GECOM to monitor NDCs- Minister Lall
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2009
Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall recently gave an undertaking to work with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in a consultative approach to determine the number of seats in the existing Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
The Ministry asked for particular focus to be placed on those areas that are geographically small and/or under populated.
This undertaking was given during a meeting between Minister Lall and a team of GECOM representatives, which was held on the initiative of the Commission.
GECOM recommended that this intervention be carried out before the Minister makes any Order pertaining to the demarcation of constituencies.
Minister Lall could by Order, reduce the number of seats on the NDCs, however, this can only be done after the Draft Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2009 is tabled and passed in the National Assembly.
Minister Lall assured GECOM that the boundaries of the existing NDCs will not be changed for the upcoming Local Government Elections, and advised that the demarcation of the constituencies be carried out with this in mind.
GECOM recommended putting together a proposal for the demarcation of the constituencies, with the suggestion of the number of seats to be considered by Minister Lall.
The upcoming Local Government Elections, which is slated to be held sometime this year, will be of significant importance to Guyana.
Minister Lall has already tabled the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, Local Government Commissions Bill, Fiscal Transfers Bill 2009 and the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2009, which are the four pieces of legislation that were identified to be amended by the reconstituted Local Government Task Force.
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Future policy directions – opportunities and challenges
- an extract from Guyana’s 2nd WTO trade policy review
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2009
Guyana, as other developing countries, faces great challenges in the years ahead, which is further aggravated by the current global financial crisis. Despite these challenges, the Government of Guyana has outlined clear policies aimed at making Guyana a better place for business and investments. Significant improvements in key areas such as electricity and road infrastructure are expected over the next several years and will help to make Guyana more competitive. Further export diversification and more exports of value-added products, as well as services, can be seen already.
Reforming traditional industries
A key challenge is the future of the sugar industry. The price cut of 36% by the European Union, which is the key export market for sugar, will be fully implemented by October 2009. Together with a relatively low sugar production in 2008 mainly due to extreme weather phenomena, the industry is facing difficulties.
However, the ongoing modernization of the sugar industry, including the construction of a US$181M sugar factory, the increased use of mechanization and a focus on value-added products, such as packaged and refined sugar, and molasses is expected to bring substantial improvements to the industry.
The rice, rum and garment sectors will be affected by a substantial loss of the value of their preferences in the EU and US markets. Although these industries may be able to adapt to a changing trading environment, it is crucial that sufficient time and resources be provided to allow for the necessary transformation.
Competition policy
Another challenge is a lack of competition in some sectors. This is not unique to Guyana, but a typical problem for small countries, where usually only a few suppliers or importers compete.
To address this, Guyana has adopted a new competition law, which, once fully implemented, will help to raise the level of competition and reduce anti-competitive practices. As can be seen in other world regions, a better regional integration, as is foreseen with the completion of the CSME, can also be a major step towards more competition in the local market.
Transport infrastructure
Better transport links to neighbouring Brazil are a major opportunity for Guyana in the years ahead. The planned upgrading of the Linden-Lethem highway to an all-weather road will not only provide better access to local markets for hinterland communities, but it would also allow the transhipment of goods from and to Brazil. Together with upgraded harbour infrastructure in Guyana, goods could be shipped much faster and at competitive freights from and to the Brazilian state of Roraima, rather than having to be shipped via Manaus and the Amazon River. Guyana could also profit from better and cheaper shipping connections due to better infrastructure and economies of scale. There is also a substantial potential for exports to that part of Brazil.
Energy
The supply of electricity in Guyana faces difficulties. Guyana relies on imported oil for its power supply, which makes it very vulnerable to price shocks on the oil market. However, several projects to exploit hydropower are under way, the most advanced being the Amalia Falls Hydro Project.
There are also plans to use wind power, and Government is addressing the demand side through increased efforts to reduce technical and commercial losses. It is therefore expected that power supply will see substantial improvements over the next few years, which will also have a very positive effect on the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. In the long run, Guyana’s vast potential for the generation of hydropower could also be used to export energy to other countries in the region or for the production of aluminium.
Export diversification
A major challenge is the need to diversify exports. The bulk of Guyana’s current exports consist of only a small number of products, which are mostly agricultural commodities and products of the mining industry (sugar, rice, gold, diamonds, bauxite and timber). This makes the Guyanese economy vulnerable to price shock,s and the erosion of preferences for agricultural commodities is an additional challenge. But non-traditional exports are already on the rise. Examples are a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Aquaculture is also seen as one of the sectors with a significant potential for increased production, given Guyana’s abundance of water resources.
New technologies and ICT
New technologies also offer new opportunities for exports of services. In 2006, the Government launched its ICT strategy which when fully implemented will have a wide ranging impact on the economy. A number of call centres are already operating in Guyana, catering for the North American market and have proven that Guyana can successfully compete in such new sectors.
Tourism is also expected to become a more important sector of the economy. Guyana’s abundance of unspoiled flora and fauna increasingly attracts eco-tourists, and the large Guyanese Diaspora is also a significant market for that sector.
Climate change and environmental impact
Climate change could have a significant impact on Guyana’s economy. Most of Guyana’s coastland lies below sea level and a change in weather patterns could negatively affect the agricultural sector and thereby directly affect Guyana’s exports.
Guyana has already seen an increase in rainfall and floods over the last five years, which caused significant damage to livelihoods of people and agricultural production. These events have shown how vulnerable Guyana’s economy is to the effects of climate change.
Therefore, the Government has put policies to combat climate change at the core of its programme. Guyana is willing to play its part in the fight to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and is ready to integrate its rainforest in a global carbon credit scheme within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), specifically under the proposed REDD mechanism (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation).
In 2008, the Office of the President presented a detailed paper, laying down Guyana’s position on avoided deforestation. In this regard, Guyana can become a significant provider of environmental services and such activities could help to secure revenue to allow addressing adaptation needs, such as improved sea defence and drainage, while creating other non-forestry related opportunities.
Public-private dialogue
The Government of Guyana places high priority on extensive public-private dialogue on policy matters, including trade-related policies. A good example is the institutionalised high-level inter-agency “National Advisory Committee on External Negotiations”, established since 1997, in which senior members of the public and private sectors, academia and labour, consult on trade policy developments, including national preparation for and participation in external trade negotiations. Consultations with relevant stakeholders also extend to the implementation of trade agreements.
As a matter of public policy and good governance, the Government is committed to the consultative process to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Guyanese public of the benefits and impact of trade and trade liberalization. The Government of Guyana will continue this practice to ensure that the public is thoroughly involved and can provide input into crucial trade-policy matters.
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CDC, partners diversify flood/disaster preparedness strategies
- demonstrate use of solar thermal energy in cooking, water pasteurisation.
Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2009.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), an Office of the President agency, and partners United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, are conducting training and demonstration in the use of solar thermal energy and relief pod in cases of natural disasters, and generally, in an effort to cut carbon emissions and cost of living.
Demonstrations on the use of the relief pod
On Tuesday last, the CDC and its partners commenced training in the use of computer technology to create information pertaining to flooding and how the effects of flooding can be mitigated by proactive measures. One week later, solar cooking and the use of relief pod were added to the gamut of disaster preparedness strategies.
Solar-cooked cook-up rice being sampled
Inventor of the relief pod and Product Director of Relief Pod International, Joseph Molinaro, explained that he began working on the mechanism when he was in college in the United States (US). Relief Pod International has been gaining ground outside of the US, and it is hoped that the device, which can be used as a stretcher in time of casualty or even a buoy to float casualties, will attract the attention of more states around the world and its usefulness appreciated.
Patricia Mc Ardle, member of the Board of Directors of Solar Cookers International, Solar Household Energy, explained the process of cooking with the use of solar thermal energy.
The design of the solar cooker on display, according to Mc Ardle, was devised by a French physicist, and is free for access on the internet. It is made of foil glued on cardboard in a manner that allows the deflection of the sun’s rays onto a pot.
Mouth-watering cook-up rice cooked on solar cooker
Mc Ardle explained that the pot, which can be of any metallic body, must be painted black since the colour helps to absorb heat. The pot must be put into a baking bag which helps to trap heat up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit – the measure of heat that is required for cooking to take place.
Water pasteurisation is also possible with the use of solar thermal energy.
Students who were trained to use the solar cooker prepared meals which were on display for sampling. The cooking lasted for two hours, and a heat insulator made of cardboard, old newspaper and straw was used to keep food warm for in excess of three hours.
In recent months, Government has shown considerable intent to diversify the economy by creating new areas of economic advancement – areas that are environmentally friendly. The launch of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is the greatest testimony to this reality.
Solar cooker
Solar cooking is in-sync with Government’s drive to create clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The activities hosted by the CDC will conclude on Friday with a seminar that will be attended by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Ministers of Government.
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