Suriname, which holds responsibility for the Industrial Policy in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, is spearheading work towards its completion to present it to a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in October 2025. The work to be carried out in time for that meeting includes deeper engagements with key stakeholders in the business community.
Already, consultations have been held with stakeholders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while others are planned for later in August.
Ambassador David Prendergast, Director, Sectoral Programmes at the CARICOM Secretariat, said that there is a strong demand for the Policy from the Region’s private sector. The Policy is grounded in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and is intended to promote the development of entities ranging from micro to large businesses.
“Essentially, [this policy] seeks to boost productivity, to create more opportunities for employment across the Region, to use our resources optimally, and to connect us into global value chains which are critical for production with the ultimate objective of improving the standard of living of our people across the Region,” Amb. Prendergast explained.
Industrial Policy development consultant to the CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. Sandiford Ruel Edwards, said given the current global environment, the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy is well-positioned to make a substantive contribution to renewed economic diversification and cultivating indigenous growth and prosperity by addressing both established industrial sectors and emerging innovative fields and technologies.
“It is important to acknowledge that this industrial policy is not a universal remedy; historical global initiatives have sometimes resulted in notable failures, and there remain valid concerns regarding government intervention in market selection. This strategic framework proposes a collaborative model between regional governments and the private sector, targeting 12 industrial ecosystems alongside five cross-cutting enablers,” he said.
The 12 eco-systems at the foundation of the Policy are: Agri-Food, Fisheries and Processing; Construction; Culture and Creative Industries; Digitalisation; Education and Human Capital Development; Energy; Health and Wellbeing; Mobility and Transportation; Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises; Non-Food Manufacturing; Research, Development and Innovation; and Tourism.
The cross-cutting enablers are Financing, Competition Policy and Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property, Standards and Environmental Stewardship. ]]>
“The data from Round 8 is not an endpoint; it is a catalyst for region-wide recovery, reform, and resilience.”
Ambassador David PrendergastDirector of Sectoral Programmes, CARICOM Secretariat
The CARICOM Secretariat, in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP) and regional partners, officially launched the results of the 8th Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday. The event featured remarks by Ambassador David Prendergast, Director of Sectoral Programmes, who emphasised the survey’s critical role in shaping evidence-based policy across the Region.
In his address, Ambassador Prendergast highlighted the survey’s evolution since its inception in 2020, noting its value in capturing the lived experiences of Caribbean citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.
“With each successive round, we’ve deepened our understanding of the structural and emerging challenges affecting livelihoods, food access, and resilience,” he stated.
The director noted that the latest findings underscore the ongoing impacts of climate shocks, economic uncertainty, and the rising cost of living on food security and livelihoods. He also revealed that the data indicated a powerful narrative of community resilience, with households turning to home gardening, income diversification, and local support systems in the face of adversity.
Looking ahead, he called for bold, targeted action to build on this resilience. The Director also outlined key priorities for CARICOM, including: strengthening shock-responsive social protection systems, investing in climate-smart agriculture and regional value chains, supporting youth, women, and micro-entrepreneurs and enhancing regional food systems integration, including logistics and digital access.
“The data from Round 8 is not an endpoint; it is a catalyst for region-wide recovery, reform, and resilience,” Ambassador Prendergast concluded, urging stakeholders to translate insights into impactful policy and programming.
Please read his complete remarks below.
Remarks by David Prendergast, Director, Sectoral Programmes, CARICOM Secretariat
Virtual Launch of Results Ceremony
8th Caribbean Livelihood and Food Security Survey – Results
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Mr. Brian Bogart, World Food Programme Representative,
Ms. Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa,
Development partners and stakeholders,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you to this important presentation of the 8th Round of the Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey. I extend sincere appreciation to our Member States, the World Food Programme (WFP), and to our regional and international partners whose continued collaboration has made this initiative a cornerstone of evidence-based policymaking in our region.
Since the survey’s inception in 2020, CARICOM has remained steadfast in its commitment to listening to the lived realities of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable. With each successive round, we’ve deepened our understanding of the structural and emerging challenges affecting livelihoods, food access, and resilience across our diverse Caribbean economies.
This initiative has been instrumental in:
- Assessing the state of food security across the Region,
- Demonstrating the critical role of data in agricultural planning and policy, and
- Advancing CARICOM’s broader agricultural development agenda.
Over the past five years, the survey has consistently tracked the impacts of climate shocks, rising cost of living, and economic uncertainty on food security, livelihoods, and access to essential services. The insights generated are designed to empower decision-makers with the data needed to craft responsive, people-centred policies.
At the same time, we must acknowledge the remarkable resilience demonstrated across the Caribbean. From home gardening and income diversification to community-based support systems, households have adapted in inspiring ways when formal mechanisms have fallen short.
As a Region, CARICOM’s path forward must build on this resilience through targeted investments and bold policy shifts.
This includes:
- Advancing social protection systems that are shock-responsive and inclusive.
- Investing in climate-smart agriculture and regional value chains that reduce dependency on external markets.
- Supporting youth, women, and micro-entrepreneurs in transitioning from vulnerability to opportunity.
- Enhancing regional food systems integration, including transport, logistics, and digital market access.
Finally, we renew our gratitude to the World Food Programme (WFP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union, Global Affairs Canada, and other partners for their unwavering support in documenting and addressing food insecurity in our region. Their efforts amplify the voices of our people and translate them into meaningful action.
Colleagues, the data from Round 8 is not an endpoint—it is a catalyst for region-wide recovery, reform, and resilience. Let us now turn today’s knowledge into targeted policy, into programming that delivers, and into progress that endures.
]]>Be part of the conversation and momentum! Join the CARICOM Secretariat and the World Food Programme (WFP) tomorrow, Wednesday 30 July, as they unveil the findings from the latest Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Survey—revealing new insights and opportunities to guide collective action.
Did you know? The report shows that 42% of the population is facing moderate to severe food insecurity—making our work more urgent and essential than ever.
Everyone’s invited. Let’s come together, stay informed, and spark innovative approaches to help ensure that no one is left behind.
To register, please click here.
Please see additional details.
Being held under the theme “Sowing Change, Harvesting Resilience: Transforming Our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025 and Beyond,” CWA 2025 will be a vital platform for sowing the seeds of change. It will promote the exchange of innovations in climate-smart agriculture, the sharing of lessons learned, and the forging of purposeful partnerships across the Region.
The stage is set for the 19th staging of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), which will take place from 29 September to 3 October in the twin-island Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.
A virtual launch of the Caribbean Community’s premier agricultural conference was held on Tuesday, 15 July. The event was anchored at the CARICOM Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana, and included participation from key regional and international partners in agricultural development.
Being held under the theme “Sowing Change, Harvesting Resilience: Transforming Our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025 and Beyond,” CWA 2025 will be a vital platform for sowing the seeds of change. It will promote the exchange of innovations in climate-smart agriculture, the sharing of lessons learned, and the forging of purposeful partnerships across the Region.
In his feature address at the launch, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of St Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Samal Duggins, juxtaposed the challenges facing the region’s agriculture sector occasioned by extreme weather events, high shipping costs, and logistical hurdles with the resilience of farmers, officials, scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
“These challenges, however, illuminated our resilience. They have revealed the creativity and determination of our farmers, officials, scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. They have underscored our capacity to adapt, our capacity to innovate, our capacity to build systems that are not merely reactive, but proactive and sustainable,” Minister Duggins said.
“Now is the time for us to sow seeds of transformation,” he added.
The Minister said CWA participants can look forward to engaging forums, technical workshops, dynamic exchanges, business-to-business networking, and insightful field visits that will showcase advancements in processing, sustainable farming, and the emerging green economy.
He reminded the participants that Caribbean Week of Agriculture is “a clarion call for us to reimagine how we produce, how we process, and how we protect our food. A call to mobilise investment, not only financial capital, but human talent and intellectual resources as well.”
CWA is a united regional effort
Dr. Wendell Samuel, Senior Economic Adviser and Acting Assistant Secretary-General at the CARICOM Secretariat, said that CWA represents a united regional effort to address the pressing challenges of climate change and food and nutrition security. He noted that transforming Caribbean food systems and accelerating agricultural growth are central to this mission.
“The Caribbean Week of Agriculture continues to serve as the premier regional platform for raising awareness and promoting investments in agriculture and food and nutrition security,” Dr. Samuel stated.
“It plays a pivotal role in reshaping public perception, stimulating meaningful engagement, and supporting the growth of the region’s food systems,” he added.
Ambassador David Prendergast, Director of Sectoral Programmes in the Directorate of Economic Integration, Innovation and Development (EIID), noted that the event will bring together a wide cross-section of stakeholders. These include agricultural planners, policymakers, farmers, producers, private sector actors, development partners, academic and research institutions, and regional organizations. Their collective participation, he said, underscores the region’s shared commitment to inclusive dialogue and transformational change in Caribbean agriculture.
The Director noted that 2025 marks a critical milestone in the Community’s journey toward securing a prosperous future for the sector. He said the CWA 2025 programme reflects that urgency, with a week-long series of activities beginning with a vibrant opening ceremony; an Open Expo, which will showcase innovative and sustainable agricultural practices; technical sessions and a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development on Agriculture.
Youth issues, Caribbean Perspectives
Outlining the youth agenda at CWA 2025, the Chair of the CARICOM Youth Advisory Body, Ms Teesha Mangra said that the event will spotlight themes that matter most to her generation, including circular agriculture, the youth economy, digital market access, agri-innovation, inclusion of marginalized youth in food systems, agri-education, transitioning into entrepreneurship, and regional youth collaboration for climate and food resilience.
“These are not just youth issues, they are Caribbean imperatives. And we are not the future; we are present drivers of regional resilience,” she said, thanking partners who have supported youth involvement in agriculture, including CARICOM, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), international partners, and regional governments.
“Thank you for investing in young people. Thank you for recognising that resilience does not grow in silos, but in solidarity,” Ms. Mangal stated.
International Partnerships and Cooperation
Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), H.E. Dr. Manuel Otero, noted that this year’s theme for CWA is both timely and appropriate. He said it reflects the spirit of innovation and urgency needed to renew the Region’s commitment to securing a sustainable future for the agricultural sector, while also showcasing the very soul of the Caribbean, rooted in resilience.
He added that IICA remains committed to contributing to this important initiative, including strengthening extension services, boosting production and employment, and enhancing rural resilience. He also extended congratulations to Saint Kitts and Nevis for agreeing to host CWA 2025 and for its steadfast commitment to regional agricultural transformation.
Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mr. Máximo Torero, underscored FAO’s commitment to advancing regional agricultural priorities. He outlined the organisation’s work across the sector, including its support for the regional youth in agriculture agenda.
In this regard, he said FAO is mobilising financing and evidence-based policies to bring youth to the centre of agri-food systems.
FAO is also working with CARICOM on core governance issues in agriculture, including food security, trade, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, sustainable fisheries, and resource management, he stated.
Chief Executive Officer and Technical Director of the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), Dr. Patrick Antoine, said that the organisation “consistently endorsed the Region’s ’25 by 2025′ plan and remain firmly committed to working with the Community to help ensure that the extended initiative to 2030 is fully realized.”
Dr. Antoine added that the CPSO also fully supports the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and remains focused on accelerating regional integration through private sector-led growth.
“We are committed to creating the enabling environment for investment, reducing barriers to trade, and unlocking the full potential of the region’s productive sectors, especially our food and agricultural sectors,” he said.
Please view highlights from the launch here.
The launch will feature a keynote address by the Hon. Samal Duggins, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of St. Kitts and Nevis; remarks by Dr. Wendell Samuel, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General (ag), Economic Integration, Innovation and Development,; Ms. Teesha Mangra, Chair of the CARICOM Youth Advisory Body, and representatives from regional and international organisations which are partnering to hold the CWA.
Representatives of the media are invited to provide coverage of the following:
EVENT: Launch, Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2025
WHEN: 15 July 2025| 10 am AST
The launch will be streamed live via the following CARICOM social media platforms: Facebook, YouTube, and X.
ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN WEEK OF AGRICULTURE
The Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) is the premier event on the regional agricultural calendar. It is a roving event hosted by CARICOM Member States and Associate Members and includes seminars, key meetings, a special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), and an exhibition.
The CWA was conceptualised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as a facility to place agriculture and rural life on the front burner of regional integration activities and in doing so enable:
- the key decision-makers in the public and private sectors to better acknowledge the importance of agriculture and rural life to the economic, social, and environmental stability of the region; and
- for the major stakeholders in agriculture and related sectors to have an opportunity to dialogue and forge a common vision for the repositioning of agriculture and the enhancement of rural life.
The CWA is convened under the aegis of the Alliance for Sustainable Development of Agriculture and the Rural Milieu (The Alliance). From the inaugural meeting in 1998, the two main collaborating agencies were IICA and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.
In 2002, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) joined IICA and CARICOM to establish a core group which functions as the Secretariat of The Alliance. Since then, the four agencies have collaborated on the management and logistics necessary for the convening and servicing of meetings of The Alliance as well as the myriad of activities during the CWA. The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) which was a joint international institution of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union (EU) from 1983 – 2020, was a major partner and sponsor of the CWA activities from 2003.
To date, there have been 18 successful editions of the CWA. The first CWA was held in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. Last year, St. Vincent and the Grenadines hosted the event. Close to 500 visitors joined Vincentians for the week of activities that focused on ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future’.
Click here to listen as Ms. Deborah Daniel, Agriculture Planning Officer, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, reflects on the 2024 edition of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture and shares advice for hosting the event.
]]>The MoU signing was hosted at the Ministry of Agriculture’s main boardroom. It is a pivotal milestone in Guyana’s food security agenda, championed by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
The agreement lays the foundation for integrating modern marketing strategies and branding mechanisms to expand Guyana’s agricultural exports, reduce post-harvest losses, and secure a stronger presence in the CARICOM and South American markets.
During the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha emphasised the transformational progress Guyana has made since 2020. He said Guyana is the only country in the world that can feed its citizens.
Please see the press release from the Department of Public Information here.
]]>The Council – which is comprised of Ministers responsible for fisheries, aquaculture, and the blue economy from 17 CRFM Member States – elected Honourable Kyle Hodge, Anguilla’s Minister of Economic Development, Industry, Commerce, Lands, Planning, Water, and Natural Resources, as the new Chair.
“It is a distinct honour for Anguilla to take up this mantle of Chair from the Turks and Caicos Islands. We have very important work to do over the next year, as we continue to chart the way forward for this regional authority for fisheries and aquaculture across the Caribbean Community,” Minister Hodge said.
“As Ministers responsible for fisheries, we will forge resolutely ahead with promoting the efficient management, conservation and development of the region’s living marine resources; developing and maintaining relations with national, sub-regional, regional, and international partners that share our vision and mission for sustainable Caribbean fisheries; as well as supporting actions aimed at ensuring safe, healthy and fair working and living conditions for over half-million fishers, fish workers, and others employed across our fisheries and aquaculture value chains,” he added.
The fisheries sector lies at the heart of a vibrant Caribbean blue economy, which operates within a dynamic international legislative and policy landscape that impacts fish trade in the Caribbean—and by extension both national and regional economies. The Council deliberated upon the implications of the listing of the queen conch under the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA). It also deliberated upon strategies for securing Caribbean trade amid measures arising under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, the US Import Provisions & High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, the US NOAA Fisheries Seafood Import Monitoring Program, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships.
The CRFM has played an active role in regional and international initiatives to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other fisheries-related crimes. The Council received updates on the efforts made by the CRFM Secretariat and Member States to address fisheries-related crimes, including efforts through the global Blue Justice Initiative and the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub, based in Jamaica. They also received updates on interventions led by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as a new partnership with the Caribbean Community Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) and Auxilium Worldwide.
The Ministers approved the CRFM’s new Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy, which will serve as a guiding framework to manage environmental and social risks and to ensure compliance with relevant national, regional, and international safeguard principles and standards.
They also approved the CRFM Strategy for Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Regional Fisheries Management. This document signals the commitment of CRFM Member States to ensure that marine biodiversity and environmental protection are integrated into fisheries management.
The CRFM expresses its sincerest gratitude to Hon. Josephine Olivia Connolly, former Minister of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Agriculture and Religious Affairs, of The Turks and Caicos Islands, for her stellar service as Chair of the Council for the 2024 Programme Year. We also welcome her successor, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, who became the new Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries & Environment in the Turks and Caicos Islands in February 2025.
The Council is scheduled to hold an in-person meeting in October 2025 at Caribbean Week of Agriculture, to be convened by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in St. Kitts and Nevis. (Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Press Release)
]]>“As small states, we are vulnerable not just to global economic shocks and natural hazards, but to being marginalised in a world where power and influence often outweigh genuine need. That is why we must think strategically, act collaboratively, and remain focused on the values and interests that unite us,” Prime Minister Holness said.
He was delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony of the Forty-ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Montego Bay, Jamaica, 6 July 2025. The two-day Heads of Government meeting is being convened under the theme, ‘People, Partnerships, and Prosperity – Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’ which Prime Minister Holness said, “captures the essence of our regional purpose.”
Focus on people
Geopolitical developments, and the security and resilience of the Region require a focus on people “because human development must be the centre of our integration,” Prime Minister Holness said.
He added that ensuring food security, access to decent work, climate protection, and opportunities for the youth who make up 60 per cent of the Region’s populace, were also key areas of people-centred attention.
Zeroing in on youth engagement in his address, the Prime Minister stressed that young people must have a voice in shaping the decisions that affect their future.
“Youth across the Region have thoughts and ideas about what we are trying to put in place for them and future generations. As key drivers and consumers of technological advancement, they hold immense potential to contribute meaningfully to our development goals. It is important that we engage them in a deliberate, sustained, and meaningful way. Let this meeting send a clear signal—that we view their inclusion not as symbolic, but as a strategic investment in our future,” he said.
Partnerships
The focus on partnerships takes account of the “network of trust” on which global progress is built.
“We need stronger ties within CARICOM and with strategic global partners in Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East; stronger ties within CARICOM and within strategic global partners in Africa, Europe, North and South America, the Pacific and the Middle East,” Dr. Holness said.
Prosperity
Inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the CARICOM Chair said, must remain “our shared ambition—one that lifts every citizen, especially the most vulnerable.”
“Jamaica will continue to champion initiatives that make these three pillars not just aspirations, but enduring features of Caribbean life, he pledged.
During their meeting, the Heads of Government will hold discussions on a wide range of matters including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), transportation, telecommunications, industrial progress, climate change and climate finance, security, and the situation in Haiti.
“We have much ground to cover over the next few days. While our agenda is undoubtedly ambitious, it reflects a clear and purposeful vision for our Region—one grounded in our shared realities and guided by the need to ensure that our actions are responsive to the people we serve, especially our youth,” the CARICOM Chair said.
]]>“It’s an interesting journey for us. It’s a transformative journey that we have undertaken as a Region, and I’m happy to report that there have been positives; there have been some highlights that we are, in fact, proud of as a Region. And it says to us, we are progressing in a direction that once we’re able to keep the momentum and to keep our eyes on the ball, we should be able to achieve a majority of what it is that we want for regional food security,” Mr. Shaun Baugh, Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Programme Manager at the CARICOM Secretariat said in an interview with the Communications Unit.
Speaking ahead of the Forty-ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, set for 6-8 July 2025 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Mr. Baugh shared a comprehensive update on the progress of the food security initiative that is aimed at reducing the Region’s food import bill.
The Heads of Government at their last meeting in February, extended the timeline of the initiative – renamed ’25 x 25+5′ – from 2025 to 2030 to build on its early successes.
As we prepare for the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, Prime Minister Holness has shared a message outlining his vision and priorities for the Community.
Please click below to view his message.