GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

'The Return of Freedom to Guyana-’ President Jagdeo
- PPP/C celebrates 11 years of democracy

Regional Agriculture Policy Network Management workshop opens today

Partial Scope Agreement before COTED

'We have a proud record… done well given circumstances’
- HPS, Health Minister review PPP/C’s 11 years in Office

GGMC moving to address security at mining camps
Mining Affairs Committees to be established-GGMC Commissioner

HIV/AIDS pandemic is a security breach severe enough to threaten our population
- Ramsammy

Guyana trade Fair and Exhibition opens this week

$300M school at Linden get commissioned this week

Regional Agriculture Policy Network Management workshop opens today

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

As part of activities for Caribbean Week of Agriculture a Regional Agriculture Policy Network Management Workshop was today opened at the Cara Inn, Pere Street, Kitty.
The Minister of Agriculture (ag) Mr. Satyadeow Sawh delivered the feature address where he noted the importance of Agriculture to Guyana’s economy.
This year’s theme for Agriculture Month is ‘Guyana’s alliance against hunger,’ derived from the FAO’s World Food Day theme of ‘International Alliance against hunger.’
The workshop will continue until October 10. Caribbean Week of Agriculture is being hosted in Guyana for the first time.
Minister Sawh noted, “Indeed, it is the responsibility of Government to provide a policy and regulatory framework, for only under a clear and fair structure, can markets operate equitably and provide the greatest benefit to the Region.”
Director of Operations, Caribbean Region and Advisor to the Director General on Caribbean Affairs, IICA Dr. Arlington Chesney said that stakeholders have to cooperate and form partnerships to move the sector forward while urging persons to diversify their produce.
The Regional Agriculture Policy Network Management will be officially launched on Wednesday, October 8, 2003.
Minister Sawh noted the importance of partnerships saying, “As the world trading environment becomes more competitive and more interdependent, systems of standards, inspections and certifications of our agricultural produce become ever more homogenized and rigorous. We, as individual countries within our Region, are not large in terms of population and do have limits with respect to our capacity, both human and capital. Thus with these ever more demanding standards to meet, we need to, now more than ever, pool our resources to meet the challenges facing us.”
The Minister stated, “If we are to trade successfully and for so many of us, trade is a crucial aspect of our economies, we must be able to provide the market with quality produce in an efficient and timely manner. In this respect, the development of the Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency is vital in organizing the region in these technical areas of standards, inspection and certification.”
The network is being established to provide necessary skills and information to move the agricultural sector forward and enhance agricultural production in the Region.
Present at the Workshop was St. Lucia’s Minister of Agriculture Mr. Calixte George and representatives from Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.
The workshop was organized by the CTA, CARDI and IICA. Other activities planned for the month include a trade fair at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.
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Partial Scope Agreement before COTED

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

The Guyana/Brazil Partial Scope Agreement is presently before the Region's Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).
It is expected that within a month this process would be finalized and implemented. This process was necessary to ascertain possible implications the new trade route would have on existing CARICOM arrangements.
Since the Agreement was signed in June 2001 several consultations were held with the CARICOM Secretariat and Trade Ministers, which raised several objections.
Sixty-three from the original list of products put forward by the Brazilians were identified as 'sensitive products' by CARICOM.
The Partial Scope Agreement refers to the exchange of tariff preferences on specified products among signatories to the Agreement.
Guyana's products include calcined bauxite, rice, sugar, bottled rum, copra, red peppers, plywood, canned Heart of Palm, wooden furniture, sawn lumber, PVC pipes, corrugated cardboard, paper towels, chemical paper, aluzinc sheets and a wide range of primary agriculture products.
On the Brazilian side the list includes capital goods such as machinery and parts, building materials such as steel products, industrial equipment, medicines, new tires and electronic equipment.
Guyana will also be able to export annual quotas of sugar, rice and red peppers.
The aim of the Agreement is to foster bilateral trade flows through the exchange of tariff preferences between Guyana and Brazil, increase cooperation on trade matters, and facilitate participation of the private sector.
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‘We have a proud record… done well given circumstances’
- HPS, Health Minister review PPP/C’s 11 years in Office

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

The PPP/C Administration has kept true its promises to the people of Guyana; paramount among these is the restoration of democracy. In its Manifesto during the campaign leading up to the 1992 Election, when the PPP/C was returned to Office following just under three decades of dictatorship and corruption by the previous Government, the restoration of a free and fair Government for all races in Guyana was promised.
This has been accomplished.
This was explained by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon and Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy during a television programme ‘Close-Up’ hosted by Martin Goolsarran, Executive Producer of GTV.
Dr. Ramsammy noted that the PPP/C inherited a virtual dictatorship and it committed to Guyanese to have a Republic founded by equality and freedom, under the stewardship of the National Assembly.
Commitments were also made on the restoration of the pillars of democracy, such as infrastructure, social services, transparency and accountability and investment.
Dr. Luncheon noted that this Administration came in to Office with a good character, that of the late President Cheddi Jagan and rectified many of the areas in which the former Administration let down the Guyanese people, particularly in the financial arena.

Discrimination

“This party has always been a truly national party and I don’t think that anyone can look at the PPP/C in Government and speak confidently of a party that has been engaged in discrimination…discrimination is alien to the leadership of the PPP/C…Let our Critics go, let them select the parameters and let them bring the evidence to show the patterns of racial discrimination that warrants this liable abuse and scandalous behaviour about the confirmed and acceptable practices of the PPP/C in Government.”
These are in short the views of the Administration on the issue of discrimination, as conveyed by Dr. Luncheon.
The HPS noted that the PPP/C has struggled over the years to put in place an environment that seeks clearly to eliminate any trend of discrimination and has made tremendous progress.
Addressing the issue of discrimination in terms of employment, Dr. Ramsammy said his Administration has sought repeatedly to create a society for all Guyanese and no ethnic group in the multi-ethnic Guyana has been discriminated against. He pointed out that the senior appointments within the public service reflects a large quota of Afro-Guyanese, thereby countering allegations that Government has discriminated against this particular ethnic group in the work force. Minister Ramsammy also refuted allegations that Government has shown a preference for Indo-Guyanese contractors in awarding contracts for works, adding that stringent procurement measures have been put in place to ensure that contracts are fairly awarded.
The distribution of houselots and the loan arrangement in place for persons to build houses are also evidence of Government’s inclusive policy as settlements have been established across the country and lot allocated to persons of every race, class and sex.
“There is no real evidence that Government has discriminated against any ethnic group,” Dr. Ramsammy said. Government has also been frequently criticized for its spending in the ten Administrative Regions, with the main Opposition Party, People’s National Congress/Reform alleging that Government has neglected Region Four as it is usually allocated a small budget.
Dr. Ramsammy noted that Region Four’s budget is not reflective of the vast sums Government has expended into Georgetown, as well as the money spent by the Guyana Sugar Corporation on drainage and irrigation in Region Four.
“Again here you have people deliberately misinforming others but what they do not talk about is that the budget is spread out,” he said.
He noted that the areas considered to be the PNCR’s stronghold, are the ones with the largest per capita spending. He did not rule out the notion that there may be isolated cases of discrimination as Government can make the policies, but the implementation may differ. In this context, the Health Minister pointed out that with the establishment of the Constitutional Commissions, such as the Ethnic Relations Commission, persons can have grievances of discrimination addressed.

Corruption

Dr. Luncheon noted that the critics have tried over the years to malign the Administrations record on the issue of corruption, despite the many effort to rid Guyana of this scourge. Among the most remarkable achievements in this area, is the resumption of the country’s public accounts, which are now audited and presented annually.
In the past, the Auditor General was prohibited from auditing the public accounts of Guyana. Today, the PPP/C Government has instituted an active auditing of its accounts and the disputable expenses are laid before the National Assembly. There is an Integrity Commission to audit the assets of Parliamentarians and Government officers and a transparent procurement process, thereby eliminating room for corruption.
“We have restored public accounts and its presentation…nothing is done outside the purview of the Auditor General,” Dr. Luncheon said.
He noted that when examining the financial status of Guyana inherited by the PPP/C in 1992 upon its return to Office, one could confidently say the country has come a far way along the road of eliminating corruption.
Government has also made several efforts to remove corruption in other areas, such as narco-trafficking, hence the notion that government is associated with the “drug lords” are not founded on solid facts but forms part of the Opposition’s strategy to discredit the administration.
He noted that Government has been at the forefront in the creation of the Anti-Narcotics Unit, legislation against money laundering and efforts to seek international help to curb these practices.
In the past, the PNCR borrowed US$2.1B in foreign debt, which was grossly unaccounted for. Dr. Ramsammy noted that today, all the Administration borrowing and spending are clearly reflected in the public accounts. The Public Accounts Committee of the National assembly is chaired by the PNCR.

Economic mismanagement

Dr. Ramsammy noted that quantum leaps were recorded, as during nine of its ruling 11 years, the Administration has secured a positive growth rate for Guyana. Prior to 1992, the PNCR operated under a negative growth rate. Dr. Ramsammy said that from 1992 to 1997, the country recorded an average annual growth rate of seven per cent, but has since had difficulties in maintaining this figure.
He also pointed out that sugar just over a decade ago was being imported from Guatemala because about 100,000 tonnes only was produced locally. Today this figure has risen to an average of about 320,000 tonnes.
In the rice sector, the productivity has risen from 93,000 tonnes to an annual average of 320,000 tonnes.
“We have diversified the economy so that things that were dead in 1992, have become self-sufficient,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
Among these are poultry-rearing, fisheries, manufacturing and investment.
In the investment sector, the Minister said that Government has secured about US$50M in direct foreign investment and billions of dollars in local investment, which placed Guyana 17th out of 140 countries in the UN World Report attracting foreign investment. All this he said is because of prudent economic management.
“If it were not for the road blocks internally and externally in our way…we could have been better off. We should be proud of what we have done, not just the PPP/C but all those private investors, the people who work in the field and the manufacturing plants and so on. We have a record that every Guyanese should be proud of,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
The foreign debt has been reduced from US$2B to just over US$1B
Dr. Luncheon noted that this economic growth is reflective of the development pattern being led by the Administration. He however, said that Government is not and will not be surprised of present and future accusations, as “Guyana has done quite well given the circumstances.”
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GGMC moving to address security at mining camps
Mining Affairs Committees to be established-GGMC Commissioner

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

In the wake of last Friday’s attacks on two mining camps in the Region Eight (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) mining district, which resulted in the death of a Brazilian miner at Aremua, a joint team, comprising officials of the GGMC and the Ministry of Home Affairs, is expected to visit the region soon.
Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Mr. Robeson Benn said the GGMC, in collaboration with the Immigration and Income Tax departments has been engaged in regularisation campaigns aimed at ascertaining the legitimacy and number of persons at mine sites.
Benn conceded that despite these efforts, persons with criminal intent manage to gain access to mine sites, and in some instances, steal minerals, valuable spares and equipment belonging to the miners.
The GGMC head noted that his agency is currently at the stage of discussion with the security sector and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association to address the continuity of law enforcement and other matters of concern to the various mining communities.
Against this backdrop, Benn added, “ It is our intention at the GGMC, along with cooperation of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association to develop in each mining district, mining affairs committees to meet on a quarterly basis.”
Benn explained that these committees would form the basis for interface between the operatives to discuss issues relating to mining in a “multi-stakeholder way.”
While security will be placed high on the agenda of these meetings, other matters relating to the environment and health, which incorporates malaria, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDS’s) and HIV/AIDS, are earmarked for discussion.
Indigenous issues relating to encounters between the communities and miners are also slated for discussion, noted Benn.
Asked about the GGMC’s monitoring mechanism, particularly for illegitimate persons at mine sites, the Commissioner said his office has generally maintained 65% field presence in terms of monitoring persons who enter and leave mine-sites.
This is apart from additional exercises conducted by surveyors, environmental officers and other administrative personnel who make frequent visits to the mining regions, pointed out the GGMC Commissioner.
He related that field officers are intermittently affected by illnesses such as malaria and gastro-related infections, but he described overall oversight of mine locations as “much improved.”
However, the GGMC recognises the need for greater scrutiny of persons at mine camps, but not as a means of stemming free movement, Benn assured.
In keeping with mining regulations, every miner is required to have a work privilege for his post at a concession. Failure to produce one after three days of inspection could result in charges being laid.
The presence of Brazilian miners in Guyana has been attributed to the record diamond production recorded by the industry for the last few years. Emphasising the need for all non-nationals to be properly documented, the GGMC Commissioner said the Brazilian miners have brought a positive turn-around in the diamond field through their equipment and techniques.
While various miners have expressed fear with regard to their future security in the field, Benn said Government has taken cognisance of these concerns and is moving to have them addressed, as they could impact negatively on the economy.
Mining contributes to over 27% of Guyana’s export value and has over the years contributed significantly to the economy in generating activity in the interior that has seen the development of new towns.
Two persons are in police custody assisting the police with investigations into the death of a Brazilian miner at Aremu, and armed robbery at Eagle Mining Company, in the Berbice River.
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Guyana trade Fair and Exhibition opens this week

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

Guyana's annual Trade Fair and Exhibition 2003 will open on October 8, 2003 at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia and will run for five days. The Fair and Exhibition is designed to coincide with Agriculture week.
Guyana Manufactures' Association Limited (GMA), in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation and several other private and Governmental organisations, is mounting the exhibition.
Exhibits on show will be agricultural produce, agro-processed foods, livestock, garments, handicraft, furniture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, jewelery, business services, housing and other locally manufactured products.
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HIV/AIDS pandemic is a security breach severe enough to threaten our population - Ramsammy

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the audience at the official launching of the National Expansion of the Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) Treatment Programme that HIV/AIDS is a national security breach that is severe enough to threaten Guyana's population and its national development.
The Ministry of Health, through the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), today officially launched the HIV/AIDS expanded treatment and care programme.
The national expansion hopes to target treatment for HIV/AIDS infected persons in Regions Two, Three, Six and Ten.
Guyana is currently the cheapest producer in the Americas of the anti-retroviral viral drug, where patient can receive the drug free of cost from specified public hospitals throughout the country.
Additionally, feedback since the programme started indicated that patients are responding positively, which to the drug. Patients in some countries have to use as much as 20 pills daily, whereas Guyana's programme entails the use of two pills daily.
Minister Ramsammy said that HIV/AIDS is a crisis and an outbreak, and everyone must put their energies and talent to fight the disease.
Congratulating health workers for their efforts in the fight against the spread of the virus, the Minister noted Guyana is at a crucial milestone in its response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Further, Guyana's level of HIV/AIDS response has been complemented by lessons learnt from other countries, as well as its innovative thinking.
He noted that Guyana, as a third world country, has shown that with limited resources available, it was able to provide the prevention and treatment formula to treat HIV/AIDS.
Minister Ramsammy noted that several countries originally engaged in a HIV/AIDS prevention campaign realized that a reduction in the transmission of the virus was not forthcoming. Countries had to pursue a combination of preventative and treatment measures in order to stem the spread of the virus.
He reiterated that in order to save lives, countries need to ensure proper prevention, treatment and care programmes.
Present at the launching ceremony, along with Minister Ramsammy, were Permanent Secretary Sonia Roopnauth, Chief Medical Officer Rudolph Cummings, Director, GUM Clinic Dr. Michael Ali, Head, National AIDS Programme Secretariat and representatives from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
Dr. Cummings in his opening remarks noted that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is the most serious public health challenge in the last 20 years.
Further, he noted that Guyana has begun to make important steps to widen the number of facilities and treatment in the fight against the virus.
In April 2002, the Ministry of Health started its first treatment programme for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Edwards noted that there were several factors that influenced Guyana's decision to produce the anti-retroviral drug, including Guyana's high incidence of infections, political will and the availability of local manufacturer (New Guyana Marketing Cooperation) to produce the drug.
Guyana is the second most HIV/AIDS-affected country in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a three and a half percentage rate of infection for persons between the ages 15 to 35.
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‘The Return of Freedom to Guyana-’ President Jagdeo
- PPP/C celebrates 11 years of democracy

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

“As we celebrate tonight we must also remember the lesson of democracy and our history and remember that what we are celebrating here is not just a partisan affair because democracy is important to every single citizen in the country. It is about our dignity and who we are. There was one time when people did not have the right to chose a Government of their choice and if you do not have that it means that you do not have a say in the running of your country. It is dehumanising in a way when someone takes away your right of choice, as they are taking away an important part of who you are and what you stand for and that is what we are celebrating here - returning that freedom to our country, lifting the burden from the backs of our people and removing the dehumanising past and of course looking into the future.
President Bharrat Jagdeo made this declaration while addressing the thousands gathered at the State House to observe the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s 11th year of re-election to Office.
The PPP/C’s accession to Government has ensured every Guyanese the freedom to exercise their constitutional rights in their homeland, President Jagdeo said.
This freedom, which came after intense struggle, was restored 11 years ago with the return of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic to Government through the polls.
As part of the PPP/C’s 11th anniversary since acceding to Office in 1992, a grand celebration was mounted at the President’s official residence, the State House.
The packed event featured games, art and craft and food stalls, and saw participation from a wide cross-section of Guyanese. Among the displays was a variety of hats, plants and cultural jewellery. The children were also treated to various designs of hand paintings, as well as educational items from the Government Information Agency’s booth.
Touring the grounds of the celebration, President Bharrat Jagdeo interacted with the thousands of Guyanese who turned out to the event.
After 28 years of dictatorship in Guyana, the PPP/C was returned to Office following the holding of free and fair elections in October 1992, President Jagdeo said,
During the past eleven years, Guyana has experienced steady progress in development. Theses developments cover all sectors, including social, economic and political.
“In Guyana, we are trying to develop at the political level a new political culture so that if there are differences there must be mechanisms to deal with these,” the President said.
The Head of State cautioned Guyanese not to foster the idea that Guyana would be problem free, as in most democracies of the world there are problems.
“There would always be problems in countries like ours. We are an extremely poor country. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go, he said, adding that if we remain focused and keep our primary objective in mind, that is improving the lives of all in a non-partisan way, success will definitely come.
“Because if we do it in a partisan way then we do the same thing that we accused our predecessors of doing. We have to make sure that we manage this country in the interest of all of our people regardless of political affiliation, regardless of religion, regardless of race and the party that I believe in, and the Government that I lead will always do that because we recognise that is the only true path to development in this country.
There are going to be problems we have had many problems and we will continue to have problems, but its not the existence of the problems that matters so much because every country has problems. It is how we go about solving these problems,” he said.
The President noted that he is trying to set the pace at the highest level for such behaviour and the constructive engagement process between himself and Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin is illustrative of this.
President Jagdeo also noted that October 5, is an occasion when Guyanese come “together as a people and basically celebrate our achievements and how far our country has come.”
He urged the large gathering to continue persevering and the democracy won 11 years ago will be sustained.
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$300M school at Linden get commissioned this week

Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2003

The Linden Foundation Secondary School will be formally opened on October 8, 2003.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds will be at the opening.
The School was officially handed over to the Ministry of Education in May 2003. It has places for over 1000 students and in 35 classrooms.
According to a GEAP press Release, it is a “high quality, well equipped building providing a greatly enhanced learning environment and a comprehensive range of facilities.”
Besides the classrooms, the school will also have three science laboratories, two industrial arts workshops, two home economics laboratories an 15- station IT laboratory a multi-purpose hall and an art and craft room.
This was a project funded by the Department of International Development United Kingdom, through the Guyana Education Access Programme (GEAP).
The total cost to build and equip the school was $300M.
There are presently 850 students in the school along with 66 teachers. The students include children from the Secondary component of the Mackenzie Primary School.
This is the first time the Linden Foundation Secondary School will have its own building. The school was previously housed at various locations.
GEAP is also working on six other infrastructural projects in Regions Six and Ten.
It has also been assisting the Ministry of Education in a number of areas. These include teacher training for primary teachers to be transferred to the secondary component, management support, training in parenting skills and adult literacy, and assistance with a new curriculum.
This new development is also part of the Ministry’s effort to ensure that there is access to Universal Secondary Education.
The re-commissioning of the school is part of the Region’s programme of Education Month activities.
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