…says Honorary Consul Hans Barrow
Guyanese are known to reside in almost every conceivable country on this planet.
In addition, there is a healthy trade between Guyana and Japan in particular with new and used automobiles and commodities, to the extent that the trade is not only online in nature, but some local dealers are known to  travel to Japan to conduct their business. Following the 8.9 mega earthquake last Friday that triggered a tsunami, killing thousands and inflicting widespread damage, the Guyana Chronicle contacted Honorary Consul for Japan, Mr Hans Barrow, with a view to determining whether any Guyanese has been affected.
But according to Barrow, while there are about 12 Guyanese residing in Japan, communication there being limited at this time, he is dependent on information which he gets from the Trinidad-based Japanese embassy, as well as that made public through newspapers and television in Japan.
Barrow said too, while he does not feel that the Guyanese who live there were based where the tragedy occurred, he is however still worried about the radio active leaks which he describes as ‘a terrible situation’, with the possibility of contamination.
Asked whether his office had had calls from Guyanese with loved ones living in Japan, Barrow replied in the negative. And this could be a good sign, he said.
Barrow said as Japan’s representative in Guyana, “I too am in sympathy with the families of the thousands who have lost their lives and others who are now rendered homeless or have been affected otherwise. I know they (Japan) will rebuild, and better, because they are very brave and undaunted.”
Meanwhile automakers Toyota and Nissan have, according to reports, temporarily closed factories in Japan following the natural disaster.
President of the Shipping Association in Guyana, Mr Andrew Astwood, in a telephone interview , said while it is too early to pronounce on how severely the damage caused in Japan will affect their business, he can safely say the tragedy will have some effect on shipping.
Several major ports, including the one located at Sendai, were reportedly damaged during the disaster, but ports on the southern side of the country remained open for business.
And while some importers will no doubt be affected in terms of delivery schedule, Astwood said it is also too early to say whether the situation will see an increase in prices of commodities and vehicles.
Astwood, who is attached to the Guyana National Shipping  Corporation (GNSC), said, as an agent, GNSC is currently in the process of contacting its suppliers and associates to garner as much information as possible. He has, to date, had no information as to whether any local dealer was in Japan and had a first-hand experience.