Sweeting Defends Dubai Trip

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Weeks after the Davis administration was heavily criticized over a trip to Dubai, another government delegation is set to head to the United Arab Emirates.

Nearly two dozen officials from the Ministry of Agriculture will travel to Dubai. Minister Clay Sweeting says it will be well worth it.

Jasmin Brown reports.

The agriculture minister and a 19-member delegation will be heading to Dubai later this month to attend the inaugural Food for Future Summit & Expo.

The trip is slated to cost of just over $100,000.

According to the agriculture minister, tackling food insecurity is on the top of the delegation’s agenda for the trip.

While in Dubai the agriculture minister is also set to give remarks during a world leadership panel on food security.

Sweeting says he hopes new technology from Middle Eastern partners can help The Bahamas with developing a national food strategy at a time when the global COVID-19 pandemic drives food insecurity through rising prices and supply chain problems.

He says the topic is particularly timely, given the fact that inflation remains a major concern.

He says the Davis administration is working on getting prices down locally and recently held a meeting to put their plans in motion.