I was not impressed with the presentation at the investment forum in
Florida
Stabroek News, Tuesday, November 6th 2007
Dear Editor,
I attended a forum called: Investment Opportunities in Guyana on 1
November in Miramar, Florida. The feature address was given by Mr.
Robert Persaud, Guyana's Minister of Agriculture. I found his feature
address unappealing and his Power Point presentation distracting with
too many GOSPLAN-like charts and numbers.
The audience was mainly Guyanese, most of whom were the wrong target as
potential investors in Guyana's agricultural sector. Robert Persaud did
not exude the level of confidence and excitement in his address which
may have encouraged potential investors to consider Guyana as an
excellent venue for foreign investment.
However, the minister cannot be blamed for the poor target audience.
This blame falls on Guyana's Honorary Consul in Florida, Mr. Ramzan
Roshanali who invited the potential "investors".
The Jagdeo government is mainly to blame for a wasted evening by
choosing individuals without the qualities to organize, persuade,
convince and sell potential investors to choose Guyana.
If it is a political necessity to have party members occupy the
ministerial positions, then the PPP government should employ
technocrats to conduct the people's business.
The night was saved by Mr. Bayney Karran, Guyana's Ambassador to the
United States. Ambassador Karran exuded confidence and his delivery of
a short but well prepared speech showed his professionalism.
The Jagdeo government must realize Guyana is not the only place in the
Americas favourable for agricultural development. Guyana is competing
with many nations for investment dollars and the Guyana government must
recruit a professional marketing team if it wants to succeed.
Otherwise, the only investments Guyana will attract are in the resource
depleting timber and mining industries.
Yours faithfully,
Narinedat Harripersaud
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