No compromise with requirements for forestry operations
- Minister Persaud
Georgetown, GINA, January 19, 2008.
Forestry operators are being encouraged to ensure that they are in full compliance with the necessary requirements set by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) for permission to continue their operations in the new year.
GFC has placed significant emphasis on enforcement of necessary regulations through which all forest concessions in excess of 20,000 acres are required to have an approved five-year Forest Management Plan (FMP) while concessionaires must submit by November 30 an Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for the following year of activities.
The information is verified by the GFC before permission is granted and the November 30 deadline caters for this process so that approval could be granted, once there is full compliance, by January 1.
At a press conference today at the Agriculture Ministry, Minister with responsibility for Forestry, Robert Persaud reported limited adherence to the deadline which is now resulting in a delay in granting permissions.
However, the Minister noted that there will be no compromise since stakeholders were given enough time to meet the requirements. Meetings were held with concessionaires since 2006 reminding them that submission of the AOP with the associated 100 percent inventory information was compulsory.
This was re-emphasized in individual letters to the concessionaires and through public notices while technical inventory assistance on a cost recovery basis was offered by GFC to concessionaires based on their request.
An Audit in 2007 revealed that almost all holders of the Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) and Wood Cutting Leases (WCLs) had harvested in blocks that were not approved by GFC either because they were not listed in the AOP or because of non submission of the 100 percent inventory information. All of the defaulting companies were penalized in accordance with GFC’s approved procedures.
By September 2007, notices were re-sent to concessionaires advising them of their obligation to submit the AOP for 2008 by November 30, 2007. The companies were also requested to ensure that they had valid approved FMPs.
However, there are currently 24 active TSAs and WCLs of which 17 have submitted the AOP for 2008 while only five companies submitted the 100 percent inventory.
During a meeting with Minister Persaud earlier this month, the Forest Producers Association (FPA) acknowledged the fact that stakeholders were delinquent in the submission of the required hundred 100 percent inventory information.
They requested additional time to submit the information and it was agreed that this will be facilitated on the condition that no harvesting would occur unless the inventory information for the specific block was submitted and verified by GFC.
Minister Persaud said “in an effort to facilitate the companies, GFC will try to complete the field verification of the additional blocks as soon as is possible, without comprising our field procedures.”
The GFC now awaits the submission of the necessary information by the concessionaires and had committed to fast track the field verification exercises without compromising its field procedures.
The FMP outlines the broad business projections over a five-year period while the AOP gives details of all the activities to be carried out in the calendar year inclusive of the specific 100 hectare blocks to be harvested during that period with the associated 100 percent inventory information of the commercial species present in each block listed in the AOP.
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Community forestry, industries development targeted
Georgetown, GINA, January 19, 2008.
Focus continues to be placed on sustainable forestry development in all aspects of the sector and plans are underway for internal restructuring at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to facilitate forest industries development.
This is among the many activities to be implemented during this year as part of Government’s continued efforts to further develop the sector which contributes about six percent to the Gross Domestic Product and employs approximately 25 000 persons.
According to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who has responsibility for Forestry, attention will be given to increasing the sector’s efficiency, recovery rates and utilization of a broader range of species.
Additionally, GFC will place more emphasis on improving the quality of produce available locally and internationally and will accelerate its efforts to promote more value added activities and encourage a reduction in log exports.
“Emphasis will be placed on activities aimed at quantifying the environmental services provided by our standing forests and also exploring potential market opportunities for these services under the direction of the Government,” Minister Persaud said.
He added that the Commission will continue to look at the development of plantation type forests and restoration of degraded areas.
Another major focus for the GFC will be continued community forestry development through which attention will be given to not only coordination of more Community Forest Organizations but provision of technical support to them.
Monitoring activities will also continue since an additional 50 forest rangers have already been recruited. There are plans to have a minimum of two officers at each large concession to ensure better monitoring of harvesting activities.
There will be continued upgrading of GFC’s Geographical Information System (GIS) Unit to that more accurate and timely information can be provided to the sector and decision makers.
It is expected that the new Forests Bill will be passed in 2008 allowing GFC to carry out further activities to guide the sector’s continued growth while there are plans for an aggressive public awareness campaign to educate stakeholders on the important role of GFC as it relates to the sustainable management of the forests.
The forestry sector plays a significant role in the country’s development particularly in the rural and hinterland communities where forestry activities generate income for many households and contribute to the national economy.
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Region Six development thrust intensifies
A GINA feature, January 19, 2008
The county of Berbice has leap-frogged in its development drive over the past few years and this upward movement will take a new turn later this year when several new projects become operational that would change the landscape of one of Guyana’s most populated region.
In a region that has rich oil potential; strides have been made with respect to education, health, infrastructure and general living conditions.
Berbice River Bridge
The construction of the Berbice River Bridge which is rapidly progressing is expected to aid economic development through the accessibility and fostering of greater investment and increasing production for the people of the Region.
This achievement is also set to bring much relief to Berbicians as it would eliminate the delay which persons would usually have to endure while using the ferry service.
The dream of many Guyanese will be realized when the structure comes into operation by August.
“The Berbice Bridge would be far better than the ferry. You can do more business than with the ferry, and farmers can take their produce to Georgetown easier,” Issac Sookdeo, a Mibicuri South Black Bush Polder resident said.
More than 14 spans have already been installed on the 1.5 kilometre structure that is being built downstream of the existing ferry route, from D’ Edward on the western side to Crab Island on the east. Thirty nine pontoons will provide anchorage for the structure that will cost US$38M.
“The Berbice bridge is a new infrastructure that signals we are moving into a phase of building new things so that we can move forward and further develop Guyana,” Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn said.
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Berbice River Bridge
Road enhancement
In tandem with the bridge development and the increased traffic flow that is envisaged, a major road programme, the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek road project is ongoing. The first phase which ends at Number 36 Village is being rehabilitated at a cost of US$22M while the second phase which will cost US$18M will conclude at Moleson Creek. This is expected to start during this month.
Several other road projects are ongoing in the region to enhance transportation and facilitate agricultural activities.
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New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek Roadworks
Water
Region Six will soon benefit from improved water supply as the construction of the $2.4B Corriverton Water Supply Project Phase 1 is rapidly progressing with a 75 percent completion rate to date. Work has been effected on the slow sand filters, storage reservoir, pump house, generator, chlorination room. The laboratory is already complete.
Work began on the elevated storage tanks in October and is 50 percent complete with the structure already being assembled. The plant is to be commissioned by March.
Guyana Water Incorporated’s officials were in Japan recently for the opening of tenders, evaluation, negotiation and contract signing of Phase 2 of the programme.
Pumps and wells in several other areas are also being upgraded and transmission mains repaired.
Corriverton Water Treatment Plant
Drainage
In a region that is primarily agricultural significant investments have been made to enhance the drainage and irrigation systems. There was minimal flooding in the region over the last rainy periods as much effort was channeled toward maintenance of the system.
Phillip Charles Oudho, a farmer of Bush Polder Polder agreed that there has been much improvement in this regard. “I have seen lot of improvements. There has been limited flooding since I have been living in Black Bush Polder I have never seen such improvement in this area before.”
This year the region has made proposals for $150M for D&I to cater for five programmes under the region’s capital budget.
Eversham Outfall & Drainage Pump
Health
The construction of the $140M state-of-the-art ophthalmology centre is well on the way at Port Mourant. It is a demonstration of the commitment and dedication of the Jagdeo administration to improve the quality of health services, particularly in the area of eye care. The centre is expected to begin offering its services this year. Residents of neighbouring countries are also expected to benefit.
Regional Chairman Zulficar Mustapha said much work has been done on the centre and on other health institutions such as the Mibicuri and Fort Wellington hospitals. The health sector is now being managed by a regional health authority to ensure more efficient delivery of health care services.
The region’s residents are already benefiting from improved services via the modern New Amsterdam Hospital.
Port Moraunt Ophthalmology Centre
Education
The Corentyne Technical Institute is another outstanding achievement by the Government that caters for high school drop outs, offering skills training in areas such as electrical installation, information technology, carpentry and masonry.
The institute attracts students for as far as Siparuta and Orealla.
A new wing is being built at the Port Mourant Community High School to accommodate anther 200 persons while plans are on stream to build a dormitory at Orealla Secondary School to facilitate students from that community and neighbouring Siparuta.
Several other projects are ongoing in Region Six including the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project, an industrial site at Belvedere and general improvements in other sectors as the Region gets ready for a major transformation of its landscape with the multiplicity of government and private sector-initiated business and social services facilities that are among the signposts of progress.
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PRSP consultations stress need for more value for Government’s expenditure
Georgetown GINA, January 18, 2008
The public consultations on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ( PRSP), 2008 – 2012 commenced countrywide with communities placing emphasis on greater value for government’s expenditures.
Community participants in all of the consultations so far recognize government’s expenditure and emphasis on safety-net initiatives to provide the lower-income class with more disposable income; however, concerns remain about aspects of the effectiveness of some programmes. They admired Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability as visible evidence towards achievements but criticized that some programmes are bringing insufficient benefits in some instances.
Participants also called on the government to remain focused on economic growth and to protect the fundamentals for sound macroeconomics recognizing that these are important for reducing the impact of poverty.
At the first consultation last Thursday at Ocean View Convention Centre, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said the regulatory and institutional reforms in the public sector to revamp its institutional arrangements sought primarily to improve the effectiveness of public administration.
In the period under review, economic growth did not materialize as expected and for good reasons (crime, violence, etc), the Government was still able to maintain sound macroeconomic framework. Inflation was contained at about five percent, the exchange remained stable, and international reserves increased from about US$245 million to US$300 million.
This achievement was followed by solid reforms in fiscal and monetary policies. In particular, the tax system saw several reforms including the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT), transparency in the tax system through removal of discretion, the enactment of the Investment Law, Anti-money Laundering Legislation and other reforms. Expenditure control systems were also put in place with the implementation of Integrated Financial Management Accounting System (IFMAS) and the integration of the payroll system and the human resource data base.
The Government also followed through to modernize the traditional sectors. About US$169 million was injected to restructure and modernize the sugar industry.
Research and development in the rice sector also contributed to increased production, while the Government sustained its efforts to attract huge investments in the bauxite sector.
In 2001, Guyana set an ambitious agenda in its PRSP aimed at generating economic growth, improving its provision of social services, enhancing governance structures and progressing in a timely manner towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015
The realization of those goals hinged on a seven-pillared strategy centered on sound economic policies; sustainable environmental protection policies; good governance systems; improved physical infrastructure and human resource development; improved social services and provision of safety nets; and special intervention strategies for vulnerable populations.
The Government also sought to improve public accountability for its actions. It is implementing about 30 recommendations from the Bradford report that will enhance the role of the Oversight Committees in Parliament to better undertake its functions. The Government also implemented programmes to boost the confidence building in the political system.
Specifically, the amendment to the Municipal and District Council Act was passed in 2006 to provide, among other things, autonomy of governance at the local level.
In the last five years, the Government had done two progress reports on the PRSP and was embarking on a new one that will set the development agenda for another five years. The aim was to examine the progress made with the 2001 PRSP, some of the results that were achieved and to discuss the areas where the Government did not do so well so that they can draw from these lessons in designing the second PRSP that will help provide more jobs, provide greater access to education, health water, electricity and social safety nets since Government sees the PRSP as the people’s document for development.
The medium - term agenda over the next five years will see the key elements of the challenges including external resource flows, reprioritization of investment to meet growth and poverty strategy, establishing a sustainable framework for political consensus building, and eliminating distortions and constraints to production; opportunities with focus on expression and actualization of huge investments, liberalization and integration of the Caribbean economic system and the potential for oil production.
The Poverty Analysis provided the results of the 2006 Poverty Survey. Specifically, moderate poverty levels fell from 36.3 percent in 1999 to 33.1 percent in 2006. Extreme poverty fell from 19.1 percent to 18.6 percent.
Feasibility studies that are currently ongoing by two of the largest bauxite/alumina companies in the world would possibly bring in over US $l billion in investments in the bauxite belt. The export and investment promotion exercises also resulted in modest increases in non-traditional exports and expression of interest of foreign firms to do business in Guyana. The presence of Digicel is one example of this.
In the oil exploration and bio-fuel sectors, investors' interest is on the rise. It should be noted that the huge capital investment in the sugar industry also accounted for the high rise in the fiscal deficit.
With hindsight, these investments plus other private sector driven downstream investments in the medium- term should make the sugar industry more competitive.
Procurement laws and regulations were put in place to replace the 1958 administrative procedures that had governed public procurement for almost 35 years. The Auditor General Department was made autonomous and reports were directly sent to Parliament.
An outreach programme was put in place by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and General Register Office to provide birth, death and marriage certificates.
Passports are now being issued through the Immigration Units within the Guyana Police Force in Essequibo, Berbice, Bartica, Leonora and Linden.
Some progress was achieved in reducing crime and improving the administration of justice especially during the last two years.
In the area of crime reduction, more police officers were recruited and trained. In addition, the capability of the service was improved with the procurement of vehicles, investigative tools, and communication equipment.
Substantial progress was made in monitoring and evaluation, over the last five years. Eight regional monitoring and evaluation (M&E) working groups were set up to assist in community consultation and to provide support to the semi-annual Expenditure Tracking Report.
Focal points were also established in the social sector line Ministries and the comprehensive M&E system was designed to track such activities by sector.
As part of the social statistics project, statistical units were established in the line Ministries. Staff was recruited and consultants hired to provide training and capacity building. The conclusion of this work will see the population of the M&E system to track PRSP and MDG indicators nationally and across regions.
Following the 2001 PRSP, the main pillars of the medium - term PRSP continue to be establishing broad-based jobs, creation of economic growth; establishing a balance between environmental protection and sustainable growth; consolidating reforms in developing stronger institutions and better governance; continuing the drive in investments in human capital; and reprioritizing investments in physical infrastructure.
Participants were divided into various groups that focused on specific sectors for development and subsequently reported to the plenary.
The PRSP consultations will continue throughout the country during the coming weeks.
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