Domestic violence sessions impacting - Geer
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security through its Domestic Violence Policy Unit has been working ardently to educate various sections of society on the topic of domestic violence and what measures are in place to protect people who are victims of this form of abuse.
Over the last four months domestic violence awareness sessions have been held with hosts/hostesses of entertainment programmes, staff of the Government Information Agency, basketball players from the Pepsi Sonics Basketball Team, members of the Zahiff’s Gym, the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players, students from the Carnegie School of Home Economics, women in Linden and members of the Guyana Girl Guides Association.
Head of the Domestic Violence Policy Unit, Geetangeli Geer, who has been conducting the sessions, said that there has been positive response and participants have been expressing their views on how this crime can be tackled.
Geer stated that the awareness sessions are proving to be successful as some participants have brought in friends and family members who experience this form of abuse. Due to these sessions it has also been found that more persons are accessing the services of the Ministry.
The Unit ensures that follow-ups are done on each case reported to ensure that some action is being taken and Geer noted also that this is very important to track what happens to gain a better understanding of the effect of the services of the Ministry.
Geer said that follow-ups have shown that women are taking steps to help themselves after they have visited the Ministry. While these are small steps, she added that they are still important and significant.
“A thematic area for the National Policy on Domestic Violence speaks specifically to educating the public on domestic violence… I see the results almost right away. Women are empowered and they can stand up and tell you they know someone who is experiencing domestic violence… It is really important that we empower men, women and children so that they can know their rights and make reports,” Geer said.
The general perception is that women who suffer from this crime may be hesitant in reporting it thinking that their partners will change, however, she is urging them to report it to the relevant authorities since it will be on record and can be presented in a court of law.
She noted that the Unit also does follow-ups on reports that are made stating there is inaction with regard to a case or a law enforcement agency noting that these cases are listened to very carefully and persons are asked to supply evidence.
The Unit plans to continue with a series of awareness sessions going out into the regions particularly in Berbice and Essequibo.
The Ministry has two main arms that deal with this issue; the Unit and the Women’s Affairs Bureau. Persons are also encouraged to seek assistance from Help & Shelter that has been advocating for the rights of women.
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Lusignan massacre survivor benefits from donation
Georgetown, GINA, February 05, 2009
Millions from around the world had expressed concerns about one of the most brutal and heinous crimes committed against the residents of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara on January 26, 2008 where 11 persons were killed including children.
Many had expressed a willingness to help those affected by this cruel act. One such person is Natasha Toberan who donated $117,000 dollars to 11-year old Roberto Thomas, a survivor of the tragedy. He lost his father, brother and sister.
The money was raised by some concerned Guyanese students and other sympathetic students of the prestigious College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, through a variety of benefit programmes and donations.
The donors have requested that the money be placed into a trust fund to help finance Roberto’s education until university level.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds handing over the cheque to Roberto Thomas at the inter- faith vigil, Lusignan. Looking on is Personal Assistant to the President Pandit Shri Prakash Gossai
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds presented the cheque on behalf of the donors to Roberto at an inter-faith vigil held on January 26 at Lusignan to mark the death anniversary of the victims.
The ceremony which was organised by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) in collaboration with families of the slain victims featured bhajans, hymns and quaseedas (religious songs) and prayers from leaders of the three religious communities.
Prime Minister Hinds, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Bishop Juan Edghill addressed the large gathering.
Personal Assistant to the President, Pandit Shri Prakash Gossai spearheaded the contribution of the donation to the community, whilst Haji Shaheed Mohammed and Mulana Abu Bakr Haniff were main participants of the Islamic community. Pastor Kerwin Harry addressed members of the Christian community.
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Digicel comes on board with $1.5 M for Mashramani activities
Georgetown, GINA, February 05, 2009
The private sector continues to support cultural development and today Digicel Guyana Inc. donated $1.5M towards the Mashramani Calypso competition.
Head of Marketing, Donovan White presented the cheque to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony at a ceremony at the Ministry on Main Street.
“Digicel’s contribution to the Calypso competition is proof of the company’s commitment to the development of Guyana’s culture. Corporate Guyana plays a vital role in the development of our dynamic culture and we are always grateful when that is recognised. We assure everyone that the calypso competition will be magnificent this year. We have 20 contestants who are all anxious about this competition. We even have some newcomers this year whose performances will certainly blow you away,” Minister Anthony said.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony receiving cheque from Digicel’s Head of Marketing Donovan White
Calypso is an art form of social commentary and current events. Over the years it has evolved and grown into a very popular event on the Mashramani calendar. This year, HIV/AIDS will be featured.
White said that, “the company was pleased to partner with the Mash Secretariat to host the calypso segment. “While Calypso competitions are very exciting and humorous, they also provide a unique opportunity for social commentary. I must congratulate the Mash celebrations for keeping this tradition alive,” he said.
This follows the recent contribution by BANKS DIH where in excess of $2M was donated towards the masquerade celebrations for this year’s Mashramani festivities This company has been supporting the Ministry for a number of years.
Also contributing to this year’s Mashramani celebrations was the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) which donated $1.2M
Meanwhile Minister Anthony expressed optimism that the private sector will continue to support cultural celebrations throughout the year and in years to come.
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Investors show confidence in Guyana’s tourism
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Guyana’s tourism potential is being greatly recognised and promoted as private investors continuously invest in showcasing the country’s unlimited attractions; this was evident today at the launch of another tourism publication Guyana enjoy de mix (visitor’s guide 2008-2009) at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
This is the second publication in nearly two weeks, the first being the 2009 Explore Guyana magazine. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad said that this is a significant achievement since a few years ago there were limited publications done on the country showcasing its beauty.
The Minister stated that this is indeed an achievement to be proud of as with the present global financial recession that has been affecting tourism, investors in Guyana are promoting tourism showing that they have confidence in the industry as “this is a reflection that tourism is developing in Guyana otherwise they won’t have been sponsoring these guides.”
Minister Prashad said that tour operators from the Caribbean are now collaborating with local operators to create packages.
Publisher, Valerie Lowe displays the Guyana enjoy de mix (visitor’s guide 2008-2009) to the media while Minister Prashad looks on
The country’s tourism continues to be recognised internationally and recently it has been compared to leading eco-tourism destinations such as Peru and Belize. Minister Prashad noted that Guyana has an amazing product and “what we have to do now is get the necessary package to market our tourism.”
While the Guyana Tourism Authority has embarked upon this venture, the Minister posited that there is much more to be done.
He noted that with the launch of the Guyana enjoy de mix visitor’s guide it augurs well for tourism this year and as such there needs to be a continuous effort to market the country.
Valerie Lowe, the promoter and publisher of the guide thanked the sponsors for investing in the annual publication which is in its second year and noted that they believe that, “Guyana can be successful tourism destination, that if we keep working together and bring forward our ideas and contributing our part in whatever way we can we will have a positive impact on our tourism drive.”
She explained that, “Guyana enjoy de mix is one of those dreams that has been turned into a reality, a reality that will definitely have a positive impact on our country’s tourism drive because there is need for a visitor’s guide of this quality.”
The 112-page magazine has everything that a tourist would want and need. The magazine is sure to captivate tourists and locals as it depicts Guyana’s immense beauty with pictures of amazing destinations, fauna and flora, people and culture.
The Minister also stated that President Bharrat Jagdeo has been championing the cause for the protection of Guyana’s rainforest, noting that this is one of the country’s main tourism products and with the President’s initiative Guyanese can rest assured that the rainforest will be kept intact.
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DFID to provide support for climate change
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Regional Director of the Department for International Development (DFID) Sue Wardell met President Bharrat Jagdeo today at State House as part of the ongoing effort to diuscuss the United Kingdom’s support to priority areas in Guyana.
President Bharrat Jagdeo meeting DFID Regional Director Sue Wardell
The Director was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Guyana Fraser Wheeler, Heads of DFID in Guyana and in the Caribbean, Nicola Jenns and Elizabeth Carriere respectively
The security sector reform, climate change and the stimulation of growth for private sector investment were some of the areas discussed between President Jagdeo and the visiting team.
In an invited comment, the Director said the meeting with the President ended with agreement for support to some of the climate change initiatives.
DFID is a UK Government programme that facilitates support to developing countries with poverty reduction and elimination being the main objective.
The department’s support to the Caribbean region focused on international financing institutions and regional partners to improve economic and fiscal management, trade strengthening, crime and the reduction of HIV/AIDS.
President Bharrat Jagdeo in discussion with British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler and the DFID team
DFID has been supporting Guyana’s education sector since 1998 and has funded the construction new schools and refurbished others.
Following the 2005 floods, DFID was called to help in the reorientation of Government’s programme for infrastructure rehabilitation and livelihood recovery schemes.
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Compensation for forests can bring hundreds of millions of dollars for development projects – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Guyana’s forests may provide the Government with hundreds of millions of dollars to be spent on Guyana’s development, including hydropower generation, an increase in fiber optic penetration (internet connectivity) and the development of village economies.
This is a spin-off from President Bharrat Jagdeo’s position on avoided deforestation and the benefits that can accrue to Guyana which he first expounded last December.
During his press conference this afternoon at State House, hours after returning from his overseas trip to Davos, Switzerland, with sojourns in England and Norway, President Jagdeo said that Norway has set aside a huge fund of over US$2.5B to assist forest countries to preserve their forests.
And it is from this fund that the government hopes to access hundreds of millions of US dollars needed to hasten Guyana’s development objectives.
The funds will be used “to support activities that will be sustainable” and that “can create alternatives to people putting pressure on the rainforests”, the President explained.
President Jagdeo, during the unveiling of Guyana’s position on avoided deforestation, had put forward the following five areas in which funds garnered from this initiative would be spent: hydropower generation; increase in fiber optic penetration to generate more investments; roads into the intermediate savannahs to open them up to plantation-style agriculture; education and health care; and the transformation of the village economies
In addition to these five development objectives, the President also added that adaptations like “fixing our sea defences and the Conservancy will require large sums of funding”, implying that the funds sourced from this initiative can also be used here.
The joint statement on climate and forest issues, which was issued after the President’s meeting with the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, stated that “Norway is prepared to provide performance-based, substantial and sustained compensation for the progress Guyana makes in limiting emissions from deforestation at low levels and further decreasing forest degradation”.
President Jagdeo said, “It represents an opportunity for us having a model that will not only serve our purpose well, that is to preserve the forest, and yet have large sums of money to create a new path towards prosperity and addressing the development needs of Guyana. But this could also become an important model for other countries and for the negotiations which will take place over the rest of this year leading up to Copenhagen.”
Consultation on Mechanism
Currently, documents are being prepared (using knowledge garnered from earlier consultations and the engagements in Norway) which will be presented at further multi-stakeholder consultations to be held within the next two months. These consultations will discuss the way forward and the mechanism for the operation of this initiative will be established.
And with the establishment of the mechanism, the much needed capital inflows that are required to power Guyana’s development could soon become available.
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President among leaders seeking exit from global financial crisis with minimum consequences
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo today at a press conference at his State House residence reported to the media about his recent overseas visits. The President who participated in several panel discussions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland also visited Norway where he met with the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and London where he met with Britain’s Prince Charles.
The Head of Stated reported that during these visits he participated in discussions pertaining to the global financial crisis and how countries can exit with the minimum of consequences for the people of the world and climate change, which are two areas of significance to Guyana.
Alluding to the global financial crisis President Jagdeo said that unemployment has soared in many of the developed countries and this has resulted in the development of “a healthy dose of xenophobia in the developed world. Many of the countries are seemingly going down the path of protectionism although they used to lecture the world about open trade and free trade, when they are faced with problems they want to shut the door to multilateral trade and also to foreign workers.”
Much focus was placed on these issues and many of the economists agreed that though the situation is not good it will become progressively worse before it becomes better. He said the recession may be extremely deep and may even go into depression but very few participants were willing to predict the extent of the recession.
The Guyanese Leader on a panel discussing the financial crisis in Davos, Switzerland said that to assess the depth of the crisis an assessment is necessary. He explained that, “we have to have an assessment. Unless people know in the world how much further we can fall, there is not going to be a re-establishment of confidence. So you need a careful analysis of that including intrusive observation, examination of the accounts of some of these companies.”
Though it was agreed in principle that a collective effort is needed around the world and national stimulus packages combined with monetary policy to loosen up the liquidity in the system so as to get out of the crisis, the President related that people were unwilling to speculate as to how soon these measures, if properly implemented, and if implemented at scale, will change the situation from one of recession.
President Jagdeo termed this a healthy debate and highlighted that one of the benefits of Davos was the many policy makers who shared experiences and suggestions about what is required to deal with the global crisis.
At the panel discussion which was moderated by Nik Gowing, Main Presenter, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World News and included among others Jacob Frenkel, Vice-Chairman, American International Group (AIG), USA, Laura Tyson, Professor of Business Administration and Economics, University of California, Berkeley, USA, and Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg, the President encouraged people to look to the future while stating that coordinated action is needed on the part of many countries in the world to overcome the impact of the crisis and to bolster global demand which hopefully will boost production.
Addressing the issue of climate change President Jagdeo said that while many leaders of the world are excessively focused on the domestic issue of job creation and getting their economies going, because of the severe impact of the crisis, he participated in high-level closed doors sessions where the consensus was that forestry and the inclusion of the forestry sector in the Copenhagen agreement was vital for the world to achieve the emission targets that are sustainable.
At a panel discussion titled ‘Climate Justice, basis of a new global solidarity?’ which included former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Howard Dean from the Democratic Party it was highlighted that the forestry sector is critical as an abatement solution to climate change while at another meeting with Latin American leaders from Mexico and Colombia forestry again emerged as a critical contribution of Latin America to global sustainability.
The Head of State at the panel discussion emphasized that the money to address climate change can be found as he pointed to the global financial crisis which will cost the world some eight trillion dollars while only a fraction of that is needed to avert climate change. “We spent close to 7% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on oil supply each year; if the price of oil is $150 per barrel. At $60 per barrel, you will spend 2.7 percent of global GDP. All that is needed to address climate change from a capital expenditure and financing flows is less than one percent of global GDP, less than what we spend for buying oil in a single year…eight billion was spent to save institutions because of the systemic impact and we lose sight of the bigger challenge,” he remarked.
With regards to his meetings in London, President Jagdeo disclosed that he is part of a group of some of the world’s top leaders including Nobel Prize winners who over the last year have been trying to focus attention on the whole issue of climate change. He also co-chaired a group with the Vice Chairman of a Deutsch Bank on carbon financing while a forestry group derived a set of recommendations and support that could now be shared with many of the world’s leaders which hopefully would be helpful in the process leading up to Copenhagen.
He said the information gathered and the analysis done could provide a fact base on which to analyse some of the complex issues not just surrounding forestry but technology as an abatement solution. The need for adaptation and measures to offset this cost (which could be over $100B both of financing and capital expenditure) was also discussed.
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Boat operators to comply with new safety regulation
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Operators of passenger boats operating in the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers have until March 31 to comply with the new safety regulation instituted by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, and a team of officials recently visited the Georgetown and Vreed-en-Hoop Ferry Stellings, to observe the implementation of the new regulation.
The regulation requires that all passenger boats carry a canopy and their sides protected. This prevents passengers from being exposed to the weather while securing them in the vessels.
Previously, regulations were instituted which made it compulsory for all passengers to be provided with a life jacket while in the boats and all operators to be licensed by MARAD to do so. Additionally vessels have to be certified regularly by MARAD and must meet the safety requirements of the Department.
Boat owner and operator Bisham Prasaud, who has already installed the canopy and sides to his vessel, in an invited comment said that he welcomes the new measure as it protects the passengers and the operators from the weather. Further, he explained, that the safety jackets last longer while the vessels would require less maintenance as it is also exposed to the elements.
Passengers disembarking one of the boats with canopy installed
Additionally, the Boat Operators Association has recommended other measures to improve the safety of the vessels. These include redesigning the safety flotation mechanism of the boats and the installation of a ‘drop stern’ to prevent the boat from sinking if an accident occurs.
Government has continually been upgrading the safety of the small passenger boats to reduce the risk of accidents and loss of life if accidents do occur. Licensing and certification of vessels and operators and the requirement that every passenger wears a life jacket are some of the measures already in place to ensure passenger safety.
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Money Laundering Bill will address ambiguities – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo today told the media that he is hopeful that the new Money Laundering Prevention (Amendment) Act, which is before a Parliamentary Select Committee since being tabled in 2007, will be passed soon. He was at the time updating the media on the outcome of his recent trip overseas.
The President said that he has asked Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, to expedite the discussions at the Parliamentary Select Committee to have the Bill passed, since, he said, it addressed a number of loopholes that were evident in the previous Act.
President Jagdeo explained that ambiguities existed in the previous Act especially with the provision for seizure of assets. “As we move forward, as the sector becomes more sophisticated, you need to constantly evolve a national legislation,” he said.
The President expressed optimism that the new act would address the identified ambiguities because of the straightforwardness of Guyana’s financial market. “We don’t have a very complex market for financial products so that’s a blessing. People can easily understand it,” he said.
The new legislation is expected to incorporate the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering, along with an additional nine recommendations relating to terrorist financing. It is also expected to provide for oversight of export industries, the insurance industry, real estate and alternative remittance systems.
The Act establishes the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the offices of the Attorney General, and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) as the authorities responsible for investigating financial crime.
The FIU along with other external agencies was tasked with producing draft legislation to replace the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act of 2002.
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Global financial stability needed to respond to crisis
- President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Although the developing world is gradually experiencing the severe impacts of the global financial crisis, Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo expressed confidence in the local financial sector but called for global financial stability.
During at press conference today at State House, the Head of State said his confidence was justified, following the intrusive inspections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which made a comprehensive assessment of the country’s financial sector.
He credited this success to the liberalisation of the financial sector through the toughening of the Financial Institutions and Bank of Guyana acts which he considers a tightening of the regulations.
Despite the good financial policy mechanisms at the national level, the Head of State is arguing for global financial stability since a lack of this will affect countries with stern financial policies.
“Global financial instability affects those who practice good policies, as well as those who practice bad policies so a country may do all the wonderful things at home, but because of something called contagion they suffer the consequences of the crisis like the developing world. This time around many of them didn’t have the bad mortgage instrument, they were not so leveraged as the institutions in the north but when these institutions had problems they saw a major outflow especially the emerging markets that have close link to the world’s capital markets,” President Jagdeo said.
He believes that national regulatory structures as strong as they may be are incapable of being the solution for global financial stability.
“You do need global institutions regardless of how national regulatory standards are and we are still open to this. As I said we are not perfect, we are examining the situation,” President Jagdeo said.
Although a secure financial sector exists, the Head of State said Guyana will still feel the impact in certain important sectors.
He alluded to the shut down in several aluminum companies around the world which will directly impact the local bauxite industry which is a major exporter.
The financial crisis had resulted in many developed countries losing market capital, collapse in stock exchanges and an outflow in more than half of their value in many of the developing countries.
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Air Traffic Controllers back on job- following ultimatum by President
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri resumed duty this afternoon following the intervention of President Bharrat Jagdeo on his return from Europe.
Responding to a question posed by the media at a press conference today the President said that he met with a representative of the workers on his arrival at the airport and he indicated to him that if they (the workers) did not resume duty by 14.00h today the termination would stand. He said that he had since been informed that they were all back on the job.
President Jagdeo reiterated that the Government has been investing huge sums in the Agency to upgrade the work environment and equipment at the tower. He shared the view that the ATCs were being paid above the traditional public servants and therefore, their strike action was unwarranted.
Expressing confidence in Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn, the President said, “Let me make it clear that Minster Robeson Benn is a very valuable member of my Cabinet and I think that he works very hard and I’m not sure that you understand the difficulties that we’ve had in the sector.”
Air Traffic Controllers walked of the job following a refusal by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to pay a five percent increase that was granted to employees in the traditional public service from January 1, this year.
GCAA had issued a February 3 ultimatum for workers to return to the job or be considered that they voluntarily separated from the agency. When the employees failed to report for duty, letters acknowledging the voluntary termination of their services were issued.
The GCAA has said that it lacks the ability to meet and maintain the demands of the workers. The semi-autonomous agency is required to contribute $120M to a $780M recapitalization plan to upgrade its facilities, as was requested by technical staff in the past. The Government of Guyana is providing the additional $660M funding.
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Strategy for cassava industry to be implemented
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2009
Cassava, a vital staple for over 500 million people thrives on poor soils. In Guyana, it is grown mostly in rural areas and provides food and income to these communities.
In recognition of the importance of this crop, the Ministry of Agriculture through its agency; the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) hosted a workshop today aimed at implementing a strategy for cassava enterprises and industry development.
Participants at the workshop included cassava farmers from hinterland areas, representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and International Trade Centre (ITC).
NARI’s Director, Dr. Oudho Homenauth said work has already commenced on the project and tomorrow a team from the Ministry of Agriculture would be visiting Tapacuma, Region Two and on Saturday, Region Nine.
Guyana’s Ambassador to Brussels, Patrick Ignatius Gomes who attended the workshop, stated that the initiative is based on an agriculture commodities programme that was launched in April last year in Jamaica. He noted that in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries there was the largest number of least developed countries in the world and as a result rural development was fundamental.
Gomes remarked that the programme would ensure an enhanced quality of life, and food availability and security. In Rome, he said, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud had pointed to Guyana and the Caribbean as models for nations wishing to diversify their commodities.
FAO Economist, Dr. Piero Conforti remarked that the objectives of the project are to improve income, livelihood and reduce income vulnerability. He added that the project would aid small farmers in the commodity chain.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud officially opening the workshop
Minister Persaud who officially opened the workshop stated that there was a need for a coordinated and deliberate strategy in the cassava industry since best use needed to be made of the opportunities.
He noted that the workshop was important since on a national scale his ministry was embarking on a much focused agricultural diversification strategy since it is now one of the centre pieces of the national development strategy.
The sector contributes approximately 36 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for direct economic benefits to one third of the population.
Minister Persaud noted that cassava as a crop has not been able to move beyond cassava bread or casareep. The reason, he said, for this is because there has not been concerted and focused attention on the possibilities and potential of this crop.
The Agriculture Minister said that the workshop would be looking at strategies and initiatives to achieve some progress and to help farmers in understanding the crop. He said support by international agencies will aid the industry in this direction as well as in garnering the resources to promote and move forward the industry.
CIAT representative, Antonio Lopes Montes also explained the importance of cassava, cassava production, cassava as a food, feed and for other options such as a bio-fuel. He also encouraged farmers to get involved in semi-mechanization since it would allow for better yield.
Director, North West Organics, Annette Arjoon remarked that she was very pleased to be invited by NARI and the Ministry of Agriculture in this very important workshop and for their support over the years. She said that she was excited to work with these agencies in developing some potential products using cassava. The Director noted that because she worked with indigenous women in remote communities she could not go large scale right away but was optimistic of a North West cassava project.
Earlier in the week, the Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Development (READ) project was launched which would also aid rural communities.
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