Officials from Antigua and Barbuda have successfully completed a regional training programme focused on the management of hazardous pesticides, marking another step forward in the twin-island nation's efforts to strengthen its chemical safety and environmental protection frameworks.
The training is part of a broader Caribbean-wide capacity-building initiative under the Global Environment Facility's ISLANDS (Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States) Programme. The BCRC-Caribbean — the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean — is executing the GEF ISLANDS project, which involves nine countries including Antigua and Barbuda, and seeks to deliver capacity building and training on topics that can bolster national registration processes for pesticides.
Small island developing states in the Caribbean face growing challenges in controlling the illegal or unsafe trade of products containing hazardous chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants, mercury, and highly hazardous pesticides, all of which pose serious threats to human health and ecosystems. In many countries, limited institutional coordination, inadequate enforcement mechanisms, and weak data systems hinder effective border control.
The regional training programme is designed to close those gaps. The initiative focuses on assessing national capacities for identifying hazardous chemical imports and managing their trade, through stakeholder consultations and desktop reviews, while also designing and implementing a regional training programme aimed at building capacity among customs officials, pesticide inspectors, and regulatory authorities.
Antigua and Barbuda has been deepening its engagement with regional pesticide management over recent years. In December 2025, the country participated in an Interregional Dialogue on Phasing Out Highly Hazardous Pesticides, and officials have been working within a legal framework that includes the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, which carries responsibility for safeguarding the health of citizens through oversight of chemical products throughout their lifecycle.
The ISLANDS Caribbean Programme supports ten countries — including Antigua and Barbuda — in strengthening their hazardous chemicals and waste management systems, targeting nine priority waste streams including hazardous pesticides, through technical assistance, catalytic financing, and private sector engagement.
The completion of this latest training reinforces Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to aligning its regulatory practices with international environmental standards, protecting both agricultural workers and the broader public from the risks associated with hazardous chemical exposure.
Sources: BCRC-Caribbean, GEF ISLANDS Programme, Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Agriculture
