Drop in Centre youths engaging in literacy and numeracy programme
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
Several youths at the Drop-in Centre for street children are currently engaged in literacy and numeracy programmes, and based on an assessment since the programme commenced one month ago, the 10 participants are showing significant signs of improvement.
The programme is a collaborative effort between Government and the New Foundation Initiative, and runs for four hours daily.
According to the centre’s administrator, Jacqueline Wilson, the literacy and numeracy curriculum is part of a broader remedial programme offered at the institution. It is being delivered by Reverend Kenzena Romào of the New Foundation Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation offering remedial programmes for school dropouts, students who have never been to school and slow learners.
Romào who is visually impaired said she has been teaching for several years and the entire programme has become interesting. She said that the children at the centre are showing noteworthy signs of development. Romào assured that the programme will continue as along as the need exists.
According to Wilson, the remedial programme covers several areas, including computer classes, craft programmes and tie-dying. Children of the Joshua House, Georgetown are also benefiting from the programme.
The Drop in Centre has recorded significant success during the past year. It has helped to reunite more than 30 children with their families after counselling, and reintegrate about 50 of them into the school system.
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Public service rules being reviewed
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
Efforts continue to modernize Guyana’s public sector and restore it to a competitive position, and in keeping with this thrust the rules that govern the service are being reviewed.
This process is part of component one, Strengthening of Public Service Management under the Public Management Modernization programme (PMMP).
According to Technical Coordinator of component one, Lloyd Nickram, this review will seek to improve the consistency and management flexibility in the pubic service to increase the efficiency, transparency and effectiveness of the human resources function.
This will be attained through reviewing and updating the current rules and regulations and by training all relevant Human Resources staff in the revised guidelines.
The Technical Coordinator said that trade unions in Guyana are major stakeholders in the modernization process and the response from these bodies has been positive.
“One of things we have done is to ensure that at the very inception we involve them as much as possible. Even at the consensus building stages we have had them come to our meetings. We have gone to visit them and we have even taken the consultants to them,” he said
Nickram said the response by other stakeholders involved in the modernisation process has shown dedication and commitment to the project through their participation.
Significant progress is expected to be made this year on the PMMP to ensure the completion deadline of October 2008 is met.
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Government Ministries dominate small costume and non-commercial floats
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
The Ministry of Health’s small costume promoting HIV/AIDS prevention and care, healthy lifestyles and safe blood transfusion has earned the Ministry first prize.
Second place was awarded to the Ministry of Education which also carried a medium-size contingent. Its ‘Sunlight Queen’ projecting the impact of education on society was well received. The Ministry of Local Government secured the third spot and the Guyana Forestry Commission copped fourth.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s natural resources development float with a 100 strong contingent, placed first in the medium costume category.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport with its 300-strong contingent, showcasing Cricket World Cup 2007 and Guyana’s myths, legends and religious festivals, copped the first prize for the non-commercial float.
Results were also tabulated from the Mash Nite event at the National Park on February 21 where the king and queen costumes took centre stage.
Ansa Mc Al’s Carib King, “Horizon and Sunshine” stole the first place at this event followed by Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), winner of the individual queen costume.
Digicel emerged winners in the large full costume category while GT&T won the commercial float segment.
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Systems in place to quell prison protests- Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
The administration is passionate about human rights and as such has implemented other measures which can control occurrences of sudden protest by prisoners.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said, “There are systems and measures in place which are working well. Prison enforcement is not like before. The situation has changed somewhat. We are trying to handle it in a different way to quell any situation. We believe in human rights.”
Prison authorities have been able to control situations at the prisons where inmates protest for various reasons.
On February 23, inmates in the Capital Dormitory, at Camp Street ripped out a cell wall and staged a three-hour protest after a television set was turned off at 8.00pm, the usual cut-off time.
Prison officials and members of the Joint Services were able to quell the situation within a short time.
In August 2006, several remand prisoners, alleging inhumane treatment, took to the roof of the Camp Street jail after ripping out the zinc sheets with crowbars and sledgehammers.
“These incidents are certainly not unusual. These people are prisoners and would use any pretext to attract attention,” Minister Rohee said.
To cater for prisoners’ rehabilitation, a programme was introduced at the Camp Street Prison Chapel which provides training in masonry, carpentry, tailoring, music, shoe-making, barbering and electrical technology which are being facilitated through government agencies in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations.
Meanwhile, Minister Rohee said several programmes are being projected this year to continue developing the capabilities of prisons. These include: effective training of ranks to deal with the multi-dimensional challenges in the prison environment, developing security capabilities at each prison location and reducing dietary expenditure through self-sufficiency.
He said government will work towards utilizing the prisons’ estate to cultivate and rear livestock and produce more food which will help to ease the dietary expenditure. Every prisoner costs the State approximately $19,000 per month. There are 19,000 prisoners incarcerated.
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Measures being explored to address piracy and hijacking at sea
- Government committed to finding solutions
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007.
Government is continuing its efforts to contain the increasing incidents of piracy and hijackings which are affecting the livelihood of fishermen in all three counties.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee held separate meetings today with fishermen of the Pomeroon River, Essequibo Coast, Parika and East Coast Demerara.
The fishermen were told that Minister Rohee has written Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, urging stricter police patrols in the Pomeroon and Corentyne rivers where these crimes are more prevalent. There have been reports of limited police presence on the seas which contributes to a higher occurrence of piracy.
The Attorney General is at present considering a request to adjust the laws that will make piracy a non-bailable offence. There have been complaints by some fishermen that persons previously arrested were released on bail.
Senior Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Louis Crawford said meetings are being held with the Joint Services to develop short-term measures that could ease the problem. Focus is being placed on developing a Plan of Action through coordinated efforts by the law enforcement agencies.
During their meeting with Minister Persaud, the fishermen were told that the Ministry of Agriculture will work towards alleviating their problems and will be providing the necessary support to the police force.
The fishermen recommended that all vessels be registered since this would enable them to be alert and identify the approach of possible pirates. Piracy will be one of the priority issues to engage attention of the Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC) which was recently established to oversee management of the fisheries sector.
Discussions have been held with Larparkan Group of Companies and several insurance agencies to facilitate hire-purchase agreements for motor engines so that affected fishermen can return to sea. Larparkan had halted its hire-purchase services for motor engines due to the high incidence of hijackings.
Additionally, the option of alternative sources of income in the fishing industry has been put forward to fishermen. Aquaculture is one of the growth areas that could provide alternative income and support is being granted by the Agriculture Ministry.
The possibility of providing affected fishermen with motor engines that were seized by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was explored. However, there is a limited number of engines and the assistance may not reach all those who are affected.
Resources totalling $3M has been made available by the Ministry of Agriculture to provide possible assistance to the fishing industry in light of the hijackings. Some of the money will be used to build a boat for patrol purposes while the Ministry will work with the fishermen’s coop societies to provide other forms of assistance.
Fishermen have been urged to form committees similar to Community Policing Groups as a another measure to alleviate piracy, while focus is being placed on developing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).
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T&T poultry inspection team due shortly
- as local industry prepares to export chicken
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007.
A technical team from the Animal Health Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is due shortly to carry out a final inspection of Guyana’s poultry industry before certification is granted for exportation of chicken to that country.
Since the T&T Government indicated its willingness in December to import chicken from Guyana, both countries Ministry of Agriculture have since been facilitating the process to ensure the start of exportation. Last month, the island’s Agriculture Minister Jarrette Narine inspected processing facilities at two of Guyana’s largest poultry producers, Bounty Farm Limited and DIDCO Trading Company.
Arrangements have since been put in place for inspections of all poultry facilities such as abattoirs and processing plants.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud expressed confidence that Guyana’s facilities will be in conformity with required standards. Guyana has already been certified by several other Caribbean countries, including Grenada while some of the facilities are in compliance with standards set by the United States of America (USA).
Poultry producers and key stakeholders in the industry have been urged to utilise the services of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which will make it easier to source markets. Due to the absence of the FDA, local facilities are required to be inspected and certified by the importing country.
Initially, interest was expressed in chicken exports, however, it was later suggested that the inspection team use the opportunity to also inspect beef processing facilities for possible exports. There has since been communication between a local beef producer and a buyer from T&T. Both chicken and beef producers have assured that there will be adequate quantities of meat for export and that domestic market supplies will not be affected.
The Ministry of Agriculture has been aggressively working to expand markets and exports of chicken and beef to T&T are due to increased agricultural production over recent years.
Poultry remains one of the most important industries in the livestock sector in terms of employment, contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and production. Most of the broiler production takes place on the small farms while the large-scale broiler producers are highly mechanized.
It is estimated that the poultry industry comprises about 3, 400 enterprises, including four processing plants, 100 commercial farms, 300 pluck shops, 3000 small farmers, four feed mills and 12 hatcheries. Additionally, there are thousands of poultry farmers operating on a non-commercial basis.
There are approximately 100 independent commercial broiler farms varying in sizes from 1, 000 to 17, 000 square feet. Bounty, Buddy’s poultry and DIDCO have farms in excess of 50, 000 square feet while several other processors have larger entities.
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Law enforcement agencies examining status for visiting officers for CWC-Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
Guyana will soon be joining other host countries for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 to implement measures under the “Status of Visiting Policing Officers”.
“This is now in the system since the law enforcement agencies are examining its content, and I  hope that it will be in place soon, since it’s a harmonised document,” Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said today.
The status of visiting policing officers was agreed to by Heads of Government at the recently held Inter-sessional conference in St. Vincent & the Grenadines on February 12-15.
The status of visiting policing officers is a protocol which relates to the standing of forces connected to the CARICOM Operations, Planning and Co-ordinating Staff ‘COPACS’. This will allow forces moving from one country to another during CWC to have special legal standing in those jurisdiction.
“This protocol will give life to any such arrangements. It is not a law that has to be enacted in Parliament. It’s just a protocol of an arrangement between member States for CWC, like the other pieces of legislation that were limited,” Minister Rohee explained.
Most of the member States which are hosting the mega event have already agreed on the harmonised document.
Guyana has been demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that all aspects of preparation for hosting CWC are in place.
On January 31, four Bills were passed by the National Assembly to ensure that Guyana is legislatively prepared for the event.
The Caribbean Community Special Visa Agreement Bill, Pre-Clearance (ICC/CWC 2007) Bill, Immigration (Amendment) Bill and Customs (Amendment) Bill, collectively provide legislative support for enhanced security and hassle-free travel for Inter-Regional travel within the newly established Single Domestic Space.
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President optimistic Guyana can live up to international expectations
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed confidence in Guyana’s ability to efficiently stage the 19th Rio Summit of Heads of State.
While conducting final inspections at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), the host venue for the event, the President briefed stakeholders involved in the preparation of the historical summit.
Among those present were Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Harper, members of the security forces and liaison officers assigned to the visiting delegations.
The Head-of-State said, “As a small country hosting such an event is a challenge, but I’m sure we can live up to international expectation.”
President Jagdeo re-instilled the significance of the occasion, noting that it is a distinctive honour for a small English-speaking nation to host an event of this magnitude.
The formal opening ceremony will be held on March 2 at the National Cultural Centre followed by the Summit of the Heads-of-State on March 3.
While all logistical systems are in place, President Jagdeo urged those involved to bear in mind that a great responsibility rests on their shoulders.
“The best laid plans don’t make successful events; it’s the people.”
The Head-of-State urged stakeholders to equip themselves with basic information relative to Guyana’s geography and history in order to provide relevant information on request.
Twenty nations including Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica, will be participating in the summit.
President Jagdeo has appointed a Ministerial oversight committee chaired by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to prepare for the high-level meeting.
Additionally, an inter-agency committee which comprises several key players was established to complete the relevant tasks for the successful hosting of meetings and the summit.
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Good compromise struck on GUYMINE bonds – President
- agreement signed
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo witnesses the signing of GUYMINE Bonds agreement. Signing the agreement at Office of The President today were Deputy Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Lorene Baird and Managing Director of Citizens Bank Allan Parris.
The Citizens Bank Guyana Inc and Government of Guyana bonds issue which was pending for years has been satisfactorily resolved and today an agreement was inked between Government and the Bank.
Deputy Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Lorene Baird and Managing Director of Citizens Bank Allan Paris signed the agreement in the presence of Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Bank’s Chairman Clifford Reis at the Office of the President, New Garden Street.
“This agreement here is an attempt to find a balance whilst we meet the expectations of our international creditors and the people who had extended debt relief to Guyana…. I think we have struck a good compromise and we (Government) have demonstrated to our international creditors that we sought comparable treatment at the same time managed to satisfy to a great extent the expectations of our local stakeholders,” President Jagdeo said.
The former State-owned Guyana Mining Enterprise (GUYMINE) bonds had matured last year. It was important to note that Government also had international obligations to fulfil and it takes these seriously the President explained.
“We had to take the situation in relation to these particular bonds seriously because it would have impacted on the health of the financial system and the pension grant for many entities,” the Head of State expanded.
Reis said, “We would like to say thank you to the Government for the gracious way in which the negotiations were conducted. We have accepted this agreement in a fair and amicable way.”
He said the agreement was approved when the bank’s shareholders met on September 17, last year.
Citizens Bank is the current registered holder of eighteen (18) Government bonds. Their total face value of the bonds, denominated in both United States dollars and Euros, is U8$21,088,193.47 and €3,927,587.23 respectively.
The bonds were originally issued by the Government to creditors of GUYMINE, on May 17, 1994. They were subsequently acquired by Citizens Bank from the said creditors during the period July 2001 to December 2004.
Several investors have participated through the Bank in acquiring the said bonds. These investors own the rights to approximately 59% of the bonds denominated in US Dollars and approximately 98 percent of the bonds denominated in Euros.
In recent months, Government, Citizens Bank and the participating investors have been involved in negotiations with the intention of arriving at an amicable settlement.
Government has offered, and Citizens Bank Guyana Inc and the sub-participants have agreed to accept the following terms:
- the payment by the Government of all outstanding interest due on the bonds.
- the redemption of the bonds by the Government at ninety percent (90%) of their face value.
In payment of the above amount, the Government has offered, and Citizens Bank and the sub-participants have agreed to accept, the following terms:
- an immediate cash payment of US $5M
- for the remaining balance, the issue of a three-year Government of Guyana Debenture denominated in Guyana dollars with a variable interest rate equal to the average one-year Treasury Bill Rate
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Writ served on Stabroek News
- PS Gopaul granted injunction
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2007
The withdrawal of Government advertisements from Stabroek News has set in motion legal action in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature by Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President, Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul.
On Monday, February 26 a writ restraining Stabroek News was served on the entity. Attorney at Law and Senior Counsel Ashton Chase filed the writ on behalf of Dr. Gopaul on February 19 for an interim injunction retraining Stabroek News from printing or naming the Permanent Secretary in the withdrawal of the advertisements.
In the legal document, the PS stated, “I am totally in favour of Freedom of the Press. My whole record as a Trade Union Secretary and Official shows me struggling in this country for Freedom of expression and Freedom of the press. I have been embarrassed both locally and by persons from overseas calling me about their concerns over my role as portrayed in the said publication.”
Dr. Gopaul said notwithstanding the Government Information Agency’s and Head of State’s statements that he was not involved in the decision to withdraw the ads, the newspaper continued to maintain its stand. This, he said constitutes libel and brings his character into disrepute.
Stabroek News has printed a number of articles linking Dr. Gopaul with the decision of GINA to withdraw the ads due to the entity’s declining circulation.
Attorney Chase had written to Stabroek News requesting that it retracts the statement and issue an appropriate apology to Dr. Gopaul to have an amicable settlement. The media entity’s non-response triggered the move to the High Court for its intervention. The presiding Judge in the case is Justice William Ramlall.
A supplementary affidavit was also filed in which Dr. Gopaul denied the sallegations made by David De Caires Editor in Chief of the Stabroek News that he was misusing Government finances to penalise the newspaper by withdrawing Government’s advertisements.
Both Dr. Gopaul and the defendants named as Guyana Publications Incorporated will stand before Justice Ramlall to plead their case next month.
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