GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

Preliminary census report to be handed over to finance Minister tomorrow

Minister Nadir donates cash to school calypso winners

New shopping mall for Parika…
- Work ongoing

In an effort to ease the traffic congestion at the Parika ferry stelling and to prepare Parika for development into a township, a new vendors’ mall is being constructed.
readmore...

Prince Andrew arrives in Guyana

New book for primary and secondary schools

The Bare foot Lady was launched today at the National Centre for Educational Research and Development (NCERD).
readmore...

New monitoring mechanism for all schools

The Ministry of Education will tomorrow launch a new initiative to evaluate the effectiveness of schools countrywide and to motivate staff to improve their performance.
readmore...

H.R.H. Prince Andrew visits Botanical gardens, zoological park, plants tree

A Royal visit for Salvation Army rehab inmates

Preliminary census report to be handed over to finance Minister tomorrow

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

Preliminary results of the National Housing and Census Exercise, conducted in September 2002, will be officially handed over to the Minister of Finance, Sasenarine Kowlessar tomorrow.
The report will then be presented to Cabinet. The public will be notified of the findings shortly.
The census exercise is the total review and assessment of the full profile of the population and building stock.
The preliminary count, among other things, will provide information on Guyana's population by gender, region, households, institutions, location, ethnicity, economic activity and education.
Information gathered on each person could determine and garner useful cross-sector correlation data that can be used nationally, regionally and internationally.
In addition to the completion of Guyana’s preliminary census exercise for this year, the United Nations-funded round of population and housing census conducted globally will be completed.
The census exercise is monitoring of the population at a particular period of time. This includes local and foreign persons who are in a country at that time.
Monitoring of the population was grouped under two broad headings - institutional population and non-institutional population. The last census exercise in Guyana was done over ten years ago.
The Bureau of Standards, the agency responsible for the exercise, is hoping to conduct a media information workshop before the preliminary results are released, to sensitise the media to the usefulness and the interpretation of information from the exercise.
Additionally, the Bureau hopes to launch its website where all results from the census will be available.
TOP

Minister Nadir donates cash to school calypso winners

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manzoor Nadir made a $50,000 donation to the Bartica Secondary School Steel band for gaining first place in the school steel band competition. The band is title the Bartones Steel Orchestra.
He made this donation during a visit to Bartica, Region Seven, for the official flag-raising ceremony in observance of Guyana's 34th Republic anniversary.
The band performed its winning rendition at the flag-raising ceremony. The steel band was formed in July last. School steel band completions are part of the activities leading up to the Mashramani celebrations.
The finals were held in Georgetown at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, on February 19.
Minister Nadir noted that it is commendable that the band won the competition, since it was competing for the first time.
Organisations are encouraged to provide financial sponsorship for similar school orchestras for their upkeep and promotion on a national basis.
Each year, schools from all across the country participate in this competition.
TOP

New shopping mall for Parika…
- Work ongoing

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

In an effort to ease the traffic congestion at the Parika ferry stelling and to prepare Parika for development into a township, a new vendors’ mall is being constructed.
At present works are ongoing on developing the site and building the sanitary bloc, as well as the Constabulary Office.
The market, which is being constructed at a cost of $57M funded by Government through Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP), will house 635 vendors.
Consultant attached to Innis Construction Engineering Services Denroy Livan overseers the project on behalf of SIMAP to ensure that the work is done satisfactorily.
Work commenced five months ago and the site was expected to be ready by the end of March. However bad weather conditions delayed the project. The Consultant explained that the structure will not take the form of a market, but rather an open area in which stalls would be constructed.
The completion of the project is expected to see the elimination of traffic congestion at the Parika stelling.
At present, vendors use the street on Thursdays and Sundays to sell their commodities.
The mall is being constructed approximately quarter of a mile from the stelling.
The contract was awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting Services.
TOP

Prince Andrew arrives in Guyana

Georgetown, GINA, 25 February 04

His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York arrived in Guyana this morning to a warm welcome from Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and flag-bearing school children on hand at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to greet the Royal visitor.
The Prince along with a six-member delegation, is on a tour of the Caribbean that included stops at St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Barbados, before coming to Guyana.
On his first official duty in Guyana, the Duke of York met with President Bharrat Jagdeo for a brief discussion.
Later in the day, the Prince received the symbolic key to the city from Mayor Hamilton Green.
In his address at the Civic reception, held in honour of Prince Andrew’s visit, Mayor Green recalled the role played by the British in the development of Guyana.
The Mayor linked Guyana’s colonial past and observed that now Guyana is the only English-speaking country on the South American continent.
In earlier introductions, Town Clerk Beulah Williams made reference to the City Hall, which is a landmark building from early colonial times.
The Mayor, in his remarks also recalled the significance of City Hall as a British legacy, which still graces the city of Georgetown. He requested that HRH the Duke of York use his influence in the British Administration to seek assistance for the restoration of the building.
A golden key, significant of Guyana’s openness, was presented to the Duke.
In response, a quite jovial Prince Andrew said it was an honour to receive the key and promised to respect its significance.
He also noted the request of the Mayor and promised that the message will be relayed to the British Government.
On a more serious note, Prince Andrew said he is keen to further Commonwealth trade and discuss issues that affect countries such as Guyana.
He thanked the Government, City officials and the people of Guyana for the warm welcome he received. Guyana is a hospitable nation with huge potential the Duke noted in his closing remarks.
While at City Hall the Duke of York also signed the visitors book.
Born on 19, February 1960, Prince Andrew, the second son of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has never before set foot on this former British colony.
During the Falklands War in 1982, His Royal Highness served as a helicopter pilot before retiring from the Royal Navy with the rank of Commander in 2001.
After leaving the Royal Navy, the Duke of York took up a new Role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
When he leaves Guyana on Thursday, the Duke is scheduled to visit Trinidad and Tobago.
TOP

New book for primary and secondary schools

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

The Bare foot Lady was launched today at the National Centre for Educational Research and Development (NCERD).
This new book will be used particularly in Primary and Secondary schools countrywide for reading and literature.
The book was endorsed by the Ministry of Education. Speaking at the occasion Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Ganga Persaud, said the Ministry is grateful for the help at the Primary and Secondary levels to motivate students to understand the benefits of reading.
The Bare Foot Lady, a collection of short stories and poems was edited and compiled by Roopnandan Singh.
Contributions were made by Robert Fernandes, Sharon Natasha Lall, Paloma Mohamed, Roopnandan Singh, Patrick Noel Cheeks, Sheik Sadeek and Andre Williams, among others.
Other contributions were made by students of the School of the Nations, Mae's School and Mashabo Primary School.
The book, was named after a poem by Aliya Bulkan of the School of the Nations, winner in the under-18 Poetry competition in the Association of Guyanese Writers and Artists (AGWA) prize for Literature 2003.
All pieces were selected from the winning entries of the 2003 AGWA prize for Literature 2003.
The entire project took approximately six months, to stage the competition, and compile and print the literature.
Two hundred copies were handed over to the Ministry of which 100 were donated by the Guyana Lottery Company. The others were donated by Mr. Robert Fernandes.
Mr Persaud said the Ministry will take a second look at readers at the primary and secondary levels.
The new book will be distributed in all schools and libraries countrywide.
TOP

New monitoring mechanism for all schools

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

The Ministry of Education will tomorrow launch a new initiative to evaluate the effectiveness of schools countrywide and to motivate staff to improve their performance.
This is the Annual School Effective Ranking and Awards Scheme.
Under this initiative schools, would be required to conduct audits on their performance in the efficiency and management of resources, community alliance, physical environment and punctuality.
External evaluators will also be utilized for these assessments. These will comprise persons from the Ministry of Education, Regional Educational Committees and the Parent Teachers Association.
All public schools will be assessed - nursery, primary, secondary and practical Instruction Centres - and will also be assessed sartorially.
Each educational district will also use a rank order table under which all schools will be accounted for and points awarded based on their effectiveness. The Regional Democratic Councils will take responsibility for publishing these tables.
A four point rating system and a percentage scale will also be used to determine whether the school's operations met the Ministry's standards.
It is anticipated that the ranking and award system will provide the institutional and public pressure for schools to improve their performance.
TOP

H.R.H. Prince Andrew visits Botanical gardens, zoological park, plants tree

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

His Royal Highness, Price Andrew Duke of York, on a two-day visit to Guyana, today visited the Botanical Gardens where a eco-tourism exhibition was mounted. The exhibition was mounted under the theme ‘Sustainable Nature Tourism’. The Prince also participated in a tree planting exercise.
The entities participating in the exhibition were the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; the Guyana Tourism Authority, National Parks Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tourism and Hospitality Association, Rainforest Tours, Conservation International, Shell Beach and Iwokrama International Conservation.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Willet Hamilton; Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Affairs, Reginald Brotherson; Head, Guyana Tourism Authority, Donald Sinclair, representatives from the Tourism and Hospitality Association and other nature tourism sites were pre and alluded the various Government and private sector entities that participated.
sent to explain their exhibits.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs presented a painting and other craft items to the Prince. That Ministry also mounted a craft exhibition.
First Form students of Queens College’s steel band entertained the Prince and his entourage.
Prince Andrew viewed the exhibition and the animals in the Zoological Park. Prince Andrew expressed the view that Guyana is an amazing country that has tremendous eco-tourism potential.
Minister Nadir pointed out the this was the first time that Guyana has mounted an eco-tourism exhibition.
He noted that the collaborative exhibition, which may be used as an educational event, has highlighted the need for similar events in the future.
Mr. Nadir said that his Ministry could consider hosting a similar exhibition annually during Tourism Awareness Month.
Tourism Awareness Month is observed during the month of November.
TOP

A Royal visit for Salvation Army rehab inmates

Georgetown, GINA, February 25, 2004

His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York today unveiled a plaque at the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Water Street, Kingston, to mark his historic visit to the organisation.
Prior to the unveiling, the Prince greeted clients of the drug rehab programme, and was given a brief history by the Army's Commander about the ongoing reform work of the group under its drug rehabilitation programme.
In brief remarks, His Royal Highness thanked the ranks of the Salvation Army for inviting him to the centre, and he commended them for their "remarkable programme" and wished them well in their continuing endeavours.
Turning his attention to the rehab clients, Prince Andrew encouraged them to "complete and stay their course," which will result in their personal benefit and that of the country.
Divisional Commander of the Guyana Salvation Army headquarters, Major Sinous Theodore, thanked Prince Andrew for his visit to the centre, which he deemed "an honour," being the first from a member of the Royal family.
Major Theodore also lauded the efforts of the British High Commissioner in depicting "leadership" in Guyana, and the assistance granted to the work of the rehabilitation programme.
In an invited comment, Major Theodore said that in September 2003, the drug rehab centre received 10,000 pounds sterling in funding assistance from the British Government. This sum provided for the accommodation and recovery of an initial five clients, and was able to offset costs for another ten recovering patients.
In addition, the Salvation Army received a further 1000 pounds sterling from the British Government for the purchase of gym equipment. He pointed out that some 21 clients are currently on roll at the centre, which has the capacity to accommodate up to 24 clients.
The Kingston drug rehab centre was opened in 1996, and has since provided a haven for social and spiritual recovery of approximately 330 clients. An estimated 40 percent of these clients have reintegrated into society and are "doing well," according to the Divisional Commander.
He added that 45 persons benefit from the drug rehab centre's programme annually.
TOP