ACP body must remain united and alert – Prime Minister Hinds
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
The 11th Special ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar opened today at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal where delegates from the 18 African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar-exporting countries gathered to discuss the future of the sugar industry within the group as the Sugar Protocol, which was supposed to give the triple guarantee of access, price and indefinite duration, will come to an end on September 30, 2009.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett addresses delegates during the opening ceremony of the 11th Special ACP Conference
As stated on the ACP Sugar Group website, the Sugar Protocol is a trade agreement of indefinite duration between the European Union (EU) and the ACP states which are signatory to it. The first paragraph of Article 1 of the Protocol states: "The Community undertakes for an indefinite period to purchase and import, at guaranteed prices, specific quantities of cane sugar, raw or white, which originate in the ACP states and which these States undertake to deliver to it."
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who gave the feature address at the opening ceremony, urged the ACP body to remain united and alert, particularly in the political and commercial representation for sugar, as it charts new waters.
“From the theme of this conference, it is evident that the deliberations would center on the challenges facing the sugar producing countries today. Adapting to sugar arrangements under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) is a formidable undertaking for ACP countries,” the Prime Minister said.
The delegates attending the 11th Special ACP Conference pose for a group photo on the steps of the Guyana International Conference Centre
“Logical and coherent arguments for the continuation of a win/win relationship with Europe in sugar trade did not bring the desired outcome. Regrettably, from October 1 this year, we will confront new, uncertain and unfolding arrangements in the trading of sugar with Europe.”
The theme of the conference is, “Adapting to sugar arrangement under EPAs”.
ACP-EU EPA
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a scheme to create a ‘free trade area’ (FTA) between the EU and the ACP countries. The need for the African Caribbean and Pacific States/ European Union/ Economic Partnership Agreement (ACP/EU/EPA) had its genesis in the realization that the Lome Convention did not live up to expectations. They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agreements offered by the EU are incompatible with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds delivers the feature address during the opening ceremony of the 11th Special ACP Conference
The EPAs are a key element of the Cotonou Agreement, the latest agreement in the history of ACP-EU Development Co-operation and are to take effect from 2008.
The key features of the EPA are:
- Reciprocity which will see the removal of all established trade preferences between the EU and the ACP countries since 1975, as well as the progressive removal of trade barriers between the Regions;
- To fulfill the criterion of being a non-discriminatory agreement, the EPAs are open to all developing countries, thereby effectively terminating the ACP group as the main development partner of the EU;
- The EPA was intended to replace the non-reciprocal trade preferences of the
Cotonou Agreement, for which the WTO had granted a waiver, ending in 2007. Under WTO rules, the EU could grant preferences, but these had to be either reciprocal, i.e. both sides have to liberalize “substantially all trade” (GATT Article XXIV) or non-reciprocal, but in that case beneficiaries have to be selected in a non-discriminatory way, according to their economic situation.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who reminded the delegates that this would be the last conference before the ending of the sugar protocol, and it was the 1975 Georgetown Agreement that established the ACP Group. She declared that the loss of the trade preferences and a competitive multilateral trading environment will place severe pressure on the economies of many of the small countries within the Group.
Ambassador Ferdinand Nyabenda, Assistant Secretary General of the ACP Group and Satya Veyash Faugoo, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Production and Security of Mauritius and ACP Ministerial Spokesperson on Sugar and Chairman of the Conference also addressed the delegates during the opening ceremony.
Faugoo reminded the delegates of the 36% cut in the price of sugar by the EU, starting in October, and pointed out that the Sugar Protocol was once hailed by the EU as a model arrangement. However, he said he was heartened that the special appeal to G-20 countries to give special attention to vulnerable countries has been heeded.
Delegates await the commencement of the opening ceremony of the 11th Special ACP Conference
The European Sugar Reform proposal would entail a reduction in the price Guyana (and other ACP sugar producing countries) receive for its exports of sugar under the Sugar Protocol of approximately 36% starting from October 1, 2009.
The ACP countries have been outraged at the agreement, which is only a 3% smaller cut than the 39% originally proposed. They had been pressing for a cut in prices of only 19%, failing which they claimed they stood to lose €300 million a year in direct export earnings and the destruction of their sugar industry.
“We must continue to press Europe to simplify its approach to the delivery of support to Sugar Protocol countries affected by the Reform of the EU Sugar Regime and to improve the record of disbursements,” Prime Minister Hinds stated, highlighting the problematic implementation of the Accompanying Measures Support Programme, which is intended to ease the pain of the dissolution of the Sugar Protocol.
Ambassador Ferdinand Nyabenda, Assistant Secretary General of the ACP Group addresses delegates during the opening ceremony of the 11th Special ACP Conference
The Prime Minister explained that the dissolution of the Sugar Protocol could not come at a worse time. “At the global level, the financial crisis and the resulting economic crisis are projected to result in a decrease in export by 9% in volume terms in 2009. This coupled with possible reductions in remittances could have a significant socio-economic effect on the economy and threatens to reverse gains achieved over the past several years.”
Guyana’s response to price cuts
Concerning Guyana’s economy, Prime Minister Hinds said that the modernization and development of the country’s infrastructure is key to transforming the landscape for economic development, noting that Government has emphasized the expansion of the country’s physical infrastructure, both through public investment and strategic partnerships.
“Historically, the growth pillars of the Guyanese economy depended on the traditional industries – sugar, rice and bauxite. However, the traditional economic industries alone cannot provide a sufficient number of jobs and rapidly increase per capita income, which will be necessary for Guyana to reduce poverty significantly. Nor will they be sufficient to protect the country from external shocks. While the traditional industries continue to grow and show great resilience, Government places high priority on actively promoting accelerated diversification of the economy. In this regard, non-traditional agricultural sub-sectors such as tourism, alternative energy and information technology are among future growth poles,” the Prime Minister told the delegates.
“A key challenge, in our economic restructuring nonetheless, is the future of the sugar industry. Sugar is the single most important economic activity contributing 15% of GDP and accounting for the livelihoods of 20% of our population.”
Satya Veyash Faugoo, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Production and Security of Mauritius and ACP Ministerial Spokesperson on Sugar and Chairman of the Conference addresses the delegates during the opening ceremony of the 11th Special ACP Conference
To this end, he highlighted Guyana’s investment in the 110,000 tonne sugar mill and cogeneration facility at Skeldon, the technological advancements in field mechanization and expansion of cultivation and the focus on value-added products such as packaged sugar, refined sugar and molasses utilization.
The Skeldon factory is one of the most modern of its kind in Latin America. It features modern and innovative implements which surpass the technologies used by other similar facilities in the continent. One dominant feature of the factory is the generation of over 20 megawatts of power, which will double the total electricity demands of the region. To ensure the diversification and viability of the factory, the excess power will be transferred to the grid and utilized by other communities outside of the region. Emphasis is being placed on reducing production cost to about US$0.12 per pound to make it competitive on the world market. The Skeldon Estate will also enhance the international competitiveness of Guyana’s sugar industry, placing it in an appropriate position to exploit higher value-added opportunities. In addition, this project will involve the establishment of a distillery and possibly a refinery.
The ACP Group was established in 1975 with the signing of the Georgetown Agreement which defines the rules governing cooperation among the countries of the three continents whose main link was the sharing of aid from the European Community. The objectives of the ACP Group, as defined by the Georgetown Agreement, are to:
- Promote a new, fairer and more equitable world order;
- Promote and strengthen solidarity among ACP States, and understanding between ACP peoples and governments;
- Contribute to the development of important and close economic, social and cultural relations among developing countries and develop cooperation among ACP States in the areas of trade, science and technology, industry, transport, education, training and research, information and communication, the environment, demography and human resources;
- Contribute to the promotion of regional, inter-regional, and effective intra-ACP cooperation among ACP States, generally among developing countries, and strengthen the regional organisations of which they are members;
- Define common positions of ACP States vis-à-vis the EEC in areas covered by the Lome Convention and on relevant issues debated in international fora, which may influence the implementation of the Lome Convention;
- Ensure achievement of the objectives of the Lome Convention; and
- Coordinate the activities of ACP States in the framework of the application of the Lome Convention.
The 18 ACP sugar exporting countries are: Barbados, Belize, Côte-d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fiji, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, St. Kitts & Nevis, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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Airlines pledge to improve services
- measures already being put in place
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
Airline carriers, after meeting with Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, have assured that they will work to improve on the services that they provide to the travelling public.
This meeting comes on the heels of air-travellers complaining to the Ministry and the press that they are displeased with the services provided, and of misleading advertisements of some airlines and high cost of tickets.
All the airlines have pledged to target these areas which have been causing dissatisfaction to their customers. They have agreed that with immediate effect all their advertisements will include the ticket’s fare including tax.
Additionally, Minister Prashad said that it is essential that the travel agents comply also. He noted that the agents registered with the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) have been complying, but there are reports that there are unregistered agents who are not.
Minister Prashad noted that it is a requirement that all agents be registered with IATA, and his Ministry will be looking into this issue to ensure compliance.
Airline carriers have noted the Minister’s concern with respect to the cost of air tickets and will seek to address this issue. The Minister said that the price of jet fuel has dropped significantly; however, this is not reflected in the airfare for persons travelling to and from Guyana.
He added that it seems that other countries are receiving a better price for their tickets and because there is not much competition on the Guyana route, travellers are being made to pay exorbitant rates.
Another area that all airlines will be looking into is poor customer service.
Some airlines are taking additional measures to reassure customers. Caribbean Airlines has stated that, it will be working with a task force to put in place that will ensure, for instance that passengers’ baggage left behind, are returned within 24 hours.
Minister Prashad said he was pleased with this step taken by Caribbean Airlines.
As it relates to cancellation, airlines have assured that if a cancellation is their fault, passengers will be accommodated. If the cancellation was due to a natural disaster or industrial issue, they will seek to assist.
Representatives who attended the meeting were from Caribbean Airlines, Delta, Meta Airlines, TravelSpan, and Liat.
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Education Ministry to introduce Grade Four literacy certificate
-compulsory for writing National Grade Six Assessment
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
The Ministry of Education Ministry intends to introduce a Grade Four literacy certificate into the primary school system. Students will be required to pass the literacy test and obtain a literacy certificate before they can proceed to write the National Grade Six Assessment.
This was disclosed by Minister of Education Shaik Baksh at the opening of the second training session today at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston.
Minister Baksh said this system is not new to the Caribbean, as Jamaica has a similar model.
A team from the Ministry visited Jamaica to examine that country’s model and it was agreed that Guyana will be adapting a similar system. Countrywide consultations on this new initiative will be held shortly.
This is expected to catapult the school system and parents into action.
“Children must pass the literacy test and must obtain a literacy certificate before they can proceed to write the Grade Six Assessment, and if they fail it they will have to rewrite it six months after and every six months until they pass,” he said.
The Minister noted that all the Community High schools have been converted into Secondary schools and a six-year programme will be introduced.
“The first year will be used to upgrade all of the children who have not reached a certain level, if you fall below a certain score you will have to go to a six-year programme…We will work with those children to ensure that at the end of the year, they will be literate and numerate,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that later this year Government will introduce a programme aimed at the continuous professional development of teachers.
He said the programme is well structured and the Ministry already has a policy document out and is currently awaiting funding.
During the vacation period teachers participating in this programme will attend a number of continuous professional development programmes. These will be credited and teachers can gain accelerated promotion based on their grading.
Minister Baksh added that the Ministry is also reviewing the possibility of remuneration for those who may have attained a certain number of credits.
“We need to have our teachers on board and continuously work with them to improve their skills and all the other aspects important to teacher education,” he said.
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Fijian Prime Minister meets President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
Following his arrival in Guyana on May 17, Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama paid a courtesy call on President Bharrat Jagdeo today at his State House residence.
The Fijian Prime Minister came to Guyana for the eleventh Special African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) ministerial conference on sugar which opened today at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC).
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama speaking with President Bharrat Jagdeo
In an invited comment, Prime Minister Bainimarama said Guyana was “just like home,” with similarities in the weather, vegetation and cuisines.
He also described the conference as a very important forum for all stakeholders, particularly Guyana where the first protocol was signed in 1975.
Given that sugar is an important sector for Guyana and Fiji, Prime Minister Bainimarama said potential exists for collaboration.
Fiji which occupies and archipelago of 322 islands, is an island in the South Pacific Ocean, East of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and South of Tuvalu.
Prime Minister Bainimarama is also Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
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Police officers urge to play greater role in implementing legislation
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
Senior police officers and inspectors of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were informed that the way in which children are cared for will be changed for the better with the passing and implementation of the new children’s legislation.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand said that the drafting of these bills started in 1992 with the conception “that when these bills were enacted the legal landscape of how children are treated in Guyana will be changed, improved to the point where we would be complying with the articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
Minister Manickchand addressing the Officers. At head table are Asst. Commissioner Krishna Lekhray and Project Officer, Vidyaratha Kissoon
The Minister was at the time giving the feature address at the “Child Protection Workshop for the GPF” which was organised under the ‘Pickney Project’ of Help and Shelter and EveryChild Guyana.
The bills are the Protection of the Children Bill which was recently passed in the National Assembly, the Adoption of the Children Bill and the Status of the Children Bill which are expected to gain full support of the House, and the Child Care and Development Services and the Custody, Guardianship, Maintenance and Access Bill which are expected to come shortly.
The Minister informed the officers that provisions in the Protection of the Children Bill places emphasis on officers, lawyers, doctors, etc that they are now compelled to report cases of suspected abuse immediately to the Director of Child Services. Failure to do is an offence, she said.
She added that professionals are required to report such cases and will not be exempted on the ground of privileged communication as was the case before. Government is removing all obstacles which would have prevented persons from reporting cases of abuse.
Officers will also now be required to inform the Director of Child Services of their investigations and findings in the case of child abuse. This, she added will also help the Ministry to follow-up on cases to ensure that the officers are working.
Officers at the Child Protection Workshop for the GPF
Minister Manickchand said that Government is working to create strong legislation but if the relevant agencies such as the Courts and the GPF do not implement them “then they are just good pieces of legislation on paper.”
To this end, the Minister urged the officers to learn about the legislation and use the resources available to them to their fullest in order that victims who report crimes get the assistance needed.
Assistant Commissioner, Krishna Lekhraj said that the GPF recognises that that there is a growing problem when addressing the issues surrounding children and they will collaborate with all the stakeholders inclusive of the Ministries of Labour, Education, Human Services and Social Security, the Courts and other agencies.
He noted that the GPF recognises the important role it plays in the protection of children and will work to enforce the legislation.
The passage of the Bill was the end of a ten-year process that was drafted and prepared by the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).
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ICC 20/20 Tournament Director meets Sport Minister
- to set stage for Guyana’s hosting of next year’s games
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
West Indies 20/20 Tournament Director Dr. Ernest Hilaire paid a courtesy call on Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony today at his Main Street Office.
Dr. Hilaire was accompanied by President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh as discussions continue on Guyana being the host venue for 10 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) 20/20 World Cup matches.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony (right) Guyana Cricket Board and President Chetram Singh speaking with ICC Tournament Director Dr. Ernest Hilaire
Guyana had bid to host and was only recently awarded the 10 games. Barbados, St. Lucia and St Kitts were also selected to host the games which also include a female competition.
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Guyana to establish closer cultural linkage with South American counterparts
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
Artistes and artists from the Guyana United Artists (GUA) Association will be hosting a series of satellite exhibitions of the work of Guyanese visual, performing and literary personality in several South American countries including, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Equador in its drive to create stronger cultural linkages.
At a press conference today at the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Camp and Church Street, Georgetown, the Association’s President, Linden Jemmot said that the exhibition will focus on helping Guyana realize its continental destiny.
The ten-member group will depart Guyana on May 29, for Brazil to perform at the Federal University of Roriama in Brazil from June1-6. The team will take part in Guyana’s independence celebrations at Lethem, before departure to Brazil.
The initiative is a collaboration between the GUA, GO-Invest, the Centre for Brazilian studies and the Venezuelan Cultural Centre.
From left: President of the Guyana United Artists Association, Linden Jemmot ,GO-Invest’s Head Geoffrey Da Silva at the press conference at GO-Invest, Camp and Church Street, Georgetown
The theme for the exhibition “Continental Destiny” is a tribute to Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) known as a liberator for his leading role in the wars of Spanish American independence and as the precursor of Latin American Integration process.
Guyana, being the only English speaking country in the Continent is expected to play a pivotal role in the unfolding of its continental destiny.
Head of GO-Invest Geoffrey Da Silva said that the agency was happy to be part of the initiative as the exhibition will not only strengthen cultural ties, but will act as a foundation for expanding economic activities between Guyana and its South American counterparts.
This, he noted, is critical during this period of economic downturn, as he underscored the importance of Guyana diversifying its markets. Da Silva said that, Guyana is moving more aggressively to exploit market opportunities in these countries.
Organisations such as the GUA, Da Silva said, play an important role and has helped to open new markets for Guyanese products.
Recently, GO-Invest sponsored and supported an initiative by the Guyana Arts and Craft producers, for a team of over 20 members travel to Lethem and Boa Vista to establish business links and markets.
The group has since sourced new markets in Northern Brazil, Da Silva said. He announced that in another couple of weeks more craft producers and other businesses will be visiting Venezuela to explore opportunities and the possibilities of hosting a trade show later this year.
“We have done extremely well in increasing our market share in CARICOM, and now we need to do the same in Brazil, now that the Takutu Bridge is completed. Despite it not being officially opened, economic activities between Boa Vista, Bon Fim and Lethem have increased dramatically,” Da Silva said.
With increased economic activities, several initiatives have been taken with the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce to develop a new commercial zone in Lethem, Da Silva said and noted that Brazilians are looking to buy pieces of art and craft.
The GUA is an umbrella organisation for those artistes in the visual, performing and literary arts. Its objective is to promote and market Guyanese diverse creative art forms in Guyana, the Caribbean and the Americas.
The Organisation has hosted several cultural exhibitions and plans to establish a cultural outpost in Brazil and other South American countries in order to market Guyanese art forms and to promote good international relations with the country’s South American neighbours in pursuit of Guyana’s continental destiny.
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NCERD trains more literacy educators
- Fast Track Initiative to be expanded throughout Guyana
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
In an effort to ensure the delivery of quality education to adults, out of school youths and school children the Ministry of Education is continuing the training of literacy educators as part of its ‘Fast Track Initiative Literacy Programme’. To date there are about 300 literacy educators in the programme.
At the opening of the second training session today at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said the programme is a supplement to other initiatives for literacy education in the country.
“We have decided that because of the work at hand in building literacy capabilities in our country at various levels that we cannot rely solely on our teachers in the education system… we have decided that we will train a large quorum of persons teachers whom we call literacy educators in the skills to impart literacy learning,” he said.
He encouraged the educators to remain dedicated and committed to the programme while assuring them that the Ministry has employed a system to ensure timely payments.
He also mandated NCERD to ensure that there is someone available who would deal specifically with complaints and concerns of the educators.
The Ministry plans to expand the Fast Track Initiative Literacy Programme throughout Guyana.
“The programme is alive as far as Region Nine. It hasn’t reached all corners of the country as yet, but we plan to get there this year. There are a lot of constraints but we are hoping we can get the programme running. I’ve seen it at work at Lethem and St. Ignatius also and have also taken on a new dimension because many parents are asking for the programme in other schools and are prepared to let their children remain for one hour or so after school,” Minister Baksh said.
He noted that one of the constraints of the programme in the coastland is that many parents are unwilling to let their children remain for that hour after school.
Minister Baksh disclosed that the Ministry is planning to have a massive public relations drive to educate persons about the need to have their children attending these classes if they are to improve their literacy rate as they move through the school system.
“The primary level is the real problem level, we have some new managers now and we’re moving in a more dynamic way. We have the literacy hour which is the school’s system but it has not been working the way we want it to work,” he said.
Minister Baksh revealed that more emphasis will be placed on the literacy hour since all the reports show some weaknesses in that area.
Unpunctuality of teachers and students has been the main reason for this sloth.
He added that the assessment process will also be reviewed as it is not producing the desired results and divulged that workshops will shortly be conducted in each region to address this matter.
The Fast Track Initiative literacy programme was a response to the results from the National Grade Six examinations which fell below expectation. A task force was established to examine the situation and submit recommendations.
Several NGOs were engaged during this process which invited applications for organisations and individuals to become involved in eradicating illiteracy.
The initiative was born out of a global concern for the level of illiteracy which has caused persons to lack the skill, knowledge and confidence to participate meaningfully in society and escape the generational cycle of poverty.
The first training session for the literacy educators saw some 120 educators trained.
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Guyana continues to comply with UNFCCC to mitigate effects of climate change- workshop held in preparation for second communication
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo’s initiative for the development of a low carbon economy in order to mitigate climate change, through avoided deforestation among other activities was taken another step further today when the Ministry of Agriculture commenced a workshop for training personnel to develop a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Guyana.
The workshop, held in the Ministry’s boardroom, which will last from May 18 to 21 and is one of the enabling activities for the preparation of Guyana’s second national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud along with other officials at the workshop
The workshop aims to introduce stakeholders to the Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission requirements and process, reinforce close collaboration with the key sectors for GHG inventory, contribute to the development of a comprehensive work plan for the inventory and abatement analysis, identify equipment and resource needs for GHG inventory, identify methodologies to be used in the collection of data, provide training on the guidelines and software for estimating GHG emissions, identify methodology for new gases where appropriate.
On July 10, 2007, the Ministry of Agriculture signed an agreement for the climate change enabling activity project called “Enabling Activity for the Preparation of Guyana’s Second National Communication (SNC) to the UNFCCC”.
Guyana is a party to the UNFCCC and is required to submit national communications on steps being taken to implement the convention. Guyana submitted its Initial National Communication (INC) in 2002 and is among many developing countries that have received funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to prepare their SNC. The finalised document will be submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat.
The GHG inventory is one of the major components of the SNC. It provides the background for climate change mitigation activities and can aid in providing precise data for the implementation of national initiatives.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud who addressed the workshop said that Guyana has until June next year to wrap up all the deliverables with regard to the convention and in doing this inventory workshop of training, one such obligation has been fulfilled.
He said it indicated that Guyana is serious about the obligations under the UNFCCC. The Agriculture Minister said Guyana is proceeding with this type of technical valuation and activities through a project costing approximately $91M.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, Chairman of NCU, Shyam Nokta and other officials at the wokshop
Shyam Nokta, Chairman of the National Climate Unit (NCU), said that the workshop comes at a very opportune time in Guyana’s efforts towards preparing and submitting the second national communication to the climate change convention.
This particular component looking at greenhouse gas inventory is a very critical part of that project and is one of its main outputs. The workshop is being facilitated by Dr. Bhawan Singh of Climate Change Solutions International. It is the second time that this organization has facilitated the communication for Guyana.
The exercise, Nokta said, is essential to update and improve Guyana’s greenhouse gas inventories, as well as to build institutional capacity among various agencies so as to be able to conduct these inventories. The activity will improve Guyana’s capacity to collect, manage data and establish an archiving system to manage the data. It will also aid Guyana in reporting on its emissions.
In terms of training, the Chairman for the NCU said, persons at the workshop needed to understand the requirements and the process since the national communication need not have to fit into the national context, but international requirements.
He said that as a developing country that has been progressing, it was necessary that records of greenhouse emissions within the various sectors of the economy be kept.
Minister Persaud said that he was dissatisfied with the amount of work done and has spoken to the project coordinators, as well as the Chairman of NCU, highlighting the need to step up its activities in preparation for the second communication.
Part of this initiative today is based on getting government agencies and the private sector to be fully onboard in understanding the great challenge of climate change.
In December 2008, President Jagdeo had revealed Guyana’s position on Avoided Deforestation where he outlined how solutions to deforestation may be found and how Guyana can ensure that the world acts in a timely manner while protecting its national interest.
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150 persons screened for eye ailments at Paramakatoi
Georgetown, GINA, May 16, 2009
As indigenous health continues to be emphasized by the Ministry of Health, a team of three doctors visited the community of Paramakatoi, Region Eight where some 150 persons were screened for eye ailments.
This is part of a countrywide exercise to create a comprehensive database for surgeries to be done at the National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, Berbice.
Minister within the Ministry of Health Bheri Ramsaran said that the visit to Paramakatoi is a reflection of how the Ministry of Health is approaching the whole question of indigenous health in the country.
He noted that this is the approach the Ministry has been taking for several years and is getting more specialized, more efficient when dealing with indigenous health in those communities. However, he explained, that the emphasis during this visit was on eye care.
One of the Cuban doctors doing a medical checkup
The team comprised of general practitioners including two Cuban ophthalmologists. After screening only two persons from the community needed surgery and their names will be entered into the database.
According to Minister Ramsaran, now that Mission Miracle under which eye patients were sent to Cuba, the Ministry is turning its attention to the National Ophthalmology Hospital. Surgeries are slated to commence at the Hospital next month.
Eye screening activities are ongoing at Diamond, Leonora, Mahaicony and Suddie Diagnostic and Treatment Centres and at the National Ophthalmology Hospital itself. The Hospital commenced operations on February 9 and more than 8,000 persons have been screened and 700 identified for surgery. .
Residents of Paramakatoi said that the visit was a blessing. Some residents expressed their satisfaction over the development of health centres in the community and said that there have been improvements in Paramakatoi as well as other Region Eight areas.
One of the doctors checking a resident's eye for defects
Mission Miracle was started three years ago with communities such as Jawalla, Waramadong, Siparuta, Orealla, Bartica, Linden, Kwakwani, Leguan and the Essequibo Islands being visited. Some 50 to 60 000 patients were screened of which 6,000 were sent to Cuba for surgeries.
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Developing countries must cut non-revenue water losses-Minister Ali
-at Caribbean wastewater operators’ partnership workshop
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
In an effort to increase efficiency, effectiveness and broader service delivery to citizens, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in collaboration with the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) today hosted a Caribbean waste water and sanitation operators’ partnership workshop at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street.
Water operators from several Caribbean countries including Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and St. Lucia sought to address issues of capacity building and benchmarking in the Caribbean, energy efficiency for water operators, the Caribbean and the Millennium Development Goals, non-revenue water, Caribbean Trends: sector activities for the Inter-American and Caribbean Development Banks, success factors for utility partnership and the implementation of a strategic action plan to address water issues.
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali at Caribbean Wastewater operators’ partnership workshop
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali who declared the workshop open said that the Water Operators’ Partnership has its roots in the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water and sanitation and is an initiative that is timely since different countries will be at varying levels of achieving these goals.
“It is important for us to reflect on the challenges that face us in the future and some of our accomplishments in the water sector from the programme that we have here…a very critical point is made and that is the importance of inter-agency collaboration and harmonization in our efforts to tackle the various issues in the water sector,” Minister Ali said.
He noted that while specific challenges may vary from country to country, globally, countries are faced with the challenges of sustaining their water resources and ensuring that future generations benefit from the scarce commodity.
From left: President of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association, Cyprian Gibson, Inter-American Development Bank Representative, Frederico Basanes, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali and Caribbean Development Bank Representative, Carlson Gough
“We are faced globally with the challenge of sustaining our resource that is the water resource… and ensuring that water remains a social good. Yet, the importance of it as an economic commodity cannot be underscored and that is one of the major challenges here in the Caribbean,” Minister Ali said.
While many have grown to learn that Guyana is described as the land of many waters and that water is a fundamental right that every person should have access to they have not grown to understand its importance, cost and economic value.
“Here in the Caribbean and Guyana we are faced with the issue of not only having to address non-revenue water, but having to address the huge capital investment loss of aging infrastructure…While a lot of countries are tackling the issue of non-revenue water, the developing countries have to tackle the issue from two points; expanding the cost and capital investment in aging infrastructure and developing new infrastructure...to ensure that we reduce the losses,” he emphasised.
Guyana experiences approximately 65 percent non-revenue losses; of which 50 percent is attributed to operational while the remainder to residential losses.
While acknowledging that local communities’ involvement is critical in tackling this issue, the Minister queried how this will be done.
“We need to search for answers that are cost effective that could ideally be a ‘top dog’ approach of developing policies. There are a number of policies on non-revenue water losses. Maybe we need to rethink as to where the policies are being developed….The local communities are integral in this process of reducing losses that is why through the IDB, here in Guyana we have been developing a community-based plan in tackling this issue,” he said.
Some of the participants at the workshop
He pointed out that a large portion of resources from the Caribbean Development Bank, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Basic Needs Trust Fund’s (BNTF’s) sixth programme will be spent to reduce non-revenue water losses in the country.
“It is unsustainable for us to move forward and improve the sector with losses of 65 percent, the losses ranges from between 40 to 50 percent so it is no better.”
He lamented the lack of a cohesive single action plan to deal with the issues of water and water resources management.
Meanwhile, President of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Cyprian Gibson said that water is a global issue and the lack of water services is one of the most important physical signs of extreme poverty.
He noted that the Caribbean countries faces their own challenges specifically in the water sector which have a myriad of issues that is compounded by the fact that they are small island states with limited populations and resources.
Some of the challenges he outlined include: the need for increased institutional strengthening and capacity building, for increased, and ongoing regulatory reforms, reforms in water governance, increase disaster management and mitigation, need for adaptation to climate change and overall integrated water resource management.
Gibson told the representatives that as they seek to achieve the MDGs they must realize very quickly that a key stakeholder in the process is the water operator. Developing successful water operators, with highly trained professional pools is therefore critical in the delivery of water and sanitation to the masses, he said.
Water Operators’ partnerships are being promoted as a response to the urgent need to increase access to sustainable water and sanitation for the world’s poor in an efficient manner.
The mechanism, Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance, brings together utility, NGO and donor partners to apply their knowledge, skills and resources. It recognizes the valuable role that professional associations and NGOs play in providing continuity in small island state environments where changes in government, can make, or break a water operator.
The forum was also attended by representatives of donor communities and NGOs including Carlson Gough, CDB, Frederico Basanes, IDB, Steen Bjeergaard, International Water Association and Julian Perkins, and Robert Goodwin, United Nations HABITAT.
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CARICOM needs to revisit integration process to achieve objective-
- OAS Assistant Secretary General
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin said that in light of a changing political landscape, CARICOM would need to revisit its integration objectives to better understand areas in which it needs to focus on and on what kind of strategic agenda it can develop in furthering the interest in developing the sub-region.
The Secretary General was at the time speaking to the media at a press conference at Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. Mr. Ramdin is on a two-day visit to Guyana to participate in the Regional Diplomatic Training programme for mid-career CARICOM diplomats.
The opening ceremony of the programme took place this morning and the training programme will be conducted over the next two weeks, with about 35 CARICOM nationals. The officers will be updated on developments in the different regions to which CARICOM belongs and be provided with the skills and techniques to conduct themselves more effectively to improve the process of CARICOM initiatives.
He said that it was a very important exercise for CARICOM, and he was happy to participate in the event. Ramdin explained that CARICOM as a grouping of countries is at a stage where there are many internal factors which are impacting the integration process.
Centre: Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of the Americas States, Ambassador Albert Ramdin addressing members of the media at the Pegasus Hotel. Looking on are OAS representatives
As a natural flow of these activities for the integration process, he explained that foreign policy coordination becomes critical and will require a Caribbean perspective on relations in the rest of the world, and the training is provided in that direction. .
He noted that Caribbean diplomacy to developing that is strictly important, as the diplomats not only speak from a national but also a regional perspective.
Mr. Ramdin said that he spoke about the developments in the western hemisphere, and the changing realities that will impact on the Caribbean region. He noted that the Region’s political landscape is changing as leaders are having different views on development, and on how to organize society, state relations, security and are developing their own independent foreign policies.
It is in this environment that the Caribbean has to find its place in the Western hemisphere and Ambassador Ramdin called for the Region to be proactive in the formation of its foreign policy and pledged his Organisation’s support in the process.
The Secretary General also met with President Bharrat Jagdeo earlier in the day at State House, and with the main political parties, including the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) and with donor agencies to listen to some of their concerns and how the parties felt about local government elections.
The Secretary General also provided the media with an update on the upcoming OAS 40th General Assembly to be hosted in Honduras.
Focus of that meeting will be on three issues: the financial crisis, food crisis and sustaining renewable energy.
He noted that the whole issue of crime and violence is of interest to the Caribbean and the idea is to look at ways to curb crime.
The meeting will also focus on issues arising out of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, including ways to help Haiti’s social and economic development and placing Cuba in its rightful place in the OAS.
The leaders will also discuss measures that countries can take to prevent a food crisis which many countries can face in light of climate change and natural disasters and the financial crisis and its impact on the economies, both in terms in decline in remittances and income.
However, there will be a meeting with Finance Ministers from the various countries in July in Chile to discuss measures that can be taken to prevent the effects of the crisis and a similar meeting will be held in Trinidad and Tobago shortly.
Ramdin said that whatever will come out of the meeting, special measures will be taken to help those economies in the Caribbean and Central America mitigate the impact of the financial crisis. He highlighted that if these issues are not dealt with then they can lead to a governance crisis by creating civil and political unrest which can damage democracy.
Meanwhile, on the local front and what was his feeling on having local Government elections held this year, in Guyana, Ramdin said that from his meetings with the political parties and his understanding that the Reform Bills will be taken to the National Assembly for approval is the most appropriate and transparent thing to do, and also said that the elections should be held early.
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