By Ravi D. Mohan

Launch and River appreciation Day in Region # 2

The Essequibo Chamber of Commerce in Collaboration with the Ministry of Business and Ministry of Agriculture last Saturday hosted its first ever Coconut Festival and River Appreciation Day at Charity, Essequibo Coast.
This came a week ahead of the Country’s main Festival at the Arthur Chung Centre. The day’s activities commenced with a Boat Cade in the Pomeroon River creating awareness on the appropriate usage of the river and the dangers of polluting the waters by dumping damage coconuts and its waste. Several accidents occurred as a result of these practices which at times caused loss of life and damage to engines and boats by persons utilising the River.
The official opening ceremony started about 13:30hours with prayers welcoming remarks by the Charity NDC Chairman Ms. Deandre Parks. This was followed by a historic presentation by 84 year old Historian Mr. Isahack Bashir, who enticed the crowd with the history of Cotton farming from 1620 by the Dutch, to the takeover by the Portuguese in the 1840s who later started coconut and other crops in the Pomeroon. This continued with the Indentured labourers from the abandoned sugar plantations in Essequibo in the 1920s. He stated that five varieties of coconuts were cultivated during that period; however due the impact of climate change, the workers’ migration to the mining sector has had some effect to the industry. It was evident that in the 1990s the coconut industry started to diversify and scale up with the establishment of the Pomeroon Oil Mill by Alfro Alfonso, processing Copra into coconuts oil and the introduction of a few coconut processing facilities exporting the water locally as well as to Trinidad and other countries. Smaller industries includes virgin pressed coconut oil, casereep and handicraft were also created.
Deleep Singh President of The Essequibo Chamber of Commerce exclaimed his happiness about the Festival. He stated that when he was invited to the planning committee in Georgetown for the Festival, he suggested having the launch in Essequibo since Pomeroon is touted to be the largest coconut producing area in the Caribbean. He extended thanks to the farmers, agro processors, exhibitors and all donors and sponsors who made the event possible. It’s the first of its kind in Essequibo and he noted not only hoping to make it bigger and better next year but to have an trade fair where agricultural produce, rice, dairy products, timber amongst others will be on display.
Joyanne Ramnauth, a representative from the Ministry of Business, told the gathering on the concept of the coconut festival was derived in December 2015 from representatives of the Tourism Hospitality Association which was then stream lined by Donald Sinclair – Director General of Tourism. This was done to promote the coconut industry and to lay the foundation of Agro Tourism in Guyana.
Davenand Ramdatt welcomed this activity as a historic day and looks forward for more this nature to be held at Charity. He stated that like the rice industry, coconut is equally important and for our country to move forward we need to recognize our farmer efforts which brought them a long way among many adversities. He gave praises to the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and all stakeholders including the various Ministries for the success of the Coconut Festival and River Appreciation Day.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder in his feature address stated that his ministry is delighted to collaborate with the Ministry of business and the ECC to host this first ever Coconut Festival and River appreciation day. Coconut is Guyana’s main nontraditional crop, he stated, as it ranks third after rice and sugar based on the amount of acreage cultivated. According to Mr. Holder the industry generates an annual income of $4.6m US dollars. He believes that the festival serves as a boost for coconut and its products such as coconut water, virgin coconut oil, craft, etc. The coconut industry has great potential for expansion and development particularly for processing and value added products. The Ministry of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute and the Guyana Marketing are actively involved in facilitating this process. He said that Guyanese should work to reclaim being the bread basket of the Caribbean as we have started and we should persist in increasing our agricultural production and exports.
The activity attracted displays from coconut farmers, agro-processors, craft manufacturers, Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana rice development Board, Guy Oil amongst others. Farmers were very happy and receptive of the festival. They exclaimed that this came the right time and were thankful to the organisers for this stimulating activity. Over 1000 viewers including women and children were observed interacting at the activity. Trophies were given for the best decorated boats depicting coconuts and its products to Henville Farms and Pomeroon Oil Mill for the ‘Boatcade’ and to Original Juice center, Henville Farm and Pomeroon oil Mill for Best boot display. Fisher Primary School was awarded a trophy for Schools Participation in the Craft competition. Thanks were given to the students of Charity Secondary School for performing a coconut skit and Charity primary for performing the coconut song along with a steel pan piece.