President Jagdeo wants public debate with Opposition Leader on current economic policies
Georgetown, GINA, December 10, 2004
President Bharrat Jagdeo wants public debate with the Opposition Leader Robert Corbin on the country’s economic policies, including the issue of debt sustainability.
Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud, who is in new York with the President, said that the Head of State has indicated his willingness to engage the PNCR Leader in a debate in the light of his Party’s recent criticism of the PPP/C economic policies, particularly the issue of debt sustainability.
The Office of the President, Persaud said, will very soon write to the Opposition Leader, inviting him to the debate on the economic policies practiced by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration, including the issue of debt sustainability.
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Road rehabilitation ongoing in the City
Georgetown , GINA, November 17, 2004
Several roadways in the City are being rehabilitated by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications. This follows concerns expressed by President Bharrat Jagdeo about the condition of some of the roads in Georgetown.
"We are concerned and I mean if you drive around the city, most of them have deteriorated. So the President has asked me to work in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to have these roads done," says Minister of Public Works and Hydraulics Anthony Xavier.
Government allocated $100M for the rehabilitation of roadways, including streets in Alberttown, Queenstown, Kitty, Campbellville and Bel Air. Other streets that have been repaired include Quamina, Church, Water and Middle streets.
Road repairs are also underway in West Ruimveldt, Albouystown and Charlestown.
Minister Xavier is satisfied with the progress being made. He said infrastructural development is the way forward in any country.
Lloyd Rawlins, Works Superintendent at the Public Works Ministry, is overseeing the project.
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Acting President signs book of condolence for Netherlands’ Prince Bernhard
Georgetown, GINA Friday, December 10, 2004
Acting President Samuel Hinds today signed the book of condolence for Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands at the Demerara Mutual Life Building in Georgetown.
The Dutch Prince died on Wednesday at 93, after a bout with cancer. He was the father of reigning monarch, Queen Beatrix and was married to Queen Juliana until her death in March this year.
He was German by birth but became a naturalised citizen of the Netherlands in 1937.
Minister of Foreign Trade, Clement Rohee and Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran also signed the book this morning.
Also present were Honorary Consul General Paul Edward Fredericks and M. R. Khan, Chief of Protocol from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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‘Tender Board system is transparent’ - Dookie
Georgetown, GINA, December 10, 2004
Responding to criticisms in the media about corruption in the awarding of contracts, especially in Region Three ( Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), Regional Chairman Esau Dookie said that the Tender Board system in the Region is transparent and is not controlled by any agency.
In one media report, former Regional Chairman of Region Three, Fazil Raymond, had said that there is mass corruption in the awarding of contracts due to the absence of the Procurement Commission.
However, other Government Officials noted that this cannot be so, since contracts go through a competitive bidding process prior to their being awarded.
“ With the Regional Executive Officer (REO) chairing the Tender Board, there are representatives from the Engineering section, from the sub-treasury, and a Minister’s representative, as well as a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) representative”, Dookie said.
He said that the body then makes recommendations to the Finance Committee which has representatives from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C), the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) and the Justice For All Party (JFA).
Dookie pointed out, however, that the present system will soon be removed, leaving the RDC with only one representative and there will be representatives from various agencies instead.
He urged that persons not make judgements until the new system is put in place and until it is proven to be the best system.
Government maintains that contracts go through the competitive process and that there will always be persons who will not obtain some and will be bitter about it.
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Religious organizations benefit from books promoting Hindi and Urdu
Georgetown , GINA, December 10, 2004
The High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Mr. Avinash Gupta today handed over approximately four thousand learning and religious books to various religious and cultural organizations in the country.
The presentation of the books was held in the office of the Indian High Commissioner at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
Representatives of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, the Gandhi Youth Organization and other organizations collected the books.
The books are to be used to teach and propagate Hindi and Urdu in areas outside of Georgetown.
Commissioner Gupta said he is pleased to hand over these books since, “ India is a multi-cultural, multi-religious and secular democratic country, in which there are hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects.”
He noted that the Indian Constitution itself recognizes 18 languages, one of which is Urdu.
In India there are approximately 120 Muslims, and the only country with more is Indonesia.
The official language in India is Hindi and Urdu.
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Young broadcasters would do well to emulate Bertie Chancellor
- Robert Persaud
Georgetown, GINA, December 10, 2004
The Government Information Agency joins the relatives and the media fraternity in mourning the loss of renowned broadcaster Bertie Chancellor.
Chancellor of the National Communications Network Radio died yesterday at 77. The veteran broadcaster held the post of Assistant Librarian for the more than 50 years.
Chancellor was bestowed the National Award - Medal of Service - for his work in the field. He is survived by his wife and six children.
Here is a message of condolence from the Information Liaison to the President Robert Persaud:
It is with regret that I learnt of the death of veteran broadcaster Bertie Chancellor.
Over the years, the name Chancellor had become a household word. It was back in the fifties that he came into his own on the then Radio Demerara, producing and hosting a series of programmes featuring pop music. Those who knew him all speak of his dedication to his work, and his easy-going delivery on the airwaves had become his hallmark.
Radio in Guyana has been made the poorer with the passing of Bertie Chancellor, and young broadcasters would do well to emulate him and his determination to do well at his job.
To the family and friends of Bertie Chancellor, and to his colleagues at NCN Radio, I offer my sincere condolences on the death of this broadcasting icon.
Robert Persaud
Liaison to the President.
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$42.4M for reconstructing of President’s College dormitory
Georgetown, GINA, December, 10, 2004
Plans to reconstruct the male dormitory at President’s College are underway.
Today Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Pulander Kandhi, Executive Director of Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) Abdool Rahim and Principal of President’s College Evadine Gordon-Holder signed contracts for the sum of $42.4M donated by SIMAP for the reconstruction of the dormitory.
President’s College, at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara Region 4, will benefit from the Government of Guyana/ IDB Loan Funded programme and also part of the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The programme will be executed by the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP).
On Thursday, March 26, 2004 a fire destroyed the male dormitory displacing 126 students from other rural and hinterland communities.
Mr. Kandhi said construction will begin soon and hopefully next September students will be able to return to the College.
The project has been awarded to contractor, Winston Thomas at a cost of $79M; so far the Ministry of Education has contributed $34.1M.
President’s College has also contributed $2.4M which will go towards provision of 35 double bunk beds, one hundred desks and benches and one complete concrete trestle with water tanks.
Principal Evadine Gordon-Holder said students who were temporarily relocated at other dormitories since the fire will be happy to return to the President’s College family.
The duration of the project is expected to be 12 months, with a defects liability period of six months.
The project involves the reconstruction of the three storeyed wooden and concrete structure measuring 150’x 44.5’. The complete structure will have a total floor area of
20,025 square feet.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Pulander Kandhi (blue shirt), Executive Director of Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) Abdool Rahim (second from left) and Principal of President’s College Evadine Gordon-Holder (right) signed contracts for the sum of $42.4M.
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