Relatives of Lusignan massacre call for peace
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008.
Relatives of those killed in the Lusignan attack on January 26, have urged that all citizens particularly those on the East Coast Demerara remain calm and avoid any further disruptive practices.
The relatives urged that residents desist from burning tyres and blocking roadways as such actions do not augur well for the country’s development. They noted that while the tragedy has impacted on all Guyanese, peace must prevail especially while the final rights are performed for those killed.
“We understand that the whole country is mourning, but we want peace. We are hurt, the country is hurt, but we want them (the victims) to go peacefully. They had a disastrous death so let them go peacefully,” one relative appealed. 
Relatives of the victims of the Lusignan Massacre
The funeral procession for one of the victims will be held tomorrow while the others will take place on Thursday.
The recent attack by gunmen on the village of Lusignan left 11 persons dead including five children while two have been wounded and are hospitalized.
President Bharrat Jagdeo met family members, relatives and other residents of East Coast Demerara villages on January 26 and 27.
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Gov’t has given tangible support to Police
-billions invested over years
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
Government has shown its dedication towards the enhancement of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) through several interventions in the areas of: training, building modern Police stations, providing more vehicles, ammunition, improving the Force’s forensic capability and intelligence gathering unit.
From 2002 to the present a significant amount of funds has been allocated to the Force to increase its efficiency. The allocations are as follows: 2002-$554M; 2003-$496M; 2004-$630M; 2005-$865M and 2006-$721M. Last year, the Police Force received $723.5M for capital projects and $3.6B for current while $458.6M was spent for procurement of equipment and $39.4M for land and water transportation.
The allocations allowed for the construction and rehabilitation of Police stations, purchase of vehicles, boats, equipment, furniture, arms and ammunition.
In 2005, there were approximately 19 police stations refurbished and $105M in equipment purchased for communications, fingerprinting, photographs, ballistics, forensics, traffic, arms and ammunitions and horses.
Bartica Police Station
Since 2005 four modern police stations have been established. These were at Bartica, Diamond/Grove, Turkeyen/Sophia and Fort Wellington totalling over $109M.
The administration has also been allocating significant amount of funds for additional expenditure.
In June, the Force’s forensic laboratory benefited from $32.3M worth of equipment that included replacements and the acquisition of new gear while in September an additional $24 million was approved for the procurement of arms and ammunition and £567,995 was allocated for the procurement of uniforms and kit. 
Motorcycles handed over to the Guyana Police Force in 2007
Earlier this month, Cabinet approved additional funds of $54.6M for the procurement of vehicles, $15.4M for communication equipment and $243.3M for the purchase of material for uniforms.
Recognizing the importance of improving the force’s human resources, government has also paid keen attention to increasing the incentives for Policemen and women.
In 1992 a constable’s salary was $3,821 while the Commissioner of Police (COP) received a salary between $15,274 to $20,857. The present scale of a COP ranges from $200,000 to $300,000 monthly while a constable’s salary is $37,000.
Some of the cars allocated to the Force
Government, along with international donor agencies, is working on several major security programmes from which the benefits will be realized in the long-term. These are: the National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP), Citizens’ Security Programme, the Crime Stoppers Programme and a four-year Security Action Plan between the United Kingdom and Guyana.
The Guyana/UK plan which is already on stream will cater for building operational capacity of the GPF in terms of a uniformed response to serious crime, forensics, crime intelligence and traffic policing.
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GMC pursuing more activities to boost agricultural exports
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008.
Further efforts are being made through the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) to increase exports of fresh and processed agricultural produce from Guyana by facilitating more market linkages.
GMC’s Chairman Geoffrey Da Silva recently stated that the Corporation’s staff will be taking five buyers, most of whom are from Trinidad and Tobago, to Region One (Barima/Waini) to work with farming communities as part of its efforts to boost exports.
This, Da Silva pointed out, is part of GMC’s renewed focus that involves its staff working on the ground with farmers to utilise market opportunities with focus on a more market-driven production that will provide guaranteed sale for their produce.
It was noted that the necessary changes are being made and will continue to ensure that GMC is better equipped to take Guyana to the next level in terms of exports of fresh and processed products.
In recent years, substantial work has been done in this area whereby GMC and other agencies such as the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) advised farmers on crops in demand in the Region and further afield.
Previous initiatives included the promotion of Bull Nose peppers through which farmers of several areas were given support to pursue cultivation of this crop to supply a market which exists in North America. Others crops such as pumpkins, butternut squashes and sugar loaf pineapples have also been promoted among farming communities.
In Region One, a lot of attention is being given to organic production which is also in keeping with the agricultural diversification thrust and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Organic production can play a crucial role in the development of rural communities by creating employment and generating income and is intended to supply the increasing global demand for such foods because they are made from food crops cultivated with natural fertilisers.
Some of Government’s initiatives to promote organic agriculture have been successful and markets have been found for heart of palm, cocoa beans, sugar and pineapples.
Organic cocoa bean cultivation and processing is done primarily in Region One while other areas of investment have been explored.
Last November, a team from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-invest) conducted a five-day visit to Region One during which farmers and other entrepreneurs were urged to develop a formalised approach to meet the demands of local and foreign investors who are in search of markets for the Region’s products.
Several local and foreign individuals and company investors in the forestry, aquaculture, mining, handicraft and tourism sectors were a part of the team and who met residents
The drive followed calls for more collaboration between government and the private sector during the National Competitiveness Strategy which was launched at the Presidential Summit in 2006. The strategy listed more than 240 means of strengthening collaboration among local and foreign investors, government and the private sector.
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Scores of new pensioners receive booklets
-express satisfaction
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
Scores of pensioners today turned-out at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to receive their pension booklets. These are new applicants for 2008 who were registered in December and early January.
The fast service and delivery of the books demonstrate Government’s commitment to providing care and support for the vulnerable.
The books were issued by Assistant Chief Social Worker, Deendayal Singh, who advised the pensioners on the procedure for uplifting their pension.
Over 494 persons were registered for January and are entitled to collect their pension on February 1.
Several of the pensioners expressed their satisfaction for the quick service by the Ministry in uplifting their books.
Government continues to improve the living standard of the elderly by increasing their pensions and providing other forms of assistance.
Recently, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced an increased in pension by approximately 63 percent. Pensioners will now uplift $6,000, effective from this month up from the $3,895 grant in 2007.
Pensioners also benefit from other services offered by Government including free spectacles, medical expenses and supplies, wheel chairs and funeral expenses.
Old age pensioners who are legal owners of properties are eligible for water rates assistance. At present, there are 35, 000 pensioners benefiting from the waiver in Georgetown and rural areas.
Pensioners in Georgetown are granted $10,000 while in rural areas, $8, 976 monthly is paid for each pensioner to the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).
The Human Services Ministry will commence issuing public assistance, next week. Public recipients’ grant has been increased by 82 percent.
Over 50,000 pensioners and public assistance recipients will benefit from increases in their grants, an initiative that will cost government $3.3B.
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Focal point groups to fight TIP
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in its continuing efforts to fight the offence will launch focal point groups to counter TIP in communities throughout Guyana.
Technical Officer of the TIP department, Javed Shadick said that this is another effort by the Ministry to further minimize this criminal activity.
The Ministry has been training personnel in various communities to be adequately equipped to respond when reports are made by residents.
It was noted that these personnel were trained to recognise the three phases of TIP, identifying, preventing and protecting persons.
With the official launching of these groups, authority will be given to these personnel to track unusual situations in their communities and act immediately.
Several seminars were held during last year to heighten the public’s awareness of the issue and ways of recognizing and preventing it.
During the Ministry’s consultations on the sexual violence Paper “Stamp it out”, Shadick interacted with residents to increase their awareness on TIP and how to guard against it.
He said more people were made aware of the issue and hopefully it would reduce the amount of exploitation in the country.
TIP is a serious human rights violation and modern day slavery and the Government through the Ministry of Human Services has been working to eradicate this scourge.
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‘Rice Price Buster’ exercise commences
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008.
One of the initiatives by Government to help consumers deal with the increased price for rice on the local market came into force today with the commodity being made available at $325 per gallon at three locations in the City.
This initiative, being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and was developed after local consumers indicated that rice was being retailed at prices ranging from $480 to $700 per gallon.
Through the direct intervention of Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, arrangements were made for millers and exporters to make available to the Ministry agreed quantities of rice to be retailed on the local market.
Depots were set up to facilitate the retail process at the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Robb and Alexander Streets, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Cowan Street, Kingston, and the Guyana Rice Project Management Unit (GRMPU), 18 Brickdam.
Minister Persaud, who visited the GMC Guyana Shop today to observe the exercise, reiterated that it is intended to demonstrate to consumers that there is an adequate supply of rice and address any issues that may exist from the mill to the prices being paid by consumers.
The exercise will continue throughout the week and it is being considered for implementation in other areas such as Berbice, Essequibo and Linden. It was noted that only white rice was available today at the depots, but other varieties will be in stock shortly.
The Minister pointed out that there is not a shortage of rice, but rather a distribution issue that needs to be addressed. The Ministry’s intervention is intended to balance the distribution of rice locally while discussions are continuing with millers and shortly the price for rice at various locations will be advertised.
Minister Persaud noted that exports of rice are not halted as shipments are currently being sent to Jamaica and other markets. The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is monitoring such activities to ensure that exports do not affect the local supply.
Rice harvesting for the first crop of this year is expected to start in Essequibo on February 6 after which this activity will be undertaken in other rice growing areas. This will result in additional supply of rice being made available both locally and for export.
Government has invested significantly in the rice industry’s development over the past years through which variuos initiatives have been implemented to help farmers and other stakeholders deal with challenges facing the industry.
At present, more than $8B is being invested in the industry to improve drainage and irrigation, provide technical assistance and water management in Essequibo, enhance extension services and research development and carry out other necessary infrastructural improvements.
Another major intervention in the rice sector by Government includes establishment of the $1.6B financial facility that provides credit at low interest rates to farmers, producers, exporters, millers and other stakeholders.
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New Justice of Appeal sworn-in
-acknowledges need for overhaul of justice sector
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
President Bharrat Jagdeo today swore-in Mr. Charles Ramson at the Office of the President as a new Justice of Appeal.
Justice Ramson after taking the oath of office said he is ready for the challenge of working with the relevant agencies to reform the sector, which according to him, needs to be done urgently.
“I think the entire system needs revamping...We have been having enormous delays, work that is not of the highest quality and Guyana has had a reputation of producing some of the brightest jurists in the Caribbean. Although I am saying this, I feel inadequate in that respect,” Justice Ramson lamented.
Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Doodnauth Singh, Acting Chancellor Justice Carl Singh and Acting Chief Justice Ian Chaung were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Mr. Charles Ramson taking his oath of office before President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President.
“I have come to this job now because without doubt there is need for a lot of extra industry in the judiciary and the Chancellor and the Chief Justice who are both school mates of mine obviously believe that I can make a serious contribution to the improvement of the justice system. It is something that I have been working in for the last 36 years, so I would be better able to move the system forward,” Justice Ramson promised.
Government has been making several interventions to allow for the proper functioning of the justice system and efforts are ongoing to fully implement its $25M Justice Sector Reform Strategy (JSRS) which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The JSRS sets out the government’s approach for systematically dealing with the challenges currently facing the sector; a policy framework for strategic co-ordination and reform, accountability and monitoring mechanism to take the reform forward.
The strategy is also geared towards ensuring that safety, security and access to justice is available to all, as the administration seeks to enhance public confidence in the justice system.
The JSRS was prepared on the basis of an extensive consultation exercise involving all the institutions in the justice sector, as well as other stakeholders including civil society and the private sector
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President meets with members of ECD policing groups
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
Representatives of several communities along the East Coast of Demerara met with President Bharrat Jagdeo today to examine further government’s assistance to Community Policing Groups (CPGs).
The meeting which was held at the Office of the President follows the recent massacre which struck the community of Lusignan on January 26 when heavily armed gunmen killed 11 people while on a rampage south of the community.
The meeting also follows a visit by President Jagdeo to Lusignan, Mon Repos and Good Hope on January 27 where he urged members of the communities to join Community Policing Groups (CPGs) as a way of making their communities safer.
The President’s call for community involvement in CPGs is to support the work of police ranks who are unable to be stationed in large numbers at various locations.
President Jagdeo said that his Government has always encouraged the formation of CPGs to assist in the protection of communities. These groups have been effective in some communities but others are not functioning as they should.
During the January 27 meeting, the President raised the issue of reluctance on the part of the community to join the security service which has further compounded the problem security of efficiency.
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President meets distraught relatives of Lusignan massacre victims
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
Relatives of the victims of the recent massacre at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara today met Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President. A subsequent meeting is planned to identify arrangements for government’s assistance to the families.
The meeting was the fulfillment of a promise made by President Jagdeo to the residents while addressing them on January 27.
The distraught relatives were unable to comment on the issue, noting that it is still a time of grief in their families.
Eleven persons including children were killed when heavily armed gunmen stormed several homes south of Lusignan on January 26.
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Lusignan massacre does not fit into a democracy
-OAS Assistant Secretary-General-offers condolences to President
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
The Organisation of American States’ (OAS) Assistant Secretary-General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin today met President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President where he expressed condolences to the President over the recent killings at Lusignan.
Ambassador Ramdin said although his visit was scheduled before the incident occurred, it is unfortunate and does not go with a democratic State like Guyana.
“I wanted to see the President just for a brief moment to offer my condolences on behalf of the OAS not only to him, the Government and people of Guyana but also to the families of the victims. This is an act the OAS strongly condemns in no uncertain terms. It does not fit in a democracy.”
He said, “I think it’s something that should be addressed with the highest urgency and I do hope that the law enforcement agency will be able to catch those who did this very inhumane act.”
Ambassador Ramdin alluded to Guyana’s strides to build its democracy on peace and cited the 2006 Regional and General Elections which were deemed free and fair by the international community.
Gunmen invaded the East Coast Demerara community around 02:00h Saturday morning killing 11 persons, including five children. Several others were also injured.
President Bharrat Jagdeo has described the shooting incident in the community as an act aimed at spreading terror on the East Coast Demerara and in the country.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Ramdin and President also discussed the upcoming OAS General Assembly which will be held in Colombia to discuss youth development and democracy in the hemisphere.
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More focus on improving literacy
- Minister Baksh
Government, GINA, January 28, 2008
Government has once again reiterated the importance of literacy and is looking at measures to increase the level to boost education at all levels.
A workshop was today held at the Tower Hotel, Main Street, to discuss ways of boosting literacy in the country.
“This workshop is indeed timely in the history of education because over the past few months, there has been much talk about the problems in the education sector and what can be done to improve the state of literacy in Guyana. Literacy is the foundation to leaning and a key right. It opens the door for everything else; hence more focus needs to be place in this regard,” Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh said.
The objectives of the workshop are to discuss the implementation of the Basic Education Access and Management Support (BEAMS) Literacy Programme and the outcomes of the programme to date, to present a Fast Track Initiative (FTI) to promote literacy and to discuss the role of Non-Governmental Organisations in literacy education in Guyana.
The United Nations declared the period 2003-2012 Literacy Decade which the Minister pointed out “has identified literacy as crucial to the acquisition by every child, youth and adult of essential life skills that will enable them to face the challenges in life and also is an essential step in basic education.”
He noted that literacy is at the heart of basic education for all and creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and sustaining stable environment with peace and democracy.
According to a survey conducted by the United Nations, there are over 771,000,000 people including young adults worldwide who lack basic literacy skills.
Government through the Ministry of Education and partners have initiated and implemented several programmes geared at addressing the problem.
The BEAMS Project was launched in 2003 to raise the quality of its basic education. It is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and aims to improve literacy and numeracy throughout Guyana, with particular emphasis on the most underserved, impoverished regions.
The project focuses on revising primary school curricula to focus on research-proven literacy and numeracy methods and materials, training teachers in new methodologies and providing them with continuous school-level support, applying innovative learning technologies, and providing new assessment tools to both teachers and students for continuous feedback and accountability.
Additionally, another component of the BEAMS project is the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programme. Through this programme, students especially in the hinterland regions listen to lessons broadcast over the radio and participate with the programmes while teachers facilitate the interaction. IRI lessons include serial dramas, songs, written exercises, and other content-rich activities. IRI has been particularly effective in delivering solid instruction to remote regions where there is a paucity of qualified teachers. More than 18,000 first-grade pupils benefited from the IRI programme during the initial stages. Other measures are also being implemented to further boost the programme.
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ERC condemns brutal acts of terror
- will engage any group which needs to send a message
Georgetown, GINA, January 28, 2008
Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill today issued a statement condemning the brutal acts of terror committed against the defenceless men, women and children at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara on January 26.
Referring to the perpetrators as terrorists Bishop Edghill said, “At a time when Guyanese seemed to have been making significant strides in forging harmony among our population, this appalling act of crime which seems to have been perpetrated to create mayhem and instability in our society is strongly denounced. Every possible effort must be made for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.”
Expressing condolences on behalf of the Commission to the survivors of the destructive act, the Chairman urged Guyanese to rally around the Lusignan community, specifically those immediately affected by last Saturday's tragedy.
The ERC he said, was concerned about this and other heinous acts of crime perpetrated by terrorists since the Commission has been engaged in stemming the tide of animosity among the citizenry.
Over recent times there has been a pattern of criminal activities, particularly, multiple murders which were clearly not acts of banditry. These acts included the massacre of: eight persons in Agricola on February 26, 2006; the late Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his siblings and security guard on April 26, 2006; the Kaieteur News pressmen and the ‘reign of terror’ in Bagotstown on August 8, 2006. There were also the killings in Canal No. 2 on October 24, 2006; and of members of the security forces.
Edghill said that Last Saturday's incident has created the atmosphere for 'ethnic-based conversations. He called for a national, multi-stakeholder approach in dealing with these seemingly deliberate and diabolical acts which can potentially incite intense hostility among the population.
He called on Guyanese to be committed to seeing criminals and hatemongers being rid from the society since this is paramount to its survival as a nation. “We simply cannot stand idly by and watch as a few mindless individuals throw our nation into turmoil. These terrorist activities are provocation for ethnic conflict and they must not be allowed to plunge our nation into civil crises,” Edghill said.
“We must find a way of engaging these faceless persons who for some reason or another feel so alienated from our society that they would threaten to dissipate any semblance of order and wanton murder of their fellow Guyanese ... We are willing to engage any group which feels the need to use violence as a means of sending a message.”
Encouraging Guyanese to advance the process of building this nation with a multi-ethnic, multi-stakeholder, bi-partisan approach to taking back the nation from the hands of criminals, Edghill said “blaming will not solve the issue. There must be a round-table approach in which all stakeholders concerned about the welfare and continued survival of this nation can sit together and honestly explore the root of these deliberate acts of terror that have affected every racial grouping.”
The Commission he said, encourages all Guyanese to ensure that the gains made over the past years in lessening ethnic conflict do not slide in the wrong direction;
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