CPGs urged to set example -Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2009
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, today, in his feature address at the Annual General Meeting of the ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara) Community Policing Groups (CPGs) told members that they need to set the example in their communities and urged them to support legislation aimed at reducing crime.
Reflecting on the past year, the Minister urged them to remain vigilant and not get complacent. Reminding them of the challenges faced by the communities on the lower East Coast Demerara following the Lusignan massacre, the Minister said that at that time many persons shared the view that the Government could not regain control of the crime situation in Guyana. “Today,” he assured, “every Guyanese must admit that the situation has greatly improved.”
Acknowledging that there will always be crime in any society, Minister Rohee, told the gathering that they need to be resolute in their service to the community. He assured that Government would continue to assist the groups by providing the necessary resources and training as Community Policing is seen by Government as a vital part of the crime fighting strategy.
The Minister reminded them that with greater resources more would be expected from them.
Referring to the soon-to-be implemented law prohibiting ‘driving under the influence of alcohol’ he encouraged the groups to give support to the police in the efforts to make Guyana safer.
He advised that the groups expand their membership to include women and youths and encourage members of their families to become involved in Community Policing.
Giving a report of the activities of the groups over the last year, ‘C’ Division Secretary Dyal Das listed the achievements as: the formation of 16 new groups and the resuscitation of a number of defunct groups taking the total number of active groups to 46; training programmes conducted for group members in the areas of fire prevention, leadership and domestic violence: the policing training which included deportment and conduct, entry in station diary, statement taking and writing, initial action at the scene of a crime, common traffic offences and crime prevention tips.
Highlighting the work of the groups, the secretary reported that some 7,043(foot) 796 (bicycle) 251 (motor cycle) and 692 (vehicular) patrols were conducted during the year. He also explained that 105 of the 1619 members assisted in providing security for Carifesta X and the Diwali motorcade.
The Division has a total of 5 bicycles, 2 motorcycles and five vehicles.
Das also expressed appreciation for the assistance given by the Government following the Lusignan massacre.
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Cove and John, Noetenzul farmers receive assistance from government
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture continues to assist farmers in various communities in low-lying East Coast villages that were hard hit by heavy intense rainfall which commenced early in December.
Communities including Cove and John and Noetenzul on the East Coast Demerara were visited today by teams comprising of veterinarians and officers from the Ministry’s Crops and Livestock Division, as well as the new Guyana Marketing Corporation.
Residents of these areas received plants, chemicals and fertilisers in an effort to assist the farmers with their agricultural activities.
This exercise was done in a systematic way so as to avoid any unfair and unscrupulous distribution. The farmers’ group of each area prepared a list of those affected.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud had previously announced that $95M is to be distributed across the country and although this cannot compensate for all the losses, it will help.
Recently several villages including Supply, Unity, Victoria Mahaica and Mahaicony were visited and residents received similar agricultural supplies.
This intervention will continue daily with teams being deployed to all communities across Guyana which were affected.
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CH&PA holds second open house consultation
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2009
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) today conducted its second ‘open house’ consultation at the Diamond Secondary School, East Bank Demerara.
The ‘open house’ was designed to gather additional information on developmental issues such as garbage disposal, drainage, market and other shopping facilities.
Ministry of Housing Planner Vidya John listening to residents' views.
Residents shared key concerns and ideas on how to improve their community with ‘one-on-one’ interaction with the staff of CH&PA between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Chief Development Planner, Mr. Raul Edinborough said the exercise was done in the interest of the community since the “CH&PA will use these dialogues as a means to prioritize what are the key issues for development” in Diamond, one of the fastest developing areas outside of Georgetown.
Residents being interviewed by Ministry of Housing personnel.
The outcomes will then be concretized into action plans for implementation at budget planning of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and guide future development in the area.
Edinborough further explained that the ‘open house’ concept will not be a ‘one off’ interaction with the community but will serve as a model to advance the process of consolidation for building on the administration’s intervention in other communities.
Residents of Diamond sharing their views with an interviewer.
Mr. John Henry, a resident of Diamond Housing Community welcomed the opportunity to work with Government in identifying key issues and offered solutions to problems affecting his community.
The first open house consultation was held yesterday at Samatta Point Nursery School, East Bank Demerara and catered for persons residing in Grove.
Some of the participants at the Open House held at Diamond Secondary School.
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