His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, delivered the Feature Address at the Closing Ceremony of the Agriculture Water-Saving Irrigation Technology Training Programme, held at the Villa Community and Conference Centre.
The initiative was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy (MOAFLBE) in collaboration with the Yuan Longping High Tech Agriculture Company and supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Antigua and Barbuda.
In his address, Sir Rodney commended the participants for their commitment to advancing local agriculture and emphasized the importance of water-saving technologies in addressing the growing impacts of climate change and water scarcity. He noted that efficient irrigation systems are vital to ensuring food security and sustainability in small island states such as Antigua and Barbuda.
“Water-saving irrigation technologies are not just tools of efficiency; they are instruments of resilience. Every drop saved contributes to a stronger, more food-secure nation,” His Excellency stated.
Sir Rodney also expressed appreciation to the Government and People of the People’s Republic of China for their continued partnership and technical assistance in agricultural development, highlighting that cooperation between both nations continues to yield meaningful results in education, technology, and food production.
The ceremony featured remarks from Madam Chang Yun, Honorary Consular of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; Mr. Walter Christopher, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture; and Professor Chen Xiaoliang, Training Coordinator, who provided an overview of the training outcomes. Participants, including Ms. Roseann Pile, Mr. Laurent Amsterdam, and Mr. Dexter Bristol, shared reflections on the value of the hands-on training experience.
Certificates and tokens of appreciation were presented to the participants following performances and a special poem on irrigation by Ms. Victoria Skepple. The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Mrs. Bakesha Francis-James, followed by a group photo session and farewell luncheon.
Participants represented a wide cross-section of the agricultural community, from farmers and technicians to ministry officials, all dedicated to strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s capacity in sustainable water and soil management.
His Excellency was accompanied by Lady Williams, and together they extended congratulations to all graduates of the programme, encouraging them to apply their newly acquired knowledge within their communities to ensure continued innovation in local agriculture.
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