Aquaculture could be a – India’s diplomat P

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Aquaculture could be a money-spinner – India’s diplomat

…says Guyana, India to increase collaboration in agriculture

Guyana and India, two countries which share a common bond in agriculture, are in the process of increasing their collaboration as Guyana seeks to benefit from the expertise India has to offer and even potential investments.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, disclosed that the Government of Guyana reached out to India for technical assistance not just in sugar, but in other sectors such as aquaculture.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has reached out to us, to work on rice, sugar and aquaculture. So, on the rice front, yes, we are working on that. Aquaculture is a big thing. The Government has reached out to us, to see if we can send a few experts from India. Because Guyana has tremendous potential, with its water canals and waterways. In fact, I went to Essequibo and Berbice,” Dr Srinivasa said, adding that there are tremendous opportunities in this area.

“…and the Government of Guyana has correctly recognised that aquaculture

File photo: Fishing being done at a local aquaculture farm

14-year-old injured in accident with Opposition Leader’s vehicle

Avehicle belonging to Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon was involved in a four-car collision at Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) leaving a teenager injured.

Police said that the accident occurred about 20:15h. According to Police, motor lorry GZZ 4852, minibus BJJ 5402, motor van GNN 6734 and motor vehicle PTT 8491 were all involved in the accident.

According to Police, the motor lorry was parked facing west on the northern side of the southern carriage way and the minibus had stopped on the south-

ern side of the southern carriageway awaiting the changing of the traffic light. Police added that the motor van was facing North, coming out of Mon Repos Access Road and was also awaiting the changing of the light, which the motor vehicle, PTT 8491, which was proceeding west on Mon Repos Public Road ran into the three other vehicles.

Motor vehicle PTT 8491 belongs to Harmon.

As a result of the collision, a 14-year-old male passenger of Linden received injuries about his body. The minor was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on duty, treated and sent away. Guyana Times has since confirmed that Harmon was not in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Meanwhile, a breath alcohol test was conducted on all four of the drivers. It was found that the driver of the Opposition Leader’s vehicle test gave a reading of 400 per cent while the other drivers’ readings were zero per cent alcohol.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon’s vehicle that collided with three others at Mon Repos, ECD

The rear end of one of the vehicles involved in the accident

could be a money-spinner for the local people. It can be a source of exports and provide employment for local Guyanese,” the diplomat explained.

According to him, the Indian Government is also working with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to collaborate in not just the main agricultural sectors but also on the coconut front.

“A project we’re doing is with NAREI. We are working very closely with them to see if we can collaborate in sugar, rice. Those are separate boards, but with NAREI we want to do work on the coconut development front and other crops. With the amount of land Guyana has, I think there was some talk of contract farming.”

Lauding the abundant resources that Guyana possesses and the current Government’s drive to build capacity in the agriculture sector, Srinivasa explained that his diplomatic office has also been seeking to facilitate Indian investors with an interest in Guyana. This has involved the Indian High Commission working alongside agencies like the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest).

“We’ve been working very closely with Indian companies to invest in Guyana. And we’ve talked to GOInvest and been in touch with Indian companies. In fact, one big Indian company that wants to come to Guyana is UPL. United Phosphorous Limited. I think it is a $9 to 10 billion company, with production facilities across the world. They even have one in Costa Rica. They do pesticides, fungicides, fertilisers. And they want to explore Guyana. We’re trying to facilitate that.”

“Apart from that is Mahendra Motors. It’s a name for quality in India. And we are working to see if these people get a good dealer. And once that comes, the farmers can make good use of it. It’s good quality and at the same time, durable. That’s what matters for the farmer,” the diplomat explained to this publication.

Under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, the agriculture sector took severe blows when they closed four of Guyana’s seven sugar estates – Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon – in an effort to downsize the ailing sugar industry. This resulted in thousands of sugar workers being placed on the breadline.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had promised on the campaign trail to reopen these estates and within weeks of being in office, had taken steps in this direction. In fact, last September, the Irfaan Aliled Administration had invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for “A joint venture, partnerships, or a leasing arrangement on the now reopened vested sugar estates at Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon and also on the operational sugar estates at Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion…”

It was reported last November that along with one local entity, some nine international companies had submitted EoIs from Asia, North America, South America and the Caribbean. At least three of those foreign companies were Indian. (G3)

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa