The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, represented Canada at the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). During his visit, Minister Hussen reiterated Canada’s commitment to support the Caribbean region by announcing $39.2 million in funding for 4 new international assistance projects for a number of countries, including Haiti, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. These projects will help advance climate action, biodiversity conservation, food security, economic resilience, sustainable and inclusive governance, health, and gender equality.

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

$4.2 million will be allocated to the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism for the Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries (STAR-Fish) project, which aims to advance the clean energy transition in the Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Operating in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

The project will promote the use of sustainable energy technologies, ensure that viable business models are developed, and encourage low carbon and carbon neutral fishery certification in the region.

Minister Hussen’s visit builds upon the success of the Canada-CARICOM Summit, held in Ottawa from October 17 to 19, 2023, and reinforces Canada’s strategic partnership with the region.

Read the full report here.

CARICOM Heads of Government Communiqué addresses food and nutrition security and intra-regional trade

The CARICOM Secretariat released a communiqué at the conclusion of the 46TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF CARICOM. The following are excerpts from the communiqué:

THE AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS AGENDA- FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY

Heads of Government received a report from the Chairman, Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Agriculture Development in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet, and from the Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana and Chair of the Ministerial Taskforce on Food Production and Food Security. The Meeting was updated on efforts towards achieving the 25 by 2025 Food and Nutrition Security Initiative, including policy approvals; removal of barriers to intra-regional trade; agricultural trade promotion; cross-border investments; human resource development and capacity building; increased production and productivity; and transportation and logistics. The Agriculture Minister noted that there has been increased awareness and buy-in to improve Food and Nutrition Security in the Region, and outlined that more than 73 projects and programmes which support the 25 by 2025 initiative are being implemented by over 13 regional partners and donors. Another 20 or so initiatives are at different stages of formulation. The Conference commended the Chairman’s leadership on this critical agenda item. They encouraged Member States to take advantage of the agricultural insurance product being offered to the sector and encouraged greater collaboration among Member States. They noted cooperation projects with the Community’s external partners, including Cuba, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Conference further observed that the upcoming pilot regional ferry service would be a key component to the Region’s food security efforts. They agreed that Member States would develop a Pre-Clearance/Regional Export Trade Mechanism for agricultural produce for endorsement and approval by the Conference at its 47th Regular Meeting in July 2024, and requested that the MTF accelerate the identification of additional investor-friendly policies and programmes for implementation under the 25 by 2025 food security initiative. Heads of Government also strongly encouraged the regional private sector to take advantage of the proposal from Suriname, which is making available 300,000 Ha of land for regional agricultural development. They underscored the private sector’s role in taking urgent action to invest in the production of agricultural items for which frequent suspensions of the CET are granted.

DEVELOPMENTS IN REGIONAL AIR AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

The Meeting received a report from the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) on efforts to address the Region’s air and maritime transportation issues. The CPSO noted that opportunities exist for maritime solutions in agro-food products requiring cold chain, including fresh produce, meat and poultry, and to supplement the movement of persons. They also noted that container-shipping capacity exceeds demand and purpose-specific interventions are needed to connect opportunities.

Heads of Government expressed appreciation to the regional Private Sector for their work to complete “Commercial Assessment Phase 1” and encouraged the CPSO to place greater emphasis on re-engineering routes. They reiterated the need for the Private Sector to capitalise on the myriad investment opportunities in regional air and maritime transportation.

Read the full communiqué here.

The CRFM – Accelerating  Vision 25 by 2025

CARICOM Heads of Government were updated on the efforts being made by CARICOM and its institutions to accelerate the reduction of the region’s US$5 bn food import bill by 25% by 2025. The CRFM has taken several steps towards supporting the goal for this initiative — called Vision 25 by 2025 — and we shared this feature video to update the CARICOM Heads of Government on the CRFM’s contributions and its ongoing work with Member States, regional and international partners, and the wider stakeholder community to help reduce CARICOM’s food import bill.

View video HERE

CRFM Secretariat

Princess Margaret Drive Fisheries Compound P.O. Box 642 Belize City, BELIZE

Email: [email protected]