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At 2008 Police Officers Conference…
President Jagdeo advocates predictable judiciary for crime fight
- appeals to Acting Chancellor to ensure fair, impartial judiciary
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday reiterated his call for the Police and Army to get “by any means whatsoever” the gunmen who left 23 persons dead in two massacres earlier this year.

He cautioned that, if their aim is to disrupt national life, the killers may repeat their actions.

But the Head of State, addressing the opening of the annual Police Officers Conference, acknowledged that the Police face an “uphill task”, given the lack of “intelligence to engage.”

Towards this objective, Mr. Jagdeo said the Government will soon roll out a rapid legislative programme to give the Police additional arsenal for fighting crime.

President Jagdeo said the new legislation that will come on stream would greatly equip the Force to carry out its functions.

He noted that a two-week timeline, for the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Legal Affairs to address legislative and administrative measures to implement the recommendations coming out of the Trinidad crime summit of CARICOM heads, is almost up.

Mr. Jagdeo said that technology, including video conferencing, would help the Police in their intelligence gathering and Government was also exploring setting up 500-1000 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at strategic locations, which would be manned by the Police.

He said wire-tapping legislation is to be developed to track telephone conversations and this would be implemented in a controlled manner, so as not to invade on the privacy of citizens.

However, once the laws are promulgated, President Jagdeo said he expects that judges and magistrates would respect the wish of the legislators.

“We need a predictable judiciary,” Mr. Jagdeo declared, telling the gathering, including Acting Chancellor Carl Singh, that, in the recent past, there have been 60 cases in which persons were granted bail for non-bailable offences.

President Jagdeo accused some judges and magistrates of “judicial law making” and stressed the need for them to comply with the will of the legislature.

He advocated for a fair and impartial judicial system that binds itself to the laws of the country.

The annual Police Officers Conference was to be held earlier this year, but was postponed because of the massacres.

Earlier, Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene painted a grim picture of the crime situation facing the country.

“These are serious, serious times,” he stated, noting that the situation has retreated to 2002, when five gunmen (all of whom are now dead) broke out of the country’s main jail in the city and went on a crime spree.

Greene said the Police have intelligence which suggests that it is the same gang which operated following the February 23, 2002 jailbreak that is involved in the latest spate of criminal activities.

“The issues of 2002 have not left us…this gang has resurfaced,” Greene said, pointing out that the massacres at Lusignan and Bartica on January 26 and February 17, respectively, sent the country’s murder rate to double what it was last year.

But Police are yet to track down Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins, who has claimed responsibility for the Lusignan massacre and a $50M reward is on offer for information leading to his capture.

Greene told the forum at Eve Leary that the events of Lusignan and Bartica “are still upon us” and warned that things are not “honky dorey”, given the lull in violent crimes since the last massacre.

He said, until the massacres occurred, the Force was seeing benefits from its crime fight, when, at the end of last year, there was a 23 per cent reduction in serious crimes -- the lowest in five years.

Greene said, while crime continues to evolve, the mandate of the Police remains the prevention and detection of it and the preservation of peace. He said, even though the Force might not be able to wipe out all, the country must feel at peace.

He said the dire challenge facing the Police in confronting crime is not unique to Guyana and alluded to meetings of Police and Army chiefs from around the region who came up with a nine-point list of recommendations which were shared with Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and helped to formulate the initiatives which were taken in Port of Spain recently.

However, Greene was optimistic about the help from all stakeholders, while referring to the British funded Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP) and the Inter-American Development Bank funding for the Citizens Security Programme.

Under the SSRP, British experts are being sent here to strengthen the crime intelligence capability of the Police Force and build a uniformed rapid response to serious crime.

Greene said, while the British are assisting the Police to develop an adequate rapid response team at the Tactical Services Unit in Georgetown, the Police Force itself is currently working to ensure that all stations have fully equipped ones. (Neil Marks)

Four arrested after arms cache find
POLICE arrested four men following the discovery of an arms and ammunition cache on Wednesday night.

A release said it happened between 17:00 h and 20:00 h when a party of policemen, acting on information received, searched three premises at Lanaballi, along the Essequibo River.

The release said the find comprised three unlicensed .38 revolvers and

two shotguns, together with 151 twelve gauge cartridges, 10 twenty gauge cartridges, five .32 rounds and sixty-two .38 rounds of ammunition.

Luncheon warns of prosecution against
unscrupulous price hikers
By Tajeram Mohabir
CABINET Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon said yesterday that Government has noted some problems in the distribution system, particularly trading in the retail sector and legislation will be drafted to address the unscrupulous behaviour of middlemen and retailers.

The announcement was made as the Administration intensifies measures to cushion the effects of local price increases for food items.

Speaking during his weekly press briefing at Office of the President, Luncheon warned that individuals will be prosecuted because hoarding is the prime example of behaviour leading to the artificially introduced shortages and price hikes.

Government recently, under the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime, zero rated wheat, as it has done with flour, to address the situation and Luncheon said Cabinet resolved to finalise discussion on additional measures.

In the meantime, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat disclosed that the Ministerial Committee, which was established to look into rising prices, has garnered data on a considerable number of commodities.

He said careful attention has been paid to the rise in prices for them, as well as the size of the geographic location of the various communities, to give the committee a holistic view in addressing the problem.

Luncheon said the committee’s Chairman, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud would be better able to elaborate on the work done so far.

But the HPS assured that genuine efforts are being made to implement not only the commitments made but those followed up in the parliamentary resolution on the National Stakeholders Consultation.

Luncheon said Cabinet has held several meetings to garner the reaction of residents in rural, urban, riverain and hinterland communities on the local price increases and acknowledged that the situation is due to similar incidence in international markets.

He said some of the proposals made by residents consulted include direct interventions to stabilise food prices and cushion the impact on the vulnerable populace.

Luncheon also cited the Ministry of Agriculture ‘Grow More Food’ campaign as a means of lessening the effects.

Meanwhile, he said Government is aware that some mini-bus operators have been hiking their fares and that action is viewed as a threat.

As a result, measures are in place to address that situation, Luncheon said.

Rice production up significantly
By Tajeram Mohabir
RICE production to date has improved significantly over the same period last year, according to General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he pointed out that the boost in production is due to the cultivation of an additional 16,000 acres of rice this crop.

This trend, he noted, has put Guyana in a good light, since there is a great demand for the commodity on the international market.

The expert blamed the global price increase for the commodity on droughts and floods caused by climate change, as well as the use of traditional grains in the food chain for ethanol production.

Scientists also pointed out that the excessive release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by industrialized countries, coupled with population growth, has led to the current situation.

Seeraj explained that the increase in use of grains for ethanol production has created a vacuum which is steadily being filled by rice, mainly because it is a tropical crop which has a longer shelf life and is better in quality.

According to the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA), global production for 2007/2008 would fall three million tonnes short of demand, even while global rice stocks stand at 4 per cent below last year -- the lowest since 1984.

The price of medium-grade Thai rice, a bench mark, has skyrocketed from US$360 a metric tonne at the end of 2007, to US$795 three weeks ago, and is expected to hit US$1000 in another three months.

The USDA also pointed out that inventories for wheat, for which rice and other grains are being used as substitutes, are at a 30 year low, and stores in the European Union have plunged from 14 million tonnes to a mere one million in the past year.

Seeraj pointed out that the increase in demand for grains is accompanied by a corresponding increase in price, hence the increase in rice cultivation locally to meet the demand on the international market.

The RPA boss noted that while enthusiastic farmers are trying to capitalize on the situation, measures are in place to ensure they do not compromise local food security.

Recently, Cambodia joined Vietnam, India and Egypt in adopting a similar policy.

The global increase in rice prices has seen a significant increase in local rice prices.

White rice has increased from $300 per gallon last crop to around $600 currently, while the price for parboiled rice has jumped from $400 per gallon to $900; and according to Seeraj, from all indications the price might get higher.

He said the price for paddy has also increased from $2,800 per bag last crop to $5,000 this crop. This, the General Secretary, said clearly indicates that there is no shortage of supply locally.

The General Secretary pointed out that the price increase for the commodity is a welcome relief to farmers, because for the past four years they were either breaking even or operating at a loss.

“They now have the opportunity to clear their debts and enough money to expand cultivation,” he said.

Seeraj is pleasantly surprised at the yield per acre for this crop, as the weather was not the best.

“We would normally average about 4.2 tonnes per hectares, but the average this crop is 4.6 tonnes. In Region Three (West Coast Demerara) the average is about 5.2 … this has contributed to more rice in the system,” he noted.

He acknowledged that the rains have affected harvesting in Regions Two

(Pomeroon/Supenaam); Three (West Demerara), some parts in Region Five ( Mahaica/Berbice) and nearly all parts in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

The RPA head disclosed that some 2,500 acres of rice this crop was lost to flooding, but recently the weather has improved and harvesting has picked up in affected areas.

Prosecution adjournment request denied,
Hinckson case continues today
THE preliminary inquiry (PI) into the conspiracy to commit a terrorist act charge against ex-Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Oliver Hinckson, resumed yesterday, with the first Prosecution witness continuing to testify.

After Michael Gordon, Editor-in-Chief of National Communications Network (NCN), concluded his testimony which he began last April 17, Police Inspector Robert Tyndall, prosecuting, requested an adjournment to seek further advice from the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

But one of Hinckson’s lawyers, Mr. Vic Puran objected to the grant, declaring that Tyndall cannot plead his own fault for not moving forward with the case.

Puran added that, because Hinckson is being refused bail on the bailable offences, the Prosecution must proceed and Tyndall’s conduct shows that he does not know how to go on with a PI.

The 64-year-old Army veteran, of Lot 167 Meadow Brook Gardens, is before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys, accused, too, of making a seditious speech to the public and news media, last January 31, to solicit hatred and contempt and promote disorder.

The pre-trial proceedings will continue today and the other cases involving Hinckson and other ex-soldier James Gibson would be called again on May 9.

Particulars of the offence surrounding the joint charge said, on June 6, 2006, in a house on Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, also in Georgetown, the defendants had a .38 pistol, 12 rounds of matching ammunition and twenty-six 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, without licences for them.

Region Seven CPGs to get more resources
THE administration will be making additional interventions to improve the work of Community Policing Groups (CPGs) of Region Seven, particularly in Bartica.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, at a meeting held on Wednesday in Bartica with CPGs members, collected lists of requirements from eight groups in the Region to facilitate this process.

The Ministry will examine the requests and where necessary, the resources will be provided.

The Bartica CPG requested firearms, a vehicle, bullet proof vests, communication sets and additional torch-lights among other vital items.

Subsequent to the Lusignan massacre, such a move was made by the government which resulted in members of “C” Division receiving $50M to improve their work.

Sixty five million dollars has been allocated in this year’s budget to expand and equip community policing groups to support the national crime fighting efforts.

There are 211 active groups across the country with 3,967 members. This year marks the 38th anniversary of the establishment of CPGs.

The administration is fully aware of the shortages of ranks in the Police Force and has been pushing for the establishment of more CPGs to assist the Police in crime fighting.

The actual strength of the Guyana Police Force is 2,552 while the establishment is 3,570.

CPGs are established on a voluntary basis with support from the government in the form of vehicles and boats and other items.

Tourism Ministry working towards special Carifesta X tourist packages
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad yesterday met representatives of tour operations, hotels and airlines to discuss ways in which they can work together to create special packages for tourists during the tenth Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (Carifesta X) which will be hosted in Guyana from August 22-31 under the theme ‘One Caribbean, One Purpose - Our Culture, Our Life’.

The group met with Prashad at his South Road, Georgetown office.
He noted that his Ministry is working together with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and also the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and meeting on a monthly basis.

He pointed out that operators have a number of challenges and in this regard his Ministry is willing to work with other stakeholders to overcome them and in this regard the GTA is being re-organised to cope with the new demands.

Prashad said that Guyana has moved from having some 300 hotel rooms in August 2006 to approximately 2,000 by March 2007, noting that this is a significant improvement and indicated also that more hotels are being built.

Prashad pointed out that Carifesta in terms of hotel accommodation will be bigger than World Cup because over 40 countries have been invited with 14 confirming their participation so far.

Over 2,000 delegates are expected to visit, he noted also.

“…we have a challenge ahead of us in terms of what is happening for the future and most specifically Carifesta,” Prashad emphasised.

“We have competition now and you have to learn to package and link up with each other to create packages,” he urged, adding that they have to start thinking about packaging tours and accommodation assuring that his Ministry is willing to work with them.

He noted with nature tourism and adventure tourism in Guyana, more people are coming back to Guyana for major events such as Main Big Lime and Guyexpo.

Prashad said the Ministry is also concerned about how tour operators can promote and sensitise persons to visit their respective resorts and take advantage of this captive market not only for Carifesta but as a whole.

He said in order to have a level playing field, steps have been taken to provide information on a timely basis.

Visitor Experience Co-ordinator of the Carifesta Secretariat, Mr. Ohene Koama said he is working closely with the Ministry and the GTA, while the secretariat has been moving to facilitate the various operators involved and informed about Carifesta to enable them to benefit from this mega event.

He said on the website www.carifesta.net there is a link for accommodation and a special link is being created for tour operators and also efforts are being made to create a link with the airlines to enable persons to access information.

In addition, he said as part of the sensitizing efforts magazines and tourist maps are being distributed to the regional representatives to promote the tourism aspect. (Priya Nauth)
Cabinet deems Opposition’s move to disrupt CARIFESTA unpatriotic

Cabinet deems Opposition's move to distrupt CARIFESTA unpatriotic
‘What next?’ – Dr. Luncheon asks
RESPONDING to questions by the media yesterday about the Opposition parties staging a protest during the launch of CARIFESTA X Wednesday evening and main Opposition Leader Robert Corbin’s vow to make the occasion ‘unmanageable’, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon described the move as ‘very unusual’.

During the launching ceremony for the major event and in the presence of representatives and delegates from participating countries, a group of women representatives from the Opposition political parties started chanting “No Carifesta” at the beginning of the ceremony.

“This is one of the most unusual developments by the Opposition political parties who seemingly have decided to raise the political ante by moving into actions including protests, which are perfectly legitimate, but to go to the extreme to what Cabinet has described as profoundly unpatriotic activities,” the HPS asserted.

The Cabinet Secretary added however, that the long and short of the matter is that though Carifesta was undertaken by the Government of Guyana, it is fundamentally being put on by Guyanese.

“The unpatriotic nature of course is reflected not only in the level of support that has already been achieved but the increasing commitment of Guyanese both internally and externally to the successful hosting of Carifesta after so many years, after so many decades…,” Luncheon posited.

He said the allegation of freedom of the press being infringed by the suspension of the licence to broadcast by Channel 6 has been held out as the reason for the Opposition ‘ratcheting up’ the tensions in the communities and the challenge to the hosting of Carifesta.

“It begs the question, even if the allegation were to be established, which I think is not possible, even if it were to be established, are we now dealing with as par for the course, situations where that type of response would be deemed appropriate?” the HPS further queried.

He added, “We are looking to see who would come out and with the same fervour which they complain and advocate for those whose freedoms have allegedly been infringed, what length, what decree of advocacy would come out in responding to this clear challenge to this nation, not to the Administration, but to this nation, all those who would benefit, financially or otherwise, in participating in a successful hosting of Carifesta, and we keep asking ourselves what next?”

He concluded that the proclivity with which allegations of freedom of the press are bandied around ‘like rice and salt in the pot’ and the linkage now with attacks and unpatriotic behaviour begs the question, when will it end? (GINA)

Trinidad coming with newly invented pan instruments to Carifesta X
- Guyana to showcase 100-piece steel orchestra
TRINIDAD and Tobago, which is home to the famous steel pan, intends to amaze the Carifesta X audience during the August festival in Guyana by showcasing some of its newest pan instruments.

The twin island Republic will be represented by a 300-member troupe.

Among this group will be a 40-member team from the island’s national steel band who will be the main players of the newly invented instruments referred to as “G-Pans.”

“G-Pans” have never been seen or heard outside of Trinidad and Tobago and will be showcased for the first time during Carifesta to be held during the period August 22 to 31.

The new pan group is expected to make its inaugural appearance at the National Cultural Centre on August 24 and will be accompanied by dancers, stick-walkers and singers.

Trinidad and Tobago Member of Parliament Junior Regalo who joined the many Regional Cultural Directors to witness the launching of Carifesta X Wednesday, is optimistic that Trinidad and Tobago will astonish the audience in Guyana.

After witnessing the launch, he acknowledged the relentless efforts by Guyana to host the festival, noting that it is a major achievement for Caribbean people.

Meanwhile, the Guyana delegation is gearing to put forward a stunning steel pan performance for Carifesta X with the establishment of a national steel orchestra.

The Joint Services Coordinating Council is tasked with the responsibility of putting together a hundred-piece steel band for Carifesta.

A public advertisement has been issued for interested persons to send in their applications to Chairman of the Joint Services Cultural Committee, Assistant Commissioner Cecil Bovell at the Guyana Police Force Band Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony had announced that in the lead up to the festival and beyond, steel pan in Guyana will be revitalised to expose youths across the country to the art form. Government has contributed $30M for this venture.

Government also intends to grant duty free-concessions to musicians bringing equipment into the country during the period.

Incentive packages for cultural workers and artistes were addressed at the Nineteenth Regional Culture Committee (RCC) meeting which will conclude today at the CARICOM Secretariat.

The meeting is expected to end with recommendations for the establishment of a Regional Task Force to focus on cultural industries in the Caribbean.

New captain, councillors for St. Monica/Karawah
A NEW captain has been elected for the Amerindian communities of St. Monica and Karawah, in Upper Pomeroon River.

Mr. Michael Samuels, who was chosen together with five other councillors to administer the Village Council, replaces Mr. Raymond Miguel, who resigned amidst allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the council’s affairs.

A release, from the Regional Administration of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), said the elections were conducted on Wednesday under the supervision of Regional Development Officer, Mr. Devanand Ramdatt and staff of the Local Government and Hinterland Department.

The other councillors are Mr. Herald Miguel, Mr. Thomas Charles, Mrs. Miranda De Agrella, Mr. Kenrick Lewis and Mr. Carl De Agrella.

The release said Mr. Patrick Samuels, Mr. Felix Smith and Mr. Winston Braithwaite will continue to serve as members of the council.

Luncheon reports…
Preparations for May/June rainy season already started
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday announced that the Ministry of Agriculture has already started preparations for the upcoming May/June rainy season.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing in Office of the President, the Cabinet Secretary also said the Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), buoyed by the acquisition of a considerable amount of earth moving equipment, provision of budgetary resources and significant technical input, has moved, aggressively, to monitor and expand the coastal flood control systems which are likely to be under threat.

Luncheon disclosed that large lengths of drainage and irrigation (D&I) courses and flood control structures have been attended to in all the coastal regions and the gravitational flow and capacity considerations are expected to function better than before.

He said the Administration is also finalising the examination/rehabilitation of mechanical water control devices in anticipation of possible uses during the rainy period.

In addition, the HPS said the water conservancies have had their functioning examined and stabilised and a ministerial team would soon be resuscitated to monitor the entire system. (Sarada Singh)

Harvesting of rice crop continues on Essequibo Coast
SIXTY per cent of the current Essequibo Coast rice crop has been harvested but reaping is continuing at Devonshire Castle, Walton Hall and Paradise.

Planters who sowed late will harvest within another four weeks as their fields are in various stages of growth.

Meantime, in another part of Essequibo Coast, farmers have started ploughing in preparation for the next sowing.

At the same time, rice millers have been meeting with producers at Better Success and Bounty Hall to negotiate prices for their produce.

IAC Executive members call on President Jagdeo
- presents first publication
EXECUTIVE members of the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) Mr. Neaz Subhan and Mr. Raymond Azeez yesterday called on President Bharrat Jagdeo at his Office, New Garden Street where he was presented with a copy of the organization’s first special commemorative magazine titled: “Kal Aaj Aur Kal”, which means “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

The magazine has been published in time for the observance of the 170th Anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana.

While there, the IAC members used the opportunity to update President Jagdeo on the preparations for the organization’s three grand cultural melas which will be held at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on Sunday, April 27; the National Park, Georgetown on Sunday, May 4; and at the Albion Sports Complex, Berbice on May 5 - Arrival Day, also a national holiday.

Local chicken supply stable, price decreasing
- Prashad
By Priya Nauth
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad on Wednesday assured that the local supply of chicken has been stabilised and prices are going down.

Speaking to members of the media following a tour of the processing plant at Bounty Farm Limited in Timehri, Prashad observed that the Guyana Poultry Producers’ Association (GPPA) has delivered on its promise because chicken prices have reduced significantly with the average prices being around $250-$280 per pound and in some places as low as $220 per pound.

“…I want to say that prices are going up… high prices on commodities are increasing throughout the world,” he pointed out.

However, he noted that chicken prices will go up because 70 percent of the ingredients to make poultry feed has increased significantly.

“The price of chicken will go up as other commodities; however, what we saw during the last six weeks-- prices being $340 to $360 had nothing to do with increase in price on the world market alone but demand and supply,” he posited.

He reiterated that the government in response to the current situation has zero-rated hatching eggs, hence it will not attract any Value Added Tax (VAT).

Noting the significant drop in chicken prices, he said after next month prices are likely to come down because there will be more than adequate chicken on the market.

The minister commended the GPPA for their efforts and assured that his Ministry will work very closely with all stakeholders to ensure that food is available at affordable prices even though some of the increases are beyond their control.

He also noted that DIDCO is not producing chicken but he was informed by the President of GPPA that small farmers are coming on board and more chicken is expected to be on the market by next month.

The minister noted that our country is better off than other countries as chicken and beef prices are the cheapest anywhere in the Caribbean, adding that Guyana consumes 800,000 pounds of chicken a week.

He applauded Bounty Farm for maintaining their prices throughout the shortage and playing a leading role in the production of chicken.

Prashad said based on monitoring done, there is an adequate amount of chicken now and definitely for the next two months.

“…we have to keep monitoring the situation to make sure that there is an adequate amount of chicken at affordable prices for all Guyanese,” Prashad emphasised.

President of the GPPA, Mr. Patrick De Groot said that the association needs the Ministry’s help in relation to the hatching eggs information on the amount coming into the country by ocean freight so as to help in determining weeks in advance the production and be prepared if there will be a shortage.

He assured that he will speak to the relevant persons to have mechanisms in place to access information about the amount of hatching eggs coming into the country.

Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm, Mr. David Fernandes explained that currently they produce about 80,000 birds per week.

He said they have a fully integrated poultry farming operation producing birds from hatchery, rear the poultry on the farm and have their own feed factory and processing farm.

Fernandes said that the chicken is sold in their own retail stores and also they supply most of the major fast food facilities, shops and supermarkets countrywide.

The hatchery produces about 100,000 chicks per week and a major percentage is utilised by them, according to Fernandes.

He said the plant is capable of hatching 1,800 birds per hour and they process about 15,000 birds per day.

Government had granted licences for short-term importation last month to ensure chicken is on the market and the prices are relatively stable.

The Minister had met with members of the GPPA and representatives of the Guyana Stockfeed Limited, hatcheries and other stakeholders and was given the assurance that there will be an adequate supply of chicken by middle of this month.

The shortage was as a result of the three-week late shipment of hatchery eggs due to flight problems which led to one importer returning his consignment.

However, the prices were not expected to come down due to the rise in international prices in essential items such as stock feed as the production has increased tremendously.

Red carpet welcome for televangelist John Cherry
THE public is invited to fellowship with The Heart Church Ministries local chapter at its Carifesta Avenue headquarters on Thomas Lands at a special service tonight in honour of its founding father and televangelist, Pastor John A Cherry.

The second in a series of such events, tonight’s service, which begins at 19:00h, will be conducted by Pastor Kemuel Rock who is no stranger to members of the local Christian community, while the message will be delivered by Pastor Cherry himself.

Pastor Cherry, who is here with his wife, the Reverend Diana Cherry, and whose televised service is a favourite here on Sundays and is aired on HBTV Channel 9 from 16:00 - 17:00h, will also deliver the message at the Sunday service as well, which is slated to begin at 09:00 h.

According to a Church official, transportation will be available on both occasions, so all are invited to come out and be blessed as Pastor Cherry is a very dynamic teacher of ‘The Word’.

A Tea Party and Hat Show, to which the public is also invited, courtesy of the women’s arm of the Ministry, The Life-givers, is scheduled for tomorrow on the Church’s lawns, beginning at 15:00h, and will have as its patron, Reverend Diana Cherry.

Fisheries stakeholders told…
ICCAT partnership can aid Guyana food security
By Tajeram Mohabir
MINISTER of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud yesterday pointed to the “tremendous potential for national development” of deep sea fishing when he exhorted stakeholders to indicate their interest in the enterprise.

He was delivering opening remarks at the start of a consultation hosted by the Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC), on Guyana becoming a contract party to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

The one-day forum was attended by FAC Chairman, Mr. Andrew Bishop, Acting Principal Fisheries Officer, Mr. Tejnarine Geer, ICCAT Technical Adviser, Ms. Susan Singh-Renton and others involved in the sector.

Persaud expressed disappointment at the unsatisfactory attendance but called on those present to adopt a serious approach if they decided to join forces with ICCAT to exploit the resource.

The deliberations surrounded:
* the aims and objectives of Guyana becoming a contract party to ICCAT;

* the cost and investment considerations and

* the benefits from the undertaking.
The participants were told Guyana will pay an annual subscription of 12,000 euros if it becomes a signatory to the tuna conservation agency but, if not, the ministry would look at other opportunities through which this country earns an estimated $10 billion annually from fisheries exports, Minister Persaud said.

He acknowledged the limited ability for managing deep sea resources but noted that the venture does not seek to exclude the exploitation of local resources.

Persaud, with portfolio responsibility for fisheries, explained that the partnership with ICCAT should be seen in the context of ensuring proper management of fisheries locally, which would serve, as well, as a mechanism to cushion the impact of the upward spiral of food prices.

He said strong emphasis is also being placed on aquaculture development and challenged the Private Sector to invest in it, stating that his ministry is willing to provide the necessary institutional support.

Bishop said the industry has been gradually expanding and collaboration with ICCAT is another approach to diversifying the economy and ensure food security.

He said the FAC does not view the exploitation of tuna in isolation and remains committed to supporting the endeavour.

Bishop said a database is being developed to assist the FAC in making informed decisions, estimating the rate of harvesting and ensuring players’ compliance, among other things.

Guyana has traditionally exploited Banga Mary, Gray Snapper, Trout and Mullet for export but Red Snapper was recently included.

ILO hosts course on labour conciliation, mediation
By Nathalene DeFreitas
THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) Office for the Caribbean yesterday opened a one-week regional training course on ‘Conciliation and Mediation in Labour Disputes’ at Le Meridien Pegasus with over thirty representatives of nineteen Caribbean countries.

The course is being held for conciliators and mediators in industrial disputes of Labour Ministries throughout the Caribbean Region. Representatives of selected employers’ and workers’ organisations are also participants of the course which is being facilitated by ILO Consultant, Samuel Goolsarran.

Mr. Goolsarran said the course aims to enhance the skills and competencies of those involved in conciliation and mediation of labour disputes. He said participants will gain a better understanding of the styles, techniques and approaches used in conflict management and dispute resolution processes, negotiation and conciliation and mediation.

The training course is being offered in response to the growing need for improved conflict management skills and is expected to contribute to fostering better labour relations through consensus-based approaches. The course is the last in a series of four ILO regional training workshops designed to enhance the capacity of Labour Ministry officials.

Goolsarran noted that negotiators, conciliators and mediators and those in the labour management environment are guided by the objectives of the fundamental principles and rights at work, fair employment policies and practices, social protection and dialogue process inherent in collective bargaining and in the dispute resolution process.