Officials of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) are seeking the possibility of future collaborations with China in a move that supports large-scale investments within Linden and other parts of the Region.
In the quest to foster opportunities between the Region and China, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland met with representatives of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, including Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission Yang Chenqi and Comprehensive Office Director Jianguo Mao for discussions at the Watooka Complex, Linden.
Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Yang Chenqi accepts a proposal for a Youth Arts Project from Regional Chairman Renis Morian. Also in photo are Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland and Linden Deputy Mayor Waneka Arindell
During the meeting, Holland and Morian urged the Chinese delegation to support the development of the Linden economy through youth development and employment, large-scale agriculture (organic farming) and manufacturing, businesses as well as infrastructure.Emphasising the Linden to Lethem road and other opportunities presented through the 2017 Budget, the Regional leaders also sought assistance in securing investments.
During the discourse, Holland stated that there is an opportunity for a railway from Linden to Brazil, while he urged the delegation to seek investors in this regard.
“Because once you have the rail then you have the Brazilians coming through; we’ll have more export and so it can be a major investment for the Chinese in Linden,” he noted. He highlighted that the Chinese Embassy is the second in recent times to formally engage the community in the area of business cooperation.
Meanwhile, Morian said the meeting speaks volumes in that there is interest in the Region. He noted however that the lack of jobs for young people is one of the main social issues in the Region. As such, he said that in creating initiatives the focus is on job creation, outlining that one of the effects is migration of the Region’s youths.
“We talked about the road to Lethem…the airstrip and so many other developmental activities. Our focus really is to deal with the high unemployment rate of Region 10. We’re encouraging investors to come to Region 10…There’s security here, we have a large trained workforce…Even the women in Region 10 are willing to work…I’m happy for the visit by the Chinese delegation…Based on the trip we’ve had in China we would like to replicate what we’ve seen, in Region 10,” he said.
Chenqi said that with a history of bauxite mining, there is a successful story which provides a successful start to future cooperation. The Chinese team were also assured of security should they invest in the community.
Following the discourse, Morian handed over a proposal for a Youth Arts Project for the Region to Chenqi.
Also present and engaged in the discussion was Deputy Mayor of Linden Waneka Arindell, representatives of Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) and E Division Commander Fazil Karimbaksh. (Utamu Belle)
