#Nassau, July 4, 2019 – Bahamas – The Bahamas has been elected to serve on the Council of the 194-member Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Representing The
Bahamas at the 41st Conference of the FAO were Minister of Agriculture &
Marine Resources, Hon. Michael Pintard, Ambassador to the FAO, Her Excellency
Verna Grant and National Correspondent for the FAO Delreese Moss-Grant. The
Bahamas’ expression of interest in serving in this capacity was unanimously
supported by the countries from CARICOM. The Bahamas succeeds Trinidad and
Tobago who who had previously served in this capacity.
The Bahamas will
serve in this capacity for the next three years.
According to
Minister Pintard,
“the role of the Bahamas representative would be to
engage the decision makers of Agriculture and Marine Resources in the region to
collect their priorities and aspirations and ensure that they are factored into
deliberations of FAO as it facilitates the international, regional,
sub-regional and national goals for the development of the Blue and Green
Agenda.”
Minister Pintard
said that “it is a rare opportunity for the country to sit around the table and
become a part of setting the global agenda in Agriculture, Marine Resources and
related areas and to ensure that FAO is responsive to the needs of member
countries.
The Council’s
first meeting was held on Monday, July 1st in Rome, Italy. Veteran diplomat
from The Bahamas’ Geneva office, Frank Davis
represented the Bahamas and by extension the region in the historic meeting.
Significant work will be carried out ahead of the December meeting of the Council.
Release: BIS