GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

Two more SIMAP projects for Region Nine

Two more projects will soon be implemented in Region Nine( Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo ), through Government's Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) and the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB).

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Acting Home Affairs Minister Teixeira enjoys the President's confidence

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Gail Teixeira enjoys the full confidence of the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo in executing the duties of Home Affairs Minister.

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President Jagdeo calls on the church to fill roles other than spiritual

-Attends Ecumenical Service

The Church has a role to play in meeting the needs of society and this should not only be in the spiritual sense. The Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo last evening called on the Church to address the social and economic ills of the world.

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Zeeburg fishermen and Guysuco make arrangement for use of canal

Fishermen in the Zeeburg area, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) have made an arrangement with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) to use the canal there to go out and come in from the sea. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock Satyadeow Sawh met with the fishermen at the Zeeburg Secondary School , West Coast of Demerara, yesterday.

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Coupons cannot be replicated

Persons need not to worry about the coupons which will be given to parents in assisting them to purchase foodstuff for their children, being replicated.

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Linden water update: 16:45 hours
Efforts continue to restore water supply

Engineers from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) were up to last night working to restore water supply to residents of Amelia's Ward, Linden , Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice)

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Minister Rohee updates National Assembly on developments in sugar industry

Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Clement Rohee today briefed the National Assembly on recent developments with respect to the trade in sugar between Guyana and the European Union. The sitting was held at the Ocean View Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

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Technical/Vocational Education and Training Bill and National Accreditation Council Bill passed in Parliament

The Technical/Vocational Education and Training Bill and the National Accreditation Council Bill were today passed at the 36 th Sitting of the National Assembly at the Ocean View Convention Centre.

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Two more SIMAP projects for Region Nine

Georgetown , GINA, July 21, 2004

According to a release from SIMAP, Katoonarib Village in the South Rupununi , will benefit from a new nursery school, while a new multi-purpose building will be constructed at Awarewaunau, Deep South Rupununi, approximately 90 miles from Lethem.

Both projects are part of the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy and signing of contracts took place in the Region on July 18 and 19, 2004.

Katoonarib has approximately 362 inhabitants and Awarewaunau has a population of 577 .

Villagers of Awarewaunau earn their living mainly by farming and the sale of surplus produce to neighbouring communities, while Katoonarib villagers are involved in farming, weaving, sewing and craft production.

The nursery school at Awarewaunau will be constructed at a cost of $11.1M and the community contributed $605,440. Katoonarib's multi-purpose centre will cost $7.2M and the village's contribution amounted to $413, 980.

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Acting Home Affairs Minister Teixeira enjoys the President's confidence

Georgetown , GINA, July 22, 204

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Gail Teixeira enjoys the full confidence of the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo in executing the duties of Home Affairs Minister.

This is according to Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon. At his weekly post-Cabinet Media briefing yesterday, Dr. Luncheon said that the Minister has done an exemplary job at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and as such, the President is assured that the same will be done at the Home Affairs Ministry.

“She enjoys the full confidence of the President, who appoints all Ministers,” he said.

Minister Teixeira was appointed to act as Home affairs Minister while Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj is on leave to allow for the conduct of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed earlier this month.

And as the Commissioners of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry prepare to start their task, the Acting Minister of Home Affairs Gail Tiexiera has been performing her duties.

Yesterday, the Acting Minister met top officials and staff of the Home Affairs Ministry, including the Heads of Departments that fall under the purview of the Ministry.

She has been meeting Commissioner of Police Winston Felix, members of the National Security Committee and staff at the Ministry of Home Affairs, over the past two days.

These meetings served to update the Home Affairs Minister (ag) on the policies and initiatives being undertaken by the various departments within the Home Affairs Ministry.

Minister Teixeira still is the substantive Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

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President Jagdeo calls on the church to fill roles other than spiritual

-Attends Ecumenical Service

Georgetown , GINA, July 22, 2004

He was at the time addressing the Ecumenical Service, held under the theme “Restructuring for Mission ” at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Brickdam.

The event is one of many hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in collaboration with the Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) and the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC). It follows the Opening of the Fourth Annual Regional Forum of Council of Churches yesterday morning at the Redeemer Lutheran Church Annexe, Sheriff and Pike Streets, Campbelville.

President Jagdeo noted that the time has come for the Church to move away from its traditional role of meeting the spiritual needs of people and start addressing the many issues that plague society. The President noted that the CCC has had that broader perspective in addressing issues critical to the well-being of the Region's people.

“If the church is going to depart from the traditional role in the many ways of Ministering to the spiritual needs of our people and please don't take this as me attempting to lecture the church because that is the last thing I want to do, but the Church has to remain credible through this process, and it must take positions that at the end of the day the Church will have a clear conscience on. It must speak the truth regardless of what party we belong to or whose interest it is perceived we are defending. The truth must always be spoken and we must take positions based on principles and not politics and race,” he said.

The President said that this will enhance the credibility and work of the Church, as well as the Church's attraction for people.

The President expressed admiration for the work of the Church and noted that alliance has power, especially alliance among the churches.

“There is need for the political leadership to pay more heed to what religious leaders are saying and we should have a religious alliance between religious leaders and the political leadership, both Government and Opposition, of the Region. This alliance should not violate the need to keep the church and the state separate but it must be an alliance to work towards solving common problems that our people face,” he said.

According to the Head of State, he is not seeking political support, but rather support on issues of principle.

“Because the broader the alliance, the broader our shoulders are, then the greater we can withstand the problems of this world that face our people,” he said.

Welcoming the delegates of the conference to Guyana , the President told those at the Church Service that “sometimes we are so focused on our problems that we forget to count our blessings,” adding that the Caribbean has a lot to be thankful for.

According to the President, many are killed in Iraq and Caribbean people must celebrate their religious, ethnic and political tolerance in their part of the world while they work towards changing the conditions in other places. He added that in some instances, religious advocates are prosecuted and thankfully that is not so in this part of the world. He called on church leaders to also pray for the nations on the issue of crime.

The President urged visitors to enjoy their stay and added, “when you go home remember us and keep us in your prayers.”

The next event in the programme will be a Public Forum on "Conflict and Confrontation in a Troubled Society,” with Professor Neville Duncan (University of the West Indies ) Friday July 23 7:00 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church .

Also attending the Service at the Brickdam Cathedral were Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Chairman of the Guyana Council of Churches Juan Edghill.

The sermon was delivered by Rev. Roy Thakurdyal, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana . He highlighted the need for the church to address the realities of the world, including social and economic ills. He said the Church cannot ignore issues affecting its environment and as such more needs to be done to combat key problems such as unemployment and poverty which affect all nations.

He also called on churches and their congregations to spread the message of love.

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Zeeburg fishermen and Guysuco make arrangement for use of canal

Georgetown, GINA, July 22, 2004

The Minister addressed issues raised by the fishermen. They explained that they were unable to pass their vessels through the Guysuco side line at Zeeburg to get to and from the sea.

The fishermen said that during the wet season, the sea is very calm and they can leave their vessels on the shore. But during the dry season the sea is rough and beached vessels can be destroyed.

Guysuco agreed that the fishermen could pass their vessels through the canal and side line, on condition that they sail close to the bank.

Guysuco had found a submerged vessel in the canal, and said this could affect the free flow of water and this is bad for the cultivation of sugar cane at the Leonora Estate.

An association will be formed among the fishermen led by Mr. Basdeo Baskarnand to ensure they do not encumber the canal.

At the meeting were representatives of Guysuco Mr. Gafur, General Manager; Mr. Walter Persaud, Agriculture Manager; the Regional Executive Officer of Region 3, Mr. Mohamed Ishmael; and Mr. Basdeo Baskarnand, Department of fisheries.

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Coupons cannot be replicated

A GINA release, July 22, 2004

Persons need not to worry about the coupons which will be given to parents in assisting them to purchase foodstuff for their children, being replicated.

Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of the Inter-Development Bank (IDB) Health Development Project made this disclosure in an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

He noted that they are negotiating with Delarue, a UK company to print the coupons and he wants to reassure persons who will benefit from this scheme that the coupons have security features that make it impossible for them to be forged.

“The coupons will be printed on secure paper and will have built-in security features. Each coupon will have a unique serial number and an expiry date,” said Dr. Anthony.

The US $6.42M Basic Nutrition programme will run for four years with 14,000 children being targeted, and is funded jointly by the Government of Guyana and the IDB.

Under the programme, parents of children aged six to 24 months will be given food coupons when they visit clinics and health centres.

Parents of children aged six to 12 months will receive one coupon per month when they report to the health centre for routine growth monitoring and counselling, and parents of children between 12 and 24 months will receive two months worth of coupons.

Forty health clinics in the rural coastal region that fall in the poorest enumeration districts have been identified to participate in the coupon scheme.

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Linden water update: 16:45 hours
Efforts continue to restore water supply

Georgetown , GINA, July 22, 2004

Engineers from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) were up to last night working to restore water supply to residents of Amelia's Ward, Linden , Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice)

Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh said the area was not receiving water because the motor at the facility was burnt on Sunday. Officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) are in the area installing a substitute motor. The water works there also developed problems with the shaft, which the crew is working on.

Since the problem arose, the Ministry has been working to assist residents by providing them with water from tanks.

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Minister Rohee updates National Assembly on developments in sugar industry

Georgetown , GINA, July 22, 2004

The Minister noted that on July 14, 2004 the European Union issued an internal document to the European Union (EU) Council and European Parliament, entitled: “Accomplishing a Sustainable Agricultural Model for Europe through a Reformed CAP – Sugar Sector Reform.”

This document was later leaked to the media in Europe which outlined the reform of the sugar regime. “This envisages the abolition of refining aid and the production levy, incorporation into the single farm payment system and retention of the Sugar Protocol but with the guaranteed price equated with a new reference price,” he said.

The reform package envisages the restructuring of the refining industry through conversion; and the maintenance of border measures to protect their internal reference price to limit access.

Minister Rohee said, “The Communication proposes the reduction in price in two stages; 20 percent for the first two years 2005 – 2007 and a cumulative reduction of 33 percent in the third year 2008. This means that white sugar price will be reduced from 637 pounds per tonne to 421 pounds per tonne while ACP raw sugar price be reduced from 523 pounds per tonne to 329 pounds per tonne, a reduction of 37 percent.”

Out of Guyana 's quota of 167,000 tonnes of sugar exported to Europe , Guyana would lose approximately US $37M annually. This will also adversely affect the livelihood of some 20,000 field, factory and clerical workers; 100,000 who are associated indirectly with the industry as well as 5,000 private cane farmers who supply cane to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco).

The Minister stated, “Under this new arrangement, European beet producers will be compensated 60 percent of the loss in revenue resulting from the price reduction. But for the ACP, the EU is not proposing direct compensation; instead it is proposing adjustment and re-structuring assistance for the ACP sugar industries.”

In response, African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Sugar Supplying States decided on a multi-faceted counter strategy in an attempt to ensure that their economies would not be adversely affected in any reform package.

“We will establish alliances with stakeholders to try to influence EU decision-makers to adopt the reform option which we in the ACP had a preference for, i.e. the extension of the present regime and to develop new and appropriate arguments to counter the EU's proposed option,” he said.

The EU formally adopted the proposals at the recent encounters of Ministers and Heads of State and Government of the ACP and Caribbean Community held in Maputo, Mozambique, and Grand Anse, Grenada, and as well as at the just concluded Ministerial Meeting on Sugar in Mauritius. These proposals will now be initiated.

Minister Rohee said, “However, there is no room for complacency and it will not be business as usual, as regards our relationship with the European Union as long as this sword of Damocles hangs over our sugar industry and the livelihood of our people.”

“At the same time, we have to look to the future with confidence and optimism,” he said.

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Technical/Vocational Education and Training Bill and National Accreditation Council Bill passed in Parliament

Georgetown , GINA, July 22, 2004

The Technical/Vocational Education and Training Bill and the National Accreditation Council Bill were today passed at the 36 th Sitting of the National Assembly at the Ocean View Convention Centre.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill 2004 was read for the first and second time and passed in the National Assembly. The Bill will provide for the promotion of technical and vocational education and training and was read by Minister of Education Dr. Henry Jeffrey.

Minister Jeffrey noted that the Bill has been in gestation for about 15 years and has been through many changes. Under this Act, a Council will be established which will:

Monitor the technical and vocational education and training of apprentices;
Undertake curriculum analysis and design and cause to establish training and apprenticeship programmes and vocational qualifications that are relevant to the needs of Guyana , and where appropriate, the needs of Caricom member states;
Establish national training standards and performance testing;
And ensure, through its inspection, that curricula, standards, schemes and guidelines are implemented by every Registered Training Organization and technical institute.

The Council will advise the Minister on measures to ensure comprehensive systems are implemented for technical vocation training; establish and monitor training programmes; develop national systems of competency-based modules; and expand the scope of industrial training.

Minister Jeffrey noted that education policies must ensure that students receive skills to develop their lives in a rapidly changing environment. He stated that the technical vocational education is crafted for an integral part of the general education of students.

He said the demand is for employees who have been exposed to a wide range of subjects. Even though the traditional subjects are important it was noted that technical vocation and arts must be pursued as well.

Minister Jeffrey further noted that in the Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Education for 2003 – 2004, the establishment of a Council is envisaged. This year, the Basic Competency Certificate Programme (BCCP) was implemented allowing all secondary school students in Grades 10 and 11 to pursue technical vocational education.

The Ministry of Education has negotiated a loan of $10M from the Canadian Development Bank (CDB) to assist in this area, and another loan is being sourced from the Japanese for US $10M.

The Council will consist of between nine to 15 people who will report to a Director.

Parliamentarian and Member of the Guyana Action Party/Working People's Alliance (GAP/WPA) Sheila Holder supported the passing of the Bill but pointed out that it must provide equal opportunities for Hinterland students as well. To which the Minister pointed out that half of the funding being sought from the Japanese will be spent on the construction of dormitories at the existing Training Centers at Anna Regina and New Amsterdam .

GAP/WPA member Shirley Melville also supported the Bill but felt that the Council should include a member from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Minister Jeffrey assured that the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will be represented on the Council.

Meanwhile, the National Accreditation Council Bill was also read for the second and third time and passed. Minister Jeffrey noted that the Accreditation Bill is an integral part of quality assurance.

The Bill caters for the establishment of a Council which shall be the principal body in Guyana for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of educational and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards, whether foreign or national, and for the promotion of the quality and standard of education and training in Guyana .

The Council will provide for the advancement of education, learning, skills and knowledge; ensure that the quality of all post-secondary education delivered meets the standards set by the Council to the qualifications and certificates conferred or awarded; ensure that the appropriate standards set by the Council are being maintained and improved; protect the interests of students; and promote the free movement of skills and knowledge within the Caribbean Community.

The accreditation body will have a strong working relationship with the regional accreditation body which is to be established for the Caribbean Community. The national accreditation body will report to the Minister annually, ensuring that its operations are consistent with policy directives of the Government.

Also at the sitting, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill was read for the first time.

Of notable absence at the sitting today, were members of the Opposition the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR).

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