Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond yesterday recommissioned the Belvedere Business Incubator Centre following an investment by the government of over $100m in its bid to develop agro-processing in Region Six.
Walrond said that the previous administration in February 2020 had commissioned the centre without having the necessary equipment and personnel in place to have it fully operationalized. She stated, “There was a purported launching which was nothing more than a farce, an attempt to fool Berbicians and the nation… There was no equipment, no furniture, no staff, and no budget. There was nothing here but an empty building.”
As such, she said that during her first budget speech, she gave an undertaken that the facility would be operationalized within the first term of the present government.
“Today, I am happy to announce that this centre is ready for operations. The various pods have been outfitted with high-quality agro-processing machinery constituting production lines for coconut oil, teas, indigenous flours and packaged fruit products”, she said.
According to the Minister, the equipment in the facility includes coconut de-shelling and grinding machines, teabag packaging equipment, filling machines, and a root tuber peeler for the washing and peeling ground provisions.
“The production line for indigenous flours includes a dehydrator and mill, which can also be used for the production of dried seasonings. All-told, the investment in this facility alone to date exceeds 100m dollars and is a testament to our commitment to the agro-processing sector”, she stressed.
She then noted that the ministry through the Small Business Bureau “will continue to examine ways to expand the operations here”, as according to her a warehouse facility will soon be added to the location along with the employment of more staff so as “to facilitate the realization of our vision for this region.”
Walrond stressed to the gathering yesterday that the present government is working hard to create the environment for businesses to flourish.
She said that based on their earlier interactions with agro-processors in the region, “we learned that many of you were operating below capacity due to lack of adequate production facilities. Access to this incubator is part of our solution, and we are told that it will, in some cases, result in a more than 100% increase in production.”
Walrond also said that government chose to invest in the facility because it understands the importance of the private sector to any economy.
“Our role is to provide the environment for growth and expansion, but it is the private sector that ultimately delivers that growth so our investment in this facility is intended to serve as a catalyst for business development in this region leading to expansion of production and creation of employment opportunities for our people”, she said.
Walrond added that presently the Guyana National Bureau of Standards is hosting a National Dialogue Forum on the National Quality Infrastructure and the Agro-Processing Industry.
“That forum aims to develop an action plan for the implementation of quality infrastructure to support the agro-processing industry in meeting the requirements of local and overseas markets. We see tremendous potential in our farming, agro-processing, and manufacturing sectors and this administration will continue to invest in the supporting infrastructure that will place you at a more competitive level”, she stated.
She encouraged Berbicians to fully utilize the centre “and to care for the equipment in it. This is an investment by this administration in the people of Berbice and we would love to see residents maximizing its use and securing the benefits.”
Walrond also stressed that the government ensured the Regional Help Desk for the Small Business Bureau remained functional in the region, with an additional help desk established this year also.
Further, hundreds of Berbicians continue to benefit from training through the Small Business Bureau annually, and within the last two years over 100 small businesses have received Small Business grants through the Bureau.
