Green: Fix maritime links to move Caribbean food
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Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister Floyd Green is calling for urgent action to improve maritime links across the Caribbean, warning that weak regional connections could undermine efforts to move more locally produced food between countries.
Green made the call on Friday at a press conference ahead of the 127th Special Meeting of the Caribbean Community’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture, held at the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny.
The meeting was the final event of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA).
“We still have to treat with the matter of maritime logistics, again, to ensure that we have the connection needed to move our products across the region,” Green said.
He said the issue was strongly highlighted during the opening plenary of CWA, including by St Lucia, as Caribbean countries seek to strengthen regional food systems and increase the movement of agricultural produce within the region.
Green said maritime logistics was one of several outstanding issues requiring regional attention, alongside the harmonisation of standards and the availability of labour.
The minister said the region must ensure that the commitments emerging from CWA and COTED translate into practical action rather than becoming recurring discussions.
“When we finish CWA, the real work starts,” Green said, pointing out that stronger regional connections were necessary to ensure that farmers and fishers can participate in expanding markets, while consumers benefit from a more reliable supply of Caribbean-produced food.
The COTED meeting, held on Friday, brought agriculture ministers together to examine issues affecting regional agricultural development and trade as the Caribbean seeks to strengthen its food systems.
- Albert Ferguson
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