GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali has received commendations from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads for his aggressive approach towards reducing the regional food import bill and creating opportunities to spur further investments within the Caribbean nations.
Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley said Ali, who leads the agriculture food agenda in CARICOM, was able to deliver in the face of the devastating pandemic over the last year.
Speaking on Wednesday at a media briefing following the two-day 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Belize, she commended Guyana’s Head of State for leading discussions on the local cultivation of high-value crops, including broccoli and cauliflower, that are primarily imported into the region.
Ali is spearheading the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) in Guyana, which focuses on the efficient and sustainable production of such crops.
“In addition to that, he then took three products for which there is excellent potential for value-added. There is a lot of palm oil, for example, imported into the region. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be using coconut oil, which has particular health benefits in any event.
“So, when you take all of these things into consideration, we not only want to thank President Ali, but we want to urge the region to move with absolute dispatch in being able to get the investment opportunities,” Prime Minister Mottley said.
According to the Barbadian leader, the aim is to reduce food costs and establish avenues for Caribbean people to consume more locally-grown food.
President Ali believes the Caribbean has the resources to ensure greater food security and says Guyana remains committed to “lead from the front” in this arena.
He committed to working with CARICOM member states to reduce food importation by 25 percent by the year 2025.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Belize John Briceño, the new Chairman of CARICOM, also praised the Guyanese leader for undertaking a study with Caribbean Ministers of Agriculture to ascertain what products can be grown in the region affordably exported across borders.
It can address the issue of food security. There is a market of $6 billion in CARICOM. If we can capture the 25 percent by 2025 and push to capture more of that market and keep the money within the region, it will create jobs and boost the economy.
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