaican participants are expected to benefit from improved employment contract conditions, further strengthening protections and opportunities for workers.

Mr. Campbell, in noting the programme’s impact on his life, expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

“Give thanks to the Ministry, because it has helped me,” he said.