Global instability should fuel people to farm, says Premier

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley is urging residents to take a more active role in food production, saying growing global uncertainty should motivate more people to farm and support local food systems.

Speaking recently on the Honestly Speaking radio programme with host Claude Skelton Cline, Dr Wheatley said the impact of wars on global supply chains and food prices highlight the urgent need for stronger food security in the territory. Still, the Premier stressed that strengthening food security cannot be left to government alone, adding that any fear should be turned into action at the community and household level.

“That anxiety and fear, we have to translate it into not just urgency on the government level, but urgency on all levels,” Premier Wheatley said.

He encouraged residents to support local farmers and fishers and to consider growing food themselves, even on a small scale.

“Even in terms of the choices we make, in terms of the support that we give to our farmers and our fishers — and even what we choose to do ourselves — backyard gardening, yarding, whatever it is that we choose to do,” the Premier said. “That fear and that anxiety has to be translated into something that is productive.”

While laying responsibility at the feet of residents, the leader acknowledged the government carries a “major role” in strengthening food security systems and outlined a number of measures the government is taking to support food production in the territory.

Dr Wheatley pointed to plans for a reservoir and an agricultural complex at Paraquita Bay, along with fisheries landing sites aimed at strengthening the local fishing industry. Funding has already been budgeted and some projects have been initiated, he said.

“We’re going to produce a reservoir in Paraquita Bay. We’re going to produce an agricultural complex in Paraquita Bay. We’re producing fisheries landing sites,” the Premier said. “There’s a number of things which we’ve budgeted money for and initiated, and those things will come to fruition in due time.”

Premier Wheatley also highlighted efforts to strengthen regional partnerships as part of the territory’s food security strategy. He said the government is preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Dominican Republic to help improve food supply connections between the two territories.

However, host Skelton Cline pressed the Premier on the pace of progress, noting that Dr Wheatley’s administration has been in office since April 2023 and arguing that food and fuel remain the most fundamental needs of any country.

In response, Premier Wheatley pointed to a number of challenges that have impeded progress on the agricultural front, saying his administration has had to tackle several major challenges since taking office, including recovery from the devastation of the Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and governance reforms affecting the territory.