Guyana working with Indonesia to train locals in crab-cage farming – Pres Ali

…says wharf facilities, farmer landings for riverine communities in Reg 1

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday disclosed that Government was working with experts in Indonesia to train Guyanese to do crab-cage farming so that they tap into the lucrative market locally.

The Head of State made this announcement at the commissioning of the new $434.5 million Waramuri Secondary School in Region One (Barima-Waini).
He explained that crab meat was high value, noting that the various world-class hotels being built in the country would have to import this to make well-known dishes like crab cakes. However, if Guyana could produce enough crab meat, the President noted, then it could be supplied to not just hotels but supermarkets. But this requires expanded production and this is where the Indonesian experts will come in.
“We’re already talking with a team from Indonesia to come here and work with our farmers to do cage crab farming. So, we don’t need to wait on the season alone. We can do it year-round [to] get the crab, take it to the processing facility so you get higher prices and we create more opportunities for the local economy,” President Ali stated.
This initiative is one of two projects that the Guyanese Leader proposed to roll out for four communities in Region One – Waramuri, Manawarin, Haimarakabra, and Para.
The second initiative will see Government working with the more than 600 households in these indigenous communities to empower them with financial and technical support to expand cassava production and build out a cassava mill facility so that they can get more value from their produce.
“So, we’ll invest with you in the tools, the equipment and the money to expand your production… We will build the facility to process it, get the cassareep and flour out of it. But more importantly, we don’t want you to go and sell it, we will get the Guyana Marketing Corporation to come to that facility, take your product, pay you at a stable market price and take it to the market,” the President informed residents.
According to Ali, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is not just about giving out cash grants to citizens, which it has done and will continue to do, but it is committed to creating economic opportunities to empower every Guyanese.
“The future that we have before us is an exciting one,” the Head of State posited.

Waterfront development
This is reflected in the plans that the Ali-led Administration has for these four communities, which he detailed during Wednesday’s address. Among the announcements the president made was for waterfront developments for every riverine community.
“We have issued an instruction that this year and in the next budget, we will be building farmers’ landing and wharf facility at every single one of the communities in the river,” he disclosed.
This was in response to complaints from Waramuri residents, who had requested a proper wharf facility and raised concerns about the dam and roads. For the latter, the Head of State assured residents that instructions were also given for the revetment and dam to be designed so that works could commence before the end of this year.
Additionally, he said government will deliver a generator to the community so that they benefit from extended electricity hours.
Similarly, residents of Para will benefit from extended electricity as well as water, and the buildout of a dam. A bus has already been procured, as requested by the community, to transport children to school.
On the other hand, Waramuri, Manawarin and Haimakabara have all asked for boats and engines to transport schoolchildren. The Guyanese Leader revealed that he has already instructed the Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley, to have local boatbuilders in the region build the boats for these three communities.
“We are going to give you those boats and the engine. But not only a boat – the boat with shed…for the children of your community. Those are decisions already taken. I hope that in the coming week, they will start construction of those boats,” Ali stated.
The construction of those boats will take approximately eight weeks.
Meanwhile, the President added that Haimarakabra would also get roads, a water facility and money has already been set aside to have transmission lines designed so that works can start in the coming weeks to power the community. Another request the community made was for a medic.
But the Head of State said that he wanted to have locals trained so that they could serve their community. As such, he asked that all young persons from Haimarakabra with the qualifications sign up for the nursing programme for the September intake.
“We will take them, we will train them, we’ll house them, we’ll give them a stipend and we’ll guarantee them a job as a nurse or a patient care assistant after,” the President declared.