RECENTLY described as being on “life support,” the Skeldon sugar factory which was on the brink of becoming a white elephant, according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, has shown encouraging signs of coming back to life. He made the statement on Friday at the launch of the 11th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair, which is being held under the theme: “Fostering National Pride, Advancing Economic Progress”.
The Skeldon Factory was constructed at a cost of US$181 million and was hailed as the boon to the survival of the sugar industry when it was commissioned in August 2009. The new factory was intended to increase national production to more than 450,000 tonnes, but that never happened.
While the new administration is trying to fix the problems with the factory, the Prime Minister said sugar could not remain the lifeline of the region; there must be diversification.
The Prime Minister thus expressed satisfaction at the fact that approximately 90 businesses are participating in the Expo, demonstrating the fact that Berbice is not all about sugar, and that value-added enterprises could generate jobs and stimulate the economy.
He offered that instead of having to import tomato juice, which is sold at a handsome price, Berbice, which is known for having an abundance of fruits of all types, could be manufacturing these items.
“Berbice is a tropical paradise; we have an abundance of fruits of all types. Why then should we import tomato juice? Juices can be manufactured right here in Berbice, which is our food basin. Why then should foreign labels be seen from guava juice to coconut water?
Additionally, he highlighted the need for Berbicians to, “get into other types of business to create wealth, to promote jobs and offer a better life in our various communities.”
And according to the Prime Minister, the Government remains hopeful that this Expo will inspire new entrepreneurs.
“Small businesses not only help to reduce unemployment, they have scope to create unique business models,” he said.
“I understand that the objective of this Expo is to promote small businesses and young entrepreneurs. For us [government], entrepreneurship is one of the ways to eradicate unemployment, which is a scourge among our young people.
He noted that when the APNU+AFC coalition took office, unemployment among young people stood at 40%, according to a study by the Caribbean Development Bank .
He said that for too long young people have been “kicking brick.”
And other studies have shown a direct link between joblessness and crime, prostitution, drug- trafficking and emigration. Joblessness leads to hopelessness and to suicide and violence, the Prime Minister told those at the opening ceremony.
As such, he noted that government recognises that entrepreneurship is necessary to get young people into small businesses, as self-employed, and as creators of wealth, and that they [government] must play a key role in ensuring that local investors enjoy the same benefits and concessions as foreign investors.
According to the PM, in an attempt to provide seed capital to investors and meet the financing needs of the agri-sector, government proposes to establish an Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank, which would also operate in Berbice.
So while this expo is taking place at a time when serious challenges are being experienced in traditional export sectors – the tripod of rice, sugar and gold, the PM noted that the potential which exists in other sectors is awaiting exploitation by visionaries.
“We are hoping also that our brothers and sisters in the diaspora will be encouraged by you and your heroic efforts to return and invest in Berbice and to make this county a shining example of hard work and prosperity,” PM Nagamootoo declared.
The Berbice Expo ends on Monday.