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IN SOLIDARITY WITH ‘DROP THE DEBT’ CAMPAIGN
President Jagdeo joins global debt cancellation fast
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo will be joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Mkapa of Tanzania in a fast tomorrow to focus on the need for debt cancellation for the world’s poorest nations.

The Guyanese head of state gave this commitment, following an invitation to participate by Mr. David Golding, Development Coordinator of the UK-based ‘Make Poverty History’, to join the ‘Drop the Debt Fast’ campaign.

‘I shall be honoured to forego all water and solid food as proposed from (08:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs) on Friday May 16, 2008, as part of your Drop the Debt Fast’ – President Jagdeo in letter to UK-based organisers of this initiative.
In a letter responding to Golding’s request, President Jagdeo declared: “In Solidarity with your movement and its countless supporters, I shall be honoured to forego all water and solid food as proposed from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. (08:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs) on Friday May 16, 2008, as part of your Drop the Debt Fast.”

President Jagdeo also noted: “I am extremely delighted to have been invited to be part of the ‘Drop the Debt Fast.’ I whole-heartedly endorse this initiative which your organisation is promoting to mark the tenth anniversary of the ‘Human Chain’ for debt relief which took place in Birmingham in 1998.”

“I was privileged to be part of that event. The experience is permanently emblazoned in my memory. At the time I was my country’s Minister of Finance. My country had been pressing for greater debt relief so as to provide more resources for national development,” Mr. Jagdeo said in his letter yesterday to Golding.

President Jagdeo said, “For me, Birmingham 1998 was a tremendous inspiration. I consider that particular event as a defining moment in history. Such was the impact that then British Prime Minister Tony Blair who was chairing the G-7, requested a meeting with a small delegation representing the campaign for debt forgiveness.”

“The immensely successful public advocacy for debt relief at Birmingham precipitated a chain reaction throughout the global community hastening debt relief for many highly indebted poor countries, including my country, Guyana.”

President Jagdeo noted that while not all of the reforms have been on ideal terms, Birmingham shifted the momentum in global reforms towards the debt problem.

“We in the developing world are deeply indebted to the Jubilee Movement and to its successor organisations that have continued to insist on a more just, humane and equitable international system,” the Guyanese Head of State asserted.

The “Drop the debt Fast” movement is running a 36-day rolling fast (Apri12-May18) to demand debt cancellation for 36 poor countries.

The movement observed that the rich world needs to “pick up the pace” as these countries are still suffering under a huge debt burden, while millions of their people live in extreme poverty.

Govt meets Private Sector on cost of living issues
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday met officials from the Private Sector as part of his government’s continued and committed effort to meet with various sections of society and groups to discuss the alarming rise in global food prices, the increasing cost of living around the world  and their effects on Guyana with the objective of relieving some of the burden on Guyanese.

Earlier this week, the President met with religious Leaders on this issue, and yesterday he held discussions with members of the Private Sector Commission at the same venue - the Office of the President in Georgetown, on the same food prices issue.

A statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said one of the areas discussed was the need for the Private Sector to implement a similar measure as the one implemented last week by the Government in the case of public sector workers.

The President last week announced several interventions which his administration is making to ease the rising cost of living burden on Guyanese.

They include subsidising the 25 percent increase in the price of flour, a $4,000 tax free cost of living allowance for Government workers who earn $50,000 and less per month, and a five percent increase in wages and salaries for all Government employees - retroactive from January, 2008.  

Following yesterday’s meeting, Dr. Peter De Groot, Chief Executive Officer of Fairfield Rice, explained that the meeting with the President “went well” with the Guyanese Head of State urging the business community to suggest additional methods which they feel could help to relieve some of the burden on their workers. 

“Those recommendations were made and will be looked at,” De Groot posited.

He noted too, that Government’s ‘Grow More Food’ campaign was also discussed and the private sector was urged by the Mr. Jagdeo to ensure that they also assist in providing relief to the population in the hinterland and not just to those residing in Coastal areas.

This included reducing the cost of transportation for goods to be transported to hinterland communities.

It was noted that many other issues were discussed but that no specific agreements were made. These are expected to be made when the President again meets with the Commission shortly.

The interventions made by the Guyana Government to cushion the rising cost of living occurring around the world as a result of rising fuel and food prices have been noted in several countries internationally since they were announced last week, with Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)’s Regional Technical Cooperation Coordinator, Dr. Vincent Little, describing Guyana’s response as the best in the Region. 

Go-Invest Head wants Press Association to investigate Stabroek News report on Buddy’s Hotel sale
CHIEF Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) Mr. Geoffrey Da Silva is seeking the assistance of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) to investigate the recent reports by Stabroek News on the sale of Buddy’s International Hotel.

Da Silva said the reports, one of which was also carried in the other privately-owned Kaieteur News, should be investigated since some of the information contained within were inaccurate.

The Go-Invest Head “seriously questioned” the validity of, in particular, Tuesday’s Page One lead story in the Stabroek News that was headlined: ‘Turk paid US$25M for Buddy’s’ and which carried the ‘byline’ of a Guyana-born journalist, Judy H. Fitzpatrick, living and working in Saint Maarten.

The article was purportedly developed from an interview which the journalist claimed was conducted Monday with the new owner of the Guyanese facility, a Turkish hotelier named Sudi Ozkan and/or his Belarusian wife, Katsiaryna.

The interview was reportedly done at the hotelier’s home in Saint Maarten.

But Da Silva, speaking at a news conference at his Camp and Church Streets office, deemed the report as erroneous and indicated that he would be seeking immediate assistance of the GPA to investigate who conducted the ‘supposed’ interview, when it was done and where.

“I question very seriously who actually did this interview, when it was done, and where it was done. I don’t want to go beyond that at this time. I would like to ask the GPA to investigate it, to find out who is Judy Fitzpatrick in St. Maarten…I do question whether an interview was carried-out with Mr. Ozkan.” , a visibly agitated Da Silva told reporters.

He was adamant that no interview was conducted with the hotelier and that the hotel was not sold for US$25M, but instead US$15M.

Among the “inaccuracies” Da Silva said the article contained was that Mr. Ozkan does not own 10 hotels, but rather in excess of 35 properties in different countries.

The Go-Invest Head also unleashed some scathing criticisms at the Editor-in-Chief/Owner of Stabroek News, Mr. David DeCaires for what he termed “irresponsible journalism”.

He also lamented what he said was an apparent trend of the newspaper of being critical of every any new investment in the country, giving the impression that nothing positive seems to be happening.

It was lamented by the GO-Invest Head that the Stabroek News over the years seems to be bent on reporting the negative side of investments in Guyana despite the necessary information being provided to the newspaper.

“The impression is that nothing much is happening and that anything that is of any positive nature happening in Guyana, it always has to have a negative side. So that Guyanese in Canada and the United States will somehow have an impression that Guyana is a ‘deh’ bad country.”

He emphasized that efforts are ongoing to maintain an enabling environment to attract more investments, pointing to the many investments that are taking place and are in the pipeline.

“The kind of the investment we are getting across the board, in mining, agriculture, tourism, wood sector is significant. 312 projects, US $564M…I gave a pile of those information to Mr. De Caires in October last year but on-to-now Stabroek News has not carried anything,” he lamented. (Wendella Davidson)

Corbin’s arrest rumour a malicious lie
RUMOURS circulating yesterday that Opposition Leader Mr. Robert Corbin has been arrested by the Police is not true.

“This rumour is a malicious lie which is part of an orchestrated effort to create tension and confusion in society,” according to a Government source.

“It is also part of several rumours which have been circulating over the last week and suggests that the mischief machinery is at work among us,” the source added.

Rumours have been making the rounds that Corbin – the Leader of the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) was arrested yesterday due to the lead role he played in the recent protest march on food prices in the City.

The Police also confirmed that Mr. Corbin has not been arrested.

Polygraph testing internationally accepted - Minister Rohee
- clears air on testing of CANU officers
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, has cleared the air on speculations in the media by persons who have been criticising the recent polygraph testing that were done on Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers.

“They are not qualified; they don’t belong to the polygrapher’s association of the world, so I don’t know on what basis they are making these statements since they have no knowledge as far as I am aware, based on my investigations as to whether they are knowledgeable about the scientific rational behind polygraphing,” Minister Rohee chided.

The Home Affairs Minister, who was responding to questions posed by the media on the reliability of polygraphing, said that it is internationally accepted and emphasised that the individual brought in to conduct the testing is highly qualified.

“I can only rely on the expert that was brought to Guyana to do the polygraphing. He is highly qualified; he is a member of the American Polygraph Association. He holds the number two position in that body if I am correct. 

Polygraphing is an internationally acceptable thing in order to determine whether your staff has a ‘good bill of health’.”

President Bharrat Jagdeo earlier in the month had disclosed that CANU officers would be subject to lie-detector tests as the investigations into the allegation of fraud at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) widened.

The Head of State had said that it was the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr. Kurshid Sattaur, who had brought the fraud suspicions to his attention following revelations by the company, Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments had been embroiled previously in a matter with the GRA concerning the alleged smuggling of beer.

Subsequently, the President said that those who underwent polygraph testing and failed will be sent home.

Meanwhile, in relation to the swearing-in of Mr. Dennis Balkissoon Morgan Mudlier as Chairman of the Police Service Commission on Tuesday by President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister Rohee said that he would like to see that the Commission swiftly addresses the backlog of appointments.

“What I would like to see is the Commission getting down to work in terms of the backlog of appointments and so forth…from the Police perspective because as the Minister who is responsible for the Police Force, there are a number of things that have been accumulating.”

CHICKEN PRICES DOWN
– adequate local chicken on market
THERE is an adequate supply of local chicken on the markets at affordable prices following the increase in production recently.

A check at the city’s municipal markets yesterday revealed that chicken price is now approximately $260 to $280 per pound for plucked chicken.

This is a reduction from the $360 that consumers paid during the March/April period which was due to the supply of chicken being affected by the late arrival of hatching-eggs in the country.

In rural communities, live chicken can be accessed at an average $180 per pound. This price being paid by Guyanese is still one of the lowest paid for chicken in the entire Caribbean.

“Guyana is not short of chicken, we can produce all the poultry meat that we need in Guyana and even export a little, we are self sufficient in the production of chicken,” Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said.

“The prices must come down, it’s a case of supply and demand and I expect this to continue for a while because there is an adequate amount of chicken on the market,” the Minister said.

Recently the Minister, accompanied by the media, visited Bounty Farm at Soesdyke/Timehri and saw the vast chicken production.

Minister Prashad said from all the indications, the price of chicken will remain relatively stable and it will be in full supply for another couple of months.

Assurance was given by the Minister to the public in March that Government is working to put measures in place to cushion the effects of the high prices. However, he stated that he could not give the assurance that the price of chicken would return to the level that Guyanese were accustomed to paying.

“Prices for chicken will not come back to what it was just before Christmas, I must also be honest with the consuming public but there is an adequate supply of chicken in the market,” the Minister said.

Chicken was sold at $240 per pound during the 2007 Christmas season.

During the high rise in chicken prices, the Guyana Poultry Producers Association had stated that there will be a glut in the market for chicken. Since then, the largest producer, Bounty Farm Limited, has been meeting the demands of the consuming public. Small farmers have since taken up the initiative to produce more chicken.

Minister Prashad reiterated that his Ministry, through its Consumers Affairs division, will monitor the situation very closely to make sure there is an adequate amount of chicken in the system.

While other food prices were soaring due to global effects, the rise in chicken prices in Guyana was due to the lack of supply of the commodity which in-turn caused the demand to soar.

According to a statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Guyanese public currently consumes an estimated 800,000 pounds of chicken per week or 3.2 million pounds per month.

Government, recognising the need, implemented measures to reduce the high prices of chicken including the granting of licences to importers to bring in foreign chicken in the short-term and the zero-rating of hatching eggs.
NEWS

MAN GUNNED DOWN
- in Durey Lane drive-by shooting last night
THE Police are investigating a drive-by shooting which occurred in the vicinity of Durey Lane, Campbellville, in the City at around 22:00 h last night.

Reports reaching this newspaper stated that one man was killed in the shooting, while others were injured - among them a female employee of the State-owned NCN (Radio).

The Chronicle also understands that the gunmen, travelling in a motor car, were apparently trailing and opened fire on the occupants of two other motor cars, an AT 192 Toyota Carina and a black Starlet.

The gunmen reportedly exited the vehicle they were travelling in, at a cross street in the area, and shot at the occupants.

The windscreen of the AT 192 motor car was shattered while the body was perforated with bullet holes.

Mainstay/Whyaka reaping bountiful harvest of organic pineapples
FARMERS at Mainstay-Whyaka are currently reaping a bountiful harvest of organically cultivated pineapples.

The produce is so much that it is presenting a problem of inadequate containers at the processing factory which puts pineapple chunks in jars for export to France, United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

Former Captain of the Amerindian community, Mrs. Mary Williams, who is also a pineapple farmer, said the fruits are processed under strict hygienic conditions.

Some are sold at Anna Regina Market, also on Essequibo Coast but the demand has increased on both the local and international market, she said.

According to her, production has been greater since the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) began offering technical advice on the organic process. (Rajendra Prabhulall)

PSIP part of larger psychosocial programme to build capacity
By Priya Nauth
MINISTER of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has disclosed that the Psychosocial Support Intervention Programme (PSIP) is part of a larger psychosocial programme that the government is pursuing to build the capacity for such support.

He made this disclosure during a press conference on Monday at the Ministry of Education, 26 Brickdam, Georgetown to update the media on the programme.

The Ministry of Education with the support of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Ministry of Health and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had initiated a psychosocial intervention programme targeting students, teachers, health workers, social workers, Parent Teachers’ Associations (PTAs) and communities in response to persons affected after the massacres in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara and Bartica.

Dr. Ramsammy noted that Guyana, like every country has faced and is likely to face in the future many kinds of events, whether it is a flood, a massacre or climate change events, which affects the society as a whole.

“Psychosocial support is an important part of the interventions…what is critical however, is that these psychosocial support is based on evidence informed therapeutic interventions”, he observed.

“…It is not just talking to people,” he pointed out.

The minister observed that psychosocial interventions and support does not have to be done by psychiatrists and psychologists only, hence Guyana is building that capacity where social workers and others can play an important role in complementing the job of a psychiatrist.

“We are ensuring that throughout Guyana, we build the capacity for people to be first responders…people who immediately appear on the scene to provide support,” the minister emphasized.

“…this is part of a bigger picture of building capacity in Guyana for psychosocial support,” he reiterated.

He also noted that the training of a mentoring group taken from various ministries is now mandated to take the training which will continue and extend it so that every community would have persons that are trained to provide an evidence informed therapeutic intervention.

“We stand ready to ensure that Guyana has a strong capacity to provide psychosocial support,” the minister assured.

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox, giving an update on the PSIP outlined several implementations carried out so far.

Awareness Consultation Programme
Dr. Fox said that this first activity targeted head teachers of 21 schools specifically to gather information on the results of massacre on the children within the education system.

The minister said that they were able to gather a number of responses as it relates to behavioural patterns of the children and additionally the teachers and parents.

Counselling and therapeutic sessions
She said this second phase targeted teachers to listen to their feelings and response.

The reports were alarming, how teachers felt about themselves. They could not sleep at night so they were feeling sleepy on the job, frustration, fear…some teachers had lost students as well,” she noted.

Consultations with the Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs)
The minister said that this aspect aimed at sensitising the parents about the interventions and what is psychosocial support and counselling.

“If we did not have consultations with the parents and tell them what we were doing and our interventions then we would not have the support of the parents…we cannot counsel the children and then when they go home they do not have that support system,” she observed.

Assessment of students
Dr. Fox said this evaluation was done to identify the students’ for referrals and this was conducted by experienced social workers who collaborated with consultants from the University of Guyana (UG) and psychologists.

Those in the worst case were identified and the students were categorized as high, medium or low categories, she noted.

Counselling of students
The minister noted that this process commenced last March and is an ongoing process at the Lusignan Health Centre.

In this regard, she said that the training of welfare officers to equip them with the relevant knowledge in trauma counselling has begun to build capacity.

Establishment of child friendly places
She said this is important because the officers cannot counsel the children in the classrooms as a conducive environment is needed to do this.

Consultations with head teachers and parents in Bartica
Dr. Fox said the psychosocial support programme was extended to Bartica following the massacre there and was able to carry out immediate interventions and some training in Bartica has begun to build the capacity in that area.

Online trauma counselling training programme
This programme was done to upgrade skills of social workers working with the Psychosocial Support Intervention Programme (PSIP) and geared towards training social workers to become supervisors and mentors for staff working under their jurisdiction and volunteers, she explained.

Training of teachers in psychosocial support
This geared teachers to be first responders to emergencies in schools, she said.

Training in self-care
This programme helps social workers, school welfare officers and mental health officers to prepare themselves before and after counselling sessions.

The Joint Services
Dr. Fox said that the Joint Services will join the initiative noting that because of the constant request by the parents, teachers and students.

“This is because students have continuously and consistently revealed that they are afraid of camouflage clothing, policemen and gunshots and such,” Fox said.

“We believe that with the Joint Services on our side…we can have them go into schools and have friendly talks with our children which will be defining themselves again and to help to develop the image they have lost somewhere along the way,” she attested.

I am sure that the interventions as it relates to the Joint Services in this process will be positive,” she said.

Assistant Chief Probation and Social Service Officer within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Marva Williams said that the Ministry is working directly with families, in all types of trauma related incidents.

Social workers have been going into Lusignan and Bartica working directly with the families affected on a weekly basis.

Williams said the team of professional social workers has also been exposed to training hence the capacity is growing daily.

She said the Ministry has also been giving financial support to some traumatised families through the Ministry’s Difficult Circumstances Department as the Ministry is aware that psychosocial support is not only to focus on mental trauma but the physical, psychological and financial needs.

“The Ministry has been trying to look at this at a very holistic view…the team of social workers that are trained are also going to be part of an initiative of establishing an wellness centre in which we will have children who are traumatized receiving therapy,” she revealed.

…because we know that if those negative thoughts are not arrested early, those children will grow up with scars for life,” Williams said.

UNICEF Representative in Guyana, Mr. Yohannes Wedenig lauded that programme as an exemplary intervention with the collaboration of various ministries and organisations focusing on a protective environment for the children.

He noted that they must work towards ensuring there is a lasting capacity for the children who need the assistance the most.

Head of the Department of Sociology, University of Guyana, Ms. Barbara Thomas-Holder said the department was tasked with coordinating a number of workshops on psychosocial support for teachers to enable them to respond better to the traumatic experiences their students encounter and assist in reducing the impact of the trauma on the children.

The workshops had specific relevance to the Lusignan and Bartica massacres, she pointed out.

She however, advocated that there needs to be a more proactive approach where teachers across the country are trained to cope with various situations because events like the massacres also traumatize children from various areas.

Stringent monitoring to ensure new parking arrangements are maintained
- enforcement against those who don’t comply
RESHUFFLING of parking arrangements for minibuses and hire cars operating in and out of Georgetown, currently being implemented are gradually taking hold among public transport operators and users while necessary adjustments are being made to aid the process.

The new arrangements are in keeping with government’s continuing efforts to enhance traffic management and orderliness in the city by addressing issues of congestion which is caused by factors such as encroachment of the roadway and reserves by vendors and disorderly parking activities.

During a walkabout in the City to examine the new parking arrangements, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, noted that while significant progress has been made, his Ministry, the Home Affairs Ministry, the Police Traffic Department and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) are collaborating to resolve outstanding issues.

“The overwhelming majority of people are seeing benefits from the system and want to have changes. It will take some time to sort out some of the issues over the next two days, but I think that after that we will be alright,” the minister stated.

Some of the engineering and quality issues that are being given attention include arrangements for the University of Guyana (UG)/Industry operators, stallholders and others who provide delivery services to Stabroek Market. However, it was emphasised that these matters will be addressed to ensure the system works well.

“We are sticking with this process over the next two weeks to ensure it works and we intend to have enforcement for any situation where people are going outside of the arrangements we have put in place. There will be some minor modifications over the next two days,” Benn stressed.

He added that “the question of vendor’s encroachment and people selling fruits and people selling bread is one that we have to keep working with the Police and with the City Council for their enforcement. The rules are simple. People know what we should obtain and we want to encourage them to follow these simple rules so there is order and safety.”

Additionally, other areas of improvement are being pursued to support the ongoing enhancement exercise. These include installation of lights in front of the Stabroek Market and behind the fire station to address insecurity in the area and make the environment more comfortable for the public.

Lights will also be installed at the southern section of the market while there will be paintings of signals and markings to identify the various parking facilities. The establishment of sanitary facilities is another issue to be addressed as part of the ongoing upgrading programme for central Georgetown.

Over the years, Government has invested significantly to improve the City’s road network, garbage collection and disposal and drainage and irrigation. Upgrading of the markets and general beautification are other aspects of the programme.

Accompanying the Minister on the visit were Traffic Engineer Kadri Parris and other senior officials of the Public Works Ministry and Police Traffic Department including Deputy Superintendent of the Brickdam Traffic Department John Daniels. (GINA)

Labourer dies following workplace accident after losing mother
A CARICOM Rice Mills Limited labourer, Colin Dave McFarlane, 41, died at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) last Saturday after falling from a paddy storage tank four days before.

He had suffered the fall at his Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast workplace about 01:30 h Tuesday morning after being instructed to climb and make some adjustments to a chute 20 feet high.

Reports said McFarlane slipped and fell to the concrete floor in the factory, injuring his back, head and face.

He was rushed to Suddie Hospital and admitted but later transferred to GPH and succumbed a few days after losing his mother, for whom he was still grieving.

Police and the Ministry of Labour are investigating the death of the unmarried man following the industrial accident. (Rajendra Prabhulall)

Lifeless body of man, 63, found hanging
SIXTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Alfred Rodrigues was found hanging from a piece of rope in his house at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, yesterday morning.

It was reported that his brother made the discovery of the body dangling from the ceiling around 07:30 h.

The deceased had suffered a nervous breakdown and also suffered from high blood pressure but the Police are investigating the circumstances of his death.

At appreciation function…
Berbice honours 18 at ‘Nurses Week’ celebration
CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of New Amsterdam Hospital, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, has exhorted nurses in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) to remain committed and dedicated to the noble profession they practice.

nurses from Berbice are the most recognised and you ought to set the example for the others to follow,” he told them at a luncheon and appreciation ceremony hosted by Berbice Nurses Association.

He spoke at the National Psychiatric Hospital Recreation Centre on the occasion of the celebration of ‘Nurses’ Week’, which commenced Monday.

Mahadeo, addressing an audience of health sector employees and special invitees, said the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has recognised the Berbice Regional Health Authority as a pilot project locally, because of its staff complement.

Also speaking at the function was President of Berbice Nurses Association, midwife Regina Black-Ault, who said, although there are a few challenges facing them, nurses should, however, remember the Florence Nightingale pledge, which they are to follow professionally, in order to devote themselves to the welfare of those in their care.

She said the 18 staff members presented with tokens were awarded for their dedication and work beyond the call of duty, some of whom were never absent nor late over a period of one year.

The recipients were Sister-in-Charge of New Amsterdam Hospital,  

Champawattie Deodat; male obstetrics nurse Bharrat Ramgobin; staff nurses   Lennox Sampson, Nimoon Mohammed, Annette Clarke and Furnilla Hamlington;  nursing assistants Parsram Narine, Paul Hinkson, Claire Bristol, Seema Samaroo, Natasha Goolcharran and Mischula Collins and midwives Sheron Johnson, Omilla Lancaster, June Daniels, Travis Jonas and Aida Campbell.

As part of the celebratory programme, nurses are expected to visit former colleagues now shut-ins and help do community service, including glucose and blood pressure testing in the vicinity of Banks DIH branch office in New Amsterdam.

The nurses are also to attend a fun day on the National Psychiatric Hospital tarmac and a concert at New Amsterdam Town Hall on Saturday.

Theme for the week of activities is ‘Delivering Quality, Serving communities, nurses leading primary health care’.

Guyana, India joint Commission reorients line-of-credit to agriculture
GUYANA’S Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Dr. Henry Jeffrey and India’s Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Anand Sharma yesterday signed the agreed minutes at the conclusion of the one-day meeting of the Guyana/India Joint Commission held at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

Speaking yesterday afternoon at the end of the meeting, Dr Jeffrey said the two sides were able to conclude the set agenda despite the limited time available for the meeting.

He said that Guyana was able to reorient its bilateral arrangements with India towards agricultural production.

In this regards, Guyana has requested that the line of credit to facilitate the establishment of a multipurpose sports facility be made available for agricultural development.

However, the line of credit for the establishment of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre will be retained.

Additionally the Government of India has committed to increase the number of scholarships accessible by Guyanese students to 50, up from 35, while Technical experts will continue to be supplied to Guyana based on request.

Efforts will also be made for the establishment of an entrepreneurial centre geared at developing the entrepreneurial culture in Guyanese.

Minister Sharma said that the meeting allowed both sides to review the progress of the bilateral arrangements and to refine a road map for future cooperation.

India, he said, is committed to working on improving the capacity of both countries in the field of agriculture research and crop diversification.

Other areas of cooperation include pharmaceutical industry, mining and renewable energy. The reviving of the joint business council would see exchange visits between the leaders of enterprises in both countries.

Mechanisms are also to be put in place to have periodical reviews of these agreements.

Previous bilateral agreements between the two countries saw Guyanese students benefiting from scholarships to India, and that country sending several specialist to work in various sectors in Guyana. The Indian Government also assisted in the building of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day when Minister Jeffrey declared open the fourth session of the Guyana/India Joint Commission, he said strong focus will be on agricultural production.

He pointed out that the global food crisis has not eluded Guyana and further strengthening of capacity in that area will supplement the measures taken by the Administration to address the problem.

Jeffrey explained that assistance in agriculture will also maximise Guyana’s export drive which has widened as a result of the global phenomenon.

Speaking at his Takuba Lodge, Lot 254 South Road, Georgetown ministry, he said the one-day forum aims to establish a two-year work programme that will be mutually beneficial to both countries.

In attendance at the discussion were representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Health, Education, Public Works and Communication, Agriculture, Housing and Water, as well as the Geology and Mines Commission and Go-Invest.

The Guyanese and Indian delegations reviewed the current areas of cooperation and discuss bilateral project proposals.

Among other issues on the agenda for discussion yesterday were those surrounding bio-fuel, oil and mining exploration, health, education and the need for additional information technology experts.

Touching on previous engagements, Jeffrey disclosed that both countries have agreed to conclude agreements on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement which have been in the pipeline for some time.

Minister Sharma, during the opening, also lauded the cordial relationship enjoyed between the two countries in the sharing of experiences in a number of fields.

He expressed optimism that the dialogue would deepen and diversify the areas under discussion as well as open up new avenues of opportunities.

Sharma assured Jeffrey that India has a shared commitment in consolidating its plans and building on the social and economic milestones achieved between the two countries.

Guyana and India have enjoyed a very cordial and friendly political relationship based on historical and cultural ties as well as economic and technical cooperation. (Tajeram Mohabir)

PCA Chairman Kennard for Bartica May 23
CHAIRMAN of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Mr. Cecil Kennard, will be at Bartica, in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), from Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25.

His schedule indicates that he will meet ranks at Bartica Police Station, from 13:30 h on May 23, to explain his role and functions and discuss matters of concern to them.

Later that day, he is to appear on the community television station to outline his duties.

On Saturday, May 24, from 08:30 h, he will be in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Bartica to receive complaints from members of the public.

The Chairman’s next visits will be to Linden, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.

Guyana joins in observing International Nurses’ Week
GUYANA on Sunday joined the rest of the world in observing International Nurses’ week (May 11 through 17), under the theme ‘Delivering Quality, Serving Communities- Nurses leading primary health care’.

One of the activities to mark the occasion is honouring nurses for their contributions.

At a function held at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday to reward nurses, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan, noted that the GPHC recognises the commitment and hard work of the nurses in promoting health care in Guyana throughout the year.

Director of Nursing Services at the GPHC, Audrey Corey, urged the nurses to take their work seriously and continue to make a difference in health care.

Nurses are known for caring and therefore nurses must promote patient care and provide patients with the kind of care they deserve, Corey said.

Registered Nurse within the Cardiac Unit, Wayne Sealey, said nurses should be recognised since they are caregivers to the community and the country.

Government’s effort in providing training should be lauded since the hospital has been faced with migration of skilled nurses.

As part of the activity on Monday, the nurses were treated to lunch and were presented with tokens.

Many of the nurses expressed appreciation to the hospital’s Management for recognising their hard work and commitment to health care in Guyana.

They said that being a nurse at times can become challenging since there are limited resources. Nevertheless, they will continue to serve their country.

In observing International Nurses Week there will be a number of activities such as Religious services, community outreach, nurses’ conference and social evening for nurses.

International Nurses week is celebrated each year in May to raise the profile work of nurses in a variety of ways and events.

It is held to commemorate the birth of Florence Nightingale, a nursing pioneer who made many reforms to nursing and health care.

Nightingale worked during the Crimean War where she drastically cut the death rate amongst soldiers as a result of her hard work, dedication and training of fellow nurses.

Veterinary Services to benefit from WOAH technical assistance
- improved surveillance and monitoring of animal diseases
THE Ministry of Agriculture will benefit from technical assistance from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to Guyana's animal production system and to undertake an overview of its food safety chain.

According to a release from the Ministry, this was revealed during recent discussions between WOAH Regional Representative, Dr. Luis Osvaldo Barcos and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.

The objective of the visit to Guyana by Dr. Barcos is to ensure linkages with the Wildlife Collaboration Centre in Canada to aid in wildlife research and surveillance, and the development of a surveillance system for foot and mouth disease, rabies and tuberculosis. 

The release said the discussions centred on the development of the Ministry's Veterinary Service with the strengthening of Guyana's animal and production system with a visit of experts from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Persaud during his interaction with Dr. Barcos pointed out that the

Ministry has 14 veterinary officers and welcomed the assistance from

WOAH to provide additional training and technical support as the veterinary service is critical to the development of the livestock sector, especially against the backdrop of the global increase of food prices, he emphasised.

Dr. Barcos expressed the WOAH commitment to provide technical assistance, surveillance, training and restructuring of the Ministry's

Veterinary Services.

He added that the WOAH is a worldwide organisation whose principal mandate is to harmonise veterinary services worldwide to develop animal health guidelines which will assist member countries to develop specific animal health plans.

WOAH is comprised of 172 member countries of which Guyana is a member and is represented by Dr. Dwight Waldron, Programme Director, National Dairy Development Programme. Guyana is certified by OIE Free of Foot and Mouth Disease, which allows for export of beef and beef products.

Blue Band’ competition winners presented prizes
BRYDEN and Fernandes yesterday presented prizes to winners of the competition for ‘Spreading the Blue Band Goodness’ promotion.

The simple ceremony took place at the company’s Water Street, Georgetown Head Office.

The recipients of consolation prizes, comprising mixing bowls and oven mittens were Bibi Mohamed, of Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge; Omadai Prashad, of Pike Street, Kitty and Devika Gir, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, all in the city; as well and C. Chung, of Somerset Court, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara and Glenda Schultz, of Vryheid village, West Canje, Berbice.

Nazahah Yusuff, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, won a toaster.

Sandra Ramotar, of James and Non Pariel Streets, Albouystown, got a cake mixer; Denise Pilgrim, of Lot 3676 North Ruimveldt, two more Georgetown addresses, received a microwave oven and Kamla Maniram, of J.P. Latch, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, took away a four-burner gas stove.

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