IN ITS QUEST to assess the state of the African economy in Guyana, the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) will deliberate on the state of the coastal fishing industry during a meeting set for Saturday, March 12. Saturday’s meeting is a continuation of another meeting held approximately two weeks ago with business men and women on the State of the African economy in Guyana.
In his August 1, 2015 column under the caption: ‘What about a Black Guyanese entrepreneurial class?” Freddie Kissoon contended that Afro-Guyanese account for approximately one percent of the country’s economy.
According to him, “East Indians dominate the economy ninety five percent to one percent for Africans with other races making up the other four percent. Among other races in Guyana, outside of Indian Guyanese, land-holdings are extensive. It seems that the only race that does not possess vast plantations of land is African Guyanese.”
In response to this observation, ACDA Director Eric Phillips said the African organization was analyzing critical sectors of the country’s economy with the aim of increasing Afro-Guyanese involvement in building a resilient economy.
He pointed out that in the fishing industry, Allison Butters-Grant is the only black female in Guyana to own and operate a fish-processing plant where standard is the hallmark. The re-migrant, with the support of her husband, operates Global Seafood Distributors at its West Ruimveldt Industrial Site location.
Dr. Phillips said Butters-Grant, who will open a processing plant in Victoria, though successful in her operation has been affected by the fluctuating prices in the local fishing industry.
As such, ACDA is hoping that the meeting on Saturday would reawaken Afro-Guyanese interest in the fishing industry. “We are hoping to bring it back in the African community by assessing the state of the industry,” the ACDA head posited while emphasizing that a needs-assessment is critical at this stage.
If Afro-Guyanese can pool their resources, the community can capitalize on the economy of scale, he added.
Saturday’s meeting at the Victoria Primary School, Victoria Middle Walk will commence at 13:00h, and issues and needs of critical importance to the village’s economy will be discussed.
In addition to the fishing industry, ACDA is also focusing on the construction, agriculture, banking and exploration sectors. Emphasis is also being placed on the youth.