Trinidad and Tobago is moving to strengthen protections for both its agricultural products and creative industries.
This, according to Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein, who was speaking at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
He said Trinidad and Tobago is seeking to expand the use of intellectual property protections as part of a broader strategy to support economic growth, innovation and cultural development.
Minister Hosein also announced reforms aimed at strengthening protections for the agricultural sector.
“In the area of plant variety protection, T&T is progressing reforms of its legislative framework and signals its intention to align with the latest Act of the UPOV 1991 Convention. This will enhance protection for plant breeders and support innovation and resilience within our agricultural sector.”
He said Government continues to advance efforts to build international recognition for locally produced agricultural goods, particularly the country’s globally acclaimed cocoa.
“Within the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs, under my leadership as Minister, we have been able to prioritise advancements in our world-famous fine-flavour Trinitario cocoa, with the registration of a certification trademark for same. We’re exploring rice, peppers, and pineapple also.”
Minister Hosein also highlighted major changes affecting the creative sector, saying Government has moved quickly to strengthen copyright protections for artists and rights holders.
He said the reforms are intended to better protect Trinidad and Tobago’s musical heritage and creative economy.
“Upon returning to the office, we immediately prioritised the updating of our Copyright Act to extend the term of protection from life plus 50 to 70 years, and to extend the protection of sound recordings from 50 to 70 years. We are proud of our music, Soca, Calypso, and Chutney. We have therefore strengthened the management and enforcement of rights in the creative sector.”
Minister Hosein said the completion of a national report under WIPO’s Creative Economy Data Model marks an important step in measuring the contribution of the country’s creative industries to the economy.
“The national report has been completed, providing a comprehensive assessment of the contribution of the creative economy to T&T. Work is now underway for the second phase, with completion anticipated by the end of 2026. These efforts will support our world-famous creative sector such as our carnival and steelpan.”