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News from St Lucia as of
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Consultation on regional biotechnology and biosafety policy and strategy held in St Lucia
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| Published on Thursday, October 8, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Biotechnology is increasingly becoming recognised as one of the major engines by which countries in the Caribbean can enhance their socio-economic development. The Caribbean countries, including St Lucia, are fortunate to be endowed with biological resources, some of them being unique to specific countries such as St Lucia with its endemic plant and animal species.
Biosafety is the management system that is necessary to safeguard human, animal, plant health and the environment from any possible negative impacts that may arise from the use of the products of biotechnology. CARICOM, through its Council on Trade and Economic Development, COTED, mandated a Working Group to develop a policy and strategy on biotechnology and biosafety for the sustainable development of the region. The Working Group is chaired by Dr Cyril Roberts of CARDI, Barbados and comprises biotechnology experts from around the region. The draft document has been produced and is now available for disemination around the Caribbean to get the input of stakeholders, so that they can asist in the effective implementation of the policy and strategy when it is adopted.
St Lucia held its national consultation on October 06, 2009 at the Auberge Seraphine Hotel. Dr Cyril Roberts, Chairperson of the Working group and Dr Malachy Dottin, working group member from Grenada were present, along with Mr Barry Joefield, Program Officer for Agricultural Development at CARICOM, who offered brief remarks on behalf of CARICOM. Mr Hubert Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Forestry declared the consultation open. Representatives from the private, public and NGO sectors were present to make their contributions to the draft document. | | | | Reads : 622 | | | |
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