The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) extends warm congratulations to Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim of Guyana on his election as Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for the period 2026–2030. The OECS Commission joins the Governments and peoples of the Caribbean Community in celebrating this significant achievement, which represents both a proud moment for Guyana and a recognition of the Caribbean’s longstanding contribution to agricultural innovation and sustainable development across the Americas.
John Osborne, Minister of Agriculture of Montserrat and Chairman of the OECS Council of Ministers of Agriculture, lauded his election:
“Dr. Ibrahim’s election affirms the strength of Caribbean leadership in shaping the future of agriculture across the Americas. His career has been devoted to linking science, innovation, and sustainability with the real lives of farmers. The OECS Council of Ministers of Agriculture looks forward to working closely with him to advance resilient food systems and ensure that our small states continue to feed themselves and the world.”
Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, hailed Dr. Ibrahim’s election as “a moment of renewed confidence in the Caribbean’s capacity for global agricultural leadership.” He noted that:
“Dr. Ibrahim brings to IICA a deep understanding of the nexus between agricultural transformation, environmental sustainability, and the livelihoods of small farmers – areas of critical importance to the small island developing states of the Eastern Caribbean.”
Dr. Jules reaffirmed the full cooperation and partnership of the OECS Commission with IICA under Dr. Ibrahim’s leadership, emphasizing the Organisation’s commitment to deepening collaboration in:
• advancing climate-resilient and technology-driven agriculture,
• promoting food and nutrition security as a regional public good, and
• strengthening institutional capacity and youth engagement in agri-innovation.
He added that the OECS looks forward “with great expectation to Dr. Ibrahim’s tenure at a time when the agricultural sector of our Hemisphere faces unprecedented challenges – from climate instability and food price volatility to the need for bold transformation in production systems and trade.”
The OECS Commission expressed confidence that under Dr. Ibrahim’s stewardship, IICA will continue to be a beacon of technical excellence and hemispheric solidarity, fostering a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural future for all member states.