Issue No: 30 January – March 2012

NEWSLETTER

GMSA at the beginning of the year hosted the Chief Executive

of Reunion Manganese Guyana, Joachim (Jo) Bayah, and the

recently appointed Secretary General to CARICOM,

Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, at two high-powered Business

Luncheons that kicked off another year of hectic activity. Mr.

Bayah addressed a fairly wide cross section of business

representatives in January and Ambassador LaRocque in

February.

Mr. Bayah spoke extensively on the progress that Reunion

Manganese has made in their explorations for viable deposits of

manganese in Guyana since operations began in late 2010. He

stated that his parent company, Reunion Gold Corporation of

Quebec, Canada established a wholly owned subsidiary,

Reunion Manganese Inc., and obtained four (4) Prospecting

Licenses from the Government of Guyana early in 2010. The

Licenses cover explorations over a wide area around the old

mine at Matthews Ridge that was abandoned 43 years ago.

After almost 2 years of exploration, Bayah said, Reunion

Manganese is ready to begin mining and exportation of

Guyana’s manganese that is located in some areas just about 2

feet below the sandy surface.

President Clinton Williams in his opening remarks at the

January luncheon put the new mining developments in its

historical context. He said that Manganese mining began

at Matthew’s Ridge in 1962 when Guyana was still a

British colony, and continued for another 2 years after

Guyana gained its independence from Britain. Manganese

exportation had already begun to play a significant role in

the projected development of this fledgling economy.

... continued on Pg 2

IN THIS ISSUE

HIGH POWERED BUSINESS LUNCHEONS KICK OFF 2012 (The Impact of

Manganese Exploitation on the Economic Development of Guyana + CARICOM AT A

CRUCIAL JUNCTURE OF INTEGRATION)

GMSA Members in Forestry & Wood Products Sub-sector contribute to GMSA’s

position on Log Export issue

Guyana To Enter Forestry Partnership with the EU

Local Business Owners/Reps participate in one-day Seminar on successful

Exhibiting

GMSA To Embark on Humanitarian endeavour

NOTICES

WHAT’S COMING UP

HIGH POWERED BUSINESS LUNCHEONS KICK OFF 2012

The Impact of Manganese Exploitation on the Economic Development of Guyana

A cross-section of patrons listening attentively to Jo Bayah’s addresss.

nuary Luncheon

She noted that Dr. Millar’s presentation has proven that sustainability on the whole forces

“This Luncheon affords me the first opportunity, since assuming office as Secretary-General some six months ago to address a

forum in Guyana outside of the confines of Secretariat’s Headquarters … the time could not be more appropriate for me to

address you, given the crossroads at which the Caribbean Community finds itself.” This was the opening gambit of the

CARICOM SG’s address to the business representatives who attended the February Luncheon hosted by the GMSA at the

Regency Suites, Georgetown.

His address was wide ranging, bringing to the fore the plethora of regional issues that the Secretariat has been grappling with

since his appointment in September 2011. He spoke extensively on the importance of Guyana continuing to develop

import/export relations with other CARICOM markets especially for fish, rice and sugar among other salient subjects that

included:

The hope and promise of CARICOM to fulfill the goals of integration, and its stakeholders’ seeming concern about its

apparent inability to bring to fruition the plans, programmes and projects.

The legitimate expectations of the people of the Community that have become more challenging at a time when the

effects of the global economic and financial crises are still reverberating.

The CSME which was launched in 2006 and which still remains as relevant today for enhanced business opportunities

as when the idea was first conceived in Grand Anse in 1989.

CARICOM’s recorded achievements in Health, Education, some aspects of the Single Market, External Trade and in

Foreign Policy Co-ordination.

Job creation and business growth placed among the priorities identified by the Region’s Heads of Government.

The ease of doing business in the region especially with the implementation of some fiscal incentives.

The lack of standardization of procedures at ports of entry for goods

The work of the CARICOM Customs Committee to implement Harmonized Customs Legislation.

The Transportation sector that affects both goods and people, costs and access.

Costly telecommunications and energy services which contribute to high production costs and which limit business

growth and expansion

The Common External Tariff (CET) that is supposed to provide an equal level of protection for goods of CARICOM origin.

(Go to the GMSA website: http:/www.gmsagy.org for the Ambassador’s address in its entirety.)

GMSA President Clinton Williams shares a

light moment with Reunion Manganese’s

CEO, Jo Bayah.

Owing to a series of unfortunate circumstances, world market demand for manganese

went soft around 1968 and forced an end to further exploration and mining in Guyana.

Over time, however, the demand for manganese grew again. Today it is in short supply,

most possibly because of the unprecedented construction boom in most of the developed

world - the Middle East, North & South America, the Caribbean and especially in China.

According to a 1985 Geology & Mines Commission report, more than 1.66 million

tonnes of manganese concentrate were mined and exported from Guyana between 1962

and 1968.

Manganese is the fourth most consumed metal in the world, behind iron, aluminum and

copper, and it is a key component in the production of steel and iron.

CEO Jo Bayah is heading up the Guyana Manganese operations, recovering feasible

infrastructure at Matthew’s Ridge while constructing modern extraction operations along

with an efficient means of transporting the ore to port for exportation. He is a renowned

Ghanaian Mining Engineer with over 25 years experience in Mining, Metallurgy and

Process Engineering, and has worked on mining projects in Canada, in several African

countries, and in the Guianas Shield of South America.

CARICOM AT A CRUCIAL JUNCTURE OF INTEGRATION

Advertising & Marketing Services

For boosting significantly the image of

Guyana as an investment and tourism

destination of significance, by the

introduction of a new media sub-type.

This Company has introduced over

the years the production of Magazines

that cover events of NGOs,

Associations and other Organizations,

creating a significant improvement to

the national image.

Advertising & Marketing Services

For boosting significantly the image of

Guyana as an investment and tourism

destination of significance, by the

introduction of a new media sub-type.

This Company has introduced over

the years the production of Magazines

that cover events of NGOs,

Associations and other Organizations,

creating a significant improvement to

the national image.

Advertising & Marketing Services

For boosting significantly the image of

Guyana as an investment and tourism

destination of significance, by the

introduction of a new media sub-type.

This Company has introduced over

the years the production of Magazines

that cover events of NGOs,

Associations and other Organizations,

creating a significant improvement to

the national image.

In welcoming Ambassador LaRocque and guests,

President Clinton Williams made reference to a

number of published reports on the health of the

CARICOM region. He quoted from a January 2012

report by a UK-based consultancy firm titled:

“Turning around CARICOM: Proposals to

Restructure the Secretariat” which stated that “too

many mandatory institutional weaknesses and a lack of

implementation at the level of Member States” are

among the internal problems retarding the movement

of CARICOM’s programmes.

“Currently, almost the entire world of business is still

attempting to pull itself up by the proverbial

bootstraps after being knocked off-course by the still

lingering global economic crisis”, he stated.

Ambassador LaRocque sharing a light moment with

other diplomats who were present.

GMSA MEMBERS IN FORESTRY & WOOD PRODUCTS SUB-SECTOR

Contribute to GMSA’s position the Log Export issue

he meeting was called in March with our members in the Forest Products sub-sector to define the GMSA’s

strategy for the Wood Products Manufacturing sector with respect to the Guyana Forestry Commission’s

mandate to draft new regulations regarding log export. Companies represented included Barama Co., Superior

Shingles, Bulkan Timber Works, Liana Cane, and Guyana Furniture Manufacturing Co. President Clinton

Williams announced that the Board had agreed that the GMSA’s position must be influenced by the

recommendation for implementation of a cap on log exports, tied to an incentive scheme for manufacturers. He

said that a GMSA Menu of Measures had already been drafted.

Jocelyn Dow of Liana Cane advised that the sector should be guided by the recommendations made at a recent

forum which included an incremental increase in taxes and an export ban on certain species of timber. Since

then, the GFC had devised an implementation policy that was circulated around the sector. She observed that

the GMSA’s position would be difficult to arrive at in view of the fact that the Association represents both

exporters and manufacturers. Trade and Investment Co-ordinator, Clem Duncan, stated that the Association’s

approach does address both sides of the issue.

The GMSA’s position includes a structure based on job creation and value-added production that is fair to

exporters, skill availability, and measures to keep the GFC’s drying kilns operational and accessible to

sawmillers.

The comments and suggestions made by the members present included affordable fuel, Infrastructural (roads,

bridges) development, fiscal incentives for saw millers and projects for skill development.

GUYANA TO ENTER FORESTRY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EU

he Guyana government has agreed to sign on to the EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade

programme (EU FLEGT) which will see only legally harvested timber exported to the bloc as one of the key

pillars, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Robert Persaud.

It is a voluntary partnership agreement that would demonstrate Guyana’s commitment to ensuring that we

maintain international benchmarks in the utilization our forest resources, the minister said, emphasizing that

Guyana’s commitment to this arrangement would not disrupt any economic activity in the natural resources

sector. The changes that the EU FLEGT agreement would require of operators will include better record-

keeping, strengthening management systems and general capacity building, according to the Minister. It will

also involve some amount of outlay by stakeholders and government.

The programme promotes better enforcement of forest laws and an inclusive approach involving civil society

and the private sector, and it will help Guyana to maintain its forest products market in Europe.

The Minister stated that the government will continue talks with the EU and other partners about providing

assistance to help build local capacity for compliance with EU FLEGT.

In 2011, Guyana exported approximately US$7M in forestry products to Europe.

Local Business owners/reps. participate in one-day Seminar on

‘Successful Exhibiting: Maximising Your Trade Show Investment’

Ms. Sandra-Ann Baptiste, a renowned Canada-based Business and Communications Consultant, conducted a

timely seminar on Thursday 12th April, 2012 on strategies for SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITING for business owners and

representatives preparing for the 2012 Building Expo and GUYEXPO. The one-day seminar was held at the Cheddi

Jagan Research Centre, Red House, High St., Georgetown under the auspices of the GMSA.

Among the topics discussed and demonstrated were Preparing Show Budgets, promoting exhibits, targeting

the audience, and effective sales strategies. GMSA President Clinton Williams, addressing the twenty (20)

participants (approx.), stated that the growth of Guyana’s SME’s has been the GMSA’s primary focus in the past few

years. “We have concentrated on the improvement of your product lines, on modern production equipment, new

techniques, on sales and marketing, and now on strategies to successfully exhibit your products. The bottom line is

indeed your bottom line,” he stated.

He reiterated that the seminar was very timely in view of the two approaching mammoth events on the national

calendar – the Building Expo and GUYEXPO. In addition, some members of the Guyanese business community have

already indicated their interest in participating in the annual private/manufacturing sector-led exhibition in

neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago later this year, he said.

Ms. Baptiste is known in Guyana as the former head of GO-INVEST. In recent times, she has been training staff

at several foreign companies and international financial institutions in business development, marketing and

communication strategies, among other things.

She is getting ready to facilitate another seminar this coming July titled: Leadership Excellence: Inspiring and

Motivating Your Team for Peak Performance. It will be held at the same venue on a date to be announced. This

seminar will focus on the Differences Between Management and Leadership, How Effective Leaders Motivate, the

Skills and Characteristics of Leaders, Communicating Effectively, and Establishing Credibility. This seminar,

according to Ms. Baptiste, has been designed to enable both seasoned and new leaders to interact with their teams

with confidence.

All participants received Certificates of participation.

Ms. Baptiste posed with some participants (left) after GMSA President, Clinton Williams addressed them and handed out

certificates at the end of the seminar.

NOTICE

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association recognizes that a number of small &

medium sized enterprises (SMEs) require assistance to produce LABELS for their PACKAGING. Now that the markets

outside of Guyana are more accessible to Guyana, it is now necessary to label your products using INTERNATIONAL

STANDARDS.

GMSA now has the capacity to compute NUTRITIONAL FACTS for LABELS and to offer other kinds of assistance to every

manufacturer and agro-processor headed for the export market. Call the GMSA Secretariat for more information.

The Association can produce a “Nutritional Facts” box for food labels designed to meet the established

requirements of the United States, Canadian and other export markets.

GMSA TO EMBARK ON HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMME

oard Member, Luanna Persaud is spearheading a humanitarian programme targeting

indigent/geriatric and children’s homes in Georgetown and its environs. She has already

drafted a quarterly activity plan for this project that will involve general membership and

the Board of Directors and should go into effect in this second quarter of 2012. Among the

charitable organizations listed are the Archer’s and Uncle Eddie’s Homes, the St. Ann’s. St.

John Boscoe, Joshua House Orphanages and the Convalescent Home. The Secretariat will

shortly dispatch letters to the membership soliciting contributions and donations.

A SMILE A DAY ………..

I had an appointment to see the urologist for a Prostate exam. Of course I was a bit on edge because all my friends have either gone under the knife or had those pellets implanted. The waiting room was filled with patients. As I approached the receptionist's desk, I noticed that the she was a large unfriendly woman who looked like a Sumo wrestler. I gave her my name. In a very loud voice, the receptionist said, "YES, I HAVE YOUR NAME HERE; YOU WANT TO SEE THE DOCTOR ABOUT IMPOTENCE, RIGHT?" All the patients in the waiting room snapped their heads around to look at me, a now very embarrassed man. But as usual, I recovered quickly, and in an equally loud voice replied, “NO, I'VE COME TO INQUIRE ABOUT A SEX CHANGE OPERATION, BUT I DON'T WANT THE SAME DOCTOR THAT DID YOURS." The room erupted in applause!

DON'T MESS WITH OLD RETIRED GUYS!

Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association Ltd.

157 Waterloo Street, North Cummingsburg

Georgetown, Guyana, South America

Tel: (592) 223-7405, 223-7406

Fax: (592) 225-5615

Email:gma_guyana@yahoo.com

Website: www.gmsagy.org

WHAT’S COMING UP

GMSA Business Luncheon with Russian Ambassador

GMSA Annual General Meeting

AND MORE…

Stay in touch with the Secretariat.

"Faith is not about

everything turning

out OK. Faith is

about being OK no

matter how things

turn out."

Caribbean Export Invites Expression of Interest for 2nd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum

aribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), in partnership with the ACP Business Climate (BIZClim)

and the European Union (EU) will be hosting 2nd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum in the United Kingdom in July 2012. This project is also implemented in collaboration with the CARIFORUM Directorate, the CARICOM Secretariat, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The theme of the Forum is "Making the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Work". The sectors covered in this Forum are Manufacturing and Cultural Industries, with a specific focus on agro-processing, music, audio visual, fashion and publishing. Suitable candidates are invited to submit Expressions of Interest to participate in the Caribbean Pavilion. You must complete the EOI and Company Profile Form and submit all required documentation to Mr. Carlos Wharton, Senior Trade Policy Advisor cwharton@carib-export.com no later than April 30, 2012 by 4:30 PM EST.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION (fyi)

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM CESO

he GMSA has a partnership agreement with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). Under the

Institutional Action Plan, CESO Volunteer Advisers (VAs) would be available to develop sectoral workplans as

identified by the GMSA with individual companies.

Contact Nerissa Thornhill at the Secretariat to set up your appointments with Dr Leslie Chin, CESO Country

Representative. He will assist in defining your business issues and determining how CESO could help to resolve them

and exploit current opportunities.

BREAKPOINT COMPETITION IS ON

reak Point is a regional competition that aims to assist firms in getting their products/services into the UK/EU

markets. The first phase deadline is April 30th. By this date you should submit the completed application form, a 1

page executive summary, and a 2-3 minute video clip. Contact the Secretariat for more information if it is not in your

email Inbox.