Hon. Audley Shaw , Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, shares a light moment with Vice-President of the University of Technology(UTech) Prof Colin Gyles (right) and lecturer Meisha-Marie Paul at the Opening Ceremony of the 8th Caribbean Urban Forum, held at UTech’s Papine campus in St. Andrew on June 27.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon Audley Shaw, says that the development of rural communities and land management are integral to the achievement of proper urban planning and urban development.
Minister Shaw recommended the provision of agri-based business incentives as a viable method of achieving growth and development for rural communities and said this should be supported by the provision of the requisite infrastructure.
“While we grapple with overcrowded urban centres, we have large acreages of underutilised arable lands in rural areas across the island coupled with unemployed young people who are being lured into unscrupulous activities," said Minister Shaw.
He was speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the 8th Caribbean Urban Forum, held at the University of Technology in St. Andrew on June 27, which is being held under the theme ‘Forming the Informal’.

Noting that the issue of informality continues to be a challenge for developing nations of the Caribbean, Minister Shaw said that there was also a blatant disregard for policy and the rule of law as well as failure by governments to enforce the laws that govern land use and management.
The minister said issues like these are at the core of our sustainable development goals and demand that we seek solutions to the challenges we face in managing our natural and built environment in order to improve the lives of our citizens.
The three-day conference has representatives from 25 countries in attendance and will include a tour of informal communities in sections of Kingston.
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