Antiguans lift ban on TT food

Antiguan Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Vere Bird yesterday signed a Protocol Trade agreement with TT Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources John Rahael, which would once again allow Antigua to import agricultural produce from TT.

Rahael said following the mealybug infestation a few years ago, a ban had been placed on all agricultural produce from TT. He stated that this signing represented the re-establishment of an opportunity for local farmers to earn increased incomes, thereby creating greater food security and safety. This, he said was one of the major objectives of the ministry. He revealed that TT had already signed trading agreements with Grenada and Dominica, and now with Antigua and Barbuda. “We are already seeing the benefits of these agreements,” claimed Rahael. Rahael concluded yesterday’s signing by thanking Bird for taking time out to come to TT to sign such an agreement which would foster economic growth between both countries.