Letters of Appointment Presented to Members of the Food Security and Food Prices Committee

August 27, 2024:- Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago – On Monday August 26, 2024, Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, presented Letters of Appointment to the fourteen (14) members of the Food Security and Food Prices Committee.

The establishment of the Cabinet-appointed Committee, chaired by Ms. Nirmalla Debysingh, C.E.O. of the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO), is a significant move towards addressing the issue of rising food prices in Trinidad and Tobago and it is anticipated that the Committee would formulate effective solutions to address this growing concern.

Minister Hosein highlighted that this a pivotal step in Government’s commitment to ensuring access to affordable and nutritious food for all. He further indicated that “The challenges before us are daunting. Food inflation, exacerbated by global disruptions such as supply chain interruptions and geopolitical conflicts, has severely impacted our food security. Our reliance on imported food items, which costs us over TT$5 billion annually, further complicates this issue. This is compounded by rising global food prices and adverse weather conditions affecting agricultural productivity. The Food Prices Committee is not merely a response to these challenges but a strategic initiative to seek sustainable solutions.”

The Food Security and Food Prices Committee is comprised of experts in the fields of agriculture, economics, nutrition, trade and consumer advocacy, allowing for the multifaceted challenges posed by rising food prices to be addressed from various angles and stakeholders.

Cabinet-appointed Food Security and Food Prices Committee

Chairperson: 

Ms. Nirmalla Debysingh – Chief Executive Officer, NAMDEVCO

Vice Chairperson: 

Mr. Nigel Grimes – Technical Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

Members:

Ms. Ava Mahabir-Dass – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry

Mr. Andy Mendez – Supervisor (Ag.), Customs and Excise Division, Ministry of Finance

Mr. Hayden Hurdle – Accountant, Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Keisha Roberts – University of Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Sharon D. Hutchinson – Faculty of Agriculture, University of the West Indies

Mr. Rajiv Diptee – Past President, Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Mr. Vernon Persad – Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Mr. Roger Roach – President, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association

Mr. Kavi Panday – Chief Executive Officer, Massy Stores (Trinidad)

Ms. Siti Jones-Gordon – Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestle Trinidad and Tobago

Mr. Alpha Sennon – Agricultural Entrepreneur

Mr. Maxslon Roberts – Agricultural Entrepreneur (Tobago)

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