We extend a warm welcome from Trinbagonia to President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, President Chan Santokhi of Suriname and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. As a tangible result of the Inaugural Caricom Agri Investment Forum and Expo in Guyana three months ago, their presence here for the sequel is an indication of their commitment.
Caricom’s goal of achieving a 25 percent reduction in food imports by 2025 is not just a desirable target, but a matter of survival in a region hit by the impact of rising fuel prices, global shortages of key products imported from the Caribbean, fertilizers needed in agriculture. and grains on which the region’s livestock and poultry industries depend.
Added to this is the climate emergency which is wreaking havoc around the world with record heat waves, devastating wildfires and floods. Periods of prolonged drought have turned once productive areas into dust bowls. Lakes and rivers that supply people and crops with water and are used to transport goods and people are drying up at an alarming rate.
For the Caribbean, when it comes to food, adapting to climate change must mean that we grow what we eat and eat what we grow. It’s that simple. And yet, it is not so. In the particular case of Trinidad and Tobago, breaking away from historical patterns of trade has so far proven almost impossible due to rigid consumption patterns historically biased towards imported goods, the inclusion of the old system of commission agencies in the structure of the economy. , the lack of a local content policy and a coherent framework for exploiting the potential of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector.
However, we must find a way, or have a way imposed upon us.
In this moment of real anxiety, Caricom is fortunate to have progressive leadership in its ranks. The Saint Barnabas Agreement, reached between Guyana and Barbados, showed a way of structuring partnerships based on competitive advantages. While Trinidad and Tobago was initially slow, it is now fully on board, as evident by hosting this week’s Agri Investment Forum and Expo II.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has raised the possibility of an investment in maritime transport for products and people associated with agricultural supplies in Guyana and Roraima in Brazil.
Taken together this package of initiatives is the single most exciting prospect for stimulating agricultural production for regional consumption and export ever to emerge from Caricom. What is clearly making the difference is political will, the lack of which has consistently undermined regional initiatives.
Today, Presidents Ali and Santokhi, whose countries are on a steep learning curve regarding the global energy business, are scheduled to visit an industrial plant in Point Lisas. While there, Dr Ali is also expected to visit a high-tech agro-processing operation.
To all visiting dignitaries we say take the time to enjoy the best of T&T’s cuisine and culture, and when you go behind closed doors, take the opportunity to take a leap of faith in the Caribbean and its people. We all depend on you.
