Region Nine gets tractor/trailer from Amerindian Affairs Ministry
With continued emphasis on improving the lives of the indigenous, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs today handed over a John Deere tractor/trailer to seven communities in the South Central Rupununi District, Region Nine.
Toshao of Shulinab, Vibert Ignace accepted the keys to the tractor/trailer from Permanent Secretary within the ministry, Nigel Dharamlall at a simple handing over ceremony.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai said the tractor was procured at a cost of $6.7M and is expected to service Shea, Shulinab, Baitun, Parikwarinau, Potarinau Kattur and Meriwau.
The $1.4M trailer will service the sub-district of Karasabai, which consists of four other satellite communities.
Toshao of Shulinab, Vibert Ignace accepts the keys to the tractor/trailer from Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall while Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai looks on. January 26, 2010.
Meanwhile, the community of Shea has also received a plough worth $700,000.
Minister Sukhai stated the heavy-duty equipment was purchased with the combined presidential grants of several villages and is essential to the boosting of agricultural production.
“These communities will establish a management committee to determine the management, use and maintenance of the equipment,” Minister Sukhai added.
She said she was impressed by the pooling together of resources in an effort to enhance the transportation service in the communities and add to the communities’ assets in the sub-region.
Ignace thanked the minister for the equipment stating that it will greatly assist the South Central communities in their agricultural pursuits and income generation.
The Toshao will be assisted by a driver in taking the heavy duty vehicles to the Lethem community.
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Over 90% pension booklets distributed
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has already distributed over 90 percent of pension booklets since circulation began in November last year to ensure timely delivery of the documents.
Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Human Services, Trevor Thomas told the Government Information Agency (GINA), that the remaining booklets belong to basically overseas citizens and others who may be lethargic in their response.
Thomas disclosed that a printing error on about 3,000 booklets has already been corrected and the majority of those books have been redistributed.
He explained that the printers had mistakenly published the words ‘public assistance’ instead of ‘old age pension’ on the booklets.
However, Thomas stressed that those pensioners will be able to uplift payment for the month of February.
“We have covered all the regions and the hinterland areas including Kamarang, Kurupung and Region One,” the PS stated.
Recipients of old age pension have expressed gratitude for the new system put in place by the ministry which allows for the timely distribution of the monetary payment.
Minister Manickchand had said the new arrangement is a part of Government’s dedication to senior citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society.
She disclosed that the initiative was formed after an assessment of previous years when senior citizens were affected by the tardy distribution of pension booklets.
“With the old system, books were distributed in January and the distribution period lasted about six weeks which means that we would not get to some people until March but people need their money,” the minister said.
Distribution began November 16 at several sites across Guyana erasing much of the unnecessary hassle.
The ministry has assured pensioners that the government is doing all in its power to replace an inefficient system and ensure they are paid in a timely manner.
The government programme, which assists about 42,000 beneficiaries, is run at a monthly cost of G$200 million.
Minister Manickchand advised that the old identification card numbers will be used until next year when the new ones are properly recorded.
Each citizen, who attains the age of 65, will now receive $6,600, the new amount announced by the Ministry of Finance.
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Strengthening private sector, Parliamentary ties, debt relief focus of Kuwait trip – Head of State…Guyana also to prepare feasibility study for Kuwaiti Fund project up to US$10M
At a press conference today at the Office of the President, Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo outlined the results of his recent visit to the Middle Eastern enclave of Kuwait, noting that the focus of discussions was on strengthening ties between the private sectors and National Assemblies of the two countries, while Guyana also sought debt relief on an accumulated loan of US$50M from the Islamic country.
“We had extensive discussions…about strengthening relationships between our private sector and the private sector in Kuwait. I have given them a commitment that we will try to facilitate some contact between the chamber of commerce…and the private sector umbrella body that we have with the chamber of commerce of Kuwait. I also met with the Speaker of their Parliament (Jassem Al-Kharafi) and we’ve agreed to establish ties or strengthen ties between our Parliaments,” President Jagdeo stated.
The President had met with the First Vice President of Kuwait’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hilal Meshari Al-Mutairi and members of the chamber on January 17 at the guest residence at Bayan Palace, the main palace of the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
On seeking the debt relief for Guyana, the Head of State noted that the loan was first obtained in 1975, and that with accumulated interest over the intervening period, has grown to US$50M.
He noted that under the Paris Club agreement from which Guyana has gained significant debt relief, the country is required to seek similar treatment from non-Paris Club creditors, such as Kuwait.
“Based on…the commitments that we have had through the Paris Club agreement, we are required to seek comparable treatment from other non-Paris Club creditors which means seeking, at a minimum, 85% reduction on the net present value of the debt,” the President said.
He explained to the media that discussions between Guyana and Kuwait on this issue has been bogged down over the years because Kuwait had some complications with extending similar treatment to Guyana as the Paris Club creditors had.
While the matter was not resolved during the visit, the President highlighted that discussions will continue during the year.
“We’ve agreed to continue those discussions later this year, possibly at the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank which would be held in September in Washington,” he stated.
President Jagdeo stressed that this is an important issue for Guyana to pursue to clear up the debt burden that was passed on by the previous Guyanese administration.
“This is a major issue for Guyana as we move towards clearing up the debt of the past. Already our debt profile is a very sustainable one but we need to remove the last vestiges of the old debt so that we can continue to build a viable debt strategy in the future.”
Feasibility study for Kuwaiti Fund project
The President had also met Hisham Al-Wugayana, the Deputy Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), and emerging out of those interactions, “Guyana will do the feasibility study and submit a project proposal for an infrastructure project up to US$10M”.
At the press conference today, the Head of State noted that the likely area that Government will pursue would be housing sector development.
“We have just acquired 2,000 acres of land from GUYSUCO at a significant cost to develop some 10,000 low income house lots on the East Bank. We will have to put in basic infrastructure for those house lots. That will be one of the areas that we will be focusing on,” he indicated.
“Today, I met with my Cabinet and I have already given clear instructions as to what is intended in this area and how we will proceed to access this funding.”
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Special one-day retreat to be held to discuss education issues
- President Jagdeo
Stakeholders in the education sector will be participating in a one-day retreat toward the end of February to discuss education issues. This, according to President Bharrat Jagdeo, is to assess the situation in the sector as it relates to student performance.
The President was at the time briefing the media on his recently concluded visit to the Middle East, at the Office of the President today.
“Towards the end of February we are going to have a one-day retreat on education because we can’t just keep pumping all this money into the education sector and not get the corresponding results,” the Head of State said.
The President pointed out that he has already held discussions with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana to have case studies done on three institutions that performed extremely well at the primary and secondary levels and three that performed badly. This is to examine the results and find out the reasons for the varying levels of performance.
“We have had cases where schools that don’t get the cream like some of the schools in Georgetown they get the cream of the crop say Queen’s College, I think you have to be in the top two percent or so to get in there, so they start off probably with an advantage but take two schools that recruit their people from, or their students from open arrangement and one would get extremely good passes and another would not and they have the same resource base so we need to find out what is really going on in the good school,” President Jagdeo stated.
Stressing the importance of value for money in the sector, since Government injects significant resources into the sector every year, the President pointed out that the situation will be assessed to determine whether discipline, good management by heads in ensuring punctuality and fulfillment of the curricula are contributing factors to schools performing creditably.
Government has been providing huge sums to improve the education sector reflected in the yearly National Budget.
Last year the education sector was allocated $20.4B while $18.5B was expended in 2008.
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‘Our homes and hospitals would be open to those children in Haiti’
- Head of State announces
Guyana is prepared to work with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to establish a support mechanism that will bring temporary relief to the people of Haiti. It is opening its homes and hospitals Haitian children as part of its effort to provide assistance.
Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo made this announcement during a media briefing at the Office of the President today when he updated the media on his recently concluded visit to the Middle East among other matters.
“We have heard that there may be a move to send kids to countries where they can receive care and we are very interested in that sort of thing; maybe if the region decides that that is a good approach and the Haitian people there they also determine that that is in their best interest because ultimately their government would have to make that determination, but our homes and hospitals would be open to those children,” President Jagdeo said.
Commenting on the issue of migration, the President pointed out that work is ongoing with CARICOM to establish a framework for the Region, since it was highlighted that Haiti has nine million people while the entire CARICOM region has six.
“I have seen the Bahamas, they have stopped their deportation of Haitians and in Jamaica they have announced that the Haitians who may come there would be placed separately and receive all attention and later be repatriated to Haiti. So there is yet no clarity about what a common framework for CARICOM would be but we are prepared to do our part,” President Jagdeo said.
Noting that in the long run, Haiti cannot be emptied of its people and that support will have to be provided for the rebuilding of that nation, President Jagdeo noted that Government is prepared to work with CARICOM to establish a structured approach to bring at least in the short-term temporary relief to the people of Haiti.
Meanwhile, Guyana will be shipping 13 containers of items to Haiti by the end of this week. The items were collected in a national effort by the National Committee for Haiti Relief.
“I think that all Guyanese have shown their generosity. They have raised a large sum of money. We probably would have close to $250 M including the $205 M that the Government put up and we have received a large number of items that would be shipped to Haiti. I am told that by the end of the week 13 containers will leave for Haiti,” President Jagdeo said.
Additionally, Government has offered to pay the expenses for Guyanese residing in Haiti to return to Guyana and about eight of them are already on their way back to their homeland. The Head of State also noted that Government has made it clear to Haitians living in Guyana that they could bring their relatives to live here with them.
The President noted that there has been coordination with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on a health response to the disaster, since that is the thematic area that was chosen. Heads of Government will be meeting on Friday in Suriname to determine a costing for this initiative and decide how this aid will be delivered.
The Head of State expressed thanks to the Guyanese people for their generosity in providing monetary and other assistance for the people of Haiti.
Haiti was struck by an earthquake at around 17:00 h on Tuesday, January 12, a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale centered approximately 15 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital damaging most of the city.
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Guyana’s first shipment off to Haiti
-Relief Committee receives more assistance
A vessel shipping four containers packed with flour, refined coconut oil, pharmaceuticals, water and clothes departed today from the John Fernandes Wharf, Water Street, for Jamaica, the established focal point, from where it will then be transported to Haiti.
Prior to the departure of the vessel, Chairperson of the National Committee for Haiti Relief, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand received over $10M from several entities and kind-hearted Guyanese at a presentation ceremony held at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Thomas Lands.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand receiving a cheque for $1M from representatives of the Guyana Lottery Company at a presentation ceremony held at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Thomas Lands.
Minister Manickchand said that since they were informed that ports in Haiti were cleared up, no effort is being spared in ensuring that the much needed aid reach the devastated country as early as possible, so that Haitians can be comforted by the relief.
The Minister expressed appreciation on the Committee’s behalf, to all Guyanese for their continuing support in providing assistance for the people of Haiti.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, Minister Manickchand, and Director of the CDC, Chabilall Ramsarup inspecting the containers at the John Fernandes Wharf, Water Street after the presentation ceremony.
Presentations were made by the Pomeroon Oil Mills of $500,000 in refined coconut oil, Regal Stationery, $300,000, Guyana Lottery Company, $1M, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), $97,500, Cheddi Jagan Research Center, $6,000, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, $1M, Stewartville Secondary School, $101,000, proceeds from the concert held at Theatre Guild, $220,000, Metro, 20 bags of clothes, Monar Educational Institute, $41, 000, and Ranger’s Sports Club, $20,000.
Additionally, proceeds from a telethon held in Berbice via the Little Rock Television Station (LRTVS) in conjunction with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, saw a sum of $5, 175,000 being handed over to the Committee by LRTVS owner Pearl Christie, who spearheaded the effort.
Minister Manickchand receives the proceeds from the ‘Mothers of Guyana for the Mothers of Haiti’ road march from Administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), Hymawattie Lagan.
Proceeds from the ‘Mothers of Guyana for Mothers of Haiti’ road march, which amounted to $1,131,189 and a notable amount of dry goods, footwear and clothes were also handed to the Committee.
Proceeds from a telethon led by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn on January 23 in Linden are yet to be collected. This too, is expected to be a significant sum.
Another shipment of at least 10 containers is expected to leave for Haiti on Friday.
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US$1.5M Iranian grant for health sector – President Jagdeo
…assistance also to be provided to map Guyana’s mineral resources
Guyana is to benefit from a US$1.5M grant for its health sector, and will also receive assistance from the Islamic Republic of Iran to map its mineral resources. This was revealed by President Bharrat Jagdeo today during a press conference at the Office of the President, where he discussed his recent trip to the Middle East that included visits to Kuwait and Iran.
“I had several discussions with the Supreme Leader of Iran (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and the President of Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) and many of his Ministers. We signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The first has to do with a US$1.5M grant for the health sector and the second has to do with the removal of restrictions on visa requirement for diplomatic travel,” the Head of State told the media.
He noted that the Iranian Government was interested in building a health care delivery facility, but was dissuaded by his entreaties to have the money used instead to construct an educational institution that will focus on specialized medical training.
President Jagdeo went on to explain that through the Cuban scholarship programme, Guyana now has “about 750 students, who have just completed their studies in medicine, or are currently in universities abroad continuing studies”.
However, while this will ensure that the country’s health care system has enough general medical practitioners to oversee the numerous hospitals across Guyana, there still exists a deficiency of medical specialists, such as cardiologists, ENT (ear, nose and throast) specialists and others.
“The number of scholarships to Cuba for people specializing in medicine is limited. We have had to recruit people from different countries to come here and work as specialists. We will continue to do so in the short-term but clearly we need to, out of these large numbers of students who will be young doctors, choose from them, the best and the brightest, to go on to specialize,” he said.
To this end, President Jagdeo stated that he suggested to President Ahmadinejad that Guyana is prepared to construct an educational facility focusing on specialized medicine if Iran is prepared to provide the faculty.
“If they were to send the teachers from Iran to work with our young doctors, to have them specialize in the different areas…our hospitals could have adequate numbers of specialists which would allow us to improve the quality of health care and offer significantly higher levels of services, including tertiary care,” he indicated.
This request, he noted, was because “Iran has developed some significant capacities in the area of health care provision”.
The President said that the Iranian President responded positively to his entreaty and Guyana will now have to restructure the grant to its new purpose.
“If we succeed in this, we would be able, over a period – maybe the next five years, to not only run our entire health system with junior doctors but also have specialists who are Guyanese in all of these areas which would ultimately be more sustainable.”
Assistance to map Guyana’s mineral resources
The President also noted that because of Iran’s size, unique nature and geographical location, which is prone to earthquakes, it has had to develop tremendous capacities in the geo-sciences.
These capacities can also be utilized to map mineral potential or resources, and Iran has offered to extend these services to Guyana to map its mineral wealth.
“For a very long time in Guyana, we have, because of the absence of data on our mineral wealth, we have relied on investors to seek prospecting licences and then, in a hit-or-miss way, develop a project,” President Jagdeo stated.
“A mission will come soon to work with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and I spoke this morning with Mr. Woolford (the GGMC Commissioner) and he was very excited about this because for a very long time, they have been trying to get this funded,” he revealed.
“At the end of that project, we will be able to have a much more planned development of the sector with greater benefits to the country.”
The Head of State also revealed that the two countries discussed the possibility of Iran supplying Guyana with agricultural implements.
“They (Iran) are already producing in Venezuela Massey Ferguson tractors and the rates are very competitive. We are hoping to work out an arrangement where we will receive some of those tractors.”
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Mining will continue in Guyana-Head of State
-dispels reports about closure of sector
Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo has dispelled reports by large miners that his administration has intentions to close the mining sector.
President Jagdeo who was addressing media operatives at a press briefing at the Office of the President today said that his administration will not be making such a move but instead would be moving the sector forward.
“At the launch of the Low Carbon Development Strategy I made it clear that mining will continue in Guyana and government has no interest whatsoever in closing the mining sector. Mining will continue to contribute to our gross domestic product as well as our revenue base,” the Head of State reassured.
He said that his administration is prepared to work with the sector and that rumours being reported about the closure of the sector should be ignored.
“I am making it clear that we are moving forward. We will work in collaboration with the mining sector and the serious people in the sector but if they think that by funding small protest action that is going to deter us from this action they are wrong,” he asserted.
The Head of State noted that there would be some changes that would allow the country to maintain its forest and earn more while allowing miners to make a decent, healthy and profitable living.
“We have to do this together but if we can’t do it together then we have to go forward with this matter alone,” he said.
The President said that it was made clear before the launch of the LCDS that changes would be made, adding that many persons are of the view that the changes which are required to be made are being induced by the LCDS.
He noted that areas were discussed several years ago prior to the creation of the LCDS. These, he noted, include a Memorandum of Understanding with persons who hold forest lease and those who have lease for above surface bio-mass and sub-surface rights, restoration of landscape after mining is completed to ensure no gaping wounds in the forest.
President Jagdeo said these were some of the issues discussed which are in no way out of line with international practices but would ensure that mining remains an activity for hundreds of years to come.
He cited that recently the price of gold has risen and that some persons are of the opinion that the mineral wealth belongs to them, individually. The wealth, he said, does not belong to them but the country and its people.
“I gathered simply they (large miners) have been raising funds, they have raised $30M to get the smaller miners to protest because there is a lot of misinformation they are telling them that government wants to stop mining to regulate them out of mining because they don’t want to comply with some of these areas…I have met with them at least the miners who have declared more than 60 percent of their gold and I said to them we will work with you in a collaborative fashion set up a committee chaired by Minister of Hydraulics Robeson Benn,” President Jagdeo stated.
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US needs to work in partnership with Region in bringing aid to Haiti - President Jagdeo
Countries around the world have been working to garner assistance for the hurricane ravaged nation of Haiti, and while this is being done individually, there is need for collaboration in bringing aid to the Haitians.
President Bharrat Jagdeo during a media conference today, expressed this sentiment and explained that there is need for more involvement in the situation in Haiti, but that there is need for the United States of America to work with the Caribbean Region in this regard.
“What we called for when I was very critical of this, is not less American involvement, but more American involvement, more money, more resources but that it should be done in a collaborative fashion, where the Government of Haiti leads the show and we all support them, and that too, our region too must find some place to get our support into Haiti,” the Head of State said.
Noting that the US is the only country that has the capability of dealing with the catastrophe with aircraft carriers, helicopters, troops and resources, President Jagdeo stated that there is need for understanding since the contribution of the Region is just as important.
“I just think that they need to understand the feelings of our people in the region and the dollar that we give although we are poor people, has the same importance, as money coming from the U.S, or their relief efforts. Why shouldn’t our people’s sincere, heartfelt efforts, also reach the Haitian people?” President Jagdeo stated.
“I can understand why the Haitian Government has signed so many MoUs with the U.S but having done that, the U.S needs to understand that they need to work in partnership with our region too, not to shut people out and I think since then, the situation has improved tremendously because now we are working closely together co-coordinating, pooling together our efforts so I recognize the role of the U.S there,” President Jagdeo said.
Haiti was struck by an earthquake at around 17:00 h on Tuesday, January 12, a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale, centered approximately 15 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital damaging most of the city.
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Frivolous litigation, judicial sloth preventing CLICO liquidation – President
…Gov’t has over $3B which can satisfy more than 2,000 CLICO depositors
President Bharrat Jagdeo today lamented that frivolous litigation and judicial sloth is delaying the liquidation of CLICO Guyana, and preventing Government from using over $3B in cash which it currently has to take care of over 2,000 of the 3,000 CLICO depositors who have not had their monies returned.
“We’ve two lawyers, for very frivolous reasons, blocking this issue. I do not know when judges make their decisions. Shouldn’t they ask some basic questions? If you are representing some interests, how are you going to fund the $12B worth of liabilities that the entity currently has? Your principals should be able to put up that money or if you don’t have the money, then simply you would have to move to liquidate the assets so that as many people as possible could get their money back,” he stated.
The Head of State was, at the time, addressing the media at a press conference held at the Office of the President.
He noted that it has been five months since Government has sought the liquidation of the insurance company, but the court has yet to make a decision. He compared this to the one month that the court in the Bahamas took to grant the liquidation order for the CLICO subsidiary there.
“The court is allowing this matter to be prolonged unduly. By their inaction, close to 3,000 people can’t get their money. They can’t get back their money. Many of them are small people,” President Jagdeo pointed out.
The Head of State was keen to note that it is not his intention to meddle with the functioning of the judiciary, “All I am complaining about is its sloth and sometimes, incomprehensible rationale for judging cases and making decisions.”
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ATN’s CEO calls on President Bharrat Jagdeo
Atlantic Tele Network’s (ATN’s) Chief Executive Officer Michael Pryor pays courtesy call on Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo, January 26.
Also in photo (at left) is Chief Executive Officer Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company.
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Minister Anthony raps with Calypsonians
- 25 participants entered, 6 of whom are females
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony and members of the central Mashramani planning committee met with a group of veteran and junior calypsonians last evening, to discuss expectations for this year’s competition.
Accompanying the Minister at the meeting held at the Guyana National Service (GNS) ground on Carifesta Avenue, were Mash Coordinator Lennox Canterbury and other members of the Mash sub committee along with prominent names in broadcast and entertainment, Hector Stout, Basil Bradshaw and Dave Martins.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and members of the Mash planning committee speaking with calypsonians minutes before rehearsals
At the other end were the participants who introduced themselves and the title of their performance.
They were Professor Clew, Bartin Bourne (Mighty Voter), Winston Grey, Donna Jones, Tenecia DeFreitas, Robert Campbell (Mighty Roots), Vince Ralph, Roger Hinds (Young Bill Rogers) Blue Flame, Mighty Rebel, Cid Hooper, Ernesto Nelson, Quincy Richman, Nekesha London, Karen Bennett and Winfield James.
The occasion was seen by the Culture Minister a necessary gathering which would help the participants to understand the organizers’ expectations.
“Apart from showcasing the art form… while we might have a good product or a good song, you have to back that up with good performances… what we want to see is not just coming out and singing the song but putting all the elements together to create a good show,” Minister Anthony said.
Among the many expectations was the obligation of calypsonians to attend rehearsals at the allotted time. Failure to do so, Minister Anthony said would lead to the organizers considering the participant ill prepared for the competition.
“We want something that is of good quality so if you are allocated time for rehearsals and you have some problem, let the organizers know in advance so that another competitor can fill that slot… this competition is important and we want you to approach it with all seriousness,” Minister Anthony said.
Judging from previous competitions, Minister Anthony lamented the long delays, and impatient audiences as the reason for the numerous criticisms.
Calypsonian Winfield James making his point to Minister Anthony and members of the Mash Planning Committee
In the past few months the ministry facilitated a number of discussions with calypsonians and other stakeholders, and according to Minister Anthony, the general consensus was that quality of calypso competitions in Guyana is not to the level where it once was.
This year’s calypso competition has attracted 25 participants, six of whom are females. This number of female competitors is considered large given their limited participation in previous events.
Minister Anthony said he was proud of the recent efforts made by calypsonians, such as organising themselves into an association and promoting calypso across Guyana through Mash tents.
“Once you are organized you would be able to set your own standards and would also be able to negotiate on behalf of Calypsonians,” Minister Anthony said.
As Guyana prepares to celebrate 40 years as a Republic, Minister Anthony urged the calypsonians to ensure that their efforts are reflective of this special occasion.
Several of the calypsonians lamented the fact that their efforts have been affected by a lack of sponsorship and the limited role of the broadcast media in promoting their songs.
Calypsonian Mighty Voter suggested an across-the-board performance allowance for calypsonians while the Mighty Rebel called for a special session to be held for junior calypsonians to point out their shortcomings and prepare them for future competitions.
Calypsonian “Mighty Rebel” addressing his concern to Minister Anthony and members of the Mash Planning Committee
This year’s calypso competition will feature a junior and adult segment followed by an HIV/AIDS song competition. The organizers have included the Cinderella Caravan (a mobile unit moving around in different locations promoting calypso)
The semifinal round of the adult calypso and HIV/AIDS competition is set for February 13 at Blairmont while the finals will be held at Thirst Park on February 21. Mingles has been selected as the festival band.
The finals which are set for Thirst Park on February 21 will feature visiting guest artistes.
On January 30, the juniors will be showcasing their talent at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) for a competition and show. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Haiti relief fund.
The Unit of Allied Arts at the Ministry of Education will be supporting the event.
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GPHC modern disposal system to be completed by April
The new state-of-the art Hydroclave system which is being installed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to sterilize infectious waste generated at the facility is expected to be completed by April.
Director, Facilities Management Secretariat, GPHC, Parmanand Samaroo made this disclosure during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Monday.
The technology which is being executed at a cost of approximately US$1M is about 35 percent into its schedule.
Samaroo noted that the project is being done in three phases with the first phase completed. A contract has been signed for the second phase of the project which includes the installation of a processing house.
The contractor will be mobilized where a representative from Hydroclave system in Canada and a supplier, Thomas Neilson from the Caribbean, will supply the system, he said.
The technology will also be utilised to sterilize other healthcare facilities’ waste in Georgetown and areas contagious to the city by converting them to harmless waste before further processing for disposal.
“We are also using this model as a health care risk solution for Region 4… as we start progressing with this project we would start collecting waste as far as Mahaica to Timerhri and West Demerara to bring infectious waste where it would be sterilized… hopefully we are looking at the month of April to have this system commissioned,” Samaroo said.
On July 20, 2009 the Ministry hosted a series of implementation workshops to sensitise and educate stakeholders and workers about the new technology.
Prior to this procurement, the Ministry and other stakeholders were uncomfortable with the way in which waste (infectious components: blood, blood bags and urines; sharp objects: needles and knives; radioactive waste: x-rays; quantified general waste: kitchen disposables and cardboards, among others) were being disposed and a feasibility study was carried out by the Ministry to generate a solution.
During November 2006, the Health Ministry had embarked on a new waste management project initiated by the Regional Injection Safety and Health Care Waste Management Programme at the Linden Hospital Complex, Region Ten and shortly at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Region Six. That programme incorporated the replacement of needle use with oral substitutes.
Upon completion of the Hydroclave system it will significantly enhance this programme. All other hospitals will be able to utilize this technology at a small fee.
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President Jadgeo clears air on mining deal
-says that permit was granted under PNC era
President Bharrat Jagdeo during a media press briefing at the Office of the President today refuted statements that he had a granted mining license to Presidential Advisor on Empowerment, Odinga Lumumba and his business partner Grantley Waldrond.
President Jagdeo asserted that the licence for the property was issued in 1991 before the reigns of his administration and that he is not in the position to issue licences.
“It’s like the same issue with Lumumba and the land where in Berbice he had 14,000 acres of land given by the previous government to him before we got into office. That was the early days when the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan had spoken with him to give back 7,000 acres of land…the land was given to him when he was member of the People’s National Congress (PNC), he said.
He noted both Lumumba and Waldron had petitioned him claiming that the licence was a disadvantage.
“The cancellation of their licence by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) was done a few years ago. The licence that they had was a disadvantage to them. When the GGMC went to tender they sought and obtained a court injunction hindering the GGMC from moving forward,” he explained.
“It was GGMC who ultimately re-instated their licence. I did not direct GGMC to give them back their licence it is as clear as that…I had no interactions with GGMC on this matter,” President Jagdeo stated.
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US Forest Service team calls on Agriculture Minister
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who is performing the duties of Prime Minister today met with a high-level team from the United States Forest Service to discuss the way forward for the local forestry sector.
Minister Persaud during the meeting told the team’s members that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) recently benefited from a number of interventions such as; training, capacity building and management techniques.
He noted that GFC is looking forward for further collaboration with the US Forest agency for the improvement in forestry operations so that Guyana remains in accordance with international regulations.
Minister Persaud said that during an up coming five-day interactive session the US Forest Service will be meeting with several agencies and stakeholders in the forestry sector such as Iwokrama, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Forest Producers Association (FPA) and Conservation International (CI).
“Anything that can improve our ability to better manage Guyana’s resources and to adequately utilise those resources as we have been doing is welcome,” Minister Persaud said.
Several focal areas have been identified for discussion and these include promotion of the lesser used species, national forest fire management, capacity building, forest inventory and the formulation and implementation of a log tracking system through the use of bar-coding,.
“There are new things that GFC is doing- things that it did not contemplate doing two and three years ago in terms of wider management of resources and the importance of our forest within the context of our national development,” Minister Persaud said.
Karen Horning, Head of Mission of the US Embassy in Guyana said that US Forest Service has expertise to offer in a number of areas that is relevant to Guyana.
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