Coherent global policies needed to ensure global food security –President Jagdeo
…at 17th Session of United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
Advancing CARICOM’s regional agriculture and food security agenda at the 17th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in New York on Wednesday, President Bharrat Jagdeo said the Region stands ready to work with countries and institutions in an effort to address the challenge of food security through its agriculture and food security agenda.
The Guyanese Leader opined that “to ensure future global food security requires a partnership that brings together the best science, adequate resources and a coherent set of international trade and other policies. Such partnerships that emphasize cross border collaboration and coordination as CARICOM countries have sought to do with its regional food security programme.”
People are aware of the problem the world will face if it does not rise to the challenge of becoming food sufficient for future generations, he said, since 85 percent of the world will face some water shortage by 2030.
He explained that with less forest available for conversion to agriculture and growing desertification there will be a reduction in available arable land for agriculture as these factors will constrain production while demand will increase from a growing world population.
Measures to reposition agriculture in the Region have since been introduced that resulted in the establishment of an Agricultural Modernization Fund, improved land policy and administration, research expansion, improved drainage and irrigation infrastructure, disaster preparedness programmes and the regional coordination of marketing activities to enhance agricultural trade. These measures, he said, are positioned to revitalize Caribbean agriculture and remove key binding constraints to the development of the sector.
The President expressed the need for coherent global policies to help secure global food supplies over the long-term. He said however, this will not be achieved without the meaningful reform of multilateral institutions and the creation of a new international policy environment since the challenge of food security is not confined to national boundaries, but is becoming increasingly global in scope.
In this context “the countries with the available land and freshwater resources can play a special role in addressing the food security challenge at both the regional and global levels,” he said.
President Jagdeo further emphasized that sustainable development is no longer just a slogan or a rallying cry for a campaign but is now recognized as essential to the future well being of the world’s people, the global economy and life itself.
He added that this year will test the world’s resolve. “Will we move boldly to create a new global financial infrastructure and climate agreement to put the world onto a more sustainable track...or will we retreat in the face of the magnitude of the challenge? “What is needed is political will... let’s work together to ensure that the world makes the right choice,” he encouraged.
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Spreading domestic violence awareness
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security will be collaborating with the Men Engaging, Enabling, Establishing Network (M.E.N) to conduct a domestic violence awareness session at the upcoming West Demerara Floodlight Football Tournament finals on May 17.
The Ministry has noted with great concern the upsurge in domestic violence and has been continuously engaging various groups and entities in the fight to eradicate this crime from society.
The focus of this session will be on heightening awareness of the consequences of domestic violence with special emphasis on the changing habits of men as the solution as statistics show that men are the perpetrators 95 percent of the time for this crime.
In this regard, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony will be making brief presentations at the football tournament. It is hoped that this venue will provide an audience of thousands of people who will be receptive to the message of combating domestic violence.
The tournament is an annual event hosted by the Men’s Department of the Harvest Time Church of God, and in keeping with the focus on men, this year’s theme is “The ultimate goal – Men as violence stoppers.”
The event will be held at the Pouderoyen Community Centre Ground, West Bank Demerara.
The Ministry has been hosting domestic violence awareness sessions throughout the country with focus on target groups. Some of these sessions have been held with hosts/hostesses of entertainment programmes, staff of the Government Information Agency, basketball players from the Pepsi Sonics Basketball team, members of Zahiff’s Gym, the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players, students of Carnegie School of Home Economics, members of the Guyana Girl Guides Association, groups in Linden and Berbice and recently a session was held with the women’s arm of the General Workers Union (GAWU).
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Legislation, GECOM work focus of preparations for local gov’t polls
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, while noting the commitment of the administration, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the political parties to the holding of local government elections in 2009, stated that there are mechanisms in law and practice for dealing with the illness of the Leader of the Opposition.
“Mr. Corbin (Robert) is not well. However, there does exist in the law and in our practice provisions for post-holders unable to discharge their statutory functions. There are mechanisms in the law and I drew this to my good friend, the General Secretary of the PNC/R (Oscar Clarke),” Dr. Luncheon said.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that preparations for the polls are two-fold – the passing of legislation that is vital to the holding of the polls and the continuing work of the GECOM.
Concerning the legislation, he noted that despite all other considerations, the tabling of and passing of the legislation in the National Assembly is the priority.
“Parliament is the definitive action. The task force considerations, the Jagdeo and Corbin considerations pale into insignificance. You have to go to Parliament to enact the legislation particularly those aspects on which the local government elections itself is based,” Dr. Luncheon explained.
He noted that, through the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Donald Ramoutar, the administration resorted to raise its concerns over the holding of the local government polls. “We have to address our minds to delays. How they can be dealt with? How they can be avoided?” he said.
“Quite some time ago the President said the Local Government Task Force has finished its work and further, he would be meeting with Mr. Corbin to discuss what came out of the task force and present a final opportunity for some understanding to be reached on the Bills subsequent to which we would be going to Parliament,” Dr. Luncheon explained.
The Task Force was terminated by Co-Chairman Clinton Collymore on April 7 after the parties came to am impasse in the discussion of the Bills under consideration.
The task force, comprising members of the PPP/C and the PNC/R was established in 2001 to deal with the affairs of the Local Government Reform process. This came out of the dialogue between President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Leader of the Opposition, the late Desmond Hoyte.
However, Dr. Luncheon explained that the greater concern relates to GECOM’s work. “GECOM has always been a thorny issue,” he said.
“The Elections Commission is attempting the conversion of those eligible to vote on the National Register of Registrants prepared over 2008 into, I suppose you would call it, a preliminary voters’ list through a mechanism recognised in the law called the claims and objections period. The approach is one that provides quite a bit of challenges not only to GECOM but also to the political parties and also to the Guyanese people in general. The recently enacted legislation resolved one aspect that dealt with the scrutineers and removed the uncertainty about the administrative aspects about how scrutineers function but other things continue to challenge the Elections Commission as banal as being denied access to premises and as complicated as getting agreements on the appointment of registration and electoral officials in an open and transparent way,” Dr. Luncheon stated.
Despite these challenges, the Cabinet Secretary reiterated Government’s commitment to the holding of the local government polls before the end of 2009.
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11th Special ACP Ministerial Conference opens in Guyana on Monday
-to focus on sustainable development of sugar industry
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
Guyana will host the 11th Special African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Ministerial Conference on sugar from May 18 to 21 at the Guyana International Conference Centre.
Bearing the theme “Adapting to Sugar Arrangement under EPAs” the conference will bring together sugar producing and exporting countries in the ACP group of countries, key stakeholders, the ACP Sugar Consultative Group in Brussels and other regional private sector bodies and groups in the ACP.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a release today said, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett will represent Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Sugar producing and exporting states in her capacity as Ministerial Spokesperson for CARICOM on Sugar.
About 36 Ministers from sugar producing ACP countries will gather to discuss issues vital to the crop which is an important component of Guyana’s economy and many others.
This special meeting would focus on the factors that are impacting on the financial viability of the national sectors and the sugar trade of the ACP countries.
The release noted that sustainable development of the sugar cane industry in light of the denunciation of the Sugar Protocol by the European Union, which will result in the sugar price cut that will become effective from September of this year, will take spotlight.
The conference will also address the future prospects and outlook under Economic Partnership arrangements, intra-ACP cooperation on research development, opportunities and threats in the sugar industry and strategies for managing the challenges of the EU reform and the WTO negotiations.
The Conference will also present an opportunity for Guyana to demonstrate its efforts that will make the sugar industry competitive and sustainable, to other sugar protocol member countries.
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OAS Secretary General to visit Guyana from Monday
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin is expected to visit Guyana from May 17 to 19.
Ambassador Ramdin is scheduled to participate in the Regional Diplomatic Training Programme for mid-career diplomats in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which takes place in Guyana from May 18 to 29.
The OAS in a press release today said during his stay, the Assistant Secretary General will make several courtesy calls and hold discussions with Government Officials. He is also expected to meet with representatives of the international community stationed in Guyana.
Ambassador Ramdin’s visit continues the ongoing engagement of the OAS with Guyana to assist in ensuring that social peace and political calm prevail as the country seeks to develop its resources and improve the quality of life of its citizens.
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Gov’t agri vision to be supported by GAPA
- organisation to act as vehicle for change
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
The vision of the government to make agriculture viable and competitive will be supported by the newly re-launched Guyana Agricultural Producers Association (GAPA).
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said that this initiative will allow for small farmers to grow, develop and be competitive. He said that GAPA is a vehicle for change and this change is necessary if farmers are to survive both at the national and international levels.
GAPA is a non-governmental and non-profit entity and has been serving the farming community. It was re-established in 2008 to better serve and provide for the non-traditional agricultural farmers within Guyana including the hinterland and was re-launched today at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC).
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud addressing various stakeholders at the re-launch of GAPA.
GAPA is poised to advance the non-traditional agricultural farming sector including small scale producers since this sector remains one of the pillars to ensure food security in the Caribbean.
Minister Persaud said farmers are very committed and they want to be part of the process. He noted that the initiative would aid in transforming the sector from what it has been to one that can be supported to survive locally and internationally.
Notwithstanding the difficulties caused by the convergence of the food and financial crises, Minister Persaud noted, there were opportunities in the agriculture sector. Agriculture, he said, is not significantly affected by the global economic situation when compared to other sectors. The Agriculture Minister called on farmers not to be frustrated and disillusioned in light of this fact.
Government has been looking at various mechanisms of which GAPA is a product so that Guyana is better positioned to make use of opportunities that will be presented in the future.
Minister Persaud said Guyana is dealing with the revitalization and transformation of agriculture in an unfavourable global trade environment. He noted that there were often barriers to the accessing of some markets, as well as developing countries heavily subsidizing their agricultural produce. The international environment, he said, is uncertain, citing the abrupt and unilateral move by the European Union to implement price cuts with respect to the sugar industry which had resulted in a significant loss.
Minister Persaud also noted that the effects of climate change have forced the farming community to make adjustments. One of the interventions by government is to encourage diversification. He added that too long has Guyana been dependent on rice and sugar and the agricultural diversification project will aid farmers.
Nigel Dharamlall, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramoutar and Ministers of Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture, Pauline Sukhai and Robert Persaud respectively, at the re-launch.
In terms of investment, a significant amount of funds and resources have been put into drainage and irrigation. The Ministry of Agriculture has been providing research and extension services to farmers. In 2005, the government expended $3.8B in the agriculture sector and in 2009 this amount had significantly increased to $8.6B.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai who was present at the exercise said she hoped that the newly re-launched association will examine ways to reposition farmers as a vital supplier of fresh food and organic produce to meet the needs of the global market. Also, they should look at developing and supporting a partnership role in terms of marketing and information to move farmers forward.
Minister Sukhai envisaged that the organisation will also attempt to take advantage in exploring partnerships where farmers will be able to benefit from technical support. This is very vital to transferring new technology or educating farmers in accepting new approaches to farm husbandry and to refine existing farming techniques.
Minister Sukhai said the association provides farmers with a voice since a united farmers’ group provides strength and representation.
According to People’s Progressive Party / Civic, General Secretary, Donald Ramoutar in his presentation, there was need for further diversification and more processing. GAPA, he said, will allow farmers to channel their ideas.
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27th COTED Meeting addresses governance of community’s external negotiations
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009
The two-day, 27th Meeting of the Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED) concluded today with a press conference held at the Buddy’s International Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Media operatives were briefed on matters related to the governance of the community’s external negotiations and others under consideration by CARICOM.
Present at the press conference were Secretary-General of Caricom Secretariat, Dr. Edwin Carrington, Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration, Irwin La Rocque, Minister for International Trade and Cooperation of Grenada, Michael Church, Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, Dr. Kenneth Baugh and Senator and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs of St. Lucia, Charlotte Mangal.
Senator Mangal noted that the CARICOM community welcomed Haiti’s progress towards the participation in the Goods Regime of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
She said the Haitian Authorities and CARICOM Secretariat have been working together to prepare the country for its obligations under the provisions of the revised treaty, related to goods trading.
“This is an important step for Haiti and the community as with the mutual stroke of the pen the Single Market and Economy, with respect to goods, will increase from 6 to approximately 14 million,” Mangal said.
Mangal said the Council has also received an update on the preparations for the negotiations with Canada on the trade and developmental agreements and reported that a preliminary meeting at the political level with Canada could take place as early as June to discuss the scope of the actual negotiations.
The Secretariat, Mangal said also updated the council on the move to incorporate the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) into the Secretariat as mandated by the Heads of Government at the intercessional meeting in Belize earlier this year.
She further stated that the meeting took the opportunity to extend the appreciation for the work of the RNM and its Director General and Ambassador, Henry Gill for the contribution to the community.
The meeting also received an update from the secretariat on the current global financial crisis and its impact on the community, as well as an update on preparations for services symposium to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from July 15 to 17, 2009, Mangal concluded.
A proposal for the establishment of a single airspace for the region, piracy and its effects on maritime transportation were among the matters discussed with regards to transportation.
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Red Cross Society certifies 12 new first aid instructors
Georgetown, GINA, May 15, 2009.
The Guyana Red Cross Society today presented certificates to 12 of its volunteers who underwent extensive training over the past several months in first aid.
The training attracted especially youths from Regions Four and One.
The Society’s General Secretary, Ms Dorothy Fraser said that the trained volunteers would add to the workforce and she underscored the importance of first aid.
There's nothing more valuable to humanity than life knowing that you can make the difference between life and death. One person taking action at the scene of an accident can make the ultimate distinction thus applying their skills to save a life,” she said.
New batch of first aid instructors
“Should someone choke or for some reason stops breathing, you will know what to do. You will understand that you need to stay calm, call emergency, and perform the CPR and First Aid techniques you learned,” she advised the youths.
Fraser added that the training programmes are renowned for giving participants both the skills and confidence to use the first aid techniques they have learnt, through a combination of theoretical and practical sessions.
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