(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Development partners and key stakeholders at the Caribbean Regional Symposium on Disaster Risk Management in Antigua and Barbuda agreed that disaster risk management should be treated as an urgent priority within the agriculture sector and called for every possible measure to be adopted to mitigate risks associated with that sector.

In setting the context for the discussion at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, 15 June, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, (CEDEMA) Ms Elizabeth Riley pointed to the devastating effects of Climate Change on the regional agriculture sector and their subsequent impact on the economy, noting that the Region had recorded losses to the tune of US$700-1.3 billion in damage from floods, droughts, hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes and fires. The situation had necessitated that the Region “urgently revisit the way we do business,” she stated; and called for the harnessing of expertise and knowledge to advance disaster risk management in the Region. Sub-regional Coordinator for the Caribbean Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Ms. Florita Kentish recommended agriculture insurance as one measure for mitigating risks in the sector, explaining that this measure was gaining momentum among governments and donors within the Region. Ms Kentish stated that FOA had been actively involved in the area of agriculture insurance through feasibility studies, policy advice, and direct support to member countries.

In adding his comments, Mr. Bruce Lauckner, Head of Strategic Alliances within the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), asserted that the Region must redouble its efforts in formulating a framework for the development and management of insurance schemes for the sector.

In his remarks, Director of Finance and Planning, Caribbean Development Band (CDB) Dr. Warren Smith hailed what he described as the “renaissance in agriculture” across the Caribbean. Within the CDB, he said, there was a “much greater consciousness” for the Bank to associate itself with the aspirations of the Caribbean people to renew its role in the agricultural sector, which, according to him, played a critical role in alleviating poverty. Dr Smith added that Disaster Risk Management had become integral to the bank’s operations and that this awareness had prompted the bank to build its capacity in mainstreaming disaster risk management issues, through a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He told the meeting that the CDB had recently collaborated with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility to deal specifically with disaster risk management in more concrete ways.

World Bank’s Senior Economist Mr. Carlos Arce noted that the organisation was pleased to be associated with the Caribbean team of experts in devising measures to mitigate risks in the agriculture sector, explaining that the initiative was compatible with the World Bank’s mandate.

In giving the vote of thanks, Programme Manager, Agriculture and Industry within the Directorate of Trade and Economic Integration, CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. Sergio Garcio noted that there was “great expectations” on the Symposium’s outcome. He said that the agriculture sector was critical to the economic development of the Community, and therefore, no effort should be spared to ensure that the constraints inhibiting its development were addressed.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org