MESSAGE FROM THE AMBASSADOR
During the first week of this month, I attended the 25th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Haiti. Foreign Minister Clement Rohee also represented Guyana at this forum. The holding of the OAS General Assembly in Haiti provided a wonderful opportunity for the hundreds of representatives from 34 countries of this hemisphere, and representatives from over 20 observer states and international organizations, to have a first-hand look at a country which recently reinstated democratic governance with the assistance of friendly countries, including the CARICOM nations. All over the country there are intense activities aimed at rebuilding, and almost everywhere we went we saw groups of people involved in self-help activities aimed at renovating the social infrastructure. But the highlight of being in Haiti was my visit on June 9 to the military camp of the Caribbean battalion which forms part of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). I met with some of our Guyanese soldiers who expressed great pride in not only involving themselves in peace-keeping activities, but also in sharing their technical skills with the Haitian people. All Guyanese should be extremely proud of our soldiers who are serving in Haiti. To assist them in maintaining their high morale, I urge our compatriots to write letters to our soldiers, and if possible, send magazines and books to them. Their address in Haiti is The Guyana Defence Force Contingent, Caribbean Battalion, c/o UN/OAS Office, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Our soldiers look forward to hearing from you.
REVISION OF PENAL CODES
The Attorney General's Chambers has recently intensified attempts to revise Guyana's outdated fines and sentences. The Commissioner of Police, Magistrates, Judges and citizens as a whole have been calling for a revision of Guyana's fines which they claim are extremely low and do not take into account rapid slide in the Guyana dollar in the 80s and early 90s. Some legal minds have also expressed concerns about the depressing level of some sentences for what they considered serious crimes.
INTEGRITY BILL
Public discussions have begun on the new integrity bill. Copies have been circulated to various interest groups for their review. This will be followed by public discussions on the draft. The legislation proposed also includes a mechanism to enforce penalties when persons are found to have acquired wealth in an illegal manner. When enforced it will require government ministers, Members of Parliament, members of the judiciary, Public officers including Customs officers to submit their assets annually to the President or the Commission.
GOVT STEPS LEAD TO LOWER RICE PRICE
Following a hectic week of meetings with rice farmer, millers exporters and vendors along the rice belt, Mr Charles Kennard has expressed optimism that the wholesale price for a gallon of good quality rice will be $230. He noted that the price has already dropped to $240 per gallon from $300 per gallon. Mr Kennard said he had instituted a number of mechanisms to ensure that prices are stable and there is the required quality of rice for local consumption. These measures include mandatory grading and labeling of the rice for local consumption and regular checks at the mills and distribution centers to ensure that the weights and quality are up to par.
GOVT DEVELOPS STRATEGY FOR LINDEN
The crafting of a development strategy for Linden was the focus of a team of government planners led by Junior Finance Minister Bharat Jagdeo. The high-ranking technical team commenced its area study with meetings and discussions with members of the Region Ten administration, the Linden Municipality, the business community and other social interest groups. Minister Jagdeo said the aim of the study is to arrive at concrete ways in dealing with the problems that are unique to Linden. The possibility of the establishment of a Free Trade Zone is one of the options to be explored by government development experts. In addition the team will also seek proposals on the implementation of Linden's aspect of the government's national poverty programme announced in this year's budget.
PROJECT DAWN'S MEDICAL CENTER
In about a year's time, Project Dawn, a US-based charitable
organization that provides free specialist health care to Guyanese,
will have its own medical center to conduct surgery and general
medical services.
The Project Coordinator, Dr Carmen Gannon, has been
accompanying teams of medical experts, equipment and other needed
supplies from the US for the past several years.
The turning of sod for the construction of the medical center
was done by Dr. Gannon and Mrs Janet Jagan. The three-acre GUYSUCO
Liliendal plot was made available for the project's impending 7,000
sq. feet facility. Work has begun on the site.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
A number of new development projects have come on stream. At Anna
Regina, the new power station built by the Wartsila company of
Finland was declared open on May 6 by President Jagan. For the
first time in almost two decades, Essequibians are now receiving a
steady supply of electricity. With the opening of this new power
station, electricity supplies in Guyana has increased by almost 45
percent over the past two years.
At Belladrum, in West Berbice, the rehabilitation of the
primary school has been completed at a cost of 14 million Guyana
dollars. During a visit to the area last week by President Jagan,
the residents thanked him for the refurbished school which house
over 550 students.
Also in West Berbice, a new well has been commissioned at
Weldaad. This has vastly improved the water supply to residents in
the surrounding district.
NO HIKE IN UG FEES
The Education Ministry has made it clear that there will be no increase in fees for University of Guyana students for the new academic year beginning in September. This statement was made in the heels of an announcement by the Vice-chancellor of the University that fees would be increased for all students.
RICE PRODUCTION 300% OVER 1992
In 1992, rice production was a meager 90,000 tonnes; in 1994 this jumped to over 250,000 tonnes. This was highlighted by leading entrepreneur and private sector executive Yesu Persaud at the oping of Kayman Sankar Blairmont Rice Complex two weeks ago. Persaud was tracing the progress made by the rice industry over the past couple of years in which rice production jumped by over 300 percent since 1992. Meanwhile, sugar production has surpassed the first crop target of 108,193 tonnes.
PARADISE GETS 165 MORE HOUSE LOTS
East Coast Demerara residents will benefit from another 165 low cost house lots at Paradise. Last week, Housing Minister, Henry Jeffrey allocated the house lots to the qualified applicants. Jeffrey rejected efforts by some persons to promote chaos in the community in the land distribution process. It is understood that some landowners in the area have illegally fenced off portions of the land that the government has allocated for the landless. Georgetown mayor, Hamilton Green, as well as a group known as the African Cultural Development Association have recently been encouraging persons in the area to stake claims for land on the basis they are "ancestral lands". In a response, the Housing Minister said that he had no difficulty with this concept since that was the basis of the distribution system. He said that all Guyanese have a right to a house lot, with those living closest to the land having greater priority.
REGION FIVE JUDGED "BEST REGION"
Prime Minister Sam Hinds presented an award to the Region five administration for its commendable performance last year. The award programme, introduced this year, is aimed at recognizing the region which has been best able to meet its achievements. In addition, the residents of Weldaad, West Coast Berbice, are benefiting from a regular and safe supply of drinking water after their new well was opened.
CDB GIVES GUYANA GOOD RATINGS
The just-concluded 25th Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has given Guyana a good rating and has recognized this country for its exceptionally good economic performance last year. The donor countries noted that growth was mixed in the Caribbean, but singled-out Guyana for its exceptional growth rate of about 9%. The CDB found Guyana's per capita had risen to US$525, up from US$320 in 1992.
NEW HEAD OF PRIVATE SECTOR BODY
Managing Director of the Kayman Sankar Group of Companies, Mr Beni Sankar, was elected as the new Chairman of the Private Sector Commission.
CANE GROVE RESIDENTS GET TITLES
100 Cane Grove families received free-hold titles to their homesteads from Minister Reepu Daman Persaud. Some of the residents say they have been occupying their plots as long as 70 years without any legal document. This will allow the residents to access loans, using their titles as collateral.
NIS PENSIONS SOAR AGAINST CONTRIBUTION HIKE
A 12-point list of recommendations for increases in pensions
and contributions by the Board of Directors of the National
Insurance Scheme has been approved by Cabinet.
Persons who have been benefiting from Disablement Pensions
before the end of 1993 will now receive a significant increase in
their awards.
Chairman of the NIS Board, Dr Roger Luncheon, said that this
pension awarded before 1990 will see a 40% increase, for 1991 a 30%
spiral, 1992 a 20% rise and 1993 a 10% hike.
CITY WORKERS STRIKE
Workers at all departments of the Georgetown City Council went on strike for higher pay. While on strike, the workers occupied the premises at City Hall and mobbed Mayor Hamilton Green every time he showed up. Striking workers demanded that "Green Must GO!" After three days City hall agreed to pay a 30% across-the-board increase and the workers resumed duty.
MORE HOUSE LOTS DISTRIBUTED
One hundred homeless persons of West and East Coast Demerara have received house lots from Minister Chandarpal. The Minister distributed 50 plots at Cornelia Ida, WCD. She is also expected to hand over another 50 to Enmore sugar workers. Meanwhile, 150 house lots were also handed out to 69 teachers and 81 nurses. These plots are located at Lilliendaal, just outside of Georgetown. This allocation comes just weeks after 365 plots were distributed in the same area. Three-quarters of the allocation went to public servants.
GEC TO OPEN BIDS
The Guyana Electricity Corporation has advertised for bidders to build a 20-megawatt diesel generating plant with a turnkey deadline of November 15 this year. Bids for the generating plant will be opened on May 17. The site for the plant is yet to be decided but it will be between Georgetown and Garden of Eden.
CONTINENTAL OPENS PAINT FACTORY
The Continental Group of Companies has completely retooled and resited its Torginol Paint plant and is gearing production for export. The paint company is now boasting a range of over 35 types of paint with a capacity of two million gallons annually.
US $7M PROJECT LAUNCHED
The government has issued an appeal to international agencies and local communities to contribute to the national sea defence rehabilitation drive.
STATE SIGNALS TOUGH STANCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Presidential Advisor on Environment, Mr Navin Chandarpal said environmental pollution, whether by cyanide, mercury or any other substance, must be met with strict penalties.
PRESIDENT BACKS MORE LOME AID
President Cheddi Jagan added his voice to calls for the Lome Four financial package to be increased and for the multilateral aid approach to be maintained.
ENVIRONMENT LAWS ARE SPEEDED UP
After the cyanide spill, the Omai Gold mining operations will be regularly monitored to ensure agreed environmentally safe practices are adhered to, Prime Minister Sam Hinds announced.
NEW RULES FOR INDUSTRY INVESTORS
The Environmental Protection Act to be tabled in Parliament around this month end, will require all new investors in industry to provide an Environmental Impact Statement.
CHAMBER TEAM TACKLE CUSTOMS SNAGS
A high level team from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to be established soon to help ease Customs problems for its members.
HOYTE ATTACKS US ENVOY
Minority Leader Mr. Desmond Hoyte has sharply criticized the number two man at the United States Embassy in Guyana advising him against being seen as a "defender" of the Guyana Government.
VERSAILLES DAIRY LANDS FOR FARMERS
The State is to initially retain a 50% interest in the Versailles Dairy Complex and nearly 1000 acres of the surrounding lands to be leased to satellite farmers.
GUYANA-SURINAME RELATIONS POISED FOR GREATER HEIGHTS
Relations between Guyana and Suriname are poised for greater
heights following the four-day state visit of Suriname's President
Ronald Venetiaan at the end of May. Guyana's Foreign Minister
Clement Rohee, in a statement, said that talks between the two
countries were proceeding well, and added that bilateral
discussions were headed for the adoption of the various decisions
of the Functional Cooperation Council and the Joint Border
Commission.
The Minister further noted that the outstanding border issue
was in hibernation for 30 years, and it is only now under, under
the PPP/Civic administration that a permanent solution is being
sought. This, he added, was not a deterrent to the intensification
of cooperation at the social, economic and political levels. On the
issue of combating the illegal cross-border trade, he said that
both sides shared a common interest in the resolution of this
issue. Guyana has been losing millions of dollars in customs
revenue through smuggling, and has only been able to stem this
activity through the establishment of the Berbice Anti-Smuggling
Squad (BASS).
DISTRIBUTORS TO LOWER GAS PRICE
The government convened a meeting with fuel distributors, following the hike in the price of gas after an increase in the international market price at the beginning of May. After the meeting Trade Minister Michael Chan said various distribution companies "have agreed to review the situation and look at ways and means to reduce the price of fuel to consumers."
BANK OF GUYANA TO ENSURE CAMBIOS COME STRAIGHT
The Bank of Guyana will now authorize licenses, supervise and monitor all Cambio operations. Making this possible is the passing in Parliament, of a Bill amending the Dealers in foreign Currency Act.
GOVT DDL SHARES SALE NET G$350M
The government offer for sale of its 18% shares in the Demerara Distillers Limited has so far netted about G$350M. It is estimated that 75% of the total shares were sold.
60,000,000 GSL SHARES AT G$12 EACH
The Government of Guyana is inviting applications for the purchase of shares in Guyana Stores Limited. The offer opens on 26 May, 1995 and closes on 25 August, 1995. The Privatisation Unit announced that 60 million shares or 60 percent of of the shares of GSL would be put to sale to the public. The shares are being offered at a fixed price of G$12 each. Applications may be made in any multiple of 1,000 shares with a minimum application of 1,000 shares. The maximum percentage which can be held by an individual and their associates is 10% (10 million shares) of the issued share capital (100 million shares). Guyanese and non-Guyanese are invited to apply and the requirement (for non-Guyanese) to obtain permission from the Ministry of Finance for the transfer of shares has been waived. Payment may be made in US$ (US$1 = G$145) or Pounds (1 pound = G$ 230). Applications may be submitted to any Commercial Bank in Guyana or to Trust Company (Guyana) Limited. Application forms and prospectus may be obtained from the Embassy of Guyana in Washington D.C.
GREEN CALLS FOR UNITY
In a message to commemorate Guyana's independence anniversary, the Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, stressed the value of oneness to overcome barriers which seek to divide. He urged Guyanese to live up to the responsibilities and challenges of sustaining the freedom they inherited, and advocated that they must never concede, but "fight with a will to achieve individual and collective goals." He called for an end to injustice to the poor and the fatherless, as well as racial prejudices. He added that Guyanese should promote values in keeping with the development of the entire country.
LIST OF NATIONAL AWARDS, 1995
ORDER OF RORAIMA
CACIQUE CROWN OF HONOUR
THE GOLDEN ARROW OF ACHIEVEMENT
MEDAL OF SERVICE
MILITARY SERVICE MEDAL
DISCIPLINED SERVICE STAR
DISCIPLINED SERVICE MEDAL