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Hikarana Pole unveiled as part CARIFESTA Public Art Project
By Priya Nauth
ANOTHER art piece, as part of the Tenth Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA X) Visual Arts Committee Public Art Project was unveiled yesterday.

A Totem (an Amerindian word which means symbolise or decorate) Pole created and named by Arawak artist Telford Taylor, the ‘Hikarana Pole – A Message of Joy’ was unveiled yesterday on the lawns of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology at Main Street, Georgetown.

The interesting carving got its Arawak name from the species Streptoceryle torquata a type of kingfisher and the top of the pole displays the small green King Fisher bird which is known to the Arawak as the Shiri which is often seen by people when they go fishing and according to the Amerindian myth the sound of the Shiri is a signal of approaching joy or sorrow.

The carving is made of the wood of the Fukadi tree (terminalia and buchenavia) somewhat like the greenheart tree.

Taylor, who hails from St. Cuthbert’s Mission on the Mahaica River, Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) is specialised in wood carving for 24 years.

“It is in the spirit of CARIFESTA where artists, writers, musicians and dancers assemble to celebrate their work that I offer this sculpture,” Taylor attested.

He said the piece of art is called ‘Hikarana’ after the small King Fisher bird which the Arawak associate with good luck.

&#To hear the laughter of the bird is good omen and a wish for happiness and prosperity. May Hikarana blow its good luck charm on us with its laughter so that our many faces beam with smile, amazement and laughter,” he noted.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, in brief remarks recalled that the first public art work, a mural was unveiled at the Umana Yana, Kingston, also in Georgetown.

He said that the Public Art Project will beautify the city and creating an art trail for persons visiting the city and see various pieces of arts around Georgetown.

&#xWe thought by having public art that these pieces can serve as inspiration to people as they go about there daily lives,” the minister added.

Dr Anthony said that this idea also came about with a number of artists wanting to be a part of CARIFESTA X and the Secretariat decided to get people involved before the event.

He said later in the month, an art work will be created by children on the Kitty Seawall from Sheriff Street to Conversation Street and will be sponsored by the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

&#xWe think that getting children involved is another way that we can reach out to another constituent in our population who should be interested in art but who I consider to be very creative,” he alluded.

Dr Anthony said that a number of public art pieces will be unveiled and a piece will be done on mining in Guyana and another on the history of agriculture specifically on rice in Guyana.

?s CARIFESTA comes to Guyana, we thought that after 36 years returning to Guyana that there should be certain innovations in how we do CARIFESTA…we thought this would be quite a nice innovation to CARIFESTA and the future of CARIFESTA,” he noted.

&#xWe are very pleased that so many artists have responded and we are sure that from here on that this type of project in future CARIFESTA will be there as a prominent feature of CARIFESTA…the legacy of public art will be there so that people can enjoy” Dr Anthony noted.

He posited that visual arts will play an important role in CARIFESTA with a number of countries slated to display their visual arts.

The walk-way surrounding the sculpture was designed by renowned Guyanese artist, Mr. George Simon with Amerindian symbols.

Ogle Airport fire fighting capacity enhanced
-- through Korean fire tender donation
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE Ogle Airport Inc. yesterday received a spanking new $ US53,000 fire tender from the Korean Government to enhance its capacity to meet international aviation requirements.

The vehicle was acquired after CARICOM’s Secretary General Dr. Edwin Carrington raised the need with the Koreans some 18 months ago.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the Ogle Airport, Dr. Carrington underscored that the donation is testimony of the excellent cooperation between CARICOM and Korea.

He pointed out that over the years CARICOM has benefited from transportation and information, communication technology services through collaborations with the Korean government.

He also disclosed that the CARICOM Secretariat recently, acquired three buses from the Koreans to meet its transportation needs.

The Secretary General told the gathering that included Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and senior officials from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) that the vehicle is critical to the development drive of the aerodrome.

The aerodrome he underlined: “Will serve to enhance transportation routes between the Caribbean communities, help to strengthen linkages between CARICOM and Latin America and in the process help to make Guyana the conference centre in the region.

In this context, Dr. Carrington noted that the red customised fire truck which will be operated by the GFS will play a critical role in regional and hemispheric cooperation.

He disclosed that the vehicle is not the only initiative by CARICOM to enhance infrastructural development of the airport, pointing out that CARICOM also negotiated with the European Union (EU) to provide some Euros 1.5M for the construction of phase two of its runway, the diplomat said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Coordinator of the Ogle Airport Inc. Anthony Mekdeci stressed that the vehicle is a great boost in assisting the airport in meeting the relevant international requirements hopefully by this August/September.

Rohee also lauded the Korean government and Dr. Carrington in particular for his role in the acquisition of the truck.

The initiative he declared is a testimony of Dr. Carrington’s “futuristic thinking” to improve the standards of the facility at Ogle and urged the GFS to ensure its safety and the fulfillment of its purpose.

The minister observed that the Ogle Airport is slowly but surely building capacity to reach the level of municipal status, comparable to those in CARICOM member states.

Acting Deputy Fire Chief Mr. Marlon Gentle remarked that the vehicle which will be stationed at the airport will play a crucial role in ensuring safety there.

Police confirm woman in custody suspected of ‘Fineman’ connection
POLICE yesterday confirmed that they have arrested a woman who was found to be in contact with Rondell Rawlins called “Fineman” and she is being held until it is ascertained whether she had any criminal links.

The woman who hails from Lethem was taken into police custody based on the contents in Rawlins’s diary where investigators revealed that there is a list of telephone numbers of people Guyana’s most wanted man was in contact with.

Seven days ago the Joint Services team found a part of a weapon which was left behind by the notorious wanted men who police said are still hiding in the jungle in the Upper Berbice River.

Since their encounter with ranks some 300 miles at Christmas Falls, Berbice River, sources said the gang of men has disappeared into the thick, desolate jungle.

Meanwhile, the diary which most people would like to read is still in the possession of the Joint Services and to date no revelation of its contents except about his detailed plan for revenge for his sister’s murder.

A well placed source said that a list of telephone numbers in the diary is very revealing and are still being processed but authorities however, remain tight-lipped about the contents.

In the jungle, up to press time, according to reports a large team of ranks have been combing the hostile and desolate jungle in a bid to capture and confront Rawlins, and his cohorts, who has since admitted responsibility for the Lusignan, East Coast Demerara and Bartica massacres of 24 people including five children, by documented details in the diary discovered on Friday during a surprise visit to Christmas Falls, some 300 miles up Berbice River.

During the confrontation one of Fineman’s accomplices was shot and killed. He has been identified as Otis Fifee, 21, aka “Mud Up” of Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

A Joint Service press release on Saturday night said that the recent arrest of a number of persons and diligent interrogations and enquiries, about 07:00h Friday a patrol in the Christmas Falls area, about 300 miles up the Berbice River, encountered a gang of about six persons.

The patrol immediately came under fire and returned fire killing one of the gang members who has been identified.

The other gang members who include wanted men Rondell Rawlins called “Fineman”; Richard Ramcharran called “Uncle Willie”; “Magic”; and “Chung Boy” among others, escaped down a slope and disappeared into the jungle. Trails of blood found suggest that others were injured.

The gang members were housed in a location with four buildings in a desolate area in the jungle and had foodstuff to last several weeks in a large kitchen which also had a gas stove, generator and solar energy.

In addition, there were six portable tents, four hammocks, three mattresses, a mini-stereo system, a DVD player, a cell phone, a hand-held radio set, items of clothing, medical supplies and a bible which were abandoned by the gang.

Three (3) FN Rifles, four (4) shotguns, one (1) .32 revolver, two (2) AK 47 magazines, seven (7) FN Rifle magazines, along with 1,159 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition, 143 rounds of 7.62 x 51 ammunition, 10 rounds .38 ammunition, one round .32 ammunition and thirty six (36) 12 gauge cartridges were found.

The Joint Services ranks also unearthed a diary which provided incontrovertible evidence of Rondell Rawlins planning and execution of the killings at Lusignan and Bartica, taking vengeance for the death of his sister and a number of telephone numbers.

Further, checks done have confirmed that the three FN Rifles found were stolen from the Bartica Police Station during the armed attack on that community on February 17, 2008; and the .32 revolver and two of the shotguns have been identified as belonging to miner Chunilall Babulall whose home at First Avenue, Bartica was attacked and robbed during that incident.

Ministry launches Anti-Child Labour Campaign
Stop employing children under 15
THE Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security yesterday launched its Anti-Child Labour Campaign with calls for employers to stop employing children under 15 and for the Education Ministry to continue strengthening facilities for children who are not at their best in the academic stream.

The launch took place in the Rupununi Room of the Tower Hotel in the city, with addresses by Minister in the Education Ministry Dr Desrey Fox, Chief Occupational Health and Safety Officer in the Labour Ministry Mohamed Akeel, and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Trevor Thomas.

They all stressed that while child labour could bring some immediate benefits to families in need, the child deprived of a good education grows up to be unmarketable, with low self-esteem, facing a future for which he is unprepared.

And so the immediate benefits of child labour hardly ever make up for the deprivation that comes later in that child’s life.

In her remarks, Dr Fox enforced the message that “children must be in school”, taking full advantage of educational opportunities offered and not being side-tracked by being pushed into employment at a too early age.

She said that this was the case with many so-called ‘drop-outs’ from schools, and said she preferred to call them ‘push-outs’.

She observed that many children who are not academically inclined were referred to as ‘dunces’ by the school system and treated so much like inferior students that they are “pushed out’ of school.

But many such children are inclined to other pursuits, perhaps wood-work or mechanics or even the culinary arts, and these bents must be catered for.

For this reason the Education Ministry is working towards upgrading vocational training.

However, Dr Fox would like to see proper centres for counselling set up for school children, for many of them have problems, domestic and otherwise, that should be dealt with not just by any social worker, but by persons specially trained to deal with their peculiar problems.

Dr Fox commended the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security for its stepped-up campaign against domestic violence, and pointed out that this was yet another facet of ensuring that children’s rights are preserved.

In his presentation, Chief Occupational Health and Safety Officer Mohamed Akeel gave a brief history of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopting a Convention setting the minimum age of a child being admitted into employment as 15.

The Convention came into force in 1976, with only eight countries having ratified it at that time.

Guyana ratified the Convention in 1998, and by 2001, some 113 countries had ratified it.

He contended that global changes in the 1990s, including the advent of the World Trade Organisation and free trade, had led to industrialised countries using child labour to produce cheaper goods, putting young children to work in mines in Africa and sweat shops in Asia.

He said there are now an estimated 250 million children involved in child labour around the world, and many nations have heightened efforts to get rid of this “robbing children of a good childhood”.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Trevor Thomas, emphasised the slogan for the campaign, “Child Labour is Against The Law, its Exploitation and it Harms Your Child’s Future.”

He said that Guyana should be commended as there is no high incidence of child labour here.

As to the role of the Labour Ministry, Mr. Thomas said this should be more than working towards an industrial climate that is conducive to production.

And it is for this reason that the Ministry has launched a recruitment agency for matching skills so that graduates from learning institutions could find jobs to which they are suited. (R.O)

GUYSUCO refutes PNCR’s sugar import claim
THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) yesterday expressed concerns over a statement by the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) which alleged that the Corporation is importing sugar to meet local demands.

GUYSUCO responding to the statement caption: “Is sugar being imported in Guyana”, said in a release: “We wish to categorically state that no brown sugar has been imported into Guyana and that we are supplying the local market from our production.”

The release pointed out that the Corporation imports refined white sugar and has been doing so for the past 15 years.

“We administer and facilitate the suppliers to small manufacturers under the guidance and supervision of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). In so doing, we provide a vital service to the cottage industries that require small volumes on a regular basis but in insufficient quantities to warrant direct importation,” the press statement explains.

GUYSUCO said that it has cleared some seven 20 feet containers of refined white sugar for the period ending June 7 this year.

The entity, the release acknowledged did urge distributors for prudent management of stocks in light of the wet weather conditions which impacted on production in the first crop and the need to deliver increased quotas to Europe.

However, the public was assured that the requirements of the local market will be met the release said.

“It is regrettable that information was not sought directly from us to clarify the matter. The statement will serve to create panic buying which we have been working assiduously to curb since the misleading article was published in one of our dailies two months ago stating that the Corporation was contemplating the importation of sugar,” the release stated.

The Corporation is advising that the price of sugar remains $3,800 per bag ex-factory and it will provide recommended wholesale price ex-Georgetown shortly.

“We will take firm action against any wholesaler that is engaged in hoarding and price hiking,” the release said.
NEWS

YMG cops UNICEF’s communication award
By Priya Nauth
YOUTH Media Guyana (YMG) was awarded the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional “Traces Communication Award” for best innovation for its excellent work produced via their Youth News Bulletin.

The first annual ‘Traces Award’ is a UNICEF Regional initiative which acknowledges excellent communication work that has been done in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in the past year and was opened to all UNICEF offices in the region.

Guyana was awarded the prize at a recently concluded meeting of UNICEF Communication Officers in Panama for Latin America and the Caribbean.

YMG was officially launched in Guyana in May 2007 through the collaborative efforts of the National Communications Network (NCN), the National Commission on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF, with the aim of empowering young people and providing an avenue to help them advocate for their rights.

During the award ceremony yesterday at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Main Street, Georgetown, UNICEF Representative for Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Johannes Wedenig noted that YMG was able to secure one of the five ‘Traces Communication’ Prize for the LAC.

“This award is given to highlight a new, innovative idea and was evaluated on the basis of its impact…YMG Youth News Bulletin for television and print was also shown to be an example others can learn from and replicate and adapt in their own country offices,” he suggested.

&#xNot only have you made UNICEF proud but you have made your country Guyana proud having being launched just one year ago and it shows how much can be done with very little with dedication, vision and leadership,” the UNICEF Representative posited.

“We are looking forward to many more innovative initiatives…it is important to broaden the scope of young people,” Wedenig noted.

YMG Member, Ms. Andrea Bryan said that after an enlightening experience at the Kids and Docs Festival in Suriname in December 2006, upon returning to Guyana armed with new skills and knowledge YMG was born to create a Guyana where youth are given media access to express themselves.

“We now produced a monthly 11 minute television news bulletin for youth by youth. It highlights issues that affect young people in Guyana, presenting current social, economical and political themes from a youth perspective. This is patterned after Suriname’s 10 Minutes,” she explained.

The 11 Minutes News Bulletin television newscast for young people is aired at 09:00 h every first Saturday of the month.

“Little did we know that our production would compete with others around the LAC and more so win -- what we did know is that this was something Guyana needed,” she emphasised.

Bryan said that the YMG has also produced a 40-minute documentary for International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in 2007 under the theme ‘The World We Want’.

Also, in March this year, Caribbean Youth News Bulletin were also produced by YMG in collaboration with Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago youth representatives and presented during the Second Council for Human and Social Development meeting on Children.

“We believe that the award can be used to shed light on the issues affecting young people in Guyana and our region. They are concerned about their access to education, the quality of education, healthcare, recreation, employment and artistic expression and even as we observe World Day against Child Labour today, we are concerned for those children who for so many reasons are saddled with adult duties and are missing out on their childhood,” she noted.

“This award is recognition of the fact that someone is listening to the voices of youth. We can be heard if we speak up and speak out,” Bryan attested.

She said YMG hopes to expand by producing newspaper supplements, radio programming and developing a multi-media web page, using all accessible media.

“Our ultimate goal is to establish a physical media centre where young people can freely access the resources to maximize their creative potential,” the YMG Member revealed.

Bryan pointed out that even though their resources were few and YMG has no physical office, the vibrant group was able to create a platform for the young people of Guyana.

“This is testament to what can be done with very little. There are many challenges but with the help of implementing partners -- UNICEF, National Communications Network (NCN) and National Commission on the Rights of the Child- we are still here,” she noted.

Bryan also took the opportunity to thank the National Communications Network (NCN) for providing free air time and production facilities and call on the other media houses to come onboard and help to air the Youth News Bulletin.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, lauding UNICEF for assisting the young people in their idea, noted that the Ministry has been collaborating with UNICEF on several issues including Juvenile Justice and training for vulnerable youths.

“I expect that this award that you are receiving today will just be one of the milestones in many more works to come but to do that you have to continue the hard work, put in the hours and maintain the quality,” he charged.

Also, the minister encouraged the members of YMG to maintain their training and keep in pace with technology to ensure innovativeness and creativity.

Noting that Guyana will soon be hosting the Tenth Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA X) from August 22 to 31, Dr. Anthony said that young people will be participating in a number of activities during the mega event including the opening ceremony, youth village, edutainment component and symposia which YMG can play a role in highlighting.

“And those messages, the way you develop and put them over can reach out to a larger audience…there are so many things you can do during CARIFESTA X and even after CARIFESTA X so I look forward for us to have a more collaborative relationship as we go towards CARIFESTA X,” Dr. Anthony said.

Dr. Misir launches his seventh book:
‘Political-Mass Media-Racial Complex in Guyana’
By Priya Nauth
PRO-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (U.G), Dr. Prem Misir launched his seventh book last Wednesday evening at the Le Meridien Pegasus, Kingston; Georgetown entitled ‘Political-Mass Media-Racial Complex in Guyana’.

This new addition to his publications focuses on politics, mass media and race in Guyana and includes selected articles published by Dr. Misir in the Guyana Chronicle between 2001 and 2006.

Dr. Misir said that the two main objectives of this latest publication are to demonstrate the modus operandi and the dysfunctional consequences of this community of irrationality through the political, mass media and racial complex; and show the behaviours that have held the society together.

Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, who wrote the foreword, recommended that the book should be a textbook at UG and perhaps the Caribbean institutes of higher learning.

“It is not often that Guyana is blessed with publications by Guyanese and so every time we get the opportunity to grace one of these moments we should feel privileged because we have not been producing enough as a country which is blessed with the skills of great academics moving beyond the shores of this country and excelling in their fields,” he observed.

“We are short of this type of discipline at the university…each one of our academic should be involved in serious writers, in research and in the production of educational works so students can follow. Unfortunately not many are involved in serious academic work,” he noted.

“He has argued these issues skillfully and has confronted it because many people want to sweep the racial issues under the carpet and not to address it,” he noted.

“…and so this work is a very skillful piece. It was not merely the publications which he had in the newspaper over a period of time but a modification to put the academic skill to those thoughts and ideas which came out in the print media over a period of time,” Dr. Gopaul attested.

Dr. Gopaul said Dr. Misir argued that with the restoration of democracy, the consultative process has been strengthened and articulated that the charges of victimisation, discrimination and marginalisation could not be sustained since there were made merely to fuel public discord, division and resentment and induce a charged atmosphere in Guyana.

&#xHe then analysed the role of the mass media and highlighted the many challenges facing Guyana by virtue of professional journalism…in this regard the reader is left with a clear position that a proper media code is an urgent imperative,” Dr. Gopaul said.

&#xHe has obviously enlightened us to a path where Guyanese irrespective of the race, class or political thinking can live and work for the enhancement of a true Guyanese nation…this work is appealing and will touch the sentiment of all Guyanese who yearn for a better Guyana,” he posited.

General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union, Mr. Carvil Duncan said the book is a reflection of what happened in the society from 1964 to now.

&#xHe has cleared the myth from the minds of many …he has done an analysis in such a way that you can see for yourself what has happened, you can also see what your mistakes were and you have an opportunity to correct them,” Duncan observed.

He said the book gave the reader a true feeling of the political and social development of the country.

&#xI disagree with some who say that the book has taken sides. I think the Dr. Misir has done a very professional job and did it without bias or fear and he said the things as it actually happened and at the same time he offered solutions,” he noted.

&#xI would therefore take the opportunity to recommend this book to the workers of this country… so that we can move the process of unity for our people,” Duncan urged.

Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting, Mr. Pat Dial said that Dr. Misir has been able to preserve information that would normally be lost or difficult to locate.

&#xThe book has a vast amount of statistics that students in particular would find very useful in their research and essay writers,” he informed the gathering.

Dial attested that Dr. Misir is one of those academics who look at things not like a propagandist or pessimist but in a realistic fashion.

&#xHe is realist because he understands very acutely that development and reality can only come about if you look at things in terms of truth and realism,” he reiterated.

He addressed issues such as freedom of the press and the media being used to spread polarization rather than to bring about unity, Dial noted.

&#xHe does this in a very objective fashion so I do not think you will feel he is taking any sides and talks about politics, media and race but although he analyses those separately…he shows the oneness or the wholeness of all three,” he observed.

Dial also noted that one of the most important aspects of the book is Dr. Misir remarks on culture, pluralism and national unity.

?ultural trends form one frame and he implies that when you have a multi ethnic you have a happier society,” he added.

&#National unity has to be premised and predicated on that particular logical principle that no culture should be left behind -- nobody’s culture is more important than any other person’s culture and that is the basis of national unity,” Dr. Misir emphasised.

He noted that this is one of the reasons why there was hardly any national unity in post colonial societies.

&#xThis pretty much wraps up what the book is all about,” Dr. Misir declared.

Dr. Misir noted that there are other countries around the world with more serious ethnic negative characteristics and ethnic violence which Guyana does not have.

&#xI have always wondered how come we are having all these problems,” he questioned.

He said this country has more ethnic alliance than ethnic conflicts and if Guyanese start to pay attention to the ethnic similarities it will result in a healthier society.

?ut we tend to put race as an explanation for everything,” Dr. Misir noted.

He said Guyanese need to ensure that those ethnic alliances become more enhanced and no culture is left behind.

&#xI think the problems with race are happening at a higher level, I think our political leaders have a lot to answer for this and some of them use the race card to gain electoral success in all kinds of fashion,” he said.

The media have played a massive role in the dysfunctions of this society and also use propaganda but the media should follow the principles of ethical journalism, fundamental fairness, balance and objectivity, he also added.

The book was published by the University Press of America, New York, a Division of the Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group. (USE FILE PHOTO OF MISIR)

Grenada OAS 'misunderstanding'
By Rickey Singh          
LEADER OF Grenada's opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Tilman Thomas, will today seek to remove "a misunderstanding" that has developed within his party over the role of Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States, Albert Ramdin, in monitoring the country's coming July 8 general election.

The NDC on Wednesday had expressed concern over what it claimed to be a "special relationship" between Ambassador Ramdin and Grenada's Washington-based OAS Ambassador that it thinks could be prejudicial to his role as head of the hemispheric body's observer mission for next month's election.

But speaking yesterday ahead of a scheduled meeting today in St. George's with the Suriname-born Caribbean diplomat and former Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM, the NDC's Thomas said that "at no time was it the intention to question either the credibility or personal integrity" of the OAS Assistant Secretary General. The "misunderstanding" that resulted from a report received, "will be clarified at our meeting tomorrow (today) with him..."

Prior to departing for Grenada to meet with all stakeholders on arrangements to ensure a free and fair election, ambassador Ramdin told the Guyana Chronicle that he was "taken aback" by the public comment attributed to the NDC about a claimed special relationship with Grenada's OAS ambassador.

He said he already had "a preliminary conversation" on the phone with the NDC leader in which he expressed his "surprise that no attempt was made to first make contact with me on the matter before any public comment was offered".

Ambassador Ramdin said that for him "this is not a personal matter. I have nothing to worry about my personal integrity. A criticism of this nature must be viewed as one on the credibility and integrity of the OAS which I have the privilege to represent; in the present case involvement in monitoring arrangements for the July 8 general election...

"Therefore:", he added, "I welcome the opportunity to have all misunderstandings out of the way in the interest of good Grenada-OAS relations and the immediate work on hand for effective observance of arrangements to ensure a free and fair national election on July 8....At the OAS it is our responsibility to have good relations with all accredited representatives of member nations." 

Home Affairs Ministry, Inter-Agency Committee sign MOU
THE Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Inter-Agency Committee which was established in December 2007 to share information on intelligence.

The organisations that are on board are North American Airlines; Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); Constellation Tours; Laparkan, Guyana Police Force (GPF); Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CIJA) and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ms. Angela Johnson, represented Minister Clement Rohee yesterday at the signing ceremony.

The Inter-Agency Committee was launched to meet once a month to share crucial information on national security management and identify vulnerable ideas for better security at CIJA.

The committee will have to make recommendations and advise on appropriate law enforcement and intelligence.

The body also aimed at boosting security and monitoring the movement of passengers, their cargo and mail through CIJA.

Also present at the ceremony was Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene, who encouraged the agencies to cooperate their efforts to tackle the security issues at the airport. (Michel Outridge)

ERC begins community dialogues soon
By Nathalene DeFreitas
THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will begin its first series of the Inter/Intra Community Dialogue Meetings to be conducted in Regions 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) and Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

These meetings are follow ups of the ERC’s initial launch of the dialogue with a number of organised meetings on the East Coast of Demerara and Bartica following the massacres.

At a press briefing yesterday, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Bishop Juan Edghill noted that the first meetings will be held in Beterverwagting/Mon Repos area on June 16, 2008 at the Beterverwagting Quamina Primary School and participants will be drawn from the two areas including Triumph.

The Inter/Intra Community Dialogue will take the form of an inclusive, facilitated forum for exchange of information, sharing experience, honest expression of feelings, discussion and devaluing of stereotyped ideas and clarification of perceptions on race and ethnic relations in Guyana.

Bishop Edghill said it is expected that leadership will emerge from the exercise to articulate the interests and values of the communities so that dialogue will translate into public action.

According to the Chairman, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ERC and the UNDP was signed on May 14, 2008, outlining the international organisation’s support for the programme, which seeks to bring racially exclusive and mixed communities particularly those that are perceived ‘trouble spots’, together to discuss among themselves and with each other.

He said the Inter/Intra Community Dialogue was first conceptualised by the ERC in 2007 and included in its programme of activities for 2008. He asserted “Its was the view of the Commission that the process for overcoming ethnic problems must begin in communities where people interact and face on a daily basis the consequences of racial and ethnic animosity”.

Edghill declared that the objectives of the dialogue are to encourage the understanding, acceptance and tolerance of the diversities among the ethnic groups through dialogue in a harmonious environment.

&#xThe ERC recognised the best solutions to conflict are not wrought through revolutionary struggles, but through dialogue and participatory democracy. Therefore, the Commission will be seeking through the ethnic based conversations, to create a peaceful atmosphere for dialogue among the ethnic groups and facilitate them in producing meaningful changes in their interactions with each other. It is envisaged that among other outcomes, the conversation will contribute to greater understanding and acceptance of the cultural diversities of all races in Guyana,” Edghill declared.

In addition, he noted that it seeks to forge solidarity especially among African and Indian Guyanese concentrated communities. In this regard, he pleaded for persons to attend the meetings. Throughout the period June to September 26, 2008, dialogue meetings will be conducted in the two regions, specifically targeting communities from Liliendal to Mahaica, Bartica and other riverine communities.

Apart from the dialogue, the ERC in keeping with its mandate will be conducting consultations with representatives of each ethnic group or organisation at its office. The purpose of the consultations is to provide each group with the opportunity to talk about their perceived needs and highlight the issues that affect them and submit recommendations as necessary.

The ERC held it first consultation with the African Guyanese organisations, groups and individual during the period November 13-16, 2007. Thereafter 120 copies of a special report were submitted to the National Assembly on March 27, 2008 to sensitise all Members of Parliament about the concerns, views, issues and recommendations of the African Guyanese community. The Chairman noted that a similar action will be taken by the ERC after the consultations.

“The commission is aware of the complexities regarding racial tension in Guyana and is of the view there is need for concerted confidence building along with the engendering of trust, acceptance and understanding between and among all ethnic groups to lessen racial animosity and to bolster faith in the institutions that are tasked with governing this nation,” noted the Chairman of ERC.

Further, appeals were made by the General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), Mr. Carvil Duncan and Mr. John Willems, from the Private Sector Commission for persons to attend the meetings.

Habitat for Humanity, GDF present homes to GDF ranks
HABITAT for Humanity Guyana Inc., in partnership with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), yesterday dedicated five houses to GDF ranks at Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.

The GDF ranks are : 13166 Fleet Chief Petty Officer (FCPO) Gary Hackett; 19188 Woman Sergeant (W/Sgt) Euranie Batson; 17967 Sergeant (Sgt) Elvis Williams; 18128 Woman Lance Corporal (W/LCPL) Ruth Barrington and 15885 Lance Corporal (LCPL) Esau Anderson.

They were presented with the keys to their new homes and they each received a plant.

Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc. was instrumental in securing the plots of land and ranks from GDF Engineer Corp built the houses.

In brief remarks, Commodore Gary Best, Chief-of-Staff stressed the importance of partnership and good cooperation.

He also spoke of the hiccups of the project when he first took office, but nevertheless lauded the efforts of the ranks for sticking to it and completing the houses.

Commodore Best reminded the gathering that the project first started with Brigadier Edward Collins and he was happy to assist in the completion of the houses in the joint collaboration.

Also making brief remarks was Habitat’s Mr. Alex Graham.

Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc., an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, was registered in 1995. HFHG is a non-profit organisation whose main goal is to eliminate poverty housing in Guyana. HFHG dedicated their first five houses in 1997.

To date they have built over 350 houses, providing shelter for approximately 1600 persons.

HFHG has built homes in six areas of Guyana, including the East Coast, East Bank and West Coast of Demerara, East Bank Essequibo, Georgetown and Linden.
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