Guyana, Venezuela hold high level meeting

The meeting in Georgetown of the Guyana-Venezuela High Level Bilateral Commission was held in an atmosphere of cooperation and saw friendly discussion of all the bilateral matters. So said Venezuela’s Vice-Minister of External Relations for Latin America and the Caribbean, Pável Rondón, at the end of the two-day meeting in which matters of a political character were discussed. Rondon also met with Prime Minister Same Hinds and Foreign Minister Rudy Insanally.

The joint statement issued on April 1 at the end of the two-day meeting said that the sub-committee on culture had identified different areas to be included in a new cultural exchange programme for the years 2006 to 2008.

In the sub-committee on transport, the Venezuelan side made a commitment to give a response to Guyana in the area of telecommunication. Both sides also agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a bilateral air services agreement.

Because the potential for trade and investment between the two countries, while significant, was to a large extent unrealised, they agreed that a mission of Venezuelan businessmen would pay a visit to Guyana with a view to establishing contacts with their Guyanese counterparts and exploring the possibilities for trade and investment.

The meeting also reached an agreement regarding the construction of the Guyana-Venezuela road. For this, a meeting of the technical committee will take place in order to discuss the terms of reference for the execution of the feasibility studies of the highway that would unite both to countries. This highway project is part of the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) agreed upon by the Presidents of the South American Community of Nations.

The other sub-committees dealt with the environment; trade and economic cooperation; health, agriculture, livestock and agro-industry; transportation; consular matters; the mixed commission on drugs; and the working group on hydro-biological resources.

It was agreed that the next meeting of the commission would be convened in Caracas during the first quarter of next year.

The invitation from President Hugo Chavez extended to President Bharrat Jagdeo to make a state visit to Venezuela was accepted and that visit will be made in date to be determined by both governments.

The two delegations discussed the Guyanese proposal of the New Human Global Order and the Venezuelan initiative on the Social Charter of the Americas, adopted by the OAS, and noted that two proposals complement each other.

With regards to the border controversy, the two sides announced that in the coming weeks the mechanism of the UN Good Office created by the Secretary General of the Organization of United Nations will re-commence. A meeting between the UN Good Officer, Mr. Oliver Jackman of Barbados, and representatives of both countries was last held in May 2004.

Guyana gets World Bank debt write-off

World Bank member nations on March 28 approved a long-awaited $37 billion debt relief package for Guyana and 16 other impoverished countries that included ways to compensate the development lender for the write-off.

The approval brings to an end months of tough negotiations among the World Bank's biggest donors over how to fund future loans by the bank's low-interest lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA).

The 40-year term of debt cancellation will begin on July 1. It will cover debt service payments of the 17 countries to the World Bank on debt accumulated to the end of December 2003, allowing governments to increase spending on programmes that reduce poverty.

"This is a historic agreement combining increased financing with debt relief, which will help poor countries meet the Millennium Development Goals," World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said.

The package covers countries that graduated from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, or HIPC, a global debt relief plan approved in 1996 that was based on good economic performance.

The bank had received firm commitments from donor countries to cover 60 per cent of the costs for the full 40-year term, while the rest "will have to be dealt with over time," a World Bank official said.

Some donors were worried that the debt cancellation would compromise the capacity of the IDA facility to keep lending to the bank's poorest borrower countries.

The countries to benefit are Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guyana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Mali, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Honduras, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia and Madagascar.

Venezuela oil deal

Guyana is hoping that current talks between Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Venezuela, as well as Caricom and Venezuela on the Petrocaribe Initiative, would conclude in an arrangement whereby Caricom countries could buy crude oil from Venezuela and have it refined in T&T.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds, who holds the portfolio for energy, said in an interview that were Guyana and other Caricom countries to buy crude oil from Venezuela and have it processed in T&T, the political and economic benefits would redound to the benefit not only of the countries purchasing the oil but to T&T, Venezuela and the region as well.

"Such an arrangement would create a desirable partnership between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago and Caricom," Hinds said.

He said he hoped T&T would also have the option of buying crude oil under the Petrocaribe deal and reselling it to Caricom countries.

While there is some agreement on this issue among Caricom member states, he stressed that he was not speaking on behalf of Caricom.

He said countries involved in the Petrocaribe Initiative were due to meet once again, but reiterated that at the moment Guyana was encouraging an agreement between Venezuela and T&T to send crude to T&T for processing.

On the economic side of the agreement, Hinds said, 40 percent of the fuel bill would be financed through a soft loan, which would make it easier to adjust to higher fuel bills if countries could avoid the extravagant use of fuel. However, payments would still have to be made.

Hinds said Guyana was still interested in being part of the Petrocaribe Initiative put forward by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, and discussions on Guyana and Caricom's involvement were now being led by T&T's Prime Minister Patrick Manning, current Chairman of Caricom and leader of the main Caricom oil-producing country.

UK pays 10% of Guyana's World Bank debt

The United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a grant of US$304,500 to Guyana under the UK-led Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (UK MDRI) for Guyana.

Under the Initiative, which is designed to accelerate countries' progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, the UK will pay its share (10 percent) of qualifying countries' debt service to IDA. For debt service paid by Guyana in 2005, this amount was US$304,500 and it was transferred as a grant to the Guyana government by the UK on March 6.

The UK MDRI for the poorest countries began on January 1, 2005 and will help to pay eligible countries' debt service to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) until 2015.

Since the UK's MDRI was launched, the new G8 Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (G8 MDRI) has also been agreed. Under this initiative, Guyana will have its IDA and IMF debt stock written off. However, the UK will continue to pay its 10 percent of IDA until the new G8 deal is implemented. This will mean a further grant for the first half of 2006 of US$275,078. In addition, the UK will also reimburse to Guyana payments of US$113,978 made on EU/IDA loans.

President announces Venezuela help for Pomeroon dredging

President Bharrat Jagdeo announced recently that Pomeroon River mouth will be dredged later this year, with assistance from Venezuela.

Addressing farmers and members of the different committees appointed to manage the operations of two excavators intended for deployment in lower and upper Pomeroon River, the Head of State said the government is encountering some difficulties to get the dredging done.

President Jagdeo said a team sent to assess the situation found there is a bed of shells across the river mouth and that would cause complications for the machines.

Consequently, he said a special piece of equipment will have to be employed for the purpose.

President Jagdeo revealed that he had discussions with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the latter promised to help because Venezuela has what is needed for the job here.

Mr. Jagdeo explained that the acquisition would take between four and five months, so the work will not be done before the May/June rains.

Linden-Lethem road corridor plan being prepared

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) is spearheading a land use plan which will take in five miles on either side of the road corridor from Linden to Lethem, and it is expected to be completed late this year.

Chief Executive Officer of the GLSC, Andrew Bishop, said that with the construction of an all-weather road "there will be an explosion" of activity along the road and the plan is an effort to be pro-active to avoid unauthorised and undesirable use of the land alongside the road.

According to a GLSC press release, community level meetings are being held in Linden, 47-mile, Mabura, Fairview, Annai, and Lethem. Inputs from these meetings will be added to other information like soil, topography, hydrology, land cover, land use, and population, to generate land use scenarios.

The plan is a hybrid of the FAO and the Amazonian approaches combining physical as well as socio-economic variables.

Other agencies working along with the GLSC include the Roads Division of the Ministry of Public Works, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the regional administrations of Region Ten, Nine and Eight.

Organised crime requires organised, united response – Dr Michael Scott

Guyana is a society on the edge of an abyss according to Dr. Michael Scott, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Dr. Scott was at the time speaking at the joint parliamentary opposition’s symposium on crime, held under the theme, “Unity for Security – Stand Up Against Crime and Violence’. The forum was held on March 29 at City Hall, Georgetown.

In his presentation, entitled “Guyana at the precipice”, Dr. Scott listed some of the central characteristics of organised crime and the degree to which their presence indicated the downward slide of a society.

Organised crime, the academic stated, undermines official institutions of a state, creating in a parallel system of things enforced not by legal measures but with violence. He noted under this system, criminals legitimise themselves and their enterprises by creating a parallel economy which provides employment for its own lawyers, accountants, enforcement personnel, as well in other areas.

“Crime,” Dr. Scott warned, “never has a benign face, and when organised requires an organised and unified response.”

In his presentation, accountant and partner in the firm, Ram and McRae stated that Guyana has become a very dangerous place to live. He pointed out that even before he made his presentation, he had to submit it for his staff to scrutinise since they felt that he could possible put himself in danger.

A fairly large audience turned up for the event, packing City Hall. After the main presentations, the floor was open for questions and comments from the audience. The symposium was co-sponsored by parliamentary opposition parties, GAP, WPA, ROAR, and the PNCR.

Hundreds attend workshop to map Guyana's ICT future

President Bharrat Jagdeo has identified Guyana's Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Programme as the tool that will bridge the digital and developmental gap between Guyana and the developed world.

President Jagdeo made this statement recently as Guyana moved one step closer to the creation of an ICT programme with the hosting of a stakeholders' workshop.

The workshop was held under the auspices of the President at the Guyana International Convention Centre, and over 400 persons attended the meeting which was the first to be held since the construction of the facility.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, President Jagdeo said if Guyana does not close the ICT gap, the country will be left behind developmentally.

He noted that in the past developing countries sold raw, low-priced goods to the north and imported manufactured valued-added products at higher prices. Today, the President said, ICT has helped to change that and facilitate more valued-added production in developing countries.

ICT is also helping developing countries to battle the challenges of globalisaton and increase the reach to international markets.

US$3.4M government data analysis programme underway

Government is aggressively pursuing initiatives to strengthen the data collection and analytical capacity of its entities to aid the overall assessment of the socioeconomic development of Guyana in keeping with the goal of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Work is currently underway under its US$3.4 million Social Statistics and Policy Analysis Project, which focuses on increasing staffing and enhancing systems in government ministries and related agencies toward enhancing decision-making, and increase the availability of high quality socio-economic data which will improve the monitoring capacity of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Millennium Development Goals.

It will also help in the evaluation of specific programmes and interventions in health, education, housing, water, social services and related sectors.

Other areas of the project will look at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Bureau of Statistics to collect, analyse and disseminate economic and social statistics and enhance its capacity to implement household surveys.

The second component of the programme entails upgrading of data management and analysis in social sector ministries. This component will increase the capacity of the line ministries involved in the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Policy Coordination and Programme Management Unit (PCPMU) to monitor the PRSP and to collect and analyse operational statistics.

It is envisaged that generation and wide use of statistical data will contribute to the development of a statistical culture that will see public policy decisions becoming more data-driven and the potential impact of these decisions easier to measure and correct.

Security boost for Berbice ‘B’ Division

Thirty members from several communities in Berbice commenced training on March 27 as part of government’s Neighbourhood Police programme.

Minister of Home Affairs Gail Teixeira in launching the programme at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, Corentyne, Berbice, indicated that “neighbourhood police play an integral role in curbing crime and violence in society and should therefore be encouraged by the various communities to join this fight against crime.”

She said the idea of a neighbourhood programme evolved from talks she participated in while she was acting Minister of Home Affairs.

“We started to talk about a community policeman-policewoman, programme….we discovered that we weren’t the only country doing this. The British have a system in which they employ persons in various communities whom they call “bogies” to patrol during the day and night.”

She said these groups have been successful in their endeavours and have helped to reduce the level of crime significantly.

She explained that the Neighbourhood Police would have the same powers as the Guyana Police Force and would act as a mediator between the Police Force and the people.

$77M for uniform assistance programme

Acting Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul announced that government has allocated $77 million to the school uniform assistance programme for hinterland and less-fortunate coastland students.

Gopaul said that approval was granted for $37 million to be released from the poverty programme to meet this expenditure and a further $40 million was approved by Cabinet to assist children in need from other communities in the country.

Cabinet, at its March 21 meeting, agreed on a variety of measures to ensure the effective implementation of the programme executed by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

The government has allocated more than $100 million dollars to the programme since it started in 2001.

$241M East Coast road light expansion begins

A $241 million road light expansion programme on the main roadway from Better Hope to Golden Grove has commenced. This project is expected to be completed by the end of June.

Three sections of roadway were initially identified for the installation of lights: from Timehri to Providence, Better Hope to Golden Grove and Golden Grove to West Coast Berbice. However, with limited resources available, priority was given to the section from Better Hope to Golden Grove and it is expected that the other areas will benefit later in the year as funding becomes available. In other areas the project might be undertaken on a varied basis, since consideration is being given to expanding the length of space between each streetlamp while increasing the illumination to cater for the span. Studies are currently being done to examine this aspect.

This programme would heighten traffic safety and enhance security along this part of the Coast.

Government has so far spent billions of dollars to install lights along several roadways: from the Russian Embassy to Better Hope, 252 lamps; the Mahaica-Rosignol Highway, 619 lamps; Timehri to Republic Park, 132 lamps; the Ruimveldt Police Outpost to the Demerara Harbour Bridge and from the bridge to Vreed-en-Hoop, 460 lamps, and from the Kitty Pump Station to the Seawall Bandstand 48 lamps.

Additionally, through the initiative of the Mayor and City Council, 360 lamps were either replaced or installed in various areas of Georgetown, including South Ruimveldt, Queenstown, Lodge and Alberttown.

Stakeholders meet on National Drug Strategy Master Plan

Representatives from several agencies associated with government's National Drug Strategy Master Plan met recently at the Ministry of Home Affairs to assess the ongoing work towards realising the plan's goals.

Commissioner of Police Winston Felix along with officials from the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, the Guyana Defence Force, the Offices of the Attorney General, and Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and several government Ministries attended the meeting chaired by Minister of Home Affairs Gail Teixeira.

“This particular plan aims to address critical interventions necessary to curtail crime and the drug trade, with meaningful and ongoing consultations with national and regional bodies,” Minister Teixeira indicated.

She identified alcohol as the primary source of substance abuse, followed by marijuana and cocaine. In this regard, work has been ongoing over the past six months, with various organisations, to confront and reduce substance abuse.

Additionally, several steps are underway to address prison reform.

The continued efforts of law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations working together will play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) that was launched on June 21, 2005, as government sought to confront and reduce crime.

Some 600 placed under national youth empowerment training

Some 600 youths have been placed for training since the launch of the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) in November last year.

The plan is to train 5,200 young people over a three year period with 1,750 trained every year. However, the lack of ready businesses to absorb the number of trainees has limited placements. The cost of this programme had been pegged at around $300M.

When the programme was launched, over 4,000 young people applied. Of these 89 percent had completed secondary education, 10 percent had pursued postsecondary education and the rest had primary education. The trainees receive a stipend of $3,000 per month from the NTPYE board.

The NTYPE had focused originally on Regions Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Four (Demerara/Mahaica) but is now being taken to other regions.

Hydar Ally, Chairman of the Industrial Training Board told Stabroek News on Monday that some 600 youths have been placed mostly in Regions Three and Four for the vocational training. The programme has now expanded to Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and the board is still in the process of looking for more places to agree to take in the trainees.

20 Cuban doctors arrive in Guyana

Twenty health specialists from Cuba arrived in Guyana on March 13 to help boost the country's health services.

They have been assigned to several hospitals and health centres throughout the regions.

Among the group are two anaesthetic technicians who will be providing services in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).

Five will be working in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) while six will be stationed in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne). Four will be stationed at the New Amsterdam Hospital , and the remaining two at Black Bush Polder and Skeldon, respectively.

President Bharrat Jagdeo visited Cuba from February 1-3 when Cuban President Fidel Castro agreed to send 20 doctors to help improve the level of health services provided.

Cuba will also help Guyana set up an ophthalmology centre at the Port Mourant Hospital along with four diagnostic centres.

Guyana will provide the accommodation and stipend for the doctors. Additionally, help is also being sought from the Cubans to train 2000 nurses and 200 medexes to accommodate Guyana's five-year health plan.

First batch of Essequibo Neighbourhood Police sworn in

Recruits for the Neighbourhood Policing initiative were sworn in on March 13 at the Richard Faikal Police College at Suddie, Essequibo.

Twenty-nine recruits from the Essequibo Policing division, who included five females, were sworn in by Assistant Commissioner (Training) David Larry George in the presence of Police Commissioner Winston Felix, Regional Chairman Alli Baksh and Divisional Commander George Vyphius.

In his feature address, Commissioner Felix reminded the recruits that they are the “eyes and ears” of the police force, and urged them to conduct themselves in a manner to enhance the image of the organisation. “You must not be easily angered …you were selected by your communities; the police did not select you,” the Commissioner said.

The concept of Community Policing, where residents will serve in their own communities for $25,000 per month, was first raised last year.

It is hoped that a total of 600 ranks will be recruited throughout the country.

The national body will be headed by retired Assistant Commissioner Ovid Glasgow until a suitable replacement from the Guyana Police Force is appointed.

More Amerindian villages receive titles, land grants

Guyana's indigenous people, the Amerindians, are now legally empowered to preserve their rights as they relate to possession of lands and their way of life among other things.

The final steps equipping them with legal powers enshrined in the constitution of Guyana was taken on March 14, 2006 when President Bharrat Jagdeo assented to the Amerindian Bill passed in the National Assembly earlier this year after thorough consultations.

The President disclosed this to Region 9 residents during several community meetings that began on March 16 at Apoteri. Meetings were also held at Annai Central and Karasabai.

He said it took two years of consultations and intense debate to pass the Act and indicated that he had just signed it into law. He stated that the new Amerindian Act is comprehensive and protects the rights of Amerindians. He urged residents to read the Act and not listen to “hearsay”.

US$10M for criminal justice system reform

Several projects are underway to boost the resources of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as government’s efforts to strengthen these institutions intensify.

Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira, during a visit to East Berbice, Region Six, on March 19, indicated that negotiations are ongoing to acquire a US$10 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is to be used in the implementation of a Justice Sector Strategy Programme.

“The Justice Sector Strategy will be able to enhance areas such as the offices of the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Judiciary, Prisons Service, and facilitate interventions at the community level,” the Minister said.

The resources and capacity of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the GPF will be further enhanced through the implementation of a Citizen’s Security Project that will encompass several initiatives geared toward improving security at the community level, with emphasis on enhancing relations between the Police Force and the public.

Minister Teixeira said that a Crime Observatory will also be established to aid with information gathering on criminal and other activities.

PAHO team on bird flu mission

Officials from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), who visited Guyana in connection with preparations for a possible outbreak of the bird flu epidemic, said their main interest there was laboratory capacity.

Dr. James Dobbins and Dr. Rosa Salas said Guyana should become part of the Caribbean laboratory network which will enable the country to get proper confirmation on specimens which are tested.

They said that PAHO will be providing specific suggestions for positive actions which could be adopted in emergency situations, including guidance in national planning, laboratory preparation of specimens and dealing with livestock and poultry.

Supplies of laboratory facilities are expected in the country shortly.

Dobbins said he was impressed with Guyana’s preparations to cope with the possible outbreak of the epidemic.

Guyana Goldfields receives World Bank financing

Guyana Goldfields Incorporated has received US$5.397 million from the International Financing Corporation (IFC) to advance exploration and mining activities at its operation in Aurora, Region Seven.

The IFC which is the private sector arm of the World Bank group has secured 1,730,000 units pursuant of stock from the Guyana Goldfields at a rate of $3.12 each.

The amount secured will be used to fund various aspects of the mining project at the Aurora operation.

Among these are exploration activities, commercial and technical assessments, Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).

The financing will also facilitate the establishment of an integrated health, safety and social management system, which satisfies the requirements of the World Bank group.

According to IFC’s Director for Oil, Gas, Mining and Chemicals Department, Rashad Kaldany, “we are delighted to partner with Guyana Goldfields in an investment that helps Guyana develop valuable mineral resources in an environmentally and socially responsible way.”

State-of-the-art rice lab opened

The $82.5 million Rice Producers Association (RPA) headquarters at Crane Public Road, West Coast Demerara with a state-of-the-art laboratory which was opened on March 21 will be used to carry out quality control tests for seed paddy produced under the RPA's programme.

With the opening of the new building, General Secretary of the RPA Dharamkumar Seeraj said they intend to extend training of farmers at different levels. This would include field schools, grading courses, and conferences among other things. He said they would further develop the location and at the same time replicate the facility in Regions Two and Five.

• The arrival of a shipment of agricultural machinery and equipment, provided under an Italian loan at a cost of approximately 3.2 million euros will significantly boost drainage and irrigation work in a number of areas. The consignment, which arrived on March 28 included 10 excavators, two bulldozers, one grader, four trucks, one low bed tractor and trailer and two containers of spare parts for the machines and equipment. Generators and mobile lights were also included.

• The Community Drainage and Irrigation Support Project initiated by the government has created 350 jobs in Essequibo, as the scheme gains momentum countrywide. Work on the Essequibo aspect of this project began two months ago.

• Execution of the $112 million contract to extend Bush Lot Market, on Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), is progressing rapidly. The $112 million project started last month and is scheduled for completion in October.

• As part of the developmental works in the Charity area, street lights are now being installed in a section from the Catholic Church to the road-end, including the new market tarmac area. The contractor has already laid the underground power lines and erected poles and will soon install the lamps. When this is completed the entire area including the roadway, car park, market tarmac, business places, police station, and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council office will be lit.

• Plans are apace to improve a number of cages at the Guyana Zoo to enhance the general appearance of the animal exhibits. The enhancement work which is expected to commence soon.

• Guyana is among several countries which stand to benefit from increased raw sugar quotas to the United States announced by its Department of Agriculture. On February 2 last, the US Department of Agriculture announced that Guyana’s increase amounts to 4,315 tonnes raw value, bringing the total for 2006 to 21,560 tonnes.

• Two female jaguars from Guyana have been sent to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in the United States on permanent loan in exchange for which the US zoo will make financial and technical contributions towards in-country conservation projects. The negotiations for the jaguars between the Government of Guyana and the Jacksonville Zoo were facilitated by the Iwokrama International Centre.

• Minister of Home Affairs Gail Teixeira, on a visit to Berbice, Region Six, handed over four vehicles valued at $12 million to Commander of the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division, Clinton Conway, to boost crime-fighting in the region. The vehicles, including three extra-cab pick-ups and a single-cab pick-up, are to be distributed to several Community Policing Groups in the Division. Two each will be given to groups in West and East Berbice

• Phase One of the D’Urban Park Development Project has been successfully completed making way for the implementation of the second phase which would see the establishment of tourism and recreational facilities. Under the first phase, land preparation, backfilling and drainage work on 18 acres of land along Homestretch Avenue was done to create a recreational park.

• Another multi-million dollar contract for road repairs in Linden, Region Ten, has been signed under Phase II of the Urban Development Programme (UDP). The project valued at approximately $63 million entails repairs to 841 metres of roadway and construction of 388 metres of concrete drainage. It is expected to be completed within five months.

• Construction work has resumed on the road linking Linden to Kwakwani along Berbice River where the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) is conducting operations. Inclement weather had caused a temporary halt on the section between Ituni and Kwakwani and a quantity of material deposited on the roadway inconvenienced commuters and prompted protest action by a group in the latter community.

• Residents of inland East Mahaicony villages on East Coast Demerara, who have had to truck in water from along the Rosignol to Georgetown highway or pay for supplies in drums over past years, are expected to get relief by the middle of April. That is when a $9.8 million project, to link the communities to the main network, will be completed.

• A road contract for $460 million has been awarded as part of the secondary township project in Parika. The contract is for the paving of the road from Parika to Hubu.

• The Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority has undertaken to build two heavy-duty bridges that will make it easier for farmers to access their cultivations in the East Mahaicony back-lands. It is expected that the bridges will encourage greater production and productivity.

Credits: Stabroek News, Chronicle, Mirror, Kaieteur News, GINA

Compiled and edited by Evangeline Ishmael