ST. KITTS AND NEVIS – CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, inaugurated the Regional Economical Agri-Insurance Programme (REAP) on Tuesday, March 17, positioning agricultural resilience at the forefront of regional development agendas. The initiative aims to safeguard Caribbean farmers and fishers against devastating financial losses caused by natural disasters.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Drew emphasized that agriculture must be central to national development strategies rather than marginalized as a secondary sector. “Agriculture is essential for building a resilient and sustainable island nation,” he stated, according to an official CARICOM release.
The Prime Minister framed REAP as a testament to the value of regional cooperation, referencing the recent 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM held in St. Kitts and Nevis. He explicitly addressed skeptics of the regional body: “St. Kitts and Nevis alone could not have done this. This is the value of CARICOM.”
Dr. Drew highlighted the extreme vulnerabilities faced by agricultural producers, noting that a single catastrophic event could “wipe out millions of dollars in investment with no guarantee of compensation.” REAP establishes a safety net for registered farmers and fishers, providing risk mitigation guarantees that offer “ease of mind” and faster recovery following natural phenomena.
The program primarily benefits crop farmers, livestock producers, and fishers, representing a fundamental step in strengthening the Caribbean’s agricultural sector. This marks the third launch of REAP following successful implementations in Guyana and Saint Lucia.
The event featured remarks from St. Kitts and Nevis Agriculture Minister Hon. Samal Duggins, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Integration Dr. Wendell Samuel, and leadership from Lynch Caribbean Brokers Ltd. and National Caribbean Insurance.
REAP advances the Caribbean’s 25×25+5 food security initiative, which aims to reduce regional food imports by 25 percent by 2030 through enhanced agricultural sustainability and disaster resilience.