St Kitts and Nevis: Minister Duggins engages in significant meetings on sidelines of SIDS4

St. Kitts and Nevis: Minister of Agriculture and Sports, Samal Duggins felt honoured to have been part of the 4th international conference for the Small Island Developing States in Antigua which took place from May 27 to 30, 2024.

He was privileged to contributing to the discussions on “Accelerating the Decarbonization of Fisheries in the Caribbean: From Science-Based Targets to Climate Mitigation Finance” and “Revitalizing SIDS Economies & Food and Nutrition Security through the Sustainable Use of our Living Marine Resources.”

The Minister noted that these side events were a fantastic opportunity to address crucial issues impacting the region.

He further noted the equally significant was his participation in the panel discussion “Beyond Numbers: Closing Data Gaps to Tackle Food Insecurity.” Minister Samal Duggins outlined that food insecurity is a critical issue that affects the health and stability of the communities and closing date gaps is important for developing targeted and effective interventions.

“Thus, I am deeply honoured to have been invited by CARICOM to engage in the crucial discourse on food security, with St. Kitts and Nevis poised to achieve CARICOM’s ambitious 25 by 25 agenda,” added the Minister.

He also highlighted that conferences like these are invaluable for fostering communication as well as collaboration among regional and international leaders to find effective solutions.

According to the minister, the seminars held on the sidelines of the conference provided a platform for engaging in an interactive multi-agency discussion on the sustainable utilization of living marine resources.

He said that the focus was on the crucial role of aquatic foods which includes fish and other seafood in the post COVID revitalization of the economies of SIDS, particularly those in the Caribbean region.

While saying that he was grateful for the incredible opportunity, Minister Samal Duggins added that he is looking forward to seeing the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in building a positive course towards a brighter and more sustainable future for SIDS.