More interventions to aid drainage at Helena, Mahaica
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008.
Focus continues to be placed on additional interventions to support drainage and irrigation in areas affected by heavy rainfall including Helena, Mahaica, where a mobile pump has been re-deployed to aid the system.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Lionel Wordsworth met residents and farmers of the community on February 26 to discuss drainage issues.
During the meeting it was agreed that two tractor-driven pumps, which were put in place by farmers earlier in the week, will be replaced by a large mobile pump, re-deployed by NDIA. This is to ensure faster discharge of excess water in the community’s drainage and irrigation that has affected rice and cash crop cultivation.
It was noted that the NDIA and Region Four Administration are collaboratively undertaking repairs to the Supply/Belmont sluice.
Farmers spoke about the vandalism of dams and other drainage structures that result in the agricultural areas being affected by high water from the backlands, which is caused by excessive rainfall.
Residents were urged to desist from such activities and to report to the Police any signs of vandalism by either farmers or other residents. They were also told that vandalism of public structures especially D&I is unlawful and any person found guilty of such offence (s) will be penalized
Another issue farmers raised was the non-occupancy of some privately owned estates which have resulted in blocked kokers that affect drainage. It was decided that the kokers will be closed down by NDIA while fishermen were encouraged not to moor their boats in the channels of the koker and sluices since this can affect the flow of water.
The excessive rainfall being experienced in several parts of the country has been attributed to ‘La Nina,’ a natural phenomenon that is expected to continue over the Coastal and inland regions of Guyana until March, 2008.
This phenomenon, Chief Hydrometeorological Officer Bhaleka Suelall explained, can prompt widespread changes in weather around the world. However, in Guyana, ‘La Nina’ usually triggers weather systems that will result in excessive rainfall.
TOP
Wales students to be relocated to La Retraite Primary
-WCHS students to remain
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh today held a meeting with stakeholders of the Wales Community High School (WCHS) where the decision was taken to relocate some of the Wales primary school students who are housed in the WCHS building.
The students will be relocated to the La Retraite primary school shortly.
The WCHS has a population of 1,143 secondary and primary school students and operates on a shift system, which according to the parents, is overcrowded and results in some amount of inconvenience for the children and is allowing them to have a lot of time for idle activities. They therefore, requested that their children be given a full day’s teaching.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall and other Regional Officials during an inspection at the Wales Community High School.
Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall, Regional Chairman Julius Faerber, Regional Executive Officer Nandalall Ramkissoon, Regional Education Officer Cheryl Chase, teachers and parents were at the meeting held at the community high school, West Bank Demerara.
The secondary students will remain at the WCHS and will no longer be on a shift system. The Education Ministry will provide 100 pairs of new furniture to ensure adequate accommodation.
Meanwhile, the Ministers inspected the school’s lavatory and garbage disposal facilities and agreed that the latter will be rehabilitated and a new lavatory block will be built. A new garbage facility will also be built after the budget is approved. Within the next three weeks the design for the lavatory facility will be done, Minister Baksh said.
Parents were informed that the Ministry of Education intends to extend the Patentia Secondary School to cater for secondary school students on the West Bank of Demerara. This is expected to materialize by 2009.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh during his address to parents at the Wales Community High School.
Minister Baksh pointed out that the medium-term focus would be to provide a Technical Vocational Training Centre for the youths not only those who have dropped out of school but those who are interested in acquiring a trade.
Minister Lall added that this is a crucial time in the children’s learning process which will determine their future. He said Government intends to provide all the necessary amenities to ensure they receive a well-rounded education.
The Ministers also visited the La Retraite Primary School to ensure it is suitable for the children and has arranged with the Chairman of the Parent Teachers’ Association Yul Allicock to make proposals for what is required in order that arrangements can be in place as soon as possible.
TOP
Government’s commitment remains strong
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
Government has indicated its commitment towards strengthening accountability, transparency and good governance and this was reiterated by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh during his National Budget presentation on February 22.
He indicated that in addition to the many fiduciary oversight reforms that have already been implemented and that have transformed the governance landscape, preparations are underway for Local Government elections.
As part of the budgetary allocation of $323M for enhancing and raising the standards of sanitation in the capital city and communities in all regions across the country, focus will also be placed on the following:
- institutional strengthening and capacity building of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to manage solid waste, to design and commence construction of a new sanitary landfill at Haags Bosch; and
- Extend works at the Mandela landfill site to accommodate waste up to 2009.
With respect to the house-to-house registration Minister Singh said the exercise is
expected to be completed in six months.
Minister Singh had indicated in his 2007 budget presentation that considerable progress was made towards establishing a new partnership with Local Government bodies. This partnership was characterised by greater flexibility and autonomy in the conduct of the affairs of these bodies.
It was estimated that over the next five years, the Government will spend approximately $14B on activities to refine and cement this relationship as well as upgrade and modernise the infrastructure and institutions of these bodies.
At another level, the Government was working to increase the number of townships
in the country. The Community Services Enhancement Project aimed at converting Charity,
Supenaam, Parika, and Bartica to secondary towns is ongoing.
The project, which is being executed at a cost of over $3.6B, will result in improvement in basic infrastructure such as market structures, roads and culverts and the strengthening of their institutions.
Last year, Government budgeted $685M to continue the infrastructural transformation and institutional transition of these areas into towns. Hence, the construction of a new stelling at Supenaam, a new Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) building, market at Bartica and upgrading of roads in Bartica and Parika.
TOP
Support for Government’s Competitiveness Strategy hosts 1st Stakeholders Workshop
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s Support for Competitiveness Programme (SCP) today hosted its first stakeholders’ workshop to provide clarity on the aims and objectives of the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) and the SCP.
The workshop was attended by agencies that will play a pivotal role in the execution of the NCS. These agencies were the Consumer Protection and Competition Commission (CPCC), Deeds Registry, Go-Invest, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Investment Promotion Council, National Advisory Council on External Negotiations, National Competitiveness Council (NCC), National Competitiveness Strategy Unit (NCSU), and the Small Business Council (SBC). 
The Head table at the Support for Competitiveness Programme first stakeholders’ workshop. From left to right (Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, Director of Competitiveness, Kevin Hogan, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jennifer Westford and IDB Country Representative, Marco NIcola)
Also present were representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Finance, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Project Execution Unit.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jennifer Webster in her remarks said the NCS is a result of the signing of a US$27 M loan agreement in March 2007 between the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). US$18 M, which is the policy-based component supports policy analysis and policy reforms leading to the creation of appropriate legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks, and the US$9 M investment component focuses on the implementation of policy recommendations through the strengthening of relevant institutions and the fostering of public private partnerships.
The overall objective of the programme is to enhance Guyana’s competitiveness and contribute to the increase in the levels of private investment and exports in the country.
The Programme Coordinator, Merlin Udho said some of the core policies of the programme are macroeconomic, trade, policy, finance, investment promotion, export promotion, the judicial system, human resources, technology and standards and infrastructure.
Deliberations on various issues were held as a result of presentations made by the stakeholders. The Deeds Registry discussed how it intends to reduce the amount of days taken to register a business. Go-Invest’s discussion focused on investment and export promotion, highlighting ways in which information will be accessible to businesses and investors to enable speedy decisions with respect to investments.
GNBS spoke of the importance of standards. The SBC spoke of the importance of clusters and networking among small businesses and encouraged the development of more small businesses in Guyana’s emerging economy. NACEN discussed the importance of people understanding how they can benefit from current and future trade agreements.
‘New look’ for Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officers
Ms. Udho highlighted that coming out of the meeting is the recognition that a lot of work is being done under the Competitiveness Strategy. However, the public is not aware of this information. The NCSU will therefore develop a communication strategy and plans to ensure that the public is made aware of the NCS and how they can benefit from the strategy.
The importance of teamwork was highlighted at the workshop since the strategy requires the input of all stakeholders.
Currently, the NCS is moving ahead with its implementation by beginning work on two consultancies. A national consultant will be employed to work on trade transactions, which is a review of the Customs administration to evaluate trade import and export procedures. It will be assessed to ensure there is improved efficiency and transparency within the process.
There will also be a tax reform study to have a harmonization of the taxation system without compromising Guyana’s revenue base.
Implementation of the strategy has started since there has been the procurement of technical assistance. In the coming months the actual implementation will begin.
“The NCS was produced through a partnership between Government and private sector stakeholders. The strategy has set out the agenda for government to achieve its vision of a strong, private sector led growth through a new generation of economic reform which will target greater investment in Guyana and create new and high quality jobs, and at the same time stimulate economic expansion,” said Minister Webster.
TOP
$110M allocated to upgrade Palms
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh during his budget presentation on February 22 announced that $110 M is allocated for the upgrading of The Palms Geriatric Institution.
Administrator of the Palms, Mohammed Yasin said both external and internal refurbishing and construction of another ground water reservoir will soon commence. Further upgrading will also be done the Block C and the drainage system.
Yasin noted that the major project that will be undertaken is the water reservoir to service Blocks B and C.
In December, the institution benefited from a new water cistern that is effectively servicing Block A, the laundry and kitchen. During last year, renovation was completed on the interior of Block A, the male living quarter and refurbishing of the roofs, beds and furniture.
Annually, Government allocates over $60M for the maintenance and renovation of the various facilities of the home and for food, and clothing for its residents who currently number about 235.
Yasin said that Government wants to ensure that the residents’ needs are met. He said large sums have also been spent to renovate the toilet and bathroom facilities of the Palms.
The institution which operates under the purview of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has a permanent Social welfare officer to look after the residents’ needs.
Other services offered by the Palms are provision of rehabilitative therapies for residents and out-patients, provision of recreational and social activities, and medical and nursing services that are operating 24 hours daily.
TOP
Think twice before making irrational statements about Police, Joint Services operations – Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee is urging naysayers to reconsider criticisms about the Joint Services operations in Buxton since there are enough reasons to support their interventions.
Minister Rohee made this comment while on a visit to the Camp Street Prison for the commissioning of the new $4.5M baggage scanner which is intended to boost the inspection capacity of the Prison.
Minister Rohee said the evidence acquired by the Police and the Joint Services at present suggests that certain persons have been serving as lookouts and have been providing information via cell phones to criminal elements in society.
Disclosing the source of this information would not be a wise decision Minister Rohee noted, since it is likely to compromise the source.
“We have footage of persons who have been engaged in these activities and were we to have released that footage, it would have been very embarrassing to many people who are today saying that the Joint Services are going in there and harassing people,” Minister Rohee said.
Minister Rohee also expressed concern about the claim that ballistics tests which are conducted to determine the previous use of a weapon are not genuine.
The Home Affairs Minister explained that these ballistic tests have been the main method used in the past and the evidence which has always been presented before the courts were never questioned.
“How is it now that in this particular instance these tests are being questioned? Is it because the tests are proving persistently that the weapons that are being used from crime scene to crime scene are linked to a particular crime?” Minister Rohee queried.
The recent questioning of the ballistic tests being conducted by the police should be disregarded according to Minister Rohee, since it is part of a campaign to cast doubt on the actions of the Government and Joint Services in Buxton particularly.
The clearing of the backlands in Buxton and other parts of the lower East Coast Demerara which is seen as a haven for criminal elements is one major aspect of the Joint Services operations.
This will enable the Joint Services to effectively enhance security of the vulnerable communities by creating a line of sight of the parameter that extends from Enmore to the Beterverwagting/Triumph area.
The operation commenced in early February with the clearing of dams in the Friendship area.
Government also implemented measures to address the issue of compensation of those land-holders who would be affected by the operation.
TOP
New minimum wage for March 1 implementation
- Minister Manzoor Nadir
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir today announced that he has signed 12 orders prescribing new minimum rates of wages to be paid to various categories of workers with effect from March 1.
Minister Nadir at a press conference at the Ministry stated that the minimum wage was last revised in September, 2005. The wages have been standardised for cashiers, clerks, drivers and porters. The workers who will have the highest increase include supervisors, tractor operators and saw-mill workers.
On average the rates have increased by 22 percent following consultations with the Ministry of Labour, labour unions and the Private Sector. Minister Nadir noted that, “Some may say this is still low and we agree but, remember we are setting the minimum where the bar must start from at this stage.” The Minister further noted that, “Once we have established the minimum wage, persons who are earning this right now will ask for their wages to go up because they will be at the same level of a junior employee if their wages remain the same.”
The Ministry plans to ensure that businesses implement the rates and officers of the Ministry will be conducting inspection at various entities. In an event where employees are receiving a higher rate than prescribed in the minimum wage, the employer will be required to continue paying such higher rates.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour also launched the ‘new-look’ for the Labour Occupation Safety and Health Officers. The officers will wear shirts with the Ministry’s logo and helmets with the abbreviation “LOSH’ and safety jackets when conducting inspections. Minister Nadir reiterated the ministry’s commitment to providing health and safety conditions in the work places.
He noted that, “2008 safety in our work places, the health and safety of our workers is going to be one of three priority areas for us, and we are going to be engaging in very aggressive programmes to ensure that work places for all our workers are safe and that our working population remains healthy.”
Educational programmes based on the safety and health laws are planned to start in approximately four weeks to raise the awareness of the general population. A three-step approach; awareness, policing and prosecuting, will be taken to ensure that workers are operating in favourable conditions.
The Minister called on employers to increase their level of awareness of the Labour, Occupation and Health laws. He noted that, “Ignorance is never an excuse for violating the law…as we intend to follow up our promotion and inspection with strong prosecution.”
Minister Nadir added that another top priority for the Ministry in terms of the health and safety of workers will be mainstreaming their HIV/AIDS programmes at workplaces under the slogan ‘Embracing the fight against HIV/AIDS at work’.
The functions of Labour Inspectors with those of Occupational Safety and Health Officers were merged in September last year, creating the ‘LOSH’ officers which mean Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer. Since the merger there has been an increase in inspections conducted at various work places.
Minister Nadir observed that as a result of promoting safety at workplaces and encouraging industrial establishments to report accidents there was a jump from reported accident cases of 1100 in previous years to nearly 2000 cases in 2007. He further stated that this is not a result of work places becoming more dangerous, but that many persons do not know their responsibility to report accidents, to keep an accident register and to establish a safety committee at workplaces which have 20 persons or more.
It is expected that with the promotional campaign planned for this year and the LOSH Inspectors being more visible at work places, there will be a rise in accidents being reported at workplaces. However, the Minister assured the working population that the ministry will not be silent and will work to enforce the safety and health laws at workplaces.
TOP
‘The massacre has brought greater strength to Barticians’
mourners echo at funeral of slain Bank DIH security officer
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008.
Hundreds of Barticians and citizens from other parts of the country today gathered in the Region Seven community to witness the burial of the late Edwin Gilkes, the Bank DIH security officer, who was among the 12 persons killed by gunmen on February 17.
During the funeral proceedings, which included speeches from individuals such as Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, Regional Representatives and relatives, mourners were told that the massacre has brought greater strengthen to Barticians and there is no doubt they will rise above the incident.
Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford, who is also the Parliamentary Representative of Region Seven, Regional Chairman Holbert Knights and Regional Executive Officer Peter Ramoutar were among those who joined mourners.
Minister Nadir expressed condolences to the family members, relatives and friends of Gilkes on behalf of the Government and noted that the entire country has mourned the Bartica massacre.
He pointed out that Bartica indicates a particular lesson to the country, one which is chronicled in the National Motto – One People, One Nation, One Destiny.
Gilkes, who was described as a loving, kind-hearted individual who was very devoted to his family was killed while on duty at Bank DIH Citizen Bank outlet at First Avenue, Bartica.
Over the past week, funerals have been held in various communities across the country including Regions Two, Three, Four and Seven, for those killed in the Bartica massacre.
TOP
Guyana’s mining sector to be showcased at Canadian trade show
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
Representatives from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are expected to represent Guyana at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Canada where the 76th International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange of the Prospective Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) will be held.
The event, held annually will be hosted for four-days beginning on March 2 this year. About 18,000 stakeholders from more than 100 countries are expected to attend.
Maps, brochures, Compact Discs (CDs) samples of diamonds found in Guyana and a 12-page mining special publication showcasing aspects of the mining sector will be among the highlights of Guyana’s participation.
Included in the publication is a message from Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who extended an invitation to stakeholders of the convention to assess the prospects of mining in Guyana.
“Guyana is indeed an attractive proposition, with a long history of mining, suitable geology, available skills, stable and experienced regulatory bodies and known reputable rules…” the Prime Minister in his message said.
His message also stated that Government has a long history of facilitating the mining industry and this has been fulfilled by freeing taxes from all mining and prospecting equipment.
He believes that the future of mining is promising since companies are working to identify reserves for Omai-sized gold mines and new areas are being examined as potential bauxite locations.
Additionally, prospecting companies are keenly pursuing uranium, rare earth minerals, molybdenum, iron ore, nickel and manganese.
The Prime Minister is also optimistic that Guyana’s geology, fiscal regime, and track record, will be mutually satisfying to stakeholders of the convention.
The PDAC is also expected to foster interactions between several prospectors and geologists in the global mining sector. Presentations will be made by more than 700 mining companies.
The event is expected to attract exploration managers, lawyers, accountants, students, media representatives, bankers, brokers, and analysts and suppliers of equipment and services to the exploration industry.
Last year the event attracted 17,600 persons and is expected to meet a record breaking year in 2008.
TOP
President deems national stakeholders meeting successful
-hopes that spirit of cooperation will continue
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2008
President Bharrat Jagdeo and several other stakeholders today described the national stakeholders meeting on crime held at the Office of the President as successful as most initiatives were agreed upon and presentations were good.
Today’s meeting was also historical as it included all Parliamentary political parties including the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), religious organisations, the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Commissioner of Police, Trade Unions, women’s organisations, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), the Private Sector Commission and other representatives of civil society.
A joint press release was later issued to the media noting that the meeting discussed the national security plan and views by all stakeholders on how to address the serious escalation of crime in the society currently.
“The national stakeholders held a cordial and constructive meeting at which it was agreed to (1) support the national security sector plan and its various components and (2) to tabulate all the recommendations which were presented for consideration and agreed that another meeting would be held in two weeks time to examine these recommendations”.
Commenting on the meeting today, President Jagdeo said it stemmed from a series of engagements he had last week with members of civil society and members of the Opposition parties. He described the previous meetings also as successful except for the PNC/R not agreeing to sign the agreement following the meetings, which spoke of the full support of the security forces to pursue the criminals and the unequivocal condemnation of the horrendous crimes that took place, particularly at Lusignan and Bartica recently.
“We agreed that today we will focus on a review of the Government’s security plan. A lot of people were not familiar with what we were doing so many of the suggestions that were coming in were things that were already being pursued and part of the national plan. What we have been asking for is additional suggestions to add to what we are already pursuing so we presented the security plan, 3 major areas,” the Head of State explained.
The President pointed out that the security plan has 11 priority areas which includes the setting up of an anti-crime unit to analyse crime data and focus on high profile crime.
He noted that the specialised police unit would deal with situations like the recent tragedies and would include specialised gun training and equipment.
“We spoke about intelligence gathering, traffic management oversight, a whole range of things and those 11 priorities were approved since last year and we have been receiving assistance from the British government since then to put these things in place. Since Lusignan we have seen an acceleration of the help,” the President added.
President Jagdeo explained further that the original plan would have gone over several years.
Meanwhile, today’s meeting also saw presentation of the Government of Guyana and Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Citizens’ Security programme, a US $25M project to restructure all police stations and to better equip them to work with communities, especially vulnerable ones as well as to prevent youngsters from becoming prey to criminals or be easily recruited.
“So, working to build better community /police relations as well as to create employment and training opportunities for young people in those areas,” the President emphasised.
National stakeholders also witnessed a presentation of the Justice Sector Reform Programme which is focused on a significant reform of the justice system to allow for better justice and for strengthening of prosecutions and the moving away of the police from prosecutions.
“So, only the District of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would prosecute certain types of crimes. It means that we would have to hire more lawyers there to remove the preliminary inquiry for a whole range of crimes now where it take a long time to get the cases heard and to reform the rules of court and a number of things that would bring greater accountability to the judiciary and faster administration of justice,” President Jagdeo underscored.
On this note he alluded to the death warrants which were signed several years ago and noted that they have been stuck in court.
It was noted that following the presentations, comments from the various parties were received and these were favourable.
“I said ‘look this programme is to deal with the short and medium term, it is not to be confused with what we have to do now, what we need now is for every one to support the efforts of the security services to hunt down these people, and that is the only thing that will bring relief to the people of this country,” the President concluded.
TOP
|
