President Ali urges development institutions to step up efforts to address regional food insecurity

AS the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) progresses in its 25 per cent reduction of the food import bill by 2025 initiative, international developmental entities can play a more active role in implementing policy initiatives to address the issue of food insecurity.

In his virtual address at the CAWI’s Caribbean Leaders’ Open Dialogue on Tuesday, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali stressed that institutions such as the World Bank could offer more technical support.

“The adaptation cost for the developing world annually is estimated at US$150 million to US$ 300 million. We are not asking you to meet any adaptation costs. But, if you are talking about food security in a climate resilient environment, then how are you going to help us to acquire the technology and to modernise the agricultural system to address the very issues we have raised?” the president questioned.

He said issues such as labour shortages, climate change and the development of new planting materials require an aggressive, collaborative effort.

The head of state explained, “We don’t want the World Bank to tell us that they are going to do studies. We have enough studies on the table. We have enough data. The development agencies need to get out of this initial reaction of being study-oriented organisations. I see a great role for the World Bank, but that must not be an evaluation role or a report production role. That role has to be one that fits into the solution.”

The Head of State added that while government encourages further involvement of these entities in the CARICOM 25 by 2025 initiative, Guyana will continue to recognise and utilise its capabilities in advancing this agenda, instead of relying on assistance or coaching from external parties.

“We have to use the solutions available to make it work for us,” he added.

Technology is necessary to enhance productivity, and this is something that the government is committed to advancing.

“We’re working on many different initiatives to see how we can advance this agenda in a very rapid way,” the president remarked while noting that the region is committed to playing its part in finding solutions to the issues of food insecurity.

To this end, the country has seen an aggressive approach being taken to strengthen and build capacity in the agriculture sector and incorporate technology in its processes.

Earlier this year, President Ali announced that the bilateral relationship between India and Guyana would see the development of a regional agri-tech campus to support the regional food hub. This campus is expected to deal with the technological aspect, research and development, training and improvement in policies that will lead to greater yields and productivity.

Recognising the transient nature of the oil resource, the PPP/C Government has remained steadfast in its charge to achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability, meticulously crafting policies that are geared towards strengthening and preserving the country’s non-oil sectors to promote diversity.

The Caribbean Association of the World Bank Group and IMF Staff (CAWI) Caribbean Lead- ers Open Dialogue consisted of a panel of Caribbean leaders and experts in the field addressing issues relating to food insecurity in the Caribbean, such as the management of accelerating food prices, food production adaptation amid climate change, and the role of policymakers in addressing the food insecurity crisis.

Contractors in Mahdia road project could face termination –– as deadline approaches

SEVERAL projects in the township of Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), need to catch up and are facing termination.

This is according to a Facebook post on the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar’s page, where during a community consultation and road inspections, he updated residents on the progress of various road projects in the township.

One of the road projects on the chopping block at Mahdia is the incomplete construction project on the concrete road at Danjah Street, which the minister said will be cancelled since it is well beyond its completion date.

“Only 42 per cent of the $60.5M concrete road project was executed,” the Facebook post read.

Another $87 million concrete road project at Mahdia, with nearly three years of delays with excuses ranging from poor weather patterns and stone shortage to equipment malfunction, was called for to be terminated by Minister Indar.

“This is no longer a project with K&P [Project Management] and the Government of Guyana. I am instructing the Permanent Secretary to cancel it,” Minister Indar said on an inspection visit.

Minister Indar dispelled the weather excuse by showing the contractor the tan on his skin and that of residents as indicative of the scorching heat.

In addition to the road project being behind its extended September 2022 deadline, the completed portion of the road is laced with structural issues.

Meanwhile, Minister Deodat Indar upbraided the contractor responsible for completing a $108.6M concrete road (500 metres) within the Mahdia township.

When questioned by Minister Indar on why preparatory works were not done, the foreman blamed the weather.

This attracted a sharp rebuke from Minister Indar and the residents, who claim the weather has been mostly favourable.

“At the strike of one month from now, if this road isn’t done, consider your contract done,” Minister Indar stated.

Minister Indar said that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration intends to build capacity in the township to execute infrastructural works.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and other local leaders at Mahdia accompanied him.