Excerpt and Photo from bnnbreaking.com
At the forefront of the 46th heads of government meeting of CARICOM, Deputy Secretary General Dr Armstrong Alexis underscored the critical need for member states to dismantle trade barriers to bolster regional trade and secure food independence. Echoing his call, regional leaders, including President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, advocated for public support to expedite the removal of trade impediments, facilitating smoother goods movement within the Caribbean. This concerted push aims to not only formulate but also implement policies at the operational level, honoring the sovereignty of the involved member states.
Trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, and licenses have long been stumbling blocks in the path to regional food security within the CARICOM states. These obstacles not only hinder the efficient movement of agricultural produce across borders but also escalate the cost of food, affecting the region’s ambition to achieve food independence. Efforts to address these challenges have been varied, with initiatives focusing on transportation improvements, agro-processing enhancements, and the simplification of customs and insurance procedures to make regional food production competitive against imports.