– 2010 mid-year report shows
THE Guyana economy achieved real growth of 2.8 percent, with non-sugar gross domestic product expanding by 3.1 percent, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has reported.

A review he presented in the National Assembly yesterday said overall growth for the year is now projected at 2.9 percent and non-sugar growth at 2.4 percent.

Other highlights of the report are:
* Gold production grew by 8.1 percent and export earnings amounted to $146.7 million, an increase of 22.4 percent over the corresponding period in 2009.

* Rice production expanded by 4.6 percent to 168,267 tonnes and export earnings amounted to US$68.6 million, 15.5 percent above the corresponding period in 2009.
* Forestry production grew by 11.8 percent and exports totalled US$24.5 million, 48.3 percent above the level for the corresponding period in 2009, partly as a result of the European Union price cut.
* The construction industry grew by 9.5 percent.
* Sugar production declined by 1.8 percent and export earnings amounted to US$37.8 million, 21 percent below the level for the corresponding period in 2009.
* Inflation was contained to 2 percent.
* Bauxite export earnings amounted to US$56.6 million, 30.1 percent above the June 2009 level.
* External Reserves increased to US$677 million from US$628 million at end December 2009.
* Private Sector Credit expanded by 7.1 percent which reflected growth in lending in the areas of agriculture, other manufacturing, mining and quarry, real estate mortgages, other services and rice milling.

Sector Highlights

EDUCATION
* $9.5 billion was expended on the education sector, an increase of 16.6 percent over 2009.
* The National School Feeding Programme benefited more than 22,000 nursery and 39,000 primary students.
* The Hinterland School Feeding Programme benefited more than 15,000 children.
* The National School Uniform Assistance Programme was launched in the second half of 2010 at a cost of $270 million. This programme provided for the distribution of 180,000 vouchers valued at $1,500 each to nursery, primary and secondary public schools across Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and Georgetown; whilst raw materials and readymade uniforms will be provided to Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.
* 250 teachers have been trained countrywide in basic information technology.
* $571 million was expended on construction, rehabilitation, renovation and maintenance of education buildings.
* The University of Guyana expended $228 million on the maintenance and operations of its two campuses.
* $450 million was provided to enable 3,315 students, including 3,040 at the Turkeyen Campus and 275 at the Tain Campus, to access student loans.

HEALTH
* $5.4 billion was expended on the health sector in the first half of 2010.
* $205.4 million was spent in the first half of the year on the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities countrywide.
* $111.8 million has been spent during the first half for training of more than 1,200 students in nursing, clinical and technical fields across the country.
* $1.2 billion was spent to procure drugs and medical supplies for the public health care system.
* The sector is expected to benefit from an increase in health personnel with the graduation of more than 670 persons, including professional nurses, nursing assistants, post-basic midwives, single trained midwives, pharmacy assistants, community health workers, audiology practitioners, X-ray and medical laboratory technicians.

AGRICULTURE
* Emphasis was placed towards improving the agriculture non-traditional sector, including the establishment of two of the three cluster groups — the livestock and aquaculture cluster groups during the first half of the year.
* The rehabilitation of the seed facility and the furnishing of the germplasm laboratory are expected to be completed and operational later this year.
* More than 1,000 persons within 15 communities in Regions 2 to 6 and 10, benefited from a number of training programmes in areas such as organisational strengthening and capacity building in agribusiness planning and development.
* The New Guyana Marketing Corporation has received five refrigerated containers which are being assembled and expected to be operational by the end of 2010.

INFRASTRUCTURE
* $1.7 billion was spent on roads and $1 billion on bridges in the first half of the year.
* East and West Canje roads which serve 1,500 acres of agricultural land will benefit from commencement of works during the second half of the year.
* $940.3 million was expended on the rehabilitation and maintenance of more than 179 community roads in Regions 2,3,4,5 and 6 in the first half of the year.
* $622.4 million was spent to upgrade the Demerara Harbour Bridge in the first half of the year.
* $762.7 million was spent to further upgrade and maintain sea and river defence infrastructure in Regions 2 to 6.

HOUSING
* $1.4 billion was expended on the housing sector in the first half of the year.
* 1,753 house lots were allocated and 1,168 titles were issued in the first half of the year.
* $431.8 million expended on the enhancement of roads and water distribution in Anna Catherina, Plantation Schoonord and Hope Estate.
* $120.3 million was spent to continue infrastructural works at Onderneeming and to complete the construction of the multi purpose buildings at Westminster and Cummings Lodge.
* Under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme, $690.3 million was expended during the first half of the year to begin construction works in three new sites of Block 8 Tuschen, Section EE Non Pariel and Ordnance/Fortlands.

WATER
* $1.1 billion was expended on the water sector during the first half of the year.
* $366.3 million went towards the completion of the water treatment plants at Lima, Vergenoegen and Cotton Tree where in excess of 48,000 persons are benefiting from improved water quality.
* The plants at Central Ruimveldt and Sophia are completed at a cost of $403.1 million resulting in excess of 50,000 persons are now benefiting from improved water quality.
* $196.8 million has been expended for capital intervention under the Coastal, Hinterland and Linden programme and the quality of service has increased for in excess of 80,000 residents.