New marketing opportunities available for hinterland farmers
-challenged to produce more
Georgetown, GINA, February 6, 2007
Farmers in the hinterland regions are now offered new marketing opportunities resulting from the imminent launch of the ‘Hinterland Hot-Meal Programme’ initiated by government through the Agriculture, Health and Education Ministries.
The programme which is funded in part by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) facilitates the provision of one daily meal for primary-school students in the interior districts.
Hinterland Coordinator of Agriculture within the Ministry of Agriculture, John Woolford noted that the high volume of produce which will be required for the programme significantly exceeds the current production capacity of the farmers in most regions.
He said the stipulations of the donor agency dictate that the meals be well balanced and accompanied by fruit beverages.
Woolford noted that most of the farmers complain about the lack of marketing opportunities for their produce and the recent programme should adequately address the issue.
He urged residents to reinvest some of their gains from mining activities into the venture since it holds two-fold benefits.
“You are actually going to be paid to produce food to feed you own children,” he explained, outlining that the success of the programme is dependent on the proven ability of farmers to sustain it.
The marketing benefits of the programme will also be extended to poultry and cattle farmers and thousands of pounds of meat will be required to feed the tens of thousands within the hinterland districts, Woolford said.
The programme which was piloted in Region Nine was extended to Regions One (Barima/Waini), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) as a result of its success.
Many students in some interior districts were previously unable to attend school on a regular basis as a result of parents’ inability to provide adequate meals.
Higher attendance as well as performance rates have been reported in several communities where the programme was introduced.
Some $160M was spent on the programme in 2006 and that figure has increased significantly in order to extend the programme to more communities.
The initiative also assists Guyana in attaining universal primary education in keeping with of the Millennium Development Goals.
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Secondary education now available in all hinterland regions
-Government proud of its record
Georgetown, GINA, February 06, 2007
This Administration is proud of its record of significantly widening the scope of education for Amerindian and hinterland children, a vastly improved picture from an era when the majority of Amerindian communities had no access to secondary education.
This success is not limited to the level of secondary education as major infrastructural development in areas where there were none, aided by more opportunities for teacher training, have contributed to a vast improvement in the education sector in these regions.
Many students in far off communities have been afforded access to secondary education with the establishment of more secondary schools and these students have shown that they can perform in like manner as their coastland counterparts. Two years ago a student from Paramakatoi topped the CAPE exams.
Currently there are about 280 students on the hinterland scholarship programme, many of whom performed outstandingly, which earned them places at top institutions like President’s College.
Limited resources place constraints on Government’s objective to establish secondary schools in each hinterland community; however, this is offset through the establishment of dormitories to cater for students from communities not in close proximity to the schools.
“Government cannot put a secondary school in every single community, and dormitories were built so that students from the catchment areas can access secondary education and be fed as well since the government makes provision for this too,” Minster of Amerindian Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues explained.
“Every year we have to keep extending the dorms. It’s a good sign which shows that people are sending their children to school.”
In the last 10 years, secondary schools were established in Annai, Aishalton and St. Ignatius in Region Nine, Waramadong and Bartica in Region Seven, Paramakatoi in Region Eight and Port Kaituma and Santa Rosa in Region One. A modern secondary school is under construction at Bartica.
Recently, secondary education was introduced in Orealla/Siparuta an Amerindian community in Region Six and Wakapow in Region Two.
Another new school is being built at St.Cuthbert’s Mission, the only Amerindian community in Region Four.
“With the addition of these new schools, we would have significant coverage of our Amerindian children,” Minister Rodrigues said.
A large number of teachers are being trained at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) enabling them to return and serve their communities while others are able to undergo training right in their regions. This programme is ongoing in Regions 1, 7 and 9.
With the 2007 budgetary allocation of $15.6B to the education sector, there will be more infrastructural development in hinterland communities which can only augur well for the children of these communities.
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Improved extension services for agriculture sector
Georgetown, GINA, February 06, 2007.
The expansion of extension services is one of the strategies being used by the Ministry of Agriculture to boost agricultural production.
Last year, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud announced that the Ministry will revamp and reorganize the delivery of extension services because Government recognised the need for such an approach to the agricultural sector.
Preparatory works have started on a programme that will be more accessible and responsive to farmers’ needs. There will be a new Extension Services Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture and an officer has been identified to coordinate the activities of the Unit.
The coordinator has extensive experience in the restructuring of extension services provided by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and his knowledge will be beneficial to the Ministry’s programme.
Staff is currently being identified to implement the programme which is expected to come on stream during the first quarter of this year. Feedback from farmers will be useful in determining the need for adjustments to the approach.
The programme will include training of farmers to serve as extension officers/agents in their respective communities. They will be equipped with necessary information to update other farmers on improved technology and practices that could enhance their activities.
Practices in Africa and India are being studied to determine what aspects could be adopted to improve the extension services in Guyana.
This programme forms part of Government’s wider vision for agriculture. This sector contributes about 35 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounts for 43 percent of the country’s total earnings, and provides employment for more than 70 percent of the population.
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Upgrading of educational facilities to continue this year
Georgetown, GINA, February 06, 2007
The administration will be introducing several initiatives to continue the development trend in the education sector with renewed focus on infrastructural enhancement and better delivery of education.
Reflective of the significance placed on education, the administration had allocated $15.6B to the sector to propel the modernisation of educational institutions with $500M of that sum budgeted for upgrading and repairing 10 schools in Regions 2, 3 and 10, construction of teachers’ quarters and procurement of textbooks under the Education For All/Fast Track Initiative.
The Basic Education Access and Management Support Programme (BEAMS) was budgeted $850M to continue its programmes. Focus would be placed on advancing literacy and numeracy programmes.
About 400 teachers from hinterland and riverain communities would be trained through collaboration with the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to deliver the curricula.
Government’s school feeding programme which was piloted in Region Nine and subsequently extended to Regions One, Seven and Eight will continue this year.
This programme has encouraged more Amerindian children to attend school and last year $160M was spent on this programme.
The administration has earmarked $87M for the completion of the state-of-the-art Wisburg Secondary School in Region 10, which will accommodate over 1,000 students.
An additional $830M will be spent to construct, extend and repair schools and teachers’ quarters; and provide equipment, tools and furniture.
Equipment will be provided for the University of Guyana (Turkeyen Campus) science laboratory while the Tain campus laboratory will be completed and books, computers and accessories procured.
Last year Government spent huge sums to provide text books and other learning materials to schools countrywide.
The University of Guyana will benefit from an additional $450M, which has been allocated to the Student Loan Fund.
In 2006, capital spending in the education sector exceeded $3.1B with over $1B being spent under BEAMS to expand infrastructure and to improve school performance, organisational and human resource capacity.
About $800M was spent on the execution of the Education for All-Fast Track Initiative, which focused on institutional strengthening of hinterland schools; improving schools’ facilities; and for the provision of textbooks.
Under the Guyana Education Access Project, $100M was used to continue work on the Wisburg Secondary School in Linden. In addition, $116M was spent under the Guyana Basic Education Teachers Training Project (GBET) to build capacity at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and finance an in-service training system for Regional Education Officers.
Other aspects of the Ministry’s capital programme, on which another $435M was spent, included repairs to several nursery, primary and secondary schools throughout the country; procurement of furniture and equipment; and activities in furtherance of the technical/vocational programme in schools. During the past decade the Government has made substantial efforts to improve the education system.
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Government has fully supported democracy
Georgetown, GINA, February 6, 2007
Since its accession to office in 1992, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration has endeavoured to embrace and further the democratic process, after decades of authoritarian rule and the curtailment of civil liberties.
In his address to mark Guyana’s 38th Independence Anniversary, President Bharrat Jagdeo had said, “Today we have one of the most advanced constitutions in this hemisphere that has constructed a modern framework for our citizens to live in equality and security.”
The reformed Constitution affords new opportunities to consolidate a multi-party system of democracy and promote greater inclusivity in the conduct of the affairs of the country. This system also allows the political opposition to play an essential role in nation building.
Article 13 of the revised Constitution, states that the principal objective of the political framework of the State, is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens in the management and decision making process of the State.
The administration has also been working assiduously to ensure that there is maximum accountability regarding public accounts. In this regard, all government ministries, agencies and offices are required to present annual reports to the Office of the Auditor General (AG), after which the AG’s report is presented to the National Assembly for its ratification. Prior to 1992, there were no records of audited accounts.
Additionally, the Audit Bill of 2004 tabled in the National Assembly, seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the audit process. The Bill provides for the Public Accounts Committee to hire an independent auditor to audit the operations of the AG’s Office in preparing the annual report.
In further efforts to improve transparency, an Integrity Commission was established in 1997. All public officials are required to list their annual income and assets acquired, including the President and Members of Parliament.
The 2007 national budget states that government has committed to utilizing parliamentary and constitutional approaches to give effect to outstanding issues such as establishing the remaining Rights Commissions and the Procurement Commission, and passage of the broadcast legislation.
The fiduciary oversight reforms will be implemented to give Parliament greater oversight of the Executive branch of government, and provide the AG’s Office with the tools to strengthen its autonomy and execute its functions in accordance with its mandate.
“When blended together with the reforms taking place at the local government level, these and other initiatives provide a solid platform for modern, inclusive governance and the emergence of a new political culture that puts Guyana and its people at the forefront of our politics,” Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said during the presentation of the budget on February 2.
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Batavia community given chainsaw to clear forest for cultivation
Georgetown, GINA, February 06, 2007.
Batavia, an Amerindian community located in the lower Cuyuni River, Region Seven has been given an agricultural boost with the acquisition of a chainsaw to assist farmers in the clearing of forested lands for cultivation purposes.
This is in keeping with a commitment made by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud during a visit to the community on January 17. The initiative also forms part of Government’s focus on agricultural development in hinterland communities.
Minister Persaud today handed over the refurbished chainsaw to Vice-Captain of Batavia, Ray Francis, in the presence of several farmers from the community. The initiative is intended to provide assistance to farmers in the interim while the provision of a new chainsaw is being explored.
Additionally, the community is expected to receive axes which would help in clearing the lands. Batavia is involved in the cultivation of ground provisions, cash crops and coconuts.
Government has heightened its focus on revitalising the agriculture sector in hinterland communities to achieve food security, promote economic growth, create employment, and increase the income of residents.
At present, the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing a hinterland agriculture development plan for Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9, coordinated by John Woolford.
Previous efforts have been undertaken to promote expansion of agriculture in hinterland communities. These include distribution of planting materials and livestock to initiate agricultural and livestock activities in targeted areas, equipment/machinery to aid farming activities and assistance to address some of the issues affecting agricultural development. Several hinterland communities have benefited from a programme that seeks to tackle acoushi ants, which causes damage to plants.
In Region Nine, focus is being placed on improved cultivation of cashew nuts. Training and technical assistance are being provided by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and other agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Cultivation of organic pineapples which are processed and sold locally and overseas is being promoted in Mainstay/Whyaka, Region Two, while in Region One focus is being placed on organic cocoa and heart of palm production.
Various projects have been developed through the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce new and improved technology which could be adopted in these farming communities to boost production and increase the income of farmers.
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Major infrastructure projects for this year
Georgetown, GINA, February 06, 2007.
Several major infrastructural projects will be undertaken this year in keeping with Government’s commitment to expand and modernise the country’s physical infrastructure.
Resources for these projects have been provided in the 2007 National Budget presented in the National Assembly on February 02.
Approximately $1B has been budgeted to continue work on the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek Highway. This $8.2B project entails rehabilitation of 86 kilometres of roadway and construction of 80 structures along the route. Two roads for entrance and exit to New Amsterdam are also included.
Another project that will benefit Region Six is construction of the Berbice River Bridge, which will commence during this year. The $40M project is fulfilment of a promise by the present administration to residents of Region Six and is scheduled for completion in 2008. Additionally, $500M has been allocated for to construct approach roads to the bridge.
Government remains committed to a linkage between Guyana and Brazil and will spend $38M to build a multi-purpose complex at Lethem to facilitate movement of persons between the two countries. It will provide accommodation for agencies such as Immigration, Customs, Police and Health.
This development will precede the construction of the Takutu River Bridge, a project which will restart shortly. The contract for the bridge’s completion has already been signed.
These projects are intended to boost the country’s development through integration with its South American neighbours, expanding markets and increasing the competitiveness of Guyanese products, creating jobs, and improving interaction and cultural exchanges.
Two hundred and fifty million dollars has been allocated to start Phase II of the Bridges’ Rehabilitation Programme which focuses on reconstruction/rehabilitation of bridges between Timehri and Rosignol.
Under the main roads’ rehabilitation project, $2.3B will be spent on miscellaneous urban, regional and community roads. This is aimed at reducing transportation cost and improving access to critical services throughout Guyana.
An additional $177.6M will be spent to upgrade and construct other bridges and structures along the main roads and in various communities across the country.
Infrastructural development is a critical component of Guyana’s medium term agenda for sustainable growth. This vision of the present administration was highlighted by President Bharrat Jagdeo at the opening of the Ninth Parliament on September 28, 2006.
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President Jagdeo’s vision for increased literacy and numeracy given impetus
Georgetown, GINA, February 5, 2007
Raising the level of literacy and numeracy remains a Government commitment and has manifested itself in a number of tangible initiatives, which is seen by the administration as a worthwhile investment, as it aids in the development of the country’s youths.
A further testimony to this commitment is the $30M budgetary allocation to develop a programme to teach Mathematics and English through open and distance learning methodologies.
Speaking recently at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan Education Institute graduation ceremony for students who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, President Jagdeo said for a long time he has been making suggestions that the Ministry of Education collaborate with the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) to develop special programmes which focus on Mathematics and English.
“For years now I have been trying to get them to do things in Maths and English; very important areas for everything that we do. I said to them: prepare the learning materials for forms one to five, the whole course leading up to the exams and we will dedicate enough time on the national television or even set up a learning channel dedicated to education,” President Jagdeo said.
He said such programming would be very useful for students who are not afforded the opportunity to have one on one interaction with teachers.
The Head of State has continually emphasised that education has a special place in the national development plan since it is a top priority in the long-term.
President Jagdeo in past speeches said the benefits of education will not only prepare people for a new life, and changing circumstances, but allow them to live more fulfilling lives.
Government’s aggressive programme of restructuring the education sector includes secondary school reform, ensuring universal secondary education and equipping early school leavers with technical and vocational skills.
The PPP/C Government has invested large sums of money in the education sector since occupying Office in 1992. This year the education sector will benefit from a $15.6B budgetary allocation.
Under President Jagdeo’s watch a number new schools have been constructed in hinterland communities, a number of existing schools have been rehabilitated, the organisational and human resource capacity of schools enhanced and a number of new and innovative programmes are being implemented.
Already the Ministry of Education has implemented the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programme to teach students Mathematics through fun and interactions.
Additionally, Government’s favourable relations with countries in the international sphere have led to the opening up of a number of scholarships in a gamut of fields which include: Dental Science, Medicine, Agriculture, Engineering, Sports and Culture and Technology. Students from all ten administrative regions are benefitting from these scholarships.
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Government’s thrust to enhance security strengthened
-traffic department gets 13 more motorcycles
Georgetown, GINA, February 6, 2007
From right Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene looks on as a police officer test one of the 13 brand new motorcycles that were handed over to the traffic department by Government. The motorcycles were funded under an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan of US$42M to the Ministry of Works for the Ministry’s Road Safety Programme.
Government, over recent years, has accelerated its focus on security enhancement with investments being made in infrastructure, personnel training and equipment.
The administration has kept the focus on the sector to ensure Guyanese are imbued with a sense of confidence in the security forces.
Today, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee handed over 13 motorcycles that cost $21.4M to the Guyana Police Force, testimony of the Administration’s commitment to improve the capability of the Guyana Police Force.
“These motorcycles must bring improved mobility and visibility of traffic policemen particularly in Georgetown. We have major upcoming events which will require enhanced and greater visibility of traffic officers,” Minister Rohee said.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene expressed gratitude to the government for its continued support to the security force over the years.
“This is just an example of Government’s interest in the police force. The Ministry of Works has over the years been working closely with the traffic department and we look forward to their continued support,” Greene said.
The motorcycles were funded under an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan of US$42M to the Ministry of Works for the Ministry’s Road Safety Programme and these motorcycles are to assist in this regard.
Minister Rohee urged the force to place emphasis on the Rio Group Summit and Cricket World Cup which will take place in March since Guyana’s capabilities in several areas will be judged.
“We must put our best foot forward, and I feel that these motorcycles ridden by trained officers will help us to set a good example,” Minister Rohee said.
Minister Rohee indicated that Guyana is well advanced with its security preparedness for hosting CWC and the prestigious Rio Group Summit in March/April 2006.
He said though the security arrangements are in place, the final assessment based on several test-runs to take place in the areas of Traffic, Immigration, and Fire. The Guyana Defence Force will be conducting a test run in March.
On December 15, 2006 Regional Operations Commander of CARICOM Operations, Planning and Co-ordinating Staff ‘COPACS’ Colonel Antony Anderson after a two-day visit said Guyana’s security preparedness is well advanced.
The main aim of that visit was to engage security planners and command staff to ensure that Guyana’s security needs are adequately addressed. Anderson and his team visited all the host countries.
Assistant Commissioner and head of the security arrangements for CWC tournament, Paul Slowe, alluded to the findings and noted that Guyana will be seeking help in the form of disposal units for Hazmat arrangements. Hazmat are hazardous radiological, biological or chemical substances.
Government has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the security sector, with steady increases in budgetary allocations over the years.
Last year, the security sector received $4.6B while this year Government has allocated a whopping $9.3B.
Last year, the police force received high-tech communication equipment to boost its capabilities, along with several motorcycles and 33 cars.
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