Tourism, agriculture to drive Paramakatoi’s new economy – Pres Ali

Taking keen note of Paramakatoi’s potential, President Dr Irfaan Ali has highlighted new opportunities in agriculture and commerce, particularly the cultivation of high-value crops such as carrots and onions, supported by improved road and air connectivity.

The Head of State said the recent transport infrastructure, including the road linking Kato to Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and the upgraded airstrip, now allows for deeper integration between Regions Eight and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and opens the door for large-scale agricultural investment.

“Now that we have the interconnectivity among our road network, we can travel from Kato to Paramakatoi, an important road link. The potential of growing carrots and onions in Paramakatoi is real,” President Ali stated.

He explained that modern preservation technology will be key to commercialisation. According to the President, the introduction of solar freezers and containerised solar cold storage will enable farmers to add value to produce within the community, while reducing the high cost of moving goods from the hinterland.

“We must now move to a commercial project between Kato and Paramakatoi. The potential is even there for potatoes. With the technology of solar freezers and containerised solar cold storage, we can have value creation on this product right here,” Ali stated.

Only on Monday, it was reported that the President further directed that technical planning must follow the new infrastructure. He said that within the next three months the Agriculture Ministry is required to deploy specialists to craft a comprehensive plan to commercialise these crops and support farmers in a structured way.

“The infrastructure we are building must lead to economic expansion and the creation of new opportunities. The Ministry of Agriculture must come with a full-fledged plan to support high-value crop production in this region,” he said.

Local tourism advocate

Tourism development was also addressed as part of the diversification agenda. The Head of State announced that Luana Augustus, a locally trained tourism advocate, will be appointed Regional Tourism Coordinator to develop, market and organise tourism hubs across Region Eight with backing from the Guyana Development Bank.

“I have watched a young lady in this region who is trained in tourism and has advocated for tourism—Luana Augustus. This individual will be the tourism coordinator of this region,” the President revealed. He added that the tourism build-out forms part of Guyana’s orange economy strategy and will be supported through investment in both agro-business and tourism ventures.

“We are going to support—through the Guyana Development Bank, investment in agro-businesses and tourism here in this region,” Ali noted.

The President maintained that development in Paramakatoi must translate into tangible benefits for residents’ pockets and livelihoods, ensuring that the hinterland becomes an active commercial contributor rather than a passive recipient of projects.