THE economic viability of Guyana can be seen through the individual prospects of its 10 administrative regions. Our Regions possess unique resources that can contribute to the prosperity of the country. It is therefore through the exploitation of their individual strengths, that they can become catalysts for economic growth. It is with this realisation that this administration has pushed to strengthen the potential of these regions in order to transform their economies.

A significant means of strengthening the regions is through an effective local government body. This administration’s revival of the country’s Local Government Elections after 19 years’ absence is therefore a clear demonstration of Government’s push to ensure that the economies of the regions are strengthened.

President David Granger’s aim is for the Local Government Elections to lay the foundation for a new partnership between central government and local government. The President has also announced his aim to create Capital towns within each region with an emphasis of promoting business, driving economic development and giving leadership to the regions. The President has said that the regions “must no longer be viewed as mere administrative appendages of

the central government. Our regions must become motors of economic growth. These are large regions but they are also rich regions. None is desert. None is tundra. None is swamp. Each region is blessed with natural and human resources, which can be exploited for the benefit of its people.”

Since this administration took office, Mabaruma in Barima-Waini, Bartica in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni and Lethem in the Rupununi have been made into Capital towns while plans to create a municipality in Mahdia in the Potaro-Siparuni region are on the way.
Even as government continues along these lines, administrative bodies and other stakeholders have also taken up the mantle to promote the resources of their regions. These efforts are made manifest through initiatives such as Trade Fairs and Expositions which in the recent past have been hosted in Regions across the country.

President Granger has ensured that he is present at every opening thus far, as reinforcement of Government’s commitment to ensuring that the regions receive the encouragement, support and empowerment needed to contribute to the development of their region and, by extension, their country.
The residents of the East Berbice –Corentyne Region, have for years promoted the resources of their region through the Annual Berbice Trade Fair and Expo. In August last year, at the opening ceremony of the 12th Berbice Trade Fair, President Granger highlighted the need for economic diversification, promotion of entrepreneurship, focus on technical education, greater security, transitioning to a green economy and business development in the region.

The President also encouraged the development of a comprehensive action plan that will provide necessary information for entrepreneurs, including: investment trends and opportunities, markets, technological and scientific developments and new business horizons.
The plan must also address the issue of innovation which will enable local entrepreneurs to better compete in the global marketplace. Additionally, the plan must take into account, the issue of investment, which is essential for the creation of small and medium-scale enterprises and which will in turn lead to job-creation and a vibrant entrepreneurial culture.

“East Berbice-Corentyne needs to start planning if it is to translate the economic potential of this great region into economic prosperity; you need a Corentyne action plan and the stakeholders must work together to produce that plan to transform this region, a resource-rich region, which paradoxically is a production-poor region. Corentyne, you can enjoy

sustained growth and you can give your people a good life if you are prepared to examine your tremendous potential and put your resources to work for you,” the President said.
Minister of Business and Tourism, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, said that over the years the Expo has provided an opportunity for persons from all across Guyana to promote their products and services, while enjoying the atmosphere, thereby serving as a form of domestic tourism, which his ministry would like to see encouraged.

Regional Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, said that while the importance of diversification and entrepreneurship is an absolute must for Berbice, the contribution of rice and sugar– the region’s main sources of income — to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), foreign exchange and employment, must not be overlooked. “We have to explore new ways of keeping these two industries alive and today I want to make a special appeal to the President to see whatever help he can continue to give these two industries to keep them going until our economy has alternative ways of dealing with employment and other contributions that these two sectors make to the Berbice economy and the national economy,” he said.

In March this year, the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region hosted the Linden Trade Fair and Expo for the first time as a separate event from the previous Linden Town Week activities. Organisers felt that the event should be given more attention, having seen the need to emphasise the development of small businesses in the region. At that event, President David Granger urged that Linden must fulfil its mission as a capital town by driving the development of the region through investments, infrastructure and information technology.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Renis Morian, said that the hosting of this event represented a powerful expression of confidence in the people of Region 10 by the coordinators. He said that he looks forward to such events creating a positive impact in the region.
Later in April, the Pomeroon-Supenaam region hosted its second Annual Trade Fair and Expo under the theme ‘Essequibo means Business’. There, President Granger called on the regional administration, the Anna Regina Town Council and other stakeholders to partner with central government to work towards economic development to further improve social cohesion and to ensure that the goals of the region are achieved.

“We are aware that the region faces challenges, but we have to work together to overcome those challenges. One of the challenges is [that] of political collaboration. Another challenge is of social cohesion. These are not challenges which we cannot overcome if we work together… We have to find a way to work together to unleash the potential that the region has… We have to find a way to collaborate and to cooperate with each other,” President Granger said.

The President commended the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for organising the event and urged the region to continue to host the event as a means of showcasing their productivity to the rest of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean.
Regional Chairman, Mr. Devanand Ramdatt, highlighted the regional administration’s support for both regional and national development.

Most recently, the Mahaica-Berbice region hosted its Region Five Trade Fair and Expo under the theme, “Building a diversified economy.” At this event, the President called on the regional administration, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, members of the business community and civil society to work together with the central government to ensure that the challenges to the region’s development are solved.

But more importantly, the President took that opportunity to reassure residents that the Blairmont Sugar Estate is among those that will likely be preserved as Government looks to secure the future of the sugar industry, while aiming to produce sugar that is competitive on the world market. “We are not working to destroy the [sugar] industry… Guyana is trying to preserve its industry. That is why there will be a Blairmont and that is why there is going to be an Albion and we will preserve as many of our plantations and estates as possible. Uitvlugt will remain, but we have to deal with the problems of cost,” he said.

Speaking on the need for partnerships, the President called on all elected officials to forget party loyalty in the execution of their duties and focus on development of the region and the country for all Guyanese. He declared that all stakeholders must work together to ensure the development and implementation of a Regional Economic Action Plan (REAP).
Meanwhile, President of the Region Five Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Imran Saccoor, acknowledged that the sugar industry, which he described as the economic backbone of the region and by extension Guyana, in its current state is a “threat to our national treasury.” However, he commended the Government for retaining the Blairmont Estate, which is the single largest employer in the region.

President Granger has lauded the regions that continue to host these Trade Fairs and expressed the hope that all regions will have them, in order to attract visitors from other regions and to promote regional development.
This administration is committed to empowering our regions to generate their own wealth. Moreover, through focus on infrastructure, investment, innovation, and information and communications, our regions can become leaders in their own right, and transform them into becoming the future powerhouses which they are capable of becoming.