Jamaica is calling for greater collaboration from the region as the Caribbean begins to recover from global external shocks.
“It is wise for us, as we start to re-emerge in the recovery stage, to make sure that we never forget the discussion around building resilience as a region and how we’re going to help each other to make sure that whatever tools and solutions we have, we share,” said Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr., as he welcomed his Bahamian counterpart Clay Sweeting, during a courtesy call on Tuesday.
Charles Jr. said the region had endured a difficult past two years with devastating global challenges, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has killed and infected thousands of people in the region, climate change, and the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
He said the Jamaica government is “committed to ensuring that whatever support we can give to The Bahamas, whatever mutual exchange of technical support or other forms of support, we are willing, particularly in a time when it is most needed.”
Sweeting said Jamaica has done “extremely well” with certain subsectors of agriculture, such as poultry, and that Nassau is looking to revive that sector.
He said his country has also been successful in the fisheries sector and “we’d be glad to help [Jamaica] in any way we can.
“We’re hoping that we can garner some knowledge from you, Jamaica. We look forward to the partnerships and how we can develop our relationship as we move forward,” said Sweeting.
CMC/
