National Drug Strategy Master Plan to be launched on Tuesday
Georgetown, GINA, June 18, 2005
The Government of the Guyana will launch its National Drug Strategy Master Plan (2005-2009), on Tuesday June 21 at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Kingston, with President Bharrat Jagdeo delivering the feature address.
This is Guyana’s first comprehensive strategy to combat narco-trafficking and an initiative undertaken by only a few Caricom countries.
The five-year plan has been developed with assistance from the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the contributions of over 36 local agencies and organizations. The local bodies will also participate in the fight against drug trafficking, drug addiction, money laundering and related crimes.
The President is also expected to elaborate on his Government’s position on improving crime and security situation in the country.
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President Jagdeo visits West Bank Demerara communities
- Several issues addressed, monies allocated
H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo listens to residents’ grievances at Long Pond, WBD, during a visit to the community (Office of the President photo by Sandra Prince)
Georgetown, GINA, June 18, 2005
Several communities along West Bank Demerara will now benefit from improved services following the commitments made by President Bharrat Jagdeo today to residents, as he visited the areas.
The Head of State, accompanied by Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh and Minister of Public Works Anthony Xavier, visited Vive La Force, Vriesland, Patentia, Sisters Village, Long Pond Wales, Goed Intent and Bellevue, West Bank Demerara, Region Three.
The President’s visit was aimed at meeting residents to gain first-hand knowledge of their concerns and see how Government could assist.
At Vive La Force and Vriesland, the major concern was the dilapidated state of the main access road. The Ministry of Public Works is repairing the road at present through an $18M contract that will provide repairs to three miles of road. This contract will lay the foundation with sand and loam. The President told residents Government will now try to secure funds to seal this road. Several other residents from communities farther along the road, such as Far and Easy, La Harmonie and Maria’s Lodge, requested that the road be extended to their communities. The President said this is very costly and while Government cannot do it right now, efforts will be made to do some correctional works. Minister Xavier said an engineer from his Ministry will visit the communities during the coming week to estimate the cost to grade and shape other parts. Regional Executive Officer Iqbal Khan said the Region will execute a project to repair an additional 2,200 ft of road starting from where the Ministry’s project ends. The Region’s project is at the Central Tender Board for approval.
Residents also requested that land being developed in the area for pastures, be shared for housing purposes, as it is too much for grass growing. They claim that many persons in these areas need houselots and the pasture is not being used. President Jagdeo instructed Minister Baksh to have the surveyors visit the areas and assess the need for houselots. However, whether the pastures will be used or not will be decided at a subsequent meeting.
A pressing concern of the community is the lack of regularisation. This, residents say, has been impeding progress. The Housing Minister said that his team will be in the area on July 2, 2005 to do the conveyance exercise and four months later residents will have their titles. Eighty titles have to be distributed at Vive La Force and 75 at neighbouring Vriesland. Minister Baksh explained that the areas took a long time to be regularised, as many problems arose with boundaries and claims to the lots. He noted that the regularisation plan for these areas is now with the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission for approval.
The third request from Vive La Force was the need for electricity. President Jagdeo explained that Government is working to deliver electricity to 62,000 people this year and hence the programme is already overloaded. However, he committed to providing the area with electricity during the next phase of the programme earmarked for 2006.
Residents also raised concern about the lack of water at Far and Easy. The explanation given by Guyana Water Incorporated staffers on the ground, is that the current pressure is too low and Government cannot afford to dig another well. The residents say the solution lies in repairing the road, which will be done.
The President offered Government’s assistance to the women’s group in the areas to provide some of their needs. However, he urged them to open these programme “to people of all race and religion, once Government give you the resources.”
Requests were made for a medical outreach in the far-reaching areas and President Jagdeo, acknowledging that this is important, agreed it would be done shortly.
The President was told at various stops about GUYSUCO dispenser’s reluctance to treat farmers who are not on the Corporation’s payroll.
“No one should be turned away from any medical facility in this country,” he said, adding that Government has been investing a lot into GUYSUCO and they should in turn help residents. Government, he said, can supply the drugs they use.
The President also committed to supplying the materials to fence the Vive La Force Primary School yard.
At Patentia, residents said that the heavy-duty vehicles have been damaging the road. Regional Chairman Esau Dookie said a contract has already been awarded to repair this main access road.
Elderly citizens told the President that they have not been benefiting from Government’s waiver on the water tariff. The Head of State said GWI submitted a $74M bill for 2004 on behalf of exemptions granted to pensioners, so every old-age pensioner should benefit from the exemption.
During a walk-about at Wales Side Line Dam, the President was told of over-crowding at the Wales Primary School which houses more than 1,000 pupils. A new school is required and GUYSUCO promised the land some time ago, but residents said they have been having problems with the Ministry of Education in obtaining the land. President Jagdeo said the matter never reached Cabinet, but it will be sorted out shortly. The school is likely to be included in the 2006 Budget, as it will cost in excess of $100M.
From the Side Line dam, the President walked to Sisters Village, Long Pond, Goed Intent and Saw Pit.
At Long Pond, the Regional Democratic Council has undertaken to rebuild the main access road and the Bill of Quantities is now being prepared, while Singh’s street will be repaired through the Basic Needs Trust Fund. Additionally, another street will be repaired by the Region and an engineer will return to discuss with residents, drainage for the area.
Sisters Village residents complained about inadequate water supply and President Jagdeo told them a new well is being dug. In the interim, residents will receive water from tankers.
Residents complained about the non-performance of the Sisters/Goed Intent Neighbourhood Democratic Council.
At Goed Intent/Saw Pit, the call was made for drainage and road repairs and President Jagdeo told the RDC to submit an estimation. Government, he said will set aside not more than $5M to fund these works.
At Bellevue, the President’s final stop, residents highlighted the need for land titles. They also raised several issues regarding the Bellevue Cane Farmers Marketing Cooperative Society. President Jagdeo committed to the arrangement of a meeting among residents, the Minister of Agriculture Satyadeow Sawh and the Minister of Labour Dr. Dale Bisnauth, who has responsibility for Cooperatives. Action will be taken based on the report from the meeting. Streets lights were also requested and President Jagdeo said the priority is taking light to people’s home. On the request for telephone, the President said it is a private company, and the Administration can only encourage, not tell them to provide lines.
A student also told President Jagdeo about her parents having to pay for textbooks, exam papers and a school ‘package’ before she can sit the examinations.
“We invest heavily in education and children should not have to pay to access it,” he said. The Regional Education Officer Baydewan Ghir Rambarran was mandated to investigate the matter. A copy of the report will also be sent to the Teaching Service Commission, as teachers who disregard the Ministry’s circular should be disciplined, the President said. Teachers at the Wales Community High School also use the school for lessons, even though they claim there is insufficient space for regular classes, which are held part-time.
While in these communities, the President referred persons with queries about post-flood assistance to the Flood Relief Secretariat at the Office of the President. He also gave assurances that Government is trying its best to save the sugar industry and that there are no plans at this time to close the Demerara Estates.
Meanwhile, a team from the RDC will revisit many of these areas on Monday June 20, to follow through on the President’s interventions.
Ministry of Works engineers will also return to look at several instances of overflowing sea dams in the areas.
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President Jagdeo joins in celebrating Queen’s birthday – acknowledges UK’s support
H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo signs the book at the reception held in Guyana to mark Queen Elizabeth II birthday (Office of the President photo by Sandra Prince )
Georgetown , GINA, June 18, 2004
President Bharrat Jagdeo was among many dignitaries at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, last evening, to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday. The queen turned 79 on April 21, but public celebrations of the British monarch's birthday are always held in June.
He extended wishes of continued good health, and happiness to Her Majesty the Queen, to the prosperity of the people of the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland and to the continued and friendly relations between Guyana and the UK.
President Jagdeo lauded the support of the British Government, its volunteers and the people for their help in several areas of development.
“The UK’s Department for International Development supports sectors such as Water and Education, and support after the floods, particularly through the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers and the works on the conservancy dam, was especially valuable,” President Jagdeo noted.
“I thank the UK’s overseas Development Institute, which for many years has provided our Ministries with high quality economists,” the President added.
He also acknowledged the work of the Project Trust and the Volunteer Service Overseas organisations, which contribute to the education sector, especially.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Stephen Hiscock said that the British Government is committed to its long-standing relations with Guyana.
He pointed to the extensive training programme offered to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) by the Scottish Police College and its English Equivalent CENTREX which has been “first class.”
Hiscock said, “The most intensive part got underway in March, this year and will continue into 2006.” According to the High Commissioner, the response by the Guyanese police has been heartening as some of the British experts have indicated that they would like to conduct further training.
Among other benefits that Guyana enjoy from relations with the UK is a 100 percent debt relief since 1989 valued at £ 150 M. Over the last two years, Guyana benefited from debt relief from the UK amounting to £ 16 M.
“I welcome the European Union’s recent decision to double the aid its members give and hope that the UK will use its presidency of the EU to ensure that this is offered in as modern a way as possible, without unnecessary conditions, and unburdened by the excessive bureaucracy that has stymied development assistance in the past,” President Jagdeo stated.
Meanwhile, as Guyana prepares for the 2006 General Elections, the British High Commissioner says his Government “is fully committed to assist the Guyana Elections Commission prepare for the elections.” He said the British Government is working with its Canadian, American, European Union and other partners to offer packaged assistance to Guyana during the countdown and Election periods.
In response to the Mr. Hiscock’s statement that British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made a commitment to helping Caribbean sugar producers reform their plans, President Jagdeo said, “In Guyana, we are fully committed to modernising our sugar industry as fast as we can. We recognise that there will be changes to the EU preferential regime. All we seek is that the change in preferences is managed- the reduction in prices cannot be so steep and the transition period is so short that CARICOM economies are unable to cope and there must be arrangements in place to help us through the difficult transition period.”
Next week, the EU is expected to make proposals on changes to the sugar-pricing regime. If the proposals are as severe as the leaks suggest, the impact on the Guyanese economy will be in excess of US$ 40M per annum.
The President said he looks to the day when debt relief, trade justice and development assistance would be historical topics, but in the meantime, Guyana looks forward to bilateral relations with the UK to boost its economy, stimulate job creation and aid in poverty alleviation.
“I look forward to hearing about British students studying in Guyana, about British tourists appreciating our country … and about Guyana’s full achievement of the democratic, economic and social goals we speak of as ambitions today,” President Jagdeo said.
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