According to a newspaper report last December, Government announced its willingness to import chicken from Guyana and Belize especially given the high price of chicken being offered to consumers by local poultry farmers.

Subsequently Animal Health Unit experts from the Agriculture Ministry visited both DIDCO and Bounty Farm Limited in January and a final inspection was due to take place by the beginning of this month. Agriculture Minister Jarrette Narine said the team was expected in Guyana during the first week of March but just before the visit, he was informed by the Guyanese Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud that DIDCO’s farm had been damaged by fire.

Narine said that he could not give anymore details of the incident at the time. He said since the incident, he has been in constant contact with his Guyanese colleague.

“We have decided to put off the visit until the end of April when we may be able to finalise the agreement,” he said.

He said that Government has also approached Mexico and Columbia expressing interest in importing agricultural produce and poultry in particular.

Source: Newsday