– Dr Ramsammy also said ‘no licence’ was granted
AGRICULTURE Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has stressed that his ministry has not granted any licence to a Chinese fishing company nor has it signed any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or agreement with it.

Dr Ramsammy made this disclosure in the National Assembly, yesterday, in response to queries from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) members Dr Rupert Roopnarine and Ms. Amna Ally.
The minister explained that his Ministry has received several informal requests from fishing companies from Asia, North America, Europe, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago but he stressed that those informal requests have to be followed by formal requests before any granting of fishing licences is considered. So far, only one Chinese company has made a formal request in this regard, he said.
Ramsammy also categorically stated, that requests for the harvesting of seabobs and prawns will not be granted, explaining that only requests for the larger marine species will be considered.
In response to a query from Ms. Ally about if an agreement is reached with the Chinese company if it would be laid before Parliament, he said it would be open to scrutiny.
Dr Ramsammy also disclosed that meetings with the Guyana Trawlers Owners Association will be held to update the association on the developments with respect to the prospective Chinese company, which is currently doing a study to determine what marine species they may opt to harvest.
The company has also indicated that it is interested in establishing a fish processing facility, Ramsammy informed the House.

(By Chamanlall Naipaul)