GPL appeals for conservation to be absolute priority
GUYANA Power & Light (GPL) has appealed to all its customers to join in conservation effort.
A release from the utility said: “The price of fuel on the international market continues to rise at an alarming rate. At the beginning of the year, crude surpassed the psychological barrier of US$100 per barrel. By the end of the first quarter, the price for crude oil was in the vicinity of US$117 per barrel.

“On May 9, 2008, the oil price exceeded US$125 per barrel for the first time. By May 21, 2008, the oil price had already exceeded US$130 per barrel. It touched US$135 mark raising eyebrows across the globe,” GPL said.

The release said GPL uses approximately 3,000 barrels of heavy fuel oil and diesel to generate electricity daily and has to buy its fuel on the international market at the price determined by the market.

“With the price of fuel steadily increasing almost daily, it means the company has to expend an even increasing amount of its scarce financial resources on fuel. At present, the company had budgeted US$85M for fuel alone in 2008. No one could have foreseen fuel prices soaring past US$130 per barrel.

“The company is under severe pressure to maintain tariffs with the daily increase in fuel prices. While the company is exploring every avenue to reduce costs, improve efficiency and manage the situation, the price of fuel has reached levels that demand customers do more to help us survive this crisis,” GPL pointed out.

“We have seen a reduction on electricity this year and would wish to thank those customers who responded to our call to conserve. The situation is approaching crisis proportions and we are pleading with all our customers to join the conservation effort.

“Everything that you do to reduce your electricity demand would help and we are asking you to do something. At present GPL has approximately 120,000 domestic customers.

“If each household was to switch off one 10 watt bulb that just might not be in use during the peak period, GPL would not need to generate about 1.4 megawatts of power,” it explained.

“Energy conservation must be made an absolute priority in each home and office. Fuel is now extremely expensive and, in order for GPL to continue to provide a stable supply of electricity, consumers will have to assist us in this period of record high prices.

“When you leave on lights and appliances that are not in use, you are contributing to the wasting of fuel, fuel that is already expensive to acquire,” GPL stated.

China disaster…
Ambassador assures quake will not affect aid, trade
By Tajeram Mohabir
AMBASSADOR of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, Mr. Zhang Jungao, said Thursday that the earthquake which occurred 10 days ago in the southwest province of Sichuan will, in no way, prevent his government from continuing to extend grant aid to this country.

He gave the assurance, at a press briefing in the Chinese Embassy, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, to update the local population on the situation in China.

Chinese ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Zhang Jungao, speaks to reporters at Thursday’s media briefing. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Zhang explained that Sichuan is one of 33 provinces in China and, as such, the catastrophe will not interfere, either, with trade between the two countries.

He said, to date, there has been no report of a Guyanese casualty in the disaster and doubted there would be any, noting that nationals of Guyana reside mainly in the Guangdong Province, which is some distance away from Sichuan.

The envoy also expressed gratitude to President Bharrat Jagdeo for his condolence message to the people of China and to the Chinese community here, who donated more than G$6M to the affected victims.

Zhang said he was greatly moved when some Guyanese friends asked not to identified as they reached out to make donations.

The diplomat told reporters that the quake will not deter from the hosting of the Olympics Games, as preparations for the big event, to be staged in Beijing, started several years ago.

However, he disclosed that the timetable for the relay of the Olympic Torch through Sichuan has changed from July 15 to 19.

On May 12, a strong earthquake, measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale shook Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province and was felt all across China and some parts of South Asia.

Ambassador Jungao, centre, clarifies a point with the media after Thursday’s briefing on the earth quake in China.(Cullen Bess-Nelson photo

Zhang said 90 per cent of the buildings at the epicenter of the shock collapsed and road links to the outside world were cut off, resulting also in a power failure, breakdown in communication and affected access to water.

He revealed that, at 10:00 h Thursday, 51,151 persons were reported dead, 288,431 injured, 29,328 missing and several thousands more still buried in rubble.

According to Zhang, more than 12 million people have been made homeless but the Chinese Government has committed to build one million homes for the victims in another three years.

He said in excess of 160 shocks occurred in the destroyed city since the major disaster, four measuring between 6.0 to 6.9 on the Richter scale.

“The quake, which also triggered landslides in the mountainous province, damaged 33,333 hectares of farmland, including more than 10,000 hectares of wheat and grape and more than 20,000 hectares of vegetables in 13 worst-hit cities and counties,“ Zhang said.

He said, in addition, the catastrophe wrecked irrigation systems in some areas and up to 100,000 hectares of rice paddy might have to be used to grow alternative crops and the total economic loss is estimated at US$2.7 billion.

Zhang said, since the tragedy struck, the Chinese Government launched a massive relief operation to supply food, water and medicine to survivors who remained cut off in remote mountain villages.

The Chinese President, Mr. Hu Jintao, who visited Sichuan, on May 16, to console those affected and lead the rescue and relief work, said: “We should put people first and saving people’s lives is still the top priority of the relief work.”

The ambassador said, on May 20, 396,811 people were evacuated; 6,375 survivors were dug out of debris; 59,394 were hospitalised and attempts are still being made to save those who might be alive.

Zhang said the Chinese Government has not requested assistance but, as of May 20, the Ministry of Civil Affairs acknowledged receipt of US$3,057 M in donations from 166 countries and 30 international organisations.

“With the strength of the Chinese Government and their demonstrated pursuit of putting people first, all the Chinese people, home and abroad, sticking together as one and solidarity that has been extended by the international community to the Chinese people, it is my belief that we will overcome the disaster and help the survivors to rebuild their homes and China will have a better future,” Zhang stated.

Police still hunting man who abandoned counterfeit money
POLICE are still looking for the consignee of a barrel in which $14M in fake Guyana currency notes were discovered on a city wharf last January.

But a Police official assured that the matter has not yet been swept under the carpet.

The investigation started with the January 24 discovery of 13,956 one thousand dollars and 183 five hundred dollars counterfeits at the John Fernandes pier on Water Street, Georgetown, as Customs offers were conducting routine checks.

The container had been left unattended since its March 6, 2006, arrival on a Harrison Line vessel that sailed from London, England.

The cargo was deemed ‘want of entry’, meaning it must be inspected because its clearance time, under the Customs Act, was long overdue.

It was, subsequently, revealed that a man residing at Supenaam, Essequibo Coast , had visited the local handling agent six days after the consignment arrived in the country and uplifted the relevant documents.

But he never returned to take possession and his name and national identification (ID) card number were handed over to Police.

That was not the first time such bogus money was intercepted after being imported into this country. Previously, in 2006, an incoming passenger was arrested with counterfeited US$2,000 and charged but fled the jurisdiction after being granted bail.

Counterfeiting in Guyana carries heavy penalties, including life imprisonment, while the penalty for knowingly passing fakes is 14 years in jail. (Wendella Davidson)

Guyana’s Consulate in BARBADOS honours GUYANESE
The Guyana Honourary Consulate in Barbados will once again honour a selection of Guyanese nationals who it termed "unsung heroes" for their contributions to the Barbadian society.

The Guyanese nationals will be honoured during the Consulate's Annual "Picnic/Fun Day" slated to come off tomorrow on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of Guyana's independence. It will be held at the Esplanade, on the scenic shores of Carlsle Bay just outside the capital city of Bridgetown.

A Bajan is also among the awardees.
Guyanese Consul Norman Faria sees this as reflecting the overall theme of the get together: "Come together and build up Barbados and Guyana".

"This isn't something new. The Consulate has always welcomed Bajans to its functions and we are glad to see Guyanese and Bajans together. There are many Guyanese who have married Bajans or who work alongside them in harmony and are members of Barbadian community organisations such as churches, credit unions and trade unions. This is their home now. But as Guyana continues to advance economically and otherwise, we should see more Guyanese here taking up

the option to return and contribute to the development of their birthplace and Bajans investing in and visiting Guyana, thereby deepening the regional integration process.

This all bodes well for the future and I am very happy about it," said Consul Faria.

The awardees are Sandra Farnum, an industrial cleaner, Hansah "Savo" Chintambi-Holder (a processor at the island's largest chicken plant Chickmont Foods), Fenton "Kenny" Osborne (a small farmer) and Chloena Bagot

(a midwife at the island's main Queen Elizabeth Hospital).
"These deserving individuals have all been chosen by the Planning Committee this year as symbolic representation of the many Guyanese who have contributed enormously to making Barbados what it is today, for all of us ", said the Guyanese Consul.

The Bajan being honoured is Lawrence "Carl" Forde, a products specialist with Bryden's Business Solutions. He is also Chairman of the Barbados Legion's Benevolent Committee. This is the Barbados organisation which assists the Bajan veterans and their widows of the two World Wars and which has close ties with the Guyana Legion and others worldwide. Guyanese have volunteered, through

the Consulate, to, for example, weed the yards of some of the widows' homes and repair fences. Consul Faria described Mr. Forde as "a great friend of Guyana and a sterling example of the regional integration spirit."

Among the Guyanese and Barbadian entertainers will be Jenny Gajadhar's band which will perform chutney music.

Well known Barbadian calypsonian Tony Carter (" Mighty Gabby") and Cliff Roberts, the Barbadian “Tom Jones," who will sing his ever popular “oldies goldies,” will be accompanied by Guyanese organist Lawrence Francis, and they are sure to thrill those in attendance.

Guyanese cuisine, prepared by caterer Jenny and her staff will be on sale while Barbadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chris Sinclair, has kindly consented to present the awards.

St. Joseph High hosts cultural fair to mark 42nd independence anniversary
AS Independence Day for Guyana approaches, St. Joseph High School in collaboration with the school’s Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) yesterday held a cultural fair that featured clothing and food of all the ethnic groups.

Students of St. Joseph High School displaying their cultural wear at a booth during the cultural fair that was held yesterday at the school. (Photo by Adrian Narine)

The students were all adorned in their cultural outfits as some were attired in a mixture of ethnic outfits to bring more significance to the event, showcasing the rich cultural bond that lies among all races.

Speaking with the Head of Department for Social Studies, Ms. Beverley Simon, she noted that the PTA and the school body decided to host the event in light of the upcoming celebration of Guyana’s 42nd independence anniversary. She said it is planned to make the event an annual one and she is also encouraging other schools to emulate the initiative, as it would not only help bond students closer, but also help to edify them their various cultural backgrounds.

At the cultural fair, there were booths displaying food and handicraft reflective of the various local ethnic groups. A cultural programme was also part of the event, this included dances, poems and historic backgrounds of each ethnic group that came to Guyana.

The students of St. Joseph High all saw the event as an edifying one and were all excited about being garbed in the different outfits.

Mathematics teachers undergo training
MATHEMATICS teachers recently benefitted from a workshop held by the Ministry of Education’s National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in collaboration with Dr. Pier Junorclarke, Assistant Professor at Georgia State University in the United States.

The three-day workshop was based on a non-graduate certificate in mathematics education document that NCERD developed for teachers.

Sixteen of them from across the country participated in the workshop which was led by Dr. Junorclarke.

The workshop aims to strengthen the skills of the teachers so they in turn will be the ‘trainers’ for the others.

The Professor noted that it is of primary importance that the teachers have a strong subject content knowledge.

“What we noticed, even abroad is that sometimes teachers would have the attitude of doing mathematics, that is, taking on the exams and getting very high scores but, when it comes to teaching the mathematics that is problematic,” she said.

She introduced a model called the ‘reflective teaching model’, which focuses on teachers not only reflecting on the students’ achievements but, on their own quality of teaching and knowledge based on the subject.

“We did some reflective thinking based on the needs of the mathematics syllabus, the low achievement that was experienced here, as I expressed with the teachers that this problem in not just in Guyana but world wide.”

The Professor is a coordinator of a teacher education programme at Georgia State University which is proving to be very successful.

Based on the response from the teachers, Dr Junorclarke said she was encouraged to continue this workshop; as such one more is planned for next year. During this time contact will be kept with the teachers that participated in the workshop and the documents derived from it along with additional materials will be provided to all 279 teachers who had applied to undergo the training.

Dr. Junorclarke noted that, “This is important work because mathematics, science and technology are very important skills, a nation without that is in jeopardy. And so it’s very important that we get the teachers of these subjects to get on board with the necessary things to help out children and in fact the ultimate goal will be impacting our children and society.” (GINA)

New Amsterdam prison likely to receive further enhancement
- Home Affairs Minister to study proposal
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, will be studying proposals by officials of the New Amsterdam Prison to enable further works on several aspects of the prisons.

Minister Rohee, as part of his outreach programme in Region Six, Berbice, on Thursday visited the prison for an on-the-spot inspection and consideration of the proposals.

Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, speaking to inmates of the prison.

“It was necessary for me to go there to get a sense of what these changes were that they are contemplating in order to determine whether they are justifiable or not and then secondly, the visit there was at the same time to see the conditions of how the prisoners both male and female are being held,” Minister Rohee told the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Superintendent of the Prison, Ronald Hazel, said it is hoped that additional resources will be granted to carry out the necessary works.

“He (Minister Rohee) has to take it to Parliament so he has to know what it is we really need for the additional money. We are looking at the extension of the convicted and remand dining hall and the female corridors among other things,” Superintendent Hazel explained.

Minister Rohee said the proposal is understandable in terms of constantly reviewing the situation but noted that several areas need to be upgraded.

“I think they need to do more work in terms of expanding the room for accommodating the present number of prisoners. Like most of the prisons, this one is also overcrowded, not built to handle that large amount of prisoners. So obviously the adjustments that are going to be done are likely to take that into consideration.”

Deputy Director of Prisons Poshanand Tahal, second from left, explaining to the Minister the measures put in place since last year's jailbreak.

The Minister, while touring the penitentiary, interacted with prisoners and listened to their concerns which included the quality of their meals.

In this regard, Rohee said the dietary and medical attention of the prisoners and the possibility of expanding the trade shops will be considered.

The prison has 512 inmates with 410 of them being males.

The government has been pushing for prisons to be self-sufficient which it believes will lessen the budgetary allocation for dietary expenditure. The money saved will be allocated to other areas.

Government had promised that it will work towards utilising the prisons’ estate to cultivate and rear livestock and produce more food.

In this year’s Budget $160M was allocated to the GPS for dietary needs.

In relation to the security measures that were put in place since the jailbreak last year, it was noted that some have already been instituted while other areas are progressing.

“There is provision to build two more watchtowers because we have one in front. We now have a fence at the back…There is also clearing of the bushes around the compound to have a clear view,” Superintendent Hazel said.

Government has been making several interventions to improve the prison. Last year, $30M was spent to procure equipment, $11M for land and water transportation and $8.2M for agricultural equipment for the Prison.

During this year, the institution will continue to develop the capabilities of the prison through effective training of ranks to deal with the multi-dimensional challenges in the prison environment, developing security capabilities at each prison location and reducing dietary expenditure through self-sufficiency.

Commissioning of rehabilitated Dawa Pumping Station May 26
THE rehabilitated Dawa Pump Station, at Tapakuma on Essequibo Coast, in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), will be commissioned on Independence Day, May 26.

A release said commissioning of the project, undertaken to boost drainage and irrigation for rice cultivation, will be done by Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, as part of the activities to mark Guyana’s 42nd Independence Anniversary.

The rehabilitation included the replacement of four large engines, raising the existing embankment by 50,000 cubic yards and repairing the building housing the massive pumps.

Funding for the execution, by the Government of Guyana and the European Union, is through the EU Rice Competitiveness Programme.

The pump station, which is within the Tapakuma Irrigation Scheme, was declared open on November 30, 1963, by then Governor of British Guiana, Sir Ralph Grey and handed over to the Premier, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, on behalf of the Guyanese people.

Pauling and Company (Overseas Ltd) was contracted for the purpose by the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics and consulting engineers were Sir William Halcrow and Partners.

The contract spawned the conjunction and enlargement of the original conservancies at Capoey, Reliance and Tapakuma and the extension and improvement of the D&I system, so that front lands spawning 32,500 acres could be successfully cultivated.

RDC member calls for decent Sea Defence Office
MEMBER of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Pooran Persaud, has called on the Ministry of Public Works to resume construction of the Sea Defence Office at Anna Regina on Essequibo Coast.

Speaking at the recent statutory meeting, he said the erection of the concrete building was halted about a year ago and the existing structure has become an eyesore in the commercial centre of the town.

Persaud pointed out sea defence workers are important in the region because they always have to do monitoring and maintenance along the coastline and should be given a proper and decent office.

He also appealed to residents of Charity to keep their drains clean and not dump garbage in them, especially food boxes, plastic bottles and bags, in light of the expected heavy May/June rainfall.

Information technology being promoted among sugar workers
GOVERNMENT is committed to efforts that will bring sugar workers up-to-date with modern technology by making them computer literate as part of the administration’s vision and ongoing investments to modernise, upgrade and sustain the industry.

This was recently highlighted by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, during his address to workers of the West Demerara sugar estates at a meeting held at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, West Coast Demerara.

The Minister was at the time responding to a request made by a worker for establishment of a library at the Community Centre. It was agreed that management will make arrangements to set up the library with an internet ready computer for workers to become familiar with the technology.

Minister Persaud noted that field workers could visit the centre for several hours in the afternoons after completing their activities and encouraged that they get involved in the system since the computer is very simple to understand and operate.

They were told that this could help them better understand the changes taking place in the sugar industry and the world so they would be more prepared to deal with the issues and events that may arise from such activities.

It was explained that the new factory at Skeldon and its operations are very modern and include some of the most updated technology. While persons are being trained to operate the machinery and systems at the estate, workers from other areas such as the West Demerara will be exposed to the technology through site visits and tours organised by management.

In addition, some of the tractors being acquired by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) to boost cultivation and harvesting activities are managed by computer operations and therefore will require basic skills from workers.

Government’s ongoing investment in the sugar industry includes an expenditure of approximately US$200M in the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project (SSMP) that entails construction of the modern factory and co-generation plant and expansion of agricultural activities to supply cane for the new factory.

Additional investments are being made to upgrade the Enmore sugar estate toward establishing a packaging facility as part of efforts to accelerate value-added production in the industry.

These and other investments are aimed at ensuring the industry is well positioned to overcome the current difficulties such as the drastic price cuts, erratic weather conditions and adjustments to the marketing arrangement with Europe.

Overall, the aim is to bring the cost of production down from about 18 US cents per pound to 11 US cents per pound thereby enhancing the industry’s competitiveness on the world market. (GINA)

HIV/AIDS Family Planning workshop continues this weekend
The second weekend of a Community Mobilisers’ HIV Project aimed at providing initial training for persons to become HIV/AIDS educators for the Family Planning Association of Guyana, gets underway today at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Building, Camp Road, Georgetown.

Community Mobilisers’ HIV Project being held at the YMCA, Camp Road

The four-day workshop which began last Saturday continued through Sunday and will wrap up this weekend.

About fifteen participants drawn from NGOs and other entities around Region Four are involved in the training.

Facilitators for the workshop which is being sponsored jointly by the Family Pla