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| Daily
Bulletins |
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 Saturday
May 10, 2003
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President Jagdeo says stage set for greater stability
- the people of Guyana won
President Bharrat Jagdeo feels that now that
the main political parties of Guyana have signed the communiqué,
the stage is set for more productive engagements, which will lead
to greater stability in the country.
readmore...
President
disturbed by claims made by relatives of Cuba victim
President Bharrat Jagdeo is disturbed by the claims being made
by the parents and relatives of the student who as killed in
Cuba in an accident.
Rajkumar Tularam who was pursuing studies in Agronomy in the
Republic of Cuba was killed in a motorcycle accident last February.
Tularam was a third-year student who went on a scholarship through
the Government of Guyana to Cuba. He left Guyana in September
2000 to pursue studies in Cuba.
readmore....
Recovering lost ground to be discussed
-as teachers’ strike continues
Teachers
in several schools in many of the Ten Administrative Regions,
are continuing to participate in the strike, since the Ministry
of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) have
failed to reach an agreement.
During an interview with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Education Mr. Hydar Ally, he stated that the issue of recovering
lost ground in the schools’ curricula would be discussed.
The interview was held in the GTV-11 Studios, Homestretch Avenue,
Georgetown.
readmore...
President Jagdeo says stage set for greater stability
- the people of Guyana won
Georgetown, GINA,
May 10, 2003
President Bharrat Jagdeo feels that now that the main political
parties of Guyana have signed the communiqué, the
stage is set for more productive engagements, which will lead
to greater stability in the country.
“The people of Guyana have won and I really believe that
this, if it continues, will set the tone for really productive
engagements that will lead to greater stability and our people
issues can be focused on in a more direct way,” said President
Jagdeo.
The President made these statements during a special interview
with Mr. Dwayne Fowler of GTV-11 at State House last Friday.
The communiqué, dealing with several issues that are
of great concern to both the Government and the main Opposition
Party was signed by President Jagdeo and Leader of the People’s
National Congress Reform (PNCR), Mr. Robert Corbin on Tuesday
last at the Office of the President.
The signing of the communiqué ended a fourteen-month
political impasse between the People’s Progressive Party/Civic
(PPP/C) and the PNCR. The dialogue process between President
Jagdeo and the late Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Desmond Hoyte was
put on ‘pause’ by Mr. Hoyte in April 2002, shortly
after the PNCR Members of Parliament walked out of the National
Assembly.
The Head of State said the Government could now spend more time
on matters affecting people rather on political issues. He added
that more attention could also be focused on social and economic-related
issues.
He reiterated that there is no victors and vanquished or winners
and losers in this situation, but the people of Guyana have
won.
President Jagdeo explained that there was
a lot of behind the scene work and a lot of give-and-take. He
added, “I think what was good about this process was the
good faith and spirit of the engagement.”
“We have had our representatives engaged
over the last three months. They have been working quietly and
steadily. They have made progress, although sometimes there
were disagreements, but I think there was a good spirit in the
discussions and because of the good spirit and good faith, we
managed to resolve most of the issues,” said President
Jagdeo.
Three representatives from the Office of the President were
identified to finalise the arrangements for the talks between
President Jagdeo and Mr. Corbin. The representatives were Head
of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister
of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira, and Minister of
Education, Dr. Henry Jeffrey.
It was noted that the agreements reached
in the Communiqué should be beneficial for the long-term
social, economic and political development of Guyana. The agreements
in the communiqué were finalized during a meeting between
President Jagdeo and Mr. Corbin last Monday evening.
He explained, “By the time I got together
with Mr. Corbin, the Parliamentary issues had been settled and
we focused on some other items on the agenda. We managed through
the night to get through several of those issues. We still have
a few remaining issues on the original agenda, but those are
largely issues that I put on the agenda for discussions.”
The President said there has to be follow-up
mechanisms in place to ensure that the decisions that were agreed
on between himself and Mr. Corbin are implemented and kept on
track according to the various timelines.
He also observed that in his view their work
should not be conducted in public. However, the public needs
to know the results of the discussions. He noted that the work
of the two major political parties and other forces within the
country should get into the media, but often when that happens
too early, other issues arise based on reactions and editorializing.
He emphasized that those reactions sometimes harm the negotiating
process.
The communiqué addresses Parliamentary
and Constitutional Reform, the Appointment of the Constitutional
Commissions, Implementation of the Decisions of the Bipartisan
Committees, De-Politicisation of the Public Service, Appointment
of PPP/C and PNCR Nominees to State Boards, Commissions and
Committees, the Appointment of Disciplined Forces Commission
to Include Inquiry into the Operations of the Guyana Police
Force, Agreements for the Electricity Sector, the Constitutional
Office of the Leader of the Opposition, the Crime Situation
and Issues raised by the President.
TOP
Constitutional Commissions have tremendous powers- President Jagdeo
- historic signing because it addresses people’s
key concerns
Georgetown,
GINA, May 10, 2003
President Bharrat Jagdeo has emphasised that the various Constitutional
Commissions that will be established through the agreements signed
between himself and Leader of the People’s National Congress
Reform (PNCR), Mr. Robert Corbin, have tremendous powers.
“These are very important Commissions. The Ethnic Relations
Commission has powers of sanction which is important, but the
Commission also has powers to promote good ethnic relations through
programmes to get people to understand our culture,” explained
President Jagdeo.
In a special interview conducted by Dwayne Fowler from GTV-11
last Friday at State House, the President said, “Although
we have brought different cultures from different places, we are
all Guyanese and people have to learn a little bit of all our
cultures. People have to learn the cultures of each group, because
it is part of our culture now.”
Some of the Commissions that will be established include the Indigenous
Peoples, Ethnic Relations, Rights of the Child, Disciplinary Services,
Human Rights and the Procurement Commission.
President Jagdeo explained that the Commissions are very important.
“All of these things hopefully will give people more comfort
that they are treated equally as Guyanese. These Commissions will
significantly enhance the enforcement mechanisms for the bodies
of rights that we already have,” the Head of State pointed
out.
He explained that the Indigenous Peoples Commission will bring
an end to the issues raised by the indigenous people and historically
Government has tried to address some of those problems. It was
noted that their lands were identified in the 1960s but they never
received titles.
The President said, “We are in the process of demarcating
some of the land and giving titles to the Amerindians, but they
have also asked for additional land. So, I think we can accelerate
that process. We can also accelerate the body of rights for the
indigenous people to ensure they are treated equally in Guyana.”
He emphasised that the Rights of the Child Commission is very
important. “I am very disturbed by many of the problems
that I see in our society and around the Caribbean. But, I am
not so much concerned about the Caribbean, I am concerned about
our children, especially matters relating to incest and the abuse
of children. It is a really serious problem among some groups,
so we have to ensure that the rights of our children are not only
established but that they are enforced,” said the President.
The Head of State said that hopefully the Constitutional Commission
of the Rights of the Child would go a far way towards consolidating
all the Legislation protecting children and then institute strong
enforcement mechanisms. He is hopeful that the Commission will
also monitor those mechanisms enforced through the Constitutional
Commission that will have cooperation from all the parties in
Parliament.
“There is also the Ethnic Relations Commission. This is
very very important for our country. Traditionally there has been
this problem and it has been exacerbated by politics because
our people at the grassroot level, I think, want to live and work
together to create a better life for their children,” said
President Jagdeo.
He explained that after decades of stereotyping and negative politics,
ethnic tension is obvious sometimes. “In many ways people
still feel insecure because of that whether people feel that they
are being discriminated for jobs and access to benefits or because
they look a particular way” the Head of State noted.
It was noted that the Ethnic Relations Commission will give people
who perceive that they have been discriminated against an independent
body where they can take their case and have it investigated.
“What is good about this also is that it will undercut the
television and media houses that really push these issues, because
now all we have to say is, if you had a real issue don’t
just talk about it- just take it to the Ethnic Relations Commission
for redress,” said the President.
He added, “It will require people to come up with much more
factual situations than just use propaganda to stir up hatred
among our people. It will cut all the rhetoric and really deal
with the problem.”
The President pointed out that the Procurement
Commission is also of great importance. “There has been
lots of complaints that the Government is corrupt, although there
has been little evidence. You have corruption in many civil service
agencies but it has reduced tremendously from a decade ago,”
said President Jagdeo.
He added, “I can’t promise that there would never
be corruption because I don’t know that the people would
steal around the country, but we can deal with it if there is
corruption. Often we are told that the Government covers it up
so I am very glad that we have the Integrity Commission and now
the Procurement Commission.”
The Head of State noted that these Commissions could now investigate
these matters. He said this would take away people’s rhetorical
platform. He added that many people shout corruption when they
have personal issues, while others shout corruption for political
reasons.
“The Human Rights Commission is very vital and those who
claim that there are extra-judicial killings among the Police
can go to the Human Rights Commission. If they feel their Human
Rights are violated or any other violation of Human rights, they
can also go to the Commission,” said the President.
He pointed out that the Disciplinary Forces
Commission would look at the functioning of the Guyana Defence
Force and the Guyana Police Force. He explained that this Commission
will also examine the ethnic composition of the Forces because
there have been claims that because of the recruitment branches,
particular groups have been kept out.
President Jagdeo said the signing of the communiqué
was historic in a sense that the two political parties have reached
agreements. He noted that no other Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
countries have similar Parliamentary arrangements particularly
with the Opposition having such a strong voice in Parliament.
“It was historic in the sense that we have the new Constitutions
and now it is historic that we have reached agreement for the
implementation of the several measures that were identified, not
just to enhance inclusivity and to give a greater voice to the
Opposition but also to address many of the key concerns of our
people. So in that sense it was historic,” said President
Jagdeo.
He concluded, “We have one of the most inclusive Constitution
in the Western Hemisphere and probably in the whole Commonwealth
because there are several new features which are quite innovative.”
TOP
Guyana has one of the most inclusive Constitution – President
Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA,
May 10, 2003
Guyana’s Constitution is one of the most inclusive in
the Western Hemisphere said President Bharrat Jagdeo during
a special interview last Friday at State House with Dwayne Fowler
from GTV-11.
He added that it gives the main Opposition
party a greater voice and it also allows the Opposition to have
a say in matters relating to appointments on the various Constitutional
Commissions and Committees.
The President pointed out that there were minimal imput from
CARICOM countries and International Community in the working
out of Guyana’s Constitution.
“Our new Constitutional reform started even before the
1997 elections. It was in the People’s Progressive Party’s
(PPP) manifesto of 1992. We had committed ourselves to Constitutional
reform. We started that process and then the elections came
and it was put on hold and after the problems we have had, we
set up a Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) to continue
the process,” said the Head of State.
It was noted that the CRC had all the political parties in Parliament
involved in the process along with representatives of youths,
women, churches, mosques, temples and the various religious
groups in Guyana.
“They came together and they agreed on these measures
and what we are doing now is we are putting numbers to the measures.
We are also implementing what was agreed to a few years ago.
In 2001 many of these Bills were assented to,” said President
Jagdeo.
He explained that the agreements in the communiqué are
not new because they were agreed to about two years ago, but
they were not implemented. The President noted that the communiqué
is very comprehensive in its scope because it deals with all
the issues. He pointed out that specific timeframes has been
set and there are people already working on implementing the
agreements that were reached.
The President said, “What this
does is not just to create greater political stability which
is vital but for economic development, but it also allows for
the generation of jobs and for quicker implementation of programmes
in the education, health, housing and water sectors.”
He pointed out that greater stability will be in the society
and it would influence people directly in their homes. “It
also gives greater comfort to the ordinary man regardless of
his ethnic origin. He or she will be treated equally as a Guyanese,
regardless of race, religion or any other factor,” President
Jagdeo said.
The Head of State revealed that at the next meeting between
himself and Mr. Corbin, they will decide on a more permanent
mechanism to monitor and ensure implementation of agreements.
TOP
Police needs political, other support to fight crime – President
Jagdeo
- criminals should not be treated as freedom
fighters
Georgetown, GINA,
May 10, 2003
“The Guyana Police Force needs the political support and
space to operate. No one should treat these criminals as freedom
fighters, because initially we had that. About a year ago some
of the most notorious criminals were portrayed as freedom fighters.”
These sentiments were expressed by President Bharrat Jagdeo
during a special interview held at State House last Friday with
Dwayne Fowler from GTV-11. President Jagdeo said some people
and even villages were guarding and protecting criminals.
The President continued: “The public
pronouncement of the Opposition political party, the People’s
National Congress Reform (PNCR) will take away the veil that
they used to cover themselves. The veil of being freedom fighters
for some cause and expose them for what they really are, that
is, simple criminals regardless of their race and religion.
So it gives much more room for the Police to operate and I think
it sets a tone.”
He added that everyone should condemn crime,
not only the political parties.
Guyana has experienced an upsurge in crime since February 2002
following a jail-break at the Camp Street Prison where five
notorious criminals escaped after killing a Prison Officer and
wounding others. Two members of the gang is still at large and
the other three were killed in separate incidents.
Government invested $100 million in crime
fighting in Guyana since February 2002 to upgrade weaponry,
intelligence and more vehicles. A large number of protective
gears were also purchased.
Over 20 Police Officers were killed during
the crime upsurge in Guyana, while several persons were kidnapped
and robbed.
The President said, “While crime has
to be fought by the Police and the Army, they need support from
other communities and other people. When we issued the two statements
on crime in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago at the CARICOM Head
of Government meeting last year, we recognised these issues
and we agreed that we should try to develop a national anti-crime
action plan which we have been working on. We have developed
something like that through wide consultations then we have
national commissions which involves every interest group,”
said President Jagdeo.
He added that he issue has to be tackled
in a profound way from all sides. He said church leaders and
religious people are required to work with young people to steer
them away from crime. He pointed out that every group in society
has a role to play.
The Head of State said, “I am very
concerned about making a link between condemning crime and talking
about performance of sections of the Police Force. I think we
all have to condemn crime wherever it occurs under whatever
circumstances. Crime harms innocent people, so we should not
link it to an inquiry into the Police Force.”
It was noted that a report that was done
by an official from the United Kingdom was tabled in Parliament
recently. The President said the official did a review of the
Police Force and the recommendations were comprehensive.
“There were a lot of public outcry
by the Opposition about the Target Special Squad. We said the
Target Squad will be disbanded when we have with UK help, a
larger group that is trained, a SWAT team that is functional
because we still need a unit like that. In every country they
have units like those, so we said there will be a larger team
trained and when they are operational then the Target Squad
will be disbanded,” said President Jagdeo.
He pointed out that steps are being taken
to address the problems but Government did not want to make
it a political issue. “This country has to recognise the
difficulties that Policemen face when they go out every night
and put their lives on the line. So in the middle of fighting
crime, you do not want to demoralize the whole Police Force
for the transgression of maybe a few people,” said President
Jagdeo.
The Head of State added that Government is
prepared to deal with the transgression of a few people but
not to demoralize the whole Police Force. He added, “I
do not want to put Policemen on trial because they are the good
guys, they are not the bad ones.”
TOP
President Jagdeo hopes to attract new bauxite investor
- looking forward to visit to Russia
Georgetown, GINA,
May 10, 2003
President Bharrat Jagdeo is hoping during his visit to Russia
to attract a new bauxite investor who can make a big difference
in Guyana’s bauxite industry.
In a special interview held at State House
last Friday with Dwayne Fowler from GTV-11, President Jagdeo
said he would be speaking with RUSA, which is the second largest
aluminum company in the world.
President Jagdeo is leading a delegation to Moscow from May
9 to 18, to attend the World Forum on graduates from Russian
institutions. He is accompanied by his Political Advisor, Mr.
Kellawan Lall, Senior Agricultural Officer, Mr. Joseph Mc Allister
and acting Director of Regional Medical Services, Dr. Beri Ramsarran,
who are all graduates of training programmes in the former United
Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR).
Members of the team plan to visit their various Alma Mater.
The local team will also participate at a forum to be addressed
by President of the Russian Republic, His Excellency Vladimir
Putin.
“We are very interested in getting them (RUSA) to invest
in Guyana, especially in the Berbice River. We had some restructuring
there with the mines when ALCOA left the country. We still have
difficulties in securing markets. Even now our people are locked
in negotiations whilst we are getting an order for the quantity.
The price is not very good. But what will be the long-term development
to bring stability to that area, is investment,” said
the Head of State.
He added, “We are talking to RUSA to see if we can interest
them to invest here. They came here and did a preliminary investment
and we think there may be some possibility. Not only in bauxite
operation but going up stream.” He urged that value added
factor is very important and it will make a big difference to
our bauxite industry if RUSA comes to Guyana.
He said, “ I was hoping to go to the Ukraine because we
have an import tariff on our bauxite in that country which makes
our bauxite not very competitive. We have been in contact with
the Ukrainian Government to see if the tariffs can be removed,
so that our bauxite can be much more competitive in that market.”
The President added, “I am looking forward to seeing some
of my friends. Sometimes I meet my friends. I have one in Guadeloupe,
a lot in Jamaica, Suriname, Africa and I also met one from Mexico
recently. It is quite interesting and I do hope I see some of
them to find out what is going on in their lives.”
In 1984 President Jagdeo went to Moscow on a scholarship and
graduated with a Master’s Degree in Economics. On returning
to Guyana in 1990 he served as an Economist in the State Planning
Secretariat. After the General Election in 1992 he was appointed
as Special Advisor to the Minister of Finance. About a year
after, he was appointed a Junior Minister of Finance and in
May 1995 he was promoted to the position of Senior Minister
of Finance.
In August 1999 he took office as President of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana and in 2001 he was again elected as President
following the General Election.
TOP
President disturbed by claims made by relatives of Cuba victim
Georgetown, GINA,
May 10, 2003
President Bharrat Jagdeo is disturbed by the claims being made
by the parents and relatives of the student who as killed in
Cuba in an accident.
Rajkumar Tularam who was pursuing studies
in Agronomy in the Republic of Cuba was killed in a motorcycle
accident last February. Tularam was a third-year student who
went on a scholarship through the Government of Guyana to Cuba.
He left Guyana in September 2000 to pursue studies in Cuba.
President Jagdeo explained that he saw the parents of the late
Tularam on a television programme saying that Government did
not care and did not make an effort to bring back the body of
their son.
He pointed out that Government expended a huge sum of money
to bring back the body of the deceased to Guyana, but unfortunately
the body was delayed between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago
because of some problems. The body was sent back to Venezuela
and it started decomposing.
“We paid for the family to go to Venezuela to see the
body. Unfortunately they couldn’t see it,” said
the President.
He explained that Minister of Public Service Management, Ms.
Jennifer Westford had even given the family money for the ‘wake’.
“I am very disturbed that they would say that we did not
even make an effort to bring back the body. There were circumstances
beyond our control. We did not want the body to be decomposed.
We would not want to bring the body from Cuba to Trinidad and
not home, but something went wrong,” said the Head of
State.
He added, “I am very disturbed about this because it is
a total misrepresentation. I hope it will be corrected.”
Guyana is benefiting from a number of scholarships offered by
the Cuban Government to Government of Guyana.
A batch of about 124 students went to Cuba in September last
year to pursue studies in medicine, computer engineering, electrical
engineering, mechanical engineering, culture, sport, agriculture
and architecture.
A second batch of 24 Government sponsored students were preparing
to leave for Cuba to begin studies early April but their departure
was delayed. They will leave in September with a further 80
students, whose applications will be approved after the final
interviews for the 2003/2004 academic year. The final group
will pursue studies in agriculture, engineering, dentistry and
pharmacy. These interviews will be completed this month.
Under the scholarship programme, the students sent by Government
will be given a stipend of CAN $50 per month.
TOP
Recovering lost ground to be discussed
-as teachers’ strike continues
Georgetown, GINA,
May 10, 2003
Teachers in several schools in many of the Ten Administrative
Regions, are continuing to participate in the strike, since
the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union
(GTU) have failed to reach an agreement.
During an interview with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Education Mr. Hydar Ally, he stated that the issue of recovering
lost ground in the schools’ curricula would be discussed.
The interview was held in the GTV-11 Studios, Homestretch Avenue,
Georgetown.
The Permanent Secretary expressed optimism that a solution will
be found so that students will be able to receive their full
quota of classes.
Mr. Hydar Ally stated that mostly schools in Georgetown and
other specific Regions are being affected by the strike while
other areas in Georgetown, Regions Five, Six and Two are slightly
affected.
The Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union
(GTU) have failed to reach an agreement on the current wages
dispute, resulting in the GTU calling for industrial action
on March 5, 2003.
The Ministry refused to go to arbitration for 2002, since salary
increases for 2002 have already been paid and the Ministry is
not willing to re-negotiate. Furthermore, according to the Ministry
of Education, the GTU used delaying tactics, resulting in late
negotiations, when the problems could have been solved earlier.
The GTU has requested an increase in salaries for teachers across-the-board
for 2002, but Government has stated that it is unable to meet
the union’s demands, since the union is insisting that
the 2002 wages negotiations be re-opened.
Government has been working to provide increases and other benefits
for teachers, including the provision of house lots, full payment
of examination fees for the children of teachers, increase in
risk allowances for teachers, vacation allowances for teachers
and the reduction of the eligibility period for Whitley Council
leave from five to four years.
In addition, teachers’ salaries already have been increased
from five percent to 15 percent in 2002.
An Advisory Committee was established by the Minister of Labour,
Human Services and Social Security Dr. Dale Bisnauth, with a
view to resolving the issue and made recommendations to both
parties. But to date, no agreement has been reached.
Government recently offered a sum of between $40-$60M to teachers
as an incentive to end the strike, as recommended by the Advisory
Committee. This proposal is currently being considered.
The union demanded that either the Ministry of Education or
the Ministry of Labour submit a letter outlining their proposal
before it would be considered. The Ministry of Labour submitted
the letter to the union but to date there has been no response
from the union.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Education is exploring avenues to
ensure that students preparing to take examinations receive
proper tuition.
TOP
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