ENQUIRY INTO OMAI DISASTER
The Guyana Government has initiated moves to mobilize the wide
range of skills necessary to undertake the tasks required by the National
Assembly approved Motion, in wake of the failure of the tailings pond dam
at Omai Gold Mines Limited.
The Motion approved unanimously by the National Assembly, among
other things, mandated the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry to
investigate the circumstances leading up to the failure of the dam;
evaluate the effects of the discharge in environmental, social and
economic terms; make a comparative analysis of the options available for
the operations and make recommendations on preventative measures and on
modifications to be undertaken by Omai to minimize the exposure to the
environment if unexpected, unforeseen events occur.
The Motion also requires an environmental audit to be undertaken
to determine the extent and nature of the damage caused to the natural
environment by the uncontrolled discharge of the cyanide tainted
effluent.
Omai's commercial operations, under the Motion, will remain closed
for the work of the Commission and the Environmental Audit to proceed.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Dam Review Committee has commenced
activities into the breach of the tailings pond dam at the Omai Gold
Mines. Under the chairmanship of Mr. Steve Vick, the committee comprises
Mr. Raul Pedroni of the Inter-American Development Bank, Dr. C. James from
the Association of Consulting Engineering Firms of Guyana, Mr. Philip
Alsopp of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers, Mr. Raymond
Dundee from the National Resource Agency, Mr. Richard Squires from Guyana
Geology and Mines Commission, a representative from the Commonwealth
Secretariat, and a representative from one or more of the United Nations
Organizations.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACT FOR PARLIAMENT
President Cheddi Jagan has instructed that the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) be tabled in Parliament for debate and passage. The President says tabling of the Bill, which is already in draft form, "was held up because of the Government's efforts to seek consultation with the other political parties and the public." Asked what was the state of the bill in light of the second spillage at Omai Gold Mines Limited the President said that he had instructed that it be tabled for discussion inside and outside Parliament as was the case with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill. It is expected that the EPA, which also makes provision for the establishment of Environmental Protection Agency, will be among the first bills to be tabled when Parliament comes out of recess in a few weeks' time.
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES ESSEQUIBO FEARS
President Cheddi Jagan in early September sought to address the fears and concerns of residents of eight Essequibo riverain communities following the major spillage of cyanide effluent at Omai Gold Mines Limited. Prior to his visit, several government ministries and agencies had been responding to the emergency situation created by the spill. President Jagan and a team, including Environmental Advisor, Mr Navin Chandarpal and Regional Health Officer in Region Seven Dr Jennifer Westford, made a first-hand check on the eight communities. The hectic morning to night trip took the delegation to Morashi, Riverview, St Mary's Quarry, Wineperu, Bartica, Saxakalli, Hogg Island and Fort Island. President Jagan assured the residents that tests have proved the water was safe for cooking, drinking, fishing, diving and dredging but maintained that villagers were not being forced to use the water and that it was a matter of choice. He added that supplies of potable water would continue to be sent in the area. Despite official assurances, people at that time were still reluctant to eat fish and wild meat.
HEAD OF OMAI PROBE APPOINTED
Retired chief justice of the Bahamas, Telford Georges, has been
named as Chairman of the commission to conduct an enquiry into the Omai
cyanide spill.
The Barbados-based legal luminary, one of the recipients of this
year's CARICOM awards, met with Prime Minister Sam Hinds and members of
the inter-party committee set up to investigate the spill.
Prime Minister Hinds, who has responsibility for the mining
sector, earlier announced that former head of the judiciary, Kenneth
George, would be part of a five-member probe team to look at the causes
leading up to the Omai disaster.
The commission will have to recommend preventative measures and
modifications to be undertaken to minimize the exposure to the environment
from similar incidents.
Omai head Louis Gignac, in a letter to the Prime Minister reminded
him that his company had expressed concerns that the terms of reference of
the commission, "as currently under discussion were rather broad and not
in keeping with the shared objectives of your government and our company".
Earlier, another top official of the company expressed the hope that the
commission move expeditiously to complete its work so that the mine could
resume commercial activity in December.
‘VISIT GUYANA' WILL AID DEVELOPMENT
Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry, Mr Michael Shree Chan,
has expressed confidence that Visit Guyana 1996 could make significant
contribution towards the economic and human development of Guyana. He said
that the Visit Guyana Year 1996 would be a campaign for "rediscovering El
Dorado" and the concept has been tried by many countries with varying
degrees of success.
Minister Chan called on Guyanese to seek to ensure a successful
campaign as efforts have commenced to attract overseas based Guyanese and
other visitors.
Chan said that the Government, being well aware of the potential
for eco-tourism development in Guyana, has placed much emphasis on
developing this sector.
He stressed that the development of eco-tourism in Guyana would be
justifiably influenced by the strong concern of the Government and the
people of the country for the environment.
He also pointed out that Government has made some progress in
tourism development and has removed the visa requirements for several
countries in North America, Europe and Japan.
At the launching ceremony the forum was told that the Government
would continue to improve infrastructure and at the same time create a
favorable environment that would see improvements in all facets of
Guyanese reality.
25 NEW HEALTH CENTERS UNDERWAY
Twenty-five health centers will be built throughout the country
under the National Health Plan, funded by the Inter-American Development
Bank and executed by the Social Impact Amelioration Programme.
Three centers are already under construction while another three
are scheduled to begin this month. The location of the centers is based
on community health needs.
In the meantime, Region 6 administration has allocated $790,000
for the rehabilitation of the Fyrish Health Center which was neglected for
years.
GOVT. REBUILDING RUPUNUNI ROADS
Work is progressing on the rehabilitation of almost 100 miles of
roadway in the Rupununi to provide easier access by pedestrian and
vehicular traffic, and intensify industrial activity in Guyana's largest
administrative region.
An initial sum of $20M has been earmarked for the roads in
Aishalton, Shea, Sand Creek and several other villages with plans for
their upgrading into all-weather roads in 1996 and beyond.
The rehabilitation of the roads will allow for the stepping up of
agricultural and agro-industrial production especially in the villages in
the Rupununi adopted earlier this year by local business men.
AMERINDIAN MONTH
Celebrations and other activities to mark Amerindian Month occurred in several Amerindian villages across Guyana. At Jawalla in the upper Mazaruni, a village shop to serve residents in that community was opened in mid-September. And in the upper Pomeroon, at St. Monica-Karawab village, a new health center, and an extension of the school building were completed and then commissioned on September 29. The Government proclaimed September as Amerindian Month.
KILLER STORM HIT LINDEN
Central Government and the Guyana Relief Council have been constantly monitoring the situation at Linden where citizens are recovering from the unusual, unexpected weather phenomenon which hit the bauxite town on September 2, leaving one person dead and over 30 million Guyana dollars worth of damage in its wake. Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Communications, Regional Development and Works Minister, Harrypersaud Nokta, visited the affected area to assess the needs and deliver assistance. A Relief Council delegation also visited the 20 affected families, and purchased zinc sheets and other materials which were made available to those families who lost the roofs of their houses in the storm.
AUDITOR GENERAL REPORT
The Auditor General Department has detected, during its preparation of the 1994 Report on the Public Accounts of Guyana, a marked improvement in accountability systems of the various Ministries and government departments, compared with preceding years. This disclosure was made at the presentation of the 1994 Report earlier this month to Finance Minister Bharat Jagdeo by Auditor General Gaindhanauth Dwarka. The Report was handed over weeks before the deadline of September 30. The Finance Minister noted the timeliness of the presentation of the report for the third straight year under the present Government. He dubbed the event a clear manifestation of the administration's commitment towards ensuring accountability and transparency on how it conducts the financial affairs of the state.
BILLION $$ GOLD SMUGGLING SCAM!
The United States Department of Commerce, through the US Embassy in Georgetown, has provided Finance Minister, Bharat Jagdeo with information that has unearthed a local smuggling ring involving thousands of ounces of raw gold, totaling over G$1 billion. US Embassy officials disclosed that data was requested on US gold imports from Guyana and was provided to local government officials for the investigation. The Finance Minister has confirmed receipt of the incriminating information. The Minister met with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and other interested parties and publicly invited those involved in the illegal act to come forward and settle their tax obligations with Treasury. As a result of this discovery, Cabinet has set up a special inter-agency committee involving the Finance Ministry, the Home Affairs Ministry, the Office of the President, the Inland Revenue Department and the Guyana Gold Board to examine the situation in a comprehensive way and report their findings. Government is also looking into possible linkages with money laundering in the illegal drug trade.
GOVT. WORKING TO BRING DOWN PRICES
Food importers have been requested to send a list of proposals in which they believe the government can assist in bringing down their transaction costs. This was the outcome of a meeting between leading food importers and Finance Minister Bharat Jagdeo recently. The meeting was convened for both sides to explore areas in which the transaction cost of food items imported can be reduced and this drop in cost be transferred to the ordinary consumers.
FERRIES FOR AMERINDIAN AREAS
The 1,500 Amerindians dwelling in the riverain communities of
Siparuta and Orealla will soon be traveling along the Corentyne River in a
boat built especially for them.
The boat which is costing the Ministry of Regional Development
approximately $4M, is being constructed to accommodate 50 passengers and
several tons of cargo at a time.
The ferry service will be run and monitored by a management
committee comprising Amerindians from Siparuta and Orealla, with needed
technical support from the Regional Development Ministry.
Meanwhile, a boat was built at Moruka for inauguration in
mid-September of a ferry service linking riverain villages in Regions 1
and 2, from Moruka to Charity.
The Amerindian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Public Works,
Communications and Regional Development spent $4M on the construction of
the boat, and Amerindians contributed voluntary labor to speed up its
completion.
Minister Nokta said the passenger/cargo service and other
transportation service earmarked for the hinterland would enable farmers
to resume commercial production of food crops, including Irish potatoes
and onions, which are now imported.
In its drive to further boost the riverain transportation, the
Region 2 Administration has purchased a brand-new 15 HP engine for Akawini
Mission. The engine will assist the workers and residents in that
community in emergency cases. Residents previously had to use the paddle
boat, which is a tedious system.
COVERDEN CLAY FACTORY SOLD
The Government of Guyana has sold the land and buildings at the Coverden Clay Works to the Florida Chemicals and Trading Company Limited for over $G29 million. Government also announced its decision to lease 86.5 acres of land to the same company for the purpose of mining clay which will be used at the Clay Works factory.
NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AT MAHAICONY
First Lady Janet Jagan formally opened the Fairfield Community Center in Mahaicony on Sunday September 17. The plot of land was donated by the Fairfield Investment Limited and the Futures Fund, a Canadian Funding Agency, funded the project to the tune of 8 million Guyana dollars. In the past, residents of the area had limited access to social education, cultural development, sports or skills-training, among other things. This was because there was no place in the community to facilitate such activities. Residents are already receiving benefits as organizations have begun utilizing the building for special community activities.
OAS DONATES EQUIPMENT
The Organization of American States (OAS) donated some technical equipment to the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry for use in its tourism development programme. The Equipment, which included a TV, VCR, tape recorder, films, still camera and video cassettes, all worth over G$200,000 , was handed over by the OAS local director Paul Spencer.
UG LL.B. STUDENTS ACCEPTED AT CARIBBEAN LAW SCHOOL
The Hugh Wooding Law School has agreed to accept all the University of Guyana students who have completed their LL.B. degrees, thus agreeing that the UWI and UG degrees are equivalent. Education Minister, Dr Dale Bisnauth, had earlier expressed concern over a surprise move by the University of the West Indies (UWI) to block UG Law graduates from proceeding to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. Some 35 Guyanese students, who have completed the UG LL.B.. degree, were due to move on to do the Hugh Wooding two-year course, a requirement to practice law in the Caribbean.
SMUGGLERS HIT FOR $2.5M
The Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS) had a busy week of intercepting importers trying to rob the Government coffer of revenue. Within three consecutive days, BASS was able to seize three boats with 40HP engines and several items amounting to some $2.5M. The Comptroller of Customs says that an average of $300M per month or close to $4 billion per year is being lost through under invoicing and smuggling by importers using all methods of connivance to evade taxes.
RADIOS FOR SCHOOLS
First Lady Janet Jagan received a gift of six radios from Kayman Sankar & Co. Ltd. to assist in providing learning by radio for the classrooms in all schools in the country through the School Broadcasting Programme. Guyana Stores and GUYOIL also responded positively to the appeal by Mrs. Jagan for donation of radios. The two companies each donated three radio/cassette/compact disc stereo systems.
NEWSBRIEFS
Barbados announced that it had lifted the ban on seafood imports from Guyana. The ban was imposed following the OMAI cyanide spillage. St. Lucia and Jamaica, the other states which imposed the ban, had already lifted theirs.
The way has been cleared for the rehabilitation of the earthen dam from Hyde Park to Mora Point, Mahaicony to prevent farming areas from inundation. The project valued at the hefty sum of $31M, will lead to the enhancement of agricultural production.
The Guyana Water Authority on the Corentyne continues to hasten its programme of pipe-line laying in the Cumberland, Better Hope Street, East Canje, Palmyra, Fyrish and Nos.52-60 Villages.
The Guyana Electricity Corporation commenced a massive disconnection campaign against defaulting businesses and other consumers. The Corporation also tackled the perennial problem of illegal connections.
Education Minister Dr Dale Bisnauth and Director of the Primary Education Improvement Project Joe Persaud signed three contracts to refurbish the St Aiden's Primary School in Linden, and the 8th of May and Anna Regina Primary School in Region Two.
The United Nations Development Program made available US$109,660 for a one-year project aimed at supporting the government's on-going drive for sustainable human development.
The Mayor and City Councillors, under newly-elected PNC Mayor Ranwell Jordan, have instructed the Town Clerk, Prince Melville, to investigate the disappearance of articles from the Mayor's office, once occupied by ex-PNC strongman Hamilton Green. The Town Clerk said that the articles which have disappeared are gifts to the Mayor and City Councillors from foreign dignitaries during Mr. Green's tenure.
The High Court has dismissed the University of Guyana Student's Society challenge to the constitutionality of Turkeyen charging fees for tuition. It is constitutionally proper for the University of Guyana to do so as a system of cost recovery, Justice Desmond Burch-Smith ruled.
The fourth local group of Army personnel to serve in Haiti as part of the CARICOM peace-keeping contingent, left Guyana to commence a six-month tour of duty in the French-speaking Caribbean island.
Government is spending over $120M to refurbish 22 miles of road in Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, with funding from the United States PL480 programme.
The United Nations has appointed the second Guyanese on its 24-man Committee for Development and Planning - Professor Bishnodat Persaud. He is the only Caribbean representative on resuscitated committee. The two-year term is served by leading economists in the world.
President Cheddi Jagan commissioned a water pump at a Guyana Water Authority project at Doorn Haag. The project is in phases and stage one has been completed. The $32.1M rehabilitated Leguan Cottage Hospital was also commissioned by the President.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has indicated a willingness to work with a local group dealing with labor and employment for overall national development in Guyana.
The Sacred Heart Primary School in Georgetown, the first to be repaired under the US$52M Primary Education Improvement Program (PEIP), was formally declared open by President Cheddi Jagan.
A Guyana Defence Force team has been dispatched to Antigua and Barbuda as the region moves to help countries battered by Hurricane Luis.
A team of local exporters left Guyana on a sales promotion tour to the Caribbean. The local manufacturers were met briefly by President Jagan and Trade Minister Shree Chan, who wished success in what is the first such sales promotion tour to be conducted overseas by Guyanese producers.
Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela Sash Sawh presented his letter of credentials to Colombian President Dr. Ernesto Samper Pizzano establishing him as Guyana's non-resident Ambassador to Colombia.
Work has begun on the first phase of an all-weather road linking Patentia and Kamuni/Potisi, West Bank Demerara. The road is being executed by SIMAP at a cost of $32M.
Machinery and materials are being assembled at Craig East Bank Demerara for the construction of concrete-and steel sluice in that farming community. The project is expected to cost at least $12 million.
The McGillvray Primary School in Canal No. 1 Polder was rededicated following a $7 million rebuilding of the once decrepit building and surroundings. The renovation included the complete repairs of the school, up-to-date water supply and a sanitary block, plus a kitchen and the introduction of concrete walks in the school yard.
Guyana exported 361 tonnes of non-traditional agricultural
commodities in July, 281 tonnes of the total going by sea mainly to
Caribbean destinations.
Of the 80 tonnes that went by air, 39 tonnes were flown to Canada,
20 tonnes to the United States and 2 tonnes to Antigua.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Works Minister Harripersaud Nokta commissioned several roads on the East Coast of Demerara. These include the main access road to Nabaclis Village and the road at Enmore leading into the housing area.
A box koker is being constructed at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, to assure proper drainage for residential and farm areas in the predominantly agricultural community. SIMAP is also financing work on the installation of potable water supply facilities at the Annandale Secondary School.
LINMINE's production costs have fallen due to increased efficiency
at its Mines and the Bauxite Plant Division. This was revealed by Chairman
of the Company Kim Kissoon who expressed optimism about the entity's
future.
Kissoon forecast that by year-end, production costs should be near
$US110 per tonne - down from the projected $US127 per tonne - provided
that the estimated output of 170,000 tons is achieved.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
First Annual Miss Guyana Queen of Queens Pageant
Saturday, December 2, 1995 at Klitgord Auditorium, New York City Technical
College
So far, competing Queens are Miss Regatta, Miss Georgetown, Miss Guyana
African Heritage, Miss Metropolitan Washington DC, Miss
Guyana-Connecticut, Miss Guyana-Florida, Miss Guyana-New Jersey, Miss
Guyana-New York, and Miss Guyana-UK.
For details, contact Negla Brandis 718-527-0033
Deepavali Cultural Presentations sponsored by Shri Saraswatie Kirtan
Mandali
October 14 - Piney Branch Elem. School, MD
October 21 - Hindu Milan Mandir 6-9 p.m.
FREE ADMISSIONS - 301-864-1047
Maryland Hindu Milan Mandir
808 Forest Glen Road,
Silver Spring, MD
Services - Sundays 9.30 a.m.
Pandit Sase N. Sharma 301-593-7638
Islamic Society of the Washington Area
Principles of Islam
3rd Saturday every month
Dr. S. Hassan 301-384-7268
Hindu Dharmic Sabha
3909 53rd St., Bladensburg
Services Sunday 10.00 a.m.
James Beharilall 301-699-9573
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
WE APOLOGIZE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED BY THE ON-GOING RENOVATION WORKS AT THE EMBASSY
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. Your cooperation will be very much appreciated. If you want to use this forum to inform the community of your group's activities, FAX the information to 202-232-1297 or call 202-265-6900. To receive a copy of this newsletter, 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/FAX202-232-1297