— Agri Minister
Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has refuted claims by some sections of the media that government has sealed a secret deal with Trinidad and Tobago business conglomerate ANSA McAL to build an ethanol project on 100,000 hectares of virgin land. Minister Ramsammy said Guyana’s energy potential has been talked about by governments before and after it gained independence. He noted that Guyana’s bio- energy potential was a major issue discussed by the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Additionally, it was discussed in the country’s development strategy crafted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is explicit to its goal that Guyana will pursue aggressively a bio-energy path.
Minister Ramsammy said, “The talk of bio-energy did not come up in the last few weeks.” He added that talks were long in the pipeline.
He noted that the Guyana School of Agriculture has had discussion with someone who, the leading food processor in the Caribbean, regarding setting up a food-processing plant within the school. This, he says, is not being publicised by some sections of the media.
“In the context of Guyana pursuing an agro-energy policy, there are investors who have expressed interest after which a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed, giving permission to talk (to) people and put proposals forward.” Ramsammy disclosed.
“I am not aware of any land being leased to anyone at this time,” he said.  He added that he was aware of the interest of several local and international enterprises in Guyana’s potential for bio-mass development and bio-fuel production; and those enterprises were inspired by Guyana’s aggressive pursuit of the development of bio-energy.
Government is aware that persons have paid attention to its agro-energy policy — that bio-fuel production is an important part of its development programme — and welcomes local and international enterprises on board.
According to  Agriculture Minister Ramsammy, “Persons should encourage the project, rather than discourage, as the benefits are significant,” he said.
“Once Guyana succeeds in setting up a bio-plant for bio-fuel production, not only the economy will benefit, but also every citizen,” Ramsammy assured.
Ramsammy chided those seeking to play political games, noting that the development of bio-energy is not one that should be used for that purpose.
He said that, regardless of politics, race or religion, every citizen should support the project, since it will bring significant benefits to all.
The Government is maintaining that the accusations of its signing a secret deal are misleading and are part of casting aspersions on the government.
Government is also insisting that the genesis of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ANSA MCAL dates back to August 2007, when a forum on bio-energy opportunities in the Caribbean was held.
Government says that forum resulted in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) partnering with the Guyana government, through  technical cooperation, to expand bio-energy opportunities here.