Dear Editor,
I share completely the sentiments expressed in Tuesday July 12, 2022 Stabroek News Editorial dealing with this vital question of Food Security. The President’s address to the Suriname Conference is one that deserves the nation’s approbation. Having said that, I rely on this piece of wisdom, it takes “two to tango” or perhaps nearer to Guyanese folklore “Hand wash hand make hand come clean.”
My generation lived through the stresses of World War II, when due to the blockade of German U-boats in our areas the importation of foreign food to Guyana and West Indian countries were suspended and the British Governor initiated what we knew as the ‘grow more food campaign’. Speaking with the youngsters and teenagers of today I get the impression my generation was fitter and stronger than those of today. Perhaps because we were weaned entirely eating locally produced grains, ground provisions, vegetables, fruits and meat including what was looked down upon at one time huri, patwa, fine shrimps, cacabelle, etc., all highly nutritious and exportable. At Queen’s College, led by good British ex-army officers, the likes of Captain Harold Knobbs and Captain Kenneth Maudsley, we put on skits and plays to persuade people to eat what we produced and I recall one play where the late Ron Savory performed the role as a skin-fish.
The idea then was to persuade Guyanese, particularly the Guyanese Afro community, that there is nothing wrong nor sacrilegious about skin fish, and in some areas, pork. Before I land myself in hot water, Guyanese everywhere must be able to maintain their beliefs and their choices of certain foods, based on their beliefs and holy books they find objectionable and no one should attempt to change this fundamental right. However, beyond this again at the risk of getting into hot water, if the Guyana Government, present and immediate past possess courage, follow the template left by Forbes Burnham, since after Independence, Feed, Clothe and House this nation, Guyana and the Caribbean can more than satisfy Guyana and the Region before 2025.
Feed, Clothe and House – FCH was not by accident or the capriciousness of its architects. The order was deliberate. It was understood that we could achieve the objective of feeding the nation long before clothing and housing the nation. For example, a team was assembled headed by Professor Trotz to experiment with rice and corn to produce a flour with similar properties to wheat flour, which we still use to make our bread, cakes and roti. We dried our fruits to make our black cake etc. so that there was no need to import raisins, currants and cherries to make our traditional black cake. When our friends in the House of Israel began vending Plantain Chips, many of us scoffed and jeered.
President Ali and the Government can make history on the question of Food Security but the Minister in charge of food production must be a person of vision. The good thing is we have in Guyana today, young and old persons, if given the opportunity, who can lead the effort to secure self-sufficiency of food in Guyana and the Region by 2025. Let us travel along the West Coast Berbice and the banks of our rivers and envisage acres and acres of eschalot, so we don’t have to import onions. Let us likewise traverse the Pomeroon and the North West and see acres and acres of avocados, not being spoiled on the ground, but being packed for the marketplace and export. The Government must make a reality of a farm to market road programme.
These days there is money galore and high quality farm to market roads can be constructed by Contractors who produce high quality work and not stymied, by having to give a small piece to obtain the Contract. The Food & Drug Analyst Department must ensure that foods and drugs produced locally are of a high standard. Mr. President, the big question is do you and your Ministerial colleagues possess the magnanimity to appoint persons who are experienced and committed patriots and not appointed because of their party loyalty and will there be genuine consultations with all of the people’s representatives, in particular the Opposition Leader and the representatives of civil society and our religious organizations?
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green