Miners must abide by internationally sanctioned practices
- GGMC Commissioner(ag)
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
Commissioner (ag) of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) William Woolford said the time has come for miners to realise that they cannot afford to operate as they feel.”
At a recent symposium held by the GGMC on solutions for land use conflicts in medium-scale mining, Woolford said it is no longer “business as usual” in the mining sector which must recognise the importance of abiding by better environmental management practices.
While addressing several miners at the symposium, Woolford said technical, effective and efficient mining are some of the key factors to promote environmental management which miners have not been observing.
He explained that too often, constant mining of a particular area by different groups of miners is more negatively impacting than one operator who achieves 90 percent mineral recovery and at the end is able to restore the location to its natural state.
“We are pushing for the recognition of technically efficient and effective mining as a component of good environmental management practice,” Woolford said.
Health, safety and welfare considerations must also be a top priority according to Woolford who expressed disappointment that most of the mining communities have not yet adopted proper garbage disposal methods.
“People are taking plastic bottles into the interior and you are still seeing them floating in some of the creeks. I made a noise about it and I saw that they were doing some cleanups in Mahdia butt essentially we have to take care of our hygiene,” Woolford said.
The Mining Act of 1989 states categorically that miners cannot exercise rights without consent of surface right holders. This act according to Woolford which had in the past only applied to large-scale miners, has been amended to include small and medium-scale stakeholders, with the advent of the new Amerindian Act.
Miners according to Woolford should be proud of the fact that community consent for mining is instilled in the law and it is now becoming a law of all mining jurisdictions.
Miners in Guyana have been urged to follow the mandate of engaging in discussions with the likely affected parties of issues of conflicts in mining at the earliest stage.
He alluded to the international council on mining and metals which has a policy stating that all of its members must contribute to the social economic and institutional development of the communities which they operate.
It was also recommended that miners must encourage partnerships with governments and non-governmental organisations to ensure that programmes such as community health, education and local business development are effectively delivered.
Woolford was proud to announce that some miners locally are already engaging in these practices and said that the key objective is to get all miners in the habit.
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Minister Benn urges miners to desist from damaging Madhia Road
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn, during a visit on October 4 to Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), urged miners to desist from mining of the Madhia road leading to the Salboro Creek.
The appeal came in wake of reports from the Regional representatives that miners were digging up the road in their quest for gold. Minister Benn said there were previous incidents where the road was mined out in several places and measures were taken against those guilty of damaging the infrastructure.
The incident has disrupted water supply in the upper Madhia area as pipelines were damaged in the process. The Guyana Water Incorporated along with Regional representatives has restored water services to the affected homes.
The matter has been reported to the police and along with officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission they have been guarding against the situation. Several raids were made and some equipment was seized by the Region’s authorities.
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Cheddi Jagan Dental School receives books from London
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
The Cheddi Jagan Dental School today received a quantity of new text books from the Guyana High Commission in London to aid in its Dentistry and Dental Technician programmes. The books were specially requested by the institution through the Ministry of Health.
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsarran who handed over the books on behalf of the Guyana High Commission expressed gratitude for the donation which he said is very essential to the school.
According to a press release from the Guyana High Commissioner in London, Mr. Laleshwar Singh, the books were donated at a simple lunch ceremony at the Commission by representatives from the donor agency, Dental protection Limited, who were briefed on the progress of the dental school in Guyana and the Health Sector.
Minister Ramsaran acknowledged that collaborative efforts are being forged with the Guyana High Commission in London, Dental Protection Limited and the Cheddi Jagan Dental School.
In his remarks, Principal dentist Officer, Dr. Joanes Jean who received the books for the Dental School said that these will be of significant benefit to the institution and its students.
Dental Protection Limited is recognised as the leading provider of indemnity for the dental team in 70 countries worldwide. It is one of a number of British organizations that support the school.
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Regional Indigenous Women’s conference set for October 9
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
A Regional conference on Indigenous Women’s Leadership for Sustainable Development will be held at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara from October 9 to 11 with the aim of empowering women and including them in the decision-making process of society and at the national level.
The indigenous women’s conference is being facilitated by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, (UNIFEM), the Government of Dominica, the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The primary objective of the conference is to promote and support leadership amongst Caribbean Indigenous women in advancing sustainable development. During the Conference, UNIFEM commissioned research on the status of indigenous women in Belize, Dominica, Guyana and Suriname will also be presented and used as a basis for discussions on development priorities of indigenous women.
The Conference, the first of its kind, is expected to bring together representatives of Indigenous Communities across the Caribbean and representatives of Government, the United Nations, Development Partners and civil society. Among countries expected to be represented are Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guyana, Suriname, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago.
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Ministry of Agriculture donates seeds and farmers’ manual to Mothers’ Union
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
As part of Agriculture Month activities, a quantity of seeds and agricultural literature were presented to the Mothers’ Union for distribution in hinterland communities.
The aim of this project is to encourage more families to start kitchen gardens in these communities.
The Mothers’ Union is a non-profit organization that does social work in many communities in Guyana including those in the hinterland. This organization is a part of the women’s arm of the Anglican Church and their headquarters is in England. They provide support services to enhance communities.
Ms. Prema Roopnarine, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture handing over to the Mothers’ Union
This initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture aims to promote and encourage persons and families in hinterland communities to “Grow More”. The Ministry has recognised the relationship between the church and community. Also it is aware that these communities would be affected by soaring food prices, and as part of its mandate has embarked on a number of such programmes to support them.
The seeds would be distributed by the Mothers’ Union to five villages in hinterland communities within a 300-mile radius. Each family would receive 10 packets of different seeds.
The seeds and a farmers’ manual were handed over to the Mothers’ Union by Ms. Prema Roopnarine, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.
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Cubana Air Disaster victims remembered
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
The 73 persons, including 11 Guyanese, who perished in the Cubana Air Disaster on October 6, 1976, were today remembered during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cuban Embassy organised by the Guyana-Cuba Friendship Association in collaboration with the Cuban Embassy and the Cuban Medical Brigades in Guyana.
Today marked 32 years since the 73 victims perished in the terrorist attack on the Cubana Airways Flight 455. Besides the 11 Guyanese, five victims were from North Korea and 57 were Cubans.
The Guyanese who perished during the bombing attack included six Cuban Scholarship students: Jacqueline Williams, Eric Norton, Seshnarine Kumar, Ann Nelson, Raymond Persaud and Rawle Thomas along with Violet and Rita Thomas, Gordon Sobha, Sabrina Harripaul, Margaret Bradshaw. The latter five victims were on their way to Cuba seeking medical attention.
Flight 455 was en route from Barbados to Jamaica when the terrorist attack occurred, killing all 73 of its passengers. The attack was considered at the time the most deadly in the Western Hemisphere and evidence linked the attack to several anti-Castro members of the Venezuelan secret police while Cuba accused the United States Government of being an accomplice to the attack.
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Region Eight residents to benefit from improved facilities and infrastructure
-works programme 90 percent completed
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
Government in its thrust to improve the lives of residents in hinterland communities has allocated in excess of $107M for Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) 2008 budget for the construction and rehabilitation of bridges, buildings, health and education facilities, roads and purchase of equipment.
Regional Executive Officer Ishwar Dass said that the Region’s capital and current works programme are 90 and 98 percent completed respectively. Region Eight is ahead of all the other regions in executing its programme. The Enachu and Ananadabaru Bridge with the extension of a pedestrian bridge at Kopinang are already completed.
The extension of the Mahdia District Hospital is also completed and is expected to be opened shortly. In addition, an x-tray unit was installed at the Micobi hospital at a cost of $10M.
The entire Region’s medical supply will be stored in a newly constructed storage bond and all medical supplies will be brought to Madhia and then sent to the North Pakaraimas. According to the REO, this will allow for better monitoring of medical supplies in the region.
A tractor and slasher were purchased to assist in the maintenance work. The Region has also benefited from an education office, and the building that was previously used will be rehabilitated to be used as a resource centre, Dass said.
New state- of-the-art schools were built at Micobi and Muruwa. The Paramakatoi dormitory has been extended to accommodate an additional 60 students and two teachers’ quarters are now being built at Kaibarupai, and are expected to be completed by year end.
There was some delay in road works because of inclement weather, but works are now progressing. The regional administration has acquired a double-cab pick-up to assist the department in their medical outreach programmes.
The REO said that for 2009, the Region’s focus will be on continuing its development through networking by providing vital facilities for education and health. There will also be more emphasis on agricultural development in the predominantly mining Region.
This will be done by constructing new roads to allow farmers to access land for cultivation to boost the agriculture sector. In addition, the Region is looking to connect the Amerindian communities of Waipa and Kaibarupai.
At present, several Amerindian communities are benefiting from the use of all-terrain vehicles, and the region is looking to source additional vehicles to boost transportation in the region.
The extension of the Waipa Secondary School and construction of teachers quarters at Waipa, Sand Hill has been proposed for 2009.
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High food and fuel prices focus at the Commonwealth meetings
-Minister of Finance leads Guyana delegation
Georgetown, Gina, October 6, 2008
Commonwealth Finance Ministers are today meeting in St. Lucia for the annual Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting, to discuss the implications of rising food and fuel prices on their economies and to find short and long term policy responses to the energy crisis.
Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh is leading the Guyanese delegation to the three-day meeting from October 6th to 7 2008. The Minister will also be chairing the Commonwealth Ministerial Debt Sustainability Forum later this evening.
The CCFM is an annual event which is held prior to a World Bank and International Monetary Fund meeting. It provides a forum for the exchange of views on major economic issues and international and domestic policy challenges.
The meeting will bring together ministers, senior finance officials and delegates from the 53-member Commonwealth countries. This year finance Ministers will be focusing on key international financial issues including the reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions.
The repercussions of current high food and fuel prices on their economies will be addressed. The discussions will also focus on the continued Commonwealth efforts to promote deeper reforms in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
The Ministers will also follow up on discussions of 2007 on the economic implications of climate change, by assessing the impact of climate change on trading prospects of Small States.
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Acting President swears in new Teaching Service Commission member
Georgetown, GINA, October 6, 2008
Another member was today added to the membership of the Teaching Service Commission when Mr. Conrad Kendall took the oath of office before Acting President Samuel Hinds at the Office of the Prime Minister.
 after he was sworn in before Acting President Samuel Hinds (October 6, 2008).JPG)
New Teaching Service Commission member Conrad Kendall (left) after he was sworn in before Acting President Samuel Hinds (October 6, 2008).
Kendall will now join other members of the Commission who took the oath previously.
On July 5, 2007 after a lapse of three years Teaching Service Commission officers Maydha Persaud, Olga Britton, Chandrawattie Lela Ramson, Anoopwattie Veeren, George Cave and Genevieve Whyte-Nedd were appointed and sworn-in before President Bharrat Jagdeo following the Head of State’s consultation with the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R).
The Teaching Service Commission is a Constitutional stipulation along with the Judicial, Public Service and Police Service Commissions.
Article 207 stipulates that the Teaching Service Commission shall consist of a Chairman and not more than six other members. Six of the members of the Commission shall be appointed as follows:-
(a) one person appointed as Chairman of the Commission by the President acting after consultation with such bodies as appear to him to represent teachers;
(b) one person appointed by the President on the nomination of the Guyana Teachers' Association;
(c) one person nominated for appointment by the Minister assigned responsibility for local government after that Minister has consulted with such body as appears to him to represent the interests of local democratic organs; and
(d) three persons appointed to the President.
The other member of the Commission shall be the Chief Education Officer. A Deputy Chairman of the Commission shall be appointed by the President from among the appointed members.
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the power to appoint persons as teachers in the public service and to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices shall vest in the Teaching Service Commission.
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