§ 133. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an economic botanist, an entomologist, an agricultural chemist, a statistician and an agricultural engineer, have been appointed to the agricultural department or British Guiana since the publication of the Venn Report; and what approach has been made to the Directors of the United Nations Expanded Technical Assistance Programme to find out whether they could recommend properly-qualified persons of other nationalities to undertake the duties in question.
§ Mr. LytteltonAn economic botanist was appointed in April, 1950. An entomologist was appointed in August, 1950, but resigned in September, 1951. A probationer is now in training for this post and one experienced entomologist is in the territory at present on special investigations. An agricultural chemist was appointed in January, 1948, prior to the visit of the Commission.
There is no statistician on the staff of the Department of Agriculture, but there is an agricultural economist who collects agricultural statistics. Provision for an agricultural engineer was made in this year's Estimates and a Guianese is now in training in this country for the post. No approach was made under the United Nations Expanded Technical Assistance Programme in connection with these appointments.