GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

Government still committed to Inquiry even though key witness is dead - Calls on all to cooperate with Police on investigation into Bacchus' death

The Administration remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure that the investigation into the allegations against Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj is conducted, regardless of the demise of the key witness.

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President meets officials from CI, NGO's, Antigua P.M

The current programme, and plans for the future are among the issue discussed at today's meeting when a high-level team from Conservation International paid a courtesy call on President Bharrat Jagdeo.

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Tourist arrivals for 2004 on the upswing

Tourist arrivals for the period January to May this year has increased considerably over the same period last year.

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Students for work-study attachments – ACEO says Industry should be catalyst for change

So far, 410 students from city schools will be attached to various work places for two five-week phases of work-study during the August vacation.

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Ministry instructs teacher be sent on leave

The Education Ministry has instructed the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School 's administration to send the teacher who has allegedly been sexually molesting students on leave pending investigation into the allegations.

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New power plant for Linden next year

A new power plant is in the making for the Linden community.This disclosure was made yesterday by Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds when he visited the area to look into power outages there.

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Government Members of Parliament in retreat tomorrow
- Key issues on agenda

Enhanced interactions between legislators and the Administration and improved ways of representing Government's policies before Parliament are among the key issues on the agenda as the Executive and the Legislators of Government meet tomorrow.

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Mabaruma Settlement is the 2004 Amerindian Heritage Village
- Cabinet approves $5M for celebrations

Mabaruma Settlement, Region One, will come alive in September when Amerindians and others will gather to celebrate Amerindian Heritage Month 2004.

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$40M for school uniform assistance this year
- All Amerindian children to benefit

All Amerindian students and selected coastal students will benefit from State assistance through the provision of school uniforms for the academic year 2004-2005.

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Minister Shadick urges persons to report incidents of TIP to authorities
--- Reports will be dealt with confidentially

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Bibi Shadick is urging persons who are aware of Trafficking In Persons (TIP) activities to report these to the authorities.

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UNICEF – Guyana office has new Head

Ms. Maria do Valle Ribeiro is the new Director of the UNICEF Office in Guyana. She presented her Letters of Credence to Foreign Affairs Minister Rudy Insanally this afternoon

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US writes off US35M debt

The Governments of Guyana and the United States of America, following the Paris Club Agreed Minutes of January 14,2004, today signed the Bilateral Implementing Agreement.

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“Where the investigations take us we will go” – Commissioner Felix

“Where the investigations take us we will go,” stressed Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix on the death of George Bacchus, at a media briefing at Eve Leary, today.

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Government still committed to Inquiry even though key witness is dead - Calls on all to cooperate with Police on investigation into Bacchus' death

Georgetown, GINA, June 24, 2004

Self-confessed informant George Bacchus was discovered dead in his Princes Street home early this morning. Bacchus is the man who earlier this year made several allegations against the Home Affairs Minister about his involvement in a death squad.

This reiteration of Government's position on the Commission of Inquiry was made today by the Cabinet Secretary.

He noted that Cabinet discussed the death, adding that Cabinet was advised that the Guyana Police Force has commenced its investigation into the matter.

"Cabinet took note of a statement to the media by the opposition PNCR on this tragic incident. This statement is reckless and provocative. The PNCR has started another round of unfounded allegations. The PNCR should provide information it claims it has to the Police and the public about today's episode, instead of making inflammatory and unfounded accusations," he said.

Cabinet also urged all parties with information surrounding this incident to co-operate fully with the law enforcement authority in its investigation and called on the public to "ignore the wild speculations and irresponsible utterings of the Opposition."

Meanwhile, he noted that "there has been no change in the administration's resolve to have a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the allegations against the Minister of Home Affairs."

On May 14, the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo announced the appointment of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

He announced that, in accordance with Chapter 19:03 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, which enables the President to appoint a Commission, he had appointed a Presidential Commission chaired by Justice of Appeal, Ian Chang, SC. The other members of the Commission are former Major General and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Norman McLean, and retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ivan Crandon.

The appointment of the Commission follows Minister Gajraj's public announcement on May 7 that he had requested from President Jagdeo permission to proceed on leave to allow for an impartial investigation into allegations that he had knowledge of the operations of a death squad.

One of the criticisms levelled against the Administration for appointing a Presidential Commission of Inquiry is that the Terms of Reference are too narrow.

Government has since argued that the Inquiry had to be very specific because it is not a human rights issue, but criminal allegations against Minister Gajraj. It was suggested that the Inquiry should examine the crime situation in Buxton and the Police.

However, should these be included, Government says the Inquiry would go on for a very long time and it would become political. However, President Jagdeo has not ruled out the option of such an investigation in the future.

The Disciplined Forces Commission recently investigated the Police, particularly extra-judicial killings.

The Commission of Inquiry is not yet functional, although named since last month, because the constitutionality of one member, Mr. Crandon, is being questioned, since he also holds the Constitutional post of Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

The President subsequently obtained legal advice. The President's action follows concerns of Amnesty International and the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), about whether or not Crandon's appointment is a conflict of interest, since he already sits on a Constitutional Commission.

As these concerns are addressed, the Commission's appointment has been stalled. Today reporters questioned Dr. Luncheon on a possible link between the Commission being stalled and the death of Bacchus.

"You would agree that those matters took some time - obtaining legal brief on the issue of the constitutionality of the appointment and an examination by the President of the request to consider amending the Terms of Reference since it is Presidential Commission of Inquiry. At my last press conference, I reiterated the Administration's resolve to push ahead with the Commission of Inquiry and therefore the untimely death of Bacchus could not have had any impact. The Administration had taken a public position on this issue of the Commission of Inquiry and I am sure that informed and reasonable people would understand that the suggestion and issues that arose subsequent to the President's announcement had to be dealt with properly and comprehensively," he replied.

Responding to queries about why George Bacchus was not given witness protection, Dr. Luncheon noted that in the deceased's formal interactions with the Law Enforcement Agency, no request was ever made.

And what impact would Bacchus' demise have on the conducting of the Commission of Inquiry?

Dr. Luncheon noted that he was unable to say, but the Commissioner of Police would be able to shed more light on this matter. The Commissioner of Police Winston Felix held a briefing this afternoon to update the media on the situation. However, Dr. Luncheon said he would desist from engaging in speculation on this specific issue as the "proof of pudding is in the eating." But he said that "there still exists a considerable amount of information and definitely a commitment of many including the Opposition PNCR to get to the bottom of this matter. And therefore the Administration remains confident that the Commission of Inquiry can indeed address within its specific Terms of Reference, matters relating to Bacchus's disclosure."

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President meets officials from CI, NGO's, Antigua P.M

Georgetown , GINA, June 24, 2004

The Conservation International delegation comprised its President Dr. Russell Mittermeier, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh; Vice President of Guianas Programme for Conservation International Ms. Lisa Famolare; and Programme Director of Environment Moore Foundation, Ms. Janette Gitler.

According to Conservation International, the team met the President this afternoon at the Office of the President to brief him on the agency's work programme, achievements, difficulties and possible plans for the future.

Following his meeting with the Conservation International team, the Head of State met Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The meeting, also conducted at the Office of the President, saw discussions on the protection and welfare of children.

Among those at this meeting were the President, First Lady Varshanie Jagdeo, Minister of Labour Human Services and Social Security Bibi Shaddick, Minister of Legal Affairs Doodnauth Singh, Mrs. Indra Chandarpal and National Director of Community Development Mrs. Philomena Sahoye Shury. Among the agencies represented were the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Guyana Responsible, Parenthood Association and the Guyana Red Cross,

Later in the afternoon, President Jagdeo hosted a meeting with Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Mr. Baldwin Spencer. Prime Minister Spencer, who is in Guyana on a familiarisation visit, paid a courtesy call on the President.

Baldwin was recently appointed as the Chairman of the Caribbean Community. He arrived in Guyana last evening for a packed three-day visit. Among his planned activities are a visit to the CARICOM Headquarters now under construction and several meetings with Government officials. He will also meet the CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington.

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Tourist arrivals for 2004 on the upswing

Georgetown , GINA, June 24, 2004

Tourist arrivals for the period January to May this year has increased considerably over the same period last year.

This is according to figures released earlier this week by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

Total arrivals at the end of June 2004 were 44,671 which represent a 27.1 percent increase over the figure of 35,154 recorded for the same period in 2003.

Most of the tourists coming this year came in February and April, representing 33.3 and 37.5 percent of total arrivals respectively.

Most of the visitors for this year originated from the USA and the Caribbean . These two regions accounted for 50 and 23 percent of total arrivals respectively.

This increase in the arrival of visitors is contributing to the recovery in the tourism sector that suffered a sharp decline in arrivals in 1997 and 1998 due to political unrest.

Total Tourist Arrivals :

Year 1992 1994 1997 2003

Arrival 74,881 112,824 75,737 100,911

Arrivals for the remainder of this year are expected to continue on the upward trend experienced at the beginning of the year. Bookings for July and August 2004 are very strong as noted in the release from the Ministry.

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Students for work-study attachments – ACEO says Industry should be catalyst for change

Georgetown , GINA, June 24, 2004

So far, 410 students from city schools will be attached to various work places for two five-week phases of work-study during the August vacation.

This morning, the Assistant Chief Education Officer ( Georgetown ) Department of Education, Vibert Hart launched the work-study orientation programme at the National Centre for Education and Research Development (NCERD).

He urged that students be placed in keeping with their line of studies so that they will benefit fully from the first-hand work experience.

The orientation programme, he said, is important “so that they will have an appreciation and understanding of why they were placed there.”

The work-study exercise is a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the business sector.

“This partnership should be sustained in the interest of our children and their education,” Hart emphasized, adding that if the programme lapses, it means that the two sectors have failed the children.

“Industry should be the catalyst for change. It should impact positively on the education system and cause changes and development to take place,” he said.

Hart urged students to take advantage of the programme and use the training experience as a learning one, and not to focus too much on the financial aspect. Several teachers have volunteered to supervise the students.

Senior Education Officer, Work-study, Cherrilene Baxter-Dennis said the Ministry is hoping that more businesses enterprises and other work places would cooperate with it to take on board students to expose them to the world of work.

So far only 27 organizations have responded favourably to this initiative. More than 200 letters of request were sent out.

Last year more than 1,000 students were placed at various entities. The first phase starts on June 28 and the second one ends on September 3.

The students, fifth-formers, are covered industrially, during their attachment by the National Insurance Scheme, Baxter-Dennis said.

Similar exercises are expected to take place in other regions. Region Two will have its work-study students orientation programme tomorrow. They have 150 student placements, the SEO reported.

Meanwhile, there are efforts to have students on attachment courses in Region Nine.

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Ministry instructs teacher be sent on leave

Georgetown , GINA, June 24, 2004

The teacher is reportedly in police custody. However, the Ministry is in the process of identifying an investigation panel to inquire into the reports.

Following the investigation, the Teaching Service Commissions (TSC) will decide on steps to be taken against the teacher.

There have been many allegations of sexual assault by the 35-year-old teacher. The most recent was last week when the teacher allegedly fondled two students in the school.

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New power plant for Linden next year

Georgetown , GINA, June 24, 2004

A new power plant is in the making for the Linden community.

This disclosure was made yesterday by Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds when he visited the area to look into power outages there.

The Linden community is experiencing similar problems to those experienced in March and April last year.

The Linden Power Company (LPC), a private company, is a subsidiary of Texas Ohio Energy (TOE) the major supplier of energy to the Linden community.

The Linden Mining Enterprise Limited (LINMINE) after purchasing electricity from LPC, sells it to the community.

The electrical supplier of power to the Wismar area is the Linden Utility Services Coop Society Limited (LUSCSL). LUSCSL purchases power from Linmine for Wismar on the west bank of the Demerara River .

In 1998 Linmine entered an agreement to purchase power from LPC. In the initial agreement TOE/LPC agreed to lease the steam plant and two diesel plants from Linmine.

The mining company was the only supplier of electricity to the mining community which has grown over the years. Mining began there in the early 1900s.

The agreement between Linmine and LPC sought to ensure that electricity would be generated to Linmine which would in turn be supplied to the community at a reasonable cost.

Electricity rates for Lindeners are the lowest in the country.

The agreement also mandated that LPC ensure a thorough rehabilitation of the operations, and purchase new equipment.

In 1999, the LPC approached Republic Bank for a loan when it purchased the Steam Power Plant. But after its failure to repay its loan to the Bank, in August 2002, the Republic Bank foreclosed on its operations.

The Government of Guyana, in an effort to ensure a reliable supply of electricity in the Linden area, expends US$200,000 monthly subsidy to operate and maintain equipment at LPC.

Over the last week and a half, the 7.5 megawatt steam power plant broke down after oil flowing to the bearing stopped. This resulted in the loss of 5 megawatts of electricity.

LPC is now operating two-2.5 megawatt generating sets and three-1.5 megawatt sets which has resulted in some areas in Linden receiving 12 to 18 hours of black out and others 15 minutes to 6 hours. The area hardest hit is Wismar , the largest community.

The Prime Minister said it is the responsibility of the privately owned LPC to bring in the country equipment at their own expense to maintain a stable supply of electricity.

The new power station to come on stream next year, according to Prime Minister Hinds, is a more “permanent solution to the power situation.”

The new plant is part of the Linmine privatization pact, and will be erected between the Linden Technical Institute and Kiln 14.

For start-up operations, four Wartsilla units from the Omai operations will be installed along with four Caterpillar units.

The Prime Minister stated that the units coming from Omai were achieving 99 percent operating capacity.

The Linden community will require four of the six units to meet its needs. And so there will be two back-up units.

The Government bailed the community out last year after LPC failed to address the power situation which plagued the community for close to two months. It secured four diesel units from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). This also helped to address a water problem in the area.

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Government Members of Parliament in retreat tomorrow
- Key issues on agenda

Georgetown, GINA, June 24, 2004

This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet Media briefing today.

According to Dr. Luncheon, Government will host a retreat tomorrow for its Parliamentarians. The one-day retreat will be held at the Office of the President on Friday, June 25, 2004.

"The Retreat has been organised to provide a more enhanced interface between the Administration and the legislators of the governing party," he said.

High on the agenda would be the promotion of better liaison among the Members of Parliament and Government and the State Agencies under the Parliamentary oversight.

"Additionally, the meeting will address strategies likely to improve the reporting and presentation of Government stewardship under consideration at the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees," he said.

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Mabaruma Settlement is the 2004 Amerindian Heritage Village
- Cabinet approves $5M for celebrations

Mabaruma Settlement, Region One, will come alive in September when Amerindians and others will gather to celebrate Amerindian Heritage Month 2004.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet Media briefing today said Mabaruma is the community chosen as this year's Heritage Village.

He noted that "Cabinet has approved the recommendation of its Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues, recognising Mabaruma Settlement Region 1, as the 2004 Heritage Village. As usual, a number of activities have been planned including the Day of Sports and the Cultural Extravaganza."

The governing body at its meeting today authorised the sum of $5M to cover the expenditure to be incurred by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Regions involved in hosting the main events and related celebratory activities in all of the other 9 Regions.

Amerindian Heritage Day 2003 was observed on September 10 last at St. Ignatius, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

Among those attending were the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo and his Cabinet colleagues, including Minister of Amerindian Affairs Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues.

This year's celebration marks the ninth consecutive year of observance of Amerindian Heritage Month in Guyana. The declaration of Amerindian Heritage Month and Amerindian Heritage Day came in 1995 after the first and former Minister of Amerindian Affairs Vibert De Souza requested that there should be some form of official observance by Amerindians to reflect their rich history.

Several Amerindian communities will be having individual observances during the month. These activities are carefully planned so that there is no overlapping of events by other nearby communities.

Government, when it took Office in 1992, had as one of its priorities a development programme for Amerindians.

Amerindians have benefited significantly in all sectors from resources of the present Administration. Among these are ongoing projects such as the Revision of the Amerindian Act, a massive birth certificate programme and the land demarcation and extension programmes.

As part of the general objective to promote and highlight Amerindian culture, a village is designated "Heritage Village" every year.

Last year, responding to community representation, Cabinet had approved September 10, a Regional holiday in Region Nine.

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$40M for school uniform assistance this year
- All Amerindian children to benefit

Georgetown, GINA, June 24, 2004

All Amerindian students and selected coastal students will benefit from State assistance through the provision of school uniforms for the academic year 2004-2005.

This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet Media briefing today.

He noted that Cabinet has allocated $40M for school uniform assistance for the next school year.

"This sum reflects the Administration's continued commitment to address poverty related issues impacting on education access and equity," he said.

Cabinet also approved Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues' recommendation to provide school uniforms to each hinterland student, as was earlier promised by Government.

Dr. Luncheon noted that $20M of the money will be spent on the Amerindian students in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

"In addition, throughout the other Regions, a sum of $20M has also been approved by Cabinet for the same purpose of providing school children with uniform," he said.

Last year the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security distributed more than $33M in vouchers for school uniform assistance for Nursery, Primary and Secondary school students.

Three thousand two hundred and seventeen vouchers were distributed for nursery school children valued at $1,500 each. For primary school children 7,486 vouchers were distributed while for secondary schools 3,045 were distributed. The allocated amount for each child was $2,500 for a primary student and $3,000 for a secondary student.

This means that $4,825,500 was spent on nursery school children and $18,705,000 and $9,135,000 on Primary and Secondary school children respectively.

The Ministry also made a $750,000 contribution to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to assist persons in the Hinterland Regions. Two sewing groups in Region Seven were given $100,000 to sew clothes for persons in their communities.

The amount spent on stationery was $132,900.

Through the Difficult Circumstances Unit at the Ministry, a large number of persons received financial and other support so that their children may attend school. According to the Minister, help is given throughout the year.

In 2002, $31M was expended for similar support.

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Minister Shadick urges persons to report incidents of TIP to authorities

--- Reports will be dealt with confidentially

Georgetown , GINA, June 24, 2004

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Bibi Shadick is urging persons who are aware of Trafficking In Persons (TIP) activities to report these to the authorities.

In an interview with GINA, Minister Shadick said reports can be made to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security or to the Police so that action may be taken against the perpetrators.

“Our laws cover women up to the age of 21, and those people who live off of the proceeds of prostitution,” she said. These laws are under the Criminal Law Offences Act.

“These laws even though they exist, are not fully enforced,” she observed, but part of the National Plan of Action, is to sensitise people to them.”

The Ministry will be working with the Police to enforce these laws, Minister Shadick observed, pointing out that while laws to deal directly with TIP are being drafted, there are adequate laws to control the problem.

With reference to the Third Annual TIP Report that placed Guyana in the lowest category of ranking, (Tier 3), which indicates that the Government is not doing enough to address the problem, Minister Shadick reported that she requested to see the cases presented in the Research by the US Embassy to the State Department.

According to the US Embassy TIP Coordinator Timothy Birner, an objective detailed research was done in Guyana and this was confirmed with a number of agencies.

“I have asked the US embassy TIP Coordinator to see some of the cases because we would like to know on what evidence these cases were presented,” the Minister observed. She added that all the cases being dealt with by the Ministry will be reported and submitted to the US Embassy.

“We are a Government that, when we hear of problems, we investigate them,” Minister Shadick said, pointing out that the Government's actions are not as a result of the US State Department report. In fact, the National Plan of Action was prepared since April.

Another of the Ministry's plan is to meet with the business community to senstise them to the issues and the laws and penalties.

During next month the Ministry is expecting to launch its first outreach to some mining communities in Region Eight to sensitise people there to the problem and to look for any cases of the crime.

She said in many instances there are reports of issues of human trafficking but persons do not show up to make actual reports and provide evidence. As a result, the Minister is imploring Guyanese to report instances of TIP to the authorities so that traffickers may be prosecuted. She noted that all reports will be dealt with confidentially.

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UNICEF – Guyana office has new Head

Georgetown, GINA, June 24, 2004.

Ms. Maria do Valle Ribeiro is the new Director of the UNICEF Office in Guyana. She presented her Letters of Credence to Foreign Affairs Minister Rudy Insanally this afternoon

Ms. Ribeiro comes to the post with years of experience in the field. For the past two years she has been a Programme Officer at the UNICEF office in Algeria, before which she spent two years as a Planning Officer at the Office in Angola.

Prior to working with UNICEF Ms. Ribeiro worked extensively in development and humanitarian work with Save the Children UK. This included Regional Director for the Caribbean in 1999, Programme Director Angola, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Sierra Leone between 1992 and 1999.

Before this Ms. Ribeiro worked in Ireland, Mozambique and Bangladesh with Concern, an Irish Development and Humanitarian agency.

She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work form Brussels and a Master's degree in Economic Development Policy Planning from the University in Wales, UK.

The previous head of the UNICEF Office – Guyana, Shri Lakshmi Gururaja, ended her stint here earlier this year.

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US writes off US35M debt

Georgetown, GINA, June 24, 2004

The Governments of Guyana and the United States of America, following the Paris Club Agreed Minutes of January 14,2004, today signed the Bilateral Implementing Agreement.

Speaking at the signing of the Agreement Finance Minister Sasennarine Kowlessar who signed on behalf of the Government of Guyana said the agreement lays out the terms under which the US Government will provide Guyana with its share of the debt relief that the Paris Club member states agreed to grant to their debtors under the enhanced HIPC Initiative.

“May I take this opportunity to applaud and thank the Government of the United States of America for the continued assistance and support that it has given through the years since Guyana's first approach to the Paris Club for debt relief. I also wish to thank your Government for its long-term commitment to supporting the economic development and poverty reduction agenda of Guyana,” Minister Kowlessar said.

According to Minister Kowlessar, Guyana is heartened by the generous gesture of the US Government to grant a 100 percent cancellation of the total principal outstanding

as well as the interest accrued at December 1, 2003.

“Such goodwill would make available much needed budgetary resources to improve the delivery of social services and fight poverty; and allow Guyana to consolidate the gains made thus far towards achieving PRSP and Millennium Development goals and confront the challenges ahead with renewed vigor and confidence,” the Minister added.

In brief remarks, Ms. Betty McCutchan, Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Guyana said the debt write off is a reward for Guyana's ongoing commitment to encouraging economic growth.

McCutchan said the signing marks a culmination of the enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, or eHIPC, process.

Under the eHIPC program, Guyana undertook exercises and enacted institutional reforms to show its commitment to encouraging economic growth and improving the standard of living.

Some of these steps included: preparing and implementing a poverty reduction strategy paper; passing procurement, investment, and small business acts; increasing health programs; working to improve the quality of teaching in public schools; maintaining a level macroeconomic environment; reforming the civil service though audits and computerized compensation systems; and restructuring public enterprises by privatizing the Guyana National Cooperative Bank and shifting GUYSUCO incentives from production to profits.

“These and other ongoing efforts are outward signs of the government of Guyana's commitment to increasing economic productivity in key sectors like sugar, improving the accountability and transparency of the public sector, and improving the delivery of public services such as health, education, and safe water,” McCutchan said.

According to the US Embassy Charge, the Boards of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund approved Guyana's completion point of the eHIPC process in December of 2003. Following this decision, on January 14,2004, the US and other members of the Paris Club group of creditors negotiated an agreement with the government of Guyana, detailing the terms and conditions for the reduction of Guyana's external debt.

The terms and conditions are contained in the Paris Club Agreed Minutes, which provides for a 100 percent reduction of the eligible stock of debt as of December 1,2003.

Under the Paris Club framework, the bilateral agreement signed today formalizes the commitment to forgive 100 percent of the relevant principal, which includes arrears and accrued interest, of all loans owed to, guaranteed by, or insured by the United States Government through December I, 2003.

These loans include 32.3 million US dollars held by the United States Department of Agriculture PL-480 Food for Progress program; 3.3 million US dollars held by the United States Export-Import Bank; and 300 US dollars held by the US Agency for International Development.

The total debt written off amounts to 35.6 million US dollars, equal to approximately 7 billion Guyana dollars. This is equivalent to almost ten percent of Guyana's national budget in 2004.

Debt write off will allow the Government of Guyana to free up money for key social and economic programs that would otherwise be needed to pay down the debt.

“The United States applauds the Guyanese for their hard work in implementing the necessary reforms to complete the eHIPC process and begin the difficult but necessary task of poverty reduction and economic development. Especially when taken in the context of the recent signing of three new, five-year USAID development contracts and the gift of 5 million US dollars worth of wheat under the PL-480 Food for Progress program, today's forgiveness of 35 million dollars,” McCutchan said.

In closing McCutchen challenged the Government to continue to exercise sound fiscal management and prioritization of development imperatives that will keep the country from again entering into unsustainable levels of debt.

“Such reforms will ensure Guyana's future economic and social health, thereby improving the living standards and the quality of life for all Guyanese,” she said.

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“Where the investigations take us we will go” – Commissioner Felix

Georgetown, GINA, June 24, 2004

“Where the investigations take us we will go,” stressed Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix on the death of George Bacchus, at a media briefing at Eve Leary, today.

He noted that a team of highly trained officers will be investigating the shooting to death of Bacchus at his Princes Street home around 2:45 this morning. He received three gunshot wounds, to the cheek, arm and leg.

“A team from CID Headquarters and other officers around the country are part of this investigation,” noted the Commissioner.

To date, four persons are detained, but the Commissioner is tight-lipped on disclosing their names, “In the interest of security and in dealing with such a sensitive matter I will not disclose the names of the individuals.” However, he added, the number held may increase.

When asked why Bacchus was not given protection by the law enforcement agency, the Commissioner responded that Bacchus never approached him on the matter.

“If Bacchus wanted protection the Commissioner’s office was open. But he never approached me and I can say that without any fear,” said Felix.

He emphasized that allegations made by Bacchus should have been made to the Police and not in television studios.

One reporter indicated that the Opposition Party had given the Police signed affidavits and videotapes of this allegation. Commissioner Felix acknowledged he has seen the tapes, and the affidavits do not say anything.

He said that the Police knew how to deal with Bacchus because they had dealt with him in the past, but declined to elaborate on this.

Concerning the establishment of the witness protection programme, Felix said that it has engaged the attention of the Police, but noted that with a small society such as ours, the Police must determine how feasible it is.

With regard to the type of weapon used, Commissioner Felix said that an investigation has already begun to determine this.

Since January 5, Bacchus emerged after his brother, Shafick Bacchus, was killed. Following an investigation, two men are now before the court. They are Shawn Hinds and Ashton King.

According to the Commissioner, Bacchus was supposed to be a witness in that matter. The Commissioner reiterated that the investigation will proceed and wherever it takes them, they will go.

Accompanying the Commissioner was Assistant Commissioner of ‘A’ Division, Paul Slowe; Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Edwards Wills, Deputy Commissioner Henry Greene and Public Relations Officer, John Sayers.

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