At Berbice flag-raising…
Minister, Regional Chairman issue challenges for national uplift
MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Kellawan Lall, has challenged the people in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) to renew their minds and be creative, in order to overcome the difficulties they face.

He told the audience, at a flag-raising ceremony in New Amsterdam Sunday night, that, to cushion the effects of the global crisis, the Government need not be bogged down with just creating infrastructure but put focus on other methods of educating people, so as to get them out of poverty.

Speaking before the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead, Lall acknowledged that handouts are a temporary method of relief and said Government is spending added sums to raise the citizenry from the paucity level.

Reflecting on previous years, he said the nation had presumed that sugar, rice, gold, bauxite and other exports could have taken the population out of the status of being poor, but they were not enough for the movement forward.

However, Lall exhorted the gathering to produce more food to cushion the effect of the global crisis.

The function was punctuated with cultural performances by children from several schools in New Amsterdam and its environs and chaired by Community Relations Officer, Mr. Faizal Jaffarally.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Zulficar Mustapha, also made brief remarks to the crowd which included Regional Administrators, Heads of the Joint Services in Berbice and President of Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), Mr. Ramesh Maraj.

Mustapha said the Regional Administration has recommitted itself to serve the people through a bond of common history.

He said Berbice has always been significant to nation building, as freedom heroes worldwide were inspired by the 1763 slave rebellion in the ‘Ancient County’.

Mustapha encouraged others not to underestimate the struggle for Guyana’s independence and posited that unity would bring out the best in everyone.

Prior to the National Flag being raised, in the compound of State House, New Amsterdam, uniformed ranks marched through the streets of the town and the salute was taken by Mustapha in the vicinity of Little Rock Suites on Strand.

A cocktail reception followed the one hour official proceedings.

Ozone Officers Network meeting opens in Georgetown today
GUYANA, through the Ministry of Agriculture Hydrometeorological Service will be, for the first time, hosting the annual Ozone Officers Network Meeting for the English Speaking Caribbean.

The Ministry of Agriculture said the three-day meeting will open today at the Hotel Tower in Georgetown.

Participants for this workshop will include representatives of the Caribbean Islands, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ozone Secretariat.

Of even greater significance is the presence of Mr. Paul Horwitz, Deputy Executive Secretary for the Ozone Secretariat, who has been dedicated to the fight to preserving our ozone layer from inception.

The network meeting is an annual event funded by the Multilateral Fund and organised by the United Nations Environment Programme in collaboration with the host country.

The purpose of these meetings is to assist each ozone officer, within the Caribbean Region, to promote the objectives of the Montreal Protocol, tackling issues of phasing out the consumption and developing strategies for the prevention of illegal trade of ozone depleting substances.

The meeting also functions as a catalyst for improved collaborative efforts and communication amongst the officers, and between the officers and the associated agencies.

As the 2010 deadline approaches, the Ministry said this meeting will serve to pool collective contributions as efforts are intensifying throughout the region to best utilise the remaining time and possible post-2010 strategies.

Guyana is among the 191 countries worldwide that signed onto the Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer.

Having celebrated its 20th anniversary on September 16, 2007, it is recognised as the most successful international environmental treaty legally binding world governments to cooperate in repairing Earth's stratospheric ozone layer.

The Hydrometeorological Service within the Ministry of Agriculture is the focal point that deals with ozone matters in Guyana.

The meeting also coincides with the launching of the Guyana's Terminal Phase out Management Plan (TPMP).

The Terminal Phase out Management Plan for chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) will be implemented jointly by UNEP and UNDP and is funded by the Multilateral Fund at US$345,000.

The Terminal Phase-Out Management Plan will enable finalisation of the activities for complete CFCs elimination in Guyana, and will lead to the fulfillment of the country’s obligation to the Montreal Protocol that is 100% reduction by 1st January 2010.

The project includes capacity building technical assistance.

The Ozone layer acts like a shield in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) to protect life on earth from harmful ultra violet radiation.

In 1974, scientist discovered that emissions of chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) were depleting the ozone in the stratosphere.

CFCs were a common aerosol propellant in spray cans and were also used as refrigerants, solvents and foam - blowing agents.

In the 1980's, scientist observed a thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica and people began thinking of it as an ozone hole.

As the scientific knowledge about ozone depletion grew, so did the response issue. In 1987, leaders from many countries came together to sign a landmark environmental treaty - the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Today, more than 190 countries have ratified the treaty.

The phase out of ozone depleting substances has also made substantial contribution towards the reduction in greenhouse gases since their global warming potential is very high.

For more information visit the Ozone Secretariat website at http://ozone.unep.org/.

Fishermen robbed in another Berbice piracy attack
FOUR fishermen were attacked offshore Bush Lot, Corentyne, Berbice, where they became victims of another piracy attack on Saturday.

Police reported that, about 20:00 h, Fazil Ali, of Port Mourant, Corentyne, and three others were robbed of their boat, a 48 horse power (hp) ‘Yamaha’ outboard engine, a 400 pounds fishing seine, half drum mixed fuel, a stove and a cylinder of cooking gas, by four men.

A release said the quartet had been putting down nets when a boat, with the masked attackers, armed with a gun, a cutlass, a knife and a piece of wood, sailed alongside and held them up.

The sea pirates then forced them to detach the engine from the bandits’ boat and attach it to theirs.

The victims were then put in the boat with which their assailants arrived and the robbers escaped leaving them adrift.

Ali and his crew drifted and, eventually, swam ashore at Eversham, another Corentyne village, about 15:30h Sunday.

NY’s Bhuneshwar Mandir donates to Shieldstown Nursery
THE Bhuneshwar Mandir of New York has, under the auspices of Personal Assistant to the President, Shri Prakash Gossai, has donated several items to the Shieldstown Nursery School in Berbice.

This kind donation was made during a recent visit to Regions 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) by Shri Gossai.

He was accompanied by Administrator of the Women's Affairs Bureau, Ms. Haimwattie Lagan of the Ministry of Human Service & Social Security; and Region Five Chairman Mr. Harinaraine Baldeo.

The items donated to the teachers and students of the Nursery School included toys, story books calculators, pens, shoes, pencils, exercise books, notebooks and other items.

Gossai, during his brief remarks, encouraged the teachers to continue their good work and to take good care of the items donated and the new school that they are housed in.

He encouraged the children to attend school regularly and pledged continued support for the school.

The team also visited the Shieldstown Primary School and spoke with the headteacher, staff and parents of that school.

They requested assistance from Shri Gossai in the form of books and other equipment that would make life comfortable for the children.

Gossai assured that very shortly they should receive some assistance and urged the teachers to establish library, to help the children develop their reading skills and in the process help themselves.

Ms. Lagan took the opportunity to discuss with the teachers some problems encountered in the school. She made reference to the headteacher and to the probation officers in the region for assistance.

In Region 6, at No. 52 Village, Ms. Lagan explained to residents some of the services being offered by the Ministry of Human Services and addressed some of the issues on the spot.

The residents were very happy for the kind intervention made by the Ministry of Human Services & Social Security and also by Mr. Gossai.

Gratitude was extended to the members of the Bhuveneshwar Mandir of New York, the Minister of Human Services & Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand and President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Also targeting global market…
Persaud unveils strategy to increase rice yield, earnings
By Tajeram Mohabir
GUYANA Rice Development Board (GRDB) will, this season, be testing two new lines of seed paddy that are expected to yield 50 bags per acre.

The experiment will be carried out on 10 one acre plots across the country, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud said.

He made the announcement recently, in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), where he explained that the pilot project is part of the GRDB strategic plan geared to produce new, improved, high yielding varieties.

Persaud said the industry has been restructured to enhance it and is supported by the establishment of several new facilities, including seed paddy and storage plants to aid growth.

The additional buildings are located at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast; Crane, West Coast Demerara; Leguan, Essequibo River and Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, where another modern one will be constructed at Number 56, also in that part of Berbice.

Government, through the GRDB, has invested approximately US$1M annually in rice research since 1995, resulting in yields per acre increasing from 3.0 metric tonnes per hectare in 1990 to 4.8 currently, the minister stated.

“Because of improvement in the technology transfer programme, the six-point practices and other programmes in Essequibo, farmers are achieving up to 6.0 metric tonnes per hectare. But much more still needs to be done in the way the GRDB serves the industry and changes are taking place,” Persaud said.

According to him, those and other initiatives undertaken demonstrate Government’s vision to make agriculture a central player in the country’s economy but, more so, to guarantee the sustainability of the rice sector amidst challenges.

Persaud acknowledged that, while there have been some minor improvements in the global rice trade with some drop in prices, the world output of the grain is expected to hit a record high this year, with paddy production projected to increase by 2.3 per cent to an unprecedented 666 million tonnes.

He said, in milled terms, the 2008 achievement should rise to 445 million tonnes, above previous estimates by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United States Agriculture Department.

But Persaud said growing demand and export curbs are anticipated to keep prices high, at least in the short term.

“The effect of the devastation of Myanmar's rice crop by cyclone Nargis may also have a significant impact on the price of rice, which is now, most probably, not going to record the improvement in prices predicted,” he posited.

“As such, the industry should efficiently utilise the resources of Guyana to produce and market high quality rice and by-products as a staple food for local and international markets, while providing employment and foreign exchange earnings,” he pointed out.

Persaud said, in light of the recent global increases in food prices, Government’s strategic goals in critical areas of the industry have become even more important, notably in the context of maximising the advantages that are open to Guyana.

Those aims, which encompass the following areas, are:

Production
* increased productivity and production of rice on a sustainable basis and

* a self-sustaining research, extension and support services industry.

Processing

* to ensure the quality of all rice produced is maintained and/or improved during cleaning, drying and storage;

* recovery during milling maximised, producing marketable products at a competitive cost and

* the maximisation of profit margins by adding value to rice and its by-products.

Marketing
* the production of products that satisfy customers and

* ensuring the industry is competitive both locally and overseas.

Support Services and Policy Goals
* the establishment of strong local, regional and international linkages;

* the provision of efficient support services;

* the expansion of the rice sector and

* the crafting of a dynamic industry, pro-actively charting its course and

* strategically responding to unforeseen change.

Persaud said, this year, too, rice production is forecast to be in excess of 300,000 tonnes and export earnings are already breaking records.

Teen suffering multiple accident injuries transferred to GPH
NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Raphael Lowe, of Spring Garden, was injured Monday, in a collision between his motorcycle and a motor car, at Onderneeming, also on Essequibo Coast.

He suffered multiple injuries, including broken limbs and injury to one eye.

Lowe is now a patient at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was still in a serious condition yesterday.

A relative at his bedside said the accident happened around 20:00 h, in the vicinity of the sand pit at Onderneeming and the victim was unconscious when rushed to Suddie Hospital, also on Essequibo Coast, where he remained until Thursday, before being transferred to the GPH.

The motorbike was wrecked but no one travelling in the car was seriously hurt.
Police are continuing investigations into the mishap.

Dredge-owner shot dead in Cuyuni River
By Shirley Thomas
The body of 48-year-old of Errol Inniss, a dredge-owner shot and killed outside his mining claim at Aranka, Cuyuni River on Sunday, allegedly by one of his ex-employees, is now at the Lyken Funeral Home in the city where a post mortem is to be performed today.

A police report yesterday said that Inniss, also called “Tall Boy”, of 239 Pike Street Kitty, was shot by a man whom he fired from his land dredging operation about a month ago. The incident occurred around 14:30 hrs. But his wife, Sharon, who was with him at Aranka when the shooting occurred, said the man who allegedly shot her husband was dismissed by him about two months before.

The mortally wounded man whose body was brought to Georgetown on Monday, accompanied by his wife, reportedly suffered several bullet wounds to his back and head. Sharon related that, on being struck by the bullets, he impulsively plunged into a pond – a worked out mining area which was at the time filled with water.

Reports said the man’s assailant, along with an accomplice, repeatedly threw missiles at him until he went down under.

The man’s widow recalled that on Sunday afternoon, she was out at the ‘landing’ when some of the workers came running to her and informed her that “Tall Boy” had just been shot and killed. She said she reacted with shock and disbelief, but hastened over to where she knew he was – next to a water engine not too far from the camp.

She said when she arrived at the scene she saw no trace of her husband since he was under several feet of water. The workers took a quick decision to pump all the water out of the pond into another reservoir, and after about five hours of continuous pumping found his body at the bottom of the pond.

Sharon said her information is that the worker who was dismissed by her husband, returned to the camp on Sunday and accosted her husband. She said the man reportedly went into another camp, picked up one of his friends, and together they walked up to Inniss. There was reportedly a heated exchange, during which Inniss was shot.

GPL power fluctuations interrupt water supply at Perseverance
Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) said yesterday that the Perseverance Pump Station, West Coast Berbice, is currently out of operation due to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) power fluctuations.

The utility company added that as a result, customers served by this facility are experiencing a disruption in their water supply since Saturday 17th May, 2008.

GWI urged customers to be patient with the company since this disruption is beyond their control.

GPL is currently working to rectify this problem and GWI apologises for any inconvenience caused.

In the meantime GWI has dispatched tankers to the affected area with water for residents.

An official attached to GPL yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle that they are in the process of fixing the problem and soon residents at Perseverance will be able to access their normal potable water supply.

Heavy winds damage roof of Annandale Primary
HEAVY winds, last Friday afternoon, blew off a section of the roof on Annandale Primary School building, at East Coast Demerara, disrupting classes just after the lunch recess.

A teacher said reports were made to the Regional Education Office and officials of the Regional Administration of Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) have already visited the institution and inspected the damage.

They took measurements and promised to acquire materials for the repair, he said.

Meanwhile, the pupils who were displaced, were temporarily shifted to the lower flat of the edifice.

Regional Education Officer Sandra Smith said contact was made with the Regional Works Department, for the situation to be dealt with urgently because the children could be exposed to further hazards.

She said she went to the school yesterday afternoon and advised the administration to send home the children directly affected as work on the repairs were expected to start immediately.

Wife alleges murder of man Police shot dead
FISHERMAN Felix Da Silva, of Lot 7 Sea Dam, Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was chopped and shot dead Monday, when he was confronted, over a stolen generator, by Police and the engine owner.

A press release, issued the same night, gave the Police version of the incident.

It said, while conducting investigations into a report of burglary committed on a grocery shop and beer garden at Riverview, Ruimveldt, on Monday morning, there was an armed confrontation between one of the suspects and the Police, resulting in the suspect being fatally shot.

According to the release, about 04:30 h Monday, Edward Farley, who operates a grocery shop and beer garden at Riverview, was aroused by noise in the building.

“On checking, he saw two men in the shop, whom he recognised to be Felix Da Silva called ‘Scar Chest’ and another man, both of Riverview and who are known to Farley.

“Both men, however, managed to escape, by running into the Riverview area,” the release said.

The matter was, subsequently, reported to the Police at Ruimveldt Station and Constable 18141 McRae, who was unarmed, went with Farley to the home of Da Silva, where the last handed over some of the foodstuff allegedly stolen from the shop.

The statement said Da Silva was told he would have to go to the Police Station but he picked up a cutlass that was nearby and chopped Farley on the back of his head.

Police said McRae intervened and he, too, suffered a chop on his left hand, by Da Silva who then ran away.

Armed ranks responded after public-spirited persons had telephoned Ruimveldt and Brickdam Police, reporting what had occurred.

Da Silva was later found in another yard at Riverview and, upon seeing the Police, attacked one of them with the cutlass and the latter used his firearm to fend off his attacker.

Despite repeated calls for him to desist, Da Silva continued firing chops at the rank, forcing the Police to discharge rounds at him which hit him in his chest.

Da Silva was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the police account said.

It added that Farley was admitted a patient at GPH while Mc Rae was treated and sent away.

Meanwhile, Michelle Russell, reputed wife of the dead man, said she is awaiting the findings of a post mortem examination on his body.

She claimed Police murdered Da Silva even though he had surrendered and was attempting to save his life when he was wounded by Farley. (Michel Outridge)

STANDARDS CORNER
ROLE OF GNBS IN THE JEWELLERY SECTOR
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is a key player in the Jewellery Industry. In this regard, the Bureau is responsible for the development of standards, which will help to regularise operations in the jewellery industry.

The GNBS also operates a Jewellery Certification Programme for the implementation of these standards and has established its gold testing laboratory, which carries out tests to determine purity of gold.

To date, two standards have been developed by the Jewellery Sub-Committee. They are:

(1) GYS 50-1: 2003 “Specification for gold articles: Marking requirements; and

(2) GYS 50-2: 2003 “Specification for gold articles – Guidelines for manufacturing, alloying and testing”.

The standard GYS 50-1:2003 is intended to be mandatory and stipulates marking requirements. One very important element of this standard requires that all gold jewellery be marked or labelled with the manufacturer’s identification mark and the assayed purity, either in karats or parts per thousand.

This standard was prepared with the intent to prevent fraud and deception arising from misleading labels. It also gives guidance to manufacturers to help them provide adequate labelling information, which will give guidance to consumers, when they wish to purchase gold articles.

On the other hand, the standard GYS 50-2:2003 is a voluntary standard, and was prepared with the intent to provide information to Goldsmiths and Jewellery on the manufacturing process for gold articles, and to serve as a guideline for good manufacturing practices.

With respect to the testing of gold jewellery by a recognised test method, these standards clearly outline the procedure for the modified fire assay or cupellation method of testing. Prior to any marking or labelling of purity on these articles, either of these stipulated methods has to be used.

Thus, complying with the above two standards would assure confidence in customers on the quality of jewellery manufactured, and create an atmosphere for a huge export market.

Another activity of the GNBS regarding the jewellery industry is the Certification of Gold Jewellery to the relevant Guyana Standards. This programme is voluntary and manufacturers desirous of having their gold jewellery certified could join the scheme. Once the requirements of the Guyana Standards have been fulfilled, and the manufacturer implements a basic quality control system, a certificate would be granted verifying that the products meet the requirements.

Customers seeing the standards mark on gold articles would have the confidence that the manufacturer produces items of acceptable quality. Similarly, there would be a corresponding growth of development in the manufacturing operation due to the intense monitoring of activities by the GNBS.

With the recent establishment of a gold testing laboratory by the GNBS stakeholders and the general public can have gold items tested.

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062, 219-0065, 219-066.