Basil Jarrett | Of conflicts and coconuts: Why Jamaica should look to CARICOM for food security

Wars. Nobody likes them. The Vietnam War. The Korean War. The Iraq War. And if you’re a fan of either Pepsi or Coke, there’s the Cola Wars of the 1980s as the two soft drink giants duked it out for a share of your throat. All of the above were devastating and painful events that have forever blotched human history. The first three took a massive toll on human life, the latter had a massive impact on waistlines and tooth decay the world over.

But coming out of last year’s Council for Trade and Economic Development Conference, another war may be brewing quietly, and right here in our regional backyard. At the heart of the issue was the contentious trade dispute between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago over coconut products. The disagreement took centre stage, reigniting a long-simmering dispute between the two oil-rich nations about trade fairness, regional integrity, and what it means to be a true CARICOM neighbour.

For Guyana, the frustration is palpable. The country has accused Trinidad of importing coconut oil from Asia, re-labelling it as a ‘Product of CARICOM’ to avoid tariffs, and then shipping it off to places like Jamaica. It’s a crafty manoeuvre that might win points for creativity, but loses serious marks for undermining regional trade principles. Guyanese Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha didn’t mince words at the conference, pointing out the irony that “while Guyana has fertile fields and a burgeoning coconut industry, Trinidad has been skirting its obligations to support intra-CARICOM trade”. For Guyana, said Mustapha, this isn’t just a slight. It’s a betrayal of CARICOM’s very ethos of economic cooperation and mutual benefit.

The trade tensions between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago over coconut products primarily involve Trinidad and Tobago’s restrictions on importing Guyanese coconut products. Guyana contends that the twin-island republic is attempting to use non-tariff barriers to restrict access to Guyanese products. The country cites a January 2018 coconut water shipment rejection by Trinidad as one example of unfair practices, and the closure of the Only Coconuts factory in Guyana last year due to similar challenges in exporting to Trinidad and Tobago.

In its defence, Trinidad and Tobago asserts that its actions are in compliance with CARICOM trade rules, arguing also that imported coconut oil from Asia undergoes value-added processing locally, therefore qualifying it as a CARICOM product. Some have even gone as far as to claim that the imports address regional demand gaps while maintaining quality and affordability.

GUYANA’S RISE AS AN AGRICULTURAL POWERHOUSE

To better understand the conflict, you must first understand the genesis. The irony of this dispute is magnified when you consider Guyana’s meteoric rise as the agricultural juggernaut of the Caribbean. While its oil wealth has been the headline act, the country has cleverly used its new-found riches to modernise and diversify its agricultural sector. From building state-of-the-art irrigation systems to investing in climate-resilient farming techniques, Guyana is not just keeping pace with the demands of global markets, it’s setting new standards.

Guyana’s focus on sustainable and high-quality agricultural production is also reshaping its export potential. The ‘25 by 2025’ initiative to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent has Guyana leading the charge, with plans for a Regional Food Hub that positions it as the go-to supplier for Caribbean nations. Its coconut products, namely oils, are sought after for their quality, affordability, and sustainability.

JAMAICA’S FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGES

Now, as my grandmother would say, “Cockroach don’t business inna fowl fight”, and since we have neither oil nor natural gas money to stand on, Jamaica is perhaps better served staying out of the dispute. In any event, I’ve been to Guyana twice and Trinidad once. In the case of the former, I’ve seen the roads and the colonial (read, old) buildings and I’m yet to be impressed. “This is the fastest-growing economy in the world?” I once asked a Guyanese local. “Don’t worry,” she said ruefully, “this is a work in progress. Check us back in 10 years.”

On my trip to Trinidad, I was equally unimpressed, particularly with the infamous Mauby drink concoction that I had heard so much about. Like Guyana’s Labba (read stewed rat), I don’t really care for it, either. But regardless of where you stand on the impasse between the two countries, there are real implications and, to my mind, opportunities for Jamaica.

As this country grapples with rising food prices, a growing population, and the almost annual decimation of our farms due to hurricanes and other natural disasters, it’s time to rethink our approach to food security. The issue has become an increasingly pressing concern, as we continue to import over US$1 billion in food annually, along with challenges ranging from high costs to vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.

But while we’ve been looking far and wide for solutions, our ideal partner has perhaps been right here in the region all along.

WHY GUYANA MAKES SENSE FOR JAMAICA

Guyana offers Jamaica an opportunity to diversify its food imports while supporting regional trade. It has more than enough surplus food to feed its less than one million people. Instead of relying on far-flung suppliers, we should source rice, seafood, and, yes, coconut oil, from a trusted CARICOM partner. This not only strengthens regional ties, but also reduces transportation costs, minimises our carbon footprint, and ensures a steady supply of quality food products.

REDUCED FOOD IMPORT BILL

Then there’s the cost factor. Guyana’s lower production costs can mean more affordable prices for Jamaican consumers and businesses. There’s also the proximity; importing from Guyana instead of Asia or North America slashes shipping costs and time. Add to that the quality of Guyanese products, sustainably farmed, naturally produced, and rigorously tested, and the advantages are clear.

But the benefits aren’t just economic. Sourcing from Guyana aligns with CARICOM’s goals of regional cooperation and self-reliance. By strengthening trade ties with Guyana, Jamaica supports the vision of a united Caribbean, where our economies are supposed to work together rather than compete against each other. It’s a win-win scenario: Guyana gains a reliable export market, and Jamaica needs a resilient food supply chain.

We therefore can’t afford to let internal disputes like the Guyana-Trinidad coconut wars distract us from the bigger picture. By championing fair trade and prioritising partnerships with countries like Guyana, we can ensure that CARICOM lives up to its promise of economic integration and mutual benefit. And by forging stronger trade ties with Guyana, Jamaica can address its food security challenges while supporting CARICOM’s broader goals.

Major Basil Jarrett is the director of communications at the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency and a crisis communications consultant. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Threads @IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett and send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com