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President ends successful visit to Cuba
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday ended a brief but successful working visit to Cuba where he and President Fidel Castro further strengthened the already close ties of diplomatic cooperation between the two countries that go back more than 30 years.
A report from the Granma newspaper in Cuba said President Castro and his ministers warmly welcomed the Guyanese Head of State and his delegation at José Martí International Airport in Havana on Wednesday.
It said that at the terminal, Mr Jagdeo spoke in favour of strengthening relations between the two countries and thanked Cuba for its cooperation, particularly in the areas of health and education.
During a brief exchange with the media, President Castro, in his turn, said that beyond protocols, this would be a time of intensive work to the benefit of both peoples, Granma reported.
Afterward, it said official talks between the two leaders took place at the Palace of the Revolution.
On the Cuban side, other participants were José Ramón Balaguer, Minister of Public Health; Ricardo Cabrisas, Government Minister; Marta Lomas, Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation; Manuel Aguilera, acting foreign minister; and Carlos Valenciaga, member of the Council of State.
President Jagdeo was accompanied to Cuba by Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford, and General Director of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran.
“We will work to expand relations and cooperation with Guyana, mainly in the field of health”, the Cuban leader is reported to have said during the official welcoming for President Jagdeo and his delegation at Havana's Revolution Palace on Wednesday.
The cooperation between both countries covers diverse sectors, including public health, agriculture, forestry, construction, scientific research, civil aviation, fishing, foreign trade, culture, education and sports.
The Guyanese delegation reportedly had a full work agenda, which included visits to various health and sports centres, and meetings with Guyanese students studying in Havana.
President Jagdeo was also very impressed with the Pando Ferrer Ophthalmological Institute which he toured on Thursday.
Accompanied by Minister Cabrisas, President Jagdeo was given an extensive tour through various health centres in Havana where he had a first hand look and assessment of the tremendous achievements of the ophthalmological programme.
At the Operation Miracle Centre in Marina Hemingway, President Jagdeo was received by Elia Rosa Lemus, an official of the Council of State, and Dr Gessiz Rodríguez Fernández, director of the centre.
He further talked with Castro about the idea of establishing an eye care centre in Guyana where diagnoses and even operations could be performed.
He also met Guyanese patients in Cuba who thanked him for his visit and expressed their satisfaction and congratulations for their exquisite treatment on the part of nurses, doctors and social workers who are attending to them in Cuba.
“This visit will contribute to reinforcing the excellent ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between the two brotherly peoples of the Caribbean and their respective governments,” a Cuban news agency reported.
Corbin claims 2006 budget lacks `philosophical underpinnings’
By Chamanlall Naipaul
THE main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is arguing that Guyana will not move forward unless there is good governance characterised by transparency and accountability.
Wrapping up the 2006 budget debate yesterday in the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition and the PNCR, Mr Robert Corbin said the budget has laudable objectives but is without the requisite policies and programmes to achieve these and its theme of Modernisation and Transformation Through Partnership is misleading.
He charged that the budget lacks the “philosophical underpinnings” and should be put aside, because in addition it is in breach of the law, as it failed to meet the requirements enshrined in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.
During the opening of the budget debate PNCR front bencher, Mr Winston Murray also made a similar charge and on that basis called for the budget to be withdrawn, or refashioned and then brought back to the House.
The PNCR leader said his party would be the first to commend the government if what is projected in the budget were accompanied by a feasible programme to achieve them.
According to him a fundamental flaw in the budget is that it failed to take into account recommendations and reports made out of studies by experts such as those in the National Development Strategy (NDS) and to use the experiences of the past to guide for the future.
He rejected the government’s argument that the floods last year were responsible for the economy performing poorly, and instead asserted that this was due to “colossal mismanagement of the country’s affairs” associated with “poor planning, visionless management and technical incompetence.”
The response by the government to the floods, Corbin claimed, is an apt demonstration of this.
“The President and his ministers are running around like merry men carrying out damage control,” he charged, adding that he has met people in several communities with slips to obtain flood assistance but have failed to so since the floods of last year.
He added that only when citizens mount protests is attention paid to their plight by the government and this is not a healthy development for the country as this is a sign that it is descending into anarchy.
He noted too that such developments are an indication that the society has deep-seated problems which should be addressed.
Lack of accountability and corruption has led to a disastrous situation, Corbin alleged, claiming that the drug business has been responsible for propping up the economy.
He launched a scathing attack on the President’s Youth Choice Initiative programme, describing it as a “colossal failure,” and questioned why it is managed by the Office of the President through Presidential Adviser on Empowerment, Mr Odinga Lumumba, even though there is a Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Failure to appoint a Chancellor of the Judiciary and appointing the Integrity Commission without consultation was cited also by Corbin as evidence of the government’s refusal to abide by the rule of law.
He blasted parliamentarians for being involved in an “exchange of frivolities” instead of engaging in an exercise of constructive ideas to remedy a situation in the society.
The PNCR leader said Guyana is in a state where the fragility of the social fabric is likely to deteriorate if a constructive approach and speedy actions are not taken.
He claimed that the society is characterised by brutal murders, an uncertain future, scarce jobs, uneducated youths, heavy losses by the agricultural community due to floods and unfair competition for the business community from the drug business, coupled with escalating electricity rates.
Touching on the Ronald Waddell killing he said this is just a recent one but there is a long list of such killings, noting that the crime and security situation is at a serious level.
Lofty speeches will not resolve the problems in the society, Corbin exhorted, and instead this would only happen through good governance, transparency, accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Harripersaud Nokta said the former PNC regime was largely responsible for the situation Guyana is facing.
In supporting his argument, Nokta referred to a speech made by former leader of the PNCR and President, Mr Desmond Hoyte, in 1988, in which he admitted the economic failure by the then government in which there was a poor balance of payment, high indebtedness and no growth in the economy.
However, Corbin countered that in 1989 when the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) was introduced in 1989 the economis decline was reversed and the present government benefited from the “tail wind” of the ERP.
Region Two gets promised excavators for Pomeroon
TWO new ‘Caterpillar’ excavators to be based in Pomeroon have arrived on Essequibo Coast, in keeping with an undertaking President Bharrat Jagdeo gave when he visited flood-hit parts of the riverain area last month.
The machines are in the Anna Regina engineering compound of the Regional Administration in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).
Officials said they would be moved to Charity and then transported to upper and Lower Pomeroon River by pontoon.
Last Monday, Pomeroon farmers, at a public meeting in the old Charity Secondary School building, elected members of two committees to oversee management of the machines that were purchased at a cost of some $60M.
On the Lower Pomeroon Management Committee are Chairman Dereck Gonsalves (St John); Secretary Elizabeth Harris (Martindale); Treasurer Selene Haroof (Cozier Canal) and Brian Ally (Marlborough); Vincent Overmuller (Friendship Canal); Ruth Lowenfield (Lilydale); Romney Tobin (Hackney); Victor William (Strong Hope) and Wilfred Williams (Aberdeen).
The Upper Pomeroon Committee comprises Chairman Nateram Ramanan alias ‘Juice Man’ (Charity); Secretary Shiek Yusuf (Upper Jacklow); Treasurer Shermon Austin (Lower Jacklow) and James Ramroop (Aripicao/Pickersgil); Wayne Benn (Warapana); Kawall Sanichara (Abrams Creek); Rodney Correia (Siriki); Timothy Alphonso (Dredge Creek) and Chuman Lall (David James Scheme).
Regional Chairman Alli Baksh, who witnessed the elections, said three councillors of the Charity/Urasara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Regional Vice-Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, Agriculture Officer Spellen and Coordinator of the Regional Drainage and Irrigation Department Farouk Khan will also sit on the two committees.
The government has already made financial assistance available to households that suffered from the flooding, each getting $50,000 cheques to help resume farming, prior to Pomeroon being declared a disaster area. (RAJENDRA PRABHULALL)
Chinese hand over textiles mill to Guyana
-- investors to be invited to run company
By Shawnel Cudjoe
CHINA yesterday formally donated the equipment and raw materials from the G&C Sanata Textiles mill in Georgetown to the Guyana Government and Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Minister Clement Rohee said investors will be invited to take over the company.
Mr Rohee and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Shen Qing signed the certificate for the donation of the equipment and raw materials at the Foreign Trade Ministry here.
In the next few months, the minister said, the government will be on the hunt for investors to take over the company and make it a viable entity since Guyana has already secured a lucrative export market for its products.
“We already have a secure market in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This is a market with about eight million people and growing and the product will eventually be a regional product thus enabling Guyana to be part of the CARICOM market,” he said.
Rohee added that although the prospects for success are excellent, the investor has a huge role to play. “A lot will depend on the investor and how he is able to take advantage of this market share and be competitive, not only in terms of the quality which we have no doubt about, but also in terms of the price of his products.”
He pointed out too, that while it is not easy competing in the textiles industry, especially when the Chinese are involved, the project can still be successful.
He told the gathering at the ceremony that the government’s policy is not to be involved in business, but to create an enabling environment for potential investors to participate in enterprises such as Sanata.
Ambassador Qing said yesterday’s signing was testimony to the cooperation between the two countries and Guyana stands to benefit greatly.
“After the handing over of these raw materials and equipment, I believe it will surely help the Guyanese side to build its own textile industry… This is just another example of the friendly cooperation of the two sides moving ahead,” he said.
He added that the rapid increase in bilateral trade between the two countries contributed to a record US$35M in foreign trade for 2005. Further, Guyana’s exports to China reached US$6M last year, four times bigger than in 2004, he said.
Qing estimated that as the friendly relations continue to grow, bilateral trade will see another record high this year since future areas of cooperation will be discussed at the joint commission on economic and trade cooperation meeting to be held mid February.
By mid-year, journalists would be given a tour of the Skeldon sugar modernisation project in Berbice, also being undertaken by the Chinese, the envoy said.
“Through your own eyes you will see the speed of implementation and the quality of that project is in full accordance with the agreement signed by the two sides”, he told reporters.
But coming sooner will be the handing over of the Convention Centre at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown to the Guyana Government. The centre, almost complete, is being built by the Chinese.
Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Ltd, Mr Winston Brassington said the textiles mill gift from the Chinese Government is a significant one since the equipment alone when installed cost more than $1 billion.
He said that in finding investors, Guyana will be using the fact that the equipment is a grant and does not have to be repaid, to its advantage.
The Exchange of Notes to facilitate the formal handing over of G&C Sanata Textiles Company Inc was signed between Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr Manzoor Nadir and Assistant Minister of Commerce of China, Mr Liao Xiaoqi during a working visit by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to the People’s Republic of China in July last year.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations some three decades ago, Guyana and China have enjoyed excellent and productive relations, with Guyana benefiting extensively from the Technical Cooperation for Developing Countries programme, medical brigades, cooperation programmes, notably those between CCTV of China and National Communications Network, and the services of a mushroom cultivation expert, among other expertise and programmes.
Four beaten, injured in Berbice gun robberies
BANDITS beat, shot and robbed three Berbice families of cash and jewellery between Thursday and yesterday morning, leaving four people injured, Police reported.
The first of the two separate armed robberies took place about 01:20 h Thursday when a gang of five men, one of whom had a shotgun, attacked two different families at Eversham, Corentyne.
In that incident, Rita Bhola, 65, her son, Patrick Bhola, 41, and her 11-year-old granddaughter were the victims whom the robbers hurt and took away jewellery and $3,000 cash.
The attackers then dragged the pre-teen child to where her mother, Michelle Cadogan, lives, about three lots from the Bholas, forcing the girl to call out for her parent, Police said.
Cadogan hesitated to open her home and the gunman discharged a round forcing her to comply and she was relieved of a bag containing money and valuables of undisclosed worth before the men escaped amidst more gunfire.
The Bholas received medical treatment but were not admitted to any hospital.
In the second robbery, three men entered the building where shopkeeper Babadeen Samad, 53, lives at Bath Settlement, about 20:30 h Thursday.
They gained entry through an unlocked back door to the lower flat which houses a grocery and held Samad and a friend, Errol Bharrat, at gunpoint.
The trio dealt Samad and Bharrat several blows about their bodies with their guns and the woman handed over a canister with jewels and cash, the total value of which was not quantified.
The injured Samad and Bharrat were treated and sent away from Fort Wellington Hospital, at West Coast Berbice, too.
Investigations into the three crimes are continuing, Police said.
Ituni marijuana fields, nurseries destroyed
TWO fields of cannabis (marijuana), about one acre each, were destroyed during a drug eradication exercise at Six Miles, Ituni, Upper Demerara River, on Thursday.
Police said two nurseries with the same plants and three camps were also razed but no arrests made.
Citizens park for Anna Regina
ANNA Regina Town Clerk Ganga Persaud has announced that construction of a $2M citizens park in the Essequibo Coast town will commence shortly.
It is being funded as a joint project between the Canadian Federation of Municipalities and the Town Council.
The site is a few metres from the car park near the high bridge, the eastern and western sides of which have to be earth filled before the structure is rehabilitated and painted for preservation as a heritage monument to attract tourists, Mr Persaud said.
He said trees will be planted in the park and along the road leading to the seawall from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) branch.
The Town Clerk appealed to livestock rearers to keep their cattle from entering the recreational place but warned that the municipality is soon to launch a campaign against stray animals.
The Canadian Federation, in collaboration with the council, has already financed the erection of public conveniences and the painting of a pavilion at the Community Centre ground.
New $112M building for Essequibo markets
THE sum of $112M is being spent to repair and modernise Bush Lot Market in the Anna Regina township on Essequibo Coast.
Town Clerk Ganga Persaud said the project got under way recently and the contracted R. Bassoo and Sons company is expected to complete it within nine months.
Mr Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle the aim is to house the Anna Regina and Bush Lot markets in one building and minimise operational costs to the municipality.
He said the Bush Lot market will be transformed into a modern shopping mall with different sections for green vegetables, ground provisions, fish, meat, groceries, clothing, jewellery and eating places.
According to him, all the Anna Regina vending stalls will be relocated to the Bush Lot edifice in time for Christmas this year.
Vendors and stallholders at Bush Lot Market have already been moved to Bush Lot bus park and along the shoulders of the public road while the construction is in progress.
Meanwhile, the main road at Bush Lot is closed to traffic during the usually busy Friday market day.
`Pirates all round de place’
SLINGSHOT’S ship and its buccaneers did not sail last year because the devastating floods across the coast cancelled the Republic Day float parade, but come this February 23, it will be “pirates all around de place.”
The costumes’ theme surrounds the piracy of intellectual property in Guyana and the Caribbean, and to sell the idea of sound, vision and creativity, he has brought together top costume designers Don Gomes and Derek Moore.
John `Slingshot’ Drepaul said his “pirates” theme was too good to be left to drown, and so yesterday at Le Merdien Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, he gave members of the media a sneak peek at the costume – skeletons, eerie face masks, chains, guns, cutlasses, knives, eye patches, bandanas and more.
Slingshot and his camp are anticipating a minimum of about 500 revellers on Mash Day and will provide them with the pirate accessories.
Key to the parade would be a gigantic adventure ship being built by designer Moore, who has excelled at recent Mashramani float parades, winning top honours several years.
Gomes has taken on the task of designing a Pirate King.
With all the buzz Slingshot has been creating with his music on the radio and television in Guyana, can he mastermind stealing top honours on Mashramani Day? (NEIL MARKS)
Mash battle in the sun
By Kenwah Choquanyi
THEY were exhausted and drained of energy from the sun, but they kept on going yesterday, battling against their opponents with new moves, styles and vibes in the Dance 2 and Masquerade 2 competitions yesterday.
With a larger and more supportive crowd at the National Park, Georgetown, the competition among schools in the Mashramani anniversary programme took off with a bang and the judges were in for a hard time with the stiff contests among the students.
The segments were Social Commentary, Interpretive, Legends and Traditions and Religious Belief, similar to the Dance 1 categories run off earlier this week at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, also in the city.
The Dance 2 competition began with the 11-13 Individual round and in the Interpretive category, Christ Church Secondary placed first and Richard Ishmael second.
For the Legends and Traditions category, West Ruimveldt took the first position with Stella Maris Primary in second place.
In the same segment, under Social Commentary, West Ruimveldt Primary was the only contestant and automatically brought first.
Tutorial High School and St. Ambrose Primary placed 1st and 2nd respectively, in the Religious Belief category.
West Ruimveldt Primary placed 1st in the 11-13 group dancing for both Social Commentary and Religious Belief, followed by Thomas More Primary in second place in the Social Commentary category, Brickdam Secondary second in the Religious Belief category and Rama Krishna third in the Religious Belief section.
In the Legends and Traditions category, North Georgetown Primary was first, West Ruimveldt Primary placed second and St. Winefride’s Secondary was third. St. Agnes Primary, ABC Academy and Tutorial High School placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, in the Interpretive category.
Richard Ishmael Secondary was first in the Interpretive category and Christ Church Secondary placed similarly in the Social Commentary since they were the only contestants for their category.
Tutorial High School placed first and St. Winefride’s Secondary second in the 14-17 Individual Dance 2.
In the last segment, in the 14-17 group Dance 2, Tutorial High School was first, Queen’s College came second and Richard Ishmael Secondary was third, in the Legends and Traditions category.
In the Social Commentary category, Christ Church Secondary, David Rose Community High and Ascension Community High School placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Brickdam Secondary School placed 1st, Sophia Special 2nd and May Rodriques 3rd in the Religious Belief category.
Queen’s College took first place, followed by David Rose Community High School and St. Winefride’s Secondary in that order in the Interpretive category.
The Children’s Mashramani Competitions 2006 national finals will take place on February 15-17 at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.
The schools will march through Middle, Camp, Lamaha and Albert streets to the National Park in the grand children’s Costume Parade billed for February 18.
Teacher accused of molesting pupil on station bail
THE 27-year-old physical education teacher, who is alleged to have molested a nine-year-old pupil last week, has been placed on $20,000 station bail and is likely to be charged.
Police said the suspect will appear at Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, following investigations that started a day after the incident was reported, from Sarswat Primary School at Met-en-Meerzorg, also on West Coast Demerara.
The report to Police said the man fondled the girl after luring her into a classroom during the lunch period.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the teacher was immediately suspended by the Regional Education Officer and the Education Ministry viewed the allegation as serious.
According to GINA, the ministry will continue to put stringent supervisory measures in place to protect schoolchildren.
Embankment resident drowns in Lamaha Street canal
DAVID Raghubir, 52, drowned in the canal along Lamaha Street Thursday night, after he slipped and fell in, reportedly while under the influence of alcohol.
His body was fished out of the water, in the vicinity of Lamaha and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown, about 07:45 h yesterday and taken to Lyken Funeral Parlour to await a post mortem examination.
Police said the man, who lived alone along the Lamaha Railway Embankment, was last seen alive Thursday about 01:30 h.
He was a known alcoholic but Police are investigating the circumstances of his death.
Bishop George condemns Waddell killing
-- other groups raise concerns
ANGLICAN Bishop Randolph George says the killing of controversial TV talk show host Ronald Waddell deserves to be “utterly condemned”.
“There can be no justification for the perpetration of such an inhuman act on any human being. That should be the first reaction by all decent people regardless of any other consideration. Unfortunately, this sad and tragic incident has uncovered the fact that among us are those who are ready and waiting to use everything to plant the seeds of unrest and disruption among our people”, he said in a statement Thursday.
”I call on our political leaders, our politicians, media practitioners, all in positions of influence in our society to resist the temptation to see this incident as ammunition to be used against those with whom they may differ in any way,” Bishop George said.
“A dastardly crime has been committed on a brother. Let us do nothing to impede the forces of justice in finding and punishing the guilty ones,” he added.
The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) yesterday joined its affiliate in Guyana in expressing shock and dismay at the murder of Waddell.
The ACM in a statement said his killing is a major blow to the journalistic profession and the peace and security all countries of the region would want to enjoy.
“We call on the authorities in Guyana to ensure that media workers do not feel threatened in the execution of their duties under the current circumstances,” the ACM said.
Waddell, 57, died shortly after two gunmen Monday night riddled him with bullets in his car outside his Georgetown home and up to yesterday, the motive for the execution-style killing remained unclear.
The former journalist turned politician was a candidate for the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform in the 2001 general elections and later took his platform to talk shows on local TV, sparking controversy with his views.
HBTV Channel 9 late last year pulled Waddell off the air after his latest controversial pronouncements on his programme `Taking care of business’, in support of what he referred to as the `Buxton resistance’ – the gunmen in Buxton with whom he was accused of associating.
The Guyana Rastafari Council yesterday also joined with those who mourn the brutal death of Waddell.
“His execution occurred at a critical juncture in our history, a time when Africans the world over take a month to reflect on the struggles and achievements of our predecessors,” the Rastafari Council said in a statement.
“While we begin to mourn the atrocities committed to millions of Africans during the worst system of slavery known to man, another brother has fallen to a system that is no less inimical and horrendous in its nature. It is as if our Armageddon continues,” the GRC added.
It contended, too, that the death of Waddell “portends a disastrous and ghastly future”.
The GRC also expressed concern for the future of Guyana, saying it is convinced that no group of people, ethnic or otherwise, can afford to be tight-lipped. “If we raise our collective voices against injustice wherever it is found, if we demand a stop to the wanton execution of our citizens in spite of their ethnicity and in spite of who are the perpetrators, and if we do so on a wholly impartial basis, we can raise our country out of the morass of political corruption, crime and ethnic polarization and also halt its retrogression,” the Rastafari Council posited.
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), too, came out in condemnation of the “brazen execution-style” killing of Waddell.
“The horrendous crime is reminiscent of the rampage of the alleged death and phantom squads that we dare to forget at our peril,” it asserted.
The congress said that while it may not have agreed with everything Waddell may have said in the past, as a free person, he had the right to express his views unimpeded and that he did fearlessly.
“The execution of anyone, more so a journalist/politician is intolerable and unjustified and is a stark reminder of how sick the nation has become,” it said.
Traffic arrangements for Waddell cremation
THE Police have put on special traffic arrangements for the cremation of Ronald Waddell at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara today.
It said that traffic flowing west along the East Coast main road will be diverted to the Embankment Road through the Lusignan Market Road from about 12:00 h while traffic going east will be diverted at Dr Miller Street, Triumph.
“Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted”, the Police said in the advisory.
EU grant to help vulnerable communities
By Mark Ramotar
VULNERABLE groups and communities across Guyana will have enhanced access to development funds provided through a Micro Projects Programme launched yesterday and funded with a Euro 4.0 million (about G$960 million) grant from the European Union.
The Guyana Micro Projects Programme (GMPP) was inaugurated at the Umana Yana in Georgetown, and will be implemented by the Guyana Micro Projects Office (GMPO) on behalf of the Ministry of Finance.
The overall objective of the GMPP is to reduce poverty and social inequality in Guyana by contributing to the financing of sustainable micro-projects which have an economic and social impact on the lives of vulnerable groups and communities within the Guyanese population, officials said.
The programme was designed by a joint working group made up of representatives of the Guyana Government, the donor community and a wide cross section of civil society.
The focal sectors of intervention under the GMPP are fully consistent with the government’s priorities as outlined in Guyana’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).
Projects identified for funding under the programme must meet a demonstrated and observed need - and must be undertaken at the initiative and with the active participation of the beneficiary group or community.
Commenting on the establishment of the GMPP, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Guyana, Ambassador Per Eklund, said he is pleased to be involved in the implementation of a programme supporting Guyana's fight against poverty.
Within the total envelope, funding has also been earmarked to strengthen the capacity of non-state actors including Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in community development and to promote a regular dialogue between the government and civil society.
Louis Berger SAS, an independent private consulting firm working in the field of engineering, economics, planning and development, in partnership with VIKAB Engineering is responsible for implementing the GMPO.
NGOs and Community Based Organisations [CBO's] interested in working with vulnerable groups and communities in the identification, design, implementation and operation of community based micro-projects are encouraged to contact the Guyana Micro Projects Office in Georgetown.
At the launching ceremony yesterday, Ambassador Eklund noted that the programme is firmly embedded in Guyana’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. Its overall objective, he said, is to reduce poverty and social inequality in Guyana by approaching the challenges from the grass-root level.
Eklund said the Guyana Micro Projects programme is a cross-sector and civil-society-led scheme which focuses on the needs of the people in the communities all through the country.
He recalled when the programme was developed, a wide rage of representatives from civil society organisations was integrated into the work and consultations and several workshop sessions were organised to carry out the needs assessment.
“These workshops identified among other things that unemployment and lack of income generating opportunities, as well as insufficient or low quality of training and education were most important and relevant obstacles on the way of the people to prosperity, especially of those of the vulnerable groups,” Eklund told the gathering.
Narrowing the focus from the overall objectives to address the hindrances discovered in the workshops, the EC Ambassador pointed out that the programme has set as its expected results, 75 small schemes at the community level in the areas of employment or income generation, training, education, communication and good governance and all other community initiated development activities in socio-economic sectors in Guyana.
The programme, he said, will run until May 31, 2009 by which time four million Euros from the European Development Fund should have been disbursed, topped with some 0.5 million Euros from the civil society as evidence of ownership and sustainability.
“Maximum assistance from the European Development Fund to each individual micro-scheme is limited to 75% and to Euros 30,000 except in the rural interior where the limit is increased to Euros 50,000”, he clarified.
Eklund also indicated that the modus operandi of the programme is a participatory approach and above all, entails self-help action to guarantee ownership and genuineness of the needs.
“I think that I share the sentiments of all parties if I conclude that the micro-projects programmes are by experience most challenging to deliver and by definition very work-intensive to implement, but the objectives of good governance, democracy and poverty reduction are of such principal importance that we are all willing to march this route through and see the results come true,” Eklund asserted.
“Words stay empty if they are not translated into deeds (and) today we are celebrating the launch of a programme which we hope will materialise in many deeds,” he said.
Finance Minister Saisnarine Kowlessar noted that pogrammes of this nature usually have a long preparatory period due to the procedures that must be followed to access funding from the donors. As such, he encouraged all stakeholders to ensure that the time period remaining to implementing this programme be fully optimized.
He noted that a micro project board has been elected by civil society representatives and, in the spirit of the financing agreements, the board will be in charge of the implementation of the programme.
“This board has the responsibility for the guidance, direction and protection of this programme,” Mr Kowlessar posited.
He charged the board to dispense their responsibilities with diligence so that prospective beneficiaries are able to benefit in a timely manner, the resources being made available. The Finance Minister said, too, that he was assured by the board that most of the preparatory work to successfully implement this programme is already in place.
“The government extends its sincerest thanks to the European community for its decision to accommodate and fund this programme. We hope that the cordial, longstanding and complementary relationship we have enjoyed with the European Union over the years will continue for the benefit of the poor and disadvantaged segments of the society.”
“I wish the programme every success as we seek to reduce poverty in our country,” Kowlessar added.
Programme Manager of the GMPP, Mrs Coralie Simmons said its design is the outcome of a collaborative effort involving the European Commission Delegation in Guyana, representatives of the Ministry of Finance and other departments of the government and a large cross section of civil society operatives.
“The Guyana Micro Projects Programme is a 4.5 million Euros funded by the European Commission through the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) in collaboration with the Government of Guyana,” Simmons told the gathering.
“For us at the GMPP this official launch ceremony is the beginning of a journey (and) we welcome this opportunity and look towards working with our civil society partners in assisting vulnerable communities throughout Guyana in the identification of their needs and the design and implementation of corresponding sustainable projects that contribute to the goal of eradicating poverty in Guyana,” she said.
Chairman of the Guyana Micro Projects Programme, Mr Tallim Karimullah said the programme augurs well for the development of Guyana, providing for instance, the timely opportunity for the rehabilitation and establishment of the productive environment and development in the flood affected areas. He, however, pointed out that it is by no means restricted to that area.
“Indeed, our future development depends to a large extent on small businesses in the various sectors of the economy and in the rural and hinterland regions. As a result of the anticipated economic, value added, and business activity, the micro projects will contribute significantly towards the alleviation of poverty,” Karimullah said.
“It is expected that all stakeholders would be intricately involved, with a high degree of commitment and energy, in implementing the Guyana Micro Projects Programme,” he said.
He also told Eklund that the government and people of Guyana owe a debt of gratitude to the people and member states of the European Union for providing this country – relative to the size of the Guyana economy – such a large grant that is “bound to have a significant positive impact on our economy, given its multiplying effects, and thereby to reduce and to alleviate poverty”.
He said, too, that according to the financing agreement, the purpose of the GMPP is to improve the socio-economic conditions of vulnerable groups of the Guyanese population through the development of sustainable and participatory self-help schemes.
The areas of focus are employment and income generation, training and education, communication and good governance, and other socio-economic sectors.
He also gave the assurance that members of the board will at all times strive to have an independent and objective state of mind in order to better provide overall guidance and direction to ensure the success of the programme.
Members of the Guyana Micro Projects Board are Ms Nalini Naraine, Ms Hymawattie Lagan, Mrs Yvonne Hinds, Mr Bhaskkarand Singh and Mr Ashton Simon.
Ramotar rejects PNCR incompetence charge
By Chamanlall Naipaul
GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr Donald Ramotar has lauded the government for its management of the Guyanese economy in a difficult and challenging environment.
Speaking during the 2006 budget debate in the National Assembly, he rejected the contention by the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) that the contraction of the national economy last year was due to incompetence and mismanagement rather than the impact of the floods.
Supporting his position, Ramotar stressed that it is unthinkable that the devastating floods last year would not have impacted negatively on the economy, which is agricultural-based.
He noted that the major sugar and rice industries were severely affected with production plummeting significantly and in addition, livestock and cash crops were severely hampered.
However, he offered that because of astute management, the decline in the economy was only three per cent compared to the six per cent predicted by international experts.
At the same time, he noted that many local companies recorded increased profits during last year, despite the decline in the economy overall.
He said also that credit to the private sector increased by 9.1% during last year, while the government moved to equalise concessions to both local and foreign investors.
The previous government only granted concessions to foreign investors, Ramotar said.
In recognition of the private sector being the main entity in the creation of wealth, the government, he observed, has been increasingly making conditions favourable for businesses, and in this regard it has implemented duty free concessions for importation of machinery and equipment for recapitalisation purposes.
He recalled too that the People’s Progressive Party government of the 1960’s established the first industrial estate at Ruimveldt and the present government has expanded the number of industrial sites with one at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara and plans are afoot to establish others at Lethem and elsewhere.
This, he said, is indicative of the recognition by the government of the role of the private sector in economic development.
However, he conceded that there are still some bureaucratic problems which need to be ironed out.
Touching on the control of inflation, the PPP General Secretary said despite drastic increases in the price of fuel which moved from US$10 to US$70 per barrel on the world market, inflation was constrained to a low level of only 8%.
Responding to those who have been calling for the closing down of the sugar industry, he said the government is firmly convinced that the industry has a glorious future, and attested to the steps that have been taken to modernise it and diversify into value-added production, such as refined sugar, ethanol and electricity co-generation at Skeldon.
He further argued that according to experts, the demand for sugar will exceed production and in the U.S. it could reach as much as US18 cents per pound. Therefore, in such a context, there will definitely be a future for the local industry, he said.
With respect to the bauxite industry, he said the prospects are exciting and promising with the massive investment by the RUSAL company of Russia, which would eventually see the production of alumina and the possible establishment of a smelter to manufacture aluminium.
On the issue of provision of funds to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the holding of elections constitutionally due by August 4 this year, Ramotar assured that the government is committed towards the provision of funds.
He pointed out that some $1.4 billion is provided and the remainder will be provided by the donor community whose involvement is important in ensuring the credibility of the electoral process.
He made this point in the face of criticism by PNCR parliamentarian, Mr Joseph Hamilton who questioned why the donor community needs to be involved in the funding process.
Hamilton also charged that electoral preparations are behind schedule and because the government has not been releasing funds in a timely manner the acquiring of computer accessories has been delayed and this is preventing work related to election preparations to be delayed.
Ramotar explained that the delay has not been caused by a release of funds but because of the tendering process.
He also said, in reply to Hamilton’s charge that the continuous registration process is moving slowly, that it should have begun since 1997 but this was frustrated by PNCR manoeuvrings, as well as the resignation of the then Chairman of GECOM.
Ramotar noted too that most of the problems associated with electoral preparations are technical in nature and expressed confidence that these would be sorted out in a timely manner.
He observed that the PPP also has concerns about certain issues pertaining to the elections but, unlike the PNCR, it is adopting an attitude which will help the electoral process.
GPSU plans protest march next week
By Ruel Johnson
THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is planning to hold a protest march on Wednesday, part of a threatened programme of public demonstrations against what the union calls the arbitrary imposition of wages and salaries within the public service sector by the government.
At a press conference yesterday at the GPSU Hall in Georgetown, the union’s First Vice-President, Mr Herman DeSouza, read from a prepared statement which indicated the union’s “readiness to commence industrial action against the abuses and lawless practices of the PPP/C Government, culminating with the imposition of seven per cent on salaries and wages for public officers in 2005.”
It was a belligerent Mr Patrick Yarde – President of the GPSU – who yesterday expanded on the union’s statement.
He said the march was originally slated for December 21 of last year but after “several entities” pointed out the potential for economic disruption that such a move would have during the Christmas season, the union postponed its protest until February 1, 2006. He stated that when it was found out that the Guyana Teachers’ Union was planning to hold their `Stress Day’ on that date, the march was rescheduled to a week later, on February 8.
The GPSU has sought out and gained permission from the Commissioner of Police, Mr Winston Felix to hold the march which starts at the GPSU Headquarters at Regent and New Garden Streets; heads east into South Road; south into Vlissengen Road; west into Brickdam; north into the western carriageway of the Avenue of the Republic; east into Church Street; south into Camp Street; east into South Road; and then north into New Garden Street, back to the union hall.
Noticeably, this entails the protesters passing twice in front of the main entrance way, located on New Garden Street, to the Office of the President.
When asked about the support amongst the general union membership for next week’s protest action, Yarde said he was not calling on 100% of the membership to take part at the present time.
He said he was not ready to disclose, however, the numbers that are going to be turning out, nor the agencies within the public sector from which they would come.
“What I can say is that we are looking at numbers that will have more of an impact than the 57 that went on the [recently held] March for Peace,” Yarde stated.
He said the initial protest was just the beginning and that the union intended to continue protesting until it was satisfied with the outcome of negotiations with the government.
He stated that the dates of further protests actions would be released at another press conference.
Concerning the government’s contention that the protest action planned by the GPSU – coming as it does in an election year – was one that was politically motivated, Yarde responded that the wages issue has been one that has had a long history, and that the union is engaging in industrial, not political, action.
Regarding the claim that the union has been meeting opposition politicians, he said the very first political party that he had invited to talks was the People’s Progressive Party/Civic since they were the party in government. He said that a letter to PPP General Secretary Mr. Donald Ramotar was not responded to at the time of the conference, adding that he was open to meeting the PPP/C leadership even on the morning of the planned protest.
Ramotar was in Parliament at the time this paper contacted his office at Freedom House yesterday, and was therefore unable to comment on Yarde’s claims.
The union leader said he has met other political parties since, including the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR); the Justice For All Party (JFAP); and The United Force (TUF), which delegation was led by party leader and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr Manzoor Nadir.
Government policies strongly support investment
Georgetown, GINA, February 3, 2006
Government is seriously promoting production for exports and in pursuit of this, is providing advantageous tax policies and programmes that support private enterprise.
Director of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Geoffrey Da Silva, indicated that general incentives target the productive sectors and are available across-the-board to all investors. These include:
* Zero-rate on Customs Duty and Consumption Tax (C-Tax) on most items of plant, machinery and equipment
* Zero-rate on Customs Duty and Tax on raw materials used in the production of goods for export. Under a duty-drawback system, for qualifying firms and products, consumption tax paid on imported raw materials may be remitted. Qualifying firms must be registered with the Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority under the Consumption Tax Act.
* Unlimited loss carryover from previous years
* Accelerated depreciation on plant and equipment
* Double taxation treaties currently exist with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and CARICOM countries.
* Full and unrestricted repatriation of capital, profits and dividends
Special incentives are also offered in several key sectors, including manufacturing, mining, information and telecommunication (IT), and tourism.
In addition to the general incentives, manufacturers are entitled to exemption from Customs Duty and Tax for those registered under the Tax Act, and a n initial accelerated allowance for capital expenditure.
Incentives in the mining sector include, exemption of Customs Duty and Tax on all equipment, processing material and spare parts used in the process of surveying, prospecting and mining. Exemption of Customs Duty and Tax on outboard engines, and a preferential consumption tax rate of 10 percent on aviation fuel.
Concessions in the IT sector include, a tax holiday of 10 years, a ninety-nine (99) year lease for land with the option to buy at concessionary rates, and waiver of Customs Duty and C-Tax on IT related equipment, machinery and vehicles. The Customs Duty and C-Tax on building materials is also waived.
In the tourism sector, Government is encouraging an increase in the number of hotel rooms and the upgrading of existing plant and other facilities.
To facilitate this growth, the administration has made available a five-year package of incentives that comprises mainly duty-free and C-Tax concessions for basic furnishings, plant equipment and building materials. Tax concessions are limited to 50 percent of the value of the investment.
Da Silva noted also that, “A number of things have been put in place to foster investment; these include a new Financial Institution Act and Money Laundering Act, a Small Business Act and a New Companies Act.”
A United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) analysis states that Guyana has attracted on average of US$66.1M between the years 1990 and 2003 reflecting huge investments in the mining, telecommunication and forestry sectors.
Go-Invest is the primary contact for investors and exporters. It liaises, on their behalf, with government ministries and other agencies to facilitate applications for concessions.
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