PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo aptly remarked during his recent visit to Linden and at the Sunday meeting with residents of Sophia at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Georgetown, that even with the best intentions there are those who are negative in their thinking and attitude.
He described them as “gripers.”
Even the medical people will tell us that a positive approach is good for one’s health, and so too in life whenever there are challenges and adversities ahead the best approach to overcome them is to think and act positively.
In the context of Guyana, there are many adversities and challenges as the country tries to push ahead in a difficult local and international climate.
The gripers have been complaining and making excuses about why no one should invest in Guyana.
In some cases they have actually discouraged or taken action to discourage investors here - a typical case of one shooting oneself in the foot.
However, in spite of the gripers, there are many who are thinking and acting positively - some are in the limelight, while others are tapping away positively but quietly in various parts of the country. There are many who are investing in innovative ventures around the country.
One such venture is the New Line Aqua Farm Incorporated at Boeraserie on the West Coast Demerara which is managed by a young and enthusiastic entrepreneur who has already invested more than $150M in the scheme.
The massive fish farm is rearing tilapia and paku for the local and overseas markets.
The young proprietor, Mr Salim Juman Azeez, said the venture is something he always wanted to do, and “it is a like a dream come true.”
A unique feature of the farm which spans 790 acres of land at Boeraserie, is that it has its own nursery and hatchery for the development of fingerlings, and Mr Azeez said he is willing to share and spread the technology with persons in similar ventures.
Prior to this, he added, fingerlings had to be imported and this was costly.
The farm has 28 fish ponds and the long-term plan is to develop 360 ponds over the next 10 years, he projected.
A water recycling plant, a processing plant and facilities to convert solid waste into fish feed are also earmarked for the scheme.
The potential productive capacity of the farm when it peaks is 100,000 pounds of fish per pond per week, Mr Azeez, adding that this output would be able to satisfy the local and foreign markets.
He also anticipates that the venture would eventually create employment for about 500 people.
The entrepreneur should be applauded for pushing ahead in spite of the gripers around.