Cuba committed to working with PPP/C Gov’t

─ Agri-Minister receives courtesy call from Cuba’s Ambassador 

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency, Narciso Socorro, has reiterated his commitment to work with the new PPP/C Administration, as it strives to reform Guyana.

Today, Ambassador Socorro paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, at his Regent Street office.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Mustapha expressed appreciation to the diplomat for his country’s resumption of importation of rice from Guyana. He assured that the new administration will work to ensure diplomatic ties are expanded to include trade relations between the two countries.

“I also want to express gratitude to Cuba for playing such a significant role in the development of Guyana’s Health sector. Every year batches of well-trained doctors return to Guyana after studying in Cuba and I look forward to continued collaborations to propel not only the Agriculture sector but the Health and other sectors in Guyana,” Minister Mustapha stated.

According to the release, the Minister also met with the Country Representative for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Mr. Wilmot Garnett, where new areas for collaboration were discussed.

During the meeting, it was noted that IICA has been a long-standing partner to the Ministry; working with the agencies to improve the infrastructure on farms, to foster greater market value for farmers’ produce and strengthen the value chain.

“IICA has also assisted greatly in the areas of food security, recognition of small-scale farming and education in several areas. I am especially pleased with the training seminars hosted to educate farmers about pests such as the Carambola Fruit Fly,” the Agri-Minister noted.

Mr. Garnett told the Minister that he anticipates a better working relationship with the Ministry under this new administration, in hopes of the Ministry having a more hands-on approach to collaborating with the organisation.

He alluded to the fact that, over the last few years, there were several missed opportunities for collaborations between the Ministry, and that IICA and looks forward to new systems being put in place to ensure the sector can fully utilise the capabilities of the organisation.

Minister Mustapha assured that under this new administration, the lacklustre approach taken by the previous Government to working with donor agencies is a thing of the past, as this administration plans to maximise on all opportunities for collaborations with partnering agencies, such as IICA, for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, while meeting with Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency, Narciso Socorro.

[In the photo, at right] Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, pictured with the Country Representative for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Mr. Wilmot Garnett.

End