PRESIDENT David Granger has expressed optimism that with added production, coupled with its already immense agricultural production, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam), has the potential to feed the entire country and the Caribbean. The region, he said, has been

punching above its weight with agriculture and production and believes that the 2017 Essequibo Agro and Trade Exposition, at which he was at the time giving the feature address at its opening ceremony, will create avenues for the unleashing of these under-exploited and hidden potentials.

On Friday evening at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground, addressing a packed audience, President Granger congratulated the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for pulling off the exposition and making a national statement that it was ready for business, since it was one of the most productive and leading agricultural regions in Guyana. “Last year, Region Two produced 85,000 metric tonnes of rice, 810 metric tonnes of fish and shrimp, 270 000 metric tonnes of agricultural produce and 44.4 M coconuts, so Region Two is not a poor region. It has potential,” Granger revealed, adding that there was a lot that the region could build upon.

Strengths and Challenges
Alluding to the region’s agricultural strengths, such as the availability of land, experience and expertise, Granger said that those should be exploited. “We are quite aware of the potential and talent of your population, we are quite aware too that you have challenges, but we have to work together to overcome those challenges,” Granger affirmed.

Highlighting these, the Head of State said that there was the challenge of political collaboration, social cohesion and geographical differences, but he believed that those challenges were not difficult to overcome if the residents worked together to unleash the region’s potential. One solution he put forward was networking between the three tiers of government in the region and Anna Regina as the capital town, playing an integral role in its development. “What we see here in Anna Regina is a hub, but it should not be a hub attracting poor people, it should be a hub of prosperity. It should be a hub of social cohesion.”

Pillars of Development
The President encouraged the regional administration and the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce to utilise the four pillars of development, so that its agricultural sector would expand into an agro-processing sector, thus rooting out the culture of exporting raw materials and in essence, eliminating poverty. He encouraged the regional authorities to implement a plan of action for regional development and pledged that such a plan, when it materialises, would receive support from central government. The pillars of this plan, he said, were institutions, investments, infrastructure and information technology. These pillars would attract investors and seek out avenues for exportation of the value-added products.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, in his short address also pledged the support of his ministry for development of the region’s agricultural and production sector, since it was what the government wanted to promote. He also congratulated the ECC for organising the event since it provides networking between the public and private sectors and bring businesses into contact with the people. Gaskin said that such expositions would encourage the Ministry of Business to organise a national agricultural and trade fair where local producers would get in touch with the overseas exporters and foreign markets.

Gaskin revealed that his contribution to the Essequibo exposition was having all the relevant agencies present to help share information on the various aspects of business in Guyana. “Go- Invest is here, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards is here, the Competition and Consumer Affairs is here and the Small Business Bureau is here…..we are not sitting back in Georgetown and waiting, you are telling us that you mean business and we are telling you that we mean business as well,” Gaskin said.

The Minister of Business said that there was need for diversification in production, as the region could no longer depend solely on rice production. He encouraged the Essequibians to seek out crops that were in demand and encouraged consumers to support local farmers by consuming foods produced in Guyana.
Regional Chairman, Mr Devanand Ramdatt, reiterated that Region Two means business not only in the agricultural sector, but the tourism sector also, since its potential was under-exploited. He highlighted the struggles of the region’s economy, but urged the authorities to collectively work with the government to aid the struggling rice industry. He revealed that there was currently a high level of unemployment within the Pomeroon district which needed urgent attention.

The regional chairman’s sentiments were echoed by Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson, who said that the exposition comes on the heels of a successful year in which the RDC had executed many successful developmental projects. He also gave commendation to the ECC for pulling off the expo as it would allow for the chain of spending; therefore, various entrepreneurs would benefit and by extension the economy of Region Two. Hopkinson affirmed that the region was in capable hands and development would come.

The 2017 Essequibo Agricultural and Trade Expo has been described as a distinguished and historic occasion, being the first of its kind. President of the ECC, Mr Deleep Singh, revealed that it has been one year since the event was resuscitated and therefore to pull off such an exposition was indeed heartwarming.
He said the region was once the food basket of the Caribbean and the ECC was determined to reach that status again. “Over the next year, we will set the task of creating a better business environment, breaking down barriers and making it easier to do business,” he said. He encouraged Essequibians to be more aggressive in consultation with stakeholders.

“This laid-back approach should cease and a more participating and positive approach should be adopted. Party politics have [sic] no place in development ; too long have I noticed our people being divided along political lines. Unity is the most essential ingredient for development,” he said.
Hundreds of visitors journeyed to the Cinderella County to be a part of the fair which will conclude today. The Community Centre ground came alive with scores of booths with exhibits ranging from agricultural produce and agro-processing, craft items, food and beverage items, cattle-rearing, value-added wood products and local services.

While the local entrepreneurs were the highlights, several businesses, government institutions and entrepreneurs from out of town also took the opportunity to showcase their products and services. The opening ceremony attracted a large crowd and in addition to the speeches, there were several cultural performances followed by a stage show, after it was officially declared open by President Granger.

One Essequibian, Jenny Craig, who journeyed from the Pomeroon, expressed appreciation for what the ECC had done and believes that the exposition would indeed boost the county’s economy. “I am very happy about what I’m seeing here tonight, our businesses needed this boost and I believe that it will be beneficial. “Big up” to the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for a job well done.”