More youths engaged in skills training
- heeding government’s call to make use of opportunities
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
More than 100 youths are currently participating in various skills and basic literacy and numeracy programmes at the Road Side Baptist Church Skills Training Extension Centre, No. 68 Village, Corentyne.
Programme Coordinator Nalin Katryan said the centre receives an annual subvention from Government and it accommodates close to 180 students daily. Classes are being offered every four hours on a shift basis.
On a recent visit to the centre, Minister of Education Shaik Baksh was told that students are responding positively to the courses offered. Katryan said that an evaluation is done on a monthly basis and these reveal positive outcomes. The centre provides a daily hot meal for more than 60 children, ages 14 to 16 years.
In the area of Information Technology (IT), certificate and diploma programmes are offered through the Adult Education of Guyana (AEA) in basic computer programming including, all Microsoft office programmes, computer maintenance and management, introduction to the internet and desktop publishing.
Other courses are held in small business management, typewriting, literacy and remedial education, principles of management, electrical installation, electronics, plumbing and auto mechanic. The centre’s library is fully equipped.
To cater for students’ academic upbringing, CXC English, Mathematics and Accounts classes are offered.
The Road Side Baptist Church Skills Training Centre was created through a needs assessment conducted by a Community Outreach Committee comprising church and community members.
The centre, according to Katryan, has always been involved in community outreach activities on a small scale but, because of the many requests and the needs assessment, the operations of the church were expanded in 1995.
Since its establishment, more than 5,000 young people have been trained in a wide area of income generating skills. Many of them now operate their own businesses in the region.
TOP
Guyana continues to pursue debt relief
-seen as catalyst for social service development
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
Guyana’s pursuit of debt relief as a catalyst for social service expansion continues to produce favourable outcomes.
The strategy was promoted by the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan who proposed that the funds used to service debts could be channelled into various avenues of development.
Dr. Jagan’s model for the utility of debt relief funds includes the construction of schools and other educational and skills training facilities and healthcare.
Consistent with this trend, the Administration continued to lobby at international platforms.
This has resulted in a US$467M debt write-off by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) earlier this month.
This decision followed numerous petitions to international funding agencies by the Head-of-State, in collaboration with other Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPIC) during the IDB Committee of Governors in Washington last year.
The sum represents the entire amount borrowed by Guyana prior to 2004.
Additionally, road networks, bridges and other forms of infrastructure benefited from upgrades over the last decade and a half as a result of funds made available from debt relief.
During a memorial service held to commemorate the 10th death anniversary of Dr. Jagan, President Bharrat Jagdeo confirmed that many of the policies adopted by his Administration were related theories of the party’s founder.
The recent (IDB) debt write-off incidentally occurred in March which was significant in the life of the former President.
Both his birth and death anniversaries are observed in March.
TOP
Guyana has virtually eliminated hunger – Agriculture Minister
Strategies must be devised to combat food insecurity where existing in region
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
Guyana has over the years taken the issue of poverty and food security very seriously and while the country has achieved food security, the issue must be placed high on the agenda of Caribbean governments and strategies and policies devised to combat insecurity where existing.
This was the view plugged by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud today at the opening of a national training workshop on food security and vulnerability analysis at the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). He said training in this area is imperative in the face of serious challenges which could impact on the region’s food security.
“Challenges include declining productivity in the agricultural sector, the erosion of preferences for major commodities such as sugar, bananas and rice, increased food prices, increased incidence of poverty, high susceptibility to natural disasters such as floods and increased incidence of chronic and non-communicable diseases...,” Minister Persaud said.
“In Guyana, we have achieved food security, so much so, that we are a net exporter of food. This is a proud achievement by our farmers and a situation we must all strive to maintain and improve,” the Agriculture Minister asserted.
Minister Persaud said statistics have shown that Guyana has virtually eliminated hunger from its society.
“There has been a 73 percent decrease in the total number of children suffering from malnutrition during the past decade. When we examine the statistics for the region and the hemisphere as a whole, there are many reasons why we must be proud of our achievements in this area,” Minister Persaud said.
The three-day workshop is being held by the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, (FAO) the Caribbean Community,(CARICOM) the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the Government of Italy. It is intended to build capacity in CARIFORUM countries by providing the relevant knowledge-base at the national level in the assessment and monitoring of food security situations.
This would facilitate design and implementation of improved food policies, programmes and actions at the national, community and household levels.
Consultant Project Manager of Food Security Project, Trinidad and Tobago, Gregg Rawlins, said there must be knowledge in order to develop appropriate and effective strategies to address the challenge of poverty and food insecurity in the region.
“There must be a clear understanding of the factors impacting on food security at the national and micro-regional levels. It’s paramount that we find workable mechanisms to address this issue, but we do have it in our hearts,” Rawlins emphasised.
Rawlins said he is pleased that under the Regional Food Security Project a study report is presently being conducted on Guyana, and it is at an advanced stage. The report will be completed at the end of April.
The assessment is expected to generate much of the information required for effective planning and will target policy formulation to address food insecurity and vulnerability where they may exist in Guyana.
A national stakeholders’ consultation will be convened in the near future to review the findings of the food security assessment.
Minister Persaud said the Ministries responsible for agriculture, health and nutrition, social development, education, trade and others must work together to ensure that policies are well integrated and coherent.
Twenty five persons drawn from NARI and the Ministries of Agriculture and Health are participating in workshop.
While the Caribbean is making progress towards the World Food Target and the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of hungry people in the world, there still remained almost over a million hungry people in the region in 2001/2003.
TOP
Finance Minister signs agreements with IDB President
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh and Inter American Development Bank President Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno yesterday signed the loans agreements related to two flagship projects that the Government of Guyana is undertaking with the support of the bank.
The agreements were signed for the US$27M Competitiveness Programme and the US$25M Justice Modernisation programme. The signing ceremony took place in Guatemala City, where Minister Singh and President Moreno are both attending the 48th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB.
Signing Ceremony at Camino Real Hotel, Guatemala City: From left Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Finance and Luis Alberto Moreno, President, IDB. Photo by Willie Heinz, © Inter-American Development Bank
At the signing ceremony, Minister Singh reiterated the central importance of both of these programmes to Government’s policy agenda, with specific focus on continuing the transformation and modernisation of the institutional environment and improving the business climate as a means of attracting job-creating investments and reducing poverty.
Minister Singh also thanked President Moreno and his staff for their support in concluding the agreements on these programmes and in anticipation of the IDB’s continued support to Guyana.
Also attending the signing ceremony were Executive Director Jerry Butler and Alternate Executive Director Winston Cox, who represent the Caribbean Constituency at the IDB, and the IDB’s newly appointed Executive Vice-President Daniel Zelikow, Legal Counsel James Spinner, and Regional Manager with responsibility for Guyana Alicia Ritchie.
Earlier yesterday, Dr. Singh participated in a meeting with President Moreno, IDB senior officials, and Caribbean Ministers representing the Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, along with Guyana.
From left Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Finance and Luis Alberto Moreno, IDB President sharing a handshake after the signing. Photo by Willie Heinz, © Inter-American Development Bank
At that meeting, Dr. Singh expressed the Caribbean’s appreciation of the achievement of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and enlisted President Moreno’s continued support and assistance in mobilising sufficient resources to ensure that these countries are able to continue implementing their poverty reduction policy agendas and to be successful in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Dr Singh also registered Guyana’s appreciation of the strong friendship of outgoing IDB Executive Vice-President Ciro de Falco who was responsible for Guyana and the Caribbean for a number of years, and expressed confidence that incoming Executive Vice-President Daniel Zelikow would develop a similarly strong friendship with Guyana and the Caribbean.
While in Guatemala, in addition to the Plenary Sessions of the IDB Annual Board of Governors’ meeting, Dr. Singh also participated in a number of strategic bilateral discussions.
TOP
Russian team in Guyana for hydro-power pre-feasibility study
- calls on Head of State
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
A large Russian delegation is in Guyana to commence a pre-feasibility study for a hydro-power station in the Upper Mazaruni.
The team, led by Sergei Lapshev and accompanied by Head of the Privatisation Unit Winston Brassington, today called on Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo at his Office in New Garden Street.
The visit follows a Letter of Intent (LOI) for development of a hydropower plant during President Jagdeo’s State visit to the Russian Federation in January.
Following the pre-feasibility study, the final study will be initiated, after which the project is expected to commence. President Jagdeo had indicated that by 2011, if all goes well, the hydo-plant should be completed.
Russian Technical team for pre-feasibility study for a hydropower project calls on President Bharrat Jagdeo.
At a press conference following his return on February 5, President Jagdeo had expressed hope that the feasibility study would be successful, and the long standing dream of the country to have an alternative power source, would be realised.
“These are projects of enormous magnitude for our country. Since the 1950s our country has been trying to pursue this path of development of its tremendous hydro-power potential for the processing of bauxite,” the President said.
The hydro-power project must comply with the country’s laws and environmental standards.
President Jagdeo’s counterpart in the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin has given his commitment to the development of the project.
A Letter of Intent was also signed for an alumina refinery and an aluminium smelter.
TOP
South Georgetown to be restored to original beauty
- clean up exercise commences today
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
A massive clean-up exercise has begun in South Georgetown, to restore this ward of the city to its original beauty.
The activity which commenced today is a collaborative effort by the Central Government, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and members of the South Georgetown Communities - Albouystown, Charlestown and La Penitence. A Hymac and truck were provided by the M&CC to assist in the exercise.
According to Chairman of the Council, Randolph Thorn, Central Government should be commended for the significant input it has made toward the restoration of the community.
During a tour of the Albouystown community, Thorn explained to National Coordinator of Community Development Councils Philomena Sahoye-Shury that the community has planned a three-day activity from April 7 that will include a cultural extravaganza, an exhibition and games.
“The Independence Boulevard which is the showpiece of Georgetown will be converted into a recreational park from April 7 to 9. This boulevard will be beautified with the assistance of donors associated with the communities and persons who have businesses on the boulevard.”
Thorn said that the exercise is being done primarily for the upcoming Cricket World Cup activities. Drains will be cleaned, garbage removed from the community and roads will be repaired.
“The M&CC is currently engaged in desilting drains and alleyways in Albouystown and the Ministry of Public Works is currently involved in the construction of roads which includes our famous Sussex Street,” Thorn said.
Thorn promised Shury that no effort will be spared to maintain the environmental works being effected in preparation for Cricket World Cup 2007, and all residents will be participating.
TOP
GPL/Skeldon sugar factory to enter power purchase agreement
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
The Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) will enter into a power purchase agreement with the Skeldon sugar factory, for the supply of approximately 10 megawatts of power per month.
The agreement which takes effect later this year, will facilitate the transmission of electricity into the national grid, which will be utilised within Region Six and adjoining communities.
According to Chief Executive Officer of GPL Bharrat Dindyal, the power to be supplied under the agreement, will represent more than 65 percent of the current electricity demands of the entire Berbice county.
While ensuring an economical supply of electricity in Berbice, the initiative will also accomplish one of the primary purposes for which the Skeldon Modernisation Plant was constructed.
To ensure the viability of the establishment the administration has pursued a number of diversification strategies.
Additional boilers have been installed at the Skeldon factory to produce more power than is required to sustain its daily operations.
In light of the imminent price cuts imposed by the European Union, government has additional initiatives which will be pursued by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO).
In addition to electricity generation, consideration is being given to the establishment of a distillery and possibly a refinery.
TOP
Guyana to observe bicentennial anniversary of slave trade abolition
- moment of silence on March 25
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
Guyana will join the Caribbean and the rest of the world in commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British colonies.
The bicentennial event will be marked by 12 months of activities with participation of Government and other officials from South America and the Caribbean region.
Beginning on March 25, there will be a moment of silence in front of Parliament Building at midday. On March 26, messages from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Pan African Movement, the Indian Commemoration Trust, the Chinese and Portuguese Association and the Indigenous Peoples among others will be delivered at the National Cultural Centre at 10:00h.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in partnership with the University of Guyana and several African organisations, has set up a committee to formulate activities to mark the occasion. The committee is spearheaded by Minister Dr. Frank Anthony.
Commemorative activities will also be held across Guyana by different interest groups in the form of music, dance, drumming and singing and other performances.
The Ministry is urging the public, particularly secondary school youths to be actively involved in the anniversary celebrations since it is an integral part of their curriculum.
The celebrations will climax in August 2008 to coincide with Emancipation observances.
The abolition of the slave trade became a reality by an Act of the British Parliament in 1804.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Keith Booker, noted that the Act ended the ‘trafficking’ of African slaves from their homeland to the Caribbean and other British colonies.
Commendations will also be given to those who made significant contributions to the abolition movement.
TOP
Hosting of CWC, culmination of long journey – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, March 21, 2007
The games have begun and in seven days cricketers, fans and officials will be in Guyana for the first of the Super Eight matches of the Cricket World Cup 2007 series to be played at Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence.
At the launch of the National Volunteers Programme this evening at the National Cultural Centre, President Bharrat Jagdeo told over 1000 volunteers that the country’s long journey towards hosting the world’s third largest sporting event was coming to an end.
“Over the past several years we have come a long way this journey has been a hard, difficult journey. It was a tough road and where we are today is the culmination of that journey. We still have to make a Herculean effort to ensure all the hard work and sacrifices made along this road bear fruit and the fruit is the successful hosting of the World Cup,” President Jagdeo said.
He said the hosting the games will bring tremendous benefits not only for the country but to the people.
The Head of State told the volunteers of the exorbitant cost of constructing the stadium which amounts to US$25M and another US$10M expended on other works for the hosting of the event.
He said bidding to host the games presented great opportunities but if Guyana was unable to meet the requirements of the International Cricket Council, Guyana cold have faced severe liabilities.
The President said, “Many people including the newspapers were very negative. They thought we would never be able to do this but we did not think so, we thought it was a wonderful opportunity to change people’s perception of this country. For too long the world has seen us through the eyes of rumours or negative press.”
President Jagdeo however, noted that despite the pessimism, he had confidence that it could be done. He highlighted that from the inception the preparations for the games have been inclusive with the Opposition party involved in the process.
“It is because of the confidence in my people and my country that we launched out and put in a bid. We did not bid for second round matches but we got those and since then, it has been a lot of commitment and hard work.”
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony said initially the required volunteers were 350 but that figure has risen to 1350, a significant achievement.
TOP
Beautification project commissioned by Neal and Massey Group of Companies
Georgetown GINA, March 21, 2007
A beautification project on the front lawns of Ainlim, Ruimveldt, was this evening commissioned by the Neal and Massey Group. It was declared open by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad.
The project features the flags and colours of the 16 participating CWC countries and unique local fauna such as the Cock-of the Rock and Canje Pheasant, the national bird.
The centre-piece of the project is a replica of the majestic Kaieteur Falls with a descending water fountain.
The entire project was created by Andrews Art to promote Guyana to visitors who will be here during the Super Eight matches.
Minister Prashad commended the Neal and Massey Group for their contribution towards the beautification of Georgetown.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Neal and Massey, Deo Persaud in his address, expressed his pleasure on behalf of his company for its contribution and promised to continue further development of similar projects in the future.
Others present at the simple ceremony were Head of GOINVEST Geoffrey Da Silva and staff of the Neal and Massey Group.
TOP
|
