ARCHIVES FOR MAY 20 2008
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Finance Minister announces
10% REDUCTION IN FUEL TAX
MINISTER of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, yesterday announced a 10 per cent reduction of the excise tax on gasoline from 17 per cent to 7 per cent.

He said this intervention by Government is part of a committed effort aimed at cushioning the impact of spiralling fuel prices.

A statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) noted that over the last year, the acquisition cost for diesel and gasoline has been steadily increasing.

In January 2007, gasoline was imported into Guyana at US$58.83 a barrel and in 2008 the cost skyrocketed to US$109.55 per barrel which represented an increase of 86.2 percent.

Minister Singh said this most recent reduction is in light of the alarming developments in recent days which saw crude oil being traded at prices above US$125 per barrel, while the most recent shipment of diesel imported into Guyana was purchased at the unprecedented price of US$150.85 per barrel.

As increasing fuel prices contribute to the worldwide phenomenon of rising food prices which has affected the cost of local commodities in many territories, government continues to implement measures to lessen the impact on consumers.

From the inception of this global issue, the Government of Guyana has put several measures in place.

There has been a progressive reduction of the Excise Tax on fuel from 50 per cent on gasoline at the start of 2007 to 17 per cent, and now to 7 per cent. There was also the reduction of the tax on diesel from 10 per cent to zero per cent at the beginning of last year. Additionally, there is no taxation or duty on kerosene.

In January 2007 when the Valued Added Tax (VAT) was implemented, numerous food items were zero-rated. In the 2008 National Budget, government zero-rated another long list of items including wheaten flour with effect from March 1.

And just last week,  the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Representative assigned to CARICOM, Dr. Vincent Little, said Guyana’s interventions to address the rise in food prices has been the best in the region.

He made the pronouncement during a presentation on ‘Perspectives on the Regional Food Situation and the Jagdeo Initiative’ in Georgetown.

The occasion was the IICA’s annual accountability seminar where Little pointed out that the region’s food crisis is due to a number of complex simultaneous challenges, such as globalisation and trade liberalisation, climate change and escalating oil and energy prices.

These occurrences raised concerns on the food and nutrition situation of the region’s poor and inflation and has already caused social unrest in some countries, he said.

The IICA expert disclosed that the problem is not temporary and is likely to result in a trade off between food and energy security.

Little lauded the most recent measures implemented by the local Administration to arrest the position, including a five per cent increase in pay for Government workers, retroactive to last January; an additional $4,000 tax free allowance for those earning below $50,000 monthly; the selling of 200,000 packets of flour weighing one kilogramme each at a reduced price; and the distribution of $20M worth of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to increase food production.

In addition, in order to stimulate a medium term supply response, a ‘Grow More’ campaign has been initiated countrywide.

Little said those interventions will ensure macro-economic stability but suggested a temporary budget may be required to adequately address the issue.

Touching on the Jagdeo Initiative, he said the region has been in a state of repeated crises, due to vulnerabilities in severe adverse weather conditions, trade, domestic policies and institutional differences.

He said, too, that some symptoms of the problem can be linked to the region’s poor track record in implementing policies and plans, agriculture buckling under pressure from trade reforms, national disasters, policy differences and the inability of the region’s agriculture system to ensure food security and reduce its growing import food bill.

Little argued that a different approach is needed in the context of new, changing international development and environmental conditions.

However, he acknowledged that CARICOM Heads of Government have undertaken efforts to reposition agriculture, both in their own rights and as part of the CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME).

The Jagdeo Initiative envisioned that the following goals will be met by 2015:

* agriculture will make a substantial contribution to economic and social development;

* there will be a transparent regulatory framework at the national and regional level that attracts and facilitates overall investment;

* there will be significant transformation in processes and products, as well as stimulation of innovativeness and entrepreneurship and

* the region will achieve an acceptable and stable level of food security.

Some of the Government’s earlier interventions to help citizens deal with the current food price situation included the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on basic food items, zero-rating the Excise Tax on diesel, and reducing the price on gasoline.

US$4M National Reference Laboratory nearing completion
CONSTRUCTION of the modern US$4M National Reference Laboratory is almost 90 per cent complete.

Upon its completion, slated for next month, the three-storey building in Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) compound will house the Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic and, hopefully, serve as a hub for the Caribbean, officials said.

The new edifice is being constructed with funding through the United States (U.S.) President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), at Thomas and New Market Streets in the city.

The 1,500 square metres structure is expected to be handed over for use on July 4 and will certainly improve the array of services being presently offered at the GPH lab, among them the ability to determine the common types of poisons used in murder cases.

The facility will also be the lead one for the network of labs, including the Ministry of Health Food and Drug lab and graduates from University of Guyana (UG) are to be included for the staffing. (Nathalene DeFrietas)

Linden ganja fields razed
One man in custody
TEN fields of cannabis sativa plants containing some 14,900 plants ranging in height of 1 to 12 feet and with an estimated weight of 3,305 kgs were destroyed in the Linden areas of Coomacka, Old England and Wisroc by the Joint Services during an operation last Saturday and Sunday.

The operation, codenamed Operation Greenfield, was a combined one that involved air, river and ground assets with the Bell 206 helicopter executing reconnaissance and vectoring tasks, the river assets providing transport for the forces to access the sites and the ground forces locating and destroying the fields, executing arrests, and seizing equipment.

During the operation, which was conducted over a seven acre wide area, in addition to the plants, 684 kilograms of dried marijuana were found along with 14 nurseries that contained some 5,550 seedlings. 

A statement from the Police said eleven camps were destroyed and one person arrested. 

The arrested man was found in a house with eight kilograms of marijuana near one of the fields and he is presently in police custody assisting with the investigations.

15-year-old allegedly rapes, stabs 34-year-old woman
Police are investigating reports that a fifteen-year-old male of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was allegedly involved in the rape and violent wounding of a 34-year-old woman of Spring Hall, at Mahaica on Sunday.

It is understood that the suspect is known to the woman, who is currently warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). Late yesterday the victim remained in a critical condition, as doctors at the institution continued a grim battle to save her life.

Reports said that around mid morning on Sunday, the mother of one was brutally assaulted, raped and left lying in a pool of blood on the floor in her home. Her husband, who was not at home at the time, later returned to find her blood covered body with stab wounds to her head, back, abdomen and genitals. Lying next to her, crying, was their two-year-old baby.

The woman was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit at the hospital around 11:00 h, where she was given emergency treatment and admitted.

Meanwhile, also at Mahaica on Sunday, 39-year-old Michael Williamson of Helena Mahaica, was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit with chop wounds to his head, face and both hands.

The persons accompanying him to hospital were unable to give details of the incident, but claimed the assailant was unknown to the victim. He was admitted in an unconscious state.

His condition is still listed as critical.

Privatisation of Sanata a positive move
By Tajeram Mohabir
Head of the privatisation Unit, Mr. Winston Brassington, yesterday said that the privatisation of Sanata Textile Complex to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc.(QAII) is a positive move geared to promote employment and investment, and to generate income for government.

He pointed out that the US$30M investment programme to be completed by 2010 will see permanent employment of more than 600 persons.

Mr. Brassington told reporters at a press briefing jointly hosted by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Go-Invest, Geoffrey Da Silva, in the National Communications Network (NCN) Studio, Homestretch Avenue, D’Urban Backlands, that already the scale and expansion of the investment is evident and moving at a rapid pace, with over $1.5B having been expended since last year. Prior to this, $400M was spent on the removal of asbestos from the buildings.

Upon completion, the complex will house :

* a modern textile mill for gauze, bandages and demin production;

* a state-of-the art printery;

* an antibiotics plant and R&D facility;

* a pharmaceutical export processing facility; and

* a hardware manufacturing division.

The Privatisation Unit head said QAII, which acquired New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (NGPC) in 1999 following a competitive tender pursuant to the privatisation framework, has shown the capabilities and commitment to comply with the terms of its privatisation agreements.

He disclosed that the privatisation board and government have approved leasing arrangements for many operations including the following:

* the old glass facility leased to Mr. Howard Bulkan at $5.3M per annum since the mid 1990’s when GGWL was dissolved;

* the former GNEC facilities leased to GNIC at $70M per annum but not being paid.

* the former GRDB wharf leased to B.K. International at $10M per annum;

* the Eccles Industrial Estate-84 plots at $1 per square foot;

* the Coldingen Industrial Estate-38 plots at $1 per square foot and;

* the Ruimveldt Industrial Estate ( 19 plots) for which currently none of the occupants are paying rent.

* Mr. Brassington stressed that government is moving to the Courts to repossess those lands and pointed out that the rental circulated by the Government Valuation Office is substantially lower than what is being charged at Sanata.

Concessions granted
Mr. Da Silva emphasised that the concessions granted to the Sanata projects fall under the fiscal enactment amendment, customs, VAT, the excise tax, income tax in aid of industry, and the investment acts.

He said that the bio-technology initiative, the first investment of its kind in Guyana, has been granted a tax holiday of five years which might be extended to another five years based on performance.

The CEO disclosed that any investor planning to join the Sanata operation will have to invest in textile projects in addition to others. That project has also been given a five year tax holiday.

Da Silva disclosed that government is looking to assist the company in meeting its fuel costs and has waived customs duty and VAT on machinery and equipment, including a generator set, raw materials and all inputs for the manufacturing processes for all five projects at the company.

This applies to all building materials for construction, communication and security equipment, and vehicles proportionate to the investment and specifically for the projects.

“In addition to investment project of this size, US $ 30 M…the government does grant a waiver of withholding tax on the repayment of the loan,” he revealed.

Da Silva pointed that another concessions granted are the unlimited losses carried forward for all projects as set out in the Income Tax Act as well as the right to open a foreign currency account in a commercial bank and the unrestricted repatriation of capital, dividend and profits.

He said the incentives have been signed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with government and QAII, which has joint venture projects with investors from China and India.

Mr. Brassington told reporters that in mid 2007, a proposal to lease the complex was received from the QAII; and following detailed discussions, a paper was submitted by the Privatisation Unit to the board of that body on May 9 unanimously recommending its approval.

He recalled that cabinet approved the recommendations in May 2007 and the key terms include:

* the lease rate being set in US$0.24 or $50 per square, per annum and payable at the equivalent Guyana dollars at the date of payment;

* the lease rate being indexed to the rate of inflation in the US after 2009; and

* all rates and taxes being to the account of the lessee (rates in 2007 was approximately $6M).

Mr. Brassington also said that the benefits were considered by the Privatisation Board and cabinet in accepting the proposal. These include:

* utilisation of the land and buildings which had fallen into a state of dilapidation end vandalism;

* avoidance by National Industrial and Commercial Industrial Limited (NICIL) of the high level of maintenance, security, rates and taxes and insurance associated with the property;

* creation of new jobs;

* conversion of the property which was not making a net return into an entity with positive cash flow and;

* encouraging economic activity in the Ruimveldt Industrial Areas.

Specifically, the Privatisation Unit head underlined the complex’s use. Including:

* resumption of the textile operations once a detailed plan was completed; and the operations acquiring machinery to produce dyed and printed demin fabric. These operations will be executed through a company called Global Textile (Guyana) Inc;

* a printery via a company named Global Textile (Guyana) Inc. and;

* an antibiotics plant and research and development facility under Healthcare Life Sciences Inc.

He stressed that like any may lease arrangement, we have claw-back clauses that allow us to terminate the lease if the investment and construction is not implemented within stipulated time frames.

“We have ‘Option to buy’ clauses based on independent valuations of the complex prior to the privatisation…this can only be exercised after the business plan has been implemented. Our rent is denominated in US dollars and additionally indexed upwards over time to the US Consumer Price Index (CPI),” Mr. Brassington noted.

The Sanata company was closed and all workers were severed by 1998. During the 1990’s, Sanata lost money and in 2000 was dissolved and its assets and liabilities transferred to NICIL.

A government of China loan was transferred to the Guyana Government and at the time of dissolution, it had a liability of $55M to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) representing judgment on outstanding rates and taxes for many years.

In 1997, a large Chinese textile operations owned by the Chinese government, agreed with the government via the Privatisation Board to lease the majority of the Sanata complex. However, it took many years for this arrangement to become a reality. Generally the Sanata complex has been closed or abandoned for the most part of the last 15 years, only operating during the period of G&C (the Chinese operator) which had an operational life for only three years.

Mr. Brassington said despite G&C commitment to pay rent for the leased complex, the operation failed shortly after commissioning and was formally handed over to government in lieu in 2006.

He pointed out that the annual upkeep costs for the facility in 2006 were almost $20 M in security, $6M in rates and taxes, and over $5M in cleaning and miscellaneous repairs.

According to the Privatisation Unit boss, over the years, although parts of the complex now leased to QAII had been rented on short term licences, the fees collected were never sufficient to cover the upkeep.

Woman electrocuted in attempt to rescue sheep
A WOMAN was electrocuted at Pomona, last Saturday.

The victim, Sharon Jairam was pronounced dead on arrival at Suddie Hospital, also on Essequibo Coast.

She had been employed at the hospital as an accounts clerk III but was at home alone when the tragedy struck at around 14:00 h.

Reports said the mother of one saw two of her sheep trembling and appeared to be suffering from cramps during a heavy downpour of rain and went to rescue them.

But, as soon as she touched one of the animals, she began to scream. However, a neighbour who heard her and rushed over could not do anything to help Jairam.

By the time the main switch in Jairam’s house was turned off, she had already been fatally shocked.

It was later discovered that the sheep had, apparently, come into contact with a burst live wire connecting their pen to the house.

News of the death caused a large crowd to gather at the home of the deceased and the incident left other hospital workers and those of the Regional Administration in shock and sadness.

Jairam had been an employee in the Personnel Department of the Regional Administration for several years before joining the hospital staff on July 1, 1994.

She has left to mourn her husband, son, parents and other relatives. (Rajendra Prabhulall)
NEWS

Murdered businessman’s wife, others in custody
Following the discovery of the body of businessman Ganga Persaud on Saturday morning, several persons including his common-law wife are in custody.

Police said they are assisting with investigations.

Persaud, a wire rope dealer of 1624 Nineteenth Street, New Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, left home on Friday for drinks with friends.

About 8:00h Saturday morning, his body was discovered in his car trunk by police after residents summoned them observing the strange car, PEE 587, parked at Eight Street, New Diamond Housing Scheme.

Residents said they did not hear any strange sounds Friday night but recalled the insistent barking of the dogs and noticed the car there shortly after midnight.

The 52-year-old man was using his brother’s car when he was killed, relatives said.

His wife told investigators that she last heard from him when she telephoned him to enquire about his whereabouts.

She said Persaud told her he was on his way home and was driving in the Agricola area on the East Bank Demerara.

It is believed that the businessman was strangled to death. His body bore several cuts and scrapes.

When taken from the car trunk, the body was fully dressed, but without shoes, and duct tape and a bicycle tube were removed from his nose and mouth.

Following the discovery of the body, police visited the man’s residence and spent several hours searching the house, while they grilled his common-law wife.

His wife and two grown children, who reside overseas, have since been informed of the murder.

His mother, Sukhai Ramsingh, 77, of 100 Goed Fortuin, West Coast, Demerara, told the Guyana Chronicle that she last saw her son alive on Mother’s Day when he showed up to visit her.

“What did my son do to deserve to die in such a manner?” she asked.

The grieving woman, scores of relatives and friends expressed shock at the murder, and they all wept openly when the Guyana Chronicle visited on Saturday.

He was described as a peace-loving individual. He has left to mourn his two grown children and his wife, who live overseas, 10 siblings and scores of relatives.

Agriculture diversification programme seeks to reposition sector
The US$20M Agriculture Export Diversification Programme currently being implemented by government is a multi-faceted strategy that seeks to reposition the sector with focus on establishment of the necessary framework to lead the process in all the targeted areas including the livestock industry.

The Diversification Programme funded by government with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) targets expansion of potential growth areas such as the non-traditional crop sector, livestock industry and aquaculture.

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, pointed out that the investment is intended to have a more long-term impact on the agricultural sector although it supports ongoing initiatives such as the ‘Grow-More’ campaign that focuses on increased food production.

“It’s a multi-faceted diversification strategy and it very comprehensive. It looks at the regulatory structure and also the supply and production side constraints that we have in the particular crops and livestock type activities,” he explained.

In the livestock industry, the programme will set up the framework to address the need for updated plant and animal health infrastructure with emphasis on the need for modern processing facilities that are certified for export of meat and meat products.

The need for a state-of-the-art abattoir through which support will be given to the private sector for establishing such infrastructure and development of a semi-autonomous entity such as a livestock development board to regulate the industry’s expansion are also being given attention under the Diversification Programme.

It was pointed out that a great deal of attention is being given to updated plant and animal health infrastructure, systems and facilities because it is recognised that exposure to any disease can hamper not only the entire livestock industry but the economy.

Under the component for aquaculture development, focus will be placed on establishment of more farms which will be supported by the hatchery currently being constructed.

The plan for fruits and vegetables will place emphasis on plantation-type farms and support to farmers and farmers group. It was explained that while Government will partner with the large farmers to develop their activities, significant attention will be given to formation of clusters whereby small farmers could enjoy greater benefits.

“If we are to dent or have any significant quantity of do economies of scales we need to bring farmers together so we have started that. A lot of emphasis will be placed on bringing the farmers together so they can share resources and whatever ever facilities we are provided,” Persaud stated.

The main components of the Diversification Programme are private sector entrepreneurship into agribusiness, agribusiness export and facilitation services, strengthening and consolidating agricultural health and food safety services and drainage and irrigation rehabilitation. (GINA)

Minister Ramsammy makes inaugural address at 61st World Health Assembly 
MINISTER of Health and President of the World Health Assembly (WHA) Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday brought to the Assembly’s attention the issue of Guyana and the Caribbean’s problem of migration of health care workers, which even after several conferences and agreements, has worsened and called for urgent action to tackle it.

Speaking at the opening of the 61st World Health Assembly which commenced yesterday at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and will be facilitated until May 24, Minister Ramsammy noted, “Surely we are capable of some equitable solution to this problem.”

Minister Ramsammy said, “developing countries must benefit from their investment in training, while not limiting freedom of movement.”

He highlighted that Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) increasingly are bringing greater disease burden, accounting for more than half of the global mortalities and global morbidity and urged that the World Health Organisation (WHO) must take its natural place in leading the fight against the NCDs, in ensuring that the NCDs are properly placed as high priority on the global public health agenda.

The Guyanese health minister also noted that “HIV continues to defy our best efforts and our best technologies”.

“We must commend those countries that have responded courageously and have made a significant dent on the transmission of HIV, and still we need a re-energized battle against HIV.”

“Guyana has moved to earlier treatment of HIV, providing true universal access…Clearly the benefits of earlier treatment overwhelm the risk of toxicity from treatment. Guyana is also convinced that we need to promote more provider initiated testing and that abstinence-only prevention programmes do not work”.

Minister Ramsammy highlighted that access, availability and coverage for vaccines in immunization programmes must not be one of the factors that contribute to the gap between rich and poor countries, between the north and the south and among countries.

“Vaccines must be seen as a global good. A child born in Africa or Asia or the Caribbean or in South or Central America or in North America or Europe has the same right to a vaccine. There can be no dispute about this. If every child counts, then I cannot fathom a situation where some children are deprived of vaccines, simply because of where they were born, ” the Minister stressed.

He said the WHO must advocate for greater vaccine productivity to meet the world’s demands. Guyana supports the quest for high quality vaccines, but Guyana also is of the view that existing mechanisms are designed to reduce competition and the result is inequity.

“Too many of our sisters and brothers have lost their lives because of natural disasters and leave their loved ones to cope with great tragedies. In more recent times, the peoples of China and Myanmar (Burma) have had to endure great tragedies. Even as we speak, these countries are coping with the death and disappearance of thousands of their citizens and untold sufferings,” said Minister Ramsammy.

He noted that too many are suffering from human conflicts and all human conflicts are ultimately public health challenges.

“These conflicts not only bring great sufferings on millions of people, but diminish humanity, diminish our global aspiration for decent lives for all humanity.” “Health for All is not possible in a world with conflicts. I believe we have the capacity for greater efforts to achieve peace and harmony. We must find the courage to choose peace over conflicts, to choose Health for all over political, ethnic, and religious divisions,” Minister Ramsammy stressed.

GPL warns against installing illegal street lighting
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) yesterday urged residents to desist from erecting and installing illegal street lights.

The utility company said in a press release that electricity theft is an offence and any person found guilty of erecting or installing any illegal street light will be prosecuted.

GPL says it is not responsible for street lighting and no person can apply to the company to have street lighting in his area.

It added that all applications for street lighting must be sent to the Lighting Authority at the Mayor and City Council in Georgetown, while in rural communities, the Authority is located at the offices of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and in the case of small towns, at the offices of the Town Council.

The release pointed out that the cost of street lighting includes the cost of purchasing and installing the lights, as well as the monthly energy charge.

The average cost of operating a 175 watt mercury vapour lamp, the kind commonly sold in stores and which uses about 65 units of electricity, is about $3,500 per month.

Upsets at GBTI Inter-Schools Impromptu Speaking Competition
UPSETS were the order of the day, last Thursday, when the second round of the Regent Street branch sponsored Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Ltd (GBTI) Inter-Secondary Schools Impromptu Speaking Competition for fourth formers was run off at the Recreational Centre, Bel Air Park, also in Georgetown.

Annandale Secondary trounced Richard Ishmael Secondary with 805 points to 446 points and School of the Nations, having gained a walkover in the first round, beat last year’s winner, President’s College (PC) 743 points to 703 points.

In the first clash, the topics selected by Annandale Secondary were ‘The importance of family,’ ‘Body piercing and tattoos’ and ‘The value of museums.’

Richard Ishmael drew ‘Education is the key to success’, ‘Can one believe what one reads in the newspapers?’ and ‘How would you ease traffic congestions?’

For the second match, School of the Nations chose ‘A dog is a man’s best friend’, ‘If you could live any place in the world, where would you live and why?’ and ‘At what age should a female marry?’

The PC choices were ‘Tell us the most difficult thing you have ever done and how you coped’, ‘What school subject is most useful in everyday life’ and ‘We should return to a simple life.’

The judges for the occasion were Ms. Bonita Hunter, Mr. John Tracey and Ms. Abiola Inniss.

The third round of the contest will be conducted today when St. Joseph High School takes on St. Rose’s High School and Queen’s College (QC) faces Central High School.

Councillor advocates stipend for members of school boards
MEMBER of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Tulsie Narine, is advocating that members of school boards be paid a stipend.

Addressing the RDC statutory meeting earlier this month, the Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee appealed to the body to raise the issue with the Ministry of Education.

Narine said, if they receive monetary remuneration, those who sit on school boards and are currently giving voluntary service will contribute more meaningfully to the learning process.

National Spelling B concludes this week
THE first National Spelling B Competition, for Grade Five students in public and private schools in the 10 Administrative Regions and District 11 (Georgetown), will conclude this week at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

The semi-final takes place today, starting at 18:00 h and the final on Thursday.

The contest is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Stabroek and the preliminary rounds were conducted from April 28 to May 15 in each of the regions, from which three students were chosen to represent their respective region.

The prizes will be awarded in this order:

First place, one desktop computer and printer, a trophy and a $50,000

‘Smart Choice’ account.

Second place, one desktop computer, a trophy and a $30,000 ‘Smart Choice’

account.

Third place, one desktop computer, a trophy and a $20,000 ‘Smart Choice’

Account.

Fourth place, a trophy and a $50,000 ‘Smart Choice’ account.

A release said a teacher from a competing school remarked that the competition is timely and provides an opportunity to assess the students’ spelling ability in Grade Five at the national level.

On Sunday, members of host club, semi-finalists and their parents and well-wishers, together with representatives of the sponsors, GT&T CellLink and Topco, were on the Georgetown seawall to promote the remaining rounds of the rivalry which has had invaluable support from the Ministry of Education.

Fact-finding trip by U.S. Tour Operator reveals Guyana’s beauty
“Opportunities to access the forest canopy are always valuable and sought after by birders,” said Narca Moore-Craig, “and Guyana has a world-class canopy walkway at Atta Rainforest Camp.”

Ms. Moore-Craig, along with her husband and two friends, was in Guyana in March as part of a fact-finding trip for the tour operator - Naturalist Journeys.

The trip was the second to Guyana for Ms. Moore-Craig; her first visit was last November when she came as part of a Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) – United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project Birding Tourism Programme familiarisation tour organised by Judy Karwacki of Small Planet Consulting and Tony Thorne of Wilderness Explorers.

From March 2-17, the four biologists were in Guyana to experience a variety of the country’s tourism offerings, including bird and butterfly watching, wildlife spotting and community tourism.

While in Guyana they visited Georgetown, Iwokrama Canopy Walkway and Field Station, and Surama Village.

Ms. Moore-Craig said the purpose of her recent trip was to, “gain more experience with Guyana’s habitats and birds, and to learn about additional excursions which might be worked into trips.”

Moore-Craig also said that Naturalist Journeys is planning on bringing a group to Guyana in the spring of 2009.

She said some exciting birds that they spotted included the Crimson Fruitcrow, Pompadour Cotinga, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, White-winged Potoo and Raquet-tailed Coquette; mammals included Tayra and many monkeys.

The butterfly enthusiasts on the trip were excited to see the “exquisitely beautiful” Helicopis genus at the Georgetown Botanical Garden and at the Iwokrama Field Station.

In speaking about the Birding Tourism Programme, Moore-Craig said it, “brought Guyana to the foreground as a destination for [Naturalist Journeys]. Otherwise, we likely wouldn’t have organised a tour here until some years later.”

Moore-Craig’s recommendations for tourism in Guyana was to, “focus on the larger natural history market as well. And of course, preserving the integrity of the forest is essential to maintaining ecotourism.”

And she added encouragingly, “Guyana seems to be headed in a good direction on that score, better than many countries.”

Input such as this from tour operators and media who have visited through the GTA-USAID/GTIS programme in the past two years show that Guyana provides an excellent product-market match for several other sustainable nature and cultural tourism markets.

To this end, GTA-USAID/GTIS is expanding its focus to several niche sustainable tourism markets; namely, nature and wildlife viewing, eco-indigenous tourism, and volunteer conservation tourism. The primary draw for all of these markets is the opportunity to experience Guyana’s untouched and expansive rainforests.

To reflect the move into this new and exciting phase, GTIS has renamed the birding tourism programme to the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative (GSTI). The GSTI is receiving support from GTIS, a joint project of the Government of Guyana and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For more information, please visit www.guyanabirding.com.

(Submitted by Mr. Kirk Smock, GTIS Public Affairs Officer)

Barama plans to make Buck Hall small town
- company officials
By Rajendra Prabhulall
CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Barama Company Limited, Mr. Peter Ho, has announced that the company will develop Buck Hall, situated on the main bank of Essequibo River, into a little town in coming years.

Addressing top officials of the Regional Administration of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and the media, in the Regional Boardroom at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, last Wednesday, he said Buck Hall will forever remain a manufacturing site.

According to Ho, labour is very important for his company and, consequently, many Essequibians will be recruited to work at the thriving Barama sawmilling operations located there.

Chairman of Barama, Mr. Girwar Lalaram, noted that the firm has been providing employment opportunities for Guyanese over the past 15 years.

Currently, 3,000 of them are employed at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, Buck Hall and on the company’s forest concession of four million acres, he said.

Lalaram recalled that Barama operations were moved from Port Kaituma, in North West District, because of the high cost to transport logs from there to Land of Canaan.

He explained that, while the company was operating at Port Kaituma, tremendous work was done in terms of development, with a network of roads (about 2,000 miles) constructed in the interior while the schools and hospitals were refurbished by Barama.

Lalaram said that community, in Region One (Barima/Waini), was given free water and electricity and television was introduced there.

Huge office buildings were erected at Port Kaituma and a bridge over Barima River was built at a cost of US$1.2M, he stated.

Barama Forest Planning Manager, Mr. Mohindra Chand said, when they moved to Buck Hall in 2002, the place was a forested, undeveloped area.

However, over the past five years, a lot of development has taken place, including the building of roads, one of which connects Buck Hall to Port Kaituma, he said.

Chand said roadways are so important to Barama that they can make or break the company’s business.

He said the company started at Buck Hall with one sawmill but is now establishing two more.

Other developments, for the benefit of the 1,000 employees, would be distribution of free electricity, Chand said, adding plans to sink a well and introduce a purified water system and a sports and recreation facility.

He said the Buck Hall venture is family oriented and families will be encouraged to stay there.

A school and Police outpost are also on the cards for Buck Hall, where four massive barges are under construction to transport logs from there to the sawmills, Lalaram disclosed.

Region Two Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh, said his administration wants to work in a transparent manner with Barama.

Present at the forum also were Region Two Vice-Chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo, Workers’ Welfare Officer, Mr. Maurice Torres and Stakeholder Relations Officer, Ms. Mitzy Campbell.

Housing Ministry will not tolerate squatting
-- Minister Nawbatt urges squatters to stop breaking law
MINISTER of Housing and Water Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt has vowed to take strong actions against squatters, noting that the ‘squatting scourge’ has once again been ‘raising its ugly head’.

According to the Minister, there are new reports of squatting in Regions Six, Nine and Ten.

The Ministry has since taken action, he said.

During last week, a team from the Ministry of Housing visited Lethem, Region Nine where the problems associated with squatting were discussed and persons who were guilty of this illegal act were informed that they should apply for house-lots through the Ministry.      

Minister Nawbatt said a team will be returning to Lethem tomorrow to process all the applications that were pending and to also discuss in more details questions from those persons who are squatting.

He said some housing schemes will be regularized. However, those who are breaking the law will have to definitely move because persons are starting to squat in the security areas.

With the completion of the Takutu River Bridge, persons are gravitating to those areas because of investment reasons since they are aware that the area has potential for business.

Minister Nawbatt said although it is natural for persons to be interested in moving to those areas, the Ministry will not tolerate squatting in any form in any part of the country and therefore squatters are urged to desist from doing so.

Another issue that is engaging the Ministry’s attention is persons requesting to identify lots allocated to them years ago.

Minister Nawbatt said persons should not be requesting repeatedly of the Ministry to identify their lots and urged that they put some sort of identification on their lots or fence it.

“Person are advised not to be removing the palls that the surveyors from the Ministry have placed on the house-lots since the removal of palls is an illegal offence and  the Ministry of Housing is finding it a problem to invest more in replacing them,” Minister Nawbatt highlighted.

The Ministry published last week a list of names of those persons who were allocated house-lots for many years and have not paid for them or built any structure.

Minister Nawbatt said those persons had up to May 16 to visit the Ministry, to discuss the reasons and negotiate any further deadlines.

However, those who haven’t done so will have to give the lots up so that they can be given to applicants who have been waiting for a long time and who are willing to build now.

The Ministry is working on allocating lots to persons who applied from 2000-2004 and is interviewing persons who applied in 2005 so that they would also be allocated lots. At the end of June, the Ministry will be interviewing persons who applied in 2006.

According to the Minister, the ministry can only allocate house-lots where they are available, although persons continue requesting to have lots in areas where the Ministry has none available such as Sophia, Diamond, and Eccles.

He said if lots are repossessed from those areas they will be allocated to persons who are next on the waiting list.

He advised against persons selling lots allocated by the Government as this incurs a penalty.

The Ministry of Housing and Water has been placing major emphasis on the development of housing areas throughout the country in order to provide housing for those in need. (GINA)

Labour Ministry focuses on youth empowerment, staff training
- A GINA feature
RESTRUCTURING is a major focus of the Ministry of Labour as it seeks to make its many programmes more effective, to create more employment opportunities, empower youths with skills that will make them marketable and more importantly, to eliminate any form of child labour.

No person who is 15 years or younger should be employed and any person found employing these persons will not be treated lightly is the message of Labour Minister Mr. Manzoor Nadir.

With the availability of more resources for training of early school leavers, the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment focuses on skills training so that young people can be equipped with entry level skills to get into the workforce.

The programme targets 1,700 young people in upgrading their competency in Math and English.

In an effort to promote employment, the Labour Ministry is undertaking the task of matching skills with industry and in this regard the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency has been re-launched.

The Ministry has recorded an increase in the number of unemployed persons registering for jobs and there has also been a 40 to 60 percent increase in businesses offering vacancies.

To ensure that labour officers function effectively, the Ministry merged the functions of the labour officers and occupation, safety and health officers thereby creating the Labour, Occupation, Safety and Health Officer (LOSH).

Improving the industrial relations climate in the country, is also an important aspect of the ministry’s functions and it is currently in the process of staff training to conduct field assessments, an effort to ensure that labour officers are equipped to fulfill the Ministry’s mandate of ensuring that workers are in a safe and healthy environment, and that employers observe the labour regulations.

Within the last 18 months, the Ministry has looked at the industrial relations climate to gear staff to think about labour as a factor of production.

Training will also enable officers to conduct quality inspections and determine any violations of laws in workplaces.

Last year there was an increase in the number of inspections with close to 2,400 inspections done. This year 3,000 is the target.

The Ministry will place emphasis on prosecution of businesses which are found in violation of labour laws. These include employers who have unsafe working and unhealthy working environments and those who do not pay NIS for their workers. Several cases are currently before the court.

As staff undergo training, the human resource capacity is boosted. Four officers recently underwent training overseas on issues related to workplace and safety. Another officer will be attending training in Peru to assess other countries’ experiences with employment exchanges and in creation of youth training programmes especially for school drop outs. Next month, a number of officers will go to Trinidad and Tobago on a one-week attachment at the occupation, safety and health department. There will be a reciprocal attachment in Guyana.

Staff were involved in local training, too, as the Ministry partnered with the International Labour Organisation to host a five-day workshop in mediation and conciliation from April 24 to 30.

The ILO is the most influential a