St. Maarten’s commissioner responsible for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hyacinth Richardson, on Monday met with United States Department of Agriculture official Lionel Wayne De Chi and Director of Agriculture in Anguilla Mr. William Vanterpool, at the Government Administration Building.
De Chi is an Agricultural Scientist attached to the International Services of the Department of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for Central America and the Caribbean region.
The purpose of this meeting was a meet and greet with Agriculture counterparts from the USA and Caribbean Region. Points of discussion included activities and systems of control at ports of entry in order to properly handle Agriculture products. Information was also sought about propagation, nursery activities and legislation on plant quarantine.
The importance of St. Maarten participating in the regional Caribbean Plant Health Director’s Forum was also an important point of discussion.
Mr. De Chi offered the assistance of the United States Agriculture department to set up legislation by providing a template that was developed by Caricom for training in Plant Quarantine matters.
Cooperation was expressed from Mr. William Vanterpool, Director of Agriculture in Anguilla to assist St. Maarten in the area of Agriculture in the future.
Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson indicated that is it important to protect our points of entry from pests and diseases and policies are being formulated and approved to achieve this objective.
The commissioner indicated that the meeting was very fruitful and he thanked Mr. De Chi and Mr. Vanterpool for being present. He also indicated that the information and insight shared during the meeting on Agriculture safety and legislation would bring more cooperation between counterparts within the Caribbean and internationally.