DIPLOMATIC representatives of the Republic of Turkey on Wednesday donated a tractor and trailer and a Bobcat excavator to the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) as part of a development assistance programme to the Government and people of Guyana.Handing over of the equipment was done outside the Head Office of the MMA/ADA at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, and was the final act of a development assistance programme for Guyana, agreed to by the two countries in 2014.

As part of that agreement, before the donation on Wednesday, the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) donated computers and software to eight primary schools, funded a conference system for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, funded an archival system for the records of the National Communications Network (NCN), and purchased two ambulances for the Ministry of Health, officials disclosed.

A new agreement for additional forms of development assistance from Turkey is expected to be finalised shortly.

The equipment for the MMA was handed over by Dr Mehmet Ozkan, Associate Professor of International Relations in South America. Those present at the event included members of the Turkish team led by Dr Ozkan; staffers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duanne Bess and Roxanne Laroc; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jarvis; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MMA, Dr Kenneth Sealey; General Manager of the MMA, Aubrey Charles; and other board members and MMA staff.

Before handing over the equipment, Dr Ozkan disclosed that his country will continue to contribute to social and economic development and the betterment of the lives of the people of Guyana.
Permanent Secretary Jarvis, General Manager Charles, Chairman Dr Sealey and Foreign Service Officer II Duanne Bess all made brief remarks, expressing the gratitude of the people of Guyana for the development support assistance from the Government of Turkey.

Jarvis noted that the equipment was specially requested by the Ministry of Agriculture because of the ever present need within agricultural areas to either provide irrigation or alleviate flooding.

“They fit in nicely with what the MMA is required to do,” he said, while disclosing a wish that the relationship between Guyana and Turkey would grow from strength to strength.

Sealey, noting that the MMA was service-oriented, said the farmers of the MMA will be the main beneficiaries, due to the increased capabilities for drainage and irrigation management as well as access to and from farms that the equipment will provide.

Charles disclosed that the equipment will be deployed immediately to bolster work in the critical areas of responsibility of the authority.