The Minister for Agriculture here has reiterated Montserrat’s call for greater inclusion of British Overseas Territories in regional agricultural initiatives and funding programmes.
Honourable John P. Osborne, was speaking on Tuesday’s What’s on Your Mind programme following his recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago. During his visit, Mr. Osborne attended meetings under the KOCARIP initiative — a partnership between the South Korean government and Caribbean nations aimed at advancing agricultural technology and climate resilience.
He explains that the project focuses on introducing new farming technologies to the region and exchanging planting materials, as Caribbean crops have shown greater resilience to global warming.
Minister Osborne however noted that Montserrat and other British Overseas Territories continue to face barriers in accessing funding from regional and international sources.
He further suggested that one solution could be for the OECS to manage project funds directly and deliver the initiatives in Montserrat, ensuring the island still benefits from regional programmes.
The Agriculture Minister reaffirmed his commitment as Chairman of the OECS Council of Ministers of Agriculture, to keep the issue on the agenda. He stated that Montserrat, as a full member of both OECS and CARICOM, should not be left out of developmental efforts.