“We need to find a better way to work together”-US Diplomat says of US, Caribbean cooperation
-in reference to narcotics, weapons problem
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Alluding to the 2007 Cricket World Cup period when information was shared between Caribbean countries and other nations on passengers travelling to and from the region and North American countries, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas Shannon believes that the cooperation developed then needs to be continued.
The Diplomat was speaking at a joint press conference with President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President following talks with the Guyanese Leader on a number of issues and cooperation matters between Guyana and the United States of America (USA).
“We did talk about the importance of improving our ability to share information and not just between Guyana and the US, but more broadly, and we took as the starting point the kind of cooperation that developed during the World Cup Cricket, especially in exchange of passenger lists and arrests that allowed the region to understand exactly who was travelling through the Caribbean,” Shannon explained.
The Diplomat, who was accompanied by United States Navy Commander of the US Southern Command, Admiral James Stavridis during his visit here, believes that the Cricket World Cup period was an important one for the Caribbean as it saw the development of a region-wide approach to security. This, the Official underscored is what needs to be expanded.
“The broader solution to the law enforcement problem and the security problem in the region is not just a US-Caribbean problem. It is also a problem that links to all the countries. Our sources of drugs that are transferred, our transit point for drugs and our recipient points, our markets points for drugs such as the US not only presents a challenge both for the US and for CARICOM, but also to… other countries like Venezuela,” he emphasised.
In this light, Shannon feels that the countries experiencing these problems need to find a better way to work together and to share information since unless this integrated regional approach to the problem is created and unless the countries can start working from the source countries, transit countries and recipient countries, seams or gaps in their law enforcement efforts could be exploited by drug traffickers.
“So, we can work better, we can work smarter and that would have been an issue in today’s discussion and it will be an issue when I meet with CARICOM officials later today,” Shannon said.
On the issue of the extradition of persons from Caribbean regions to the US for drug trafficking offences, the US Diplomat posited that things are going well in this regard.
TOP
Two Opposition motions defeated in the House
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Two Motions, one seeking to establish an independent Law Reform Commission and another to limit the amount of debt write-off that could be granted by the Minister of Finance, moved in the National Assembly by the Opposition, were defeated in Parliament yesterday.
The Motions submitted in the name of People’s National Congress Reform Members of Parliament Deborah Backer and Winston Murray respectively, failed to receive the support of the Government.
In moving the Motion for the establishment of a Law Reform Commission, Backer stated that this was necessary since it allowed for law making to be proactive to stay abreast with the changing times.
Attorney General Doodnauth Singh in his submission said that Guyana already has mechanisms for dealing with law reforms. He said that the establishment of a separate Commission would require additional resources which are not readily available.
Singh further pointed out that since Guyana gained independence the laws have been constantly reviewed and brought up-to-date. The urgency with regard to the law, he said, was to have it revised. This process which entails having all amendments and new laws placed in the official volumes of the Laws of Guyana as prescribed by the law Revision Act of 1972.
In his submission of the Motion to place limits on the aggregate amount of debt obligations, Murray urged the Government members to support the motion since he said that it was a way of ensuring transparency and accountability. Dr Ashni Singh in his reply, supported by Prime Minister Sam Hinds, said there were already several safeguards to prevent excesses by the Minister.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Act was passed in 2003 and the National Assembly at that time, chose not to place a limit on the Minister. He stated that when negotiation is taking place there is need for the Minister to have some flexibility.
Prime Minister Hinds pointed out that any debt write-off would have to be accounted for in the accounts of the Consolidated Fund and presented to the Public Accounts Committee which is chaired by the Opposition.
This motion was also defeated.
TOP
Shoring up of sea defence continues
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008.
Efforts are continuing to strengthen the coastline against the increasing threat of the sea level rise in various areas including the section along the lower East Coast Demerara that was affected by overtopping during the last spring tide period.
At present, focus is being placed on strengthening the weakened section of the sea defence that overtopped during the recent excessive high tides before the next spring tide which is expected from April 4th to 9th with the highest tide anticipated on the 7th.
Engineers from the Sea Defence Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications have already conducted the necessary surveys to determine the nature of the work that needs to be done and the quantity of materials required.
Monitoring continues to be done while efforts are being made to acquire geo-textile to be used in the vulnerable areas to prevent the embankment from eroding, should there be any overtopping.
In addition, sea defence works are progressing in the Turkeyen/Ogle area where approximately $176M is being spent to construct 1100 metres of ‘rip-rap’ structure. The contract for this project was awarded last December and it is expected that the works will be completed by June/July this year.
Reinforcing and stabilising of sea defence structures are also ongoing at Gangaram, along the Canje river in Region Six while two projects were recently awarded for ‘rip-rap’ construction at Orangestein, East Bank Essequibo and Henrietta, Leguan Island in Region Three. The works at Orangestein will cost approximately $78M while about $33M will be spent to effect the other project at Leguan Island.
These projects are part of Government’s continuing investments to improve the country’s defence against the sea particularly in light of climate change which has resulted in a rise in sea level and other unusual weather conditions.
The recent spring tides that caused overtopping in the Vryheid’s Lust, Better Hope and Montrose were said to have been aggravated by a low pressure system in the Atlantic that generated wave action and the current La Nina condition which is associated with easterly gusty winds.
Experts predict that there is expected to be a global sea level rise of one metre over the next 50 to 100 years, with Guyana experiencing about two metres due to its unique characteristics that include mud coast, large landmass behind a low lying coast.
Among the many initiatives being embarked upon by the administration to deal with sea level rise is the construction of ‘rip-rap’ structures that are designed for a 30-year period and take into account expected sea level rise over this duration.
In addition, this design caters for adequate settlement of the structure since the country has a weak soil foundation where the embankment is subject to a lot of settlement.
The rock armour dissipates wave energy better and therefore, precludes the need for a very high sea defence as would be required with a concrete structure. Rip-rap construction is done at a cheaper cost, utilising local materials (except the filter fabric which is imported) and results in more sea defence being addressed.
TOP
Groundbreaking deal announced for payment for rainforest services
-in keeping with President Jagdeo’s initiative
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
A press release from Iwokrama has indicated that a deal announced in New York today at the world’s first Biodiversity and Finance Conference now ‘opens the way for financial markets to price the ‘utility value’ of rainforests’.
The release noted that the deal is the first step in keeping with President Bharrat Jagdeo’s visionary approach to safeguarding Guyana’s forests.
“For the first time, investors will pay for the ecosystem services produced by a rainforest, including rainfall generation, climate regulation, biodiversity maintenance and water storage-utilities with global significance which are vanishing as forests fall,” the release stated.
It pointed out that the transaction today between Iwokrama and the Canopy Capital pioneers the use of risk capital to safeguard such services within the Iwokrama Reserve in Guyana. The Iwokrama forest reserve which comprises one million acres of pristine rainforest and located at the heart of the Guiana Shield was donated to the Commonwealth for sustainable forest management in 1989. It is one of the only four intact rainforests remaining in the world.
Emphasising that forests do much more for us than just store carbon, the Iwokrama release urged that ‘we should move beyond emissions-based trading to measure and place a value on all the services they provide’.
It added that the initiative fits perfectly with Iwokrama’s original mandate which is to demonstrate that conservation, environmental balance and sustainable economic activity can be mutually reinforcing.
“It also ensures, with the Commonwealth’s support for Iwokrama, that the world hears a knowledgeable and persuasive voice on a matter of growing international concern,” the release quoted Iwokrama’s Chairman, Edward Glover as saying.
Iwokrama has noted that the forests of the Guiana Shield generate rainfall that services the production of agricultural commodities throughout northern Latin America and the southern Caribbean. It said Director Hylton Philipson of Investment House Canopy Capital queried how Google’s services could be worth billions, yet those from the world’s rainforests amount to nothing.
“The deal drawn up by international law firm Stephenson Harwood, come in the wake of a pivotal year for the fate of forests. The contribution of deforestation to runaway climate change has been recognised internationally and new measures to conserve forests are set to be included in a post-Kyoto framework after 2012,” Iwokrama explained.
The deal was announced by Canopy Capital Director Andrew Mitchell who said, “The decision on forests at December’s United Nations conference in Bali is a major step in tackling climate change, but it fails to reward countries such as Guyana that aren’t cutting their forests.”
Iwokrama disclosed that ‘the deal creates an investment template for first movers in an emerging market for eco-system services. Such a market could generate billions of dollars for developing nations, making it more valuable to keep their forests standing than to cut them down’.
According to Iwokrama, funds already secured from Canopy Capital will be used to continue management of the forest in accordance with its philosophy of conservation through sustainable best practice. It will provide livelihoods and business partnerships for 7,000 people living in the forest and surrounding area.
TOP
CLC students did not approach Education Ministry for assistance
-Minister Baksh
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh at yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly informed the House that his Ministry was never approached by students of the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) for any form of assistance.
The Minister made clear that if it was the case, consideration would have been given, particularly in the case of students who were preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).
He was responding to questions posed by the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) on what plans his Ministry intends to put in place to ensure that classes at the college resume forthwith and whether he was concerned with the disruption of classes.
“It is a matter of concern but there were no representations made by the students of the CLC for any assistance in terms of the courses they were pursuing and any help from the Ministry of Education…If they had come to the Ministry and asked for assistance particularly those students who were to write the CSEC examinations, the Ministry may have considered their request,” he said.
The Minister made it clear that he was not talking about the restoration of the subvention but in relation to any assistance the Ministry of Education may have wanted to offer to the students.
He also made it clear that the Education Ministry has no say in the admission of students to the College. “The responsibilities to ensure the running of classes and welfare of students rest solely in the authority of the authorities of the CLC,” he said.
In relation to the withholding of subvention from the college, recently Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that the administration’s position on the subvention issue is that it will not be provided under the current dispensation.
Dr. Luncheon had said that the administration will undertake to work with stakeholders to ensure that the current dispensation of the subvention is suitably modified.
TOP
Prisons not reluctant to drug testing of ranks- Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee last evening informed the National Assembly that there is at present no compulsory drug testing programme for police and prison officers, pointing out that the Police Act does not provide for such.
The Minister was responding to GAP-ROAR Member of Parliament Everall Franklin who had asked him whether such a programme existed for ranks within the two disciplined services.
Minister Rohee in his written response said that the administration of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has never found the prevalence of drug use among its ranks as an issue of concern and so has never advocated the introduction of a programme of this kind.
He added that the service is however, not reluctant to implement of a drug testing programme since it would allow for the screening of staff to determine whether they are under the influence of any narcotic drug while discharging their responsibilities.
It was made clear that any such mandatory testing would have to be part of government's policy of drug testing for recruitment into the Public Service.
Meanwhile, Minister Rohee also informed the House that there was an inadequate Police patrol service for Essequibo River but efforts are continuing to address and investigate issues in that area.
He was responding to a question posed by PNCR Member of Parliament Mervyn Williams of the availability of patrol boats to service the two sub-divisions of Division 'D' (West Demerara and East Bank Essequibo) of the Guyana Police Force.
Minister Rohee said one can hardly be satisfied until it can provide a boat service in all riverain communities and pointed out that there were currently three boats available to both sub-divisions, on a 24-hour basis.
The PNC/R member also questioned the Force's human resource capability to man the boats but the Minister said such resources were adequate at this time.
He said the current operational capacity of the boats of the Force covers the Demerara River between Timehri and Georgetown.
It was also pointed out that a boat was currently being made available for the Police in 'G' Division in the Essequibo River and that the police currently have a boat at Charity and another at Wakenaam. These, he said, were supported by two boats owned by the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in those areas.
Patrols are also done using a boat based at Bartica with the support of the Community Policing Group.
TOP
Takutu Bridge will boost hinterland tourism
-a vital link to integrating countries in the Guianese shield
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
The Takutu Bridge that will link Guyana and its southern neighbour Brazil will certainly open up tourism opportunities in Region Nine as it will serve as the corridor for the Guianese shield countries en route to Guyana.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad on a recent visit to check on the bridge’s progress noted that, “This Bridge is a tremendous boost for tourism. We are part of the Amazon, and we will be promoting Amazon tourism, ‘Guyana the Amazon adventure’.”
Further, the completion of the bridge will complement developing corridors through Linden, Berbice, over to Suriname and into French Guiana, ending in Amapa. 
Engineers at work building the approach road to the Takutu Bridge
The Takutu Bridge which is being built across the Takutu River will offer the means of easy access to Guyana from the entire South America. Over-land trips can be offered to tourists from Guyana to Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Peru and Ecuador, Minister Prashad said.
The 14-metre wide bridge is being funded by the Brazilian Government and undertaken by contractor, Arte Leste of the State of Parana, Brazil. It is made of reinforced concrete, supported on four piers and is complete with pedestrian walkways.
A building to accommodate the Customs and Immigration offices among others which are required at a port of entry has already been established.
Minister Prashad noted that with the increase in traffic flow between the two countries, a regularised system will have to be put in place when the bridge becomes operational. It is expected to be completed in July.
The Lethem Industrial Estate is housed across the road from the Immigration office. At present Digicel is the sole occupant, however, the other telephone company, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and other businesses from the Lethem area have also applied for plots.
Minister Prashad said the only problem at present with the Industrial Estate is that Government is not yet in a position to allocate the plots of land as a value has not been determined, however, work is actively being done to rectify this situation.
“As a result of the development that is taking place in the Lethem area with the Takutu Bridge and the investment opportunities, efforts will be made to fast-track the process to get the estate up and running in order to keep up with the development of the area.”
The important link that the Takutu Bridge will provide will aid in moving the country’s tourism progress at a much faster rate. The tourism potential of the Rupununi region can now be realised since the Kanuku and Pakaraima Mountains, the sprawling savannahs, the water falls and the flora and fauna of the area will now have the attention they deserve, he said.
Minister Prashad noted that, “Guyana is ready and we are open for business. This link could not have come at a better time for us, in the history of the development of our country... With all the new businesses and the development in Lethem, Guyana is on the move.”
The bridge was initially scheduled for completion in January 2008, but delays in the process occurred on three occasions during 2007, one being over-topping on the banks of the Takutu River during the May-June rainfall.
Construction on the bridge restarted earlier last year after being halted for a long period since its 2001 commencement.
The construction of a one-mile access roadway that by the 6th Battalion of the Brazilian Army is also ongoing.
The Takutu Bridge is one of 335 projects identified by the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA), an initiative by South American governments to strengthen the networking and transit capacity of the countries involved.
TOP
ERC presents report on African Guyanese needs to Parliament
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) today presented a report on the Commission’s consultation with the African Guyanese community and its 2007 Annual Report to the Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran at the Parliament Buildings.
The consultation with the African Guyanese Community was conducted from November 13 to 16 last year to determine their needs. ERC Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill in brief remarks outlined some of the issues raised during the consultation. 
These issues, he said, ranged from educational infrastructure in villages to Law reforms and included: underdevelopment of African villages, the refusal of the National Communications Network to show African programmes, the lack of political representation for African Guyanese and the prejudice shown by the African middle class to the less fortunate Africans among others. 
Edghill said that these were perceptions that were raised by leaders of the African Guyanese Community.
Speaker of the National Assembly Ramkarran congratulated the commission for the work it has been doing and the commitment it has shown to maintain ethnic dialogue. This, he said, has led to the ERC receiving the support of all sections of Guyanese.
Witnessing the presentation were members of the ERC, representatives of the African Guyanese Community and Members of Parliament.
TOP
President meets former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo was today paid a courtesy call by former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sir James Mitchell at the Office of the President.
Sir Mitchell was accompanied by People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) member Faith Harding who will join the former Prime Minister at a commemorative event in honour of the late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. 
Former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines James Mitchell hadsn over a gift to President Jagdeo-March 27, 2008.
The event will be held at Le Meridien Pegasus on March 28 and Sir Mitchell is expected to make a presentation on Economic Management and Poverty Reduction.
Mitchell used the occasion to present a copy of his autobiography to President Jagdeo. The book which Mitchell said took four years of effort is credited as the fourth autobiography to be written by a Head of State in the Caribbean.
Mitchell said his relationship with the president dates back to the period when they first met during a Heads of Government meeting at the time when he served as Prime Minister.
Former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines James Mitchell.
He also recalled hosting a private meeting with President Jagdeo and the Surinamese President on boundary related issues between Guyana and neighbouring Suriname.
Sir Mitchell became Prime Minister after his party, the New Democratic Party (NDP) won a surprise victory in the island’s general election in 1984. His party returned to office after winning all Parliamentry seats in 1989. He returned to office again in 1994 and 1998 but resigned in 2000.
TOP
No licence needed to import flour– Minister Prashad
- process temporarily suspended
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad has disclosed that effective from today no licences will be required from the Ministry for the importation of flour and wheat
The licencing process has been suspended temporarily to allow importers to bring in flour and wheat, as part of Government’s efforts to liberalise the system and provide commodities to Guyanese at a reasonable rate.
Minister Prashad made this announcement while speaking to representatives of the media at Parliament.
“This is with immediate effect, you can just bring in flour… you don’t have to come to the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. This is a temporary measure. The licensing process is administratively suspended with immediate effect,” Minister Prashad said.
The Minister added however, that other measures such as the Food and Drug Department’s standardization will remain.
When asked how long this intervention will last, Minister Prashad said that the process will remain until government sees it fit to do otherwise, but will be monitored carefully. The objective however, is to ensure that flour reaches the consuming public at an affordable price.
He is optimistic that the process will see no revenue being lost to the government. If this occurs however, Minister Prashad said it is a sacrifice government is willing to make to satisfy consumers demands.
TOP
Gov’t plans to advance level of education through involvement of REOs
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
As Government continues to take a proactive approach towards boosting the quality of education offered in Guyana, several measures are being put in place at the regional level to ensure the school systems are maintained and monitored effectively.
In the pursuit of this path the Ministries of Local Government and Regional Development and Education held a meeting today with Regional Education Officers (REDOs) and Regional Executive Officers (REO) from all the regions to highlight the importance of enhancing and monitoring the systems and ensuring they are adhered to by all stakeholders.
Regional Educational Officers during a meeting at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall said education is the right way of taking families out of poverty and it is the Ministries’ intention to ensure much focus is placed on the delivery of all provisions in the regions, especially the hinterland communities. This will ensure the children are not deprived access to the best quality of education.
Therefore, not only the provision of dietary and other supplies and the level of attention and education offered to the children are important, but so too is the management of schools, Minister Lall said.
The issue of organizing and maintaining the schools and classrooms is another aspect that has to be addressed, Minister Lall said.
He urged that teachers and students be responsible to ensure their environments are tidy and conducive even through there are cleaners.
“We have to upkeep regulations and structures and ensure they are not breached, and the REO’s are given the authority to conduct regular visit to schools in their respective regions. Education Officers need to have a schedule of visits and there will be recorded monitoring of visits made,’ the Minister explained.
“ I am glad that the Central Ministry is working with the Minister of Local Government to ensure stability of teachers leaving the Regions since it should be decided whether or not the Region has the capacity to deal with the absence of a teacher from a particular region before it is accepted,” Minister Lall said.
It is Government’s intention to ensure that the level of education offered is further developed with the cooperation and involvement of the Parent Teachers’ Association. Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said in a few weeks’ time REDO’s will be given a comprehensive document which will highlight the roles of the Central Ministry and Regional Administration to ensure proper standards are followed and that all stakeholders are benefiting from this document.
These reforms are intended to change the delivery of education with stricter management in the system in terms of training and policies.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh (left) and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall (right) during a meeting with Regional Educational Officers and Regional Executive Officers.
The Ministry has a programme which is aimed at training people to become welfare officers in the schools so that teachers would not be burdened. Minister Baksh said the implementation of the literacy programme in all schools is paramount and the Ministry intends to ensure that the programme is done every school. He urged head teachers to provide one hour daily for the literacy programme to develop reading.
The Ministry of Education is also working with the Ministry of Health to ensure students are physically capable of coping in schools.
Minister Baksh said in order to improve the standard of education there must be effective feedback and urged the officers to be committed and hard working.
TOP
Opposition boycott of National Stakeholders Motion ill-timed
- Minister Rohee -gov’t has no power to change outcomes of consensus
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
The refusal of the Parliamentary Opposition parties today in the National Assembly to engage in discussion on government’s Motion on the National Stakeholders Meeting has been described as most unfortunate.
The boycott by the Opposition was done on the basis that the Motion was intended mainly for political grandstanding by the government and refusal to make certain amendments to the Motion.
On the other hand, the administration maintained that the amendments which the Opposition was seeking were out of the administration’s control since it was not agreed to by the stakeholders involved.
Advisor on Governance at the Office of the President and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Ms. Gail Teixeira outside of the House explained that it would be an act of bad faith if the government had gone in that direction.
“We were told yesterday that they had a combined Opposition amendment. We looked at it and we advised them that they were adding in things that we had not reached a national consensus on at the national stakeholders and therefore, we should take a principled decision that if the stakeholders agreed to these six things we should replicate those faithfully.”
She further explained said that, “We (government) have no authority to add on to the Clauses, issues that we had not reached consensus on, nor were they the primary thrust of the discussions of national stakeholders.”
The Opposition was seeking for amendments to be made to include Article 13 of the Constitution which deals with inclusiveness and they also wanted to include the need for equitable access to Parliamentary parties to the state media.
“No doubt that the AFC and Mr. Corbin raised the issue of access to the state media however, in the five meetings this was not the number one issue nor when we drafted the agreement. Therefore, the government took a principled position that we could not do a disservice to the stakeholders and we had no authority to speak on behalf of all 40 of them to change what were the issues or add to what were the issues agreed to by the 40 organisations,” Teixeira argued.
The ‘be it resolved clause’ of the government motion which was put forward by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was sought for the National Assembly to take note of the engagements of the National Stakeholders meeting and accept the output as reflecting national consensus on the agreed upon actions.
The ‘further resolved’ clause sought for the House to accept the national consensus arrived at during those meetings with the President and what the stakeholders undertook to provide its (Parliament) fullest support and to assign its highest priority in implementing those commitments that called for action by Parliamentary bodies.
The Opposition parties were in receipt of the Motion since March 17.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee during his presentation made the point that the Opposition parties were trying to achieve what they could not have during the national stakeholders meeting through the Parliament. This, he said, is sad since matters on security should not be used for political gains. 
“I do not want to speculate the reason for it (boycott) but it is most unfortunate that the opposition benches would seek to use three factors one of which is that what they did not achieve in the negotiations they try to bring it here to achieve it…These are flimsy grounds,” Minister Rohee said.
The Home Affairs Minister stated that the document does not belong to the Parliamentarians so it would be unfair for them to make whatever decisions they choose.
“The document does not belong to us only in this Parliament. Those decisions that were taken belong to others who do not sit in this hounrable House and therefore, if that process belongs to a much larger grouping of people one will obviously have to consult with those people.”
The administration through President Bharrat Jagdeo began discussions with Parliamentary Political Parties and civil society following two shocking massacres at Lusignan on the East Coast Demerara and Bartica in Region Seven, which are believed to have been perpetrated by criminal gangs.
The outcome of the meetings which involved a number of recommendations by the stakeholders included the establishment of a new Parliamentary Standing Sectoral Committee on national security with Ministerial representation and the appointments of the six (6) Constitutional Commissions within 90 days.
TOP
Another bird watching group impressed with Guyana
Georgetown, GINA, March 27, 2008
Guyana is becoming recognised as a bird watching destination as more international birdwatchers have been coming to experience the country’s birding and wildlife potential.
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) reported in a press release that a United Kingdom tour operator, Ornitholidays, has been promoting Guyana as a birding destination and the company brought its first birdwatching group of eight persons from Ireland and the United Kingdom from March 1 to 14.
The release stated that Orintholidays’ principal guide, Mike Witherick, visited Guyana in February 2007 on a familiarization trip that was sponsored by the GTA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project Birding Tourism Programme. 
Spix Guan
After recognising Guyana’s potential for birding, Witherick began organising a trip for Orintholidays.
Andy Narine, who is the head of the local guide and President of the Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds Society (GATBS), assisted Witherick in guiding duties, the release said. The trip included birdwatching stops at Georgetown Botanical Gardens, Mahaica River, Shanklands Rainforest Resort, Kaieteur Falls, Karanambu Ranch, Iwokrama Filed Station and Canopy Walkway, and Wowetta Village. .jpg)
Harpy Eagle
The GTA said the group saw some outstanding birds such as the Hoatzin, Crimson Topaz, Capuchin bird, and the much sought-after Harpy Eagle.
Orintholidays specialises in escorting birdwatching holidays all over the world. Witherick, who has led over 135 tours to all seven continents, said that outside of the unseasonably wet weather, the trip went well. He compared his Guyana birdwatching experience to other countries in the region saying that, “My experience (in the region) is limited to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana is the equal of any of these.”
Laughing Falcon
Witherick was high in praise for the local guides who were well informed about the birds in their areas, the release stated.
The potential for birding tourism in Guyana is unlimited since over 800 bird species can be found. More than 70 percent of the birds found in Guyana are endemic to the Guiana Shield; an area of ancient rocks shared with Brazil and Venezuela.
Guyana is in a better position to promote birding tourism since its tourist infrastructure is accessible in areas where birds are found, the tour company noted. Orintholidays has planned trips for 2009 and 2010, with the first already completely booked.
The Birding Tourism Programme is receiving support from GTIS, a joint project of the Government of Guyana and USAID.
Note Photos Spix Guan and Laughing Falcon courtesy of Keith Wilson-Davies (GTIS)
TOP
|
