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Scores of Army hopefuls fail common entrance level test
- Army to launch youth empowerment classes to keep youths out of crime
THE Army is about to embark on remedial classes for scores of youths who failed to pass a Grade Six type examination written by 11-year-olds.

Acting Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel Bruce Lovell said yesterday that of the 393 persons who sat the entrance exam to join the Army, only 68 passed.

As a result, Col. Lovell said the Army will offer those who failed remedial classes to ensure that they pass the exam and can join the GDF.

&Our passion for youth empowerment springs from an enlightened self-interest, with the overarching principle being to prevent them from embracing crime,” Col. Lovell told a gathering for the launch of the national pig breeding programme.

Meanwhile, he said the Army is in the process of formulating a project for youths of depressed communities.

&We hope to go to those communities and provide the youths with technical and vocation education, delivered to them right in their communities after school hours using either schools or community centres as places of instruction,” Mr. Lovell noted.

&This project is rooted in the belief that strategic interventions in these groups and communities can play a major role in weaning the youths away from a life of crime and criminality,” the acting Army chief declared.

President Bharrat Jagdeo said that the government is supporting these projects because some youths are victims of the breakdown of the family structure in the society.

&Many of these young ones who need guidance at a particular time can’t get it,” Mr. Jagdeo said, alluding to situations where the father leaves home and the mother is left to eke out a living for her family.

&They get their advice from the street corners; I want to replace that with advice support from the Army and other institutions,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

Some youngsters engage in crime because they are affected by the “quick money syndrome.”

&Getting yourself to learn a skill today is important for the future,” the President declared.

He called for families to take more responsibility in helping the youths, pointing out that if they don’t do this, the youths will suffer recruitment by the criminals.

Mr. Jagdeo said, too, that the government is currently designing a programme to implement a $100M fund to assist female-headed single parent families.

The fund, he said, could assist single mothers by helping them to start up their own business, or to get their children in day care so they can go out to work.

&We feel if they have an easier life, then they may be able to pay more attention to the child, because we want that child to get the support now,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

Guyana/IDB signs US$32.9M loan agreements
- to develop local agri, power sectors
THE government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have concluded financing agreements valued at US$32.9M to develop the local agriculture and power sectors.

The agreements were signed in Miami Sunday between Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh and IDB President Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno.

A US$20.9M financing will support government’s efforts to promote the diversification of the country’s agricultural exports which fall under the Agricultural Export Diversification Programme.

The programme aims to increase Guyana’s export growth rate and reduce its volatility.

The programme comprises four main components: promotion of private sector entrepreneurship in agribusiness; improving agribusiness export and facilitation services; strengthening agricultural health and food safety services; and rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation systems.

Another US$12M loan will support the efforts of the government to promote a more sustainable and efficient power sector. The programme is envisioned in a three tranche policy based loan within a medium-term framework of institutional reform.

Financing will support activities in the power sector that will promote an enabling environment to encourage the promotion of sustainable reduction of electricity losses; improve efficiency by supporting institutional, legal, and regulatory reforms; establishing planning and priority setting in the sector that will contribute to the sustainability of electricity reductions; and to strengthen the power utility company capabilities in areas of corporate governance, transparency and accountability.

Agri Diversification
Apart from the US$20.9M IDB financing, US$1M has to be added from local counterpart resources to fund the Agriculture Export Diversification Programme.

The main components of the Programme are: Private Sector Entrepreneurship into Agribusiness (US$5.9 million), which will support the promotion and consolidation of three agribusiness clusters - vegetables and fruits, livestock and aquaculture; Agribusiness Export and Facilitation Services (US$2.6M); Strengthening and consolidating Agricultural Health and Food Safety Services (US$6M); and Drainage and Irrigation Rehabilitation (US$3M).

Under Component ll, Agribusiness Export and Facilitation Services, the resources will be directed towards, among other things, developing and transferring technology to the National Agriculture Research Institute, Institute of Applied Science and Technology, and the National Dairy Development Programme.

The resources allocated for Component lll, Strengthening and Consolidating Agricultural Health and Food Safety Services, will be utilised to improve the effectiveness of the animal health, plant health and food safety units of the Ministries of Agriculture and Health.

The object is to transform these units into an integrated system to protect domestic customers from illness, domestic production from diseases and contamination, and at the same time ensuring Guyana’s exports meet international standards.

Under Component lV, Drainage and Irrigation Rehabilitation, the drainage and irrigation infrastructure will be rehabilitated for the Canals Polder D & I area, including the primary and secondary drainage and irrigation channels and water control structures.

The agriculture sector is one of the most important sectors of the economy, accounting for approximately 32 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and 30 percent of employment.

There has been some progress in the production and export of non-traditional crops. Records indicate that Guyana has exported 78 different non-traditional agricultural products. Advancement in this area includes an Agricultural Diversification Strategy that adopts an approach to export development and improvement to the business and investment atmosphere and improvement of the institutional capacity.

Currently, the government is implementing a number of large programmes, namely: (i) the Agriculture Support Services Programme, (ii) the Conservancy Adaptation Project and (iii) The Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project.

The Agriculture Support Services Programme aims to increase rural incomes through higher efficiency of agricultural production on the coastal plain and improvement of competitiveness in the sector by way of timely irrigation and improved drainage.

The programme focuses mainly on the rehabilitation of Drainage and Irrigation structures, and prepares farmers to organise and manage the operation and maintenance of the rehabilitated structures.

The Conservancy Adaptation Project aims to reduce Guyana’s vulnerability to catastrophic flooding of its low-lying coastal area due to the rise in sea level caused by global climate change.

The Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project, meanwhile, targets poverty alleviation and promotion of income generating activities through agricultural and rural diversification with particular emphasis on non-traditional products.

Specifically, it includes expanding the market opportunities available; increasing the capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of rural producers; strengthening rural services available to small farmers; increasing access to financial and associated capital services; and building community level capacity to facilitate sustainable production.

Energy
In relation to the energy sector, government remains cognisant that reliable and efficient power supply provides a catalyst for economic growth and investment.

In this regard, aligned with its policy objectives for the sector, government continues to foster and promote a number of alternative energy programmes which are reflected in the following actions:

** development of a 100 MW hydropower plant at Amaila Falls

** a pre-feasibility completed for the Turturba Rapids 760MW hydropower project

** Power Purchase Agreements negotiations for a 12 MW wind farm in East Coast Demerara for supply of power to the national grid

** installation of solar electricity projects in Orinduik, Kabakaburi, Paruima, Kato, Muritaro, Capoey, Yarakita and Kurukabaru, and

** power purchase negotiations between GPL and Guysuco for Guysuco to develop a 20 MW bagasse power plant and supply power to the national grid as an Independent Power Producer.

The Unserved Areas Electrification Programme has shown significant progress to date with the completion of a distribution network to provide service to 37,000 households, implementation of various loss reduction initiatives by GPL, commencement of demonstration projects in several hinterland communities and development of regulations under the Electricity Sector Reform Act 1999.

Government saw the need to further strengthen the power sector through the Power Sector Support Programme which would result in a series of policy reforms aimed at promoting a more sustainable and efficient energy sector.

This Programme will be financed through a US$12M policy-based loan disbursed in three tranches. The reforms to be undertaken are as follows:

** Institutional, Legal and Regulatory Reforms – including updates to the Electricity Sector Reform Act 1999 and the Public Utilities Commission Act 1999; updates to GPL’s Licence to address tariff structure and rate of return; preparation of an energy sector policy which addresses evolving issues such as skyrocketing fuel prices; and development of a strategic plan for the Public Utilities Commission which clearly establishes enforcement mechanisms.

** Strengthening GPL’s capabilities through corporate instruments which enhance governance, transparency and accountability.

** Promotion of sustainable electricity loss reductions by installation of a new customer information system with a billing module; monitoring of electricity losses using the updated methodology; and implementation of an educational campaign to reduce non-technical losses and promote demand-side management.

President launches project to revitalise pig industry
- as part of agriculture diversification
By Neil Marks
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday launched an initiative to revitalise the pig industry, urging local farmers to take advantage of the Caribbean’s US$30M pork market.

Mr. Jagdeo is leading efforts in the Caribbean for a diversification of the region’s agriculture amid an annual food import bill of US$3B which is compounded by rising food prices and scarcity of food items.

Mr. Jagdeo pointed to last week’s looting of flour trucks in Trinidad and Tobago, otherwise a strong economy buoyed by their oil industry, as an example of the world food crisis.

Yesterday, 46 hybrid boars, bought from Suriname, were distributed to farmers from across the country. It was the first time in 30 years that new breeding stock was introduced to the local pig industry, Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud said.

Persaud said the venture was an expensive one, already costing $27M.

The project was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The GDF is responsible for the breeding programme and for distributing the animals to farmers.

Some 119 boars were bought for the start of the GDF project while another 37 pure bred boars were bought for another component which is underway at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).

According to Mr. Persaud, the animals are costing the government $180, 000 each. He also noted that the introduction of new breeding stock was among one of the first recommendations made by pig farmers to resuscitate the pig industry.

Acting Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Colonel Bruce Lovell, was proactive in answering questions about the Army’s involvement in the project, pointing out that one of the main goals of the GDF is to contribute to the economic development of Guyana.

The initiative was launched at the GDF’s farm at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

Mr. Lovell said it was another “red letter day” for the Army, noting it was the second collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the first being an initiative to curtail piracy on the high seas.

He said food security as an aspect of economic development will contribute to the overall aim of ensuring national security. “Food security will be a guarantee for national security,” Lovell declared.

Mr. Jagdeo said the initiative to revitalise the pig industry here is just one among many other initiatives to come on stream as Guyana looks to its own food security. In addition, with the availability of wide expanses of land available for agricultural development, Mr. Jagdeo is looking to a June conference in Georgetown with bankers, Caribbean governments and investors to come up with concrete decisions on what projects to embark on.

“Now they are talking about investing in Guyana, (because we have large tracks of land) something that I have been trying to get people to do for a while,” President Jagdeo said.

The Guyanese head of state said the commitment to agriculture is not newfound on the part of Guyana, “but I think now the region has come onboard.”

He said, too, that the hinterland offers tremendous prospects for agricultural development.

According to him, the national agri diversification plan includes many initiatives, which could see a thriving ethanol industry, a soya bean industry and a diverse agro processing industry.

Mr. Jagdeo said that diversification and production has to go hand in hand. In this regard, he said there needs to be a transformation in government agencies such as the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), where it was found that many “demonstration” and “pilot” projects sit too long and do not go out to the farmers for them to increase production.

“We have to get it out quickly,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

The President noted that with the rationing for food worldwide, Guyana has to ensure that there is enough available locally.

Last week, Mr. Jagdeo ordered the establishment of a ministerial committee to look into the specifics of the impact of rising food prices locally and to make recommendations on how government could intervene to safeguard supply and keep prices at a manageable rate.

The committee is due to present its report to the Cabinet which meets today.

Added to complaints about the rising cost of rice, chicken, and other meats, there are now reports of a shortage of “fine rice” which is used in poultry stock, Mr. Jagdeo said.

Charges to be laid in Suriname against Guyanese pirates
By Ivan Cairo
PARAMARIBO, Suriname (Caribbean Net News) - Prosecutors in Suriname will soon lay charges against six Guyanese nationals suspected of piracy against local and foreign fishermen in Surinamese waters. Asked whether the Surinamese authorities were considering expulsion of the detainees, judicial officials disclosed that currently everything is being put in place to prosecute them here.

“These men have committed crimes in Suriname waters, so it is our legal responsibility to try them here. We will not hand them over to Guyana,” said Solicitor-General Roy Baidjnath-Panday in an invited comment. He further added that the six suspects were brought before an examining-judge to establish the legality of their detention.

“Their incarceration has been extended with 30 days by the examining-judge,” said Baidjnath-

According to Commissioner Krishnakoemarie Hussainali-Mathoera, head of the Judicial Department of the Suriname Police Force, charges could be laid as soon as next week.

“These were serious crimes, and we will prosecute,” she added.

Judicial officials indicate that the suspects could be slapped with charges related to illegal possession of firearms, robbery, illegal entry, larceny and battery.

Last week police spokesman Inspector John Jones told the local media that inquiries so far have revealed that the six-man gang, whose ages ranged from 25 to 35 years, for a period of time, had been targeting fishing boats but managed to elude Suriname police by hiding in Guyana after their attacks.

Shortly after they committed an attack again on March 29 against six fishermen operating in the Coppename River, police units were dispatched to the area, which ultimately resulted in the apprehension of the six criminals.

Four of the victims were captured and subsequently bound and gagged while their boat was seized. Two others were ordered to accompany the assailants in another vessel in further robbery attacks on other fishing boats, Jones said.

After these two victims were freed during a police raid, they informed detectives that at least 10 to 12 other boats were robbed of fuel, food and other valuables in Suriname waters. Suriname's Maritime Police units and members of the Anti-Terror Unit (ATE) were able to spot one of the boats that had been hijacked and subsequently arrested two suspects and freed the four fishermen who were being held hostage.

As the search for the remaining pirates continued, at around 0700 hours the next day, officers from the Anti-Terror Unit located the second boat and subsequently arrested the other four pirates, who were holding the remaining two victims. Several barrels of fuel were found on the boat where four of the victims were being held captive.

The fishermen are claiming that they were robbed of money, outboard engines and catch while they were also brutally beaten. All of the victims are Guyanese nationals working for Surinamese boat owners.

Last year Suriname police arrested six Guyanese nationals said to be involved in piracy acts against fishermen.

British donates 50 radar guns to help curb speeding
THE capacity of the Traffic Department to nab speeding motorists, as part of its campaign “Operation Safeway,” has been boosted with the handing over of 50 radar guns by Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Malcolm Kirk yesterday.

The presentation took place at the Houston by pass, East Bank Demerara shortly after the Police Traffic Chief Mr. Neil Semple gave a demonstration of how the radar gun operates as two speeding drivers were pulled over by ranks.

Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Kirk during the presentation said that in 2007 the road fatality figure was much higher and this year it is currently showing a 40 percent reduction, crediting the success to the traffic campaign “Operation Safeway.”

He added that the radar guns will definitely assist in reducing speed on the road.

The envoy pointed out that speeding is the major cause of road accidents in Guyana and with the donation of the radar guns is all parts of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan between the Governments of Guyana and the UK.

Meanwhile, Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene expressed his delight for the gift yesterday, observing that the additional radar guns will significantly assist in the reduction of road fatalities, which in 2007 were 48 against 21 for this year for the same period.

The Top Cop revealed that last year when multiple fatalities were recorded the GPF bought a small amount of radar guns and with the 50 more donated by the British government was a timely gesture.

Mr. Greene added that this Wednesday ranks attached to the anti-crime unit and the special firearms unit will be trained in the use of night vision goggles and firearm as part of the collaborative effort between the British and Guyana in the Security Sector Reform Action Plan.

In addition, he added that the GPF has been working with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and they have now installed separate 911 landlines at stations.

The Commissioner said too that the GPF is also working in close partnership with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and they have the hardware but are awaiting the software to activate a system where defaulting motorists will be dealt with quickly and condignly.

British hosts workshop to help boost tourism sector
THE British High Commission yesterday hosted and funded a workshop aimed at educating operators in Guyana’s tourism sector on ecotourism best practices to help promote sustainable tourism development in Guyana.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Mr. Manniram Prashad who was present at the workshop lauded the High Commission’s initiative pointing out that it would benefit the tourism industry in the future.

He added that the workshop will help to promote and sustain the tourism industry, especially the birding programmes.

The British High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Fraser Wheeler noted that the British Government has always been involved in assisting Guyana’s tourism industry, noting that being involved in the tourism industry is a real economic drive for Guyana.

The workshop will educate Guyana’s tourism sector about ecotourism good practices, on planning, management and promote environmental and social good practices that are essential to develop the tourism industry, as well as provide operators with tools to improve their environmental and social performance.

The High Commissioner is working closely with Guyana Tourism Authority, Guyana Amazon Tropical Birding Society, Rupununi Community Tourism Association and South Rupununi Conservation Society on the project, and similar workshops will be conducted in these areas.

The project has two main activities; the first will see the holding of three (2-day) interactive workshops based on Conservation International guide, “A practical guide to good practice for tropical forest based tours. This guide is a new programme developed by Conservation International in partnership with Rainforest Alliance and the United Nations Environmental Programme. It is designed specifically to help tropical forest-based tour operators to do business in a more sustainable fashion. Guyana is the first destination to hold interactive workshops featuring the guide.

The workshop covered topics such as, introduction to tropical forest ecosystems and communities, the associated economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism activities on them, the importance and benefits of adopting good practices, information on good practices in overall areas of tropical forest tour operators.

In addition, participants received copies of the new good practices guide and self-assessment sustainability checklist.

Judy Karwacki of Small Planet Consulting, well known for her work on the Guyana Tourism Authority USAID/GTIS birding and nature tourism programme facilitates the planning and implementation of the project.

Computer World awards $1.4M in computer literacy scholarships
COMPUTER World will be awarding $1.4 M in scholarships as part of its advocacy to promote computer literacy in Guyana.

The institute also launched its free National Computer Literacy Programme yesterday at its office at Middle and Main Streets, Georgetown, aimed at enhancing computer literacy by reaching members of the public who may not have the inclination or resources to attend paid training courses.

Each recipient will pursue a diploma in Microcomputer studies.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Computer World, Ms. Onica Harrison said that the ‘Natural Black’ scholarship is in honour of the popular music artiste ‘Natural Black’ whose real name is Mortimer Softley, whose music is positive and encourages young people to get themselves educated.

Harrison noted that Natural Black is a great contribution to the nation in the form of music.

She emphasised the importance of computer literacy, pointing out that the applicants for the programme are those who are less fortunate.

Harrison disclosed that most of the awardees include high school drop- outs and single parents.

Alluding to the Computer literacy campaign, she said the programme will include nation-wide distribution of free computer literacy handbooks and the airing of weekly television programmes, free computer literacy lectures and workshops will be held at the request of interested organisations.

Manager of Computer World Ms. Shelly Peters said she is hoping that other organisations will come onboard and collaborate to enable further scholarships as there importance is evident in the amount of persons who applied.

Ms. Peters explained that the first 25 persons have been awarded their scholarships, some of whom began classes yesterday, while another 25 will be chosen shortly.

?The need is very great…these scholarships can make a difference in their lives,” she stressed.

Ms. Peters said this is the first time that the institute is embarking on such a programme but in the past they have awarded school children who excelled with free courses in computer studies and hopes that this will be a continuous process.

One of the recipients, Ms. Erwica Edwards, in expressing her appreciation said that the scholarship will benefit her tremendously since she is a school drop-out and also a teenage mother and urged others to follow her path and to never give up in the pursuit of their goals.

Maharaja Oil Mill advances aquaculture growth in Guyana
GUYANA’S aquaculture sector is growing steadily – fish are being cultivated, sold and exported – and more and more farmers are expressing interest in becoming involved.

With the increase in interest comes an increase in demand for two of the most essential components for aquaculture farmers – proper feed and a stock of fingerlings (young fish roughly the size of a finger) to grow.

Recognising the increase in demand for these fundamental elements, Maharaja Oil Mill of Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, has focused their business venture on creating the supply.

According to a statement from the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana (NAAG), Maharaja Oil Mill is already the main fish feed supplier in Guyana and they recently completed the first phase of an aquaculture tilapia hatchery.

Phase one of Maharaja Oil Mill’s expansion consisted of building several preliminary brooding tanks that will be used to house a pure strain of supermale tilapia. Supermales are a strain of male fish that have two ‘Y’ sex chromosomes instead of the normal ‘XY’.

Because of this, they produce only male offspring, which are preferable to aquaculture farmers because they are a faster growing fish and eliminate the time-consuming and costly need of separating the fish sex by hand.

The offspring from the brooding stock of supermales will then be transferred to nursing ponds where they will be grown to approximately 25 grams in size.

At this point they will be large enough to sell to aquaculture farmers that are in need of fish to stock their aquaculture ponds.

Manager of Maharaja Oil Mill, Satesh Persaud, is a member NAAG and has been an advocate for aquaculture in Guyana for some time.

Mr. Persaud first became involved in the emerging industry of aquaculture by developing fish feed.

Fish feed is the greatest expense for farmers involved in aquaculture in Guyana and it was previously only available for purchase at a high cost from outside countries.

NAAG identified Maharaja Oil Mill as a facility capable of producing feed locally, and thanks to support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project, Mr. Persaud was able to purchase feed dryers.

The mill is currently producing a high-protein fish feed that is being used by nearly all of the NAAG supported aquaculture farms and is vital to aquaculture development in Guyana.

Mr. Persaud has plans to further expand his hatchery to provide a greater yield of fingerlings to facilitate the growth of aquaculture in Guyana.

Acting Chancellor endorses value of mediation process
By Priya Nauth

ACTING Chancellor Carl Singh has urged participants of a mediation training workshop to play a persistent and continuous role in the promotion of the value of mediation.

He made this appeal last Saturday at the closing ceremony of a training for trainers and advanced mediation workshop at the Tower Hotel, Georgetown.

The programme was a collaborative effort between the USAID-Guyana Democratic Consolidation and Conflict Resolution (GDCCR) Project and the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana.

Persons received certificates for the workshop conducted over the past two weeks, while eleven attorneys-at-law who participated in a trainers in mediation programme in 2003 and last year also received certificates.

Singh praised participants for their dedication and perseverance in equipping themselves to advance the process of mediation.

He observed that, looking at other countries, mediation works well in both mature and developing jurisdictions, and there needs to be an understanding of the functioning of mediation.

Singh noted attorneys’ resistance to mediation as they believe this will hurt their practice. But if the data is carefully scrutinized, lawyers in jurisdictions where mediation is well established speak favourably of having cases completed and moving on to others.

He said the message should be conveyed that mediation offers a swift and viable resolution to cases before the court.

He pointed out that mediation offers a distinct possibility that there could be a fair resolution before listing for trial.

Singh noted , “There is much to be done to convince the litigating public that there is this procedure open to them, and to convince the practicing bar in Guyana that this is a workable form of alternative dispute resolution”.

You have an important role to play in bringing home that awareness, and impressing that conviction on persons who are attached to the courts of our country,” he encouraged.

The Acting Chancellor informed the gathering that the National Assembly has voted a sum of money this year for the payment of mediators.

Chief of Party of USAID-GDCCR Project, Gloria Richards-Johnson, in an overview, said project members will serve to facilitate the mediation process and noted the project is excellent.

She said the project team also travelled to Berbice and Essequibo to sensitise persons to the mediation process and this was warmly received.

Richards-Johnson also pledged that before the project ends in a few months, they will ensure that a team of well-trained individuals, both in advanced mediation and training, is left behind to spread mediation to the community level in the country.

She said they look forward to seeing the mediation process catching on through the Mediation Association which is being established.

Consultant of MDR Associates Conflict Resolution Inc Richard Moore said he is convinced that the process could work in Guyana, and already he has noted an increased understanding of the process and of its benefits to the courts and the community at large.

Agriculture Minister urges Region One farmers to grow more food
MINISTER of Agriculture Robert Persaud visited Port Kaituma, Region One last Saturday to address several concerns raised by farmers and used the occasion to urge them to get organised.

Minister Persaud, who was accompanied by officials of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), met farmers from Port Kaituma, Four-Miles, Pomeroon, and other areas who spoke of their intention to relocate, a safeguarding mechanism for their animals, and of being prohibited from farming because of illegal occupation of lands.

Minister Persaud, in his opening remarks, said there is much potential and hope for the region and alluded to major investments taking place, especially in the forestry sector with the new investor from China, Jaling Forest Enterprises Limited.

He added that the functions of the GFC will be strengthened with more monitoring activities so that effective management of forestry resources in the region is achieved.

“We want to work with those persons involved in allowing you to comply and understand that there are certain guidelines that are set and expected to be met. We have certain obligations internationally. One is to ensure that our standing forests provide opportunities for climate change mitigation,” Minister Persaud said.

Region One is also well known as the organic region of Guyana because of its immense natural potential, and farmers were urged by the Minister to get better organised to adequately supply markets.

General Manager of the GMC, Nizam Hassan, said the region stands to benefit from the recently launched ‘grow’ more food campaign which is encouraging farmers to expand their production.

The campaign is aimed at increasing the production of food countrywide to take advantage of the threatening global food shortage

The Region’s Chairman, Fermin Singh, who was also at the meeting, said farmers have been engaging mainly in subsistence farming.

“Sometimes the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) would call the region requesting peanuts, yams and plantains; but the quantity they would call for is often too much for us to supply… If we should produce large quantities, only then can we supply a foreign market” the Regional Chairman said.

Region One has benefited from several local and foreign investments in forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, mining and handcraft.

Along with Jaling, Essar Steel from India intends to restart manganese mining and processing in Port Kaituma. Forest Enterprise Limited is interested in marketing and selling certified wood products from Guyana to Europe and other areas, and the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana is working to develop fish farming in the Region.

GPSU goes after enhanced effectiveness
By Sarada Singh
THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), in collaboration with the Canadian Cooperation Fund (CCF)/The Governance Network (TGN), yesterday recommenced the Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building Project with a workshop at Hotel Tower.

Among those present were Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, GPSU President Patrick Yarde, Canadian High Commissioner Charles Court, and TGN Consultant Dr Jim Armstrong.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the GPSU boss said the project is intended to improve the effectiveness of the organisation and its members in their daily operations.

Yarde noted that public servants in Guyana have always been charged with important functions to contribute towards the development of the nation.

“Be that as it may, developments such as globalization, privatization and technological advancement, not only in Guyana, but in the world at large, make it imperative that we be retooled and our capacity expanded to more effectively and efficiently discharge our responsibilities ”, he stressed.

More so, the GPSU President expressed optimism that the apparent ambivalence regarding the project would be a thing of the past, and that the importance of equipping the union and its members to function in partnership with the government in the achievement of national goals and objectives will be recognized as imperative.

He also emphasized the need for public servants to be seen and treated as important contributors in the policy-making and implementation process.

“We are concerned that quite often in these exercises the traditional public service is overlooked and preference given to persons outside of the public service who are remunerated at higher levels and treated with greater respect than established public servants, which suggests that greater confidence is placed in contract workers than in the traditional public servants by the political directorate,” Yard said.

High Commissioner Charles Court, in his presentation, pointed out that the public service in Canada is undergoing a period of major demographic change; and as such, there are changes to the way it delivers services to the public and the government.

He further acknowledged that a “high performance” public service in Canada entails the ability of creativeness in its thinking, efficiency in its work processes, effectiveness in risk management, and full accountability for its performance.

Court said the re-launching of the project will enable GPSU to achieve organizational goals consistent with the achievement of a “high performance” public service.

As such, he acknowledged the need for improved labour management relations, training and development plans, financial stability and recruitment, and plans for building an effective public service for Guyana.

Dr Armstrong, in his introductory remarks, said the workshop will focus on finding a way to work together to achieve a shared vision and renewed efforts to find better opportunities for working together.

The project includes an Internal Assessment of the GPSU as an organisation; and at its conclusion, a draft Institutional Plan would be prepared and submitted to the GPSU’s General Council for ratification and implementation.

World Health Day
Minister urges commitment to ensuring health for all
By Tajeram Mohabir
HEALTH Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday urged Guyanese to renew their commitment to ensuring the health of all, as Guyana joined the world in observing World Health Day 2008.

The occasion was held under the theme “Protecting Health from Climate Change”.

Addressing a gathering of health and climate change officials at a workshop at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Street, Georgetown, he emphasized that climate change is beyond an environmental issue as it also affects development.

He appealed for global action to combat the issue and emphasized that development cannot take place unless the health of citizens is intact.

The health minister acknowledged that while strides were made in addressing the issue at last year’s Bali Summit, more still needs to be done.

Dr Ramsammy pointed out that Guyana has long recognized the impact of the climate change phenomenon, and is ahead of many countries in controlling the problem.

He praised the country’s efforts in leading the fight to mitigate its adverse impact, but contended more must be done to measure its impact on the health sector.

The minister said that flooding and mosquitoes, particularly in the hinterland regions, will be brought closer under the microscope as they pose serious health risks.

In the case of flooding, he noted that much work has been done to build up immunization against leptospirosis, a water-borne disease. Work in this area will continue, as well as programmes already in place to combat malaria.

The medical doctor warned that climate change will also have complex implications for the agriculture sector, invariably affect the health of citizens, since good health is dependent on good nutrition.

Already, the phenomenon has caused global food shortages and higher prices for agriculture products, as adverse weather conditions are taking their toll on production.

The minister stressed that national governments as well as citizens have a critical role to play in mitigating the impact of the unfriendly weather patterns.

He implored Guyanese to devise personal ways to control the situation, such as the safe disposal of garbage, and walking rather than driving short distances.

These simple measures, Dr Ramsammy said, will lessen the impact on the nation’s children and future grand children.

Pan American Heath Organization (PAHO) representative to Guyana, Dr Kathleen Israel, emphasized that even though Guyana is not a major emitter of the green house gases that lead to global warming, the impact locally can be much the same as that on chief emitting countries.

“ In fact, the impact on Guyana can be greater on the poor, the children, pregnant women, older adults, the marginalized and the indigenous populations, due to certain fragile infrastructure and vulnerabilities such as the reality that the vast majority of the Guyanese population is located in lands below sea level,” she noted.

She stressed that immediate action is needed, since the unpredictable changing weather conditions could result in disease outbreaks associated with climate change, changes in marine and terrestrial ecosystem, as well as damage to infrastructure.

The health expert said, however, that while the health impact of climate change could take years or decades to