DIGICEL (Guyana) Inc. handed over a US$600 cheque to the Guyana Mangrove Reserve Women Producers (MRWP), on Thursday, to help with the development of a business plan, through which it can derive funding benefit from a bank or donors. It took place at Digicel Headquarters, Fort and Barrack Streets, Kingston, Georgetown and MRWP President Carlotta De Jesus said the money will be used to produce a financing proposal that can be presented when seeking assistance.
She said they are a group of women who are assisting in protecting the mangroves and involved in making different products, such as achar, tamarind balls, honey, bees wax candles, cassava bread, casareep, green seasonings and pepper.
De Jesus said they are from communities where mangroves planting is done and even those where there are standing mangrove forests.
Representative Christine Edwards, from Consultancy Group Guyana, said they are also developing the business proposition for the mangroves project and, presently, conducting community competitions countrywide to garner money for the purpose.

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Digicel Guyana Events and Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope said this is the second such presentation to the group and pledged the company’s continued support.
He said Digicel (Guyana), over the year, has seen the growth of the women’s grouping.
The MRWP hosted its first Farmers’ Market on October 31, 2011, with sponsorship from Digicel, to promote their agro-produce which they have been developing.
Despite the inclement weather yesterday, many braved the rain to participate in a momentous event for the women, which was held at the Mangroves Visitors Centre, Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
At intervals, Chairperson Annette Arjoon-Martins, of the Guyana Mangroves Restoration Project (GMRP), briefed those present on the aims and objectives within the context of climate change and the role of mangroves in sea defence.
She said the farmers’ market was held on the final day of Agriculture Month 2011 and she was extremely grateful for Digicel’s support, without which, the sale would not have been possible.
The occurrence and the new organisation is part of the alternative livelihoods’ component of the GMRP, funded by the Government of Guyana and the European Union (EU).