President Jagdeo reiterates support for investigations into corruption allegations -perception reports unfair
Georgetown, GINA, August 11, 2007
President Bharrat Jagdeo has reaffirmed his government’s support for investigations into corruption allegations against state institutions.
However the President is concerned about studies and reports on corruption that utilize perception indicators to arrive at conclusions.
“I don’t have a problem with those factual, specific types of protests and investigations because if there is a case of corruption and it is made known, it could be investigated and the results made known to the public. My problem though is when people come in (to Guyana) and make blanket statements and have a corruption perception index. If I were to manage this country on perception, people would say it is bad governance,” President Jagdeo said.
The President was speaking to media operatives at the conclusion of the visit to Guyana by President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno.
His comments came about after a question was asked on whether or not the IDB was concerned over the allegations by Transparency International Perception Index specifically related to Guyana.
“We do look at these things seriously but part of the problem is how many of these assessments are done, since many are not done on facts rather perception. The President (Jagdeo) raised the issue that he would like us to work with his government to meet many different organisations to precisely show Guyana’s side of the story,” President Moreno said.
The IDB has several systems in place to ensure clarity in its lending programmes which include the evaluation of loans and independent audit.
“We don’t have to wait on Transparency International or any institution. We have a number of mechanisms that ensure transparency in the programmes we fund. There are processed independent investigations inside our institution and groups working at the civil society level,” the IDB President said.
Guyana is a signatory to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC) which highlights its commitment to promote and strengthen the development of mechanisms needed to prevent, detect, and eradicate corruption.
Guyana readily accepts responsibility to facilitate and cooperate with other parties to ensure the effectiveness of measures and actions to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption in the performance of public functions and acts of corruption specifically related to such performance.
Over the years IDB loans to Guyana have been used to enhance the social sector: mainly, infrastructure, electrification, housing, and to execute programmes through the Basic Education Access and Management Support (BEAMS).
The Guyana/IDB engagements have intensified over the years, importantly without any substantiated act of corruption in any of these projects.
President Jagdeo said he hopes that the issue where developing countries are not afforded the opportunity to receive fair studies will be corrected.
“What happens is that the developed countries always score higher because when we look at the number of studies and report they use to rank these countries, they are ten times more than what they use for the developing world. So some (reports) are anecdotal and some factually inaccurate and therefore, we need to correct it,” President Jagdeo said.
Only recently, in March this year, the US State Department Drug Report stated that there is no evidence that Government of Guyana officials encourage or facilitate the illicit production, processing, shipment or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions.
President Jagdeo was lauded by IDB President Moreno for his exemplary leadership of the country.
His tireless efforts on the international and local fronts have not gone unnoticed in the creation of economically stable and modern Guyana
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Stable macro-economic environment prerequisite for debt relief
-Guyana will be able to spend more on developmental programmes
A GINA Feature by Rekha Budhna
Guyana’s economy is constantly evolving to record significant achievements which are serving to propel the nation towards a better and more sophisticated way of life. The economy which was crumbling when Government took office in 1992 due to poor management and a huge debt burden has changed significantly.
When the present Administration took office initially, expenditure on debts amounted to 94 percent of the country’s revenue to service the US$2.1B debt inherited. This left little for spending internally on social sector reform programmes, but this did not put a damper on the resolve of the Government to provide the nation with much needed resources and services.
Government endured a long struggle as attempts were made by the Administration to repay the debt a little at a time, negotiate with creditors, salvage what was left in the country and begin a process of development, while at the same time stave off ongoing political struggles in the country in the form of destructive protests, instability and opposition forces.
Today, one of the major achievements of this administration is that it has restored Guyana to financial viability, credited not only to debt relief, but prudent management as Guyana has paid back over US$1.2B under the People’s Progressive Party Government.
The country’s debt burden now stands at below US$700M, which means that Government will now therefore, be in the position to spend more on development programmes in education, health care, housing and water, and other sectors essential to Guyanese, especially the poor.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, on several occasions, emphasised that in the past Guyana’s nominal debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was 750 percent and the debt burden of a country usually undermines any economic strategy.
President Jagdeo’s debt-relief lobby
For President Jagdeo debt relief means:-
“Better education, health care, providing better water supply, better infrastructure generally, social and economic infrastructure, helping to generate more jobs for our young people, getting more of them connected to the internet through the Information Communications Technology (ICT) revolution so our children could learn differently.”
The President’s recent meeting in Washington D.C with the Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) bore fruit as Guyana was granted a whopping US$356.5M debt write off. At that meeting, Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) representatives engaged in successful lobbying for debt-relief which has been granted to other countries including Bolivia, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua.
This recent show of confidence in Guyana’s economy and the stable macro-economic environment which Government has been able to create and maintain has removed the ‘highly indebted’ status from the country. The relief retroactive to January 1, 2007 has reduced the net value of Guyana’s total external debt from 122 percent of GDP at the end of 2002 to only 38 percent. Guyana will also benefit from an additional $119M in savings from cancelled interest payments.
Guyana like the other beneficiaries will continue to have access to concessional loans and technical cooperation grants from the IDB. The agreement reached represents a significant step towards concluding the extension of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) to include cancellation of debts owed by HIPCs to the IDB.
Under the MDRI, debts owed by the HIPCs to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), and the African Development Fund (ADF) were written off.
The IDB was established in 1959 to provide financing for Latin American countries. It is owned by 47 members, with borrowing members holding about 50 percent of total votes and non-borrowing members holding the other half. The U.S., with a third of the votes, is the biggest member.
In June 2005, the Group of Eight (G8) countries consisting the richest countries in the world, agreed to write off impoverished nations’ debt, which resulted in Guyana saving US$336.6M. As of December 2004, Guyana’s stock of external debt was approximately US$1.1B. The bulk of Guyana’s external debt, over US$400M was owed to the IDB.
Earlier this year, under the MDRI, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) approved the write-off of debts owed by HIPCs to those institutions.
Through the Paris Club (a committee of creditor Governments) which decided on the need for debt relief for poor debtor countries, including Guyana, the country was granted debt–relief. However, the relief was not substantial enough to reduce debt service payments for the achievement of sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Recognising that more needed to be done, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in 1996, presented an initiative for HIPCs.
The purpose of HIPC was to ensure that funds were still available for the debtor countries to develop their social sector (mainly health and education) programmes.
What qualified Guyana for relief?
Once a heavily indebted poor country has shown a commitment to put in place sound macroeconomic policies with a focal point being poverty reduction, the country is considered to have reached its “decision point”. At this point, an external debt sustainability analysis is carried out in cooperation with the country authorities, and a country’s eligibility and the amount of debt relief is determined by the IMF and World Bank Boards.
Guyana was considered for assistance through HIPC since the country had a large debt burden, yet a good record on reform initiatives and policies, determined by the IMF and World Bank. It was in this light, that Guyana (as an eligible country) was required to devise a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).
With the country’s debt burden significantly reduced, Government will have more resources to channel toward enhancing social services, infrastructural development and enhancing living standard.
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Sexual education highlight of exhibitions hosted in observance of International Youth Day
Georgetown, GINA, August 11, 2007
The Ministries of Culture, Youth and Sport and Health today hosted exhibitions in honour of International Youth Day which was observed under the theme, “Be seen, be heard, youth participation for development”.
At the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s exhibition at the Carifesta Sports Complex youths showcased their creativity and talent. There were booths by the Sophia Youth Centre, the President’s Youth Award Programme Guyana (PYARG), the Guyana Community Based Rehabilitation Programme, and the Red Cross Association among others.
Youths were challenged to educate their peers on sexual education which is the main theme of the exhibitions.
United Nations Resident Representative, Aboubacry Tall said young people do have a central responsibility in their family and community, noting that young adulthood is indeed challenging and for that a special celebration is important.
He urged youths to redeem themselves to make a difference in society noting that, “Your achievements are important and we must celebrate them with pride.”
The observance has been hosted for the past five years to sensitise young people on their roles in society, according to the Ministry’s Director of Youth, Carl Brandon.
The Ministry of Health’s exhibition on Adolescent and Young Adults Health and Wellness was held at City Mall on Regent and Camp Street. There was a special area set up to display information on STI/HIV/AIDS. Peer educators conducted educational sessions on reproductive health and demonstrations on condom use.
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy who was at the exhibition said, “We know that the mall is a popular place, and one of the things we have discovered about the mall is that is not only a place to shop, but also where young people come and hang out, so we decided to establish a periodical and maybe eventually a permanent place for these satellite tables.”
The exhibition served to allow young people to heighten awareness and education of positive lifestyles.
International Youth Day was designated by the United Nations and set aside to focus on issues relevant to policies and programmes to promote youth development with specific emphasis on socio economic, civil, cultural and political opportunities.
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Health Ministry sets new target to further reduce malaria
Government, GINA August 11, 2007
The Ministry of Health will be aggressively pursuing measures to further reduce the incidence of malaria, following the recent announcement that there has been a 50 percent decline in cases.
Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, while updating the media on a half - yearly report submitted on malaria, said the Ministry has set a target to achieve less than 15, 000 cases for the latter six months of 2007.
“From the reports submitted through our Health Information System which is the most updated in place, we are on target in controlling the spread of the disease,” the Health Minister said.
Government has placed significant emphasis on the reduction of malaria over the years through the implementation of several measures including the insecticide treated bed nets which have proven to be quite successful, not only in preventing the spread of malaria but killing mosquitoes.
The Ministry’s Vector Control unit has been progressing in its distribution of the nets countrywide and has been placing specific emphasis in the hinterland and remote areas where malaria is common.
In the early 1990s there were approximately 90,000 malaria cases countrywide and by 1997 an estimated 30,000 cases were reported.
The Minister disclosed that Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) is leading in the fight to reduce the disease.
“This is very interesting because in the past we were not been able to bring malaria under control in that region. So far we have recorded a 79 percent reduction which is equivalent to 532 cases that was recorded whereas for the same period last year we had 3,200 cases,” Minister Ramsammy said.
Over the past few months Region 9 has made tremendous progress with a 73 percent reduction. From 2046 cases recorded in 2006, the number has dipped to 529 for the corresponding period this year.
Region One recorded a 64 percent reduction with 2,300 cases for 2007 while Region Ten showed 24 percent reduction with 338 cases recorded this year as compared to the 444 cases in 2006.
Region Seven remains an area of great concern and has recorded a 41 percent reduction occurring between May and July. There were 1507 cases reported in 2007 as against 2600 in 2006.
The Region possesses ideal conditions to facilitate breeding of the anopheles mosquito which spread the disease because of mining and forestry activities. Minister Ramsammy called on persons to utilise the health care facilities in the area urged that they desist from using drugs that have not been prescribed by health personnel as there are different types of malaria.
A malaria control plan has been developed and is being executed in four stages while a Malaria Prevention Council was established. It comprises Toshaos of the various Amerindian Villages, Health Care Workers, and members of the religious community, housewives and teachers. The Ministry is in the process of establishing malaria clubs to heighten education and awareness of the disease.
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New Amsterdam ferry stelling renovation to be completed shortly
Georgetown, GINA, August 11, 2007
The New Amsterdam Stelling in Berbice, Region Six, which is temporarily closed to facilitate different aspects of rehabilitation works, is expected to be back in operation by August 17.
The rehabilitation project commenced on July 20 and in the interim, arrangements were put in place for commuters to use the Rosignol to Stanleytown route.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robson Benn along with his Technical Adviser Walter Willis and a team of officials from Region Six visited the location today to assess the progress of works.
The Minister also examined a number of road projects ongoing by the Ministry’s Works Services Group at East Canje, Berbice and Port Mourant.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robsen Benn, Technical Advisor Walter Willis and Chairman of Region Six Zulfikar Mustapha inspecting New Amsterdam ferry stelling
While at the New Amsterdam stelling, Minister Benn expressed optimism with the work completed to date which required concrete casting in some areas.
He noted that servicing the gantry and by tidying up in a few areas constitute the remainder of works on the facility before it resumes its functions.
Government has also taken into consideration the establishment of a Transport Management Committee to oversee the operations at the stelling and will soon be moving to institute it.
A major part of its function will be overseeing certain sections of the stelling. This was prompted by alleged reports of Transport and Harbours overseers encouraging unauthorised persons to have certain priorities.
“I am aware that there have been complaints and I myself saw some abuse in this area and we are working with them to tidy up this problem. This is one of the issues which the Transport Management Committee will have to work with so that we can get a continuous improvement,” Minister Benn said.
The remodelling of the stelling is one aspect of the fulfillment of government’s modernisation programme for stellings and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) service across the country.
Government has subsidised the cost of all ferry services. Under a new agreement with the Government of China, Guyana will be acquiring two new ferries which will replace the existing ones which have been in operation for a long period.
The two new roll-on roll-off ferries will operate at the Parika/Adventure crossing.
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