Site preparations for La Penitence health center commences
Georgetown, GINA, May 23, 2009
Site preparations are ongoing for the establishment of a new modern health care facility at La Penitence, Georgetown that would benefit residents of East, West and North La Penitence.
It is being established under the Ministry of Health and the United States (US) Government cooperation and will boast modern facilities including a laboratory.
The site formerly known as ‘punt trench’ is being prepared by V.I Graham Associates and the structure will be built by the US army.
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said that the selection of the location was done after thorough analysis by the Ministry to identify a suitable location for the facility.
“We already have several small health centres which basically provide limited services which have over the years done a great job. The strength lies in the provision of services predominantly in maternal and child health,” Dr. Ramsaran said.
The site formerly known as ‘punt trench’ being prepared for construction of the La Penitence Health Centre
“We have taken the opportunity, the Ministry of Health has use the good offer of the “New Horizon Project” to construct a facility similar to the one that we have now in Sophia in this densely populated area,” he stated.
Site Engineer, V. I Graham Associates, Victor Graham said that preparation for the facility entails clearing of unwanted materials from the land, mixing of Gabon stones, sand, loom and crusher run for the casting of the foundation.
He said the preparation for the foundation will be completed by the end of June when the actual construction will commence by the US army.
The Health Centre is expected to be completed this year and as part of the agreement the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be providing security arrangements to secure the construction site.
The construction and repairs of health facilities across the country is one of the administration’s tenets to diversify and improve quality health care delivery to all Guyanese. To date more than 28 hospitals were constructed and rehabilitated to improve primary health care.
TOP
NARI to work with EMBRAPA in transforming Region Nine’s agriculture
- focus to be placed on fruit production
Georgetown, GINA, May 23, 2009
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) will soon begin working with EMBRAPA in Brazil to aid in transforming the vast savannah lands in Region Nine into agricultural activities.
NARI’s Director Dr. Oudho Homenauth told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that this is part of the drive by Government through the Ministry of Agriculture to develop hinterland areas.
EMBRAPA, the Brazilian Research Corporation has been successful in transforming Brazil’s vast savannah lands into a grain belt. Earlier, Guyana had signed a cooperation agreement with Brazil to develop upland rice in hinterland areas such as Region Nine.
According to Dr. Homenauth, the research station at Region Nine which will be rejuvenated into a research centre will liaise with EMBRAPA in the transfer of appropriate technology. A senior officer from NARI is already stationed in the region.
Much emphasis, he said, would be placed on training and model farms for the community. NARI will continue to provide research combined with extension services to the area.
NARI’s Director said that EMBRAPA will be aiding in improving the agro forestry systems in Guyana to crop production.
In terms of the savannah lands in Region Nine, EMBRAPA will help with technical advice in utilizing these for crop production, especially fruits.
EMBRAPA will be giving technical support with respect to the cashew expansion project that is ongoing in Region Nine. NARI has been involved in the development of cashews in that region.
TOP
Lights being installed on East Bank corridor
Georgetown, GINA, May 23, 2009
Government is maintaining its commitment to road safety and security, as seen in the many areas that are now illuminated.
Currently another phase of street lighting is being executed as light poles are being installed along the East Bank Demerara corridor. This project is expected to continue up to Timehri.
The $137M contract has been granted to Cummings Electrical and is expected to be completed in July. This project will see the entire East Bank corridor illuminated. Ruimveldt to Providence already has street lighting.
Newly mounted street lights.
Residents along the East Bank have expressed their gratitude to the Government for the initiative which they said will make the area safer and probably reduce accidents.
Through a $241M project, street lights were erected from Better Hope, East Coast Demerara to Golden Grove. More that 400 lamps were put up.
Lights which were installed by Cummings Electrical Ltd, East Bank Highway
To date, government has spent billions of dollars to install lights along several roadways in areas from the Russian Embassy to Better Hope (252 lamps), Mahaica-Rosignol Highway (619 lamps), Mahaica and Mahaicony bridges and approaches (132 lamps), Timehri to Republic Park (132 lamps), Ruimveldt Police Outpost to Demerara Harbour Bridge, Demerara Harbour Bridge to Vreed-en-Hoop (460 lamps) and Kitty Pump Station to Seawall Bandstand (48 lamps).
TOP
Several specialists to boost hinterland agriculture
Georgetown, GINA, May 23, 2009
Agriculture in the hinterland will be further boosted with a number of specialists, who will be placed in the various regions. They will initially assist the 15 communities in the Mabaruma sub-region, Region One.
Three of the specialists are already stationed at Hotoquai and within days the others are expected to arrive. The seven specialists will provide services in enterprise development and finance and marketing and other areas.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai addresses residents at Hotoquai
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai during a recent trip to the Maburuma sub-region urged the residents to make use of the knowledge that will be available to them. The experts will be living in the area for two years.
Minister Sukhai said that the agriculturalist and pest control specialist will assist the communities in controlling pests.
“There might be pests from time to time that may affect your farms. You may want to expand or to also enhance your farming and cultivation techniques and therefore, the agriculturalist will help you in doing that,” she said.
The Minister disclosed that the agriculturist will have a wide range of work programmes to assist hinterland farmers within his two-year tenure.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai speaking with specialists at Hosororo.Among them are a food technologist, a business development officer and an aquaculture specialist
The Minister said the specialist in enterprise development will visit the communities to establish what they are capable of or already cultivating.
She said he will provide support to ensure that the farmers can be more organized and better manage their trade.
The food technologist will determine the villages’ potential to process produce. This will improve shelf life and marketability.
The Minister said that the 15 communities will not have the same product and this will give them a sense of ownership.
She noted that the villages have a variety of products but there are some that have tremendous potential. “They can be lifted to a different level. For example Hosororo plants peanut, White water plants peanut, but in Hosororo you have the Blue Flame Women’s group who is doing peanut butter, that’s a product but that product still needs to be refined; the techniques of production need to be refined and advanced and also needs to be expanded,” she explained.
The hinterland communities have tremendous business potential. A Finance and Marketing Expert will be placed in the area to examine the marketing potential of products produced. “The market at Port Kaituma provides a much wider market for your produce than Kumacka and Maburuma, so that the marketing specialist will look at the regional market demands,” she said.
Region One residents
The Minister noted that the specialist may also explore the possibility of international markets. “They have two years here where they will be able to develop a market…for one of the organic produce that will be produced in one of your communities,” she said.
The Business Development Specialists is already working with some of the communities and has submitted a project to harness the production of honey from the region. This project includes seven communities that will be able to harvest the natural honey in its natural stage and habitat before venturing out into production.
The Agriculturalist will be exploring the possibility of harnessing the crab sector in the Tobago/Wauna hill area. Minister Sukhai said, ‘It’s a local product that they will want to examine and see how it will be produced and enhance production.”
He will also guide the communities in the growth of aquaculture. “They will not introduce anything new they will examine what help you need to develop a certain crop or maybe to cultivate fish,” she added.
The specialists are getting acquainted with the country. They are also providing additional support to the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and six more are expected in Guyana by September.
Government continues its effort to consolidate the future for youths, to bring them on board with Government’s development thrust. As such the project also offers 12 young Amerindians and hinterland youths a chance to work along with the specialists.
TOP
Minister Lall briefs Amerindian leaders on upcoming local gov’t elections
Georgetown, GINA, May 23, 2009
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall at a conference for Amerindian leaders of Regions Eight and Nine briefed them about the local government election which government intends to hold this year and about local government reform legislation to be taken to parliament. He also advised them that the manner of its conduct will be different.
Minister Lall addressing leaders at the conference
“What is going to happen is, instead of electing the councillors on a Proportional Representation basis we are going to have this time, 50 of the councillors elected on a PR basis and 50 percent on a constituency basis. Each NDC here in Lethem is going to be sub-divided into a certain amount of constituencies and we are going to have councillors representing each constituency, that is 50% of the councillors, and 50% will be done on a universal basis similar to how the toshaos were elected recently,” Minister Lall said.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai flanked by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall, Region 9 Chairman Clarindo Lucas and Regional Executive Officer
President Bharrat Jagdeo on May 22 announced that government plans to take at least one of the four pieces of legislation, to Parliament on Thursday, May 28.
At the conference held at St. Ignatius, Region Nine, on May 22 and 23, Minister Lall told the toshaos and other attendees that under the new Amerindian Act, Government has formalized and institutionalized the democratic organs within the communities mainly the village councils which include toshaos and councillors.
He encouraged them to organize themselves to attain the level of the NDCs since this is necessary if they are to be part of the development process.
A section of the participants at the conference
“Your council is like the government in your area, you have the authority to see to it that your area is developed in an orderly manner; you have the authority to see to it that the place is kept clean and healthy; that it is arranged in such a way that people can live and do their work in a very peaceful and quiet way so in a sense, in Amerindian villages, although you form under a separate act, you are a part of the governmental system in Guyana and under the constitution you are a part of a larger system. I think the toshaos and councils need to keep in close contact with the RDCs,” Minister Lall said.
He advised that all agencies executing work in Amerindian communities must make available to the councils the bills of quantities and the project documents.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall addressing Amerindian leaders at the conference
“We should give some supervisory authority to the council to see to it that people who are doing work on behalf of the community, on behalf of the State are doing it in the right manner and the toshaos and the councillors must have a role to play in supervising these works.”
There will also be ongoing current programmes to maintain schools and hospitals and health centers, he advised the leaders and being a part and parcel of the Government structure, they have to play their roles.
He updated them about the world financial crisis and difficulties faced by countries, including Guyana, and explained that whatever welfare benefits are given by government especially in health, housing and education, it will continue to ensure that they are not eroded.
In this light he explained that government is looking at how it can attract more investments, including local ones.
Participants at the Conference for Amerindian Leaders in St. Ignatius, Lethem
While urging them to produce more for export so as to increase earning, he emphasised that this message is the one now being taken to the hinterland areas. He also referred to the plans by the Ministry of Agriculture to revamp the Region’s agriculture and provide technical experts to serve the community so that they can divert from traditional farming practices to utilise science and technology. This he said will guarantee that quality products will be produced and packaged for external markets.
He assured that in spite of the fact that the country welcomes investors, it will not allow them to conduct their economic ventures such as farming in a manner that will be detrimental to local farmers as they would have to respect the country’s laws and people’s culture and traditions.
The Minister expressed concern over the manner in which people conduct economic activities in Amerindian communities. He said those persons sometimes take advantage of the resources within and little or no benefit is given to the residents of those communities.
Toshao John Alfred of Nappi in Region 9 making his contribution at the Conference
“Amerindian communities must see to it that whatever arrangements are in the councils and contractors and other people who want to come and work in the area that they are above board …and the Amerindian communities must benefit from those agreements and arrangements. The people of the communities will have to be the watch dogs,” he urged.
The conference also addressed the cultural and traditional rights of Amerindians. Over 60 Amerindian Leaders from various villages and communities participated in sharing information.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai also addressed the leaders and an interactive session among Toshaos, village councillors and other community leaders was conducted.
The leaders were also informed about issues such as law and order and climate change. Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Justice Cecil Kennard and Dr. David Singh of Conservation International (CI) made presentations on these issues.
TOP
|
