Minister Samal Duggins has underscored the importance of regional collaboration as he participates in the Aquarian Consult Afri-Caribbean Summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
Duggins is serving as co-chair of the Agriculture and Food Security track, a role he says he is honoured to undertake on behalf of St. Kitts and Nevis. He emphasised that the strong presence of Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Agriculture Ministers reflects a shared commitment to advancing food security, innovation, and resilience across the region.
He also noted his involvement in coordinating the OECS delegation, ensuring that the region is represented with a unified and strategic voice.
Among those participating are:
Roland Royer — Dominica
Israel Bruce — St. Vincent and the Grenadines
John Osborne — Montserrat
Karl Dawson — British Virgin Islands
Kyle Hodge — Anguilla
Lennox J. Andrews — Grenada
Also in attendance is Didacus Jules of Saint Lucia, Director General of the OECS.
Duggins stressed that their collective participation highlights the critical role of regional partnerships in building more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. He added that unified action among OECS member states strengthens the region’s ability to address shared challenges and opportunities.
“This is what leadership looks like — partnership, coordination, and action,” he affirmed.