Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday, May 06, 2026 — A technical mission from the World Food Programme (WFP) is currently in St. Kitts conducting a comprehensive assessment aimed at identifying gaps and opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of school meals and nutrition initiatives across the island. As part of their engagement, the delegation made a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew. Also present at that meeting was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, along with Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Education, Health, and Agriculture. Discussions focused on the importance of nutrition in education and the government’s continued commitment to supporting school feeding initiatives.
The mission also held an introductory meeting with senior officials within the Ministry of Education and related departments. Among those in attendance were Permanent Secretary Mrs. Lisa-Romayne Pistana; Nutritional Surveillance Officer Mrs. Lotaya Matthew-Duncan (focal point on the mission); CEO Mr. Francil Morris; School Meals Coordinator Mr. Leon Williams; and other ministry representatives. Mrs. Latoya Matthew-Duncan underscored the importance of the initiative: “The Technical Mission represents an important opportunity for the Federation to not only look at our national school meals programme from a much wider angle, but also to assist us with identifying gaps and challenges, as well as look at ways to adjust them. I think this mission is timely, as school nutrition in the Caribbean is a big deal.”
Mr. Alessio Orgera, Regional Adviser for School-based Programmes at WFP, outlined the mission’s scope: “This is an observatory exercise, so we will be here visiting schools and facilities and meeting stakeholders from different areas. The main outcome of this exercise will be a comprehensive analysis report that will contain recommendations and set the path for the next steps.” A series of field visits and stakeholder engagements is also being undertaken, including tours of central kitchen facilities, visits to schools, and consultations with supermarkets, wholesalers, and local farmers. The team is also facilitating workshops designed to gather data, build capacity, and encourage collaboration among key players in the food supply chain. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to prioritize child nutrition as a critical component of its education agenda, and collaboration with WFP underscores a shared commitment to building resilient and inclusive food systems in schools.