Dear Editor,
The cost to rent an 8X8 booth in the Annex building at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia is $60,000 from the tentative dates September 24th to September 29th. Throw in costs of porter, staff, driver, business cards and brochure printing and other incidentals, out-of-pocket investment to have a booth will cost approximately $100,000. Whilst some will able to showcase their skills, talents and creative works, others with such talent will be unable to participate due to the high cost of entry.
Skilled women often go invisible in society partly due to the high cost of exposure. For example many elderly women, stay-at-home moms/wives, teenage girls and career driven women who can bake, design flower baskets, create websites and dance professionally among other things are not usually able to showcase these home-grown abilities. GuyExpo 2009 would have been the platform for this talented class to garner markets but unfortunately these cottage industries/bottom house abilities do not regularly generate high enough revenue to cover the cost of participation.
The theme of GuyExpo 2009 is ‘Promoting business in a Low Carbon Environment’ and according to the Low Carbon Development Strategy, “Guyana must: Nurture investment in high-potential low-carbon sectors, such as fruits and vegetables, aquaculture, and sustainable forestry and wood processing.” (Transforming Guyana’s Economy While Combating Climate Change, June 2009, Office of the President, Republic of Guyana, http://www.lcds.gov.gy/ images/stories/Documents/LCDS.pdf). Fruit and vegetable farmers such as local farmers in Canals Number One and Two, West Bank Demerara that produce a consistent weekly supply of pine, watermelon, coconuts and other cash crops that need export exposure cannot afford to pay the high cost of participation. Do remember that these are home-grown farmers that put that invisible seal “Made in Guyana” on the vendor’s shelves. Yet, I highly doubt that we will see these fellow men displaying their merchandise at GuyExpo 2009. And to think, it is even organic produce that has a niche foreign demand over conventional produce in the same class!
Several years ago, a few farmers through support from the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana, started to rear fish inland with the intention of supplying the domestic market and hence foreign markets. These farmers specialize in red tilapia, nile tilapia and in some cases freshwater pacu. Whilst their practice is certainly in line with the low carbon development strategy, and would complement the success of GuyExpo 2009, they are hardly likely to take part due to the high cost of participation.
As such traditional wild-caught red snapper and hassar will continue to be the staple with little competition from inland captive bred fish. Local fish farmers need the exposure. Please officials reduce the cost of the booth rental for this class of commerce.
All categories of business above are in their infancy and do not generate revenue to cover participation costs.
Finally, I am an Ornamental fish breeder and producer (http://www. iaquafish.net). That is, I breed and produce non-native aquarium fishes in a captive bred facility here in Guyana. Whilst my contribution to GDP is minimal along with the other industries described above we still do have novel skills and talents to offer to Guyana and the international arena. Some may classify us as having an ongoing hobby that makes money on the side but the truth is these small backyard projects in the past gave rise to the superb furniture producers and textile factories of today here in Guyana and unless novel non-traditional cottage industries get domestic and export market exposure, the road to building an intermediate industry will be a daunting uphill task. The essence of GuyExpo is to put that “Made in Guyana” stamp, among other things in the world’s palms. I advocate that the high booth rental be lowered to accommodate cottage industries with job creation and export potential.
Yours faithfully,
Ryan Panday
Ornamental Fish Breeder
http://www.iaquafish.net
