$25M agro-processing facilities near completion in Maruranau, Annai

DPI Guyana, Friday, December 13, 2019 

The construction of agro-processing facilities at Maruranau and Bina Hill, Annai, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, are on stream to be completed by year-end.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Sydney Allicock told DPI that the projects were temporarily halted because of the unavailability of funds and inclement weather.

The facilities at Maruranau ($10Million) and Bina Hill ($15Million) form part of the ministry’s 2019 capital programme.

Some $60Million of the ministry’s $1.9Billion allocation was set aside for investment in innovative and sustainable income-generating projects.

Other initiatives included fruit farms in Paurima Region 7 ($3Million) and Santa Cruz, Region 1($3Million); a lapidary at Monkey Mountain, Region 8 ($5Million), and an eco-tourism project in Karasabai, Region 9 ($2Million).

An additional $16Million was allocated for the cassava flour processing factory in Kwebana, $6Million for the installation of a solar system at the crab processing facility at Smith’s Creek, and $15Million for the construction of the ground coffee processing facility in Santa Rosa.

Another $235.3Million was allocated for community projects in 215 villages under the Presidential Grants programme.

These ventures were aimed at creating employment and income in hinterland communities to raise the standard of living of the nation’s first peoples and boost the independence of their communities.