Seventeen years ago, then President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo warned CARICOM leaders about the importance of removing key trade barriers. 
In fact, the economist had outlined a list of key constraints that must be addressed forthwith so that due attention can be given to agriculture to realize a food secure region. His advice, embodied in a 2005 agreement which came to be known as the “Jagdeo Initiative”, was not heeded.
For its failure to act, the region has seen an increasing strain on its food import bill which grew by US$3.2B at the end of 2021 from US$1.8B in 2005. This morbid food predicament was further exacerbated when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains for the region. As if that economic stress was not enough, the difficulties that erupted from the Russia-Ukraine war pushed many regional states into a fiscal vice, leaving them choking on the inescapable reality that only more suffering will follow continued inaction on food security.
Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States, Sir Ronald Saunders made this much clear as he reflected in on the “great pause” that was placed on the Jagdeo Initiative, only for it to be reborn in the fiery will of President, Irfaan Ali. 
In his most recent writings, Sir Saunders was in high praise of the Head of State who successfully pulled key CARICOM leaders to the table to confront the need for action on agricultural sustainability.
Sir Saunders stressed that the food crisis facing CARICOM “cries out for urgent attention” adding that Guyana’s Agri-Investment Forum and Expo set the stage for leaders to take action that would upset the status quo and forge a pathway to meaningful integration of CARICOM’s resources.
Based on the outcome statement from the said forum, the Ambassador said a clear plan of action has been set for tackling food insecurity, removing tariffs on CARICOM goods, and establishing regional transportation to get regionally produced food to every country.
LEADERS AGREE
At the forum held under the theme “Investing in vision 25 by 2025,” CARICOM heads of government from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Montserrat and Trinidad and Tobago agreed that failure to implement the 2005 “Framework for the repositioning of Caribbean agriculture” (the Jagdeo initiative) constrained the Caribbean Community’s capacity to safeguard against the impact of the present crisis.
In fact, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne said at the formal opening of the Guyana Agri Forum, “Our region failed to implement the 2005 Jagdeo Initiative and over the last 17 years, we have suffered for our inaction”.
The regional leaders have since welcomed with open arms President Ali’s plan to achieve a 25 percent reduction in the region’s food import bill by 2025.
The Head of State has since been charged with mandating a ministerial task force on food security to propose an implementation schedule for urgent consideration by heads of government.
