Minister of Agriculture, Honourable John P. Osborne, is emphasizing the need for stronger inter-regional trade as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) works to meet its updated food security target under the 25 by 25 plus 5 initiative.
The programme, which originally aimed to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2025, has now been extended by five years, reflecting the challenges member states have faced in meeting the original deadline.
Minister Osborne, who also serves as Chairman of the OECS Council of Ministers of Agriculture, said one of the key issues lies in how trade data is reported. He explained that while statistics often highlight imports from major partners like the United States, they fail to capture the extent of inter-regional trade within the Caribbean.
The agriculture minister also pointed to marketing and information gaps as major barriers to regional trade. He noted that while Jamaica produces large quantities of chicken, regional buyers- including those in Montserrat, are often unaware of these opportunities.
Minister Osborne said he plans to continue discussions with the OECS Director General and the CARICOM Secretariat, both of whom have expressed support for his efforts to enhance regional cooperation.