GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

Economic plan for Guyana not PNC’s
– Luncheon outlines prudent management by PPP/C

Henrietta, Richmond earmarked for electricity under
Rural Electrification Programme

GINA lodges complaint to ACB against Evening News

GINA launches four-day photographic exhibition
- Featuring 11 years of development under the PPP/C

Region Ten’s RDC presents Bursary awards to students

The top ten Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE) students of Region Ten ( Upper Demerara/ Berbice) received Bursary Awards from the Regional Democratic Council last Thursday in a ceremony during the statutory meeting of the council.
According to the In formation Officer of the Region, Leon Roberts, the students, accompanied by their parents, were rewarded for their outstanding performance at the SSEE .
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National Education Awards set for Thursday

COHSOD to focus on Labour in CSME

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

The ninth meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) will focus on labour issues in the context of regional and global developments, especially as it relates to the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CMSE).
The meeting will be held from Wednesday October 8 to Friday October 10 under the theme Investing in Human Resources - Focus on Labour, at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM's) Secretary General Mr. Edwin Carrington will address the opening ceremony, and Guyanese artist Phillip Moore will receive a special plaque from the Government of Suriname.
Mr. Moore's plaque is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Culture and Arts Palace Exhibition of Fine Arts during the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTAV111) in Suriname last August.
Meanwhile, Ministers will discuss the status report on the arrangements in place in each Member State as it relates to the free movement of people and the implementation of hassle free travel, the inter Governmental Agreement on Social Security, the role of labour in social dialogue, and labour issues in international and hemispheric negotiations.
The Meeting will also discuss issues such as strategies for reducing the levels of unemployment in the Region, technical and vocational education and training, labour information systems, accreditation and standardization and labour and the inter-sectoral agenda in human and social development.
Participants at the meeting will be updated on the measures for further elaboration of an integrated human and social development strategy. They will also examine the importance of the effective integration of labour issues into the strategy and mechanisms for achieving this integration.
Matters relating to a plan of action for dealing with HIV/AIDS in the workplace, mainstreaming gender in the work programme for labour and job coaching, and placement of persons with disabilities are also slated for discussion.
Crime and Security, the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors programme, priorities for culture and development in the Caribbean including the future of CARIFESTA, the establishment of the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development, advances toward a Joint Council of Civil Social Dialogue and the functioning of the national COHSOD would be among special issues to be considered at the Meeting.
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Economic plan for Guyana not PNC’s
– Luncheon outlines prudent management by PPP/C

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon has strongly refuted claims by sections of society, particularly the main Opposition Party, that Government does not have an economic plant for Guyana, but is merely executing the plan devised by that Party years ago.
Dr. Luncheon aired this view on a television programme ‘Close-Up’ hosted by Martin Goolsarran, Executive Producer of GTV last weekend. The programme reflected Government’s perspective on its 11th year in Office after being elected in 1992.
“There has been some talk that the People’s National Congress (PNC) instituted this economic recovery programme and it was that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) used to better its full strength,” Dr. Luncheon said, adding that this is untrue, as Guyana’s economy was encountering serious difficulties during that period.
“Let me give you a classic example. When we came in the Office of the President I remember the World Bank was hot on our tail. The PNC was selling out sugar and it was the World Bank that said you had to be crazy to privatize sugar. That is what they told the PNC,” he said.
According to Dr. Luncheon, it was the intervention of the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan that saw the return of sustained sugar production in Guyana.
On the issue of creating a dynamic public service, the HPS said that PNC’s idea of this was “a project to provide support to 150 top ranking technocrats.”
Dr. Luncheon noted that Dr. Jagan refused to sign on to any agreement that created a “financial elite” in the public service, as vast devaluation of the Guyana currency under the PNC regime had greatly affected wages and salaries of the other public servants.
“We abolished the system where, under Hoyte, Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Office of the President were close and given special salaries, special emoluments so that was extremely necessary upfront to address the issue of an economy that it was to be structured to deliver goods and services equally,” he said.
He also pointed out that the state of the economy prior to 1992, did not provide for growth, hence was a barrier to development.
The foreign debt has now been reduced from US$2B to just over US$1B. At that time, Guyana utilized 94 per cent of its revenue to service foreign debts. Now this is closer to about 40 per cent.
Dr. Luncheon also noted that this economic growth is reflective of the development pattern being led by the Administration. He said Government is not and will not be surprised at present and future accusations, as “Guyana has done quite well given the circumstances.
The Administration has secured a positive growth rate for Guyana. Prior to 1992, the PNCR operated under a negative growth rate. 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.
In the agricultural sector, sugar production increased from about 100,000 tonnes to an average of about 320,000 tonnes.
In the rice sector, productivity has risen from 93,000 tonnes to an annual average of 320,000 tonnes.
The economy has also been diversified to include poultry-rearing, fisheries, manufacturing and investment as key earners for the country.
In the investment sector, 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.
Dr. Luncheon also pointed out that the Jagan-led Administration upon its accession to Office, did extensive work on rebuilding linkages with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and collaborated with other developing countries to collectively face the many challenges.
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Henrietta, Richmond earmarked for electricity under
Rural Electrification Programme

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

Residents of Henrietta and Richmond, two housing schemes on the Essequibo Coast are among the beneficiaries of the Government of Guyana/Guyana Power and Light Company’s Rural Electrification Programme.
During a Cabinet outreach to the county in 2000, residents requested of President Bharrat Jagdeo that their communities be electrified.
At that time, the Head of State told them that the areas were short listed under the resumed Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP) to be electrified.
The Guyana Government, with assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), resumed the UAEP in 1996 to provide infrastructure, at subsidised cost, to supply electricity to residents in low income housing areas in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/West Berbice), Six and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice), between 2001 and 2005.
There are about 225 areas, or some 50,000 households, in the country to be given power supply. While, Government is eager to have this done, it takes time and money. Due to the high cost of the electrification programme, residents are being asked to contribute $10,000, ten per cent of the average cost to supply electricity to a household.
The Administration is faced with the problem of deciding which area should take priority and Government established two initiatives, with overseas assistance, to find “objective measures” to determine priority areas.
The next phase of the UAEP will see 30 more areas, with about 9,000 houselots being electrified. However, the UAEP has been stalled because of the problems experienced by GPL.
In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA) Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister on Electricity Regulation Ms. Maxine Nester said that the counterpart funding from GPL was not forthcoming because of its financial difficulties. She said the IDB has since requested that Government design a strategy on how it intends to sustain the UAEP without GPL as a contributing partner. According to Ms. Nester, the Prime Minister’s Office, under which responsibility for the sector falls, completed the strategy and sent it to IDB in August last and is currently awaiting a response from the Washington Headquarters. This she said is anticipated by the end of the year, at which time the UAEP will continue.
Henrietta and Richmond, she said will be electrified under the first phase.
In 2002, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds switched on the power for the first time in South Chesney/Kilcoy and Sandvoort Corentyne, Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), which have been without power for some 100 years.
At the moment, Government’s contribution to the UAEP is $200M.
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GINA lodges complaint to ACB against Evening News

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

The Government Information Agency (GINA) today lodged a formal complaint to the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) against VCT Channel 28.
The complaint relates to a Commentary carried by the Evening News publisher Anthony Vieira on September 26 in which Mr. Vieira misrepresented the Government's Amerindian development programme and slandered Government officials.
Following this, Amerindian Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues refuted Mr. Vieira's comments and outlined several projects undertaken in previous years as well as current initiatives to further promote Amerindian Development.
This response was sent in the form of a GINA news story to VCT 28 on October 2. However, the response was never carried.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is concerned about the unwillingness by VCT to correct what it calls " an erroneous" position on Amerindians.
The complaint is centred on the basis that VCT 28's decision not to air the Minister's response contravenes 23 A in the Principal Regulations of the Post and Telegraph Act.
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GINA launches four-day photographic exhibition
- Featuring 11 years of development under the PPP/C

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

The Government Information Agency (GINA) today launched a four-day photographic exhibition at the National Library to showcase 11 years of development under the PPP/C administration.
Chairperson for the proceedings was Senior Communications Officer from GINA Carolyn Walcott who highlighted some of the achievements by the Government.
"More Guyanese now own their own homes, students across the country now have improved learning facilities. Health care delivery has improved with specific emphasis placed on HIV/AIDS, in an effort to preserve the country's human resource base, and of course many of our roadways are now passable," stated Mrs. Walcott.
She emphasised that Government, through the GINA, will continue to promote the policies of the Administration by sensitizing the wider populace to the ongoing regional and national programmes.
"These programmes are aimed at enhancing nation building and creating a better Guyana for those who dare to believe that good can come out of Guyana," Mrs. Walcott said.
Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Navin Chanderpal in his feature address noted that it is important that the purpose and the existence of a Government is to improve the living conditions of the people.
"And that is foremost in the guiding principal for this administration," said Chanderpal.
He focused on the restoration in terms of the impact in ways that people have become involved in the day to day life of the country.
"If we discuss change then it is necessary to compare. It is necessary to see what existed and what has taken its place and in that context to make an estimation of how much we have had development and change," disclosed Chanderpal.
Mr. Chanderpal, outlined several advancements the PPP/C administration made since it assumed office in 1992.
This was initiated by the determined effort of the administration to broaden the democracy that was restored not by merely facilitating elections every 4-5 years, but by allowing democratic openings in all areas.
The abuse by some sections of the media for political or other motives was also highlighted. The guest speaker said the PPP/C administration has facilitated freedom of the press to the extent that some persons deliberately abuse the national broadcasting spectrum to promote chaos and disorderliness in the country.
Other challenges the PPP/C inherited was the judiciary which, at the time, "was deliberately used to suppress voices," Chanderpal said.
The PPP/C also facilitated local government elections in 1994, after being held since 1970.
Pointing to Government's inclusion policies, Chanderpal made reference to the inclusion of the public in formulating the National Development Strategy (NDS) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). As well as the establishment of state boards with representatives from the Opposition political parties and other stakeholders in order to represent various interests of the country.
Speaking on the 11th year of the return of democracy to Guyana, Mr. Chanderpal called on Guyanese to take note of the long period of struggle to achieve this.
At the same time, he said it is important for Guyanese to consider not only the material things but also the atmosphere of democracy that has been unfolding over the years and that is becoming more persuasive.
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Region Ten’s RDC presents Bursary awards to students

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

The top ten Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE) students of Region Ten ( Upper Demerara/ Berbice) received Bursary Awards from the Regional Democratic Council last Thursday in a ceremony during the statutory meeting of the council.
According to the In formation Officer of the Region, Leon Roberts, the students, accompanied by their parents, were rewarded for their outstanding performance at the SSEE .
The students are Alvin Wilson, Andrea Blair, Whoppi Liverpool, Kristy Declou, Sonia Nelson, Olaf Stellingburg, Chelyce Ferrier, Ann Seon, Suzanne Hamilton and Tyschon Bentick.
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National Education Awards set for Thursday

Georgetown, GINA, October 7, 2003

Education Month activities will culminate with the Seventh National Awards Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.
This ceremony will be held on October 9 under the theme “Modernizing Education and Strengthening Tolerance.”
The award ceremony will focus on outstanding student performance for the 2003 Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC), the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE).
Students will be awarded at the Regional and National Levels.
Outstanding students from the Guyana Technical Education Examination will also be honoured in eighteen categories.
These include craft, science, technical, business and computer science.
Daniel Ram a Queens College student who secured 14 grade ones at the recent CXC examinations, also preformed creditably on a regional scale. He was adjudged the most outstanding student in science and humanities to covet the most outstanding student in the Region prize.
Gina Arjoon from the School of the Nations also received the Most Outstanding Caribbean Business prize.
Together Ram and Arjoon secured four prizes at the Caribbean Examination Council.
The Ministry of Education has recorded increases in the performances in Mathematics and English A. The numbers writing the examinations have also increased. This year 42,410 persons wrote the CXC examinations compared to 33, 387 last year.
Director of the National Centre of Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Mohandatt Goolsarran, said that exemplary results are not restricted to Georgetown. It is spreading all over the country which is a sign that curriculum reform and teacher-training are reaching where they are targeted.
The Ministry has made numerous steps to improve the education environment.
Revised curricula and curricula resource materials, the provision of texts, upgrading of school laboratories, training in school management, more parent/community support for schools and volunteer teachers are some of the things which have contributed to this year’s success.
The feature address will be by Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, Deputy Secretary General of Caricom.
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