Caribbean leaders back Dr Muhammad Ibrahim’s candidacy during high-level talks in Jamaica

Regional leaders have thrown their full support behind Dr Muhammad Ibrahim, Guyana’s candidate for the position of Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), during the Caribbean Community (CariCom) Heads of Government Conference held this week in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
In a strong display of regional unity, CariCom leaders described Dr Ibrahim as “eminently qualified” to lead the hemispheric organisation, which plays a critical role in advancing agricultural development, innovation, and rural well-being across the Americas.
Dr Ibrahim, a highly respected agronomist with more than three decades of global experience, was nominated by President Irfaan Ali, who currently chairs the CariCom Food and Nutrition Security Cabinet. His candidacy has been praised for aligning with the region’s push to modernise agriculture, strengthen food systems, and boost climate resilience.
“We believe Dr Ibrahim brings the experience, vision, and leadership needed to take IICA into a new era of transformation for agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the CariCom leaders stated in their final communiqué.
The election of the next IICA Director General will take place in Brasilia this November, during the meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA), which brings together ministers of agriculture from across the hemisphere. Ibrahim’s main opponent is the outgoing Director General, Manuel Otero of Argentina.
IICA, founded in 1942, is the specialised agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System, with 34 member countries, including Canada, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, and all CariCom states.
With food and nutrition security now high on the regional and global agenda, CariCom’s endorsement signals a strategic push to elevate Caribbean leadership in international institutions.
“We are confident that Dr Ibrahim’s leadership will strengthen IICA’s support for small states, sustainable agriculture, and the integration of innovation and technology in farming,” the communiqué concluded.
Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture is expected to intensify its diplomatic outreach in the coming months to garner additional support ahead of the decisive vote in November.
The Forty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CariCom was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from 6 to 8 July under the chairmanship of Dr Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
The 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CariCom convenes at a pivotal time for the region.
Set against the backdrop of mounting climate threats, global economic instability, and rapid technological change, this year’s meeting places strong emphasis on resilience, innovation, and regional integration. Discussions are expected to centre on food and nutrition security, the CariCom Single Market and Economy (CSME), energy security, climate financing, the situation in Haiti, and youth and digital transformation.
CariCom has made significant strides in recent years in pushing for climate justice on the international stage, advancing regional food production goals under the “25 by 2025” initiative, and mobilising support for vulnerable member states. The Heads of Government Meeting provides a forum to review these efforts and craft coordinated strategies moving forward.
The meeting also marks continued efforts to deepen collaboration with international partners, bolster intra-regional trade, and strengthen mechanisms for disaster preparedness and security cooperation. With global uncertainty on the rise, CariCom’s ability to speak with one voice and act with unity remains critical.