Caribbean News
1.3 Million MORE Regional People FOOD INSECURE; CARICOM’s Ali presents plans to beat HUNGER
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
March 4, 2024 – With the issue of regional food insecurity still at large, CARICOM Heads announce that they are making huge efforts to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030; speaking directly to solutions and strides was host of the 46th Regular Meeting, Irfaan Ali, the incoming chair of CARICOM and President of Guyana.
The Guyanese President identified significant international partners such as Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In his address, Dr. Ali points out that the work with Canada will involve their Agri-Value added program.
“We are going to work with the Canadians to accelerate and implement projects from their Agri-Value added
program,” he maintained, speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting on February 25th, 2024.
He added that talks have already been had with minister Ansari Hosein, Executive Director, CARDI who is responsible for the investment in Agri-Value added programs and projects.
The Guyanese President continued to express that this development is crucial to the region, to build on its resistance and sustainability against various shocks which may not affect the rest of the world the way it affects this region.
Additionally, he revealed that in the coming weeks, work will be done to finalize projects and programs focused on the involvement of youth and women in innovative agriculture.
This ties into another multi-million dollar partnership with Saudi Arabia.
“We have submitted a regional sustainable resilient agricultural project to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the cost of $25 million US dollars. We are in advanced stages of finalizing this investment, to be made within the region, that will focus again, on youth, women and innovation in the food production system.”
Also, moves are being made to remove trade barriers as passionately expressed by Ali, as he calls CARICOM nationals to push for their removal.
“We are continuing work to address the removal of trade barriers within member states, and the people of CARICOM must put pressure on the leaders of CARICOM to remove the trade barriers, it is of no use and purpose for this region. We are too small to be competing against each other. People of this region, call upon your leaders to remove these barriers, let them hear you loudly,” he firmly stated, adding that the trade barriers must urgently be broken down.
To further boost the chances of beating hunger and malnutrition by 2030, Guyana, according to Ali, is investing in what he called a Center of Excellence, armed with a situational room and a “state-of-the-art data analytics platform, to support regional food security and regional food production.”
“The platform will focus on the area of research and development, real-time data technology and predictive decision making modules to help our farmers,” he added.
This, he says, in collaboration with ECA and FAO as a regional project.
There is also work being done with The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), to rebuild the region’s citrus sector. The target goal for this, according to Ali, is to have 1 million citrus seedlings available within the forest year, that is the end of December 2024.
And, effort is being put into expanding the regional food hub.
This, he says, it to “integrate production, processing, packaging and distribution within the region and connected to northern Brazil.
Making the region “fully self-sufficient in corn, soya. Black-eyed peas and red beans by the end of 2026,” is another major goal towards the elimination of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, alongside collaboration with [CAPSO], to fortify the region’s poultry sector, to be fully self-sufficient, “with full backward and forward integration, including the production of hatching eggs within a five year window.”
Not only that, CARICOM is expanding its breeding program for livestock, to increase quality and production to cater to the increasing regional demand.
Additionally, in his detailed address on regional development, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, underlined deeper efforts with products to ensure the health and protection of the region’s agricultural produce.
“We are working with…veterinary company products, in conjunction with Bio-Cuba Farmer, for the production of bio pesticides and by products for agriculture and the use of natural products in support of our livestock industry and food production.”
The private sector is another important part of freeing the region of hunger and malnutrition.
Ali speaks to work being done by Republic Bank Limited.
He says, “The low interest 100 million US dollar facility by Republic Bank Limited, has been activated, with the first 17 million US dollars disbursed, already, in food and agriculture projects within the region.”
He adds that they are launching a development workshop program to help the region in benefiting from the Republic Bank Facility.
Furthermore, the region is equipped with many internationally recognized individuals who Ali expressed, can be key to meeting the 2030 target and so, the intention is to utilize these human assets.
“We are proposing to bring together the human assets that this region nurtured into international fame, to bring their goodwill together as ambassadors, to mobilize international financing and support, so that we can end hunger and malnutrition in this region…we have the capability.”
He continued to highlight individuals such as Usain Bolt, Chris Gayle and Clive Loyd.
With these assets, the aim is to raise resources and revenue to address hunger.
According to statistics, fifty seven percent of the region’s population in 2023 were affected by food insecurity, a major rise of 1.3 million compared to February of 2022.
MIAMI, Florida (September 2nd, 2024) – C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business and BTC, is pleased to announce the broadcast of the 2024/25 season of the English Premier League (EPL) across the Caribbean via ESPN and ESPN 2.
This year, football fans will be treated to even more action with the launch of a dedicated channel, ESPN Extra, which will feature approximately six live ‘prime’ matches per round, pre- and post-match studio shows, rebroadcasts of games, press conferences,
fantasy football segments, archive matches, and other magazine-style programming.
In addition to ESPN Extra, live Premier League matches will also be aired on the existing ESPN Caribbean and ESPN 2 channels. Depending on the scheduling, matches may air simultaneously across these platforms.
As a special bonus, all television customers will enjoy a ‘freeview’ of the ESPN Extra channel until September 15. Following the freeview period, customers will have the opportunity to subscribe directly to the ESPN Extra channel and more information is available at www.discoverflow.co.
“We are thrilled to offer football fans across the Caribbean unprecedented access to one of the world’s most popular sports leagues. With ESPN Extra and the enhanced coverage across ESPN and ESPN 2, our customers will have front-row seats to experience the absolute best of the Premier League, right from their homes,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer, C&W Communications.
“This is more than just sports; as we did this summer with the World Relays in The Bahamas and the recent Men’s ICC T20 World Cup, it’s about delivering an unparalleled entertainment experience and ensuring that fans across the Caribbean never miss a moment of the action.”
ESPN Extra is available to television subscribers in Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, BVI, Cayman, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, and Turks & Caicos.
MORANT BAY, September 5, 2024 – Approximately 100 families in St. Thomas are now better able to rebuild or repair their homes, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3.
This, after the Ministry of Labour and Social Security distributed cash grants to affected residents in the parish under the ‘Rebuild
Jamaica’ initiative on Tuesday (September 3).
Through the $1-billion programme, persons whose homes suffered minor damage from the hurricane will receive grants of $50,000, while those experiencing severe damage will receive $150,000. Persons whose homes were completely destroyed will receive grants of $400,000.
Speaking during Tuesday’s (September 3) handover ceremony at Morant Villas Hotel, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said although St. Thomas was not as badly hit as Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, there are still persons in the parish who were significantly affected by the Category Four weather system.
In this regard, he said Rebuild Jamaica is indicative of the Government’s lasting commitment to Jamaicans, while urging the recipients to activate the funds quickly and use them to “build back stronger” and more resilient.
Mr. Charles also encouraged the beneficiaries to use the grants for the intended purpose, pointing out that, “if you know that you are
getting a cheque to help with your house, use your money to rehabilitate your house”.
“I expect… everyone to demonstrate integrity… to show honesty… [and] I expect that it is not going to just be about you but it’s going to be about your community,” he added.
In his remarks, Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Louis Chin, said the ceremony was “a reminder that, in the face of hardships, we all must unite to recover and rebuild”.
“To the receivers, I offer my deepest empathies and support. We recognise the challenges you face and we are committed to helping you to overcome them,” Councillor Chin stated.
Greetings were also brought by Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Thomas Eastern, Dr. Michelle Charles.
Councillor for the Trinityville Division, Dean Jones, who also attended the ceremony, represented St. Thomas Western MP, James Robertson.
The Rebuild Jamaica tour, which began in Kingston on August 5, has, to date, made stops in St. Catherine, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland. The tour continues in Portland on Wednesday (September 4).
Partners on the initiative include the World Food Programme (WFP), Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Jamaica Red Cross, Food For the Poor, Social Development Commission (SDC), and the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA).
CONTACT: MICKELLA ANDERSON-GORDON
JIS REGIONAL OFFICE
MORANT BAY
Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
September 5, 2024 – The CARICOM Secretariat says it is “profoundly saddened” at the passing of a stalwart of our Community, Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal, on 30 August 2024.
In an illustrious career devoted to public service, Sir Shridath blazed a trail of excellence in diplomacy, law, academia and politics, earning respect and admiration in his homeland Guyana, elsewhere in the Caribbean Region, and across the Commonwealth of Nations.
He was a leading advocate of regionalism, and contributed practically to its advancement, notably in high-level service to the legal fraternity, institutions of higher learning, and as Chairman of the West Indian Commission which produced the 1992 seminal report, “Time for Action”. An astute negotiator, he was appointed by Heads of Government to lead the CARICOM Regional Negotiating
Machinery in negotiations in the external trade arena.
Included among his well-deserved accolades is the Region’s highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community, which he received in 1992 in the first conferral of the award, for his sterling contributions to the Region.
The Secretary General and staff of the CARICOM Secretariat join the Region and the international community in mourning his loss, and in lauding his life marked by committed service and excellence.
Meanwhile, Chairman of CARICOM, Hon. Dickon Mitchell said the “pivotal contributions” to regional integration and development, by Sir Shridath who was as an eminent jurist, Minister of Government and Attorney-General in his native Guyana; Chancellor of the University of Guyana and The University of the West Indies; and Chief Negotiator for CARICOM on External Trade Relations, must be celebrated
“His influence extended beyond our shores to the international arena, where his decisive leadership as Commonwealth Secretary-General impacted outcomes on global matters including the ending of apartheid in southern Africa. Further, his deep intellectual interest in regional development issues led to significant publications, which are an invaluable legacy for the young people of our Region,” the Chairman said.
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