November 15, 2024

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Site for Guyana/Barbados food terminal visited by Ali/Motley

President Ali and PM Mottley overlooking the reservoir

On Saturday, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, visited the site where seven acres of land has been earmarked for the construction of the Guyana-Barbados Food Terminal in Lears, St Michael, Barbados.

Leading the site visit was Republic of Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, along with Barbados’s Agriculture, Food & Nutritional Security Miinister, Indar Weir.  The terminal, once completed, will store more than 40 containers of food, and will be equipped with a processing and packaging plant, as well as cold storage facilities for seafood, and packaging and processing plants. It was noted that the area will also have a large reservoir for water storage and land set aside for crop production.

President Ali congratulated the Prime Minister for her astute leadership in moving the process forward for the construction of the terminal. He said that it is expected to facilitate the movement of food between the two countries and others in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Ali disclosed that it is beyond a Guyana/Barbados initiative. He noted that the intention is to create a model to demonstrate to CARICOM that the two states can work in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), even as the region strives to reduce its food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.

For that to happen, these two countries have to lead the way in changing the way we think, the way we relate… and that is why at the political level, at the policy making level we are driving that, at the public service level, the bureaucratic level, the public sector level,” Ali said. President Ali had therefore affirmed that Barbados has a reliable partner in Guyana and the country is ready to remove all impediments, and accelerate the plans to expand agriculture production and food security within the states.

“At the end of the day, this is about bringing opportunities to the people of Barbados and Guyana. It is about improving their shot at life, and enhancing their ability to have improved livelihood, and if all of us embrace that perspective, we wouldn’t look at impediments, we will look at solutions,” he said. The president stressed that plans are also in place to utilise the reservoir for rare fish, and shrimp and prawns which will be packaged and stored at the facility. Ali also committed to providing technical and other support in this regard.

The proposed site for the terminal

“I am happy that I’m here, and we’re having discussions now on how we can use these facilities to increase revenue streams whether it’s catfish production, tilapia or shrimp, and the technical team from Barbados and Guyana will work together and look at all the possibilities,” he reiterated. PM Mottley pointed out some of the plans her country has to revitalise the agriculture sector with support from the Guyana Government in the area of aquaculture and the production of new crops to meet the regional demands. Motley also spoke of plans for the production of honey, noting that the Caribbean can be a global leader in this area.

It was revealed that following the site visit, the team went into a meeting at the PM’s residence to meet and set timelines to move ahead with the joint ventures outlined. Ali over the last two days, has been leading a delegation to the island to participate in the ‘Agro Fest’- The National Agricultural Exhibition, at Queen’s Park, Bridgetown. He is accompanied by the Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, and other technical officers.