WHEN food is available and people cannot have access to or purchase same, it contributes to hunger. Food was — and continues to be — used as a weapon, resulting in wars, famine, divisions in society, disintegration of values and groups, and other socio-economic and political ills.

It is said that ‘he who feeds you controls you by determining your taste and influencing how you think.’ The early pioneers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) understood this truism and sought to guard against it, given the implication of newly-independent societies trying to make their mark in a global economy, and the concern of subjecting the peoples to other forms of colonisation or dependency.

It is to Guyana’s credit that the policy of promoting and substituting local products in preference to those that originated outside of CARICOM was embraced during the administration of Forbes Burnham, one of the Founding Fathers of CARICOM. This was a step in the direction of strengthening the nation’s independence and security, and empowering the people. This policy not only set in train employment and economic opportunities, but created potential for further technological advancement through research and development, niche markets for Caribbean foods in the global economy, and boosting the Gross Domestic Product, local and regional.

The earlier sense of camaraderie in pushing among member-states the acquisition of goods and services from within the Region was considered a necessity. For instance, Guyana took a deliberate decision to purchase soap from the Commonwealth of Dominica at a relatively higher price than what obtained in the European market. While on the surface this decision may elicit questions, it should not be overlooked that, in the first instance, the money Guyana used to purchase the product remained in the Region, consequently creating opportunities in the Commonwealth of Dominica for the maintenance and improvement of the company and its product, with consequent employment and economic opportunities for persons and other companies.

Given that CARICOM and institutions of a similar nature are built on the desires and aspirations of the member-states and their peoples, it augurs well when decision-making does not lose sight of the collective. As, over the next few days, the leaders deliberate, it is expected that uppermost in the deliberations would be the ballooning and unsustainable food bill of the Region. It is hoped that, as a matter of necessity, a programme will be conceptualised and developed to drastically reduce this bill, which presently stands at over US$4.5B. Reducing this bill can see the Region’s scarce foreign exchange being diverted to other crucial areas that beg for attention, such as education and health services.
A 2013 Food and Agriculture Organization Report warns that “A continuation of the current CARICOM food import bill trends can only lead to further nutritional and economic impoverishment for the people of the Region for generations to come.” What is also disturbing is that some of the foods imported into the Region can be produced here. Moreover, some of these foods are processed or over processed, are low in nutritional value, and have health implications attached. Non-communicable diseases, which are on the rise in the Region, are manifested in obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure — which are based on lifestyle choices, including consumption of foods that are high in saturated fats, sugars and sodium, which are prevalent in processed foods. Longevity is also threatened with a sustained pattern of poor nutritional intake.

The Region has all the natural resources it needs to produce its own foods and supply the global market with health foods — which are the new crave, given their value to nutrition, health and longevity. This Region — notably Guyana, Belize and Suriname – have more than enough land mass, potential and possibilities to carve a niche in the organic foods market. In the increasing global demand for herbal food supplements and medicines, many of the products are grown, or can be grown, here. What is required are sustained efforts and support to see them enter the market. The responsibility to eliminate hunger; provide appropriate education and health services; construct roads, highways and bridges; create and maintain equity and equal opportunity, and ensure the enabling environment for employment and economic opportunities is that of the government, not the private sector.
Where the view was once held or encouraged that governments have relinquished their roles to the private sector via neo-liberal policies, such has been the major contributor to the global recession. Governments, more notably those in developed countries, have since moved to assume their rightful roles through laws, policies, programmes, checks and balances, and oversight institutions. CARICOM governments have to prioritise addressing the Region’s food import bill if the Region is to develop and compete in the global marketplace, and if its people are to be assured of health and longevity.