CPHD – THE ANNUAL REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

CPHD – THE ANNUAL REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

 

The annual regional partnership and Steering Committee Meeting of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors’ Forum (CPHD Forum) was held this year over the period May 21 -23, 2024.  The meeting – held at the USDA Plant Inspection Station at the Miami International Airport – was organized and hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) through the Greater Caribbean Safeguarding Initiative (GCSI).

The annual meeting provides a vital opportunity for all the Regional Partners and the leadership of the CPHD Forum to interact on present and emerging plant health issues in the Greater Caribbean region, and to discuss and streamline works plans and initiatives with a view to maximization of partners’ financial and technical resources.  Additionally, this meeting provided the opportunity to commence, in earnest, the planning for the 17th Annual CPHD Meeting scheduled to be held in August 2024 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Janil Gore-Francis, Chief Plant Protection Officer, in her capacity as the Co-Chair of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) Forum and Chair of the CPHD – Emergency Response Technical Working Group (TWG-ER) attended and participated in this important meeting.

The meeting produced several important outputs, namely:

  • The development of strategic target levels and key actions for the period 2024-2025 under the CPHD Forum’s 5-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028)
  • The creation of a draft agenda for the Joint 17th Caribbean Plant Health Directors Meeting and 2024 International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Regional Workshop for the Caribbean.
  • A review of the fitness-for-purpose of existing Technical Working Groups (TWGs)
  • An opportunity for participants to interact with officers at the PPQ station, significantly elucidating an understanding of the inspection process and requirements as well as the actions needed to enhance collaboration between the USDA and Caribbean trading partners.