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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 21, 2015
Prime Minister attending Mercosur summit
PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday arrived in Asuncion, Paraguay for the 49th Heads of States Summit of Mercosur which opens today. Guyana is being represented by Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Audrey Waddell. This country is an associated member of the South American trade bloc. Yesterday, the Prime Minister was a guest with foreign ministers and ministers of finance and trade at a luncheon hosted by Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga. According to Pan–Latin American terrestrial and satellite television network TeleSUR, this will be the bloc’s first meeting since Argentina and Venezuela’s recent elections, which saw right-wing parties come to power for the first time in years, changing regional dynamics. Leaders from all of the participating nations have confirmed their attendance at the conference, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Venezuela and Paraguay. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will also attend, in attempts to strengthen regional integration, even though Chile is not an official member of Mercosur. This will be the first Mercosur -- or Common Market of the South -- meeting since Argentina’s general election, which saw Mauricio Macri and the right-wing Republican Proposal (PRO) party take power, TeleSUR reported.
ELEVEN mothers received the best gift from President Granger this Christmas - the gift of compas-
sion - following his decision to pardon those women (who committed non-violent, non-cocaine and non-human trafficking offences) and have them home in time for the holidays. Unlike the previous such move, in which he pardoned 100 male prisoners for non-violent crimes, this move was met with much warmth and approval by the public. Could it be because they were women? Or perhaps, it is easier to be compassionate towards mothers? Perhaps it’s a bit of both, but either way, this got a thumbs up all around. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo flanked by host Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga (right) and Foreign Minister of Brazil Mauro Vieira at the luncheon hosted by Minister Loizaga
It said the elections are expected to cause a shift in the bloc’s dynamics, in which most countries involved have left leaning democratic governments, with close ties to Venezuela. Macri has already presented some challenges for the trade bloc after he promised last month to expel Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro from the group. Macri, who is a known friend of Venezuelan opposition members, claims President Maduro is wrongfully jailing opposition members. The Argentinian President is expected to hold firm on his stance against President Maduro, since the Venezuelan President and the ruling United Socialist Party
of Venezuela lost control of the National Assembly in elections earlier this month. Some of Macri’s national policies may prove to be conflicting with the Mercosur trade bloc. In his short time in office, he has already decreased export taxes and changed import rules in Argentina in order to open up the South American country to foreign companies. South American leaders today are expected to discuss ways to facilitate stagnant intra-regional trade, which may involve reducing trade barriers and advanced integration mechanisms. Some of these include discussing trade possibilities with other mega blocs such as the United States,
the European Union, China, Russia, Southeast Asia and India, according to reports by Diario Bae. Mercosur’s full member states are also supported by six associate nations from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana and Suriname. Collectively, the group has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$4.58 trillion, and is home to some 275 million people, almost 70 per cent of South America’s population. The Mercosur trade bloc has its roots in the 1991 Treaty of Asuncion, when the nations of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay set up a common market to ease tariffs and spur commerce.
Electricity upgrade for Mahdia, Port Kaituma A CONTRACT has been awarded for the procurement of two electrical transformers; one is destined for Mahdia, in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni), while the other is for Port Kaituma in the Barima/ Waini district of Region 1. Electricity services provided to these two hinterland communities need upgrading. The supply contract was awarded to Tels Engineering Services under the Ministry
A Christmas Gift
of Public Infrastructure’s Hinterland Electrification Unit (HEU). The contractor has to procure the items from Howard Industries of the USA at an approved cost of $973M. Head of the HEU, Horace Williams, explained that the two new transformers will, in time, render the ones currently serving the two communities redundant. He said that, at the moment, there is only one transformer in place in each of the
two communities, and if either or both were to break down, then both communities would be completely out of power. “The idea,” he said, “is to bring in these two new ones to work as backup, so that when they are installed, the residents can continue to receive service without disruption in the event of any breakdown.” The two new transformers are expected to arrive by mid-March next year, Wil-
liams said, as he explained that their delay is because they are not shelf items. “They have to be built from scratch (and) according to our specifications, so the seller will send us the designs and drawings. We, in Guyana, have to approve of them first, and only then can they be built and sent to us,” he explained. Delivery is expected 16 weeks after signing of the contract which was awarded two weeks ago.
Disappearing Act So Jagdeo is not the only magician among us, CFO of the Ministry of the Housing Taslim Baksh has performed some sort of disappearing act according to reports, as the probe into the scrap metal trade deepens. But in a strange turn of events, Baksh is actually featured on the front page of the Guyana Times newspaper challenging Christopher Ram’s findings. So the big question is - how far are the authorities really looking? Is he hiding from everyone else except the Guyana Times? Show yourself Taslim, the public is confused.
Lisa for the win! The country took some time off its political woes to pay attention to the happenings in Sanya, China on Saturday as our local celebrity Lisa Punch continued to sing and shine her way through the competition. After much bated breath, our Queen ended up making it to the top 10 and was featured in yet another solo performance as she was watched by over a billion people. This was easily the most talked about event of the weekend and Guyanese could not have been more proud. This is the second year in a row that Guyana has made it in the top ten at this international pageant. My only concern is for next year’s delegate. Lisa and Rafieya have set the bar super high for her - she better at least make the top ten too next year or don’t come home at all. Pressure!