Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is helping to power new economic opportunities at St Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri), where a $10 million cassava mill is nearing completion along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
Funded through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ 2023 capital budget, with additional support from the LCDS, the modern facility is now 95 per cent complete and is expected to be fully finished within the next two months.
When operational, the mill will allow farmers to process cassava into value-added products such as cassava bread and cassareep, while providing a reliable market for local producers and creating new jobs for residents.
Toshao Alvoro Simon told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Sunday that the Village Council has already established a community cassava farm, with several acres under cultivation to ensure the sustainability of the operation.
“We want to ensure that this mill works. We want to ensure it survives. The council has taken the initiative to create our own farm where it can be managed solely by the Village Council to create jobs and add revenue to the village,” Toshao Simon stated.
He explained that the facility will be open to farmers across the community, enabling them to process their produce, increase their earning potential and participate more fully in the village’s emerging agro-processing sector.
The project is also expected to create direct employment opportunities for residents, including positions in management, housekeeping and security, as well as indirect spin-off benefits for service providers.
According to Toshao Simon, the cassava mill forms part of a broader effort by the Village Council to promote sustainable economic development and strengthen community-led enterprises in line with Guyana’s low-carbon development vision.
The modern concrete structure will replace an older wooden facility and is expected to serve residents for many years, complementing other development initiatives in St Cuthbert’s Mission aimed at improving livelihoods, supporting agriculture and generating long-term economic benefits for the community.