Black Immigrant Daily News

President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the Government is presently examining ways to work with the local banking sector to create more opportunities for Guyana’s ever-evolving economy, particularly for small businesses.

He noted that creating “innovative ways” were essential for micro-enterprises, which do not possess the type of collateral or cash outlay to benefit from the opportunities available.

“We have to have a discussion on the apportionment of that risk and how we can minimise or remove the collateral requirement and take the contract at face value, and then work out a mechanism through which a contract at face value is used to support those business operations.”

The Head of State, who has often spoken about the importance of the banking sector in the development of Guyana, made the statement during the launch of Demerara Bank’s new branch in Leonora, on the West Coast of Demerara on Thursday.

He called the location and level of investment essential to the development of Region Three.

“I have no doubt that this investment will be successful, that this investment with everything else that is happening around here will create a modern economic hub that will generate thousands of jobs. We have no doubt that development like these will support the other massive transformative developments that will take place along the coastline.”

The bank, which will be constructed at just over $150m at Groenveldt, Leonora, is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.

IN SYNC WITH DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

The President reminded that only a few weeks ago the bank launched a special initiative that is collateral free to help small farmers. This he added, is another example of Demerara Bank creating a vehicle to support the development agenda.

“Moving here also shows that you are actively working in sync with the development agenda of the country and the Government….In this location here alone, we’re not only talking about a bank, we’re talking about a new mall, and we’re talking about the new hospital. You’re talking about a private housing development that will see 40 to 50 executive style homes, that construction has already started, and 100 condos geared towards international market in this one location.”

The major development projects earmarked for the region include Wales’s Gas-to-Shore project, the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge and the new four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane.

The President said that these and other transformative projects across the country are undoubtedly affecting the demand for materials and services, a challenge faced globally. As such, he urged that businesses “work a bit harder and more creative” in finding more localised solutions to combat the global crisis.

“Understand what this means for demand. Understand the trickledown effect. Already we are feeling the effect of this in not a positive way… all of this is happening under very difficult global circumstances, not only in terms of food prices but in terms of material prices. Forget about the prices let’s not even go to the prices; the supply. There is no supply; huge deficit in global demand and supply.”

To this end, the President lauded the efforts of those who continue to innovate despite the difficulties.

“I am very pleased with the proactive and innovative work of Demerara Bank and to say to the leadership and the staff that your work, you may not see it now but years from now, you will reflect and you will happily say you are part of this transformation.”

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

One of the best ways to build flavour is layering or using one ingredient in two ways or at different stages of cooking.

Using the zest of a lemon in cake batter, for instance, while using the juice in a citrusy glaze.

It’s a technique we rely on often in our book COOKish, which limits recipes to just six ingredients without sacrificing flavour.

And it works particularly well with pickled jalape?os in this recipe for a simple salad with arugula and avocado.

The jalape?os themselves add juicy bursts of radiant heat, but we also treat the pickling liquid as a separate ingredient.

Using 1/4 cup of the liquid as the acid in the vinaigrette boosts the dressing’s flavour without needing additional vinegar.

Along with the avocado, pumpkin seeds offer enough richness to make the salad a light main course or pair it with sliced grilled skirt steak or hearty grains such as barley, farro or quinoa.

Arugula and avocado salad, drizzled with Jalape?o vinaigrette

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

3 to 4 tbsps pickled jalape?o slices, chopped, plus 1/4 cup pickling liquid

2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil

4 cups lightly packed baby arugula

3 radishes, halved and thinly sliced OR 1/2 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

1 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro OR 4 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted

2 ripe but firm avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and sliced

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Method

In a large bowl, whisk together the jalape?os and their liquid, the oil and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the arugula, radishes, cilantro and half of the pumpkin seeds, then toss. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in the avocado. Transfer to a serving bowl, then sprinkle with the remaining pumpkin seeds.

By Christopher Kimball

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Editor

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

News

Sequoia St George and her three children, watch the burnt remains of their Pond Street, Point Fortin home on Thursday. Photo by Angelo Marcelle

A woman’s instinct to leave her home and go to the Point Fortin Police Station to report a man for allegedly threatening to burn down her house with her and children inside might have saved her life and the lives of her three young children, including an eight-month-old baby girl.

Sequoia St George, 30, was on her way to the station when the police called and told her that her home was on fire Wednesday at about 2 pm. The fire is believed to have been deliberately set.

The three-room wooden structure at Pond Street, Point Fortin, was burnt to the ground, and no one was able to salvage anything. Homeless are St George, her common-law husband Lyndon Wills, and their three children— the baby and two sons, five and three.

“(Name called) kept saying he would chop us up in the house then burn it with us inside. He said he saw when my mister (Wills) left and would come and kill us when he finished doing what he was doing. He said my mister would be holding his head bawling when he comes home,” she said.

“At first, I did not take him on because he always threatened people and got on violently. But then I heard his tone changed. I called the police and told them about the threats. I just could not take it any more, and my big son was frightened too. I said to myself, that it was better if I left. I took the children and left.”

She said she walked out the street with her children then got in a car.

On her way, she saw a marked police car with officers who were heading to meet her at home. She gave them her full address, and the man’s address. The officers, she said, told her they were going to speak to him.

Minutes later, the police called to tell her the house on fire. She changed direction and return home.

The house did not have electricity and the family had already brought materials to wire the house.

Seeing her home in flames, St George said she began to weep.

Sequoia St George

“My house was fully furnished. I had two beds, $4,000 under a mattress to pay the person to wire the house, we lost everything,” St George said.

Wednesday’s threat was the third in seven years. However, the man had also reported her to the police over the years for threatening him.

“This man keeps provoking people. He always walks around with a cutlass. I do not interfere with this man. I am always with my children. If he had attacked us yesterday, I would not have been able to defend myself and the children. I just want to live in peace,” St George told Newsday on Thursday.

“The police spoke to him and that was it,” she said.

Wills, who works as a welder and fabricator, lost his equipment in the blaze.

He said he recently paid off a loan to get a tv and washing machine to make his family comfortable.

Wills said, “I am not ashamed to ask for help. Right now, I cannot function. We lost everything.”

The suspect remained at large, up to Thursday afternoon.

Hours after the house was burnt down, another house, a stone’s throw away, was gutted.

The owner was not in the area when Newsday visited.

Residents declined to speak about the fire, saying he lived alone and did not know where he went.

Anyone willing to help the family can call Newsday at 607-4929.

Investigations are ongoing.

NewsAmericasNow.com