Focus on building economic resilience in Region Nine – President Granger

─ most hinterland regions have the ability to move from subsistence farming to sustainable farmer 

─ five dozen members of the Brazilian Construction Engineering Battalion will be in the Region Nine to dig wells, provide environmental services

─ Rupununi Tourism Authority idea touted 

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

President David Granger during a visit today to St. Ignatius, Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), as part of Indigenous Heritage Month activities, underscored the importance of building economic resilience in the hinterland regions.

This is even more relevant now, the president said, citing the situation in neighbouring Venezuela which has resulted in the migration of thousands of persons to the country’s interior locations.

“To think how we will build resilience, how we will make this region strong, strong enough to withstand any economic pressure, strong enough to ensure that our children and grandchildren could live better lives than our parents and grandparents lived,” the president stated.

President Granger believes one of the most important elements of the economy is food security. He said the region must be able to produce enough in terms of value to enable exchange with other areas, however, the president cautioned that products must not be wasted.

The Head of State said most hinterland regions have the ability to move from subsistence farming to sustainable farming. Region Nine, he pointed out, is one the most susceptible to the vagaries of the weather.

As a result, he informed that in the next few days over five dozen members of the Brazilian Construction Engineering Battalion will be in the region to provide “environmental security.”

The battalion will ensure there are wells in the region so that in the dry season there is enough water supply for the residents to conduct their daily domestic and other activities.

The president noted that “we wouldn’t go from these cycles of excessive water to drought, so environmental security is very important if we are going to provide for our food security.”

A second look, he said, must be taken farming, cattle rearing and the livestock industry as whole to put it on a “competitive footing” to ensure more meat from the Rupununi is placed in supermarkets across the country.

The Head of State called for more focus on other aspects of economic diversification, pointing to the many untapped resources, specifically in eco-tourism.

The president touted the idea of a Rupununi Tourism Authority to bring all the elements of the Rupununi together to ensure an enhanced tourist experience.

“An intelligent type of tourism, but yet again, this has to be organised, the flights have to be organised, transportation has to be organised and accommodation has to be organised, safety has to be organised, so that when they come they have an enjoyable experience so that they can write to other people,” President Granger posited.

In years to come, President Granger said citizens can look forward to more employment for youths in various areas including manufacturing.

The regional chairman, Brian Allicock was gifted a cheque in the sum of $500,000 and sport gear handed over to the Toshao Dennis Benedict by the Head of State.

Stacy Carmichael.

Image: Department of Public Information.