Page 19 - Agric Info Mag 01 2017
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The consensus among the regional Min-
isters is that the initiative is a focal point
He advised his regional colleagues to put to do all the things needed to move agri-
the requisite structures and frameworks in culture forward.
place in their respective countries to opera- The meeting was attended by represen-
tionalize the outcomes of the meetings: tatives of various sectors of government,
“And I’m really advising the various
member states that we have to put the
requisite structures and frameworks in
place in our countries to operationalize
many of the outcomes of the meeting
that we are having here today. There is
a big vision for the sub region, the lead-
ers in the sub region are on board, the
stakeholders are willing to participate
and as we celebrate this year 183 years L-R: Hon Arthur Nibbs, Minister of Agriculture,
(of emancipation from slavery) let it not Lands, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs and Jai
Rampersaud, of Bunny Import and Exports Limited-
Trinidad and Tobago shares a joke at press briefing
-NIS conference Room
private sector entities and farmers or-
ganizations. One of the major regional
private sector stakeholders is Bunny Im-
ports and Exports of Trinidad and To-
bago represented by Jai Rampersaud
who expressed his gratitude and ex-
Cross section of participants of the Fourth OECS Council of plained his company’s interest in the in-
Ministers Meeting - NIS Conference Room
tra-regional trade
be a ceremonial celebration let us use “We really want to see the products of
agriculture to fully understand and ex- the region get market ready and when
press our emancipation. We have to we talk about market ready we talk
think outside of the box we have to ap- about international market ready.
preciate the fact that we are now the There’s a global shortage in food we
owners of a post colonial sphere of our see what’s going on in news, the cli-
future.. mate change, global warming, all
Trade between traditional regional markets these natural disasters that continue
like Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados is to pop up we see population increase
strengthened under the initiative and ex- globally and there is an international
panded to extra-regional and international demand for food and with this oppor-
markets. tunity we as a region need to capital-
ize on it “ .
