Sustainable Business Magazine 02/19 by Sustainable Business Magazine

SUSTAINABLE ISSUE 02/19

B U S I N E S S

M A G A Z I N E

GUYANA EDITION

TROY RESOURCES

GUYOIL MR RICHARD RAMBARRAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT GEORGETOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

NEW GPC INC

PRESTIGE MANUFACTURING & BOTTLING

ALSO FEATURED THIS ISSUE

GUYANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

S U S TA I N I N G T O M O R R O W. T O D AY

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Richard N. Rambarran

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Graeme Watts

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CONTENTS ISSUE 02/19

We are pleased to present a special Guyana edition of Sustainable Business Magazine. Since oil was discovered off the Guyanese coast three years ago, international interest in the small South American-Caribbean nation has skyrocketed. In this special edition, Sustainable Business Magazine takes a closer look at several different sectors of the Guyanese economy, from tourism to mining to oil to manufacturing, and how local businesses and organizations are driving growth while protecting the natural environment and investing in Guyanese people. We begin this issue with an exclusive foreword from the Guyana Tourism Authority. As tourists begin to discover Guyana’s pristine natural environment, diverse wildlife, and lively cultures, the Tourism Authority and the Guyanese government are working to ensure the industry develops sustainably and responsibly. We also have a new Q&A from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the second-oldest umbrella organization in the Caribbean, about how the Chamber is working to promote trade and investment opportunities in Guyana. With reserves of gold, diamonds, and bauxite, mining is one of the keys to socio-economic development in Guyana. We spoke to Ken Nilsson, CEO at the Australian mining company Troy Resources, about their ongoing gold exploration and mining projects in Guyana, and how they’re working with the government and communities to ensure the benefits of mineral wealth are passed on to local people. We also spoke to Renatha Exeter, CEO at the Guyana Oil Company Ltd (GUYOIL), the state-owned oil company, about increasing accessibility to fuel in underserved areas, and working with the aviation sector to improve costs for airlines running flights to Guyana. To grow Guyana’s economy, finding local products which appeal to the export market is essential. Prestige Manufacturing & Bottling Enterprise is a significant Guyanese manufacturer of food products, and Managing Director Ramanand Prashad told us how the company is adapting to supply sauces, condiments, and spices to new, far-flung markets. We also spoke to Zulfikar Ally and Aruna Boodhram, Marketing Manager and Head of Quality Assurance at New GPC Inc., the largest manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals in the Caribbean and a major local exporter, about competing internationally and tailoring products to local needs. Details of upcoming sustainability events in North America and the Caribbean throughout March and April can be found on our events calendar. Our featured events are the Water Expo (8th Edition) on 28th and 29th August 2019 at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC), and the Energy Expo (formerly the MiaGreen Expo & Conference) on 12th and 13th February 2020, also at MACC. We hope that you find this issue both interesting and inspiring. Thank you for reading. The Sustainable Business Magazine Team

Guyana Tourism Authority

Q&A Richard N. Rambarran Executive Director at the Guyana Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Troy Resources Guyana

Guyana Oil Company Ltd (GUYOIL)

Prestige Manufacturing & Bottling Enterprise

New GPC Inc.

Global Events

Advertisers Index

ISSUE 02/19 COVER IMAGE: KAIETEUR FALLS, GUYANA

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

2019

TA I N ABL

INATIO

GUYANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

DISCOVER NATURE’S

BEATING HEART A foreword from the Guyana Tourism Authority for Sustainable Business Magazine’s ‘Guyana Edition’.

WELCOME TO GUYANA. SOUTH AMERICA UNDISCOVERED. Guyana has a strong foundation for becoming a ‘green state’. It is party to a number of multilateral environmental agreements and has implemented national policies and strategies to conserve and protect its rich biodiversity. There are a number of protected species and landscapes, and more than 80% of its forests remain intact because industrial forestry is not practiced in Guyana. This is supported by the 250+ indigenous communities who have been the guardians of these ecosystems for millennia. Guyana is a kind of place that’s becoming increasingly rare—one where you can find nature in its original form. Located where the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Amazon rainforest meet, Guyana is the 2 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

only country in South America where English is the official language. Of the country’s population of 746,955, 90% live along the coast, leaving the country’s lush interior untouched and ripe for exploration. “The undiscovered aspect of so much of Guyana gives rise to extraordinary travel experiences that are virtually unheard of today,” says Brian T. Mullis, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority. “Like the opportunity to travel great distances without seeing another human—or even a sign of one; the chance to have a national icon like Kaieteur Falls all to yourself; or to interact with indigenous people in their villages without an interpreter. In Guyana, every traveler feels like an explorer.” Guyana’s tourism product boasts pristine nature and authentic cultural experi-

ences. Its virgin rainforests, innumerable waterfalls, vast open spaces, mountain ranges, and extensive river systems are home to a density of biodiversity found nowhere else on the planet. Guyana is often referred to as ‘The Land of the Giants’, due to its populations of jaguar, giant anteater, giant otter, black caiman, anaconda, and arapaima. Also, with 910+ bird species, including the harpy eagle, sun parakeet, Guianan cock-ofthe-rock, and the hoatzin, Guyana is a bird watcher’s paradise. Nine indigenous peoples call Guyana home. They are proud to share their traditions and knowledge with guests of community-led and -owned eco-lodges. Doing so helps them preserve their natural and cultural heritage while generating direct economic benefits. Visitors are able

life are based on sustainable use of the local ecosystems.

to experience river trips, nature hikes, sport fishing, wildlife spotting, and birding from indigenous people whose ways of

ADVANCING GUYANA’S GREEN STATE AGENDA THROUGH SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Well-designed and managed tourism is renowned for its potential to contribute to the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage upon which it depends, empower host communities, generate trade opportunities, and foster peace and intercultural understanding. Poorly-managed tourism, on the other hand, is a threat to the environment, cultures, and landscapes on which it depends. Many iconic destinations are now over-developed and over-crowded. Traditional cultures have been altered for visitor consumption and the travel experience is becoming increasingly homogenized. The Government of Guyana is taking a different path by pursuing a sustainable path to tourism development that is aligned with its Green State Development Strategy. Tourism is the third largest export industry in Guyana. Based on conservative estimates, it contributed US$123,665,000 to Guyana’s gross domestic product in 2018. Through inter-ministerial and multi-sectoral collaboration at local, national, and international levels, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is focused on maximizing the socio-economic and conservation outcomes related to tourism. Increasingly the public, private, and civil sectors are working closely with community leaders in the design and development of policies, national and regional strategies, action plans, and sustainable tourism products to enable the sector to take advantage of the interlinkages and cross-cutting economic impacts of tourism and achieve the SDGs. “Guyana is not a mass tourism destination,” explains Mr. Mullis. “By placing an

equal emphasis on increasing the volume of travelers and the value that each traveler represents, and focusing our marketing efforts on attracting travelers that not only tend to stay longer and spend more but who also want to leave a positive impact on the people and places they meet, we can leverage market demand to ensure that the tourism sector protects the environments, cultures, and landscapes upon which it depends.” The GTA’s efforts are beginning to pay off. Guyana was just recognized as the #1 Eco-Tourism Destination in the world in the Sustainable Destination Top 100 Awards organized by Green Destinations, TravelMole, Travelife, and ITB Berlin. An increasing number of travelers are seeking out authentic nature, culture, and adventure experiences. It’s no surprise that Guyana experienced 21% growth in leisure travel in 2018. With the impending continued growth, the GTA is increasingly placing more emphasis on infrastructure and product development throughout the interior. The greater the investment in sustainable tourism development, the greater the tourism sector can contribute to the economic transformation in Guyana that prioritizes a Green Agenda. c

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Q&A RICHARD N. RAMBARRAN

Richard N. Rambarran, Executive Director, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry

RICHARD N. RAMBARRAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY.

Can you tell us about the history of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry? The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) is the oldest and largest private sector umbrella organization in Guyana, and the second oldest in the Caribbean. The Chamber was established in 1889 and is a unique business support organization (BSO) in the context of Guyana, as it is the only BSO enshrined in the legislative framework of Guyana. It was estab4 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

lished by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry Act of 1889 (Chapter 89:03). The GCCI continues to function as an independent, self-sufficient, professionally staffed agency, working for the improvement of the private sector, and, by extension, national development. While the name is suggestive of a geographical constraint to the Chamber’s reach, the GCCI was given a national charge by the Act of 1889. Established during Britain’s colonial rule over Guyana,

the GCCI remains an active BSO and private sector development agency in the national landscape. As with most countries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, Guyana’s post-colonial development was characterized by a period of socialistic experimentation in the mode of organization. In 1979, even with 91 percent of Guyana’s economy being nationalized, the GCCI continued as the premier private organization in the national landscape, and an independent agency. The GCCI, now in its 130th year of existence, continues to have the distinction of being one of the most active agencies in Guyana. Today, the Chamber is the largest private sector umbrella organization in the country with approximately 250 members, which, in a small country, represents a substantive portion in the organized private sector. What are the functions of the Chamber today? The Chamber continues to act as a hub in the interest of furthering business interests in Guyana. The Chambers functions today are as follows, but not limited to: Information dissemination, networking, trade missions, business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, advocacy, technical working groups by way of committees, national technical representation, hosting of forums on critical national issues, producing an annual business magazine entitled Business Guyana Magazine, and hosting luncheons and gala events for the private sector. The Chamber continues to follow its mandate as guided by its Act. These are explicitly: • The promotion and protection in Guyana of trade and services, local, regional, and foreign. • To promote and encourage the development in Guyana of primary industries and manufacturing and processing operations with the use as far as possible of local raw materials and expertise and the application of modern and efficient methods of maintenance, standards of safety, and labor relations. • To encourage adherence by manufacturers to proper qualitative standards in their products. • To promote within and outside Guyana by means of advertisement, trade fairs, and in any other manner, the consumption and the use of goods manufactured or produced in Guyana. • To assist in the procurement of overseas markets for goods produced in Guyana. • To collect and disseminate statistical and other information relating to commerce, trade, manufacture, and industry. • To use its good offices in the settlement of disputes involving members of the local commercial and industrial community. • To consider all matters connected with trade, manufacture, industry, and commerce, and where appropriate, to make representations and express an opinion or take a position on any such matters. • To initiate, promote, or to comment on actual or proposed legislative, regulatory, or administrative measures affecting trade, manufacture, or industry, and to communicate or cooperate with the appropriate governmental institutions in respect of such measures. • To encourage generally, but more particularly among the membership, the adherence to ethical standards in trade, manufacture, and industry and commerce to aid and support in any manner other associations or bodies having objects similar to those of the Chamber.

DEODAT INDAR, PRESIDENT OF GCCI, DELIVERING REMARKS IN BARBADOS.

THE FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE GCCI CAP’T GERRY GOUVEIA, EDWARD BOYER AND MANNIRAM PRASHAD WITH FORMER EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF GUYANA BHARRAT JAGDEO.

What are you doing to promote trade and investment opportunities in Guyana? The GCCI continues to be a key agency regarding trade and investment in Guyana. In a direct sense, the GCCI works with institutions of a similar nature to execute both outward and inward trade missions to Guyana. The Chamber’s efforts and partnerships has resulted in excess of 150 companies participating in both inward and outward missions from areas such as Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; Aberdeen, Scotland; and Trinidad and Tobago, amongst others. The Chamber has also embarked on partnering with agencies in India, Cuba, and Canada recognized through Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and activated through the establishment of several Trade Facilitation Councils between the aforementioned countries. These joint councils, which are multi-stakeholder in nature, meet monthly and action items to promote trade and investment between Guyana and these countries. The Chamber also works closely with the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) regularly to ensure that representation from the private sector is provided at technical meetings related to trade and investment at a regional and international level. Senior executives of the Chamber also regularly travel to other countries to ensure that Guyana is promoted as an investment destination. The Chamber also is an official partner in the Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GUYTIE), as well as the Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition (GIPEX), which is a collaborative effort with government agencies to ensure that Guyana as an investment destination is promoted and reliable, rich information is spread. c For more information on becoming a member of the Chamber, please visit their website www.gcci.gy or send an email to Mr. Wayne Seecharan, Stakeholder Relationship Manager at w.seecharan@gcci.gy SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

TROY RESOURCES GUYANA

TROY RESOURCES ENSURE THEY SHARE THE BENEFITS OF GOLD MINING WITH LOCAL PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT.

UNTAPPED

RESOURCE Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Ken Nilsson, CEO at Troy Resources, about gold mining and exploration in Guyana, environmental stewardship, and working with the local community for everyone’s benefit. Gold was first found in Guyana in the mid-19th century, when small quantities were discovered in some riverbeds in Essequibo. Yet the small South American nation, with a present-day population of only 780,000 people, didn’t become known as a potential 6 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

major gold producer until well after independence, as a series of economic reforms in the 1990s took effect, allowing multinational companies to receive mining concessions. “The attraction with Guyana was that it’s one of the last greenstone belts

in the world that hasn’t been properly explored,” explains Ken Nilsson, CEO at Troy Resources Guyana. “So the field was more or less wide open. Of course, there are challenges working in Guyana – you have very high rainfall, and almost

the company expanded their operations to a gold and silver project in San Juan Province, Argentina. In 2013, Troy acquired Azimuth Resources Limited, the company which was developing the Karouni Project in Guyana. “We felt joining Azimuth Resources was opportune for both sides,” says Mr. Nilsson. “They had run down their funds, and we were looking at a project that had some legs. We’ve had three years of production to date, and we’re also now having a further exploration program.” ANCIENT SEAM In the Mesozoic era, before the opening of the Atlantic Ocean, the Guiana Shield was part of a contiguous craton with the LeoMan Shield in West Africa, which contains the gold- and diamond-rich Birmian rocks which run through Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Some of the most significant gold mines in South America are located along the greenstone belt, including major mines in Venezuela and Suriname, as well as the currently-closed Omai mine in Guyana. The Karouni Project, located approximately 180km south-southwest of Georgetown, covers an aggregate area of over 110,000 hectares, consisting of tenements either acquired by Troy Resources or explored through contractual agreements with the tenement holders. Troy

Resources has two main pits in Karouni, a couple of kilometers apart. The Hicks Deposit is a northwest-trending shear zone, 2,900m in strike length and up to 60m wide, producing an average of 2 grams of gold per processed ton. The Smarts Deposit, 4km to the west of Hicks, is 2,800m in strike length and up to 200m wide, with an average grade mineralization of circa 3.5 grams of gold per ton. “At the moment we have started a cut back to finalize open pit mining in Smarts,” explains Mr. Nilsson. “We’re now shifting the focus completely to the Hicks mine. Hicks will be running for a few more months, probably. We’re also starting up two smaller pits once we get the environmental sign-off from the government, at the Spearpoint prospect and the Larken prospect, both of which sit on a parallel shear between Hicks and Smarts. They are not very large, but they will give us a reasonable return. The mining plan going for-

everything is jungle, so it’s a bit of an adventure. But it’s a place where the exploration potential is very high.” Troy Resources is an Australian junior gold mining company based in Perth, currently operating the Karouni project in Guyana. The company was founded in 1984, exploring tenements in Southern Cross, Western Australia, where they developed Cornishman Stage 1 in a joint venture with Mawson Pacific. Troy Resources was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 1987, and over the next fifteen years developed further mines around Southern Cross and in Sandstone. In 2002, the company purchased the Goias Velho Project in Brazil, and in 2009 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

TROY RESOURCES GUYANA

ward will then shift to Smarts, where we’re working on the cutback plan, to take it a bit deeper and recover the ore we didn’t pick up before. Currently, we’re just doing a small revamp in terms of the design work and the scheduling. All these pits together will sustain the operation.” OHIO CREEK Meanwhile, Troy has been exploring new prospects in their area of operations, hitting upon some exciting results. “Initially, we focused on the near-mine prospects,” explains Mr. Nilsson. “Since changing and looking further out, we now have about five or six fairly high-prospect targets. We’ve had some really good results from exploratory drilling, and we’re looking at those now with follow-up drilling and trying to understand how the mineralization occurs here. In mining, you tend to create a pyramid of progress. You promote one target to the first position, and if it doesn’t work, that disappears, and the one below comes up. It’s all connected with the type of explora8 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

tion work we’re doing. We believe we’re going to be here for many years to come, as we find strikes in new areas.” In particular, Troy Resources has been exploring a prospect called Ohio Creek, which it acquired in September 2018. Assay results from drilling programs have been consistently strong, and Troy Resources is now preparing to increase exploration, securing further drilling rigs and upgrading 10km of road and a small bridge to move ore from the deposit to the mill. “Ohio Creek has a long operating history of small pits and one in particularly down to a reasonable depth,” says Mr. Nilsson. “It was owned by a small group that held it for quite some time, and they felt now it was time to let us have a run at it. When we came to it, it was an active mining area being run by a pork-knockertype operation. They managed to build a reasonable-sized open pit. The first hole we drilled came back with very good results, so we have since been trying to figure out the structural controls, adding more and more data as we go along with the drilling”

“It has been a pretty slow process getting under way as it’s not easy to drill up there, with the type of rock we’re dealing with,” explains Mr. Nilsson. “But this drilling is starting to pay dividends. There’s very high gold content, and we have managed to get similar results about 200 meters away from the first operation. That’s our most likely target, which we’re aiming to get into production in perhaps eight or nine months. We now have about 12 km of site length of the area we’re interested in. In my opinion, and one which I think is shared by the rest of the Board, it’s a highly prospective area. We are now embarking on more systematic efforts in terms of exploration and resource drilling in the delineation area.” The latest assay outcomes from Ohio Creek, released at the beginning of March, are the latest in a steady trickle of high-quality findings from the site over the last few months. “We are slowly shifting the focus there, trying now to tie that mineralization in over a current strike length of 800m with the help of a diamond drill, so we can under-

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TROY RESOURCES GUYANA

THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TROY RESOURCES EMPLOYEES IN GUYANA ARE LOCAL PEOPLE.

stand the structure better,” says Mr. Nilsson. “This is a very enigmatic deposit. We get some very wide intersections, and then we get little, smaller ones, which are still highgrade. It appears to be a typical narrow vein kind of scenario, but interspersed with larger parts of the mineralization. It’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge. Based on what we have seen, we have decided to accelerate what we’re doing, and we have embarked on all the permitting processes. We’re trying to come out with a decent resource statement as early as possible, while ensuring we’re compliant under the reporting codes. We’re looking forward to developing this 10 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

into a mineable deposit, and trying to accelerate the business as much as we can, not forgetting to build out on it, because it’s not closed off in any direction at the moment. We can go deeper, we can go further north, and this is our next target – to drill more holes at a distance and interpret the results.” DEEP IN THE RAINFOREST The Karouni area is entirely surrounded with tropical lowland forest, and Troy Resources has stringent environmental protection policies. “When we came into the area, because the Azimuth mine had been here before, we didn’t need to do much in terms

of clearing forest,” says Mr. Nilsson. “We have used very selective logging practices in order to preserve the trees. The only area we cleaned up was a small valley that we’re using for tailings. We’re using the guidelines we have in Australia, which means we do everything to the best practice. One of the biggest issues for mining is water clean-up, so we use systems to ensure that there are no chemicals present in the water before we send it out. We ensure we report all animals we see, making sure we don’t cross any areas where we know they traverse. We’re currently working on our rehabilitation program on our dumps, so we employ a group

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TROY RESOURCES GUYANA

of Amerindians to source seeds from local forest plants. They’ve been growing some of those for about a year now in a nursery we set up. We’re actually working with a PhD student out of the university, who we have given access to the land and our people. With her, we’ve been trialing various plants for restoration.” Of course, the Guyanese environment brings challenges along with it. “I think we could have been more successful more quickly had we realized the challenges of working in extremely wet weather and with sand,” says Mr. Nilsson. “Sand and water together make a fantastic grinding paste that chews into your machinery. Logistically it’s also difficult because there are no real inland roads to speak of. If you want something to happen, you have to do it yourself. But we came in with a mindset in terms of how to operate, having been in Brazil and Argentina, and we took the same approach, trying to understand the locals and the ways to do business, and establishing a good relationship with the government. This is essential. If you don’t fit with the culture, you’ll have a major challenge on your hands already.”

GUYANESE DEVELOPMENT Troy Resources ensures it shares the benefits of gold mining with local people, businesses, and the Guyanese government. “We pay a royalty of 8 per cent, and we provide employment for around 500 people,” says Mr. Nilsson. “With the range

of salaries we have, there’s nobody doing much better than us in the country. There’s also the multiplier effect, which typically is in a range of three to five times the actual payments out of the mine. People start buying cars, which need mechanics and fuel, et cetera. So the roll-on effect is

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TROY RESOURCES GUYANA

quite amazing. Over the last three years, excluding the construction period, we’ve had a benefit to the Guyanese economy of about US$149 million worth. That includes royalties, taxes, payroll, and what we’ve spent on local suppliers. Of course, we have been very mindful of using local suppliers as much as we can. We bought all our mining machinery off a local supplier called Farm Supplies. This was the simplest solution for us. We have a good rapport with our suppliers here in Guyana. Even though there aren’t too many companies that can provide services to our industry, it’s a relatively easy country to get work done here. Obviously, 16 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

we also have a number of tenements where the participants get royalties, as well.” The overwhelming majority of Troy Resources employees in Guyana are local people. “I’d say 95%,” says Mr. Nilsson. “Those employees who aren’t Guyanese are our small development crew from our previous South American operations, who move around with us. There’s an Amerindian village not far from our operations, and currently we employ 44 of them. We’ve trained a lot of them up, as an issue in the beginning was that the skill levels in our particular area was quite low, as there hadn’t been this kind of medium- to large-

scale operation here before. We’re very proud that we’ve come from starting with a workforce that didn’t have any experience with this scale of operation, and today most of our operators are as good as you get anywhere. It’s an ongoing task. We’ve spent a lot of money on training, and we’ve brought trainers in from overseas. Today, it has gone from us bringing in formal training from outside into our guys running training onsite. The exposure in Guyana in the past has all been with pork-knockerstyle operations, and hard rock mining is something different. We’re working hard with the government in terms of achieving

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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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TROY RESOURCES GUYANA

a better understanding of how this whole industry operates.” Troy Resources also supports development in the local communities. “We support the Amerindian community, and we’ve assisted some community activities in the nearest large town, Linden,” says Mr. Nilsson. “Just the little things that come up on a regular basis, like football clubs and the local library. We also provide schooling material to the Amerindian children who go away to school. We have an approach we’ve used everywhere, where we try to ensure there is a joint effort. We’re not happy just to give money. 20 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

For example, in Argentina, when people needed a new roof on their community hall, we agreed to pay for the roofing material, and they provided the labor. It’s more value for the community doing it like that. Money is too easy, and it has lesser value than if the participant has to put something in too. We also provide services to the village in terms of medical assistance. We have become sort of the local semi-hospital in the jungle, because of our well-equipped medical center. Going forward, it’s important we maintain that as a service. We also work with the village in terms of trying to eradicate malaria.”

LASTING LEGACY “In the future, we’re very focused on exploring our current land holdings, and developing some of those into becoming mines,” says Mr. Nilsson. “We have all our infrastructure now, and even though the terrain is unforgiving, we now feel we know how to build roads in this environment. We’re focusing on bringing in our projects one-by-one based on the research, and increasing our production. The primary focus now is to develop Ohio Creek, where we’ve had a good start with high grades. We have another prospect not far behind it in terms

of development. We’re also keeping an eye on Guyana as a whole, to look for opportunities here. The country is very different today than it was when I first came here. The government is working on simplifying processes, and that’s like a fresh wind. I think everybody is trying to do everything they can to assist the industry. That’s very useful, and we’re obviously grateful for that. Certainly, when I talk to people, I see a big change, and in terms of our industry, Guyana is getting more and more attractive. Hopefully, if you come back in fifteen or twenty years, you’ll still find Troy in Guyana.” c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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GUYANA OIL

“GUYOIL STATIONS ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED ACROSS THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF GUYANA, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR CUSTOMERS”

FUELING NATIONAL

TRANSFORMATION Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Renatha Exeter, CEO at the Guyana Oil Company Ltd, about aviation fuel, ultra-low-sulfur diesel, and contributing to Guyana.

22 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

The Guyana Oil Company Ltd (GUYOIL) is Guyana’s state-owned petroleum distributor. Founded in June 1976, when the Guyanese government acquired and merged the West Indian Oil Company (Guyana) Ltd and the Anchor Trading Company. GUYOIL sells fuels to consumers through a distribution network of eight company-owned stations (‘COCOs’) and forty-two dealer-owned stations (‘DODOs’). GUYOIL also distrib-

utes petrol and diesel to industrial clients throughout Guyana, and in recent years has also expanded into commercial aviation fuel. Today, GUYOIL remains wholly owned by the Guyanese government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL), and is governed by a Board of Directors. “We’re the leading retailer of high-octane gasoline in Guyana,” explains Renatha

Exeter, CEO of GUYOIL. “GUYOIL Stations are strategically located across the length and breadth of Guyana, to meet the needs of all our customers, as befits our slogan of ‘We are Everywhere’. In order for GUYOIL to operate across our infrastructure, we proudly employ over four hundred Guyanese staff, and we don’t discriminate along the lines of gender, race, or disability. GUYOIL is a truly equal opportunity employer.”

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GUYANA OIL

FUEL ACCESSIBILITY Four years ago, in a major business development, GUYOIL established a subsidiary, Guyana Aviation Services Inc. (GASI), to supply aviation fuel to domestic and international airlines. GASI operates at Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Ogle Airport. “GASI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GUYOIL,” says Ms. Exeter. “It is a distributor and retailer of aviation fuel. We launched it after we saw the need for competitive pricing on aviation fuel in the country. That business has grown tremendously since its launch.” 24 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

As Guyana’s oil, gas, and mineral reserves increasingly attract the interest of major international companies, Guyana’s transportation sector has become all the more important. Large parts of Guyana’s hinterland are only accessible by plane. Accessible, affordable fuel for aircraft and road vehicles is a necessity to allow local agencies and businesspeople to do their work smoothly and effectively, facilitating Guyana’s new economic growth. GUYOIL is also ensuring Guyanese people share in the benefits of global interest. “GUYOIL is a key net contributor to

Guyana’s economy,” explains Ms. Exeter. “We are fully compliant in paying all taxes required. The company’s contribution to the National Economy over the last three years was over GY$15 billion. And part of our long-term strategic plan is to ensure that all our contributions have the biggest impact possible on the lives of people in our country.” GREEN GUYANA As a state-owned company, GUYOIL is also investing in green improvements to their infrastructure.

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The Future of Fuel is Here For ten years, Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. has proudly partnered with GUYOIL in supporting the Guyanese market with petroleum products. With an integrated value chain, Staatsolie produces and refines oil, generating four key products: Gasoline, Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel, Fuel Oil and Bitumen. Most recently, in May 2017, GUYOIL launched Staatsolie Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) to the Guyanese retail market. With only 10 ppm sulfur, ULSD reduces harmful emissions and black smoke, and eliminates exhaust odor, ensuring that Guyana stays green. As the world embraces clean technology and invests in protecting the environment, Staatsolie and GUYOIL are leading the way, ensuring Guyana has access to fuel which reduces emissions and decreases waste oil. Available at GUYOIL service stations, Staatsolie ULSD also offers better engine performance, and reduces corrosion. At the same time, ULSD performs at the same level as regular diesel fuel by mileage, and GUYOIL retails ULSD at the same price. Since new imported vehicles are designed to operate only with ULSD, Staatsolie is helping prepare Guyana for a bright, sustainable future. Today, Staatsolie is involved in several exciting new projects which will have wide-ranging impacts on the region. With new nearshore and offshore drilling projects scheduled to begin in April 2019, Staatsolie will continue ensuring fuel is plentiful and affordable. And as the new IMO 2020 regulation approach, Staatsolie is pre26 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

As Guyana and Suriname attract growing global attention, Staatsolie will continue working alongside GUYOIL, supporting development and ensuring our two countries can grow sustainably together. paring bunker fuel with less than 0.5% sulfur for vessels. Staatsolie is also proud to give back to the local community, providing sponsorships and social activities to local schools and community groups. Most recently, Staatsolie sponsored local children to attend the Special Olympics in Dubai.

for more information www.staatsolie.com

GUYANA OIL RENATHA EXETER, CEO, THE GUYANA OIL COMPANY LTD

“The country has a national agenda for improving its green credentials,” says Ms. Exeter. “As one of the most significant names in the country, we want to position ourselves in a way that will contribute to this initiative. Also, as a socially conscious company, we know that it is in the interests of our customers and employees as well. Global warming isn’t just a concern for governments; it matters to people and to the international community too. Being able to do our part to support the worldwide green agenda but more importantly our national green agenda is something we’re proud of.” As part of our strategic plan we intend to convert all of GUYOIL’s stations to solar power. “We’ve already started this journey;

recently one of our stations was refurbished, with new solar panels installed,” says Ms. Exeter. “It now runs 100% on solar power. Our intention is to roll this out across all of our stations, so that the whole GUYOIL network is entirely solar powered.” This transition to solar panels is part of a broader campaign to improve energy efficiency and environmental impact throughout GUYOIL. “We’re also replacing bulbs throughout all our facilities with low-energy alternatives,” says Ms. Exeter. “And we’ve already introduced more eco-friendly fuel. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) is an environmentally friendly product, and within the next two years we hope to shift a large percentage of our market away from low-sulfur diesel and towards ULSD. GUYOIL is leading the market with this.” COMMUNITY GROWTH Another key way GUYOIL supports Guyanese growth is through training and developing of their employees. “At GUYOIL we invest millions of dollars annually in training and development programs for our employees,” says Ms. Exeter. “Our staff are one of our most important assets. We keep them current with what’s happening in the industry and ensure their skillsets are fresh through rigorous programs conducted through the year. This applies to everyone in the company, no matter their rank or skill, and it has a huge benefit to the country. When someone leaves GUYOIL for whatever reason, even though we’d prefer it if they stayed with us, we know a skilled person is going out into the Guyanese workforce.” GUYOIL also partners with various community organization in Guyana in various CSR programs. “For example, in October, we partnered with other local communities and the business community for a rolling

series of events around breast cancer awareness,” says Ms. Exeter. “GUYOIL has done a number of initiatives supporting the cause and fight against breast cancer because it matters to the communities around us. We’ve also partnered with the Ministry of Health, other Ministries, and NGOs for different awareness programs. When there’s a national blood drive, for example, we will partner with local blood banks and encourage our staff to give blood. GUYOIL is constantly engaging other industries to ensure that we’re a fully embedded part of the local and national community, and that we lead not just through words but by example.” NATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Looking forwards, GUYOIL plans to continue driving accessibility to fuel. “To maintain our position in the market, the reach of our distribution remains our focal point,” explains Ms. Exeter. “With this in mind, we’re currently in the first stage of planning and preparing the expansion of storage capacity across all of our terminals. This is part of our strategy and broader objective to improve customer experience. We want everybody coming into our stations to have the best experience possible, so we’re constantly looking at new innovations of how we can improve our services.” “This is a really exciting time for Guyana and the people of the nation,” says Ms. Exeter. “GUYOIL intends to always remain relevant through continuing to build our capacity and employee base. This will be achieved though diversifying our product range or through new partnership programs. From a strategic standpoint, we continue to see ourselves as the leading petroleum distributor. We believe, as a major net contributor to this country’s economy, that by making the right decisions we will contribute even more to Guyana in the future.” c

GUYOIL’S SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM.

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PRESTIGE MANUFACTURING & BOTTLING

FLAVOR

OF GUYANA

Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Ramanand Prashad, Managing Director at Prestige Manufacturing & Bottling Enterprise, about Guyanese products, expansion, and CSR.

“Prestige started 30 years ago, after my grandfather and uncle were selling products house-to-house in the villages,” says Ramanand Prashad, Managing Director of Prestige Manufacturing & Bottling Enterprise. “They were manufacturing essences 28 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

and flavorings, which were our original core products. When I took over in 1989, I took those original formulations and really commercialized the products. Since then we have continued to grow and add products as we have gone along, expanding from es-

sences into other areas such as dried spices, bottled sauces, and seasonings which we are arguably now most famous for.” Prestige Manufacturing & Bottling Enterprise is a food product manufacturer, bottler, and distributor based in

RAMANAND PRASHAD (RIGHT), MANAGING DIRECTOR AT PRESTIGE MANUFACTURING & BOTTLING, AND HIS STAFF.

Prashad. “Even now about 50% of our market share here is still in essences and flavors. We also make lots of hot sauces, including our original line as well as a mustard-based flavor and other variations. We produce an extremely popular sauce known as ‘Chinese Sauce’, and among our many local flavors, we produce an indigenous product called cassava cassareep, which is used especially around Christmas time in a dish called pepperpot, which has remained a cultural icon to this day. We combine all the special fresh Guyanese herbs into one bottle of mixed spices for convenient use.” “In addition to these products we have eight different kinds of pickles,” says Mr. Prashad. “These are all very popular both overseas and locally, and as coconut oil has also become increasingly popular over the years, we have added both regular and a virgin coconut oil product. We normally sell drink syrups at Christmas-time, but this is

not a year-round product. The popularity of these products reflects the tastes of the Guyanese diaspora, as well as the increasing popularity of these flavors in general.” BUY LOCAL Prestige also source their base ingredients as locally as possible. “We try to use at least 90% natural Guyanese products,” says Mr. Prashad. “As many ingredients as possible, including all the herbs and spices and all the hot peppers, are grown here in Guyana. We provide a lucrative opportunity for the farmers within the context of the Guyanese market, buying local agricultural products and materials, and we are trying to continue improving in this area since it is so good for our consumers, for us, and for the farmers. We are extremely conscious of our contributions toward Guyanese economic growth. Our slogan is ‘Be local, buy local, use local’.”

La Grange, just outside Georgetown in Guyana. Prestige manufactures a range of essences, oils, spices, seasonings, sauces, chutneys, and pickles, which are distributed domestically and internationally. In 2013, Prestige added a new 8,000 square foot facility at a new industrial site, as the company continues developing their presence in the international marketplace. SHARING CULINARY HERITAGE Guyana is a highly ethnically diverse nation, with a unique cuisine informed by African, Indian, Amerindian, Chinese, and European influences. Prestige’s products reflect this diverse culinary heritage, emphasizing Guyanese flavors. “Initially our products were just mixed essences, specifically almond and occasionally vanilla,” elaborates Mr. SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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PRESTIGE MANUFACTURING & BOTTLING

Mr. Prashad is also the Chairman of the Guyana Agro-Processors Association (GAPA). “GAPA’s primary objective is to ensure the establishment of common standards and practices among agro-processors within the non-traditional agricultural sector,” explains Mr. Prashad. “The association’s efforts are focused on providing low-cost financing and developing innovative products and packaging facilities. We are also affiliated with the Guyana Manufacturing &

Services Association, which is a body that encompasses various industry partners and manufacturers. Through these associations, we’re able to drive innovations in the industry, and development for the sector.” SUPPORTING GUYANESE EXPORTS Guyana is a small country, with the export market dominated by sugar, rice, and minerals. By driving a growth in exports of other Guyanese food products, Prestige are

able to bring essential foreign exchange to the South American nation – and provide a new market for local agricultural producers. “The reason we’ve been able to expand and evolve is primarily due to export markets and the international consumer,” explains Mr. Prashad. “We now export to the U.S., Canada, some Caribbean countries, and even to the UK. It’s important that we are fully compliant with the FDA and ISO regulations. Our foreign market is partially

Inspired by the world, created in Guyana Having taken pride in serving you as N&S Mattai and Company over the last 70 years, we now invite you to Mattai’s: The Food Market. Still synonymous with freshly ground geera and mixed masalas, Mattai’s: The Food Market introduces new items and recipes to the baskets of our customers - from different spices, seasonings, frozen foods, desserts, and fresh local vegetables for that true Guyanese flavor of cooking. To offer a culinary trip around the world, we have included dhalls, beans, nuts, flours, pastes, pickles, and snacks in our product range.

From Our Market to Your Basket Visit us at Mattai’s: The Food Market. As Guyana continues to grow with new industries, Mattai’s is proud to supply the oil companies and rigs, highlighting our expanding customer base and our variety of products. Mattai’s is also proud to support the local Guyanese market, inclusive of our diaspora.

Guyana’s Oldest Wholesaler & Retailer Mattai’s, the Food Market,

is located at Lot 13-15A Water and Hope Streets, Georgetown, Guyana (Tel #592-226-1735; 592-227-0022) Email: mattaisales@hotmail.com

30 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

made up of the Guyanese diaspora, but our popularity is growing as these spices and flavors are becoming more commonplace and more sought after internationally. While the distributors themselves are primarily Guyanese and West Indian, their customers are an extremely diverse demographic of people.” The next stage for Prestige is to grow existing foreign markets and expand to new ones. “Because our local market is limited to the population, which is just some 780,000 people, for us to really grow we need to look to the U.S., the U.K., and China,” says

Mr. Prashad. “We have had a lot of interest in different products for Chinese consumers and are looking at how we can adjust our business to tap into the available market there. For example, there is a large market for fish-based products, so we are looking at changing a line or adding a new one in order to fulfil this need and increase our chances of success there.” As Prestige look at new product lines, they are seeking to combine mass market appeal with widely-available Guyanese agricultural products. “We emphasize Guyanese flavors and ingredients,” explains Mr. Pra-

shad. “One of our new products is natural rice cakes. Guyana is a rice-producing nation and we have that in abundance here. This has not been launched yet but is something that we are moving towards in the future. We have also been looking at a lot of natural vegetable processing, specifically sweet potatoes which are becoming increasingly popular abroad. We’re looking at the setting up of machinery to process and preserve vegetables into dehydrated sachets. Our aim will be an all-natural, organic product that is grown here in Guyana.” NATION OF INNOVATION “We do not want to remain a nation of commodity; we have to be a nation of innovation,” says Mr. Prashad. “We need to do more nationally to aid young and upcoming manufacturers in automation and accessibility. One of the main issues here is not just the difficulty of accessing capital, but the cost of accessing that capital. Through the associations, we aim to create infrastructure that enables businesses to access capital and investors, and to reduce the cost of power and electricity. One of the things that we have been pushing is to have a better facilities system set up, where there can be multiple manufacturers coming in and renting a facility to produce their product. Instead of having a hundred small manufacturers competing, having something on a national level that empowers smaller producers to come in and create their products. We at the associations are working with the Guyanese government to implement these ideas, and to continue driving a bright future for manufacturing in Guyana.” c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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NEW GPC

NEW GPC’S PRODUCTS HAVE A STRONG REPUTATION BOTH IN GUYANA AND ACROSS THEIR VARIOUS EXPORT DESTINATIONS.

COMMUNITY MEDICINE

Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to New GPC Inc. Marketing Manager Zulfikar Ally and Head of Quality Assurance Aruna Boodhram about growing Guyana’s exports, a diverse workforce, and serving the local community. New GPC (New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation), based in Georgetown, Guyana, is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in the Caribbean, supplying Guyana and other countries in the region. Founded in the 1920s as Bookers Drug Store, the company was nationalized in the 1960s and renamed Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation. Later, in 1991, the company was reprivatized under the Companies Act, and named New GPC. 32 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

“We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years,” says Aruna Boodhram, Head of Quality Assurance at New GPC. “Despite these changes, one characteristic which defines our reputation is our consistency in manufacturing the highest quality pharmaceuticals at competitive prices. We’ve added quite a few brands, and our portfolio now includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, small amounts of cosmetics, as well as products for cleaning and sterilisation. We sell tablets, in-

ternal liquids, external liquids such as creams and ointments, and overall are currently selling over two hundred products. It’s been more than twenty-five years now since the company became New GPC, and we have expanded our lines a lot in that time.” New GPC’s products have a strong reputation both in Guyana and across their various export destinations. “When people hear about New GPC, they associate us with a couple of brands in particular,” says Zulfikar Ally, Marketing Manager at New GPC. “One of these is Limacol, which is a well-known brand. We are also associated with Ferrol, Nutrophos, and Chlor-O-Phan. Those are the main products that the old GPC was known for. Limacol in particular is particularly popular with the Guyanese, and is found in most households. There are also some more recent formulations, including Phanadyl multi-symptom medicine, as well

MANUFACTURING TECHNICIAN OPERATING ONE OF TWO HOMOGENIZERS USED TO COMPOUND CREAMS AND OINTMENTS.

as things like mouthwash and hand sanitizer, and most notably a Sildenafil product called Xcite that is similar to Viagra. We are the very first Caribbean company to manufacture that drug. New GPC Inc. is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in this region, and we are able to cater for almost all of the medical needs of the Guyana Ministry of Public Health.” EXPORT SUCCESS STORY Currently, New GPC are expanding their capacity, in order to meet both local and export demands. “We just installed equipment to help us grow our facilities,” explains Ms. Boodhram. “Demand has been growing generally for our products, both within our existing markets and coming in from new markets. We are increasing our regional and international sales, selling more in the USA as well as penetrating new Caribbean markets and new South American customers too. Most of our sales are actually exports, and, as Zulfikar mentioned, we are the largest supplier of pharmaceuticals to our government as well as being the largest exporter of these products regionally. We have always been able to meet the quantities of products required from us and our continued expansion is part of this. Currently what we are expanding is production lines, like our ability to produce liquid supplements and dietary supplements. We are putting in another Limacol line, and there will also be other production lines that will carry multiple products on them. We are expanding our tablets manufacturing facility and will be doubling our overall production. This expansion will

MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ALSO INCLUDES SPECIFIED TESTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF YEAST & MOLD, E.COLI, SALMONELLA SP., & PSEUDOMONAS SP.

hopefully be completed by March 2019.” With such a significant international presence, New GPC are an important success story for Guyana, which traditionally has struggled to grow its export market. “To compete internationally, it is vital that we focus on quality above all else,” says Ms. Boodhram. “To export to the U.S., we are required to be FDA compliant and adhere to all the latest drug manufacturing processes. As a result, our employees are exceptionally well trained. We have a fully equipped lab with about twenty-five employees, more than half of whom have undergraduate degrees in pharmacy and microbiology, as well as a few at the Master’s level. We also have a very young management team. Out of about 25 employees there are only a few people who are over 30 years old. These young employees help to keep us grounded in the current market place, keeping up with the latest public concerns. We attribute a lot of our success to them.” ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES It’s a win-win for Guyana. With New GPC’s successful exports, they bring important foreign exchange into Guyana; and as they invest in quality control processes to participate in the North American market, Guyanese consumers get access to affordable, high-quality medicines. “Being a Guyanese company, our prices are very much decided by the market at a level that remains accessible to local people,” says Ms. Boodhram. “We manage our costs as closely as possible. As a company we are QUALITY CONTROL CHEMIST UTILIZING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY INSTRUMENT TO CONDUCT IDENTIFICATION AND POTENCY TESTS ON RAW MATERIAL AND FINISHED PRODUCT SAMPLES.

THE HIGH VOLUME INTERNAL LIQUID COMPOUNDING AREA.

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NEW GPC THE HIGH VOLUME INTERNAL LIQUID COMPOUNDING AREA IS TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED AND POSSESSES AN INTRICATE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM WHICH EFFECTIVELY REDUCES THE RISK OF CONTAMINATION AND ENSURES THE PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED IN A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.

very keen on efficiency and being as effective as possible. No company in Guyana can really afford to not manage their costs carefully. We have high fuel prices here, manufacture things in smaller quantities, have lower margins, et cetera. So this is why we are very careful, push for expansion, increase volume, and try to sell to

international markets and effectively turn a profit. This helps us keep the prices at an appropriate, accessible level.” Alongside this, New GPC remain sensitive to some of the specific medical needs of the Guyanese community. “Here in Guyana, erectile dysfunction can be a very taboo subject,” says Ms. Boodhram.

“But we were able to bring suitable drugs here for distribution, increasing awareness and education. The response we had to this was overwhelming. We went to some quite remote communities and our teams were able to confront this issue very effectively. Diabetes is also a huge health concern here in Guyana; every family has someone with diabetes or heart disease. Once again, we produce drugs uniquely formulated for these local issues, but also organise medical outreach to help support the community for maximum impact.” INVESTING IN YOUTH At the core of New GPC’s business strategy is investing in a well-trained workforce – which sometimes begins before young people even leave education. “Every year we sponsor an undergraduate student throughout their final year project,” explains Ms. Boodhram. “We help them to learn our business, partner with them on research, and at the end of their studies we offer them a job. This helps us find the best people to work with, which in turn furthers the industry as a whole. We also do work attachments with the University of Guyana, and we host the

LINE ATTENDANTS INSPECT FERROL COMPOUND AS IT IS BOTTLED AND LABELED.

34 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

pharmacy students for around two weeks per year. More generally we do school tours, presentations, educational outreach, and this kind of thing. We even do these events at primary schools to try and spark some early interest in the sector.” “Earlier Aruna mentioned the young team that we have,” says Mr. Ally. “Related to this it is also worth noting that our company is like a family. There are employees here who have worked with us for the last 25-30 years and still love the company and enjoy working here. Those people have an extremely important role in moulding the newer and younger staff, the combination of which results in a very diverse and dynamic group of individuals working together. Then the company itself contributes a lot to the local community, through our work with the university, and also in terms of medical outreach. Last year, we travelled all over Guyana and teamed up with the Guyana Diabetic Association, the Responsible Parenthood Association, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Georgetown Public Hospital. We tested patients for various illnesses, and gave them eye tests and general check ups. We also distributed free products and medication, partially to raise awareness of diabetes but also the importance of regular health checks in general.” “It’s also important to mention that, of course, at our manufacturing facilities, we also maintain rigorous environmental standards,” says Ms. Boodhram. “We screen our processes from the moment we source the raw materials and packaging all the way through to the disposal of waste. Every single aspect is documented and we are guided by standards along the way. We

make sure the disposal of waste is done in a safe way and ensure that this does not affect the local ecosystem.” CARIBBEAN INSTITUTION To maintain their position as the Caribbean’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, New GPC are ensuring they continue to pay close attention to the needs of local people. “We have some brilliant people looking at new types of product, taking note of what the Guyanese people need and what isn’t yet being catered for,” says Mr. Ally. “We are of course continuing to do this being aware of cost and efficiency, in a

way that is respectful of our longevity and reputation as a company. We continue to prioritise the local community, ethical production, and the environment. We provide financial assistance to people who need to travel overseas for treatment, and we have been looking recently at local schools to see how we can help them out, whether that is with renovation or whatever else they require. A fun project we will continue to invest a lot in is sports. For example, GPC is part owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors cricket franchise. We contribute towards the promotion of the sport and the tournament attracts national interest. We also try to help develop young local talent, getting them involved in the teams where they can get these amazing experiences. We recently launched the third ever Limacol Football Championship, which we are the main sponsor of.” “Our attitude to ethical production is all-encompassing,” finishes Ms. Boodhram. “This goes from the conscientious disposal of waste products all the way across to the protection of our employees through unionization. We work very closely with the unions, and our employees are clearly heard and respected. In terms of the environment, we don’t have any fuel-intensive processes, but we continue to ensure that our production is as green as it can possibly be. We will continue to focus on quality, ethical production, and environmentally-friendly manufacturing.” c

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GLOBAL EVENTS

APR

2019

NAWTEC The North American Waste-to-Energy Conference Reston, VA, USA

NAWTEC is the leading industry technical conference and trade show focusing on municipal waste-to-energy operational issues, technology, and research initiatives. NAWTEC is a partnership between the Energy Recovery Council and the Solid Waste Association of North America.

1st - 4th

The OceanVisions2019 Atlanta, GA, USA www.oceanvisions.org

The OceanVisions2019, ‘Successes in resilience, adaptation, mitigation, and sustainability’ aims to highlight ocean-based science and engineering successes in these areas to promote scalable solutions across human, climate, and ecological dimensions.

4th - 5th

The Electric Mine Conference Toronto, ON, Canada

Mine electrification, in open pits and underground, is inevitable. Whether reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving employee health, cutting ventilation costs, or increasing productivity, future operations will all be using a form of electricity to power machinery.

1st - 2nd

www.swana.org/Events/NAWTEC

www.canadianminingsustainability.com

22nd

Earth Day 2019

23rd - 25th

Electric Power Conference and Exposition Las Vegas, NV, USA 2019.electricpowerexpo.com

Electric Power Conference and Exhibition brings together the thought leaders, professionals, and government officials with the aim to expand their education, training, and understanding of the field.

29th - 1st May

CERES CONFERENCE 2019 San Francisco, CA, USA

The Ceres Conference has 600+ corporate sustainability leaders as well as investors and social and environmental advocates together to build a sustainable global economy.

www.ceresconference.org

6th - 9th

Waste Expo 2019 Las Vegas, NV, USA www.wasteexpo.com

Over the past 50 years we’ve helped usher in more significant innovations in the solid waste industry than any other event. And the future looks even more promising. From big data to big trucks and bioconverters, more new products and services are unveiled at WasteExpo every year.

7th - 8th

Canadian Water Network. Blue Cities 2019 Toronto, ON, Canada www.bluecities.ca

Blue Cities will focus on high-level strategic issues of importance across the country related to municipal water management. The exchanges between leading edge speakers and conference participants generate insights that just can’t be obtained anywhere else.

8th - 10th

Sustainable Cosmetics Summit New York, NY, USA

Green materials continue to make headway in cosmetic & personal care applications. An update is given on the raw materials that have lower environmental and/or health impacts. The disruptive influence of new technologies on ingredients and finished products will be covered.

www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com

20th - 23rd

36 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

AWEA WINDPOWER 2019 Conference & Expo Houston, TX, USA www.windpowerexpo.org

AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger country. Join top deal makers and mid- to senior-level professionals from around the globe at this energy conference in May 2019.

MAY

2019

ADVERTISERS INDEX 0-9 4R Bearings, Belts and Rice Machinery Supply

P18

A Actlabs (Guyana) Inc. Analogic Solutions Archieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Electrical Co., Ltd.

P12 P34 P19

B Beharry Automotive Ltd.

P13

C Cameo Health Care (India) Pvt. Ltd. Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc. Castrol GTX Ultraclean

P34 P14 P25

D David Persaud Investments Ltd.

P12

E Energy Expo F Farm Supplies Ltd. Fas Graphix Signs & Designs

Inside Front

P17 P19

G G-Star Exploration and Mining Inc. P12 General Equipment Guyana Ltd. P17 General Industrial & Supplies Ent. P12 GSK Excavation Services P19 GUYOIL Back Cover

N North American Life Insurance Co. Ltd. NT Computeac

P18 P27

P Precamp South America NV

P17

P14 P09 P19 P03

R Rid-O-Pes Inc. RMC International GMBH Rubis Guyana

P18 P18 P19

K Kaizen Environmental Services (Guyana) Inc.

P14

M Machinery Corporation of Guyana Ltd. (MACORP) Major Drilling Marics and Company Ltd. Mattai Food Market Metallica CC

S SPR Enterprises P18 Standby Power Engineering Company (SPECOM) P14 Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname NV P26

P11 P11 P17 P30 P13

I INCAL SA DE CV Industrial Safety Supplies Inc. Industrial Supply of Guyana Inc. Iwokrama River Lodge & Tours

U Universal Group of Companies Inc. W Water Expo 2019 WM Services

P13

Inside Front P12

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

| 37

Sustainable Business Magazine 02/19

Articles inside

Troy Resources Guyana