Minister Pickering: Protect agricultural trade by “working together”
GIS - Thursday, August 16th, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Delegates from across the region at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors.
Wednesday, August 15 – Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering says that countries working together rather than individually to address the agricultural issues of the region will certainly provide a more realistic approach to combating the threat of pests and diseases to safeguard the agricultural sector.
The Minister was at the time speaking to delegates yesterday at Scrub Island Resort during the opening ceremony of the Fifth Meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors.
The opening ceremony marked the commencement of a three-day forum focused on forming strategies, programmes and projects to strengthen the agricultural sector.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable kedrick Pickering speaking to delegates during the opening ceremony of the Fifth Meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors
Honourable Pickering said, “Colleagues, no doubt, it is of paramount importance for us to become more and more aware of the economic, cultural and food production threats of invasive species in the Caribbean.”
He added, “It is only when we dialogue with each other, do we reform the root causes and address bottom lines. Colleagues, it is only when we share information, do we create and implement standard operating procedures so that all of us can achieve consistency; consistency in purpose, consistency in expectations and consistency in service.”
Honourable Pickering also gave reference to the 1995, infiltration of the Pink Mealy Bug in the Territory and thanked Mr. Wayne DeChi, Agricultural Scientist of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) / Agriculture Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) for working along with the Department of Agriculture to get that problem under control.
“Ladies and gentlemen, even though our gratitude was already expressed to Mr. Wayne DeChi, I would like to publicly thank him in this forum.”
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Representative, Ms. Carol Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago also gave remarks. She said, “We remain committed to the mandate of safeguarding the region from the introduction and establishment of harmful plant pests.”
She added, “We are already experiencing the warm hospitality and good service here on Scrub Island… and we hope that the deliberations here will result in very good recommendations and decisions that we can carry forward in improving and enhancing our ability to safeguard our region.”
Other speakers included; Chief Agricultural Officer, Mr. Bevin Braithwaite, other representatives from the USDA, APHIS, and the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat convened the first meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors in 2008. The USDA, APHIS, IICA and the FAO of the United Nations (UN) have partnered with the CARICOM Secretariat for these meetings. Present for this meeting are at least 40 representatives from 26 countries.
The last meeting was hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in May 2011.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour aims to protect as well as find sustainable solutions for preserving the natural resources of the Virgin Islands.
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Whilst on the subject of agriculture, Hon. Minister, please put stiffer measures in place to address stray animals. We in the Manchester, Rogues and Cooten Bay area are frustrated. Mr. Evans’ animals are destroying our crops. When they are impounded, they are released back to him within a day. Please, this is a burning issue.
mr evans is a ndp..so you’re wasting your time complaining
if evans can’t keep his animalls out of others yard just slaughter them and eat them, even carry a plate of the food for evans.
What we all want to know is why are we are still only growing weeds in the X million dollar greenhouses?
Or are we “safeguarding the region from the introduction and establishment of harmful plant pests” by not growing anything at all in them.
If we don’t start growing soon they will be blown away by a hurricane before there is any benefit at all.
we could’ve done reap several different crops from those green houses if dr done deal was doing his work
now this is what he suppose to be doing…this is his job
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