Caribbean Vegan Conference spotlights diet, environment, animal rights

The inaugural Caribbean Vegan Conference brought together legal professionals, environmental advocates, and plant-based enthusiasts at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Organised jointly by the Barbados-based Caribbean Vegetarian-Vegan Charity (CVVC) and the British Vegan Society, the event marked a historic gathering of minds from across the Caribbean, the Americas, and Europe.

Chief Justice Leslie Francis Haynes described animal rights as “the new legal frontier,” urging participants to reconsider society’s treatment of animals. He asked, “If a being is capable of feeling, expression, and emotion, does it not entitle it to rights under the law?” He also criticised the way children are conditioned to overlook the lives behind the food they consume, noting, “We desensitise our children by calling a pig, pork, and a cow, beef, and so on, so that there is no acknowledgment of what they are actually consuming.”

Chief Justice Leslie Francis Haynes is engaged at the inaugural Caribbean Vegan Conference.

CVVC trustee Lalu Hanuman described veganism as “the diet of the future.” Quoting Albert Einstein, he said, “Nothing would assist human health and ensure human survival as much as a change to a plant-based diet.” Hanuman painted a stark picture of the meat industry’s impact, citing deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions rivaling global fossil fuel use, and antibiotic overuse in livestock and fish farming, which fuels antimicrobial resistance. He also criticised selective concern for animal welfare, observing that “animal welfarists only [show] interest in cuddly toy animals, whilst happily gorging on meat and fish.”

CVVC co-trustee Cheryl Haynes highlighted the nutritional benefits of local herbs and edible plants, encouraging attendees to explore the richness of the region’s natural offerings.

An inspirational video of the late Benjamin Zephania performing Love the life you live, live the life you love, left participants encouraged to reflect on their choices and their impact on the world around them.