Region Three celebrates National Breastfeeding Week
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
National Breastfeeding Week will be on September 12 to 18, under the theme “Exclusive Breastfeeding – The Gold Standard, Safe, Sound and Sustainable.” The Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Breastfeeding Committee has a number of activities planned for the week.
According to the committee's Vice-President, Bhagmania, the week's program is designed to educate mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding to both her and her child.
The week's activities will begin with an inter-faith service in the Maternity Ward, at the West Demerara Regional Hospital on September 12. On September 13 an exhibition will be opened at the Vreed-en-Hoop ferry stelling at 9:00 hrs. On September 14 various health centers will be visited in the region.
A public forum on Breastfeeding will be held at the West Demerara Regional Hospital Boardroom on September 15. On September 16, an exhibition will be opened at the Parika Market Square starting at 8:00 .
On September 17, a walk-a-ton will be held at Waakenaam. The week's activities will conclude with a grand Fun Day on September 18, at the Mudri Resort, Soesdyke/Linden Highway .
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ERC trains mediators in conflict transformation
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004.
Representatives of various ethnic groups have completed training to serve as mediators in situations where the problem is an ethnic one. The training was organised by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
At the closing session of the training, Chairman of the Commission Bishop Juan Edghill noted that this is probably the first time in the history of Guyana that there was such broad-based and extensive training in conflict resolution. He noted that the process could only help Guyana.
The ERC Chairman said the Commission is mandated to eliminate all forms of ethnic discrimination, wherever it may exist, and to prevent such forms of discrimination.
According to the Chairman, this cannot be done from offices, but by all stakeholders, at all levels, in all communities, getting engaged in the effort.
Edghill said he understands the frustrations of communities in wanting their problems resolved immediately.
According to the ERC Chairman, the priorities of the ERC is to work with everyone available and the Commission is still gathering views and information from society and various interest groups on problems facing Guyanese society.
He noted that some sections of society may want persons to be charged and placed before the Courts, but society, he said, must first be educated and made aware of what they are doing that could be interpreted as or lead to ethnic discrimination.
Edghill noted that the commission has been going around the country hosting public meetings and discussions so that persons can be made aware of what is ethnic discrimination and how the ERC works to eliminate such discrimination.
He noted that persons have begun to change the way they look at others of different ethnicity.
The Chairman challenged participants to take what they have learnt back to their communities.
How do you see yourselves continuing with the ERC, what needs to be done that is not currently being done and what can be better done to serve the people, were the questions the Commissioner threw out to participants.
Pledges to continue to work for the elimination of ethnic discrimination and the promotion of harmonious relations among all ethnic groups came from all participants.
Meanwhile, newly installed Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Christine King, said she was impressed with what came out of the workshop.
The CEO expressed confidence that participants will advance the work of the Commission.
The training was facilitated by the UNDP.
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Region Nine students for educational tour
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations continue with an educational tour for students of Region Nine (Upper Takatu\Upper Essequibo) at various places of interest from September 13-17 at 8:30 hrs-16:30 hrs.
The students are from schools in the regions. During the tours the students are expected to make notes and write about the tours.
Other events planned for the month are a hinterland student's forum at the YWCA, Brickdam at 9:00 hrs on September 18. Other events including preliminary football on September 18, football finals on September 19, a cultural extravaganza at 20:00 hrs at the National Cultural Centre on September 25 and a grand fund raising dinner at 19:00 hrs-at a venue to be announced later.
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Work Study Students did excellent-Ministry of Education
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
One hundred and eight work study students came in for high praise when the Department of Education, Region Three, Guysuco and the ND&S Furniture Store, held a closing session for the students who were attached to various sections of their organizations.
“The feedback from the various sections indicated that the students performed well”, said Ms. Doodmattie Singh, Regional Educational Officer. Ms. Singh noted that the students displayed courtesy, respect and tolerance.
The closing session included songs, poetry, drama and dance, and was chaired by two of the work study students.
The coordinator of the work study program, Ms. Bernice Corbin, said that the students' attachments were in two five-week phases. The first phase consisted of 55 students running from June 28 to July 30, 2004 .
The other phase, with 53 students ran from August 3 to September 3. The students received a stipend of $10,000 each.
At the gathering were students, their parents and officials of the Regional Administration, including the Regional Chairman Mr. Esau Dookie, who congratulated the students and urged them to develop positive attitudes and good morals.
The Chairman inviting more private sectors entities to get involved as they can supplement Government's efforts to equip youths for the future. TOP
Top officials meet community policing groups
A GINA release, September 10, 2004
Today, representatives from six community policing groups met a top level delegation at the Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss protecting their respective communities.
Minister of Home Affairs (ag) Gail Teixeira, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon; Commander of ‘C' Division Krishna Lakeraj and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) Sydney Bumberry held discussions with the six groups.
After the meetings, Minister Teixeira, in an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that a number of issues were resolved and she considered the outcomes as ‘productive at the community policing level.'
The policing groups were from: Coldingen, Annandale , Vigilance, Non-Pariel and Enterprise .
This is a follow-up to the visit made recently by Minister Teixeira, Dr. Luncheon and Lakeraj to the East Coast Demerara. Due to the geographical outlay of the East Coast area, coupled with limited resources, there is need for community policing groups to work in partnership with the Police.
Dr. Luncheon had given Government's commitment to assisting policing groups with the necessary tools to protect their communities.
Community policing groups are considered the ‘eyes and ears' of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
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President makes critical commitment as Region One visit begins
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
President Jagdeo began his trip to Region One by making several commitments to the children there.
The Head of State, with a high level delegation including Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford and Head of the USAID in Guyana , Mike Sarhan and Mrs. Sarhan, arrived at the Mabaruma airstrip this morning for the Amerindian Heritage Day celebrations.
The team was greeted by villagers in traditional Amerindian dress, adorned with garlands depicting the indigenous people's culture. The President's party was also greeted by the Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodriques who was in the region since earlier in the week, as well as Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Reginald Brotherson.
School children lined the roadway to greet the President and he stopped for brief exchanges with them. He questioned the students about their school needs. Secondary students called for an extension to the dorm of the North West Secondary School . President Jagdeo requested an estimate from the Regional Chairman and committed to supplying funds for the venture.
A request was also made for computers for the school, and a generator to supply power for these will be presented shortly to the school by Amcar.
The President committed to supplying the computers once electricity is in place.
President Jagdeo also promised to address the overcrowding at the Mabaruma Primary School . He committed to an extension of the school which is expected to cost about $30-$40M. The Regional Council was tasked with coming up with an estimate and Central Government will fund the extension.
A major issue for students is the lack of text books. The President noted that the Ministry of Education is working on this problem, and in the interim, he promised to supply some text books for the secondary students.
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Forty-nine hinterland airstrips certified
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
Forty-nine hinterland airstrips have been certified by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) after meeting the domestic standards for aerodromes. Minister of Public Works and Hydraulics Anthony Xavier divulged this in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA).
Under the Air Transport Reform Programme, $80M has been budgeted this year for the rehabilitation of airstrips.
“We have another 20 airstrips to be certified, but it is an ongoing process, and by year-end these will definitely be certified,” noted Minister Xavier. He added that five airstrips have been closed.
Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA) Director General of GCAA said that the criteria for being certified are:
• There should be markers on the shoulders of the airstrip to enable pilots to locate the airstrips.
• There should be a wind sock, that is a yellow cloth which blows in the direction of the wind.
• There should be no obstacles near the airstrip – such as buildings constructed too close to the airstrips.
The Public Works Ministry usually gives monies to villages councils to maintain the airstrips, such as maintaining the shoulders and trimming grass.
Minister Xavier is pleased that the airstrips are being certified, as they make it easier for people living in the hinterland communities to have access to other communities.
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SIMAP re-launches its Community Serviced Component
-to give US$456 thousand in grants to NGO's
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
The Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) has re-launched its pilot Community Service Component project.
The Government of Guyana has secured a US$650,000 dollars loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and US$456,000 of this will be given to Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's) and Community Based Organisations (CBO's) in the form of grants.
The programme, in keeping with the goals of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, targets vulnerable groups such as the elderly, the disabled and families affected by HIV/AIDS. It will allow grants totaling US$ 15,000 to US$50,000 for a period of one year.
Training workshops are currently being held countrywide to teach NGO's and CBO's about project proposals.
Training has been held in all Regions of Guyana with the exception of Region four and One where training is expected to start on September 13 and 16.
Ms Rohini Persaud, Coordinator of this component, told GINA that these sessions are well attended. The training will equip beneficiaries with knowledge about accessing further funding.
By March 2005, the agency is expected to start issuing grants to qualifying organisations.
This Community Services Component was launched about a year ago, but was relaunched as outlying regions such a One, Eight and Nine were not sufficiently covered.
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CSEC papers in Guyana
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations CSEC results have arrived in Guyana .
Permanent Secretary with the Ministry of Education, Ganga Persaud said today, the results arrived in the country this morning via DHL.
He said the Examinations Division tried to send off as many packages as possible to the various regions.
The Permanent Secretary said an analysis of the results will be made as early as possible.
Some students would have received their results today, but the majority will be able to uplift theirs on Monday.
Guyana 's results were withheld by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) after allegations of discrepancies in the results and of leaked 2004 examination papers.
A few weeks ago, top local education officials visited CXC's headquarters in Barbados to sort out Guyana 's predicament.
This week Minister of Education, Henry Jeffrey stated that Hurricane Ivan hindered the arrival of the papers after CXC gave the go ahead for them to be released to the country.
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President Jagdeo commends Amerindians for preserving their culture
Georgetown , GINA, September 10, 2004
The much anticipated 9 th Amerindian Heritage Day celebration kicked off in Region One today with hundreds of Amerindians and non-Amerindians gathering at the Mabaruma Settlement sports complex.
The celebrations saw cultural items by various villages portraying the rich indigenous people's culture, including food and drink and sports.
Chief guest at the celebrations, President Bharrat Jagdeo, commended the Amerindians for preserving their culture. He noted that Amerindians have contributed to Guyana 's culture in a special way and the month long activities to celebrate Amerindian Heritage have gone a long way in breaking what many perceive to be barriers between Amerindians and other Guyanese. “The only way to move forward is in unity,” the President said.
He noted that the theme for the Month, “Amerindians: a people moving forward”, is apt as Amerindians have indeed moved forward in Guyana .
In the Education Sector the President noted that many improvements have been made. He commended parents for sending their children to school, adding that Government has expended much in ensuring that they are educated. “We can't afford to have anyone left behind and that includes Amerindians” he said.
He pointed out that Government is creating more opportunities in the Education Sector such as increased scholarships.
He also noted benefits for Amerindians under the reformed constitution. There is now a Parliamentary Committee to address Amerindian Affairs and the Toshaos have recently selected three nominees to that commission, all this to ensure that they are not neglected as in the past, he said.
Other achievements include the ongoing revision of the Amerindian Act and the demarcation of Amerindian land, the establishment of a Ministry and several programmes executed by SIMAP.
“We need to correct the historical imbalance if we are going to move forward” the President said.
Minister Rodriques said that September 10 is designated Amerindian Heritage Day because on that day in 1967 the first Amerindian Parliamentarian entered the National Assembly.
In 1995 then President Cheddi Jagan and his Government wanted to recognize the contributions of Amerindians to national development and Amerindian Heritage Month came into being.
Minister Rodrigues said that since then Amerindian Heritage Month has become bigger and bigger.
She noted that the first Amerindians in Guyana settled in Region One and that Guyana 's first female boxing champion, Gwendolyn O'Neal also came from Region One.
Minister Rodrigues pointed out that only after the PPP took office in 1992 did Amerindian communities have access to secondary education and that includes Region One. She also congratulated the parents for sending their children to school.
She however expressed some concern that Amerindians are moving away from the self sustained life they once knew, and no longer have a keen interest in farming. She urged the indigenous people to revisit this trend and restore agriculture to the important place it once held in the Amerindian way of life.
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