Dr. Deep Ford, FAO Coordinator, and the Hon. V. Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources & Local Government.

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Agricultural sustainability to reduce the Bahamian dependency on food importation is the centre of the historic Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources & Local Government’s regional meeting with the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)/CARICOM Directors. On February 23, the Ministry held a press meeting in the Ministry’s conference room in the Island Traders Building on East Bay Street.

“During May of last year, the 33rd Regional Conference of Ministers of Agriculture for Latin American and the Caribbean took place in Santiago, Chile,” said V. Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources & Local Government.

“As a result of that Conference, CARICOM Ministers were of the view that the issues facing the Caribbean were lost in the mix of the overall conference where major food producing nations like Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil and Uruguay were the dominant players and that CARICOM Ministers of Agriculture needed a forum of their own, to discuss Caribbean issues, hence the genesis of this meeting of ministers scheduled for tomorrow at the Hilton British Colonial Hotel here in New Providence.”

Minister Gray said that this meeting was organized by FAO’s Sub-Regional Office in Barbados, headed by a Coordinator, Dr. Deep Ford and Dr. Jerome Thomas, FAO representative to The Bahamas stationed in Jamaica assisted by Dr. Godfrey Eneas, The Bahamas Ambassador to FAO.

“This meeting is historic because it is the first of its kind ever to be held anywhere. All Ministries of Agriculture in CARICOM will be represented, mostly by Ministers themselves, but some by their Parliamentary Secretaries or Permanent Secretaries of their Ministries,” said Minister Gray.

“In addition to the attendance of CARICOM Ministers, a representative from Brazil, one of the largest Agricultural producing countries, is expected to attend and make a presentation. Also in attendance will be The Director-General of FAO will be here to interface with Ministers and listen to their concerns, and the issues affecting Caribbean Agriculture. The Director-General is also expected to address CARICOM Heads of Government meeting later this week.”

Minister Gray said that on Wednesday, between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:00 pm, the Director General of FAO and Ministers or their representatives are going to make a formal visit to North Andros to visit (BAMSI) The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

“They will tour the commercial/tutorial farm, the campus buildings completed or under Dr. José Graziano Da Silva’s construction, the marine farm under construction, and meet the students and faculty of the school,” said Minister Gray.

“We look forward to two productive days of fruitful discussions and interactions of Agriculture Ministers and at the end it is hoped that the Caribbean position, as it relates to its relationship with FAO, will be solidified and the already good co- operation arriving Agriculture Ministers of the Caribbean will be strengthened.”