Berbice : President Donald Ramotar reiterated the call for Guyanese to unite so as to take the country forward, as it is only through unity that full benefits will be realised.
“We can lift a country to the state of a developed country, but we need to be united and understand what is taking place and work together to overcome our challenges and allow Guyana to realise its full potential,” the President said.
The President was at the time addressing those in attendance at the opening ceremony for the 10thannual Berbice Expo and trade fair at the Albion Community Centre ground.
This year’s expo and trade fair is being held under the theme “Exploiting science and technology for economic development”.
The President underscored the importance of such events in the process of developing the country’s economy. “This year I have noticed the theme is very timely, and coincides with the vision of government and the vision of how our country should develop.”
According to President Ramotar, Science and Technology are important for the economic progress for any country and that for too long, Guyana was kept as a raw material producing country; however it was only because of the characteristic of sugar that the current Government saw it necessary to develop the industry and factories.
The President also spoke of the many investments the administration continues to pour into the social sectors, all aimed at developing the human capital of the country.
Meanwhile President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) Tajpaul Ajodhea in his remarks noted the strides that have been made by the chamber.
Over the years, the Berbice Expo has seen significant growth from what it was ten years ago.
The Chamber’s President however used the opportunity to appeal to the Government for a permanent exhibition complex.
He explained that over the years the business community has been investing a lot of money in building permanent structures and demolishing the structures for the expo.
The money he said could be used for other initiatives if there is a permanent exhibition site in place.
In addition, the Chamber President lauded the administration for the investments it continues to make in Region Six. “The Berbice economy is agro-based and the government has done a lot in this area. The rice industry is flourishing, sugar is coming along, with the bio-ethanol plant and that may be the turnaround for the sugar industry.”
Ajodhea also called on the administration to explore the possibility of a processing and packaging facility for the region, which will aid in adding more value to products.
The Berbice Expo features exhibitors drawn from the manufacturing and agriculture industries among others. It will conclude on Sunday.
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