(Final of 2 parts on Guyana's Debt)
Using debt to finance development initiatives is not necessarily unusual in any country. Typically, the initiatives financed by debt have either a direct or an indirect positive return. But in Guyana’s case, the returns have not been commensurate with the level of debt that the country continues to incur.
As noted in Part 1 of this article, Guyana’s domestic and external public debt has continued to climb higher in spite of debt relief/forgiveness which completely wiped out the debt that the current administration inherited from its predecessor. In effect, the total national debt comprising of US$1.042 billion in

To give the government credit, it has spent substantial sums on infrastructural improvements, including roads, bridges, water, etc. But the development that normally follows such improvements has not materialized. Arguably, these developments are important but they come at a huge cost.
Current revenues have also increased sharply, rising from G$41 billion in 2000 to G$95 billion at the end of 2009, giving the government increased leverage to finance development (See Table 5). But the increase in revenues has not led to a reduction in borrowing. Rather, it has been ploughed into operational spending.
As a component of GDP, the country’s balance of visible trade has steadily deteriorated, with the trade deficit increasing from US$80.6 million in 2000 to US$401.1 million in 2009, with a peak in 2008 of US$522.1 million (See Table 6). Evidently, the productive infrastructure, which has also been a beneficiary of debt, has underperformed.
The reality is: Guyana has historically had limited implementation capacity and suffers from weak governance and flawed program design. The unavailability of a formal development strategy amplifies these weaknesses, leading to unplanned and ad hoc program implementation. High levels of corruption and autocratic decision-making add to these shortcomings.
Even though the IMF recognizes that Guyana’s debt level has been rising, it has continued to support the country's borrowing initiatives, albeit with periodic reservations. In fact, Guyana is one on the most prolonged users of IMF funds, meaning that the country has been unable to sustain itself without borrowing.
Theoretically, the easy availability of debt hinders the development of a robust domestic policy formulation process. The country recognizes that it can borrow to finance its needs and consequently is nonchalant about developing strategies to become self-supporting.
In the past, Guyana has effectively capitalized on the fact that it can pass the begging bowl around the international financing community (IFC) and come home with it full - all in the name of relieving the debt burden on its people. But preying on the sensitivities of the IFC might not always work, unless the IFC sees some benefit to putting their alms in the begging bowl.
Incidentally, Guyana suffers from wide imbalances and deep-seated problems, which can only be addressed by strategic planning and management. The country has been run by debt and debt forgiveness for more than a decade – not by astute managers of the economy. If its rate of borrowing continues apace, its debt would once again become unsustainable.
At the end of the day, the politicians who run Guyana are not personally affected by the accumulation of debt. The burden eventually falls on the people.

 

Guyana launches first Kidney Foundation on World Kidney Day

Georgetown — Guyana’s first Kidney Foundation was launched last Thursday as part of the observances of the Sixth World Kidney Day which was observed under the theme ‘Protect your kidneys, save your heart’. The launch was attended by a number of prominent citizens including Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister within the Health Ministry, Dr Bheri Ramsaran.
Chairman of the Foundation, Major General (Retired) Joseph Singh, said the Foundation is a registered charity, with an account at Scotiabank, “into which I hope corporate citizens of means will contribute generously so that the Foundation would have the financial resources to execute its mission…”
Dr. Rahul Jindal, transplant specialist from Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, Washington, DC, who performed the first four ever kidney transplants in Guyana, welcomed the foundation. Speaking from his Washington office, Dr Jindal said, “This is a positive step and I welcome it. It is always good to bring like-minded people together. Creating such headquarters of social networking is the beginning of a dynamic education process.
“Former Army Major Winston George, a former patient of mine, has been working closely with a number of institutions and patients to establish such a public awareness programme. Now, with the GKF also, it would be much more organized and the process of passing on information from doctors, health care professionals and the patients and their family themselves will be extremely beneficial.”
Dr Jindal was expected to perform another kidney transplant on Gopinauth Rampersaud, 34, of Corentyne, Berbice. Gopinauth’s brother, Kapildeo, 32, a mechanic, will donate his kidney.
In establishing the Foundation inputs were drawn from the Ministry of Health, the Five G Dialysis Centre, Dr Deen Sharma, Hugh Cholmondeley, the Foundation’s Secretary; Claudette Harry, Treasurer, as well as a number of other organisations and individuals including Emeritus Professor of the University of the West Indies, Dr George Nicholson, who is also on the board of directors.
The design and implementation of the annual work plans of the foundation will fall under the responsibility of three committees – the Committee for Informed Citizens, chaired by Dr Deen Sharma; the Committee responsible for Informed Policy Makers, chaired by Dr Surendra Persaud, and the Committee responsible for Assisting Patients, chaired by Professor Nicholson.
Designed to be driven by charitable support, the Foundation is geared at not only helping to channel disadvantaged persons towards gaining financial assistance but to ensure that they are aware of important behavioural practices to promote healthy lifestyles.
According to Chairman of the Foundation, Major General (Retired) Joseph Singh, World Kidney Day is the most widely celebrated event associated with kidney disease and the most successful effort to raise awareness among the general public and Government health officials about the dangers of chronic kidney disease.

 

Georgetown — The government is looking to get more farmers involved in exporting rice and paddy to Venezuela.
This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud last Friday when he met with rice millers and exporters at his Regent and Vlissengen Roads office. He stated that an advertisement will be out on Sunday calling for suppliers for the Venezuela market in order to ensure transparency since it is one from which Guyana enjoys better prices.
The Minister said: “For the existing contract we have close to 6,500 metric tons of white rice to be supplied and close to 22,000 metric tons of paddy ... and we’re currently in negotiations with the Venezuelans and we hope possibly a mission [could] be mounted sometime next week.” He added that Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has been in contact with the Venezuelans to move quickly to tie up the successor agreement in which he hoped they could see some modifications.
The minister added that priority will be given to the farmers' groups who have organised themselves to export as well as more individual farmers. However, he pointed out that they will not discriminate against the traditional exporters and suppliers. But they would be looking at the performance of the first set of exporters since some of them fell short and others had to take up the slack. Persaud added that there were some logistics still to be improved such as the off-loading time which they have raised with the authorities in Caracas. The minister noted that they are hoping to have the shipments finalised by the end of next week.
He also mentioned that missions will be heading to Jamaica and Trinidad later this month to explore additional market opportunities in those countries. Guyanese rice farmers began exporting paddy directly to Venezuela in October last year as the government encouraged them to bypass the middlemen in order to realise more returns on their investments.

 

Georgetown — “Guyana’s outlook remains positive for 2011, an election year, and through the medium term. Road projects, construction of a large hydropower plant at Amaila Falls (AFHP), and implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) should sustain growth levels above the long-run trend of 3 percent, at around 5 percent over the medium term before tapering off in 2015 as one-off projects are completed,” the IMF said in a report released on March 4, 2011. However, it warned of downside risks including those linked to fiscal pressures arising from lagging productivity in the Guyana Sugar Corporation, the need to strengthen the finances of the National Insurance Scheme, and a possible fall-off in aid commitments.
The Directors of the IMF Board noted that the development of forestry-based environmental services, private sector plans for the exploitation of Guyana’s natural resources, and large infrastructure investments are supporting Guyana’s medium-term growth prospects. Commenting on Government’s LCDS, the report stated that the successful implementation of the LCDS, with international support, would lift Guyana’s long-term growth prospects and reduce poverty.
“Considering the authorities’ intention to finalise soon their poverty reduction strategy, directors encouraged a continued dialogue with all stakeholders to maintain consensus on the development agenda,” the IMF said.
Of Guyana’s performance last year, the IMF stated that the Guyanese economy demonstrated resilience in registering its fifth consecutive year of growth in 2010. It added that despite external and domestic shocks, the economy expanded in 2010 by around 3.4 percent, which was a slight improvement over 2009.
The IMF, in its Article IV consultation with Guyana, stated that expansion in the gold and services sectors, which helped offset lower output in the sugar sector, supported the growth realised.
The report observed that end-year inflation rose from 3.7 percent in 2009 to 4.4 percent in 2010, reflecting higher food prices. “Although the external current account deficit is estimated to have widened to 11.4 percent of GDP, a steady inflow of public external financing and foreign direct investment were sufficient to finance the deficit and strengthen foreign reserves to the equivalent of five months of imports,” the report noted.
The report also stated that in 2010, the overall fiscal balance is estimated to have weakened by close to 1 percentage point of GDP, to 4.3 percent of GDP, due to weak performance in public enterprises, not fully offset by a decline in investment and despite strong central government revenues.

 

Georgetown — With the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) moving to decommission ID cards which were issued before the 2008 House-to-House Registration exercise GECOM is urging persons who have not yet picked up their ID cards to do at the earliest.
GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally stated that GECOM is still in possession of over 50,000 ID Cards that were produced from the 2008 House-to-House Registration Exercise and the Claims and Objections Exercise. A release from GECOM issued last Friday stated that it had been meeting with the political parties in relation to the preparations for the General and Regional Elections constitutionally due later this year.
The release stated that “Dr. Surujbally had emphasized the urgency for all of the Political and Civil stakeholders to promulgate among their respective constituents the need for registrants who have not as yet collected their ID Cards to do so without any further delay. Dr. Surujbally made it abundantly clear during the meetings that GECOM is moving to decommission all ID cards that were issued prior to the 2008 House-to-House Registration exercise." The release added that those persons who have not uplifted their ID cards and those with previous ID cards who are not now registered would be without a valid means of identification unless they are in possession of valid passports. The new ID cards are also needed to vote at the upcoming polls.
GECOM has so far held meetings with the People’s National Congress Reform, the Justice For All Party and the Alliance For Change. Further, the chairman and senior staff of the Commission’s Secretariat also met with a team of representatives led by Peter Ramsaroop from the Guyana’s People’s Partnership.
According to GECOM, Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo has since noted that GECOM will be organising consecutive interactive sessions with all of the known political parties to advise them on the requirements for contesting the elections.

 

Georgetown — The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has sent out an alert of delays in mail coming from Canada since these have been routed through Jamaica.
The Postal Administration in Canada has written the GPOC, advising that it has been routing mail and packages through Jamaica since December 2010 as a consequence of measures put in place by the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The advisory from Canada Post states in part that: “As a result of the US aviation security directive, mail from Canada sent to Central American, South American and Caribbean destinations has experienced delays.” It went on to note that they “are working with transportation providers to the best of their ability to maintain the level of service expected of them”.
The Guyana Post Office Corporation said it will provide updates regarding this situation as information becomes available from Canada Post. “The public is assured that the Corporation remains committed to the expeditious delivery of mail and packages as soon as they arrive in Guyana,” the GPOC stated.

 

Georgetown — The ‘Le Levant’, the second cruise ship to arrive in Guyana for 2011, docked at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) wharf last Saturday for a brief visit.
The passengers of the French cruise liner were given a warm welcome by a committee which included Director of Guyana Tourism Authority, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh; Coordinator of National and Other Events at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Avalon Jagnandan; representatives from Wilderness Explorers; and members of the media. The group was invited on board to interact with the crew and passengers.
While there, Haralsingh pointed out that over the last couple of years, Guyana has been visited more frequently by a number of cruise ships, including the ‘Saga Pearl’, which was here only last month.
“We are very very happy that this ship is here in Guyana, and added to this, we are expecting another vessel on April 4,” he announced.
Haralsingh noted that ‘Le Levant’ was just the right size of vessel for our waterways, since it is much smaller than those that came previously, in that it can be easily navigated. He added “This is a small cruise vessel, with a small number of passengers, but is tailor-made for off-the-beaten-path destinations of the world.” The ship has a capacity of 99 passengers but only 34 came on this trip.
It is the second trip for Captain Van Danne Rogers who brought another vessel previously. He said he is looking forward to coming again.

 

Georgetown — Fitzroy Williams, 39, a labourer of East Bank Berbice, rubbed faeces on himself to avoid being taken to court last Friday.
He was eventually brought before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo to answer four charges — two counts each of assaulting a peace officer and two counts each of resisting arrest. He was granted $10,000 bail on each count and told to return to court on 1st April
Corporal Sherlock King told the court that last Wednesday, at Glasgow, Williams assaulted Cadet Officer Singh and Corporal Brandt when they responded to a report that someone was digging up iron from a private property in the Glasgow area without permission.
Upon their arrival at the scene Williams was identified and the cops cautioned him and told him to desist from the activity. However, Williams challenged the police and started to behave in a disorderly manner, using indecent language.
As the police were about to arrest him, he allegedly pushed Brandt away and when Singh intervened he allegedly cuffed Singh.
Williams was arrested and taken to the Central Police Station, where he was charged. But when he was taken to court last Friday he refused to go before the Magistrate. He tore his clothes and proceeded to rub faeces on his skin, all the time protesting his innocence. He was then taken back to the police station lockups.

 

Georgetown — Police Sargeant Dexter Clementson of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) was granted $300,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry last Thursday, charged with rape under the new Sexual Offences Act.
Clementson, a Drill Sargeant, was also ordered to lodge his passport with the court. He has to return to court on April 6, 2011.
Clementson was charged based on advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions following a probe into the incident. It is alleged that Clementson, on March 3, sexually assaulted a 19-year old, male constable. According to media reports, the constable who was raped had been under pressure from the sergeant over an alleged inappropriate relationship and because he did not accede to his superior’s request, he was subject to victimization on the job. However, the constable confided in two other senior officers who brought the matter to light.

 

Georgetown — Carlos Persaud, 31, father of a seven-year-old girl, was found dead last Saturday morning at the Le Repentir Cemetery with four suspected gunshot wounds, shortly after he was reported missing by worried family members.
The businessman, of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was said to be the owner of a number of trucks which are contracted to the Guyana Power and Light Inc and ECI, an electrical contracting company also from Friendship. His car was earlier recovered in “C” Field Sophia after police were tipped off by suspicious residents.
Robbery did not seem to be the motive for the killing as nothing seemed to be missing from the dead man and his car was recovered intact. Investigators are attempting to piece together a motive.
According to Kaieteur News (KN) a drug addict, who frequents the Le Repentir Cemetery, stumbled on the body which was lying face down. He immediately informed the security personnel at the location who called in the police. The body was shirtless and it is believed that Persaud was taken to the cemetery area, not far from the old mortuary, and killed. His hands were said to be duct-taped and there appeared to be signs of a struggle in the area.
No one reported hearing any shots fired although the body bore two gunshot wounds to the upper back and two more to the left side chest.

 

Georgetown — Three students of the University of Guyana (UG) appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court last Monday on charges ranging from simple larceny to burglary to cultivation of marijuana. Kestta Brian, 21, Sanjay Surajpaul, 18 both second year students, and Carren Fiedtkou, 23 were arrested and charged after police gathered evidence against them.
Police prosecutor, Sergeant Lionel Harvey, told the court that on March 10, at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, the three accused pilfered $80,000 worth of equipment from Cleveland Munroe. It is alleged that the three broke into Munroe’s apartment and carted off a motor car valued $2 million. The prosecutor alleged that on March 11 last, at Cummings Lodge, police unearthed two grams of marijuana at an apartment occupied by both Brian and Surajpaul. Lawmen also found that the two were cultivating three seedlings suspected to be that of marijuana. Brian and Surajpaul declared their innocence on those charges.
Lawyer for the accused said that Fiedtkou once shared an intimate relationship with the plaintiff and the charges stemmed from jealousy. Magistrate Beharry then granted bail in the sum of $50,000 each on the charge of possession of cannabis and $100,000 each on the charge of burglary and $10,000 each for the indictable offences of simple larceny. Brian and Surajpaul were denied their pre-trial liberty for the offence of cultivating cannabis.
The matter of ganja possession was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for March 18. The other charges will remain at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was set for a second hearing on April 1

 

Georgetown — A man, suspected of killing his female companion, surrendered one day after her decomposing body was found in a canal in ‘D’ Field Sophia.
A post mortem on the body of Special Constable, Nebert Isaacs-Bacon of 'D' Field, Sophia revealed that she died of asphyxiation due to compression injury to the neck, compounded by blunt trauma to the head.
The suspect, who walked into the Turkeyen Police Station last Monday, accompanied by his lawyer, Maxwell Mc Kay, has been arrested and placed in police custody.
It is believed that the woman was killed elsewhere and then brought to the location where her body was found. The body, which was discovered last Sunday morning by a lad from ‘D’ Field Sophia, was clad in a green T-shirt and blue denim skirt.
She had worked as a Special Constable at Magistrate Fazil Azeez’s residence in Kitty.

 

Georgetown — Police Constable 18170 Baldeo remained under close arrest at the Leonora Police Station up to last Monday as police continued to investigate allegations that he had stabbed Parika resident, Clyde Daniels last weekend.
According to reports Daniels was drinking at a Parika restaurant when he became involved in an altercation with a policeman, identified as Constable Baldeo. Baldeo is alleged to have stabbed Daniels in the neck with a broken bottle after the altercation became heated.
Daniels was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. He has since been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where his condition has reportedly improved.
Ranks from the Parika Police Station immediately rushed to the scene and arrested their colleague who was said to be living at Parika Backdam.
The police is still to question the victim about the alleged assault.
The cop could face charges of attempted murder.

 

Georgetown — On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Time Magazine named 16 women whom it regarded as history’s most rebellious women. Included among them is Guyana’s late President, Mrs. Janet Jagan.
Others listed in the magazine’s top 16 were Tawakul Karman of Yemen, Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma), Corazon Aquino (the Philippines), Phoolan Devi (India), Golda Meir (Israel), Angela Davis (U.S.), Vilma Lucila Espín (Cuba), Jiang Qing (China), Nadezhda Krupskaya (Russia), Susan B. Anthony (U.S.), Emmeline Pankhurst (Britain), Harriet Tubman (U.S.), Mary Wollstonecraft (Britain), Joan of Arc (France) and Boudica (Britain).
Following is the Time Magazine's account of Mrs. Jagan:
For Chicago-born Janet Jagan, the vibrant labor struggles in the mid-20th century of her own country were not enough. After falling in love with Cheddi Jagan, a Guyanese dentistry student at Northwestern, Jagan followed her future husband, with Lenin's writings in hand, to his homeland in 1943. Setting up shop as a dental assistant, she set out on a path that would lead to her becoming Guyana's first female President. In 1946 she and her husband founded the People's Progressive Party, which sought to promote Marxist ideals as well as decolonization from the U.K. In the late 1940s, the Jagans inspired strikes by domestic workers in what was then referred to as "British Guyana." The movement attracted the ire of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who put the Jagans in jail. But Janet Jagan proved to be a political survivor, remaining in the game despite various attempts to purge her from leadership posts. An impolitic p.r. campaign singing the praises of the Cuban revolution in the 1960s attracted the attention of John F. Kennedy, who in turn targeted Guyana's labor unions. Relegated to the sidelines after a leftist government flopped in the 1960s, Jagan took to the pages of the Mirror newspaper, becoming its editor. By the time she was elected President in 1997, the country had achieved the independence from Britain that she had sought and had nationalized much of its economy.

 

Georgetown — Using its parliamentary majority the government passed the Title to Land (Prescription and Limitation) (Amendment) Bill 2011 last Thursday, despite objections by all Opposition members of Parliament.
PNC/R Member of Parliament Amna Ally said that the constitutionality of this Bill is certain to be challenged and is certainly destined for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). People’s National Congress Reform Member Debra Backer objected to the Bill on the ground that it would negatively impact hundreds of people. Alliance for Change Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan said his party could not support the bill based on its unconstitutionality, among other reasons.
However, on the second reading of the Bill, Attorney General Charles Ramson explained that the amendments sought to address the acquisition of land title by prescription, by amending Sections 3 and 13 of the Principal Act.
According to the Minister of Legal Affairs, the government did not come with any underhand motive, but to “ensure that what was given by the Act in 1952 was adjusted because there is what is called a dynamic shift in property rights and motives behind people making use of the invigilance of those who are supposed to be protecting state’s property.” He said that the Bill “did not allow for any disadvantageous act to be taken against any possessor of land.”
People’s National Congress Reform Member Debra Backer said that Opposition Leader Robert Corbin had written to the Prime Minister as leader of government business in the House, requesting a deferral to allow for deeper consultation with members of its constituencies.
However, in his rebuttal, Minister Ramson disclosed that the deferral which the PNC requested only arrived that morning and contained no sound reasons, in his judgment, as to why such an action was necessary. Whilst dismissing Ramjattan’s claims of unconstitutionality, Minister Ramson noted that the act sought to prevent “lawless, furtive behaviour” and does not “violate the spirit or the letter of the constitution.”
Attorney-at-Law and PPP member Anil Nandlall, explaining the tenets of the Bill, maintained that it in no way impinged on a person’s right to acquire land privately, but was being advanced for the “protection of the natural patrimony of Guyana.”

 

Georgetown — Barama Company Limited (BCL), which closed its operations last October, is gearing up to restart its plywood operations at its Land of Canaan facility by June this year. The company has already started advertising for staffers.
According to notices published recently in the Kaieteur News (KN), former employees can apply for positions that will be available in the company’s ply-sheet factory.
According Mohindra Chand, Head of Corporate Affairs and Forest Planning, BCL is still looking at a June restart of the plywood manufacturing.
The company suffered severe damage to a boiler at its operations in October last year which forced it to shut down its operations with immediate effect and send home more than 270 workers some of whom had more than a decade of service with the company. BCL reportedly later blamed a number of its staff for failing to carry out routine checks which caused water to run out from its boiler leading to significant damage to the boiler.
Under pressure from the government for a speedy repair to the boiler, BCL had disclosed that it would have resumed normal operations by year-end, but later indicated that it would be installing a smaller boiler by June. The company said that the smaller boiler was expected to enable the factory to produce plywood for the local market until a replacement for the larger, damaged equipment was procured.
“We are very much on stream for a June restart. Right now, we are advertising for staffers and these positions are open for former staffers also,” Chand revealed.
According to KN the construction industry had been hard-hit by the closure of the factory with supplies dwindling within weeks, as the housing sector continues to boom, fueling high demand.
Last December, the company announced it was importing plywood to help bridge the shortfall. Government had also allowed the importation of plywood, a heavily favoured material for home builders.

 

 

Georgetown — Guyana, last Thursday, launched its first mobile directory specifically designed for cell phone users which allows them to access the telephone directory on their mobile phones. The website access is being offered for free.
Owner of the site and Perception Public Relations (PPR) Ajay Baksh, told the media the www.oi.gy service, seeks to connect cell phone users with businesses by putting a yellow page style directory “right at the touch of your fingers.” He says this is also a first for the Caribbean.
The service, which is being operated by Perception Public Relations, features a click to call technology right from one’s internet enabled phone. Baksh, speaking at the launching noted that “The ‘Oi’ (a Guyanese expression for ‘hello’) service at www.oi.gy puts the power of the phonebook in one’s cell phone free of charge regardless of which network you are on.
“It will be available 24/7 to anyone who has an internet enabled phone. It is the power of search in your hands on the go and any time you need it. Oi.gy links customers with businesses in an active directory with click to call convenience for less than the cost of a few sweets; it cost a few coins to get access to users all across Guyana on both phone networks.
“Oi.gy is a unique Guyanese innovation that seeks to let users get more out of their phone and to help businesses maximise the scarce advertising dollars. The service can refine your results depending on which area of Guyana you are.
“So, for example, if you are visiting Berbice or Essequibo and need a restaurant, hotel, taxi etc. you simply type in the keyword and select the area you are in. The results appear and you click to call.”

 

Georgetown — The United States Embassy in Guyana has announced that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will close its mission here in Fiscal Year 2012, as part of the USAID worldwide strategy.
The announcement added that this is in an effort to be more efficient in the management of its aid resources in a tight budgetary environment. The release further stated that the closure does not signal the end of USAID’s relationship with this country, as the U.S. Government, including USAID, will continue to remain involved in working with the Guyanese Government and people to respond to key development challenges.
One of the programs being managed by USAID and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is the (U.S.) President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which focuses on reducing HIV transmission, mitigating the impact of the illness and strengthening the public health care system. The release noted that Guyana is a focus country under the PEPFAR and, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the USAID health program is focused on prevention, treatment, care and support services for persons living with HIV/AIDS, as well as those orphaned or vulnerable.
The program also strengthens public health systems and enhances civil society and the private sector response to HIV/AIDS, the release said, adding that its current priorities include prevention programming that ensures safe motherhood, promotes abstinence and faithfulness, as well as targeted approaches for at-risk populations.
The release pointed out that Guyana will also continue to participate in and benefit from the U.S. Government’s Regional Citizens Security Programme, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which focuses on responding to the causes of crime and violence with the management of these programs being transferred to USAID’s Caribbean Regional Mission in Barbados, to take advantage of efficiencies of scale.

 

Georgetown — Following the recent strike by the mini-bus owners which left commuters on the East Coast of Demerara route stranded Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad said in an effort to protect the rights of consumers, the Consumer Affairs Bill will be introduced in Parliament within a few weeks.
“This sets out the rights of consumers, their duties and functions and, if you breach any of the regulations, there are penalties…fines,” the Minister said, commenting on the bill.
Minister Prashad indicated that at present there is no established body to regulate the fare structure for public transportation.
He made the disclosure during a media briefing, at his Ministry, last week, where he sought to address concerns over the recent strike action by some mini-bus operators, who were demanding increases from commuters, on the basis of escalating fuel prices.
“Right now, it is moral suasion, basically, so we spoke with some of the mini- bus associations and set up a structure but there is nothing in writing although there is this fare structure by the bus owners themselves,” Prashad explained.
He said travellers will, undoubtedly, be affected by any increase in the normal charges.
In his presentation for the 2011 Budget debate in the National Assembly, Minister Prashad had announced that the Bill, which was being drafted and was in its final stage of review and vetting, would be presented to the House this year.
He explained that such promulgation will assist in promoting and protecting consumer interests in relation to the supply of goods and services and help prevent businesses from engaging in fraud or specific unfair practices.
In addition, it would also serve as a form of government regulation, which aims to protect consumers and enable them to make better choices in the market place and to ensure fair trade and free flow of truthful information to the public.
Prashad also pointed out that, despite there being no formal regulatory body, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has, in the past, sought to equip consumers with the information necessary to make wise choices as well as to inform them of their rights and responsibilities.
To keep the public informed, the ministry will be collaborating with the Guyana Consumers’ Association, Consumer Movement of Guyana, Consumer Advisory Bureau, Analyst Department Food and Drugs Department, Public Utilities Commission and Guyana National Bureau of Standards.

 

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