| Contract signed for new Abattoir at New Amsterdam
Georgetown , GINA, December 02, 2005
A contract worth $19.1M for the construction of a new abbattoir at New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) was today signed in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
“For some time now, the abattoir was in a state of disrepair that required major works. The municipality had difficulties finding the financial resources to undertake the kinds of work necessary, and so the Government of Guyana decided that they will fund this project through Government resources,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ganga Persaud prior to signing the contract.
He explained that initially, the project was intended to be funded under Government’s Urban Development Programme (UDP), but due to flooding in the various regions previously, some modification had to be made on the Ministry’s work programme.
“We are extremely happy that we were, through the efforts of our Minister and through the personal intervention of His Excellency (the President), provided with the necessary financial resources to undertake this project,” Persaud further said.
The Permanent Secretary pointed out that since the facility deals with meat, the Ministry wants to ensure that the whole process, in terms of slaughtering and marketing, is done in an environment that is conducive to enhancing the health of citizens.
The contract duration for the project is seven months with a three-month defects liability period. Works to be carried out as part of the facility’s construction include concrete foundation, hollow concrete block walls, overhead conveyor, five chain hoists and a concrete walkway.
The community of New Amsterdam is to benefit from the facility, following Cabinet’s decision at its meeting on October 11, to commit public funds for the abattoir’s construction.
Linton Nicholls of L.N.B.G Builders Associates was awarded the contract and was the other signatory in the Ministry’s Boardroom.
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Guyanese companies doing well at Suriname Trade Fair
Paramaribo , Suriname , GINA, December 02, 2005
Guyana currently boasts the largest delegation of companies being represented at the Jaarbeurs 2005 International Trade Fair at the Dr. H.D. Benjamin Complex in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Products from more than 60 local companies are on display and the representatives are confident of success as the Trade Fair progresses.
Director of the Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST), Geoffrey Da Silva, noted that despite initial hiccups with Suriname’s immigration officials, local companies are realising their objectives.
“I have met with our business people whose main objective is to find distributors and some of them have already done well in this regard,” Da Silva said.
Deputy General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) Celestine Butters was upbeat about the response so far.
“We are representing 30 companies. We have already received positive enquiries and we hope to meet with the distributors so that we can assist our local manufacturers with gaining markets in Suriname.”
Da Silva highlighted that the ultimate objective is to increase the formal trade between Suriname and Guyana, which amounts to billions of dollars. Local products on display include handicraft, furniture, fresh fruits, confectionaries and gold and silver jewellery.
Proprietor of Caribbean Craft Creations, Desrey Cockfield said, “So far, sales have been satisfactory, but having participated in other Trade Shows, the response usually intensifies as the show nears its conclusion.”
The Jaarbeurs Trade Fair attracts companies from around the world, making it one of the most competitive expositions.
Da Silva emphasised that participating in such shows, impacts positively on the local industry, propelling manufacturers and producers to establish and maintain products and services which are of international standard.
As the weekend approaches, local representatives are bracing themselves for an increase in activity and sales.
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Foreigners must comply with laws of Guyana
Georgetown, GINA, December 2, 2005
The Ministry of Home Affairs is notifying the general public that a foreigner who is married to a Guyanese must be in possession of a valid passport, multi entry visa and extension of stay and a work permit if employed if he/she wishes to remain and work in Guyana.
A release from the Home Affairs Ministry stated, “The laws of Guyana do not confer automatic legal status or citizenship based on marriages between Guyanese and non-Guyanese.”
It further noted that all foreigners married to Guyanese are eligible to apply for naturalisation, but in the interim they have to comply with the Immigration laws to ensure their status is legal, that is, a valid extension of stay, multiple entry visa and permit.
“Persons in violation can be brought before the courts and face deportation,” the release further stated.
All foreigners in Guyana who are married to Guyanese and whose documents are not in order are asked to visit the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lot 6 Brickdam, Stabroek to regularise their status as soon as possible.
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Government’s pay increases based on capacity
- President says Public Servants pay increase to be announced shortly
Georgetown , GINA, December 2, 2005
Government will shortly announce the percentage increase to be made payable to Public Servants for 2005, retroactive to January.
While President Bharrat Jagdeo declined to reveal the figure approved, he told the Private Sector at last evening’s Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s dinner, that the new minimum wage “will be announced at Cabinet tomorrow, (December 2).
It is customary for Government to reach an agreement with the Public Service Union on what Public Servants term their “Christmas Bonus,” which is an increase on their pay for the 12 months worked in the past year. This sum is made payable in December. However, in recent years, failure to reach an agreement with the union has seen the administration making unilateral payments of five percent.
The President did not indicate whether this figure will be higher this year.
According to President Jagdeo, while Government’s increase does not always meet the satisfaction of Public Servants, “Government pays based on its capacity.”
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic assumed Office in 1992 and at that time the minimum wage of a public servant in Guyana was $3137. The minimum wage in Guyana at present is $23,204.
The current minimum wage is higher than what is paid by many firms within the Private Sector.
“I look at the pay cheques of some people who work in different businesses and it is really atrocious. It is lower for people who work significant hours,” he said.
Wages in Guyana had significantly declined and had been seriously undermined during the 1970s and it is against this background that progress in the Public Service can be measured today.
Prior to 1992, Guyana borrowed to pay its wages and salaries. This compounded the debt situation, an obligation which took the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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Berbicians urged to give statements to Board of Inquiry
Georgetown , GINA, December 2, 2005
Residents of Region Six are being urged by Commander of ‘B’ Division, Clinton Conway to come forward with any information which could assist the Board of Inquiry set up by Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix to investigate allegations of corruption.
Berbice residents have alleged that police ranks of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) are in collusion with criminal elements and on November 25, they took to the streets in protest, burning tyres and blocking roads with derelict vehicles.
The four-member team has been in Berbice since November 30, and is based at the President’s Youth Choice Initiative building at Tain, from 9:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs. The team will be in the Region until Sunday, December 4.
Members of the Board of Inquiry were drawn from the Office of Professional Responsibilities, an internal unit that looks into Police matters.
According to Community Relations Officer, Fazil Jaffarally, so far five complaints have been received. He too, is also calling for persons to come forward with whatever information they have. He said the information provided will be treated confidentially.
After a meeting between Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira and 300-odd residents of East Berbice and Tain, it was decided that the TSU will be immediately replaced and that every two months ranks will be rotated.
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Seven percent increase for Public Servants
- Dr. Luncheon announces Cabinet’s decisions
Georgetown , GINA, December 2, 2005
“Cabinet today approved an offer of seven percent increase in wages and salaries for Public Servants based on their December 31, 2004 salary, increases that would be retroactive to January 1, 2005.”
This is Cabinet’s decision on Public Servants pay increase for 2005, as was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon today at the Office of the President.
Cabinet noted that the wage increases for 2005 were being given in the context of both internal and external shocks to the economy, Dr. Luncheon said, explaining that more than $2B in additional expenses was incurred during the January 2005 flood and its aftermath. Cabinet’s decision was also influenced by the escalating cost of fuel acquisition.
“It was in that context along with the pressing constraints that the Government of Guyana offers seven percent across-the-board,” he added.
Among those to benefit from the increase are traditional Public Servants, teachers, nurses and medical practitioners in the Public Service, as well as nurses and other health professionals employed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, members of the Disciplined Services, which include the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Prison Service and the Ministry of Finance pensioners and officers in subvention agencies and semi-autonomous agencies, whose principals would need to apply to the Ministry of Finance for funding.
According to Dr. Luncheon, the increases also extend to statutory and Constitutional post holders.
“Cabinet in its decision and to support prompt access to the increases urged the financial and accounting officers and Permanent Secretaries to compile and submit all the necessary information to the Ministry of Finance so that payments could be received by the eligible Public Servants as soon as possible after the Cabinet decision,” he said.
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Sectoral Committee hears complaints of Region Seven Toshaos
GINA, Georgetown, December 2, 2005
The Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources today took note of complaints by Toshaos of Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) who allege that rivers in the region are being polluted as a result of mining.
The meeting which took place in the Parliamentary Chambers was chaired by People’s National Congress Reform member, Abdool Kadir.
Toshao of Paruima Village, John Andries said, "Officials would make visits to seek to address the concerns and complaints. These visits would be made known to miners, who would stop their operations, but they continue as soon as they leave," he said.
Another Toshao Lawrence Anselmo, said while he supports the expansion of diamond and gold mining, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has not been able to deal with effects of the activities.
"Mining is a part of National Development Plan by the Government to attract local investment in that sector, but in doing so little attention has been paid to the residents," he said.
Amselmo is alleging that water pollution has been a serious problem caused mainly by the discharge from mining.
Among members of the Natural Resources Committee present at the meeting were Lance Carberry and Shirley Melville.
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Minister Collymore exposes City Hall’s poor drainage plan
-several pumps not in operation
Georgetown, GINA, December 02, 2005
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Clinton Collymore today inspected the city’s drainage system and discovered that several main drainage pumps along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) were not in operation. This, the Minister said, was contradictory to a report dated December 1, 2005 and submitted to the Local Government Ministry by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) which stated that both pumps at the Liliendaal Pump Station and Kitty Pump Station were in operation.
The report purported that the Liliendaal pumps were discharging one hundred and fifty cubic feet of water per second each while the Kitty pump was discharging forty cubic feet of water per second. It added that the other pump at Kitty was under repairs.
Speaking to pump attendants and operators at both the Kitty and Liliendaal sites, the Minister was told that the pumps were in operation up to last night and cited various problems as the reason behind the non-functioning pumps. Up to the time of the Minister’s visit, active efforts were made by City Hall to reactivate the mal-functioning pumps which have contributed to water accumulating in certain Georgetown areas.
On inspecting the Kingston pump, it was divulged that though the pump was operating, the sluice door was leaking, thus some water was returning.
The Minister pointed out that this was not what was initially reported by the M&CC, including the Town Clerk, Beulah Williams and the Acting City Engineer.
Meanwhile, the Minister stopped at the Turkeyen Road to inspect drainage canals and it was observed that a large main canal had not been cleaned properly and had been left half-way done. The Minister said this canal should have been cleaned long ago, as well as a number of additional canals.
He explained that City Hall had ample time during the long dry season to complete works around the city and to ensure that the drainage system was intact. However, this did not seem to be the case when the inspection was concluded.
Minister Collymore told members of the media, who accompanied him during the inspection that his observances would be reported.
He added that inspections will be ongoing and on Monday, more will be made.
Before the year-end rainy season began, President Bharrat Jagdeo had announced a $100M allocation to fund preparatory works, mostly drainage. This was in addition to previous budgetary allocations.
From the $100M, $50M was allocated to the City, $20M to communities in Region Three, and $30M to the East Coast Demerara. These were communities that were hard-hit in the January flood and the most vulnerable areas. The $100M allocation was an initial sum.
The President had also met the Georgetown Mayor and City Councillors on October 10 last to discuss how Government could help the City prepare for the rainy season. Following this, $30M was allocated for 100 culverts, $10M for outfalls, $5M for kokers, $3M for repairs to the Kitty and Liliendaal pumps and $3.3M for workers’ tools and upgrading of community playgrounds.
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