PNCR MP Deborah Backer attempts to defend contempt charge before Parliamentary Committee of Privileges
Georgetown, GINA, January 10, 2010
People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament (MP), Deborah Backer is currently making attempts to commence defending herself against charges currently before the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges that she is guilty of contempt of the National Assembly for making offensive statements about the disciplined forces of Guyana.
To this end, Backer has tabled a motion which is due to be debated on Monday, in which she is seeking leave from the House to question through her legal counsel the mover of the motion which had referred her to the Committee of Privileges, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh. Contrary to an erroneous report carried in on section of the media today, such leave has not yet been granted.
On the October 22 sitting of the National Assembly, Minister Singh moved a motion which sought the referral of Backer before the Committee of Privileges under Standing Order 32 of the National Assembly.
The matter arose from the debate of a motion on the October 15 sitting, tabled by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, which sought to deploy 90 ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to provide security support to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in November.
In her argument, Backer questioned whether Guyanese soldiers were going to Trinidad and Tobago “to torture people”.
In agreeing to refer Backer to the Committee of Privileges on charges of contempt of the National Assembly, members of the Government’s side have expressed the view that her offensive statement casts aspersions on the thousands of hardworking young Guyanese men and women who serve with distinction in the disciplined forces and their families and, by extension, is an affront to the Guyanese people.
When the National Assembly considered the motion to refer Backer to the Committee of Privileges, Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran ruled in favour of proceeding with a motion which signaled unanimous disapproval of the said statement purportedly made by Backer. At that time, the Speaker also made a pronouncement that a prima facie case had been established against Backer, clearing the way for the matter to be taken before the Committee of Privileges.
Government and the people of Guyana and in particular the GDF, have always recognized that Guyana is at one purpose with her Caribbean sister states, that is to guarantee the well-being of all Caribbean citizens.
Earlier last year, 66 GDF ranks as well as 31 ranks from the GPF were deployed to Trinidad and Tobago for the Fifth Summit of The Americas. During this deployment Director of Security, for the Summit, Trinidadian, Lt Colonel Kenrick Maharaj was quoted as describing Guyana’s support as invaluable.
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Over $4 billion for old age pensions, public assistance in 2010 – Finance Minister
Georgetown, GINA, January 10, 2009
Government plans to spend over $4 billion on old age pensions and public assistance payments in 2010. With effect from February 2010, old age pensions will be paid at a rate of $6,600 per month, while public assistance will be paid at a rate of $4,900 per month, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh disclosed today.
He emphasised the importance of the old age pensions and public assistance programme as amongst the most important interventions by Government aimed at providing assistance to, and improving the lives of, the most vulnerable members of society.
The Minister indicated that under these programmes, over 50,000 elderly and otherwise vulnerable beneficiaries are expected to receive direct income support on a monthly basis. This support, he indicated, is intended to ensure that the State provides a contribution to assist those individuals in meeting expenditure on their basic necessities. Minister Singh also drew attention to the fact that this programme generates significant economic activity since, given the income and expenditure profile of the beneficiaries, almost all of the amounts disbursed are transmitted immediately into the domestic economy through consumption of goods and services.
The Minister added that this support is in addition to other initiatives such as the water rates assistance programme, under which Government provides financial support to meet water charges on behalf of old age pensioners, the staggered electricity tariff structure which sees household consumers of small amounts of electricity below a specified monthly threshold being billed at a concessional rate, Government’s residential programme for the elderly such as at the Palms, along with the several public health care programmes aimed at enhancing and improving the scope and quality of services offered by the public health care system thereby contributing to improved quality of life.
Recent years have witnessed a rapid increase in the amounts paid by Government under the old age pension and public assistance programme. The new monthly rates announced by the Minister are 80 percent higher than 2007 levels in the case of old age pensions and 98 percent higher than 2007 levels in the case of public assistance.
Minister Singh also drew attention to and commended highly the successful steps taken by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in improving the timeliness with which old age pension books are distributed. This has contributed in a very significant measure to minimising, and in most cases eliminating, the delay with which beneficiaries can access their entitlements.
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I will find as much resources as I can to transform Guyana – President tells Mahaicony, Mahaica farmers
Georgetown, GINA, January 10, 2010
Responding to the dry weather conditions spawned by the El Nino weather phenomenon, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, today met with farmers of Mahaicony and Mahaica to discuss issues of irrigation, governmental assistance and ongoing drainage and irrigation works being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA).
HEADTABLE. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
At the meetings the Head of State promised that, “I will find as much resources as I can to transform Guyana.”
Mahaicony farmers told of series of upcoming developments
The meeting with farmers in Mahaicony was held at the Mortice Primary School, located several miles away from the Georgetown-Rosignol main road artery along the Mahaicony Branch Road, which has been upgraded by Government at a cost of over $200M, and completed last week, fulfilling a promise made by President Jagdeo at an earlier meeting with residents.
President Bharrat Jagdeo responding to concerns raised by farmers, at community meeting, Mortice Primary School, Mahaicony, E.C.D. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
Chaired by Harrinarine Baldeo, Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) the meeting addressed the several initiatives that the RDC is involved in to improve the lives of residents of the region in the areas of health, education and infrastructural development.
Also addressing the large gathering of farmers and residents before opening the floor to questions were Rudolph Gajraj, Chairman of the MMA-ADA, Minister Persaud, General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Dharamkumar Seeraj, and President Jagdeo.
Gajraj explained that the most pressing assignment that the MMA-ADA had during the current inclement dry conditions is getting fresh water from the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks to farmers to irrigate their fields, and preventing the water in the existing series of canals from flowing back into the creeks.
As a result, he stated that only half of the area available for cultivation has been planted. He assured farmers that water will be available to maintain those fields.
He also stated that preparations are ongoing for the rainfall in May-June which is expected to be intense.
One of the farmers expressing a point of concern. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
The Agriculture Minister, during his presentation, sought to assure farmers present that Government remains firmly committed to the development and diversification of agriculture across the country.
This, he said, resulted in one of the best years for agriculture during 2009 when production increased across all sectors including rice, which recorded 359,000 tonnes of output, a marginal increase in sugar, despite the ongoing problems facing the industry, and in the livestock and non-traditional commodities.
Minister Persaud explained that today’s meetings were called by the President who has been monitoring the dry weather conditions and their effect on the country since August 2009. He further stated that it is expected that the El Nino condition is expected to continue into March and Government is concerned that 40% less land is being cultivated for rice.
As a result, a $400M assistance package for rice farmers was launched by the President in September 2009 and Seeraj explained that after consultations, two initiatives were identified, approved by President Jagdeo and implemented.
The first initiative is input vouchers, primarily for fertilizers, to be used during the production process, whereby rice farmers across the five rice growing regions can offset input costs by approaching the GRDB for these vouchers which can be redeemed at approved suppliers.
The other initiative is the construction of drying facilities which can be used by farmers to dry their paddy. Construction of the first such facility commenced today at Crane, West Coast Demerara. A much larger facility is expected to be constructed at Bath, West Coast Berbice.
President Jagdeo, during his presentation, took the opportunity to outline, on a national scale what his Administration is doing to better the lives of its citizens.
He referred to the proposed outflow channel from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), in the vicinity of Hope on which work will start shortly and estimated to cost $3.8B. This will bring significant relief to farmers in the MMA basins as the authorities will no longer need to relieve pressure on the conservancy dam by letting out water into the Mahaica and Mahaicony Rivers during times of excessive rainfall.
President Jagdeo meeting with farmers, Mahaicony, E.C.D. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
The President also spoke of the more than 600 community roads that will be under construction by the end of the year, the upgrade of the Black Bush Polder roadway at a cost of US$7M, the $800M nationwide school feeding programme that will be implemented this year and ensuring that every child has at least one school uniform provided by Government as some of the initiatives being implemented by his Administration.
This, he said, is possible because Government has improved the finances of the country over the past 17 years to a point where foreign currency reserves at the Bank of Guyana is at its highest level ever, at US$650M (or US$750M if the Petro Caribe fund provided by Venezuela is included).
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country has risen from $300M in 1992 to much more than the estimated $1.2B today, according to recent surveys by international organizations.
“We are not a fair weather Government, or fair weather party,” the President stated, explaining that his Administration is ready to face the people of the country in good times and bad, noting that tough decisions have to be made, as Government cannot satisfy everyone’s needs – both at the national and community levels – at the same time.
 President Jagdeo leaving famers meeting. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
Afterwards, the President listened to the issues raised by those gathered and sorted out land issues relating to the construction of a new irrigation canal. He promised to purchase an acre of land where a well is located for use by residents of Hyde Park, and discussed the development of a community centre and sports club for the area, among others matters.
Projects worth $330M ongoing in MMA - Mahaica meeting told
At Little Baiboo Primary School in Mahaica, the meeting followed a similar format to the earlier meeting where the President, Minister Persaud and the other officials made presentations to the residents and farmers gathered before they were afforded the opportunity to raise their concerns.
Minister Persaud revealed that an effort by his Ministry to afford farmers in the area the use of excavators saw 528 farmers on the left bank of the Mahaica Creek benefitting with another 68 on the right bank getting access as well.
Each farmer was afforded two days’ use of the machinery, and the Minister stated that once everyone has benefitted, his Ministry will afford all the farmers an additional day’s access.
He also indicated that about $330M worth of projects are ongoing in the MMA area. A total of 24 irrigation tubes will be installed shortly in the Mahaica area.
 Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud addressing farmers at meeting, Mortice Primary School, Mahaicony, E.C.D. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
The President, in response to complaints by residents about the lack of drinking water, promised to have the Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, along with officials from the water utility, visit both Mahaicony and Mahaica areas before the end of the month.
He also promised that the Mahaica Branch Road, along which the Little Baiboo Primary School is situated, and which was constructed at a cost of over $400M will be extended.
Minister Persaud and officials of his ministry since the advent of the El Nino conditions have been visiting various communities, meeting with farmers and making interventions to alleviate the difficulties faced as a result of the dry conditions.
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Upgraded Kitty pump station recommissioned
-repairs cost $63.78M
Georgetown, GINA, January 10, 2010
President Bharrat Jagdeo today recommissioned the Kitty pump station, which was originally established in 1968, after it received upgrades to the tune of $63.8M, and handed over the keys to the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown. The pump station will serve thousands of residents of the capital city, providing them with better drainage.
President Bharrat Jagdeo and one of the younger residents of Georgetown cuts the ceremonial ribbon to recomission the rehabilitated Kitty Pump Station. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
The rehabilitation and upgrade of the facility resulted from a Presidential visit during March 2009 where the Head of State committed to having both the Kitty facility and the one at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara fixed, after several years of poor maintenance saw the pump stations falling into a state of disrepair.
This, is part of a larger effort to improve the drainage capacity across the country and the city of Georgetown.
Lionel Wordsworth, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) noted that at the time of inspection in March 2009, one of the pumps was missing, having been taken out for repairs, while the other was functioning at a level far below its capabilities, only working in three-hour shifts before overheating.
From left – Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth, inspect the rehabilitated Kitty pump station. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
The contract for the repairs was inked on March 19, 2009 and work commenced in April, with the pumps installed in September, following which a series of testing was conducted to ensure that they were functioning properly.
“We will continue to construct, upgrade and expand our drainage and irrigation networks,” Wordsworth promised.
The President, who gave the feature address, stressed that his Administration remains committed to serving the residents of Georgetown, pointing to the significant investment over the years as evidence of this.
He noted that over $10B has been spent to finance road developments works within the municipality over the years, and currently US$11M is being expended on a new dump site at Haag Bosch which will primarily service Georgetown.
President Jagdeo also referred to the drainage works that Government has undertaken on behalf of the City Council, stating, “No matter what proposals the city puts up, it will not match up to the investments of Central Government.”
Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth, hands over the keys to the rehabilitated Kitty pump station to the City Engineer of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council. A GINA Photo by Chattergoon Jadopatt
He also called on the municipality to care the pump station.
This sentiment was echoed by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who also delivered brief remarks at the ceremony to recommission the facility.
“We do hope that it will be managed and operated in the best interest of the citizens of Georgetown,” he said.
The recommissioning of the Kitty pump station follows a similar exercise that was conducted for the Liliendaal pump station on October 28, 2009, which was rehabilitated at a cost of $76.15M, fulfilling the President’s promise.
Previously, the city of Georgetown had relied on gravity flow for drainage through a series of sluices. The pumps now have the capacity to drain 100 cubic feet of water per second, an increase of 100% over their original capacity.
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