Remarks by Director, Sectoral Programmes, CARICOM Secretariat, Ambassador David Prendergast |Special Meeting of COTED (Agriculture) | 11 October 2024, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Hon. Saboto Caesar, Chair of this morning’s 115th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), Hon. Ministers, Regional Institutions, Delegates, Stakeholders,

I extend welcome to Ministers and delegations this 115th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) - Agriculture.

As we consider achievements under the 25 by 2025 Food Security Initiative, we have all witnessed positive movements in the areas of transport, sanitary and phytosanitary policy, increases in the national budgets for agriculture and cross-border investments.

These achievements are demonstrative of the high level of commitment and priority which the Heads of Government have placed on advancing the Region’s agri-food systems. We must continue to pursue this positive path. As Ministers deliberate today, the continued focus must be on achieving results towards the ultimate goal of improved intra-regional trade, livelihood protection as well as the enhancement of regional food and nutrition security.

We are cognisant of the challenges which present themselves. Specifically, those which include climate change, praedial larceny, limited access to finance, underdeveloped agricultural value chains, and a scarcity of skilled human resources. We must continue to pursue active solutions in the interest of our Region, so we do not, in any way, compromise the progress for which we are striving. We must continue to confront these critical challenges.

As we deliberate during this Special Meeting of COTED on Agriculture, we know that it is critical to produce results, actions and policies which are responsive to the needs of the ordinary CARIOM citizen. We have a number of critical matters before us today based on the recommendations of senior officials, which include those relating to the trade in agricultural products, approval of CAHFSA’s Work Plan and Budget, grants of suspensions of the CET, agricultural health and food safety, blue economy and the regional fisheries sector and updates relating to the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies and agriculture negotiations, the CAPA project, and on the agriculture insurance product and business development.

In conclusion, I wish to thank the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for so ably hosting this meeting and the 18th Caribbean Week of Agriculture. We congratulate you on the excellent arrangements and for making us feel at home. The Secretariat records its appreciation to Member States and stakeholders for your participation in this important meeting. We remain ready to provide continued support and ensure the success of the meeting.

I wish you a productive meeting and now hand over to our Chair for this morning, the Hon. Saboto Caesar.