The Guyana Update -- January, 1997.

A Monthly Publication of the Embassy of Guyana, Washington DC, USA.

Vol. 4 No. 5 JANUARY 1997

President Cheddi Jagan's New Year Message . . .

TOGETHER IN UNITY, LOVE AND PEACE

Fellow Guyanese, Happy New Year! As we greet the early hours of 1997, with the usual Guyanese jubilation and festivities, let me wish each and every one of you a year of healthy, fruitful endeavor for the benefit of yourself, your family and the Nation as a whole.

We have done remarkably well as a people and a nation in 1996; but we must strive to do even better in 1997.

The rebuilding process continued in every area of development -- social, economic and political. Areas of health, education and social services have moved even further along the road of development, out of the quagmire in which they were stuck only a few years ago. But we need to do even more.

My pledge to you at the outset of my stewardship of our beloved country was that the social sector's budget and development must grow faster than any other area. I have kept that promise. This year my government will strive even harder to improve the day-to day life of all Guyanese -- in town and country, on the coastland and in the interior.

On the economic front, Guyana is one of the very few countries in the world to have grown by over 5 percent in 1996. The prospect for 1997 looks even better.

Politically, our country continues to recapture the spirit and essence of democracy which was stifled for so long. Our record on human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of media, and unhindered freedom of association is attested to by probably the highest number of private media houses in the Caribbean, and also the mushrooming of political parties of every description. By the time the next election comes around, Guyana may hold a record for the most political parties per capita of population.

Seriously, however, on the political front we must, as a nation guard against an ugly monster which a few politicians and propagandist tried to resurrect during 1996 -- the horrible monster of racism. We must allow no one to drive us back to the sad, dark days of the early sixties. We are too matured a people to allow this; we have fought too long and too hard to be pulled back into that terrible abyss.

With the energy, enthusiasm, and hope which we have generated over the past four years in Guyana, I am certain that 1997 will prove to be another year of outstanding successes for us as individuals and as a nation.

As individuals, we each have an important role to play in whatever productive area we occupy.

The farmers in our fields, the workers in our factories, the civil servants in our offices, our Amerindian brothers and sisters in the interior, our teachers, nurses, doctors, builders, thinkers; intellectuals, priests, pastors, imams, pandits and religious groups and organizations, are all vital to our health and growth as a country.

Our young men and women, our students and children, our seniors and elders all contribute to our material, social and spiritual well-being at present and for the future.

To all of you -- every single Guyanese at home and abroad; every single supporter of Guyana within and outside our country -- I bid you join hands with me, across the length and breadth of Guyana and across the seas, and let us together welcome this new year as brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters of our beloved motherland, Guyana.

Let us move forward together in Unity, Love and Peace to conquer the many obstacles which face us on our path to full development and a better life for all.

A Happy, Prosperous, Peaceful, and Enterprising 1997 to all Guyanese!

---

Ambassador Odeen Ishmael's New Year Message...

ADVANCING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

On behalf of my family and the staff of the Embassy of Guyana, I extend to all Guyanese residing in the United States and elsewhere warmest greetings and best wishes for a bright and prosperous 1997.

From the Embassy of Guyana, we have continued in 1996 to expand our linkages with Guyanese communities in all parts of North America, and even to other Guyanese living in other parts of the world. At the same time, we received generous assistance, in one form or the other, from Guyanese community groups and also from individuals, and are certainly looking forward to this cooperation in 1997.

I must commend the Guyanese organizations based in various parts of the United States and Canada for their sterling and unselfish efforts in mobilizing resources for various social and economic projects in Guyana. It is worthy to mention also that many organizations and individuals responded almost immediately to render assistance during the major flood in July-August. Amounts of money, food, medical supplies and clothing were collected and shipped to Guyana, and teams of Guyanese, including medical personnel, actually journeyed to Guyana to assist in the relief exercise.

For all of us who live so far away from our homeland, we are always eager to hear and learn of political, economic and social developments occurring in Guyana. The Guyanese and Caribbean news media in the United States and Canada have been doing yeoman's service to satisfy this need and must be congratulated for their efforts. The Embassy also endeavors to continue to provide the necessary information to quench the thirst for information among the Guyanese populace, in particular.

The year 1997 will see an advance in the democratic process in Guyana with the holding of free and fair elections which will be watched by unimpeded international observers. No doubt, Guyanese living abroad will be following the political issues and developments very closely and many will be actively and openly participating in discussing and debating the merits of the political parties which will be contesting the elections, as they have already begun to do. This is a positive trend which can only help to nurture the advance of the democratic process underway in Guyana.

We look forward to working cooperatively with all of you in 1997.

A happy and prosperous New Year to all Guyanese!

---

Government Would Not Tolerate Corruption

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, in a press briefing, has said that the dismissal of interim Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Lake Chatterpaul, is a demonstration of the "Government's zero tolerance for corruption."

Dr. Luncheon disclosed that the dismissal of the EPA's interim head and the review of his brother's appointment as a magistrate were the results of an investigation into several allegations that the two brothers were allegedly soliciting money from Trinidad Cement Company, which is part of the Neal and Massey Group of Companies. The cement company has applied for permission to set up a packaging plant in Guyana.

Referring to claims by Dr. Chatterpaul that the Government was "callous, uncaring and merciless", Dr. Luncheon reminded the media that when Asgar Ally was asked to resign and the reasons were not disclosed, it was due to the administration's concern for his future and that of his family.

Responding to the findings of the Auditor General's 1995 Report, Dr. Luncheon restated Government's commitment to financial accountability and said that the administration was taking decisive actions to improve accounting systems and implementing the recommendations of the Auditor General.

For the fourth year in a row, Auditor General's Reports on Public Accounts were presented on time, after a ten year absence.

Seeds and Tools for Amerindians

As part of the post-flood rehabilitation program by the Ministry of Agriculture, Amerindian communities in the North West District which were affected by floods earlier in 1996 received quantities of vegetable seeds and farming implements.

Mabaruma and the neighboring communities benefitted from the vegetable seeds, Acoushi ant bait, axes, cutlasses and files.

The distribution was done by Chairman of the post-flood rehabilitation technical committee, Charles Kennard who visited the region in early December. Kennard held discussions with groups of farmers from Kumaka, Hosororo, Aruaru, and Koriabo, and on-the-spot assessments were made to determine the needs of the region's farming population.

Similar assistance programs will be conducted in the Mazaruni-Cuyuni and Rupununi regions.

No More Junior Ministers

The titles of "Senior Minister" and "Junior Minister" have been abolished by a recent Cabinet decision. The new titles are Minister and Minister within the Ministry. All official documents and instruments of offices are being altered to reflect the change. There are currently five Ministers within respective Ministries.

Govt Shifts Date for US Army Mission

The US Army's Humanitarian Mission to Guyana, called New Horizon '97" has been shifted to reflect the concerns of Parliamentary Opposition parties represented in the Inter-Party Committee for Electoral Reform. The original date of the completion of the mission was October 1997, but this has now been rescheduled for September.

About 460 army engineers, doctors, and construction workers, along with local army personnel will be involved in the construction of identified social facilities, including schools, health centers and vital bridges.

Secretary of the Defence Board, Dr. Roger Luncheon, noted that the mission was "not a novel concept" and Guyana has benefitted from similar exercises before 1996. He said that the concept evolved after the end of the Cold War where the US Army conducts bilateral missions for humanitarian purposes.

Minority Leader Desmond Hoyte has objected to the US Army's assistance program on the grounds that it would be too close to the anticipated 1997 general elections and the Government would gain political mileage for the program.

More Community Roads

Being Built

A massive $40 million community road rebuilding and rehabilitation program is being implemented in West Demerara. Among the roads being rebuilt or repaired are those located at Tuschen, Zeelugt, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Ocean View, Uitvlugt, Anna Catherina, Leonora and Long Pond.

Meanwhile, the regional administration is also taking steps to assist farmers during the current dry season. About 13 days of pumping by the Boerasiri Water Commission was conducted. At the same time, a number of irrigation canals are being desilted at Ruby Backdam, Pouderoyen and Hague.

Guyana at Bolivian Summit on Sustainable Development

At the hemispheric Summit on Sustainable Development held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on December 7-8, President Cheddi Jagan, who spoke on behalf of CARICOM, called on developed countries to give more consideration of the plight of small island developing states and those with low coastal regimes. Accompanying the President to the Summit were Ambassador Odeen Ishmael and Science and Technology Adviser, Navin Chandarpal.

President Says, Modernize or Succumb to Free Trade

President Cheddi Jagan has called on Guyanese manufacturers to modernize their operations if they want to survive in an international climate of free trade. The concern was raised on December 21 in his feature address at the official opening of IDI Engineering, a Guyanese company that is involved in electrical, civil, and industrial engineering and construction.

"I am worried that we are infants so far as mastering science and technology are concerned," he said. He warned that Guyana would be marginalized if advanced science and technology were not applied.

President Jagan pointed out that Guyana and the Caribbean were increasingly under pressure to remove all trade barriers and protection for what he termed "our infant industries".

He questioned how regional industries could survive in a tariff-free Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005 when difficulties were already being experienced with the reduction of the regional Common External Tariff to 20 per cent by 1998.

He also explained that there is need for Guyana's education system to place greater emphasis on science and technology to achieve capital intensive development aimed at grappling with unfavorable demographic and marketing features in the country.

"We don't have a large enough internal market therefore our industrialists are disadvantaged and at the same time we have not developed the necessary skills," he remarked.

President Jagan said Guyana's high schools were producing failures in English, Mathematics and Science, and 90 per cent of the graduates from the University of Guyana were from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Red Cross Building Destroyed

by Fire

The headquarters of the Guyana Red Cross Society was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve resulting in millions of dollars in losses of relief food supplies and medical equipment. The very old wooden building burned very quickly and firemen were unable to contain the blaze. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

US-Guyana Trade Improving

Trade between Guyana and the United States increased by US$40 million in 1995 over 1994. US exports in 1995 totaled US$141 million, while imports amounted to US$107 million, according to the US Department of Commerce printed in the 1996 issue of the US Embassy's Commercial Guide.

According to the Guide there are several opportunities for US businesses in Guyana. The natural resource wealth encompasses gold, diamonds, bauxite, timber, sea food and rich agricultural land used to produce sugar and rice. These resources, combined with a relatively small and stable population, offer enormous potential for growth and prosperity.

Advising potential American investors, the Guide said the expansion of several of the nation's largest commercial concerns and multiple privatization offers opportunities for American companies.

The Government's economic program and its compatibility with foreign investment was also mentioned in the Guide. It pointed out that "the Ministry of Trade is currently working on the development of an Investment Code which is badly needed to facilitate investment and growth."

25,000 Vehicles Registered

Since 1992

Since 1992, some 25,000 vehicles have been registered showing a mammoth leap when compared with 9,165 vehicles registered between 1975 and 1992. This significant increase, said some government officials, reflects a growing increase in personal spending and national wealth. This figure was released by Home Affairs Minister Feroze Mohammed in his message to mark Road Safety Week 1996.

According to Minister Mohamed: "Perhaps the most important and visible aspects of the traffic question is the unprecedented amount of vehicles which use our roads these days. Over the past four years 25,000 vehicles were registered."

"This dramatic increase not only makes heavy demands on our roads, but also on the police traffic department to cope generally," said Minister Mohamed.

Domestic Violence Bill Now Law

The Domestic Violence Bill was passed in Parliament on December 19, with support from Government and opposition parties following extensive period of public consultation in which many local organizations submitted memoranda and recommendations, all of which were considered by the special parliamentary committee appointed to oversee it before passage.

The bill was piloted by Labor, Housing and Human Services Minister Dr Henry Jeffrey. Many women's groups attended the sitting.

Concessions to Remain for Manufacturing Sector

Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo said that tax and duty concessions currently offered to the manufacturing sector will remain for the coming year. This was disclosed by the Minister after he visited several enterprises that benefitted from the Government's private sector incentive program and met with officials of the Guyana Manufacturers Association.

He visited two garment enterprises - Guyana Manufacturers and Beeson Manufacturers - to evaluate how they were progressing and the impact they were having on the economy.

Mr Jagdeo also held meetings with other organizations, including the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other interest groups.

Adequate Foreign Exchange Flows for the Holiday

There were adequate amounts of foreign exchange to meet the high demands for US dollars for the holiday season according to a Bank of Guyana report. Increased exports have guaranteed the nation adequate US dollars to circulate and also to ensure that its foreign exchange reserves meet the requirements stipulated by the funding agencies.

During the Christmas season there was no decline in the value of the Guyana dollar, as is customary around that period.

The Bank official estimated that at the end of the year the foreign exchange reserves will be over US$300 million.

Sugar and Rice Reach Record Levels in 1996

Production of two of the country's major foreign exchange earners, sugar and rice, reached record levels this year, according to Agriculture Minister Reepu Daman Persuad.

The Minister reported that sugar output reached 275,000 tons, some ten per cent higher than 1995 and the highest in 15 years. That was when ten factories were operating, compared with eight.

Persaud indicated that plans to expand by bringing more acreage under cultivation should see production rising to 300,000 tons. He said the rice sector yielded 332,000 tons some 15,000 tons more than in 1995. Of the quantity, about 240,000 tons were exported, earning more than US$90 million, compared with US$76 million netted last year.

Venezuela Accepts Guyana's

New Ambassador

The Venezuelan Government has agreed to the appointment of Mr Bayney Karran as Guyana's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the neighboring state. A former student of Queen's College, Mr Karran pursued law studies at the University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies and was admitted to the Guyana Bar in 1984. A former broadcaster/producer with the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, he held the position of Chairman of the Board up until his ambassadorial appointment, which takes effect this month.

1997 Budget Ready

Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo and his staffers stepped up gear during the Christmas holidays for preparation of the 1997 Budget.

President Jagan was briefed by the Minister on the various policies and measures to be put in place in the budget.

The 1997 budget preparation has been one where active consultation and meetings with representatives of various sectors have taken place. There were also a number of community meetings and live radio call-in program hosted by Minister Jagdeo.

Call to Eliminate Profiteers

Farmers and consumers are calling on the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) to play an active role in purchasing agricultural produce and distributing them so as to avoid the high mark-up by the middle-men or agents.

These concerns were raised by farmers who met with the Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Sash Sawh, at the Charity Rural Marketing Center.

Farmers are dissatisfied, pointing out that they sell at a low price, but when the produce reach consumers the prices are jacked up by about 400%.

The Minister also toured the newly rehabilitated Charity Rural Marketing Center. Unlike the situation in 1992 when the enterprise was running at a loss, it is now profitable. Farmers are now satisfied with the quality of service offered by the center which is run by a broad-based management committee.

European Rice Market

Agriculture Minister Reepu Daman Persaud has put into motion a set of offensives and possibly a delegation to Europe next year, which are aimed at ensuring that Guyana continues to enjoy its preferential market for rice in Europe.

Minister Persaud met with top ranking officials concerned with the European Union including the European Union Representative to Guyana, John Calighirou and Guyana's Ambassador to Brussels, Havelock Brewster.

The Minister said the European Market to which Guyana exports 200,000 tonnes of rice is "crucial".

Guyana and other ACP countries also have the advantage of exporting rice through the Other Countries and Territories (OCT) route. Rice produced in ACP countries can be shipped to an OCT country (in the Caribbean - Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos) where it undergoes partial before being sent to EU. The advantage of this route is that at present there is no levy nor fixed quota.

Italy and Spain which are the major producers in the EU are now requesting a change in the rules of the OCT trade which can potentially block rice from entering the EU through the OCT route. These countries reportedly have the support of all members of EU, excluding the Dutch.

Guyana Against Nuclear

Waste Shipment

Guyana has joined Commonwealth Caribbean High Commissioners in London in "strongly objecting to the routing of the shipment through the Caribbean Sea, probably on board a British ship."

According to a release from the Guyana High Commission in London: "Caribbean countries have repeatedly condemned such shipments because of their highly dangerous nature and the unacceptable threat they posed to the lives of their people, the fragile eco-systems of the Caribbean region sea and the overall economy of the region ."

"The countries of the Caribbean region are custodians of significant network of coral reefs, which apart from being of high economic value to the people of the region, performs a similar global function to that of the rain forest."

Caribbean Heads of Government have called for the region to be declared a nuclear free zone for the purposes of shipment, storing or dumping of any radioactive or hazardous substance or toxic waste.

"Caribbean High Commissioners repeat that call and expect members of the international community to honor the region's position by abandoning any plans to ship nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea," the release stated.

PNC Leader Urges Guyanese to Vote for Change

In a New Year message, People's National Congress (PNC) leader Desmond Hoyte described 1996 as a year in which the socio-economic-political climate became "progressively worse". The former President, whose party suffered its first electoral defeat in 30 years in October 1992, also used the opportunity to appeal to Guyanese to vote. He told Guyanese that they had a momentous decision and could not afford to procrastinate on it.

Hoyte accused the four year-old PPP/Civic administration of being incompetent and added it was suffering from virtual paralysis in decision-making on national issues. He charged that violent crime, drug-trafficking and illegal migration were entrenching themselves in the major growth industries of the economy.

He also said increasingly there was a large number of bright young Guyanese who were suffering because of shortage of employment opportunities.

The New Year, the Minority Leader said, offers the opportunity for Guyanese to use their power wisely and effectively to change what he describes as "unacceptably bad conditions under which, quite unnecessarily we have been forced to exist".

Out Going PNC General Secretary Says "No" to Unity

PNC's out-going General Secretary, Dr Kenneth King, who is quitting active politics because of his health has said that a reunification of the PNC and the splinter-faction, the Good and Green Guyana (GGG) is not such a wise move for the PNC nor Guyana.

King is also against a working relationship between the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) and the main opposition (PNC) under the present political system or even if Guyana's constitution was amended.

"Even if you change the constitution.... you will have the problem of deciding which Ministry is going to be given to the minority party, what will be the proportion of the minority parties in the cabinet and so on," he explained.

He added that the main objection is that in such an alliance the opposition's role in a democracy to voice concerns about bad governmental policies would be eroded.

King is being succeeded by political scientist Aubrey Norton as the new General Secretary of the party.

More $$ for Women's Development

Women's groups were again the recipients of special funding to conduct training and employment generation projects.

Two groups - the Training and Employment Agency for Unskilled Women and the Sunflower Skills Training Group from Region Ten - received $788,409 from Minister within the Ministry of Labor, Indra Chandarpal.

The funds are to be used for special projects by the groups which will enhance the status of women in the region and forms part of the Government's overall program aimed at furthering women's development.

Well-known Guyanese media personality, Alan Fenty, has accused the Opposition People's National Congress (PNC) of playing the "race card" in a manner that could destroy Guyana and has broken links with that party. Fenty, who said that he joined the PNC since the early seventies, served in the information sector under both the Burnham and Hoyte Governments. For some time he was the PNC government's Chief Information Officer. He announced his final break with the PNC in an article for the Stabroek News in which he criticized the way the party exploited President Jagan's Toronto speech. In an earlier article, Fenty said that President Jagan's "social ladder" statement in Canada was not meant to be racist

The Smith's Church Primary School in Hadfield Street, Georgetown was rehabilitated and commissioned by Minister of Education Dr Dale Bisnauth. The cost for rehabilitation is about $10.6 million. It is now equipped with modern facilities, including a library and Headmaster's office along with a new sanitary block. The school can accommodate about 329 students.

Two out-falls located near the Ruimveldt Police Station and at Sussex Street have been identified for cleaning by Central Government. This will help to ease the acute drainage problems encountered in the capital city. These out-falls have been silted for quite some time.

The new building for the Eversham Primary School was commissioned by Minister Dale Bisnauth. The new building was funded by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) at a cost of $25 million. The BNTF is an executing agency of the Government. At the commissioning ceremony Dr Bisnauth also indicated that central Government will be funding the rehabilitation of the Berbice Educational Institute in New Amsterdam.

The Ministry of Agriculture has released about $2 million to fund emergency pumping to satisfy the irrigation needs of about 20,000 acres of rice land on the Essequibo Coast. Because of the dry season there was a drop in the water level of the Tapacuma Conservancy and as such, the region was forced to carry out pumping from the Pomeroon River in the conservancy. Enough cash was made available to conduct repairs on the Dawa irrigation pump.

President Cheddi Jagan, who visited the village of Maruanau in the Rupununi was greeted warmly by the settlers there. While on an extensive visit to South Rupununi he opened the new Karaudarnau Primary School, which will benefit Amerindian children in the area.

Leveling of 350 acres of land at Tuschen, East Bank of Essequibo, and 150 acres at Bell West, Canal No. Two, West Bank of Demerara in Region Three have begun. These lands will be used for the establishment of new housing schemes. Very shortly, the region will begin its house-lot distribution program to meet the housing needs of the areas. So far the Government was able to distribute 12,000 house-lots across the country.

The construction of a new Letter Kenny sluice was expected to be completed by Christmas. The malfunctioning of the sluice has led to the villages being flooded-out during the heavy rainy seasons. This sluice has been in a dilapidated state for many years.

The multi-million dollar cars used to transport late President Forbes Burnham and ex-President Desmond Hoyte are being sold by the Office of the President and proceeds will be used to promote culture in Guyana. Money received from the sale of these vintage vehicles will be channeled towards the construction of the new building for the school..

One of the highest awards of the Chilean Government, the Gabriela Mistral Commemorative Medal, was presented to Guyana's National Poet, Martin Carter at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown. The medal was presented by the Ambassador of the Republic of Chile.

The access way of the wharf of the Guyana Fisheries Limited was recently rebuilt at a cost of $30 million. The decision to reconstruct the access way was taken in light of the importance of the facility to the local fishing industry.

Another contract for the Essequibo Coast road was signed recently. Work on the road begins in February. The signing took place at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The MB Baramanni, the newest vessel acquired by Transport and Harbors Department was commissioned in December. This vessel will make traveling easier for those who make the run between Essequibo Coast and Parika.

Plywood production for this year will reach about 100,000 cubic meters, which represents an 8.71% above last year's production total. This was disclosed by the Barama Company Limited. Some 92,000 cubic meters were produced last year by the South-East Asian owned plywood company.

The No 79 Section "C" Development Committee has recently completed the first of a three-phase residential drainage project. The project, which entails the installation of 1,016 feet of concrete drains, is being funded by the United Nations Children Fund in collaboration with the Corriverton Town council.

Crime Chief Floyd McDonald said that "from information provided there is a drop in reports of criminal activities." He attributed this to the increased presence of the police - both uniformed and plain clothes - on the streets across the country. According the Crime Chief, the number of vehicular patrols were increased for the Christmas season.

The Local Government Ministry has restated its commitment toward "cooperation" with City Hall during a meeting between Local Government Ministers Harripersaud Nokta and Clinton Collymore with a delegation from City Hall led by Mayor Hamilton Green.

Mayor Green raised objections to Central Government rebuilding the roads in Georgetown, which he said is illegal. Both ministers were firm against this position and said central Government was bent on making living condition for residents in Georgetown better.

Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo announced at the opening of the Private Sector Center that for this year, the private sector showed much confidence in the economy, as evidenced by over 60% increase in credit. "And for good reasons, the Government has maintained a sound macro-economic framework, the benefits of which include deceleration of inflation, falling interest rates, comfortable levels of foreign exchange holdings and improving levels of fiscal deficit," Minister Jagdeo said.

A contract was signed for the commencement of the rebuilding of Alexander Street, Kitty which was in a dilapidated state for many years. Public Works Minister Tony Xavier inspected the commencement of works on the Street on December 20. The construction of the road will cost $39 million and it is expected the road should be completed within the next six months.

The Ministry of Health received $35 million for its medical watch program to help more people aware of safety and other steps. Money for a scheme called "Capacity Building and the Design of Health Learning Materials" came from Central Government ($21 M) and the UNDP - US$100,000.

Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo signed the order to approve the elimination of foreign exchange surrender requirements for GUYSUCO and for the gold miners exporting through the Guyana Gold Board. Assistant International Director of the Bank of Guyana, Mr Rajendra Rampersaud, said that this new order will see about a total of US$150 million in exports proceeds being available on the local market. Rampersaud said the respective agencies will now be free to sell their foreign exchange earnings.

The Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) has ended the frequency conversion of the West Demerara area from Versailles to Parika. Japanese engineers from Niigata and Nishishiba, the manufacturers of the sets in the Versailles Power Station were responsible for converting the generating frequency at the station from 50 cycles to 60 cycles.

Trans-Guyana Airways launched its Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 12-passenger plane at the Ogle aerodrome. Following the opening ceremony guests were taken on a ceremonial flight over the city.