GUYANESE-BORN migrant from Venezuela, Edward Moore, is back in his home country to invest in our local economy in the form of manufacturing wholesome, all-natural products with good nutritional values and benefits.

In June, he launched ‘Cream of Rice’ product utilising the Government of Guyana, Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) facility at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

Moore has partnered with GSA via the Ministry of Agriculture to produce ‘Cream of Rice’, a wholesome substitute breakfast option that is quick and easy to make a simple porridge.

The product was launched in June, and it is retailed at the Guyana Shop, Robb Street, Georgetown, and is available at supermarkets.

Moore told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is a native of Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast, but left Guyana for Venezuela in 1975, more than 49 years ago. He has a wife and two children from a marriage in that country.

He worked as a mechanic and later began producing chocolates and pre-cooked corn flour from equipment he fabricated in his workshop at home in Venezuela.

Moore stated that after the last attack on himself and his family at his home in Venezuela, he decided to return to his homeland because it was not safe due to the declining economic situation. He was robbed at his home four times by armed bandits of whatever little he had.

Moore tried to sell his house even for a meagre sum but was unsuccessful so he gave away his household possessions and left for Guyana.

He came last October to see how he could set up a small business to earn money, and he engaged the regional administration in his plan to produce rice porridge.

Moore sought advice, and after some consultations, he was authorised to utilise the GSA facility at Anna Regina to manufacture his ‘Cream of Rice’ product and provided employment for three persons.

He was given a three-year period to use the facility, and his product is being marketed by the Guyana Shop as a locally produced product that is wholesome and has excellent nutritional benefits.

Moore had to start from scratch and returned to his home village of Devonshire Castle, where he garnered support from relatives and started producing “Cream of Rice’ which is attractively packaged and labelled.

So far, the response to the product has been promising. From interactions with people in three expositions he participated in, he was able to promote ‘Cream of Rice’, which was dubbed a favourite breakfast option for many.

‘Cream of Rice’ can be used to make a cake or porridge. Both options are good with a straightforward recipe.

Moore will also embark on his second project as a local producer in chocolate making and pre-cooked corn flour.

“I was here in Guyana in 1984 when Kenneth Hopkinson was the Regional Chairman, and I had a plot of land in Region Two for agriculture, but then I had no capital to cultivate the land, so I had to return to Venezuela,” he said.

Moore reported that the product ‘Cream of Rice’ isn’t widely known yet and he hopes to make the product a household name through marketing strategies and advertisements.

However, he is motivated by the favourable response to the product so far and hopes the product will become a favourite in many homes.

“Once they taste the product, they will like it, and it was evident at the recent exposition for Emancipation Day celebrations at the Guyana Shop on Robb Street where I had cake and porridge prepared for sampling,” he said.

Moore stated that he returned home for a ‘fresh start’ and is very thankful for the current administration’s input in making his small business a reality.

He noted that the partnership has been good and will last a three-year period during which he will try to acquire his own equipment even if he has to fabricate it himself.

Presently, the Guyana School of Agriculture facility at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, can produce 500 individually packaged ‘Cream of Rice’ products per day with three full-time workers along with Moore.