Housing Ministry committed to providing adequate housing
-will not tolerate squatting-Minister Ali
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali today reiterated his Ministry’s commitment of providing adequate housing to Guyanese.
The Minister who was speaking on the Anna Catherina/Cornelia Ida Sea View squatters’ issue during the television programme ‘Voice of the People’ on Channel Six said, “The Ministry of Housing and Water is committed to its actions of ensuring that our people have adequate housing facility. We are not going to accept illegality.”
Minister Ali pointed out that squatters were allocated houselots in the Cornelia Ida and Tuschen schemes and constructed homes by Food for the Poor Incorporated.
Of the 32 families that were removed and allocated land, several had sold their lots, rented the Food for the Poor houses and returned to squat at Anna Catherina/Sea View. Those persons who were provided houselots and have sold them, will face legal actions since they are creating mischief in society, Minister Ali stated.
He said it was surprising that certain sections of the media reported that squatters were given 14 days to remove from the Sea View area without seeking comments from his Ministry.
The Minister said the information is inaccurate and that the last notice was served to squatters in April 2009 to remove from the sea defences.
During that period an occupational survey was conducted on the 33 household of squatters who were invited to visit the Ministry and apply for houselots. Only 12 persons visited the Ministry at the end of December 2009, he said.
They (squatters) were further advised that persons with old application including persons on the sea defence would be granted houselots at the Parfaite/Harmonie housing area.
“How is it that 100 persons turned up and not the 33 squatters? It shows that it was a well planned activity and they started this on January 1, 2010 during the period of the long holiday weekend,” he said.
On December 30, 2009 the Sea View area was affected by the spring tide which overtopped sections of the sea defence destroying several squatters’ homes.
Minister Ali pointed out that decisive actions had to be taken since his Ministry’s staff were threatened by squatters during their visit on January 2, to the Anna Catherina South Scheme where squatters erected illegal structures on government’s reserve.
“This is not something that was plucked out of the air and we took action. This was a series of events that led to the final actions that were taken. In any society development must be structured. The government housing programme is to develop houselots especially for the low income group…we could only allocate in areas that we are developing and one of the areas that we are developing is Parfaite/Harmonie that is where land is available,” the Housing Minister emphasised.
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Government elated over release of Peter Moore
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn has expressed elation over the release of Peter Moore, who was held captive in Iraq since 2007. He noted that His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo shares similar sentiments with respect to Moore’s release.
“We are extremely thrilled by the news of his release and we are following the developments as they unfold. We understand that he is in what they call decompression before he rejoins his family in England,” Minister Benn stated.
He noted that excitement and anticipation of his release had intensified some months ago when international media reports had revealed that Moore may be freed. The Minister added that he is happy that Moore has been returned alive to his family.
Moore who arrived in Guyana through the Volunteer Services Overseas has significantly contributed to the technical development of Guyana. The Lands and Survey Commissions and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) were privileged to have benefited from his technical knowledge and skills.
During his tenure he aided in the development of the Geographic Information Systems- GIS Techniques and Programming. He also contributed to Guyana tremendously through the 2004/2005 flood whereby he developed the database and programming for flood relief efforts in Guyana.
Minister Benn has indicated that he hopes to make contact with Moore soon.
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2009- A year of key legislations
The duly elected members of the PPP/C Government, committed to their responsibilities of ensuring that the legislative framework of governance remained relevant or were amended where necessary to suit the demands of the rapidly developing country last year.
The sittings of the Ninth Parliament saw several new and comprehensive pieces of legislation being introduced, with the aim of improving the lives of Guyanese. One of the most revolutionary; the motion on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), was debated and adopted in the National Assembly.
Prioritising Human Rights
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s legislative agenda saw groundbreaking Bills being tabled in the House to ensure protection and well-being of the vulnerable population particularly children, who are deemed as the most vulnerable. In early January, the Child Care and Protection Agency Bill was passed and subsequent to its passage, the Child Care and Protection Agency was established. The Bill empowers the Agency 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.
The agency was officially launched in July, testimony to a commitment made in the PPP/C’s 2006 manifesto.
Additionally, three of five Children’s Bill; the Protection of Children Bill, the Status of the Children Bill and the Adoption of the Children Bill were passed. The Child Care and Development Bill and the Custody, Access, Maintenance and Contact Bill were sent to a Special Select Committee for review.
Child Protection Legislation focuses on cases in which protective intervention will be applied when addressing children who were or are at risk of being exploited.
Enhancing the Legal Sector
The Legal Sector, which has the responsibility of drafting legislation to be taken to the National Assembly for debate, has also seen several Bills being passed in an effort to improve the efficiency of the sector as well as other aspects of the legal fraternity.
These include the Summary Jurisdiction (Lay Magistrates) Bill, which provide for the constitution of Lay Magistrates’ Courts; the appointments of such magistrates and for the regulation of their jurisdiction, practice and procedure. It forms the basis for Government to move forward in reforming the justice sector to allow for a less formal system of justice administration at the lowest level of litigation.
The Administration of Justice Bill (No.1) seeks to reverse the limitation that was placed on the Magistrates’ Courts in the past in relation to civil matters and increases the limit for litigation from $50,000, to $100,000.
A sitting of the Ninth Parliament.
The Administration of Justice Bill (No.2), sought to deter the uncontrollable and wanton waste of public property by offering amendment of two pieces of legislation already in existence.
These are Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act and the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, so that any damage incurred to roads, bridges, walkway, rails, traffic lights installation, or drainage structures by a motor vehicle, the road authority can recover the estimated or actual cost from the owner or driver of the vehicle.
Recently, the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2009, which seeks to enhance the regulations of the legal profession and to strengthen the powers of the Legal Practitioners Committee in relation to the discipline of attorneys-at-law, was sent to a Special Select Committee after extensive debate in Parliament.
Strengthening National Financial Framework
In 2009, the Financial Sector’s legislative agenda focused primarily on the promotion of greater transparency, accountability and good governance and to ensure that the State’s resources are expended to fully benefit Guyanese. The Money Transfer Agencies (Licensing) Bill is one such legislation that is in keeping with government’s commitment of maintaining a sound macro-economic environment and to protect the interest of people.
Attempts at governmental transparency and accountability were further exemplified with the passage of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, which is a response to the changes and innovations of the modern financial sector while addressing the various United Nations and other conventions that Guyana is signatory to.
Employees’ rights were protected with the passage of the National Insurance and Social Security (Amendment) Bill, which sought to ensure that employers pay full contribution to the Scheme. The Bill also imposes fines on delinquent employers, who may attempt to evade the same.
Preserving National Security
The administration’s efforts to security sector reform in 2009 were complemented with the establishment of a strong legislative framework that seeks to further consolidate the ongoing modernization process.
Noteworthy was the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, a comprehensive piece of legislation, which gives effect to the scheme relating to mutual assistance in criminal matters with Commonwealth Member States and seeks to provide for assistance in criminal matters between Guyana and countries that have a treaty Guyana concerning such assistance.
Three Bills were passed to improve the capacity of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). These are: The Fire Service (Amendment) Bill, Fires and Casualties Inquiry (Amendment) Bill and the Fire Prevention (Amendment) Bill.
Additionally, the Private Security Services (Regulation) Bill was passed to regulate the operations of Security Services. This Bill comes in light of the growing demand for streamlining and regulating the business of private security agencies for a better organized and disciplined quality of these services.
Following the massacres at Lusignan and Bartica in 2008, the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill which gives effect to an agreement reached at the multi-stakeholder consultation hosted by President Bharrat Jagdeo, was passed in the National Assembly.
The Bill sought to amend the constitution to provide for the establishment of a Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector having responsibility for the policies and administration of the disciplined forces of Guyana.
The passage of these Bills, places Law Enforcement Agencies in a much better position to combat crime and violence more effectively in Guyana.
Local Governance
In anticipation of the long awaited local government elections, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development put forth five essential pieces of legislation.
These include the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, the Local Government Commissions Bill, and Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill, the Fiscal Transfers Bill, and the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill, which were identified to be amended by the reconstituted Local Government Task Force before the holding of the elections. Three of these five Bill have been passed thus far.
In recognizing the inevitability of a deferral of the elections, an amendment to the Local Authorities Bill was passed to extend the date by which Local Government elections may be held, with a deadline of December 01, 2010.
Protecting Workers’ Rights
The Labour Ministry in 2009 heightened its role to ensure that Guyana’s labour force is provided with safe and conducive working environments, as well as the necessary benefits in order to maintain stability in the employment sector.
To complement this objective, the Occupational Safety and Health (amendment) Bill was passed in the National Assembly. The Bill enabled the technically competent individual in the Ministry the power to prosecute defaulters in an effort to ensure the rights of workers are always protected.
It also empowers the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, the Chief Occupational Safety and Health Officer to prosecute defaulters of the Act.
The Holidays with Pay (Amendment) Bill was debated and passed. This Bill has an adjustment to cater for cases where employers violate the rights of employees. It instructs Magistrates to not only fine offending employers for a breach but also pay employees for holidays that they were denied.
Additionally, the Sector saw the passage of the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to protect citizens by ensuring that workers involved in essential services are not allowed to strike, the Shops (consolidation) (amendment) Bill, which allow Businesses to operate for longer hours and the Trade Union Recognition (Amendment) Bill.
Agriculture sector -growth and development
Government’s efforts at sustainable forestry management were exemplified very early in 2009 with the passage of the forest Bill, which came in the wake of the United Nations conference on development which had its final summit in Brazil.
The Bill, which seeks to provide for sustainable management while at the same time ensuring preservation of Guyana’s forests, was passed after 10 years of consultation with various stakeholders.
The Rice Factories (Amendment) Bill was also passed to ensure that the manufacturers (millers) do not owe any individual farmer a debt amounting to over five percent of the value of paddy supplied unless approved by the Board.
Further, it amends the Principal Act by providing a specific time within which the manufacturer has to pay the farmer for the paddy sold. Millers are now given a period of two weeks within which to pay 50 percent of total sale to individual farmers as opposed to just 50 percent of total paddy sale. They are also given an additional 42 days to pay the remaining 50 percent. If there is failure to comply with this given time frame, millers will risk having their licence revoked.
Several other Bills, Motions and Supplementary Provisions were taken to the National Assembly; some were passed while those that require further critical analysis were referred to Special Select committees. These include:
- The Allied Health Professional Bill
- The Leader of the Opposition (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill
- Former President (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill
- Office of the Spouse of the President Bill
- President Hoyte’s Pension Bill
- Election Laws (Amendment) Bill
- Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill
- Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Bill
- The Sexual Offences Bill
- Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill
- Maritime Zones Bill
- Credit Reporting Bill
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Sea defence structures helped to prevent serious flooding
during spring tide
The Ministry of Public Works and Communication has been strengthening sea defence structures across the country to prevent floods caused by the rising sea level, especially along the coastline.
This effort has proven effective as less areas have been affected by over topping caused by high tide and long range swells emanating from the Atlantic Ocean.
Areas which experienced flooding were Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Leonora and Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara, Region 3 and Montrose, Better Hope, Ogle and Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, Region 4.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn highlighted that the extent of flooding in Anna Catherina could have been prevented had it not been for the illegal shacks encumbering State’s sea defence reserves. He noted that the actions of the illegal squatters were not only dangerous to themselves and family member, but to the community at large.
Irresponsible disposal of garbage in communities also contributed to the flooding.
Agnes Dalrymple, Chief Sea & River Defence Officer stated that drains were cleared of refuse through a collaborative effort by the Ministry and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
She noted that in addition to sea defence structures being built in various locations including Belladrum, Region 5 and Line Path, Region 6, the Ministry will continue to join forces with the Ministries of Housing and Water, and Local Government and Regional Development and with the NDIA.
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