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Two days national mourning for President Arthur Chung
TOMORROW and Monday have both been declared National Days of Mourning for the first President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Mr. Arthur Chung, who died on June 23 at age 90.

Making the announcement yesterday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the Government and people of Guyana will pay final respects to the former President at a State funeral.

He said tomorrow, a public viewing and the signing of the book of condolence will be at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), Mandela and Homestretch Avenues, between 09:30 h to 14:30 h.

Luncheon said, as per normal, flags will be flown at half staff on both days and the actual funeral will take place on Monday.

The Monday funeral procession will leave Merriman’s Funeral Parlour, Lime and Bent Streets, also in Georgetown. for the NCC, where representatives of the major religious faiths will pray for the deceased and statements will be made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin and the Chung family members.

The programme will be interspersed by interludes of music and patriotic songs by the Guyana Police Force Band.

Luncheon informed that President Bharrat Jagdeo will deliver the nation’s farewell, following which the cortège will depart for Place of the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens where Mr. Chung will be laid to rest among other former Heads of State.

The last activity will provide for private viewing by family members of Mr. Chung and his interment with full military honours.

Mr. Chung was President from March 17, 1970 to October 6, 1980.

Joint Services have cornered ‘Fine Man’ gang
- Greene
ACTING Police Commissioner Henry Greene remains optimistic that the Joint Services hunting Rondell Rawlins alias ‘Fine Man’ and his notorious gang have them “cornered“ in the undisclosed area where they “are now.”

He said Thursday, that the hunt has been intensified following the discovery, last Saturday, of the burnt remains of the Lindo Creek massacre victims at their mining camp 10 miles from Christmas Falls.

Greene said investigations, so far, does not support the theory that the men were killed by the Joint Services.

But he said questions are being asked about why their employer, dredge owner Leonard Arokium had not, like other miners, heeded a call to remove them from the area.

The men massacred include Arokium’s son, Dax and brother, Cedric.

Greene, who was speaking at a media briefing on the Wednesday escape from Police custody of Jermaine Charles alias ‘Skinny’, revealed that one of the spent shells found at the camp matched that from a rifle recovered after 54-year-old Cecil Simeon ‘Uncle Willie’ Ramcharran and Robin Chung also known as ‘Chung Boy’ were killed at Goat Farm, along Berbice River, too, in an armed confrontation with the Joint Services last week.

Meanwhile, in a Police release Thursday, it was stated that, on information received Wednesday, Joint Service ranks dug up ground at Ituni, Upper Demerara River, where they discovered an AK-47 rifle, four magazines for it, 324 of the 7.62 x 39 type rounds of ammunition, five 20-gauge cartridges, two 9mm rounds, one 40 mm bullet, a camouflage pouch and a piece of green tarpaulin..

A Police statement Wednesday night said ballistics tests done on four spent shells taken from the Lindo Creek crime scene established their similarity to those that were evident after the Lusignan and Bartica mass killings and the robbery/murders at Triumph, East Coast Demerara, in which two men died and Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara, where a woman succumbed. (Wendella Davidson)

Luncheon reports…
Cabinet assures Disciplined Services of full commitment
CABINET has assured the Disciplined Services of full commitment to their heightened vigilance in the security sector and, equally, to the provision of prompt and appropriate responses to the detractors the Joint Services.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon made the disclosure yesterday, at his regular briefing in Office of the President, New Garden Street, Georgetown.

Reporting on the Thursday meeting, he said Cabinet was extensively briefed on various aspects of security by Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee and particular attention was paid to the continuing efforts to capture most wanted man, Rondell Rawlins alias ‘Fine Man’; the dismantling of the Buxton gang and their supporters; the implementation of the Security Sector Plan; dealing with the inefficiencies of the criminal law enforcement system; combating narcotics trafficking and small arms smuggling and drafting and implementing anti-crime legislation.

“Cabinet noted that, despite occasional lapses, the overall functioning of the Disciplined Services was productive and professional,” he stated.

“Cabinet observed that that development was not expected nor was it to the liking of some who went to extraordinary lengths and devices to discredit the Joint Services in segments of the media locally and overseas,” Luncheon said.

Meanwhile, among the several contracts approved by Cabinet, on Thursday, was for the procurement of vehicles for the Guyana Police Force.

Luncheon gave this breakdown:

Sector Contract Amount
Security Procurement of seven extra cab vehicles for the Guyana Police Force. $33.4 M
Utilities

Three contracts awarded to Guyana Power and Light as follows:
**   Procurement of meters and meter seals.
**  Procurement of goods for distribution system.
** Procurement of distribution transformers  

US$205.500
US$705.500
US$122.800
Total - US$1,033,800
Housing

- Construction of roads, drains and structures at block ‘E’ and ‘AA’ Sophia, Georgetown , Region Four.
- Construction of an exhibition and conference centre and Mackenzie bandstand in Linden, Region Ten.

$44.6 M
$43.9M
Agriculture Supply of fuel and lubricants to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authorit $63.2M


President commits additional $2M to complete Theatre Guild
FOLLOWING an inspection of the Theatre Guild Playhouse at Kingston yesterday, President Bharrat Jagdeo committed to providing another $2M for the completion of the cultural facility, especially with the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X only weeks away. 

The Guild is one of the main venues for CARIFESTA X activities from August 22-31 this year and has been undergoing major restoration since last year. The Head of State following a visit there in October last year had pledged $15M to assist with the restoration project.   

The Playhouse has also received restoration funds from a number of agencies, companies and theatre-lovers anxious to visit its environs and to enjoy well remembered Guyanese plays and other dramatic displays.            

During the visit to the arena, the Head of State observed that the major work has already been completed and it seems that the theatre would shortly be ready for its role.

The President held discussions with members of the Board of Management of the facility.      

The Board members have lobbied over the years for financial assistance and they had pointed out last year that the sum needed to complete the venue was $45M, so that it could be restored to an even better facility than it previously was.

President Jagdeo yesterday also committed to assist in improving the outskirts of the facility.    

CARIFESTA X update
An official video will keep it all alive for years
By Raschid Osman
For many Guyanese who witnessed the splendid initial Caribbean Festival of the Creative Arts (CARIFESTA) in Georgetown back in 1972, the dance and music and drama and art displays are just memories, supported tenuously by faded black and white photographs and newspapers clippings.

For at that time videos were just not there.

Not so for the show we are now feverishly preparing for.

Those in charge of the CARIFESTA X Secretariat have assured us that a commemorative and comprehensive video of the happenings billed for August 22-31, 2008, will be on the market at the close of the festival.

It will be done professionally and will serve as a priceless memento of what everyone hopes will be a bash much grander than the initial to-do.

That will take some doing, of course, for the 1972 festival was grand indeed, and those that followed so far have come nowhere close to being as memorable as what Guyana offered back then.

And there will be other CARIFESTA X memorabilia.

There will be commemorative CARIFESTA X postage stamps of varying denominations.

And a commemorative $2,000 coin will be struck, a limited edition, to be beautifully mounted and sold at face value.

There will also be tee-shirts and postcards and buttons and mugs and key-rings and other things by which we will remember CARIFESTA X.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, met the media yesterday and briefed reporters on new developments in the rush to get it all together by August 22.

The Minister has just returned from a visit to the United States and Canada, where he and President Bharrat Jagdeo engaged the Guyanese Diaspora and briefed them on the upcoming festival.

The Minister reported that they were all enthused and many will be coming in groups for the big show.

Delta Airlines will be putting on additional flights come August, and Immigration Officers and ground staff at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport will be trained in expediting the handling of in-coming passengers, of course without compromising the security process.

Other preparations are on-going.

“Performance venues are being spruced up”, Minister Anthony told the media”.

At the National Park, stands are being painted and roofs mended, new sanitary blocks are being installed and sections of the tarmac are being resurfaced, including areas around the entrance and exit to the Park. And 70 foot light towers are to be set up around the tarmac.

The National Exhibition Site at Sophia has a new entrance and exit at the Dennis Street side, and this will ease congestion at the original entrance and exit.

Visual arts exhibitions will be mounted at the National Gymnasium. This has been already given a new coat of paint and the lighting has been improved.

Similar sprucing up has been done at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

At the Providence Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held, light towers have already been erected, and these can be powered independently in case Guyana Power and Light runs into trouble during a performance.

As for accommodation, the Secretariat has so far approved 52 hotels in and around the city, with a capacity of 3,159.

Some 14 countries coming for the festival have already booked at hotels, requesting 1,119 beds.

The number of countries which have already confirmed their participation now number 28.

As for transportation, 208 vehicles were inspected for suitability at the National Park and during the first week of August, the drivers of those vehicles chosen will undergo training for dealing as they should with performers and other visitors.

As for the music component, with Marilyn Dewar in charge, the Woodside Choir is working with 500 children for the opening ceremony, and rehearsals for the 100-man steelband are going great guns.

Since performers will be staged in the city as well as in Regions around the country, some 30 emcees are to be identified and trained.

And as for drama, the hundreds of persons now being trained in theatre arts will later be broken up into 12 companies, and they will each produce and enact a short work to be included in the festival’s drama sector.

Minister Anthony also spoke of a strengthening interest from countries outside of the Caribbean, such as India and China, and the Secretariat recently dispatched a package to China as requested by people there.

Yesterday Demerara Distillers Ltd. signed an agreement for $10,000,000 to assist in the festival (see story on this page) and the Secretariat is hopeful that other corporate citizens will follow DDL’s lead and come on board with assistance.

Many donor agencies are also assisting with the staging of CARIFESTA X, and these include UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and CYP.

In response to a question posed by a member of the media as to any negative feedback stemming from the situation in Guyana at the moment, Minister Anthony said definitely no.

As a matter of fact, the Secretariat is being flooded with expressions of interest from so many countries that its personnel are hard put to respond to these, he said.
NEWS

Impact of global food prices continues to engage Parliament
THE impact of the global food price increases has once again engaged the attention of the National Assembly, with Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Thursday moving the motion for Parliament to recognise the impact of the phenomenon on the cost of living in Guyana and for the assembly to follow the implementation of government interventions.

The increase of food prices has long been an issue on the international agenda and has been as a result of the increase in the price for fossil fuel, the effects of climate change, the increase in production of bio-fuels and the growing demand for food in emerging countries such as China and India.

The crisis, according to Minister Persaud, is having devastating effects on the supply and affordability of food for populations in both developing and developed nations.

Urgent action and collaboration to tackle the crisis has engaged the attention of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, the World Food Programme and CARICOM.

Guyana, working with CARICOM, intends to transform the country into a major player ensuring food security in the region.

“The government has recognised the problem and has empathized and made statements saying the situation can have an impact on the living conditions of our people,” Minister Persaud said. 

He said government, since 2007, began observing some indications of the phenomenon and began contemplating measures. He, however, indicated that the opposition has failed to place this on their discussion agenda.

Minister Persaud highlighted the many interventions undertaken by government that have gained acceptance and success in response to the rising food prices phenomenon.

He said as a result of the Jagdeo Initiative on agriculture, regional heads of government became cognizant of the magnitude of the crisis and the solutions that were needed.

He said government’s interventions are gaining international recognition and these bodies are now trying to determine how they can adopt and fashion a global response.

Locally, the Minister said, a number of fruitful countrywide community consultations have been held to garner feedback from Guyanese.

The ‘Grow More’ campaign was alluded to by the Minister as one of the mechanisms to combat the rising food price increase.

It ensures farmers adopt self sufficient methods that will reduce their monthly expenditure.

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament Winston Murray while responding, said his party has acknowledged the international impact of the food prices but however, disagrees with the timeliness of government’s interventions on the issue.

He said the motion should have included a clause calling for debate and approval in the National Assembly for a national agricultural development plan.

Minister Persaud noted, however, that the objective of the motion is to recognise the source of the food prices problem, that efforts are being made and that its success is determined by the involvement of all stakeholders.

&We must also send the clear message that protests and other distracted activities will not put food on the table of our people and will not put more money in their pockets. What will do this is for them to grow more,” Minister Persaud posited.

Murray also criticised the administration’s efforts to improve drainage and irrigation infrastructure which are the necessary interventions to facilitate farmers. He said not enough has been done on maintenance, particularly in the Mahaica-Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).

Minister Persaud acknowledged that the neglect of D&I infrastructure in the past has led to the neglect of the land by farmers but noted that government is now vigorously pursuing restoration and is also exploring the development of new areas.

He disclosed that by the end of this year, close to 18,000 acres of new land will be available for farmers across the country. (GINA)

President Jagdeo for Berbice today
HEAD of State Bharrat Jagdeo will depart Georgetown for Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) today to meet with residents of a number of communities and to attend the launch of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.

While in the Region, the President will meet with residents of Vryheid, West Canje and No 19 Village.       

Gunmen rob Bob and Sons in New Amsterdam
THREE armed bandits robbed the proprietor of Bob and Sons Grocery Store, at Lot 16 Strand, New Amsterdam, Berbice, of an undisclosed sum Thursday night.

The owner of the business, who preferred to be named only as Bob, said he was awaiting a delivery of rice when the trio entered the premises, pretending to be customers.

He said, when he enquired what they needed, one of them whipped out a handgun, pointed it at him and demanded cash.

Bob confessed he was unprepared for the attack, which occurred shortly before 19:00 h and, after the men relieved him of the money, they escaped in a getaway motor car which was waiting outside.

He said he pursued the robbers in his vehicle but a heavy flow of North to South traffic thwarted his effort at the intersection  of St. Magdalene Street and Main Road, also in New Amsterdam.

A report was made and Police are investigating the robbery.

New Amsterdam Police, Post Office get donations
FOOD for the Poor Guyana Inc. yesterday made donations to the Berbice Division of the Guyana Police Force and New Amsterdam Post Office.

The mid-morning handing over was done at the office of the donor’s New Amsterdam Committee, Lot 39 Stanleytown.

Coordinator Mr. Mitford Warde, who made the presentation on behalf of Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Leon Davis, said they recognise the community services rendered by the beneficiaries and the many constraints faced by police ranks and postal workers.

The gifts, valued $25,000, included bicycles, raincoats, long boots and bathroom tissue.

DDL leads corporate sponsorship for CARIFESTA X
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has signed a corporate sponsorship contract with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, to the tune of over $10M for CARIFESTA X activities, making the international award wining Demerara Gold the official liquor brand for the festival.

Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday at the CARIFESTA Secretariat, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony said that DDL, as the first official sponsor of CARIFESTA X, has led the way which other major sponsors will hopefully follow in the run up to the mega event.

Minister Anthony noted that the Ministry of Culture was currently in discussion with five other major sponsors who are expected to come on board soon. The Minister expressed hope that corporate entities will make inroads in overseas markets based on the exposure that CARIFESTA X will offer.

In brief comments following the signing, Marketing Director of DDL, Sharda Veeren-Chand said DDL sees CARIFESTA X as a great opportunity for Guyana to showcase its unique cultural diversity.

For its part of the sponsorship package, DDL will expend $10M towards CARIFESTA X activities, host one CARIFESTA X super concert and sponsor marketing and publicity for the 10-day mega festival which Guyana is gearing to host August 22-31, 2008. In turn, the beverage company has earned the official rights for the use of the CARIFESTA X logo and entry into official venues earmarked to host CARIFESTA events. (CARIFESTA Secretariat)

New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission pays courtesy call on Prime Minister
New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission President, Pandit Suresh Sugrim, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday, when he presented the Prime Minister with a special citation in recognition of support received in the past. The Mission will launch its first housing project here Sunday at Rose Hall, on the Corentyne, and this will see Rose Hall resident Iris Latchman acquiring a new home.

The New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission was established in the United States in 1986, and has a local chapter in Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice.

The organisation is committed to visiting Guyana once a year to work in various areas in improving the quality of life among the less fortunate.

The organisation aims at supporting underprivileged children, senior citizens, and disabled children, and at being involved in other aspects of charitable work.

This time around, apart from the housing project, there is also the hosting of a grand cultural fund-raising show, ‘Laff till Yuh Belly Bust’, to be held on July 7, 2008, at the Albion Sports Hall.

According to the Mission President, there are plans to continue working in Guyana in the foreseeable future, in collaboration with the local chapter on the Corentyne, the Guyana Central Arya Samaj, and other non-governmental organisations (NGO’s).

Persaud rebukes Mahaicony Rice Ltd on non-payment to farmers
By Tajeram Mohabir
AGRICULTURE Minister, Robert Persaud, said yesterday that the withholding of a $30M Value Added Tax (VAT) refund from Mahaicony Rice Limited (MRL) does not relate to that company’s non-payment to farmers.

In a letter copied to the media, Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, Mr. Persaud acknowledged receipt of correspondence from MRL dated June 25.

But Persaud advised that it has been referred to the Ministry of Finance for action.

He also informed MRL that the issuing of dishonoured cheques is a criminal offence and could be prosecuted by the Guyana Police Force.

Persaud said the issue at hand is that MRL bought farmers’ paddy and payments should be made in accordance with the agreements.

You cannot, at this moment, try to defend your illegal action. Also, you need to know that non-payment to rice farmers will lead to a reduction in the acreage cultivated for the next crop, thus affecting our anticipated production target,” the minister admonished MRL.

Persaud told MRL its action, viewed as not being that of a good corporate citizen, would result in some “lost opportunity” for the farmers and Guyana, at a time when global demand for rice is high.

GRDB has since been instructed to do what is necessary, the minister said.

His letter added: “Finally, I am demanding that you send me, immediately, your schedule of payment to rice farmers, stating clearly when you will pay and the amount to be paid.”

Food and Drug Department relocated
THE Analyst Food and Drug Department has been removed from its temporary location, at the University of Guyana (UG) Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), Turkeyen, to the Ministry of Health Annex.

It is now located at the former GAHEF building, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

A release said the relocation is to facilitate the removal of asbestos from the UG Campus.

The Department could be contacted on telephone numbers 222-4412, 222-4414, 222-4415 and 222-4420 from June 30, the release said.

With Brazil donation…
Guyana starting commercial cultivation of soya beans, cashew
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE Brazilian Government, in keeping with a previous undertaking, yesterday handed over 85 pounds of soya beans and 25 pounds of cashew nuts to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.

The donation is to start commercial cultivation of those crops from early next year and the presentation was done by Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Arthur Mayer, in the presence of Chairman of the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Mr. John Caesar, its Director, Dr. Oudho Homenauth and lead Private Sector representative for the project. Mr. Andrew Mendes.

Speaking at the simple ceremony, in the Ministry of Agriculture boardroom, Persaud thanked the donor and announced that the planting materials will soon be tested at NARI, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara; Kairuni along Soesdyke/Linden Highway and Ebini and Dubulay Ranch, Berbice River.

He said cultivation will be done by private farmers under NARI supervision and, within the next three to four months, the best yielding varieties would be identified for large scale production.

Persaud said technicians from the Brazilian Organisation for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA) previously visited Guyana and gave the necessary technical assistance for the scheme.

The initiative is part of a cooperation agreement, between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), in areas of training, technical assistance, introduction and evaluation of crops and livestock, germplasm exchange and collaborative research, for implementation by NARI and EMBRAPA.

Minister Persaud said studies conducted here before indicated that between two and 2.5 tonnes of soya beans can be produced on every hectare, in comparison to the 2.8 tonnes on the same area in Brazil.

He said the venture opens market opportunities both locally and abroad, with close to 14,400 tonnes of the beans used annually for animal feed.

Persaud said his ministry is also looking at other areas of collaboration with Brazil, such as the introduction of improved pasture grasses, cassava cultivars, dry rice and the use of mechanised farming to enhance food production, ensure its security and promote commercial agricultural enterprises.

He said those proposals were discussed with Brazilian officials at the recently held Regional Agriculture Investment Forum, where the possibility of linking NARI and EMBRAPA, at Roraima in Brazil, was explored here earlier this month.

Persaud said the soil and climatic conditions in Roraima State are similar to those in Rupununi and the technology currently employed in crops and livestock production in the former location could be transferred to the savannah in the latter.

He said both soya bean and cashew nut production would be done using the commodity chain approach, in which the private sector would be the essential component.

Procedures
Ambassador Mayer expressed his thanks to NARI for following through with the technical cooperation agreement between the two South American neighbouring countries.

He acknowledged that the materials took a long time to arrive in Guyana but explained there were some procedures to be followed before they could be moved from one region to another.

The diplomat said, apart from soya beans and cashew nuts, his country is open to other fields of cooperation in agriculture with Guyana.

Brazil is a major producer of ethanol and bio-fuel and, in this context, Mayer assured that his government is willing to share its experiences with Guyana to develop similar industries.

He said he hopes other possible areas, in addition to ethanol and bio-fuel, like dry rice and aquaculture, could benefit both countries.

Meanwhile, a release, issued by the Agriculture Ministry yesterday, said Guyanese technicians and private sector representatives participated in study tours to EMBRAPA and received training in various aspects of cashew nut cultivation and processing.

The release said cashew nut cultivation would be done principally in Rupununi, using, in the initial phase, four cultivars, which are high yielding dwarf varieties that can fully mature in about two to three years.

A plantation style agricultural system will be established, allowing for the production of disease free planting materials to be made available for further expansion of the industry.

&#xThese plants would, subsequently, be used as mother plants to supply budwood. In order to hasten the process, we are looking at acquiring plants that have already been budded from Brazil for introduction into the Rupununi,” the statement said, noting that a technical team from Brazil is expected in mid-July to advance the project.

Linden electricity tariffs adjustment to be done later
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said yesterday that the adjustment to the electricity tariff subsidies in Linden will be implemented, but later than planned with much greater publicity about its details and merits.

Speaking at his regular post Cabinet briefing, he said: “In that regard, President Bharrat Jagdeo indicated his willingness to meet with stakeholders in Linden to bring conclusion to the issues and timing.”

Luncheon said Cabinet also noted the contribution of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to ongoing reforms in the electricity sector.

“These included the planned increases in generation capacity in the short-term, specifically the heavy fuel oil fired Wartsila diesel generating sets and the soon to be commissioned co-generation inputs in the Berbice Grid,” he said.

Luncheon also mentioned the new Kingston power plant, with about 25 megawatts added to the Demerara Grid and the rehabilitation and conversion of the Canefield generating sets to heavy fuel oil.

In transmission and distribution, Luncheon said Cabinet also acknowledged the installation of high voltage lines in both the Berbice and the Demerara grids.

He said the ministers were advised, as well, about the removal of residential farmers along the Lamaha Railway Embankment in Georgetown and the necessity for them to be removed.

According to him, Cabinet insisted, too, that the toll metering system for electricity at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, be corrected and consumers there made direct commercial customers of Guyana Power & Light (GPL).

Two days national mourning for President Arthur Chung
TOMORROW and Monday have both been declared National Days of Mourning for the first President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Mr. Arthur Chung, who died on June 23 at age 90.

Making the announcement yesterday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the Government and people of Guyana will pay final respects to the former President at a State funeral.

He said tomorrow, a public viewing and the signing of the book of condolence will be at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), Mandela and Homestretch Avenues, between 09:30 h to 14:30 h.

Luncheon said, as per normal, flags will be flown at half staff on both days and the actual funeral will take place on Monday.

The Monday funeral procession will leave Merriman’s Funeral Parlour, Lime and Bent Streets, also in Georgetown. for the NCC, where representatives of the major religious faiths will pray for the deceased and statements will be made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin and the Chung family members.

The programme will be interspersed by interludes of music and patriotic songs by the Guyana Police Force Band.

Luncheon informed that President Bharrat Jagdeo will deliver the nation’s farewell, following which the cortège will depart for Place of the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens where Mr. Chung will be laid to rest among other former Heads of State.

The last activity will provide for private viewing by family members of Mr. Chung and his interment with full military honours.

Mr. Chung was President from March 17, 1970 to October 6, 1980.
EDITORIAL