DPI, GUYANA, Friday, January 19, 2018

The National Assembly on Friday night adopted the Fourth and Fifth Reports of the Standing Committee on Appointments to address matters relating to the Appointment of the Accountant and Attorney-at-Law of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), respectively.

Minister of Social Cohesion and Chairperson of the Committee on Appointments, Dr. George Norton.

Surendra Lall Boodhoo has been appointed as the Accountant of the FIU, while Yonette Romao Scarville is appointed the Attorney-at-Law.

Minister of Social Cohesion and Chairperson of the Committee on Appointments, Dr. George Norton moved the motion, which is in keeping with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Act 2015.

The two persons were selected by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments from shortlists provided, based on applications in response to public advertisements.

Dr. Norton told the House that the position of Accountant was advertised and subsequently 10 persons were shortlisted, but nine were interviewed after one applicant withdrew from the position.

After deliberations, the Committee reached a decision by majority and recommended Surendra Lall Boodhoo as a suitable person to be appointed as the Accountant of the FIU.

According to the Minister, the Committee had advertised for the position of Attorney-at-Law and subsequently shortlisted six applicants, but interviewed five, since one applicant withdrew. Yonette Romao Scarville was subsequently appointed by majority selection.

The Social Cohesion Minister said there were 20 meetings of the Committee. The Opposition raised concerns with the time it took for appointments to be made, however, the Minister explained to the House that there were several challenges to the process.

He expressed satisfaction that approval was granted by both sides of the House for the appointments to be made.

By: Stacy Carmichael

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DPI, GUYANA, Friday, January 19, 2018

The Third Report of the Standing Committee on Appointments to address matters relating to the Nomination and Appointment of Members to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), following brief debates, was on Friday night adopted in the National Assembly.

The motion for the adoption of the report which was moved by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton reads “whereas the parliamentary standing committee on appointments agreed to uphold resolution no 68 of 2014, which approved the list of entities to be consulted for nomination to the ethnic relations commission; and whereas the entities met and made submissions of their nominations between April 27, 2016, and January 25, 2017.”

The National Assembly also approved the appointment the following persons from the following categories as members of the Ethnic Relations Commission:

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton

Christian Bodies

Dr. John O. Smith

Hindu Bodies

Sister Rajkumarie Singh

Muslim Bodies

Mr. Roshan Khan

Labour Movement Bodies

Mr. Norris Emanuel Witter

Private Sector Organisations

Major-General (Retd.) Norman Mclean

Youth Organisations

Mr. Deodat Persaud

Women Organisations

Ms. Ruth Howard

Cultural/Ethnic Bodies

Afro-Guyanese

Mr. Barrington Braithwaite

Indo-Guyanese

Mr. Neaz Subhan

Indigenous/Amerindian Bodies

Mr. Ashton Simon

Minister Norton disclosed that there were nine meetings of the Committee, but difficulties were encountered with the Indo-Guyanese body. He acknowledged that more consultations with the citizens would have been welcomed.

However, he told the House that persons were not as responsive even when the deadlines were extended.

The Opposition raised concerns with the length of time it took for persons to be appointed the Commission. Minister Norton said while an earlier time would have been appropriate for such an important body, there were several hindrances to the process.

He expressed satisfaction that the appointments have been approved. The last ERC was dissolved in 2011.

By: Stacy Carmichael

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DPI, GUYANA, Friday, January 19, 2018

The Interim Report of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services, and the First and Second Special Reports of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services of the Tenth Parliament, were adopted in the National Assembly, on Friday.

The Interim Report of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic services was laid by MP Komal Chand and supported by the Government side of the House.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin expressed hope that the Committee will continue to examine the performance of the rice sector in its upcoming session given its importance to Guyana’s economic development. While Guyana lost a lucrative rice market in Venezuela, Minister Gaskin noted that the sector was able to rebound, “a testimony of the sector’s resilience.” “Government looks forward to further good news in the sector”, he added.

In his presentation, Foreign Affairs Minister Greenridge noted that the Committee’s meetings started off acrimoniously but found common ground as it relates to inadequacies in the system as a whole.

Several weaknesses both financial and systemic, the Minister said, were discovered in many agencies, including lack of measures to prevent overpayment, accounting officers found engaged in questionable activities being shifted to other agencies and the absence of performance bonds. Both Opposition and Government sides agreed that these deficiencies in many agencies affected the efficacy of their operations.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings.

Recommendations of the Committee included an increase in the engineering staff at the Audit office, that interagency challenges be addressed in the Audit Report and that the Finance Secretary determine the criteria for writing off losses.

In her presentation on the First Special Report of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services of the Tenth Parliament, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe assured that the Government improved a number of services for citizens since taking office and will continue to do so.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings while supporting the adoption of the Second Special Report of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services of the Tenth Parliament assured that in Barima-Waini, Region One where a visit was made by MPs to the Mabaruma Hospital and other offices, there has been a decline in maternal deaths in that region and other improvements in the regional public health system.

Member of Parliament, Komal Chand.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenridge.

By: Stacy Carmichael

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DPI, Georgetown, Guyana, Friday, January 19, 2018

As the Regional bloc continues to face some financial challenges Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge said that Guyana has been honouring its financial obligations.

On Wednesday, Minister Greenidge responding to reporters’ queries about the financial challenges faced by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said, “The financial challenges faced by CARICOM are not the result of failure by Guyana to make its contributions”.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

The Minister did, however, explain that CARICOM has been facing these financial challenges since the 2008 economic recession which shattered the economies of several of its Member States. While some have managed to rebound from the impact of the crisis, others have generally been unable to meet their financial obligations.

“CARICOM finds that is looking at greater needs, greater demands, expanding expenditure but the member states themselves have stated, for example in respect of this year and last year- we might something budgeting they are not prepared to find additional funds to do anything at all,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained.

The pipeline of funds for various projects, according to the minister, has become more restricted and that poses a difficulty for CARICOM, especially as the international community embraces a variety of new challenges (e.g. environment, global warming). Moreover, new institutions are established which sometimes require additional technicians and more funding, making it increasingly burdensome for most countries.

When asked whether Guyana may be asked to pay a larger financial contribution to CARICOM, due to the recent large oil find, Minister Greenidge stated, “No, but I wouldn’t expect responsible CARICOM governments to be demanding that you pay now in anticipation of revenues to appear in 2020 or beyond.  We have always contributed to CARICOM development in accordance with our own capacity.”

CARICOM is one of the oldest integration schemes in the Western Hemisphere, the largest in terms of membership with fifteen nations. The main objective is to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members; the bloc of nations is financed through annual contributions by Member States.

By: Zanneel Williams

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DPI, GUYANA, Friday, January 19, 2018

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde, Second Vice-President Rawlston Adams and Technical Director, Ian Greenwood and a team today visited the site where the Guyana National Training Centre (GNTC) will be constructed in Providence.

The current state of the National Training Centre.

The GFF President remarked that work on the Centre is progressing well, despite the initial completion date of January for the first phase being moved to April, following the inclement weather experienced during December last year.

Vice-President Adams said that despite the bad weather, a large portion of the infrastructural work has been carried out on the facility. He noted that sand-filling of the site is about 60 percent completed and the concrete curb wall is approximately 95 percent completed. Those works are being carried out by sub-contractor Nabi and Son’s.

By January 22, 2018, the main contractor Greenfields is expected to assume control and conduct the remainder of the works which include drainage, and laying of the artificial turf. Most of the materials are already on the ground while others are currently on their way to the country.

Once the artificial turf is handed over to the GFF, the facility is expected to be used immediately for training. The centre will also be outfitted with temporary stands for spectators and Tier-two lighting for proper illumination.

While the National Training Centre will focus mainly on being a developmental centre for footballers in Guyana, it will also be used for entertainment purposes as a means of having the facility maintain itself.

Once completed, it will be the first state-of-the-art football facility, that seeks to produce a cadre of footballers that will be a force to be reckoned with regionally and internationally.

President, Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde.

Guyana Football Federation, Second Vice President, Rawlston Adams.

By: Isaiah Braithwaite

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DPI, GUYANA, Friday, January 19, 2018

Some 1,600 sugar workers whose severances are $500,000 and less will receive their payment in full at the end of January.

This decision was made following a meeting between the government and the unions for the 4,763 redundant sugar workers of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said today.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan.

“I’m not saying they accepted it but we did put it to them. That proposal is to pay in full those whose severance is $500,000 and less and to continue to pay 50 percent as agreed with the others.”

The Finance Minister today initially brought a finance paper to the Committee of Supply, in National Assembly, for the sum of $1.75B for the payment of the sugar workers. Before voting on the allocation, Minister Jordan invoked Standing Order 76 to amend the figure to $1.931B.

While Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira objected to the non-written submittal of the amendment to the financial paper, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, moved a motion, invoking Standing Order 121, for the suspension of Standing Order 76 to allow the amendment without a written submission.

“The exigency of the situation requires that we pay the sugar workers their severance and the House is gathered today for the purpose of approving the severance,” Minister Trotman noted.

The government side of the House won the motion for the amendment without written submission and the supplementary appropriation was subsequently approved and passed as amended.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder told the Department of Public Information (DPI) following the approval of the supplementary provision that “one-third of the 4.763 workers would have been totally paid off for their service”.

Minister Holder assured that all benefits owed to the sugar workers will be paid by GuySuCo. “It all there in the cash flow for the company (GuySuCo) ) for this year, it’s all budgeted for it will be paid.”

The government has to pay out a total of $4.24B to redundant sugar workers. While the 2018 National Budget allocates $500M, this supplementary allocation will cover just over half of that pay-out.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said that today was a good day for sugar workers. “Today is a very great day in the National Assembly, the coalition government was able to pull together as much as it can to pay one half of the severance to some of the workers who are entitled to $500,000 and more and to pay 100 percent to all those who fall below.”

By: Tiffny Rhodius

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PM condemns Opposition for capitalising on sufferings of sugar workers

DPI, GUYANA, Friday, January 19, 2018   

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo called out the Opposition for their “delaying tactics” towards the government’s efforts to find funds to pay out severance to redundant sugar workers.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Today, Prime Minister Nagamootoo condemned the Opposition for using sugar workers for political mileage following the approval of a $1.931B supplementary allocation in the National Assembly towards the severance of the more than 4,000 sugar workers.

“For me, it was an emotional experience to sit there and seeing an opposition trying to frustrate the efforts of the government to find monies to pay the severance. They are actually celebrating the pauperisation of sugar workers and they are capitalising on their sufferings.”

The Opposition raised their objection to the permitting of the amendment of the figure of the supplementary allocation because there was no written submission. However, a government motion overcame those objections.

The Prime Minister noted that he was “disgusted” with the Opposition for misleading sugar workers. “I know the issue was portrayed by the Opposition as being that the government and GuySuCo were not paying the workers any severance. They went to the grassroots and tell people that they will not receive any severance pay,” he noted.

The government is working with unions to find alternative livelihoods for the redundant workers. “Today was a better experience that the unions came forward and that they want to work with GuySuCo  and all other related agencies to see how we can be able to deal with the impact of closure of estates and the modernisation of the sugar industry so that they do not suffer unduly,” the Prime Minister said.

Today’s supplementary approval will see some 1,600 sugar workers whose severance is $500,000 or less receive their full severance at the end of January while the remaining will receive half as previously indicated by President David Granger.

PM Nagamootoo made it clear that the government is working to secure the continuation of the sugar industry and the jobs of the remaining 11,000 workers contrary to the contentions of the Opposition. “We are in support of sugar workers. We know what any merger of the estate will cause, we’re trying to save the sugar industry.”

By: Tiffny Rhodius

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Georgetown, Guyana – (January 19, 2018) President David Granger was, today, paid a courtesy call by Brazil’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ricardo Jose Magalhᾱes Barros and a delegation from that country who are currently in Guyana on an official visit to discuss areas in which the two states can strengthen cooperation, particularly in the health sector. The meeting was held at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

From left: Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Lineu Pupo de Paula, Federal Deputy of São Paulo, Ms. Bruna Dias Furlan, President David Granger, Vice-Governor of Paranά, Ms. Maria Aparecida Borghetti and Brazil’s Health Minister, Dr. Ricardo Jose Magalhᾱes Barros at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The visiting Minister’s delegation included the Vice-Governor of Paranά, Ms. Maria Aparecida Borghetti and the Federal Deputy of São Paulo, Ms. Bruna Dias Furlan.

President Granger said that the fact that the Minister’s visit came so soon after his own State Visit to Brazil, shows a commitment and willingness on both sides to strengthen the cordial 50-year-old diplomatic relationship. The President also noted that while Guyana welcomes cooperation in the health sector, it looks forward to deepening cooperation in other areas such as oil and gas, infrastructure and environmental security. 

The visiting delegation also met with Minister of Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence and officials from the health ministry. 

Georgetown, Guyana – (January 19, 2018) President David Granger, along with members of  Cabinet, today, met with the President and members of the Guyana Agricultural and Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) at the Ministry of the Presidency to discuss the future of the sugar industry. After more than two hours of discussions, the parties were able to find common ground and the Unions agreed to fully cooperate with the Government to find a solution, which can benefit all stakeholders.

President Granger, who addressed members of the Union said that this is the start of talks between the two sides so that an agreement can be reached at the earliest possible time. The Head of State noted that this is the time for all stakeholders to come together, putting aside all prejudices and partisan interests and work for the national good.

“This is a national matter. It is not a partisan one. It involves human beings, households and families. We are conscious of the foresighted nature and we cannot ignore the context of the issue that we face. We cannot continue something that is not competitive. We are bailing out the industry at $1B per month and that is simply not sustainable. If workers have to go home then we all lose, as it will have an impact on the economic growth of the country. Government will not win, the Unions will not win and the workers will not win if the industry is crippled. We will all lose. Nobody is against the sugar industry. The Government and the Unions should engage until the issue is resolved. Let us use this opportunity to show flexibility and ensure that livelihoods are saved,” the President said.

The President noted that while there may be a difference of opinion during the discussions, he does not believe in walkouts or refusals to cooperate and it is up to both the Government and the Unions to ensure that they work together to formalise a solution, which will positively impact the lives of the workers.

Severance

During the meeting, Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan, said that the Government is currently exploring the option of paying the full severance for the workers who are owed $400,000 and below by the end of the month. Approximately 46 percent of the workers affected stand to benefit from this arrangement while the remaining 54 percent of workers will be paid 50 percent of their severance by the end of the month and the other 50 percent by the second half of the year.

Minister Jordan said that the Government is taking measures to reduce its debt and redouble its efforts to increase revenues so that they can source the money to pay the outstanding sums.

Micro Financing and Skills training

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, said that the Ministry is deeply concerned with the realities of the current situation facing the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the affected workers and as such, stands ready to provide any assistance that it can.

In this regard, she noted that the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) as well as the Port Mourant Training Centre will be utilised to train and upgrade the skills of the workers. Additionally, she noted that the service of the Micro Credit Unit at the Ministry is available to lend assistance, as there are micro-financing available for start-up projects.

“We are cognisant that many workers will now have to explore the idea of entering a new realm of employment and already we have given great consideration in a number of areas to go forward. The public health facilities in various locations will still be of service to persons working in those areas. The Board of Industrial Training has been conducting trainings in several areas such as engineering, building and masonry, carpentry, information and communication technology, forestry, home economics and health services. This certainly will provide opportunities for alternative skills by equipping persons with the necessary knowledge, skills and training relevant for employment. These types of training will be continuous. In addition to that, we will collaborate with the Ministry of Natural Resources to provide additional training opportunities with an oil and gas focus and the Port Mourant Training Centre will be utilised for this purpose,” she said.

Minister Ally also echoed sentiments shared by the President, noting that this is not the time to politicise the issue but rather, for the Unions and Government to work together.

Head of GAWU, Mr. Komal Chand, in his remarks, said that he is pleased with the outcome of the meeting, as he noted that the Union is now committed to working with the administration to draft feasible solutions.

“We have listened and we are satisfied that you are concerned with the issues. We are ready to work along with the Government to explore the options and we are going to give our best to see the situation out. You are right that there are no winners in this and we are willing… We are certainly pleased with this meeting. This is the first meeting [for the year] we have been able to have with the Government and we believe that the meeting took place in a positive atmosphere and we recognise that the Government itself pays attention and I think that it is a good beginning. That is certainly important ground rule that we dialogue, that we talk and try to find an answer for the way forward. We are pleased. From GAWU, we are very pleased and it spells out that the future engagement are in the interest of the workers, the industry and the country,” he said.

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon said that the Government is pleased too that both sides came prepared and were pragmatic in the circumstances, recognising that the interest of the industry and the workers are paramount. “The President himself set the tone for the meeting and indicated that what he wanted to see is both sides working in the best interest of the worker and in the best interest of the industry. We have committed ourselves in Government to allocate the necessary resources to ensure that workers who are severed that they receive their severance pay. I believe that the meeting was characterised by good faith on both sides and that the unions were very forthright and represented the interest of the workers and we appreciate the way in which the meeting went,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder, Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan and Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Jaipaul Sharma.

The three sides will meet again at a date to be determined.