Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development Lisa Jawahir is calling for faster action to address longstanding challenges affecting the movement of goods and people across the Caribbean.
Jawahir, who recently returned from attending Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) in Jamaica,
Her call came on her return from the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), held in Jamaica from September 27 to October 2.
Speaking to the media at Tuesday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing, the Minister said she was impressed by Jamaica’s response following Hurricane Melissa in 2025, particularly the speed with which the country responded.
“This was certainly a lesson for us,” Jawahir said.
She also related her experiences visiting farms and observing the Agro Parks, which she said would soon be implemented in Saint Lucia.
But Jawahir said the CWA discussions also highlighted challenges that have been raised repeatedly at regional meetings.
She said one of the major challenges was the movement of goods across the region, particularly as Saint Lucia seeks to position itself as an agricultural hub in the southern Caribbean.
“I find it very difficult to sit back and listen to the same things being said over and over,” Jawahir said.
“While there are positives coming out of these meetings on the way forward, we are still at the same place as it relates to regional travel.”
Jawahir questioned the lack of progress on a regional vessel capable of transporting livestock between Caribbean countries.
“Where is the boat that we have been talking about as a Caribbean, to take cows or swine from Jamaica to Saint Lucia, so . . . we can expand livestock production?”
The Minister also said she wants to establish satellite abattoirs, noting that most of the island’s butchers are from her Castries South-East constituency.
However, she said production would need to meet the standards required to supply the meat cuts demanded by supermarkets and hotels.
To help address some of the challenges associated with moving livestock across the region, Jawahir said the Ministry of Agriculture has introduced an artificial insemination laboratory at Volet, Micoud.
“We are at least able to get the semen samples from Jamaica and use that home and take it from there,” she said.
“Moving forward, the discussions will have to continue on regional travel and regional trade…but that was the biggest challenge, you know, knowing that this issue has existed for some time now And I really want to urge you, all of the participants, to take an active role, and I certainly will be an advocate for it, that we need to talk a little less and act quicker.”
The establishment of a regional ferry service to transport people and goods safely, reliably and at lower cost has been discussed by CARICOM member states for decades.
The issue was raised again in July during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Saint Lucia.
At that meeting, Trinidad and Tobago proposed taking the lead in initiating a ferry service using one of the existing vessels in the twin-island republic as a pilot.
The proposal also envisaged the development of a private sector-led operation, supported by the necessary maritime, legal and insurance frameworks.
