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CARICOM links with UN to help cut poverty
By Shawnel Cudjoe
THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) yesterday launched a South-South Cooperation Initiative with officials hoping it could help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within CARICOM member states.
The initiative, under the theme “Transcending boundaries: Uniting people”, is a follow up to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two organisations in 2004 and focuses on joint planning and implementation of activities in critical areas of human development.
Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite said CARICOM brings to the partnership a tradition of being able to coordinate sustainable human development activities initiatives among its diverse, yet dynamic constituency of 15 member states.
UNFPA, on the other hand contributes by helping to meet the MDGs with its special expertise in reproductive health and population issues.
This is in keeping with the MDGs – initiated into 2000 at the 55th Session of the United Nations General Assembly – which focus on promoting gender equality, empowering women, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and developing a global partnership for development, among other things. The deadline for these goals is 2015.
“It is envisaged that by sharing this expertise and relevant experiences among themselves, our member states can transform the MDGs and other development initiatives into reality,” Applewhaite told the gathering.
She added that CARICOM is especially interested in strengthening cooperation in the areas of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, life skills and HIV/AIDS education, career planning and educational programmes for out of school youths.
UNFPA Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ms Marisela Padron said that CARICOM’s push for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the establishment of relations with UNFPA clearly demonstrates its awareness of the importance of partnerships among developing countries in the face of globalisation.
With the signing of yesterday’s initiative, a gateway will be made for skills and experiences from other developing countries to be shared, she noted.
“It provides a framework to share technical skills in the areas of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, population and development strategies, data for development planning and the promotion of gender equality,” she added.
According to Padron, since becoming partners in 1969, the goal of UNFPA and CARICOM (then CARIFTA) has always been to create a better quality of life for the people of the region, “although the terms of the agreement have been adjusted over the years to meet the changing needs of the Caribbean.”
In 2005, UNFPA collaborated with CARICOM on several programmes which included the strengthening of CARICOM’s Health and Family Life Education programme to better equip young people to deal with sexual and reproductive health issues including HIV/AIDS; and supporting the Pan Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) in interfaith dialogue around strategies to combat the disease.
In addition, Padron noted, they also provided technical assistance to support the Caribbean consensus on the new target on universal access to reproductive health under MDG 5 – which deals with the improvement of maternal health care.
Assistant CARICOM Secretary General Dr Edward Greene said the partnership has been a good one, since UNFPA has been participating in HIV/AIDS activities, an issue that is high on CARICOM’s agenda.
“It really needs no emphasizing the importance that so far we have placed in our collaboration with UNFPA on the accelerated approach to HIV/AIDS,” Greene added.
He said this is very important since the Caribbean is seeking to wipe out the scourge at a time when statistics coming out of a recent World Bank report show that quite a number of CARICOM countries have a very high rate of infection.
In addition to HIV/AIDS issues, Greene said the meeting will try to expand on other areas of priorities such as population development strategies, and development of social statistics analysis since “all the indicators show this is a critical area we must focus on if our policies are to be meaningful and driven by evidence,”
Also, he urged that focus be placed on social and reproductive health especially at the levels of schools and community health centres. “We must use this to reach out to those populations and deal with the education and behavioural change component,” Greene stressed.
Among those attending the ceremony at CARICOM headquarters at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown were United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Roland Bullen, Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Bruno Picard and British High Commissioner Mr Stephen Hiscock.
Car-bus collision disrupts phone service
A COLLISION, at 11:00 h yesterday, between a 35-seater bus and a motor car at the junction of Sheriff and Garnett Streets, Campbellville, Georgetown, disrupted landline telephone services in the area.
The vehicles were travelling in opposite directions when the crash occurred and the bus split a utility pole in two, Police said.
But, fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the accident.
However, both drivers reported to Kitty Police Station, in another part of the city, to assist with investigations into the mishap.
PUC asks GT&T to stop selling cell service
-- until it is better
THE watchdog Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has requested that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) suspend the further sale of its cellular service until it can be improved.
The PUC in a letter to GT&T dated February 24, 2006 said it has been receiving numerous complaints from owners/users of cellular phones that they cannot access the service in certain parts of the country.
They complain also that the service is badly affected in Central Georgetown and they cannot adequately and properly conduct their business and work or receive calls, the commission added.
“We wish to advise that we also personally – members of the staff of the commission and commissioners also are experiencing this problem,” the PUC pointed out.
The body noted that the GT&T has explained that the restriction of the spectrum by the National Frequency Management Unit is contributing to the problem.
“The shortage of adequate numbers of cell sites we believe is also a contributory, nay a substantial cause of the problem,” the PUC said.
The PUC said it has observed that the number of consumers is increasing almost daily and the great number of cell phones in the system also helps to curtail adequate service to all consumers at all times.
“In the circumstances, we request that you suspend the further sale of this service until such time as you can provide a reasonably adequate service to your customers. The situation as it obtains at the moment belies your claim that you are getting better all the time,” the PUC stated.
Patrol checks out Fort Island report
A POLICE and Coast Guard team dispatched to Fort Island in the Essequibo River Tuesday night after reports that a boatload of suspicious looking persons was seen in the river, did not find any trace of them, an official said yesterday.
The official said the patrol of Police and Coast Guard ranks spent the night searching for the suspicious group around the island in the Essequibo River but did not find them.
The team was deployed about 20:30 h Monday.
On December 28 last, a gang of eight men terrorised four families on Fort Island before escaping with cash, jewellery, four firearms and a quantity of ammunition, seven outboard motor engines, three chainsaws, two water pumps, a generator, electronic equipment, cell phones and groceries.
During the attack, one of the bandits was apparently accidentally shot by an accomplice and was believed to have been seriously wounded, Police reported.
IDB approves policy for indigenous in region
THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a strategy and operational policy designed to protect the rights of indigenous peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening the bank’s commitment to non-discrimination and including indigenous peoples socio-culturally.
The policy also supports their development of identity, empowers their active participation in the development process while respecting their priorities, natural assets and cultural heritage, a release from the IDB said.
Chief of the IDB Indigenous Peoples and Community Development Unit Anne Deruyttere said in the release, “The policy in particular contains specific safeguards regarding the physical, territorial and cultural integrity of indigenous peoples.”
The release added that the policy is its first comprehensively developed one to benefit the indigenous peoples, and it ensures that indigenous issues will be mainstreamed into country strategies for consideration.
The policy specifies that indigenous communities have a right to participate in resource management as well as receive benefits from these resources. In addition, it provides for compensation from the impact of bank-financed projects.
It also supports the peoples’ access to economic opportunities, information technology, technical assistance and financial services, with special emphasis on gender equality.
The release added, “The policy and the strategy also support the strengthening of land titling processes and adequate enforcement mechanisms to protect indigenous collective and individual rights.” They cover urban, as well as rural areas, and cater for those living in trans-border area.
The policy was developed through a series of consultations with indigenous organisations and lessons learned from other projects supported by the bank.
GNBS addresses rice farmers concerns
AS A result of complaints from rice farmers regarding short weight, inaccurate dockage and moisture content, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) in its 2004 annual report submitted to the National Assembly recently, said it visited several rice mills and provided suggestions for improvement.
“Resulting from complaints received from farmers regarding short weight and inaccurate dockage and moisture content, Cabinet convened a meeting with representatives from the GNBS, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) to address the concerns raised.
“As a result, visits were conducted by the GNBS in collaboration with GRDB and RPA to 31 rice mills in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six, to observe the operations of these mills and to provide suggestions for improvement in order to ensure transparency,” the report stated.
In addition, the GNBS said letters were sent to millers informing them of the areas that would be monitored by the bureau and what is required of them to ensure that the requirements are met.
Continuous inspection was carried out by the GNBS during verification activities and surveillance inspections and it was found that correct procedures were followed, the bureau reported.
However, the GNBS noted that farmers reported that in the absence of GNBS inspectors some millers do not comply with the correct operating procedures, resulting in farmers being cheated.
Prices of consumer items rise
THE year 2006 began with a 1.6% increase in the price level of consumer items monitored in the Urban (Georgetown) Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket of goods and services, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Statistics.
The price index value for January registered a level of 213.8 points compared with the December 2005 level of 210.4 points, the bureau said.
This increase was mainly due to the significant impact of the recent flooding which resulted in the interruption of supplies to the markets from the middle of December, 2005, it said.
Thus the significant increase of 1.6% for the month of January was fuelled primarily by price increases of more than 3% in the food group, the Bureau of Statistics reported.
This was due to price movements recorded in several sub-categories, among them being vegetables and vegetable products - 26.4%; fruits and fruit products - 6.5%; pulses and pulse products 1.6%; meat, fish and eggs and tobacco and tobacco products - 1.0%; sugar, honey and related products - 0.9%, and prepared meals 0.3%.
Although there were decreases in the sub-categories of cereals and cereal products by 1.1%, milk and milk products 0.8%, oils and fats by 0.1%, alcoholic beverages 0.2% and non-alcoholic beverages 0.9%, the bureau said this did not reverse the overall upward price trend in the food group.
In respect of other goods and services, it said increases were recorded in the housing group by 0.6%, of which the sub-categories -- rent and maintenance -- rose by 0.4% and fuel and power by 0.9%, the latter primarily due to increases in kerosene oil prices by 0.6%.
The Bureau of Statistics said the furniture group showed a 0.5% increase with sub-categories cleaning materials and household services recording a 0.6% and 3.6% increase, respectively.
There were increases in the medical and personal care and miscellaneous groups of 0.1% and 0.6% respectively, the bureau added.
The transport and communication, and educational, recreational and cultural services groups all declined by 0.2%, with the sub-categories of personal transport equipment recording a 0.2% decline, and operations and personal transport (parts and accessories) and purchased transport services (air fare) a 0.1% and 0.4% decline, respectively, it said.
Wild cat strikes could scuttle industry
-- GUYSUCO official warns
By Chamanlall Naipaul
A TOP official of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) is lamenting that strikes coupled with a high level of absenteeism is affecting production and productivity in the industry.
He is advocating that worker attitudes which are outdated need to be changed to ensure that present challenges are overcome.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Operations Director of GUYSUCO, Mr Paul Worthington, said the local sugar industry has been left behind and current working attitudes are outdated.
He decried “wild cat strikes” and a high rate of absenteeism by workers, asserting that if this trend continues, it would be difficult for the industry to survive, more so in the face of the price cuts for sugar announced by the European Commission (EC), and the liberalisation of trade.
According to Worthington, the sugar price cuts will begin to “really bite by October 2008, and so there are only 18 months for these attitudes to change.”
During last year, some three to four weeks of grinding time were lost due to strikes, he said. This led to the loss of about 20,000 tonnes of sugar, because the quality of the sugar cane was significantly reduced as it was not harvested and processed on time, Worthington reported.
He is calling for disputes between workers and management to be resolved through dialogue rather than resorting to strikes.
“A partnership between the workers/unions and management is needed” whereby strikes are used only as a last resort in settling disputes, he exhorted.
Turning his attention to the high level of absenteeism, the Operations Director emphasised that, during last year, more than 5,000 temporary employees had to be recruited to compensate for absenteeism.
He noted that to get sugar production to the desired level, 12,000 hectares of sugar cane need to be planted annually. But if the present trend of absenteeism prevails, “we won’t survive” because the replanting programme is crucial towards to making the industry competitive, he said.
Another problem impacting negatively on the industry is the attrition rate among the intermediate level of managers, Worthington noted, pointing out that over the past 15 years, 650 such managers have migrated, and this is putting much pressure on the management system
The wage bill of the industry also is too high, he observed, and this could be a real problem in reducing production cost which is vital to being competitive on the world market.
The current wage bill accounts for 56% of revenue generated by the corporation. This, he said, is far too high for any business.
General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr Komal Chand, in an invited comment, said while his union recognises the challenges facing the industry and appreciates the need for partnership, “I do hope that the gentleman is not trying to find a scapegoat for the reduction in production last year.”
He noted that strikes are a legal weapon of struggle for workers’ rights and are catered for in agreements signed between the union and GUYSUCO.
The union agrees that the industry is at the cross-roads and as such there is need for cooperation among all stakeholders, particularly in the face of the cuts in the price of sugar, Chand said. However, he is imploring management about the need to adopt a better approach in dealing with worker problems.
Management also needs to engage workers in the process of making changes instead of imposing changes, he argued.
Chand is contending that a significant factor in lower production levels is poor management in the field.
“Sugar is made in the fields and not in the office,” he stressed, adding that the Booker-Tate management must deal with this issue expeditiously
He further urged that GUYSUCO needs to focus its attention on matters such as land preparation, use of fertilisers and clearing grass in the fields, as it has been proven that at locations where these matters are addressed, production and productivity are high.
Chand cited the Enmore Estate as supporting his contention.
Guyana renews commitment to fighting illegal activities
IN FORMALLY signing on to the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, the Government of Guyana yesterday renewed its commitment “to confront illegal activities in unity with other states in the hemisphere and reinforces respect for the rule of law as a fundamental value of the inter-American system.”
Ambassador Bayney R. Karran, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, signed the OAS treaty on his government’s behalf, along with Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin.
“Guyana’s signing of this convention will contribute to building security in our hemisphere,” said Ambassador Karran, noting that “at a time when many states of the hemisphere face unprecedented threats to their security through growing sophistication in transnational criminal activities, such as the illegal drug trade and trafficking in arms, it is highly opportune for states to render to one another mutual assistance in criminal matters.”
Elaborating, Karran observed that since the convention was adopted in 1992, it has “buttressed the provisions of Article 2.e of the Charter of the OAS, which establishes as an essential objective ‘the solution of political, juridical and economic problems that may arise among the American states’.”
Under the OAS treaty, the states commit to cooperate in investigations, prosecutions, and proceedings that pertain to crimes over which a requesting state has jurisdiction. This convention does not authorize any state party to undertake, in the territory of another state party, the exercise of jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary General hailed yesterday’s signing as an “expression of the ongoing commitment of Guyana to this organization.”
He noted as well that many of the issues concerning cooperation have been put on the agenda of the Ministers of Justice Meeting. He stressed that “these issues get full attention,” because crime itself, including illegal firearms trafficking, has an impact on countries’ socio-economic climate.
Ambassador Ramdin argued that by placing emphasis on these issues, “the OAS expresses its relevance” to its member countries.
Ramdin also urged those member states that have not yet signed the treaty to do so as soon as possible, reiterating that crime does not care about borders, and hence “we need to cooperate among ourselves.”
With Guyana, 20 member states have now signed the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, which entered into force April 1996. Eighteen member states have ratified. (OAS PRESS RELEASE)
Police arrest Rupununi shooting suspect
POLICE yesterday reported the arrest of a shooting suspect, on Sunday, at Tabatinga, Central Rupununi.
According to a press release, the man was held about 10:45 h, when ranks went to Masara Point, North Rupununi, to investigate a Friday report that another man had been shot.
The detainee, who remains in custody pending charges to be laid shortly, had a .32 revolver with which he is alleged to have wounded Cleveland Hodge, 25, of Craig, East Bank Demerara.
Hodge was shot in his right hip during an argument, the release stated.
Banks DIH scores big for Mash
BANKS DIH, with the largest float at this year’s Mashramani celebrations, has emerged number one in the Large and Commercial float categories, 2006 Mash Coordinator Lennox Canterbury has reported.
Banks DIH revellers, along with those of 30 other costume bands, representing public and private companies and organisations, mashed through Georgetown streets on Republic Day last Thursday to the National Park with tens of thousands joining in the fun.
At the National Park, a committee of judges awarded points to the participants based on originality, clarity, mobility/movement, presentation, colour, craftsmanship, uniformity, float and main costume.
Mashramani 2006 was held under the theme `Showcasing a cultural mix in 2006’ and while some bands adopted this as their main slogan, others used their own themes.
Banks DIH took to the streets on Mash Day under the theme `Celebrating Culture and Pride’. Its float was more than eight feet high and featured a replica of the rotunda of the Banks DIH complex at Thirst Park.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said Mr Canterbury reported that second spot in the Large Float category went to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. The ministry’s band moved through the streets of Georgetown with participants numbering just about 250.
The agency said the ministry blossomed under the theme `Colourful, cultural explosion’ showcasing a profusion of colours which blended beautifully on the streets as participants made their way to the National Park.
Rayon House of Fashion copped third place in the large float category. Its revellers were under the theme `Consolidation’ displaying their floats and costumes which symbolised the 15 member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
In the Medium float category, the Ministry of Agriculture copped first place while Giftland Office Max, with a float representing the National Bird, `The Canje Pheasant’, was awarded second place. Placing third was the Ministry of Local Government.
In the Small float category, the Ministry of Home Affairs was awarded first while the Ministry of Health came in second. Third place was awarded to Don Gomes of Don Gomes Optical Services.
In the Large Costume category, the ‘Slingshot’ band made off with first place while the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) was in second position. In third place was the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).
Government ministries dominated the Medium Costume category as the Ministry of Finance came in first and the Ministry of Housing was awarded second. Third place was given to Chemical Corner.
In the Small Costume category, the State Media band, comprising the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) got the judges’ nod for first place, as participants revelled under the theme `Information for the Nation’. Second place was awarded to the Guyana Forestry Commission.
Adrian Dutchin, who was crowned Soca Monarch for 2006, was also crowned Road March King for having the most popularly played soca music during Mashramani.
NDC launches clean environment competition
-- offers prizes for Best Kept Yard, other categories
THE Woodlands/Farm Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) has launched a Clean Environment Competition for residents within the NDC with cash prizes for winners.
Chairman of the NDC, Mr K.P. Deokarran said the competition, which began last week, will run to December.
Residents will receive prizes for Best Kept Yard, Best Kept Road Shoulders and Best Kept Drains in the villages with $50,000 for first prize, $20,000 for second prize and $5,000 for third prize in each category.
Deokarran said councillors hit upon the idea of running a competition as one means of encouraging cleanliness and beautification of residential surroundings within the NDC during the last statutory meeting of the council in January last.
The NDC has set up a panel of four judges to adjudicate on competitors at the end of June, September and at mid-December.
The judges will award points to competitors on each occasion and the winners will be decided based on who gets the most points, second highest and third highest, etc. over the duration of the competition.
Deokarran said the members of the business community within the NDC have pledged to offer material support to the venture.
The four judges are Senior Environmental Health Officer in Region Five, Mr Ignatius Merai, Environmental Health Officer within the Mahaicony-Abary Sub-Region, Ms Amanda James, Vice-Chairman of the NDC, Mr Deonand Maraj and Councillor, Mr Prince Pompey.
In a related issue, Deokarran said the council will be intensifying its stray catching programme this year.
He advised cattle owners to keep their animals off the dams and roadways or risk having them impounded and having to pay the associated costs for their release.
The Woodlands/Farm NDC is the Local Government authority for several villages between the Left Bank of the Mahaicony River and the Right Bank of the Mahaica River.
The NDC, like all others in Region Five and countrywide, expects to benefit from the support of Community D&I workers who are to be employed under an initiative by President Bharrat Jagdeo for an initial period of at least one year.
The Community D&I workers are being paid by Central Government but are to be supervised by the NDCs, not only for D&I works, but for other environmental health and community development issues.
(CLIFFORD STANLEY)
In Region Two…
RPA blames farmers for delayed flood assistance payout
RICE Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj has said farmers are partly to blame for the delay in paying those in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) entitled to assistance from a government flood relief package.
He said the planters contributed to the situation by giving false information to extension officers.
Those affected by the recent flooding are each to receive $5,000 per acre for cultivations of up to 20 acres and the aid is intended to help them buy fertiliser and insecticide for their fields.
Mr Seeraj said the list with names of intended Region Two beneficiaries will have to be scrutinised properly before payment is made.
He said the RPA and Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) want the compilation to be accurate and have held discussions about it with potential recipients in the region.
Mr Seeraj told the Guyana Chronicle that some 32,500 acres are cultivated with the grain in Region Two but the listing compiled, so far, has surpassed that acreage by 8,000 acres.
Public Assistance books distribution begins on Essequibo Coast
THE Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security has begun distribution of books to Public Assistance recipients on Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).
A release from the Regional Administration said the exercise started at Charity and was to continue yesterday at Dartmouth; Danielstown today; Queenstown tomorrow and Anna Regina on Friday.
The release said more boks will be distributed at the Suddie Administrative Office on Monday, March 6; at Supenaam Amerindian Hostel on Tuesday, March 7 and Aurora Youth Centre and Huist T’Dieren Primary School on Wednesday, March 8.
Guyanese on ammo charge in Barbados
A 21-YEAR-OLD Guyanese is due to appear in the Bridgetown, Barbados court this morning to answer a charge of being in possession of ammunition.
Marvin Shane Pestano was nabbed at the Barbados Grantley Adams airport on Monday as he was about to return to Guyana. He arrived from Guyana on Saturday.
The quantity of ammo he is alleged to have had is small - one live round of 7.62 calibre.
Sugar action plan consultations end
BROAD-BASED public consultations on Guyana’s sugar action plan to access compensation from the European Union for its sharp price cuts, have ended and officials say the proposal may be ready this week.
After the final round of consultations at the University of Guyana Tain campus in Berbice on Monday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said the plan will soon be ready for submission to the European Commission for its consideration to provide Guyana with increased funding to cushion the impact of the price cuts.
At the session, it reported, Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Minister, Mr Clement Rohee said the consultations were convened to ensure stakeholders are abreast with efforts by the government and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) to ensure the survival of the sugar industry amidst the reformation of the EU sugar regime.
Rohee commented on the US$165M Skeldon modernisation plan which includes a co-generation plant and a refinery which will collaboratively boost the industry’s competitiveness, the agency said.
“We in Guyana have not been idle. Anticipating a price reduction, GUYSUCO had already articulated and begun to implement a forward-looking business plan that aims to cut production costs, expand production and diversify into value added production”, he noted.
GINA said Rohee pointed out that the plan to modernise signals a shared vision of GUYSUCO and the government as it illustrates that sugar has a future.
He also explained the impact the cut would have on the country’s socio-economic fabric but assured that enshrined within Guyana’s action plan are benefits to cushion the fallout from the reformation of the EU sugar regime, the agency said.
He said that with the cuts being implemented, effective July 1, 2006, cumulatively it would see the price for sugar traded preferentially moving from 523.7 Euros to 498.8 Euros in 2006 to 2007, representing a 5.1 per cent price cut. During 2008 to 2009 the price would move to 448.8 euros, and finally in 2009 to 2010, the price being traded in Europe would be 335 Euros.
GINA said Rohee noted the tireless lobbying efforts he, President Bharrat Jagdeo and other stakeholders had undertaken which resulted in a three per cent reduction in the original price cut.
Though this is not a “source of great satisfaction,” he said the government is now focusing on ensuring Europe provides adequate compensation for affected sugar producers in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
He also pointed to Mr Jagdeo’s upcoming lobbying mission to Europe to access increased compensation for Guyana and other CARICOM producers to restructure its industry to deal with the devastating cuts.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Mr Satyadeow Sawh said, “we here in Guyana remain confident, not out of our own enthusiasm or historical linkages but we are confident because our government is putting measures in place to ensure that sugar survives and continues to play the very important role it has played in the evolution of our history from colonial days to independence to today where sugar is a very important part of our life.”
GUYSUCO Chairman, Mr Ronald Alli, during a presentation on key elements within the strategic plan, said it presents a comprehensive strategy to respond to the EU’s sugar price cut prepared according to EC regulations which invite sugar protocol countries to present a multi-annual adaptation strategy as a basis for technical and financial assistance.
The main elements of the plan include:
* The expansion of production in line with new marketing opportunities
* Increasing sugar sales to CARICOM to 100,000 tonnes
* implementing an Agriculture Improvement Plan
* upgrading factories
* producing value added products
* constructing a co-generation plant which will provide 30 mega watts of power
* Ethanol production
* The mechanisation of factories
Alli said the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) is expected to hold a meeting to rationalise the region’s sugar position.
Advisor to the President on Sustainable Development, Mr Navin Chandarpal said the discussion is important and the industry “cannot afford to operate like it’s business as usual.”
GINA said those present at the consultation asked questions regarding the action plan. The main query, it said, was about the measures being put in place to cater for human resources and job loss.
Sugar workers were assured that the government would do all it could to ease the socio-economic fallout from the EU reform, the agency said.
Port Mourant students tour Office of the President
STUDENTS of the Port Mourant Primary School in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) yesterday toured the Office of the President complex.
The students, accompanied by their teachers, were also given a chance to meet the Cabinet, led by President Bharrat Jagdeo, which was in session at the time of their visit, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
Reflecting on the exercise, many of the students said this was their first visit to the Office of the President.
One student told the agency the outing was “very exciting, since we got to meet the Cabinet and see the Office of the President.”
Government may import Venezuela cement to ease shortage
THE government yesterday said it was seeking an alternative cement supplier to ease the dire shortage in the construction industry and other areas.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Mr Manzoor Nadir told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that President Bharrat Jagdeo has been in consultation with neighbouring Venezuela to satisfy the demand.
“We have been asking one of our neighbours if they can assist us with close to twenty to thirty thousand tonnes of cement in four or five shipments. His Excellency the President has intervened in this regard and we are awaiting a response. If that materialises we are hopeful that the backlog of orders can be cleared and the normal shipment importers have will be able to give us a continuous supply,” Nadir said.
GINA said he noted that the supply is necessary to stabilise the market and eliminate price gouging which is being experienced in certain parts of the country.
“We know throughout the country those persons who have a few bags of cement have been hoarding and selling at high prices. There is one businessman in Berbice who is selling cement for $2,100 per sack. We need desperately to get in this cement that the President is trying to get, to not only keep the supply but to keep the price level stable,” he explained.
He said the situation is being closely monitored.
“This week, small shipments of cement started trickling back into the country. We have a shortage of 30,000 tonnes, which represents a backlog of about two months which was compounded by a number of factors.”
The agency said Nadir cited the inclement weather during January which stalled many construction projects, and after the weather cleared, there was a high demand for cement.
He said the regional supplier; Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) has not been supplying cement in the regular quantities, noting that importers of the TCL product have only had 20 to 30 per cent of their orders filled.
The minister recalled the government’s decision to open the market to extra-regional cement by waiving the Common External Tariff (CET).
“We know for the entire week about 8,000 tonnes should be coming in the country but everyone I suspect would have a backup of orders. Eight thousand tonnes would only satisfy a quarter of the current demand for the critical building material.”
He told GINA that Guyana’s demand for cement will remain high given the recent boom in the construction industry.
“There is a very strong demand for the Skeldon project, the Cricket World Cup stadium, hotels, housing construction, roads and other infrastructural development; the demand for cement in Guyana will continue to be very strong.”
The minister pointed out that it is hoped that cement importers would take advantage of the waiver on extra regional cement.
“We are urging cement importers who have been looking up extra regional sources of cement to see how they can bring in cement from those sources to ensure that Guyanese consumers can have a regular supply at a decent price,” Nadir told the agency.
GBTI awards domestic environment competition winners
THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) yesterday recognised the steps taken by their customers in designing and maintaining their homes to enhance their environment and enter the “Best Kept Home and Yard” competition.
The prize giving ceremony was held at the GBTI Water Street branch and saw persons who entered the competition being presented with one to three month rebates on loan instalments along with consolation prizes of picnic folding tents.
The first prize of a three months rebate on a loan instalment was presented to Mr Mario Reid of Grove, East Coast Demerara; the second prize of two months rebate on loan instalment was presented to Mr Royden Trotz of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and the third prize of one month rebate went to Mr Kenny Edwards of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.
The competition was an initiative of GBTI aimed at enhancing the environment by encouraging people to take up the challenge to make their surroundings a better place.
“Our primary business is lending money,” said Mr John Barnes, Senior Manager of the bank’s Inspection Division. “[But] we are proud to be involved in this scheme of not only handing out prizes, but to hand out pride in home building. This way we all can enhance our environment by creating the best kept homes and yard and the total package is something worthwhile”.
At yesterday’s ceremony was Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Housing and Water, Ms Claudette Moore who emphasised the value of maintaining homes and a healthier environment.
She also stressed the importance of having a partnership with GBTI so that the ministry’s Environmental and Homeownership Training programme could be highlighted, since most persons are not aware of the programme.
This programme, she explained, is the vehicle through which the Government of Guyana is pursuing its stated goal in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to assist particularly low-cost housing schemes and regularised settlements in the areas of community responsibilities and environmentally sound practices pertaining to water, sanitation and other aspects.
“At the ministry we are not only responsible for giving out house lots but also to create a better environment. We hope that persons will continue to maintain their environment and be involved in building their communities”, said Ms Moore. (NATHALENE DEFREITAS)
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