| – launches first magazine In honour of its Fiftieth Anniversary, the Guyana School of Agriculture, (GSA) launched its first magazine, under the theme “proud of our past preparing for our future. “The publication features the contribution of the institution, in providing quality agricultural education over the past fifty years.The inaugural magazine launch took place at the International Conference at Liliendaal, yesterday in the presence several local and regional agricultural dignitaries.From right: Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, hands over copies of the magazine to Dean of the faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science at Mc Gill University, Dr Chandra Madramootoo, and Public Works and Transport Minister, Robeson Benn.While Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy noted GSA has earned the right to celebrate its accomplishments, he urged the gathering of students to nurture the vast capacity for a better future in Agriculture.“The Guyana School of Agriculture is a concrete example of a success story, it has produced leaders in the Agricultural sector in the Caribbean and various parts of the world, when GSA was established in 1963, the aim of the institution was to assist in changing the economic status of the country. Today, Guyana has risen to a middle income country.”The Minister urged students and members of the institution to assist in transforming the sector from standard livelihood to massive opportunities for entrepreneurship.“Guyana must not only be known as the breadbasket of the Caribbean, We are working to create an enterprise which will generate wealth and industrialise agriculture through innovative teaching.”Ramsammy challenged the students to be increasingly creative in fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship.“That’s the new brand of agriculturalist that we are creating at GSA, those that will be able to generate wealth…” the Minister added, as he announced that as an extra incentive it would mandatory that each student become a holder of driver’s licence before he/she graduates from GSA.The Minister also highlighted the importance of the young people and women in Agriculture as he made special mention of the first female principal of GSA, Ms Lynette Cunha, as one of the leading women in the sector.Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Brian Greenidge, said that the school currently has courses in business as well Agriculture. He said that the GSA magazine is likely to be an annual publication.“We are equipping the students with what is needed to create employment, not to look for jobs after they graduate. We are also collaborating with the University of Guyana to ensure that the students who graduate with a diploma from GSA will only spend two years instead four at the University to obtain their degrees.”Public Works and Transport Minister,Jerseys NFL China, Robeson Benn, pointed out that Agricultural development is directly related to the improvement of transportation and infrastructural techniques. Minister Benn is the son of former Minister of Agriculture, Brindley Benn, under whose authority, GSA was established.“Agriculture is critical to food security in Guyana and the Caribbean. Guyana is one of the only countries in the Region with a net food production.”Benn said that efforts are being made locally to improve the transportation system to better facilitate the growth of the Agriculture sector.He explained that part of the government’s plan to bring about massive infrastructural upgrade in this regard, is by the establishment of the Deep Water Harbour in Berbice and expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).“We are working with the Maritime Administration Department to realise the Deep Water Harbour in Berbice which will be linked to a Linden/Lethem road catering for transport of goods to and from Northern Brazil…. The CJIA expansion project will facilitate the efficient overnight transport of locally produced fruits and foods to overseas markets.”Benn also noted the significance of the Mangrove Restoration Project to reducing the cost of sea defence.In brief comments, Dr Chandra Madramootoo, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science at Mc Gill University in Canada, noted that his father crafted the first curriculum of GSAHe is son of the institution’s first head, Harry Madramootoo.Dr Madramootoo encouraged the students to continue to add to the development of agriculture and vowed to assist in creating scholarships for students, in honour of his father’s memory.Former St Lucian Minister of Agriculture and past student of GSA, Ignatius Jean, noted the humble beginnings of the institution and commended Government for its vision in setting it up.Mr. Jean is currently a representative of the Inter American Institute of Cooperation for Agriculture.The Guyana School of Agriculture currently facilitates 217 students, five of which are from St Vincent. The institution has a main office located at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, with additional Campuses in Essequibo. |
