CONSULTANT  engineers are currently working with local slaughter houses in order to identify work that needs to be done to upgrade the facilities, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy,  said recently. During a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the minister said that they are starting with the slaughter houses in Georgetown but will be working to modernise those in other areas as well.
“The consultant engineers are working at the various sites to ensure that design work is done, then we will have to tender for those works to be done,” he stated.
Ramsammy had announced last year that the ministry was planning to establish a state-of-the-art internationally standardised abattoir which   would cost some G$3M.
However, he said recently that the existing slaughter houses will be  upgraded first in order to ensure that the meat that comes out of those facilities meets the health standards.
The minister had said that the ministry was reviewing its options with regard to building the modern abattoir due to escalating costs.  In that light, it was decided to  upgrade the slaughter houses so that there could be more immediate improvement in the slaughtering of animals.
While he highlighted that the international standards of abattoirs address the issue of export, he stressed that one single standard should be established, with  the quality of meat for local consumption being  no different than the quality of meat for export.
When the plans for the modern abattoir were announced, Ramsammy had noted that if Guyana is to increase exports of its poultry and livestock,  a well-established abattoir would be  necessary. He had also mentioned that Guyana has a plus in acquiring markets readily, since the country is certified as “Foot and Mouth” disease free.