Georgetown, Guyana – The poultry sector in Guyana is facing a severe crisis as a suspected viral disease wreaks havoc on farms across the country. Vinceroy Jordon, Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Agriculture, has sounded the alarm, accusing the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of negligence and inaction.
In a recent statement, Jordon expressed grave concerns over what he described as a catastrophic outbreak of Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH). This viral disease, primarily affecting young broiler chickens, has led to a staggering mortality rate, decimating the livelihoods of hundreds of small and medium-sized poultry farmers.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is silent while hundreds of poultry farmers across Guyana suffer from what is suspected to be a viral disease that has in some cases completely wiped out poultry farms,” Jordon said. He criticized the government for its lack of response, highlighting that the disease could continue to devastate the sector if not promptly addressed.
IBH, caused by fowl adenoviruses, presents several alarming symptoms, including sudden increases in mortality, listlessness among birds, severe anemia, and yellow mucoid droppings. These symptoms have been observed in affected flocks, leading to substantial economic losses.
Veterinary officers from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) have disclosed that the disease is transmitted from the parent flock. Infected eggs are being imported into the country, exacerbating the crisis due to inadequate vaccination programs. Gordon alleged that the vaccination program at the hatchery level is rigged, further complicating the situation for farmers.
“Our poultry farmers need answers now,” Jordon demanded, pointing out that the Ministry’s own Guyana School of Agriculture has been hard hit by the disease, resulting in the death of several hundred birds. Despite this, no official word has been released on what Gordon describes as a “silent national epidemic.”
In his statement, Jordon posed several critical questions to the Minister of Agriculture:
– Is the poultry industry in Guyana in crisis again?
– What is the Ministry of Agriculture doing to alleviate this crisis?
– What is GLDA doing to monitor the hatchery regarding the quality of eggs imported and the vaccination of these chickens?
– What is the government doing to assist farmers from this disaster?
– What system is being developed by the government to prevent such deadly outbreaks in the future?
– How do poultry farmers move on from this disaster?
The Shadow Minister also called on the Ministry to release the findings of a probe into an alleged sabotage of the Ministry’s hatchery, which resulted in the destruction of a large number of duck eggs. “The Minister must come clean on this necessary process and tell us about the promised vaccines that are not available to this date,” he insisted.
As the situation remains dire, the opposition and affected poultry farmers await a response from the government. The call for immediate action is growing louder, with demands for transparency and accountability to prevent further devastation in Guyana’s poultry sector.
