President Jagdeo concludes trip to Kuwait
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2010
According to the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA), Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo today concluded his two-day trip to Kuwait in the Middle East that saw him and his delegation meet with several high-level dignitaries within the Kuwaiti Government and sign a Memorandum of Understanding and two cooperation agreements.
The President and his delegation arrived to a red carpet welcome early Sunday morning in Kuwait City, the capital of the Middle Eastern enclave. At the airport to receive the Guyanese Head of State was a large Kuwaiti delegation led by the ruler of the country, Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
President Jagdeo met with Hisham Al-Wugayana, the Deputy Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the Managing Director of the Public Investment Authority (PIA), Bader Mohammad Al-Saad, the First Vice President of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hilal Meshari Al-Mutairi and members of the chamber, the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and the Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi. All of the meetings were held at the guest residence at Bayan Palace.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Guyana and Kuwait signed two cooperation agreements and one Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Minister of Oil and Information Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah signed an agreement to bolster cultural ties between the two countries with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, while Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shimali and Minister Rodrigues- Birkett signed an agreement on encouraging bilateral investments.
The MoU, on political consultations, was signed by Minister Rodrigues-Birkett and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
After the meetings, Amir Al-Sabah held at a dinner banquet in honour of the President and the delegation accompanying him at Banyan Palace, after which the two leaders held official talks which focused on means to develop bilateral relations in all possible aspects. Also discussed were issues of mutual concern to the two leaders, as well as developments in the region and the world.
The President departed Kuwait today for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the next stop on his Middle Eastern trip to encourage investments in Guyana.
He is accompanied by the Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, and President of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), Fazeel Ferouz, among others.
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National Committee for Haiti Relief gets more donations
GINA, Georgetown, January 18, 2010
Several organisations including M&M Snackette, a local body of churches and Toolsie Persaud Limited handed over monetary contributions to the Guyana National Committee for Haiti Relief at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) today.
The donation on behalf of the churches, totalling more than $193,000, was made by Bishop Juan Edghill representing a number of congregations from across Guyana.
Toolsie Persaud Limited presented its contribution of $500,000 while M&M Snackette handed over $200,000.
Bishop Juan Edghill hands over one of the cheques to Chairperson of the National Relief Committee Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand. January 19, 2010.
A private citizen also made his presentation in cash and supplies to the Committee.
Representative of Toolsie Persaud, Mohan Harnana, said that he hoped the company’s contribution would help to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people.
Supervisor of M&M Snackette, Maxine McPherson, expressed sincere sympathy for the Haitians stating that it is heartrending to witness their pain and suffering.
“We hope that the donation will go a far way in overcoming their grief and we want them to know that we are praying for them sincerely.”
Bishop Edghill disclosed that a number of churches came together and agreed to have him deliver the cheques on his behalf.
Supervisor of M&M Snackette Maxine McPherson hands over the contribution to Committee Chairperson Minister Priya Manickchand. January 19, 2010.
He said a prayer service was also held by one such congregation which donated the proceeds towards the Haitian cause.
Committee Chairperson, Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand encouraged more Guyanese to come forward with their contributions.
She noted that too often people tend to believe that they are not in a position to give.
However, Minister Manickchand expressed satisfaction at the fact that citizens were responding in such an overwhelming manner.
She stressed that cash received from pledges so far amounts to $214,881,110 adding that bank statements are given to the Minister of Finance on a daily basis with accounts of the proceeds from the previous day.
TUF representative on the National Relief Committee for Haiti Valerie Lowe receives the donation from representative of Toolsie Persaud Mohan Harnana. January 19, 2010.
The Minister said too that the committee’s website is expected to be launched tomorrow so persons can receive regular updates.
Guyana Times has also offered a full page towards publishing the names of donors.
Commenting on the country’s need, Minister Manickchand said the CARICOM team has not been in a position to assess the situation since they could not land in the country.
She reiterated that the government is willing to accommodate any Guyanese with relatives in Haiti requiring assistance to return home.
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Agri Ministry strengthens diversification campaign – Officials meet with small scale farmers
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2010
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud who is performing the duties of Prime Minster and staff from the Ministry, today engaged small scale farmers in discussions at the Timehri Research and Demonstration Facilities about the possible expansion of crops on a large scale commercial basis.
Farmers at the agriculture expansion and diversification meeting held at Timehri Research and Demonstration Facilities.
This effort is in keeping with Government’s aim to diversify agricultural products and increase the level of production to meet the growing demands at home and abroad. In addition, Government intends to convert the Soesdyke Highway into an export zone, owing to its close proximity to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the main port of entry and exit.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud addresses farmers of the Soesdyke Highway district at the meeting at the Timehri Research and Demonstration Facilities.
Minister Persaud encouraged farmers to utilize this advantage and venture into large scale farming. He noted that while it may be difficult to expand individually there are other alternatives. These include collaborating with other small scale farmers to boost capacity and or becoming satellite farmers for large enterprises which will be facilitated through the Ministry.
Minister of Agriculture and Public Service, Robert Persaud and Jennifer Westford respectively, Officials of the Agriculture Ministry and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) inspect a bed of cabbages, at the GDF Farm, Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.
The Ministry has been collaborating with the private sector and international agencies to expand the variety of crops cultivated, livestock, and the technologies employed to produce quality goods.
Currently there are model farms featuring shade house and greenhouse facilities with rich healthy high value crops including broccoli and honey-dew melon, and modern technologies at several locations in the district including at the Guyana Defence Force and Bounty Farms.
Minister of Agriculture and Public Service, Robert Persaud and Jennifer Westford respectively, Officials of the Agriculture Ministry and the Bounty Farm examine pepper plants in one of the greenhouses, at Bounty Farm, Timehri.
Farmers were encouraged to visit the facilities and learn about the new techniques involved in crop cultivation and animal rearing. In addition the Minster noted that every Wednesday technical staff of the Ministry will be at the Timehri Research and Demonstration Facilities to guide farmers who wish to undertake expansion.
Minister Persaud noted that if farmers grasp the application of the new technologies to produce these new high value crops it can boost Guyana’s exportation of vegetables to the global market. In addition it can reduce the quantity of imported vegetables since they will be locally available at a more affordable price.
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Panel discussion addresses Haiti disaster and future of country
Georgetown, GINA, January 18, 2010
The Guyana National Committee for Haiti Relief this evening hosted a panel discussion on the National Communications Network (NCN) with specific focus on the history of Haiti, the recent earthquake disaster and the future of the country.
The panelists were Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, GAP/ROAR member Everall Franklin and Women’s activist Andaiye.
Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, several efforts have been made through two days of telethon at NCN to support the people who have been displaced and affected in that country. The telethons have garnered huge response with about $214M while a number of agencies have begun relief efforts as well.
Minister Ramsaran said that over the past few days there have been disturbing images being broadcast over television in the aftermath of the earthquake.
He said Haiti should be precious since it started the move for freedom in the new order and was the first to liberate itself from the shackles of colonialism after which its history became very disturbed as a result of the burdens imposed upon the country by the French colonists. Dr. Ramsaran said persons should use Haiti’s experience as a lesson.
“The 100 years that was imposed on Haiti to repay an unjust debt to France is part of the problem…this brings about the power structure that we are still grappling with, the power that are built in certain parts of the world were generated and provided for by the wealth extracted from places like Haiti,” he stated.
Minister Ramsaran noted that the media has not made mention of Cuban doctors who were offering their services in poor conditions in Haiti before the earthquake and those who have gone to the island since.
Despite, these challenges, the Minister said Third World countries have been giving selflessly which are lessons CARICOM should take note of.
Franklin noted that Haiti was the first country that slaves tried to model a society from which many other nations in the Western Hemisphere got their courage and impetus to do likewise.
He stated that the media are portraying Haiti as a country of ‘zombies’ and ‘voodooism’. Voodooism is part of the Haitian society and there is much more than the perception of the country’s culture, he stated.
As a result of the disaster, he said persons have an opportunity to revisit the true identity of the Haitian people and the experience which persons should be proud of.
“In CARICOM we tend not to give Haiti its true position; it took a long time for them to be included in the first place when we look at that is a slap in the face of the people who first shed their blood to show us the way,” he stated.
Franklin believes that it is important for the region to want to understand its history and the media need to take control of the messages they are sending.
Meanwhile, Women’s activist Andaiye said that the amount of reparations France (Colonizer of Haiti) demanded in order to give Haiti recognition was $150M gold francs which calculated to the equivalent of $21B today.
She said that France should not mention giving aid to Haiti but should be repaying the money that it took since the country paid France from 1825 until 1922. Haiti, she said, paid all the years which amounted to 100.
She expressed the view that countries owe much to Haiti since it (Haiti) opened the doors of freedom to the Americas.
Following the devastating effects of the earthquake on Haiti, Government has committed US$1M towards assistance for the island territory and established a multi-stakeholder committee, to oversee the effort following the meeting of various stakeholders, which included the opposition political parties, religious organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), at the Office of the President.
In addition, the private sector has made significant contributions towards this worthy cause.
On January 12 Haiti’s island capital, Port-au-Prince was hit by 7.0 magnitude earthquake which destroyed several structures, killing tens of thousands of people and leaving many homeless and crippling the city.
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