Damage being assessed as NCC fire probe continues
ADMINISTRATIVE Manager of the National Cultural Centre (NCC), Mr. Frederick Christian and other employees were yesterday still assessing the damage done by an arson attempt at the Homestretch and Mandela Avenues, Georgetown edifice.

Simultaneously, investigators from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continued their probe into the blaze that destroyed a portion of the ‘draw’ curtain and stage Monday night.

Christian said security measures will be boosted to prevent any recurrence but it is too soon to determine the full extent of the destruction.

However, he confirmed it has not been extensive although quite significant.

Christian said repair works will commence as soon as possible because the NCC is one of the main venues for the upcoming tenth Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA X).

“We are looking at the entire situation and this is one that makes me very uncomfortable and, definitely, this is pointing to some security breach,” he acknowledged.

Christian said the only possibility is that someone might have hidden in the building and, after starting the blaze, exited through the back door which was left open.

He also said such a person or persons had to be familiar with the place because a key had to be used on the door and there was no indication of forced entry.

According to him, evaluations have been done on the sound and lighting systems and the stage, where the damages occurred.

The discovery of an explosive device was made as firemen were in the process of dismantling a section of the stage area to determine the origin of the fire.

Fortunately, because the curtain is made of fire resistant material, it lessened the loss.

A security guard on duty at the time said he was shocked to find that the back door was wide open.

The firemen, however, responded promptly and managed to avert a major disaster.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, who was among the scores of people, including artistes and producers at the scene Monday night, declared that nothing will stop Guyana from staging CARIFESTA X.

He said, after the necessary repairs are done, the authorities will go back to the drawing board to review the security situation ahead of the mega event.

Suriname increased patrol targets illegal Guyanese fishermen
THE Suriname military has nabbed more Guyanese suspected of fishing illegally in Surinamese waters.

The Army in the neighbouring republic is also increasing its river patrol as a result of complaints that Suriname fishermen are being harassed by their Guyanese counterparts, the Guyana Chronicle has learnt.

A recent release said the Suriname Ministry of Defence has described as “alarming” the frequency with which illegal aliens are seen in that country’s waters.

The release said, in addition to the 27 Guyanese detained between May 30 and June 2, the military, on June 7, captured several others in Suriname territory.

Spokesman for the Suriname Army, Captain Romeo Wesenhagen said two trawlers, which were observed some 17 miles off the Suriname coast, have been seized and handed over to the judicial authorities and Police.

Police in Nickerie are investigating the latest cases which add to the previous 27 who are all still in custody awaiting prosecution.

The 27 were taken before an examining judge to justify their legal incarceration and were further remanded until a date is set for their first court appearance.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee said Monday he had expected the 27 to have been released.

Noting that their arrest may have territorial implications, he said he would talk with colleague Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues on the issue.

A telephone call to the Guyana Embassy in Paramaribo yielded no information but the caller was advised to try again today.

Tri-Lake community looking at contribution to ‘Grow More’
By Wendella Davidson
FARMERS at Mainstay/Whyaka in Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), already involved in the lucrative export of organically cultivated pineapples to Europe, would like to otherwise contribute to the ‘Grow More’ campaign.

But the 400 of them, spread over 13 square miles West of Anna Regina, on Essequibo Coast, are constrained by what else they can produce, according to Captain Yvonne Pearson.

She spoke to the media about the constraints, during the recent Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) June 8 to 21 agro-tourism workshops for members of the tri-lake community, also comprising Tapakuma and Capoey,

Pearson said the main handicap is the soil, although they are inter-cropping with pumpkin, squash, melon, peas.

“But there are not much others we can plant,” said the President of the Tri-Lake Farmers Association.

However, she disclosed a plan to continue extending Mainstay farms and find other ways in which to preserve some of their produce apart from pineapples.

Most of the crops are seasonal and preservation methods have to be found for out of season products, Pearson pointed out.

She lamented, though, that young residents of the community do not like farming but they still secure employment at the pineapple processing facility while the older folks are on the farms.

To be up-to-date on technology, they have had support in the form of training and visits from technical personnel, Pearson explained, acknowledging the assistance from IICA and Partners of the Americas -- which was instrumental in helping to address pest control -- as well as National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI).

About financial resources, she said, quite recently, as a result of partnering with IICA, they were able to establish a small revolving fund, from which a few people have borrowed.

IICA Country Representative, Mr. Ignatius Jean revealed that, of the US$25,000 available, onlyUS$6,000 has been utilised to date.

He said a review would be undertaken to look at other areas which can benefit from the source, established to assist in agriculture and managed by a board of directors.

44-member U.S. team offering medical services at Linden, Ituni
A 44-member medical team from the 4215th United States Army Hospital (USAH) , is providing free medical services to residents of Linden and Ituni.

The services by doctors, dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and medics runs until June 25, and are all part of the U.S. Government’s ongoing commitment to improving the health of the people of Guyana, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. 

The medical team is offering care in general medicine and basic dentistry at the Linden Hospital Complex out-patient clinic at Mackenzie every day until June 25.

A team will travel to Ituni to offered services at the Ituni Health Clinic today and on Friday, June 20, according to a U.S. Embassy release. 

Persons seeking care are advised that while the services are provided between 8.00am to 4.00pm, they should arrive at the site no later than 2.00pm in order to be seen the same day. 

The visit of the 4215th USAH is the first of three scheduled major medical missions to Guyana by U.S. military personnel for this year.

A team specialising in tropical medicine will provide treatment and services in and around Lethem in August.

Additionally, in November, the U.S. Navy Ship Kearsarge will dock off Guyana’s coast for two weeks to carry out a mission in Region One (Barima/Waini), similar to what was offered by the USNS Comfort in September 2007,when general and specialized medical treatment, dentistry, and veterinary services, with surgical procedures, were carried out aboard the ship, the release added.

Using protected seedling production houses to
Combat Climate Change
By Indira Badal
CONSTRUCTION of several protected seedling production houses in major vegetable production communities will be evident as the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) moves to introduce this low-cost improved technology to farmers, as concerns loom over the impact of climate change on food security systems globally.

This move comes at a time when the Government of Guyana, through the implementation of the Jagdeo Initiative, seeks to expand Guyana’s lucrative agricultural system by providing farmers with access to improved technologies and services in an era of unpredictable weather patterns.

“One of our main policies at NARI is to ensure that farmers are exposed to improved technologies that are adaptable to increase their levels of competitiveness in order to maintain food security locally and supply the export market. However, in light of the massive changes occurring globally as a result of climate change, there is need for the adaptation of improved technologies by the farming communities in order for them to remain competitive,” says NARI’s Director, Dr. Oudho Homenauth.

In Guyana, many vegetable farmers are accustomed to the traditional technique of sowing their vegetable seedlings directly on flat seedbed under temporary shade conditions, but as the weather patterns become more unpredictable, the use of traditional techniques will not be effective for competitive farming since the increase in rainfall and dry spells will affect vegetable seedling production.

Dr. Homenauth pointed out that one of the many challenges farmers are faced with after the seasonal change, especially the rainy one, is the production of seedlings in a timely manner to commence cultivation in the field. To address this problem, he is advocating that farmers incorporate more improved technology along with their traditional knowledge to increase their production.

Protected seedling houses are economically designed using plastic film as roofing material to reduce the high levels of sunlight and rainfall that affect seedling production.

The use of disease free netting as screens prevents major pest and disease infestation.

According to Qsvaldo Ferrando Gonzales, Cuban Agricultural Engineer attached to NARI with responsibilities for the project, one of the major advantages of the protected seedling production houses is that it allows for the continuous production of excellent quality seedlings throughout the year under a controlled environment.

This type of seedling production, using a protected system will allow for the control of excessive moisture which reduces the possibility of the disease ‘damping off’. It also avoids washing off of fertilizers and chemicals applied to the seedlings by rain which is very significant when using the traditional seedling production techniques.

At the NARI Mon Repos facility, the construction of a low-cost protected seedling production house measuring 30’ X 15’ with the capacity to accommodate 104 trays with each tray allowing 128 cells has been completed and is operational.

This system, according to Mr. Gonzales, will produce approximately 12000 seedlings at each sowing, allowing nine to ten sowing phases per annum.

While the prospect seems lucrative for farmers, some environmentalists and eco friendly individuals might query the use of plastic films as roofing materials, but this concern was quickly dismissed by Mr. Gonzales who stated that the materials to be used are UV treated and would, depending on the quality, be quite durable to withstand the harshness of the rain and solar radiation.

A simple but meticulous process, the success of seedling production using a protected system will require high levels of sanitary conditions to prevent contamination within the house.

‘Initially the seeds are pre germinated by using dampened sheets after which they are placed in already prepared seedlings trays that were properly sterilized. This system allows only for the healthiest seedlings to be introduced into the house. To reduce contamination, the farmer is advised to construct a foot bath at the entrance of the structure, use pest free material, spray growing areas (such as benches, walkway) with suitable disinfectant (like chlorine solution), and use only uncontaminated tools and material.

All equipment used in the compost mixing and filling procedures should be regularly disinfected. All equipment and operatives should pass through a disinfectant foot or tire bath, preferably on entering the site.

During the seedling growth phase, germination is not uniform due to poor environmental management, poor quality seed, among other things. This will lead to “gaps” in the trays because they have been underutilized, and waste of compost and irrigation supplies.

As soon as the “gaps” become obvious, plants at similar stage of development should be transferred from other trays to fill all the “gaps” ensuring that each cell contains a plant. This will aid the production of a more uniform plant growth habit in the tray as a whole.

The frequency of watering is dependent on weather conditions and the stage of the crop. Watering should be applied to cell capacity with minimum drainage, or nutrients will be leached from the substrate. Excessive watering leads to succulent plants with restricted root growth.

Most plants produced under a carefully controlled environmental regime need to be adjusted to the harsh realities before transferring to the field. To minimize this problem, the plants are “hardened off” prior to field transplanting. Growth rates are reduced during the hardening process while photosynthetic activity continues at the same or similar rates.

The energy otherwise used in growth of the seedling is thus available as a surplus and can be stored in the plant to aid in resumption of growth after the transplanting operation is complete.

This process of hardening off should be completed in about seven to ten days immediately prior to field establishment.

Gradual reduction of irrigation amounts, and lengthening irrigation interval, will slow down plant growth. The plants should not be allowed to dry out to the stage where wilting is evident.

97 Region Three farmers benefit from SFLP programme
SOME 97 crop farmers at Naamryck in Parika, Region Three (West Demerara), yesterday benefited from farming equipment and a quantity of agricultural inputs to enhance their productivity capacity.

The equipment included a tiller, weeding machines and a spray can, donated under the Small Farmers Livelihood Programme (SFLP) funded by the Canadian Institute for International Corporation (CIDA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

SFLP is part of the IDB Social Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) established in 1998 to promote social equity and the economic development of poor and disadvantaged groups.

Through the SFLP, SEP will provide financial support for the improvement of farms and the establishment of market linkages that will benefit some 1,200 farming households across Guyana’s coastal and riverain areas.

The project is being undertaken in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam); Three ( Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); Four ( Demerara/Mahaica); Five (Mahaica/ Berbice); and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

The IDB and CIDA have committed US$ 830,000 and US$ 680,590 respectively to the initiative over a four-year period.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony in Naamryck, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said government has long recognised the potential of the agriculture sector to the economy, and has implemented numerous programmes to harness this.

He pointed out that Guyana, unlike some other countries, has not neglected agriculture for oil and fuel production, and as such has been able to ensure food security for the past several years.

Persaud underscored that countries that diverted focus on agriculture to the service sector are now realising that this was unwise, as food, which is at the heart of survival, cannot be obtained from fuel and oil.

Locally, agricultural production is controlled to a great extent by small farmers, and in this context the minister noted that the SFLP beneficiaries have abundant opportunities to expand their operations as they do not have to compete with large multinational companies, as in other countries.

But he implored that the expansion of their business will only happen if they ‘think big’, as it is the government’s vision to transform the sector and return Guyana to being the breadbasket of the Caribbean.

This, Persaud acknowledged, cannot be done by government alone.

On that note, he expressed gratitude to the IDB and CIDA for their unstinting support to agriculture and to other areas of development.

He told the farmers that the SFLP assistance is in recognition of their hard work and the project is in keeping with the “Grow More” food campaign which is geared to expand production to minimise cost, while ensuring there is enough for local consumption and for exports.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Secretary of the Parika, Naamryck and Ruby Farmers Progressive Organisation, Deodatt Seodatt, thanked the donors for the initiative and requested government’s assistance to make more lands available to expand production.

He stressed that expansion drive is in keeping with the “Grow More” food campaign, and pointed of that there are some 395 acres of lands in Vergenoegen which are not in use and could be utilized for that purpose.

Also present at the occasion were Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Mr. Charles Court; IDB representative to Guyana Mr. Marko Nicola; CIDA Head of Aid Mr. Mark Mastovic; SFPL’s Director Mr. Ronald Sammy, and farmers from Canals Numbers One and Two.

Mr. Court pointed out that Canada enjoys a fruitful relation with Guyana and the project is one of several spanning the development of access roads and infrastructural development to drainage and irrigation.

Mr. Mostovic remarked that the SFLP was devised before the food crisis, and it demonstrates CIDA’s commitment to increasing production, reducing poverty and promoting entrepreneurship among small farmers.

He urged the farmers to use the initiative as a “stepping stone” to advance their operations, but warned that quality be the watchword, or inevitably they would encounter challenges to gain entry into the export markets when certain criteria are not met.

The CIDA representative said the donation is a push to expansion and reminded the beneficiaries that their work has just started and they have a long way to go.

Mr. Nicola said apart from the initiative, the IDB is financing the US$ 20M Agriculture Support Services Programme (ASSP) which aims at raising rural incomes by improving the competitiveness of the agriculture sector through the timely availability of drainage and improved irrigation.

Recently, he noted the bank and the Guyana government had signed a US$ 20,000M Agricultural Diversification Programme aimed at increasing the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, aquaculture and livestock for both local and foreign markets.

Mr. Sammy explained that in each region, 240 farmers were selected and divided into three clusters of 80 persons, except for Naamryck, where 97 were chosen because of the high demand for production there.

The project director said the initiative started in Region Two and to date has been successful.

The clusters selected in Region Three, along with Naamryck, are Canal Numbers One and Two and La Harmonie, and they too will soon benefit from similar donations.

The Project Director pointed out that shortly those in Region Four will commence operations, while in Region Five two of the groups have been identified, but in Region Six two are yet to be formed.

The SFLP was conceptualized in April 2006 and was approved one year later.

GCCI pleased with employees relocation during UG’s asbestos removal
THE Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said it is pleased that the University of Guyana’s employees will be relocated during the removal of the asbestos from the University’s buildings.

GCCI noted that the inhalation of asbestos fibres can result in potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in these minute asbestos fibres. Continued exposure can increase the amount of fibres that remain in the lung. Fibres embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases.

Asbestos is a group of minerals with long, thin fibrous crystals. It became popular among manufacturers and builders in late 19th century due to its resistance to heat, electricity, chemical damage, sound absorption and tensile strength.

The GCCI said it is urging the key stakeholders, who are the Ministry of Labour, the University of Guyana, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Contractor to ensure the following:

1. Workers and their families are aware of the high level of danger involved in the process of removing the asbestos through education and awareness programmes.

2. Safety and health policies and procedures are put in place to reduce the dangers associated with the exposure. These must be clearly communicated to workers and workers should be required to sign on to them. These must also be extended to the families of the workers.

3. Workers are given the appropriate personal protective equipment in keeping with the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

4. The safety and health policies and procedures must be monitored and reviewed periodically.

5. Procedures to deal with violation on the part of workers must be clearly permeated to them.

6. Post periodic medical check-up must be part of the contractual obligation.

7. Any other mechanisms which are aimed to protect the workers as well as their families.

The Chambers also said it notes that the protection of the safety and health of the workers is a direct corporate social responsibility of the key stakeholders and it is the social responsibility of the media and other civil society organisations as well as the GCCI.

Plan towards universal secondary education moving apace
SEVERAL new secondary schools are being constructed around the country as the administration moves  closer to achieving its goal of universal secondary education for all Guyana’s children. The Bartica Secondary will be completed soon and the Mahaica Secondary School is moving apace.

During a recent visit by Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh, it was observed that construction of the new Mahaica Secondary School at Plantation Hope, East Coast Demerara which started in January is on schedule.

The minister promised to return in a few months to ensure that the construction continues in earnest.  The completion date is January 2009 and it is expected that students will begin occupying the building soon after.

About 1,000 students from Mahaica to Cove and John will be accommodated at the $512M state-of-the-art school.

“This is all in the Basic Education Access and Management Support (BEAMS) project to ensure that we receive universal secondary education within the next 5 years,” Baksh disclosed.

He noted that Mahaica Secondary among others are incorporated into the education strategic plan, to make certain that every child coming out of the primary school has access to a sound secondary education.

The school complex will include departments for administration, library, computer lab, multi-purpose laboratory, food and nutrition, clothing and textile, home management, technical drawing, agricultural science, electrical workshop and classrooms.

The complex will consist of five buildings totalling approximately 46,000 square feet and built of reinforced concrete.

Several other schools have been built and rehabilitated under the BEAMS project. The Aurora Secondary on the Essequibo Coast and the Diamond Secondary on the East Bank of Demerara have been completed.

Secondary schools that have been rehabilitated include the Bladen Hall Multilateral, North Ruimveldt Multilateral, Lodge Community High, Charlestown and Tutorial High. (GINA)

Carifesta security plan caters for any eventuality – Minister Rohee
MINISTER of Home Affairs Clement Rohee is assured that the security plans put in place for CARIFESTA X to be held in Guyana from August 22 to 31 is workable and cater for any possible eventuality. He gave this assurance during an interview on the National Communications Network’s ‘Close Up’ television programme.

Rohee said that a committee which has representatives from the security, transport, Revenue authority and airport sectors among others was established to cater for every aspect of the security arrangements for the delegations and visitors for CARIFESTA X. This committee meets regularly and has assured that the plan is at the stage of being presented to the oversight committee which is headed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and then to Cabinet.

The minister said that the security plan that was prepared for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 was used as the prototype for the development of the plan for Carifesta. He however pointed out that the challenges would be greater for CARIFESTA X since unlike CWC 2007, activities will be held simultaneously at different venues and both day and night.

The Home Affairs Minister said that he has not received any expression of reluctance to participate in the event because of the security situation. This he attributed to the successful hosting of CWC 2007 and the presentation made by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rudy Insanally to the CARICOM ministerial meeting in the Bahamas earlier this year.

Guyana will be hosting CARIFESTA X 36 years after the first Carifesta was held here. To date 25 countries have confirmed participation in the biggest Regional Cultural event held biannually.

Guyana’s decision to host CARIFESTA X resulted from The Bahamas which was scheduled to host the event indicating its inability to do so. (GINA)

Amerindian communities benefit from hygiene kits
MINISTER of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai while visiting several Amerindian communities throughout the country has been providing hygiene kits to residents.

During her recent visit to Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Minister Sukhai distributed over 1,000 baby and hygiene kits to residents of Wowette, Rupertee, Annai Central, Surama, Toka, Kwatamang and Aranaputa.

The contributions are intended particularly to help children and the elderly since their surrounding are usually in bad condition during periods of heavy rainfall.

The packages contain medical supplies and baby’s clothing such as towels, socks, soap, tooth brush and disinfectant.

Residents were appreciative of the assistance which they said will be very useful.

Over 300 of the kits were also distributed to three Region One communities in the Moruca sub-region recently. 

The Ministry will continue the distribution process in other regions across the country. (GINA).

GUYWID deplores manner of murder/rape victim media reports
GUYANESE Women in Development (GUYWID) has deplored the manner in which some media houses have been reporting the rape/murder victim Shelisha Khan, charging that the media is raping her integrity.

In a release GUYWID noted: “Another horrendous act of inhuman monstrosity committed on a defenceless girl.  What was her only crime? Being a female? Being a young and attractive girl in the wrong place at the wrong time?  What could possibly cause four men to want to not only quench their ghastly yearning for sex by gang-raping an innocent teenager, but also proceeding to brutally murder her? We seem to be asking these questions quite often these days.  The increasing incidents of violence, including rape and murder, of our women and girls have not gone unnoticed.”

According to GUYWID Shelisha has been raped and killed, and the media is raping and killing her again. What are the innuendoes when the media writes “… the teenager was also consuming alcoholic beverages. She was swinging with guys with a minibus”.

The media is raping her integrity and is urging the public to conclude that Shelisha “deserved” what she got. Is this responsible journalism? GUYWID rhetorically queried.

GUYWID observed that: “Some might say that the perpetrators are “sick” people and should be institutionalised; that they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, therefore, were not in control of their mental faculties; that they were provoked by the way the victims were dressed or that they acted in a soliciting manner.  Many more trumped up justifications… And what is the role of the media?”

The organisation asserted that no amount of excuses can justify this heinous crime against a young girl who still had her entire life ahead, adding that not only have the criminals robbed Shelisha of her human right to life, they have also “raped” the family by denying them the opportunity to hold, to nurture and to enjoy their child.

“They have incurred human loss on the community and society as a whole. Guyana has emerged poorer by this animalistic attack on innocence. One does not need to be an expert to recognise that we are living in an increasingly violent society,” GUYWID charged.

What will be a fitting punishment for those guilty of such sadistic behaviour?  No punishment will be too harsh. The law enforcement agencies must ensure that the full force of the law is applied. Too bad that Shelisha was unable to receive the protection she deserved. 

We know that our justice system upholds the letter of the law, but we also appeal to those who enforce the system to defend the spirit of law. The law must protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Too many criminals and sex offenders go scot-free because of so-called loop holes in the law argued by skilful legal minds. On the other hand, the victims are either dead or remain with deeply hidden scars for the rest of their lives.

GUYWID is also calling on all Guyanese to be even more vigilant to bring an end to violence against our women and an end to all forms of violence in our society.  Life is too short and too precious to be wasted. 

“We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Shelisha Khan!  May God grant you the strength and courage you to face and eventually overcome this grief!” GUYWID declared, adding: Let us grieve for Shelisha! Do not kill her again.

GUYWID is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in 1994 to encourage and assist women to become equal partners in the development process in Guyana. 

Guruji to pray for Guyana’s peace and prosperity
By Priya Nauth
GUYANESE will come together in unity at the National Park, Georgetown, on Sunday June 29, 2008, to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.

The Day of Prayer is the inaugural event of Om – The Art of Living which is a non-government and religious organisation founded by spiritual leader and renowned Astrologist Guruji Kaulacharya Rajendranand Maharaj Teerth of India who resides in New York, United States of America (USA).

The spiritual leader is popularly known as Guruji Rajendra Sharma.

The organisation will be taking its first step towards God by shape of a Maha Ganpati Yagna which commences at 11: 00h, for the peace and prosperity of the country and its citizens worldwide.

Om – The Art of Living aims at promoting healthy living for peace, prosperity and development within mind and soul to enhance togetherness for the future benefit of the world.

The organisation is inviting the general public to attend and participate in this auspicious occas