Government is committed to the completion of an innovative Food Security Policy.

This assurance came recently from Minister of Family, Youth, Sports and the Environment, Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, as she addressed the Commission on Sustainable Development in New York. The Commission is an organ of the United Nations that provides leadership on sustainable development.

Dr. Byer-Suckoo said: “Our policy seeks to lower the cost of basic foods and promote sustainable consumption and production from within our terrestrial and marine spaces. Much work is being done at the community level and at the regional level CARICOM is fully engaged at its highest level.”

While sharing four of government’s new policy initiatives with her audience, she noted that this country was in the process of completing a Sustainable Agricultural Development Act which would address eco-friendly production methodologies and technologies, increased efficiencies and increased productivity.

She added that the authorities recognised the need for improved access and transportation costs within CARICOM as a means to address regional food security concerns. “Barbados is committed to the further development of a sustainable regional maritime transport system consistent with the provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the move towards the final phase of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy,” Dr. Byer-Suckoo said.

According to her, Government would continue developing the fisheries sub-sector, cognisant of its contribution to health and nutrition, agri-business and inter-sectoral development.

She also thanked Iceland for its development assistance to the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in this area through the Island Growth Initiative and encouraged other governments and developmental partners to support similar efforts.

The Minister promised that Barbados would continue to strengthen its national commission on sustainable development, stating that she was convinced that it was only in partnership with the international community that SIDS would find solutions to their sustainable development needs.

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