 Good day fellow Saint Lucians, this week has been observed as quarantine awareness week in Saint Lucia. The theme for the week, safeguard Saint Lucia's agriculture, don't pack apace. Arriculture continues to be one of the major contributing sectors to the economy of Saint Lucia and this must continue to be so if we are to ensure that food and nutrition security for our nation. Although we are experiencing production increases in bananas, fruits, vegetables, root crops, poultry, small ruminants and pork, Saint Lucia agricultural sector is challenged by a number of issues. The constant threat of the introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases can be viewed as one of the major challenges. This has been given top priority as changes in global trade. Coupled with the increased movement of people in a changing climate has also inadvertently increased the movement of pests and diseases. Over the years, the invasion of many pests and diseases has severely affected agricultural production, causing changes in production methods, loss of production, increased costs of production, food and nutrition insecurity as well as trade and quarantine restrictions on countries' agricultural commodities. The veterinary and livestock division and the research development division of the Department of Agriculture has been mandated to provide quarantine services to ensure that the country's agriculture is safeguarded from the entry, establishment and spread of pests and diseases. This important duty has been significantly supported by key stakeholders namely the custom and exercise department, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority and the Ministry of Trade. The movement of agricultural commodities in our state of Saint Lucia are guided by 1. Plan Protection Act No. 21 of 1988 and the accompanying Plan Protection Regulations No. 66 of 1995 and 2. Animal Diseases and Importations Act No. 7.17 of 2008 and the accompanying regulations. These legislative documents mandate that before any plant animal or the products and by products are imported into Saint Lucia, a permit must be obtained from the Department of Agriculture. Quarantine Awareness Week aims to educate all Saint Lucia on our role in safeguarding the nation's agriculture and also our borders and to launch the Don't Pack a Pest initiative. The Government of Saint Lucia continues to put measures in place to emphasize and ensure sanitary and phytosanitary requirements are adhered to. It is the hope of adopting a common standardized health approach to achieve good agricultural health food safety and security and by extension promoting good public health. In closing, I wish to advise all travelers to be mindful of the potential danger of bringing in animals, plants and the products from abroad without the necessary permit as they can pose a serious threat to our agriculture and socio-economic well-being. I also want to reiterate the need to contact the veterinary and livestock services and the research and development divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture for information on the importation of animal, plants and the products. Plant and animal protection is everybody's responsibility. So let us do our best and Don't Pack a Pest. I thank you.