PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – More than 100 veterinary, agricultural and health experts from across the Caribbean are meeting here to strengthen regional animal health and food safety systems.
Addressing the 25th anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers (CCCVOs) and the sixth meeting of the Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET) Steering Committee, Trinidad and Tobago’s Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister, Kazim Hosein, underscored the vital role of veterinary services in national and regional development.
He used the occasion to issue a stern warning to individuals involved in the illegal importation of animals, saying “those who are involved in the unlawful smuggling of animals into our country will feel the full brunt of the law.
“These actions not only threaten our food systems and animal health but also jeopardize the livelihoods of our citizens and public health,” Hoseign told the delegates attending the weeklong conferences
“This week is not only about the past 25 years, it is about shaping the next 25. We are building systems that our farmers, consumers, and future generations will depend on. Systems that will enable us to respond swiftly to a disease outbreak, negotiate trade agreements with confidence, and deliver nutritious, locally produced food to our people”.
Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh, who also addressed the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of adopting a “One Health” approach across the region.
“Collaboration across sectors and disciplines through a One Health approach is a vital solution for addressing the complex health challenges facing our society,” Deyalsingh said, adding “to prevent, detect and respond to emerging health challenges, all relevant sectors must collaborate in an integrated manner to achieve together, what no sector can achieve alone.”
The conference is being attended by representatives from international organizations, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA).
