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Sugar workers to participate in forum on future of industry

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has arranged a series of workers’ forum on the future of the sugar industry, in keeping with the corporation’s pledge to share relevant information on the state of the industry.
A GuySuCo release said that the workers will also be updated on the implementation of the sugar industry’s Turn-Around Plan, the course ahead for the industry and stakeholders’ role. 
The meetings will be held at all the estates and will see the participation of Government Ministers, GuySuCo Board Members and Trade Union Representatives.
The schedule is as follows:
  

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Hundreds attend memorial activity for Lusignan victims

Two years after the gruesome slaying of 11 persons when gunmen stormed the community of Lusignan in the early hours of January 26 , Government officials, religious organisations, members of the Diplomatic Corps and civil society on Wednesday, joined hundreds of Guyanese in remembrance of the victims.
The function, which was organised by the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC), was aimed at promoting unity and in memory of the 11 victims which included five children.  It was held at the Lusignan Tarmac on Wednesday and attracted approximately five hundred people.


Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission Bishop Juan Edghill while delivering remarks at the memorial service for the Lusignan victims

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud who is performing the duties of Prime Minister while delivering the feature address expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased on behalf of President Bharrat Jagdeo and Cabinet Members.
 “We sometimes ignore that as a people our ability to overcome challenges is magnified if we come together. We saw strength coming out of the tragedy and as a nation we are able to conquer all challenges; we must forever be vigilant,”
He noted that society should not forget the sorrow the nation endured after the tragedy, because if that is lost the economy loses vigilance and will always be under threat.
He reiterated that there are persons who would want the nation to forget what has happened but urged all in attendance to always keep their guards up.
“Our prayers and comfort are always with you as long as we can remember these tragic incidents,” the Minister posited.


Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud (right), to his right Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali during the service in remembrance of the victims of the Lusignan Massacre 

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said Guyanese have a collective responsibility to each other as a nation since everyone makes up a country, not just an individual.
Guyana is still in the making, he told that gathering, and is faced with many challenges but assured that through perseverance Guyana’s objective of ‘One people, One Nation, One Destiny’ can be achieved.  
“Even more so then it would signify the sharing of victory, pain and successes which would also help to unite the people as one,” Minister Ali said.
He noted that Government has felt the pain inflicted on the nation which cannot be erased easily since it is now deemed as part of Guyana’s history.   
“Although this is part of our past this event should cushion our future so this would not recur. As a nation challenges will continue to face us, but how we deal with it will define us as a country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission Bishop Juan Edghill encouraged the nation to continue to show love without political division and to work with togetherness as Guyanese so that good will always triumph over evil.


Attendees during the memorial service in remembrance of the slain Lusignan victims of the January 26 attack, at the Lusignan Tarmac

“We have an option to remain bitter or to forgive, but as a Leader I am urging the relatives to forgive,” the ERC chairman said.
He noted that after reflecting on the lesson learnt he is happy to see that unity is prevailing throughout Guyana despite persons would want to create mischief and to portray other wise.
The night’s proceedings also saw a heart felt reflection by Bibi Baksh the daughter of the late Saleem Baksh who said that although it has been two years since the tragedy the memory of incident still lingers as if it was yesterday.
She noted that her father will always be remembered for his contribution to society especially the community of Lusignan.
Ashley Persaud a student of the Valmiki Vidyalaya Primary school cited a poem which reflects the tragedy.  Representatives of the three main religious groups were also in attendance.
 The incident which was seen as the worst in the country’s history evoked the condemnation of political, religious and other leaders.
About 02:00hrs on January 26, 2008, the quiet ‘Tract A’, Lusignan, on the East Coast Demerara was shattered by a 20-minute rapid gunfire spree and rampage of five homes by a large armed gang  that left 11 persons dead, including five children.
Those who perished in that fateful day were: Shaleem Baksh, 52, Claren Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; and Seegobin Harilall, 4.
Just hours prior to the Lusignan murders, the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, also came under heavy gunfire.
On February 17, Bartica was rocked by terror as about 15 heavily armed men invaded the community, killing 12 persons, including three police men and injuring several others.
Those who died in the Bartica slaying were:   Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yaseen; Errol Thomas and Baldeo Singh, Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, and Irving Ferreira.

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Republic Bank gives $2.4M to Mash Steelband competition

Delivering on the commitment made last year to support the Mashramani Steelband competition, Republic Bank presented of a cheque of $2.4M to the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport today.
Handing over the cheque to Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony were the Bank’s Branch Operations Manager Denise Hobbs and Communications/Public Relations Officer Jonelle Dummett. Witnessing the presentation were Permanent Secretary Alfred King and Steelband Coordinator Andrew Tyndall.
The steelband competition is one of several highlights on the calendar of activities for Mashramani which is celebrating 40 years of existence this year. It is set for February 14 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall at 17:00 h (5:00 pm).


Minister Anthony receives Cheque for Steelband.

This competition is expected to attract 12 participating bands (a significant increase from last year) and a difference in the judging criteria. Small bands and junior categories will be competing and will be playing carnival and classical pieces.
There is a notable increase in the junior soloist category. Ten competitors have submitted their registration forms. Youth involvement in the art form, Tyndall said, is important to nurturing the talent.
Minister Anthony promised a major improvement in the standards of the competition given that many of the competitors had participated in a workshop facilitated by acclaimed Trinidadian musician, composer, pannist and performer Ray Holman.
At a workshop facilitated by Republic Bank, Holman spent time in Guyana working with local pan musicians on arranging music.
As a renowned international artiste Holman also arranged and recorded with steelbands and artistes in the United States of America, Canada, Latin America, Japan and Europe including television performances with the German National Orchestra.


Guyana's National Steel Orchestra.

He is also the winner of several prestigious musical awards including the Hummingbird Silver Medley of Merit from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and a Pan Legend Award from the New York Folk Arts Institute and the U.S. Congress.
Republic Bank has made another promise to facilitate another workshop later this year on tuning of music.
“I think the commitment that we have seen from Republic Bank is not just a one off action but it’s an ongoing interest in the development of steelband in Guyana and we are very pleased to have this partnership with the Bank,” Minister Anthony said.
Steelband made its way into Guyana two years after it started in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago during the 1945 J’ouvert celebrations. The celebration saw the use of bottles, spoons and rubbish bin covers and discarded 45 gallon drums as the musical accompaniment.
            These instruments later became the “going thing” on the island and gave birth to the term “steelband.”
            In 1947 Trinidadian bands made their first appearance in Georgetown. Their impressive performance was enough to influence the locals to adopt the musical art form and by 1953, local bands began emerging.
            Among the popular ones were Quo Vidas, Invaders, Pagans, Chicago, Sun Valley, and Casablanca.


Junior pan players at rehearsals.

Guyanese pan icon Roy Geddes who is a master in every facet of steelpan (playing, tuning and arranging) realised his potential as a youngster in the early 1950s when he was a member of Casablanca.
            His knowledge and experience in the art form was enough for him to branch off and form his own band “Silvertones” in 1946.  
            With 56 years of experience, Geddes is today considered a “grand professor” of pan in Guyana. In 1971, Geddes received the Medal of Honour and in 1996, the Golden Arrow of Achievement.

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GPHC to manage Kitty, Industry health centres

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will be taking over the management of the Kitty and Industry Health Centres during the course of this year.
            This was disclosed by GPHC’s, Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan during an interview recently with the Government Information Agency (GINA).
            In recent years huge sums were allocated towards rehabilitation of several health institutions including the health centres which had benefited from rehabilitation works.
            The rehabilitation of those health centers was a positive intervention by the administration to ensure improved medical services offered at the institutions.
            Khan noted that the GPHC continues to strive to meet the goals (service agreement) set out by the Health Ministry.
             At present, he said the hospital is finalising the 2009 service agreement and awaiting the new one for 2010.
            The CEO noted that the Enmore poly clinic which was re-opened by His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo a few years ago has been successful in terms of service.
            Other centres that benefited from rehabilitation works over the years include: Plaisance, Beterverwagting, Lusignan, Buxton, Enterprise, Melanie Damishana, Enmore, Nabaclis, Victoria, Clonbrook, Meten-Meer-Zorg and Canal Number One Polder.

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Agri engineers to read for hydrology Post Grad

In an effort to strengthen its human resource capabilities, the Ministry of Agriculture today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOu) with the University of Guyana (UG) and McGill University which will pave the way for engineers to read for a Post Graduate Certificate in Water Resource Management.
            Permanent Secretary within the ministry, Dindyal Permaul inked the agreement with Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Sherwood Lowe, who signed on behalf of the University of Guyana.
            A batch of 24 engineers is expected to be trained for the course with 15 persons being drawn from National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agri Development Authority.
The evening programme is set for commencement in April and will include all of the ministry’s engineers.
            Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud said the programme will entail hydrology and water resources management, drainage and irrigation, hydraulic structures and geotechnical investigation courses.        
The training is part of the capacity building actions earmarked for the engineers to enhance their proficiency in water management and provide additional skills for the execution of their duties in a more effective manner.
            The minister stated that the severe deficiency of specialty in the area of hydrological studies has been recognised, prompting the unique partnership with the universities.
            Minister Persaud noted that the ministry is pleased to provide the resources to facilitate studies in these key areas since many persons employed under water and weather management systems have not benefitted from training.
            He added that the minimal training received by some has been proven inadequate given Guyana’s expanding cultivated lands and the effects of climate change.         
            “So we have to bring the technical advances of these institutions up to standards in the most cost effective manner. We also recognised the limitations of the programme offered by the University of Guyana…”
Minister Persaud mentioned that during a visit to McGill University he explored the possibility of having a water management programme undertaken locally.
“It will allow every engineer in water management to be exposed to these areas of training in drainage and irrigation.”
The minister stressed that there must be renewed efforts in equipping the ministry’s human resource with the necessary skills to build capacity.
He added that the investment in the unique partnership will also benefit the University of Guyana since the laboratory will require an upgrade.
 “Let’s see if we can deepen this project and extend it to other countries in the region and really make Guyana the centre for excellence in water and land resource management,” the Agriculture Minister stated.
In prepared remarks read by Lowe, UG’s Vice Chancellor, Lawrence Carrington said he was delighted with the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) since it creates the space within national development projects for new ideas.
“I recall that my very first initiative as Vice Chancellor was to open the possibility for a cross-faculty project on drainage, irrigation and coastal zone management. This programme is critical to the development of capacity and competence in an area that Guyana must cultivate in order to mitigate the deleterious effects of climate change and to maximise its natural resources,” Carrington said in his statement.
    He further referred to Guyana as a living laboratory for the study of water resource management and its application to agricultural productivity, human health, alternative energy and economic growth.
Carrington said he cherished the tripartite initiative and congratulated Minister Persaud on his foresight in recognising applied scholarship as a catalyst to national development.       
 

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Book on Guyana dating back 400 years to be launched mid February

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, today gave the Government Information Agency (GINA) a sneak peak at the first 12 of 36 books titled “Guyana Classics” to be launched in February.
The 12 copies which are prefaced by President Bharrat Jagdeo include the first book to be written about Guyana, Martin Carter’s poems and indentrureship among others. Some of the books trace Guyana’s history as far back as the 1500s.
Minister Anthony said the books are scheduled to be launched by mid February as part of the calendar of activities to mark Guyana’s 40th Republic and Mashramani celebrations.


Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony showcasing a copy of one of the Guyana Classics.

The materials were manufactured by the Caribbean Printing Press which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport. Copies will be available at national libraries and research centres across the country.
The “Guyana Classics” initiative emerged at a meeting between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Professor David Dabydeen during Guyana’s hosting of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X in 2008.
The need for a Caribbean press was highlighted and it was agreed that the Guyana Government would establish a press to publish written materials about Guyana and the Caribbean.

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GFC has policies to cater for sustainable forestry management
-Team tells Natural Resource Parliamentary Committee

Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), James Singh in highlighting policies as it relates to logging in a low carbon environment, said that the Commission has to build capacity in order to meet its expanded role of incorporating policies on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The Commissioner was at the time addressing the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources.   
            He said that the Commission is involved in a number of projects to ensure sustainable management of the forests; these activities are carried by the Forest Resource Management Division.
            The responsibilities of the Division include: transparent allocation of forest, review and assessment of concessions, verification of Amerindian boundaries and private properties, zoning of the forest into high biodiversity areas, updating processing facilities, developing Grazing Incidence Spectrometer (GIS) data update, and updating concession maps. 
The Commissioner said that in keeping with the GFC’s mandate to support stakeholders, training is provided by an education extension service managed by the Forestry Training Center Incorporated and by the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council.
“We need to do a national forest inventory to better management the forest resources by using the GIS and remote sensing systems to make more informed decisions,” he said.
The need to enhance training among Amerindian communities was cited as essential to get them to follow the standards of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and the need to pay more attention on the lesser used species was emphasized. The current SFM guidelines were dubbed as satisfactory.
Among the objectives that are of extreme importance to the Commission, Singh noted that the GFC has to finalize a management strategy for State forest permissions for Demerara and Berbice, as most of the permissions in these districts are expired, thereby putting the forests in these areas at risk of exhaustion.
 He stressed on the need to quantify the practice of mining on State forest and a team from the GFC is currently working to address this issue. He added that the aim is to develop guidelines for high conservation value forests in Guyana. 
The Commission has a decentralization of 25 stations with officers assigned to specific geographic range and tasks. This follows that each officer is tasked with distinct levels of responsibility and accountability. There are well established protocols for data collection, data management and revenue assessment.
Guyana has a total land mass of 21.5 million hectares. Of this amount 18.6 million hectares or 87 percent is forested, with the State owning 13.6 million hectares.

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Housing expansion to continue on East Bank corridor
-10,000 more houselots to be developed

The East Bank corridor will be further expanded with an additional 10,000 houselots which will be developed from the 2,000 acres of land recently acquired from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) by the Housing and Water Ministry. Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) indicated that the acquisition of new lands is part of the Ministry’s efforts to accelerate the housing sector to make available 17,000 houselots over the next three years and meet the demands of citizens.
            Recently the Ministry sought and obtained $4B for the expansion of the housing sector.
            Minister Ali said to achieve this objective of meeting its targets and satisfy the demands; an assessment was conducted to determine the availability of land through negotiations with GuySuCo.
            He said the negotiations had led to the identification of lands along the East Bank corridor. Houselots will be located from Peter’s Hall to Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
            “This investment is only part of the incremental investment that is needed to actualize the 10,000 houselots they will need a further $6B…to provide the necessary infrastructure to develop the lands to make it accessible and available to allottees so this would be another investment that would be required,” the Minister said.
            The Minister pointed out that the design and layout of the area would take into consideration the issues of health, education, economic activity and commercial zone. The scheme will comprise middle, low and high income structures.
            In addition, Minister Ali revealed that more than 1500 lots will be made available by year-end. This will include 2,000 lots in Region Three where the Ministry has secured financing under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme for the expansion of Tuschen housing scheme.
            He said designs for the expansion of Schoonard have been completed to make available more than 5,000 houselots. Works are nearing completion under the European Union (EU) funded programme in Onderneeming which would make available another 500 lots. The Ministry is also working to finalise designs for areas in Uitvlugt and Anna Catherina.
            “These are some of the investments that we would make in Region Three this year, in addition to the acquisition of the land on the East Bank corridor,” Minister Ali added.
            The Minister, however, noted that a lot of mischief is being peddled and that he is confident that Guyanese would see past the mischief and would be aware of Government’s investment of making housing affordable and accessible to its people.
            “It is important to note that some aspects of the opposition would question an investment affair of $4B that goes towards improvement of the housing sector. We have made clear that the $4B was part of an effort to make the 17,000 houselots available and ultimately part of that effort is the acquisition of that land that is the primary ingredient towards moving in a direction to have houselots available,” the Housing Minister stated.
            He said the investment is timely and would be of great impetus for the housing sector.
            “We at the Ministry of Housing and Water believe strongly in accountability, transparency and openness all our business and transaction has been and will continue to be open to public scrutiny. Our ‘One Stop Shop, our online system, our public awareness programme, “Camp Resolution; these are all examples of our interest in openness transparency and accountability… I think this year should be a very dynamic and interesting year for the Ministry of Housing and Water,” Minister Ali asserted.

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Guyanese continue to pour out their generosity towards Haiti

The National Committee for Haiti Relief today received over $3M in cash and other forms of donation from several organisations.
        At the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Thomas Lands, presentations were made by Republic Bank staffers ($300,000), Gandhi Youth Organisation, ($142,000), Guyana Fire Service staffers, ($140,000)  plus 15 boxes of clothing, National Hardware Limited $1M worth of clothing, Ansa Mcal Limited 200 cases of sardines, Gizmos and Gadgets, ($100,000) , St. Stanislaus College, 2 boxes caned food  and Neal and Massy, ($750,000).


Neal and Massy representative hands over the company's donation to National Committee for Haiti Relief Chairperson, Priya Manickchand.

Chairperson of the National Committee for Haiti Relief, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand who received the donations expressed the Committee’s appreciation and noted that its members are very encouraged by the over whelming response “since persons who don’t make fantastic salaries have combined  their donations to bring relief to the people of Haiti.”
           Minister Manickchand noted that as at 15:00 hrs today, donations deposited in the Relief Committee’s bank account amounted to over $254M.

Ansal Mc Al reprsentatives and Chairperson of the National Committee for Haiti Relief with the company's donation.

Container being packed with donations for Haiti.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle presents donation to Priya Manickchand, Chairperson, National Committee for Haiti Relief.

Ghandi Youth Organization representative hands over their donation to Chairperson of the National Committee for Haiti Relief.

            She said that while the committee is happy about receiving large amounts, it’s the small amounts that inspire others to contribute “since its shows that Guyanese humane spirit is not lost.” 
           Minister Manickchand also noted that while other efforts are being made in Guyana to secure more aid for the people of Haiti, President Bharrat Jagdeo will be stepping up his call for more relief for the people of Haiti when he meets with other Caricom heads in Suriname this weekend.


Republic Bank representative presents the bank's staffers' donation.

Heads of Government will be meeting on Friday to determine types of relief needed in Haiti and how each member state can contribute to Haiti’s rebuilding process. The country’s capital Port-au-Prince was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12 which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless.


St Stanislaus College teacher presents students' donation to Priya Manickchand.

  Minister Manickchand said that a shipment of at least three containers is expected to leave for Haiti tomorrow and 10 more are expected to leave on January 5, since information coming from Haiti indicated that the ports are being cleared.


Staff of National Hardware presents donation to Chairperson for the National Committee for Haiti Relief.

          Director of CDC Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup said that over $ 45,853,000 worth in kind were collected since the establishment of the committee on January 13.
         On Tuesday last a vessel shipping four containers packed with flour, refined coconut oil, pharmaceuticals, water and clothes departed the John Fernandes Wharf, Water Street, for Jamaica, where a focal point will be established, from where relief items will then be transported to Haiti.    

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Gov’t will not weaken mining sector- Minster Benn
-Sector contributes significantly to economy

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, who is also chairman of the Land Use Committee, which was established by President Bharrat Jagdeo has rebuked the ambitions of those who wish to undermine the committee’s and Government’s efforts.
            The committee was set up to create conditions necessary for a harmonized sustainable utilization of resources in the mining and forestry sectors.
Minister Benn noted that efforts were recently made in Linden and Bartica to misinform miners, especially small scale miners and instill unjustified fears and anxieties with respect to the committee and its functions.
“I wish to join in the widespread condemnation of these negative efforts and, I urge that the stakeholders in the sectors await the imminent provision of the protocols which would indeed, I am sure belie the mischievous representations that are now abroad, in some quarters,” Minister Benn said.
He emphasized that the committee is well represented with officials from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission and is working according to the laws and as such there will be no veto in favour of the forestry sector as against the mining sector.
            In addition, Government will never prevent the growth of the mining sector since it contributes significantly to the economy with a record high of 305,000 ounces in 2009 and over US$340,000 in today’s gold price term. It was emphasized that such performances and pricing in that sector will only see support from Government to increase production rather than create an environment to hinder the sector, Minister Benn emphasized.  
He added that the Low Carbon Development Strategy does not undermine mining, but rather promotes mining in a sustainable manner, likewise for the forestry sector.
He noted that the committee has been able to establish a possible solution that will not impair but enhance the transparency and opportunities for both sectors’ stakeholders given the challenges of multiple use situations in the forest.
            “That solution is at hand and is being fleshed-out with supporting documents, to allow for adoption by His Excellency and Cabinet after wide stakeholder review, inclusive of a general meeting with all miners with His Excellency on February 11, 2010,” Minister Benn stated.
           

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