Enmore farmers to get better farmlands, farming implements

Farmers of Enmore and surrounding communities along the East of Coast Demerara will soon benefit from better access to farmlands to expand production as well as shade houses, planting implements, lands for cattle rearing, and improved drainage works.

The commitment was made by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha on Monday (May 15, 2023), during an engagement with several agriculturists.

Mustapha was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who visited the community to deliver on pledges made by President, Dr Mo- hamed Irfaan Ali during a recent meeting there.

Due to massive infrastructural works, among other things, both cattle and cash crop farmers had to be removed from the current land they occupy. “At Enmore here, we will work with the farmers to establish shade houses. We will give them all the planting materials to start production once again,” Minister Mustapha affirmed. He said that a new farming area will be identified and prepared in an organised and scientific manner to drive food production.

More than 60 cash crop farmers were utilising the area to cultivate their crops, while several cattle farmers were using the area for their livestock. Meanwhile, Minister Indar underlined that interventions will be made by the various ministries in relation to road infrastructure. “We are here today to deal with the issues and to follow up with the residents to visit the farms and do the surveys,” the minister noted.

A team from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), GuySuCo, and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will accompany the cattle farmers on Tuesday, to inspect new lands which will be developed and to conduct drainage works.

E-market platform launched to improve ICT business processes

In the midst of a global shift in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), companies need to generate innovative and more efficient ways of streamlining their processes and connecting to the market.

underscored.

meetings in the city. “The upstairs [of] the administrative building will have four self-contained rooms. So, when Toshaos travel from afar to come to conduct business, they have a room that they can stay in before they go back,” he explained.

In 2022, some $100 million was approved for the construction of a new secretariat for the NTC. While the contractor was provided with 12 months from March 2022 to complete the project, several setbacks prevented the timely completion of the project.

Framework Agreement for reconstruction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway signed by government and IsDB

Senior Finance Minister

Dr. Ashni Singh, on behalf of the Government of Guyana and President of the Islamic Development Bank

Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, last week, signed a US$200 Million Framework Agreement for the reconstruction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, a project that will see the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 73 kilometres of the Highway with two lanes undivided, 9 bridges, 6 culverts with improved design, quality and standards.

The project also includes ancillary works and road corridor improvements providing essential public administration support, improved connectivity with communities, roadside, and other facilities.

Last September, Dr. Singh had indicated that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration was securing approval of financing to upgrade and repair the Soesdyke-Linden highway. He had emphasised the importance of this highway and its dire need for an upgrade.

The finance minister reiterated the PPP/C Administration’s policy to improve and maintain the quality of life across the country. He also touched on the various projects that indicate this, such as the Mandela to Eccles four-lane highway, and the Linden to Mabura project. “My assurance to you is that you have in President Ali, a central government that is firmly and unwaveringly committed to doing

Recognising this, the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO), launched the e-procurement marketplace, to transform the way companies procure goods and services across the region.

Delivering remarks at the product launch at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal on Tuesday (May 16, 2023) Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy said the platform is a ‘win-win’ for the Caribbean region.

He highlighted the importance of ICT in advancing the digital transformation of the region, as well as boosting the country’s economy. “ICTs are vital for any country’s development across various domains. They drive economic growth, enable access to information and knowledge, and can help to improve governance and the delivery of public services. They can enhance healthcare delivery, the delivery of education, and even infrastructural development. Within the ICT industry, the operators provide a wide variety of goods and services to achieve these goals and satisfy our people’s needs,” he

The minister stressed that, given the many difficulties companies face on the procurement landscape, such as limited process standardisation, and record management, this platform’s launch will revolutionise the regional telecommunications industry.

“These problems manifest in higher sourcing costs, operational inefficiencies, lack of visibility of supplier performance, and, most importantly, poor customer service. Our businesses will be provided with an integrated network with an expansive reach to explore a more diverse pool of suppliers fostering healthy competition and ensuring the best opportunity for sourcing the right products and services. They will now operate in a space where procurement processes are streamlined, simplifying the workflow process and ensuring efficient completion of tasks,” Minister McCoy noted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond said the platform holds tremendous potential for the development of small businesses, as well as to bridge a critical information gap that may be discouraging producers in the region.

“The e-Procurement portal also delivers value through its potential to give a comprehensive view of the regional market for goods and services. It might be the case that a seller located in any one country may not find it financially feasible to supply only their local market. However, with the e-Market covering buyers in a number of countries, that same seller may realise that the regional market for his or her service is collectively large enough to make operations feasible,” Minister Walrond explained.

Moreover, the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 2020 created the enabling environment for this level of development in Guyana, as consumers have access to a wider range of choices and are benefitting from lower prices as operators innovate their services. “The Government of Guyana recognises the critical importance of telecommunications in almost every aspect of our lives. Operators are investing in offering better quality services. Fixed and mobile broadband subscriptions have been growing steadily, and from all indications, there has been strong growth in the sector since the liberalisation of late 2020,” Minister Walrond stated.

CANTO is a non-profit association that facilitates regional and international ICT projects, discussions, and objectives critical to the Caribbean Region.

The e-procurement marketplace enables companies to find the best suppliers and enhance their operational resilience. It will provide registered users with access to a global network of vendors, suppliers, operators, and companies in the ICT ecosystem.