Guyana strengthening frameworks to boost animal health policies – Mustapha tells int’l forum

Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha told an international forum in Paris on Monday that his Government is committed to the cause of treating animal health as a strategic investment for stability, prosperity and sustainability. He made the remarks whilst delivering a virtual presentation at the 93rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health in Paris, France. This event positions animal health as a frontline defence against pandemics, food insecurity and economic shocks and brings together leaders from across the world. This year’s forum is being held under the theme “Investing in Animal Health to Secure Everyone’s Future”, which, according to Minister Mustapha, captures the essence of what nations must do. In Guyana, he outlined the Government’s investments to enhance animal health policies, accelerate pandemic preparedness and strengthening biosecurity laboratory framework to mitigate and wherever possible, reduce the spread of diseases of economic importance within the region.

“Guyana has invested heavily in animal health with the expansion of our monolayer diagnostic capacity with new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) systems, strengthening laboratory networks and ensuring bilateral partnership for applying this approach to vaccine development. Our capability system now integrates digital data management, positioning Guyana as a regional reference point for modern, evidence-based animal health governance,” he highlighted.
“Guyana is also strengthening its legislative and institutional framework through the Animal Health Amendment Act, which enhances enforcement and introduces a fixed penalty for regulatory breaches on modernised compliance mechanisms. This reform ensures that our veterinary services operate with greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability, key pillars of the world standard,” he added. At the regional level, Minister Mustapha noted that Guyana leads the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security, explaining that “within this framework, we are transforming priority sectors such as meat and poultry, and building independent groups and animal health systems such as disease governance, biosecurity, and veterinary capacity to ensure safe trade and sustainable growth”.
He emphasised that “as a region, we are working to establish a CARICOM Animal Health Corridor, harmonising standards and building trust to expand inter-regional trade in livestock and livestock products.” According to Mustapha, regional self-reliance, animal health security, and production resilience are not a matter of aspiration but of a national and regional survival. In this regard, he expressed that Guyana lends its voice to the call for animal health to be an important focus within national policy agendas. This, he said, means strengthening sustainable financing and preventative measures including vaccine research and deployment, accelerating digital transformation in surveillance and diagnostics, and investing in youth and innovation to build the next generation of veterinary professionals. “Guyana stands ready to be a partner in this path because investing in animal health is investing in a secure future for everyone,” Mustapha emphasised.
Just last month, officials gathered in Georgetown for the 52nd Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA), where they warned against complacency and the risks the region faces in the event of an outbreak. With the exception of Venezuela, all countries in South America are closer to eradicating foot-and-mouth disease, while subregions such as Central America, North America and the Caribbean are considered free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.
Mustapha had told the forum then that this extraordinary progress was built on strong surveillance systems, coordinated vaccination strategies, and the tireless work of veterinary services backed by decades of investments across the region.