|
|
| |
Guyana Media & Communication Conference - honouring World Press Freedom Day
|
|
| |
The Guyana International Conference Centre, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, provided the ideal venue for hosting of the first annual Guyana Media & Communication Conference, on Friday, May 2, 2008.
The theme of the conference was “Media Freedom Functioning to Empower Our People” and was intended to attract media reform advocates, activists, media makers, educators, journalists, academics, and other citizens.
Planned matters addressed at the conference, among others, included the evaluation of press freedom in Guyana; the prerequisites of media credibility; the role of the state media; strategies for reporting on developmental issues; public interest responsibility in broadcasting and landscape discussions on the new media.
|
|
| |
Expanded capital works programme in Region Two |
The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) is expanding its capital work programme for 2008 to cater for more infrastructural development.
Bridges, health facilities, schools and roads are to be built and repaired.
Regional Chairman of Region Two Ali Baksh said most of these projects have already commenced and works are progressing speedily, particularly in the areas of drainage and irrigation and public works.
The region was allocated a budgetary allocation of $94.4M for drainage and irrigation works which have already started.
Concrete box culverts are being constructed at Henrietta North, while drainage reinforced concrete box culverts are being put in place at La Belle Alliance, Better Hope and Coffee Grove. An irrigation check is also being installed at Marias Delight. The construction of tail-walls is ongoing in several areas including; Walton Hall South Better Hope and Huis t' Dieren.
Baksh said more awards have already been granted and several other D&I projects are expected to commence soon.
In the area of public works, the region received a budgetary allocation of $46.4M to rehabilitate and construct roads and streets which have already commenced.
Streets in Paradise as well as Bruce Street and the CV Nunes school road in Anna Regina are being upgraded.
Several other streets are also to be upgraded; Painter Street, Bharrat and Hide-Out Streets in Henrietta, East Street, Lima and Reliance.
The administration plans to continue its aggressive pace towards completing its work programme to the benefit of the residents of the community as well as the region.
|
|
|
Continuing support by World Bank to Guyana’s development |
World Bank Director for the Caribbean Country Management Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Yvonne Tsikata, on an official visit to Guyana has pledged the institution's continued support and assistance.
Tsikata met with President Bharrat Jagdeo and visited Santa Mission, an Amerindian community in Region 3.
"We talked at length about the World Bank's relationship with Guyana and the Bank's commitment to continue this good relationship and strengthen it further," Tsikata said of the meeting with President Jagdeo.
Currently, the World Bank is discussing with government officials the details of the upcoming Country Assistance Strategy which will cover a period of three years (2009-2012).
The World Bank Director referred to government's position on the transparency of its operations. She noted that the government has emphasized competitiveness and that the Bank has been working with them on the 'doing business indicators'. She noted that while the trend is in the right direction there are challenges.
Some of the challenges that Guyana faces are regional, such as vulnerabilities in dealing with natural disasters and climate change, the global environment in terms of prices for energy and food and also the challenges of preference, erosion and elimination.
Tsikata said that the important thing is moving forward and the challenge of high food prices can be dealt with if there is increase in productivity and investment in the agricultural sector.
"Guyana has shown great leadership in this respect in the Caricom discourse, there is going to be an agricultural sector investment, and I think these kind of interventions and bringing in the private sector are critical to enhance food security not only for Guyana but the Caribbean," she noted.
Discussion is ongoing with the government stakeholders to ascertain what the priority areas are for government and the role the World Bank will play.
The Director noted that President Jagdeo was clear that he was not seeking funding for a particular area, but that he wanted to emphasize what Guyana values at this point.
"He (President Jagdeo) would like to move from analysis to concrete practical solutions and actions," Tsikata said.
The areas that were discussed at the meeting with the President are the social sectors, supporting vulnerable groups, infrastructure as key and the need to bring in the private sector, and how to get the assistance flows from the World Bank directly to the beneficiaries.
The Director posited that there have been gains in terms of macro stabilization in Guyana. However, faster growth along with what is happening on the trade front is critical. She said that the World Bank will look at this and other aspects in its economic report on Guyana.
Ms Tsikata also posited that in the meetings with the various sectoral Ministers that she was encouraged by their perception on how the projects are being executed.
"My sense is that the operations are doing well, some of them have just begun like the Conservancy project. So what we can see today is physical progress rather than the ultimate outcome, which is to reduce flooding," She noted.
Tsikata said that the monitoring of the World Bank programmes comes from the organisation's counterparts in Guyana. In addition World Bank staff that work on specific projects will periodically visit to look at the development of the project.
The World Bank has funded several significant programmes in Guyana including the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control project that amounted to US$10M, the Water Sector Consolidation Project that costs US$11.3M, the Education for All Fast Track Initiative that amounted to US$45M, and the US$3.8M Conservancy Adaptation Project.
|
| |
|
FREE CXC CLASSES |
The Education Committee of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) will commence CXC classes from Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown.
Students who are preparing to write the CXC examinations are encouraged to attend these classes. Subjects being offered are English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies and Principles of Business.
All classes are free of cost.
Persons desirous of attending classes can contact Lynette or Majeed at Freedom House.
|
| |
| PPP supports government resources to cope with external and internal shocks |
At a press briefing on Tuesday, April 9 last, People's Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, clarified the ruling party’s policy regarding the escalating prices for several food staples locally and on a wider, global scale.
The PPP views the situation as being mainly a causitory if the rise in the market price of refined fuel oils, with the spot price for fuel reaching US$110 per barrel.
“The tendency for the price of oil began with the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Since then the political situation in many other oil-producing countries has also deteriorated such as Nigeria and the regions between the US and Iran.”
The PPP therefore, has identified both the militarization of major oil-producing states and the pressures that have forced the more advanced and developed producers of crude oil to increase the price for the substance in its crude or unprocessed form as well as a refined commodity (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, Mexico, Nigeria and Angola).
Ramotar expressed the PPP’s support for “the removal of all duties and taxes from diesel fuel, the energy source that is mainly used to generate power, thus keeping prices (s) for consumers down.”
The Administration’s strategy over the years designed to cope with external and internal (eco-socio) shocks was also analysed by the PPP General Secretary.
|
| |
Gov't not bothered by 'boycott Guyana' rumours |
Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said on Wednesday at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing that even in Jamaica some artistes are objected to and have been subjected to severe sanctions by the law.
He was responding to a question by one reporter about whether or not the administration is concerned that as a result of the banning of dancehall artistes 'Mavado' and 'Bounty Killer' from performing in Guyana, that artistes on the island might be considering 'boycotting Guyana' and
thus, hampering especially the upcoming Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) being hosted here.
"The fact of the matter is that the cultural art form spans all extremes..we don't have a fear that their art form (Mavado and Bounty Killer) is so mainstream that banning them runs the risk of denying Guyanese, young and old, sentimental or otherwise, particular forms of Jamaican cultural expression. I think notwithstanding those two and others of their ilk, that there'd be enough Jamaicans and Jamaican artistes to populate the National Cultural Centre, the National Park and wherever, when the occasion presents itself," the Cabinet Secretary explained.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had announced the banning of the two artistes earlier in the week following Bounty Killer breaching the agreement he had with promoters not to use specific lyrics during a show held in Guyana recently. The artiste used the lyrics and this resulted in gunshots being fired at the event. Mavado was scheduled to perform at an upcoming event here.
Both artistes had been banned from performing in a number of other countries as a result of their lyrics which promote violence and homophobia.
|
| |
Minister Sukhai visits Berbice river communitie - addresses moving forward transportation project
|
Several interventions by the government have aided the development of the five Amerindian communities located along the Berbice River bank in Region Ten.
Another major intervention that will significantly assist the communities in terms of transportation will be realized shortly. It is expected to bring further development to the communities of Wiruni, Wikki/Calcuni, Sand Hills, Hururu and Kimbia.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai travelled to the riverain communities yesterday to fast track a promise made by President Bharrat Jagdeo to the leaders to fund two community boats.
It was brought to the attention of the Ministry that the cost of constructing the vessels was much higher that what was budgeted, hence the Minister's visit to meet with leaders to decide on the way forward. Minister Sukhai was accompanied by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Emil Mc Garrell.
Minister Sukhai explained to the leaders that two boats were envisaged in the initial stage but due to increased prices for the materials, this has to be revisited.
Project Consultant Rudolph Callender gave the Toshaos a detailed report of the estimates of the proposed boats, noting that before boat engines and other materials were cheaper. It was recognized that when the Toshaos drafted their proposals they were not aware of some of the prices of the materials.
The Toshaos however, agreed to have one durable boat built. It was noted that the total cost of the two boats, $22.2M will be used to construct the boat.
Minister Sukhai urged the Toshaos to go back to their respective communities and finalize the agreement with the residents.
The vessel will transport passengers and produce to New Amsterdam, Berbice.
A management team will be set-up to oversee the operations of the boat and its maintenance.
Meanwhile Minister Sukhai took the opportunity to discuss other community issues that have been affecting the residents.
|
| |
| Subsidized rice in Region's market can harm local industry- Minister Persaud
|
Jamaica is advocating for the Common External Tariff (CET) waiver to be placed on imported rice from Guyana and if this occurs it will hurt the country's industry in relation to competitiveness. Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Agriculture Minister said he is worried that subsidized rice coming into the region can have harmful effects on the local rice industry.
He noted that, "If it is coming from the United States whereby the rice industry is subsidizing in excess of 51 percent, you can imagine what impact that can have in terms of competitiveness of our rice industry and we have worked hard in Guyana to make our rice industry more competitive."
The Minister added that there must be a justification for such a move and noted that Guyana has a commitment to CARICOM which its must uphold.
"If there are justifications, we will grant the waiver. If there is no justification we believe that it would be harmful to the rice industry of Guyana if we allow subsidized rice to come into the market.Yes, we can sell our rice elsewhere but we also have an obligation to CARICOM and part of honouring that obligation is also ensuring that the CET remains in place so that we can competitively sell our rice within the CARICOM region."
Harvesting in Guyana has been progressing for the year despite the inclement weather, with 60 percent of the first crop already harvested.
Last year Guyana exported close to 52,000 tonnes of rice and this year it is expected to pass that mark. Government has projected production of 30,000 tonnes for the first crop.
Contracts totalling over 15,000 tonnes have been signed between importers and exporters and for this month, Guyana has exported to the Region approximately 4,000 tonnes.
"I rather suspect that it's more of pricing than supply because of the price moving. We have adequate supply and it's up to the buyers and the supporters to work out the details and government cannot tell the exporters that they must sell rice at a certain price to Jamaica. We don't want our farmers or anyone in the rice sector to be forced to be selling at an uneconomical and at a price that is not viable."
Government has made several interventions to help farmers in relation to the high cost of input so that they can benefit from the increased market opportunities.
At present, more than $8B is being invested in the industry to improve drainage and irrigation, provide technical assistance and water management in Essequibo, enhance extension services and research development and carry out other necessary infrastructural improvements.
Rice output is expected to increase by 7.6 percent this year.
|
| |
Gov't observes World Press Freedom Day |
A number of activities have been planned in observance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 and the government, to mark this occasion, hosted a conference for the media at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal on May 2.
Expressing the hope that he would see all media persons at the event, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon on Wednesday at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, said it is his expectation that during the event the media could meet and 'share some of the nuances that exist in the implementation of press freedom and freedom of expression'.
"In terms of a message or an additional message is the abiding commitment by the State to use the media, the abiding commitment to ensure that the media functions, performs in socially acceptable ways to discharge constitutional obligations and for it to be done with full respect for national laws, international norms and as our motto suggests, looking at it from the perspective of empowering the Guyanese people, so that's a message that we would want to bring out," Dr. Luncheon explained.
The Cabinet Secretary believes that there may be others celebrating World Press Freedom Day in other ways around the same period and it must be recognised that there are many varied interests at play on the issue.
"Indeed all of them have been cultivated simultaneously in Guyana and, notwithstanding claims to the otherwise, indeed (press freedom) is well entrenched, well respected here in Guyana. I see no reason why as important a subject matter as World Press Freedom, particularly in the context of all of the noises, claims and allegations that have been made about its respect and how it is treated in Guyana, that many voices should not be speaking on the same subject at the same time," Dr. Luncheon concluded.
|
| |
|
