Caribbean News
Prime Minister Gonsalves lays out true cost of Sustainable Agriculture at CWA Opening in St Vincent & the Grenadines
Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
St. Vincent & Grenadines, October 25, 2024 – For there to be sustainable agriculture in the Caribbean, there must be a change in workforce attitudes, and financing terms from the international community according to Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves.
Delivering the featured address at the opening of the recent Caribbean Week of Agriculture, held under the theme: “Climate Smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future, at the University of the West Indies Open Campus in Kingstown, the PM appealed for reparative measures rather than loans, in addressing Climate Change, restating that SVG has contributed little to global warming but is carrying the burdens of its impact.
Stressing that practicing smart agriculture will “cost a lot of money,” he said to be competitive, in can be very expensive, and while the technology is available, “having produced that Climate smart agriculture, what are you going to do with it?
“We have to get that money as grants, or in very generous terms. We are not going to get agriculture sustainable unless we have a workforce which is trained, which can use applied science and technology, can be modern,” he said, while calling for better pay for agriculture workers.
The Prime Minister also called for the region to invest in cargo ships, or lease them to move agriculture across the various territories, and for change in pattern of consumption, and “nodes of production.
“Our ways of living our lives,” he said, noting that if the necessary changes are not made, “all of us, we are going to hell in a hand basket-this is something that the scientists have shown to us. We have to stay 1.5 to be alive, and we have to keep our average temperatures on mother earth no higher than 1.5 degree Celsius,” Dr. Gonsalves told his audience.
With the numerous challenges faced by the agriculture sector in the region due to disasters, he pointed out that accessing funding remains a significant issue that must be addressed, and actions are needed to get the ships in operation.
The five-day event featured workshops and seminars coordinated by partners in regional agriculture. Through the sessions, participants benefited from the exchange of information and best practices on safeguarding agriculture in a changing Climate Climate-smart fishing with a focus on sargassum, young people as champions of regional food systems, food security and nutrition, women farmers’ pathways after Hurricane Beryl, digital agriculture in the Caribbean, and human resource development in the sector.
It was conceptualised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as an opportunity to place agriculture and rural life on the front burner of regional integration activities and in doing so enable, the key decision-makers in the public and private sectors to better acknowledge the importance of agriculture and rural life to the economic, social, and environmental stability of the region, and for the major stakeholders in agriculture and related sectors to have an opportunity to dialogue and forge a common vision for the repositioning of agriculture and the enhancement of rural life.
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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