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The Guyana Update -- August, 1998. |
A government team and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) reached an agreement on a new package for public sector wage increase for 1998.
This agreement will see the lowest-paid public sector employees now benefitting from a 30% increase in wages and salaries. This recent agreement takes the monthly minimum wage from about $3,000 in 1992 to the highest ever -- $13,059. Highest-paid public sector employees will benefit from increases of 13.5% and the monthly minimum wage at the top would now be $131,049.
The increase is expected to cost the state nearly two billion dollars in a year when revenues are down, due to low production rates, slow commercial activities and weakening signs of the Guyana dollar.
The increase would not only be for GPSU members, but all public servants, unionized and non-unionized, including members of the disciplined services.
The government earlier this year announced an interim pay-out of 9.5% retroactive to January 1998. However, the new increase will be effective from July 1.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon and executives of the GPSU signed the agreement. Dr Luncheon said the agreement realized the administration's new approach to collective bargaining and a determination by the administration to increase wages when possible.
Patrick Yarde, President of the GPSU, expressed his union's appreciation for the package and noted that negotiation and dialogue were the way to go.
Since 1992, the current administration has increased wages by approximately 500%.
Regional development is earnestly supported by the central Government, Local Government Minister Mr Harripersaud Nokta said.
Nokta told reporters at a special press conference held at his Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown office, that Government's backing for Local Government development was unprecedented, with some $1.1 billion allocated for capital and current programs in the ten administrative Regions.
"This trend will continue...regional development will continue to enjoy the Government's favor," Nokta said in the presence of his Permanent Secretary Mr Edgar Kendall, and the ten Regional Executive Officers (REOs).
The bulk of the sum, more than $721 million, is earmarked for schemes in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).
Nokta said that $200.2 million will be used to fund capital and current development programs in the East Berbice/Corentyne area, $171.1 million in Pomeroon/Supenaam, $165.5 million in Mahaica/Berbice, $147.7 million for schemes in the West Demerara/Essequibo Islands region and $138.8 million for projects in Linden and the Berbice River areas.
Earlier this year, he had declared that the Government will wage war on endemic poverty and underdevelopment in interior communities during this second term of office.
The sizeable increase in funding for Local Government programs is in keeping with this policy.
Notwithstanding the late start this year, because of the El Nino weather anomaly and the late presentation of this year's budget, Nokta, Kendall, and the REOs gave the assurance that the schemes are expected to be completed by the original September deadline.
They asserted also, that Central and Local Government arrangements are in place, to ensure that the schemes measure up to the terms of the agreements as stated in the contracts.
Nokta said that he is satisfied that the pace of development in the Regions is on schedule, because of the influx of finances to support their growth.
He said too, that bickering and political differences between the two main political parties, the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) and the Minority People's National Congress (PNC) will not affect the regional programs.
The Regions have been completing more than 90 per cent of their works programs for the last four years, and, according to Nokta, more funding is expected for his Ministry from next year.
The People's National Congress (PNC) on July 15 finally entered Parliament after a 6-month absence. They took up their seats on the Minority Side of the National Assembly.
Twenty-two of the PNC's twenty-five Members of Parliament (MPs) led by PNC Leader Desmond Hoyte, took their Oaths of Office as MPs before a packed gallery and Parliament Chamber.
As expected, PNC supporters marched from Square of the Revolution to Parliament Buildings. Scores of the protesters carried placards claiming discrimination and racism and calling for "hands-off Region Four."
A noticeable feature which was absent were placards and chants claiming rigged elections or non-recognition of Janet Jagan's Presidency.
Acting Speaker Martin Zephyr, led the National Assembly in congratulating the PNC MPs who subscribed to the Oath of Office. Three remaining PNC MPs still to swear-in were out of the country.
Meanwhile, Loris Ganpatsingh, one of the absentees, has since tendered his resignation as a PNC parliamentarian.
Legislation passed on Friday July 10 paved the way for their re-entry after having lost their seats due to non-attendance of six consecutive sittings.
Guyana and Mexico are to strengthen relationships through Technical Cooperation in Agriculture with the exchange of visits of Agriculture Technicians being on the front burner. Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Satyadeow Sawh, met Ms. Sonia Gonzalez Aguirre, Director for Technical Cooperation for Caribbean in the Mexican Commission for Central America and Caribbean Cooperation to discuss cooperation between the two countries. She was accompanied by Jesus Parga Perez, an official of the Mexican Foreign Ministry
The visits by Agriculture Technicians of Guyana and Mexico are to be arranged under the "Basic Agreement for Scientific and Technical Cooperation" signed between the Government of Mexico and the Government of Guyana. According to the agreement, both Governments will promote the development of scientific and technical cooperation and to this end, will establish a program with specific goals in priority areas, in accord with their respective development policies through projects of mutual interest.
The parties will also encourage and coordinate all the activities of scientific and technical cooperation carried out under the different specific agreements or understandings signed between agencies and institutions of the two countries to bolster cooperation.
The Government of Guyana and the People's Republic of China, as part of the continuing cooperation between the two countries, recently signed three agreements -- a Framework Agreement, another for the Provision of Grant Aid and an agreement on the mutual exemption of Visas. The signatories to the documents were Vice Minister of the Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Yang Jiechi, and Guyana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee.
This Framework agreement provides an additional US $6 million to the initial Framework Agreement concluded in February 1997 between the two countries. Under the terms of the 1997 Agreement, the Chinese Government through the Export-Import Bank of China, will make available a total of US$12 million to Chinese companies investing in Guyana, in projects identified and approved by the two Governments. These projects are fruit and vegetable cultivation, bicycle assembling, the resuscitation of the Bel Lu Claybrick factory and the production of textiles.
The fruit and vegetable cultivation project which is in its initial stages is being undertaken by Guyana Greenfarm Inc. at Coverden on the East Bank of Demerara. Guyana has agreed to allocate 2,000 acres of land for its operations.
Mount Tai Inc. assumed responsibility for the Bel Lu Clay Brick Factory on July 1 while discussions are in the final stages between the Government of Guyana and the Golden Bridge Inc. for the production of bicycles.
China's textile corporation will be engaged in dying and the printing of fabric imported from China. The provision of additional funds under the new framework Agreement will facilitate the implementation of this project.
The second agreement signed is for a grant of US$0.6 million from the Government of China to the Government of Guyana, which can be utilized for the purchase of goods for payments in relation to projects. China had provided grants of US$0.24 million in June 1992 and May 1996.
The other agreement on the Mutual Exemption of Visas makes it possible for citizens of Guyana and China who have valid diplomatic or official passports to be exempted from visa requirements.
President Janet Jagan has announced that one hundred and forty eight families living in the Tiger Bay area aback of Main Street, Georgetown, will be given house lots. President Jagan amidst loud cheers, told the residents that after receiving a letter from the community identifying their problems, she held discussions with the Minister responsible for housing, Shaik Baksh, to resolve the situation.
House lots would be available at West Demerara, Grove/ Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, Tuschen on the East Bank of Essequibo and a few in Sophia, Greater Georgetown. In an effort to speed up the process she urged them to meet and decide who would be going to which area.
Minister Baksh informed the residents of his meeting with several financial institutions and he has encouraged them to be flexible in their approach to granting loans. He explained that houses can be built for under $750,000. A loan on this with a 15 - 20 year re-payment schedule will cost only about $3,000 to $4,000 per month.
President Janet Jagan arrived in Caracas, Venezuela on Tuesday July 21 to a red carpet welcome at the commencement of a packed, two-day, official visit at the request of Venezuelan President Rafael Caldera, and was conferred with the Order of the Liberator, the Highest National Award given to Foreign Dignitaries.
Dr. Caldera and most of his Cabinet members, amid a colorful military parade, were on hand to welcome their Guyanese counterparts.
Dr. Caldera was high in praise of the efforts of the late President Cheddi Jagan to bring about peace, social progress and cooperation. He also lauded President Janet Jagan for continuing in his steps.
Before official talks between the two leaders and their Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors, Mrs. Jagan laid a wreath at the National Pantheon to honor the liberator Simon Bolivar.
President Jagan said the discussions were friendly and touched on many issues which could improve relations between the two countries.
While addressing the Venezuelan Chambers of Commerce on July 21, President Janet Jagan called for the establishment of a joint Business Council between the Guyana and Venezuela private sectors.
This the President pointed out, "would be a tangible step in the direction of placing the relations of the private sectors in a structured manner".
"To a great extent, our future collaboration would hinge on trade and investment. Guyana is endowed with an abundance of natural resources which require the presence of investors to explore and exploit in partnership with our own entrepreneurs." the President said. She added that, "we would have to carefully identify those areas for joint ventures with an eye to satisfying our domestic as well as external markets."
Mrs. Jagan stressed that this form of collaboration between the two business communities should be placed very high on our bilateral trade and investment agenda.
A high-level 13-member delegation from the local private sector accompanied President Jagan. The team led by Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Mr. Yesu Persaud held talks with officials of the Venezuelan Chambers of Commerce, seeking expanding trade relations. Persaud said that the "prospects look good" and Venezuela will in the near future be a major trading partner.
President Janet Jagan has issued a call in Venezuela for the Guyanese and Venezuelan people to unite and seek common solutions to the more complex and global challenges.
While addressing the Venezuelan Congress on July 22, Her Excellency said that the two nations shared a common experience of " past challenges of slavery, colonialism and autocracy."
However, with today's challenges being more complex and global, these defy individual approaches. "We must therefore, join forces and jointly seek solutions to the eradication of poverty, the redistribution of wealth, sustainable development, the debt burden, social and infrastructural development, economic diversification, the consequences of globalization and the narcotics trade."
The President stressed that "we feel the necessity for further collaboration on environmental issues, and fisheries."
Mrs. Jagan touching on the issue of the border controversy, restated her Government's "commitment to the Geneva Agreement and the Mc Intyre Process which has contributed to laying the basis for good relations now existing between the two countries."
The ceremony for the handing over of the reins of the Linden Power Company(LPC) through the granting of a license to Texas Ohio Energy Incorporation (TOE) was formalized on Thursday, July 16 at the Watooka House in Linden. The ten- year lease granted to TOE now gives the company the permission to generate power for the Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE) and the communities in Region 10, thereby improving the electricity situation in the regions.
Head of the Privatization Unit Winston Brassington said that Texas Ohio is expected to provide a better supply of electricity. He said that LPC and TOE had jointly installed a new boiler which is now running, in addition to other improvements, but there are still other areas to be rehabilitated before the official opening of the LPC.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who signed the license said that, "we are up to the challenge of finding new ways to make a living." He said that this development is a good step for Linden as well as the bauxite industry as a whole. He expressed the hope that with the improvement in the electricity situation, a major factor for productivity and development, this would encourage others to invest in Linden and Guyana.
The British Government has committed about $780 million more to a major project to strengthen the forest sector in Guyana.
A memorandum for the funds was signed in Georgetown by acting British High Commissioner, Mr. Colin Brazier and Forestry Minister, Mr. Satyadeow Sawh. This brings British funds to the forestry development scheme to about $991.3M.
A partnership between the Guyana Government and the British Department for International Development (DFID), the project will build on work in the first phase and develop the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
Over the next four years, the DFID will work with the GFC to prepare and implement new forest laws, plans and procedures; to improve the GFC organization, structures, infrastructure and facilities; to strengthen education and training delivery to meet the needs of the sector, and to develop a forest information and research program.
Recently, DFID also made a commitment to support the Iwokrama International Rainforest Program to develop an understanding of forest systems and processes, and to support capacity building that addresses sustainable forest management issues.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has provided US$100,000 towards funding the attachment of the CARICOM facilitator for the dialogue process between the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) and the main Minority party, the People's National Congress (PNC).
UNDP Interim Resident Representative, Mr. Andrea Tamagnini said that this support would go together with help from the American, Canadian and British Governments, and possibly the European Union (EU).
He said the UNDP is to draft proposals to send for the others to become involved.
The PPP/Civic and the PNC have agreed to former Attorney General of Barbados, Mr. Maurice King being the facilitator, following the signing of the St. Lucia 'peace' Statement last month by President Janet Jagan and PNC leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte.
The accord provides for a facilitator to assist in the implementation of the agreements reached in the St Lucia document.
The UNDP was instrumental in funding the work of the CARICOM audit commission which scrutinized the December 15 polls.
The organization was also involved in facilitating the functions of Mr. Hugh Cholmondeley, who acted as a mediator for the two major parties under the Herdmanston `peace' Accord President Jagan and Hoyte signed on January 17.
CARICOM brokered both agreements after PNC anti-government street demonstrations in Georgetown which triggered violence and rising tensions.
Agriculture Minister, Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud has predicted that the success of the Intermediate Savannahs Project will boost the country's development.
"Government sees this project as being vital to the development of Guyana and the development of its resources," Persaud said in an address to participants at the Intermediate Savannahs Agricultural Project Workshop at Tacama.
Persaud said that the project to open up the intermediate savannahs for massive agriculture ventures, is high on the list of Government's priorities and receives the regular attention of Cabinet.
The Minister observed that the savannahs are rightly regarded as Guyana's second agricultural frontier as it offers innumerable opportunities for sustainable agro-based activities and supports the country's diversification drive.
"Once we are able to attract significant investment into the area, we would be providing meaningful alternative sources of employment for our coastal population, as well as those affected by the downturn in the bauxite industry," Persaud said.
Referring to previous efforts (that failed) to develop agriculture in this area, Persaud said Government wants to have a proper plan which must achieve success.
Several feasibility studies were conducted with assistance from the Organization of American States (OAS). Persaud said the studies prove that agricultural production in the savannahs can be profitable once the right investment decisions are made and sufficient attention is paid to the peculiarities of the physical environment.
A study conducted, found that the soil type is sandy, acid and easily erodible. Suitable crops are citrus, corn, soybeans, peas, peanuts, oil palm and mangoes among others. Project Adviser, Mr. Rowland Fletcher at another forum had also said that a livestock industry is being recommended for the area. With a solid livestock industry in existence, farmers can plant three crops, Fletcher stated.
Persaud said that the private sector can make a significant contribution, and that the Ministry will provide the necessary institutional, technical and infrastructural support. There will be a set of environmental protection standards within which all investors will have to operate, Persaud said.
Fletcher had pointed out that one of the fears about rapid development in an eco-zone like the intermediate savannahs is over-development and damage to the environment and this must be avoided.
During the past year, preparations were made for the launching of various promotional materials. Among them were the setting up of a website, the preparations of a technical information package, and a video on the area. This should be ready for public distribution by month end.
President Janet Jagan has stated that the priority for her government in the coming months is the securing of peace, unity and the fulfilling of the needs of all Guyanese.
Speaking at a press conference held at Office of the President, the Guyanese Leader noted that her administration will continue to carry out its mandate of bringing security and rapid developments to all Guyanese.
These include securing investments, especially the local private sector and implementing various measures that will affect the economy positively. The importance of Guyana's recovery from the slippage earlier this year was highlighted by the Head of State.
The President assured that the nation's social needs such as roads, water, electricity, housing, etc. will continue to enjoy her government's full attention.
Meanwhile, the Guyanese Leader has made it clear that her government will continue to investigate all reports and claims of discrimination and corruption, once these are reported and documented.
She gave this assurance while defending her administration's drive to end discrimination and stamp out corruption.
According to Mrs Jagan, there will be a vast improvement from the "calamity" of corruption and discrimination inherited from the PNC regime in 1992. President Jagan said her government will ensure that Guyana does not return to the days when citizens were discriminated against because of their race or political affiliation.
The privatization process of Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) is moving ahead. However, it has not been conclusively determined whether the domestic service will be opened to private partnership along with the international service.
Chairman of the GAC Board of Directors, Mr Ralph Ramkarran, made it clear that privatization of the airline is going ahead, and that following an evaluation of the airline's performance in the coming weeks, the nature of privatization will be determined.
GAC was crippled as a result of financial problems earlier this year leading to a major management-overhaul and staff changes in the airline.
Decisions were also made that are expected to turn around the financial fortunes of the national flag-carrier.
Meanwhile, GAC has recently contracted another aircraft to cater for the increased summer traffic between Guyana and North America. Management is expecting that the additional aircraft will enhance the airline's financial position.
Ramkarran noted that GAC's flying to Miami is being studied, but he stopped short of ruling out a direct service immediately. He said various other routes and services linking up to Miami are being studied so that GAC can carve its niche market.
While the airline is preparing for privatization through a similar process as the GEC, the Board of Directors is continuing to move ahead with plans to improve its operations and services.
Several squatters' settlements in Region Three (West Demerara) will be regularized shortly.
The Ministry of Housing has assigned Pertab Balram, Coordinator of the Squatters Upgrading Unit of the Ministry, to convene meetings with the various settlements in an effort to accelerate the regularization process.
Following regularization, residents will be able to obtain land titles thereby allowing occupants formal access to the land. This move will also enable the occupants to access credit for construction.
Possible squatters' settlements that may be immediately regularized include those at Zeelugt and Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Met-en-Meerzorg, West Coast Demerara.
Residents are being encouraged to form community groups so that they may be able to obtain funds from donor-agencies to carry out infrastructural works.
Approximately 1,500 families in these settlements bemoaned the lack of potable water, roads and electricity in all the areas, with the major concern being water.
The National Bank of Industry and Commerce (NBIC) presented checks to the Guyana Relief Council and Beacon Foundation for $150,000 each and will be presenting $100,000 to the Society of Jesus along with a quantity of vitamins and water purification tablets to be used in their missions.
These funds were raised by NBIC as part of its El Nino Relief Program. Earlier in the year, a committee was established to co-ordinate the fund and was responsible for organizing the fund-raising activities.
It was decided that the funds raised would be used in the most affected areas in the hinterland. The areas identified were the North West District, South Rupununi and the Pakaraimas.
Managing Director, Mr. Conrad Plummer, in a press conference on May 13, 1998, announced that a voluntary fund was set up by Management into which contributions would be made by the staff of the Bank.
A release said: "This fund was intended to provide assistance to El Nino victims in the hinterland, and is seen as being in keeping with the Bank's motto 'People Helping People'."
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds represented Guyana at the inauguration of Colombia's President Elect Andres Pastrana Arango.
Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela, Bayney Karran, who is also accredited to the Republic of Colombia, also attended the auspicious ceremony, which took place on August 7 at the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota.
Guyana and Colombia established diplomatic ties on December 18, 1970 and these relations became more active in the early 1980s in an effort to develop and implement programs in the areas of health, trade, agriculture, education and sports. Currently, Guyana and Colombia have cooperation assistance agreements in the areas of agriculture, education and sports.
The Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee (SILWFC) recently allocated house lots in the East Canefield (New Area), East Canje, Berbice to sugar workers from Rose Hall Estate. This is part of some 258 house lots to be totally handed over by SILWFC.
A total of 133 house lots were developed by the committee in the East Canefield (New Area) at a cost of $36.5 million.
The SILWFC says workers who were allocated house lots are required to pay $60,000 towards the developmental cost of the lot and have one year to construct their houses.
The committee has also awarded a contract for the development of 58 house lots at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara at a cost of $18.1 million.
The committee is expected to develop a further 53 house lots at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara and 67 house lots at Kilcoy-Chesney, Corentyne, Berbice during this year.
Six foreign companies have been short-listed to conduct the feasibility study for the proposed Berbice River Bridge following a pre-feasibility study conducted late last year. Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Mr Anthony Xavier, said the six companies short-listed will soon be presented to Cabinet for assessment, after which the companies will be asked to submit technical and financial proposals. Thirty foreign companies from countries which have Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) ties submitted bids.
The People's Progressive Party (PPP) held its 26th Triennial Congress of delegates and observers on August 8-9 at the Zeeburg Secondary School, West Coast, Demerara. The Congress elected a new Central Committee of the party. The theme of this Congress was: Advance To The 21st Century With Democracy, Unity and Social Progress.
The IMF has approved a three-year assistance program for Guyana valued at US$71 million under the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program. The approval will lead to a drop in political risk premium which the private sector faced when it sought overseas funding, lay the groundwork for a sound macro-economic framework, and send a clear signal to donor countries and institutions with respect to Guyana's credible and internationally supportive economic programs and policies.
The new Parliamentary Library was opened on July 3. The project was jointly funded by the Government and the National Democratic Institute of the USA and the UNDP. The library's computers are hooked up to the Internet.
The new $128 million Cedric Nunes Primary School at Anna Regina Line was declared open by Minister of Education Dr. Dale Bisnauth on July 9. Meanwhile, the building of a new nursery school at Line Path "C" in Skeldon has been completed.. The school, costing $5 million, is housed in a one-flat building and will accommodate 150 pupils.
The Ministry of Finance has launched an investigation into a multi-million dollar scam regarding concessions for machinery being used for luxury vehicles. So far the probe has led to the seizure of several vehicles and the termination of employment of an officer concerned with the processing of duty-free concessions at the Ministry of Finance.
US-based Patrick Harding pushed Guyana further into the Caribbean athletics limelight by winning a gold medal in the under-20 discus event at the Junior Central American and Caribbean athletics championships in the Cayman Islands on July 10. Harding also won the bronze medal in the shot-putt on the following day.
Minister of Transportation and Hydraulics, Anthony Xavier, has received final reports into the investigation surrounding the collapse of the $35 million Charity Wharf in August 1997. Meanwhile, the contractor's fee and an outstanding $8 million have been withheld by the Ministry since the collapse of the wharf. The Ministry has also announced that plans are afoot for Government to proceed with legal action over the matter.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Vibert DeSouza recently swore in 14 Amerindian village captains of the Moruca and Mabaruma sub-regions to their offices. After the ceremony, the Minister noted that with the empowerment of Amerindian communities, the development process would be accelerated and this would lead to an enhanced standard of living for the indigenous people of Guyana.
The Ministry of Education has signed a $55 million contract for the rebuilding of the Overwinning Primary School, East Bank Berbice, which was destroyed by fire some time ago.
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has lifted its temporary grounding of Guyana Airways' Boeing 757. The grounding, according to the FAA, was due to a lack of proper engineering record keeping by the airline.
Parliament on July 29 approved a motion for the St. Lucia "peace deal" statement. In presenting the statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Clement Rohee pointed out that since the statement was signed many of the measures have been implemented such as the legislation to facilitate the PNC to return to Parliament, the PNC taking up its seats, and the agreement of both parties to appoint a facilitator.
The European Union, through its Guyana office, has disclosed that preparations are apace for a fourth disbursement to be made available to Guyana under its Structural Adjustment Support Programs. The new disbursement will benefit the health and education sectors.
The National Assembly on July 29 approved a flat import duty rate for vehicles four years or older, not on age, but on engine capacity. Vehicles covered by the change are buses, cars and those transporting goods.
Another step was taken in the implementation of the Herdmanston Accord when the National Assembly approved the appointment of three PNC Members of Parliament to the Committee of Selection. The MP's are Dunstan Barrow, Clarissa Riehl and Rafael Trotman.
Soil tests have shown that the Wauna-Yarakita and Port Kaituma-Mabaruma areas have the best soils and climatic features for the cultivation of oil palm.. Other feasible areas are Ebini in the intermediate savannahs and the Pirara area in the Rupununi. Two soil scientists from Malaysia conducted the tests.
During mid-July, 74 persons drawn from Guyana and nine other CARICOM countries participated in a Regional Police Prosecutors' workshop in Georgetown. The workshop was addressed by Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis and Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard.
Law enforcement authorities of Guyana and Venezuela have renewed agreements to cooperate in the fight against the illegal drug trade. The agreements include more frequent meetings between the two sides. Guyana also stands to benefit from direct assistance to the police force in the form of equipment and the training of police dogs and dog handlers.
Well-known Catholic priest and former editor of the Catholic Standard, Father Andrew Morrison, has written a book entitled Justice: The Struggle for Democracy in Guyana -- 1952-1992. The book which was released to the public on July 14 chronicles in particular the struggle for democracy during the period of the PNC regime.
The Basic Needs Trust Fund will be providing training and employment for unskilled and unemployed young people when it executes several of its projects across the country.
Persons selected for training will be between the ages of 18-25 years and will be selected from homes of the poor and less-fortunate. The youths will be provided with tools and paid a stipend of $1,800 per week.. At the end of the training exercise, the participants will receive apprenticeship certificates.
Negotiations with the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) for a 50 percent equity stake in the Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) are moving smoothly, according to Head of the Privatization Unit Winston Brassington.
The youngest member of the Cabinet, Minister of Finance Bharrat Jagdeo was married according to Hindu rites to Uma Singh of Enmore on July 26.
Speech by Hon. Elton Gallegly, Republican Member from California in the US House of Representatives on July 15, 1998. Mr. Gallegly is Chairman of the House International Relations Sub-Committee on the Western Hemisphere
(Editor's Note: This speech was made before the PNC MP's took up their seats in Parliament)
Mr. Speaker, in December 1997, the people of Guyana, exercising their strong support for democracy went to the polls to vote for a new President. In numbers reportedly as high as 88 percent of the electorate they cast their votes and elected the candidate of the People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP. This election which was observed by representatives of the international community, including Americans, was judged to be free and fair. Despite the transparency of the overall election, there were some problems involving the counting of certain ballot boxes. As a result, the newly elected government of Guyana asked the nations of CARICOM to conduct an impartial audit to determine if the alleged irregularities in the vote count were of a fraudulent nature as to cast doubt on the outcome of the election.
Recognizing the extremely important process of democracy of Guyana, as demonstrated by the election, the House International Relations Committee marked-up and adopted a Resolution introduced by our Colleague from New Jersey, Donald Payne. This resolution congratulated the people of Guyana for their strong expression of support for democracy, expressed support for the CARICOM audit, called on both the PPP and the People's National Congress (PNC) to abide by the outcome of that audit and to commit to peace and stability in the post-election period. Subsequently, the House overwhelmingly passed this resolution.
On June 2, the CARICOM audit was completed and declared that the recount of the more than 400,000 ballots cast, varied only slightly from the original results. Thus, the election of President Jagan was determined to be fair.
Today, however, Guyana is in the midst of a civil disobedience campaign led by the supporters of the opposition PNC. Despite the fact that PNC Presidential candidate Desmond Hoyte said that he accepted the results of the audit, he has stated that acceptance did not mean that his party accepted Mrs. Jagan as President. Fair enough. But ever since, Mr. Hoyte and his followers have been engaged in a systematic anti-government movement which has employed violent mob protests, arson and physical assaults on representatives of the government, the PPP, and even the press to vent their frustration at their electoral loss. Unfortunately, these actions are close to constituting a direct threat to democracy in Guyana.
Mr. Speaker, the feuding parties in Guyana must stop the violence, accusations and name-calling and must begin a period of reconciliation for the stability of the nation and the good of the people. The opposition leader, Mr. Hoyte should accept his electoral defeat, publicly call for an end to the mob violence and assume the role of opposition leader in the halls of the political arena rather than in the streets. The PNC members of the Guyana National Assembly who have refused to take their seats and allow the business of the country to go forward should assume their democratic responsibilities and make their case through the legislative process.
For her part, President Jagan should appoint, in consultation with the opposition, the Constitutional Reform Commission called for in the Herdmanston agreement of January, 1998. This Commission should consist of representatives of all political parties and a broad range of citizens which would review the major issues of disagreement, disparity and discrimination within the country and which would make recommendations to the National Assembly for action. And finally, the leaders of the PPP and PNC in the Assembly should appoint a joint committee of their own to establish a dialogue on the major issues the country needs to address with respect to political and economic reform and then to work with each other through the legislative process to enact necessary changes.
In sum, Mr. Speaker, democracy in Guyana must prevail and must grow stronger. In any truly democratic society, there are those who win elections and those who lose and the losers must peacefully respect the wishes of the electorate, however distasteful, and take up their role of the opposition in a statesmen-like manner and work with the government to provide a more stable, strong and prosperous nation for all the people.
Reconciliation must happen now so that Guyana can move forward in the true sense of a free and democratic nation.
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