Berbice advancing preparations for CARIFESTA X
-ten countries expected for Berbice leg
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
Preparations for the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) have gone a fair way in the Ancient County since its grand launching on June 28 at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.
The CARIFESTA Coordinator in the Region Mohammed Jaffarally said a talent search competition was launched on July 12 in which more than 80 groups participated.
The competition was a resounding success according to Jaffarally as it unearthed a wealth of unknown talent from Berbice.
The region also hosted a “street cinema” and intends to hold another cultural activity by the end of the month to heighten the tempo of CARIFESTA activities in Region Six.
In the coming week, meetings will be held with representatives of the minibus, taxi and hotel owners associations, some of the key stakeholders in the festival.
“CARIFESTA preparations in Region Six are progressing very well and the expectations are great because total involvement among people from all walks of life have been evident,” Jaffarali said.
August 29 has been earmarked for a CARIFESTA Day in Berbice which will held at the Albion Sports Complex featuring a youth village, culinary, literary, craft and a visual arts exhibitions.
About 10 visiting delegations are expected for the cultural activity which will culminate with a massive cultural show.
The Coordinator said the venue and various parts of the town and outlying areas are at present being spruced up. Several participants from outside of Berbice will also be part of the local delegation for CARIFESTA.
Berbice is one of six regions selected to host various features of CARIFESTA and the regional authorities including other stakeholders have been tasked with putting arrangements in place for their part in the festival. Events will also be hosted in regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Ten.
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New Jersey group willing to work with Culture Ministry
- continues humanitarian visit in Guyana
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
The Humanitarian Mission of the New Jersey Arya Samaj is keen on working closely with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to promote youth and community development as it continues its humanitarian work in Guyana.
President of the Mission Pandit Suresh Sugrim expressed this interest to Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony at the launching of its enhancement programme at the Arya Samaj Mandir in Reliance, Region Six.
The empowerment programme was launched through collaboration with Food for the Poor with the aim of providing skills in various technical capacities for empowerment.
Pandit Sugrim said the Mission spent millions of dollars last year on humanitarian work but this time around its emphasis will be on enhancement.
“Instead of giving you the fish we will be teaching you how to catch the fish, provided that you are willing to learn,” Pandit Sugrim said.
New Jersey Arya Samaj hands over pampers and pram to Berbice mother of triplets.
The mission has acquired a sewing machine to support its sewing classes and is also making provisions for the establishment of a cooking class at the same venue.
During the launching, a sewing machine and a stove were handed over to the President of the Reliance Arya Samaj Mandir. A stove was also presented to a Women’s Organisation which looks after the affairs of abused women in Berbice. Bicycles were also presented to about three youths who are from poor families.
Minister Anthony commended the religious body for promoting humanitarian values through skills training and other means noting that a wealth of gratitude is owed to the group for returning to Guyana and making such a meaningful contribution.
This, he noted can be a lesson for other religious bodies in their bid to make a difference in society.
“I think that if we can go beyond our separate religions and beliefs and help to change people’s lives then we will be doing the ultimate good of helping people generally. Sometimes that help don’t mean looking at thousands of people, it might mean helping your neighbour,” Minister Anthony said.
The mission recently launched a “laugh till you belly bus” show, its first fund raising venture at Albion to garner funds locally which will be put back into the community.
New Jersey Arya Samaj presents bicycle to Berbice youth in presence of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony.
The Mission also handed over a house to the Latchman family who lost their home that was in a derelict condition. Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand was invited to witness the occasion.
Minister Anthony said synergies exist between his Ministry and the Humanitarian missions which can be strengthen with the two agencies working together. Sewing programme with about 20 youths at the Smith Field Drop-in Centre and very soon will be moving into another building to expand its range of training.
Very soon the Ministry’s skills training programme for out of school youths which has been going at the Sophia and Kuru Kuru centres will be expanded to the ancient county.
The programme will be housed in a building next to the Regional office which will be converted into a skills training centre that will also be facilitating computer science and other skills.
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Finance Minister presents $2.3M cheque to Northwest Organics
- to aid in sustainable development of indigenous communities
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
Boosting the capacity of indigenous communities continues to be a focus of government and to this end Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh today presented a cheque valued $2,376,858 to Project Co-ordinator of the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society, Annette Arjoon who also heads Northwest Organics.
The presentation of the cheque represented the fulfillment of a commitment given by President Bharrat Jagdeo when he met with Arjoon recently and undertook to support the work of North West Organics in purchasing machinery to enable mass production.
The money will be used to acquire five choppers/grinders, five diesel engines with frame/belts and five tillers with gasoline engines to facilitate the production of a larger quantity of goods since the company has been requested to export its products to HiLo Supermarket in Trinidad and Tobago.
At the presentation ceremony, Minister Singh commended the society for the excellent organic products produced under the name Northwest Organics namely cassava bread and casareep, Crabwood oil, and Crabwood oil soap, cocoa sticks, and peanut butter which are retailed at leading supermarkets in Georgetown.
On behalf of President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh hands over the cheque to Project Coordinator of the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society, Annette Arjoon.
The Finance Minister further commended the society and Northwest Organics for being on the verge of accessing markets wider afield.
“We look forward to seeing more high quality organic products coming out of the area and continuing to enhance the reputation of the community and the country in producing high quality goods,” Minister Singh said.
He also noted the excellent work that it has been doing not only in its original mandate in relation to sea turtle conservation but, also furthering the cause of sustainable development in the communities and in working with the communities to improve their livelihoods, particularly the women.
Approximately 100 indigenous women from five indigenous communities located at Hosorroro, Waini, Maracaibo, Aquero and Tukapita have been involved in the manual production of non-traditional products.
Arjoon expressed her appreciation to President Jagdeo and the government for the money received.
“The contribution will go a tremendous way in making a difference in the lives of the women producers… I would really like to thank President Jagdeo and his government for such support. This is what is going to make the big difference in the North West and also bring tremendous benefits to not only the indigenous communities but the wider populace of the North West as a whole,” she said.
She also acknowledged the invaluable support of the Ministries of Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture.
“I am delighted to have the Ministry of Finance on board through President Jagdeo’s generosity.” Arjoon said.
She said her society remains committed to continuing its conservation and community development work.
The North West Organics initiative is recognised as an outstanding example of agricultural diversification since it complements the Government’s Agricultural Diversification Strategy by promoting the marketing of non-traditional products.
The Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society was founded in 2000 with the sole mandate of effecting sea turtle conservation. The society broadened its objectives in 2005 to include the economic well-being of the user communities and conservation of the environment via the name North West Organics. Since then, North West Organics has been the main marketing tool for products from the Shell Beach area.
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Guyanese doctors to eventually conduct kidney transplant surgery
- Munesh Mangal recovering well
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
Guyanese surgeons are expected to take over the reins to conduct kidney transplant surgeries after the next five operations which are scheduled to be done in Guyana by the international medical team that performed the first historic kidney transplant on 18-year old Munesh Mangal.
Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that local surgeons observed the historic seven-hour transplant performed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on July 12 which was conducted by a United States-based team with support from Guyanese health personnel. They will gradually, after training be able to take over, he said.
Five persons have been recommended for kidney transplant to be done locally, and preliminary work has already been done on two persons who have met the requirements for the surgery.
To be eligible for the surgery, a patient suffering from end stage renal failure has to fulfill three requirements: not having other complications other than end stage renal failure; has a willing donor; and preliminary investigation must reveal that the tissue typing indicates compatibility between the donor and the recipient.
Minister Ramsammy noted that studies are being done to investigate the possibilities of having these two transplants done within the year, the first one scheduled to be held in four months.
“It will be an ongoing thing but it will not be at a pace where we can say that everyone in Guyana who needs a kidney transplant will have it done here,” Minister Ramsammy said.
Both Munesh Mangal and his 41-year old mother Leelkumarie Mangal, his donor, are in stable condition and are doing very well.
“The doctors have said that they are text book recovery cases,” Minister Ramsammy said.
“Munesh has requested his glasses and text books so that he can begin studying again. He is moving around while we are still keeping him in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); we believe that his stable and rapid condition is in part due to the support that he is getting from his mom,” the Minister said.
He noted that the doctors indicated that Leelkumarie Mangal is ready to leave the ICU, however, “we have made a decision to keep her near her son as we believe that the young man is making rapid recovery…this is no way means that she in not recovering fast enough…but we believe that it is more beneficial to keep her close to support her son.”
Minister Ramsammy, however, acknowledged that Munesh still has a far way to go as his body is now dealing with accepting a new kidney and there is the likelihood that there could be rejection.
Munesh has been given anti-rejection drug as this is standard procedure to medicate the recipient after this surgery, however, this still does not guarantee that the body will accept the organ.
“This is the phase we are in and that’s why there will be constant management of Munesh over the next several days and weeks, so even after he is sent home, these are challenges,” he said.
Local doctors will be monitoring Munesh’s condition with advice from the international team with daily consultations.
“Our local physician will be working in collaboration with the international medical team in the coming weeks; the doctors are also ready to come back into Guyana should any complication arise. The doctors have indicated that if Munesh continues to progress as he is, then they expect that next week he should go home,” Minister Ramsammy said.
The team of surgeons comprised Dr. Rahul Jindal, Senior Transplant Surgeon attached to the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, Dr. Arthur Womble of the Athens-Limestone Hospital in Alabama; Dr. Melanie Guerrero, Assistant Programme Director, Critical Care Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, Washington; Dr. Edward Falta who is also on assignment at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre and Laura Owen, a combat medic.
The kidney transplant initiative was that of US-based Guyanese businessman George Subraj, a former rice-farmer from the East Coast of Demerara who is currently President and founder of Zara Luxury Apartments and Homes in Queens, New York.
Following the surgery, Subraj and a team of business persons also handed over a quantity of equipment to assist the GPHC including cardiology machines.
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Guyana gets first Ambassador from Iceland
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
Guyana today received its first Ambassador from the Republic of Iceland when His Excellency Hjalmar Hannesson presented his Letters of Credence to President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President.
Speaking to the media, Ambassador Hannesson said in terms of establishing areas in which the two countries can collaborate and cooperate, two are fishing and hydropower, areas in which Iceland has vast experience.
Iceland's Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Hjalmar Hannesson taking the salute prior to his accreditation at OP-July 14, 2008.
“Iceland has many centuries of using the living resources of the sea and we have now developed in the last decades the most efficient fishing fleet and fishermen by far… therefore the United Nations University, for example, has established in Iceland, the UNU fisheries department. This is just an indication of our standing as a fishing nation,” the Ambassador said.
Ambassador Hannesson explained that the UNU Department is open to students from around the world who, following studies can return to their respective countries and apply their knowledge of new ideas and technology.
President Jagdeo today receiving credentials from Iceland's Ambassador to Guyana,H.E. Hjalmar Hannesson-July 14, 2008.
Iceland has experience in the use of hydropower and it was noted by the Ambassador that that country uses this for all of its household needs and electricity. He added that fuel is only used for cars, boats and ships in Iceland.  H.E. Hjalmar Hannesson, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir and officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry at OP.JPG)
President Jagdeo, Iceland's Ambassador to Guyana (centre) H.E. Hjalmar Hannesson, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir and officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry at OP.
On this score, he mentioned that the energy sector is one area in which the two countries can cooperate.
Ambassador Hannesson is also the Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations as well as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada and Jamaica.
He has also served as Ambassador to Canada, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
The Ambassador holds a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in the same field among other qualifications.
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President tours CARIFESTA Secretariat-says possible special airline arrangements being explored for CARIFESTA X
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
Following a tour of the several departments of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) Secretariat in Middle Street today, President Bharrat Jagdeo told the media that Government is constantly examining all the arrangements being made in the various areas to ensure that the major upcoming event in August reaches an international standard.
President Bharrat Jagdeo in discussion with some of the youths working at the CARIFESTA Secretariat during a your of the CARIFESTA Secretariat-July 14, 2008.
Should more money be required for this to take place, the administration will be reviewing its budget to satisfy this necessity, the Head of State pointed out.
Asked about airline arrangements and the problems which potential visitors for the event may face, the President noted that the problem has been identified and discussions have taken place in this regard.
“Obviously, we have to accelerate those to see if the airlines can put in special arrangements, but the costs are horrendous apart from the escalation costs which have come about by fuel -the increases across the world.”
President Jagdeo being briefed by some of the organisers of the string bands,steel pan segment of CARIFESTA during a tour of the CARIFESTA Secretariat
In this regard, President Jagdeo alluded to reports he received indicating that an operator may be reselling Delta Airline tickets at as much as twice the cost of the ticket. The Head of State said too that he has learnt that as it relates to Caribbean Airlines, the cost of the ticket to Guyana from New York is 60 percent more than the cost of the ticket from New York to Trinidad and Tobago so … I’ve asked the Minister responsible to investigate these issues to see that we don’t have cornering of the market because of the monopoly position, exploitation of people,” he added.
President Jagdeo in discussion with some of the officials organising the musical bands aspect of CARIFESTA at the CARIFESTA Secretariat -
President Jagdeo asserted that there is the possibility of arranging unscheduled flights or charters for the event but contended that he is not sure whether this will make a difference.
“We’ve had a number of applications for charters and we have given some permission for those but we don’t know if maybe that will make some difference at this time. I suspect if we could coordinate, we have a chapter in New York, they can get together maybe 150 persons or 200 persons, then they may be able to do a charter themselves with an airline to come down here at a particular date and go up back. We’d have to talk to them about doing that sort of thing,” the Head of State suggested.
CARIFESTA X is slated to take place in the country from August 22-31 with a number of events planned countrywide.
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PUC to regulate mini bus fares
- legislative work being addressed
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
As the issue of the increase in mini bus fares continues government has announced that legislative work is being examined to bring the regulations of mini bus fares under the purview of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
The Ministry of Tourism said, “This move aims to adjust the CWTent system by allowing for the regularization of the fare structures for mini bus operators across the country. As a regulatory body the PUC would be required to sanction all proposals for fare increases by mini bus operators.”
Last Friday the Ministry of Finance advised commuters not to pay additional fares pending the outcome of an agreement between Government and the Guyana Public Transportation Association (GPTA).
Today the Ministry of Tourism stated, “The Government regrets the unilateral decision to impose fare increases on mini bus commuters by the Association. These increases have not been sanctioned by the Government and commuters ought not to pay any new fares.”
They said the action of the GPTA has strained the once cordial relationship it had with the Government which has worked over the years allowing for mutually acceptable agreements on mini bus fare increases.
President of the GPTA Nicholas Nnami responding to the statement from the Ministry of Finance last week had said the new fare structure would still be charged, despite any statements made by the Ministry or the Government.
President of the General Minibus Association of Guyana, Lylon Weithers also added that the Finance Ministry does not have authority to dictate the minibus fare.
“As far as we (GMAG and GPTA) are concerned, all negotiations in terms of fare have been closed,” said Weithers.
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GPL working to restore electricity -to storm affected areas
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2008
Following severe high winds and lightning during a storm last Sunday evening which resulted in some damages to parts of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) network, some areas have since been restored while crews are working on others.
Areas such as Campbellville, Bel-Air Park and Lodge were without power for approximately 12 hours as a result of fallen poles along Mandela Avenue behind the Botanical Gardens. The GPL said its employees worked vigorously to replace poles and energize high voltage mains so that power could have been restored to the areas affected.
Meanwhile, it was noted that later Sunday evening the Yellow Phase primary main burst at the corner of Middle and East Streets which further resulted in a trip at the Kelly Dam Feeder. The area was isolated and the primary main was repaired and later restored, the agency said.
However, early Monday morning a primary main at the corner of Hadfield and Camp Streets burst resulting in some parts of Werk-en-Rust being without electricity.
GPL stated that its employees are currently working to repair the burst primary main so that residents in the area can once again receive power.
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