Chile pledges P support to Guyana in developing "successful" agro-industry – Ambassador

NEWS17 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Chile pledges support to Guyana to develop “successful” agro-industry – Ambassador

Chilean Ambassador We have very nice lands here, Caribbean countries. Now we ger targets in 1996 of the tiliser and pesticides; prices to Guyana, His also we have great weath- have embassies in Trinidad World Food Summit, and in of seeds/fertilisers are highExcellency Patricio er to produce tropical fruits. and Tobago, Jamaica and 2000 of the United Nations er than usual, and seed vaBecker, has put forward ar- That is one that we can have Guyana. We have many pro- Millennium Development rieties/planting material and eas in which his government in the future to create agro- grammes to cooperate these Goals (MDGs). fertilisers and pesticides regcould provide assistance to businesses, an agroindustry, countries and CARICOM.” Guyana produces 59 ularly used are not available. Guyana to trade agricultural and that would be very suc- The Guyana Government per cent of the food it con- It further found that inproducts on the internation- cessful,” Ambassador Becker has already recognised the sumes, which means that its put suppliers and food tradal market. relayed. importance of its agriculture food-import dependence is 41 ers recorded lower sales ow-

Speaking with Guyana Globally, the demand for sector, which was evident per cent. However, he added ing to business restrictions Times on Thursday, the en- food is expected to increase with the reopening of sugar that it was Government’s in- and client’s restrictions and voy related that Chile has by a whopping 50 percent by estates upon taking office in tention to reduce this import higher operating costs of placed great emphasis on 2050, taking into account a August 2020, along with the dependence by creating an agri-businesses; and food food safety and, more so, pro- population increase and oth- removal of high fees for farm- enabling environment for an traders recorded a decline in duce that can be exported. er enabling factors. ers. efficient and competitive lo- customers, with the level of

Presently, the sector con- Chile’s main agricultur- Some time ago, cal manufacturing sector. sales consequently decreastributes extensively to their al products include grapes, Agriculture Minister He further disclosed that ing, while experiencing diffiforeign exchange – an advan- whole milk, apples, toma- Chilean Ambassador to Zulfikar Mustapha voiced the agriculture sector, both culties transporting produce tage which he said Guyana toes, wheat, maize and po- Guyana, Patricio Becker that after the coronavirus public and private, is strug- in the last three months. can also capitalize on. He tatoes, among others. There pandemic ends, the agricul- gling to deal with the im- In light of this, Minister shared that Guyana is bless- are over 13,000 hectares of which are exported. With re- ture sector will still be there pact of the pandemic. While Mustapha was quoted as ed with abundant lands and organic land, with some 550 search, they are seeking to to drive the economy. he said there was no ma- saying, “We must focus on favourable weather condi- organic farms operating in improve these standards and He had said that while jor problem of availability of ways to expand, shift agricultions which can sustain a the country. expand the sector. the unprecedented impacts food, supply-chain interrup- ture from primary producer successful agroindustry. Almost 80 per cent of the He said that, besides of the COVID-19 pandem- tions and loss of income are to value-added, to reduce the

“We have, in Chile, food organic good produced is ex- Guyana, his country is ic have been felt not only in being experienced. 41 per cent dependence on safety that allows us to im- ported, as the industry is seeking to develop a bet- public health systems, but in A survey on food securi- imports, which include proport, export and create a very supported by Government ter relationship with coun- the economy, it has amplified ty found a decline in farm- cessed products, dairy prodsuccessful fruit industry. We through the Agriculture tries across the Caribbean Guyana’s awareness of the ers’ income on average of 20- ucts, grains such as corn and export all kinds of fruit to Ministry. Major domestical- Community (CARICOM). importance of food security. 50 per cent; farmers reported soybean, etc. This expansion the United States, Europe ly organic products include “We are very interested Noting that Guyana is a difficulty accessing agri- will aid in the reduction of and Asia. I tend to ask, ‘Why fresh fruits and vegetables, to develop a closer relation food-secure country, he said cultural inputs – seeds and our domestic food import bill Guyana cannot have that?’. olive oil and wine – all of with Guyana, and also other that it met the global hun- planting materials, and fer- of $45 billion.”

18 NEWS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM 3 other witnesses testify as PI into GTT launches Blue Friday promotion murder of Linden man continues

GTT on Wednesday launched its Blue Friday Promotion which will provide customers with a FREE 5GB data plan, plus discounted prices on the Alcatel 1 LTE and BLU G70 LTE handsets as well as 10 per cent off the Amazon Fire Stick device.

Additionally, customers who purchase any of these handsets will receive 5GB of data free when they top up $2000 or more. The free data is valid for 30 days.

“We want customers to know that this amazing Blue Friday promotion is legit. Around this period, we would see an increase of reports on scams and we do not want our customers to fall prey to such,” said GTT Public Relations Manager Jasmin Harris.

“Constantly, we would remind our customers to visit our promotions page on our website at https:// www.gtt.co.gy/promotions or call 0488 to ensure promotions are legit. This promotion is very much authentic, and we hope our customers take advantage of these reduced costs,” Harris added.

The Blue Friday promotion, which is valid from November 25 to November 28, 2020, will be available at any GTT Retail Store nationwide.

Man fined for threatening to “squeeze the life out” of another

Achainsaw opera- old Mark Semple of 917 would “squeeze the life out tor who hails from Block 22, Wismar – was of him”. Linden was on not present at the Linden The incident occurred Tuesday fined $10,000 by Magistrate’s Court when the on Saturday, October 24 at Magistrate Wanda Fortune verdict was handed down. Block 22. If the defendant after he was found guilty of The prosecution indicat- fails to pay the $10,000 fine, the offence of making use of ed that Semple threatened he will be subjected to an althreatening language. Roy Kingston using exple- ternative two-week prison

The defendant – 45-year- tives and told him that he sentence.

Murder accused: Lennox Leon Estwick Dead: Ian “OJ” Williams

As the Preliminary ment with the case. So far, ly attempted to escape the Inquiry (PI) into the 11 witnesses have testified. scene, but the gunmen gave murder of Ian “OJ” It is alleged that Estwick chase. During the chase, Williams continue at the unlawfully murdered the the gunmen continuously Linden Magistrate’s Court 24-year-old man who resid- shot at the car. on Tuesday, three other ed at Lot 4 Wisroc Housing Williams and his girlwitnesses testified before Scheme, Wismar, Linden. friend were shot multiple Magistrate Wanda Fortune. His girlfriend, who sur- times as they attempted to

Lennox Leon Estwick is vived the shooting, was shot abandon their damaged veon trial for the September twice. hicle. Williams subsequent28, 2019 murder, which It was reported that the ly succumbed to his injutook place at Lovers’ Lane, shooting stemmed from a ries. Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, “gang war”. The father of two was Linden. On the day in question, the cousin of ex-cop Teon

It was reported that Williams reportedly drove Allen, also called “Spoil Williams was shot dead to a location at Lovers’ Child”, who was allegedduring an ambush while Lane, Amelia’s Ward after ly the leader of a gang in his then pregnant girlfriend receiving a telephone call Linden. Allen is presently was injured. from his girlfriend request- on remand for the murder

However, on Tuesday, ing that he pick her up from of his girlfriend in the minwitnesses Wendy Wilson a party. ing town and numerous othand Constables S McIntosh As she entered the ve- er offences. and K Conway testified in hicle, the car came under The PI was adjourned relation to their involve- attack. Williams reported- until December 10.