Livestock disease-free status underpins Guyana’s goal to serve region – President Ali

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said Guyana’s disease-free status is central to protecting food supply and expanding regional production.

The Head-of-State addressed the 52nd Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease. There, he warned that any outbreak of the disease could undermine trade and production gains.

As such, he said Guyana’s status being free of the disease without vaccines is more than a veterinary achievement. It supports livestock industries, export growth, and national food security.

“We are acutely aware, that a single outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease would devastate food security, rural livelihoods, and trade across Latin America and the Caribbean,” the President said.

The two day meeting will review progress and gaps in the region’s response. Authorities will examine technical indicators that define progress. It also allows for assessment of the 2021 to 2025 objectives and creates space for launching the 2026 to 2030 cycle.

Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral illness that affects livestock and can severely disrupt food production systems.

CARICOM imports about US$312.3 million worth in meat and millions more in poultry and eggs. President Ali reminded the gathering that the region has a clear, collective mandate to reduce food imports by 4.6 million tonnes by 2030 and build a resilient, competitive, and climate‑smart agri‑food system.

And for him, Guyana has the huge task of helping the region achieve this goal. Already, he said, food production expansions are underway, backed by more than US$640 million in investment opportunities across meat, poultry, dairy, and small ruminant production.

Ali said these are not incremental changes but effort aimed at building long term production and national food reserves.

He added that maintaining a disease-free status will depend on continued regional coordination and the planned 2026 to 2030 action plan to guard against transboundary animal diseases.