Government continues to pursue large-scale agriculture in the Rupununi, President Bharrat Jagdeo says.
Some concern had been raised about this by some conservationists, particularly as it relates to the large-scale use of chemicals and the possibility of these leaking into the environment and damaging the eco-system. Quizzed on this at a press conference at the Office of the President on Friday, Jagdeo said that he had made it clear that agriculture will be done in the savannahs.
He noted that this is a part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy that the country is committed to and went through the consultation process. The president stated that he had heard about some of the comments made by persons, and pointed out that he met twice with toshaos. He said that one meeting in Lethem with the Chamber of Commerce there and also toshaos was to speak specifically about large-scale investments in the Rupununi.
He asserted that the Rupununi is 120 times the size of Barbados and of this “one or two Barbadoses” is going to be used. He said that the activities are not going to be on indigenous people’s lands and there is also consideration for sensitive wetlands so that whatever is done, careful attention is going to be paid to eco-system preservation. “But it’s such a large area that you can do that easily,” Jagdeo asserted.
He further stated that as it relates to chemicals, the nearest village to where the investments are contemplated is about 15 miles away. The president pointed out that on the coast, chemicals are used in the rice and sugar industry and settlements are in the cultivation areas.
Further, he said, there is heavy rainfall here which could cause the chemicals to go “everywhere” and there is still a vibrant agriculture industry. “So there has to be a balance between this conservation and the need for development,” he declared.
Further, Jagdeo said, “I did not hear a single comment as opposing it in the Rupununi, when I was there on the consultation.” This newspaper had earlier reported that Guyana had received proposals from Brazilian investors for large-scale rice farming in the Rupununi and Jagdeo said that proposals have also been received from local groups. He emphasised that careful attention will be paid to investments in the area.