Blog

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha speaking at the launch (Photo: DPI/ August 18, 2023)

Asked for details at the sidelines of an event on Friday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha confirmed that areas in Regions Six and 10 were visited and the government found suitable land for the cultivation of these crops.

“(We) already have investors (and we are) meeting with them this afternoon.

“I think that the process will start shortly, before the end of the year at least 1,000 areas can be under cultivation,” Mustapha said.

Growing these crops, he explained, is part of the government’s plans to meet the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) ambitious food security agenda wherein the bloc hopes to cut its more than US$6 billion annual food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Previously, Mustapha said the country is preparing to supply the entire Caribbean region with black eye peas.

food security targets by 2025.

And the upcoming Agri-investment forum and expo, set for October 20 to 22, is expected to bring regional and international stakeholders together to address existing investment shortfalls and other challenges.

“It is critical at this point in time that the private sector take the initiative to work on a more aggressive regional logistics approach where we can move our products and services easily around the region,” Chairman of Guyana’s Private Sector Commission Komal Singh said on Friday.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Komal Singh (Photo: DPI/ August 18, 2023)

If this is not done, he shared fears that the greater volumes of food produced in countries like Guyana will be left unsold and unused. For him, that would be counterproductive.

Guyana has been leading the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) ambitious goal of slashing the massive regional US$6 billion import bill by 25% by 2025.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha speaking at the launch (Photo: DPI/ August 18, 2023)

On Friday, at the launch of the upcoming forum and export, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha acknowledged that substantial gains have been made. These include new partnerships among Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and many other CARICOM countries.

Still, he said investments worth about $7.5 billion are needed to achieve the 25 by 2025 agenda.

So he believes the upcoming investment forum will foster much-needed partnerships and attract investments into Guyana’s and the Caribbean’s agricultural sector, as was the case last year.

fatal altercation with 25-year-old Mark Harris, a horse cart operator of Plum Park, Sophia.

Husbands appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus where the charge was laid against him.

It was reported that the two men were at a shop in Plum Park on August 14 when an argument ensued. Harris, who was reportedly armed with a knife, attempted to stab Husbands.

Husbands, however, held on to the knife and armed himself with a pair of scissors which he used to stab Harris multiple times.

It was reported too that Husbands walked to Prasad Nagar Police Outpost and reported the matter to the Police, who then told the accused of the allegation, cautioned and arrested him. An audio and video interview was conducted and he admitted to the crime.

In Court, Husbands appeared remorseful and begged the Magistrate to grant him bail.

Police Prosecutor Quincy Lacon, however, objected to bail in the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. Bail was refused.

Husbands is expected to make his next court appearance on September 14 for statements.

death of his sister and niece.

Moore, 33, appeared virtually at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to answer to the charges.

It is alleged that by setting the fire to the Silvertown property, Moore murdered Cheryl Moore and 12-year-old Eikiela Adams.

He was not required to enter a plea and will make his next court appearance on September 07, 2023.

Moore was arrested two streets away from the tragic incident where he spent the night hiding in some bushes.

While his niece, Eikeila Adams, and sister, Cheryl Moore perished in the fire, another sister was hospitalised and other relatives are in sheer disbelief.

From the accounts of neighbours and relatives, Cheryl was seemingly the target of Akali’s onslaught; earlier in the day, he reportedly threatened to kill her as he wielded a cutlass in the face of another sibling.

The News Room understands that Monday night’s fire was the culmination of months of sibling rivalry. Kayla celebrated her birthday earlier the evening and the family had just retired to bed at about 22:30 hrs when Akali, using kerosene, lit the fire in the lower flat of the house.