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Guyana’s president Irfaan Ali. –

Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said that country’s Local Content Act, an act that ensures that companies involved in the energy sector prioritises Guyanese nationals and companies, is there to support everyone including businesses that are attempting to enter into the country’s oil and gas industry.

Ali said, at a media conference held at the Diplomatic Centre in Port of Spain, that the legislation, in seeking Guyanese interests, also provides an opportunity for the transfer of technology and technical skills that the Guyanese people may not necessarily have.

“The scope (of the act) is there and it is being made use of by many companies from Trinidad and Tobago and countries around the world,” he said. “Many global companies are coming.”

“It comes down to how someone may want to interpret something for a specific outcome. Let’s not do that. Let us look at the policy in totality and understand what it is seeking to achieve.”

The Local Content Act also seeks to develop local capacity in the oil and gas industry, enhance the oil and gas value chain, promote competitiveness and encourage the creation of industries that would help Guyana’s development. A total of 40 sectors were identified by the act. These sectors include wielding, onshore pipe and sand blasting, food supply and administrative support, transportation and customs brokerage.

In March, TT law firm Hamel-Smith and Co raised questions on whether the act would hinder the country’s ability to meet regional obligations, but on Thursday, Ali said that Guyana should be able to handle its own affairs in these selected sectors.

“If someone comes to you and says that after all those years of independence you can’t provide brokerage services for yourself, or taxi service or vehicle rental for yourself, then we have serious problems,” he said.

“What the local content legislation did is make a minimal carve-out for the capacity that we have.”

Ali also said, in terms of the finance, the concentration of capital is a major factor when making a decision on allowing the sale of assets. He made the statements in response to questions surrounding Republic Bank’s attempt in 2019 to buy Scotiabank’s business in Guyana which was turned down amid concerns of a TT bank having a monopoly in Guyana and holding more than 50 per cent of the country’s depository.

“In making a decision of how things move forward, you have to look at the concentration of capital,” he said. “In that specific issue that you are talking about, Republic Bank was the first bidder who put in a proposal. Republic Bank is working with us on many other important initiatives.”

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Heliconia Foundation and San Fernando City Corporation representatives with some of the students who received school supplies at the San Fernando City Hall on Friday. – Marvin Hamilton

Members of the South Chapter of the Heliconia Foundation for Young Professionals held their inaugural back-to-school drive on Friday in San Fernando, just weeks after the chapter was launched.

Chairman Rondell Donawa told Newsday that 24 students from San Fernando and environs received school supplies, as well as a $300 voucher from Keith Khan’s bookstore.

He said the seven executives of the chapter pooled their resources and, with the help of the bookstore and a former Cocoyea resident, Kevin Regis, made the initiative a success. Regis now lives in Toronto, Donawa said, but wanted to give back to his community.

Donawa, a founding foundation member, is also an attorney and calypsonian.

The south chapter was launched on July 14 in San Fernando.

The distribution took place at San Fernando City Corporation’s auditorium. Marabella West councillor Michael Johnson delivered the feature address.

Johnson quoted the late Nelson Mandela as saying education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world.

Johnson added, “We live in a time where almost any information is only a click or Google search away. a time of technological disruption and relentless innovation.

“We need a workforce of people in TT who are equipped and ready to do just as Mr Mandela said, to change the world.”

“That is why an initiative such as this is timely. The Heliconia Foundation continues to lead the way and blaze a trail in ensuring that our nation’s youth aren’t left behind, so I commend them for that.”

The Government, Johnson said, has been doubling and tripling down on its investment into young people over the last seven years.

He referred to the National Youth Policy of Trinidad and Tobago and all the programmes the Youth Development and National Service Ministry offers.

Johnson praised Dr Keith Rowley as well as line minister Foster Cummings for “truly leading the way in investing in our young people.”

To the students, Johnson said, “This life is not about where you’ve come from but where you are going. My mantra for this year has been that you have what you need and what you want is in your command.”

He encouraged them to put their best foot forward in any and everything they do, and it would lead them in good stead.

The south executive comprises, as well as Donawa, vice-chairman and Cocoyea/Tarouba councillor Teresa Lynch, Jesse Moss, Craig Anamad, Makesi Peters, Frank Gittens and Leah Balkaran.

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Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley greets Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Friday at the Agri Investment Forum and Expo at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. – SUREASH CHOLAI

ALTHOUGH Heads of Caricom states gathered on Friday at the second Agri Investment Forum and Expo, at the National Academy of Performing Arts, Port of Spain, to focus on the very serious issue of food security, the event still had several moments of levity.

One came in the form of an exchange between Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and TT’s Prime Minister as she called on people to begin planting peas in Tobago.

“Not even a bassman in our head should stop us from planting peas in Tobago,” she said to loud applause, in obvious reference to Shadow’s classic calypso Bassman.

She urged people to begin planting short-term crops and raising fast-growing livestock, and to begin eating what is grown in the region, not only because of the financial implications, but because of health as well.

She also called for a regional calorie counter for local and regional dishes.

“How much calories are going to be in the roti you going to serve me later Keith?” Mottley asked.

“How much calories are there in breadfruit? How much calories are there in the ingredients in the corn soup?”

But Dr Rowley, in his address, responded to Mottley’s call to plant peas citing his personal woes in planting the crop.

“You go and plant peas in Tobago and see what happens to you,” he said.

“I planted peas in Tobago. Cocrico ate all. And if I touched a cocrico is straight to jail I going, because it is a protected species.

“They used to live in the forest and would come down from the forest and were considered a delicacy. But from the time they heard they were a protected species, they came out. They would be in the yard fighting fowl.

“From my peas farm, they ate everything. As soon as it began to flower they would eat.

“When we spoke about reducing the population, you heard the screams of the environmentalists that we couldn’t touch the national bird. In Tobago, we call it the national pest.”

Caricom leaders: be part of the solution

Caricom leaders called for all relevant stakeholders to get on board with the regional push to reduce its billion dollar food import bill by 25 per cent, by the year 2025.

Rowley and Mottley, as well as Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Surinam President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, echoed similar sentiments – that in order for the region to sustain itself, in the face of shocks and changes in the world, the region must once again learn to feed itself.

“We have the confluence of three global crises,” Mottley said.

“We are at war with climate, we are at war with pandemics – not just covid19 but the anti-microbial resistance pandemic, and we are at war with inflation as a result of being at war with war.”

Mottley said that the region’s plans can not only be medium term as the region’s population is already feeling the negative consequences of climate change, war, disease and inflation. She said the region has fed itself before and can do it again.

“None of us can avoid the reality that our people must eat. There are things that we can do and that we have done in our past, to ensure survival. We are there again.”

Santokhi, adding to the call for a collective response against crises affecting the region’s ability to feed itself, suggested that countries invest in greenhouses.

“Investing in greenhouses has several advantages. It protects crops against infestation and enables farmers to deal efficiently with scarce resources.

Rowley called on the private sector not to be resistant to the developments coming out of the regional food-import reduction drive, which may disrupt the current status quo, but to get on board and distribute and invest in local produce.

“Food takes time to grow, animals take time to grow. Take that time to change the formulae of trade. If we are to feed ourselves with local producers, get on board with the local producers. Invest your time, finance, expertise in your business and be part of the solution and not the problem.”

Ali lauded Republic Bank for taking the lead in assisting Caricom’s food-import reduction initiative, saying there are seven different proposals for initiatives to move Caricom’s plans forward.

“Those proposals are now with Republic Bank and we are now pushing for it to approve those proposals to advance financing of our projects.”

The Agri Investment Forum and Expo, being held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, started on Friday and ends on Sunday.

It aims to strengthen the linkages along the food value and distribution chains in order to make locally and regionally produced food more affordable and attractive. The expo hosts over 300 exhibitors from various sectors along the food value chain including agricultural machinery, agro business and processing.

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