GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

Eleven years of challenges but development attained
- HPS Dr. Roger Luncheon

Prospects high for Guyana hosting World Cup matches
- Developmental works timely - Dr. Luncheon

Report by Local Government Task force still under consideration

The Local Government Reform Task Force appointed to recommend reforms in Local Government elections has submitted a preliminary report to President Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin.
This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Clinton Collymore.
Minister Collymore said that both leaders are presently considering the recommendations in the report as several laws may need to be changed with regard to Local Government elections.
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Works to commence on Pomeroon River bank Tuesday
- Regional Executive Officer

Regional Executive Officer of Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Nandkishore Persaud, disclosed today that works to rectify the flooding situation at Marlboro, Lower Pomeroon, will commence on Tuesday.
Persaud said that he was unaware that the situation was that bad as the area has not been affected by flooding for about two years.
He also stated that he was not aware that students and teachers of the Nursery and Primary Schools had gathered on the stelling as reported in the Stabroek News (October 3, 2003).
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Eleven years of challenges but development attained
- HPS Dr. Roger Luncheon

Georgetown, GINA, Friday, October 3, 2003.

Guyana will be celebrating the 11th anniversary of the PPP/C Government in office arising from its victory at the historic free and fair elections of October 5, 1992. These were the words of Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet brief today.
Dr. Luncheon said since the return of democracy, Guyanese have seen advances in every sector of national life. He said the business of Governing has seen initiatives of the most fundamental nature centered on:

• Increased accountability, transparency and most importantly, overseeing of the executive branch of the Government by Parliament with extended powers.
• Increased inclusiveness by Constitutional means and political accord.
• Strengthened Parliamentary democracy.

The HPS added that the PPP/C Government has and continues to fulfill its commitments to Guyanese in the important areas of social services, with figures reflecting such commitment and consistency in the areas of education, health, human services and social security.
He described the housing developments over the last eleven years as a veritable revolution, while alluding to the accomplished necessary policy change with regards to land distribution and titling.
He said the early economic advances have been slowed and aggravated by both external and internal factors. Responding to the question of a reduction in foreign aid to Guyana since 1992, Dr. Luncheon said that problem is not unique to Guyana. He added that in the developing world as a whole, there has been a decline in developmental aid. He noted that major international conferences on the World Trade Organisation ….. can attest to that fact.
Dr. Luncheon added that one of the main factors is the sudden surge of what he termed "hot spots" around the world, many of which have attained humanitarian crises status. Many of which, Dr. Luncheon said, required peace keeping forces, resulting in a high concentration of financing. He referred to countries such as Afghanistan and the southern republics in the former Soviet Union, where inconclusive resolution of conflict has resulted in the high concentration of large-scale financing.
The Secretary to the Cabinet said while the level of support that was provided in the years immediately following the change of government may not be forthcoming as it was before, since many pronouncements on developments and achievements made in the last eleven-year period by Government officials may have contributed to a belief that there is no need for aid to do what has already been done.
Other developing countries are now coming up with new ways in which aid can now be acquired. He said in the area of concessionary financing provided by the International Financial Institutions, in these areas there will be an issue of timing because of the deficiencies in our capacity to comply.
Dr. Luncheon noted that compliance with the high number of rules and regulations that are part of the process of accessing, using and implementing projects when these concessionary funds are to be applied, has also made it difficult for developing states.
He opined that Guyana join with most countries in the developing world, to lament the reduction of developmental aid to the developing world. Dr. Luncheon said Dr. Cheddi Jagan started with his own idea about the global fund to address human development and many developing countries have now come up with their own ideas to address development funding.
Alluding to the internal factors, Dr. Luncheon said the body politic is slowly healing after the turbulent days of post 1997 elections. He added that new leadership in both major parties and the involvement of both civic and external agencies have furthered this process.
Dr. Luncheon said that in the eleventh year of the PPP/C Government, the promise of accountable and transparent Government, equitable distribution of social goods and services, economic growth and development and social justice, peace and stability, are all pledges made to the Guyanese people, to which Government remains committed.
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Prospects high for Guyana hosting World Cup matches
- Developmental works timely - Dr. Luncheon

Georgetown, GINA, Friday, October 3, 2003.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that Guyana is pressing on with its efforts to be a venue for hosting matches in the upcoming International Cricket Council World Cup, scheduled for the Caribbean in 2007.
The Cabinet Secretary said that efforts centre on having a suitable Cricket Stadium. After his recent visit to India, President Bharrat Jagdeo was assured that the Government of India would examine the possibility of constructing a stadium that can host at least one World Cup match.
Dr. Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing today, said that the diplomatic discussions on the issue are ongoing. A report, including specifications about the location and other particulars of the proposed venue is to be presented to the Indian Government, after which, a team of engineers and technicians will be selected to come to Guyana to conduct the necessary studies.
The HPS said that all interested parties are working with the Government of Guyana to bring clarity to the various aspects of the reality of building that stadium and Guyana becoming a venue for the World Cup. Dr. Luncheon said the actual mechanics of the selection process have been recently unveiled, and Guyana will be competing on the basis of its sports facilities and infrastructures, accommodation facilities, telecommunication levels, security situation, customs, immigration, traffic control and other related factors.
Dr. Luncheon noted that with Providence identified as the proposed site for the construction of the stadium, physical infrastructure such as the completion of a four lane highway on the East Bank, Demerara, the growing housing construction sector, the modernisation of the Ogle Aerodrome and further developments to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, are some of the area that will be looked at by the organisers of the event.
He said decisions can be made as early as 2004 with regards to the bidding process. However, most importantly, Dr. Luncheon said, private sector interest is unabated and the idea of Guyana not hosting the world Cup venue is clearly unpalatable.
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Report by Local Government Task force still under consideration

Georgetown, GINA, October 3, 2003

The Local Government Reform Task Force appointed to recommend reforms in Local Government elections has submitted a preliminary report to President Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin.
This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Clinton Collymore.
Minister Collymore said that both leaders are presently considering the recommendations in the report as several laws may need to be changed with regard to Local Government elections.
He said that the legal authorities have identified a highly creditable person to draft the legislation.
Mr. Keith Messiah, a former Attorney-General, Chancellor of the Judiciary and practising judge in the High Court, has been selected for the task. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will fund the project.
Minister Collymore noted that consultations were made countrywide and it has been agreed that many communities need Village and Community Councils.
He also further contended that the Task Force will be dealing specifically with the electoral system and discussions were held to address four areas: Municipal, Village Council, Community Council and Neighbourhood Democratic Council elections.
In 2001, a Joint Task Force comprising members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) was formed to handle the Local Government Reform process.
This was a result of dialogue between President Jagdeo and the late Opposition Leader, Hugh Desmond Hoyte.
Recommendations by the Task Force include the reforming of the Constitution to allow individuals to contest Local Government elections.
Presently, discussions by the Task Force also include the reforming of the Constitution to allow individuals to contest Local Government elections.
In 1990, the People’s National Congress had issued an Order dissolving all Village Councils and incorporated those and others into Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.
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Works to commence on Pomeroon River bank Tuesday
- Regional Executive Officer

Georgetown, GINA, October 3, 2003

Regional Executive Officer of Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Nandkishore Persaud, disclosed today that works to rectify the flooding situation at Marlboro, Lower Pomeroon, will commence on Tuesday.
Persaud said that he was unaware that the situation was that bad as the area has not been affected by flooding for about two years.
He also stated that he was not aware that students and teachers of the Nursery and Primary Schools had gathered on the stelling as reported in the Stabroek News (October 3, 2003).
The Regional Executive Officer explained that the materials are being gathered to begin work and works will include lifting the river dam and replacing the broken koker.
He noted however, that the Ministry of Public works are carrying out work in other parts of the Region.
According to Persaud, a bridge has been constructed at Riverstown and is now open to regular vehicular traffic. In Anna Regina, as well, a bridge has been constructed over the main facade at a cost of $7M.
Recent reports have stated that the Marlboro Schools were hit by flooding yesterday due to the Pomeroon River’s high tides and a broken koker and that students and teachers had gathered on the stelling.
Reports also stated that parents and teachers were concerned since the flooding had affected classes.
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