-despite PNCR walkout
THE NATIONAL Assembly on Thursday evening adopted the report of the parliamentary special select committee on the impact of global food price increases despite the walk-out staged by members of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), who said that the Motion had no merit.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who presented the Motion, expressed his disappointment at the actions of the main Opposition party which, he said, has once again failed to discharge its obligations to the persons by whom they were elected.
“They are sending a clear statement to the farmers of this country who produce food, and the consumers of how little they care about their interest,” Minister Persaud said.
In explaining the importance of the Motion, the Minister said that across the globe, approximately 862 million people go to bed every night without a proper meal, and close to two billion intermittently face some form of food deprivation.
“Food prices are very volatile, and their impact can be very devastating, especially for vulnerable groups in our society,” he pointed out.
He posited that Government has not faltered in its commitment to initiate policies and programmes aimed at ensuring that Guyana continues to enjoy a state of food security.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai said that at the level of the special select committee, there was no disagreement on the factors that contributed to the global food price increases.
She said that while many businesses took advantage of the price increases and blamed the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the high prices they were charging, Government was still able to cushion the effects on consumers. She reminded the House that most, if not all, of the basic food items are zero-rated.
Minister Sukhai emphasised that the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme is aimed at strengthening food security, adding value to local produce, creating employment and sustaining village development.
“The programme prioritised seven main enterprises in 15 communities in Region One, including Hobodia, Hotoquai, Tobago, Bumbury, Three Brothers, Imbotero, Wauna, Hosororo, Whitewater, Kamwatta, Arukamai, Yarakita, Barabina, and Aruka Mouth,” she said.
The cluster programmes that are executed in these areas include value added pineapple, ginger, crabwood oil and cassava products, crab fattening, aquaculture, passion fruit and citrus enterprises, and honey production.
“Guyana was successful in its objective to stabilise food prices at the national level,” the Minister maintained.
The report was supported by Alliance for Change (AFC) Member, Sheila Holder who said that her party not only supported farmers at the Committee level but at the community levels as well.

The report highlighted that the global increase in food prices, which amounts to in excess of 80 percent over the past year-and–a-half, was caused mainly by hike in the prices of fossil fuels and production of bio-fuels, effects of climate change and the growing demand for food in large emerging economies.
Government established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Food Prices that was tasked with the monitoring of the emerging situation on a constant basis and to make recommendations on actions that could be taken to cushion the impact on Guyanese, especially those in vulnerable communities.
A parliamentary Special Select Committee was subsequently consulted to discuss the implementation of governmental interventions proposed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee. The Committee also invited Guyanese to make written submissions that were considered.
These interventions included: Increasing the disposable income of ordinary Guyanese, subsidising costs in accessing utility services, implementing the Ministry of Agriculture’s GROW MORE campaign and its concomitant budgetary interventions, zero-rating essential food items, diesel and agricultural inputs, monitoring exports of essential agricultural commodities and assistance to single-headed households.
Efforts to increase disposable income, as stated in the report saw a temporary cost of living adjustment of $4000 being paid monthly to Government employees earning a basic salary of $50,000 and below. A five percent wage increase was granted to workers who earn above this amount.
Additionally, old age pensions were increased by 63 per cent, while public assistance recipients saw a significant increase of 83 per cent.
The report concluded that the Committee remained focused on positioning Guyana favourably in light of possible future developments and is confident that the actions taken will allow Guyana to effectively capture the opportunities that existed.
Government also places high value on its cooperation with international agencies in order to ensure that the funding and policy advice made available by them provide both long and short-term benefits.