Guyana: President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, attended a meeting with a number of business leaders from across CARICOM yesterday at the Brix Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
President Ali informed the group of the development trajectory of Guyana and the numerous projects currently in progress across all sectors. He also updated them about Guyana beyond 2025 and the government’s plans to build a new, modern city— Silica City.
The Head of State implored the businessmen to form themselves into consortiums to be able to access the large projects and to “think outside of the box”.
After delivering brief remarks, the President and the Prime Minister discussed opportunities in CARICOM. Executives from Republic Financial Holdings Limited, including its Managing Director and President Nigel Baptiste and Managing Director of Republic Bank- Guyana, Stephen Grell.
Dr Irfaan Ali was taken on a guided tour of Trinidad and Tobago’s second Agri-Investment Forum and Expo by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley this afternoon.
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley; Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell and other Caribbean leaders and officials were also present.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond and other government officials were also on the tour.
Dr Irfaan Ali was taken on a tour of the Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited and Nutrien— a fertiliser company, during his visit to the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (NEC) on Thursday afternoon.
Before the tour, President Ali, who was also joined by Prime Minister, the Dr Keith Rowley and the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, was given a presentation by Dr Vernon Paltoo— President of NEC, on how the three countries can advance their oil and gas sector together.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond and other Guyanese government officials were also on tour. President Ali is on an official State Visit to the Twin Island Republic.
Dr Irfaan Ali emphasised that the time is now for CARICOM to demonstrate tangible results as its member states seek to create an environment in which there is a sustainable and resilient pathway to food security.
The Head of State made the assertion today while speaking about the progress and vision of the CARICOM Agri-Food Sector during the opening ceremony of Trinidad and Tobago’s second Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at the National Academy for Performing Arts in Port of Spain, today.
The President emphasised that fixing the Region’s food security problem is not only about “growing more” and increasing productivity but about overhauling the food security systems and institutions.
The forum and expo are being run under the theme, ‘Transforming Agriculture through Innovation and Investment’ and will conclude on Sunday.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley and President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, also delivered addresses, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, delivered the feature address.
