President pledges $$ to improve drainage in lower East Bank communities
Georgetown , GINA, November 21, 2004
Residents of lower East Bank Demerara communities, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), will soon benefit from improved drainage.
This follows a commitment made by the Head of State yesterday to provide some financing to clean the drains in the communities after a visit.
During his visit yesterday the President toured Peter’s Hall, Providence, Herstelling, and Kaneville.
At Peter’s Hall the Head of State walked around the community and stopped at various points for discussions with residents. He then conducted similar visits to Providence and Herstelling.
During a wrap-up with the media, the President noted that the most pressing concerns in these areas were those relating to drainage and garbage disposal.
The President noted that Government will make $5M available to supplement the work of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
The acting NDC Chairperson of Herstelling, Little Diamond and Prospect Ms. Zameena Sukhdeo explained to President Jagdeo that the areas are frequently littered by residents themselves and this has also contributed to the drainage problem.
President Jagdeo noted that the Administration, in collaboration with the local authorities will be moving to take “tougher actions” on litter bugs.
Some residents indicated that they are willing to pay a small fee to dispose of the garbage.
However, the NDC Chairperson said that there is no available site to burn or dump residents’ garbage.
President Jagdeo committed the Government to financing such a site, by concreting the plot so that residents can centrally dump their garbage.
At Peter’s Hall/Providence the NDC Chairman Ashok Kumar spoke of the roads being damaged by vehicles using the route as a diversion from the main road and that the NDC budget is inadequate to fund repairs. President Jagdeo explained that the road contract to build the four-lane has an aspect that deals with funding for bypasses and this can be accessed to repair the roads. He urged the NDC to work with the project officials to address this concern.
They also complained that the heavy traffic is posing a hazard to the numerous school children using the roadways. The Chairman was advised that the Council should erect speed humps and barricades for huge vehicles after the main road project would have been completed.
Complaints were also made about squatting on the River Defence Dam and the President noted that he will send in an officer to look at the issue, adding that the Ministry of Housing will offer plots to persons for relocation, since squatting on Government reserve cannot be tolerated.
At Herstelling, the President was told of the community health centre which is improperly maintained. After taking a first hand-look, the President said the issue will be addressed.
The health centre was built about four years ago residents said, but it is not maintained by the Regional Council. A doctor makes occasional visits.
The President said Government will examine the idea of including a maintenance cost in the central budget, where the Ministry can contract the NDC to execute maintenance. The present situation is one where the Regional Democratic Council has responsibility for such matters.
During walk-abouts in the various communities, residents requested assistance for elderly citizens in the community.
The President told Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Service and Social Security Bibi Shadick, who accompanied him, to address the needs.
The President was accompanied by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Agriculture (ag) Satyadeow Sawh, Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford and Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh.
On November 6, the President visited Kuru Kururu, Garden of Eden, Diamond/Grove and Prospect/Little Diamond.
There he addressed several issues including drainage, water supply and the need for electricity and more roads at Guyana's largest new housing scheme Diamond/Grove.
These visits are part of the Government’s outreach programme launched earlier in the year to meet residents, listen to their concerns and collectively address their concerns, by involving them in the decision-making process.
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Foreign Trade Minister calls on PNCR to disclose all on Jonestown tragedy
Georgetown, GINA, November 21, 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.
Opposition Leader Robert Corbin was invited to be part of the discussions but did not show up.
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“The White Diamond”
Georgetown, GINA, Nov, 21, 2004
As Guyana celebrate Tourism Awareness month members of the Guyana Tourism Authority launched the movie “The White Diamond”.
Last night members of the diplomatic corps, oversea visitors and members of the public were invited to the premiere of the movie held at the Emba- Sea Court.
The White Diamond, described as an air-balloon, was built by Graham Dorrington and a team who spent many weeks putting together and testing the giant white balloon. The movie is aimed at rediscovering Kaieture Falls by using the air-balloon to get an overview of the falls and bringing it into people’s home in ways that have never been seen before.
The team was able to capture the huge waterfall which has a 750 feet sheer drop.
At the end of the project White Diamond was used for exploring and capturing the beautiful sights at the Kaieteur Falls.
Many described their experience at the Kaieteur Falls as mesmerizing: lost in the giant cascade of water. The movie depicted the fascinating, gigantic, magnificence of the falls.
Dorrington and his team recorded footage of the complete isolation in which Kaieteur performs its ceaseless movements.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mansoor Nadir noted that the project was a success and that the European market is very important for tourism, especially in terms of visitors who are in Guyana for the first time.
Minister Nadir said hopefully the movie will attract visitors from the United Kingdom and Germany.
He said these two countries are targeted because they have shown a great interest in this film, which will certainly put Guyana on the international map. The film has already been sold in five continents.
The European premiere is already set for January 27 and it will be distributed in 182 cinemas, though it is not a normal movie.
Brian James, Chairman of the Guyana Tourism Authority who was present at the premiere said members of the Guyana Tourism Authority are very happy to have another conclusion to the ever expanding product range.
He said there are efforts to expand the tourism and product range and for the first time, Guyana is being mentioned as one of the first 25 destinations in the National Geographic travel series.
President of Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Captain Gerald Gouveia said this is a great accomplishment which will create investment and will open doors for tourism development in Guyana.
He said as part of the private sector he is very pleased about this project because marketing of Guyana is not something Guyanese can do alone there is need for help from overseas investors.
Guyana’s rich bio-diversity and unspoiled natural environment have over the years been attracting the attention of a wide range of foreign tourists and visitors who never realized the potential of Guyana as a tourist area.
After seeing this movie many were surprised at the magnificent splendor of one of the world’s wonders.
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