Way cleared for start of US$50M Marriott Hotel Project
- Kingston sewer line relocation completed
THE investors in the much touted Marriott Hotel project, estimated to cost some US$50M, are now in the headstart to commence construction works with the completion of the Kingston, Georgetown sewer line relocation.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the hotel construction could commence in a matter of months with President Bharrat Jagdeo expected to symbolically launch the project sometime between June-July.

The re-routing of the Kingston sewer was commissioned by the government in order to facilitate the developers of the Marriott hotel project. The sewer line project cost some US$2M, head of the Privatisation Unit, Mr. Winston Brassington, told the Chronicle yesterday.

Brassington was at Le Meridien Pegasus, along with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and heads of key agencies operating in the Kingston area, when lead developer Mr. Michael Ahmad announced the completion of the sewer line relocation.

Ahmad is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Adam

Development/Urbahn Associated Incorporated (ADUA), the financiers of the Marriott project.

Ahmad provided no details about the project, saying that this would be forthcoming in “months.”

The Marriott Hotel franchise in Guyana would be constructed next to Le Meridien Pegasus.

The design of the hotel mimics the shipbuilding trade of the Guyana coastland. The Marriott is a leading lodging company with 3,000 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and other territories.

The new Kingston sewer line will be managed by Guyana Water Incorporated, which controls the water and sewerage systems in the city.

With the new system in place, the discharge volume is expected to be much greater since it will be facilitated by 42 inch sewer pipes. These pipes are approximately one third greater in size than those which were formerly used.

Along with improving the city’s discharge capacity, the new system is expected to also serve the Marriot Hotel which will be located somewhere in the vicinity of the Kingston seawall near the Guyana Forestry Commission.

A model of the hotel franchise which is expected to be completed by 2010 was recently presented. The hotel is expected to add over 200 more rooms to Guyana’s hotel and accommodation industry.

Preparatory works to facilitate this new five-star hotel are evident in the area. The building housing the Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Department has been dismantled as well as the Luckhoo Swimming Pool. (Neil Marks)

Sanata swapped for US$30M multi purpose investment complex
THE government yesterday announced the privatisation of the Sanata Textiles Complex (Sanata), Industrial Site, Georgetown to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. (QAII) for the purpose of establishing a multi purpose investment complex valued at some US$30M.

The investor envisages the creation of 1200 jobs, of which 600 will be new permanent jobs by the end of this year.Rehabilitation and construction of the facilities, which commenced in June 2007 is being phased over a three-year period, according to a joint statement signed by Head of the Privatisation Unit Mr. Winston Brassington, and Executive Chairman of QAII, Dr. Ranjisinghi Ramroop.

Installation of machinery and renovation works on the complex are currently moving apace with an estimated G$1.5bln in investments to date. Prior to this, $400m was spent on the removal of asbestos from the buildings. Upon completion, the complex will house the following facilities:

A modern textile mill for gauze, bandages and denim production
A state of the art printery
An antibiotics plant and R&D facility
A pharmaceutical export processing facility; and
A hardware manufacturing division

Textile mill
With the ever increasing competition in the textile industry from China, India, Pakistan and some Central American countries, QAII took the decision to embark on the production of medicated and non-medicated gauze and bandage and the production of denim fabric.To this end, QAII has acquired machinery for the textile mill worth some US$3.5m. The new mill, which will comprise components from China and Italy, has the capacity for denim production in excess of 2 million yards of fabric per annum for the export market. The textile mill is scheduled to commence operations in July/August of this year.

Printery
The complex will boast a state of the art printery. This printery will house a flexographic machine; a Mann Roland offset press and components for web printing. These presses will be used to vertically integrate the printing needs of the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (NGPC) as well as to support local manufacturers.

The flexographic machine, which will be a first in Guyana, will create a number of exciting opportunities and stimulate the local packaging industry. In particular, the many small and medium sized manufacturers who find it difficult to acquire custom designed packaging for their products will find this press most beneficial.

According to the investors, this machine can produce a wide assortment of labels, bags, boxes for various juices, beverages and pharmaceuticals. It can also design and create any printed material to package vegetables, fruits and a wide range of other farm produce. With its numerous capabilities, this press will be a big boost to the country’s efforts to diversify the economy through value added industries.

The printery is also equipped with the latest technology in digital offset and web printing and will allow QAII to print books, magazines, brochures, leaflets, newsprint and newsletters.

Antibiotic plant
The antibiotic plant and R&D facility will be set up through a collaborative effort between NGPC and a leading multinational pharmaceutical company from India. In 2001 NGPC was the first company in the region to manufacture anti-retroviral drugs with assistance also from India. In another partnership, i.e. with Heinz and Ped Med Canada, the company manufactures micronutrient supplements for the Basic Nutrition Program.

The pharmaceutical export processing facility will be used to consolidate the export of NGPC products and bulk medicines to the region and North America.

The local health sector will again benefit significantly from the availability of a wider range of medicines.

The hardware manufacturing division will produce dimensional stones and tubing to replace copper pipes used in various industries.

The privatisation
Prior to the privatization, Sanata was leased to and managed by the China Textiles Industrial Corporation for Foreign Economic and Technical Cooperation of China. In 2000, the assets of the company were brought under National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) control and subsequently a new company G&C Sanata was established.

This was followed by further investments but due to high production and electricity costs as well as the loss of preferential markets, the company was forced to cease operations in 2005.

Following this, the Government advertised for investors to lease the property. In the ensuing period, there was widespread vandalism and flooding and the property became totally overgrown with vegetation.

QAII is the parent company of New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation Inc (New GPC), which was established after the privatisation of Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation.

After a challenging start, the this company was successfully returned to profitability by the investor. In the process, the future and prestige of the world famous Limacol, Ferrol and other household brands have been restored.

“More importantly through various social and collaborative programs, New GPC is now an important contributor to and the undisputed leader in the local and regional health sector.

The company also takes pride in providing sustainable employment to its employees, in being an environmentally friendly manufacturer and in its track record as a good corporate citizen.

The privatisation of Sanata has taken the form of the issuance of a 99 years lease to QAII at a substantive rental of approximately fifty million dollars ($50m) per annum.

Mother fails in attempted suicide after giving birth
- fell unconscious to ground after jumping through three-storey high window at Georgetown Public Hospital
A WOMAN, believed to be suffering from post-natal depression, yesterday failed in an attempted suicide after jumping through a window in the three-storey high Maternity Ward at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Barbara Nurse, of Kuru Kururu, along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, had given birth on Thursday and was conversing with other patients on the third floor when she suddenly made the leap.

Fortunately, however, she fell on a shed before hitting the ground and only injured an ankle.

Her suicidal bid having been thwarted, it was reported that the 20-year-old had been speaking about taking her life earlier in the day.

The report said the mother wanted to kill her baby, too, but the child was previously taken into the custody by doctors.

But, as soon as the doctors left the room in which they all were, the woman made the effort to kill herself. (Telesha Persaud)

A Tribute to Wordsworth McAndrew
By Sir Ronald Saunders
Guyana has lost a great poet and a true son who, though he lived his last decades outside of his country of birth and died without again seeing his native land, remained connected to it in spirit and in inspiration. He lived in New York, his Muse spoke to him from Guyana.

The Tenth Carifesta returning to Guyana after 36 years would do well to honour him and his outstanding work. The Guyana Ministry of Culture should name the Poet session of this great Caribbean festival in celebration of his writings.

To have known and worked with Wordsworth McAndrew was at times an exasperating pleasure and an affectionate frustration.

I am perfectly aware that these descriptions could easily fall into the category of oxymorons. But, then that was the character of the man. He was a remarkable contradiction: brilliant but refusing to let his light shine; capable of great achievement yet devoid of ambition. All Wordsworth ever wanted to do was to write his poetry.

And, he wrote it in a language and with a nuance that was uniquely his own.

His most famous work is perhaps “Ole Higue”. It has been performed countless times by numerous people, but no one could quite capture Wordsworth’s deep understanding of the folk tale. His connection to the culture of Guyana was strong. Not only to the African culture which one would have assumed was his natural calling, but the East Indian culture as well. Wordsworth was capable of “cross-over”, long before it became fashionable in Guyanese music.

His radio programmes first as an Information Officer with the Guyana Information Services, then with the Guyana Broadcasting Service educated a generation about rural life, Guyanese proverbs and sayings, essentially about the culture of the ordinary people of Guyana.

He wrote much more than he published. Some of that unpublished work is nothing short of superlative. Wordsworth was in the class of Martin Carter without the Marxist undercurrent. He is less recognised not only before of his self-composed exile from Guyana, but also because he refused to publish.

Visiting London some years ago, where I was living, he stayed with me as my houseguest and he carried with him everywhere he went a much battered knapsack. In that knapsack were his wondrous writings, much of it inspired by the Guyana he had not seen for years. I urged him to publish. He said “in time”. The time was not meant to be his life time. But, I hope that knapsack has been kept by someone. The time has come to open up those oysters so that we can all benefit from its pearls.

Wordsworth worked as a copy editor for a publisher in New York, though he was capable of much more. His work was precise, correct and dependable. He was not paid what he was worth. On a visit with him, I urged him to return to Guyana. He laughed and refused, He had exiled himself – not from the country, but from his strangeness to it. Yet, he could not love his country more, nor did he ever cease to draw from his memory of its font for his writing.

His friends and admirers will mourn his passing; those who do not know his work should waste no time in learning it. In his work Wordsworth McAndrew lives on.

GWI will not rest until M&CC pays up
- CEO Singh
By Michel Outridge
GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) yesterday declared that it will not rest until the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) pays what is owed the utility.

GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Karan Singh made the declaration at a hurriedly called press conference in his Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown head office.

He said the briefing was in response to Mayor Hamilton Green’s outcry as it relates to the disconnection of supply to a number of municipal locations.

Singh said his company is concerned about the public statement by Mr. Green and his attempt to tarnish the image of GWI, as being the unscrupulous demon-like entity that is going after the City Council for payment.

“I do not think the municipality has any problem paying its electricity bill, telephone bill, etc., but we seem to be used as the scapegoat… we are not the godfathers to provide free water,” Singh asserted.

He maintained that GWI runs a business and it is only fair that customers pay for the service used.

“For far too long, people have gotten away without paying for it and so we recognise that, in GWI and former Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commission (GS&WC), too many lapses have occurred in collecting revenue, in particular from the M&CC,” Singh remarked.

He said GWI has $4 billion in outstanding arrears countrywide and it is going after everyone who owes the company.

“And I do not see anything wrong with us putting some order in collecting our monies that are due to us for a long time,” Singh added.

He said GWI has worked with M&CC staff and spent a lot of time trying to work with the latter, so they can come to some understanding regarding a payment plan.

Singh said Green was right when he indicated that the Minister of Local Government, Mr. Kellawan Lall intervened and tried to resolve the issue.

Singh said, too, that as far as GWI is concerned, the minister made it clear that his role is to help bring some order in the relationship between the M&CC and GWI.

The CEO said the Mayor is claiming that “we are changing figures in terms of what GWI has owed and of what we are perceived to owe M&CC.”

“We accept that we owe M&CC but what we are not accepting is that the constant denial of M&CC about the amount of money they owe us. They have not paid us a single dime for the water consumed since the establishment of GWI and we pleaded with M&CC staff that we will go back as far as 2004 with what they owe us and with what we owe them. That was the agreement.

“If the Mayor and his team are now saying that this agreement is void and they want to go back up until 1994, when they claimed we owed them rates and taxes, then, by all means, we will do the same. We thought that, if we start from a time that was agreeable, we wipe the slate clean before 1994, then we can work an easier way forward,” Singh posited.

He said, when one looks at the amount of water consumed by the M&CC, which is deemed to be one of the largest water users, it is only fair that they demonstrate a determined willingness to pay for that water or GWI will disconnect the service.

“And we have done that,” Singh reiterated, stating that Stabroek, Bourda, East La Penitence and East Ruimveldt markets were disconnected as well as the Abattoir and City Hall.

He said GWI has no intention of disconnecting the supply to any of the day care and health centres because of the implications.

“We have gone and recomputed and we have visited all of the locations that the M&CC have identified and we are not, therefore, unfamiliar with what we consider to be a fair and reasonable charge for the period of four years.

“We have not invoiced M&CC for 2008 yet. We are only dealing with 2004-2007, so, those figures that are being peddled around, we do not feel that they owe us so much,” Singh explained.

He said M&CC owes GWI a total of $87M but has paid $8M to date and was advised, by letter, that the $8M claimed as owing by GWI for taxes, can be deducted from the remainder.

But City Hall must come forward with a payment plan, suggesting how it intends to settle the debt.

However, M&CC has completely ignored GWI’s letter and continues to have meetings, Singh reported.

“We cannot continue to meet, We must move the process forward,” he insisted.

Mayor Green, in a rebuttal statement yesterday afternoon, noted that they were forced to secure an injunction against GWI because of Mr. Singh’s “attitude and arrogance”.

He said the injunction commands Mr. Karan Singh and GWI to restore immediate water supply to the municipalities and further prevent them from disconnecting their water supply until the matter is heard in court.

The Mayor pointed out that the date is set for sometime in May.

“It’s unfortunate because the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is anxious to have the matter resolved but Mr. Singh has made his mind up about his decision against the M&CC,” Green contended.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, retired Justice Prem Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that he has contacted both Green and Singh, with a view to have the two parties settle their disagreement amicably.

A meeting is scheduled for next week between GWI and M&CC, with the PUC Chairman acting as the moderator.

Private sector fully supports ‘Grow More’ campaign
By Priya Nauth
THE private sector yesterday commended and expressed full support for the Ministry of Agriculture ‘Grow More’ campaign.

This was disclosed during a special meeting with representatives of the private sector and Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, in the Ministry’s boardroom to discuss the global situation as it relates to rising food prices and the Ministry’s ‘Grow More’ campaign aimed at ensuring that Guyana has adequate and affordable food.The private sector also recognised that Guyana must maintain its status as a food secure country and also continue to export its excess production.

The minister noted that they consider the private sector to be very critical in the efforts in responding to what is happening globally in the rising food prices and its impact.

The ‘Grow More’ campaign is an initiative by the Ministry in collaboration with the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

He informed the gathering that the ministry has embarked on a number of initiatives to address this, the major one being the ‘Grow More’ campaign.

Persaud explained that two of the overarching objectives of the campaign are to maintain Guyana’s food security situation and to capitalize on existing and new marketing opportunities.

The minister noted that the United States (U.S) has now embarked on a programme of rationing rice which shows how acute is the situation worldwide.

He pointed out that some of the causes of rising food prices include oil prices, increasing demand; reallocation of food products to make bio-fuels; and effects of climate change.

Also, he underscored that the ‘Grow More’ campaign has various elements including the distribution of seeds, planting materials, chemicals and fertilisers to farmers and householders across the country and includes the distribution of fruit tree seedlings for new home owners.

He encouraged persons to take up some responsibility for ensuring that the country is self- sufficient in fruits and vegetables.

Persaud informed the gathering that, a US$20.9M Agricultural Export Diversification Project was also signed noting this huge project aims at developing commodities chains and providing the institution support for investment.

Another project is a $6M Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project that targets rural communities focusing on increasing marketing opportunities available to small-scale producers.

He said another aspect which is critical is increased investment in the expansion of drainage and irrigation services to farmers.

Also, the enhancement of extension service and in this regard, last year extension agents were introduced within the service where farmers are trained and given a stipend to work among other farmers.

The minister said to supplement it, the farmers’ manual- a comprehensive book and CD was introduced and similar arrangement is in the process for the livestock sector.

“We have to continue the work in terms of the extension services because when you go out farmers tell you the extension services need to be improved,” he noted.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee on food prices was also developed and already two reports containing a number of recommendations have been submitted and are being considered by Cabinet.

“Also the report looks at analyzing the trends and looking at where price movements are and identified the critical basket,” he said.

Sixteen items which are essential to satisfy nutritional and other needs were identified and also specific interventions were developed on these items, he noted.

The minister said a Grow More Committee within the ministry was initiated and welcomes the private sectors’ representation.

He also alluded to countrywide consultations aimed at informing and getting people views, suggestions and feedback on the situation.

Also, he noted, that within a weeks time, an announcement will be done to give an overview of projects approved.

“We want the private sector and other persons to know this so they can encourage all those persons who are benefitting to ensure that they move quickly into getting these projects up and running,” he explained.

Many time projects are approved and persons are allocated lands and nothing is being done hence they are in the process of repossessing some of the lands, he noted.

In terms of livestock support, a general breeding programme in terms of improving livestock genetics has started and also the improvement of the genetic capacity by importing pigs from breeding stocks in Suriname and U.S and for the first time, embryo transfer in terms of introducing a new sheep British Texeil in Guyana, he outlined.

He said they want to collaborate with the private sector to work on a farm where over three dozens of animals from US were brought to develop a breeding programme for cattle.

Also, he said, the new packaging facility at Parika will be commissioned sometime in late May and the processing facility at Sophia has been expanded.

Persaud said the New GMC is strengthening by focusing on information and marketing support and linking the producers directly with the buyers.

“We have already developed a data base of more than 60-70 percent of the cash crop farmers in Guyana and can project what there output can be and have an organised way of understanding the production side of it,” he explained.

“Sadly for too long we have been operating a bit blindly,” adding that there is need for greater recording of statistical data.

He said the technology available has to be utilised and this has to be done in a business like approach.

In terms of rice, he noted that the export of rice has not been restricted but is being monitored to ensure quantities are available to satisfy the local demand.

Based on our annual production, the country has the ability to export close to 80 percent of what is produced, he asserted. “…but we still need to monitor because we know what can happen,” he pointed out.

With respect to the livestock sector, he said, efforts are ongoing to ensure that there is enough feed material available, hence, there is a temporary ban which was imposed on the export of rice bran, noting that small farmers have complained that they are having difficulties accessing it. He also pointed out that there is a demand for broken rice and an export quota has been instituted to satisfy that demand.

Consumers must maintain vigilance – GRA
CONSUMERS are being urged to maintain their vigilance in the market place even as businesses claim they are applying the Value Added Tax correctly.

Commissioner-General of the GRA Mr. Khurshid Sattaur said consumers must remember that they have the power to help stamp out irregular business practices by ensuring that they obtain a receipt of purchase every time.

He said by doing so, they can also provide evidence regarding the perception that businesses are responsible for the high mark up being charged on commodities.

Referring to reports that some prominent food outlets have more than one till machines, Mr. Sattaur said that while there are proper businesses practicing transparent accounting practices, it appears that there are others still bent on being unaccountable by employing such systems in their operations.

“If however, consumers are more vigilant and practice their rights as consumers by demanding receipts for every purchase whether its food or any other item, that can help expose these unscrupulous practices,” he said.

“The GRA vows to expose these criminal offenders who continue to swindle consumers and rob the state through these deceptive acts perpetrated on unsuspecting consumers,” Mr. Sattaur added.

He said the GRA compliance and audit departments have not withdrawn from these activities, pointing out that there are several businesses under investigation.

As the GRA continues to advocate more responsible practices by consumers, it will be mounting bill boards around the country shortly to keep reminding consumers to demand receipts for their purchases.

Only recently, prominent businessman Harri Mattai told the GRA that many consumers refuse to accept their invoices then subsequently they want to make enquiries but have no bill to refer to.

From a VAT registrant’s perspective, he pointed out the importance of obtaining and issuing invoices, to show proof of purchase and sales which is critical to claiming VAT refunds, from which VAT registrants benefit.

He, too, is encouraging consumers to ensure they collect their receipts and assess them not only to ensure that the correct tax is applied but also to monitor the prices over time.

Mattai said consumers need also to be more responsible at observing market trends and not listen to rumours, pointing out that some businesses may capitalize on such activities to increase prices.

The businessman also dispelled rumours that there was a price increase in sugar noting “GUYSUCO or no one else had announced any increase in sugar price and there is no shortage.”

The GRA is therefore encouraging businesses to be fair to their customers, engage in transparent and accountable practices and consumers are also encouraged to be more responsible and conscious of marketing and buying tactics.

Ministry of Education commences online trauma counselling programme
THE Ministry of Education on Thursday commenced an online trauma counselling training programme to upgrade skills of social workers working with the Psychosocial Support Intervention Programme (PSIP).

During the training held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Turkeyen, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox stated that the programme is geared towards training social workers to become supervisors and mentors for staff working under their jurisdiction, and volunteers.

She added that the ministry would be focusing on schools located on the East Coast of Demerara and Bartica that had been affected by the recent massacres.

The Psychosocial support programme is a special intervention by the Ministry to support traumatized school population within the affected community and nearby villages.

Minister Fox said the training will not only develop the skills and knowledge of social workers in respect to psychosocial support and post-traumatic stress and trauma counselling but it would also boost the operations of schools’ health and welfare unit and the capacity of the country.

According to Mark Ross, PSIP’s Logistic Support Coordinator, “the project is the first of many which will take place over the next year.”

He noted that 16 persons were selected to participate in the training. They include representatives from the Ministries of Human Services and Social Security, Health, Education and the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers.

The representatives are trained in the area of psychosocial trauma and behavioural therapy by personnel of the Medical University of South Carolina.

The programme focuses on areas such as, stress management, expression and modulation, cognitive coping, creating trauma narrative, cognitive processing, behaviour management training and parent/child sessions. The training consists of a 10-hour programme which will be conducted for two days.

Ross said that, “after the first two days of training, a follow up session would be undertaken with the same representatives and other workers within their departments. The activity will entail a face-to-face intense four day session on trauma counselling.”

Over the next two weeks the programme would be extended to Regions 4 and 7 where there would be two sets of training on April 28 and 29 for teachers.

The programme is expected to target 150 teachers in Region 4 and 42 in Region 7.

After the training, the teachers would form a core group in the country to respond to major social issues or emergencies which may arise within the school system, Ross said.

Ross said that currently a national policy plan and long-term proposal for sustainability of the project is being drafted and would be presented to the Ministers of Education.

He said that the project is supported and funded by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and comes to an end on August 4.

On January 26 and February 17, 2008 Guyana had experienced two massacres which claimed the lives of 23 persons.

In light of these two events, the Ministry had initiated a psychosocial

intervention programme targeting students, teachers, health workers, social workers, Parent Teachers’ Associations (PTAs) and communities in response to persons affected after the massacres.

CANU seize 956 grammes cocaine at CJIA from outgoing Jamaican passengers
RANKS from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) yesterday seized 956 grammes of cocaine at an estimated street value of US$4,500 from three outgoing Jamaican passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

The cocaine, which was neatly placed and concealed in a ‘darts board’, was discovered after one of the suspects checked-in her suitcase at the immigration counter.

According to a CANU official, the three suspects - Gaston Samuels, Dwayne O’Neil Morris and Michelle McKenzie were about to board a flight to Jamaica via Barbados, from the CJIA.

The official further stated that McKenzie, who was being questioned, revealed her other two suspects.

Acting on information received, the CANU ranks proceeded to the Lot 53 Alberttown apartment in the City where the suspects, who are said to be in their twenties, were staying. There the ranks discovered a quantity of the articles that were somewhat similar to those used to carry out the offence.

The CANU official said Morris, who consumed a quantity of the illegal substance, is at a city hospital while the other two suspects are in police custody. (Sarada Singh)