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‘We have nothing to hide’
- President says of Roger Khan claims
REFERRING to the claims made by Guyanese drug trafficking accused Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan’s lawyer during the ongoing case in the United States of America (USA) that the accused received the permission from the Government of Guyana to purchase spy equipment, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday that his Government has nothing to hide and has therefore requested information from the USA on the equipment.

The Guyanese Leader was at the time addressing the media at a press conference he hosted at the Office of the President.

“We’ve also requested information on Roger Khan’s alleged killing of 200 persons…when I spoke with the Commissioner of Police he said they are in possession of the equipment and that it never worked,” the President said.

The President echoed earlier statements by his administration that it is not the Government of Guyana that gives permission for the export of sensitive technology from the USA, but rather it is the US Government.

“If it is sensitive technology then it has to be classified by the US Government not by the Government of Guyana, so if someone has to export sensitive equipment then he/she will have to seek permission from the US Government who has classified this so it doesn’t make sense, the allegation that Government of Guyana gave permission,” he added.

The President reiterated that he has sought assistance from the US Government on the matter but noted that what is occurring is based largely on allegations from the Defense Counsel for Roger Khan.

In terms of the accusation that the accused killed 200 persons in Guyana, the President said that ‘similarly we are working on allegations from the prosecution for Roger Khan’.

“We don’t have any hard evidence but because these matters have become issues of public concern and because these cases are tried in the public we have nothing to hide, we have requested the information and whatever the response is it would be made available to the public so this is quite clear,” President Jagdeo underscored. (GINA)

Police launch manhunt for ‘Skinny’ Charles
By Michel Outridge
ACTING Commissioner of Police Henry Greene yesterday revealed that intelligence sources have indicated that efforts were being made by family members of escaped prisoner, Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles to acquire a firearm to assist in his escape from the authorities.

He made the disclosure at a press conference at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

He told reporters that family members of the high profile prison escapee are currently being sought, but it appears that they have abandoned their homes.

The Top Cop added that a manhunt is on to locate and recapture Charles, 19, of 133 Brutus Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

“At this time, the Guyana Police Force wishes to remind all members of the public and family members of Charles that it is an offence to harbor any person who is wanted by the police,” he declared yesterday.

Greene also called on all of Charles’ family members and civic minded persons not to shelter this fugitive from justice, but to hand him over to the authorities as soon as possible.

He also disclosed that based on intelligence gathered, two cars, one dark in colour were observed parked outside the Sparendaam Police Station on Wednesday while Charles was being escorted from the prison vehicle for his court appearance.

The Commissioner noted that upon arrival at the court, Charles acknowledged the members of the cars by raising his hands who in turned responded by a flash of the headlight.

the cars blinked its lights at Charles who responded by raising his hand in recognition.

Greene said that Charles’ escape from police custody was hatched and well orchestrated.

“Skinny is a very dangerous man”, he said yesterday.

He pointed out that every effort is being made to find Charles but up to press time he remained at large.

Greene told the press conference that Charles’ escape from police custody on Wednesday points to negligence at the Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara, and strongly indicates that ranks on duty were not alert in guarding the high profile prisoner who was supposed to be handcuffed and shackled.

The prisoner escaped during his court appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, East Coast Demerara.

Reports said that Charles was left in the courtroom unattended and calmly walked out of the building, without being detected by ranks, and joined a minibus.

By the time he was discovered missing during a routine check by ranks, Charles had already made good his escape, reports said.

Upon discovering that the prisoner was missing, police launched a frantic search for him.

Police in a press release after midnight Wednesday said that Charles escaped from the lockups as a result of a loose board in the floor.

On August 17, 2006, three men, said to be part of the gang that shot dead five pressmen at the Kaieteur News printery at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, appeared under tight security in the Georgetown Magistrates court before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

Alleged ring leader Charles, Dwight DaSilva, and Quincy Evans known as ‘Jimmy Dog’, were not required to plead to the indictable charges.

The three were also jointly charged for murdering Wordsworth Grey at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara on August 8, 2006.

Charles and DaSilva were separately charged with murdering Barbot Paul at Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara last August 6, 2006.

‘Skinny’ faced three other murder charges and an attempted murder charge.

‘Skinny’ was also charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition to which he pleaded not guilty. The charge said that on August 11, 2006, he was found with a .32 Millennium pistol together with 29 live rounds of matching ammunition.

Police pondering why Arokium did not recall miners
ACTING Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, yesterday announced that they are looking for two guards who were manning the UNAMCO checkpoint gate when it is believed the eight miners were killed and burnt at Lindo Creek, Berbice River.

He told a press conference that a Brazilian miner and his lone guard, whose camp is the closest to Leonard Arokium’s camp, was also questioned by the police and released.

Greene added that their statements were recorded.

He noted that Leonard Arokium, the dredge owner, admitted that he had no contact with his employees for three weeks, but he knew that a call to leave the location was issued following the police encounter with Rondell Rawlins called ‘Fineman’ and his gang of men.

The Commissioner stated that Arokium, knowing what had happened in the area, should have recalled his miners, and he is now pondering why Arokium did not heed the call.

Greene said a team of US specialists is expected here to assist the police in the area of forensics investigations to determine when the eight miners were killed at Lindo Creek, Berbice River.

Greene also told reporters that only four spent shells were found at Lindo Creek last Sunday by a team of ranks from the Joint Services, accompanied by Clifton Wong, the brother of slain mechanic.

He said that the shells matched the ones recovered from the scenes of the Bartica and Lusignan massacres, the robbery/murder at Triumph, where two men were killed, both on the East Coast Demerara, and a robbery/murder at Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara, when a woman was killed.

Police in a press release said Ballistics tests also revealed that one of the spent shell matched one of the rifles recovered from the two gang members, Robin Chung called ‘Chung Boy’ and Cecil Simeon Ramcharran called ‘Uncle Willie’ and ‘Magic’, who were shot dead during an armed confrontation with the Joint Services at Goat Farm, Berbice River during last week.

When asked, Greene admitted that treason accused, Philip Bynoe heads a logging concession some miles from Lindo Creek, Berbice River. (Michel Outridge)

Fire razes Haslington house
- 12 homeless
A FIRE of unknown origin, shortly after 15:30 hrs yesterday, ravaged a two flat building at Sydney Street, North Haslington, East Coast Demerara, leaving twelve persons homeless and millions of dollars in losses.


Mrs. Sarah Edghill being consoled by her husband and daughter at the scene of the fire yesterday.
The property was owned by Dennis Edghill, an employee of the CARICOM Secretariat and his wife Sarah, who occupied the bottom flat with five other family members. Pathetically, it was the same family whose son, Dennis Edghill (Jnr), a student of the University of Guyana was knifed to death last February, trying to make peace between two persons in a misunderstanding on the Turkeyen campus.
Meanwhile, occupying the top flat was Timothy Vanbuckley and his four children, two of whom were at home at the time the fire started. No one from the Edghill family was at home at the time.

Sixteen-year-old Emmanuel Vanbuckley related that he was on the ‘verandah’ when his fourteen-year-old sister came running through the house exclaiming that fire was coming from the anterior of the building. He said when he saw the fire he became confused and called out to neighbours.

Neighbours immediately telephoned the fire department, and quickly formed a bucket brigade, but their efforts were no match for the rapidly billowing flames which, in less than half an hour spread to all parts of the building – top and bottom flat, and began licking away angrily at walls, roof and all.


Destroyed by fire
Meantime, neighbours also contacted members of the Edghill family, and head of the household, Dennis Edghill (Snr) was the first to arrive on the scene, joined by his wife and daughters later on.

There was deep anguish outside what was once the family home, yesterday. On arrival on the scene, Mrs. Sarah Edghill broke down and wept bitterly. Embraced by her husband and daughters, the mother who has not yet gotten over the death of her son, and who on this occasion was dressed in black, was almost inconsolable.

They lost everything in the fire. Deeply distraught, Mr. Edghill recalled that he was at work when he received a telephone message informing him that his home was on fire. He said he hurried down to the scene only to find his home well alight, with the blaze out of control. He was unable to say how the fire started.

And one neighbour, an employee of a guard service who lives next door to Edghill family said that she was just passing the home when she heard neighbours sounding a fire alert, and looked around to see smoke coming from her neighbours’ home. She said she immediately turned back and tried to do what she could to help, but generally their help was of little effect.

“The fire spread really fast and within a few minutes we began to hear explosions, which might have been the gas cylinders,” she surmised.

The fire tenders eventually arrived on the scene and got to work trying to contain the blaze, but the entire building was already destroyed – even the trees and flowering plants in the yard were badly scorched and an overhead tank destroyed.

The Edghills had been occupying the building for about the last six years, they said.

Soon after the fire had been put out, the teenager who first spotted it, was taken away to the home of other relatives, but the Edghill family, plunged deep in grief, stared at the charred remains of their home, and huddled together, perhaps pondering the way forward.

Among those who hurried down to the scene to offer their sympathy and support were the Edghills’ work colleagues and Jason Benjamin, President of the University of Guyana Student Society.

Guyana may not sign onto EPA
- President says
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo says he doubts whether Guyana will be affixing its signature to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) next week when he meets with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries’ Heads of Government in Antigua and Barbuda.

The President made this disclosure at a press conference he hosted at the Office of the President on Wednesday when he informed the media about the meeting and the likelihood of the agreement being signed by Cariforum countries for trade with the European Union (EU).

The President had long before expressed his dissatisfaction with the agreement and the short time frame which the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries were given to sign the agreement.

In fact, at a business forum recently, the Guyanese Head of State said the ACP was bullied into submission by the EU.

“You know some countries have different views on this matter so I expect it will be a healthy debate on whether we’re prepared to sign but I doubt whether next week we are going to sign any agreement in Antigua on the EPA. I doubt whether Guyana will affix its signature at that stage to the agreement,” he told reporters.

Asked about the implications of not signing the agreement, President Jagdeo said these were yet to be studied but noted that several of the legal implications were examined by him and he has observed that they vary.

“I’ve looked at several legal implications and they vary, some think that we could be subjected to tariffs under the GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) immediately. He stated however, that on the other hand others feel that because Europe took several years to ratify some agreements that they signed, a precedent has been set and ACP countries could also take several years to ratify this agreement and sign onto it without facing the consequences of punitive measures.

“So, the legal opinions are varied. I have to wait and see approach,” he concluded. (GINA)
NEWS

Departure from Police SOP responsible for ‘Skinny’s’ escape - Top Cop
- internal investigation launched
By Wendella Davidson
ACTING Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, has asserted that a departure from Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), bordering on ‘serious neglect’ and ‘slackness’ as it relates to the holding and supervision of ‘high profile’ and other prisoners when attending court has led to the escape of Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles Wednesday from the Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara.


Police Commissioner Acting Mr. Henry Greene at yesterday’s briefing.
Greene, reading from a press statement, described ‘Skinny’ for whom a manhunt has been launched, as a ‘dangerous’ prisoner because of the number of persons he allegedly killed.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday where he detailed the reported circumstances surrounding the escape of Charles and subsequent action being taken, the Top Cop said it was evident that there were no footcuffs, as the Police on the East Coast, could not account for those which had been previously used.

Skinny had been placed after his court appearance in one of two cells at the station with David ‘Biscuit’ Leander, another high profile prisoner and four other murder accused.

Commissioner Greene said an internal investigation has been launched headed by retired Deputy Commissioner, Mohamed Jameer and that “condign” action would be taken against all persons who were on duty on Wednesday. The GPF members on duty ranged in rank from Assistant Superintendent, Inspector, a female Station Sergeant, a Corporal, a Constable as well as the prisoner escorts from the Tactical Services Unit (TSC) of ‘C’ Division, East Coast Demerara.

The disciplinary action could include interdiction from duty; dismissal and even criminal charges, Greene said.

Charles’s presence at the Sparendaam Police Station on Wednesday was for a court appearance to answer charges in relation to the murder of the late Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his siblings and security guard Cutis Robertson.

He is, also facing other charges of murder including those occurring at Agricola, Mc Doom and the Kaieteur News/Bagotstown killings. The villages are all located on the East Bank of Demerara and in close proximity of each other.

Notorious wanted man Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rollins, for whom there is an ongoing and intensified manhunt by the Joint Services, is the key in all of the said murders.

The escape route, investigation so far have revealed, is through a feet by two and a half inches opening caused by lifting two wooden boards between the door of the lockups and the concrete floor of the cell.

In a chronology of events leading to discovery of the escape, the Top Cop said at around 10:00 hours, ‘Skinny’ along with another high profile prisoner David Leander called ‘Biscuit’ were escorted from the Georgetown Prisons to the Sparendaam Police Station.

The prisoners numbering 33, arrived at the location about an hour later and were placed in the lock-ups, after which they were taken in batches to the court house, located in the same compound.

Leander and Charles, the Commissioner added, were taken to court around 11:20 hrs and were back in the station lock-ups some 10 minutes later, where they remained as the police awaited the signing of the warrants to facilitate their return to the Georgetown Prisons.

The exact time that ‘Skinny’ went missing is not known as it was only at 15:45 hrs when the escorts - armed with the warrant received 15 minutes earlier, along with the Station Sergeant, approached the lock-ups to begin removing the prisoners for transfer to the Camp Street jail, that the discovery was made.

Greene said investigations revealed that the board in the lock-ups through which Skinny slipped through and made good is escape “had been loose about a month ago” and even though it was reported to the Station Sergeant, “she took no action to remedy the situation.”

“It would appear also that Inspectors in charge of the escorts also paid no attention to the high profile prisoners in the lock-ups,” Greene lamented.

Noting that ‘Biscuit’ made no attempt to escape, the Commissioner was, however, quick to point out that the size of opening could not have facilitated his escape.

The fact that there is not much height between the station floor and the ground, making it difficult for anyone to see beneath the building aided the prisoner’s escape, said the Commissioner, adding “it appears that he may have been assisted by relatives who were around the station at the time”.

Noting that intelligence gathered indicates that family members were being made by Skinny’s relatives to acquire a firearm to assist in his escape, Greene said they have received reports too of the presence of two cars, one dark in colour, parked in close vicinity to the station for sometime.

And, when ‘Skinny’ arrived for court, he drew their attention by raising his hand and the occupants responded by a flash of the headlight.

The reports are all being checked, the Commissioner said.

With Commissioner Greene, whose previously planned inspection of the Sparendaam Police Station yesterday had to be cancelled, were Deputy Commissioner Edward Wills in charge of Administration; Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Jameer in charge of the investigations; Assistant Commissioner Leroy Brummell, Commander ‘C’ Division, East Coast Demerara; Senior Superintendent Seelall Persaud, Head of Crime and Assistant Superintendent Alwyn Wilson, officer in charge of Crime on the ECD.

Dave Martins at T.G. Playhouse
By Michel Outridge
GEMS Theatre Productions, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will present the ‘Dave Martins – Lemme Tell You’ show at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Kingston, on July 3 to 5, 2008.

Gem Madhoo–Nascimento told a press conference that the Guyanese audience will see the ‘other side of Dave Martins’ who is versed in story telling and stand-up comedy.

The show ‘Dave Martins – Lemme Tell You’ will also feature guest appearances by local comedian and entertainers, Henry Rodney, Kirk Jardine and newcomer, Ms. Tiffany Hytmiah who will be doing a story-telling piece ‘Guyana tourist’.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dave Martins said that he started stand-up comedy for the past seven years in the West Indies with a group and smashed into the Caribbean scene with culture and light-hearted humorous songs which he gained fame.

Also making brief remarks was local comedian Kirk Jardine who echoed his delight to be performing on the show with his icon and mentor, Dave Martins.

Mr. Jardine added that he will also be performing on the overseas stage shortly.

Dave Martins, born and raised in rural Guyana, immigrated to Canada and in 1967 formed a four-man musical group, the Tradewinds, in the growing West Indian community in Toronto.

The band was an instant success, with a Martins song called “Honeymooning Couple” topping the radio charts in the Caribbean.

Tradewinds went on to become one of the most popular and enduring bands in the region, known for their witty and insightful songs about Caribbean life, all written by Martins.

Based in the Cayman Islands since 1982, where the band re-located, Martins has widened his horizons in recent years as a theatrical playwright (two musicals), and as the sole writer and cast member of an annual comedy revue that plays to sold-out audiences at the Harquail Theatre in Grand Cayman.

Health care sector gets 21 more pharmacy assistants
THE local health care sector has been boosted with the addition of 21 new pharmacist assistants.

They graduated on Wednesday after completing the 12 months Pharmacy Assistant Training Programme, conducted by the Ministry of Health.

The trained batch was drawn from Regions One (Barima/Waini), Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

The multifaceted course, which they underwent, was the first of its kind to be held at the Liliendaal Training Centre and the graduation ceremony was at Georgetown Club on Camp Street.

Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who spoke at the function, reminded the new pharmacist assistants that they will have more responsibility and exhorted them to step up to the challenge.

He said the ministry continues to emphasise four points in medicine, ensuring value for money, equity to access and services, delivery of quality services and providing client friendly oriented services.

Ramsaran appealed to the graduates to help manage the available resources, noting that the Regional Health Budget for 2008 is $360M, much less than in previous years.

He said Government’s policy is to ensure that all citizens receive quality medical care. (Nathalene DeFreitas)

Private Sector head says Guyana’s future brighter now
By Clifford Stanley
Speakers at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday were upbeat about the country’s economic prospects, particularly against the backdrop of several global trends which, they said, the country is well placed to exploit.

In an address at the AGM, Chairman of the PSC, Mr. Michael Correia, said that with economic growth in excess of 5% per year since 2006, with an increase in Government revenues by 28%, and a reduction in the foreign debt, he was convinced that Guyana’s future is brighter now than it was a decade ago.

British High Commissioner, Mr. Fraser Wheeler, said that several global trends had emerged in recent years, and Guyana was well placed to exploit these as opportunities for a rapid take-off of the national economy.

In his address at the AGM, held at the Hotel Tower in the city, Chairman Correia noted that Guyana’s economy had remained stagnant from 1997 until 2006,but had made the significant turn around in the second half of that year.

The year 2007, he noted, followed with real growth of 5.4%, and it’s now estimated that growth for 2008 would be around 4.6%.

He said that the Guyana Business Outlook Survey for 2008, prepared by Ram & McRae, revealed that only 16% of the 74 companies surveyed projected reduced profitability in 2008.

He said that this was an improvement from 29% in 2007 and 28% in 2006.

The Ram & Mc Rae Survey also projected that the turn-over of 73% of the companies surveyed will increase in 2008, up from 68% in 2007 and 64% in 2006.

“Guyana’s corporate sector appears to have generally performed well in 2007, and from all indications, 2008 promises to be another good year for business,” he said.

He noted, too, that the final settlement of the Guyana, Suriname border controversy, also in 2007, brings with it the prospects of future oil exploration, and that the Takutu Bridge Crossing to Brazil is expected to be operational by mid-2008, and the Berbice Bridge by the end of 2008.

“These important national infrastructure projects,” he said, “ will facilitate increased trade and commerce.”

Mr. Fraser Wheeler identified food security, climate change, the rapid growth of emerging economies, rapid global communications, energy security and increased organised crime as global trends which Guyanese should see as opportunities for investments to bring about a rapid growth of the economy.

“With its vast resources for agriculture, cashing in on the growing trend of food security has exciting possibilities,” he said.

He hailed the agricultural diversification strategy in the Jagdeo initiative as a step in the right direction, in this regard.

He noted too that Guyana could cash in on the rapid economic growth being experienced in Brazil by allowing the North Eastern states access to the Atlantic, with reductions in cost for these states and numerous benefits for Guyana.

“Similar opportunities exist in terms of the global trends of climate change, 24/7 global communications, energy security and organised crime. I think the time is ripe for this country to grasp these opportunities and reap the benefits to be derived,” he said.

However, Chairman Correia stressed the importance of a stable security environment for economic growth and national development.

“The peaceful elections of 2006, coming with the resurgence of economic growth by the second half of 2006, underlines the importance of a stable governance and security climate as a necessary prerequisite for the Private Sector to flourish.”

Mr. Correia extended thanks to the British Government, through Commissioner Wheeler, for Britain’s support for the Security Sector Reform Programme.

He also urged the Government of Guyana to speedily sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the British Government, and to quickly put in place the Parliamentary Select Committee on National security.

Minister to assign temporary CANU head
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has been given the okay to assign a temporary head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), and then make a recommendation to the Defence Board for a new head.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, at a media briefing Wednesday, said he gave the instruction and underscored the genuine need to rebuild the unit. But he noted there is a constraint.

“The problem is that we don’t have the polygraph here now, so we probably would have to recruit people, put them there to work, and then, at some point in time, polygraph them too,” he disclosed.

The acting head of CANU will replace Orville Nedd, who was one of several persons who had to vacate their posts after failing a polygraph test, and were unable to give a reasonable explanation why.

The president explained that it would have been preferable to polygraph persons before they enter CANU, but this cannot be done, as the service is bought from the United States.

“We are going to train two persons to do this, but from what I gather, it takes many years to bring them to a point where they can actually not just conduct polygraphing, but also read the nuances of body language etc, and revisit issues and ask follow-up questions that can lead to the truth,” he explained.

Meanwhile, he assured that an inventory was made of all the CANU weapons and ammunition before the ranks went off, though he is not certain that this was done for the drugs seized.

He said the weapons and ammunition are intact.

At standards workshop…
Prashad underlines importance of small businesses to national economy
By Priya Nauth
GUYANA National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) yesterday hosted a one-day workshop, on promoting competitiveness among small medium enterprises (SMEs) through the use of technical benchmarks.

It was conducted at Hotel Tower, on Main Street, Georgetown, under the theme ‘Standards and the Food Industry’, as part of a project being managed by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), to strengthen the SME sector.


Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad (at right) shakes hand with Executive Director of GNBS, Dr. Chatterpaul Ramcharran. At extreme right is CROSQ Representative, Dr. Michael Seepersaud.
CROSQ representative, Dr. Michael Seepersaud, said the programme was one of a series being executed throughout the region for making SMEs aware of standards, the importance to their businesses and the economy.

“We are focusing right now on the agro-processing sector but we will be having workshops on other sectors such as tourism,” he explained.

Delivering the main address at the opening, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad remarked that the food industry needs to observe standards in the processing, preparing and handling of products.

“With regards to standards in the food industry, I believe that the quality of our food is related to our well-being as a people. Quality and its assurance is a cultural achievement to which agriculture and food production contributes on a daily basis,” he offered.

“Quality and quality assurance should be part of our food culture since food not only sustains body and soul but also creates community,” Prashad contended.

He said: “We need a strong food industry in Guyana and strengthening this industry must be our common goal. You, who are apart of the small and medium size enterprises, are the engines of growth in Guyana. Hence competitiveness of these businesses is determined by the quality of the products.”

Prashad said all players involved in the production, processing and marketing of food products have a common responsibility to the consuming public.

“We should aim to achieve a high and solid level of consumer trust in the production of high quality food products, because quality means that the customer will return.”

He said quality assurance, across all levels of the production chain, is an indispensable precondition for success and people in agriculture and producing food would be well advised to respect the changed quality awareness of consumers in Guyana.

Prashad posited that the internal control of food businesses is the basis for the production of high quality products and external control by public authorities can also verify it.

“There are many types of assurance schemes and their number is constantly increasing. The market segment is innovative and progressive and this goes to show one thing, that agriculture and food production are on the right track,” he declared.

Prashad admitted there are some challenges, including the development of food labelling, such as the health claim regime, the demand for more consumer information and the interaction of packaging materials.

He advised the SMEs in the local food industry to undertake measures for bettering their operating efficiency, by modernising and improving existing production processes to enhance competitiveness through automation, accessing research and development facilities and applying information communication technology (ICT) in the supply chain.

Minister Prashad also suggested that SMEs improve techniques regarding packaging, presentation and preservation.

“To be competitive, our businesses must be able to respond to more demanding markets. It, therefore, means that the small and medium enterprises in Guyana need to be efficient, innovative and proactive in their business practices,” he emphasised.

Requirements
Prashad challenged the SMEs to intensify efforts at developing new products and services to meet international market requirements and enter the value added product industry.

“You must also be prepared to adopt new business practices and systems to modernise and enhance your operations to become more competitive,” he reiterated.

Alluding to the importance of SMEs, Prashad said they contribute significantly to the economic development of a country, especially in terms of job creation.

“SMEs are perceived as the economic force of a nation and, as such, must be able to provide high quality products and services to access regional and international markets.

“There is no doubt that small businesses are an effective vehicle for the development of the national economy and contribute to the reduction of poverty,” Prashad asserted.

He said small businesses could also claim to be the world’s biggest business, as it is estimated that more than 90 per cent of them, globally, are small to medium size.

“In Guyana, small businesses represent about three-quarters of the total business activities and make a substantial contribution to the generation of employment and income,” the minister informed.

He added that the sustainable development of small businesses is an excellent strategy to reduce poverty and small businesses have demonstrated some capacity to be innovative, flexible and responsive to market forces and opportunities.

“This sector has the potential of creating economic linkages, to reduce foreign expenditures, to utilise local raw materials and to enhance economic and social conditions,” Prashad acknowledged.

He said research has proven that the implementation of standards or a quality management system is one of the key solutions which would help streamline the sector and, as well, that many businesses started as small, medium or micro-enterprises have today developed into large entities due to the implementation of a proper system for quality management.

30,000 lbs fresh fruits, vegetables off to Canada
By Tajeram Mohabir
APPROXIMATELY 30,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, worth US$10,000, will be exported to Montreal, Canada, today.

Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) Project Business Development Services Manager. Mr. Vijay Rambrich made the disclosure yesterday during a visit to the Sophia packaging facility yesterday.


Persaud right, inspects some pumpkins that will be exported to Canada today. (Quacy Sampson photo)
The produce includes eddoes, dasheen, pumpkins and dry coconuts and 25,000 pounds are eddoes destined for Jolifruit Import and Export in a 20 feet container.

According to Rambrich, there is a standing order, from Montreal, for 100,000 pounds of root crops per month and the shipment today is a trial to ensure the merchandise arrives at the destination in good condition.

He said if all goes well, the consignment will increase to fill two 40 feet containers, enough to satisfy the Montreal demand.

Rambrich said the goods were collected from eight farmers in Berbice, Essequibo Islands and along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, through an initiative geared to support the Ministry of Agriculture ‘Grow More’ campaign.

He explained that the business deal was struck after representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and GTIS had discussions with officials of Jolifruit at the Solon International De L’Alimentation International Trade Show in Montreal last April.

Interest
Rambrich related that, at the exhibition, the President of Jolifruit expressed interest in getting the things being shipped today twice monthly and broccoli, cauliflower, plantains and other products weekly from October to April.


Workers yesterday were busy cleaning the vegetables at the Sophia Packaging facility to be exported. (Quacy Sampson photo)
The GTIS Manager said the Jolifruit President plans to come to Guyana in August and tour local farms before signing a contract for regular shipments, to be undertaken by USAID and GTIS in collaboration with Tropical Shipping.

GTIS is a joint project of the Government of Guyana and the U.S. Government and it is funded by USAID, providing support to private sector enterprises and other entities, including Government institutions, to help this country become more competitive and exploit emerging export market opportunities arising from international trade agreements.

Jolifruit is one of the of the largest wholesale companies in Montreal and has been supplying fresh fruits and vegetables to Canadian restaurants, hotels and supermarkets for more than 20 years, Rambrich said.

He said this country also sends two 40 feet containers of pumpkins, eddoes and dry coconuts to Toronto, also in Canada. But, because of a recent shortage of pumpkins locally, due to the rainy season, none was sent for the past two months.

Rambrich said a Barbados request for the same produce is being met as GTIS realises an increase in agricultural exports.

The agency adopts a market led approach and serves as a coordinator of the exports.

Rambrich said, as part of its marketing strategy, visits are paid to overseas markets to identify products that are required and, as a follow-up, efforts are made to identify the supplying farmers.

He said it is planned to introduce greenhouse farming and new products into the local market and widen the export of non-traditional crops to the Caribbean and North America.

Rambrich announced that arrangements are being made with an Antiguan investor to set up a 200 acres greenhouse farm on Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

That venture is likely to start in another month and concerted efforts are underway to enter the Saint Lucia market, he said.

Eleven Berbice ‘Summer Camps’ scheduled for school vacation
THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will be hosting 11 ‘Summer Camps’ at various locations in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) during the upcoming school vacation.

The activities, residential daily, will provide a change of pace and place and open a whole new world of humour, imagination, curiosity and cooperation, said Regional Culture, Youth and Sport Officer, Mr. Oneshwar Sirikishim.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that, among the benefits to be gained from the programme are the making of friends, the experience of living away from home, lifetime skills, respect for each other’s beliefs and development of tolerance for different cultures.

Sirikishim said that in the range of happenings, would be specialised sessions on sport, archeology, music, dance and art.

Also the supervisor of Smythfield Drop-In Centre at New Amsterdam, he said a special award would be made to the star camper who displays excellence for the duration, ability to express self through writing and speaking, discipline, cooperation and capability to undertake a leadership role.

The camp sites identified for use between July and August are Gangaram, Edinburgh, Tain and Rose Hall primary schools; Mibicuri, Berbice and Skeldon high schools; Betsy Ground/Good Banana Land Ground; John’s Ball Field; Port Mourant Community Centre and Smythfield Drop-In Centre.

Guyana Lottery donates one million to Hope Foundation, Youth Challenge
By Vanessa Narine
The Guyana Lottery Company yesterday donated one million dollars to the Hope Foundation and Youth Challenge Guyana.

The money is to be used to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Guyana.


From left, holding the cheque are Mr. Dimitri Nicholson, Mr. Ivor Melville and Ms. Tracy Lewis.
The handing over was done at the Lottery office at the Guyana Post Office Corporation.

The Guyana Lottery Company, in collaboration with Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention Project (GHARP) runs an outreach programme to support the groups, enabling them to educate and offer services to various regions of Guyana to combat the HIV/AIDS virus.
The GHARP organisation works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the private sector to support organisations in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Guyana.

Representatives of the NGOs, Mr. Ivor Melville, Programme Manager of the Hope Foundation, and Mr. Dimitri Nicholson, Programme Manager of Youth Challenge Guyana, expressed their gratitude for the donations from the Lottery Company.

The Hope Foundation works in HIV/AIDS education and prevention in 20 communities in Region Seven and other hinterland areas, where they provide facilities for education on HIV/AIDS.