An overseas-based Guyanese investor has moved to resuscitate the fish complex and fuel farm at Morawhanna, in Region One, rekindling hope in the riverain community’s fortunes.
Morawhanna, an official port of entry along the Barima River in the Mabaruma Sub-Region, has been facing difficult times after a mass migration of its residents due to the erosion of the landscape by the river. Another blow to the community was the decision by the state-owned Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) to close its facility there, over unfair competition from smugglers who ply their trade across the border to Venezuela.
However, overseas-based Guyanese Ramzan Ali has resuscitated the community’s fuel facility, purchasing fuel from a readily available supplier and retailing it to the region. He has also been supplying the area with electricity over the past several weeks.
Ali’s company, which operates under the umbrella of Miramar Investments, has already started manufacturing ice for cold storage while the fishing community in the vicinity has been capitalising on the market being made available by the facility. Previously, fishermen, from as far as the Essequibo Coast had frequented the area to make use of the ice making facility there.
According to Region One Chairman Paul Pierre, the move is a welcome investment for the people of Morawhanna and the region. He said that several months ago, advertisements were published in the newspapers for the resuscitation of the fish complex as well as the oil facility at Morawhanna and Ali’s company won the bid to develop the area.
While Pierre could not say offhand how much is being invested by the businessman, he noted that there are plans for investments in several areas.
“I think there are several forms of investments, which the company wants to focus on, and one they already started to work on is fishing,” he said.
He noted that the company has been purchasing fish from the local fishermen and reselling to other parts of the country. He said that the company plans to extend to overseas markets too.
Among Ali’s company’s long term plans, Pierre added, is investing in the region’s agricultural sector by purchasing produce from local farmers. There are also plans for the establishment of a packaging facility in the community.
In addition, Miramar Investments is currently engaging the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Mabaruma on renovation to the 6-mile Barima End roadway, linking the region’s administrative capital to Morawhanna.
In the late 1990s, the community was a hub of economic activities and the population found many business opportunities. During a recent visit to the area by this newspaper, residents related that the area appeared forgotten but a few of them were optimistic that the community will once again be the hub of development in the region.
