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‘LET US NOT BE GUYANESE BY DEFAULT’
-- PM Hinds urges at end of budget debate
‘Don’t bad mouth our Country and People…in whatever they do, our people are 80 to 90 percent good, 10 to 20 percent bad’ – P.M. Hinds
PRIME Minister Mr. Samuel Hinds has said that while the 2008 budget is perhaps not the best, it is “appropriate”, and urged that Guyanese not to “bad mouth ourselves and our country lightly.”

' The Budget is not an annual ‘stand up’ magician’s bag of illusions and tricks, but an annual adjustment and refinement along a journey of some decades to a level of prosperity that we see in other countries’ -- Prime Minister Hinds'

His arguments were anchored on a charged defence of government keeping the Valued Added Tax (VAT) rate at 16%, saying that calls from the opposition to lower the tax to perhaps 10%, amounts to “cheap shots and bordering on being irresponsible.”

“Let us not be Guyanese by default,” he urged as he summed up the government’s arguments in the debate of the $119.8B budget.

“The Budget is not an annual ‘stand up’ magician’s bag of illusions and tricks, but an annual adjustment and refinement along a journey of some decades to a level of prosperity that we see in other countries,” the Prime Minister said.

The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform – One Guyana (PNCR-1G) was vociferous in its call for VAT to be lowered given the “windfall” the government collected in 2007 when VAT was introduced.

Total revenue collected by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in 2007 amounted to a whopping $77.3B. This was some $18.8B over the previous year.

The opposition had charged that this “windfall” should go back to the people, in the form of a lowering in the tax.

But the Prime Minister countered by saying: “It sounds good to call for an immediate reduction of VAT from 16 percent to 10 percent or 8 percent, as if these revenues are going elsewhere than to our people, the people of Guyana.”

“It is not a windfall; it is taxes that were being dodged and it is being put to good use,” the Prime Minister declared.

He said much of the additional “relief and benefits” in the budget are funded by the widened tax catch of VAT.

Mr. Hinds noted that were the government to heed the call to reduce the VAT from 16 percent to 10 percent would be saying “goodbye” to a number of initiatives, such as the increase in the tax threshold.

The budget measure includes the previously announced increase in the income tax threshold from $28,000 to $35,000. To accommodate this measure and free some 36,000 persons from paying tax, the government has said it is foregoing $3B in revenue it would have otherwise collected.

Mr. Hinds sought to respond to the question posed by PNR-1G front bencher Ms Deborah Backer who asked: Which Police Constable can live on (a salary of) $34, 000?

“…$34, 000 per month, as a starting salary, for constables is no doubt small, but it has been growing steadily to that point where it is now larger than it ever was,” Hinds rebutted.

He said it would be more heartless, and deceptive were the government to double or even triple pay without a comparable increase in production, thereby creating a situation that would countenance highly imbalanced budgets.

With the accession of the current administration to office in 1992, Hinds said a major task has been to arrange for the “steady, gradual recovery of the incomes and pensions of government employees and other government assistance.”

Mr. Hinds argued also that were the VAT to be lowered, the expanded list of items which have been exempted from VAT would not have been possible.

He said some of these items contribute to the lowering the cost of living and also lowering the cost of getting into and maintaining production.

Were the government to lower the VAT, Mr. Hinds argued too that that would mean saying “goodbye” to the increases in old age pensions and other social assistance.

Effective January 1, 2008, old age pension has increased from $3, 675 to $6, 000 per month and public assistance has grown from $2, 470 to $4, 500 per month.

The Prime Minister also stated that Guyana’s VAT rate was not unique as many countries in the Caribbean have a comparable rate.

“This government believes that in our current circumstances, holding VAT at 16% and returning the revenue to our people the way we have done is the sensible, responsible and compassionate thing to do,” Mr. Hinds declared.

He also dismissed charges that the increase in inflation (to 14%) was not due to VAT. He said the increased inflation was “80% or more due to the high prices of commodities” such as wheat and all grains, milk and all milk products, “and residual fuel increases beyond our ability to cushion.”

Mr. Hinds noted that throughout the Caribbean, the rising cost of living has been highlighted as “the principal macroeconomic challenge.”

He posited that at least one sister Caribbean country, Jamaica, has recorded inflation of more than 16% in 2007. “This occurred although they did not have the additional pressure that Guyana experienced as a result of the introduction of VAT; Our performance of 14% is therefore actually quite satisfactory,” Mr. Hinds said.

Mr. Hinds also dismissed opposition charge that the budget does not contain measures for job creation, saying that in fact “almost everything in the budget is about creating jobs and equipping our people to do those jobs.”

“When we speak of modernizing the traditional sectors…when we speak of working with the private sector to establish an alumina factory…when we speak of the competitiveness strategy…when we speak about support for agricultural diversification… we are speaking about creating jobs and improving lives and livelihoods,” Mr. Hinds said.

At Maha Shiv Raatri celebration…
PM Hinds emphasises unification, prayers in prevailing circumstances
THE annual holy Hindu observance of Maha Shiv Raatri, hosted by the Cove and John ashram on East Coast Demerara, got underway yesterday, with large throngs of devotees gathering from early morning.

Dressed in the full splendour of their traditional saris and kurtas, they chanted mantras and sang bhajans from the scriptures of their religion.

Among those also attending were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the functions of the Office of President, and other senior Government officials.

In his remarks, Mr. Hinds, alluding to the Lusignan and Bartica massacres, emphasised the need for unification and prayers in the prevailing circumstances.

Leader of the ashram, Swami Vidyanandji Maharaj explained that, on occasions like this, Hindus seek peace and bliss from God and also to derive greater spirituality.

He said they believe in the oneness of God possessing different facets, namely Brahma, the creator; Mahesh or Shiva, the destroyer of evil and Vishnu, the preserver, all forming a holy trinity.

Maharaj also said Hindus have a beautiful principle, in that, those who identify with Lord Shiva succeed in acquiring spiritual uplift, enabling them to rise above the normal human expectations.

He said spirituality ensures that thoughts and actions are noble and he appealed to individuals in the gathering to be always unselfish and not allow themselves to become obsessed with material things.

Former Finance Minister, Mr. Saisnarine Kowlessar, who is an associate of the ashram and acted as Master of Ceremonies, observed that the occasion is an auspicious but also solemn one in the Hindu calendar and provides an atmosphere conducive for dedicated prayer.

Materialism is not the highest ideal, he advised, underscoring the necessity for moral and spiritual pursuits and service to mankind, whereby help is provided to the poor, needy and downtrodden.

Kowlessar said that is the pillar on which the ashram was built by the late founder Swami Purnanand in the 1950s.

Shiv Raatri means the ‘Night of Lord Shiva’ and is a time when Hindus countrywide gather at their ashrams to offer prayers and worship after fasting the entire day

President’s engagement with stakeholders augurs well for future
- Luncheon
CABINET Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon said yesterday that the engagement between President Bharrat Jagdeo and stakeholders, following the Lusignan and Bartica massacres which claimed 23 lives, were unique, not only in the timing but moreso in output.

He said the “patriotic” positions that emanated from the meetings “augur well for the future.”

Addressing his weekly post-Cabinet briefing, Luncheon declared the claim being made, that the engagements were a last resort of the Government, is clearly unjustified, as they were hurriedly organised in the midst of ongoing national consultations with stakeholders on matters such as poverty reduction, the draft education bill, the University of Guyana strategy paper, Protected Areas, money laundering and more.

He said the Government is moving ahead with its plan to acquire two ‘Bell 206’ helicopters which have already been identified and training in their use commissioned.

Luncheon explained that the ‘chopper’ loaned to Guyana by Trinidad and Tobago for an initial 10 days was utilised for land and sea surveillance.

The Government has announced a $13.7B budgetary allocation, this year, to strengthen agencies that contribute to public safety and national security.

It has also planned the construction of a forensic laboratory and a modern Police training facility and other projects are the development of an integrated crime and violence information system to monitor trends and allow for more targeted “evidence based interventions,” Luncheon stated.

He also mentioned proposals to improve rapid response systems, upgrade communication systems, expand access to Police and other databases and better intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities.

Some $900M has also been set aside to buy appropriate equipment and more gear for members of the Joint Services, he said. (Neil Marks)

Dramatic fire aback GPL’s Garden of Eden Power Plant causes lengthy blackouts
FIRE of as yet unknown origin that started in a canal aback the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) facility at the Garden of Eden Power Plant, East Bank Demerara resulted in lengthy periods of black-out to villages along the East Bank, the City and as far as the East Coast Demerara last night.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, who along with other Government ministers visited the fire scene last night, told reporters the incident occurred around 17:05 h (5:05 pm).

He said GPL operatives responded and foams were placed in the canal to subdue the fire. The Timehri and Georgetown fire services also responded.

Minister Benn said the problem with the canal has been the ‘waste oil’ from the power station that flows into it, posing a serious risk.

Acknowledging that the fire did appear dramatic, Benn said it was contained to the canal and a few lantern posts that were damaged during the blaze.

The minister said he understands that a similar such fire occurred before, and urged that immediate steps be taken to ensure there is no recurrence.

He said he has spoken to the Prime Minister and GPL officials about the problem (of oil leakages into the canal). GPL, he said, needs to immediately go through all its locations and do a risk assessment -- starting with the Garden of Eden power plant.

Fuel tanks located near to the canal needs to be cleaned and monitored, he said.

Investigations will continue to determine the origin of the fire.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manikchand and Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy were also present at the fire scene last night. (Priya Nauth)

President Jagdeo to attend today’s Rio Group Summit in Santo Domingo
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo, accompanied by the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Elisabeth Harper, will be attending today’s XX Summit of the Rio Group, to be held in the city of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic.

The theme of the Summit is Natural Disasters, Energy and Development.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that among the issues to be addressed are Guyana’s application for full membership, reflections on the strengthening of the Rio Group and the establishment of Working Groups on Natural Disasters and Energy.

President Jagdeo and the other Heads of State will also approve the Santo Domingo Declaration which addresses a number of issues including natural disasters, energy, strengthening the United Nations, Climate Change, the worldwide problem of drugs, corruption, the fight against hunger and poverty and the vulnerability of small States.

The Guyanese Head of State is expected to address the gathering as the outgoing Member of the Rio Group Troika.

Mexico will assume the Chairmanship of the Group for the period of 2008-2009.

Guyana was the proud and successful host of the X1X Rio Group summit held in Georgetown early last year.

Dr. Jagan eulogised at Anna Regina
wreath-laying ceremony
FORMER People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian, Mr. Isahack Basir said yesterday that late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan set the stage for national unity in this country.

The Founder of the party and ‘Father of the Nation’ has left a legacy for Guyanese, the PPP stalwart in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) told the gathering at a wreath-laying ceremony, held at Anna Regina on Essequibo Coast, to commemorate Dr. Jagan’s eleventh death anniversary.

Basir claimed every Guyanese has benefited directly or indirectly from the contributions made by the great leader towards the development of Guyana over the years.

He said the deceased was a good person who never compromised and was professional in his attitude.

Basir challenged other Guyanese to set good examples like the dead leader, who has left much literature to be read and spread.

He said Dr. Jagan, who met persons on the ground, especially at the grassroots level, always pointed out that politics is not written in books but learnt from people.

Basir cautioned his audience not to forget the old days and the people who were involved in the struggle for democracy with Dr. Jagan.

He said he, himself, worked closely with the late President who encouraged people to plant a tree and eat local.

Also speaking on the occasion, at the Children’s Play Park, Regional Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh recalled Dr. Jagan’s last words to the nation were:“Don’t worry, everything will be alright.”

He hoped that the legacy he bequeathed will continue to unite the Guyanese people.

Baksh traced Dr. Jagan’s life, from a sugar estate where he grew up, to when he became a great politician, statesman and President of the Republic, dedicating himself to build a united nation for all the people of Guyana.

Another speaker, Mr. Rudy Williams, who spoke on behalf of Amerindians, said Dr. Jagan recognised the contributions of the indigenous people to the development of Guyana.

Williams said many Amerindians were able to enter the political arena and Dr. Jagan also ensured they entered the mainstream of the population when massive development started in their communities from 1992.

The commemorative programme included bhajans, poems and calypso on the work and life of Jagan, following prayers by representatives of the three main religions.

Thieves raiding farms in Cozier Scheme
THIEVES are raiding farms in the Cozier Scheme on Essequibo Coast.

Latest reports indicate that several farmers lost large bunches of plantains and bananas on Monday.

The victims told the Guyana Chronicle that the thieves are using the recently desilted main Cozier drainage canal to transport the stolen produce in paddle boats.

The planters returned to their cultivations since Government started a massive exercise to desilt drainage canals in Cozier and are appealing for Police patrols there

Minister Persaud, U.S. counterpart talk on agriculture issues
MINISTER of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud and his United States (U.S.) counterpart, Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Ed Shaffer, met in Washington D.C. on Tuesday when they discussed new possible areas for cooperation in their common field.

A press release said the dialogue particularly supported the development of an agro-energy/bio-fuels sector in Guyana.

The release said the high level meeting saw an exchange of views on areas of possible support from the U.S. Agriculture Department for Guyana's drive, especially as it seeks to diversify and expand exports.

During their talks, Persaud raised the issue of the restricted list of fresh agricultural produce from Guyana allowed through the Port of Miami, which is the main entry point for New York and other U.S. markets.

It said Shaffer undertook to address this concern which could affect the export growth of agricultural produce to the U.S., if left unresolved.

The age old concern about highly subsidised rice from the U.S. competing

with Guyana's on the world market, particularly in CARICOM, also engaged the meeting, the release said.

According to the release: “The discussions centred on technological and other support for an agro-energy sector and even the mobilisation of private investment in the U.S. for this new sector.”

The release said, in an invited comment, Minister Persaud said the talks were "very positive" and expressed optimism that the undertaking given by the U.S. Agriculture Secretary would be followed up early.

Persaud, who was accompanied to the meeting by Guyana's Ambassador to the U.S., Mr. Bayney Karran, is attending the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference organised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The release said U.S. President George.W. Bush officially opened the forum and Persaud made a presentation on the role of forestry in renewable energy.

The Guyana Minister acknowledged that the U.S. is one of the world's largest producers of ethanol and bio-diesel.

Ramsammy explains strategies for increased
health sector allocation
By Priya Nauth
MINISTER of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said Wednesday that part of the 2008 health plan is advancing the process of transforming some clinics into Regional Hospitals.

Speaking during the Budget Debate in the National Assembly, he also disclosed that the ministry will begin a two-year transformation process that will see Bartica Hospital moving to the Regional Hospital for Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

Ramsammy outlined several areas of focus as the Government continues to transform the health sector.

This year, the allocation for that ministry is $12.1 billion, the largest ever annual budget and the minister said, during the ensuing three-year period, the Lethem and Mabaruma hospitals will also become regional institutions.He said five regions have Regional Hospitals and they include Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

Region Four is newly added with the recent opening of Diamond Hospital at East Bank Demerara.

Ramsammy asserted that a healthy population is an essential prerequisite for economic growth and stability in any country and an imperative because the health of people is important for the creation of jobs.

He also took the opportunity to congratulate the health workers, who have done tremendous work with the resources provided.

Ramsammy told the House that his ministry will also focus on the equitable distribution of its public health expenditure, deployment of staffing and how accessible is its service.

He said, while Guyana is faced with many challenges, it has been able to make tremendous progress and now boasts 374 public health care facilities. They are at five levels, which means all Guyanese have a level of access to them.

Ramsammy said this country ranks favourably when it comes to bed availability in the heath system and the ministry is making significant efforts to rationalise the capacity in each region, so the number of hospital beds per region is more equitably reflected.

He said a very significant equity issue is the number of doctors providing services to people and disclosed that, currently, while 510 are registered to practice, not all work permanently here and that is in the process of being resolved.

However, Ramsammy informed that the first batch of five graduates from the local post-graduate surgical programme will be assigned to Regional Hospitals in May.

He said the ministry delivered more than $2.2 billion worth of medicines and supplies within the sector, outside of Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Ramsammy also alluded to the fight against HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes in which the ministry continues to make strides.

“We have made steady progress and we accomplished gains in the reduction of both maternal and infant mortalities”, he said, too.

Ramsammy said the 2008 Budget for the sector takes into consideration and views the subject from the perspective of a present day challenge that needs to be confronted now.

The Health Minister emphasised that “even as we struggle to overcome these challenges, we recognise that old pandemics, such as chronic diseases of the heart and hypertension, stroke, diabetes and cancer are ravaging the health and economic well-being of our people.”

Ramsammy reiterated that, given the great financial challenges that Guyana continues to confront, the allocation to the health sector demonstrates the Government’s determination to ensure that health needs are met as best as possible.

He said the sector continues the trend of increasing the per capita investment in public health and is grateful for the almost 20 per cent increase allocated.

Ramsammy said it means that, in 2008, just over US$78 per capita will be expended on health, outside of out-of-pocket payments to the Private Sector and the expenditure from grant programmes, such as Global Fund and PEPFAR.

In 2007, the per capita expense was approximately US$70, he compared.

Mentioning some other problems, Ramsammy said Guyana is challenged by communicable diseases, although it has overcome ones like polio, small pox, measles and other vaccine preventables.

But old and new ones, such as tuberculosis, malaria, dengue and HIV, as well as emerging others, among them SARS and pandemic influenza are still major hurdles the sector must confront.

Ramsammy said, because equity in spending is such an important pillar of health sector strategy, the ministry has to look at what it spends per capita in different regions.

He said that is a very difficult subject because it is hard to disaggregate the ministry budget into how much of it flows to each region though it is known what is allocated per region for health within the budgets of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and exactly how much medicine and medical supplies bought with the ministry allocation goes to each region.

Ramsammy said the country can ill afford to view climate change as an emerging health crisis as it is already a formidable health challenge, one that must occupy space in the health sector in terms of present day mitigating interventions.

He pointed out that, for the first time, a health emergency coordinator is located in the ministry and Guyana must focus now on the need for vector control.

Ramsammy said, while Guyana has focused only on dealing with the incidence of malaria, dengue and, to a lesser extent, filaria, it needs to deal with vector control on the basis of an emerging disease.

He said this would necessitate the establishment of a permanent vector control in a disease management plan.

Ramsammy said the one from colonial days cannot work anymore and this function must find itself in its proper place, environmental health, so the ministry intends to pursue this in 2008.

Referring to progress made in blood donation, he said full access and effective health services would require 10,000 units because that is the quantity needed for persons with cancer, women delivering babies etc.

Ramsammy said, last year, more than 11,000 cases of malaria were recorded as compared to 40,000 in 2006 but less than 8,000 are expected this year.

He said, with changing weather patterns and environmental conditions, asthma and vector borne diseases, such as dengue, is now on the rise.

Guyana has on record almost 400 cases of dengue for last year.

After Sunday crash…
Money, jewel missing from dead accident victim
THE discovery, by his relatives, that a gold band and cash Lloyd Syfox had on his person when he crashed and died last Sunday, led to quite a furore at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) mortuary on Wednesday.

The dead man had been riding a CBR motorcycle when he was killed in a collision with a truck at Colombia, East Coast Demerara.

Relatives appeared to differ on the sum the motorcyclist had on him, ranging between $50,000 and $100,000 but tension flared and the Police were summoned.

As a result, a man was taken to Alberttown Police Station to assist with the investigations.

But the suspect was released later on Wednesday without any disclosure about whether the dead man’s possessions were recovered.

Meanwhile, this newspaper confirmed that one of his pockets was slit.

The relatives reported that, when Lyken Funeral Parlour handed over the corpse at the mortuary earlier on Wednesday, the jewel was still on one hand and the currency in a pocket.

They claimed they demanded the belongings of the deceased from a suspect at the mortuary but he informed them that the death was a Police matter and the property could not be given to anyone else.

Following a post mortem examination on Syfox and the remains were taken by another funeral home, the relatives said they, again, enquired and demanded his possessions.

It was the non-response to that demand that caused the Police intervention.

A senior official of Lyken’s said an internal investigation there verified that the dismembered body had left that facility with the cash and band, for the GPH mortuary. (Shirley Thomas)

Dead Scottish volunteer being flown home for burial
THE remains of Scottish teacher Pamela McCarroll, who fell to her death while rock-climbing in Rupununi on Monday, will be flown to her homeland for burial.

The disclosure was made after a post mortem examination, on Wednesday, revealed that she died from multiple injuries as a result of the fall.

The young volunteer from Project Trust, an overseas charitable organisation, did a one year stint in Guyana and was expected to return home in August, after an attachment to St. Ignatius Secondary School, Lethem.

The 18-year-old was doing a climb, in company with a friend, at Tutuwau Falls, South Central Rupununi, about 14:00 h, when tragedy struck.

McCarroll was pronounced dead on arrival at the Regional Hospital, Lethem.

She was described, on her webpage www.bebo.com, where friends posted several entries expressing grief at her sudden demise, as an adventurous individual who specially enjoyed being outdoor.

McCarroll was one of 5,500 volunteers deployed to 25 countries annually by a widely respected professional gap institution, regarded as one of the most experienced in Britain.

Commonwealth Day 2008
Environmental issues to take centre stage
ISSUES such as deforestation, global warming, rising sea levels and conservation are set to take centre stage as the 53 Commonwealth Member States celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday under the theme ‘The Environment Our Future.’

Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday in March every year with a number of events and activities. The aim is to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth to improve the lives of its two billion citizens.

This year the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre will once again be spearheading activities based around the theme 'The Environment Our Future'.

On Monday (March 10) the traditional Commonwealth Day Inter-faith Service will be held at the National Cultural Centre from 10:00 h, followed by the Official Commonwealth Day Reception for its partners in the evening at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel.

On Wednesday (March 12), an exhibition for schools will be held on the lawns of CYP Caribbean Centre on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.

The exhibition affords students the opportunity to view the work of Government Agencies and Ministries; Commonwealth Organisations; Commonwealth countries with Diplomatic Missions in Guyana and the CARICOM Secretariat among others. Schoolchildren will also have a chance to ask questions and have discussions with exhibitors.

A Commonwealth Day package consisting of a poster depicting this year's theme 'The Environment Our Future' and resource materials on the Commonwealth and its work in member countries will be distributed. The exhibition will also feature a special prize giving ceremony for winners of an Environmental and Art Competition for schools which was organised by the Canadian High Commission.

Commonwealth’s role in Environmental Protection
With rising sea levels, expanding deserts and ravaged rainforests, the world is already experiencing human and environmental degradation, sometimes with catastrophic results. How fitting it is for the theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day observances, ‘The Environment our Future’.

In response to these challenges the Commonwealth has mobilized a series of networks to take action and address these areas of concern including deforestation, unsustainable fish and seafood farming and increasing urbanisation.

Our worldwide network of nearly 90 professional and advocacy organisations which bear the Commonwealth’s name, all work in these and other areas, to protect our environment and our world for today’s youth to inherit.

A significant challenge to this trend is the rate at which ‘slum settlements’ are also growing. At the moment there are over 327 million people – one in six Commonwealth citizens who live in insecure and health-threatening environments.

Consequently, creating sustainable cities by tackling poverty, ensuring fresh water and sanitation for all, delivering education and working towards a clean and healthy environment is a significant challenge across the Commonwealth.

Achieving these goals requires steady economic growth and social development as well as good environmental management and protection.

To counter these environmental, economic and social concerns facing Commonwealth countries the ComHabitat partnership was established.

This partnership is made up of the ministerial Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements as well as agencies from central and local governments, civil society and the private sector.

The CYP Caribbean Centre, in a statement yesterday, said among the ways it can enhance the environment are -

* Maximise Environmental resources: reduce, repair, re-use, recycle and develop production techniques that are less polluting and more effective.

* Improve Energy Conversation and efficiency in our buildings, transport systems and at home.

* Use environmentally friendly technologies, and improve agricultural practices to curb the increase in carbon dioxide.

* Protect forests and regenerate areas where forest cover has been lost.

* Protect land and water resources by the safe management and disposal of sewage and other waste.

* Strengthen national and international institutions involved in environmental protection, and improve public education programmes.

* Develop and implement strong national and international laws that promotes environmental conservation and the sustainable use of resources.

GECOM must take timely action on registration process
-- Luncheon
CABINET Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon said yesterday that Government wants the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to act in a timely manner in addressing the concerns regarding the ongoing national registration process.

He said the latest problem with the undertaking is that of actual registration.

“Identity documents used by Guyanese all their lives are suddenly found inaccurate and wanting, preventing potential registrants from getting to the promised land of the NRR (National Register of Registrants),” the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) pointed out.

According to him, many have been told that they cannot be registered in the names they have used all their lives, including all of the post 1992 free and fair elections of 1997, 2001 and 2006.

“Against this backdrop, many have threatened to withdraw from the process.” Luncheon stated.

He added that, overreaching all of this, is the issue of the timing of the production of the new voter/national identification (ID) cards and the difference between the Government and the Commission.

Luncheon said the Government is re-examining the factors surrounding the timing for the production of new voter/national IDs.

He remarked that the Government has done its part, by fully resolving the payment of scrutineers, after Office of the President, Wednesday evening, announced that it is increasing the sum allocated for the purpose, from $100M to $300M.

House-to-house registration is currently being done to develop a new electoral roll that will, firstly, be used to conduct long awaited local government elections, followed by its use as the basis for continuous registration. (Neil Marks)

POLITICAL PLURALISM
By Hydar Ally
THE ruling PPP/Civic administration is not only the largest political party in the country but it is also the party with the most multi-ethnic support. This fact is made manifest in all national and regional elections more particularly the August 2006 poll. The results of the elections showed that the party has improved on its overall support especially among Afro-Guyanese and Amerindians.

This support resulted from the hard work being done by the PPP/C administration to improve the quality of life of the Guyanese people in particular in the areas of health and education. During a recent visit to Moruka and Mabaruma, Region One, I was able to see first hand the vast improvements in the social and physical environment of these two communities since the assumption of the PPP/C Government in 1992.

Two main areas of intervention were in education and health which are two of the most important ingredient for development. Prior to 1992, there was hardly any functioning secondary school in Amerindian communities. In the whole of Region Eight there was only one secondary school which was located at Paramatakoi. This school was only offering four subjects at the CXC level at the Basic level. This means that even if the students were to obtain maximum passes in all of the four subjects offered, it would have still been inadequate to secure them attendance at tertiary level of education since the University requires a pass of five subjects at the GCE at acceptable pass grades not at the Basic but at the General level which the school was not offering at that time. The same was true of nearly all secondary schools in hinterland communities where CXC/GCE offerings were below what was needed for matriculation purposes to institutions of higher learning including the University of Guyana and the Teachers’ Training College.

The point I am seeking to establish is that the PNC regime was not interested in raising the educational attainment levels of the these communities and as a consequence was only reproducing a cycle of ignorance and underachievement which in turn was only leading to a vicious cycle of underdevelopment and dependency. This dependency syndrome was manifested in the fact that most of the hinterland schools had to be staffed by coast landers. Many of the coast landers found it difficult to adapt to the norms and values of hinterland life and leave as fast as the situation would permit.

One consequence of the above was that the low attainment levels of these communities not because Amerindian students were incapable of doing well but because of the fact that they were given a highly deficient and sub-standard quality of education vis-à-vis what was being provided in the city and coastal regions of the country. Post primary education was limited to Primary Tops which hardly went beyond the Secondary School Proficiency Examination (SSPE). It was not uncommon to find an entire staff including school heads who never went past the Secondary School Proficiency Examination.

Today, the entire infrastructure of schools is being overhauled. New primary and secondary schools are being built in all parts of the hinterland regions including some of the most remote corners such as Waramadong Secondary School in Region Seven which incidentally is one of the high flying schools in the country today in terms of examination passes.

During my visit to Region One, I had a discussion with one of the Ministry of Education’s Assessment Officer and he related to me how the