Guyana-Suriname border dispute hearings begin

Hearings on the longstanding Guyana-Suriname border dispute, at the International Court in Washington DC, are scheduled to begin December 7. And according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rudy Insanally, the legal team representing Guyana is prepared for the oral pleadings.

He said the legal representatives have assured that they are prepared and that consultations are taking place with Surinamese colleagues to make sure arrangements are in place.

Two rounds of written submissions have already taken place and, now, both countries have to present oral arguments, starting December 7, with the opportunity of a final settlement by late 2007.

Last October 28, Head of Guyana’s legal team, Sir Shridath Ramphal, visited Guyana and updated President Bharrat Jagdeo on the preparations.

In June 1962, the Dutch Government made its first official claim to ownership of the New River Triangle along Corentyne River and, since then, the Suriname Government seized every opportunity to assert its claim to the area.

In 2002, a Canadian oil exploration company, CGX, operating with the permission from the Guyana Government to conduct exploration in Corentyne River, was forcibly expelled by the Surinamese authorities in a show of force that brought the once dormant issue back on the front burner of national foreign policy.

Guyana among five countries for IDB debt write-off

Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), meeting in Washington DC on November 17 reached an agreement on the framework for a debt relief package for the most indebted poor countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, which will result in debts being cancelled to Guyana, Bolivia, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo attended the meeting of the Committee of Governors of the IDB when this issue was discussed.

Prior to his departure, the President had explained that Guyana could benefit from as much as US $400 million if the countries’ lobbying efforts were successful.

The principles of the framework agreement stipulate that 100 percent debt relief should be granted, with effect from January 1, 2007, to the five countries eligible for the concessional Fund for Special Operations of the IDB.

These countries will continue to have access to concessional loans and technical cooperation grants from the IDB.

The specific details of the package, such as the cut-off date and the definition of the eligible debt will be decided at a subsequent meeting of the Committee of Governors. This will be held in time for the agreements reached to be presented to the annual meeting of the IDB Board of Governors in Guatemala in March 2007.

Governors will vote electronically for the final detailed debt relief package. However it is widely expected to be approved, given the level of support that has already been expressed for the framework by shareholders of the IDB such as the United States of America, and Brazil.

The agreement represents a significant step towards concluding the extension of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) to include cancellation of debts owed by Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) to the IDB.

Under the MDRI, debts owed by the HIPCs to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), and the African Development Fund (ADF), have already been written off.

Big EU boost for rice sector

The local rice industry has received a boost with the launching of a European Union (EU) funded research and extension programme to improve its competitiveness in the face of the dismantling of preferential markets under an increasingly liberalised global trading.

The programme, valued at one million Euros (G$250 million), is part of a 12.7 million Euros support scheme to bolster the competitiveness of the local rice sector. It was launched on November 29 at the headquarters of the Guyana Rice Development Board in Georgetown.

Under the Cotonou agreement between the rice exporting nations within the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping and the EU in 2000, the latter pledged 24 million Euros to provide operational, institutional and technical support to enhance the competitiveness of the rice industries of these countries.

New airline for Guyana

Good quality customer and in-flight services complemented by affordable prices were promised when Guyana's latest airline, Travel Span GT Inc., made its inaugural flight to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, on November 30.

According to Chief Executive Officer and President of Travel Span, Nohar Singh, Travel Span has the expertise to meet people's wishes, and is offering friends-and-relations type travel and leisure-type travel. The latter is expected to encourage eco-tourism locally.

Travel Span was first introduced in Guyana in 2005, and conducted a few chartered flights from Guyana to New York. However, Travel Span sought scheduled flights when its customer base increased.

Travel Span lodged a US$200,000 bond, and the Government of Guyana granted it approval, and a license was issued in April by the Civil Aviation Authority for Travel Span GT Inc. to conduct scheduled flights. Subsequently, the US Department of Transportation granted authorization for the airliner, last month, to conduct scheduled flights to New York.

Scheduled flights are on Thursdays, Sundays and Monday nights, with flight operations to Port-of-Spain and New York. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will be added to its routes by mid-month.

HIV drugs now coming from US, India

Since May this year the Government of Guyana halted all purchases of anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs from the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (NGPC) due to mounting pressure from the international donor community for the local drugs to come from a source that is US FDA-approved or WHO pre-qualified.

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, on November 29 stated that for the past six months the NGPC had not supplied the health sector's HIV treatment programme. He said government has instead turned to suppliers in India and the United States.

In June, the Minister revealed that Guyana was facing the possibility of no longer manufacturing its own ARVs because of the conditions set out by donors such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS and Malaria.

To date, close to US$2 million has gone towards the purchase of generic drugs from outside suppliers, according to Ramsammy. He said the administration was comfortable with the quality of drugs manufactured by NGPC given the positive effects they had on patients but the decision had to be taken to sever ties.

He added, however, that generic drugs manufactured from NGPC will be phased out and, until then, they would still be in circulation. On this point, he stressed the high quality of the local drugs which were part of the HIV programme since 2001.

Guyana-Brazil road feasibility study likely early next year

The feasibility study for the Bonfin-Lethem-Georgetown Highway is likely to be undertaken during the first quarter of next year once funding is approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

If approval is given, IDB will provide US$900,000 while government will contribute some US$225,000 towards the study.

President Bharrat Jagdeo on September 28 outlined the administration’s goal to accelerate development of an integrated infrastructure that includes the Guyana-Brazil highway over the next five years. He pointed out that such a project holds bright prospects for transforming Guyana by increasing national income and improving living standards. It will also expand markets, increase competitiveness of Guyanese products and provide jobs, the President said.

The project will provide full integration with the countries of the Guianese Shield Hub since it crosses the proposed east-west transport network connecting Venezuela with Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

A feasibility study was carried out in 1989 with funding from the European Union (EU) and in 1994 the Government of Guyana commissioned an environmental impact assessment. A second feasibility study was done in 2000.

Specialized eye hospital for Port Mourant

Government is to establish a specialized eye hospital in Port Mourant, Berbice, in the near future. Speaking at the launching of a community based chronic disease healing centre at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara on November 25, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, said that the facility will be able to perform between 10,000 and 15,000 eye surgeries per year.

Guyana will offer the use of this facility to residents of Suriname and other sister Caribbean countries, as well as to the Guyanese Diaspora. Thousands of Guyanese have received eye treatment in Cuba through a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

With the setting up of the eye hospital at Port Mourant, more local medical personnel will be trained in the field.

According to Dr. Ramsarran, at first the hospital, like a few other medical institutions to be established soon, will be staffed with Cuban doctors with the aim of having Guyanese take over after a five-year period.

Currently, hundreds of Guyanese are being trained in Medicine in Cuba. Because of the high number of Guyanese students, a special Faculty of Medicine catering for them will be established in Havana through an expanded bilateral cooperation agreement.

President meets with opposition political parties

President Bharrat Jagdeo on November 10 met representatives of the Opposition political parties in Parliament and furthered discussions on enhanced framework for political cooperation. The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform – One Guyana (PNC/R-1G), the Alliance For Change(AFC) and the Guyana Action Party /Rise Organise and Rebuild (GAP/ROAR)) participated in the meeting.

The discussion at the Office of the President clearly illustrated the recognition by the body politic that national issues existed for which a timely and focused political response was needed so that there can be sustained management and solutions.

The meeting examined the non-exhaustive list of issues but recognised an imperative to remain focused on a smaller number, and in so doing, not undermining the role and the status of other forums such as Parliament.

The meeting also noted the President’s decision to provide the support for the realisation of the objectives of political cooperation between the Government and opposition parties in Parliament and regional councils.

New US$10m rice mill commissioned

Overcoming a lengthy period of seemingly unnecessary “delays, obstacles and drama”, a US$10 million modern and state-of-the-art automated parboiled rice mill was commissioned on November 16 at Farm on the East Bank Demerara.

The chairman and chief executive officer of Guyana Stockfeeds Inc., Mr. Robert Badal – the owner of the mill – lamented the many obstacles and challenges faced in getting the mill up and ready but is confident in the company’s future prospects saying it has “never been brighter”.

“It has been such a long time since this mill was contemplated, and yet it seems such a short time to me, given the many events that have taken place during that period -with all the hard work, delays, obstacles and drama that have occurred during this project, many had doubted this day would come,” Badal told the large gathering at the commissioning.

He lauded those who stood steadfast in their faith, encouragement and support for the project, saying “this day must bring great satisfaction and we thank you for your support”.

Badal noted that on April 10, 1998 when he took over the management of Guyana Stockfeeds Inc. from the Government of Guyana as a strategic investor, he committed then to use his best efforts and energies to transform this business into a market leader and national label, supplying a wide range of livestock feeds to farmers throughout the country and abroad.

The new rice mill is said to be the most modern in the Caribbean and one of the most modern in Latin America.

Ethnic Relations Commission forum urges political will, good faith

The Ethnic Relations Commission on November 16 concluded its two-day forum aimed at "building social cohesion and deepening participatory democracy through dialogue" with a call for political will and maturity of the masses acting in good faith to ensure that societal needs are fulfilled.

The national conversation brought together representatives of political parties and social and religious organizations from all ten administrative regions, other members of civil society and the diplomatic community at the International Conference Centre at Liliendaal.

ERC chairman Bishop Juan Edghill gave persons a chance to voice their concerns, and later concluded that despite differences in ideology the forum sought to find common ground even in presentations from political parties.

Awards for contracts, a call for land distribution systems and a general respect for rule of law stood out among a list of issues raised by Guyanese of all walks of life who participated in the “national conversation”. Members of the religious community also voiced a desire to be outspoken on legislative matters.

Moreover, the representatives attending the forum issued a call for shared governance in the interest of serving the needs of all sectors of society.

Youth groups represented in the national conversation outlined better education and skills training as one of their prime issues, a matter which attracted consensus at all levels.

Reducing unemployment and schemes to encourage citizens to remain in Guyana were also identified by the youth groups.

The Commission also came in for criticism with calls for it to be politically independent and for its investigations into claims of ethnic discrimination to be more pro-active.

The event took the form of a multi-stakeholders forum and was held in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme's Social Cohesion Project and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Mahaicony Hospital to get modern mortuary

The Mahaicony Development Committee (MDC), an organisation of United States-based Guyanese, has completed the first phase of a project to establish a modern mortuary for the Mahaicony Hospital.

Head of the charitable group, Mr. Sharir Chan, said that construction of a building to house the facility for the Mahaicony Hospital started in the compound started in October and was completed in November 10.

The next and final phase of the project, which is a G$6 million gift from the MDC, is the installation of two refrigerated units which will arrive from the United States in February after which the facility will be commissioned for use.

The MDC is a member group of the umbrella Guyana Medical Relief organisation of California which donated US$2.3 million in medical equipment and supplies to five local hospitals through the Ministry of Health in October.

Guyana/India cooperation further enhanced

Guyana and India on November 6 signed four agreements covering the areas of education, culture, foreign trade and international cooperation.

The first agreement provides for family members (particularly spouses) of diplomatic, administrative and technical staff of the diplomatic mission of Guyana in New Delhi and the diplomatic mission of India in Guyana, to seek employment in the country of posting. It was noted that the arrangement will operate on a reciprocal basis.

The second agreement will allow for the sharing of resource personnel and information between the Indian Cultural Centre and the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, and the promotion of cultural exchanges from 2007 to 2009.

The third agreement, signed in the education sector, covers the establishment of the Rabindranauth Tagore Resource Centre at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus. This agreement will see the Indian government providing a gift of approximately 700 books and 100 DVDs on a number of subjects, along with computers, printers and scanners. It was noted that the book and VDV collection would be updated on a regular basis by the Indian government, while the university would be responsible for managing the centre. This agreement is of indefinite duration.

The fourth agreement was for a US$2.1 million grant from India for the installation of traffic lights in the city and its environs.

Both President Jagdeo and India’s Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat witnessed the signing of the agreements which took place at the Office of the President. Vice President Shekhawat was in Guyana on a packed three-day visit during which he attended the dedication of the US$25 million cricket stadium at Providence and inaugurated the Rabindranauth Tagore Resource Centre.

The cricket stadium was constructed through a US$20 million soft loan and a US$5 million grant from the Indian government.

Major D&I work ongoing in Region 5

The Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), which is responsible for the development of approximately 450,000 acres of land between the Mahaica and Abary Rivers, is currently carrying out enhancement work in several areas to ensure that the drainage and irrigation (D&I) system is effective.

Approximately 12, 600 acres of farmland between the Mahaicony and Abary rivers are being empoldered to strengthen the D&I system.

Work has started in the Mahaicony Creek where it more than 50 percent complete. The Authority is also undertaking construction of the Abary flood embankment as a preventative measure against high tides overflowing into the farmland.

Excavation of the secondary drainage channels is continuing between the main canal and the Abary River located in the Abary-Berbice area. This project started at Chester and will conclude at Number 40 Village. Work has already been completed in 11 villages along the route.

The various projects are being undertaken with the heavy- duty machinery that was procured under a Guyana/Italy loan agreement.

A consignment of agricultural machinery valued 3.7 million Euros arrived in the country earlier this year and is being managed by the MMA/ADA. This has enabled acceleration of D&I work in Region Five.

Providence cricket stadium dedicated

The Providence cricket stadium on the East Bank Demerara, the venue for Cricket World Cup 2007 matches here, was dedicated on November 8 by Indian Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who headed a large delegation on a three-day visit to Guyana. .

The ceremony was punctuated with cultural items, including performances by members of the Indian Cultural Centre, depicting traditional dances of the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, a dance by the National School of Dance and songs by the boys’ choir of the West Ruimveldt Primary School in Georgetown.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, at the dedication ceremony, said the hosting of test cricket is preserved in Guyana for the next 75 years – the guaranteed life span of the Providence stadium.

He called the ceremony a “red letter day” for sports in Guyana and said the stadium is a work of art and a wonder to behold. He paid special gratitude to India and its people for their contribution in making Guyana’s dream of having a national stadium a reality.

The President declared: “The stadium represents a major landmark of the traditionally friendly relations between India and Guyana.”

UDP projects progressing

Project Coordinator of the Urban Development Programme (UDP), Mr. Fredrick Flatts, has reported that all municipal projects under the scheme are progressing well. He said the No. 79 market at Corriverton, Berbice, is being renovated and extended at a cost of $28M. Other works involve resurfacing floors with stone, improving ventilation, restructuring the sanitary block, electrical works, painting and fencing the market.

Work on the $38 million New Amsterdam Market and Town Hall project is far advanced also, he reported. The front section of the market, Town Hall and administration block are currently being renovated. The floors have been recapped, the building painted and the compound fenced.

The Wismar Market and Town Hall are almost 85 percent complete with rehabilitation work being done on stalls, the electrical system, guttering and fencing.

In addition, a contract signed between the Government of Guyana and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities valued at $80 million, will enhance the financial, administrative and evaluation sectors of the six municipalities in Guyana.

Flatts reported that major road works are ongoing in New Amsterdam under the two sub-projects. Project One comprises repairs to several streets, including Ferry Street at a total cost of $216 million. The second project entails repairs to Angoy’s Avenue, among other streets, at a cost of $218.7 million.

The UDP is a $4 billion project that was started in 1999 as part of the government’s commitment to improve infrastructure and basic services in urban areas.

Guyana has good birding tourism potential

Guyana can develop and sustain a productive and vibrant market in birding tourism if it takes advantage of its untapped resources and invests in training tour guides, according to two internationally recognised birding guides.

Mr. Steven Hilty and Mr. David Ascanio, from Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, who were in Guyana during November for a familiarisation trip, gave the assessment after touring several sites in the country.

The trip was part of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) birding tourism programme launched in July.

Hilty and Ascanio met organisations within the tourism sector at the GTIS building on Main Street, Georgetown and discussed their observations on the birds, tour guides, infrastructure and accommodation.

The two guides spent nine days in some of Guyana’s main birding areas such as the Iwokrama Rainforest, Rock View Lodge, Wowetta Village, and Karanambu Ranch.

According to Hilty, Guyana has undisturbed land and lots of wildlife. However, he stressed that to meet the needs of the birding industry, Guyana should take advantage of untapped resource in mountainous areas because the birdwatchers preference for its coolness.

According to Ascanio, at least two species of birds which are of high priority to birdwatchers were spotted every day. He expressed surprise that no tour operator has yet taken advantage of what this country offers.

Commenting on the tour guides, Hilty said that compared with Costa Rica and other South American countries, Guyana is way behind. But he added quickly that this should not be of much concern because Guyana is new to the industry.

Hilty said the country has accommodation to suit the needs of every bird watcher – whether it is for those from the American and European markets who prefer indoor services which can be found at Iwokrama, or for those who simply prefer their natural surroundings, which are abundant in the Rupununi.

The Birding Tourism Programme is receiving support from GTIS, a joint project of the Government of Guyana and the United States Agency for International Development.

• The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, the largest Guyanese-owned financial institution, on November 30 launched its Visa Travel Classic Card which enables holders to carry out money transactions abroad without the use of cash. The issuance of the card is both a milestone for the bank and Guyana as it means the country is now on the international card map.

• Members of the Disciplined Forces are to receive a 6 percent pay increase retroactive from January 2006. The Disciplined Forces comprising the police, army, fire and prisons, will begin to receive their wage increases in January 2007.

• The Demerara Oxygen Company Limited (DOCOL) commissioned a $60 million fire protection system at its Eccles, East Bank Demerara facility yesterday. The new system includes an above ground 190,000 litre storage tank, which can deliver 22,000 litres of water per minute. There are also sprinkler systems at all the vulnerable areas at the facility, which will be activated through a fire control panel that can sense temperature increases. Also, in the event that there is a fire in an area not protected by sprinklers, there are hydrants strategically located in various parts of the compound.

• Government is currently spending approximately $200 million on maintenance of the Mabura to Lethem roadway (in Essequibo) and the bridges along that route. This sum was allocated last June to repair more than 50 access bridges along the road and sections of the roadway.

• Personnel from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications have begun surveys for the installation of approximately 50 traffic lights at the most critical intersections in Georgetown and its environs including the route leading to the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The final surveys will be done by CMS Traffic Systems Limited, an Indian firm, which was contracted by the government to execute the US$2.1 million project which is an initiative of the Governments of Guyana and India.

• The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is projecting a massive increase in petroleum prospecting and drilling activities following the Guyana-Suriname border dispute resolution. GGMC’s prediction was made following discussions held with representatives from various investment companies among which are SADHNA, CGX, and its subsidiary, ON Energy. CGX has indicated its intention to drill three holes onshore by mid-next year. The company has identified a number of locations where deposits are believed to exist in commercial quantities.

• More than 500 government officials, business leaders, union representatives, and Members of Parliament were gathered by the Public Management Modernisation Project (PMMP) to discuss the way the government delivers its services. The PMMP, a US$5.6 million initiative co-sponsored by the Guyana Government and the Inter-American Development Bank, took the discussions to all ten administrative regions, examining how to create a high performing government which delivers better services to its citizens, business and national institutions.

• Major sea defence works have been completed at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, in keeping with the government’s thrust to strengthen and improve sea and river defences throughout the country. Following the destruction of sections of the sea defence by extremely high tides in October last year, the government initiated a $200 million project for remedial works at Leonora and nearby Stewartville.

• President Bharrat Jagdeo on November 6 assured Indian Vice President Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of his government’s firm commitment to supporting India’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

• The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform – One Guyana (PNC/R-1G) has urged the government to rethink the operational January 1, 2007 date for the commencement of the much-touted Value Added Tax (VAT) to ensure a smooth transition to the tax.

• The Women’s Club of the Indian Cultural Centre has donated three Electro Cardiogram (ECG) machines, which cost $8 million, to the Ministry of Health. The machines are for the main hospitals in Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo and were purchased with funds raised from activities organised by the women’s club.

• The Ministry of Health has announced that there has been a 50.2 per cent decrease in the number of malaria cases when compared to the same period for 2005.

• Members of the Rio Group Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a two-day workshop on November 13-14 with the aim of outlining specific activities and put in form a draft programmes of action ahead of the Rio Group Summit to be held in Guyana early next year. The workshop discussed the theme of the Rio Group meeting – “Promotion of Democratic Reform within the International System” – and sought to determine specific activities for this against the background of papers which were presented by specially invited experts.

• Residents in the West Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara village of Sarah are now getting potable water in their homes for the first time, following the completion of a $17 million Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) project. Other places to benefit from the previously unavailable supply are Drill and more Mahaicony villages, east of Perseverance and west of Farm. The work, started earlier this year, entailed installing 17,000 feet of PVC pipelines linked to wells at Farm, in the east and Perseverance, in the west, all in Mahaicony. Residents contributed $1.4 million of the cost, mainly through the provision of manual labour, in keeping with a SIMAP conditionality.

• Amerindian communities are getting more potable water as the government strives to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals among which is halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. Residents of Sand Creek and Aishalton, in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and St Cuthbert’s Mission, the only Amerindian community in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), have begun to benefit from the installation of solar pumping systems. The works were done by the Basic Needs Trust Fund, one of the government’s project execution agencies.

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