Santokhi on obstacles to exporting products to CARICOM

During the CARICOM Heads of State Business Meeting, President Chan Santoki drew attention to the impacts of climate change on agriculture. He argued that Guyana and Suriname in particular face other consequences of climate change, such as severe droughts and heavy rainfall. These will have an impact on agriculture. “As we have noted, such developments occur every year and will have an impact on the strategy we have adopted as CARICOM leaders to reduce food imports from outside the region.”

Santoki noted that if CARICOM leaders were aware that the region is affected by climate change, there would be a greater chance of closer investigation and more active imports from each other’s countries. He mentioned that getting products into the Caribbean is always a challenge, according to Suriname Communication Services. Although CARICOM countries produce many products themselves, there are also many obstacles. “Sometimes we have products, Suriname has a lot of them, but getting them to the Caribbean is a very big challenge. It’s not only about connectivity, but also about connectivity for phytosanitary inspections.”

The President hopes that regional leaders will look at the barriers to easy access to Caribbean products. There are many products within CARICOM, but countries do not always help each other. “If we do not remove the barriers, we will still face the same challenges that we have faced for many years.”

Asked by President Santohi to raise this specific issue during the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) caucus discussion, Grenada’s Prime Minister, Deacon Mitchell, said that when people hear about the CSME, they sometimes think of it as an esoteric concept rather than something that has real practical implications for citizens. “So I wanted to ask you to make specific comments on one particular action that is being discussed,” he said.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali said extensive action had been taken in this regard. The analysis of all barriers in each country had been extended to the entire agricultural sector. In February this year, CARICOM leaders will work to remove all these barriers. “We have not lived up to that commitment,” Ali stressed. The issue will be discussed further at today’s caucus meeting, where President Santohi will elaborate further.