As a further effort to contain and reduce incidents of violent crimes, the Government of Guyana has approved the establishment of a joint Police/Army Task Force which will be deployed to specific locations. The task force will mount patrols involving specially selected, trained and equipped ranks in anti-crime sorties.
In addition, the police despatched on Friday 20 September, additional vehicles to East Coast, Linden, Essequibo, West Berbice and Corentyne areas for use in patrol duties. Special attention is being paid to the Georgetown/Timehri route.
At a high level meeting at the Office of the President, the Police reported initial progress in their crack down against those involved in recent crimes.
Recently, nine persons residing in Georgetown and on the East Bank of Demerara were arrested by Police as part of two criminal gangs linked to a series of armed robberies on the East Bank Demerara and West Coast Berbice.
Also three motor vehicles are in police custody after they were found to be used in robberies and the movement of stolen goods. Two of the vehicles were rented from car-rental agencies and it was found that one was used in a robbery, while the other was caught at a road-block on the East Coast Demerara with stolen goods. The other vehicle, owned by an individual from East Bank Demerara, was used in a robbery.
The police also reported that in all divisions road-blocks are being established at staggered timings in built-up areas. Selective raids are being carried out mainly in the urban areas. They are also making efforts to strengthen foot patrols in the vulnerable areas in the Divisions and intend to do more "stop and search" of vehicles and persons and raids of selective areas to flush out the criminals. A heavy concentration of vehicle-patrols will be done in Georgetown and on the East Bank and East Coast Demerara.
At the meeting, the Police gave the following crime statistics and information for the year so far.
The indictable crime statistics for the year 1996 to date, do not indicate an increase in the number of reports. There has however, been an increase in the number of robberies where firearms are used. Traditionally, knives have been used during robberies. For the year to date, the Police have seized 45 illegal firearms which include two sub-machine guns. This compares to 64 illegal firearms seized for the entire year 1995. Fifty-five murders have been committed for 1996 in comparison with 66 for the same period last year.
The number of incidents where returning Guyanese have been robbed has reduced and the Police has been informed that information on these nationals is passed on to the bandits by porters who operate at the Timehri International Airport. Investigations into this matter continues.
The Police reported that criminal gangs were found to be loosely organized groupings that come together when a crime is planned. Criminals tend to focus on cash and jewelry and are targeting small business places that are located in lonely areas. Police reports have confirmed that a number of deportees from the United States and elsewhere have operated with local criminals in some recent robberies.
The Police has also identified certain locations as prime bases for criminals in suburban Georgetown and has targeted those areas for greater attention.
There is a total of 160 active Community Policing Groups in the Police Divisions and they are assisting the Police with patrols in the fight against crime. The authorities are asking all citizens to get involved in crime prevention activities, particularly the business community which can assist in many different ways.
The Police also issued a number of advisories to various sections of the public:
**Car-rental Agencies need to be more selective in renting their vehicles
**Drivers of hire cars and taxis need to pay more attention to passengers they pick up on the streets.
**Businessmen and householders should not keep large sums of money and valuables on them and should properly secure their premises during daytime and at nights.
**Commercial banks should actively encourage their customers to make greater use of safety deposit boxes for their valuables.
Guyana's Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Odeen Ishmael, on Friday September 20, called on academics and business persons in Atlanta to support Guyana's proposal for the a regional development fund to cushion the effects of free trade on the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) expected to be implemented within the next decade.
Ambassador Ishmael was addressing a conference on "Trade and Investment in the Caribbean and Contiguous Lands of Latin America" sponsored by the Small Business International Institute of Morris Brown College of Atlanta, Georgia. Among the audience were professors and students of Clark-Atlanta University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Morris Brown College, as well as members of the Atlanta business community.
The Guyanese Ambassador explained that while Guyana is committed to supporting free trade, certain conditions have to be established within the FTAA to assist countries with smaller economies to help build up their infrastructure and industrial base in order to make their economies competitive with the countries with larger and stronger economies. He asked the academics and the representatives of the business sector to understand the economic problems of the CARICOM countries and urged them to begin to speak out in support of a regional development fund, which he opined should be established even before the FTAA comes into being. He explained that Bolivia and some countries in Central America have now come out in support of ideas for such a fund, and that Guyana will have to work closely with them to streamline the regional fund proposal to include their views to present to preparatory working groups of the FTAA process.
Ambassador Ishmael also spoke on the investment climate in Guyana, emphasizing the role of small business and local investment in the development of the country. He explained the activities of both the state and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) in assisting in the development of small businesses all over Guyana.
The economy is recording a growth rate that will surpass the targeted 6.6% by the end of this year. Production has increased in the agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors, with exports climbing mainly in the areas of sugar, rice and timber, when compared to 1995.
Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo, reporting on the continued good performance of the Guyana economy for the first six months of this year, said: "Real gross domestic product (GDP), on a year-by-year basis, was 6.1% at the end of the first half of 1996, compared with the targeted annual growth of 6.6 %."
He further added that "based on the developments in the real sector, it is likely that the targeted growth rate would be exceeded at the end of December 1996."
Jagdeo, revealing the over-all growth from the various sectors, said there were "noteworthy increases in the live-stock, engineering and construction, and financial sub-sectors."
The bauxite industry, after years of depressing performance, saw that during the first six months of this year production increased by 32% when compared to 1995. This was due to better marketing opportunities in North America.
Export earnings rose from about US$232M for the first half of last year to $260M in 1996, while imports for the same period amounted to $283.5M, compared with 1995's $264M. Jagdeo disclosed that the trade balance deficit was further narrowed to about 22%, since export earnings were growing.
Reporting on the inflation rate, Jagdeo said that the 3.4% recorded at the end of July was "well within the annual target of 8%. Revenue achieved for the period under review was 48% or $16.1B of the targeted amount.
The Guyana power company GEC recently outlined priorities to put its supply and distribution systems in better shape within six months.
Chairman of the Board, Ronald Ali announced that the Guyana Electricity Corporation is committed to spending US$55M by the first quarter of next year, primarily for new generations of 60-cycles and 50-cycles (Hz) power.
Emphasis will also be placed on transmission, distribution and commercial activities.
Other key components in the program include:
using private contractors to speed up works that are behind. This will see new service connections, now in arrears by some four years, brought up to date and planned maintenance on transmission and distribution reintroduced.
also all necessary measures to terminate illegal connections will be employed. Additionally, new generating sets are being purchased for Wakenaam and Leguan islands in the Essequibo river. Leguan residents will get power for the first time when the plant and lines are installed by December this year.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has allocated some $7 million for three large projects to benefit the local Amerindian community.
According to the Guyana/UNESCO Office the funds will be disbursed for an educational development project, a cultural ecology scheme and for a conference on Amerindian Perspectives in Culture and Environment.
The Educational Development Project which will get $2,224,000 is aimed at establishing multifaceted curricula for primary and secondary schools. These will be tailored to meet the particular socio-economic needs of Amerindian communities and circumstances, and are linked to specific improvement programs.
The Head of an International Human Rights legal group recently cited Guyana's return to democracy with the October 1992 general elections as a key factor for holding a major forum there.
Interights, the British-based International Center for the Legal Protection of Human Rights held a three-day judicial colloquium in Guyana in September.
In remarks at the colloquium, Interights President Lord Anthony Lester said, it was especially appropriate that the colloquium was being staged in Guyana for the 30th year of Independence birthday celebrations, as an independent democratic nation.
He stressed that celebrating the restoration of democracy in Government under the rule of law was a necessary condition for the group to be in Guyana.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds said that the country's fledgling tourism industry could play a pivotal
role as Guyana strives for an improved Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In a move to regulate the
local tourism industry, the Government has approached the Caribbean Tourism Organization
(CTO) for technical assistance to examine the legislative needs.
Assistance was secured under the European Union-funded Caribbean Tourism Development
Program, and two professors from the University of the West Indies were contracted to prepare a
report.
The document will form the basis for discussion among representatives from about 75
organizations and persons in the public and private sectors with an interest in tourism. Hinds
also divulged that Government was continuing to receive requests for investment in a number of
tourism ventures. Guyana and the United States recently intensified cooperation on combating the illegal drug
trade at a major meeting on money laundering and forfeiture of assets of drug lords.
The local Finance Ministry and the US Department of Treasury co-sponsored a two-day
conference in Georgetown, where officials looked at strengthening law enforcement among
other things.
Senior Minister of Finance Bharrat Jagdeo explained that authorities are looking to strengthen
local provisions for assets forfeiture and at some form of information sharing with US
Government.
"Concrete asset-sharing agreements could be worked out between the US and other countries,
which would allow the spending of proceeds from money launderers/drug traders with no
reciprocal effect," Jagdeo said.
United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. David Hobbs, said Guyana has maintained a healthy
economic growth due to a continuity in rebuilding economic and political infrastructure since
the 1992 election.
The diplomat made the observation in an address during a ceremony where he announced his
impending departure from Guyana and introduced the new Deputy Chief of Mission at the US
Embassy Mr. Hugh Simon.
Mr. Hobbs noted that the country embarked on an economic recovery plan in 1989, under then
President Desmond Hoyte, setting Guyana on the path of economic recovery.
Alluding to a recent rejuvenation in the privatization of state-owned enterprises, Hobbs said,
"The United States applauds this because experience has shown that the private sector can
produce goods and services more efficiently than Government in almost every instance and
therefore ought to be allowed to do so."
However, the Ambassador stressed that until the power situation is cleared up, Guyana's full
growth potential will not he realized.
Senior Minister of Agriculture, Reepu Daman Persaud said the Government has noted concerns
by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) about workers' demands for wage increases.
According to the Minister, Government firmly believes that reason and good sense by all parties
must prevail in the negotiation process.
Mr. Persaud pointed out that since the corporation is now competing for labor with other
growing industries, management should continue to embark on programs to improve the
well-being of the workers and their communities in order to compete effectively in the volatile
labor market.
The sugar industry employs the largest number of people, 28,000, and it stands to reason that
those at the Governmental level must continue to give due consideration to the well being of so
many individuals who rely solely on the sector for their livelihood, Minister Persaud added.
Guyana rice exports for the year, up to the end of August, have grown by more than 50,000
tonnes, netting a whopping US$60.22 million. According to the Guyana Rice Development
Board (GRDB) some 166,545 tonnes of the grain have been exported for the year. This figure is
some 51,896 tonnes more than the same period last year and represents US$18.3 million more in
earnings.
The products, cargo rice, cargo broken, white broken and white rice were shipped to Holland,
Martinique, Montserrat, Trinidad, St Lucia, Jamaica, Dominica, Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire.
This year's production is expected to rise to 340,000 tonnes, up from a 316,000 in 1995.
A 13-year-old schoolboy was crushed to death in a freak truck accident aboard a Berbice ferry
"MV Makouria" on Friday September 7. Hawaaz Imran of Number 2 Village, West Coast
Berbice, and a student of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, died when a truck rolled
backwards, pinning several school children against a door on the boat. Eyewitnesses said the
tragedy struck when the truck rammed into the group standing behind the vehicle on the lower
deck of the boat. Blocks usually placed at the front and back wheels of vehicles on board vessels
to prevent them shifting were not used for the ill-fated truck. Other children injured in the
accident are reported to be in stable conditions.
Louis Farrakhan, the controversial leader of the ''Nation of Islam" Organization of the United
States arrived in the Guyana amidst one of the tightest security cordons accompanying a visitor
to Guyana in many years. Farrakhan was accorded a civic reception at the City Hall, hosted by
Mayor Hamilton Green just after his arrival in Georgetown. The Islamic leader addressed two
rallies at the National Park in Georgetown and Linden. During the four-day visit, Farrakhan also
paid a courtesy call on President Cheddi Jagan and visited the Queenstown Mosque on Church
Street, Georgetown.
President of the World Resources Institute (WRI) Mr. Jonathan Lash on Tuesday September 10
met President Cheddi Jagan at the Presidential Secretariat. Lash who was accompanied by Dr
Nigel Sizer, an executive of the WRI, was in Guyana to launch a study aimed at charting the way
for careful use of Guyana's forests while maintaining ecological and cultural values. The study
by Sizer is titled "Profit Without Plunder: Reaping the Revenue from Guyana's Tropical Forests
without Destroying Them". The Washington based WRI provides objective information and
practical proposals for policy change that will foster environmentally sound development.
President Cheddi Jagan and several other CARICOM leaders met in Jamaica during September
17-18 to discuss key external matters affecting the region. At this Sixth Prime Ministerial sub-committee on external negotiations, the leaders examined a regional strategy for external
resource mobilization and CARICOM participation in establishing the Free Trade Area of the
Americas (FTAA) by the year 2005. President Jagan was accompanied at the meeting by Foreign
Minister Clement Rohee.
A team from the Colombian organization, Carvjal Foundation , is interested in pushing Guyana's
housing drive by helping Guyanese work together with the abundant material and skills at hand.
The group concluded a week long visit on September 11 after meeting President Jagan, at whose
invitation it was there, Foreign Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Local Government Minister
Moses Nagamootoo, and entrepreneur, Yesu Persaud, among others. The focus of the visit was
to prepare programs in which the Columbian Government would offer some support in social
development programs. The foundation will grant technical assistance to help communities
solve their housing problems through self-help construction.
The special prosecutor in the case against the key figure implicated in the 1980 assassination of
historian-politician Dr Walter Rodney said documents seeking the man's extradition from French
Guiana are still being prepared. Prosecutor Doodnauth Singh said the related information
seeking the return of Gregory Smith to face trial in Guyana was being processed to be sent to the
Government of France. French Guyana (Cayenne) is an overseas department of France and the
Guyana Government had requested that Smith be sent back to Guyana to stand trial for allegedly
murdering Rodney. The Guyana Government last year invited the International Commission of
Jurists (ICJ) to assess the Rodney case and the team said testimony from Smith would be critical
to a full inquiry into the matter. Smith has however claimed that Rodney's death was an accident
and has said that he is not an assassin.
The Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA) recently signed contracts worth some $180M with two
local firms to fix 25 pumping stations under a repair scheme.
At the signing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer Karran Singh also announced that the
authority will import about US$3.5M in pipelines next year as part of the repair program..
The IDI Engineering and Construction Company will be responsible for fixing 20 pump stations
while H. Persaud and Company will do the other five.
The entire project, which comprises 120 stations, is being funded through a loan of about
US$17.5M from the World Bank and US$8.8M in grants from the British Overseas
Development Administration (ODA).
The Government is pushing ahead with a new two-lane highway between Sheriff Street in
Georgetown and Coldingen on the East Coast Demerara, but officials fear some shacks erected
by squatters can throw a spanner in the works.
If several buildings on the old railway embarkment along the road route are not removed
promptly, the project would have to be suspended, officials said.
The hurdles are at the Sheriff Street end of the road scheme where persons had put up houses on
the abandoned East Coast railway embankment.
Workers had started clearing the way east with bulldozers but after a short distance the machines
had to remain idle because squatters homes were in the way.
In a bid to get the highway going Ministry of Works recently paid $G8M to the Ministry of
Housing. This is to help meet payment for new plots for the squatters hindering the road scheme.
Senior Minister of Health Gail Teixeira has reported improvements in several of the country's
Government-run hospitals.
In a report, the Minister noted that a strategic plan was developed for the New Amsterdam
Hospital in Berbice, which is 112 years old.
Teixeira said that the incinerator was resuscitated, the boiler repaired and steam was returned to
the kitchen and autoclave. In addition, the out patient department, maternity ward and labor
room, gynecology and surgical wards, laundry, laboratory and staff dining hall were refurbished
and upgraded by the Regional Administration.
A number of rehabilitative works were also done on the National Psychiatric Hospital in
Berbice.
The Suddie Hospital was completely upgraded and refurbished last year at a cost of $70M
through a joint funding by Government and the European Economic Commission (EEC) Import
Program.
Rehabilitative works were also done on the Mahaicony, Lethem, Leonora, Bartica, Mabaruma,
Pakera, Wakenaam and Madhia Hospitals. The National Dental Center in Georgetown is now
being constructed through a $60M release by the EEC Program.
The Kuru Kuru access road was recently resurfaced at a cost of $3.0M. This will be followed by
repairs to the two-mile-long Mocha Arcadia Main Road, which will cost another $5.7M.
These works are part of the Region four administration's $17M program to upgrade about 12
miles of roadway throughout the region.
Currently, four miles of access roads in Cane Grove are being graded and leveled to facilitate
transportation of farmers' paddy with the harvesting season in full swing at the moment.
In addition, eight heavy-duty bridges have been built at a cost of $10M. These structures will
benefit both farmers and ordinary residents. The bridges are located at Kuru Kuru on the Linden
Highway, Mocha on the East Bank, Anns Grove, Victoria, Golden Grove, and Triumph, all on
the East Coast of Demerara.
The Region five Administration has been able to complete 26 major development projects that
led to improvements in health, education and agricultural sectors.
A new ambulance was purchased at the cost of $1.5M. In education, the West End, Litchfield,
Yoeville, DeHoop, Airy Hall and Cottage Nursery schools were all reconstructed.
The Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA) continues with its pipe-laying program for East
Berbice. Areas where such works are presently being conducted are Springlands, Corriverton,
Crabwood Creek, Cumberland, Better Hope, Fyrish, Palmyra, Nos 52-60 Villages and
Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice.
Work on the installation of potable water distribution systems for Cumberland, Cromarty, Nos
44-51 and Nos 43-46 villages will commence shortly.
Water-mains already supplied by the Basic Needs Trust Fund will service long-neglected areas
between Bloomfield and Letter Kenny, including streets in the villages.
The exercise will continue in villages where residents, over the years, always had to search
frantically for water. These include the Nos 61-67 Villages and between Adventure/No 43
Village.
Based on the findings of the Guyana Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has
recommended that charges be brought against several ranks and officers of the Guyana Defence
Force (GDF). However, since the entire probe is not completed by the police, the Defence Board
has not acted upon the recommendation until the investigations have been fully completed.
The Auditor General's Department detected financial irregularities that saw the Defence Board,
which is composed of key Ministries and heads of the disciplined services, requesting the police
investigation.
Irregularities are said to total about $300M and wrong-doings were detected as the army's
finance department failed to adhere to financial regulations on the expenditure of funds in 1995.
The police are expected to conclude the remaining segments of the probe soon and to send their
report to the DPP's office.
Guyanese Assisting in Development (GUYAID) celebrates its 15th anniversary in October.
Among the activities highlighting this event are an evening of music and dance at the Kaieteur
Restaurant on Friday October 4 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., a bus trip to Atlantic City on October 12
and a Thanksgiving Service at Emory United Methodist on Sunday October 20 at 3 p.m.
Over the years GUYAID has supported a number of charitable organizations in Guyana with
emphasis on assisting the young and elderly.
Among the organizations that benefitted are Radio Demerara Feeding Program and the Dharam
Shala. Projects in Berbice, Linden and Essequibo were also executed. During the past four years
GUYAID has sponsored an essay competition in which children in primary and secondary
schools throughout Guyana are encouraged to participate. Winners receive monetary prizes and
the schools receive plaques and dictionaries.
More recently in an effort to continue its interest in education of Guyanese youths, GUYAID has
initiated the adoption of Ithaca Primary School.
GUYAID wishes to thank its many supporters for their continued interest and assistance.
Guyana - US Chase "Dirty Money"
Guyana Has Healthy Growth Rate
"Good Sense" Call in Sugar Talks
Rice Exports Up
Freak Accident on Board Berbice Ferry
Farrakhan Visits Guyana
"Profit Without Plunder"
President Jagan at Jamaica Key Meeting
Colombian Housing Help Likely
Gregory Smith Extradition Papers Being Processed
Pure Water Supply Scheme Widens
Highway Project On Stream But Squatters Snag
Process
Improvements in State Hospitals
Kuru Kuru Road Resurfaced
Region Five Completes 26 Major Projects
Pipe-laying Hastens in East Berbice
DPP Recommends Charges Against GDF Ranks
GUYAID 15th Anniversary
The Venezuelan contracting firm, DACO, has commenced negotiations with the Public Works Ministry following Cabinet's approval of its bid to complete the rebuilding of the Essequibo road project.
This development comes as the contract for the maintenance of the completed section by a French Guiana firm expired. The Region Two Administration will assume responsibilities for maintaining the road until the contractor for the rebuilding of the Essequibo Road completes negotiations.
Officials from DACO have commenced talks with the intention of sealing an agreement so that rebuilding works can resume on the Essequibo Road.
An analysis by the Ministry of Education's Examination Division revealed better passes at
the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams this year. The result showed significant
improvement in 15 subject areas including English Language and Literature.
Excavation works are continuing on the Torani Canal About 40% of clearing and excavation
(3.5 miles of approximately 13.5 miles) of the Canal has already been completed and 20% of the
spoil heap has been removed. This project is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of
1997 and will provide another 50,000 acres of land with irrigation water in Region 6.
Two members of the South Korean business group, HANWHA recently held a meeting with
President Cheddi Jagan and other members of Cabinet at the start of their exploration of
possible areas of investment in Guyana. The company is one of the top ten in South Korea and
is included on the Fortune 500 list.
Fourteen community roads are to be repaired at the cost of $85M in West Berbice and
Mahaicony. These roads are located in Ithaca, Shieldstown, Rosignol, Cotton Tree, Woodley
Park, Bath Settlement, Hopetown, No. 22 Bel Air, Bush Lot, No. 29 Village, Belladrum,
Paradise - all villages on the West Coast of Berbice - and Perth, Perseverance and Champagne in
the Mahaicony district. Many of the roads over the past months have been receiving repairs.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Health Minister Gail Teixeira recently received checks
valued at some $14 million from representatives of three companies operating in the local
bauxite industry for use in improving health services and road works.
The Guyana Sea Defense Project Lot One of its phase two project for Region Six has ended.
Residents have applauded the pace of work carried out to secure the area from the Corentyne
River tides. The project covered a distance of 450 meters and costing $180 million. Works have
commenced on Lot Two of the phase two at Springlands.
In a move to improve the delivery of justice in Guyana, two new Magistrate Courts are to be
constructed, along with rehabilitation of Supreme Court buildings in New Amsterdam and
Georgetown. The new courts will be constructed at Vreed-en Hoop, West Bank of Demerara
and Suddie on the Essequibo Coast. The Government will also shortly fund the rehabilitation
and extension of the Providence Magistrate's Court on the East Bank of Demerara. In
addition, the roofs of the Victoria Law Courts and the New Amsterdam Supreme Court will be
repaired, while the Law Library of the Supreme Court in Georgetown will be rehabilitated and
remodeled.
Macorp, the local distributor of Caterpillar machinery, has been awarded a contract to supply
two new generating units for the Essequibo Islands of Wakenaam and Leguan. The power
generating units have been ordered and are to be supplied to Guyana 20 weeks after September
3. This will be the first time that Leguan will be electrified, through a rural electrification
program embarked upon by the Government. Three villages - Crabwood Creek, Line Path and
Canefield - are also to be electrified soon and these will be followed by 21 other villages that
never received power.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is assisting the
Government to increase local exports to the US and to craft an investment policy at the
Ministry of Finance. The USAID is now working with the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and
Industry to set up a trade promotion office, so that Guyana can pursue markets in the US for
local products. In addition, work is on with the Finance Ministry to create an investment
policy which will serve to increase the volume of foreign investments in Guyana. Foreign and
local investments in Guyana have been increasing.
The Guyana Government moved a step closer towards demonopolizing the Guyana Gold
Board by announcing that it is ready to accept applications from dealers wishing to purchase and
export gold. Initially 12 dealers would be licensed for a period of one year with a review after
six months. The offer is open only to Guyanese nationals because of experimental and limited
nature of the exercise.
A senior United States Government law enforcement officer said she sees no problem in US
Justice Department providing Guyana's law enforcement agencies with information
pertaining to the criminal records of deportees. About 400 deportees with serious criminal
backgrounds have entered Guyana since 1991 and according to the statistics, this may be
equivalent to 10% of the size of the Guyana Police Force.
Construction is presently taking place on the new Eversham Primary School on the Corentyne.
The school's rebuilding is being funded by the Basic Needs Trust Fund.
The Venezuelan home-building firm is ready to construct 75 housing units at Bath West Coast Berbice. Through an arrangement between the Guyana and Venezuela Governments, hundreds of housing units will also be constructed on the East and West Coast of Demerara and in Linden.
The Stewartville/Cornelia Ida, La Jalousie/Nouvelle Flanders and Malgre-Tout/Meerzorgen Neighborhood Democratic Councils have been allocated about $10M by the Central Government to spend on various development projects.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Information on Guyana, INTERNET users may check the WEB SITE on GUYANA NEWS AND INFORMATION at: http://www.guyana.org
Our E-mail address is: MAOIshmael@aol.com
Books available at the Embassy: (1) Amerindian Legends of Guyana by Odeen Ishmael; (2) Songs of Guyana. ($5 & $11 respectively). Also Visit Guyana Year Calendars ($3) Call the Embassy for information.
Reminder to Guyanese Nationals -
Please ensure that your PASSPORTS are VALID. Do not wait until emergencies arise before you check these documents.
Guyana Association of Florida Inc.
Columbus Day Weekend Boat Ride
Friday October 11 - Sailing time on Jungle Queen 10:30 pm
Cost: $35 per person (includes buffet)
Call (305) 223 - 4773 or (305) 386 - 8180
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.
Guyanese Assisting in Development (Guyaid)
15th Anniversary Celebrations
Friday October 4 from 9 pm - 2 am
At Kaieteur Restaurant, Washington DC Donation $10
Also Two Week Trip to Guyana June 28 - July 12 , 1997
Call (301) 568 - 6389 or (202) 726 - 7106 FOR YOUR INFORMATION
GUYANA CONSULATES AND HONORARY TRADE REPRESENTATIVES
NEW YORK : Mr. Brentnol Evans, Consul-General
Tel: (212) 527-3215, Fax: (212) 527-3229
CALIFORNIA :Mr. Joseph D'Oliveira, Honorary Consul,
Tel: (213) 222-0899 Fax: (213) 222-0899
FLORIDA : Mr. Hilton Ramcharitar,HonoraryConsul,
Tel: (305) 797-6844, Fax: (305) 797-7603
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: (314) 903-3195 or (341) 830-2376
Fax: 314-524-9909
All payments for services officially rendered by the Embassy must be made in cash or by money order, bank draft or certified check. Personal checks are not acceptable.
To publicize your group's activities in this forum , FAX the information to 202-232-1297 or call 202-265-6900.
To receive a copy of Guyana Update send $5.00 to cover one year's postage and handling to the address below.
Embassy of the Republic of Guyana
2490 Tracy Place NW
Washington DC 20008
202-265-6900/FAX 202-232-1297
(After hours and holidays, FAX 301-365-9467)