Moraikobai residents laud government’s prompt response to flood
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues being garlanded on her arrival at Moraikobai, Region Five.
Georgetown, GINA, January 8, 2001
Residents of the Amerindian community of Moraikobai, in Region Five (Demerara/Mahaica) have commended the administration for its timely response to their flood situation.
On January 7, on a visit to the community located along the Francois River, a tributary of the Mahaicony River, residents expressed their appreciation to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues for acting in their interest.
“We are very pleased that the Government has taken us at heart and Minister I ask you on behalf of my people to take our gratitude to President Bharrat Jagdeo,” Toshao Colin Andrews said. The community has a population of about 1200.
Andrews, said villagers are very satisfied at government’s response, adding that they have always gotten the attention of government.
Arding Andrews, a resident said, “We have to say thank you to the government and the council as well, because even though things weren’t that bad we got government to respond.”
According to Minister Rodrigues financial aid totalling $4M was distributed in three categories: large, medium and small households and should be seen as a form of assistance and not compensation.
She reiterated government’s assurance, which is to develop all communities, thereby improving residents’ lives.
Government has allocated substantial assistance for rice, cattle and cash crop farmers in the flooded areas in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Rivers and Black Bush Polder, Corentyne. Assistance will also be given to residents of Canals Number 1 and 2 Polder on the West Bank Demerara.
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Government fully supports media Code of Conduct – Information Liaison
Media operatives signing the code of conduct
Georgetown, GINA, January 8, 2006
Government has pledged its full support for the code of conduct that would guide media practitioners and owners of media houses with regard to coverage of the 2006 general elections.
Fourteen media organisations last evening signed the Code of Conduct at Le Meridien Pegasus, indicating their commitment to responsible coverage for elections constitutionally due by August this year.
According to Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud, “The Code of Conduct is a voluntary document which would allow media practitioners and media owners to subscribe to some basic principles to ensure that elections are done in a free and fair manner.”
On December 7, representatives of several media houses gathered at Cara Lodge for a one-day workshop to review and amend the 2001 media Code of Conduct.
“This is to ensure, without infringing or undermining the rights and freedom of members of the media that they also subscribe to some basic elements and practices that will assist the process, because elections are to guarantee democracy,” Persaud pointed out.
Government's Information Laision, Robert Persaud (second right) with US Ambassador Roland Bullen, Communications Consultant, Kit Nacimento and Grantley Waldron of Channel 9 interacting at the signing of the media code of conduct
Sir Shridath Ramphal in his presentation, after the signing ceremony, noted that media houses assenting to the Code will set the pace for other practitioners to come on board.
He said that during elections the media should act responsibly and should bring a sense of healing.
“If the media, by its conduct does not help create an environment in which democratic processes could go forward in an optimal way then the media is not fulfilling its responsibility as it should,” Sir Ramphal said.
In agreeing with Ramphal’s sentiments, Persaud added, “If you have the media and the media can only operate and exist freely in a democracy and if the media by its actions or inaction undermines this democracy, it is indirectly hurting itself. This (Code of Conduct) is good for the media and good for the country as a whole.”
One of the clauses of the Code of Conduct states that the media will agree, ‘to refrain from the publishing or broadcasting of any matter with the potential for, or the likelihood of, promoting or inciting racial hatred, bias or contempt or any matter with the potential for, or likelihood of promoting or causing public disorder, posing or becoming a threat to the security of the nation’.
Also addressing the gathering was chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr. Steve Surujbally and Commonwealth Media Advisor to GECOM, Tim Neale.
Dr. Surujbally said that the process that ends the elections is the most important and he urged the media not to put their credibility at risk.
“Your dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, cruelly mocked, but it cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered,” Surujbally said.
He promised GECOM’s support with regard to availing relevant information to the media houses.
Members of the diplomatic corps and political parties were also present at the signing.
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President attends party for Unity children
Georgetown, GINA, January 8, 2006
President Bharrat Jagdeo today joined the party hosted for hundreds of under-privileged children of Lancaster and his hometown Unity, East Coast Demerara, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica).
The party was held at the Gibson Primary School for more than 800 children.
The President shared goodies to the children of the two communities, after urging them to take their school work seriously and study hard. However, the Head of State told the little ones that the idea is not to avoid play, as “you must enjoy your childhood, because childhood is important.”
The party was sponsored by the Office of the President through the East Coast Demerara arm of the President’s Youth Choice Initiative (PYCI).
It is the final of nine such parties held at various communities along the East Coast including at La Bonne Intention/Success, Pigeon Island, Lusignan, Annandale, Cummings Lodge, Strathspey/Bladen Hall/Vigilance, Enterprise and Enmore.
Coordinator of the PYCI East Coast arm Wizie Parbu said more than 9,000 children benefited from the gesture on which $1.5M was spent.
Meanwhile, parties were sponsored by the Office of the President for hundreds of other children in the City, Regions Three, Ten and Six, as well as gifts were distributed on Christmas day to the children of the Pediatric Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Goodies were also shared in Regions One and Seven.
The Office of the President has spent more than $5M on children’s activities for the season.
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Heavy rainfall flood some Region 2 communities as Government assesses situation
GINA, Georgetown, January 8, 2005
Incessant rainfall continues to threaten the livelihoods of residents and farmers of Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), particularly in the Pomeroon River villages and government is undertaking to assess the situation to determine additional initiatives to bring relief and assistance to those affected.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Harripersaud Nokta, the Regional Chairman, Ali Baksh and a delegation was today in the upper and lower areas of the Pomeroon where they undertook assessments of the losses incurred by farmers in the area. The President had several days ago delegated the officials to conduct constant monitoring of the affected communities.
“All day we visited several areas. What we are concerned about is the excessive rainfall. The situation is serious as farmlands and residential areas are underwater. I want to stay on the coast for two additional days,” Minister Nokta said.
He said the flooding can be attributed to the excessive rainfall in the area, noting that there was heavy downpour today during the delegation’s visit to the area.
Minister Nokta said consultations with the affected residents revealed conflicting remedies to the overriding of the river banks.
“Some were saying we need to dredge the Pomeroon while others said that if that is done more salt water would seep into the river.”
From assessments Baksh said, “There is heavy rainfall and certain areas are overriding, hundreds of acres are under about three feet of water.”
He said discussions were held with health personnel at the Suddie hospital who have agreed to visit affected areas.
“Tonight we have arranged a large team to be on the local television (Channel 8) to alert residents in low lying areas on precautionary measures to be taken during a flood and if there is an outbreak where they can go to access treatment,” Baksh said.
The Regional Chairman said at this point there is no supply of potable water since the majority of residents in the areas have large tanks. He said they were advised to add chlorine to the water as a precautionary measure.
Baksh said Try Best, Martindale, Macedonia, in the Lower Pomeroon and Jacklow, Warapana, Siriki, and Abrams Creek in the Upper Pomeroon among others were visited.
President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to visit the affected communities in Region Two shortly.
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