Water receding in affected regions
- rainfall to continue
Georgetown, GINA, January 3, 2009
Subsequent to continuous monitoring and interventions by the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), to support the various regions in areas affected by heavy rainfall, accumulated water continues to recede.
The Ministry of Agriculture has redeployed technical staff and equipment to
critical areas from areas that have drained and experienced significant water reduction as critical works continue in anticipation of the extended rainy season.
In addition, the NDIA continues to collaborate with various support agencies
to undertake critical interventions to reduce the level of water in affected communities in the various regions.
Medical teams as well as veterinary and crop officers were also deployed to affected areas.
Regional Update
Region Two
NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lionel Wordsworth, today said that the water level is low throughout the Essequibo Coast and that additional work to desilt the Andrews outfall is ongoing. He added that there was also the installation of two drainage culverts at Andrews.
Region Three
Regional Chairman, Region Three, Julius Faerber, said that all kokers were operational with the exception of the La Jalousie sluice door which is being rehabilitated. He added that water levels had dropped. Excavation work, he said, is ongoing at the La Jalousie and Parika end and a dragline is also in the process of clearing the Canal No. 2 Polder main drain.
The Regional Chairman said that the Windsor Forest, La Jalousie and Blankenburg outfalls were heavily silted but works will commence with the availability of the NDIA dredging pontoon.
Region Four
Wordsworth said that accumulated water was continuing to recede from affected communities with interventions by the NDIA. These areas include Enterprise, Paradise, Dazzell Housing Scheme and Lusignan.
He added that the NDIA has completed dredging of the Victoria outfall.
Region Five
Regional Chairman Harrinarine Baldeo said that the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Creeks continue to have high levels of water.
He stated that the Mahaica / Mahaicony / Abary /Agricultural Development Authority (MMA / ADA) and NDIA continue to undertake critical works at strategic locations to prevent overtopping of dams and sealing of breaches made by cattle and farmers.
The Regional Chairman said that water had drained off a lot but the rain continued. He noted that the residential areas in the region were affected by the accumulation of water since the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) had not done its work satisfactorily.
He said that the embankment of the Mahaica creek was done by MMA/ADA and clearing of outlets were done at Dantzig and Now or Never.
Region Six
Regional Chairman, Region Six, Zulfikar Mustapha today said that the region was experiencing heavy rainfall today and No. 19 village was the worst affected. He added that the tube at Seawell, No. 19 had been reopened.
The water, he stated, had receded in most areas and a medical team was at No. 19 and would move on to other affected areas in the region.
Wordsworth also said that accumulated water continue to recede in Black Bush Polder and along the Corentyne Coast
Region Ten
Regional Chairman, Region 10, Mortimer Mingo today confirmed that there was no accumulation of water in the region.
WEATHER UPDATE:
The Hydrometeorological service is advising that today, January 3, 2009, the weather is expected to be mostly cloudy, becoming overcast at times with occasional showers and possible light intermittent rain over most coastal and near inland locations.
Tomorrow occurrences of showers and intermittent rain are expected over coastal and near inland locations and possible isolated outbursts of thunder may occur in some areas.
The remaining forecast day, the Met office said, are expected to be wet to very wet while isolated thunderstorms may occur at times with gusty winds.
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Public Schools re-open on January 5-Education Minister
-few to remain closed
Georgetown, GINA, January 03, 2009
Public schools are to reopen on January 5 with the exception of a few which have been affected by the heavy rainfall. Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said that all schools in Regions Four and Six will be re-opened with the exception of Bohemia Primary in Region Six.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh (in plaid shirt) at the Clonbrook Primary School
Nine schools in Region Five will remain closed. These are: Augsburg and Abary Primary Schools in the Abary Creek; Gordon Table, Karamat and Esau and Jacob Primary Schools and the Mora Point Nursery in the Mahaicony Creek. Little Biaboo, Grass Hook and Number Ten Primary schools in the Mahaica Creek will also be closed.
Minister Baksh at the Enterprise Primary School conducting an inspection. To his right is Regional Executive Officer, Region Four Shafdar Ali
This decision was made following a visit to 23 schools today by Education Minister Shaik Baksh, and a team of education and regional officials.
Minister Baksh said materials will be procured to clean and clear schools which are slated to open on Monday.
“I am really happy that no time will be lost and the schools will be opened,” Minister Baksh said.
Among the schools the Minister visited were: Enterprise, Victoria, Ann’s Grove, Clonbrook, Cane Grove and Virginia Primary Schools, Strathavon and Clonbrook Nursery Schools, Lancaster Secondary and Ann’s Grove Community High School.
Minister Baksh making a point to Clonbrook, ECD residents after he had conducted an inspection of the area’s primary school
The Ministry of Education has given all assurances that it will ensure that the environment is safe and conducive for the students before the remaining schools are reopened.
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Gov’t continues to implement measures to improve Public Servants’ lives
Georgetown, GINA, January 1 2009
2008 had been a year of unprecedented macroeconomic and financial challenges, not least the historic rise in commodity prices in the first half of year, to which government had responded with numerous interventions at significant fiscal cost.
This was followed in the second half of the year by the global financial crisis, the onset of recession in the major economies of the world, and a rapid receding of commodity prices.
Nevertheless, Government was able to maintain macroeconomic stability and overall expansion in the real economy. Price and exchange rate was also stable and the fiscal deficit was contained and notwithstanding the challenges, was still able to implement interventions, including increasing public service wages.
Minimum wages and salary increase
Government over the years, in seeking to offer Guyanese a chance of elevating themselves has steadily increased public service minimum wages. Government moved closer towards it’s commitment to ensure progressive improvement in the disposable income of its employees, especially those at the junior salary scale level during 2008 as it effectively increased Public Service Minimum wages by more that 19 percent.
This includes a five percent increase and the retention of the Temporary Cost of Living Adjustment (TCLA) of $4, 000. This is an adjustment in wages to offset a change in purchasing power, (inflation) as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The TCLA was granted in May of 2008 when there were adverse macroeconomic conditions, such as the upward pressure on fuel and food prices as a result of global factors and when there was great uncertainty of relief from the external conditions. It was paid monthly and tax free.
Public servants, teachers and members of the disciplined services earning a basic salary below $50,000 per month benefited. This was taken into account after a five percent increase across the board was announced at that time too.
Upon the ascension of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to office in 1992, there have been steady increases in the minimum wages to afford public servants a better standard of living. Wages and salaries have grown from $3.2B in 1992 to more than $22B.
The minimum wage in 1992 was $3,137 which has been consistently increasing over the years. In 1999 the minimum wage was $15,000 which was raised to $19,000 a year later. In 2005, the minimum wage increased to $23,204, in 2006 to $24,828, in 2007 $28,415 and in 2008, to $34,055. The amount varies depending on public servants’ category.
Government’s decision to incorporate the TCLA allowance into the basic salaries of eligible beneficiaries, along with the five percent salary increase has the combined effect of increasing the gross pay between 18 and 24 percent.
A practical example to illustrate this: Peter is a Government employee earning $28,415 in December 2007. After the five percent increase is added and the TCLA allowance is grossed- up for employee’s National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contribution and added on, the revised gross pay becomes $34,055. This reflects an increase of 19.8 percent from the December level.
For those public servants, teachers, and members of the disciplined forces who received the TCLA, taking into account the five percent increase and the grossed-up TCLA now incorporated into basic salaries, this is a reflection of a 24.1 percent increase.
Public servants earning $50,000 per month were not eligible to receive the TCLA, but benefited from the five percent increase. Approval was also granted for that to be adjusted upwards to 10 percent which was effective from May 2008.
Increased Income Tax Threshold
The number of persons paying taxes is lessened every year as Government continues to increase the income tax threshold.
The income tax threshold increased from $28,000 to $35,000 monthly starting in January 2008. This is one of Government’s ways of ensuring that citizens’ lives are improved. Increasing the threshold level affords a person who earns a minimum salary more spending power. This measure saw 36,000 employees being removed from the tax net.
A nation’s well-being depends on the performance of its economy and in the case of Guyana; it has constantly been evolving to record significant achievements which are serving to propel the nation‘s development and to ensure a more sophisticated way of life for its people.
Such growth has been the basis for Guyanese being assisted with financial incentives and assistance in many areas.
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