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GBTI impromptu speaking competition continues next week
THE Inter-Secondary School Impromptu Speaking Competition sponsored by the Regent Street, Georgetown branch of the Guyana Bank for Industry and Commerce (GBTI), continued Thursday at the GBTI Recreational Centre in Bel Air Park, Georgetown.
The session featured President’s College coming up against North Georgetown Secondary and Mae’s Secondary School opposing St. John’s College.
In the first contest, President’s College scored 684 points to win over North Georgetown Secondary with 561 points.
Mae’s Secondary School won in the second contest against St. John’s College, scoring 690 compared to the 502 scored by St. John’s College.
The judges for the two matches were Mr. John Tracey, Ms. Bonita Hunter and Ms. Magda Pollard.
The competition continues on Tuesday with St. Joseph’s High coming up against Richard Ishmael Secondary to complete the first round of competition.
Towards Rio Group Summit in Guyana
By Rickey Singh
(Published courtesy of yesterday's Barbados Weekend Nation, as appeared in the writer's `Our Caribbean’ column)
THE Guyana delegation to the 18th CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting left the Vincentian capital of Kingstown on Wednesday having updated community partners on its hosting of next month's historic Rio Summit in Georgetown.
Having emerged over 20 years of existence as a significant source of reference in the conduct of international affairs, the 20-member group of Latin American and Caribbean nations is scheduled to meet over two days at summit level, starting March 2, with an important difference.
As the country currently representing the 15-member CARICOM on what is popularly known as the 'Rio Group', Guyana has chosen to place its signature on this 2007 Summit with a shift in emphasis from a traditionally dominant trade focus to a range of social issues that impact on the lives of the Caribbean and Latin American people.
By the time Foreign Ministers and high-level technocrats of participating countries and international organisations have completed their series of pre-summit meetings in Georgetown, there are expected to be specific recommendations on social programmes to be pursued as well as trade and environmental issues for consideration and endorsement by the leaders.
President Bharrat Jagdeo feels that while the importance of trade and economic issues cannot be minimised, the opportunity should be seized at the summit to give "more focused attention" to critical social issues like poverty alleviation, enhancing education systems and improving health care.
The Guyanese Foreign Minister, Rudy Insanally, disclosed before leaving Kingstown, that the preparatory secretariat in Georgetown for the Rio Summit has been able to secure "valuable technical assistance" from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to help guide the deliberations on the agenda issues with special reference to the social challenges.
The philosophical concepts and major policies and programmes of CARICOM are to be reflected at the summit by Guyana as the community's representative member state on the Rio Group. CARICOM joined the group in 1989 when Jamaica became its representative for the first three years.
It is the intention to also have relevant decisions from the summit fed into planning arrangements by CARICOM for the Caribbean-United States of America Conference in Washington scheduled for June this year.
Strategising for the Washington Conference, with its primary component being a meeting between President George Bush and CARICOM Heads of Government, was one of the foreign relations issues of a special caucus session by community leaders on day two of their three-day Inter-Sessional in Kingstown.
For next month's 20th anniversary summit of the Rio Group, the working documents will, for the first time, be in English. Special invitees for the event include the Secretaries General of the United Nations, Organisation of American States and the Caribbean Community.
The occasion will be used to showcase Guyana's new multi-million National Convention Centre, a gift of the People's Republic of China which is located within proximity of the new, ultra-modern headquarter building of the CARICOM Secretariat, a gift of the Guyana Government with substantial assistance from Japan.
Thousands expected at Chutney finals at Anna Regina tonight
THOUSANDS are expected tonight at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground on the Essequibo Coast for the finals of the 2007 Chutney competition.
The Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) administration said all preparations are in place for the staging of the grand showdown of artistes vying for the Chutney crown.
It assured that tight security measures are in place for the show.
Several Essequibians told the Guyana Chronicle they will be there tonight to back Essequibian Haresh Singh to win the crown for a fourth time.
Singh reached the finals of the Chutney competition with his number titled `Next door neighbour’.
Other artistes vying for the crown include Joyce Harris from New York City and Girlie Rampersaud.
The contestants will be backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra Band.
GRA awards VAT essay winners at UG Career Day
ACTING Commissioner of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Department of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ms. Hema Khan, yesterday presented awards to the winners of the GRA VAT Secondary School Essay competition.
The authority said she congratulated the students and the schools for their interest in VAT and hoped for their continued interest and support for the introduction of the new tax, as well as in other affairs of the GRA.
The competition was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in October last year targeting students between 13 and 17 years.
GRA Public Communications Specialist, Ms. Nadia De Abreu said the topic of the competition was “VAT - a more equitable tax system. Discuss.”
She said the essays were required to be between 1,500 and 2, 000 words and several criteria, including the understanding of the topic and content and analysis, were used for assessing the essays.
De Abreu said the GRA received favourable responses from secondary schools from as far as Linden, Essequibo and Bartica.
Lissa Haynes, 16, of Mae’s Secondary in Georgetown, scored the highest points, securing a trophy and $50,000, while Claire Odle, also of Mae’s Secondary, and Indrawattie Natram of Abram Zuil Secondary School, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), attained the second position with equal scores. They both got a trophy and $40,000.
Kamelia Samaroo, also of Abram Zuil Secondary, will receive a trophy and $30,000 for doing well. The two schools have also received plaques for their participation and performances.
The GRA said Ms. Haynes congratulated it for providing the opportunity for students to become involved in the VAT and she looks forward to the GRA providing similar opportunities for students.
Towards the Rio Group Summit
GUYANA hosts the prestigious Rio Group Summit that starts February 28.
This is one in a series of country profiles of member states of the group.
Bolivia
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centred on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centred in the yellow band.
Motto: ¡La unión es la fuerza!
English: "Unity is the strength!"
Capital: La Paz
Official languages: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara
Independence from Spain: 6 August, 1825
National Anthem: Bolivianos, el hado propicio
Official Name: Republic of Bolivia
Geography
Area: 1,098,581 km²
Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Nationality: noun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian
Population (2006 est.): 8,900, 000 million
Ethnic Groups: Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Language: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Constitution: 2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
Type of Government: Republic
Agricultural Products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber
Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing
Bolivia was accepted as a member state of the Rio Group in 1990. (Prepared by the Government Information Agency)
Jamrock Caribbean Restaurant opens
ANOTHER new restaurant has opened in Georgetown in time for the Rio Group Summit and Cricket World Cup 2007.
It’s the Jamrock Caribbean Restaurant and Grill, on Camp Street, between Durban and Norton Streets.
At a ceremony Thursday evening, Managing Director and proprietor, Mr. Paul Giddings told relatives, members of the legal and business communities and others, he is “a very proud Guyanese”.
He said he always wanted to do something different and new for the country, pointing to the proliferation of Chinese and Brazilian restaurants.
The Jamrock Caribbean Restaurant and Grill said it will offer 95 per cent Jamaican cuisine as well as Guyanese and other Caribbean menus from Monday to Saturday from 11:00h to 19:00h.
It said it will also operate a small outside area to be known as ‘On the Run’, which will be open until 21:00h, from where patrons would be able to purchase their takeaway Jerk Chicken and Chips, among other fast foods.
The beautifully decorated restaurant with modern stylish furnishings and walls decorated with photographs of Jamaican singers, also houses a VIP section.
Authentic curry goat, stewed oxtail, stewed chicken, stewed fish and Jerk chicken are among other dishes being prepared by a Jamaican chef.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by 84-year-old Ms. Elaine Giddings, mother of the proprietor, who travelled from the U.S. with other relatives for the occasion.
Former Public Service Minister Fung-On dies
FORMER Public Service Minister, Mr. George Fung-On, died early yesterday morning at his 212 New Garden Street, Queenstown, Georgetown residence.
He was 85.
His wife Gloria said he was convalescing at home after being hospitalized for two weeks. She recalled speaking with him earlier before retiring to bed.
Mr. Fung-On, who entered the then colonial Public Service at age 20, after serving briefly as a teacher, is credited as spending most of his working life as a senior official in the Public Service Ministry.
He was appointed a Minister of Government by the late President Cheddi Jagan and handed the portfolio of Minister of Public Service, following the victory of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic at the October 5, 1992 general elections.
Even at the death of Dr. Jagan, Mr. Fung-On retained the position while serving under former President Janet Jagan and then President Bharrat Jagdeo.
A cricket enthusiast, who in his time came close to being picked for the British Guiana national cricket team, having played in the local division up to age 50, Mr. Fung-On was at the helm of the Public Service when public servants country embarked on a 57-day strike to push for better wages and conditions of work.
He is also on record as being the one tasked to implement the Public Administration Programme funded by the World Bank, the Government of Guyana and others and which entailed computerising personnel data.
Arrangements for the funeral are still to be finalized and will be announced later.
NARI urged to play bigger role in agriculture
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday visited the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) at Mon Repos on the East Coast Demerara.
Noting that the annual budget to NARI is some $200M, he urged officials at the institute to develop a plan to move from mere experimenting to facilitating expanded agriculture commercialism.
“I am here to see that the things you are working on are not just pilots. Money spent here will be the stimulant for the diversification of the economy,” the President told NARI officials, including Director, Dr. Oudho Homenauth.
Noting that Guyana is charged with the responsibility of leading the regional agricultural effort, President Jagdeo said he has urged Caribbean leaders to look at the agricultural plans with a bit more optimism.
NARI’s basic mandate is to undertake studies aimed at improving yields by adopting cost effective methods, and fostering expansion in the production of non-traditional agricultural products.
President Jagdeo said a primary reason for visiting the institute was to ensure that the resources allocated are focused and channeled into areas of national priority.
He was accompanied on the visit by Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud.
School dropouts, teenage pregnancy under focus in Region Four
PARENTS and teachers in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) are brainstorming solutions to social problems affecting youths in several East Coast and East Bank Demerara villages.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said it is the result of a project launched by the Gender, Human Services and Social Committee established by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
The group was charged, in March 2005, to address domestic violence in schools and work with parents, teachers and other community members to identify the problems and seek ways to address them, GINA said.
Chairperson of the committee, Ms. Brenda Williams said stakeholders, at a recent meeting, highlighted several issues and began working on them in various communities with Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs).
She told GINA that, among the issues are school dropouts and the need for vocational centres for them, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, the role of parents, lack of finance to provide food and school uniforms, guidance and counselling in schools and the incidence of drug use.
Williams said maximum support has been given to the PTAs and all community members and the interest shown by teachers and parents is commendable.
She said many parents sought assistance to deal with truancy and complained about the unavailability of a welfare officer in some districts and the meeting also dealt with violence among young girls and victims of abuse.
Williams advised that parents should prioritise their activities in order to spend more time with their children.
She said the committee is collaborating with the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB) of the ministry, as well, to help in the areas of teenage pregnancy and domestic violence and several seminars were conducted on those issues.
Budget 2007 emulates sound policies, hard work
– Finance Minister
THE fulfillment of the policies and programmes outlined in the 2007 National Budget is dependent on hard work and commitment which has been demonstrated by the government over the years, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said Thursday.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said he made those and other remarks during his presentation in the National Assembly before debate on the measure concluded.
Singh said: “I remain convinced that Budget 2007 is based on the realistic and honest assessment of where we are as a country, a practical view of where we need and would like to be and, indeed, a clear articulation of the best possible way to get there.”
He said Budget 2007 articulates the programmes and policies necessary to achieve a modern and prosperous Guyana and provisions have been made in the $100 billion expenditure to address important areas such as poverty reduction, investment and the continued enhancement of social services.
Singh said the economy is projected to grow by 4.9 per cent this year, with most sectors contributing and the process will be fueled by the anticipated stronger growth in sugar, the resurgence of the mining and quarrying sectors, as well as activities linked to Cricket World Cup (CWC) and other major events.
Acknowledging the role and importance of debates, as part of the democratic process, the minister said: “Over the course of the past five days, I have occasionally detected some criticisms with merit.”
He continued: “What I find regrettable is that far too often, when my colleagues offered comments with some validity, these comments were negated and nullified by severe fundamental flaws in some of the arguments that were offered by members of the Opposition.”
Minister Singh charged that People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Winston Murray engaged in a “superficially impressive excursion” on the issue of the measurement of the deficit, implying that the classification of loans and grants disbursements was flawed.
He responded: “I could not identify an instance where the classification of loans and grants disbursement was any different in any previous year’s estimates.”
“The estimates for 1970 indicate that the manner of computing the deficit was no different back in 1967 as it was done in the 2007 estimates,” the minister maintained.
Singh questioned the motive behind such criticism which, he said, may have evolved from an oversight on the part of the PNCR.
“I would venture to suggest that this calls into question the seriousness of everything else that would have been said by members of the PNCR,” he added.
Singh said a range of initiatives and programmes has been included in the budget, specifically geared towards the vulnerable segment of the population.
He said they include a cardiac care and treatment programme that will target approximately 300 patients this year; hip replacement surgery for an estimated 52 patients; a public assistance programme that will directly benefit 16,000 persons; an old age pension scheme costing $1.5 billion for the benefit of 33,000 people and a school uniform project.
Singh said the administration continues to implement policies and programmes aimed at nurturing economic growth and development, in its tireless pursuit of prosperity for all Guyanese.
Nawbatt explains circumstances of Severn Trent termination
MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt confirmed yesterday that the government’s contract with the (British) Severn Trent Water International (STWI), for management of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), was terminated because of the contractor’s inability to achieve most of the agreed targets.
He made the confirmation at a press conference at his Brickdam, Georgetown ministry, following his announcement Monday when he made a presentation in the National Assembly, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Nawbatt said the five-year deal, signed in November 2002 and effective from 2003, came to an end on February 15, 2007, although it was scheduled to continue through December 2007.
He explained that, after four years, STWI had only achieved two of the seven targets specified under the contractual agreement and that was verified by an independent audit undertaken by the (British) Department for International Development (DFID) through the international firm, Halcrow Group Limited.
Nawbatt said STWI did not increase its revenue collection by 90 per cent and, while it was stipulated that 85 per cent of GWI customers should be metered by 2005, only 24.7 per cent were by the set timeframe.
In addition, the provision of potable water to Amerindian communities was only 4.3 per cent completed instead of the targeted 80 per cent.
Nawbatt said, based on those reports, several discussions were held at the level of the GWI Board of Directors and the decision was taken to terminate the contract.
He said more talks were held with STWI to determine the most amicable separation from GWI and it was decided that a “turnaround” plan would be prepared for managing the utility after the contract ends.
Nawbatt said that was agreed to by all the donor agencies and a draft was recently submitted to him for further review at the government level.
He said it includes several benchmarks that were outlined in the management pact with STWI and now expected to be achieved under the new arrangement through which Mr. Sizwe Jackson, former GWI Operations Manager, is serving as Managing Director while the full-time vacancy for the post is being advertised.
Nawbatt recalled that the award to STWI was at a cost of £3.721M, of which £3.21M were spent and the donor agency for the funding, DFID has consented to the remainder being used by GWI to improve its capacity.
US$25M reform scheme to widen justice for all Guyanese
THE US$25M Justice Sector Reform programme is expected to advance interaction among judicial institutions at the coordination and operational levels, enhance the investment climate through improved governance and reduce the backlog of court cases, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said yesterday.
The programme will be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and as the preliminary phase for implementing the Justice Sector Reform Strategy (JSRS) approved by Cabinet in June last year.
According to GINA, implementation will be by the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Mr. Doodnauth Singh, who has the portfolio, would represent the government at semi-annual meetings with the IDB to review the progress and conditions for further disbursements.
GINA said the executing unit will be housed at the Carmichael Street, Georgetown ministry and the proposed implementation is to be launched with an initial US$10M investment component followed by a US$15M policy-based module.
The agency said its three components include accountability and administrative efficiency of service delivery in the justice sector, linking and improving coordination development within justice institutions and widening access to justice for all Guyanese.
Under sub-component three, legal aid services will be expanded to all Guyanese and public legal awareness and support for informal justice developed.
A technical secretariat will be set up to afford high level guidance and synchronisation for the execution of the JSRS, GINA said.
It added that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will be strengthened this year, through improved governance, recruitment, human resource management and accountability of judges, magistrates and other court personnel.
GINA also said enhancing of skills and productivity of magistrates and judges will be targeted this year, too, and two policy analysts would be appointed to support the process.
Rohee to table new anti-crime bills in Parliament
SEVERAL new bills are expected to be tabled in the National Assembly to curb all levels of criminal activities, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee said in the National Assembly Thursday evening.
He said one such measure, under the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05, will see greater penalties for persons found with unlicensed guns.
Rohee said one, for persons charged under the legislation, is the refusal of bail.
He noted that criminal deportees to Guyana continue to be a concern to the government because of their involvement in facilitating intricate crimes, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Rohee said: “It has long been an almost established fact that criminal deportees have infiltrated the local society, facilitating the emergence of sophisticated criminal activity that was alien to Guyana and many other Caribbean countries. We hope that this will be prevented in the near future.”
With respect to road safety, he said among the measures the government intends to propose this year is increased punishment and the issuance of a new set of traffic tickets and loud music in public transport will be addressed, as well.
Rohee enumerated a list of recommendations which could be adopted by the Police in the medium and long-term. These include establishing special units to deal with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape and carnal knowledge cases, and for looking at family instability and disruption and youth investigation.
He said a witness protection scheme and creation of a threat detection and analysis unit are also on the cards.
According to him, Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 has served as a catalyst in many ways and forced decisions and actions on many fronts at the regional level to coordinate security activity and share information.
Alluding to the proposed Citizens’ Security Programme, Rohee said it is very important for fighting crime this year and explained that the government intends to refocus the Police Force through it, using a model that will be adopted from the best practices around the world.
He said priority areas under the Police reform will be to establish a crime fighting unit, a SWAT team, a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory and a modern training facility while improving stations countrywide.
Rohee said the government is optimistic that those programmes would be implemented by year end.
Canadian collaboration secures wheelchairs for disabled Guyanese
THE National Commission on Disability (NCD) yesterday received 30 wheelchairs valued Cdn$30,000 through a collaborative effort between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA).
NCD Administrative Assistant, Ms. Beverly Pyle said the gifts will be disbursed to organisations such as the Guyana Society for the Blind and the Guyana Federation for Persons with Disabilities.
Executive Director, Mr. David Hinton said, in addition to yesterday’s donation, CPA will also be adding resources on advocacy training to the NCD Library.
The handing over took place in the CIDA building on Main Street, Georgetown, ending a week of training on capacity building, self-motivation, wheelchair assembling and maintenance for persons with disabilities.
Hinton said the sessions were conducted in Regions 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and he was pleased that a number of women participated.
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Charles Court pointed out that the training series is continuous as people with disabilities face many challenges and the organisations involved are working to limit them.
Country Manager of Scotiabank, Mr. Ian Cooper also presented Hinton with Cdn$500,000 to buy more wheelchairs for the same purpose.
Guyana was identified by the Organisation of American States (OAS) as one of the nine countries which lack the most basic elements necessary for the social inclusion of people with disabilities and this country has been working with CPA and CIDA to alleviate the situation over the past two years.
No link with ganja on ship
-- BK Marine Inc
BK MARINE Inc., a subsidiary of BK International Inc., has categorically disassociated itself from responsibility for the February 13 discovery by members of the Jamaican Constabulary Force of 335 pounds of compressed marijuana aboard its vessel `MV Alexis T’.
Managing Director, Mr. Brian Tiwarie, in a statement yesterday on the issue which was reported in the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper and subsequently in the local media, said the marijuana which was sourced in Jamaica, was taken aboard the vessel by two crew members who then stashed the illegal drugs in their cabins.
This was done without the knowledge of both the captain and BK Marine, he said.
The two crew members, the statement noted, have since appeared in court, pleaded guilty to the charges and are awaiting sentence.
BK Marine in expressing “great regret” over the incident which unfortunately tarnishes its good record, and that of BK International, said “we have gone to great lengths to ensure the security of our operations in the seven years of operation.”
The company, it was noted, has a zero tolerance “Drug Policy” in place and has embraced the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) and International Safety Management (ISM) certification for maximum security of its marine operation.
It said it has also voluntarily engaged California–based Fleet Management Solutions Inc., which provides satellite tracking and monitoring for all its vessels.
The system, which has been in place since early January, provides security overall of its vessels wherever they operate, the company said.
The `MV Alexis T’ arrived in the port of Kingston, Jamaica on February 8, with a consignment of rice for Jamaica Rice Mills, a member of ADM, a U.S.-based company in Rockfort, East Kingston .
At the time of the arrest, the result of tactful surveillance of some “clandestine activity” during the night of February 12, the rice which was loaded at the CARICOM Rice Mills, Guyana, was being discharged at the National Flour Mill, Jamaica.
Budget deliberations due to end last night
DELIBERATIONS on the $100 billion national budget were expected to conclude last night as the National Assembly went through the consideration of the estimates of government ministries and agencies.
In presenting the budget, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had declared: “As we have emphasised, our vision is for a better Guyana - a Guyana where our people live in perpetual harmony, enjoying greater cohesion and prosperity; a society in which our quality of life compares favourably with our immediate and distant neighbours; a society that is recognised for the care and attention it places on children, women, youths, the elderly and the less fortunate.”
“We must, therefore, strive for economic success in order to establish a better society for all. We have to build safeguards and to act to sustain economic growth and stability long into the future, and we must continue to work to find ways of sharing more evenly the benefits for our economic success”, he said.
During the consideration of the estimates, the opposition queried several areas of expenditure, including the employment of contract workers, expenditure on security for several agencies and ministries, scholarships and training and emergency sea defence works.
The respective subject ministers responded to the queries of the opposition.
UG Open Day
THE University of Guyana yesterday held its annual Open/Career Day on the campus at Turkeyen.
The theme was `Your potential...a world of possibilities’ and several public and private sector companies and agencies put up booths for the event.
UG said Open/Career Day seeks to inform prospective students – fifth and sixth formers – about career options and the prerequisites, and to expose current university students to job opportunities and careers within their field of study.
Home-based care scheme key in HIV/AIDS fight
MINISTER of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy says Guyana’s home-based care programme for people living with HIV/AIDS is an integral part of the national response in fighting the disease and it could help in reducing stigma and discrimination.
Speaking Thursday at the opening of the first conference on home-based care, Ramsammy said that important to the national response is getting families of infected persons involved.
People living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination by families who neglect or abandon them altogether, he noted.
He said the home-based care programme, which now reaches 1,000 persons, is imperative to a high-quality HIV response.
The home-based programme also allows families to be able to better understand HIV/AIDS and thus help to reduce discrimination, the minister said.
He said the number of persons who benefit from the home-based care programme amounts to 25 per cent of the total number of persons living with HIV/AIDS who are on treatment for the disease.
For Guyana, he said, that is an impressive figure when compared to other countries.
Ramsammy said that four years ago this initiative was virtually non-existent, except for the pioneering work of G Plus, an organization of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Today, the Ministry of Health/National AIDS Programme Secretariat works with five organizations in providing home-based care, he reported.
Surprise Mash trip ends in airstrip tragedy
By Shirley Thomas
THE man tragically killed when he was chopped by the propeller of a Trans Guyana Airways aircraft at Kurupung on Thursday, had left Mahaica since September last, and was planning a surprise visit home to be with his family for Mashramani when he met his death, relatives said yesterday.
And, they said, his promise to his family at Mahaica was that he was going to make them all happy on his return home, since their mother had died just weeks before his departure, and he was always conscious of the great void that had been created in their lives.
He particularly wanted to work to make his father comfortable, even though he was aware that material things in life can never replace the loss of a loved one. However, according to relatives, he had said he was keeping the date as a surprise.
But what might have become of the surprises he was bringing home for them is yet to be determined, since his mangled body was handed over in Georgetown Thursday.
The relatives said Lindo’s money and baggage has not been turned over to them and they are wondering whether he was travelling empty-handed after five to six months away from home. They said that when his father checked the pockets of his clothes at the funeral parlour there was not a cent in it. All he got on the dead man was his wrist watch.
Bonita Smartt, of Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica, an elder sister with whom the 31-year old gold (land) mining operator, Hubert Lindo lived, said he was on hand last July to bury his mother, Cheryl Hope who passed away after a brief illness.
Six months later, and he had still not gotten over the loss. Soon after his mother’s death, he made the trip to Kurupung where he had his gold mining business.
Smartt described her brother as a very loving and attentive person who always had the interest of his family at heart. He was never married, and had no children.
But to him, his parents and other brothers and sisters, had meant a lot.
“Even though he was away for more than five months, he still kept contact with us,” Smartt said, adding that there was a system in place for them to receive radio transceiver messages from him.
She recalled that her brother had promised to come home for Mashramani, adding that he hoped to make them all happy on his return home. “It was a trip he was planning for, so I imagine he was well prepared.”
But unfortunately, she added, his body was brought out on the aircraft and nothing else handed over.
She confirmed that when the body arrived in Georgetown it was wrapped up, and said it is reasonable to assume that anything that might have been removed was done at the Kurupung airstrip.
But she is contending that Sky West Travel Service (SWCS) should be responsible for her brother’s baggage and what he had on him, since he was a passenger who had already paid his travel fare.
She said she received a message from Sky West Charter Service with which he was booked to travel, informing them of his death. This clearly meant that the agency knew how to reach the family, she reasoned.
However, up to late yesterday they had received no further word from the air charter service. Sky West Charter Service leases aircraft from Trans Guyana Airways to provide air transportation to interior locations.
Asked for a comment on the accident on the Kurupung airstrip, an SWCS official said Lindo was booked to travel on the flight and that after the aircraft arrived, he mentioned to the pilot that he was going back to the landing to get his bag.
She said the pilot waited a while, and after not seeing the passenger return, he decided on taking off without him, since the weather was getting bleak.
The pilot was said to have taken all the precautionary measures before taking off.
She said after Lindo heard the engine start up, he came running towards the aircraft with the hope of getting the plane to stop. However, the SWCS official said, tragedy struck and the passenger was killed on the spot.
Asked whether her agents on the ground attempted to, and succeeded in securing the dead man’s bag, the official replied: “We are not responsible for his bag; he got to look after his bag.”
She further said that the bag might have been removed by someone else, known to Lindo at the airstrip. However, Lindo’s sister Smartt said her brother’s girl friend had communicated with her by radio set, following the incident and informed her that by the time she got the news of Lindo’s death and went to the airstrip, his body was there minus money and bag.
Relatives want to know what has become of Hubert Lindo’s bag and why his pockets empty when they eventually accessed the body.
Asked whether the travel service would contribute to funeral expenses, the SWCS official said that her agency owes him no liability, but since she knew him very well as a passenger who used the service, she may consider a donation.
Justice sector being strengthened
-- PPP/C MP
By Chamanlall Naipaul
PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall has asserted that the present government has moved the judicial system away from political subjugation which existed in the past to one of an independent judiciary and is assiduously working towards improving the administration of justice at all levels.
Speaking during debate on the national budget in the National Assembly, Mr. Nandlall drew attention to the justice reform strategy for which budgetary allocations have already been made with its principal objective being to assist the Government of Guyana in taking initial steps towards: strengthening the accountability and administrative efficiency of service delivery in the justice sector; enhancing justice sector institution; and improving access to justice.
“At the end of this programme, the justice system in Guyana will be completely transformed into a modern and efficient system that delivers justice to our people with impartiality, with competence and with dispatch at an affordable cost. The justice reform strategy manifests itself in various components and sub-components.”
According to him, under the heading of enhancing institutional capacity, the following areas are slated for reform - the Judicial Service Commission will be completely transformed with changes to the recruitment and accountability of judges, magistrates and court staff; a new code of conduct and ethics will be crafted for judges and magistrates and enforceable time lines would be set for the delivery of judgments and orders; constant training programmes will be organized for judges, magistrates and their support staff.
In addition, Nandlall informed the House that a new system will be designed and implemented to deal with reducing the current backlog of cases, both in the High Court and in the Magistrates Court by way of case flow management and court connected mediation which will be extended to the magistrates court; the administration of the Supreme Court and its staff is slated for wide ranging reforms which will include the provision of modern equipment, improved training and a greater system of accountability; a programme will be designed to enhance the skills and productivity of judges and magistrates, including the provision of training in specialised areas of law, online facilities, a modern and well-stocked library.
Nandlall said also that there will be a continuation of the ongoing rehabilitation to the physical infrastructure of courtrooms and courthouses throughout Guyana and there will be furnished court recording and Information Technology (IT) equipment staffed with trained court reporters.
Improvements are also slated specifically for the criminal justice system where the Director of Public Prosecution’s office will be modernised and reorganized and police prosecution in drugs and drugs related matters and serious indictable matters will be gradually phased out, Nandlall indicated.
Satellite offices of the DPP will be opened outside of Georgetown and there will be institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, both in its functional and operational capacity to increase its efficiency in discharging its mandate, while there will be an initiative to modernise antiquated civil and criminal procedures and rules and new ones will be drafted to replace, them, the PPP/C parliamentarian disclosed.
He said too that several pieces of both civil and criminal legislation are listed for amendments and revision. New guidelines for bail, sentencing, cost, appeals, hearings and trials are expected to be promulgated, and there will be massive expansion in the provision of legal aid service not only to the citizens of Georgetown but also to the citizens of New Amsterdam and the Essequibo Coast.
There will be a special effort to update the laws of Guyana and the Guyana Law Report and there shall be established a Law Revision Commission, and when this project is completed Guyana will have a completely transformed and modern system to which its people can access justice.
“This is what this budget is about - modernising Guyana,” Nandlall reiterated.
In this context, he declared that the vision of the government is: “A society and country where all of our people can have an equal place irrespective of class, creed or race, where our dreams and the dreams of our children can become a reality.”
Recalling the state of the judicial system under the former government, Nandlall told the House that it would be in remiss “if I do not remind this Honourable Assembly that not so long ago in our country, it was widely believed if not accepted that the judiciary was subject to the control and political manipulation of the then PNC Government. It commenced in 1970 when the (People’s National Congress) Government abolished Her Majesty’s Privy Council as Guyana’s final Court of Appeal. All doubts about the true and ulterior intention behind that move were soon dissipated when in 1974, the PNC declared itself to be paramount, that is to be above every institution in the State including the Judiciary. All subtlety was thrown to the wind when the PNC hoisted and flew its party’s flag in the compound of the Guyana Court of Appeal - the then apex of the Guyana Judiciary, unequivocally declaring to all that the judiciary was subject and subservient to the PNC.”
Nandlall asserted that since the PPP/C assumed the reins of government in 1992, almost every court building has been repaired, and presently the Guyana Court of Appeal building is undergoing massive reconstruction, while the physical structure of the High Court building has undergone a complete metamorphosis and some courts within that building have been air conditioned - a luxury that many lawyers and litigants thought they would never live to enjoy.
In addition, Nandlall acknowledged that there is now an impressive law library in the High Court Compound to which judges, lawyers and even law students have access.
He noted too that a High Court building has been constructed at Suddie and now for the first time in the history of this country, Essequibians do not have to travel to Georgetown to have their civil cases litigated in the High Court.
“For the first time in the history of Guyana we have an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whereby persons can have their cases amicably resolved by mediation outside of the adversarial court system. For the first time in the history of Guyana we have a specialised court to deal only with commercial cases. This government played a significant role in the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice and when it became functional, Guyana was one of the first countries which submitted to its jurisdiction. Today, for the first time since 1970, Guyanese have a court outside of Guyana where they can seek justice. We have made resources available to ensure that the judiciary devises mechanisms and strategies to aggressively tackle the backlog of cases awaiting trial so as to improve the speed with which justice is be delivered to our people,” Nandlall declared.
NGO sounds suicide epidemic warning
By Faizool Deo
FOUR young men, between 21 and 30 years old, have committed suicide over the last few weeks, while several others have attempted similar acts in the now troubled indigenous village of Moruka in Region One (Barima/Waini), a leading non-governmental organisation said yesterday.
The organisation, Help and Shelter, said the four men were among 13 persons (12 males) who attempted suicide and residents of the area are alarmed and most people fear that the self-inflicting deaths would continue.
A team from Help and Shelter visited the area last month.
At the root of the problem, according to Public Education Officer, Kevin Massiah, was the lack of counselling in the village, home to between 6,000-7,000 people.
Jean La Rose, a resident of Santa Rosa who was at a media briefing which highlighted the finding, made an appeal for a collaborative effort between non-governmental organisations (NGO) and the relevant authorities to help end the suicide cases.
This she feels can happen by conducting a thorough investigation, and by putting measures in place to curb any further outbreaks.
Alcohol abuse
According to information from the Help and Shelter findings, relatives of the first three men who died (the fourth killed himself last week, after the visit) said they were under the influence of alcohol when they committed suicide.
Massiah pointed out that alcohol and drugs plague the community to such a point that the villagers blamed these for the suicides.
Adding to this, La Rose said, a group of concerned women went to the area yesterday and have since decided that drastic actions, including the banning of all sales of alcohol, should be implemented.
Even though alcohol is seen as the main stimuli that makes the thought of suicide possible, rumours are touted as the reasons for the emotional build-up.
Massiah said most of the villagers pointed out that the men in the area do not talk about their problems and that for the few who had died the rumour mill was grinding about their spouses being unfaithful.
He said the villagers saw the need for a counselling body, since except for the priest (who not everyone confided in) there was no one else to assist them in their time of need.
As it is in the village, counsellors are not just needed for the young men in the society, but the parents and the children as well.
Massiah said there are a lot of ‘hurting people’ in the area. He referred to a case where a niece and nephew saw their uncle hanging from a tree.
“Many a time the children jump out of their sleep screaming, many of the families, mothers in particular are suffering,” he lamented.
Due to the geography of the area, the police don’t have the resources to go into action when needed and again there is the case of some people not wanting to confide in them.
The Help and Shelter official said the police agreed that some counselling mechanism must be put in place to help the community heal.
Memories of the past
The ‘domino effect’ cases of suicide that started on December 29, 2006 and continued until last Saturday (the last recorded date), are by no means new to the community.
According to La Rose, about three or four years ago there was another string of suicide attempts which the village had to endure. At that time, no measures were put in place but in time, normalcy returned. This time though four persons have died; people who contributed to the sustenance of their community.
Among the four were a teacher, a medic, a farmer and a student. It was revealed that both the teacher and medic had wives and children.
Another Public Education Officer of Help and Shelter, Dennis Cuffy, said his organisation would send a team in conjunction with the government ministries to the village next month to train counsellors.
Among persons willing to be trained, he said, are police officers and persons from the village council as the village look to begin their healing process.
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