Cabinet gives ‘no-objection’ to new power station contract
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
At Cabinet’s meeting on January 19, the contract for the construction of a power station in the Kingston, Georgetown area was given no-objection.
The contract valued $176,018,000 will entail the construction of the foundation of a 20.7 megawatt power station for the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL).
Meanwhile, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon in response to a question posed by a media operative whether government will enforce stringent measures to ensure that the railway embankment is cleared to facilitate the expansion of GPL’s network said that while this option has not been taken during the administration’s 16 years in power it “cannot be excluded.”
“If we were to pass on Barrack and Parade Streets you would see a little “container city” being established at the site of the former Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) building,” Dr. Luncheon said today at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President.
He elaborated that, “If those itinerant farmers are not moved, it’s going to have a delay in the implementation of this construction and inevitably cost escalation. Those considerations might introduce a more forceful approach to having the embankment cleared of those farmers.”
He also noted that this is a “fixed price project” by the Wartsila engineering construction company.
Further, when asked about the replacement of the present steam generator at Kingston with a fuel generator, Dr. Luncheon explained that the steam generator has been described as “a monstrosity” because of its age, technology and cost of operations.
“Indeed it has to go. It has been mothballed and rot-out under the most difficult of circumstances to respond to the most acute of emergencies but we need to bury it, it has been dead for sometime,” Dr. Luncheon stated.
Over 250 persons have been residing on the embankment that is earmarked for a network expansion project by GPL whereby a 69 kv transmission line from Kingston to Sophia will be installed.
Residents of the area have been receiving government’s assistance for the relocation programme. Only recently the Ministry of Housing and Water began processing house lots for the residents.
Government at the onset had issued an appeal for residents to remove and President Bharrat Jagdeo had met with the stakeholders to outline government’s plans for relocating them. He had said that the move would be a good way of helping them to become homeowners.
The squatters have until February 28 to remove from the area.
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President’s decision for MPs to declare assets within limit of the law – Dr. Luncheon
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that President Bharrat Jagdeo’s decision to ask Members of Parliament (MPs) to declare their income and assets to the Integrity Commission is a “perfectly legitimate and lawful intervention.”
In response to a question posed by a media operative as to whether the decision by the President is “unconstitutional”, Dr. Luncheon, during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, explained that the Integrity Act of 1997 “clearly provides the basis for the actions that the President undertook to put in place and it also provides for even more dire consequences. It is not only that the act makes provision for name and shame defaulters after they have been warned and their compliance solicited but it also makes provision if they still remain recalcitrant for them to be summarily charged or they default and fined if convicted.”
Dr. Luncheon elaborated that this “exhortation by the President is indeed within the limits of the law and should be taken seriously, not only by defaulting MPs but by those others defined in the Act as persons in public life.”
President Jagdeo had earlier asked that the Auditor General conduct an investigation into the assets of Custom Officers.
Commenting on this issue, he said, “With regards to the Auditor General it is perhaps of some concern that these legalistic considerations are being brought to the fore. Sometimes one wonders how sincere is the move in the public domain by some “beating their chest” on grounds of accountability and transparency and such like and in the face of a patently necessary intervention for the public to be aware of the findings and for the representatives of the people to have an opportunity to examine and even to take positions.”
Dr. Luncheon added that, “this being challenged and the act being obscured as to who the Auditor General takes instructions need to examined that what is or what were the purposes for introducing that element for us it is quite easy to say it is obscure, to frustrate the thrust of the administration in bringing these matters into the public domain like the Integrity Commission.”
“Many of these holier than thou, erstwhile protesters about the President exhortations in the same breath are asking, demanding, repetitively: transparency, ending corruption in public office, and a very fundamental, conventional step that is embraced by most Parliamentary democracies making the declaration suddenly become an issue,” he declared.
Dr. Luncheon was adamant that, “We need to carefully examine these imaginations and to say to those who are responsible, and it does look like double standards, it does appear as though their public pronouncements about transparency and accountability are indeed being held hostage to political and other considerations.”
Asked why this pronouncement was made 11 years after the law was introduced, Dr. Luncheon explained that a similar Bill of 1991 was presented by the former government and this administration had rejected that Bill since it was a “most unusual piece of legislation that sought to create an image but at the end of the day really didn’t.” He stated that among the provisions in the 1991 proposed legislation are that only the President would see the reports and no provision for publication of defaulters.
“Those were some of the reasons for our outright condemnation of the 1991 Bill so the first opportunity that presented itself around which a consensus could be maintained that Bill was repealed and the 1997 Bill was put in place,” he said.
The HPS agreed that, it has been 11 years since and noted that there are provisions in the Bill that provide for statue limitations such as after five years or more one cannot be charged or persecuted.
“Indeed if there were an argument to be made I might put it on another foot and say that you had 11years to put your house in order and this is both at the level of the Commission as well as those whose appointments are notified in the schedule I would want to look forward to where we are today. We need to put our house in order and if the declaration of financial assets is fundamental in addressing issues of accountability in public office, in addressing issues of probity in public officials then we have to be firm in this occasion so that my successor and yours would not be, 11 years from now, wondering again why this is so and why action hasn’t been taken,” Dr. Luncheon stated.
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President appoints Security Sector Reform Coordinator
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon announced today, the presidential appointment of Major General (Ret) Michael Artherly as Project Coordinator for the Security Sector Reform.
The decision to appoint Major General (Ret) Michael was made at Cabinet on Monday, January 19, 2009 after President Jagdeo had returned from his overseas meetings in Greece and Libya.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Luncheon while speaking at his post-Cabinet press briefing said that the project coordinator will take up office in the recently established security sector secretariat housed at the Office of the President.
The secretariat had been established to enable the formulation and implementation of a National Security Strategy and Policy and will fall under the purview of the Defence Board.
He further stated that the game plan surrounding the formulation has already been adopted and the expectation is that the time-frame for those stages to be implemented not exceed twelve months.
During this period specific aspects of implementation in the National Security Strategy and Policy which are currently ongoing or are tabled for implementation will take place concurrently with formulation of the National Security Strategy and Policy.
The reform is part of the administration’s efforts to modernize, equip and build capacity of the Guyana Police Force through a £3M bilateral agreement with the British Government. The plan which came into effect in October 2006 has already seen changes in uniform response to crime, forensics, intelligence gathering and traffic policing.
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Analyst Food and Drug Department reminds of premises, Food Import Licence
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
The Analyst Food and Drug Department is reminding all manufacturers and repackagers of processed foods to take the necessary steps to ensure that their premises are inspected and licenced for 2009 and for all food importers/owners of food storage bonds to take the necessary steps to ensure that their premises/food bonds are inspected and their Food Import Permit granted.
According to a release issued today by the Department, the deadline for these two requirements is March 31, 2009 and application forms can be uplifted from its location in lAST Building, University of Guyana campus, Turkeyen, or from the respective District Environmental Health Officer.
Completed forms accompanied by the processing fee of $5,000 cash or cheque should be submitted to the accounts department, payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
Licensing of premises
For applicants to be issued a manufacturing licence, the following requirements have to be met:
- premises must be suitably constructed, in good repairs and well painted
- defined storage areas for raw materials and finished products should be provided
- layout of the process line should provide a regulated flow to successive
stages in the process in order to minimize the possibility of cross contamination
- effective sanitation programme should be in place
- updated written cleaning schedule record should be in place
- updated Pest Control records must be provided
- effective means-of solid and liquid waste disposal should be provided
- updated factory records must be provided
- a basic Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan should be provided
- competent personnel should supervise processing operation
- all potential Food Handlers and current Food Handlers must undergo at least 16 hours of food hygiene training by the department before the food handler's permit is issued.
The release also stated that persons and companies that are applying to manufacture food in a newly registered premise must have the following:
- written approval from the Central Housing and Planning Authority
- copy of the Certificate of Registration for the business
- sanitation programme and schedule
- floor plan of the factory
- process flow diagram for each product to be manufactured
- drafts of proposed labels to be vetted
Food Import Permit
An Import Permit is issued when inspection of the premises/food bonds meets the following requirements:
- premises should be suitably constructed, in good repair and well painted
- defined storage areas for wholesome, damaged food, and non foods should be
provided
- Floor marking depicting aisles between rows of stocks on pallets
- established sorting area
- records of stock rotation
- updated written records of cleaning schedule and Pest Control
- storage temperature/humidity control gauges to avoid product abuse
The following should also be submitted by persons/companies that are applying for food import permit in a newly registered premise:
- written approval from the Central Housing and Planning Authority or National Democratic Council
- copy of the Certificate of Registration for the business
Certificate of Fitness from the regulatory body in the country of Origin of the product
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Contract cost for Kingston, Cotton Tree, and Number 47 Village wells cleared up
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali during the 72nd sitting of the National Assembly today highlighted the costs of contracts for wells in some areas of the country which were embarked upon by his Ministry as part of the drive to provide improved services to consumers by upgrading infrastructure.
The Minister was giving an oral reply to Alliance For Change (AFC) MP, Everall Franklin with respect to the cost of contracts and the rate of production for wells constructed at Kingston, Cotton Tree West Coast Berbice, and Number 47 Village Corentyne.
With respect to the well at Kingston, Minister Ali said, “I wish to confirm that indeed a contract was awarded for the drilling of the well in Kingston. However, there is an inaccuracy in the question. The contract sum was not $64M as stated but $45 393 550.”
The Minister noted that the contract was awarded according to the guidelines and provisions of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board to SADHNA PETROLEUM, a Trinidadian company and that the well is producing water at the rate of 80 cubic meters per hour.
In responding to questions relating to the Cotton Tree well at Region Five, Minister Ali confirmed that the contract was awarded to the same Trinidadian Company and that it was awarded in a package format not only for that well but for others at Lima, Essequibo Coast Region Two and Vergenoegen, Region Three.
“The total contract value was $98 999 280 of which the cost for the well at Cotton Tree is $38 774 310 and not $54M as is outlined in the question… the contractor has a package contract as I explained and he is working on the three wells. He started some work on the Cotton Tree Well but because of some difficulties he has resorted to doing work at Lima and Vergenoegen and then he will return to Cotton Tree. However, the people at Cotton Tree are receiving service from our facilities at Shieldstown,” Minister Ali said.
The contract for the well at Number 47 Village Corentyne was awarded to the value of $1 157 100.
Throughout the country, government has invested millions of dollars towards developing the water distribution systems and although there are some setbacks the benefits have been tremendous as more people continue to receive access to potable water, including hinterland communities.
Government’s Hinterland Water Strategy was designed to ensure that safe water is available to more than 80 percent of hinterland settlements, through sustainable, cost-effective and locally appropriate means.
Residents of several hinterland communities including Mahdia, Mabaruma and Waramuri (Region One); Laluni and St. Cuthbert’s Mission (Region Four); Moraikobai (Region Five); Orealla (Region Six); and Bina Hill (Annai), Fairview, Shiriri, Massara, Apoteri, Karasabai and Potarinau in Region Nine have benefited since the implementation of this programme.
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Forestry Bill passed in Parliament
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
As Guyana continues in its drive to further mitigate the effects of climate change, this process was taken a step further with the passing of the Forestry Bill, No. 21 of 2007; a bill that seeks to provide for sustainable management of the forestry sector, as well as preservation of Guyana’s forests.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud who moved the motion said that the Forest Bill 2007 will replace the existing legislation which was in place for 54 years. The Bill, he said, that is being addressed is as a result of 10 years of consultation with various stakeholders and the select committee.
The Agriculture Minister said that the committee’s members met for about one year and received submissions and interacted with various stakeholders in the private sector, the Forest Products Association (FPA) and other groupings. In addition, he stated, there were interactions with a number of international agencies.
The Bill, Minister Persaud said, looks at, and takes into account the important contribution and role forest resources play in climate change mitigation, as well as the provision of environmental services.
He remarked that it looks at updating the legislation and framework under which the forest is managed and takes into account certain international developments to ensure Guyana is compliant and it adapts to international realities.
The bill was first introduced on August 2, 2007 and was sent to the special select committee on November 29, 2007. Members on the committee included the now Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, Members of Parliament Anil Nandalall and Parmanand Persaud while on the opposition side were Lance Carberry, Anthony Vieira and Aubrey Norton of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Alliance for Change member, Khemraj Ramjattan.
The Agriculture Minister stated that the committee met on 15 occasions during the period January 2008 to January 2009. He said a lot of emphasis was on consultation and there was a lot of advertisement in the media inviting written and oral submissions. He added that the committee received four written submissions.
Oral submissions were made on the April 8 and 9, 2008 and explanations were given for written submissions.
The committee, Minister Persaud said, then engaged in some tense deliberations and every recommendation was studied and analyzed. Technical experts, he stated, were asked to offer opinions on the submission made for the committee to review and deliberate on.
As a result of those deliberations, he said, 44 clauses were amended based on the submissions of those groups and individuals. The amendments, Minister Persaud said, included looking at the Amerindian act for compatibility.
For instance, the Minister stated, there were several concerns which were addressed by the Forest Products Association and the citizen’s petition which looked at the powers vested in the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
Minister Persaud said there was also the need based on representation that the Minister should hold consultation before giving directions on the management of the forest.
He stated that those issues were covered by recommendation by the Forest Products Association (FPA) and the citizen’s petition. Also, he said, there were amendments that covered the traditional customary right of Amerindian affected areas.
Also on the issue of financial evaluation, the Minister said, the FPA submission on the original Bill had argued that the consultation period may not be sufficient for GFC to carry out the necessary evaluation. Those amendments were addressed.
On a number of occasions, Minister Persaud noted the committee sought international reference and international clarification so that the deliberations could be informed.
Minister Persaud pointed out that the amendments to the Forest Bill 2007 when assented to will certainly give impetus to Guyana initiative being led by the president in terms of seeking incentives for avoided deforestation.
He added that this legislation would certainly see Guyana standing taller in the global community of nations which practice sound forest management.
Minister Persaud remarked that the legislation could be seen as a global yardstick for comprehensive forestry utilization and management approach.
He thanked the members of the committee for their hard work and said that the different stakeholders had enriched the legislation.
The Bill was supported by PNCR Member of Parliament, Lance Carberry and AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan.
Carberry said the Forest Bill comes in the wake of the environment that was created by the United Nations conference on development at its final summit in Rio in Brazil. That conference, he said, set the framework and conditions for sustainable forest management.
The forest is more than a source of timber it is biological pool since it contains timber and non timber resources, Carberry pointed out.
Some of the non timber resources, he said, are more valuable than timber and in this context the select committee was approached. Carberry said the amendments allowed for transparency.
Ramjattan in supporting the bill said that a good precedent was set as to what consultation should be when a prime policy is involved. He said Minister Persaud led in an exemplary way since he got the relevant stakeholders involved and allowed for what stakeholders were asking for. This Bill, he said, will shape the industry’s behaviour. He said that the stakeholders were satisfied with what transpired.
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TIP workshop to improve capacity of police
- proactive approach to ensure it does not become an issue – PS Home Affairs
Georgetown GINA, January 22, 2009
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Angela Johnson today told the participants of a workshop for Police Investigators and Prosecutors at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, that Government has adopted a proactive approach to effectively deal with Trafficking in Persons (TIP) to ensure that it does not become a major issue.
The workshop organized by the Ministry was aimed at increasing the participants' awareness to understand their role in the fight to tackle this problem and to explore opportunities for cooperation among stakeholders, while improving the capacity of the ranks to investigate and prosecute reports.
Outlining the threats to society posed by this crime, the Permanent Secretary said, “Trafficking in Persons, which some refer to as the new slave trade is a hideous crime that denies victims their basic human rights. It is a breach to the integrity of a country's borders, a threat to the security of our people and an affront to human dignity. Every country in the world is affected by this phenomenon, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.”
She told the participants that both males and females are involved in moving men, women and children from one place to another, placing them in conditions of sexual exploitation or forced labour. “Victims are lured with false promises of better lives but ultimately are made to work under brutal conditions,” she said.
These conditions includes forced prostitution, domestic servitude, unsafe agricultural labour, construction or restaurant work and other forms of modern slavery with the traffickers using various methods to keep victims enslaved.
Pointing to the vulnerable groups that often are entrapped and exploited Johnson said they are predominantly the unemployed, street children, migrant workers, sex workers and the rural population. They are easy prey as they are often impoverished, illiterate, and ‘ignorant of the world’ and are susceptible to the lure of wealth and opportunity.
She said traffickers use several strategies to keep victims enslaved. These include: isolation from the public, and from family members, confiscation of passports and other important documents, threats of violence and making victims believe that they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration violation if the authorities are contacted. This is made easier with the advances in communication and transportation links for criminals to move persons freely.
The Permanent Secretary said that the establishment of a National Task Force on Combating Trafficking in Persons to monitor the implementation of policies that address trafficking; the enactment of legislation (the Combating Trafficking in Persons Act 2005) are some of the measures instituted by government to combat this scourge.
Commissioner of Police Henry Greene in his remarks said that though TIP is not prevalent in Guyana every effort must be made to ensure that wherever it exists it is rooted out.
Pointing to some of the challenges faced in prosecuting traffickers, he said, that often the victims, after being reunited with their family are reluctant to return to the jurisdiction to give evidence at trial.
He said that the crime is simple to prosecute but the investigator must be able to distinguish the ‘recruiter’ from the ‘keeper’ and as there is not much money involved, the incidence of corrupting the investigators is small.
The Commissioner encouraged the ranks to be informed about the threat since often the victims’ only way out is through the intervention of the authorities.
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Minister Ramsaran, team visit National Ophthalmology hospital
- installation of equipment ongoing
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2008
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran along with the Head of the Cuban medical Brigade Dr. Rody Cervantes, Region Six Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha and Regional Engineer Paul Lyken yesterday visited the National Ophthalmology Hospital, Port Mourant, Region Six to inspect works being conducted at the state-of-the- art institution.
Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran and team at the Ophthalmology hospital, Port Mourant
During his visit Minister Ramsaran said the installation of equipment and the recruitment and training of local personnel will be completed in time for the facility to be commissioned in another few weeks.
The hospital, the first of its type to be built in the Caribbean would have the capacity to conduct approximately 10,000 eye surgeries yearly for corrective refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, and retinopathy and retina detachment.
A section of the Ophthalmology hospital
The hospital evolved out of an agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Cuba that was signed in February 2006 when President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the island. The Cuban Government is also providing the equipment to furbish the centre. More instruments are expected to arrive shortly.
Fourteen more Cuban Medical personnel recently arrived in country and prior to their arrival two bio-medical technicians were already deployed at the Ophthalmology Center to assist in installing the equipment while five ophthalmologists are stationed at the Diamond East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital and the Leonora, Suddie, and Mahaicony Diagnostic and Treatment Centres. They are part of a 40-member team that will operate the centre until Guyanese medical students currently undergoing training in Cuba return to do so.
Setting up equipment in the ophyhalmology hospital
The five ophthalmologists will be re-deployed to the National Ophthalmology Hospital when it is commissioned to complement the existing medical staff at the hospital.
The Government of Guyana has provided accommodation for the full complement of Cuban staff.
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Guyana’s financial system solid- President Jagdeo
-turns sod for commencement of new NBS head office
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo today congratulated the New Building Society (NBS) on its achievement and management of the society and expressed confidence that the leadership of the institution will be looking at the wider economy as they seek to maximize shareholders’ benefits and provide better services to the people of the country.
Recognizing the institution’s importance and the role it has played over the years in developing the housing sector across the country in Lethem, Linden, Berbice, Essequibo and Georgetown; President Jagdeo said that he appreciates the work of the society as the housing sector is a priority area for Government.
Financing and affordable financing are critical aspects of the provision of better living standards of people, the Head of State said, noting that the success the administration has achieved in the housing sector could not have been possible with just the provision of land.
President Bharrat Jagdeo and Chief Executive Officer of the New Building Society Ahmad Khan turning sod for the construction of the New Building Society’s head office, North Road and Avenue of the Republic
He reminded those gathered at North Road and Avenue of the Republic to witness the sod turning for the Society’s new head office, of the tremendous turmoil in the world, pointing out that they have witnessed over the past year and more recently an acceleration of the global crisis which has impacted on every market in the world, including emerging ones and those that have good policies.
He explained that financial markets in the world are very unstable and that businesses, particularly financial businesses, in spite of massive injections of resources from treasuries around the world, have been very conservative in lending and investing, “so what we have seen are depleted reserves and balance sheets in institutions.”
“We had seen a cut back in capital spending and companies having difficulties even raising money for cash flow purposes,” President Jagdeo said, and “in the throes of the crisis we here in Guyana have seen an expansion in the financial sector and a substantial amount spent on capital expansion,” he explained.
This, he noted is testimony largely to the state of the financial sector in Guyana, which people sometimes don’t recognize. He urged that people recognized this more because there was a time when many people had their money overseas as they had little confidence in financial papers issued here or the banking system.
The Head of State said that the crisis has proven that the regional jurisdiction, including Guyana, is the safest place to invest in.
From right: Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali and Chief Executive Officer of the New Building Society Ahmad Khan at the Society’s sod turning ceremony
The President noted that, often the country is criticized for having strong regulations, however, he said that these are needed to protect depositors and investors. “The country has sometimes been criticized for being too conservative on the regulatory side but over the period and especially now we have been vindicated in these strong pieces of legislation aimed at regulating the sector,” President Jagdeo emphasised.
He said the temptation to practice business as usual, has to be resisted, because of the recessionary situation in the world and noted that, “we cannot have an oasis of prosperity in the developing world and Caribbean as the problems of the developed world will filter back into the local economies through various ways, such as remittances, lower commodity prices and deferred investments.”
The President said that policies have to be put in place to help mitigate the impact of the global crisis. “I hear analysts and many who are in the field talk as though Guyana and the Caribbean are major players and that we can do countercyclical spending that will reverse the situation and break the recessionary cycle.”
This, he says will not fully work since Guyana depends on a significant part of the world for its prosperity. “We can’t spend our way to bolstering that demand. That demand has to come from anti-cyclical spending in other parts of the world.”
While the Government will do what it can, there are limitations to what monitored policies can do, the President said. “We have to remain engaged in a conscious way, recognizing that we will not be spared all of the impact of the crisis but if we through our own measure take the right measures and work hard in this period then we can overcome the consequences,” the President asserted.
He said that greater productivity is needed and that often crises are an opportunity to review business practices. “We have to use this opportunity to look at our business spectrum all of our producers, state producers of goods and services and our private producers… we have to ensure that we deliver the best service that we can at the lowest most effective cost, and this is one way, we may through increasing productivity ride out some of the impact of the crisis,” President Jagdeo encouraged.
The Head of State noted that there are other kinds of spending that they can have such as focusing more on domestic types of activities that generate more employment, more labour intensive kinds of spending, but it is important from the government side to spend in labour intensive ways to cushion the impact that the crisis will have on employment, President Jagdeo said.
President Jagdeo said that the country still has a pool of capital since there is a solid base and a major liquidity and that there has not been an escalation in the interest rates.
He cautioned the NBS directors to pay closer attention to these things as it is a financial institution, and as such, they must commit to the context in which they will have to operate and succeed and continue to provide services.
A section of the gathering who witnessed the event
President Jagdeo reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to paying close attention to the issues by constantly monitoring them and looking for new avenues for raising capital, hence he is looking to broaden the horizon. “Sometimes we are stuck in a traditional mode where we look only to North America and Europe for markets and business opportunities and financial flows,” he said.
There are other parts of the world that are major exporters of capital with large sovereign funds looking for good investment. He explained that it is a critical moment to capture these opportunities, because of the stability here and urged that persons broaden their vision to encapsulate other places where they can attract investments.
These things, President Jagdeo said are the only way to ensure a thriving financial and mortgage institutions and to have a growing economy that can continue with the cycle of intermediation.
The event was witnessed by several Ministers of Government, Bank officials and other private sector officials.
The NBS was established in 1940 with the objective of providing persons with the opportunity of owning their own homes at an affordable cost. The new building will be located at the corner of North Road and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
The construction period will be 60 weeks and will be done by BK International at a cost of $700M.
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Schools, UG targeted for massive tourism awareness campaign –Minister Prashad - domestic tourism remains on front burner
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
Guyana’s tourism sector experienced a dynamic year in 2008 as it gained significant international attention through a series of organized tourism familiarization trips, with international tour operators, journalists and high profile documentaries. It earned international recognition as South America’s hottest new destination.
During this year the Ministry of Tourism will continue to build on the base created last year when domestic tourism made strides.
Visitors at Kaieteur Falls 2008
At a press briefing today, Minister Manniram Prashad said that, "It is very important because our people must understand and appreciate the beauty of Guyana, so when they visit the can tell their families and friends overseas.”
Tourism awareness will not only be a priority during tourism awareness month but throughout the year, he asserted and outlined that a massive tourism awareness campaign will be carried out in schools and at the University of Guyana.
Minister Prashad noted that littering which is a major concern of most tourists will also be a focus of the campaign. He called on the Municipal authorities and the various Ministries to assist in rendering Guyana a clean and safe environment since he said it is a subject that the Tourism Ministry alone can't handle.
Minister Prashad said his Ministry recognizes that domestic tourism must be affordable in order for Guyanese to visit places like Iwokrama and Kaieteur Falls. To this end he will meet on Tuesday with Rain Forest Tours and Air Services Limited to continue the Kaieteur package which is half the regular price adding that more tour services operators are expressing interest in offering similar packages for local tourist.
A section of the large crowd on Easter Monday at the No. 63 Beach
In 2008 the Kaieteur package attracted many Guyanese who were blown away with the beauty of the 741-foot falls.
The Minister noted that with the completion of the Berbice River Bridge more visitors to the number 63 beach are expected and with the soon to be completed Takutu bridge linking Guyana to Brazil an influx of tourists and businesses are anticipated in Lethem.
In 2008 domestic tourism made significant strides, through the collaboration of the public and private sectors which resulted in it being used as a vehicle for promoting national integration, and prompted government to allocate funds for the provision of an environment conducive to ensure that progress continues.
Tour operators and journalists facinated by the birds at the Botanical Gardens
A series of exciting, rich, diverse cultural events like the Rupununi Rodeo, the Bartica Regatta, the Safari to the Pakaraima Mountains and Sport fishing provided the perfect opportunity for thousands of tourist and locals to experience Guyana’s unique blend of customs.
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Commerce Ministry aims for improvement in food production and prices
Georgetown, GINA, January 22, 2009
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad, has promised that his Ministry will continue to assist consumers and reiterated Government’s aim to improve food production and prices.
In outlining the successes of the Ministry in 2008, Minister Prashad said that he met constantly with members of the private sector to ensure that commodities and fuel remain affordable to consumers.
He pointed out that in October 2008, the price of gasoline escalated transportation cost and when the price declined the Ministry engaged in discussions with the Minibus Associations and consequently bus fares were reduced. This, Minister Prashad said was a first in history. He said his Ministry continues to monitor the cost of transport with the aim of having it further reduced.
As a result of the success with the Minibus Associations, Government after being approached by members of the public engaged in discussions with speed boat owners and boat fare for the Parika crossing was reduced.
The Minister noted that in May 2008, when the price of flour increased from $ 6000 to $7500 per bag, the Government intervened and subsidized the flour at $1500 per bag. This resulted in the price of bread remaining stable.
When the price of wheat declined on the world market, the National Milling Company reduced its prices, and the Ministry worked with bakeries to have their prices reduced also.
Minister Prashad said he will be meeting with bakers and the National Milling Company to further reduce prices.
Through the efforts of the Ministry, the price of cooking gas also decreased at a steady pace last year from $3750 to $3500, $3250 and finally to $2900 for a 20 - pound cylinder.
In November last he had met with the National Poultry Producers Association and was assured that there would be no shortage of chicken and eggs during the Christmas season. The situation was monitored carefully and for the first time his Ministry did not issue any license for the importation of chicken during the Christmas season. He stated that Guyana is self sufficient in the production of chicken and eggs.
Kerosene users may soon see a reduction in the price of kerosene, the Minister said, as he has been assured by the management of the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) that they have an adequate supply to meet the demand. He stated that he will be meeting with gas station owners to address this issue.
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