Boosting Laluni’s agri-drive

− community receives tractor from Indigenous Ministry

DPI, Guyana, Friday, October 11, 2019

The agriculture drive in the community of Laluni along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway received a boost following the handing over of a tractor which was requested by its leaders.

The heavy-duty machine was handed over to Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC), Aaron Defreitas by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Sydney Allicock and Minister within the ministry, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe during the 13th National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference.

Defreitas, who visibly delighted to receive the tractor, said that the request was made since farming is the main economic earner in the Region 4 community.

He explained that “for many years, maybe decades, the community has been in great need of a tractor, and I want to thank the government for granting us our request because this is something that we longed for and that was needed in our community.”

He pointed out that with the new tractor, everyone in the community will benefit, especially small farmers. “The farmers who cannot afford to go into large scale farming, I am hoping having now received the tractor, those persons working along with the council can find ways to utilise it to expand their businesses,” he said.

The chairman noted that the community mainly produces cash crops and also supplies cherries and oranges to the local ‘Topco Juice’ company whose fruit juices are distributed countrywide. He testified that over the past four years, Laluni, which is home to over 400 residents, is no longer been neglected, adding that the residents continue to benefit from several initiatives under the current administration.

“We have been receiving a number of development projects to the community and we are very thankful for it,” Defreitas stated.