Min. Moxey, Ambassador McCain, Min. Sweeting - GB

Nassau, Bahamas: A Bahamian Delegation including Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, Hon. Clay Sweeting, Bahamas Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization, His Excellency Winston Pinnock hosted United States Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome, Ambassador Cindy McCain, on her first official visit to The Bahamas on the 30th and 31st of January.

The UN FAO, headquartered in Rome, is mandated to promote food, agricultural, nutritional, and rural development around the world by providing technical, and sometimes, financial support to developing nations.

On Monday 30th January, the group, which also included officials from the US Embassy in Nassau and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) spent the morning in Eleuthera to observe sustainability, educational and agricultural programs at the Island School; One Eleuthera Foundation, and Apple Hole Farm.

From there, the group was met in Grand Bahama by Minister for Grand Bahama, The Honorable Ginger Moxey. While on the island they visited the Coral Vita coral reef restoration project and visited the Hurricane Dorian Memorial in High Rock before returning to New Providence.

On Tuesday morning the group paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Hon. Philip Davis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Fred Mitchell at the office of the Prime Minister. They then toured the fish farm at Tropic Seafood and the American Makerspace at the Incubator for Collective Expression (ICE) in New Providence.

Ambassador McCain said she had a keen interest in visiting The Bahamas – a country that has been sounding the alarm on food security and how it is affected by climate change.

“Food security is the most important global security issue of our time. The Bahamas is a strong partner ensuring the integrity of the UN system, active in the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program. We need a united, global effort to save lives and tackle the roots of hunger. We must invest in science, technology, climate resilience, and innovation to create efficient food systems that can weather shocks of the future,” she said.

She added that the United States continues to make global investments towards food security.

“I’m proud of the United States for stepping up to address the current food and fertilizer crisis far beyond Ukraine, with $7.2 billion in humanitarian assistance through the World Food Program and nearly $450 million contributed to the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2022. We must all play our part – not just in statements and at meetings, but in action and with investment – to create the future we want – the future that everyone deserves: one where no one goes to bed hungry,” Ambassador McCain said.

H.E. Pinnock said he was delighted to welcome Ambassador McCain, who was invited by Minister Mitchell.

“Ambassador McCain and her team in Rome are strong advocates who support the efforts of the government of the Bahamas to strengthen its Agricultural sector, and have the Food and Agricultural Organization play a greater role in improving our country's food security. The government greatly appreciates Ambassador McCain and her team's effort to help our country in this regard, and look forward to a fruitful visit to The Bahamas,” he said.

Minister Sweeting said he is happy that the FAO continues to support the mission of The Bahamas.

‘We are happy that she agreed to come to The Bahamas to get a clear understanding of our climate change and food security challenges. The FAO has been an essential partner to The Bahamas in providing support to ensure that we boost our efforts to obtain food security. We continue to be focused on the development of our food systems and our goal to slash our food imports by 25 percent by 2025,” he said.

It has been widely reported that many countries continue to grapple with a global food crisis.

Recently, a UNFAO study revealed that 17.2 percent of Bahamians suffered “moderate to severe food insecurity” at the height of COVID-19 between 2019-2021.

US Charge d'Affaires Usha Pitts (r) looks on

Min. Sweeting and HE Winston Pinnock (r) look on

Ambassador Cindy McCain and Minister Clay Sweeting

PHOTOS - BIS/Ulric Woodside & also Courtesy Ministry of Agriculture.