Investment in shipping required for food security - CARICOM Heads
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders yesterday agreed that regional trade barriers must be removed and investments in shipping are required if they are going to achieve food security and the goals of 25 by 2025.
The calls for a review of trade policies and investments were made during the opening of the three day Agri-Investment Forum and Expo. It is the regional body’s goal to reduce the dependence on imported food items from outside of CARICOM by 25% by 2025.
The leaders in their addresses acknowledged that they must work together to ensure this vision becomes a reality and not another missed opportunity for the region as had occurred with the Jagdeo Initiative that was launched in 2007 to promote food security and regional trade.
Recognising the potential of the inter-regional food trade system, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Brown said investments must be made in infrastructure to allow for easy shipment of produce.
He stated that as it is, it is easier to transport food from Miami, US, into the region as opposed to trading with a brother and sister nation.
“The regional approach is necessary to increase food production in all of our territories but it is insufficient to produce more food if we fail to transport and distribute it. Let us not fool ourselves if we do not have adequate transportation then all our efforts will be in vain,” Brown said as he highlighted the need for an affordable logistical approach.
He pointed out that the Caribbean food import bill stands at approximately US$6 billion and the dependence of nations for food supply at a time when there are global supply chain issues, indicates the timely need for regional initiatives.
To this end, the Prime Minister stressed that reliable air and river transportation is imperative and requires the contribution of all member states. Noting that some are not willing to pay for the transportation to move produce, he suggested that a model be developed and implemented in order for countries to access produce from the region. “…We have to implement a programme of shared benefit and shared burden to address this very issue immediately.”
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley remarked that while the region waits to hear from the United Nations on the global efforts, it is imperative
that leaders take the responsibility and make preemptive moves to protect their people from the crisis before them.
She posited that the mindsets and policies of nations must be modernised and pave the way for foods to circulate and exit a single economic space. She stated that countries need to implement modern sanitary and protective measures for food imports.
“We have a responsibility now to change mindsets and to change policies… because if we don’t make the steps now to remove the barriers, God knows how we can create the productive base that President (Irfaan) Ali has so masterfully drafted for us, in terms of the plans to expand productivity, and to
expand production,” the Barbadian leader said.
Like Brown, she too suggested investments be made for the transportation of produce and make ports of entry priority areas for investment. She suggested that they look at bridging the gap through the resuscitation of Caribbean air transport via a regional cargo line and transportation of people.
“The goods must reach the consumers in a way that is safe and affordable and it is put to us working with farmers, distributors, retailers, transport providers to bring this puzzle together” she added.
Mottley noted that in the context of food security, leaders must not only look at their nation’s population but also the visiting population.
“[We have to look at] food security in the context of the entire Caribbean region not just population of CARICOM but with the visitors we receive on an annual basis. Thirty-two million people requires us to have to feed them...”
Noting that the countries have become dependent on produce from other parts of the world, where the tourism population resides, she contended that the region has failed to
If what Dr. Goolsarran insists on is the correct position, any release of money post April 30 to keep the hospitals, schools and government offices open, to pay public servants, police and the army, maintain overseas missions, etc., would be unlawful. The country would have been shut down and chaos prevailed. Fortunately, the framers of the Constitution anticipated the possibility of a dissolved Parliament without an Appropriation Act and by Article 219 (3) authorises the Minister of Finance to access funds for up to three months after the resumption of the
National Assembly, this period being considered sufficient to allow the new Government to settle in and present its Budget to the National Assembly.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the wisdom and foresight of the framers of the Constitution not only in relation to spending in this gap period but for providing in the same Article 219 (3) that a statement of the expenditure so authorised must be laid in the National Assembly for approval and subsequent inclusion in the next Appropriation Bill.
I extend respect to both gentlemen. Yours faithfully,
Christopher Ram