Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending October 19, 2018
EU, AG Chambers discuss project to boost criminal justice system
From (L-R) Mr. Philippe Coessens, Minister Counsellor and Head of Political Press & Information; Ambassador Jernej Videtic, Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana; Attorney General and Minister of legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, SC, MP; Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Ms. Joann Bond; and Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Mr. Charles Fung-a-Fat
AMBASSADOR Jernej Videtic, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, and Mr. Philippe Coessens, Minister Counsellor and Head of Political, earlier this week paid a courtesy call on Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, SC at his office. The visit concerned the “Support to the Effectiveness of Criminal Justice Systems in the Caribbean” project, the AG chambers said in a release. The project’s aim is to modernise and strengthen CARIFORUM participating countries’ court systems, processes, and services; and to train and equip judicial officers and court staff with the skills and competencies necessary to deliver justice in a fair, transparent, efficient
and timely manner. According to the release, the project which will be finalised by the European Development Fund and target the CARIFORUM Region will commence in early 2019. Some of the main activities of the project will be technical assistance, procurement of equipment, training, national and regional coordination, witness protection, victim support, rehabilitation services aimed at offenders and public outreach. Williams during the meeting gave his full support for the project and the activities to be undertaken. He was further pleased that activities such as witness protection programme, procuring of equipment for the court including audio and video digital recording and
digital voice transcription technology, video-conferencing equipment, internet court portals and rehabilitation initiatives/ workshops in prisons were part of the activities of the project. The attorney general also highlighted the need for training of prosecutors, law enforcement and the judiciary in the areas of cybercrime and financial crimes. Additionally, discussed at the meeting was the abolition of the death penalty and an upcoming seminar on the subject facilitated by the EU and the UK. Also in attendance at the meeting were Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Mr. Charles Fung-a-Fatt, and his deputy, Ms. Joann Bond.
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Hope for small businesses …gov’t to roll out procurement programme in January By Svetlana Marshall CABINET has approved the implementation of a Small Business Procurement Programme by the Ministry of Business in keeping with the Small Business Act of 2004, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced on Friday. Addressing reporters during his post-cabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, the state minister said the decision to implement the programme by January 1, 2019, in keeping with Section 11 (1) of the Small Business Act of 2004, was made when cabinet met last Tuesday. Section 11 (1) of the Small Business Act mandates the government to ensure that at least 20 percent of the procurement of goods and services it requires is obtained from small businesses. Also under the Act, the Small Business Council is required to prepare a Small Business Procurement Programme annually. With the programme taking effect by January, 2019, Minister Harmon believes that small businesses will be better positioned to benefit from the public procurement system. “This programme will ensure that small businesses have their fair access to government procurement opportunities through a transparent and efficient process and will also enhance the economic impact of public spending,” the state minister said. He noted that forming part of the approved programme are three measures. “A basic set aside measure for all government procurement – that is, goods, services and works up to $30M; a set aside for some contracting measures for all government procurement between $30M and $200M; and all ministries, agencies and regional authorities will participate in the implementation of the programme,” he outlined. Specifically, the ministries, agencies and regional authorities will be required to provide annually projects of the value of small business procurement by sectors based on the annual procurement plans to the Small Business Bureau. It was noted that in order to benefit from the Small Business Procurement Programme, small businesses would be required to register with the Small Business Bureau. Last month, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin said that the Small Business Procurement Programme has several components, those include, capacity building and technical training; data gathering; and
Minister of State Joseph Harmon
procurement accessibility. “One has to do with capacity building which is training small businesses for accessing procurement and understanding the procurement system and what the requirements are and what they would have to do to submit tenders or quotations etcetera.” “The other also is technical training that will actually make them a little more proficient in what they do, whatever goods or services they provide,” he explained. Meanwhile, the next component deals with the measurement of the level of public procurement going to small businesses which the government is carefully working to develop. “That is quite complex and that is probably the biggest sticking point right now. We have to have a system that will allow regular reporting so that every quarter we can say to the public this is the level of procurement in small businesses for that quarter.” “So, that involves being able to identify small businesses whenever they procure whether it’s at the ministry level, whether it’s at the level of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board or whether it’s at the regional procurement level. We have to be able to pull that data together occupying the system to get that data collected in the first place,” Gaskin stated. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lowell Porter, like Minister Harmon, has underscored the importance of small businesses registering with the Small Business Bureau to tap into the programme.
Demerara Bank opens ... convenient banking services and for having confidence in the region’s economy. Hopkinson said the capital investment made by the bank will aid in the various developments in the region especially towards in the business and tourism sectors. Attending the opening of the newly relocated Essequibo Branch of the Demerara Bank was also Director of the bank and Chairman of DDL Mr. Komal Samaroo and Director of Demerara Bank, Garfield Wiltshire. At the end of the formal part of the programme there was a ceremonial
ribbon and cake cutting exercise after which persons were given the opportunity to tour the bank. The occasion was blessed by religious leaders from the various faiths. At the ceremony also Dr. Persaud, who is celebrating his 90th birth anniversary was honoured by the bank. He was treated to a cake which he shared with a customer of the Essequibo branch. He was highly praised for his efforts and achievements in the bank’s development. Dave hailed Persaud as a visionary who has contributed
towards change in Guyana’s economy. “The contribution of Dr. Yesu Persaud is really unique why I say so, a person can be wealthy, happy and rich but still cannot make a difference in others life but a person who can make a difference in the life of others is very important and Dr. Persaud is one who has made significant difference in the life of so many segments of society, socially, politically and economically, what he has done for the people of Guyana will be remembered” the CEO said.
The CEO told the Essequibo gathering that Dr. Persaud has established many businesses in Guyana starting from DDL, IPED, Demerara Bank and has taken the first step towards their establishment. Singling out IPED he said that the organisation, since its formation, has managed to give many persons jobs and loans. He also recognised Dr. Persaud’s contribution towards politics. It was mentioned that Dr. Persaud was very instrumental in promoting free and fair
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elections in 1992. He was also very instrumental in building the Indian Commemorations Trust in Guyana, bringing Indians together under one umbrella. Samaroo for his part said that he knew Dr. Yesu Persaud for 42 years now and they shared a very good working relationship. Samaroo described Dr. Persaud as a humble person and said despite growing up in a “logie” environment, he still managed to become successful.