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GLDA denies Onverwagt abattoir is a white elephant
…says facility producing results
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has strongly rejected claims by Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed that the Onverwagt Abattoir in Region Five is inactive or a failed investment, describing the allegations as “speculation and misinformation” designed to create a false narrative about the facility’s operations.
Photograph provided by the GLDA.
In a Facebook post this week Mohamed said that the $800 million facility is only being used by the PPP “for bringing their cows from Brazil at a very cheap price, slaughter and sell to the local market killing all our cattle farmers.”
He called on the government to come clean on the matter.
But the Authority in a statement Tuesday said the abattoir remains a key component of the Government’s strategy to modernise Guyana’s livestock industry and provide farmers with access to a modern, hygienic and internationally compliant slaughter and processing facility.
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed outside the abattoir.
The autjority said claims that the facility is inactive or has failed are simply not supported by the facts. It noted that since becoming operational, the abattoir has produced approximately 111,650 kilograms of carcass beef, utilising cattle supplied mainly by farmers from Regions Four, Five, Six, Nine and Ten, with limited quantities originating from Bon Fin, Brazil, through approved and lawful channels.
“These are verifiable figures and demonstrate that the facility is functioning and contributing to the growth of the sector,” GLDA said.
“It is also important to understand that an abattoir is not a cattle farm. Animals are brought to the facility according to scheduled slaughter requirements. Therefore, the absence of cattle or employees at a particular moment cannot reasonably be used as proof that the facility is abandoned or underutilized. Such conclusions reveal either a lack of understanding of how modern processing facilities operate or a deliberate effort to mislead the public.”
The autjority said. Particularly irresponsible are allegations that cattle are being secretly imported from Brazil for the benefit of public officials. “These are serious accusations for which no evidence has been presented. Guyana has established veterinary, inspection, quarantine and certification systems that govern the importation of livestock. These safeguards exist to protect animal health, food safety and the integrity of the livestock industry.
Anyone with credible evidence of illegal activities should submit that information to the relevant authorities for investigation. Allegations of criminal conduct cannot be based on rumours, assumptions or anonymous claims. Facts and evidence must prevail.”
Equally, the GLDA said accusations of corruption and personal enrichment are serious matters that should be pursued through the appropriate legal channels and supported by evidence. “Reckless allegations and sensationalism do nothing to strengthen accountability and only serve to undermine public discourse.”
Beyond the abattoir, GLDA said government continues to invest heavily in herd expansion, genetic improvement programmes, animal health services and measures aimed at increasing productivity and strengthening food security. These initiatives are intended to build a more competitive livestock industry and ensure a reliable supply of quality beef for Guyanese consumers.
“Citizens have every right to question public investments and demand accountability. However, accountability must be rooted in facts and not in political theatrics. Isolated photographs, assumptions and unsubstantiated allegations cannot outweigh production records and the tangible benefits being delivered to farmers and consumers.
The GLDA Abattoir remains an important national investment and its success should be measured by the opportunities it creates for livestock producers, the improvements it brings to food safety and quality, and its contribution to building a stronger and more competitive livestock sector.
Public debate is healthy, and scrutiny is necessary, but truth matters. Facts matter. And no amount of misinformation can change the reality that Guyana’s livestock industry is advancing and that investments such as the GLDA Abattoir are helping to secure its future,” the statement concluded.
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I believed the cheaper cows are from Brazil.
They may also be processing stolen cows from dem thief man in the regions
where cow thief-cattle rustling, is prevalent.
A pity, Guyana does not have a law stiff enough to punish cattle thieves-to the
point, they never steal cattle again.