Guyana Hemp Association (GHA) seeks urgent meeting with President to Expedite Licensing Board; says Billions in investments stalled
+ Demerara, Guyana 592xpress:- A year after the Guyanese government passed legislation allowing for the cultivation of hemp within the country, the Guyana Hemp Association faces a frustrating delay in the establishment of the necessary Regulatory and Licensing Board.
In light of this setback, the association is preparing to send an official request for an urgent meeting with President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, aiming to address and resolve the current situation.
In an exclusive interview with 592Xpress, Mr. Cort Gomes, Secretary of the Guyana Hemp Association, emphasized their commitment to providing equal opportunities for all Guyanese interested in participating in the hemp industry. He expressed the association’s willingness to leverage its local and international resources to facilitate this endeavor.
The primary objectives of the proposed meeting with government officials are twofold. Firstly, the association seeks to demonstrate the mutual benefits that can be achieved through collaboration between the government and the hemp industry. Secondly, they intend to discuss the urgent need for the establishment of a regulatory board, which is essential to advancing the industry.
“We are here to help, we are here to make sure that every Guyanese who wants a chance at Hemp can get a fair chance, and whatever we can do to help, that is what we would like to do, and we will use all of our resources that the association has locally and internationally to make that happen.”
With this in mind, the Association, he said, is seeking the meeting with the government officials, “to sit and meet with them on the benefits of us working together.”
Secondly, he said the membership was also keen on meeting to talk about, “the urgency of having the board put together, so we can move forward with the industry.”
Mr. Gomes revealed that the Guyana Hemp Association already boasts over 150 members and has garnered the support of four prominent international hemp companies operating locally. However, due to the delay in establishing the licensing bodies, the industry’s potential investments, amounting to billions of dollars, have been put on hold.
Recognizing the technical complexities involved in regulating the hemp industry, Mr. Gomes acknowledged possible capacity constraints contributing to the delay. To expedite progress, the association is prepared to collaborate closely with the relevant administrative agencies to bring the hemp industry in Guyana to fruition.
One concerning issue is the presence of imported hemp and CBD products being sold in local supermarkets, while local farmers and businesses remain restricted due to the absence of a licensing body for local cultivation.
This, he said, effectively shuts out the local farmers, or persons in the business, since there is no ‘body’ in place, to license local cultivation, while at the same time imported hemp products are being sold on supermarket shelves.
The association aims to address this disparity by ensuring that fair regulations are in place for both domestic and imported hemp products.
Additionally, Mr. Gomes stated that the Guyana Hemp Association has received support from various regional and international organizations, offering assistance that could also aid in the establishment of the regulatory and licensing framework.
While unofficial sources suggest that the board could be established by October, the Hemp Association is eager to engage with officials to tackle other challenges and foster greater collaboration. Despite the delays and lost potential revenues, Mr. Gomes remains optimistic, asserting that the future of the hemp industry in Guyana is promising.
The vast benefits of hemp for the people, the country, and businesses make it an industry that should have been thriving in Guyana by now. With the global hemp industry already valued at billions of dollars, the Guyanese have a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on this lucrative market. Despite the delays and lost revenues as a result, Mr. Gomes is still confident, the “future is bright.”
