Georgetown: With general and regional elections a mere days away, the incumbent President and PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar continues to meet with citizens as he outlines his party’s plan if his party is returned to government.
Last evening, the President met with residents of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder and Adelphi, Canje where he was greeted by large crowds of residents.
Given the fact that Region Six is one of the largest contributors to the rice and sugar industries, the president spoke directly of his government’s plans for these two key areas.
In laying out his strategies for the agriculture sector, the President said plans are afoot to establish a vibrant manufacturing and agro-processing sector as his administration seeks to diversify the non-traditional sector.
A new and emerging sector, the President said, will seek to create a better standard of living for citizens while simultaneously creating highly skilled jobs, and job training for many.
“We have to also modernise our traditional sector, every single day we agonise in government how we can make people’s lives better.”
However, with specific reference to the rice industry, President Ramotar spoke of his government’s continued investments in drainage and irrigation for farms lands which are critical for better production.
“We have to create the conditions so that you can produce more, and you have been producing more.”
Speaking of a period of time when Guyana was importing rice for local use, the President stated that the industry has come a far way, as its yearly yield currently stands at over 600,000 tonnes.
He however, noted that his government’s plans for the industry are for it to surpass the current yield by exploring more varieties, and high yielding ones.
President Ramotar added that, at every opportunity, which presents itself the government has been looking for new and larger markets for rice.
“We are now looking at more Central American countries and even in Africa we are looking to sell our rice so that we can have a higher quality of life for our people.”
He added that, his government also believes that for the industry to further expand, value added products must be pursued.
“We will encourage more packaging of rice so that people can earn more money from just adding value by packaging and exporting package rice.”
Acknowledging the fact that cheaper and more reliable energy is a major hindrance for the manufacturing sector, the President said it is for this reason other companies should follow suit by using the gasifier. Already he pointed out that Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill on the Essequibo Coast has utilised the initiative and already the gasifer is cutting cost at that rice factory. It can produce electricity that can be sold to the national grid, he said.
Noting too that he is aware of the issues of fluctuating paddy prices, the Head of State said, “In our manifesto we are promising that we will set up price support mechanisms to try to deal with the some of the variations of price to ensure that our farmers’ standards of living continue to grow.”
Similar plans, the president said, are on stream for the sugar industry, which he acknowledged, has been experiencing some difficult times.
President Ramotar told the residents of Adelphi and Mibicuri of his government’s plan to modernise the sugar industry and explore options of creating value added products.
Already, the President said the Indian government had committed to helping in the modernisation process.
During a visit to India earlier this year, the President said he was assured of that government’s financial and expert aid for the sugar industry.
However, he pointed out that for all of this and more to be accomplished come May 11, it is up to citizens to have their voices heard so that all these plans can be realised for the betterment of all
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