The Guyana Update

Elsewhere in this issue, we give a report on the Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) program which is being followed up very seriously by the Guyana government. Early in February the government signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enable the recruitment of Guyanese professionals to fill short-term positions in the Ministries of Health and Education.

Over the years there have been valid criticisms that the multilateral aid agencies funding development programs in Guyana have been employing only foreign consultants while there exists a reserve of skilled Guyanese professionals in and out of Guyana who can provide much better expertise for these projects. The TOKTEN program is aimed at making available such consultancies to Guyanese who, no doubt, will serve Guyana better because they

are as highly qualified -- and even better qualified -- and they do have a vested interest in the development of their own country. Since we first published information on the Internet about the TOKTEN program, we have received numerous responses from Guyanese professionals and academics in the United States expressing deep interest in it. We are currently preparing a roster of all interested Guyanese and will provide this information to the competent authority in Guyana. It is expected that as positions become available under the TOKTEN program and other programs which are currently under way in Guyana, the names on this roster will form a resource pool from which Guyanese expertise can be obtained and offered employment in Guyana. If you are interested please send your resumes which will be placed in the active file in Guyana.

The Guyana Government has given OMAI Gold Mines Limited permission to immediately restart operations, five months after a massive cyanide waste spill at the mine dumped 2.9 million cubic meters of the mine waste into two rivers. Prime Minister Sam Hinds in a statement issued on Sunday February 4 said that the majority Canadian-owned company was granted permission to recommence based on a motion passed in Guyana's Parliament earlier in the week. The Parliament decreed that OMAI could be allowed to resume operations based on the recommendations of a five-man Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the spill. The Commission last month declared that the mine should be allowed to reopen once the environmental safeguards were met.

The Prime Minister, who has responsibility for mining, stated that permission has been granted in accordance with the parliamentary motion affirming the continued operations of OMAI but requiring detailed consideration and monitoring of the environmental effects. He added that the granting of permission to resume operations did not mean that the Government was waiving any rights or claims with respect to damage suffered as a result of the disaster.

Meanwhile, the word out of OMAI Gold Mines Limited was that after five days of resumption, operations were "going smoothly" but actual gold production would start a week later. Norman McClean, the firm's Human Resources Director, noted that employees who were laid-off during the 170-day shutdown, following the cyanide spillage, were being rehired, especially in the mills.

President Cheddi Jagan has selected veteran Attorney-at-Law, Mr Doodnauth Singh, from the Minority Parties' list of six candidates for the post of Chairman of the Elections Commission. The political parties also named their representatives to sit on the Commission, and they along with the Chairman were sworn in by President Jagan. The PPP/Civic members to sit on the Commission are Attorneys-at-Law Ralph Ramkarran and Moen McDoom and Deputy Mayor Philomena Sahoye-Shury. The Minority Parties are to be represented by PNC's Chief Executive Officer Malcom Parris, PNC loyalist Dr Bartland Scotland and Ms Joycelyn Dow.

The PNC-controlled Region Ten Administration and its Parliamentary Representative have hailed the 1996 National Budget "as one which can assist the nation to pursue the development drive with great rapidity". Region Ten's Chairman Mortimer Yearwood and PNC M.P. Philip Bynoe said the Finance Minister's disclosure of a special incentive package for Linden is a clear and decisive step by the Government at grappling with the plight of residents of the mining town. Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo noted that last year over $800M had to be pumped into LINMINE to keep the industry afloat, pointing out that he expects to continue to provide central government funding.

When the brilliant 21-year-old Shivnarine Chanderpaul re-wrote the regional record books with his magnificent unbeaten 303 against Jamaica at Sabina Park, he not only overtook his countryman Clayton Lambert's previous highest of 263 not out in Shield/Cup cricket but he also became the first Guyanese batsman to score a triple century in regional first-class cricket. Meanwhile, Chanderpaul headed the batting averages in the recently concluded World Series Cup competition held in Australia.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union has won for sugar workers a two-year agreement with the Guyana Sugar Corporation for their annual production incentive. According to the two year annual production incentive agreement, covering 1995 and 1996, for a production of 249,825 tonnes in 1995 sugar workers will receive 17 days tax-free pay. For production over and above the estate's target, however, workers at Skeldon, Enmore and Uitvlugt/Leonora will receive 18 days pay and those at Wales 22 days pay. For 1996, the agreement entails that if a production figure of 280,000 tonnes is achieved workers can receive 21 days' pay. The minimum production figure for which workers will be entitled for annual production incentive is 252,000 tonnes which will guarantee them 17 days pay.

A team headed by two senior officers from the Auditor General's department commenced their probe of over-spending by the Guyana Defence Force during 1995. The Auditor General's Office is working towards the time-frame set by the Defence Board which launched the probe. A meeting between the audit team and the military leadership has already taken place. A total of over G$200 million was overspent, including G$1.2 million which was used to import a container of apples and grapes.

The study is being conducted by a number of qualified management and technical consultants. Some aspects of the current feasibility study entail assessing the present technical capabilities including equipment, manpower, and training for the operation of Internet in Guyana.

The People's Progressive Party has strongly condemned Minority Leader Desmond Hoyte for recent inflammatory statements which it said were instigating racial hatred. The Rice Producers' Association has also called on the police to review the statements made by the PNC leader at as meeting on January 17 at Farm Primary School. Mr Hoyte was addressing a group of persons involved in a dispute with another group in connection with the occupation of agricultural lands at Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, for which the members of two co-operative societies once had leases.

The issue at hand is whether some of the former occupiers sold their rights to their leases and whether others abandoned the land and whether the current occupants are in lawful possession of the land. Both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Rice Producers Association, to which some members of both groups belong, have been trying to arrive at an amicable settlement because there is land available for everyone.

Meanwhile, in the latest development, the Guyana Information Service has released a copy of a letter issued in 1982 by the PNC Government showing that the present occupiers of the 450-acre plot were granted the land by that Government during that year.

The fire on the night of Thursday February 8, razing the main Public Works Ministry building at Kingston which housed vital records of road designs, contracts and accounts would not significantly delay the government's 1996 works program, especially rebuilding efforts.

Public Works Minister Harripersaud Nokta said that already the relocation of staffers and various units which were housed in the building, were in progress.

Fire Chief Tulsie John said that his department and the police force were combing the debris still trying to determine the exact cause of the fire. In addition, about 300,000 newly-printed text books, housed in the destroyed building were burnt.

In replying to the words of condolence, Ambassador Odeen Ishmael of Guyana expressed appreciation to the Permanent Council for recognizing the role of Wilson in the struggle of the Guyanese people for independence and democracy. The Secretary General of OAS, Dr. Cesar Gaviria, at the same meeting also expressed his sympathy on Wilson's death to the Government of Guyana.

Trade Minister, Mr. Michael Shree Chan slammed fare hikes by some mini-bus operators as "outrageous" and signaled that plans to officially regulate tariffs were now firmly on the cards. He planned to take the matter to Cabinet as fare rises took effect on some routes. Chan indicated that he would be pressing for public transportation, including mini-buses, to be placed under the control of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to regulate fares, service and related issues. The PUC already covers tariffs, operations and service in the telephone sector.

Some groups purporting to represent mini-bus operators and owners have jacked up fares following increases in licences and fees in the 1996 Budget. But dismissing this as ridiculous, Chan referred to calculations that buses on the Linden route stand to rake in huge returns on the fare hikes.

New charges and fees are only $6,000 a year but operators on that route stand to pull in some $1.3M in additional revenue this year from their increased fares, following the budget measures, he said. The Minister declared that any hikes would be "unjustified and extremely extortionate" but this did not stop some operators from instituting the increase while others plying certain routes went on strike.

Meanwhile, the Minister who has responsibility for Consumers Affairs, initiated a program of consultations with various consumers groups and mini-bus associations following the recent hikes in mini-bus fares. The consultations followed Cabinet discussions after the massive hike in fares. There were calls for the mini-bus fare hikes to be brought within the ambit of the PUC.

A Japanese consulting firm entered into an agreement with the Guyana Electricity Corporation for the establishment of the Japanese-funded 5.4 megawatt power station at Garden of Eden. GEC's General Manager said the Japanese consulting firm will oversee the execution of the entire program from design through to implementation. The signing ceremony led to the hastening of the process of providing more needed power generation into the national electricity grid. Actual construction of the station, which is to be joined with the present Garden of Eden Plant, is expected to commence in July.

Government and the UNDP have signed the TOKTEN agreement covering the recruitment of expatriate Guyanese consultants who wish to assist the development of Guyana through knowledge transfer. Last year a similar agreement was signed which permitted nine UNDP-executed projects for the Ministries of Health and Education.

The TOKTEN program was introduced in the country 13 years ago and some 100 consultants were in Guyana during that period. With the signing of the agreement, government would be fully responsible for its execution unlike past projects which were executed by the UNDP office in New York.

The Ministries of Health and Education and the University of Guyana are expected to benefit from the US$40,000 projects to be executed this year.

Persistent rains over the past few weeks along with high tides, have resulted in the worst flooding in years in more than ten Corentyne communities including Black Bush Polder, Port Mourant, Manchester, Alness, Bloomfield and Liverpool. Water in some residential areas measured about one foot. The Region Six Administration deployed two irrigators and shipped about 1,000 sand bags to combat flooding in several of the villages. According to the Region Six Chairman, there was severe crop loss and steps were being taken to have additional drugs for health centers in the affected areas and more health visitors would be stationed to monitor the situation in the event of an epidemic outbreak. Due to the floods Black Bush Polder Hospital had to be closed down. Special efforts were being made to drain the hospital so that it could be reopened.

To ensure safe drinking water, GUYSUCO made available its fire tenders to transport potable water to the affected communities. Flood relief was organized for residents affected by the floods.

AROAIMA Bauxite Company has completed work on the deepening of a section of the Berbice river from Crab Island northwards for 24 kilometers. The US$15M project, according to the report, included the widening of the channel near Crab Island to accommodate a ship turning and loading basin. This is expected to improve shipping from Guyana and the export trade. Ships with maximum cargo between 40,000 to 45,000 tonnes can now be accommodated. AROAIMA Bauxite Company is a 50:50 joint venture between the Guyana Government and Reynolds International.

Health Minister Gail Teixeira, reassured the National Assembly of her Ministry's commitment to accountability in all areas. The Minister pointed out that this commitment has led to the Auditor General's Department launching an investigation into suspected irregularities in the purchasing of medical drugs and the police have been invited on several occasions to investigate suspected cases of embezzlement.

The 1996 National Budget made available a total allocation of $5.6 billion for the Education sector this year, its highest-everallocation in the history of Guyana. The Education Minister said in 1995, 27 new schools were constructed, 134 were rehabilitated and over 1,200 sets of new furniture were distributed to various schools. The Minister said for this year, 19 new schools will be built and another 61 are to be rehabilitated.

SIMAP, the Government's project execution agency, officially handed over the rehabilitated Lodge Health Center to the Health Minister, Gail Teixeira. The Center was rehabilitated at a cost of $8 million, financed by the government through a loan agreement with the World Bank.

A visiting team from the London Chambers of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding with their local counterparts in the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The memorandum commits the two sides " to promote trade and industrial operation between Guyana and the United Kingdom through the exchange of information on trade, investment and transfer of technology."

The Ministry of Education has taken seriously the recent discovery of a quantity of marijuana in the school bag of a Georgetown student. According to a newspaper report the student in custody can help the police uncover a distribution and sales network involving other city schools. The 15-year-old school boy has been placed before the courts. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has launched its own internal investigation into the matter.

A modern G$38M fish processing plant is being set up in Berbice by a local firm owned by a remigrant Guyanese. Star Seafoods is permitted to construct a building and install equipment on a vacant portion of the Rosignol Society complex. The company will, from May this year, pay an annual concession fee of G$1.8M in monthly instalments to the society. Preliminary construction has already started on the site.

The newly appointed Elections Commission moved into gear , setting a timetable for national voter registration for next year's scheduled general polls. According to an official, the exercise is due to start early May and expected to conclude in April, 1997.

The National Psychiatric Hospital at Fort Canje has benefitted from a quantity of drugs worth US$36,000 from the New Amsterdam Rotary Club. The presentation was made as the hospital's three new chalets were opened. Meanwhile, work is progressing on the new Emergency Unit at the New Amsterdam Hospital. The unit, projected to cost some $11.9M, is funded by the government and will be equipped with modern equipment such as portable X-rays and Electrocardiogram machines.

This year's Common Entrance Examinations will take a different format with 40% of the questions to be of essay type. Previously, all were of multiply choice. There have been public discussions on the format and structure of the Common Entrance Examinations, as well as consultations between the Education Ministry and the various interested parties. Education Ministry officials say students are being geared for the adjusted format this year and they expect it to proceed smoothly.

The Forte hotel group, which owned the Pegasus Hotel, has been taken over by the London-based Granada Group. According to a news report, Granada now controls all of Forte's 1000 hotels, including the Guyana Pegasus. Pegasus in Guyana continues to operate normally.

Members of the legal profession and law students at the University of Guyana will benefit this year from a resumption of the printing of the Guyana Law Reports. Attorney General Bernard DeSantos told the National Assembly that the 1990 Guyana Law Reports is expected out by September. These are expected to aid the efficiency of the judicial system.

Guyana recently hosted the first workshop on Eco-Tourism in Protected Areas of the Amazon Region. The meeting took place at the Ocean View Hotel and was attended by delegates from the eight signatory member-states of the Amazon Co-operation Treaty.

The Institute of Applied Science and Technology has refurbished 17 solar energy systems at several interior Health Ministry out-stations and hospitals. The US$100,000 pact was one of the Institute's first major contracts. Funding was provided by the government of Guyana and the European Union under the General Import Program. Deep-cycle solar batteries and other equipment associated with the photovoltaic systems were installed.

Books available at the Embassy: (1) Amerindian Legends of Guyana by Odeen Ishmael; (2) Songs of Guyana. ($5 & $11 respectively). Call the Embassy for information.

Reminder to Guyanese Nationals

Please ensure that yourPASSPORTS areVALID Do not wait until emergencies arise before you check these documents.

Hindu Dharmic Sabha of Washington Metropolitan Area 3909 53rd St., Bladensburg, MD

Services Sunday 10.00 a.m.

For information: James Beeharilal 301-699-9573

Imam Faizul Khan 301-588-3650.

Embassy of the Republic of Guyana

2490 Tracy Place NW

Washington DC 20008

202-265-6900/FAX202-232-1297

(After hours and holidays, FAX 301-365-9467)