…as Minister Persaud meets his Trinidadian counterpart
Guyana’s agricultural produce being allowed greater access to the Trinidad market was the focus of discussions between Agriculture  Minister Robert Persaud and his Trinidadian counterpart when they met in Port of Spain yesterday.

Minister Persaud and Trinidad’s Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs, Vasant Bharath, discussed a wide range of issues including the supply ofrice and other agricultural produce from Guyana.

He also met with importers of rice and other agricultural produce.  During
the meeting with the importers, issues such as the request by the Trinidad
authorities for the removal of pineapple crowns from pineapples and the
stems from peppers before they are shipped to Trinidad were raised.  Removal
of the crowns and stems from these products shorten their shelf lives, and
makes them deteriorate faster.  The Trinidad authorities have given a
commitment to address these issues.

Trinidadian businessmen also expressed an interest in sourcing beef and
mutton from Guyana.  Minister Persaud told the businessmen that these two
products are part of Guyana’s agricultural diversification programme.  He
informed the meeting that Guyana was certified Free of Foot and Mouth
Disease (without vaccination) from the OIE (International Office of
Epizootics) and that Guyana is ready to export beef and mutton to Trinidad.
Since 2006, Guyana has facilitated three teams from Trinidad to visit and
inspect the facilities in Guyana.  Guyana currently exports beef to Grenada.

In December 2006, Minister Persaud had written to then Trinidad
Agriculture Minister Jarrett Narine seeking greater access to the
Trinidadian market.  As a result of subsequent interventions by Minister
Persaud, the list of admissible produce from Guyana to Trinidad increased
from six to 22 (inclusive or rice, rice products and wood).

During the meetings, Minister Persaud also discussed the possibility of
further investments in Guyana by Trinidadian businessmen, including the
sourcing of copra and establishment of an oil mill in Guyana.  Coconut water
is currently being bottled in the Pomeroon by a Trinidadian firm for the
Trinidad & Tobago Agri-Business Association (TTABA).

The Guyana Marketing Corporation, Guyana Rice Development Board and the
Guyana Non-Traditional Exporters Association will be following up on the
issues discussed.