Dear Editor,
THE diaspora is very important to the economy. In travelling throughout Guyana, it is observed that Guyanese in the disapora and tourists patronise local markets and stores (plus groceries). Vendors are pleased to serve foreigners from whom they earn significant revenues.

Markets are also tourist attractions. Visitors and Guyanese from the diaspora make it their duty to visit the local markets where they expend a large amount of foreign currency on domestic products. People come to eat, to drink, and to be entertained.
They spend money on local delicacies and snacks and on our local drinks and even on a full meal (baigan choka, roti, dhal puri, fish, and meats, among others). The local farmers also supply domestic foods to hotels and to ExxonMobil and other oil companies operating offshore Guyana.

Local folk are also important as consumers and purchasers of local produce sustaining vendors since the end of slavery in the 1830s.
The Ministry of Agriculture, through Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and his team, encourage consumption of local produce, meat and fish.

Farmers and fisherfolk, as well as hotels are reaping relatively good incomes from the expenditures of foreign visitors (from the diaspora and tourists) who enjoy local foods and hospitality.
Visiting members of Guyanese families, guests, and tourists love Guyanese cuisine, enabling the locals to make money from the agriculture industry. The amount of earnings is sizeable from the fruits and vegetables, rice and other grains, and fish and meat that are sold to foreigners.

The diaspora also creates a huge market for cooked produce and frozen fish; Guyanese meat is not allowed in North America. Frozen and/or cooked fish and cooked vegetables are taken in luggage to North America and the UK and to Caribbean destinations, thereby boosting local production and small cottage industries that prepare cooked foods for visiting Guyanese for overseas travel.

Farmers are encouraged by the Ministry of Agriculture to produce a wide range of food crops, fruits, and vegetables, meat, and fish to meet growing the demand of an increased number of visitors.
And fishermen have been making a good catch over the last couple of months; price of fish, apart from Gilbaka, have gone down. Gilbaka is a prized fish that is in demand in the diaspora.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (and Forestry) have been encouraging and providing assistance to help farmers, especially small and medium-sized farmers. Farmers appreciate the assistance as they revealed to me.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram