–farmers urged to take advantage
LIAT has announced plans to reintroduce its cargo freight service to Guyana and it is encouraging farmers to take advantage of the service to export their produce.
This announcement was made at the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday as Minister of Agriculture met LIAT officials , including the Director of Cargo and Quikpak, Wilbur Edwards to discuss the advantages of this venture. Persaud noted that this is a welcome initiative as there is a great demand for food and agriculture produce, especially within the Caribbean.
As to the need for this service, he said: “The major and constant constraint has been the issue of logistics, reliable as well as affordable cargo and LIAT and has now recommenced this service … we have to determine how to ensure that agro exporters take advantage of this service.”
According to Persaud, the parties are also exploring the idea of the New Guyana Manufacturing Corporation (GMC) working closely with LIAT to introduce marketing in countries where Guyana does not have a market share.
He noted too that two weeks ago Caribbean Airlines also introduced a freighter service between Georgetown and Miami and pointed out that such a service from Georgetown to New York would be welcome.
“Every air cargo service for us is welcome… and we are happy that we have this service within CARICOM, a very important market for Guyana,” he stated.
Persaud encouraged exporters to make contact with LIAT or the New GMC to ascertain the agricultural product needs of some of the destinations not traditionally tapped into.
Alluding to the importance of the service, LIAT’s Director of Cargo said: “We consider the Guyana market a very important one and we have met with CARICOM Secretariat on this initiative and they are very much in support of the increased trade and business for farmers and exporters alike, so we are very happy to get an audience with the minister to let him know the capabilities.”
Edwards explained that the freighter service is available to all territories the airline operates in and emphasised that the cost depends on the destination.
“A core schedule is available and we look at the demand in the network on a daily basis to schedule accordingly, we also operate charters so that if there is one exporter who can fill the entire plane then the shipment will be taken to the desired destination within the network,” he added
As it relates to the overall cost per shipment, he emphasised that this would depend on the destination but gave assurances that the prices for this service are flexible.
“We are not trying to make super profits; our mandate from our shareholders is to assist the region and the farmers and exporters in improving trade in the spirit of the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME). We just want to ensure that we can accomplish that and operate profitably,” Edwards stated.
There is a published rate on the LIAT Cargo website but, according to Edwards, this will differ according to the individual circumstances.
Since LIAT launched all cargo air freighter service in February the airline has shipped over three-quarters of a million pounds of cargo.
“We feel getting Guyana on board is very important to your overall objectives,” the LIAT representative declared.