Minister Singh attends the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in Ecuador

“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) continues to be a significant source of technical assistance in policy and planning, capacity building, knowledge sharing, advocacy and resource mobilization in Trinidad and Tobago.” Such was the commendation of Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh on Monday 28th March, 2022, as he delivered remarks at the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in Ecuador.

The Conference takes place from 28 March – 01 April, 2022 and brings together the governments of the thirty-three (33) Member States of the FAO in Latin America and the Caribbean, to establish the regional priorities to adapt and localise the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031. During the Conference, the countries will analyse the work done by the FAO in the previous two (2) years in the region and agree on recommendations for initiatives and priorities that will guide the Organisation’s work during the 2022-2023 period.

In reflecting on the long standing and productive relationship which Trinidad and Tobago has had with the FAO in the promotion of sustainable agricultural systems and contribution towards hunger and poverty alleviation, Minister Singh identified with a number of projects which in his opinion, have had “far-reaching impacts” in helping T&T achieve its national mandate and goals. Among some of these included: the support of the FAO in updating T&T’s “over one hundred (100) year old Fisheries Legislation” which represented some thirty (30) years of dedicated work; the promotion of food safety and meat hygiene in the poultry cottage industry and; the adoption and implementation of the Disaster Risk Management Plan for the Agriculture Sector.

The Minister also lauded the contributions of the Country Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Mr. Reuben Robertson, whom he said, continued to be quite instrumental in lobbying the financial and technological support requisite for the successful execution of their collaborative projects. He said: “Trinidad and Tobago continues to be grateful for the continuous support and technical expertise of the FAO [and] I therefore pledge – on behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago and extension the Caribbean – our support and commitment in our efforts to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and achieving food and nutrition security for all.”

Click here for Minister Singh’s full Address at the Conference.