ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, August 15th, 2012 – Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering says that countries working together rather than individually to address the agricultural issues of the region will certainly provide a more realistic approach to combating the threat of pests and diseases to safeguard the agricultural sector.
The Minister was at the time speaking to delegates yesterday at Scrub Island Resort during the opening ceremony of the Fifth Meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors.The opening ceremony marked the commencement of a three-day forum focused on forming strategies, programmes and projects to strengthen the agricultural sector.
Honourable Pickering said, “Colleagues, no doubt, it is of paramount importance for us to become more and more aware of the economic, cultural and food production threats of invasive species in the Caribbean.”
He added, “It is only when we dialogue with each other, do we reform the root causes and address bottom lines. Colleagues, it is only when we share information, do we create and implement standard operating procedures so that all of us can achieve consistency; consistency in purpose, consistency in expectations and consistency in service.”
Honourable Pickering also gave reference to the 1995, infiltration of the Pink Mealy Bug in the Territory and thanked Mr. Wayne DeChi, Agricultural Scientist of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) / Agriculture Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) for working along with the Department of Agriculture to get that problem under control.
“Ladies and gentlemen, even though our gratitude was already expressed to Mr. Wayne DeChi, I would like to publicly thank him in this forum.”
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Representative, Ms. Carol Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago also gave remarks. She said, “We remain committed to the mandate of safeguarding the region from the introduction and establishment of harmful plant pests.”
She added, “We are already experiencing the warm hospitality and good service here on Scrub Island… and we hope that the deliberations here will result in very good recommendations and decisions that we can carry forward in improving and enhancing our ability to safeguard our region.”
Other speakers included; Chief Agricultural Officer, Mr. Bevin Braithwaite, other representatives from the USDA, APHIS, and the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat convened the first meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors in 2008. The USDA, APHIS, IICA and the FAO of the United Nations (UN) have partnered with the CARICOM Secretariat for these meetings. Present for this meeting are at least 40 representatives from 26 countries.
The last meeting was hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in May 2011.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour aims to protect as well as find sustainable solutions for preserving the natural resources of the Virgin Islands.
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