Public Works Ministry receives two drainage pumps
Georgetown, GINA, February, 8, 2008
Two SLTY 87 Horse Power twin submersible pumps and floats were today handed over to the Ministry of Public Works by Chief Executive Officer and President of the Canadian company IAMGOLD, Joseph Conway.
The pumps and floats valued US$100,000, have the capacity of discharging a total of 20,000 gallons per minute.
During the massive floods in 2005 the pumps and floats were loaned to the Government of Guyana and positioned at the Liliendaal reservoir to aid in the relief of excessive waters from the environs of Georgetown and the East Coast Demerara.
Conway stated that despite OMAI has closed its operation in Guyana; his company has recognised the need for such tangible contribution towards the development of the Guyanese nation. In 2006 IAMGOLD acquired CAMBIOR, the parent company of OMAI.
In expressing the gratitude of the Guyanese people on receipt of the pumps and floats, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn posited that the gesture is a timely one since the pumps will have tremendous drainage capacity to relieve Georgetown and the East Coast Demerara. In the past, it aided in returning Guyana to normalcy. He also lauded IAMGOLD for its corporate responsibility.
Minister Benn said that in times of desperate need, OMAI Gold Mining Company was swift in response to aid in the provision of pumps to drain the excessive water which restored life to normalcy for many Guyanese.
However, Minister Benn noted that in light of the unpredictable weather pattern experienced in Guyana as a result of climate change, these pumps and floats will be deployed to various areas as the need arise.
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President meets with IAMGOLD team
Georgetown, GINA, February 08, 2008
Head of State, Bharrat Jagdeo today met with a team from the Canadian firm, IAMGOLD led by President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, Joseph Conway at the Office of the President.
Commenting on the meeting, Conway explained that it was productive with the IAMGOLD Representatives discussing their OMAI project as well as other projects in Guyana in which the company is interested.
“I think the message we wanted to convey was that we are still very focused on mineral development, particularly gold in Guyana and we have been here a long time, and in fact the ninth largest gold-producer in the world,” he pointed out.
In November, 2006, IAMGOLD acquired CAMBIOR, which is the parent company of OMAI and has been in charge of OMAI’s operations since.
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Opposition elements blamed for premature end to Buxton farmers’ meeting
Georgetown, GINA, February 8, 2008
The meeting organised yesterday by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Buxton Community High School to address concerns pertaining to the issues affecting farmers in the Buxton/ Friendship area ended prematurely just after over one hour, disrupted by known opposition elements.
During the meeting attended by several People’s National Congress Reform activists including a Member of Parliament, Region Four Chairman, Clement Corlette and former treason accused Mark Benschop, it was noticed that they were actually dissuading members of the audience from participating and eventually hustled farmers from the hall. Not all left but the majority including Corlette as someone came into the building and asked the Regional Chairman to leave.
The political activists were incensed that Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud was correcting a misinterpretation by residents of Buxton of a statement made by President Bharrat Jagdeo alleging that all farmers in Buxton are criminals.
In a statement issued last evening by the Office of the President, the Head of State insisted that he was grossly misrepresented and further reiterated that while he maintains that criminal elements have used Buxton as a cover, he holds the view that the vast majority of the people living in Buxton are decent law abiding citizens.
Minister Persaud said that this was never said and that there are indeed hard-working and law-abiding Buxtonians in the community. These residents who make up the vast majority, he noted, are being held hostage by the criminal elements who have forced some to flee the area out of fear.
About 120 farmers were present despite earlier attempts by some Opposition elements to urge them not to attend the meeting.
As was reported in some sections of the media, there was no evidence of heavy military presence after farmers stormed out of the building.
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Police officers who failed to act on reports of Lusignan shooting to face harsh penalties -Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, February 8, 2008
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) today submitted a report to Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee which reveals that calls from Lusignan residents were made to the Police during the shooting incident on January 26.
Residents had complained that they did make calls to the police as the incident was occurring but the police failed to respond in a timely manner.
“It is very disappointing to know the results of the report in so far as the response from the senior ranks that were on duty at the time. The main question is what happened between 2.00 am and 2.20 am. By 2.05 the call was made and this call was received by a senior policeman and he failed to take appropriate actions that would have resulted in a quick response,” Minister Rohee said.
The action was described by the Minister as a serious lapse and bad judgment on the officer’s part since the patrols that were at his disposal were not deployed to the crime scene which left 11 persons dead including five children who were gunned down by criminals at around 02.00hr on January 26.
The Minister said that stringent actions will be taken against the ranks and noted that some have already taken.
“At this point in time we can say that it is clear that there was certainly dereliction of duty by that senior rank and other ranks that were at the division during the period and what is absolutely clear in my mind is that strong and decisive actions will have to be taken. In fact, actions on some of these ranks have already been taken,” Minister Rohee asserted.
The Home Affairs Minister pointed out that the actions that will be taken will be a strict example for others.
“We have to make certain people who have failed to carry out their responsibilities examples so when people see this they will recognise that if they were to fail to carry out their duties they will suffer the similar faith.”
He said, “At this point in time when the administration, public, hierarchy of the Police Force have been doing their level best to ensure that throughout the police service, quick response to calls is a sine qua non for saving people’s lives and must be a hallmark of the Guyana Police Force.”
Government has been making sizeable allocations to the police force on an annual basis. Additional allocations are made as the need arises.
“The human factor is always the weakest factor notwithstanding the amount of vehicles, technology that we (government) may seek to introduce to contribute to effective crime fighting. We would continue to ensure that the police have the tools and we will continue to ensure that the requisite resources are available to the police force,” Minister Rohee assured.
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Multi million dollar pesticide, toxic chemical lab to boost agricultural trade and diversification
Georgetown, GINA, February 8, 2008
Agricultural trade and food production quality will be enhanced in Guyana with the commissioning of a massive multi million dollar state-of-the-art pesticide and toxic chemical control laboratory which was today commissioned at the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) Compound, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud.
The facility which will be managed by the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board has been constructed and equipped at a total value of approximately $100 M with financing from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, IDB Representative, Javier Grau praised the Government for this initiative, noting that it is testimony of the Government’s commitment to ensure Guyanese have access to quality, wholesome foods for local consumption and export markets.
In acknowledging the importance of this modern testing facility in an era in which Guyana’s agricultural sector is poised to accelerate significantly under the Jagdeo Initiative, Minister Persaud outlined that the laboratory is currently equipped with the instruments and required human resources to perform routine monitoring of pesticides residue, through regular analyses, to quantify the range of active ingredient residues and their metabolites in agricultural produce, soil, water, and animal tissue.
This laboratory will enhance and improve the existing monitoring capabilities of the Pesticides Board and support the determination of pre-harvest intervals associated with the usage of agrochemical products under local conditions.
Minister Persaud said that apart from determining the degradation of pesticides and toxic chemicals in the environment and provide for the analysis of the concentration of active ingredients in formulated products, it will also serve as a training facility in pesticide science for students from our institutions of higher learning such as: the. University of Guyana, Guyana School of Agriculture, NARI, Guysuco’s Agriculture Research Unit, the Guyana Rice Development Board and regulatory control agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.
Meanwhile in the area of trade, Minister Persaud noted that this new facility will further advance Guyana’s agricultural diversification thrust which is currently centered on the optimal production and exportation of fruits, vegetables, livestock and fisheries.
“This laboratory represents a significant and inseparable component of our initiative to attain this objective and promote the massive expansion of agriculture development in Guyana. “
Minister Persaud reiterated that the facility will also guarantee the retention of Guyana’s status as a major exporter of fresh food to the region, and reposition the country on the world map because of its provision of safe food for local consumption and the growing international marketplace.
He also noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for countries, especially developing countries to cope quickly with the growing number and complexity of the internationally accepted food standards and regulations such as Codex.
“If we are to achieve and maintain a place for ourselves as a producer and supplier of save agro-produce, we must continue to meet the challenges we are faced and continue to work diligently towards the achievement of these standards.” Minister Persaud said
Registrar of the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board, Basdeo Dwarka said all stakeholders within the agricultural sector can benefit from the services offered by the pesticide and toxic chemical control laboratory.
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Agriculture Minister mobilises interventions in Region Six
-following heavy rainfall
Georgetown, GINA, February 8, 2008
Government has intervened to bring fast drainage relief to several communities in Region Six, East Berbice, Corentyne, which are experiencing water accumulation as a result of intense rainfall over the past few days.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud led a team of drainage and irrigation officials and regional personnel on several visits to affected areas including Port Mourant, Canefield, Adelphi Housing Scheme, Lancaster/ Hogstye and Black Bush Polder.
Chief Executive Officer (ag.) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (ND&IA) Lionel Wordsworth and Regional Chairman Zulficar Mustapha were among those who accompanied the Minister during the visit.
The team met with residents and farmers to discuss ongoing efforts to enhance the discharge of accumulated water.
At Port Mourant residents were told that a pump will be mobilised immediately by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to aid drainage in that area, while potable water is being provided to residents.
In Black Bush Polder the ND&IA will undertake cleaning of over-hanging vegetation on the northern side of the Joppa outfall channel. Work is expected to commence tomorrow.
Additionally, a mobile pump will be installed at Canje, while two others will be redeployed to neighbouring areas.
At Canefield residents requested clearing of the ‘Pepper Sluice’ and Minister Persaud has urged that the work on this intervention start tomorrow.
GuySuCo will undertake clearing of the channel since the ND&IA has already constructed the koker door.
In several of the communities farmers and residents made recommendations for other drainage and irrigation activities which they suggested would enhance the system tremendously.
Minister Persaud said engineers will be assigned to conduct follow up efforts and determine the feasibility of the proposed works.
The Regional Administration, ND&IA and GuySuCo have taken a collaborative effort to ensure that there is effective drainage and irrigation in the communities.
Farmers and residents acknowledge that heavy rainfall experienced in the region has caused the water to accumulate, hence the situation is being monitored as necessary arrangements are being put in place to bring immediate drainage relief, while additional efforts are being made to further improve the situation.
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