US-Guyana Relations Good - Murray
AFTER weeks of what Trade and Tourism Minister Winston Murray, described as “unavoidable delays” a new PL 480 agreement for United States wheat to Guyana was signed on Wednesday. The signing ceremony took place in the boardroom of the Ministry of Trade and Tourism and with Minister Murray and the United States Ambassador to Guyana, Theresa Ann full officiating. Mr. Murray in a short speech after the signing of the agreement said the wheat should be in Guyana by the first week of April. He referred to the continued good relations between Guyana and the U.S. and the ready responses from Washington in other areas of assistance, as being indicative of the on going smoothness of these relations. The Trade and Tourism Minister pledged to ensure that relations between the government of President Desmond Hoyte and the administration of President George Bush go from strength to strength. The U.S. Ambassador, who was signing her third PL 480 agreement in Georgetown, said the agreement which involved the coordination of three separate departments within the administration in Washington, showed the continued good relationship between Guyana and the U.S. The agreement provides for a loan of $4m (US) for the purchase of wheat under a concessional sales agreement at low interest rates and with a long-term repayment period. According to the provisions of the agreement the Guyana dollar proceeds from the sale of wheat will be used to support self- help projects in rural agricultural communities. About 26,000 metric tons of wheat are expected to be shipped to Guyana under the new agreement. The lapsing of the agreement has caused a shortage of wheat for milling locally, resulting in a serious flour shortage. (CAG)