Dr. The Honourable, Christopher Tufton, Minister of Agriculture of Jamaica
Honourable Robert Persaud, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana
Other Honourable Ministers
Senior Officials
Representatives of Regional and International Institutions
Other Delegates
Colleagues of the CARICOM Secretariat
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure to welcome you to this the Twenty-Seventh Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture. I would like to particularly recognise the Ministers who are joining the COTED Agriculture for the first time. Welcome!

At the Twelfth Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which was held here in Georgetown, 7 December 2007, the Community sought to address at the regional level the critical issue of poverty and the rising cost of living. The cost of living had already been on the rise for two years by the time the effects finally made themselves felt by Caribbean consumers. Of course, this was not a sudden phenomenon; the effects being felt today are the results of what has taken place over the past several years.

We in the Caribbean see the “right to food” as a basic human right. And although this right is exercised by consumers at the national level, this Council accepts the responsibility for the creation of a regional enabling environment within which this right can be exercised.

As a Community, it behooves us to ensure that this basic right of our citizens is not further undermined and eroded by external factors because we have failed to act at the right moment. There is no time like the present. There is no opportunity better than the one with which we are presented today, to make concrete decisions as a Community, which will have a lasting effect on the lives of our people.

As we plan and prepare for a more secure future, we should not lose sight of the opportunities that exist for agricultural production within our Region. We are all aware of the oft-cited regional import bill which is estimated at 3 billion US dollars. If just a fraction of this amount could remain in our Region, the benefits that could accrue to our rural communities through the sale and export of food commodities at today’s price would make a not inconsiderable difference to the Region.

The situation analysis of the rising cost of food and its impact on the Region’s ability to ensure its food security will set the background for today’s discussion in which the matters of food prices, food production, and food sovereignty will feature prominently, in order to arrive at medium and long-term solutions to this crisis in our Region.

It is important to underscore that the endorsement by the Heads of Government of the COTED decision in March to reduce or remove the CET on commodities which have a significant weight in the Consumer Price Index, or which are not significantly produced, or have a close substitute in the Region, is only a short-term, temporary measure.

In light of the fact, however, that the high cost of food is not temporary, today’s gathering will be addressing both medium- and long-term measures across the spectrum, from agricultural research and development to production, agro-processing, transport and export in our Region. This matter, which is of grave importance for our Region, will be addressed holistically and in-depth.

Thought will be given to ways in which the Region can ensure that we are able to feed our people. What options can we exercise to collectively guarantee access to the foods we consume at an affordable price, taking into account that the rising cost of energy, the use of agricultural commodities in the production of alternative energy, and climate change are intimately intertwined with the cost of food production and hence the cost of food? Is there a way that we can make ourselves less vulnerable to external forces? These and other aspects will receive the careful attention of Ministers in this Council.

In this respect, matters relating to the CARICOM Agriculture Investment Forum scheduled for 6th-7th June 2008 here in Georgetown will also be on the table. This Forum will provide a space for dialogue between potential investors, financial institutions, Member States, promoters and other stakeholders. It will showcase business opportunities in the Caribbean and it will provide investors with screened projects which have great potential. This activity is but one step in the direction of ensuring that we are able to produce what we eat in adequate amounts and eat what we produce.

At this point I would like to commend the Caribbean Poultry Association (CPA) for their efforts to find alternative inputs into the production of animal feed, the results of which can go a long way in reducing the cost of poultry and poultry products.

I would also like to commend the Caribbean Agri-Business Association (CABA) for their efforts in promoting increased public–private sector involvement in food production.

The challenges that confront the Caribbean Community must, of course, be addressed by both regional and national measures. However, the imperative of a CARICOM regional approach cannot be overstated. CARICOM Member States have an opportunity now, at this meeting to map the way forward for a regional framework for agriculture as well as other measures that can contribute to ensuring food security and sovereignty in our Region.

The responsibility is great, but it is within our power. I wish this meeting fruitful and successful discussions.

I thank you.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org