Captain Zakaria El Dib told President Donald Ramotar during a visit to the operation at the Andrew Basin that the other port would enable two ships to be loaded at the same time.

He said too that the bauxite can be stockpiled on the barges so the ships would not have to wait a long time to load.

Zakaria El Dib (centre) speaking to President Donald Ramotar during a tour of the operation at the Andrew Basin as Minister Robeson Benn, Regional Chairman, David Armogan and other Oldendorff staff look on

The president, along with Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn first had a tour of the Oldendorff compound at New Amsterdam and then at the transshipment port.

Captain El Dib said the company passed through a rough time when it was only loading two ships per month but it was patient and the time has come now for it to thrive.

The president also encouraged El Dib to look at the possibility of getting involved with the manganese company which is slated to begin commercial operations next year. He responded that the offer sounds “interesting and if we can do it we will.”

Oldendorff Carriers, one of the world’s largest private shipping companies, was awarded a major contract in 2006 with RUSAL to ship over two million tons of bauxite per year.

Captain El Dib had told this newspaper that the figure would be increased to more than four million tonnes per year. More employment opportunities would also be provided to add to the local staff of about 200.

RUSAL which owns the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) at Aroaima, Upper Berbice River would be opening two new mines at Block 22 at Kurubuka and Block 38 at Cocrite.

It recently deployed US$21M worth of vehicles and equipment from its business in Jamaica.

President Ramotar told the media that he was impressed with the company’s operation which “gives an idea of the great potential we have in the area of marine services that can be provided.”

He said that “it speaks a lot about public developments that are to come in the Berbice area with the expansion of the production of bauxite.”

The president noted too that when Oldendorff expands, “New Amsterdam would expand and Berbice as a whole would benefit greatly from the operation.”

He said there is a strong confidence about the future of the country and noted that this is something that we have to build on to attract more investment to create more jobs.

According to him, “we have to prepare our people by training them and expanding education at all levels and having them ready for what I think is a bright future ahead.” This includes other mining including manganese and gold.

He recalled that he had mentioned during the elections campaign that mining was one of the focus areas for future development of the economy.

The opportunities also exist for opening another sector in marine development where persons can be trained in marine services.

Minister Benn commented that there has been a very dramatic change to Oldendorff’s operation which not only has an efficient set of equipment but the capacity to load over three million tonnes of bauxite.

He said the company “leaves the basis for a greater expansion of operations which is very encouraging. It improves safety and the type of cargo lifting capacity.”

President Donald Ramotar will be attending a series of engagements with US administration officials,multilateral agencies and the Guyanese Diasporas in Washington DC, and New York City from May 12 to May 19, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, addressing members of the media at his weekly press conference at Office of the President yesterday, (May 9, 2012) 

Dr Luncheon said subsequent to those engagements the President will be returning to Guyana on May 21, after partaking in a Barbados-hosted CARICOM/Mexico summit on political and economic cooperation.

The Presidential delegation will include Ministers Irfaan Ali, Robert Persaud, Dr Ashni Singh and Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be accompanying the President on his trip.

He explained that the President would be engaging officials of the US State Department on further collaboration between Government and the US on issues of security initiatives, economic engagements, protection of investments, political and bilateral agreements.

 -    Facility to be commissioned today – May 9, 2012

A major project to lengthen the runway at Ogle Airport to allow regional flights and bring it to regional standards, and which will allow for the landing of ATR and Dash 8 series class of aircraft has been completed.

The European Union, through a CARICOM facility, and with support of the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana and the Government of Guyana, had provided funding of 1.5M Euros for the Phase II project of the airport to lengthen it by a further 2,200 feet and widening it by 40 feet.

Work commenced on the runway project in 2009 by BK International and was completed and approved last month, after a number of delays.    [more]

Ogle Airport operators must be competitive – Ramotar

Services offered at the Ogle Airport are now indispensable. The location has become a major hub for interior flights. It enables miners and  timber operators an assured source to move their supplies and personnel, says President Donald Ramotar.
According to Ramotar, Ogle has a great future. The airport is ideally located in proximity of population centres and is therefore convenient as a connecting port between hinterland and the coast…. [more]

The political opposition and the stakeholders behind the National Industrial and Commercial

Investments Limited (NICIL) are now poised to collide over the amount of money being held by the State’s holding company.
Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, has contended that moneys being held in the accounts of NICIL, and which should be transferred to the Consolidated Fund, amount to some $50B, but there is a differing opinion from the entity’s head.
When contacted yesterday, Executive Director of NICIL, Winston Brassington, said that while he was not in a position to give a definitive figure, the $50B being bandied about by the AFC is “a gross exaggeration and one not grounded in reality”. Brassington said that he will soon be presenting details of the NICIL accounts.     [more]

May 8, 2012 Demerara Waves

President Donald Ramotar on Monday denied that his administration is violating the law by allowing the holding company of government’s assets to keep huge chunks of cash rather than depositing them into the Consolidated Fund.

Concerns have been raised by the political opposition and government critics about GUY$50 billion being kept by the National Industrial Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

“You don’t have to do that because the law allows NICIL to keep this money,” the Guyanese leader told reporters at the Office of the President.

Ramotar insisted that “as far as I am aware, I’m not doing anything illegal; we’re not doing anything illegal as far as that is concerned.”  

The President explained that some of the monies deposited in NICIL’s bank account have been deposited into the Consolidated Fund when dividends have been declared.

On the thorny matter of NICIL’s accounts not being audited, Ramotar said the holding company’s main Privatization Unit’s accounts have been audited up to 2010. At the same time, he outlined the reason why the audited accounts are yet to be tabled in the 65-seat National Assembly.

“The reason it has not been placed in Parliament as yet is because all of the enterprises belonging to NICIL have to be audited,” he said.

The President suggested that other reasons for delays in auditing include issues with the pensions for privatized entities.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan has noted that the last tabled NICIL report in 2003 states that the entity had at least GUY$33 billion in its account.

The AFC plans to push for NICIL to be the subject of a probe by the parliamentary Economic Services Committee when its constituted to reflect the opposition’s majority.

Read the comments on Demerara Waves  here..

There is a lot of rush to justify and to criticize the budget cuts. Both sides of the parliamentary divide are holding meetings countrywide to put their own spin on the issue. For example, the government is accusing the opposition of thwarting development and of seeking to stall the government’s drive to take Guyana forward.

The opposition is contending that the government has been spending the public funds without any consideration for accountability. It is really repeating some of the findings in the Auditor General’s report. Over the years the Auditor General has been pointing to what he considers irregularities in the financial accounting procedures.

These reports have largely been ignored although the government has insisted that it has been taking note of the comments and recommendations in the Auditor General’s reports and has been trying to make the necessary corrections. However, as the parliamentary opposition pointed out this time around during the budget debate, monies that should be in the Consolidated Fund are not entered there.      

Further, the opposition feels that because of this irregularity the government has money at its disposal—money that should really be considered part of the public treasury but which is there to be used at the whims and fancies of the government in general and the executive in particular. And there is no need for any approach to the National Assembly to spend this money.

The government says that whatever it does is in the national interest and that the opposition is always made aware of the government’s plans. It denies any irregularity and above all, it says that it can account for every penny it spends although it has failed to account properly for the money it spends if the Auditor General is to be believed.

It would seem that the issue is more than the budget cuts. The government is worried that the cuts are sending the wrong message to the international community in the face of allegations of squander mania, corruption and financial irregularities.

On Labour Day, President Donald Ramotar was most candid when he queried the likely reaction of the Inter American Development Bank. Indeed, the IDB is to be one of the main financiers of the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project. Further, the IDB has been funding numerous projects in Guyana and providing soft loans and grants.

The opposition parties say that they have no objection to making the money available but they need explanations for some of the allocations.

This is the first time that the government has found that it needs to explain its expenditures. Previous budgets were passed without challenge and this must be the custom with the result that the present challenge is not going down well.
For the first time we now see both the government and the opposition going around the country explaining the budget situation. Each side views the actions of the other as irrational. The government sees the opposition as being spiteful and vindictive; the opposition sees the government as being careless with public funds.

In some quarters, observers see this movement by the political parties as campaigning ahead of snap elections. The government feels that unless it has a parliamentary majority then it would be hamstrung; the opposition sees its role as being a representative of the majority who voted against the government.

One must not forget that when the results were declared even the international community concluded that the parliamentary dispensation was the best thing that could have happened in Guyana. The Americans, the British, the Canadians and the European Union were quite vocal in this regard.
But for all the talk on the government side, the opposition says that the government has a door open by way of the supplementary votes. The government is holding to the view that the opposition on one occasion actually voted down a supplementary provision and therefore cannot be relied on to approve any supplementary vote.

Whatever the outcome of the political foray into the wider community, one must recognize that the new political dispensation will create ripples in the government circles. Just yesterday the courts ruled on a government challenge that the action by the political opposition to modify the Parliamentary Committee of Selection was a business for parliament.

Interesting times are ahead.

 Stabroek editor On May 2, 2012

Stabroek News  On April 18, 2012  - comments

US$900,000 generator rented for US$720,000 annually…
President Donald Ramotar yesterday (April 2, 2912), toured operations of the cash-strapped Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) and did not dismiss questions raised about the lack of prudent spending at the utility.
“If what they say is true, it is obviously something to be concerned about,” Ramotar said regarding statements by GPL officials that a new Caterpillar generator costs US$900, 000, but the company rented 12 generators last year at a cost of US$720,000 each.
The revelation comes at a time when GPL is lamenting a mammoth fuel bill coupled with a growing demand for electricity.
The government plans to plough G$6 billion into the company this year, saying this is meant to address its financial constraints and avoid already burdened consumers from paying higher electricity tariffs.   [more]

GPL rents US$900,000 generator for US$720,000 annually

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) last year paid a hefty US$8.6M to rent 12 Caterpillar generating sets for a period of one year. It could have spent just US$2.2M more to buy them all.   [more]

— Post 1258

Georgetown, Guyana – Thursday 22^nd March 2012  -  For immediate release

DR. CHEDDI JAGAN WOULD NOT HAVE TOLERATED THE RAPE AND PLUNDER OF THE STATE TREASURY

A Partnership for National Unity (A.P.N.U) has read the Stabroek News report of Wednesday 21^st March 2012, of the address by President Donald Ramotar to the annual Cheddi Jagan lecture that was held at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre at Red House Kingston Georgetown, on Tuesday 20^th March 2012.

President Ramotar told his audience that Dr. Jagan would not have liked what was happening in the National Assembly, as regards the composition of the Committee of Selection in which the governing PPP has a minority status. He also stated that it was a reversal of what Dr. Jagan struggled for.

A.P.N.U wishes to inform the public that Dr. Jagan would certainly not have tolerated the rampant corruption, nepotism, and rape and plunder of the State Treasury that the PPP/C Government has engaged in over the past 20 years. Dr. Jagan would not have tolerated the abuse of power, by the PPP leaders, who have been implicated in all sorts of crimes, as well as predatory behavior, such as the rape of under-aged girls and school boys, vehicular manslaughter, pistol whipping of citizens, drunken rum shop brawls, sex for house lots, sex for the return of cell phones, the sale of gun licenses, and the sale of work permits.

Dr. Jagan would not have permitted the gifting away of state properties and lands to his cronies and sycophants. He would not have allowed GUYSUCO to deteriorate to the point of bankruptcy and returning to slavery methodology to force sugar workers to produce. Dr. Jagan would not have allowed the narco-trade to flourish. He would not have employed narco-death squads. He would not have befriended the drug traffickers.

A.P.N.U wishes to remind the public that, in 1992, the PPP had won the Presidency but not a working majority in Parliament. However, the WPA made an arrangement with the PPP in Region #8 that gave the PPP the one seat it needed to gain a parliamentary majority. Since then, the PPP had turned the National Assembly into a rubber stamp and bulldozed opposition concerns since 1997. Guyana descended into an elected dictatorship under the PPP regime. The Guyanese people ended that dictatorship on the 28^th November 2011, when the majority of them voted against the PPP.

In spite of all the electoral fraud and malpractices that the PPP has engaged in on Election Day, 28^th November 2011, the Party was still defeated by the people. However, the PPP is like the proverbial old dog that cannot learn new tricks. The PPP is bent on governing in its old dictatorial ways. It wants to continue raping and plundering the state treasury at will. The PPP cannot accept that it now has to account to National Assembly and the Guyanese people.

A.P.N.U wishes to assure the Guyanese people that the days of the PPP using the National Assembly as a rubber stamp are over and, we urge all Guyanese to rally around the A.P.N.U as we seek to enact legislation for constitutional and electoral reforms that would return democracy to the people.

A Partnership for National Unity

Office of the Leader of the Opposition

61 Cross & Hadfield Streets.  Werk-en-Rust. Georgetown.  Guyana.

—————

Post #1227

February 23, 2012 | By KNews |

GOVT. HAS GREAT PLANS TO TAKE GUYANA TO NEW HEIGHTS

Message from His Excellency President Donald Ramotar on the Occasion of Republic Day

I extend warm greetings to all Guyanese at home and abroad on this the forty-second anniversary of our republic. This is a very special time for all Guyanese, and is marked by great festivities celebrating our national culture.

This national culture has been weaved from the strands of the various ethnic groups which constitute our people. Let us celebrate this diversity by being part of the many events that are being held to commemorate this year’s anniversary of our status as a republic.  

[more - read all messages]

OTHER MESSAGES FOLLOW:

• A PARTNERSHIP FOR NATIONAL UNITY (APNU)
• PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM (PNCR)
• FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS OF GUYANA (FITUG)  
• GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION (GAWU)
  

 [read all messages]

— Post #1134

FEBRUARY 18, 2012 | BY KNEWS |

- special committee to tackle cross-border crime

- Suriname offers help in oil search

Guyana and Suriname may move to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to seek joint financing for a bridge that will join the two countries via the Corentyne River.
The announcement was made in a joint statement by the two neighbours following a one day visit by President Donald Ramotar yesterday  (February 17), to Suriname.

A special border security committee is also to be established to facilitate the easy sharing of information. It will be the first overseas trip for the Head of State since his election to the Presidency in early December.  [More]

— Post #1124

1/2 – President Ramotar is totally out of line 

The AFC has noted with total disgust the recent comments by President Donald Ramotar accusing the AFC and APNU of rigging the 2011 Elections and campaigning along racial lines. This is totally unbecoming of the President and is designed to destabilise the political dispensation that the electorate voted for. It is a slap in the face for all those who took the time to go out and vote on Polling Day 2011.

The electorate and all the people of Guyana know that the entire elections process was controlled by the government. The PPP/C had the greatest number of polling agents and other staff out on polling day, how could the AFC rig the elections?

The AFC considers it totally ridiculous that President Ramotar would point to racial campaigning during the elections. The electorate knows full well, those, who over the years have campaigned on the race card.

It is clear that President Ramotar does not intend to honour the will of the people as demonstrated by their votes at the last elections. The PPP/C excesses of the past and rampant abuse of power make it difficult for them to relax their stranglehold on power. They clearly fear the effectiveness of this new political dispensation and see themselves being forced to answer to the people and confirm with the Constitution of Guyana. This is alien to the PPP/C.

The AFC calls on President Ramotar to apologise to the electorate and fully retract his statement.
[END]

2/2 AFC intends to take a firm position to stamp out government corruption.

Last week the AFC at its press conference put the Government and Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on notice that it will have zero tolerance for corrupt practices. We reiterate that position.

On Thursday, February 16, 2012 the Finance Minister will ask the National Assembly to approve spending of some $5.7 billion from the Contingencies Fund. As we said last week this is money that the government has already spent. The AFC intends to scrutinise closely these spending.

The AFC and the people of Guyana, the taxpayers, need to know how the Office of the President spent $25.5 million on the conferment of National Awards and other events. Was any of this money spent for a Jagdeo farewell? The Financer Minister must provide the details!

Close to $7million to the Office of the Prime Minister for fuel and travel. How much of this travel was for PPP/C campaign purposes?

Over $9 million to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for travel. Again, how much of this was in support of the PPP/C elections campaign?

The Ministry of Agriculture was given over $2 billion for drainage and irrigation work in the 2011 budget. There was a supplementary provision of close to $6oo million then now, an additional $206 million for drainage works in preparation for yearend rains. Did the PPP government not know that rain was expected at year end? And exactly how was this money spent, when Mahaicony farmers and the farmers in the Canal Polders were flooded out? Where did the money go?

On the allocations to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there is a list of expenditures that are elections related. Since 2006 the PPP government knew that elections were going to be held in 2011. Why were these allocations not catered for in the 2011 Budget. This clearly shows bad planning by the government.

The Ministry of Public Works; close to $24 million was given to meet operational expenses. What does this mean? Were these operational expenses? Are we speaking of the breaking down of billboards?

The PPP/C government has grown accustomed to squandering tax-payers money then using the majority it had to railroad these appropriations through the National Assembly without providing answers to the Opposition. That power was taken from them by the people of Guyana.

The PPP/C will be hard pressed to explain these abuses of tax-payers money. We await their answers in the National Assembly.

The AFC wishes to assure its supporters and all the people of Guyana that it will take all measures necessary and allowable under the law to ensure the government is held accountable.

[END]

— Post #1116

Demerara Waves – February 15, 2012

Leader of the Opposition David Granger says recent comments from President Donald Ramotar in which he accused the opposition of “criminal behaviour” have left the tripartite talks precariously poised.

Granger was addressing reporters at a news briefing on Wednesday (Feb 15), where he drew attention to an article in the Sunday Chronicle in which the president is reported accusing the opposition of pushing a racial line in Linden before elections, of manipulating the elections and negotiating in bad faith.

“Where does this put the tripartite talks? Several important aspects of the tripartite talks are not moving particularly the formulation of the national budget; up to February 15 we have not been able to have a meeting between Dr. Ashni Singh and the team from APNU and AFC to plan the national budget.

So a lot of things are still unsettled but when the president of this country starts to call the opposition charlatans and to announce publicly that he thinks we are behaving in bad faith, when he accuses us of manipulating the elections and when he accuses us of racism this is not the type of language that can build trust and I think that it will have an impact on the tripartite talks,” Granger said.  [Read more]

Also Read: Granger expresses dismay over Ramotar’s tirade

— Post #1115

February 10, 2010 – Demerara Waves

President Donald Ramotar has said that his minority PPP/C government will not be held ransom by the opposition in the new political dispensation which sees the AFC and APNU holding a one-seat majority in the 65-seat National Assembly.

In his inaugural address to the House President Ramotar said the new construct emerging from the November 28 elections provides an historic opportunity for Guyana.

In a speech lasting some 37 minutes the president said his administration would be loath to accept gridlocks which could stymie Guyana’s development.

“I am satisfied that we are capable of demonstrating to the Guyanese nation that while political competition and diversity are essential in a democracy they should not foreclose on the possibilities for compromise and consensus in the way we do business.   Read more

Read: Full text of President Donald Ramotar’s speech

— Post 1101

Demerara Waves January 27, 2012.

Staff and students’ organisations of theUniversityofGuyanaFriday decided to issue an ultimatum to President Donald Ramotar to explain what is happening at the tertiary institution.

A well-placed source told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com ) that if the Guyanese leader does not respond by Wednesday unrest on campus would intensify.

Sparked off by the termination of Political Science lecturer, Freddie Kissoon’s contract and no offer of future employment, two successive days of picketing demonstrations have been already held outside theAdministrationBuildingat UG’s Turkeyen Campus.

The Workers Union (UGWU), Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the Students Society (UGSS) have come together to mount what they term “Operation Rescue UG.” 

Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) was told that the organisations have also decided to formally ask UG’s Chancellor, Professor Compton Bourne to rescind Kissoon’s contract termination, immediately reinstate him and address other employment contracts that have been shortened.

‘Operation Rescue UG” are also, according to sources, planning to ask House Speaker, Raphael Trotman to facilitate a parliamentary inquiry into the university’s operations.

Talks were also held between representatives of “Operations Rescue UG” and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). That trade union organisation has since decided to formally ask the UG Chancellor to meet both the UGSSA and UGWU and establish a committee to probe the incident involving Kissoon.

GTUC is suggesting that the University of Guyana (UG) Council engages both Unions on campus and put in place a committee to investigate into the circumstance that led to this situation and make the appropriate recommendation as to the way forward,” the GTUC added.

According to the GTUC, the terms of reference and agreed time-frame for concluding its work should be agreed to beforehand.

“This suggestion is guided and influenced by precedent where former lecturer, Dr. Desrey Fox’s contract was not renewed/terminated and UG Council sought resolution by appointing a committee to investigate this matter,” said the GTUC.

(Demerara Waves)- January 27, 2012

Former president Bharrat Jagdeo will be making his first international appearance on Guyana’s behald since vacating the Shiv Chaderpaul Drive office, at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2012 (DSDS 2012) in India.

This was disclosed by President Donald Ramotar during a brief encounter with the media on Friday January 27, 2012.

“He is invited in his own right as a person and of course he’s going to be representing Guyana too, I don’t see why not, but he is invited in his own right as a person who has been recognised as having done a lot of work on this issue, probably more than most people,” Ramotar said.   The president added that he was invited too but could not attend the February 2-4 event.

Ramotar succeeded Jagdeo following the November 28 polls. The latter had served in the  position for 12 years.

When contacted by Demerara Waves, Jagdeo acknowledged that it was his first overseas engagement on Guyana’s behalf but deferred any statement on the event until his return when he said he would provide a full briefing.

Ramotar has said in the past that he will be calling on his predecessor to utilise his experience and has dubbed him a valuable national asset.

Jagdeo for his part has said that Guyana will always have first call on his time.

“This country always has first call on my energies, my intellect, my experience, all that I have learnt because this is home for me. The people who live here are my people; anything I can do to advance our wellbeing as a country, that’s priority for me,” he told reporters prior to the November 28 elections.

He has been credited with initiating the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy upon which Guyana’s development is hinged to sustainable exploitation of its resources.

Some of the themes to be covered at DSDS 2012 are biodiversity; forests and wildlife; oceans and coastal areas; water; the role of science and technology; global agreements and governance; poverty; and food security.

Invitees include heads of state, ministers, business executives and representatives from multilateral agencies.

– Post #1061

Demerara Waves – January 27, 2012

Tripartite talks between the parliamentary political parties got underway on Friday with discussions centred on how the arrangement will proceed, Leader of the Opposition David Granger says.

Representatives from the APNU, PPP/C and AFC met for about two hours at the Office of the President and upon emerging the opposition parties indicated that they have agreed to meet again on Monday.

“We were discussing the structure of the relationship, the process, so nothing was agreed this afternoon really. I think on Monday (January 30), a communiqué … will be issued,” APNU chairman Granger said in an invited comment to reporters.

He described the meeting as cordial while stating that there was a “degree of agreement. We are all concerned that the issues raised are urgent and that is why we don’t want to compromise the discussion by running to the press, there’s no complaint,” Granger said.

The PPP was represented by President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon and Governance Advisor Gail Teixeira while Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Deborah Backer filled out the APNU team. AFC was represented by party chairman Khemraj Ramjattan and executive members Gerhard Ramsaroop, Clayton Hall and Cathy Hughes.

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman, who was recently elected Speaker of the National Assembly, has recused himself from the talks.

‘I don’t believe I should be participating in the tripartite dialogue given my position as Speaker. Many of the issues to be discussed are likely to be debated in the Assembly and so I need to be external to this discussion and to wish the process well and that it is successful,” he told Demerara Waves.

The AFC has been eager to get down to talks on the budget which should be one of the first tests for the tripartite arrangement. The opposition parties with a one-seat majority in the National Assembly have been clamouring for a greater say in its crafting but President Ramotar seems disinclined to include them beyond consultations. However, with just a simple majority needed to pass or reject the budget, some conciliatory position is expected out of the talks.

Granger, meanwhile, has said the APNU’s interests include the improvement of public financial management, constitutional reform and the strengthening of public institutions.

– Post #1060

JANUARY 14, 2012 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS 

President Donald Ramotar yesterday committed his government to a “constant review” of massive

infrastructure projects that the government is set to undertake.
“All of these are going to be under constant review,” Ramotar said at a press conference at his New Garden Street, Georgetown Office.
The head of state said that large projects are not static. Rather, they are dynamic and need to be examined all the time.

The Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the extension of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan international airport, and the construction of a Marriott-branded hotel, are among major projects he intends to pursue.   read more

—  Post #1027

Demerara waves – January 12, 2012

President Donald Ramotar Thursday evening expressed disappointment that the APNU and AFC banded together to elect the latter’s leader, Raphael Trotman, as Speaker of the National Assembly, saying that they have squandered an excellent opportunity to usher in an era of enhanced political cooperation and consensus.

“As President, I had hoped that the elections of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the National Assembly would have resulted from genuine dialogue rather that the product of some pre-arranged deal between the two opposition parties,” he said in a statement released by the Government Information Agency (GINA).

The APNU with 26 seats and AFC with seven pip the PPP/C’s 32 in the 65-member Assembly and Thursday used it to defeat the ruling party’s nomination of former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran and elect Trotman.       read more

Post #1022

Fellow Guyanese,
I am pleased to greet you on this New Year. This is my first New Year’s address to the nation and I am extremely honoured to extend best wishes for peace, happiness, health and prosperity to all Guyanese.
In keeping with our traditions, the dawn of a new year is for many, a time to spend in the company of loved ones.
Throughout Guyana and in the Diaspora, Guyanese are doing just this and they greet the New Year with expectant hopes for a more rewarding year ahead. To make the most of the coming year however requires that we spend some time reflecting on the year that has just ended and charting our own plans for 2012.

At a personal level, the beginning of the New Year is a time for reflection and for constructing resolutions. Similarly at the national level we must also take collective stock of our accomplishments over the past year and plan diligently for the year ahead.
As we bid goodbye to 2011, we can look back with pride at what has been another very significant year for our country.  Guyana’s economy has once again registered positive growth. This is the sixth successive year that we have seen our country’s economy growing. We accomplished this in a very complicated and difficult international climate.
As you are aware our main trading partners in Europe and North America are experiencing serious financial and economic problems. The difficulties have impacted heavily on our region with many countries facing serious economic problems.
In spite of this adverse international environment, Guyana has done well. This is testimony to the resilience of our economy which has been progressively fortified over the past two decades by the prudent economic policies pursued by successive PPP/C administrations.  All Guyana should be proud of the health of our economy and the impressive strides our country has made.   The sustained economic growth has ensured continued improvements in the social services in our country.
More of our children are enjoying better access to improving educational facilities and are acquiring life skills; quality health care and specialized treatment are expanding; more Guyanese today have access to potable water than ever before.
Our young people continue to benefit from opportunities to prepare them for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities; our workers’ are benefitting from improved remuneration; and the elderly and vulnerable Guyanese are receiving enhanced support and attention. Notably too, the agriculture, mining, construction and services sectors as well as other emerging sectors are all expanding.
We are witnessing an unprecedented level of resilience by the productive sectors in the midst of a challenging global environment that I have already noted. These are just some of the developments we must be proud of as a nation as 2011 comes to a close.
I am proud to say that our country is now on a solid platform and is primed for a second wave of reforms that would be transformative in nature and which will allow for a more rapid economic take- off and concomitant improvements in the quality of life of all of our countrymen.
However we must be conscious of the difficulties that still lie ahead. In the first place, the situation in Europe and North America is still grave. This would have an impact in the region and on Guyana as well.
Added to the economic difficulties, is the issue of human kind relationship with nature.
Enough scientific evidence exists to show that human activities are the main contributors to the environmental challenges we currently face. The continued emission of green house gases into the atmosphere is having a major impact on our climate. If not halted and reversed can have a catastrophic effect on our world and our very way of life.
The international community has recognized that we have to embrace new approaches and models of development. No longer can we adopt traditional approaches which have led to economic growth but have inflicted great harm to the environment.  Guyana has gained international recognition and there is a heightened national awareness and support for our climate change initiatives.
The low carbon development strategy will allow us to continue to maintain our forests without sacrificing social and economic development. In 2012 we will work towards maintaining the momentum of progress we have made in this significant area of climate change and in implementing the LCDS.
In this effort we will continue to embrace a national approach so that all Guyanese can be aware, be involved and also be beneficiaries of the opportunities our climate initiatives and the LCDS will bring.
Fellow Guyanese, in 2012 the government intends to resolutely pursue a developmental agenda aimed at raising our economy to a higher level, and in the process elevating the standard of living of our people. We have always believed that economic growth must be accompanied by social development which ensures that all of our people, without exception, benefit from the progressive improvements in the economy in the form of a better standard of living.
We will work to ensure that development is sustained and that in the process all communities continue to experience the benefits of a buoyant economy through quality social services, improved physical infrastructure, obtaining greater value for money in the delivery of public goods and services, and higher standards of living for every Guyanese. I intend to look at all methods available to ensure value for money resulting from the government investments in development projects and to tackle inefficiencies and waste where they exist.
We will work to root out corruption in our society and to create more opportunities for our people to realize their fullest potential. At the same time, one of the priorities as a nation must always be the building of a safe and cohesive society, based on tolerance, understanding and solidarity and, on the rule of law.
The November 28 national and regional elections were a renewal of our democracy. It had been another step in the consolidation and entrenchment of democratic norms in our national life.  At the same time it has created a new political situation in the country.
We can see this as an opportunity to work together to take this country forward in achieving national unity, security and social and economic prosperity. To succeed in this we must resolve to have genuine cooperation on important issues.
To try to make deals or to gang up against one partner when we should be working for consensus, can be counter-productive for it will continue to breed suspicion and mistrust.  We should be working together to find common ground in the interest of our people.
The possibilities of this are not remote, since a perusal of our manifestos would show that we have similar ideas on important issues.  To therefore seek short term advantages at the expense of long term gains is myopic to say the least.  I know that working together will not be without problems. There will be ups and downs, there will be strains but I do not see any viable alternative.
Speaking for the PPP/C let me say that we are ready to work with all the legitimate forces in our society to ensure that we continue to advance our country on the path of economic progress.
We will strive to strengthen the institutions within our society so that the important democratic gains that we have made over the past nineteen years would become irreversible. Our people deserve nothing less.
My fellow Guyanese, the New Year 2012 will be a defining moment in our country’s history. We must avoid the pitfalls and grasp the opportunities to sustain the progress we have made; to build our country stronger and to fulfill the aspirations of our people for a better life.
I extend best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year to you all.

—

Post #998

Posted By Stabroek staff On December 9, 2011  Editorial |

Guyana Chronicle – Editorial -  Thursday, 08 December 2011

OUR recent national elections were pronounced upon as free and fair by both local and international observers and all political parties, except one, accepted the results without any difficulties. The President and his Cabinet have been sworn in and they have assumed their respective offices. It is therefore baffling what A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and its supporters are protesting about.

The only logical motive behind these protests could be to put the government under pressure with the hope of destabilising it, because counting the ballots at the place of poll in the presence of representatives of all parties and electoral officials eliminates any possibility of fraud or rigging. Admittedly, there could be some inaccuracies because of human error, but these could be picked up and corrected easily and in any case these inaccuracies would hardly likely have any bearing on the outcome of the elections.      

It was the very reason why the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) under the leadership of the indomitable Dr Cheddi Jagan waged a long and relentless battle for counting of ballots at the place of poll. When the battle was about to be won the then President Desmond Hoyte made a last ditch effort to prevent it by arguing that it would have been a “logistical nightmare.” Fortunately, when US former President Jimmy Carter intervened, overnight “the logistical nightmare” disappeared.

Are those that are pushing for protests really putting country first? If they were doing so they would have realised that these protests are doing great harm to this country and therefore one could only conclude that those who are giving fodder to the protests are putting their partisan political interests in front of the national interest. There are some who are arguing that it is the democratic right of people to protest.

Certainly it is their democratic right; no one is disputing that. But because it is a democratic right does that mean people must protest? Protests should be used wisely for a genuine cause. Do those protesting have a genuine cause? It would not appear so. In any case, if you ask most Guyanese they will tell you that the elections are over and they want to get on with life and they are not interested in protests; particularly against the backdrop of the approaching festive season.

What makes the protests even more perplexing is the fact that President Ramotar has flung his door open to the opposition to discuss their concerns. This is a promise he made during the elections campaign which he is now clearly fulfilling as he has already met leaders of the opposition and certainly is open to further discussions. So the protests cannot be justified on the ground that the President has insulated himself from the opposition and is refusing to engage them in discussions.

The other poor argument for the protests was getting access to statements of poll which may have had inaccuracies, but that too has no basis as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has agreed to make those statements of poll, which have been challenged, available to political parties, and other stakeholders. So what else is left to protest about? Or would we have protests for the sake of protests?

Politicians who are genuinely interested in the future of their country certainly would not engage their supporters in counterproductive activities.

But, perhaps those who were engaged in rigging of elections for almost three decades do believe that others are also engaged in rigging and maybe this is the driving force behind the protests. However, the facts do not point in the direction of rigging.

The protests are simply useless, and a waste of time and energy which could be channelled into positive activities that are both beneficial to people and the country as a whole.  They have only succeeded in driving fear and tensions into people which causes only harm. The protests should be therefore called off immediately.

Demerara Waves – December 5, 2011

President Donald Ramotar has sworn in 20 members to his Cabinet with five new ministers and one new ministry.

The Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce is still to be appointed.

The new faces include former Region Two Chairman Ally Baksh who is now the Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture and Ethnic Relations Commission Chairman Juan Edghill, now Minister within the Ministry of Finance.

Ganga Persaud, once a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, now heads that ministry replacing Norman Whittaker who is now the Minister within the Ministry.

Another newcomer is attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall who is now the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.   

The full list of ministers sworn in is as follows:

Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds
Ally Baksh – Minister Within the Ministry of Agriculture
Irfaan Ali – Minister of Housing
Dr. Frank Anthony – Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport
Robeson Benn – Minister Of Public Works
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Juan Edghill – Minister within the Ministry of Finance
Dr. Nanda Gopaul – Minister of Labour
Priya Manickchand – Minister of Education
Anil Nandlall – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Ganga Persaud – Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
Robert Persaud – Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy – Minister of Agriculture
Dr. Bheri Ramsarran – Minister of Health
Clement Rohee – Minister of Home Affairs
Dr. Ashni Singh – Minister of Finance
Pauline Sukhai – Minister of Amerindian Affairs
Jennifer Webster – Minister of Human Services and Social Security
Dr. Jennifer Westford- Minister of Public Service
Norman Whittaker- Minister within the Ministry of local Government and Regional Development

Read full report: Five new faces in 20-member cabinet, one new ministry

also   

Five new faces for Ramotar’s Cabinet

Post #924