Home Affairs Ministry concerned over damage to public property by vehicles
- to amend laws to deal with reckless drivers, damage to public property
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
The Ministry of Home Affairs today expressed concern over the damage being caused to public property as a result of motor vehicle accidents and is taking steps to amend the relevant laws to ensure that action is taken against the perpetrators.
The Ministry today said, “the Guyana Police Force has been tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that effective use is made of section 101(1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Chapter 51:02 Section 61 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02 with Amendments (1998), to bring the errant persons to justice.”
These Acts, dealing with damage to property resulting from motor vehicle accidents and improper use of motor vehicles resulting in accidents, according to the release, will be amended to make prosecution of offenders more effective.
The release stated that the critical structures that have been bearing the brunt of the damage from these accidents are the traffic light systems, bridges and utility poles and the lighting systems installed on them.
The Ministry reminded that these public properties have been constructed and installed at great cost to taxpayers and urged the more caution be exercised in the use of the roads.
Government expended over US$20M in 2007 to install a modern state of the art traffic light system in and around Georgetown. Several of these installations were damaged costing millions of dollars in repairs over the last two years.
Recently the Ministry of Public Works, which has responsibility for public safety, announced that it would be redesigning certain intersections with a view to reducing the amount of damage being caused by the reckless use of vehicles.
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Guyana celebrates International Museum Day
Georgetown, GINA, May 18, 2009
Guyana joined the world in celebrating International Museum Day, May 18, in an effort to encourage awareness about the role of the museum in the development of society.
The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport held an exhibition on Museum and Tourism at the Umana Yana, under the Theme ‘Museum and Tourism’. Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony was present at the exhibition.
Since 1977 the world has been celebrating International Museum Day which is organized by the International Council of Museum ICON and endorsed by the American Association of Museum.
Dr. Anthony noted that there is a connection between tourism and cultural tourism and the latter needs to be showcased more often to have a greater impact on tourism.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony at the exhibition, To his right is Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Fox
“Lots of people when they come to various countries want to experience the culture of the country and therefore, cultural tourism is quite relevant,” the Minister said.
“Some museums are very famous and a lot of people go to them so if they are not properly managed they can easily become overwhelmed and instead of the world having good sites it can actually damage those sites and the future generations would lose something,” Minister Anthony said.
He also urged investors as well to partake in showcasing Guyana’s tourism. Guyana is currently working with international organizations to assist in preserving its exhibits.
“We have also put out policy statements and countries have been asked to embrace these statements and also to put them into practice; what has happened in those countries is that there is this tension between trying to balance accessibility to the sites and also the preservation of the sites,” Minister Anthony said.
All museums together with the National Trust, National Archives, and other external agencies will be celebrating Ethical Responsible and Sustainable Tourism showing how heritage can bring tourists and local communities together.
Some of the exhibits on display at the Umana Yana
The Minister further noted that Guyana is working closely with several agencies including ICON which is an organization of museum professionals, committed to the conservation of the world’s natural heritage.
The exhibition concludes on May 25. Specimens of reptiles and birds, a display of drums and a replica of a rainforest and its inhabitants were on showcase.
Also attending the Exhibition were Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Fox, Administrator of the African Museum Jenny Daly and Senior Lecturer at the Newcastle University, United Kingdom, Gerard Corsane.
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Parliament is a transparent way for discussions on local Gov’t elections and reform
-OAS Assistant Secretary General
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin said that he believes that local government elections in Guyana should be held early and that the legislation heading for Parliament, is a very open and transparent way of having local government elections held within the stipulated reforms.
Ambassador Ramdin made these remarks last evening, during a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel, where he was asked for his opinions on the country’s holding of local government elections.
Mr. Ramdin was here on a two-day visit to participate in the Regional Diplomatic Training programme for mid-career CARICOM diplomats. During his visit he met with President Bharrat Jagdeo and members of the Opposition parties, including the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) to listen to and discuss some of their concerns.
There has been speculation by members of the opposition parties that the elections will be held without the appropriate reform following the termination of the Joint Task Force on local government election reform. Co-Chairman of the task force, Clinton Collymore in a statement had said that the work of the task force was being delayed because of the People’s National Congress Reform’s unwillingness and nit-picking to advance the work of the Task Force to ensure that the elections are held early.
Ambassador Ramdin said that he listened carefully to those whom he met with, and the issue of having local government reforms was raised. He said, according to his understanding, the matter will be taken to Parliament for discussion.
Parliament is a place where all the parties can express their views and come to an agreement or a consensus on the way forward, the Secretary General stated.
Government remains committed to having local government elections held before year-end and has been forging ahead with the reform process.
Because of the PNCR’s unwillingness to advance the work of the task force, President Jagdeo had announced that the Bills will be taken to National Assembly for discussions to speed up the process to ensure that the reforms are completed in a timely manner, paving the way for the elections.
Head of the Guyana Elections Commission Dr. Steve Surujbally had indicated that most of the preparatory works for the hosting of the elections has been completed, including National Identification Cards, the National register of registrants and the finger print cross-matching exercise. He hopes that the elections will be held as early as November.
Local government elections were last held in 1994 where the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) won 50 percent of the Town Councils and over 80 percent of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). Since then, no elections have been held, because of the lack of the reform process and as a result many NDCs have been dissolved.
At present there are four Bills that will be taken to the National Assembly for debate and approval. These include the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2008, The Fiscal Transfers Bill 2008 and Regulations, The Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill.
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President Jagdeo urges ACP Ministers to present a united front
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
At the reception held last evening at Duke Lodge, Kingston, in honour of the delegates attending the 11th Special ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar, President Bharrat Jagdeo urged them to work together to present a united front in international negotiations as the countries of the African, Caribbean and the Pacific regions are a more formidable force unified.
“The solidarity that we’ve had for such a long time has stood up well in international relations because in this solidarity, we had strength. When the Caribbean can get together with Africa and the Pacific and we can speak with a single voice on an issue then we pack a bigger punch that the individual size of each of these countries had we spoken by ourselves,” the President stated.
President Jagdeo greets Ambassador Ferdinand Nyabenda, Assistant Secretary General of the ACP Group at the reception for the ACP delegates at Duke Lodge, Kingston. In the background is Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud
He also reiterated that while there may be disagreements, the ACP has to be decisive on what it is they desire from international negotiations.
“We also need to be clear about what we want and what we are going to demand of the international community because many times, among ourselves, we have, and understandably so, different positions but we allow the different positions to create a situation where we can be divided because of these different positions,” the Head of State warned.
“We should have strong opinions expressed at this conference but at the end of the day we should have a single position that we will advocate strongly for internationally because we have to create space for ourselves in international relations.”
“We have to start fashioning the framework that we want in international economic and trade relations. That’s the only way we are going to ensure our prosperity so I hope that after the vigorous debates that we have a single position, that we will all put our collective weight behind and advocate strongly for that position,” he reiterated.
The 11th Special ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar is the final such conference before the end of the Sugar Protocol on September 30 that we see a cut of 36% in the preferential price enjoyed by ACP sugar-exporting countries.
He reminded the delegates that because of the difficult world economic environment, many of the ACP states will find it difficult to withstand the upcoming cuts and still remain prosperous.
“Whatever plans you have within your own country – increased productivity and to expand sugar production or do it better, to diversify away from sugar, it will require some money and most of the countries that we come from don’t have much money,” he said.
President Jagdeo and Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, are engaged in conversation with EU Ambassador to Guyana, Geert Heikens at the reception for the ACP delegates at Duke Lodge, Kingston
“A lot of them run large fiscal deficits. They have so many demands and very limited resources to meet those demands. So that situation is going to be exacerbated now because of the current global financial crisis.”
With a reduction in revenues and more people losing jobs, policymakers often shift from long-term action into many short-term measures to alleviate the immediate sufferings of people because that’s more politically feasible, the President said. Despite these difficulties, however, he was adamant that the sugar industry remain a vital part of the future of the ACP and delegates develop a strong case to take to the people they represent.
“We have to make sure that our case is strong so that even within our countries, we can demonstrate, with our arguments, that policy makers must continue to invest in this vital industry for many of our economies,” President Jagdeo said.
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.
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Participate actively in refashioning world finance, economics
- President Jagdeo implores ACP delegates
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo, at a reception for the delegates of the 11th Special ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar at Duke Lodge, Kingston last evening, encouraged them to play an integral part in reforming international finance and economic systems.
“We have to ensure through a collective action, not just on sugar, but in our foreign policy, that we participate actively in the debate that’s going on in refashioning the world of finance, the world of economics. If we don’t participate in that debate, then we run the risk of a new financial architecture being created…dissimilar to the interests of small developing countries around the world,” President Jagdeo warned.
“So we have to make sure, in that debate, that we create a sympathetic global financial architecture that will allow resources to flow into our countries for the needs of our people, and for the sugar industry too,” he said.
The President explained that the economies of the ACP countries are too small to warrant the attention of the large multilateral lending agencies and must therefore, work together in their lobbying efforts to garner special attention.
President Jagdeo addresses the ACP delegates at the reception for the ACP delegates at Duke Lodge, Kingston. In the foreground is Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud while Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is to the left of the President
“We have to understand the place that we hold in this world. If we don’t understand that and start carving out special niches through…the strength of our advocacy and our solidarity in the global institutions, no matter how hard we work, we are going to always run up against this global framework that lessens our prosperity,” he stressed.
He urged the delegates to strive to protect their economies, as no one else will.
“Often, I don’t have a problem with large countries trying to protect their interests. I think that’s the way of the world, but we too need to protect our interests,” the Head of State said.
“These countries look after their interests and we have to, as I said before, first of all, declare what we want and then fight to get that. We have to demonstrate that there is a link in this, there is a partnership in this, and that it’s not the usual old form of confrontation where we believe that the world owes us something. They don’t owe us anything but today’s problems in the world can’t be solved without, their many problems in the developed part of the world can’t be solved, without our involvement.”
Against this backdrop, President Jagdeo urged that the conference be used wisely to establish a unified position on sugar, especially in a rapidly changing world economic environment.
“Clearly what we need is an enlightened partnership but for that to happen, we have to know what we want and I hope that in this case that we leave this meeting knowing what we want on sugar and recognizing the conflicts which the battle towards the sustainability of the sugar industry will take place in,” he reminded the delegates.
“It’s taking place in a changing world, a world that is scarce on resources, where the people and countries are looking largely at their own internal situation, where there is a move to protectionism.”
The 11th Special ACP Ministerial Conference on Sugar runs from May 18 to 21 and comes at a pivotal point as the Sugar Protocol will come to an end on September 30 with a resulting 36% cut in the preferential price that is being enjoyed by the 18 ACP sugar-exporting countries: 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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Health care workers being trained for early detection of pandemic influenza
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
The Health Ministry in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) today hosted an International Health Regulations and Pandemic Influenza workshop in order to equip and trained health care workers for the early detection and management of pandemic influenza.
The three-day workshop being held at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street will focus on the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP), International Health Regulation, surveillance of influenza: generic protocol for influenza Surveillance, infection control, vaccines and antivirals, hospital preparedness plan and risk communication for health faculties.
Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health Dr. Shamdeo Persaud during his opening remarks at the PAHO/WHO International Health Regulations and pandemic Influenza workshop
Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud during his opening remarks of the programme said the workshop is timely since it is intended to focus on the clinical aspect of influenza management, surveillance monitoring and evaluation.
Influenza is a common occurrence worldwide that affects young children and the elderly, annually. A programme of preparedness is one that allows an entire system to respond in curbing the virus, Dr. Persaud noted.
He said that since the emergence of the H5N1 bird flu in 2003, Guyana has established a national committee to follow up on outbreaks of the virus.
“Part of the preparedness involved securing our ports and through the implementation of the international health regulation 2005, we are ready to put quickly, a number of systems in place to start screening our ports,” he said.
He highlighted that approximately 40 countries have reported the presence of the H1N1 virus and there is now established transmission between human to human with the virus.
“There are more than 8,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine flu) and 76 deaths so far confirmed,” Dr. Persaud stated.
Participants at the workshop
Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO country representative Dr. Kathleen Israel said that the workshop is being conducted in the context of the influenza pandemic which was anticipated as a result of H5N1.
She said the training will provide participants with the tools to identify and manage the outbreak of any virus.
“The tools you are exposed to in the workshop will prepare you to effectively monitor and detect any cases of acute respiratory infection whether it is caused by H1N1 or by H5N1,” Dr. Israel said.
Dr. Israel noted that the Caribbean has been fortunate since it has not experienced any outbreak of the H1N1 virus.
However, she noted that despite there has been no cases, countries must continue to monitor the situation and take precautionary measures to prevent acute respiratory infections.
She further urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to their work environment and communities.
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Sports personalities targeted as change agents in domestic violence fight
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
The Ministries of Human Services and Social Security and Culture, Youth and Sport are collaborating to heighten awareness of domestic violence among young people involved in sports.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Priya Manickchand and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony on May 17 attended the Harvest Time, New Testament Church of God’s annual football tournament finale at the West Demerara Secondary School playfield to educate the young people about issues relating to domestic violence.
“I think that sports men and women and artistes have their own following. I believe they have more of a duty than the regular person to spread these kinds of messages,” Minister Manickchand said.
The Minister commended the initiative by the church adding that it should be emulated by other organisations. She said it is worthy of commendation because of the number and type of young people it will reach through the game.
Minister Anthony said Government has realized the influence that sports personalities have on the public and as such has decided to recruit them in the fight against domestic violence.
He disclosed that they took the opportunity provided by the Harvest Time church to speak with the football players and spectators present.
“We want a society where people respect each other… this is just one of the many opportunities where we will be talking to our men as one of the main change agents in reducing domestic violence,” he said.
Minister Anthony also noted that if good values are instilled in youths then these would erase the need to change them as adults.
The two Ministries will jointly undertake other similar initiatives to combat domestic violence.
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is working to provide assistance to persons of this abuse through support group sessions for victims and survivors.
The Ministry, recognizing the prevalence of domestic violence in Guyana is collaborating with stakeholders to provide all the assistance needed to combat this abuse.
This will now allow victims the opportunity to participate in a forum which will assist them in gaining the vital support needed whether emotional support, practical advice, information, access to counselling or to safe accommodation so that they may overcome their horrendous experiences.
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Rural communities to benefit from two funds shortly
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
Rural farming areas continue to benefit from more government attention and shortly the Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development (READ) project which was implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture will be implementing an enterprise development and credit funds to aid with financing to rural farmers.
The READ US$6.9M project is part of the overall agriculture diversification drive of the Ministry of Agriculture and was implemented in January. This project aims to develop poor agricultural workers with emphasis being placed on non traditional producers of which rural farmers are a part. The Agriculture Development Unit (ADU) of the Ministry of Agriculture has been tasked with the responsibility of implementation.
According to Project Coordinator, Joslyn McKenzie at the re-launch of the Guyana Agricultural Producers Association (GAPA) recently, the implementation of the two funds is a very important part of the project since it was recognised that once technical assistance is provided, persons would soon need access to financing, especially in the case of rural farmers.
He noted that through these funds they will be able to establish their businesses. The Enterprise Development Fund will be used to put investments into their business whereas the credit fund will focus on working capital.
The credit facility to be established will be similar to that of the rice project under the stewardship of the European Union (EU) where there is a revolving fund for the purpose of rice farming and milling.
The two funds will be managed by a financing institution and currently, the ADU, is looking at the interest rates and other regulations as to how these funds will be implemented.
Since READ’s implementation on January 14, 2009 a steering committee including project coordinator has been established, money spent on modes of transportation so that personnel could get quickly to particular areas and key services are being procured to deliver the objectives of the project.
Also, the Ministry through the Agriculture Development Unit (ADU) is carrying out works to implement a READ office. A market development and organisation and capacity building specialist has already been acquired to address farmers issues.
The project is targeting small scale producers from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten and has two main thrusts, access to markets and human and social capacity strengthening.
READ is aimed at poverty reduction through economic development via agricultural trade. According to the Project Coordinator, the implementation of the project had come from feasibility studies which showed there was a lack of income earning activities in rural communities because of weak linkages and economic activities.
He noted that there are several constraints to enterprise development in rural areas including access to finances and marketing information.
Some of the objectives of the project include improving the living conditions of poor rural households especially small scale producers and other vulnerable groups, increasing human, social and financial assets in those communities, increasing the capacity of rural producers to efficiently produce and market non traditional products, building human and social capacity at the community level, increasing market opportunities and rural services and access to financing.
McKenzie said this project is very holistic in its implementation as it addresses general issues among farmers. He noted that there is a strong sentiment through gender development and awareness and youth empowerment since it was recognized that to strengthen the rural communities, youths needed to be empowered.
The Project Coordinator said READ allowed for inclusion by farmers whereby they can be involved in the project objectives. He added that one of the deliverables of the READ project was to have an activity such as the re-launch of the GAPA since it was difficult to work with individual farmers. GAPA is one of the groups the READ project will be working with. The READ project is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
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20 lab professionals receive advanced training
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2006
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the US Centre for Disease Control hosted a training session for 20 laboratory personnel in observance of National Laboratory Week observed recently.
The aim of training session was to provide laboratory staff with advanced laboratory operations and management techniques. The training session which was conducted at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) and at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) included laboratory staff from Bartica, West Demerara, Suddie, New Amsterdam and Georgetown hospitals.
The Laboratory Management training provided senior laboratorians with training in the areas of human resources management, customer service, financial management and laboratory process management, a release from the US embassy said.
The National Laboratory professional week provides the profession with a unique opportunity to increase public understanding of and appreciation for clinical laboratory personnel.
National Laboratory professional week was celebrated from April 19 to 25.
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UWI, Mona Campus Vice Chancellor meets President Jagdeo
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
Vice Chancellor of the University of the West in Indies in Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, Professor Nigel Harris met President Bharrat Jagdeo today to talk about the potential for collaboration with UWI and the University of Guyana in various areas.
During the meeting at the President’s State House residence, the Vice Chancellor spoke of the ways in which governments with the Universities in Guyana and the Caribbean can work more effectively to accomplish regional development.
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking with Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Nigel Harris
Agriculture and forestry are just some of the areas which he said opportunities exist during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA).
“We want to see the University of Guyana enhance its productivity and we are looking for ways in which we (UWI) can link more with them,” Vice Chancellor Harris said.
President Jagdeo used the occasion to talk extensively about the carbon credit initiative, forest preservation and funding which can be generated from such initiative.
The UWI Vice Chancellor described the President’s ideas as visionary. He also explained some of the work done by UWI in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and shared his perspectives on the ways in which UWI can work with UG to support some of the CARICOM initiatives in climate change and food security among other areas.
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President Jagdeo among global figures recognised for commitment to forest preservation – CI President
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo’s leadership in pioneering Guyana as a good example of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was praised by President of Conservation International (CI) Dr Russell Mittermeier who met him today at State House to discuss the importance of highly forested countries to the climate change mitigation drive.
Dr. Russell was accompanied by CI’s, Director David Singh and Economist Dr. Jonah Busch.
“The President has been very strong in his leadership on this issue over the past two years or so and has become one of the global figures recognised for his commitment to this issue of ensuring that tropical forests are conserved and that their emissions do not go into the atmosphere,” Dr Mittermeier said.
In the lead up to the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen later this year both CI and President Jagdeo share the same position about a carbon credit initiative for highly forested countries such as Guyana to be achieved.
It is also hoped that this initiative will lay the foundation for the post-Kyoto protocol in 2012.
In an invited comment Dr. Mittermeier said efforts are being made to ensure Guyana emerge as a leader in the development of low carbon economies.
President Bharrat Jagdeo meets the Conservation International team
About 20 percent of all emissions emanate from the burning of tropical forests. However, highly forested countries such as Guyana and Suriname can contribute towards mitigation because of the valuable contribution of their forests.
Mittermeier said it is important for the international community to work with such countries to ensure the further promotion of forest conservation, climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection.
“Those countries that are fortunate to have a large percentage of their forest cover remaining will be very significant beneficiaries in the future,” Mittermeier posited
Guyana has been considered by Conservation International a “high forest cover, low deforestation rate” country with enough potential to contribute to the climate change mitigation drive.
President Jagdeo has been at the forefront of the carbon credit initiative, promoting the maintenance of Guyana’s pristine standing forests in exchange for funding to pursue the Government’s development agenda.
He has already attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held meetings with Prince Charles in London, and with the Norwegian President in that country and made presentations to members of the US Congress in Washington, D.C. earlier this year on the matter. Most recently he addressed the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development where he urged that Copenhagen must commit to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emission, create financial flows and technology transfer.
In December 2008, the President launched Guyana’s Position on Avoided Deforestation which essentially serves as the model for the LCDS.
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Common Fund for Commodities interested in Guyana’s membership
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
Representatives of the Common Fund for Commodities today met Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo to enlighten him about the Fund and to express interest in Guyana becoming a member.
The team was lead by the Fund’s Managing Director Ambassador Ali Mchumo who met the President at State House.
President Bharrat Jagdeo meets Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities Ambassador Ali Mchumo
The Common Fund for Commodities is an intergovernmental financial institution established by the United Nations under an agreement negotiated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 1989.
The fund is a partnership of 107 member states and institutional members including the European Commission (EC) African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community.
It is set to propose the establishment of a trust fund to finance food security projects as a response to food vulnerabilities, and a mechanism through enhanced capacity for stable food crops in commodity dependent developing countries.
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Mission Child Protection continues – four children taken into protective custody
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is taking measures to ensure that Guyana’s children are protected and brought up in a safe environment. To this end, one of its flagship programmes, ‘Mission: Child Protection’ continued today on the East Coast Demerara.
Welfare Officers from the Child Care and Protection Agency of the Ministry, School’s Welfare Officers from the Department of the Ministry of Education, at Triumph, a Corporal from the Juvenile Branch, Eve Leary and a Police Officer from the Ann’s Grove Police Station visited areas on the East Coast Demerara after reports were made of child neglect, child labour and child abuse among other practices.
The officers found that indeed these were the cases at the locations visited. It was found that parents were not sending their children to school and the School’s Welfare Officers gave parents warning letters. Follow up will be done to ensure that the parents send their children to school. The officers also assured assistance to have the technical paper work sorted out to allow the children to attend school as soon as possible.
Parents were informed that they do not need a birth certificate for their child to attend school and in the interim they can visit the Human Services Ministry where assistance will be rendered.
Where children were found working, the parents were informed that it was against the law and told that if the practice continues they can be charged.
Four children ages eight months to 10 years old were found alone in a ‘shack’ in a squatting area and they were taken into custody.
Neighbours were informed of the action and were told to advise the parents to report to the Human Services Ministry the following day. They will then know the consequences of their actions and how the Ministry will assist them in ensuring that their children are not left in such a deplorable state.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand in an invited comment said that it is unfortunate that children have to be removed from the care of their parents, but in such situations the Ministry has to look at the best interest of the children.
She said since the start of the programme in 2007, the Ministry has intervened in the lives of approximately 200 children and about 100 have been placed in protective care. “It is not something we intend to get complacent with,” she said.
The children who were picked up by the officers will be placed at the Drop In Centre for the evening. Upon the visit of the parents tomorrow, the Welfare Officers will determine whether it is in the best interest of the children to return them with their parents or to place them with the closest family member.
If this is not feasible they will then be placed in a suitable child care facility of the Ministry.
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ERC to conduct workshops in Region Five
Georgetown, GINA, May 19, 2009
In keeping with its constitutional mandate to promote harmony and foster good relations among different groups in society, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) said that it will undertake a two-day visit on May 20 and 21 to Region Five to conduct meetings with Regional officials and the wider society to address some of their concerns.
According to a release from the ERC, meetings will also be conducted with all other levels of leadership within the Region including business, the social sector and religious organisations.
The ERC will be hosting a women’s workshop at the Regional boardroom on May 20 from 9:30h and a meeting with Blairmont Estate sugar workers at 14:30h.
The Commission will also meet with the Regional Executive, the regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
Officers will also be available to receive complaints from residents in keeping with the Commissioner’s mandate.
The release stated that there will also be film festivals for schools on the West Coast of Berbice, hosted by the ERC’s Public Education and Awareness Unit.
In addition, a special youth meting will be held at the Regional boardroom on May 21 at 14:00 h.
The ERC is a constitutional body established: to provide equal opportunity for persons of different ethnic groups; to promote good relations and foster social cohesion by promoting the elimination of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, and a sense of security among all ethnic groups to help in the process of nation building.
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