The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Division of Food Security of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), has successfully concluded the Trinidad component of a comprehensive Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Simulation Exercise, the Ministry announced Wednesday.
According to the release, the exercise significantly strengthens the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to transboundary animal disease outbreaks. It was conducted under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme TCP/TRI/4001 – Animal Disease Outbreak Response in Trinidad and Tobago, forming part of a broader national preparedness initiative aimed at enhancing coordination and emergency response capabilities across multiple sectors.
The exercise brought together veterinary professionals, laboratory personnel, emergency management agencies, public health officials, law enforcement, communications specialists and senior decision-makers. Participants worked through a series of practical and strategic activities, including field response drills, laboratory simulation exercises, specialised risk and outbreak communications training, and a national tabletop exercise in which participants responded to evolving outbreak scenarios, assessed policy decisions, coordinated resource mobilisation, and evaluated national response capabilities under simulated emergency conditions.
Addressing participants during the tabletop exercise, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram underscored the importance of investing in preparedness before a disease emergency occurs.
“Preparedness is not built during a crisis; it is built long before one emerges,” Minister Ratiram said. “Exercises such as these enable us to validate our systems, strengthen institutional coordination, identify operational gaps and ensure that Trinidad and Tobago remains equipped to respond swiftly, decisively and collaboratively to emerging animal health threats.”
He added that through continued investment in resilient veterinary services, strong partnerships and evidence-based planning, the country is safeguarding its livestock sector, protecting rural livelihoods, strengthening food security and contributing to national resilience.
The Minister further emphasised that diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza transcend institutional boundaries and require a coordinated national response integrating animal health, public health, environmental management, emergency services and strategic communications.
Dr Gillian Smith, FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago (ad interim), echoed the Minister’s remarks, stressing the value of investing in preparedness today to reduce risks tomorrow.
“Animal disease outbreaks can have significant impacts on livelihoods, food security, public health, and trade,” Smith said. “We are mindful that the success or failure of crisis management and mitigation responses affects the livelihoods of farmers in a very direct way. The lessons and recommendations emerging from this exercise will contribute to stronger national resilience and more effective emergency response mechanisms.”
The Ministry said the simulation exercise reflects the FAO’s continued technical support to Trinidad and Tobago in enhancing veterinary services, strengthening emergency preparedness, and promoting resilient animal health systems aligned with international standards and global best practices.
MAF reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with national, regional and international partners to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and coordinated response mechanisms, stating that through sustained collaboration and evidence-based action, it will continue to safeguard the livestock and poultry sectors, protect rural livelihoods, strengthen food security, and enhance national resilience.