The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has announced plans to host its upcoming National Accountability Seminar in Dominica on June 3, 2026, a gathering designed to bring cross-sector stakeholders together to assess the institution’s recent work and chart a new course for strengthening the Caribbean nation’s agricultural landscape.
Per an official press release from IICA, the full event theme is “From Local Fields to Regional Markets: Strengthening Food Security through Trade, MSMEs, and Accountability” — a framing that highlights the core priorities the seminar will address. As a dedicated space for retrospective and forward-looking discussion, the one-day event will center on reviewing all of IICA’s activities carried out across 2025, with a particular focus on unpacking the untapped potential of agricultural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to drive progress across key national development goals. These include expanding food security, generating new employment opportunities, and stimulating sustainable economic growth in Dominica’s rural communities.
The seminar will kick off with opening addresses from two senior leaders: Gregg C. E. Rawlins, IICA’s Representative for the Eastern Caribbean States, and Hon. Roland Royer, Dominica’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy. A centerpiece of the event’s official program is the formal presentation and handover of IICA’s 2025 Annual Report to Minister Royer, a key step in the institute’s commitment to public accountability for its work in the country.
Beyond the annual report presentation, the agenda features a structured panel discussion focused specifically on the role that agricultural MSMEs play in advancing Dominica’s national development. During this session, participating stakeholders will exchange diverse perspectives on both the emerging opportunities and persistent barriers that shape the sector, as well as its outsized importance to long-term national economic progress. The panel draws participants from across public, private, and civil society spheres: Terri Henry-Lovell, Vice President of the Dominica Herbal Business Association; Narrin Murphy, Senior Relationship Officer for Corporate Banking at the National Bank of Dominica Ltd.; and Micah Walter, Coordinator for Private Sector Relations, Industry, Commerce and Innovation within the Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development.
IICA has formally extended an open invitation to members of the local and international media to attend the event and cover its proceedings, which organizers expect will spark productive public dialogue around institutional accountability, expanded trade opportunities for agricultural producers, and the growing contribution of small-scale agricultural enterprises to Dominica’s overall development trajectory. The seminar will commence at 9:00 AM local time at the Public Service Union Conference Room, located on Valley Road in Dominica’s capital city of Roseau. Parties seeking additional details about registration or event logistics can contact the IICA Delegation based in Dominica for further information.