US$41,000 CPGI projects commissioned in Canal Nos.1 & 2
Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker with beneficiary representative, Naiomi Rambarran cutting the ribbon with CARILED National Country Coordinator, Dhanraj Singh in the back and CARILED Programme Director, Alix Yule at far right
Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker with beneficiary representative, Naiomi Rambarran cutting the ribbon with CARILED National Country Coordinator, Dhanraj Singh in the back and CARILED Programme Director, Alix Yule at far right

BORN out of the recognition that climate change continues to be the greatest challenge to agriculture in Guyana’s administrative regions, the US$41,000 Canal Polders Green Initiative (CPGI) Project was commissioned yesterday by Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker and CARILED representatives.

Observing the second crop of produce
Observing the second crop of produce

Speaking at the event in Canal No. 2 on the West Bank of Demerara, Minister Whittaker plugged the initiative as a great achievement, especially considering the role of the Guyana Government in diversification of the agricultural sector.
“Guyana is heavily dependent on agriculture both as a source of food and also a source of income and a source of revenue for the country,” the Minister said, adding that “our focus over many decades has been what we call the traditional crops: sugar [and] rice.”
He added: “But our Government determined many years ago that it is not the best thing to put all your eggs in one basket.”
Coming out of a series of consultations sometime ago with residents and local government authorities from the area were recommendations, according to CARILED National Country Coordinator, Dhanraj Singh.

A shade house structure at Canal No. 2 with a water tank of treated water
A shade house structure at Canal No. 2 with a water tank of treated water

These centred around “those avenues which the Ministry of Local Government together with the CARILED programme can support those local government agencies on the ground to provide better support for local economic development in the communities.”

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
With a primary focus on women empowerment and creating new employment for women, there are three projects of that nature in the area, which along with consultations and training sessions with residents amount to some US$41,000.
But this is not limited to those direct beneficiaries of the project, said Singh who pointed out that the beneficiaries will open their projects to the public to further educate those persons who are interested in the new technology being utilised.
This is to ensure that not only beneficiaries like Canal No. 2 farmer Naiomi Rambarran will benefit from the project. Naiomi grows parsley, celery and lettuce. She said that in four weeks she had reaped some 200 heads of lettuce for marketing.
With the floods that washed through the regions on Thursday, Naiomi said that she can now rest easy whenever it rains since her produce is grown above ground level. She recalled that during the floods, even though she had to wade through two feet of water, she was relieved to know that her produce was untouched.
CARILED, the Caribbean Local Economic Development Programme, is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development and is implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, an organisation made up of local government bodies in Canada.
Outlining the basis for the Canadian Government’s investment in the local economy, CARILED Programme Director, Alix Yule said: “We really believe that given the current global economic environment, for communities to prosper the local economy needs to be stimulated.”
Yule plugged the need for the involvement of local government in these sorts of projects to further stimulate economic development. She remained optimistic of the venture since “It’s very difficult to help an economy grow.” However, Yule urged for interagency collaboration to ensure the viability of these projects.
The Small Business Council, coming out of the Small Business Act of 2004, currently aids in funding for the project through Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development Limited (IPED).

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