(Dominica News Online) President of Agriculture Alliance of the Caribbean (AACARI), Errington Thompson has called on all Caribbean countries to “act fast” as the region’s food systems, environment and economic state continues to worsen.
His call came at the virtual opening ceremony of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2021, 16th edition. The event was held on October 4th 2021 and was CWA’s first ever online meeting.
This year, CWA was hosted under the theme “Transforming Our Food Systems”.
“The circumstances in which we find ourselves do not allow us the luxury of procrastination. There’s COVID-19, climate change, food shortages, escalating crises and weak economies. We must act now and act fast. This time must be our call for commitment to action,” Thompson warned.
He said the theme implies that “all of us in the region” are at the same place and level of transformation, and with 2030 just 9 years away, Caribbean countries must be mindful of their pledge to the sustainable development goal “no one is left behind”. Thompson added that countries have a duty “to reinvigorate our region to fulfill their pledge to suitable development goal 2 (zero hunger) and goal 3 (good health and well-being.)”
