A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between two sub-regional states is intended to help boost their respective agricultural stocks through knowledge sharing and technical assistance.
Saint Lucia and its neighbourly isle St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have signed an MOU with the goal of providing a framework, whereby SVG will offer assistance to Saint Lucia in the livestock sector, while Saint Lucia will provide assistance to SVG in Sea Moss production.
On July, 14 the signing ceremony took place at the conclusion of the 22nd Eastern Caribbean Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries and Sustainable Use of Living Marine Resources at the Beachcombers Hotel Conference Room in Villa, SVG.
SVG’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour, Saboto Caesar stated that the MOU signals a bilateral cooperation which seeks to identify specific areas of partnership in an effort to have a more detailed approach going forward.
Minister Caesar said, “Throughout our history, we have had a consolidated marketing platform and we have merged several production platforms.”
Additionally, St Vincent and the Grenadines has been identified as an excellent producer of root crops in the Southern Caribbean and will be providing Germplasm material to the Government and People of St Lucia,” said the Agriculture Minister.
Elated and hopeful with the signing of the MOU, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Alfred Prospere commented on their rapidly growing banana and Sea Moss sectors. Prospere revealed that more than 400 persons are involved in Sea Moss production with more than 65 exporters of Sea Moss. He noted that St Vincent and the Grenadines’ strength is within the Medicinal Cannabis Industry, while disclosing that Saint Lucia is now moving forward within this avenue of herbal care.
Prospere added that Saint Lucia is relying on St Vincent in this collaborative effort to assist in developing this area through the provision of expertise.
“Now is the time for small OECS countries to come together under one umbrella and to be able to achieve our set goals and target in Agriculture,” Prospere said.
St Vincent and the Grenadines recently signed an MOU with the Government and people of Grenada on Agricultural Cooperation.