There will be emphasis this year on bringing down several prices on the local market, Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad said yesterday.

Manniram Prashad

At a press conference held at his ministry Prashad said that he will be holding meetings with stakeholders in the flour, transportation and fuel sectors to work on bringing down the price of bread, transportation and kerosene oil.

Prashad said yesterday that he is still not satisfied with the price that bread has come down to since it is not on the same level as the decline on the world market. He said too that although bus fares were reduced from the hike when fuel prices had soared, he is not satisfied with the reduced fares since he believes negotiations can be concluded for them to fall even lower.

The minister said that priority will be placed on holding meetings with gas stations owners to discuss the high price of kerosene oil.

Prashad also informed the media of plans to give business people in Lethem priority to set up businesses in what will be called the Lethem Industrial Estate.

This business site will come to fruition with the advent of the Takutu Bridge.
He said too that there should be an expansion in the tourism sector this year as Guyana has been placed on the world market by the airing of the BBC’s trilogy “Land of the lost Jaguar.”

He added that all of the birding trips have been filled already and more yachts are expected to come here this year. Emphasis will also be placed on creating more tour packages for both tourists and locals, Prashad said.