Food, climate & energy security in focus as Berbice Expo opens

The security of food, climate, and energy security are paramount on the Government’s list of priorities. This is according to Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips.
He made this announcement at the opening of the 17th edition of the Berbice Expo, which is being held at the Rose Hall Community Centre in East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The Expo, which runs from October 13-16, is being held under the theme “Fostering Sustainable Economic Growth and Food Security.”
Prime Minister Phillips in outlining Guyana’s current priorities said this has resulted in many flocking to the country on a daily basis looking for opportunities to invest.
He noted that Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 was 43.5 percent, in 2021, it was 20.1 percent and in 2022, it was 63.3 percent. This year Phillips said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Guyana’s GDP to be 38.4 and 26.4 percent for 2024. The IMF has also forecasted that Guyana will continue to enjoy substantial economic growth.

“Having said that you would understand why the investors are here and why the Government has decided that food security, climate security and energy security must be of paramount importance to us.”
He said the Berbice Expo is part of the efforts that are being made to showcase the potential of the region which has vast potential.
The region, he said, is diverse with resources and can become a major tourism destination and a hub for fabrication and manufacturing, including agro-processing.
He said, however, this has not lived up to those expectations. The true potential can be achieved if the region can be perceived in terms of its vastness and diversity of resources then it will be evident that Region Six can develop into an economic powerhouse.
To do so, the Prime Minister noted the idea of Region Six being a rural community must be dispelled.
“Having such an altered mindset would allow for the holistic development of this region. Having such an understanding would lead to a greater recognisation that this region’s potential goes beyond its agricultural and commercial endowments. It would allow us to focus on the development of the region’s savannahs, its vast forest resources, and its unquestionable ecotourism potential. The second major problem that has stifled this region has been outward migration.”
The population of Region Six in 1980, was 152,386 and declined by almost one third to 109,431 by 2012.
The region, the MP said, has been deprived of critical resources which are needed to drive its development. The mass migration has also led to a haemorrhaging of financial resources.
A third factor that has contributed to the lack of expected development of Region Six has been a high degree of informality and underreporting of economic activity which the Prime Minister said sees many businesses adverse to expanding their operations.
“To do so will mean that they are making greater profits than they are declaring. The failure to expand means fewer economic opportunities for the young people of this region,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond noted that Region Six is agriculture-based but it is now holding its own in many other sectors including tourism.
The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister urged businesses and persons to possess themselves to benefit from the massive transformation taking place in the tourism sector, which will be led by the Berbice stadium. (G4)