By Admin. Updated 10:15 a.m., Friday, October 25, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) – Hon. Saboto Ceasar has successfully completed postgraduate studies in agriculture.
This month, he graduated from the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus with a Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Resilient Agriculture for Community Development.
Mr. Ceasar who is currently the longest-serving agriculture minister in CARICOM has served as SVG’s agriculture minister since 2012. Prior to that, he served as Minister of Housing and Tourism.
One News SVG reched out to Mr. Ceasar, for a comment about the achievement. He outlined why he decided to pursue the Climate climate-resilient agriculture studies.
“Climate change goes to the heart of our ability to feed ourselves. As a Policy Maker I owe a duty of care to the citizens of my country. One part of this duty is to keep myself updated with current information in the field of expertise so that I can better engage with my technical advisors within the Ministry, the regional and global partners,” Mr. Caesar said.
“The period of study was extremely engaging and difficult to balance work and study. I never felt alone though, since in SVG today there are so many persons pursuing studies are all levels. I must note that I am far better informed now on climate change issues and how they impact Food Security,” Mr. Caesar told One News SVG.
The agriculture minister said: “I wish to recognize the excellent work of the Faculty of Agriculture and Professor Wayne Ganpat’s unwavering support to all students”.
So far during his tenure, Mr. Ceaser has had to face highs and lows. The high points have been increased exports of agricultural produce from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, continued diversification of agriculture, and provided income, technical, and other support to farmers.
Mr. Ceaser has also received international recognition from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation for his role in reducing hunger in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He also spearheaded the country’s historic move to decriminalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Most recently, Mr. Ceasar was honoured by the UN FAO as one of the international organization’s World Food Day 2024, Food Heroes.
The lows or challenges have been dealing with the impact of climate change on agriculture, recovering from repeated hits from natural disasters, and having to manage the spread of plant diseases such as Black Sigatoka which affects banana plants, citrus greening, among others.
Mr. Ceaser, a trained lawyer, was in 1999 an Island Scholar in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He then moved on to successfully reading for his bachelor’s degree in Law from 200-2003.
After entering public life, Mr. Caesar obtained a Master of Law with Specialization in Banking and Finance Law from the University of London.
One News SVG 