Ramotar defends govt’s investments in Berbice

Manufacturing, cheap energy, food production, competitiveness in presentation and private sector stimulation of the local economy through job creation were the key notes strung at the launch of the eighth Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair on Friday night, at the Albion Community Centre.
The tone of the opening of the regions’ premier trade and exposition fair was led by Regional Chairman David Armogan, who spoke from an entrepreneurial perspective.

He noted that the impending price increases for grains and livestock globally had created an opportunity for agriculture-based countries like Guyana to captalise and Region Six has a role to play in this regard.
However, the bar has to be raised when it comes to quality as at the global level, there is keen competitiveness.
Attractively packaged snacks imported from Trinidad were cited as an example, and it was noted that local producers have to come better in presenting their products.
Cheap energy is vital to becoming competitive, and Armogan highlighted the importance of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, which Prime Minister Samuel Hinds stated would commence in mid 2013.
Turning to tourism development, Armogan urged the Tourism Ministry to stop the bluff to enhance the Number 63 Breach and move to the phase of implementation. Last years’ pictorial layout of what the beach could look like if developed remains a stillborn idea.
“Last year, I was here, I saw the beautiful replica of what the beach should look like… I suspect if I go around here tonight, I’d see the same thing again… the private sector must be prepared to take the lead as government will also throw in partnership with the private sector to transform this plan into reality… I believe if we complete 25 per cent of this plan every year, in five years’ time we will have a beach looking like the replica.”
Armogan stated that he is pushing to consult with the chambers of commerce shortly to seriously follow up a visit from a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) team to the region on the heels of the exposition, to put together a prospectus outlining the opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses available in the county.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali in response to the calls from Armogan, declared that East Berbice, Corentyne is an excellent platform for development as a core tourism destination while announcing that Number 63 Beach is on the agenda.

“I want to assure you that within the next three years, we are hoping to transform the 63 Beach into a premier destination for sea, sand and sun tourism… the type of tourism that is marketed in the Caribbean… we are going to develop that area with eco-lodges, facilities for beach volleyball, beach football and other eco-services.”
The development of Belvedere is still on government’s agenda, and over Gy$50 million is allotted to improve the site and facilities of this project which is yet to take the intended shape, Minister Ali announced.
The private sector was urged to extend the services put in place by government, and pave the way for job creation to expand the county’s economy.
“It is now time for the private sector to play the leading role, creating jobs and expanding the economy here in Region Six so that this region can become one of the core economic frontiers of Guyana… we are confident that when the Skeldon Sugar Factory gets going at full capacity and with the added investment in tourism, the economic dreams and aspirations of Region Six will be fully realised.”
President Donald Ramoutar reminded the hundreds of producers at the exhibition that the climate on the international scene is still tough, with many challenges emanating from doing business in Europe, and the United States to a lesser extent.
This has resulted in smaller economies of Caribbean states sustaining serious injuries, but because of good management and governance, Guyana escaped unhurt. “Only two weeks ago, a team from the International Monetary Fund [IMF] came here to examine how our economy is doing, and you would have seen in the press that they are high in praise for the management of the economy which grew last year by more than five per cent, and which is expected this year to grow rapidly as well.”
The president stated that Region Six has made a major input in the development process of the country, seeing major investments from governments’ end. He was also optimistic about the discovery of oil. “Moreover, we have a lot to be optimistic about coming out recently from the drilling of oil on our offshore, and in Berbice, we know that there is a programme to examine the drilling [search] for oil, not only offshore but onshore as well, so I’m very optimistic, very optimistic for the future rapid development of this county.”
The president defended government’s investment in Berbice, and noted that the critics have the forgotten horrors of the ferry service.
“These same people forgot the hours and hours it used to take them to get across the Berbice Bridge in ferry… we have worked out a unique model to get that bridge built… we couldn’t get money to borrow internationally to do that so we worked out a combination of private sector and government’s participation to get the bridge built… nowadays, a campaign is being started to say that the cost of crossing is too high… we took the cost that it would have cost a car with five passengers in side to cross the ferry… when the ferry was in operation, and we used that or the company used that as the charge that they will pay to cross the Berbice River.”
The head of state also took the opportunity to respond to mutterings that the government has rejected Region Six.
“The same forces that have been attacking Berbice, forgot the fact that we invested Gy$200 million to build a new sugar factory at Skeldon… I myself would be the first to admit that we still have some problems and that investment is still to deliver to its maximum… but I have no doubt in mind that we have problems that will be fixed… will be fixed sooner rather than later.”