Georgetown : Minister of Governance, with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman today toured the Barama Company Limited’s Buck Hall, Essequibo operations.
The tour was organised amidst discussions between the company and the Government of Guyana for a renewal of Barama’s operations agreement which expires in October 2016. Minster Trotman had an opportunity to get a first-hand look at the company’s working environs and operations which currently exist.
At Buck Hall, Minister Trotman met with Chief Executive Officer of Barama Company Limited, Mr. Choo Siong Liew, General Manager, Mohindra Chand, and Senior Manager with responsibility for Human Resources, Patricia Mingo. The Minister was briefed on the company’s operations, expansion plans and impact on the Guyanese economy.
General Manager of the company, Mohindra Chand said that Barama has been one of the longest standing foreign companies in Guyana and while the challenges were many, giving up on the country will never be a consideration.
Noting that more than $43 billion has been invested into its Guyana operations, Chand said that further growth and development can be expected through the company once the renewal of operations agreement is completed.
Minister Trotman said that the visit was timely and high on his agenda since the Government would like to build on the partnership which was established with the country in 1991.
“This visit was high up on our agenda. On our last visit here, some anxieties were expressed by the Managing Director and the General Manager and the investors back in Malaysia about whether the agreement will be renewed with the government. We have given an assurance that yes, there will be a renewal but like all agreements there will be a need for negotiations to see how best we can make it stronger. We want to make it stronger not weaker,” he told the company representatives.
Further, he praised the company for choosing to stay and overcome the challenges faced in setting up its operations in Guyana.
“I want to congratulate you for achieving 24 years here. I know that it has been very difficult because sometimes you come to a country to invest; you see photographs and you see it on paper but getting on the ground and transforming it from an idea into a reality is something completely different. We know that there were challenges, but you’ve overcome those,” Minister Trotman added.Minister Trotman was accompanied by Permanent Secretary at the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Joslyn McKenzie, Ministerial Advisor, Clayton Hall, Technical Legal Officers of NRE, Tamara Khan and Joanna Homer, Technical Assistant, Teresa Gaime, Technical Assistant, Imole McDonald, Technical Officer, Environment , Euileen Watson, Technical Officer- Mining and Jerome Agard.
