Delivering the feature address at the Guyana Manufacturers Association (GMA)’s Annual Awards and Dinner at Le Meridien Pegasus, Gordon paid a stirring tribute to Guyanese businessmen/women, taking note of the “extremely difficult” environment in which they operate.

“You must continue to hope. Difficult as it may be, you must dream and plan for your country in the same way you plan for your businesses.

“I know it is extremely difficult to operate a business in an environment where economic conditions continue to slide,” he noted. He pointed to shortage of credit, low commodity prices, the dismal performance of the bauxite industry, crisis in the rice industry and the decline in the inflow of foreign investment.

“When this is all compounded by fear for your safety and that of your families’, then it is not surprising that a number of business people have closed down and migrated.

A section of the gathering at the function at Le Meridien Pegasus on Friday evening.

“You have stayed and I suspect in some cases have grown stronger. This can only happen when we stay and confront and overcome adversity.

“Let me salute you, the business heroes of the Caribbean. From whatever the other considerations, courage and love of country has had to be part of the equation which ha sled to your stay,” Mr. Gordon noted.

He added: “However crushing the difficulties with which we have to contend within our environment, however far removed we think we are from the domestic transformation which is taking place within the developed world, the solutions we seek in our country must all take the global reality into account. We live in a continuing process of change which is the only constant in an exploding universe.”

Noting how the march of the global economy, with all its imperfections and short-term disadvantages to developing countries is as inevitable as the tide, he acknowledged that Guyana, like every other country, has the will and desire to survive.

“Global economy is based on information, and intellectual capital will drive future growths. It is open - virtually all information is, or will shortly be available to anyone, and success will depend on one’s ability to use it,” he advised.

He noted that an estimated US$55 Trillion in stocks are traded throughout the world each day, whether television entertainment, a commodity or otherwise. This is all being driven by the microchip which has revolutionised the world. High Tech Industries account for more than 30 per cent of the growth in the US today and this is so in spite of its more recent setback. It is estimated that such industries have created some 400 000 jobs.

This information was deemed necessary to emphasise the enormity of the change that is taking place and the importance of confronting the issue.

"Will the Caribbean remain a spectator, or will we do what is necessary to become a part of this irreversible movement," Gordon queried.

Acknowledging the work of the team comprising leaders of the Private Sector, Bar Association and the Trades Union Congress which are responsible for the significant proposals to control violence and crime, Gordon charged the GMA and other organisations to expand and play an increasingly active part in critical issues that affect the nation.

Highlighting its role he recalled two notable instances in Trinidad and Tobago where the voices of civil society halted proposed actions of the Government of the day - in 1970 when a public order act was proposed, and the infamous Green Paper to control the media in 1996.

In his opening remarks, GMA President, Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo, noted that the association has, over the last year, put into place an executive that is bent on relentlessly but quietly addressing core sectional issues that affect its membership.

Recognising the need to revisit its structures, its constitution and its viability in the coming years, the Association is involved in preparing itself for the future by embarking now on a project to evolve into a world class one.

As a result, the GMA has rejoined a now revitalised CAIC (The Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce) and now attends joint meetings with the Regional Manufacturers Associations of the Caribbean.

The Executive has also sanctioned an intervention by an overseas consultant.

Some of the changes targeted by the Association are to mobilise the executive, provide more services to members and upgrade the quality of staff and to focus on marketing the Association as a meaningful player in the family of private sector organisations in Guyana.

For this purpose Mr. Derrick Cummings was appointed Executive Director of the Association, effective November 1, 2002.

The organisation has also embarked on a programme geared at providing technical assistance in a number of areas. The programme is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The areas are:

Assisting industries to address sanitary and phyosanitary restrictions to their products.

Focusing on helping emerging industries categorise as the “bright spots in the economy” to deal with the technical issues that will allow them to maximise their growth and export potential.

Strengthening the capacity of institutions in the private and public sector that provide policy and other support to these industries that can be categorised as bright spots.

In keeping with these objectives the programme has, to date, provided technical assistance to about 106 companies in Guyana of which 31 are GMA members.

The project assisted 29 companies in agro- processing through the seafood and poultry projects. The Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA) and the Trawler Owners and Seafood Association were key private sector partners in these initiatives.

Seventy-five small poultry processors have received assistance to date.

The Ministry of Health Food and Drug and Veterinary Public Health Departments also received institutional support to improve their ability to monitor food security in these industries,

In the tourism sector, CPEC, in collaboration with the Tourism Hospitality Association, trained 69 persons in the Tourism Industry and the Public Sector in key techniques related to tourism planning.

Three important industries have received technical asisstance: Jewellery, Garments and Technical Vocational training in various aspects of Engineering. Equipment was also provided for the Jewellery Training School.

The Government Technical Institute and the Forestry and Wood- products sub-sector also benefitted.

He noted that on the national front "our executive took note of the now all-pervasive crime situation in Guyana, coupled with political impasse and noted very strongly in our deliberations the need for national life to go back to normal."

He pledged GMA's support to improving national life in recognition of the fact that business needs a stable environment to foster and grow.

At the function, ten businesses were honoured for outstanding achievements, while four individuals received awards.

The Barama Company was awarded the President's trophy for its consistent increase in export sales, earning US$23M from January to October 2002, a reflection of its maintenance of economic competitiveness in the overseas market. This is the second consecutive year that Barama won the President's trophy.

Individuals awarded were, Major General (rtd) Norman McLean, immediate past president of GMA, for his outstanding contribution to the GMA and the wider private sector and civil society; Ms. Doreen De Caries Vice-President of the GMA, for increasing the membership of the Association; Mr. Clem Duncan, ex-member and sub-sector Coordinator of the GMA, for working beyond the call of duty; and Liman Buhdoo, Office Assistant, for long and dedicated service.

In the Business Category, the New GPC Inc. was recognised for its pioneering work in the production of low cost anti-retroviral drugs.

Adventure Manufacturing Company Limited was awarded in recognition of the Company's consistent quality and availability of indigenous fruit-based products.

Twins Manufacturing Company Limited also received an award in recognition of that Company's development of a diverse product base to meet local and foreign market demands.

The award for consistent efforts to attract joint venture investments in the paper plant went to Caribbean Container Inc.; while Gafoor Group of Companies copped the award for its strategic decision to improve competitiveness by consolidating its administrative and sales operation at the Houston Complex.

Fibre Tech Plastics was awarded for its pioneering efforts to manufacture complete units of fibre glass cupboards and bathtubs, while enhancing standards to gain international recognition from the Kitchen and Bath Association; Continental Group of Companies received the award for that company's use of indigenous raw materials in beverage manufacturing involving backward linkages and a secondary production process.

Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited was awarded for its persistent drive for higher standards of production resulting in organic certification. G&C Sanata got an award for its diversification and accessing over 500 customers in the Caribbean.

The annual event saw a gathering of high profile businessmen, Ministers of the Government, Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte and diplomats, among others.

President Bharrat Jagdeo joined the awardees, host and other invitees at the cocktail held prior to the dinner. The President was unable to attend the dinner because of other pressing matters, and was represented by Prime Minister Sam Hinds.

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Alex Graham. (Shirwin Campbell)