TCI: The Ministry of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage, Religious Affairs and The Environment Celebrates World Earth Day

#TurksandCaicos, May 4, 2021 – The Ministry of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage, Religious Affairs and the Environment, partnered with Graceway Communities on Thursday, 22^nd April to commemorate “World Earth Day 2021: Restoring the Earth”. With the support of the Department of Agriculture (DoA) and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) this years’ theme focused on sustaining the environment through agriculture.

The Director of Agriculture, Dr. Shelley Bridgewater was indeed pleased to be a part of this initiative as growing your own food has multiple benefits not only to the environment but can assure food security for the Turks and Caicos Islands.  She thanked the local farmers for their enthusiasm and involvement in promoting the agriculture sector and was pleased to see Corporate TCIs support of local farmers and their recognition of the importance of agriculture in community development.

There was a resounding turnout which included the Honourable Josephine Connolly and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Cheryl Ann Jones of the Ministry of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage, Religious Affairs and the Environment. The Honourable Josephine Connolly commended the Graceway Communities on involving the farmers in this initiative, as she stressed the importance of the agriculture sector to achieving food security in the Turks and Caicos Islands. An avid gardener herself, she supported the farmers by getting a selection of seedlings and plants for her very own garden. It is all about Growing TCI!!!

No one was left out of the day activities, this included the kids who were very knowledgeable on preserving the environment and the importance of plants in the ecosystem.  There were many prizes which included seedlings and books for the kids. We can surely see that the future of agriculture is in good hands.

As the Department of Agriculture continues to fulfill its vision of making agriculture an integral part of the transformation and development of TCI’s economy and food security, there will be many upcoming events to follow.