Govt to “look into” wharf facility for Region 5 fisherfolk – Pres Ali

…shed, tarmac to be rehabilitated

President Dr Irfaan Ali has committed to explore the possibility of building a wharf facility for the members of the Three-Door Fishermen’s Co-operative Society in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The Head of State made this comment on Wednesday during an engagement with fisherfolk at the Three-Door Sluice, D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice.
During the interaction, the President of the Coop Society requested that the wharf be built. He explained the difficulties fishermen face getting on shore and off shore.
President Ali was told by the fisherfolks that the facility should be at least 250 feet out into the water to allow for easier access and transportation of their catch. They also asked for lights to be installed in the area to ensure their safety at night.
“You don’t have to get a wharf to drive in and drive out. [Just for] things to go in and come out back, like push cart, pull seine aside… with an extended front – like 20 feet so the cart can pass up and down,” the fishermen indicated.
In response, President Ali informed the fisherfolk that he would have the Agriculture Ministry look into the construction of the wharf.
Additionally, the Head of State also promised to have a shed and the tarmac rehabilitated after the Co-op members complained about their current state.
The President instructed the Regional Engineer to work with the fisherfolk and come with up an estimate for the upgrades. A timeline was given for this to be done.
“Make sure you get it up by tonight (Wednesday night) and I’ll get [the Ministry of] Agriculture to look at the wharf issue,” President Ali stated.
Interventions were also made on other issues raised by the fishermen as well as other persons from D’Edward Village and surrounding communities. The Head of State also committed to have Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, return to the community to address issues within the Co-op Society that were raised.
Wednesday’s engagement was President Ali’s second meeting with the members of the Three-Door Fishermen’s Co-op Society. Back in 2021, the Guyanese Leader had visited and addressed concerns raised.
That intervention had resulted in an agreement signed between the Co-op Society and the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) to allow the fishermen to legally utilise and operate from the river shore base at D’Edward – in the vicinity of the western side of the bridge.

Agri projects
Meanwhile during Wednesday’s visit to Region Five, President Ali, who was accompanied by Director General of the Agriculture Ministry, Madanlall Ramraj, also conducted tours of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute’s (NAREI’s) model farm, the brackish water shrimp venture, and the regional state-of-the-art abattoir on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB).
Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the $600 million abattoir facility is being constructed at Onverwagt, WCB.
The Guyanese Leader was informed that the project was set to be completed by mid-April. Upon completion, the facility would be able to process about 25 head of cattle per day.
The new abattoir will not only modernise Guyana’s meat-processing capabilities but also bring it up to international standards. This will open up new markets for Guyana’s beef, boosting the income of cattle farmers and creating valuable employment opportunities.
To aid its livestock programme, Government had brought in 64 hybrid breeding bulls in 2022 to further improve the cattle breeds in the country.
In December, Minister Mustapha has disclosed that there was a serious investor from Colombia, who wanted to start investment in 1000 head cattle for beef production. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect is on the cards.
On site at the shrimp production ponds that are also currently under construction, President Ali was updated on the progress of the work.
There are five ponds, approximately one acre in size, being built. These ponds will produce six tonnes per crop, with at least three crops per year, that is, 18 tonnes of shrimp per pond – mostly to meet the demand within the region including the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America.
The President was told that the first harvest could be expected within three to four months of the start of operations.
At least 10 ponds are expected to be constructed as part of a $100 million prawn production project at Onverwagt. This initiative was undertaken as the Government works to expand the aquaculture industry in order to tap into the high demand from regional and international markets.
Minister Mustapha had previously stated that once operational, these 10 ponds were expected to produce about 50 tonnes per crop that could potentially earn US$2.2 million annually.
During Wednesday’s visit to the region, President Ali also visited an agro-processing facility that is presently unutilised. The Head of State was told that while persons would have gone to conduct trials, no one has made use of the facility.
As such, the Head of State ordered that the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and the Private Sector get involved. He instructed that the Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association (GMSA) work with farmers in Region Five to utilise the facility.
“So, they can bring their stuff [to be processed in the agro-processing facility]. I want it fully operationalised by next week… I will return in two weeks and I want to see it fully operational,” Ali stated. (G8)