Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy
The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy in Dominica is a key support position within the national framework responsible for sustainable land and marine resource management. Currently held by LaKeyia Joseph, this role focuses on the development of community agro-enterprises while supporting the strategic transformation of Dominica’s agri-food systems in alignment with national resilience and economic goals.
Strategic Scope of the Ministry
This Ministry plays a vital role in advancing Dominica’s long-term food security, sustainable rural livelihoods, and climate-aligned blue and green economies. It integrates traditional agricultural development with forward-looking initiatives in biodiversity protection and marine resource sustainability. Within this mandate are national priorities that include the revitalization of farming, agro-processing, and blue economy integration through the Seamoss Industry in Dominica.
The Ministry also oversees key initiatives such as the China-Dominica Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project, the Cocoa Cluster Development Project, and value-added processing through enterprises like Simple Farming by Willy and Benjo’s Seamoss & Agro Processing Co Ltd. These efforts are coordinated across regions to empower both large-scale producers and rural household farmers.
Coordination and Policy Responsibilities
The Parliamentary Secretary provides a link between technical units, community stakeholders, and policymakers. The esponsibilities include facilitating inter-agency collaboration, ensuring youth engagement through programs like the National Association of Youth in Agriculture (NAYA), and overseeing district-level outreach. The position plays a supporting role in preparing parliamentary reports and attending public consultations in the Ministry’s name.
Emphasis on Youth and Women in Agriculture
As part of the Ministry’s gender-inclusive approach, the role places special emphasis on enabling women and youth within the agricultural economy. This is most evident in initiatives like Women and Youth in Dominica’s Seamoss Economy, where the secretary helps advance access to resources, mentorship, and business opportunities for young agro-entrepreneurs.
The work directly supports entities such as the IICA Dominica office and the Extension Services Unit, which provide training and technical support to grassroots producers and help build resilience in the sector.
Integration with the Blue and Green Economy
Marine Resource Stewardship
With Dominica’s strategic position along the Caribbean Sea, the Ministry’s policies span inland farming and marine conservation. The Parliamentary Secretary contributes to managing projects that align with the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Plan for Dominica, which supports fisheries sustainability and community engagement across fishing villages.
Rural and Coastal Resilience
The blue economy component includes livelihood diversification in coastal communities impacted by storms, sea-level rise, and landslides. Agro-enterprise efforts supported by Joseph are crucial for building adaptive local economies in these vulnerable zones.
Vision for Sustainable Agriculture and Innovation
Enhancing Agro-Processing and Value Chains
Through partnerships and pilot programs, the position helps facilitate investment in agro-processing through hubs such as DEXIA’s Multi-Purpose Packhouses and the Agricultural Produce Procurement Facility. These platforms support the National Export Strategy (NES) by encouraging standardized, high-quality local exports in sectors such as citrus, root crops, and coconut.
Positioning for Future Growth
The Parliamentary Secretary also supports the Ministry’s goals outlined in broader frameworks such as the National Resilience Development Strategy 2030 (NRDS) and contributes to cross-ministerial collaboration on sustainable practices, digital agriculture, and export readiness.
Role in Dominica’s Development Landscape
This position reinforces Dominica’s commitment to merging traditional rural livelihoods with modern agricultural enterprise and environmental ethics. Through the strategic involvement of Parliamentary Secretaries like LaKeyia Joseph, Dominica strengthens its capacity to respond to climate, economic, and food system challenges in a holistic and inclusive manner.