Greater focus on agro-products packaging, presentation
Georgetown, GINA, February 3, 2009
Agro-processors are being encouraged to focus greater attention on packaging and presentation of their products as it is a major contributory factor in attracting consumers. This initiative is part of the competitiveness strategy whereby small business owners are being given technical assistance to further develop their products.
At the launch of an agro-processors project and awareness workshop held today at the National Library Conference Centre, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad urged that, Guyanese have to learn to recognise locally products, their value, how they are appreciated throughout the world and how they can be developed.
EMPRETEC Guyana collaborated with the Canadian Executive Services Organisation (CESO) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), to launch the agro-processors project.
Minister Prashad (centre), accompanied by CESO’s Co-ordinator, Joycelyn Williams and IICA’s Representative, Ignatius Jean at the launch of the agro-processors project and awareness workshop
Agro-processing is one of the areas of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that has been dominated by a large number of persons, particularly women, who depend on this activity for a livelihood. However, because the operations are small, very little attention is given to the type of packaging used.
This results in poor presentation of often very good products which undermines the perception of the quality of the product and contributes to difficulty in competing with more attractively packaged products.
Managing Director of EMPRETEC, Judy Semple-Joseph noted that greater competitiveness is one of key factors and the producers need to work to attain this in order to develop their products.
She informed that consultants have visited some of the processors’ businesses and they have identified key areas that need assistance. In this instance, the project will help to create awareness in product development.
The company will be working with 30 agro-processors to provide training in business development and marketing, create greater awareness of food safety issues, and technical assistance in improving their operations. This will be done with the assistance of three consultants.
The project is being carried out by Volunteer Advisors, Alan and Lydia Sorflaten from CESO.
Minister Prashad called on the organisers to replicate similar projects and workshops throughout the country where they will be more useful to farmers and producers in their communities.
“Today you are deciding to take your business to another level. You are deciding, to invest, in order to gain greater returns. We are living in an era of unprecedented change, and as the world in which we live changes, so must we, in order to survive, and be on the cutting edge, in whatever we do,” Minister Prashad said.
Minister Prashad and participants of the workshop viewing a presentation by Volunteer Advisors, Alan and Lydia Sorflaten
He noted that the aim of agro-processing is to increase income and access to food for the poor by establishing small-scale, appropriate and sustainable processing businesses that are flexible as the overall potential of agro-processing is huge.
It can reduce wastage, enhance food security, improve livelihoods for low-income groups and empower women.
Minister Prashad noted that this is another sector that can be developed to promote the unlimited resources of the country. “The development of agro-processing, will provide, a good boost for agro-tourism. Agro tourism is the form of tourism, which capitalizes on rural culture, as a tourist attraction…Through agro-tourism, locals, can offer tours, to their farm so that visitors can view them growing, harvesting, and processing locally grown foods.”
The Minister emphasized that partnership among small farmers and established corporate entities is the key link that will enable the local agro-tourism sector to scale new heights on the overseas market.
Co-ordinator of CESO, Joycelyn Williams said that what they would like to see accomplished is a product which has been around for a long time being elevated to “new heights” and new markets through improved packaging and branding.
IICA’s Representative, Ignatius Jean said that, “Our task at IICA is to assist our member states with the technical knowledge and information that can contribute to finding solutions that will improve food and energy security and promote a sustainable environment for this and future generation.”
He noted that from observation there is considerable wastage around the country because processors are not able to add value to preserve and package their products properly for domestic consumption and export as such this initiative present immense opportunities for development.
The project started on January 19 and will run until February 25.
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Culture Ministry gets financial boost to develop masquerade
Georgetown, GINA, February 3, 2009
Adrian Waldron, manager of the masquerade band “The Joker is Wild” is one of the few local bands that was today given the incentive to keep the tradition alive, after the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company donated $1.2M to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for the development of masquerade for Mashramani and beyond.
The handing over ceremony was done today at GT&T’s main office on Brickdam in the presence of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, Mashramani Coordinator Lennox Canterbury, GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Singh and other representatives of the company.
Masquerade is a choreographed dance involving a series of steps, done by musicians and flouncers bearing the name, Mother Sally or Long Lady, Bam Bam Sally, Monkey man, the stilt walkers/dancers and the Mad Cow.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony holding the $1.2M cheque along with the 'Joker is Wild' masquerade band.
The flouncers are usually the main attraction of the band as they dance and acrobatically pick up coins or other monetary rewards thrown by onlookers.
The musicians control the movement of the other groups with their fife, kittle, boom and steel instruments.
The art form is an African ritual war dance originated by slaves during the colonial era. The slaves were banned from practicing masquerade but were allowed to indulge in it during the Christmas season.
Minister Anthony considers masquerade an important aspect of Mashramani which and although popular in many Caribbean territories it has developed its own uniqueness in Guyana.
However, he noted that there has been a decline in the masquerade tradition and made specific reference to the quality of bands, citing the lack of support as one of the reasons.
“If we understand the historic significance of masquerade and the role it played in colonial times then we will want to work very hard to preserve this art form. When we look today at what is happening in the art form the sponsorship that we are getting from GT&T is significant because it is helping to preserve and sustain a very important art form,” Minister Anthony said.
Manager of 'The Joker is Wild' masquerade band performing.
The Ministry has set out on a mandate to work with masquerade bands and began hosting workshops with the help of the few persons with the knowledge of masquerade and the corresponding moves.
He believes that with greater collaboration the mandate can be accomplished. He even suggested that parents get involved by helping their children to show interest in the art form.
The Minister used the occasion to commend the partnership which exists with the telephone company, and noted that it is a demonstration of GT&T’s commitment to development across the board.
The telephone company over the last three years has been working closely with the Ministry, beginning with Cricket World Cup (CWC) in 2007 and the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X in 2008.
GT&T’s CEO said the company is proud to identify with an aspect of Mashramani that is symbolic of Guyana’s history.
'The Joker is Wild' masquerade band performing.
“We hope that by sponsoring the masquerade band, we will not only identify with a very important component of our history but that it prompts more in-depth research so that we can do some comparisons or analytical work of what still obtains in countries like West Africa,” Singh said.
He is hopeful that as the art form develops it would prompt more research into masquerade.
After the handing over ceremony “The Joker is Wild” entertained the onlookers with their dazzling display of masquerade talent. Waldron said he has been involved in masquerade since the age of six and has been managing a band of 40 members for more than 18 years.
“Masquerade has nine traditional steps and it would take you a very long time to learn. It took me at least one year to learn but today I am a teacher and I take pride in doing my work,” Waldron said.
Nine masquerade bands will be participating in this year’s Mashramani competition, representing Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Ten.
Convenor of the competition Leslie Glasgow said that the competition will be judged in the junior and senior categories, Mad Bull, Long Lady, Bam Bam Sally and stilt dancers. Region Three is the reigning masquerade champion.
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