Special literacy programme for Grade Six students starts June 1
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
The Ministry of Education through the National Center for Resource Development (NCERD) will conduct a special six-week literacy and numeracy training programme for Grade Six students in all primary schools beginning June one.
The programme is designed to help students, who have already written the National Grade Six Examinations, cope with the secondary school programme in September.
The programme which was introduced last year focuses on upgrading students’ literacy and numeracy skills and is an extra effort by NCERD and the Ministry to fast- track literacy attainment.
The Ministry believes that when students move to secondary school with literacy training, they would have an advantage to benefit from instruction in their new schools.
The programme’s success depends on parents’ cooperation and on having all teachers committed and supportive of those who will be leading the programme in schools; as such the Ministry is encouraging parents to ensure that their children participate.
TOP
Moruca Expo begins tomorrow
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
Moruca Day which has become an annual exposition in Region One will be held on May 30 and 31; allowing for the Region’s residents to exhibit their culture, talent and showcase their region’s continuing development.
This event usually includes aquatic sports such as canoeing, swimming and a fair where people showcase their crafts, food and music among others. A pageant also forms part of the celebrations.
Government has continued to play a significant role in the development of Amerindian communities.
Recently, three Region One communities benefitted from a tractor and a boat engine to ensure self-sufficiency and move their agricultural activities to the commercial level.
Government, to boost production and supply jobs to hinterland residents donated five chainsaws to the Region Nine communities of Massara, Wowetta, Paipang, Taushida and Apoteri as well.
TOP
Contract inked for US $18M Haags Bosch landfill access road
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
A US $18M contract was awarded H. Nauth and Sons Civil Engineering Contractors to build a 2.5 kilometer access road to the Haags Bosch landfill site, aback of Eccles. The contractor has to build an asphalted road within a stipulated time of five months.
The project is funded by the Government of Guyana in a partnership loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The Haags Bosch sanitary landfill project was initiated as part of government’s policy to improve sanitation within Georgetown and 15 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC).
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Gov’t and Regional Development, Sewchan (right), handing over the contract to Kiran Nauth of H. Nauth and Sons Civil Engineering Contractors.
The landfill which was designed in 2004, will serve more than half of the country’s population. The establishment of this site led to the government’s decision to partly close Le Repentir landfill sometime this year.
Sewchan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, said that an office will be erected on site to closely monitor the project to ensure that works are not sub-standard and that there is no time lapse.
During a recent sitting of the National Assembly, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall had said that the new landfill site is expected to be completed this year. More than $651M was budgeted this year for the site.
TOP
Greater transparency and oversight expected of money transfer sector
- with passing of Money Transfer Agencies (Licensing) Bill 2009.
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
Greater transparency, accountability and good governance relating to the operations of money transfer agencies and money transfers agents’ operations are expected with the National Assembly unanimously passing the Money Transfer Agencies (Licensing) Bill 2009.
This Bill seeks to make provisions for an effective administrative, operational and legal framework for the conduct of business of money transfers and to make provisions for the registering of money transfer agents and for committed purposes.
After the Bill was introduced in the National Assembly, it was sent to the Special Select Committee where consultations were held with stakeholders who were requested to make written submissions of their views. The Committee acknowledged the Grace Kennedy Remittances Guyana Ltd for its participation in this process.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jennifer Webster said that based on the committee’s work a number of clauses was amended, and consultations and useful discussions by members of the Committee resulted in useful amendments being made to the Bill.
Minister Webster explained that money transfer agencies play a key role in the mobilization of foreign currency, and inward remittances have become a very important for foreign exchange flow within Guyana. “In light of the important role of money transfer agencies within our economy this Bill seeks to ensure that operators of money transfer agencies are effectively regulated by making the Central Bank the principal regulatory authority on licencing conditions and suspensions, revocations and rights.”
The Bill makes provisions that a person or agency wishing to conduct the business of money transfer must obtain the requisite approval or licence from the Central Bank to conduct such operations.
In this regard she noted that, “this Bill substantially improves the supervision exercise over money transfer agencies and reduces the risks involved in the conduct of these transactions thereby ensuring greater safety of the transactions by the users of these services. The Central Bank will now have an improved set of information based on a more systematic collection of data on which to be able to better access the scope and the extent of these agencies and their economic impact on Guyana’s economy.”
Additionally, this information will serve to better inform key policy decisions taken by government.
The Bill makes it mandatory that money transfer agencies to publish their transaction fees as it seeks to eliminate hidden transaction costs as government moves to further improve transparency and reduce cost as the agencies compete for customers.
People’s National Congress/ Reform Member of Parliament, Winston Murray said that, “The PNC/R clearly supports this approach of greater oversight of the financial sector… the move to send this Bill to a Special Select Committee yet again was a good one for in that Committee we were able to fine-tune and tidy-up many aspects of the Bill and to have done so on the basis of consensus.”
Murray added that, “Overall we support the thrust for greater oversight of money transfer agencies and agents of money transfer agencies.”
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad informed that currently under the present Companies Act there is no oversight, no interventions or no questions asked when persons apply for a licence. “This Bill seeks to put an end to that in keeping with the government’s commitment of a sound macro-economic environment and to protect the interest of people.”
The passing of this legislation is to govern the local money transfer sector to protect an important service from the vulnerabilities to which it is currently exposed.
TOP
Child Care and Protection Agency to be operational shortly
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security which has responsibility for the establishment of the Child Care and Protection Agency has been making strides in this direction as it is currently in the process of verifying the suitability of applicants for various post in the agency.
“We want to ensure that we get the best in terms of personnel, regarding expertise, as well as willingness to work and we are being careful about staffing the agency,” Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand said.
The agency is expected to function as an oversight and management committee for the Protection of Children’s Bill, the Status of Children’s Bill and the Adoption of the Children’s Bill which were recently passed in the National Assembly. It will also have responsibility for the two other Children’s Bill; the Child Care and Development Services Bill and the Custody Guardianship Maintenance and Access Bill which are to be tabled in the National Assembly shortly.
The Child Care and Protection Agency legislation was passed on January 8, 2009 and was later assented to by President Bharrat Jagdeo, making history in Guyana as it was the first time that legislation was passed to create an agency that deals specifically with children, especially those in vulnerable situations.
The Legislation states that the Agency has the power to implement the policies and decisions in relation to the laws governing children: the monitoring of childcare facilities; to intervene in cases where a child is abused or neglected and to protect vulnerable children.
Additionally, the Agency will allow for the removal of children from difficult circumstances, those who are in dangerous and harmful situations; to assess foster-care applications to place children in foster homes; to enforce the minimum standard that was published in June and to be responsible for the administrative works that relate to children.
“Child protection in Guyana has taken on a whole new life and we have committed in our manifesto a whole menu of measures to ensure that children are properly taken care for, to ensure that we provide an environment that children can be protected, but more particularly to actively prevent children from being abused and harmed and put in a situation that they can be discriminated against,” Minister Manickchand said.
In this regard, she added that this agency is one step further to ensure that children are brought up in a more conducive environment.
On April 30, the Ministry launched a logo competition for the Agency. Children countrywide are being urged to enter the competition as it will allow them the opportunity to partake in the formation of the Agency.
TOP
Abary Creek, Region Five benefits from gov’t intervention
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
As part of the government’s intervention to enhance development in all the regions, the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, today handed over some much needed equipment to Region Five.
Minister of Local Gov’t and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall hands over documents to Regional Executive Officer, Floyd France, while Permanent Secretary, Sewchan and Aretha Henry, Principal Regional Development Officer look on.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall presented the procured equipment to Regional Executive Officer, Floyd France, with the hope that they serve the purpose for which they are intended.
The items include one Alumacraft -16ft aluminum boat, two outboard engines, and five Stihl brush cutters at a total cost of $3.2M and are intended for use in the Abary Creek.
Minister Lall said that this is all part of an intervention drafted by President Bharrat Jagdeo on his visit to Abary in January. The Minister revealed plans to present more equipment to various other regions as part of this same outreach in the near future.
The boat will be used to transport health and education officers and children to school.
TOP
LCDS to be launched on June 8
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
Head of State, Bharrat Jagdeo, today met with government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and representatives from the Norwegian Government and their local counterparts to finalize preparations for the launch of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) on June 8.
According to an outline provided by Shyam Nokta, Head of the Climate Change Unit, the strategy will provide the broad framework of Guyana’s response to climate change and will hinge, in particular on Guyana deploying its forests to mitigate global climate change. It builds on work done in the last year which culminated in the launch in December 2008 of Guyana’s Position on Avoided Deforestation which essentially serves as the blueprint for the strategy’s development.
The primary focus of the strategy will be on investments in low carbon economic infrastructure and in high-potential low-carbon sectors; expanding access to services and new economic opportunities for indigenous and forest communities and transforming the village economy, as well as improving social services and economic opportunities for the wider Guyanese population; and investments in climate change adaptation infrastructure.
President meets with government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and representatives from the Norwegian Government and their local counterparts to finalize preparations for the launch of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) on June 8
.
The strategy will be launched with a stakeholder forum at the Guyana International Conference Center. Stakeholders will include members of the National Assembly, indigenous and forest communities’ representatives, mining and forestry sectors’ representatives, major private sector organizations, the labour movement and local and international NGOs.
Sub-national consultations will follow and a national awareness campaign utilizing print and electronic media including television programmes, interviews and discussions that will target the general public, as well as schools.
Consultations will be held in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten as well as on the coast, in Essequibo and Berbice. These consultations will cover a period of three months.
Also, a question and answer booklet is being prepared to capture the essence of the strategy in language suitable for the general public as well as provide responses and clarifications on a number of frequently asked questions regarding climate change, Guyana’s response and deployment of its forests towards addressing global climate change.
The strategy will then be tabled in the National Assembly for debate and approval, and will be presented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark in December.
The LCDS represents an important juncture in Guyana’s national development efforts and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the consultations.
TOP
NWG to supply honey production equipment tomorrow
…and launch apiary management training programme
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
Tomorrow at the Kuru Kururu Extension Centre, Kuru Kururu, Linden Soesdyke Highway, the National Working Group (NWG), a group of volunteers comprising representatives from the Government and the private sector, promoting partnerships for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), will be handing over equipment to foster honey production and launch a training programme in apiary management.
The objective of the NWG is to foster national partnerships and promote sustainable development-oriented business practices, with the aim of attaining the MDGs. This is being pursued through broad collaboration with stakeholders in identifying sustainable projects and matching resources with those projects.
Over the years, the NWG has collaborated with a number of agencies, Government, NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) to enhance their capacity and to support projects designed to create jobs and improve the livelihood of benefiting communities.
Working with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Kuru Kururu Farmers Association, the NWG is encouraging farmers in the area to engage in the production of honey parallel to the production of fruits.
A vital component of this project is to serve as a source of nuclei hives for other interested communities with which the NWG intends to collaborate. Another important element is to teach the community to use the by-products of honey to produce other products for domestic use and sale.
This is a pilot that explores an important and sustainable link between agriculture and apiculture and it supports the stated public policy objectives of expanding food production, economic diversification and environmental sustainability.
TOP
Three Integrity Commissioners sworn in
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
President Bharrat Jagdeo today swore in three members of the Integrity Commission at the Office of the President. The members are representative of the three major religious denominations in Guyana – Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.
The Commissioners are Fazeel Ferouz from the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana, Subhadra Sukhai, and Reverend Nigel Hazel of the Moravian Church.
Fazeel Ferouz, Subhadra Sukhai and Reverend Nigel Hazel before sworn in by President Bharrat Jagdeo to the Integrity Commission.
The Integrity Commission is not yet fully constituted as no Chairman has been identified. Dr. James Rose, the nominee for the chairmanship, had earlier withdrawn his name from consideration.
Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, had stated that the conclusion of the appointment of the Integrity Commission would await the consultations between the President and the Leader of the Opposition on the Commission’s Chairperson.
“The Chairman of the Commission had not been identified nor had there been the necessary consultations on his appointment,” he had noted.
The swearing in of the Commissioners follows statements by President Jagdeo to this effect. He was, at the time, explaining that the consultations with the Opposition on the Integrity Commission should go on in the absence of the Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin, who had to be flown overseas for medical attention after complaining of chest pains.
President Bharrat Jagdeo congratulates Fazeel Ferouz on becoming an Integrity Commission member.
“I don’t think we can await the Leader of the Opposition. When I’m out the country, the Prime Minister carries on with the consultation. The last time I was out of the country he led the consultations with Mr. Corbin on the Integrity Commission,” President Jagdeo had said.
As a result, Dr. Luncheon had written to the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) on the matter.
President Bharrat Jagdeo congratulates Subhadra Sukhai on becoming a member of the Integrity Commission.
Earlier this year, the Head of State had issued an order for officials in public office beginning with Members of Parliament (MPs) to submit their declaration of assets and liabilities to the Integrity Commission, which is a requirement under the Integrity Commission Act.
The opposition had however, criticized the constitutionality of the Commission and had called for it to be reconstituted especially with the absence of a Chairman.
President Bharrat Jagdeo congratulates Reverend Nigel Hazel on becoming a member of the Integrity Commission.
In response, Dr. Prem Misir, Head of the Press and Publicity Affairs, Office of the President, at a forum to discuss the issue of non-compliance by Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) with the requirements of the Integrity Commission, stated that despite the High Court challenge made to the constitutionality of the membership of the Commission by PNC/R Leader, Robert Corbin, the Commission has been executing its mandate since the court has not ruled otherwise.
Addressing a question by Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman on the issue of the legitimacy of President Jagdeo’s involvement in issuing an ultimatum to the defaulting MPs, Dr. Misir referred to Article 19 of the Integrity Commission Act of 1997 which states: where a person who is required to do so fails to file a declaration in accordance with this Act or to furnish particulars under section 18, the Commission or the President, as the case may be, shall publish the fact in the Gazette and in a daily newspaper.
The Integrity Commission was formed in 1991 but was replaced in 1997 with new laws that aim to enhance the level of transparency in light of allegations about corruption in public life.
TOP
Another CPG gets vehicle from Gov’t
Georgetown, GINA, May 29, 2009
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee today handed over the keys to a pickup vehicle to the Enmore Policing group to boost the Group’s efforts in securing their community.
The Enmore Policing group is among some of the best performing groups in ‘C’ Division on the East Coast Demerara.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee with members of the Enmore Community Policing Group
Minister Rohee said that the vehicle will aid enhancement of the group’s ability to effectively patrol the community, and urged members to encourage the involvement of other residents.
“The public should be instrumental in getting rid of criminal elements and their activities in all neighbourhoods in villages, towns, cities and anywhere else, by assisting and co-operating with the members of the Force,” Minister Rohee said.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee hands over key to Chairman of the Enmore Community Policing Group M. Shaw
He also noted that Community Policing is part of a structured unit linked to the Ministry of Home Affairs and in this regard he said that Government remains unshaken in its support for these groups and has been providing them with tangible support in the form of equipment and vehicles.
Government has been contributing significantly toward the development of CPGs throughout Guyana in areas such as Berbice, East and West Coast Demerara, and on the Essequibo Coast, as part of its mandate to preserve peace and maintain stability.
TOP
|
