Forestry firms file complaints against miners
-- Bartica mining protest goes ahead
SHARP differences have emerged between some mining and forestry operators over damage to forests from gold and other mining as miners opposed to reform mounted street protests in Bartica.

Some 2,000 people marched around the small mining town on Monday in what observers said was an obviously well-financed protest campaign.

Ignoring government assurances that proposed reforms intended to help sustained forest management will not throw small or medium scale miners out of business, the protest organisers kicked off the first leg of a campaign which well-placed industry sources estimate several big miners are bank-rolling with about $30M.

Two Opposition Members of Parliament and others aligned to the Opposition were among principal figures addressing the gathering and openly involved in the activities, continuing to peddle false information that the government was intent on shutting down small miners.

Some shops and stores were closed and the regular passenger boat service between Parika and Bartica was disrupted by the campaign which organisers said will continue in other forms.

No incidents were reported but sources said it was evident that opponents of the government were seeking to score political points and that big players were using small miners for their own purposes.

Official sources said several major forestry operators have written the government and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) complaining about the adverse impact of mining on forests in their concessions.

Among those writing to the GFC are Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) and Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL), two of the biggest forestry operators, and Interior Forest Industries Ltd.

DTL in November last year said mining is having a “very negative effect” on its operations and the very fragile environment within its concession.

The company said mining operations have had such a devastating effect on the environment that flora as well as fauna have clearly been adversely affected in some areas.

TPL last month informed the GFC that mining by a company in its area of operations conflicts with the commission’s requirement for sustainable forest management.

TPL said some areas damaged by mining can no longer be used for sustainable forestry activities and Interior Forest Industries Ltd. has also filed several similar complaints against mining in its areas of operations.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, in an interview Monday night on the National Communications Network (NCN), said the proposed six-month notice from miners before commencing operations is intended for the GFC to ensure that clearing particular areas of the forest is included in the forestry plans.

Mr. Hinds said that under rules governing the forestry sector, timber operators are allowed to fell a certain number of trees over a specified period with the pre-approval of the GFC.

On the other hand, he noted, miners work by a different regime and cut down trees for mining purposes.

“The intention is that, in giving notice, a timber operator would be adjusted and modified to take account of the cutting. So the six-month issue is not for the GFC to say no…it’s for the GFC and the timber operators to amend their harvesting plans to include this intention,” Mr. Hinds said.

He agreed that there were delays in addressing regimes in the mining sector as opposed to forestry, and noted that some feel that those in the mining sector are “getting away with murder.”

Nevertheless, he said that given the chance, some of these issues can be straightened out by both parties in the same cordial way that many others have been settled in the past, adding that constructive dialogue is needed.

“We have tried, (at the level of the Office of the Prime Minister and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission), to hold a very controlled, well-balanced hand in these matters. The small miners may be under pressure…you have to maintain discipline and at the same time you understand their situation,” the Prime Minister said.

He reiterated the government’s position that mining is here to stay but noted that small and medium-scale miners are being challenged to operate at a higher level.

In December, President Bharrat Jagdeo met a group of 20 leading gold and diamond miners focusing on ways of improving mining practices. Proposals were made for better coordination with the GFC on tree felling, prospecting before mining and restoration of the surface rights areas.

It was agreed that a joint committee Chaired by Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn would be established and would include members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) and miners outside of the association.

The committee has been meeting and examining ways in which the new rules could be put into effect while at the same time sustaining the industry.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, last week declared that the government was “unashamedly proud” of what it has done since it assumed office in October 1992 to elevate the sector as a major plank in the economy and said it is too big an industry to be threatened or challenged.

He bluntly stated at his regular post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President complex that the small miners are being used and that they are being confused about the government’s plans.

Small miners “are literally being used as shock troopers by hidden interests to defend their particular interests and beliefs”, he said, adding that the government was committed to the growth and development of the mining sector.

“…what we intend to introduce is not a threat to the sector and we will continue to be open to discussions and consultations to that effect”, he assured.

“We will continue to negotiate…consult…exert the efforts needed to correct impressions that are being created falsely among (small miners)”, he said.

Government sources said the larger operators in the industry are apparently buoyed by the current high prices of gold on the world market and feel that compliance with international best practice may cut into their huge earnings.

They said further reforms may be needed to hike royalty, licensing and other fees for bigger miners.

Luncheon argued that because of the distortions being peddled, small operators in the sector lose sight of the big picture.

Monday is budget day
- announces Minister of Finance
The 2010 National Budget will be presented to the National Assembly on Monday, February 8, under the theme: “Consolidate, transform, sustain”. This announcement was made yesterday by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh.

Despite challenges posed by the global financial and economic crisis during last year, Guyana’s economy weathered the storm and recorded growth in several areas. Government spending in the sectors increased by leaps and bounds resulting in continued development across the 10 Administrative Regions.

Minister Singh noted that the Guyanese economy displayed striking resilience last year, despite depressed external demand and lower prices for certain key exports. Last year’s record $128.9B National Budget presented to the National Assembly on February 9, under the theme Working Together – Reinforcing Resilience was reflective of Government’s awareness of the threats posed by the existing global environment and the need for strong and collective efforts at the national and individual levels.

Budget 2009 projected real growth of the non-sugar gross domestic product at 1.8 percent, while overall growth was projected at 4.7 percent, influenced strongly by the expected recovery of sugar.

The 2009 National Budget represented an 8.1 percent increase over the previous year’s $119.3B budget and provided for the well-being of children and vulnerable groups with specific focus on continued efforts to safeguard Guyana’s children and vulnerable groups.

Guyana has continuously recorded positive growth over the past few years attributed to increased spending in all sectors. In 2005, Government allocated $86.4 B, while the national budget of 2006 was $102.9B. The 2007 budget was $100B while the allocation for 2008 was $119.3B.

Guyana’s economy continues to withstand exogenous shocks recording positive growth due to the unstinting efforts of Government to create and maintain a stable macro economic environment to foster development of all sectors and facilitate a wider spread of projects across the country.

Despite the external conditions and local challenges such as those known to be confronting the sugar industry, the domestic economy is projected to continue to grow. The non-sugar economy recorded positive growth, with expansion in output reflected across a broad base of sectors. This result undoubtedly demonstrated early returns to Government’s efforts at diversification, with the strongest rates of growth achieved in non-traditional agriculture sub-sectors.

All stakeholders have a role to play, to secure sugar industry’s future-Agriculture Minister tells workers’ forum
The future of the sugar industry remains a top priority of this administration as stringent measures continue to be incorporated in order for it to remain productive, amidst the industry’s diversification to further consolidate and create a larger, more modern and dynamic sugar industry.

Donald Ramoutar GuySuCo Board Member, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, GuySuCo’s Chairman and CEO Dr Nanda Gopaul and Errol Hanoman respectively, and Region Six Chairman Zulficar Mustapha at the sugar workers’ forum at the Rose Hall Community Centre.

The meetings which were convened at Rose Hall, Albion and Skeldon Community centers saw the participation of Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo Errol Hanoman, Board Member and People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Donald Ramoutar, Chairman Dr. Nanda Gopaul, Region Six Chairman Zulficar Mustapha, other GuySuCo Board Members and Trade Union Representatives.

The forum which saw discussions centered on the ‘Turn around Plan’ was held under the theme “Working together as a team to achieve a successful and modern sugar industry”.

Minister Persaud, delivering remarks, spoke of the future of GuySuCo, centered on the ‘Turn around Plan’, which will see the industry on a further path to development.

GuySuco workers at Rose Hall Community Center yesterday

“This can only be achieved with the full cooperation of Board Members, the Union and all workers….so all members have a role to play in these discussions,” the Agriculture Minister said.

He noted that 2009 saw the industry being faced with many challenges which led Government to take a stern decision to end the management contract with Booker Tate.

“This year is seen as a very crucial year in the history of the sugar industry since it is the first time in the 300 years that Guyana has been planting sugar that the industry is on its own,” he said.

He noted that this gives the country a greater degree of responsibility to ensure the industry survives and he used the opportunity to give Government’s commitment to ensuring that it remains stable.

Government continues to allocate resources to ensure that the industry remains competitive and in this regard invested in the US$185M modern Skeldon sugar factory and the $1.2B packaging facility at Enmore Sugar Estate which is under construction. As the year progresses there will be more investments, the Minister added.

Meanwhile GuySuCo’s Regional Director Jairam Petam and CEO Hanoman provided updates on the success of the industry during the first, second and third phases of production.

Board Member Ramoutar and Chairman Gopaul spoke of the history and successes of the industry and the way forward.

The forum also gave workers an opportunity to highlight challenges which they are currently facing and to make recommendations.

The forum will be taken to Enmore and La Bonne Intention estates today, Blairmont tomorrow , and Wales and Uitvlugt estates Friday. (GINA)

President Jagdeo meets his Russian counterpart
…discusses Russian-Latin American and Caribbean relations
According to the ITAR-TASS News Agency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, in Moscow, Russia, to participate in the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the People’s Friendship University of Russia, met with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, yesterday. The two leaders discussed Russian-Latin American and Caribbean relations, with President Medvedev promising that Russia intends to fully cooperate with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

President Bharrat Jagdeo meets Russian President, Dmitriy Medvedev - Courtesy of ITAR-TASS News Agency of Russia

Such interaction is very important for the balance of power in the world. In addition, according to Russia's leader, "this will help in addressing global issues, including climate."

In response, President Jagdeo encouraged Russia to become more involved in the Caribbean region.

"We want Russia to play a major role, worldwide, in development," he said, pledging that Guyana would do "everything possible to strengthen Russia's ties with countries in the Caribbean."

Jointly sponsored workshop deliberates on curbing nurses migration
NURSE migration was addressed at a workshop yesterday where the stakeholders were exhorted to agree on specific actions, based on the findings and retention strategies outlined in a recently completed study.

Country Representative of Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr. Kathleen Israel, whose agency partnered in hosting the forum, warned that, if that did not happen, the document, will become, like so many other research results, something that is shelved somewhere.

Speaking at Cara Lodge, on Quamina Street, in Georgetown, she urged the participants to work very hard to identify what must be done to deal with the issue.

The programme was facilitated by PAHO consultant, Dr. Una Reid who was also responsible for undertaking the survey that looked at the period 1997 to 2010 and sought to ascertain reasons for nurses leaving Guyana.

Those participating in the exercise were from all the Administrative Regions, except Region One (Barima/Waini) and they covered out migration, internal migration and return migration.

Of a workforce of 490, approximately 200 nurses were involved in the work that showed the push factors included not only pay as most would expect but positive practice results, conditions of service and source countries and raised issues of professional recognition, management practices, support structures, education, occupational health and safety, welfare, opportunity for further professional and personal development, shift differential remuneration, benefits and job promotion process, workload, equipment and supplies, physical facilities, among others.

Israel lauded the month of landmark work done by Reid and said actions taken based on it will have implications for the whole health sector but, moreso, for the nurses.

“The issue of nurse migration is one that has been challenging countries in the Caribbean and the developed world for some time,” the diplomat said, acklnowledging that it is not a new phenomenon.

However, she decried the actions of the developed world in contributing to the problem.

“What is unusual, in recent times, is the deliberate poaching by the developed countries of the nurse complement. This has opened up a new opportunity for migration in numbers that were unprecedented,” Israel said.

Background
Against that background, Israel said efforts had to be taken by the Caribbean to retain its human resources and one, by CARICOM, at a Council for Human and Social Development (COSOD) meeting.

There, the concept of managed migration was discussed but because of the complexities that came with the initiative, it never saw the light of day, she revealed.

Israel said: “Countries were left, individual countries, with the challenge of determining what are the best strategies to retain nurses.”

She said, in Guyana, contrary to what some may think, salary was not the primary reason for nurse migration and called that one of many false arguments.

“One aspect is that we cannot compete with the developed countries and so we should not bother to try and identify retention strategies,” Israel said.

Accepting that situation, she said, would be saying that nurses have no sense of patriotism which would make them want to stay.

“It is not every nurse who would want to go and there are some who would not have gone if the strategies had been in place,” Israel maintained.

She said another false argument is the notion that, if training programmes and education opportunities are watered down, the nurses would not be empowered to leave.

Positing that it would be counterproductive, Israel said, if that were done, the level of health care being delivered to the local people would be negatively impacted.

“We must look at the strategies in a generic sense and in a tailored way, to suit the needs of Guyana. Being cognisant of your own environment and what is possible in that environment, as well as the need of nurses, is what we have to look at,” she suggested.

Israel added that, while negotiations with partners on the retention strategies will be conducted, there are things that can be done, by nurses themselves, to better their profession without the intervention on any other party.

In conclusion, she said that the end product of the workshop must be usable, relevant, comprehensive enough and based on the realities of the study’s findings.

“It can also be a model for other countries in the Caribbean as they too grapple with the issue of nurse migration,” Israel said.