DELEGATION FROM TURKS AND CAICOS ATTENDS THE CARIBBEAN WEEK OF AGRICULTURE (CWA) IN BAHAMAS

November 10, 2023 – A Government of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) delegation attended the 17th meeting of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA).  At this forum, the key decision-makers in the region’s public and private sectors highlight the importance of agriculture and rural life to the Caribbean and Associate Member States’ economic, social, and environmental stability.

The delegation was led by Deputy PS- Mr Arthur Been, Director of Agriculture- Ms. Wilhelmina Kissoonsingh and Chief Veterinary Officer- Dr Reginald Thomas.

Established in 2001 under the aegis of the Alliance for Sustainable Development of Agriculture and the Rural Milieu (“The Alliance”), today’s CWA Secretariat comprises four key regional agencies that mandate agriculture and rural development. These are the CARICOM Secretariat (CCS), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Thirteen (13) Ministers of Agriculture in CARICOM attended the meeting to discuss promoting the Regional Food System Agenda, particularly programs to accelerate the CARICOM strategy for reducing the 7 billion Dollar food import Bill by 25% by 2025. Additionally, presentations were made by investors and other stakeholders with new and emerging opportunities in CARICOM agriculture, including technological and logistical solutions. Discussions were also held on the financing of the initiatives proposed to bring innovative ideas between the development banks within the region and other areas, such as the Diaspora living in North America, and to consider actions such as Tariffs on Imports or production incentives to increase the competitiveness of regional products.

The TCI was invited together with the countries in CARCOM to pledge its support to a Caribbean project financed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever within the region. As a result, the Government of the TCI, the Department of Agriculture, will be a beneficiary of support for the prevention, surveillance, and control of this disease.

Another critical aspect of the week’s activities was the forging of alliances. The TCI delegation took the opportunity to meet with the Hon. Floyd Green, Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and his delegation. At this meeting, the Jamaica delegation pledged their support to offer technical services to assist with developing TCI’s Agriculture Sector and to have further talks on Agriculture Education Programs for TCI residents and the possibility of increasing trade opportunities on Agriculture commodities to address the food security needs of TCI.

The trip was deemed a great success, and we look forward to strengthening the cooperation in Agriculture among CARICOM countries.