GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

60 man-holes covers handed over to M&CC
- Will assist the visually impaired

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has disclosed that the revision process of the Amerindian Act is progressing smoothly.
So far, all submissions have been summarised and an international legal consultant has been hired to carry out a study of the summary.
After this, recommendations will be provided on the methodologies, concept and language that may be applied to the re-drafting of the Act.
readmore...

Capital works in Region Three near completion- Regional Chairman

Consumers need to conserve for equitable distribution of water

GWI working to reduce water wastage

HIV/AIDS today is transforming, not only the way we deal with medicine, but the whole discussion of human rights - Minister Ramsammy

Prime Minister Hinds expresses gratitude for Indian education opportunities

Largest rice acreage in many years - Region Three administration

Regional Chairman, Region Three ( West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) Esau Dookie has said that rice harvesting in the region has been completed for the autumn crop, and the region has harvested the largest acreage in many years.
He said that a total of 21,300 acres of land was harvested with an average yield of 27 bags per acre.
For the period 2002/2003, a total of $217 M was spent on drainage and irrigation in the region, and some farmers last year had attributed the rise in paddy yield to improved drainage and irrigation .
readmore...

Maintenance work ongoing at Cheddi Jagan International Airport
- CEO satisfied with measures taken to curb touting

NARI hosts workshop on diversification

President Jagdeo leaves for special CARICOM meeting
- Upcoming events, trade, breakfast meeting on agenda

Works on Blueberry Hill Water project moving apace

An update on the Trans Guyana crash
- two UK experts assisting in investigations

60 man-holes covers handed over to M&CC
- Will assist the visually impaired

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Sixty man-hole covers were today handed over to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), particularly with the visually impaired in mind, in a ceremony outside the St. Rose's High School on Church Street.
In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA) Senior Superintendent of the Georgetown Prison Neil Roddock said that the Visually Impaired Society had asked the Prison to assist in constructing the man-hole covers.
They cover the holes on pavements preventing people from falling into them.
According to Roddock, the Visually Impaired Society provided the materials and labour was provided by the prisoners in the Georgetown Prisons.
On October 18, six covers were handed over to the Society.
"We are very happy to assist in any way we can and the prisoners worked very hard to make these man-hole covers," Roddock said.
Prisoners have always been involved in community service. Recently several prisoners weeded and trimmed trees in the yard at the Archer's Home on D'Urban Street, Wortmanville.
This was also a voluntary exercise by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS).
TOP

Amerindian Act Revision progressing

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has disclosed that the revision process of the Amerindian Act is progressing smoothly.
So far, all submissions have been summarised and an international legal consultant has been hired to carry out a study of the summary.
After this, recommendations will be provided on the methodologies, concept and language that may be applied to the re-drafting of the Act.
Previously, the Ministry had announced that consultations were completed in the various Amerindian communities, including those in Georgetown.
Those recommendations were also documented and returned to the communities and residents were able to verify that their recommendations and views were being properly represented.
Government had taken a decision to revise the Amerindian Act as some laws in the Act are outdated and need to be changed to more adequately represent Amerindian communities and the society, as a whole.
TOP

Capital works in Region Three near completion- Regional Chairman

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Regional Chairman of Region Three, Esau Dookie disclosed today that Capital works in the region for 2003 are almost complete.
All heavy-duty bridges have been completed, at Plantain Walk, another at Zeelandia, Wakenaam , one at Goed Fortuin and another at Dewitts, Leguan. These bridges were constructed at a total cost of $9.1 M.
In the area of education, the Chairman noted that the construction of an annexe at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School has been completed while in the health sector, the kitchen of the West Demerara Regional Hospital is being rehabilitated at a cost of $3.9M.
Dookie also said that revetment has been done at the Caledonia koker, Wakenaam, and this cost $1.8M.
The river defence dam at Hogg Island is 80 percent completed and the damming of creeks through force accounts which totals $8M, is 50% complete.
As for roads, the Chairman stated that the road at Leonora has been completed and other roads will be completed by year-end. These include the road at Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara, another at Meten-Meer-Zorg and another at Bangladesh, West Coast Demerara, which is 50% complete.
Mr. Dookie noted that work is also progressing at the Parika market. “The market is already graded and the sand filling is now being done”, he said.
On completion of the market, all vendors who have stalls around the Parika stelling area will be removed to the new structure.
This will allow for the free-flow of traffic on the roadway to the stelling.
Meanwhile, two new schools have been built, the New Uitvlugt and La Harmony Primary Schools, and these will be commissioned later in the month.
TOP

Consumers need to conserve for equitable distribution of water

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Government has been working to ensure that the entire population receives an adequate supply of potable water and to date, several projects have been effected to enhance the sector.
The projects have been designed to provide water to an increasing population but consumers need to conserve to ensure that everyone else in the community receives their fair share of the essential commodity.
Although there have been many calls for persons to conserve, this has been ignored which has resulted in people not receiving enough water through the distribution systems.
The present systems have been constructed to improve the water supply and deliver 180 litres of water daily per person but a lot of consumers do not know how the system works.
Water is pumped from the well to the aquifer then to the distribution lines and into the individual service connections countrywide.
The distribution system pumps a fixed amount of water into the system for distribution to various areas, which includes every household. When the pressure is low some persons attach pumps in the mains, which prevents consumers further along the line from receiving any water.
If someone at the beginning of the line does this, then the system will not push additional water into the pipeline because it is built to a specific capacity.
Also, if consumers leave their taps open or have leaking faucets, this would encourage wastage and add to the problem.
The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has made several appeals to consumers to conserve when using their water supply, since there is widespread wastage.
The major water projects at Eccles and La Bonne Intention (LBI) are completed. The distribution network at Eccles has been completed and is in use. The Water Treatment Plant at Eccles which was constructed at a cost of $562M, provides service for residents from Grove to Covent Garden, East bank Demerara. The LBI plant was constructed at a cost of $1.2Billion and is servicing areas between Industry and Strathspey, East Coast Demerara.
TOP

GWI working to reduce water wastage

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

In a move to reduce water wastage countrywide, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has embarked on an anti-wastage campaign. Officials from GWI have been visiting areas to work with residents to educate them on proper usage.
Two officers from the parent company, Severn Trent, arrived in Guyana last month and are assisting in the exercise.
Richard Rogers is working closely with the inspection team to devise a clear and concise plan to deal with the problem. The plan will include how to identify problems, advice to customers on their internal and external plumbing arrangements, how to fix problems and highlight the problems encountered with wastage. He is currently preparing a flyer to distribute to consumers to advise them on accessing the service, and on dealing with disconnection.
The other official, George Taylor is working to establish district-metered areas where meters will be installed in bulk. This will be applied to areas that already have meters. The meters will be installed on transmission lines, which will enable GWI to ascertain the amount of water that is pumped into the system and the amount that is used in a particular area. The team is presently working in the North Ruimveldt area, after which, if successful, the team will move to other areas. Both programmes are aimed at curbing water wastage.
TOP

HIV/AIDS today is transforming, not only the way we deal with medicine, but the whole discussion of human rights - Minister Ramsammy

Georgetown, GINA, November 11, 2003

Minister of Health Leslie Ramsammy told the gathering at a recent Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) Meeting that HIV/AIDS today is transforming, not only the way we deal with medicine, but the whole idea of human rights.
The way social and individual rights are separated is being drastically transformed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. And the way we deal with the stigma and discrimination has been brought right to the fore by the ongoing response to HIV/AIDS.
Commenting on governmental input he noted that the relationship and responsibility that governments have to their citizens are being altered in ways that decades and centuries of advocacy did not envisage.
The Minister was addressing participants recently at the HIV/AIDS, Human rights, Ethnic and Law workshop, held at Le Meridien Pegasus.
The workshop, hosted at the Cara Inn, Pere Street, Kitty, ran for five days and participants were drawn from Caricom countries.
He noted that HIV/AIDS is truly transforming economic, social and scientific fields in ways never before experienced in its sheer magnitude and rapidity.
Further, he noted that HIV/AIDS has quickly transformed itself from a serious public health issue to a daunting security issue and an overwhelming developmental issue.
Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM, Edward Greene told participants that unequal access to life saving HIV/AIDS care and treatment is a violation of human rights.
Further, the persistence of widespread stigma and discrimination only increases people’s vulnerability by isolating persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) and depriving them of care and support.
He noted that the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region will not be reduced unless stigma and discrimination are also reduced.
The purpose of the workshop was to standardise objectives, identify important issues and determine indicators relevant to the monitoring progress at country level.
PANCAP has its Third Annual general Meeting scheduled for November 12 to 13 in the Savannah Suite, Le Meridien Pegasus.
To address the serious threat of HIV/AIDS in the Region, PANCAP was established at the 12th Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in February 2001.
TOP

Prime Minister Hinds expresses gratitude for Indian education opportunities

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Guyana is grateful for the assistance provided to its people to further their studies by the Indian Government. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds last evening reiterated this gratitude at the Indian Cultural Centre.
The Prime Minister was there to join in the celebrations of the Birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, one of India’s first Education Ministers and Foreign Students’ Day.
“I want to take this opportunity to commend all that India has been doing not only in spreading Education within its own country, but also in inviting young people from other countries, specifically developing countries and giving them an opportunity to study in India,” Mr. Hinds noted
The Prime Minister noted that in the context of the heightened awareness of globalisation, the focus tends to be on trade issues, but a significant element is interaction among people from across the world.
The Indian scholarship programme in Guyana, as well as the ITEC programme, he noted, are excellent means of fostering such interaction
“Globalisation would mean much more in the meeting of the peoples of the world and some of our current events show that this meeting of people and finding a way to be receptive and accommodating of each other would certainly be a challenge, but meeting of people at University level gives us a great opportunity for interaction,” he said.
It was decided by the Government of India long ago that the birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, who founded the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in 1949, should be celebrated as the Foreign Students Day. This decision was consistent with the role Maulana Sahib played in opening the doors of India for foreign students and promoting Indian culture abroad.
Addressing the gathering, which included past students of the ITEC programme, India’s High Commissioner to Guyana Mr. Avinash Chandra Gupta noted that Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad believed sincerely in India's destiny not just as a nation, but as a civilization, and his knowledge of history gave him perspective and purpose.
“These qualities of Maulana Sahib perhaps led to the establishment of three Akademis in India, namely, Sahitya Akademi for Literature, Lalik Kala Akademi for Visual Arts and Sangeet Natak Akademi for Performing Arts,” he said.
The Indian Cultural Centre in Georgetown was established under the auspices of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in 1972. During more than 30 years of its existence in Georgetown, a number of Guyanese have been trained in Indian classical dance and music, and yoga.
“We also endeavour to send few deserving students from Guyana on scholarship for studying in India. The High Commission of India can take justifiable pride in the fact that a number of students who have passed through the Indian Cultural Centre have made a name for themselves in various fields. Also we can take pride in the fact that the Indian Cultural Centre has been playing a role, howsoever modest, that may be keeping the Indian culture alive in Guyana,” Mr. Gupta noted.
The High Commissioner pointed out that the ‘good' that Maulana Azad had in mind for India consisted of the country’s great legacy of a composite culture, and her future destiny as a modem and progressive nation, while the 'evil' that Maulana Sahib saw was the disharmony between the main communities of India.
After India became independent, he was chosen by Pandit Jawaharal Nehru the 'post of Minister of Education. Among his special achievements are the establishment of the University Grants Commission; laying increased emphasis on scientific research, and above all creating the firm awareness that no nation could progress unless its people had the benefit of a technical, vocational and liberal education. The term 'Human Resource Development' was unknown then, but this was what inspired Maulana Sahib when he formulated India's free education policy, the High Commissioner said.
According to Commissioner Gupta, Maulana Sahib’s tenure in the Ministry of Education was pioneering in more senses than one.
“It was in this period that education first came to be viewed as something more than the imparting of book-knowledge. Scientific and technical education, teachers' training, language training, schemes of scholarship for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and other Backward Classes, all these took shape in these years. Although Maulana Azad never used the phrase, it was in his stewardship of the Ministry of Education that the Government of India first came to view education as an investment in human resources,” he said.
Maulana Sahib died on 22nd February, 1958.
TOP

Largest rice acreage in many years - Region Three administration

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Regional Chairman, Region Three ( West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) Esau Dookie has said that rice harvesting in the region has been completed for the autumn crop, and the region has harvested the largest acreage in many years.
He said that a total of 21,300 acres of land was harvested with an average yield of 27 bags per acre.
For the period 2002/2003, a total of $217 M was spent on drainage and irrigation in the region, and some farmers last year had attributed the rise in paddy yield to improved drainage and irrigation.
Last year, during the autumn crop, 19,520 acres of land were under cultivation and this had yielded an average of 28 bags per acre, while the 2002/2003 spring crop had produced a yield of 54, 249 bags of paddy.
A total of 17, 876 acres were also cultivated last year in the four main rice producing areas. These are Wakenaam, Leguan, West Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo and Hogg Island.
TOP

Maintenance work ongoing at Cheddi Jagan International Airport
- CEO satisfied with measures taken to curb touting

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri is being upgraded so as to improve the facilities to meet international standards.
Cabinet has approved two contracts: one valued at $69.6M for upgrading and maintenance, and $24.6M for the rehabilitation of the pavement and lighting installation works.
In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leon Romero said that works are progressing.
He noted that tenders are being advertised for the refurbishing of the Airport's public washrooms, and security fences and for landscaping.
When asked of the measures undertaken by the Police and Airport Security to control the touting situation Romero said," The situation has improved a lot and I am satisfied with the results."
Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj and Romero had voiced their concerns about touts converging daily at the Airport. And Minster Gajraj stressed that touts would be prosecuted. To date three touts have been placed before the Courts and fined.
With the Christmas season approaching Romero noted the Airport will be extremely busy and he hopes the alertness and vigilance of the security will be maintained.
TOP

NARI hosts workshop on diversification

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Government has been encouraging diversification in the Agriculture Sector and has been working to provide farmers with necessary assistance to make the transition.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Mon Repos, recently held a workshop for residents of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) on the diversification of employment and other mechanisms for the realization for self-sustainability.
The workshop was held in the last week of October and attracted approximately 30 participants.
The workshop, at the Linden Technical Institute, was primarily geared at fruit and vegetable cultivation techniques and was hosted by NARI in collaboration with the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP).
According to the Director of NARI Dr. Oudho Homenauth, the training can be viewed as a positive initiative for the development of a highly successful agriculture venture and a meaningful role in food security for the residents of Linden and its environs.
Local Manager of LEAP Donald Nurse urged the group to use the knowledge imparted to them for the development of micro-economics.
The group’s nine women and 21 men, were drawn from areas including Kwakwani, Rockstone, and Linden. Some of the key concepts discussed were maintaining soil fertility; and growing major cash and fruit crops such as rambutan, watermelon, passion fruit, hybrid papaya, citrus, bora, eggplant, tomatoes and cabbage. They were also trained in vegetable crop and orchard management and were given a guided field tour and hands-on-experience in budding and grafting techniques at NARI’s facility at Mon Repos.
Fifty percent of the participants are involved in the cultivation of non-traditional crops, including vegetables and cash crops, while some cultivate vegetable and fruit, and some are involved in ground provision and fruit cultivation.
Participants indicated that the information disseminated was useful for the development of their farming plots but would be grateful if more information pertaining to pest and disease control, post harvest techniques and marketing be channeled to them. They recommended that the training programme be taken to other farming communities.
TOP

President Jagdeo leaves for special CARICOM meeting
- Upcoming events, trade, breakfast meeting on agenda

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

President Bharrat Jagdeo will be joining his Caribbean Community (CARICOM) counterparts in Castries, St. Lucia for the Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government that starts on Thursday.
The Head of State departed Guyana today for the meeting.
According to CARICOM Secretariat, the Special Meeting was decided upon when the Heads met in Montego Bay, Jamaica last July to celebrate the Community’s 30th Anniversary.
The Georgetown-based Secretariat noted that the Heads of Government are to pay particular attention to issues surrounding governance of the community, the key requirements for the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and energy.
The Report from the breakfast meeting four CARICOM Heads had in September with President of the United States George Bush is also up for discussion. Also on the agenda are trade matters, to be dealt with at the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) being held currently in St. Lucia.
At COTED, the Regional Ministers will be considering international negotiations in which the Region is engaged to assist Heads of Government in deciding on Regional positions at their meeting.
The Secretariat noted that most urgent among these negotiations is the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Ministerial Meeting in Miami on November 20&21.
At COTED Heads are expected to take a position on negotiations at the European Union (EU), the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the World Trade Organization, especially since talks at the WTO meeting in Cancun, Mexico collapsed.
The Community’s headquarters also pointed out that the Heads at this meeting will define the Region’s positions for a number of critical meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria from December 5-8 and the Special Summit of the Americas on January 12-13, 2004, in Mexico.
Accompanying President Jagdeo to this Special Meeting are the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rudy Insanally and Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Clement Rohee.
TOP

Works on Blueberry Hill Water project moving apace

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Residents of Blueberry Hill, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), are now receiving a regular supply of potable water from the plant in the area.
According to the Assistant Public Relations Officer of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Javin Singh, the first part of the project has been completed and the second part will commence shortly.
The project entails the installation of a new transmission line. The line will be installed from the Wisroc elevated tank area. The contract valued at $4M was awarded to Toolsie Persaud. and work will begin shortly.
A second contract is currently out on tender. This includes the installation of a new transmission line to Block 22, Linden to improve the level of service in that area.
Mr. Singh noted that the area has been suffering from poor service for some time. The Wisroc elevated tank was rehabilitated recently as part of the improvement programme.
The project, which is being funded from a recent $200M European Union grant, is expected to ensure that the level of service will improve significantly in the affected areas. The project entails the installation of a new mechanical and electrical plant at the Wisroc Water Treatment Plant.
The booster pumps for the Wisroc plant are already in the country and will be installed shortly.
The project design caters for additional future households to be connected to the water distribution system since Blueberry Hill and Block 22 are expanding housing areas.
Additional funds are being sought to finance the installation of emergency generating sets at all water treatment plants and booster pump stations to improve the reliability of the supply to the entire community.
TOP

An update on the Trans Guyana crash
- two UK experts assisting in investigations

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2003

Two British experts are part of a six member technical team here to conduct an investigation into the Trans Guyana Skyvan, which crashed Saturday last.
This was disclosed by Director General of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Chabeenanan Ramphal, at a media briefing yesterday at the Headquarters.
The two British experts are accident investigators from the United Kingdom Accident Investigation Board (AIB) and accredited representatives of the UK Department of Transport.
International standard regulations say in cases of air crashes, the country in which the aircraft was manufactured should be part of the investigation. The Skyvan was manufactured in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The voice recorder (CVR) would be sent to the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the engines, propellers, other components and fuel samples.
The Skyvan crashed one minute after take-off and claimed the lives of crewmember Premchand Arjoon and passenger Randolph Mannie.
TOP