Georgetown : The cargo vessel UBC Montego Bay is currently being loaded with paddy at Muneshwar’s wharf, Georgetown, and will set sail on tomorrow for Venezuela.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana Reina Arratia and General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Jagnarine Singh were on hand to witness part of the exercise today
Minister Ramsammy said that though this will be the first shipment of paddy to Venezuela under the 2013 arrangement, already several consignments of rice have left Guyana for Venezuela, as the progress of the arrangement moves smoothly apace.
“This is the first paddy from Guyana for 2013 in fulfilling our contract to Venezuela in terms of paddy which will be over 80,000 tonnes. We have already made six shipments of rice to Venezuela, that will continue as we hope to complete approximately 55 tonnes of rice for the crop and hopefully for the year 110 (tonnes) at least, so in terms of the 2013 contract to Venezuela, things are now moving smoothly as we can expect,” the Minister said.
Ambassador Arratia echoed similar sentiments as Minister Ramsammy as it relates to the rice arrangement fostering greater partnership and relations between the two countries. “It is a very important and special moment to us,…this is a demonstration of the strength of the relations between our two countries, this is not only a demonstration of the cooperation between Guyana and Venezuela, but also the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean as our Commander Hugo Chavez said and did, and that is the line of our President, Nicolas Maduro that we keep going with Guyana and along with the rest of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen integration through all regions,” she said.
“Being here watching the paddy shipment allows us to demonstrate, to show to the world that our consumers are going to get a good rice produce in Guyana, and it is an expression of the friendship that is going to go a long way in time,” the Ambassador said.
The Ambassador said also that the occasion was a demonstration of the support, not only to the people of Guyana, but also the farmers and the rice industry. She said that this is the line that the new President has taken to keep going and to strengthen ties between Guyana and Venezuela in all fields.
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