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The Guyana Update -- February, 1997. |
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Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo on January 17 presented the 1997 National Budget at a special sitting of the National Assembly.
Described as popular and progressive by members of the National Assembly, the budget of $49.9 billion, which is 8.2% more than last year's, seeks to ensure that Guyana's economy remains one of the fastest growing in the entire Caribbean and Latin American region.
The Budget was presented under the theme "Strengthening Partnerships for the Future", and contains programs that will realize the collective desires of all our people for a secure and brighter future.
Some of the budgetary highlights include:
The 1997 Budget of $49.9 billion contains "something for everyone". Here are some highlights:
From January 1, public sector employees will receive a 20/o rise in wages. Since 1992, public sector minimum wage has increased by about 150%. The government's wage bill will be increased to $9.1 billion from $6.9 billion in 1996.
This year the threshold has been increased from $15,000 to $18,000 monthly, resulting in an additional 11,000 tax payers being removed from the tax net. Income not exceeding $35,000 will attract 20% and in excess of $35,000, 33.3/o. Previously income above $15,000 monthly was taxed at 33.3%.
It is estimated that about $1.6 billion will be spent to continue works to improve the country's water supply system.
More than $700 million will be spent this year on the rebuilding of rural community roads throughout the country.
For the education sector, $5.5 billion will be spent this year. The Secondary School Reform Program will begin this year with the rehabilitation of several schools and curriculum reform will be launched in 12 pilot schools. Feasibility studies are to be carried out to establish two University campuses in Berbice and Essequibo Coast, and to enhance the distance learning program..
Under the continuing three-year program, about $2.8 billion has been earmarked to rehabilitate the road network, clear outfall channels and clean the drains in the city. This year, a sum of $368 million has been budgeted for most of the roads that began in September 1996, while $60 million has been earmarked to improve the drainage system.
About $3.1 billion has been budgeted for health care A new dental school will be constructed in Georgetown. The Mahaica Hospital along with several regional and district health centers will be upgraded.
A new health care pilot project will be constructed at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. About $200 million has been earmarked for expansion and improvements of facilities at the Georgetown Hospital.
A mammoth sum of $900 million is allocated for rehabilitation and maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems. The zero rating of agricultural machinery will continue.
This year $440 million will be spent through the special Poverty Reduction Program executed by the Ministry of Finance. This excludes anti-poverty programs to be carried out by Social Impact Amelioration Program (SIMAP) and the Basic Needs Trust Fund. The allocation will be used to provide nutritional supplement to pregnant and lactating women, improve sanitary conditions of schools, provide school uniforms, text books and health care to needy children, and to expand the school feeding program.
About $110 million has been set aside to fund critical support programs in Amerindian communities. Out of this, $50 million will be used for land surveys and provide titles to Amerindians. Amerindians will benefit from a special $30 million program to rehabilitate the Amerindian Residence in Georgetown, and to improve transportation.
Investment in the economy for this year is projected at US$160 million which is expected to create more jobs in the various sectors.
About $1.7 billion will be spent in 1997 to further protect areas from the rivers and the Atlantic Ocean.
Pensions for retired public sector employees will now be calculated at 50% of the minimum wage. In some instances, public sector pensions will increase by 75%. Other pensioners will benefit from a 20% increase. Also, the elderly will gain from the various programs to be executed by the Poverty Reduction Program, SIMAP and the Basic Needs Trust Fund.
More than $200 million will be used to purchase transportation and communication equipment for the Guyana Police Force. There will be increases in various allowances for law enforcement officers. Approximately $5.6 billion has been budgeted for defense and security.
Funding has been allocated for skills training for youth at the community level and at practical instruction centers. In addition, the consumption tax on sports equipment has been removed to bring down the cost of these items.
This year the allocation to Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) will be increased from $3 million to $5 million to allow for more small development projects and the purchase of machines. In addition, SIMAP and Basic Needs Trust Fund will be expanding their Quick Reaction Programs aimed at involving communities in development works and to respond to low cost emergencies.
The consumption tax on selected plants, machinery and equipment used by the mining, forestry and manufacturing sectors has been removed. The consumption tax on all aviation fuel has been brought down to 10% from 50% in one case. This will reduce the cost of internal air-transport and boost the tourism and mining sectors. The export tax on fish and shrimp has been zero-rated to promote growth in these industries, and non-traditional exporters income will now be eligible for 75% of their income to be non-taxable. This is up from 50%.
The Government since 1992 has distributed more than 12,000 house lots. To facilitate more home construction by low and middle income Guyanese, tax concessions will be made on loans up to a ceiling of $1.5 million for the purpose of constructing new homes, where the minimum value of the cost of construction does not exceed $2 million. This measure is to bring down the interest rate and make more credit available for the housing sector.
President of the Private Sector Commission Manniram Prashad has expressed strong support for the 1997 budget. "Some of those measures that we asked for in our budget proposals, both from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCC) and from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), are implemented and we are very happy about that ... all in all I think it's a good budget for business," he said.
He welcomed the increase of the income tax threshold from G$15,000 to G$18,000 and the inclusion of some of the PSC and GCC's proposals on housing for tax concessions on loans of up to G$1.5 million for constructing new homes where the maximum value of the cost of construction would not exceed G$2 million.
"The privatization process, as we always say, it is moving a little slow but we have seen some improvements and we are happy to hear that GEC (Guyana Electricity Corporation) something is going to definitely be happening with GEC," Prashad said.
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It is my distinct pleasure to salute all Guyanese on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the Republic which we celebrate this month.
In Guyana, both the state and the private sector have coordinated a program of activities for the Mashramani celebrations to mark the anniversary. High on the list are a number of cultural events to be held in all parts of the country. Exhibitions to highlight Guyana's advancing industrial and agricultural development are also on the agenda.
Overseas-based Guyanese in various localities have also worked out a number of activities to celebrate Mashramani this month.
Over the past year, Guyana continued to make steady progress on the road to rising growth and development. Growth in the Gross Domestic Product was the highest in the Caribbean and among the highest in Latin America, while inflation declined to just over 4 percent. Public sector wages, despite not being the best, improved again last year, and a 20 percent increase will be paid out again this year.
Investment incentives have assisted in boosting the private sector to expand production and exports. We have seen a rapid expansion of housing projects, while socio-economic activities initiated by the Government have resulted in significant improvements in road repairs and construction, drainage and irrigation, and the availability of pure water supply. These ventures, which are part of the rehabilitation process, have also improved the facilities in many of our primary and secondary schools, hospitals and health centers.
Recently, in the 1997 budget, the Government announced that many secondary schools throughout the country would be renovated, and additional works to improve the social infrastructure are also earmarked for this year. All of these activities are aimed at poverty alleviation and the improvement of the standard of living of all Guyanese.
The Republic anniversary urges us as Guyanese to remember our history, particularly the struggles of our people through the periods of early European colonization, slavery, indenture, the anti-colonial period and the fight for independence, the post-independence struggle against dictatorship and the struggle for free and fair elections. The struggles, set-backs and sufferings and the victories of our people throughout our history must inspire us to ensure that the democratic rights we regained in 1992 must never be allowed to be taken away from our hands again.
Of importance to note is that this year will witness the general elections which will be free and fair and monitored by unimpeded local and international observers. While overseas Guyanese cannot vote in the elections, they are free to discuss the merits of the various political parties and their leaders. Guyanese at home do this regularly in public forums and in the media without any fear of victimization.
This is just part of the advancement that Guyanese have made in the democratic process over the past four years. It is a process that is being fully encouraged to continue.
Happy Mashramani to all Guyanese!
A state-of-the art weather system at Timehri International Airport has replaced the obsolete meteorological system which has the capability of providing Guyanese with vastly improved and accurate weather data.
This was made possible through a remarkable technical co-operation program involving the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United States of America and the United Kingdom and a donation of US$75,000 worth of equipment.
The system includes a VSAT Antenna System Mometec Earth Station, a Star IS Computer System complete with keyboard, monitor, laser printer and suppressor/line conditioner UPS, Software manuals, an APT/WEFAX which consists of an antenna and computer system, and a training computer.
With the inclusion of additional funds to facilitate installation and training of personnel the entire project is valued in excess of US$100,000.
President Jagan on Tuesday, January 7 officially launched the draft National Development Strategy (NDS), opening an extensive two-month public consultation with the aim of creating a final document that wins the approval of all sections of Guyanese community.
The launching of the consultative process was made immediately after Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo, who spearheaded the drafting process, presented the draft strategy, which comprises six volumes with 42 chapters, to President Cheddi Jagan.
According to President Jagan, "When we embarked upon the task of crafting a Development Strategy, our objective was simple. It was to present a forward-looking creative vision that will frankly address our most basic social and economic problems, especially in the areas of production and productivity, health, education, housing, poverty reduction and the role of women and Amerindians."
The Guyana Elections Commission has received a proposal from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for a program of assistance amounting to about half-a-million US dollars.
Chairman of the Elections Commission, Mr Doodnauth Singh, confirmed the IDB proposal and said that the entire Commission will be deliberating the terms of reference for the agreement and make changes, if needed.
This is the latest foreign institution to have indicated a preparedness to financially support the Elections Commission so that it can effectively undertake the task of running the upcoming national elections. Elections are constitutionally due this year.
More areas are to receive potable water supply resulting from an $80 million project to supply new PVC pipelines which are to be used by the Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA).
The sum was utilized from the special fund of the Poverty Reduction Program of the Ministry of Finance.
A GUYWA statement said that "the program symbolizes GUYWA's recognition of the importance of private enterprise in the development of GUYWA's water supply net work."
The statement added that it was also "tangible proof of Government's commitment to ensuring adequate supplies of potable water to growing numbers of households and industry in sustaining social and economic growth."
"As significant as these disbursements from the Ministry of Finance have been over the past two years, GUYWA expects more money from the Ministry and some US$3.5 million from the World Bank in 1997-98 to supplement the Authority's installation of some 2,500 miles of pipelines and 90,000 service connections," the statement added.
GUYWA's rehabilitation project is designed to benefit more than 406,000 inhabitants in rural Guyana before the end of the decade.
The State-owned Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) recently announced a 300 percent rise in local air travelers in 1996 when compared to 1992. Trade Minister Michael Shree Chan has urged the company to improve its efficiency so that it can be more competitive. He also urged GAC to work in closer cooperation with the private aircraft industry.
GAC recently opened its first domestic check-in area at the Timehri airport. At the same time another Twin-Otter air craft was commissioned.
According to Captain Fazal Khan, General Manager of GAC, 9,800 passengers were ferried locally in 1992 but last year the figure jumped to 27,000. Additionally, GAC increased its domestic flights from thrice weekly to about 18 flights per week.
Also, another domestic airline opened a new hanger at Ogle airstrip recently and another one commissioned a new aircraft for its domestic service.
The Omai Gold Mines Limited has been granted rights to explore the Omai River and the Quartz Hill properties. These areas are larger than that already being mined by Omai, the Canadian owned firm.
General Manager of Omai Gold Mines Limited Mr R Gourde, expressed pleasure with the Government's decision and he explained that the two areas would be explored for their mineral content and may be developed for mining sites for the firm.. The approval of the licenses were announced by Prime Minister Sam Hinds. These two areas are adjacent to the one currently being mined.
Mr Gourde said that this was "an important step" for Omai Gold Mines Limited, adding that almost 50 percent of cash flow will go to Government
He said that exploration work would commence immediately through the hiring of exploration geologist.
Mr Hinds explained that the 5 percent free equity grant and the previous conditions on withholding tax would be extended to these two properties. The Government, he said, has also accepted in the nature of an exchange and a compromise, having taken all the circumstances into consideration, a lower consumption tax of 5 percent (reduced from 10 percent) on the fuel used.
The Guyana Government has announced a policy which gives Government and mining investors an equal 50/50 share of net revenue. The policy also makes provision for a 5 percent royalty rate on precious metals and gems for large scale miners.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who is also the mining Minister, said the aim of the policy was to ensure a sufficiently attractive rate of return to the investor and a reasonable split of the net benefits between the investor and Government.
The policy has been developed after repeated lobbying by the local Gold and Diamond Miners Association as well as Omai Gold Mines, South America's largest open-pit gold-mining operator, which is Canadian owned and located in Guyana. They had argued for a policy to standardize the working arrangements for local and foreign potential investors.
The new document, entitled "Government Policy for Exploration and Development of Minerals and Petroleum Resources of Guyana", stipulates that a royalty will be levied at the rate of 5 percent of production or gross revenues; income tax at the rate of 35 percent and depreciation would be permitted at the rate of 20 percent.
The royalty rate on diamonds has been increased from 3 percent to 5 percent, and in an effort to attract investors to other minerals, a 1.5 percent royalty rate on bauxite was adopted.
However, the 5 percent royalty on gold and the 3 percent for diamonds in lieu of income tax for small and medium scale mining are to be maintained, aimed at giving them a production-competitive advantage over the large scale miners.
Mining agreements would be standardized and subjected to long term review of five years or more, he added.
Another Major Investment in the Private Sector
Investment by the private sector in the Guyanese economy continues to climb. This was evident by the recent opening of a new branch of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) in Corriverton, Berbice on January 10.
GBTI, where the majority share holder in the Beharry Group, is the latest Bank to have expanded its service to capture the economic growth taking place.
Trade Minister Michael Shree Chand delivered the feature address at the opening ceremony. He said the new branch "is another manifestation of the private sector's confidence in the policies of the Government. This beautiful project nails a lie to the voices of the detractors that investments in our country have slowed up."
Guyana has exported broken rice to Africa and the United States for the first time as the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) expresses optimism about further shipments.
Vice-Chairman of the GRDB, Vickram Oudit, said that a shipment of the lower grade rice, which is broken during the milling process, was sent to the US in late December. He is also confident that Guyana will become a regular supplier of rice to Senegal if the buyers are satisfied with their shipment last December.
"Based on the reception of that shipment, indications are that we will have at least 40,000 tonnes of broken rice per year to Africa," he said.
About 3,000 tonnes of rice at US$140 per tonne were reportedly shipped to both countries.
Sierra Leone is among the African countries which have expressed an interest in broken rice, the GRDB vice-chairman said. Broken rice is used in Senegal for human consumption and for brewing purposes in the US.
Oudit said Guyana was trying to tap the whole grain rice market in Latin America where rice from the US is very popular. He indicated there were good prospects in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Colombia.
Chairman of the GRDB, Charles Kennard, said that Central American countries have shown interest in purchasing cargo and fully milled rice from Guyana. A delegation is expected to travel there soon to discuss the price.
Jamaica has agreed to import 36,000 tonnes of rice from Guyana this year, he said.
The first symbolic electricity pole was put down on the island of Leguan recently to mark the beginning of work to provide electricity for the residents in that region. Mr Pariag Sukhai, who is Region Three Chairman, officiated at the ceremony. In an earlier visit to the island, President Cheddi Jagan promised the residents there to provide electricity. The Regional Chairman and residents of the island applauded the President for delivering that promise. The new generating sets for the island were due to arrive by the end of January.
Approval of a technical assistance project to benefit the Elections Commission of Guyana was announced recently by the Organization of American States.
This project which involves a program aimed at enhancing and improving citizens' participation in the electoral process was requested since June 1996 by Guyana, through its Permanent Mission to the OAS in Washington. The OAS made an initial response by sending a two-member team to Guyana shortly after to assess the needs of the Elections Commission. However, the project was held up for lack of funding.
Director of the Organization's Unit for the Promotion of Democracy, Elizabeth Spehar, stated that the OAS has now budgeted for the project. This announcement came in response to a statement delivered on January 15 at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the hemispheric organization by Guyana's Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Odeen Ishmael.
Referring to the holding up of the project for what was claimed as a shortage of fund, the Guyanese diplomat said he found this to be rather strange since other projects organized by the Unit were being carried out in other member-states.
Ambassador Ishmael emphasized that Guyana would continue to seek the assistance of the OAS and called on the Organization to send a team of observers for the general elections expected to be held in the last quarter of this year.
Professor Clive Thomas has accepted an invitation by President Cheddi Jagan to sit on a National Council on Sustainable Development.
President Jagan, who is to chair the Council, had last year offered Dr Thomas the Vice Chairman's position.
The Council is to draw representatives from various political parties and technical groups to advise on initiatives that will allow for sustainable development in Guyana.
This Council will also work hand in hand with those responsible for the implementation of the final National Development Strategy.
The Agriculture Ministry mobilized resources in mid-January to provide relief to about 26,000 residents affected by a 10-day-old flood caused by extremely heavy rainfall.
Following heavy rains, the low-lying coastal communities of Golden Grove, Nabacalis, Ann's Grove, Victoria, Cove and John, and Belfield Villages on the East Coast Demerara, about 16 to 20 miles east of the capital Georgetown, were left with knee-high water due to malfunctioning drainage pumps and a sluice blocked by sea shells, sand and mud.
The residents were also concerned about a possible outbreak of diseases but Government assured them that medical support is being mobilized.
President of the Guyana Medical Association Dr Max Hanoman also offered his organization's assistance to the Ministry of Health to provide medical outreach to the flooded villages.
He was also not ruling out the idea of the commercial banks being lobbied by the Government to reschedule loans acquired by residents in the flood-hit villages. Many of these residents were reportedly worried that they could not reach repayment deadlines because of the loss of livestock and farm produce.
The Guyana Relief Council which played a pivotal role in assisting residents in last year's flood in many areas of the country, said that volunteers were being contacted to assist in conducting a preliminary needs analysis, and to purchase and distribute stocks to the affected residents.
$8.5 million more would be released to carry out additional renovations to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue. Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo and members of the National Sports Commission inspected renovations works taking place on the Sports Hall which was in a very bad state until recently. These funds are part of the central Government's commitment to promote sports in the country
A National Commission on Women was recently launched at the Presidential Secretariat by The Women Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Labor. The Commission will be responsible for monitoring implementation of the recently adopted National Policy on Women.
Another new school was just recently completed at a cost of $1.3 million. This is the Jacklow Nursery School, Pomeroon river which is now equipped with adequate learning aids, as well as recreational and sanitation facilities.
An agreement was signed between Agro-Tech Industries and Ferreteria Santa Catalina Ltd of Columbia to purchase 34,000 cm of silica sand and approximately 27,000 cm of aggregate (granite).
The National Commemoration Committee (NCC) has commenced preparatory work on Mashramani 1997. The theme for Mash 1997 is "Mash - A Cultural Leaven In '97", and approval has been given for private promoters to stage traditional and non-traditional events as part of the general program for the event. The Ministry of Education would be organizing various events that would include the Children's Mashramani and National Calypso competitions.
Aubrey Norton, a senior Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was appointed as the new General Secretary of the PNC. PNC leader Desmond Hoyte, in announcing the appointment of Norton, confessed that the officer was involved in active politics while serving as a foreign service officer.
The desilting of the Lamaha Canal by the East Coast Demerara Water Conservancy was scheduled to resume shortly. Deslilting of the 7 mile long canal commenced about three weeks ago. The Lamaha Canal is the main source of potable water which is treated and mixed with well water before its distribution to the city of Georgetown.
The first-ever homestead on the Essequibo Coast is being established at Cozier to accommodate over 300 farmers and families They will occupy over 4,000 acres of arable farmlands. This is part of the region's plan to encourage a diversification of agricultural produce and reduce the amount of rice cultivation carried out on the Essequibo Coast. This scheme will also serve to avoid the region from importing vegetables from the other regions. Throughout the country various regions are emphasizing the need for diversification of agricultural produce.
Work continues on the new Housing Scheme at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast. About 300 more house-lots will be accommodated on this scheme. These will be given out to qualified applicants. So far there are about six housing schemes being developed on the Essequibo Coast.
Timehri International Airport now has a brand new carousel, a rotating conveyor belt for arriving luggage, as exists at most airports throughout the world. This makes it so much more convenient for passengers collecting their luggage after their arrival in Guyana. Timehri Airport is now being enlarged and renovated with many new features which certainly will make travel easier for passengers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently launched its 1996 publications, which included Takuba News, of which three issues have already been published. Also Selected Parliamentary Speeches of Foreign Affairs Minister Clement Rohee delivered between 1994 and 1996 were also published. Dr James Rose, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Guyana introduced the Minister's book of speeches while Foreign Service Officer Michael Brotherson introduced the other publications.
President Cheddi Jagan in January unveiled the Iwokrama plaque at the University of Guyana. The occasion symbolized the formal launching of the Permanent Board of Trustees for the international rain forest project.
President Jagan has lauded the Guyanese test cricketers for their excellent performance on the West Indies tour to Australia. He said that Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are deemed as the most consistent players and added that "Carl Hooper did wonderfully well for securing the consecutive Man-of-the-Match award" in the one day series against Australia and Pakistan.
Preparation continues for the actual implementation of the Secondary School Reform Program.(SSRP). The aim of the program is to improve the "quality, relevance equity and efficiency of secondary education in Guyana," according to Dr Kenneth Hunte, the Program Director. The SSRP is being funded by resources from the World Bank amounting to about US$19 million.
A special Task Force was appointed by the Ministry of Local Government to undertake a massive clean-up of the city and the removal of the large backlog of garbage. Local Government Minister, Harripersaud Nokta said the Ministry considered it very important and necessary "that the health of the citizens of Georgetown should take priority and that the environment should be maintained to the highest standard of decency." About $8 million is expected to be spent on the exercise.
Hundreds of Guyanese returned home both through the ports of entry and other points along borders shared with neighboring countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that last year 252 remigrants applied for "Remigrant Status." Out of these 232 were granted remigrant status and 20 are still pending. Special tax concessions are given to Guyanese returning home. These include duty-free concessions on vehicles and household items.
Construction of three new Community Centers has commenced in East Berbice. These centers are to be located at No 19 Village, Whim and Black Bush Polder. It is expected that these facilities will cost the authorities a total of $18 million. Funds are being made available through the Poverty Alleviation Program. being executed by the Ministry of Finance.
Nearly a whole week of rain in Guyana in January has resulted in flooding of several areas in the city and beyond. Floods in the city caused disruption of classes of several schools.
Queens College recently launched a Computer Learning and Resource Center to enable students to be prepared for today's modern workplace. The project costing about $6.5 million was funded by the QC Old Students Association.
Guyana Electricity Corporation which has been making some headway in increasing its generation capacity, has been recently battling with the inclement weather together with defective transformers. Several transformers around the city developed problems resulting from their poor state or being overloaded by residents. GEC has pointed out that heavy rains have prevented any repairs or replacement to the transformers.
Economic observers were very pleased with the performance of the Demerara Bank after it recorded a 300 percent increase in pretax profits at the end of its second financial year. The Bank's chairman, local businessman Yesu Persaud, told shareholders pre-tax profits increased from $32 million in 1995 to $138.8 million in 1996. He also said that there were now 14,000 accounts at the Bank.
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Guyanese books available at the Embassy - Amerindian Legends of Guyana by Odeen Ishmael and Songs of Guyana ($5 & $11 respectively)
Please note that until March 31, 1997 the Embassy hours will be 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Hindu Dharmic Sabha of Washington Metropolitan Area 3909 53rd St., Bladensburg, MD
Services Sunday 10.00 a.m.
Call James Beeharilal (301) 699-9573
Maryland Hindu Milan Mandir
808 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, MD
Services - Sundays 9.30 a.m.- Pandit Sase N. Sharma
Call (301) 593-7638
Islamic Society of the Washington Area
Principles of Islam - 3rd Saturday every month
Call Imam Faizul Khan 301-588-3650.
MASHRAMANI CULTURAL SHOW -- Sponsored by
Caribbean Drum in Coordination with Guyana Embassy
At Howard University From 3:00 pm To 6:00 pm
On Sunday February 23 Admission: FREE
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NEW YORK : Mr. Brentnol Evans, Consul-General
Tel: (212) 527-3215, Fax: (212) 527-3229
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Tel: (213) 222-0899 Fax: (213) 222-0899
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TEXAS: Mr. Jai Sharma, (Trade Rep)
Tel: (713) 847-5800 Fax: (713) 847-3210
GEORGIA: Mr. Neilson Wray (Trade Rep)
Tel: 770-469-3337 Fax: 770-469-1915
MINNESOTA: Mr. Earl Singh, (Trade Rep)
Tel: (612) 332-0351, Fax: (612) 342-2399
MISSOURI: Mr. Antoine Solomon, (Trade Rep)
Tel and Fax: (314) 830 - 2376
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