Several initiatives underway to expand agriculture on EBD
-focus on farmers’ support
Government continues to pursue investments and interventions that will help farming communities such as those along the East Bank Demerara to realise their full potential in keeping with the administration’s vision for expanded agricultural development.
This was highlighted Saturday by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud during meetings with farmers and residents at Garden of Eden, Friendship, Craig and Mocha Arcadia, part of his continuing outreaches to farming areas across the country.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and /Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth, Chief Crops and Livestock Officer Brian Sears, Region Four Vice Chairman Mohamed Khan, and Regional Executive Officer Shafdar Alli were among those who accompanied the Minister.
Persaud said although significant interventions are being made, such as improved drainage and irrigation and extension services, there is still need for more to be done in East Bank Demerara communities since it is recognised that more persons are becoming involved in agricultural activities and more lands are being cultivated.
“I appreciate the enthusiasm demonstrated by farmers along the Esat Bank Demerara and this would encourage us at the Ministry of Agriculture to overcome the constraints. It highlights the need for us to collaborate more with the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils) and the Regional body in ensuring that farmers get the support and attention required in the drive to expand agriculture, particularly the focus on diversification, to take up marketing opportunities in the region and beyond,” Minister Persaud said.
He noted that this increased interest among farmers requires sustained and expanded interventions such as drainage and irrigation, and thus the Minister’s meeting was intended to seek new ideas and suggestions from farmers.
At present, two excavators, which have been deployed from NDIA, are working to enhance D&I in Mocha to support farmers’ current activities, ensuring that the risk of flooding is minimized and developing new lands for cultivation.
Several East Bank Demerara communities, such as Mocha and Craig, have been identified and will be targeted under the Rural Enterprise Agricultural Development Project (READ), to be undertaken at a cost of approximately US$6M. Focus will be placed on working with farmers’ group to develop market systems, enhance extension services and provide materials and other support to make farmers’ activities more successful.
“It is filling certain gaps in terms of services and requirements that these communities need in fully realizing their potential. Some of these communities started agriculture 20 to 25 years ago, but they have not been getting the impetus that they need. So we do hope that as a result of the agricultural diversification projects, the opportunities which are much more now will be fulfilled,” Minister Persaud noted. During the meeting at Garden of Eden, farmers were informed of ongoing efforts by the Ministry to improve animal breeding stocks, including the pig breeding programme underway at the Guyana Defence Force farm in the area.
Discussions were held on various D&I issues in the respective communities, when decisions were made for matters raised to be addressed by the NDIA, Regional Administration or NDCs.
It was noted that efforts will be made to set up farmers’ committees to monitor D&I structures along the East Bank Demerara, since there were complaints about the timely operations of kokers and sluices in some villages.
In addition, reference was made to ongoing investments by Government to re-activate structures and systems that were closed by the previous administration in the 1970s and 1980s. The need for these structures and systems to become operational has increased with the effects of climate change and expanded agricultural activities by more persons.
(GINA)
Police say no phone calls were made.
The Police have responded to an article published in the Kaieteur News last Friday under the caption “West Coast businessman claims lawmen unresponsive”
Hemchand Gendalall of Canal No. 2 Polder, WBD, has a bond which he leaves unprotected at Ocean View, Uitvlugt, WCD, and which has been the subject of break and enter and larceny on Saturday February 16, 2008; Sunday February 17, 2008; and Wednesday February 20, 2008, a Police statement said..
However, contrary to what is stated in the article, the police at Leonora are contending that there is no record of any telephone calls made concerning the break and enter and larceny committed on the premises.
Hemchand Gendalall did report to the Leonora Police Station last Thursday, when he made a report of the breakages on his bond and investigations have been launched.
In addition, the Police Office of Professional Responsibility has been ordered to carry out investigations into the complaints made by the businessman.
Police refute claims on Capitol News
The Guyana Police Force has responded to a news item carried on Capitol News last Thursday in which one Alphonso Martin, who is alleged to be a former 1st Sergeant in the US Army and specializes in weaponry, stated that there is no way that it is scientifically possible to use spent shells to do ballistics to positively identify any weapon (that it was fired from); and until the pathologist or whoever retrieves the bullet and compares it against another bullet, one cannot tell which gun fired that bullet.
He went on to discredit the results of ballistic tests done by the Guyana Police Force Ballistics Section, whose ranks have been using spent shells, in addition to warheads, to conduct ballistics examinations.
The Guyana Police Force wishes to refute these claims made by the presenter. The Ballistics Section of the Guyana Police Force has qualified staff who have been deemed as experts by the Courts for the purpose of giving expert opinions on ballistics, a statement from the Police said.
Their qualifications include training in Basic Firearm Identification in Barbados and on the Advanced Firearm Identification Course, the Internship Firearm Identification Course and the Certificate of Instruction of Firearm Identification Course in Iowa , USA .
The Guyana Police Force is positing that a spent shell can be used to positively identify any weapon from which it was fired and do comparisons.
The examination of a fired cartridge case may make possible the identification of a weapon in terms of type, make, and model. The presence of magazine markings, the type of breech block mark, and the size, shape, and location of ejector and extractor marks are important in making such identification. The size, shape, and location of the firing pin on fired rimfire cartridge cases can also be used to determine the make of the weapon. Identification of a weapon as having fired a particular cartridge case can be made by comparing markings on test cartridges with those on the evidence cartridge.
Currently the system of ballistics examinations in the Police Force is done manually; however, the Force is expected to acquire an Integrated Ballistic Identification System which is a computerized system that matches all components of ammunition and stores the results.
Guyana, Barbados talks 'fruitful'
THE NATION ( BARBADOS) - Barbados and Guyana have had wide-ranging discussions.Talks between the two sides took place at Grand Barbados resort on Saturday, as Guyanese marked the 38th anniversary of the Co-operative Republic.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donville Inniss, led the Barbados delegation, which included Ambassador-designate to CARICOM, Denis Kellman, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teresa Marshall, and legal adviser Robert Volterra.
Director-general of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elizabeth Harper, led the Guyana delegation.
The Minister told the SUNDAY SUN that the two countries had "fruitful bilateral discussions on a range of issues", but did not go into details.
"As a new Government, it is necessary for us to meet with our counterparts in other CARICOM countries on a one-on-one basis to discuss outstanding issues," he remarked.
The talks, which lasted about six hours, took place against the backdrop of calls for CARICOM nations to come up with a regional fisheries project which could assess stocks, tap them and make provision for protection against abuses.
They also followed charges by some Guyanese about an increasing number of deportations from Barbados, as well as a greater number of persons being denied entry to the island in recent weeks.
They also come on the heels of complaints made by the Guyana Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Rudolph Insanally, about some states unilaterally varying the terms of the CARICOM Freedom of Movement accords for skilled nationals.
Saturday night, the Guyanese community and Friends of Guyana, gathered at the Croton Inn, Maxwell, Christ Church, to celebrate that country's 38th year as a Republic.
Unidentified body
Police were yesterday conducting investigations into the mystery surrounding the death of an unidentified security guard of John Fernandes Limited whose body was found in a trench.
The discovery was made around 13:00 hrs and his body was transported to the Lyken Funeral home.
When this newspaper arrived at the funeral parlour, the body was not yet identified and police were conducting investigations.
Meanwhile, this newspaper was reliably informed that the security guard is of African descent and is around 30 years-old. He was clad in a black pants and an off-white shirt and no marks of violence were found.
Efforts to contact the Ruimveldt police station for the deceased identity proved futile.
Suriname issues travel warning for Guyana
PARAMARIBO, Suriname (Caribbean Net News) - In the wake of the brutal slayings recently in Guyana the Surinamese government has urged its citizens not to use illegal entry points when traveling to Guyana.
Due to the volatile security situation in neighbouring Guyana the ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paramaribo issued an official statement warning travellers not to use the semi-legal backtrack river crossing into Guyana, but the official border crossing at Southdrain.
“As a result of the current developments in Guyana the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to emphasize that with regards to the personal safety of travelers it is better not to use the illegal points of entry into Guyana”, the ministry said in its statement.
Meanwhile Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana, Manorma Soeknandan, is urging fellow countrymen who need to visit Guyana to be very cautious. After the killings in Lusignan on January 26, Counselor at the Suriname mission Charlo Doedel had also appealed to Surinamers traveling to Georgetown to be very cautious. The diplomat also urged visitors to report regularly to the embassy as is the standard procedure in cases of riots and disturbances in countries where Suriname has an embassy.
Meanwhile, Suriname has beefed up police stations in Nickerie at the border with Guyana, while police and army have increased patrols on the Corentyne River and Nickerie River. Authorities here are monitoring the developments in Guyana very closely and are ready to assist this fellow CARICOM member state in any way possible.
Security forces in Suriname are in a state of alert after the gruesome murder of eleven people in Lusignan and twelve others in Bartica. According to police sources the Suriname Police Force and the National Army have increased patrols in Nickerie along the border with Guyana.
Meanwhile the authorities are studying the possibility to converse the semi-legal back track river crossing into an official entry point, Security Minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi told reporters this week.
He noticed that before that point is reached however the legal framework should be established while agencies such as the Customs Department, Immigration and police should be furnished at the entry point to facilitate smooth operations.
The official noticed that over the years the backtrack-route became an important passage for Guyanese and Surinamese nationals and should become a legal border crossing. Santokhi further argued that in order to advance the process the Guyanese government should take similar steps on its side of the river to match the Surinamese actions.
More items to be VAT zero-rated .
Several other items have been added to the zero- rated list for the purpose of the Value Added Tax (VAT) which, when approved, would comprise an even more comprehensive basket of basic goods and services which are now subject to no VAT.
Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh during the 2008 budget presentation yesterday said this measure is expected to result in the loss of over $1.2 billion in revenue, and is intended to provide additional relief to the consuming public.
“Government’s initiative to zero-rate these items was aimed at ensuring that the introduction of the value-added tax would not contribute to an increase in the cost of the goods and services specified,” Dr. Singh told the National Assembly.
The following items will be zero-rated for VAT with effect from March 1.
wheaten flour
plantain flour
barley flour
dried chick peas (not including
canned chick peas)
dried kidney beans (not including canned kidney beans)
dried pigeon peas (not including canned pigeon peas)
cheddar cheese (not including grated, powdered, or sliced)
cassava bread
oats
sago
casareep
farine
peanuts and cashew nuts
locally produced bedsheets
pillow cases
towels
rags
curtains
toothbrushes
kerosene stoves
mosquito nets
liquid butane gas
bicycles (excluding racing bicycles)
ribbons
handkerchiefs
laundry soap
diapers
vitamins, minerals and tonics for medical or health supplement use (but not including energy drinks, food supplements and similar products)
wheelchairs
crutches
hearing aids
glucometers (glucose blood test machines)and needles and glucose blood strips made for use with such machines
rugs
mats
table covers
shelf covers
blankets
Machinery/equipment/ components used in the generation of renewable energy in the agriculture sector using agricultural by-products
paddy
hatching eggs
fish hooks
sheet lead
fishing floats
cotton
styrofoam for use in the fishing industry
animal medication including animal vitamins
all terrain vehicles used in the mining industry
Government, in January 2007 introduced VAT which replaced six other taxes. Many basic necessities were zero-rated including those relating to specified food items, educational materials and services, and medical services and prescription drugs.
Items zero-rated for VAT in 2007were:
Basic Food items
Bread, Rice,
Sugar, Cooking Oil
Milk Baby Formula
Split Peas Onion
Garlic Potatoes
Fruits except apples, grapes, dates, prunes, peaches, plums and strawberries
Vegetables except olives, carrots, black eye peas, pigeon peas, chick peas, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower
Medical services, and prescription and over the counter drugs
Education services and materials (including books)
Electricity
Water and Sewerage Services
Locally produced building materials for construction such as sand, stone, lumber
Vehicles for public officers/officials and remigrants
Vehicles four years and older
Computers
Sports gear subject to the requirements under the first schedule of the Customs Act
Small gift parcels
Gov’t to spend $13.7B to improve security
- two helicopters to be bought
Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh during the presentation of the 2008 national budget in the National Assembly Friday, outlined that the reforms in both the justice and security sector will be accelerated to ensure that urgent actions are effectively executed to ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens.
To this end he disclosed that $13.7B will be provided to boost the security sector, $900M of which will be used for the purchase of two helicopters and other equipment and gear for the joint services.
“We have provided $13.7 billion for the strengthening of our public safety agencies and in the area of security we have spared no effort in securing the support of both our multilateral and bilateral partners to maximise the level of resources available for the sector,” Minister Singh noted.
The Finance Minister explained that with the support of these partners, “immediate action is being taken to increase public confidence in the capacity of the law enforcement system.”
Among these actions will be to:
* improve the capability of rapid response systems to serious crimes;
* upgrade communication systems and expand access to police and other databases;
* improve intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities;
* intensify training in special operations for selected Joint Services members;
* equip crime fighting forces with appropriate transportation and technologically appropriate equipment to enhance their capacity on the ground;
* improve the oversight of the sector by strengthening the Office of Professional Responsibility, Police Complaints Authority and Police Service Commission; and
Additionally, Minister Singh said that $65 million will be expended to expand and equip community policing groups in order to support the national crime fighting efforts.
“Together, these will dramatically enhance the security force’s ability to respond in a timely manner to incidents, engage in more effective pursuit, and conduct more effective aerial surveillance and reconnaissance,” he posited.
“Crime fighting strategies and actions are complemented by our crime prevention strategies under our US$22 million Citizen Security Programme. This year, an allocation of $660 million will be expended to develop an integrated crime and violence information system to monitor trends in crime and violence and allow for more targeted evidence based interventions, design and commence construction of a forensic laboratory and a modern police training facility.”
Over $300 million has been allocated for the completion, construction and rehabilitation of more than 30 police stations countrywide to provide for enhancing the physical working condition for the police.
In addition a comprehensive computerization programme will commence for all police stations to enhance record keeping and to provide real time information between stations and the headquarters, Minister Singh said.
He also disclosed that $97M is allocated for the construction of a juvenile holding centre at Sophia and for the upgrade of the Mazaruni Prison, the completion of the capital dormitory at the Georgetown Prison and the completion of a training facility for prison officers at Lusignan
“IDEOLOGY” OF HATE
By Hydar Ally
There is a group of people who are so consumed by hate that they would stop at nothing to give vent to their sense of hate for others. This hatred for others virtually propelled them into taking extremist actions which often resulted in death and destruction. The gruesome and senseless killings of innocent men, women and children in places such as the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere are manifestations of this mode of thinking even though not all killings fall into the category of “hate” killings.
Take for example the case of young men and women who would strap themselves with explosives and enter into a crowed bus and activate an explosive knowing fully well that they would die in the process of killing others. This is usually referred to by sociologists as ‘altruistic’ killings which must take a great deal of courage and conviction as to the “righteousness” of what they are doing even though innocent lives would be lost in the process as happened so often in the Middle East and elsewhere. The same is true of soldiers who are required by virtue of their profession or legal requirements to do battle against perceived enemies.
It is a different matter, however, when killings are built around an “ideology” of hate which gives the perpetrators a sense of gratification or perceived reward for the actions taken, however irrational or irresponsible such actions may be.
Such actions can be understood and to an extent justified on the ground of killing or dying for a cause that is considered just. It is quite a different matter however when the lives of innocent men, women and children are snuffed out for no reason at all as happened in the case of the Lusignan killings and more recently the Bartica massacre in which thirteen people perished including three policemen. In the case of Lusignan, three children were murdered in the most cold-blooded and savage manner imaginable.
There seems to be some common threads in both the two killings. Both took place in the wee hours of the morning during the peace and tranquility of the night. Most people would have long retired in bed only to be awoken by the terrifying sounds of gunshots. In both cases the killings were done execution style with the victims shot to death at close range. In both cases the criminals disappeared under the cover of darkness.
Those who feel that they can escape the law needed to be reminded that the arm of the law is long and that it is only a question of time before all of those who masterminded and carried out such diabolic acts against the people of Guyana would be brought to justice. History and life experiences have repeatedly demonstrated that crimes against humanity rarely go unpunished and while it is possible for some people to evade the law momentarily, the question of them being caught and punished can never be in doubt. At the time of writing this article one person has already been charged for the Lusignan killings and another five in Police custody assisting the Police in their investigations into the Bartica massacre.
The collective conscience of the Guyanese society is being hurt by the atrocities that were unleashed by bandits, especially within our recent past. I was part of a PPP delegation that visited the Bartica community and the agony, pain and fear was all too obvious. The only question that passed through my mind as we interacted with the survivors and relatives of those who were killed was the extent of human depravity which is so difficult to associate with the human kind.. What manner of men would shoot people, including children in their sleep as happened in Lusignan and put innocent men to lie and shoot them to death in cold blooded execution style as in the case of Bartica? There can be no justification for such atrocities except that being the work of a sick and demented mind.
As I mentioned before, an “ideology” of hate seem to be gripping this nation. Fortunately this perception is not widespread and is based on false and unfounded perceptions of “injustice” and political patronage. Ideology of course might be a too strong word to describe this convoluted mindset which seeks to project killings and murders as having some kind of “justification” based on perceived wrongdoings of the political directorate. To a large extent, this perception is being fuelled by an irresponsible and malicious media which sought to ignite the flames of ethnic tensions and divisiveness. What is more unfortunate about all of this is the fact that young persons are much more vulnerable to assimilate the venom being peddled while still in their young, formative and impressionable years.
The solution to this growing menace is for all political parties and important stakeholders including Civil Society to enter into some kind of pact or what I would describe as a coalition of reason and in so doing make a clear and unequivocal statement for the whole of Guyana to hear that as a nation we will not tolerate anyone or group to foment hate among us. We are all for the greater part sons and daughters of slaves and indentured laborers who toiled this land and made sacrifices for us to enjoy a peaceful, prosperous and cohesive society.
Airline industry will not be affected by North American departure
Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn has addressed concerns regarding North American Airlines terminating their scheduled service between Guyana and the United States because of the high cost of fuel.
Minister Benn told a press conference Travel Span may also be suspending its operations in Guyana .
He noted however, that he is confident that there will be improvements in the airline industry after North American leaves by the July – August peak season, since Delta Airlines is expected to come on board once they receive Government’s approval. The airline announced in Atlanta that it has received US government approval for the service. “Delta officials are currently in the country working on the evaluations with respect to coming to Guyana from July,” said Minister Benn.
He added that interest is also being shown by another large international aviation operator to bring in international flights.
North American Airlines has been operating a non-sto
