Bahamian agriculture minister calls for more Caribbean production

One regional agriculture minister is suggesting that more Caribbean countries capitalise on the downturn in the United States economy by boosting local production.



Lawrence Cartwright, the agriculture minister for The Bahamas said such an approach could help to cushion the related fallout in the Caribbean region.



Mr Cartwright said, The Bahamas is seeing a decline in the construction, investment and tourism sectors because of the US economic twister.



The Caribbean country is starting a programme to boost local production as part of the solution, he added.



Mr Cartwright who is among regional agriculture ministers attending the Eighth Caribbean Week of Agriculture now on in St Vincent, said increased production will require more money from Government.



Regional Cabinets must give full support to the initiative he added.



The Bahamas, which imports about 90 per cent of its agricultural produce from the United States, is driven by tourism with about five million arrivals a year.



The figure however, is expected to dip significantly this year because of the US financial crunch,. So the question being considered is whether this is the best time to increase agricultural production?



Mr Cartwright says yes, and he believes the entire Caribbean should follow the model because it could cut foreign imports and provide more jobs.



According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, every year, the region imports about $US3 billion worth of agricultural produce from the US.



Joanne Massiah, the agriculture minister for Antigua and Barbuda agrees with Mr Cartwright.



She said several months ago, Antigua started a programme to boost local production and with the development in the United States, it will be intensified.



According to Miss Massiah, the conditions in the United States could have far reaching implications for the region.