Approximately 700 acres of the shuttered Wales Sugar Estate has been leased to the newly formed Amazonia Expert Services Limited (AESL) which has expressed the intention to enter the coconut industry.
Former Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Dr. Arlington Chesney, who is a principal in AESL explained to reporters last evening that the company which is just about six weeks old intends to process coconut water and dried and grated coconut for a market in the Dominican Republic.
“We have been given a lease for the land and we are in the process of getting a lease for the processing facility,” he noted, explaining that the current lease which is for 20 years in the first instance carries an option for renewal.
Chesney further explained that contracts for the supply of coconut coir to the agricultural sector in southern United States have already been secured while greenhouses food production for oil drilling and exploration rigs that would include a “spin-off” relationship with local farmers is planned for the long term.
“Our intention is that with time we will have people growing food specifically for the rig…it is a floating all-inclusive hotel,” Chesney said.
This long-term project appears to be the lynchpin between AESL and Ghanaian-owned Unicon Western Holdings which have signed a joint venture agreement and launched Unicon Guyana Incorporated (UGI) as the latest service provider for the oil and gas sector.
UGI which was launched under the theme, partnership for people centred petroleum development, will from the first quarter of the New Year “recruit, train and place staff within the various oil companies.”
Chief Operations Officer Mark Ebbah told those gathered at the Herdmanston Lodge last evening that UGI will leverage its wealth of experience and competencies to support major oil companies operating out of Guyana.
The Ghanaian Company has according to its directors provided services to Ghana’s shore-based and offshore sectors as well as provided major support service to Stenna Drilling, one of the world’s foremost independent drilling contractors.
A multi-faceted conglomerate with subsidiaries engaged in Oil and Gas Labour Supply, transport and logistics, engineering and hospitality among others, Unicon Western Holdings has been welcomed by government.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings speaking on behalf of Minister of State, Dawn Hastings- Williams said that the Government is pleased that the company has taken on the business of equipping interested persons with the technical skills and training they need to work and earn in the oil and gas sector.
“UGI specialises in offering training in technical skills, which can create job opportunities. By providing these skills, we are directly increasing the earning potential for Guyanese and we welcome this level of participation in building our economy and our people. Skills development has been and remains a priority for this Government. We are pleased to see UGI aligning its work with our vision,” she said.
Dr. Patrick Antoine, Director of UGI, who chaired the launch repeatedly referred to the venture as the operationalization of the memorandum of understanding signed by Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo and President David Granger in June of this year.
The MoU was expected to pave the way for increased cooperation, collaboration, trade and visa-free travel between the two countries.
At the time of the signing Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon disclosed that the African country is looking to expand its trade and business with Guyana, particularly in the areas of rum, wood/timber and support for oil and gas services. An agreement to this effect was also signed.
