Mahaica residents contribute to food prices consultation

Georgetown, GINA. April 21, 2008

Residents of Mahaica were given the opportunity on April 18 to relate their concerns to government officials with respect to rising food prices.
            Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, encouraged residents to share their concerns and make suggestions as to how best Guyana can deal with the rising cost of food.
            “We are here not only to tell you what we have recognised and the measures we have been taking as a Government but also to hear from you, what are the suggestions that you have so we can further improve the situation,” Minister Rodrigues said.
            Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, highlighted some of the factors that have caused the steep increases in food prices over the last few months.             
“Since last year there has been a constant increase in the price of fuel on the world market, and the result of this being, increase in a number of food items… the war in Iraq also did not help… but worse yet, the world market and the world economy made certain changes which saw massive movement in currency level around the world,” Dr. Gopaul said at the food consultation meeting held with residents, at the Helena Primary School.

A section of the residents at the food prices consultation at Mahaica

            The President at a Cabinet meeting thought that something must be done and we must move within the communities to meet with people to hear of their concerns to give a feed back to Cabinet where collectively something will be done to ease the pressures under which our people are living at the moment.
            The Foreign Affairs Minister, stated some of the measures that Government has implemented such as theagricultural diversification programme that is expected to cost over US $20M, the ‘Grow More’ initiative, the zero-rating of basic food items, and the granting of licences for the importation of chicken and the no-licence policy for the importation of flour.
            Dr. Gopual said that he hoped that, “Guyanese having faced with this crisis will move to modify their lifestyles to place greater emphasis on their consumption habits.”
            Some of the concerns raised by the residents included the drainage and irrigation system of the area, the constant animal nuisance, the pilfering of their crops, and accessing fertilizers and high quality seeds.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues and Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President, Dr. Nanda Gopaul addressing the residents of Mahaica at the food prices consultation

            “Boodoo area is abandoned and the water from time to time affects the people in Jonestown, if you are talking about farming and what can be done, yes there are persons in Jonestown who are willing to farm… but then there is no drainage,” Ira Tiwari, Head Mistress of Helena Primary said.
            Minister Rodrigues assured her that these matters will be looked at, however, the Boodoo area is privately owned and as such there are laws that govern the area.
            “We will look at the drainage and irrigation as well because I know this is a problem for people in this area and to make available planting materials,” the Minister said.
            Regarding the animal nuisance, the Minister said that, “This is something that is a very big problem and I know if we are going to tell you to grow more then this is something we will have to look at.”
            Government Ministers and officials of the Government have been travelling around the country to meet with residents in various communities, to listen to their concerns and suggestions.

 

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