Caribbean News
Jamaican Farmers on High Alert for Prevention of African Swine Fever
#Jamaica, September 18, 2021 – “Protect your farms, protect your investment”.
That’s the call from the Veterinary Services Division (VSD) in light of the recent re-emergence of African Swine Fever in the Caribbean.
Though African Swine Fever cannot be transferred from animals to humans, this highly contagious and deadly viral disease can quickly wipe out the swine population. Discovered in Kenya in 1921, the disease affected both domestic and wild pigs, spreading as far as Brazil, Hispaniola and Cuba.
In 2018, China lost more than half of its entire pig population, which equates to 150 million pigs, from the disease. China’s reality may be in the past and far away in Asia; however, the presence of the disease rests one 755 kilometre plane ride east of Jamaica, in the La Altagracia province in the Dominican Republic. Eighteen of that country’s 32 provinces have been infected with the disease, with 51,000 pigs slaughtered as a result of the illness.
Currently, Jamaica enjoys being free from African Swine Fever, but that reality can be shattered if tight surveillance measures are not maintained and if Jamaicans do not play their part. Enter the VSD, which has a critical role in monitoring the animals and meat that enter the country. 
Chief Veterinarian at the VSD, Dr. Osbil Watson, said prior to this re-emergence, the last known case of the disease was about 40 years ago in the 1980s.
“You know, it’s frightening, because no other country in the Americas is reporting it, so far, in recent times. Every single country in every single continent in the Americas from South America, all the way up to North America, Canada, the United States, Central America and the Caribbean, we are all concerned, based on the devastating nature of this disease,” Dr. Watson said.
“This disease can literally wipe out your entire swine population. The mortality rate from the disease is up to 100 per cent and you will know that they have it because your pigs start to die. Sometimes, they start to die without showing any signs. Sometimes they may have a fever, they go off feed, they may have diarrhoea and they may show some other signs,” He explained.
At the level of government and regulators, the VSD is working with the Jamaica Customs Agency to minimise the entrance of any illegal pork products through the island’s borders.
Farmers are also expected to play a major role in prevention by practising good biosecurity measures. This refers to a series of management steps and practices implemented to prevent the introduction of infectious agents into a herd or flock. These measures also prevent the spread of these agents through the herd and out of the herd to other herds or flocks.
Farmers are being advised not to facilitate persons from overseas who wish to visit their farms. Farmers are also being cautioned to ensure they are clean before interacting with their livestock.
By: Twila Wheelan
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The FCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has launched an annual scholarship in honor of former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who played a significant role in advancing the cruise trade association’s vision.
The annual gift of US$25,000 will be awarded to a different Caribbean destination each year to support the work of either an educational institution or a nonprofit organization chosen by the destination.
Barbados will receive the inaugural Owen Arthur scholarship, and next year’s scholarship destination winner will be announced at the ‘Shining Stars FCCA Foundation Dinner’ during Seatrade Cruise Global 2025.
“I am honored that the Foundation can continue the legacy of The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who truly inspired my career and empowered so many throughout the Caribbean, as well as making it possible to have the current partnership between the cruise industry and the Caribbean,” said Michele Paige, CEO, FCCA. “Hopefully this scholarship can live up to his memory by providing a platform for future generations in the region.”
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The historic UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States (SIDS) brought global attention to the significant challenges faced by small islands, underscoring that their concerns were big issues for all.
On April 26, several key figures who contributed to the 1994 Barbados meeting gathered in Bridgetown to commemorate its 30th
anniversary. The outcome of the 1994 meeting was the Barbados Program of Action, which delineated how the world community should address the unique vulnerabilities of islands, particularly in response to climate change.
Despite initial reluctance from powerful UN members to hold more than one SIDS conference, subsequent gatherings in Mauritius and Samoa and a fourth global conference scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024 are a testament to some of the successes of the SIDS process.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the international community will convene to review the sustainable development progress of SIDS and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to accelerate their journey toward resilient prosperity.
The Barbados meeting last month provided a reflective journey for many, as attendees, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, paid tribute to the late Ambassador Miles Stoby of Guyana, the visionary behind the initiative and for whom Barbados was, fittingly, a second
Caption: Ambassador Lyutha al Mughairy (widow of Ambassador Miles Stoby) greets Garth Sandiford, son of late Barbados Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford. Looking on are Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and former UN Under-Secretary General Peter Hansen.
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), held April 22-24 at Radisson Grenada Beach Resort was a resounding success.
The conference is the Caribbean’s foremost event for high-level networking and dialogue on sustainable tourism, providing a crucial platform for tourism policymakers, private sector stakeholders, thought leaders, and strategic partners to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Caribbean tourism.
The meeting highlighted the essential pillars necessary for creating a transformative and regenerative legacy under the theme “The 5 Ps for a Legacy of Caribbean Tourism Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose & Partnership”.
Thought-provoking addresses from Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, set the stage for discussions about the future of Caribbean tourism.
PM Mitchell stressed the need to include a broader array of stakeholders in the tourism conversation, while Stewart highlighted the importance of partnerships and unity within the sector. The conference was marked by authentic displays of Grenadian culture and dynamic panel sessions.
Caption: Adam Stewart of Sandals Resorts International delivered the keynote address.
The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
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