Top Region Two masquerade bands to clash tomorrow
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
 Region Two, Pomeroon/Supenaam has been credited as one of the leading regions for masquerade in Guyana and organisers of the 2009 Mashramani activities have decided to host a competition to showcase the region’s best.
The competition will be held at the Aurora Secondary School, located on the Essequibo Coast and will feature a clash of the bands comprising mostly youths drawn from schools across the region.
Regional Development Officer of Region Two Davenand Ramdatt credited the Essequibo coast as one of the birth places for masquerade bands and noted that there are in excess of 10, spread across the region.
Masquerade to the naked eye looks simple but it is a well choreographed dance involving a series of steps, all having symbolic names and meanings.
Members of a masquerade band include, Mother Sally or Long Lady, Bam Bam Sally, Monkey man, the stilt walkers/dancers and the mad cow. Mother Sally or Long Lady who is identified by long arms is a prominent figure from a West African tribe.
These groups are placed in three categories; images, flouncers and musicians. The flouncers are usually the main attraction of the band as they dance and acrobatically pick up coins or other monetary rewards thrown by onlookers.
Local Masquerade band performing
The musicians control the movement of the other groups with their fife, kittle, boom and steel instruments.
The art form is an African ritual war dance originated by slaves during the colonial era. The slaves were banned from practicing masquerade but were allowed to practice it during the Christmas season.
Initially, masquerade bands featured elements and instruments constrained to the African tradition but later took on other influences over the years which made it more living and dynamic.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony recently announced his willingness to work with masquerade bands in Guyana to preserve the tradition and improve creativity. Some sections of the public had expressed the view that the art form was slowly losing its popularity in Guyana.
The Ministry, with the help of the National School of Dance recently hosted workshops with several masquerade bands in Guyana and intends to continue this venture. The Culture Minister however, believes that masquerade bands in Guyana can be revived with more groups showing interest.
Mashramani 2009 will see the participation of several top bands from among six regions competing. The competition has attracted the sponsorship of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T).
Activities for Region Two began on January 26 with a calypso and dramatic show at Charity and will continue with the popular dance and masquerade competition tomorrow, followed by an art gallery, costume and physical display competition on January 30.
The regional activities are expected to climax on February 1 with the Amerindian mash heritage activity, a ‘Two best decorated and illuminated buildings’ competition on February 19 and 20 and a children’s road March parade.
February 23 will be observed in Region Two with a flag raising and regional award ceremony, followed by a float parade and an Essequibo Mash Nite to culminate the event on February 28.
Ramdatt said one of the highlights of the Region’s celebration will be a competition for the differently abled. This event will be a first for the Region and as such will be treated as special.
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Bilateral engagements continue to address deportation of Guyanese from Canada – President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
Guyana’s Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo has confirmed that there have been several bilateral engagements regarding the deportation of Guyanese and these continue with Canada.
In response to a question posed by a media operative on this issue, at a press conference yesterday, the President stated that he “finds it strange that Canada would accept refugees from Guyana and then want to send back people to a country that generates refugees.”
“Don’t you find it a little illogical, a bit not-right? They can always argue and I have heard this argument that they don’t control the different bodies in Canada that make these decisions, the different courts sometimes but you bet if anything goes wrong in our courts here they expect the President to answer for that I have to answer for even decisions that are made independently in the court,” he stated.
President Jagdeo noted that when a decision is then made that they may not be pleased with, the Ambassadors of the countries would seek his assistance to “fix” these issues. “The same should apply in this case so I would urge you to ask that question and not take as an excuse that these things are done by so-called independent agencies over which the Executive has no control because when it is on the other foot they expect us to have some control or to correct this situation,” President Jagdeo stated.
The President nevertheless noted that Guyana and Canada share a close relationship and that they will be working toward facilitating some Guyanese returning. “I gathered that there are some people who want to leave, there are immigration-type deportees who have had problems with immigration and they want to come back home so I think that there has been some movement in that particular category.”
Recently Canadian High Commissioner, Charles Court had stated that there are approximately 700 to 800 Guyanese waiting to be deported to Guyana. Since his appointment to Guyana he noted that there were 160 Guyanese who were deported and less than five percent of them have criminal records.
This has been an issue that President Jagdeo has been tabling for a number of years with Canada and the United States of America. The President’s contention is that the return of criminal deportees, based on police reports, has introduced new levels of violence in the commission of crimes such as kidnapping.
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NARI to introduce solar drying techniques
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) is placing emphasis on enhancing food security in Guyana particularly the hinterland regions. To further this goal it plans on introducing solar drying technology for perishable agriculture produce.
Director of NARI Dr. Oudho Homenauth told the Government Information Agency that sun-drying is a popular local method of drying fish, fruits and some vegetables. He said the success of this method can be attributed to its simplicity and low cost. Under favourable conditions, good quality products can be produced. However, losses can be excessive where climatic conditions are unreliable such as in the hinterland areas.
Dr. Homenauth said solar drying techniques, (where the source of energy is derived from the capture of solar radiation,) presents an improved alternative to sun drying.
He added that the design of solar driers is usually simple and NARI has a model that will be made available to producers. Local materials are readily available that can be used in constructing the drier.
Model of a Solar Drier at NARI
NARI’s director noted that in order for solar drying to be successful, certain important factors such as crop type to be processed, market availability and requirements and economic feasibility have to be considered. In instances where the market is some distance away from production centres, commodities with high to medium ‘perishability’ can be processed on production sites using solar drying techniques. The quality of the final product can be closely monitored with a strategy for improvement. This will invariably reduce spoilage rate and financial losses to producers. Exploring overseas markets with value added products such as dried organic products, snack foods, fruit and vegetable powders and flours can provide favourable opportunities once good quality standards are maintained.
NARI is currently in discussion with members of the private sector to produce fruit concentrates and dehydrated products such as tomatoes and peppers, Dr. Homenauth said.
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13th Meeting of COFAP to address Single Economy
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
On the agenda of Thirteenth Meeting of the Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) which will convene in Barbados on January 29, Finance Ministers will be examining ways to usher in the CARICOM Single Economy (CSE).
A CARICOM Secretariat release stated that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is CARICOM’s flagship programme. The Single Market was established in January 2006, and the Single Economy is to come on stream by 2015.
The release noted that, the discussions at the meeting will centre on critical issues relating to the CSE including performance and convergence of CARICOM Economies, the status of monetary cooperation initiatives, and fiscal policy coordination and harmonization in CARICOM.
Further, it stated that ongoing single economy initiatives will also be examined, including the CARICOM Investment Code, the CARICOM Financial Services Agreement and the Legal Framework for the creation of an integrated capital market.
It is anticipated that in-depth discussions will be held on reducing disparities in the single economic space.
In this regard, delegates will receive an update on the start-up of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) which was launched in July 2008 to provide financial and technical support to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors in their quest to fully integrate, the release said.
Additionally, the meeting will address the design of a CARIFORUM Window regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement under the CDF and regional support for the economic transformation of Haiti.
Also COFAP, which has primary responsibility for economic policy co-ordination and financial and monetary integration, will determine the necessary policies the Region needs to adopt to tackle the current global economic and financial downturn.
The impact of the global financial crisis topped the agenda of several other high profile meetings of CARICOM, including the 24th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Governments and the 26th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in November last, and the Third CARICOM/Cuba Summit in December 2008.
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Integrity Commission important to good governance – Dr. Prem Misir
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
Head of the Press and Publicity Affairs, Office of the President, Dr. Prem Misir has emphasized the importance of the Integrity Commission which serves to enhance the level of accountability and transparency in public office. This, he said, is extremely necessary in a multi-ethnic society like Guyana especially where there are allegations of corruption being made. This mechanism serves to hold public officials accountable.
Dr. Misir, at a forum to discuss the issue of non-compliance by Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) with the requirements of the Integrity Commission, stated that despite the High Court challenge made to the constitutionality of the membership of the Commission by PNCR Leader Robert Corbin, the Commission has been executing its mandate since the court has not ruled otherwise.
This is in light of Corbin’s statements advising his party’s MPs not to comply with the law as stipulated in the Integrity Commission Act which makes it obligatory for public officials to declare their assets, incomes and liabilities to the Commission or face legal consequences. Addressing the question by Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman on the issue of the legitimacy of President Jagdeo’s involvement in issuing an ultimatum to the defaulting MPs, Dr. Misir referred to Article 19 of the Integrity Commission Act of 1997 which states: where a person who is required to do so fails to file a declaration in accordance with this Act or to furnish particulars under section 18, the Commission or the President, as the case may be, shall publish the fact in the Gazette and in a daily newspaper.
Earlier President Jagdeo had issued an ultimatum to MPs who have not submitted their declarations to the Commission to do so in two weeks and failure to comply would result in legal consequences. The President has since extended this period to facilitate consultations to resuscitate the Commission.
According to Dr. Misir the arguments employed by the opposition leaders to prevent their colleagues from complying with the Commission are without merit.
The AFC has been promoting a Freedom of Information Bill which the President said will be passed at a later date yet they are the ones withholding information. This, according to Dr. Misir, reflects a double standard. He added that by adhering to the requirements of the commission, the level of good governance will be enhanced.
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Captain Gerry Gouveia who was also involved in a previous discussion on ‘In Depth’, said that he was shocked that the President had reason to issue an ultimatum. What he found even more surprising were some of the sentiments expressed by the opposition indicating their unwillingness to comply if they had nothing to hide.
He said as members of the opposition they should have been the first to submit their declarations to the Commission and take the higher moral ground so as to hold other public officials to a higher standard.
The Integrity Commission was formed in 1991 but was replaced in 1997 with new laws that aim to enhance the level of transparency in light of allegations about corruption in public life.
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Nationhood tested by Lusignan massacre – PM
- IAC seeking to establish monument to the slain
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds last evening said that it is his hope that the relatives of the persons who were killed in the massacre at Lusignan one year ago could now feel some comfort in the fact that the persons responsible are facing justice or have died.
The Prime Minister was at the time addressing a vigil organized by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) to commemorate the first anniversary of the massacre. He opined that the incident tested the country’s nationhood and the ability of its people to stay united.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud interacting with relatives, and friends of the Lusignan massacre victims
He said that history shows that every group of people, sometime in their development, are tested by difficult situations that could make them stronger as a people if they learn from them.
Prime Minister Hinds encouraged the gathering which included relatives and friends of the victims, survivors of the attack, religious leaders and Government officials that as a nation Guyanese should ensure that situations do not develop to the extent that persons may feel so much anger to commit similar acts of violence against the society.
A section of the gathering at the inter-faith vigil held in Lusignan
He told the community that standing up for justice and supporting the law enforcement agencies could go a far way in ensuring that Guyana does not return to those ‘dark days’.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud encouraged the gathering to use the occasion to recommit to their faith and Guyana. He urged that the tragedy which sought to divide the nation should cause all to work towards ensuring that situations such as these do not revisit Guyana.
He encouraged the survivors and relatives to take comfort in the fact that the criminals have been brought to justice.
Evan Persaud representing the IAC, in his opening remarks told the gathering that the IAC was committed to ensuring that the tragedy that befell that community is not forgotten. He said that the committee is seeking to establish a monument in honour of the slain as the attack, which claimed the lives of husbands, wives and children, should be seen as an attack on the ‘fabric of the Guyanese society’.
Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission Bishop Juan Edghill, said that the attack touched the lives of all Guyanese in different ways. He encouraged that they to stand together against injustices and condemn violence in every form.
Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran speaking with those gathered at the inter-faith vigil
Expressing hope that Guyana will not return to that period in its history he reminded that love will always overcome hate as was shown by the comfort given to the survivors and relatives of those who died.
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British High Commissioner lauds President’s proposal on Avoided Deforestation
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
Guyana’s proposal on Avoided Deforestation came in for high praise from British High Commissioner to Guyana Fraser Wheeler, who commended the proposal initiated by President Bharrat Jagdeo to preserve Guyana’s tropical rainforest for carbon credits.
The High Commissioner stated that the British Government is working out the economic rationale with President Bharrat Jagdeo and currently funds research to find out how countries like Guyana could benefit from forest preservation.
The British High Commissioner was appointed Plenipotentiary Representative of the United Kingdom (UK) to CARICOM and presented his credentials to CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington on January 23, 2008 at the CARICOM Secretariat, Liliendaal.
According to a CARICOM press release, Wheeler stated that tackling climate change is a critical factor in sustainable development and this posed a real threat to small islands and low lying coastal areas in the Caribbean. He added that climate change adaptation is a priority of the British Government and it is willing to work with the Region to influence other nations in this regard.
President Jagdeo who initiated Guyana’s position on Avoided Deforestation, in December presented this proposal where he outlined how solutions to deforestation may be found and how Guyana can ensure that the world acts in a timely manner while at the same time protect its national interest.
The President’s proposal was influenced by the reluctance of the developed countries to make tough decisions to combat the situation and their refusal to cut their gas emissions as stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997.
President Jagdeo while signalling his disappointment that standing forests are not eligible for carbon trading between poor countries in the South and the industrialized nations in the North said that the Kyoto Protocol does not recognize that standing forests should qualify for carbon credits.
Guyana will join almost every country in the world in December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark to forge a global deal to avert catastrophic climate change. President Jagdeo emphasized that if the global deal fails to address deforestation it will be impossible to stabilize the world’s climate.
The Guyanese leader expects that Copenhagen will create proportional incentives for all causes of greenhouse gas emissions and particularly create incentives to reduce tropical deforestation.
The President said that as a country where almost 80 percent of its territory is tropical rainforest, Guyana was used as a case study for what it would take to make standing tropical forests worth more, hence Guyana’s position on Avoided Deforestation.
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Lots of plans for water sector enhancement -Minister Ali
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
The Ministry of Housing and Water will be moving to put regulations in place that will govern the manner in which the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) administers the delivery of water and will be ensuring that the population has access to water that meets required standard in the long-term.
“ We have a road map in which we are going to implement over the next three years in short-term, five years in the medium - term and ten years in the long-term to rectify the issue of breakages, seepages and contamination,” Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said today.
“The medium-term goal is to push the percentage of persons who will be metered to about 70 percent in the next 10 years… The mechanism in place for those who are not metered is an annual fee and we are now trying to harmonize the tariffs…we will be looking at that in the not too distant future,” Minister Ali said.
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali making a point to NDC representatives, Region Three
Minister Ali noted that despite there are several issues with metering, mechanisms are also in place for non-metered customers.
GWI is producing at the moment far in excess of the requirement of the people and while water is being lost through breakages and leaks there is also a more fundamental issue and that is what percentage of that water which is lost is attributed to non-technical reasons, the Minister said.
“Non-technical losses means what amount of water is pulled from the system, what percentage of water is wasted in the system so those are the issues we would have to collaborate with you, at the local level (NDCs) to resolve because a significant percentage of the water which is lost is lost through these avenues,” he explained.
“We have a lot of plans in the future for the water sector…we agree with you that there are a number of challenges but we have to work together to resolve that,” Minister Ali asserted.
The Minister made these comments during a meeting with the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) of Region Three, at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office, where he told them of the plans for the sector and sought to garner feedback on issues affecting the region.
Over the last five years government spent in excess of $600M in Region Three to improve the water distribution network and the quality and delivery of water. Approximately $15M was spent on transmission installation to benefit about 1,600 residents in the region.
Noting that certain goals have been set for the coastal regions, Minister Ali said that statistics show that GWI provides access to water for about 85% of the population.
“We are looking at the ten - year period; we will have about 65% of our population having access to treated water and we have the remaining 35% having water to the standard of WHO, that is water that meets the international standard.”
An NDC representative seeking clarification on an issue
The Ministry has been making the investment to provide a better service in the Region as thousands of residents have been benefiting from the massive treatment plant at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara that was constructed in 2003 at the cost of US $56M.
“The issue now is consolidating that investment …Region Three is one of the areas that we have had massive housing development both at the private sector level and at the National level; the Tuschen Housing Scheme, Parfaite Harmonie… in order to give some amount of water to all the consumers we stretched the network …and over the next three years we are planning a number of interventions,” Minister Ali said.
Among these are the construction of a new water treatment plant at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara to service close to 10,000 consumers and the upgrading of service connections in areas such as De Kinderen to St. Florence, West Coast Demerara and Goed Fortuin, and Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara.
He urged the Region Three officials to interface with the communities and provided feedback that will inform decisions to be made to deal with residents’ concerns.
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Acting President joins Padayatra ceremony at Lusignan
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Guyana continued its one week religious programme known as the ‘Padayatra’ which entails a spiritual walk through many villages on the East Coast of Demerara.
The ceremony began with a walk from the Strathspey Mandir to Annandale on the evening of January 26 and continued today through the villages of Annandale and Lusignan.
 with His Holiness Bhakti-marg Swami (right) and Shri Prakash Gosai (left) at the Padayatra ceremony in Lusignan.JPG)
Acting President Samuel Hinds (centre) with His Holiness Bhakti-marg Swami (right) and Shri Prakash Gosai (left) at the Padayatra ceremony in Lusignan
Acting President Samuel Hinds joined the participants today as they assembled at the Lusignan tarmac to commemorate Padayatra held under the theme “On the road for peace unity and national well being.”
He was accompanied by Shri Prakash Gosai and His Holiness Bhakti-marg Swami of Canada.
The previous evening the acting President attended a ceremony in Lusignan as the village commemorated the first anniversary of the tragic killings of innocent people by criminal gangs.
He said that although many of those responsible for the killings have been brought to justice, the memory of the past is still haunting.
The acting President commended the Krishna Conscious Movement for continuing the Padayatra noting that it is a lesson for all Guyanese to walk hand in hand and build good relationships to minimize the likelihood of events similar to those that transpired one year.
His Holiness Bhakti-marg Swam speaking at the Padayatra ceremony on the Lusignan tarmac
“We hold strongly to the view that every man and woman is responsible for whatever he or she does but we also hold to the view that we are here to try our best to make the best of each other,” the Acting President said
Padayatra first began by His Holiness Agrani Swami in 1989 with a five-mile walk beginning from Crabwook Creek, followed by an evening of sankirtan and other Krishna conscious presentations.
In the mid 1990s the event was held on the West Coast of Demerara, Region Three and has since been growing stronger.
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MMA farmers high on assistance agenda – Minister Persaud
Georgetown, GINA, January 27, 2009
As government continues to make interventions with respect to farmers around the country who have been affected by the recent heavy rainfall, the Ministry of Agriculture has been making strides with the ongoing verification exercise.
Today, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud met with the Cattle Farmers’ Association in the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary (MMA) areas to discuss assistance with regards to livestock.
During a meeting with the farmers at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary / Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Minister Persaud stated that his Ministry wants to focus on cattle farmers in the Abary Creek and other areas to look at what support they could be given on a short-term as well as long-term basis to deal with some of the problems encountered in those areas.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud in discussion with a livestock farmer in the MMA area
The Agriculture Minister said assessments and verifications have been done with respect to rice farmers but the assistance would be channelled at a convenient time through two means. He stated that government has spent close to $8M on fuel to help persons who have been pumping out water from inundated areas and undertaking works that include excavation to aid individual areas.
Some rice farmers would be given vouchers which could be taken to Burma or the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to uplift seed paddy while the Ministry would be looking at providing fertilizer and other chemicals to farmers. It has been working closely with the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) since this organisation sells and distributes fertilizer.
Minister Persaud said that these efforts would be made in time for the next crop because after mid-January it is not advisable to plant since the crop would run into the next rainy season.
He expressed hope that the Mahaica, Mahaicony and others areas will drain off so effective replanting could take place.
For the farmers who lost livestock across the country, Minister Persaud noted, the Ministry would be focusing initially on the poultry sector because immediate help could be channelled to persons in this regard. They will receive vouchers that would be redeemable at a hatchery or they can visit the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) to procure ducklings.
For the small ruminants, Minister Persaud said, including sheep or goats, the affected farmers would be enlisted into the national breeding programme and as the animals become available, farmers would be prioritized.
Minister Persaud meeting with the Cattle Farmers Association in the MMA area
Persons involved in pig rearing, he stated, would benefit from an ongoing programme at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) or at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).
For the cattle farmers, Minister Persaud explained, a lot of the help have been given throughout the rainy season since veterinarians have been tending, supplying nutrients and giving other types of support to them.
Minister Persaud stated that he wants a resolution of land matters this year on the left bank of the Abary. This would include persons who owe the MMA /ADA and those whose leases have expired.
At the moment, he said, the government is currently advertising for an excavator that would be dedicated to farmers of the left bank of the Abary, as well as some on the right bank.
The Ministry has been assisting cattle farmers through building higher areas for their animals and very soon the excavator would be available to work with a group of farmers supervised by the MMA.
As part of the assistance to rice farmers, he said, the government will be waiving the drainage and irrigation charges that would cost the MMA /ADA some $53M.
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