Friday, October 16th, was recognised and observed as World Food Day in Anguilla. An opening ceremony, to officially mark the significance of the event, was held under the picturesque gazebo on the edge of the Agriculture Department grounds. The morning hours brought showers of drenching rain that seemed to declare that this was the rainy season, and it was time to catch up with cultivating the soil for the food that we should eat.
World Food Day here was dubbed the “First Agro-Bio-Cultural Exhibition” under the theme: “We Grow Nourish Achieve and Maintain Sustainable Socio-Economic Development Against the Impacts of COVID-19.” Several stalls were erected on the grounds where farmer-folk braved the inclement weather to exhibit their own cultivated crops and medicinal plants. Nutritious drinks, as well as health related cures made from local plant products, were also displayed and marketed.
The observance of World Food Day was spearheaded by retired Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Lana Hoyoung. Quite passionate about Anguillians growing their own food, she sought to sensitise the ceremony’s modest gathering (consisting largely of school children) to the need for actively pursuing a self-reliant attitude in deriving their own nutrition from backyard garden plots — instead of depending only upon food importation.
Giving a backdrop to the day’s activity, Mrs. Hoyoung stated: “Seventy-five years ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) became affiliated with the United Nations. Within the WHO, there is a Food and Agriculture Organisation. This organisation is today looking at the problem of world hunger — especially in the context of the current pandemic. But the more they look at it, the more they realise that it is not economically feasible to provide food for the world’s starving masses. Therefore, it only makes sense that we who are able to provide food for ourselves actually do so.”
She reflected on past years when public Food Fairs were held at the Agriculture Department grounds — and noted that it has been some twenty-five years since such fairs began. In that context, she invited the gathering to pause with her to recognise the agricultural interests of the late Leslie Richardson and Roudolph “Blacks” Gumbs, both avid farming enthusiasts, who dedicated their time and talents to growing local produce.
Mrs. Hoyoung then introduced Dr. Stan Horne of St. Vincent who had been residing in Anguillla, for quite some time, actively promoting healthy living through proper nutrition. He is adamant about Anguillians tilling the soil for their sustenance — as well as utilising the abundant medicinal plants on the island for the purpose of bringing healing to particular ailments.
Dr. Horne stressed: “My message today is that we begin to grow local. We must learn to produce what we eat and then endeavour to feed others.” He mentioned that ever since he was a child, he was taught that his body is God’s temple. “As such,” he observed, “we need to take care of these temples just as much as we diligently take care of the interior of our church buildings, keeping them squeaky clean.”
“The way we keep our ‘temples’ clean and healthy is by consuming healthy foods,” the Doc said. “We must eat life-giving, wholesome foods that nourish and nurture our ‘temples’. “Our bodies are all that we can really rightfully call our own,” he observed. “We may lose everything else that we own, but the body is all that we take back with us. At some point, it will return from whence it came, so let us cherish it, while we can, as a gift from the Creator by eating the right foods — locally grown foods.”
Dr. Horne continued: “As we browse the several food stalls, today, we will notice what the Creator has given to us. Apart from food items, we will see the spices, the herbs, and the plant-yielding seeds for the healing of the nation. Mother Earth is where it all comes from. I wish to quote the words of the famous philosopher, Hippocrates, who once said: ‘Let our food be our medicine, and let our medicine be our food.'”
In speaking of medicine, Dr. Horne made mention of the abundance of Naim trees in Anguilla. He declared that he has visited many islands, and had never seen so many Naim trees as he has known here. He encouraged the use of these leaves, as well as the Moringa leaves, for the healing of a host of ailments.
He noted, in particular, that Moringa has many important vitamins and minerals. “The leaves,” he claimed, “contain seven times more vitamin C than oranges — and fifteen times more potassium than bananas. They are also a good source of protein, iron, and amino acids, which help the body to heal itself and build muscle.”
The ceremony also featured addresses by both the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, and the Hon. Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Information Technology & Natural Resources, Mr. Kyle Hodge. Each Minister focused on the importance of cultivating nutritious, local food for daily needs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Kenneth Hodge drew attention to the vulnerability of persons in Anguilla due to the current lean economy. “Back in the day when things were fairly good in Anguilla,” he said, “we could have generously given baskets of food to those in need. Today, though, we are all becoming vulnerable, and COVID-19 has the potential to affect us all. Today’s World Food Day activities, therefore, highlight the need for us to return to the values of our ancestors in tilling the soil and growing the crops that would sustain us.”
Minister Kyle Hodge expounded on the urgent need for Anguillians to be responsible for sourcing their own food. He stated: “One of Government’s priorities is to improve food security. This is critical both on a personal level and a national level. We know that many persons have been facing difficulties due to unemployment brought on by COVID-19.” He observed, “As a result, many are struggling to put food on their tables. While government has been able to provide some financial assistance, we want to encourage persons to create their own backyard gardens and grow their own food.”
The Minister expressed his admiration for the organising of the World Food Day activities. “On behalf of my ministry,” he noted, “I commend Mrs. Lana Hoyoung and the Organising Committee. I applaud participating persons from the private sector, as well as non-governmental organisations and the staff of the Agriculture Department, for putting this event together to commemorate World Food Day.” Shortly after, he declared World Food Day 2020 open.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
