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, groups, and other socio-economic and political ills.It is said, ‘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 during the Forbes Burnham administration — one of the founders of CARICOM– the policy of promoting and substituting local products in preference to those that originated outside of CARICOM, was embraced. This was a step in the direction towards strengthening the nation’s independence, security and people’s empowerment.

This policy set in train not only employment and economic opportunities, but also created potential for further technological advancement through Research and Development, niche markets for Caribbean foods in the global economy, and boost the Gross Domestic Product, local and regional.

The earlier sense of camaraderie in pushing the acquiring of goods and services from within the Region among member-states 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 would have obtained in the European market.

While on the surface this decision may give rise to questions, it should be not be lost sight of that in the first instance, the money Guyana used to purchase the product remains in the Region. Consequently, this created opportunities in the Commonwealth for the maintenance and improvement of the company, its product, employment and economic opportunities.

Given that CARICOM and institutions of 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 the leaders look for ways to stimulate economic development in the Region, it is expected that uppermost in their plans would be to find a way to cut the ballooning and unsustainable Region’s food-import bill. It is hoped that as a matter of necessity, a  programme will be conceptualised and developed to reduce this drastically. Presently, the bill stands at over US$4.5B. Reducing this bill can see the diverting of scarce foreign exchange to other crucial areas that beg for attention, such as education and health services.
A 2013 Food and Agriculture Organisation report warned 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 can be produced here, are processed, over processed, low in nutritional value, and carry health consequences.

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 high in saturated fat, sugars and sodium, which are prevalent in processed foods. Longevity is also threatened with sustained patterns of poor nutritional intake.

The Region has all the natural resources needed to produce its own foods and also supply the global market with health foods, which is the new crave, given its 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, much 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, the construction of roads,  highways and bridges, creating and maintaining equity, equal opportunity, and ensuring an enabling environment for employment and economic opportunities is of that government, not the private sector.

Where the view was once held or encouraged that government relinquishes its role to the private sector via neo-liberal policies, such has been the major contributor to the global recession. Since then, governments, more notably in developed countries, have moved to assume their rightful role through laws, policies, programmes, checks and balances, and oversight institutions.

Addressing the food-import bill has to be a matter of priority for regional governments if the Region is to develop, compete in the global market place, and if its peoples are to be assured of health and longevity.