Credit: Credible Sources Live Stream
Hundreds of pregnant heifers imported from Brazil under the Government of Guyana’s national herd expansion programme were left stranded at the Ebini landing on Monday as opposition Members of Parliament raised fresh questions about whether the animals were originally intended for another destination before being redirected to the government’s Breeding and Research Centre.
APNU Member of Parliament Dr. Terrence Campbell and Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews travelled to Ebini after learning that the shipment had encountered significant logistical problems. During a livestream from the landing, the parliamentarians observed trucks loaded with pregnant heifers waiting for transportation while workers scrambled to make last-minute arrangements to move the animals across the river. They said excavators were being used to create makeshift access after barges and unloading facilities proved inadequate.
“What is happening here is absolutely no preparation,” Dr. Campbell said, arguing that if the Ministry of Agriculture had always intended the cattle for Ebini, proper transportation and unloading arrangements should have been completed before the shipment arrived. He also cited previous reports he had received alleging inadequate pasture, staffing shortages and poor conditions at the government facility.
Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews said the apparent lack of preparation caused him to question whether Ebini had always been the intended destination. “The impression is that there is a lack of preparation, and so it causes you to question whether or not these cattle were intended for this area,” Andrews said during the visit.
The opposition also expressed concern about the welfare of the animals, noting that the cattle had already completed a lengthy journey from Brazil and remained confined on trucks while transportation difficulties continued. Dr. Campbell said he had received reports alleging that some animals had already died, although those claims had not been independently verified.
The developments come only days after Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed revealed the movement of the alleged pregnant cattle into Guyana and without the intervention of GRA, Ministry of Agriculture or the usual cattle import protocols being exercised.
Earlier Monday, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that it had received the first shipment of 300 pregnant heifers under its national herd expansion programme. The Ministry said the animals were procured through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board from Brazil-based Coopera at a cost of G$245,000 per pregnant heifer and were always intended for the Ministry’s Breeding and Research Centre at Ebini.
