Caribbean unites to tackle crop pest threats
Caribbean nations are stepping up joint efforts to fight agricultural pests, with Antigua and Barbuda’s Dr Janil Gore-Francis once again taking the lead in coordinating regional emergency responses.
At high-level talks in Trinidad this week, officials from across the region—alongside partners from the Food and Agriculture Organization, US Department of Agriculture, and CARICOM—agreed on new protocols for managing pest outbreaks that threaten crops and food supplies.
The Caribbean’s close-knit geography means pests can quickly spread across borders. Dr Gore-Francis stressed the importance of regional collaboration, saying it allows countries to share proven strategies instead of “reinventing the wheel”.
The renewed approach focuses on prevention and early intervention, integrating pest control into wider disaster management plans. Technical teams are working on rapid response systems and tailored protocols for high-risk pests affecting both export and subsistence crops.
“We’ve learned a great deal,” said Dr Gore-Francis, highlighting the value of exchanging ideas and building joint projects to protect agriculture across the region.
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Dr Gore-Francis the country Chief Plant Quarantine Officer, a civil servant of high integrity and principle, who carry out her duties according to law. It was so sad and disturbing when she was the target of an attack on a popular radio station by the highest political directorate in this country…for what reason? FOR DOING HER JOB ACCORDING TO LAW. Politicians need to be reminded that while laws are passed in parliament, they are enforce by civil servants not politicians. LAWS ARE NOT TO BE IGNORED FOR EXPEDIENCY
“We have learned quite a bit” While i love reading this I also like to hear “We intend to share the knowledge and implement some of if not all of what we learnt”
This kind of regional cooperation is the only way we can stop pests from destroying our livelihoods.
Dr. Gore-Francis is doing incredible work. Collaboration like this is exactly what the Caribbean needs.
Congratulations to the new Chair. This is part of an ongoing decades long grouping of Plant Protection Heads. Heads have to be chosen every term and it is a routine selection that we Antigua and Barbuda are at the head. The work that they have been doing has been going on from the 1990s and still continues. I hope that they can bring home to us, from this meeting, the solution to the Giant African Snail, Giant Cockroaches in the garden and farm setting and the Tree Frog. These have been pests here in Antigua for tooooo loooong along with some other pests like Coconut Palm serious Citrus diseases. Ah hope they have dem on deh agenda.
It’s amazing to see Antigua taking the lead and
make big moves on a regional scale for pest management stability and sustainability a huge move for food security in the region
Congratulations. Hats off to you my dear friend. You deserve everything you revieve you have worked
Leadership is good, but will this actually trickle down to the farmers in the fields?