President stresses need for more young entrepreneurs
- Notes National Service lacked entrepreneurial component
Georgetown, GINA, August 9, 2005
Discipline it definitely offered, but fostering of entrepreneurial skills among young people, it lacked. This is the analysis of the Guyana National Service (GNS) President Bharrat Jagdeo gave in response to criticisms of his Administration for dissolving the GNS.
At a community meeting at Den Amstel, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) last weekend, President Jagdeo said people continue to question why the GNS does not exist any longer.
 “I think we need to get more of our young people into business, not only to get them into a military-type training organisation. We need to give them entrepreneurial skills. Let them become the businessmen of the future," he said.
The GNS was established by the previous Administration. However. The present Government has dissolved the paramilitary institution that was compulsory for young people, replacing it with numerous training programmes for youths that are optional. Some of these are the President's Youth Award, of which the patron is President Jagdeo and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Andrew is the founder, and the President's Youth Choice Initiative that President Jagdeo launched in 2001. Additionally there is the Young Entrepreneurial Skills Training programme, executed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
"If you put them back into the National Service, the focus tends to be more marching and walking etc. I want them to learn to read a balance sheet or how to manage money or learn some skill," he said. It is with this in mind that the President on June 20 last launched a $350M National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment, which will teach 5,200 youths various skills starting next month.
President Jagdeo urged more young people to work at being self-employed, adding that a career in the Public Service does not provide that opportunity. While, it is good to serve one’s country, the President recognized that it is not that the Public Service does not offer the most lucrative job, as most Public Servants have resigned to living average lives.
"Unfortunately for a long time in the past we only pushed our children to work with Government and go in the Army and Police etc. we still need to do some of that, but we need to get some of them to become businessmen. There is nothing wrong with getting rich if you work hard for it. And you are honest and you invest your time and resources,” President Jagdeo said.
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Sea defence works to begin shortly at Den Amstel/Blankenburg 
H.E Bharrat Jagdeo, NDC Chairman George Nedd and residents of Den Amstel at the look at sea defence during the President's visit to the village. (GINA/Ameer Khan photo)
Georgetown, GINA, August 9, 2005
Works to repair minor damage to the existing sea defence along Den Amstel/Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) will begin shortly.
 This was told to President Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday last when he took a first-hand look at the deterioration of the existing sea wall.
Regional Chairman Esau Dookie said that the contract has already been awarded and the works are expected to start by next week.
However, there is no serious threat to life or property by the existing- structure, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman George Nedd said. He explained that the contractor is mobilizing the equipment and materials to begin the works.
The damage is not extensive, but it was recommended that the repairs be done during the dry season, even though the breakage was identified during the January/February flood.
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Lindeners urged to be aware of misinformation campaign on power situation
Georgetown , GINA August 9, 2005
A senior Government official is denouncing a malicious document being circulated by the opposition People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), which misrepresents the state of electricity supply in Linden.
The document seeks to mislead persons about a pending increase in the cost of electricity for residents of the community and create confusion, the official pointed out.
The official urged that residents should ignore attempts to mislead them on this and other issues.
Linden Power Company (LPC) was providing electricity for the community, while distribution and billing was being done by Linden Electricity Company (LEC).
On June 1, 2005, OSI assumed control of the LPC, and took over power generation for the community. The company currently has a generating capacity of eight megawatts and a reserve capacity of four additional units.
Following the complete closure of OMAI Gold Mines Limited, later this year, OSI’s generating capacity will be further increased and measures are currently being put in place to move towards a more cost- efficient supply of energy for the district.
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World Travel and Tourism Council in Guyana for multi-stakeholders’ meeting
Georgetown , GINA August 9, 2005
World Travel and Tourism Council Vice President, Dr. Richard Miller is currently in Guyana for a meeting with local tourism stakeholders under the theme ‘Forging Ahead, a focus on Guyana.’
Guyana Tourism Authority’s (GTA) Executive Director, Indira Ananjit said, Dr. Miller will be presenting a report on recent developments in Guyana’s tourism sector, tomorrow, August 10, at Le Meridien.
Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Manzoor Nadir will also make a presentation.
The meeting will focus on recent developments in the local tourism sector and its implications for economic growth. It will also address the issue of development and employment within the tourism sector.
Guyana was recently placed at number eighth in an Environmental Sustainability Index following a study conducted by environmental experts of Yale and Columbia universities in the United States.
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Minister Rodrigues for Akawini, Region Two tomorrow
Georgetown, GINA, August 09, 2005.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues will be visiting Akawini, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) tomorrow, Wednesday August 10 to discuss matters affecting residents.
Government has been placing emphasis on hinterland communities to improve the lives of the mainly Amerindian residents.
In addition to Government’s annual budgetary allocation to these hinterland communities further sums have been allotted for development.
Recently Government handed over a tractor and trailer to Moruca village, Region One (Barima/Waini) and $35M to the Regional Democratic Council. Most of the sum was allocated to be spent on the improvement of educational institutions.
Kaburi Village in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) was presented with a truck, while Region Nine (Upper Essequibo/Upper Takutu) received a jeep. Both vehicles are being used for community purposes.
In addition, Government has presented tractors and trailers to villages including Orealla, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Yarakita, Region One.
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New Sophia Police station taking shape
Sophia Police Station taking shape
Georgetown, GINA, August 9, 2005
Construction of the $32M Police station at ‘D’ Field Sophia is taking shape, and pillars to facilitate the two storeyed structure are now going up.
Preparatory work began in late July and is being carried out by Miller Construction Company. The building which is scheduled for completion by year-end and would be built with concrete designed to have a maximum of seven cells. It will also house male and female barracks, and Traffic and Criminal Investigative Intelligence (CID) Departments.
Phase One of the Police Station which was completed entailed the foundation of the building and construction of part of the fence.
In 2003, a preliminary feasibility study for housing a police station at one of two possible locations in Sophia was done, where it was proposed that the station either be housed at location ‘A’ or ‘D’ Field, Sophia.
The logistics of access by residents of the community to the station and accessibility of ranks to other areas were also examined. Concerns have been raised over the many crimes that have been occurring in the area, and in an effort to curb them, police ranks have intensified their mobile patrols.
Government said this year it would strengthen the Police Force’s capability to fight crime and build new stations or renovate existing ones are part of the programme.
Recently, Cabinet has offered its no-objection to the award of contracts for the construction of Police stations at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice and Grove/Diamond.
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Den Amstel dairy project progressing well - Residents tell President Jagdeo during visit
Georgetown, GINA, August 9, 2005
The dairy project started by the Government of Guyana for farmers of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and neighboring communities has been progressing satisfactorily.
This feedback was given to President Bharrat Jagdeo by residents when he visited Den Amstel on August 6. The President was on hand to visit the building that houses the barn for feed and bran sale.
"We started with selling 25 (bags) of wheat and 10 (bags) of bran just after the flood and now we are at 40 wheat and 20 bran. We are trying very hard to expand, but it takes time,” one resident said.
The dairy project building was constructed under the Poor Rural Communities Support Service Project (PRCSSP), which is an executing agency for Government projects. The funding comes from the Government of Guyana, the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
The Dairy Centre is located at the end of the Clay Brick Road. Den Amstel and serves neighbouring Hague, Fellowship and Blankenburg as well.
Residents requested that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) repair the access road to the dairy bond, as the farmers have been, through self-help, erecting a fence and gates.
Chairman of the NDC, George Nedd said the Council will ensure it is done.
“It is a one-day exercise, providing that we get the weather. But the Council will get it done,” he said.
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World Youth Festival kicks off - Guyana ’s contingent one of the largest
Georgetown , GINA, August 9, 2005
The 16 th World Youth Festival of Youths and Students began on August 8 with an opening ceremony at the Fuerte Tiuna Academia Militar de Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela.
Venezuela's capital was transformed into a colourful zone as thousands of delegates from over 138 countries around the world arrived for the event carrying their countries' flags and dressed in costumes representative of their countries’ cultures.
The festival was initially scheduled to begin on August 7, but due to some delays in accommodation arrangements for the various contingents as well as late arrivals, the Festival commenced a day later.
The Guyanese contingent faced several hiccups and the journey by land to Caracas, which was scheduled to take 12 hours, took much longer.
Information liaison to the President, Mr. Robert Persaud, who was Guyana’s official representative, said that he was unable to locate the Guyana contingent until Sunday. “They (contingent) expressed their discomfort because of the lack of preparedness by the host country.”
However, despite minor hurdles, Persaud said the contingent is beginning to settle in and he is assuring parents and relatives of the youths that the local organizations and staff are doing their best to make the students comfortable.
Persaud also indicated that the Guyana Embassy in Caracas is willing to provide assistance to the Guyanese and that the country’s presence was pronounced. He also emphasised that Guyana’s participation in the festival is not a Government effort, despite it assisted over 200 participants to travel. The initial number scheduled to attend was 250, but some of the participants did not make the journey.
Guyana ’s delegation was one of the largest there and they expressed their gratitude to President Bharrat Jagdeo for enabling them to take part in the festival.
The theme of the festival was “For Peace and Solidarity, We fight against Imperialism and War.”
Venezuela ’s President Hugo Chavez was scheduled to address the participants which numbered approximately 25, 000.
Participating countries include Angola, Zimbabwe, Peru, Colombia, Chile, India, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Cuba, China, Vietnam and Suriname.
The festival is scheduled to conclude on August 15.
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