Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs, Hon. Dean Jonas, delivered the FAO’s Director General’s Message on the occasion of World Food Day, October 16th, 2018 (today).
In this message, it was noted that nearly 820 million people were undernourished in 2017, according to the latest State of Food Security in the World Report.
According to the message, conflict, extreme weather events linked to climate change and economic slowdown, are reversing progress made in the fight against hunger.
According to the statement, the time is right to redouble efforts to achieve the global goal of zero hunger.
World Food Day calls on the International community to work more closely together and make use of the evidence and tools available.
Three years ago, all UN Member Countries pledged to end poverty and hunger when they committed to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Minister Jonas meanwhile used the opportunity to urge citizens to pay more attention to eating healthy choices of food as this can help to avoid the incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that is so prevalent today.
He said although hunger is not an issue here Antigua, more emphasis must be paid to consuming more nutritious food to avoid numerous diet-related diseases.
Minister Jonas said that the government is currently providing lunch to thousands of school children free of cost and through the School Meals Programme and will be looking to examine the possibility of offering additional meals for children, to include Breakfast.
The Agriculture Minister said that at the last COTED Meeting, the ministers of agriculture were insisting that the governments across the OECS and CARICOM should look into providing breakfast for school children.
“This is a matter that I will be debating with my colleagues in cabinet to see if the government will be willing to undertake that as well,” Minister Jonas assured.
Minister Jonas in the meantime called for a re-education campaign to be mounted to share information with the general public about proper eating habits.
“What we need to do now is to increase our education on proper eating habits. There are still too many persons that are relying on fast foods…junk foods to nourish themselves and their families and we need to re-education our population that this is improper and we need to pay more attention to nutritious, balanced meals to eliminate the problem of NCDs in Antigua and Barbuda.”
World Food Day is being held under the theme, “Our present actions will determine our future- A Zero Hunger World by 2030 is still possible.”
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Ignorance is not BLiSS.
We cannot provide all the government schools with lunch and you want to consider breakfast?
If you have to teach or educate someone how or what to eat the ability to reason and do that which is natural has been compromised. BY Whom and WHY are the questions.
Who educate the goats, birds, fish, ANTS, flies what to eat? How is it they know what they should eat but the sensible human has to be educated on what they should eat?
I would like to see how these photos actually are on the wall to see if Mr Jonas in a sinister way suggesting he is higher than the PM
The frustration to eliminate hunger should just show everyone that man cannot bring about such. It is futile. Only God can eliminate it to the satisfaction of all.
I have an issue with politicians that do not contribute as to how we should pay for the bills, but like to spend money any which way they can. It is just wrong. My tax dollars should be spend wisely and not just to any pet program that will make a minister looks good. We have so many giveaways in this country already. School Uniforms, School Books, Shool Meal, PDV Benefits Program, PDV Utility voucher, Board of Guardian Happy Homes. We have created a nation that believe they are entitle to all these benefits. And then the PM says he will tax financial institutions on their profits to pay for University. Please guys have some constrains in your spending. Money doesn’t come by that easy. I have no problem in helping the needy. But then there needs to be some sort of means testing. Not just cart blanch free for everyone. I have said that with the People’s Benefit Program, you cannot give everyone that has a disability $215 each month. Bernard doesn’t work for less money than any able body person. Some disable persons have bank accounts with more money than the average person. So being disable is not a criteria to be given extra money on a monthly basis. Not everyone needs to be given free uniforms. Why doesn’t Dean think before he speaks. Just tell us how much this will cost he tax payers and how you plan to pay for it.
wait! A brekfuss, lunchan, dinna de gov’t fu provide? What happen to the families of these children?
You can’t pay people properly, but u want to add breakfast to school meal program.
Every primary school is not on the lunch programme, right? So how fair would it be to give breakfast to the same children?
Instead, why not provide breakfast to those schools presently outside the lunch programme, if you can afford it and it’s not empty talk?
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