Foreign Trade Minister calls on PNCR to disclose all on Jonestown tragedy
Georgetown, GINA, November 20, 2004
“It is the greatest tragedy from the national and international perspective.” This was the way Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Clement Rohee described what happened at Jonestown in 1978.
Speaking with Martin Goolsarran of NCN Television, Minister Rohee said this nation needs full disclosure on what took place in that part of Guyana.
According to Minister Rohee, Guyana has been linked with Jonestown and many travelers are bombarded with questions about Jonestown when traveling companions hear they are from Guyana.
The Minister noted that the existence of Jonestown only came to light after the 1978 massacre and to date there are still questions in persons minds about the whole episode.
He recalled that before the massacre, only the Government of the day and probably a few others in Guyana even knew that Jonestown existed and what went on there.
According to Minister Rohee the whole deal behind Jonestown is still clouded in secrecy.
He recalled that Reverend Jim Jones, who it is widely believed was responsible for the massacre, held many of the same socialist ideas like the PNC leadership which was in power at the time and engaged in the same sort of ‘demagogue’.
According to Minister Rohee, it was probably this that attracted Jim Jones to Guyana in the first place--a Government that spouted similar demagogue.
He recalled that there was never any sort of consultation as is seen today as it relates to the establishment of Jonestown, which he referred to as a ‘State within a State’.
According to Minister Rohee, after reports of the Jonestown massacre were made public, it was then realised that that part of Guyana was off-limit to visitors. Anyone wanting to visit had to seek permission from Jim Jones.
The Minister also said that prior to the massacre, nothing of Jonestown or Jim Jones was ever brought to the National Assembly, and it was about a week after the incident that Ptolemy Reid who was mainly responsible for allocating the land to the People’s Temple, brought it before the Assembly.
The Minister also recalled that early investigations discovered 13 rifles, 14 pistols, semi-automatic weapons and ammunitions. He said there is no way an entity outside of the Police and Army where there could be such a concentrate of weapons without the knowledge of the authority.
According to Minister Rohee, up to today, no one knows who gave permission for the importation of the weapons.
Minister Rohee said the PNC should have launched a full inquiry into the massacre.
He compared situations of today with the massacre and while noting that comparing allegations of death squads to Jonestown is like comparing chalk to cheese, the Minister said the current Government has shown its commitment to transparency and accountability. He pointed to the inquiry into allegations against Minister Ronald Gajraj.
The Minister called on those who were in power during the tragedy to come forward and make a full disclosure to the Nation on the negotiations that led to Jonestown being established in Guyana and exactly what went on at Jonestown.
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THAG President optimistic of Tourism future
- visits several resorts along the Essequibo River
Georgetown, GINA, November 20, 2004
“The main focus of Guyana’s tourism is eco-tourism, and we are trying to put it on the front burner” said President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Captain Gerald Gouveia while he was in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) visiting several resorts.
This initiative was conceived by Gouveia, as part of Tourism Month activities and is the first such initiative which would become a part of Tourism Month activities.
The aim of the visit was for THAG members to familiarize themselves with the operations and facilities offered to attract tourists to these resorts.
Accompanying Gouveia on his trip were Vice-chairman of THAG Frank Singh, Executive Member Indira Anageet and members of the media. Baganara, Bidrabu and Shanklands were the resorts THAG officials visited.
Ronald Thomas, General Manager of Baganara said that the resort is an intimate experience with nature, and the percentage of persons who use their facilities are US based Guyanese and a small percentage from Europe. He added that the local appeal is quite good.
One of the activities that is appealing to foreign tourists is bird watching, and there are many species in and around the resort. The management of Baganara has started to put together a brochure and set up a trail to introduce this activity.
Approximately, eight minutes by boat from Baganara is Bidrabu House, which is idyllic for families. It is an elegant five-bedroom river-front house on the beach, with spacious verandas. It has a swimming pool and is a short walking distance from Bartica.
Located at the edge of the rainforest monkeys, parrots, toucans, sloths and other wildlife come out from time to time to feed on wild fruits that grow in abundance on the property.
Shanklands offers services such as flora and fauna and bird watching to tourists and due to the influx of tourists, especially students, management is constructing a dormitory.
In an effort to establish closer links in the tourism industry, staff from Baganara visited Shanklands recently to have insights of the operations there. And it was recommended that staff from Shanklands return the visit.
“We think it is very important, because each resort has something different to offer and we want the staff to have first-hand knowledge of this so that they could advise tourists,” explained Gouveia.
The THAG officials also visited the Bartica Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has been resusitated. The newly formed group was advised by Gouveia, “to be organised and mobilize or they will be left behind. You cannot just blame the Government,” he said.
He urged that more major stakeholders get involved in promoting the tourism industry.
“We know Bartica is a hub for tourism and we want to liaise with the group. THAG is committed 100 percent for Bartica tourism development and private sector,” he added.
At the moment there are 16 members in the group. Vice-Chairman Neville Persaud said that Bartica has a ready-made environment for tourism and with initiatives and hard work Bartica can become the ‘spot’ for tourism.
Persaud said that he visited Agatash, an Amerindian community a few miles from Bartica and is using that community as a pilot programme for agro-tourism.
The THAG officials also visited several businesses in Bartica. THAG is a non-profit, private sector-led organization, dedicated to being a catalyst in sustainable tourism development by fostering professionalism and quality service, providing benefits to members, representing members' interest and collaborating with Government to develop the industry.
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‘Hold us responsible’
– President tells Kaneville residents, as Government unveils infrastructure programme
Georgetown, GINA, November 20, 2004
“I want you to hold us responsible for what we put down in this document here to spend $250M on your drains and roads, put in electricity and water… hold us responsible for that.”
This is the assurance given to residents of Kaneville Squatting Area today when Government unveiled a multi-million dollar infrastructure development programme for the area.
The areas, renamed Block ‘A’ of Block ‘Y’ Plantation Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara began in 1993, when person in dire need to build houses, began clearing the land and squatting. The densely populated area now has a population of more than 30,000.
The land belonged to the Guyana Sugar Corporation, which transferred it to the Central Housing and Planning Authority.,
A survey of the area was completed in 2000, indicating that there are 1089 lots in Kaneville. Some 721 lots were allocated, while 181 applications are being processed for titles. Forty-three titles are ready for distribution.
Outlining the Administration’s programme for the area, Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh said that the Government has developed a programme for the regularization of occupancy as well as the provision of the infrastructure for the entire Kaneville area and this plan is being accelerated.
The plan includes the construction of 7.5 km paved roads, 15km secondary drainage, 4 km primary drainage, 41 culverts and a reinforced concrete bridge.
“We have made some commitments that is in writing and has been shared with the residents and we are going to start early next year on these commitment as we have done in other parts of the country like West Coast, Berbice and Linden and I think we have the spirit here where we would have the people here working with us,” the President told the media.
According to the Head of State in a matter of weeks a contract for about $250M will be before Cabinet for its no-objection for the works to begin.
“Two hundred and fifty million dollars spent in Kaneville will transform the area,” the President said, adding that “I believe that we should not promise too much, but whatever we promise, we must deliver.”
Minister Baksh noted that the Ministry has already advertised for the contractor and is now evaluating tenders for the works. He noted that by the end of the year a contractor would have been selected and ready to start works early 2005.
He explained that the plans for drainage are such that the community, a swampy and low-lying area would not be prone to flooding. He said Government has already designed the macro drainage for Kaneville in the general East Bank Housing programme, since the Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme is nearby.
The internal drainage is networked in such a way, he added, that flooding would not occur. The area is easily flooded at present.
On the issue of electricity for the housing area, President Jagdeo explained that Government has accessed US$6M from a US25M loan to instal electricity in several housing areas across the country.
“You (Kaneville) are in Phase One. So it means by early next year they are going to start and I am hoping that by mid-next year it is going to be completed because I am pushing GPL,” he said.
Minister Baksh said that the Guyana Power and Light Company has started procurement of the materials needed overseas and the project should commence in the first quarter of 2005.
On the issue of water, President Jagdeo declared zero tolerance for the poor quality and inadequate supplies many communities across the country receive.
“I am very concerned about water. We are spending a lot of money. We keep putting money into the system….you have some huge mains broken and not fixed and people are not getting water because people (Guyana Water Incorporated) are not responding to the problem…and my Government cannot continue to tolerate this. We keep taking money from the Treasury and subsidises water and electricity,” the President said.
He explained that the water rates paid by residents’ amounts to about $20 per day and this is not enough to run the system.
“It works out to less than the price of a soft drink…but I am very concerned about the quality of service,” the President said adding that solutions have to be found because Government has been talking about this for too long. It comes up weekly at Cabinet,” he said.
He explained that during visits across the country, the issue of water always arose and on his recent trip to East Bank, six communities complained of water problems.
Minister Baksh echoed these sentiments, adding that water supply in Kaneville is an eyesore, even though there are facilities nearby and millions have been spent.
He noted that several visits were made to the community, along with GWI staffers, but the situation remains the same.
“We can no longer tolerate that so GWI will be mandated to ensure that within a short period of time that they solve the problem…That is totally unacceptable to this Government and the situation must be rectified. I am giving GWI two weeks to come up with a solution to this problem and if they cannot come up with a solution, the Ministry of Housing and Water will be drilling a well for this large community of Kaneville, Grove and Diamond,” the Minister said.
President Jagdeo called on the residents to cooperate with Government in executing the infrastructure development programme.
“We need your cooperation too. Because if you work with us these things happen faster,” he said.
The President told residents to play an active role in the implementation of the programme there so as to avoid contractor “ripping off” Government.
Minister Baksh indicated that residents have been slow in paying to process their land titles. The fee was initially $12,000. This was reduced to $8,000. The Ministry further announced that residents can pay half now and the balance when uplifting their titles. The fee is for the lawyers to process the documents to get the land title or transfer – indicating legal ownership for the plot of land.
“Once this belongs to you, it’s yours forever and then you can easily walk into a bank and pledge your properties to open a business or build a house. Please, please come out and ensure yours is processed. Make the sacrifice,” the President urged residents.
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