The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana have agreed to collaborate on a new food import initiative aimed at reducing the cost of living by securing cheaper fruits, vegetables, and other produce for the local market.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the Cabinet has instructed Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith Jr. to coordinate with his Guyanese counterpart to facilitate the arrangement, following discussions between Prime Minister Gaston Browne and President Irfaan Ali at the COP30 conference in Belize.
“The aim is to secure cheaper fruits and vegetables and other food items at a cheaper rate,” Merchant said during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
“We should see some further reduction in prices once this strategy is implemented.”
Merchant noted that the collaboration is part of the government’s broader effort to lower food costs and enhance food security. It follows the Cabinet’s earlier decision to reduce the Common External Tariff on essential food items such as fresh produce, canned proteins, and infant foods.
Nearly 90 percent of Antigua and Barbuda’s imported foods currently come from North America, a dependence that has made local prices vulnerable to global market shifts.
The Guyana agreement, officials said, is designed to diversify supply sources within CARICOM while ensuring that consumers benefit directly from lower import costs.
