Guyana Chronicle New York Edition 02 12 2016

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 2, 2016

ISSUE NO. 26

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Budget pegged at $250B ‒ economy grew 2.6 per cent Page 2

Prince Harry greets the Grangers Mega solar farm for Mabaruma …Gov’t unveils multiple measures to drive ‘green agenda’

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Prince Harry of Wales greeting President David Granger and First Lady, Ms. Sandra Granger at the Toast to the Nation event on Thursday night, joining Barbadians to celebrate the country’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Education gets largest slice of budget 18 Page

Guyanese 13 killed in BVI car accident Page

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Budget pegged at $250B ‒ economy grew 2.6 per cent Guyana recorded a 2.6 per cent real economic growth in 2016, a decline from the 4.4 per cent projected earlier this year, said Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who on Monday presented a $250B Budget for 2017.

At mid-year, a real economic growth rate of 2 per cent was achieved, but several industries and sectors, including sugar, rice, construction, and wholesale and retail trade, were showing signs of distress. As such, the projected growth rate for 2016 was revised downwards to 4 per cent.

“Since then, several unexpected developments, including the downsizing of Barama and Demerara Timbers Limited’s operations in the forestry sector; structural changes and ongoing strikes in the sugar industry; and the slow pace of implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) conspired to reduce the real growth rate to 2.6 per cent,” Jordan told the House on Monday.

At the global level, there

has also been a contraction in real economic growth.

In October 2016, the World Economic Outlook (WEO), a publication of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), projected that global growth would reach 3.1 per cent, slightly less than the 3.2 per cent achieved in 2015.

Growth in advanced countries is projected to weaken by half of a percentage point relative to 2015. This decline is partially explained by the weaker-than-expected economic performance of the United States of America (US), due to weak investment and a decline in labour productivity.

Growth in the United Kingdom (UK) and the rest of Europe is also projected to fall in 2016, as the region comes to grips with the Brexit reality. But economic growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to improve in 2016, rising to 4.2 per cent from the 4 per cent achieved in 2015.

This, Jordan said, reflects reduced concerns about near-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

term growth in China, and expectations that advanced countries would keep interest rates low.

Presenting Budget 2017 under the theme “Building a Diversified, Green Economy: Delivering the Good Life to All Guyanese”, the minister explained that the economy felt the drag of dismal output performances in sugar, rice, forestry, and construction, including housing.

PROVERBIAL SAND AND FUMES According to the minister, the current Government inherited an economy that was built essentially on the proverbial sand and was running on the proverbial fumes.

“It is an economy which, in spite of positive growth performances averaging 4.5 per cent in the period 20102014, remains undiversified

and incapable of withstanding even small shocks. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that we are reaping the whirlwind of downturns in these sectors. It will take more than just traditional policies and approaches to turn them around. What we need is a growth strategy that is broader in scope and more diversified in outlook,” he told the House.

At the global level, he also noted that there remains great uncertainty and adversity, noting that the challenges are many and the impact of external pressures cannot be underestimated.

“But we have resolved to pursue a growth strategy that breaks with the monotonous cycle of a few highs and perennial lows of prices of primary stage commodity production. We have to match the expectations of our people for a better life, but we would not be able to deliver if we stay the current course. To do so would allow the confluence of adversities and challenges to continue to constrain us from seizing the opportunity to chart a new direction,” Jordan contended.

In doing so, he said, Gov-

ernment would be employing a number of strategic approaches to achieve its objectives. These include stabilising the macroeconomic and public finances; preparing for oil and gas production; encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship, in particular those that involve new green technologies and processes; creating more job opportunities; increasing the focus on innovation, so as to increase domestic production and boost exports; moving towards a Smart Guyana that bridges the digital divide; reforming business facilitation, and expanding economic horizons; building climate-resilient infrastructure for economic expansion, and linking the coastland and hinterland; lifting the quality of life; addressing poverty; and reforming the public and financial sectors.

“In short, Budget 2017 is designed to consolidate the gains we have made since our accession to office, improve economic performance, and define a sustainable pathway to the happiness and prosperity of Guyana,” Jordan told the House.

Sugar not sweet investment, says Jordan MONEY injected into sugar in its current state is money wasted, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, contending that it

would make no impact on the operating losses and cash deficit status of the industry.

“The status quo of the

sugar industry can neither be sustained nor maintained.

As currently structured, the industry would require Gov-

ernment’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years 2017 and 2018, respectively,” he

told the House in his budget presentation on Monday.

This is an untenable position, the minister said, pointing out that it would seriously jeopardise the fiscal stance of the Government, while compromising resource allocation to other critical and important areas.

“Radical re-organising of the sugar industry is required as a matter of urgency, for the continued postponement of the hard decisions on GuySuCo’s future would result in the corporation incurring even more debts (estimated currently at $80 billion) and an escalation of the demands on the Treasury.”

Recognising this grave situation, a Cabinet Sub-Committee has been established, tasked with making definitive recommendations for implementation by the end of 2016.

This committee, Jordan said, has been examining all options and will make a full report to the Cabinet shortly.

Meanwhile, for 2017 the Government has made an allocation of $9 billion to support the financing of

GuySuCo’s operations. This brings to $32 billion, the amount of resources that would have been provided to the Corporation since August 2015.

Turning his attention to rice, Jordan said in order to improve the livelihoods and income of rice farmers, as well as contribute to national food security, works are apace to decentralise the production of seed paddy and introduce new high-yielding rice.

This will see the launch of candidate varieties of rice across the regions, and will be accompanied by specially designed research and extension programmes, formulated to improve productivity at all levels for farmers, millers, and exporters.

Next year, diversification in the specialty rice varieties, such as aromatic rice, will continue, and increased emphasis will be placed on the development of value-added products such as rice/wheat flour blends, rice noodles, pasta, and pre-cooked rice products.

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Mega solar farm for Mabaruma …Gov’t unveils multiple measures to drive ‘green agenda’

By Vanessa Braithwaite GOVERNMENT on Monday laid out comprehensive measures to drive its green agenda next year, among which are the construction of an ambitious $264M largescale solar farm at Mabaruma, North West District, and a series of tax emptions for importation of energy-efficient equipment, including hybrid electric vehicles.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the National Assembly during his budget presentation that, when operational, the 400-kilowatt solar farm would afford an additional 17 hours of electricity to the 3,000 residents of Mabaruma.

Furthermore, he said, Government has advanced the pursuit of additional solar farms with a capacity of 800 kilowatts at Lethem, 400 kilowatts at Mahdia, and 1.5 megawatts at Bartica.

Jordan said some immediate measures will be taken towards this expansion, which are: the lowering of the excise tax on hybrid and electric vehicles; granting of tax exemptions to set up electric vehicle charging stations; Zero-rating the excise tax on biofuel and specially designed refuse trucks; restriction of the importation of used tyres; and a reduction of taxes on new tyres. $1B ALLOCATION In addition, he said, Government will prioritise evidence-driven and cost-effective options to determine renewable energy choices across the country, in order to successfully transform the energy mix and reduce the share of non-renewable energy sources in the overall ratio.

“In this regard, we will shortly be releasing the outcome of a review of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project which was undertaken

by Norconsult, the Norwegian-contracted consultants, after the comments of both the Kingdom of Norway and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana are incorporated into the final document.”

Last Saturday, the Opposition called for the release of the document.

In addition, Minister Jordan said, Government has allocated almost $1 billion next year to implement a series of renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects, following the charge given

by President Granger for the public sector to lead the way in transitioning towards greater renewable energy use.

These interventions will be channelled through, and managed by, the Guyana Energy

Agency (GEA). The renewable energy programme for 2017 would entail the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the rooftops of 64 government buildings. With a combined installed capacity of 1.36 megawatts (MW), these installations would result in: annual energy savings of 1.86 gigawatt hours (GWh) or 1,200 barrels of oil equivalent per year; annual cost savings of approximately $140 million; and environmental benefits in the form of avoided carbon dioxide emissions of about 1,116 tonnes per year.

Additionally, he said, to complement public sector investment, Government would be granting a one-off tax holiday of two years for corporation tax to importers of items for wind and solar energy investments, and for investors in water treatment, waste disposal, and recycling facilities.

These interventions, he said, when finalised, would significantly improve the lives of citizens, especially in the hinterland, by incentivising behavioural change, boosting investor confidence, and ensuring energy reliability.

“Our Government’s energy efficiency programme will involve, also, the replacement of inefficient lights and the installation of 10,427 light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and 3,766 occupancy sensors in government buildings; as well as 360 energy efficient outdoor lights. This intervention will result in annual energy savings of 0.93 GWh, or 600 barrels of oil equivalent, with an estimated annual cost savings of $54 million, and avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 558 tonnes per year,” Jordan said.

Jordan told the House that, overall, the renewable energy and energy-efficiency interventions in 2017 would result in annual energy savings of approximately 2.8 GWh or 1,800 barrels of oil equivalent per year, and an annual cost saving of approximately $193 million, and avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 1,674 tonnes per year. The simple payback period would be approximately 5.2 years, based on the combined investment cost.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT STREET LAMPS He said, too, that in 2017, the administration would consider utilising the balance of the current Japanese non-project grant aid facility to the private sector to procure 5,000 energy efficient street lamps. This endeavour, he said, would result in replacement of the existing inefficient 250W street lights with 120W

LED street lamps, resulting in energy savings of about $158 million annually; with other benefits such as a reduction in power demand of about 0.7 MW and environmental benefits of about 2,000 tonnes carbon dioxide emissions per year avoided.

According to Jordan, based on the annual energy savings, this investment in energy efficiency would have a simple payback of less than 2 years.

Furthermore, in the pursuit of best practice and due diligence, Government will conduct further geotechnical studies for the Moco Moco Hydropower Development Project. The results of the geotechnical studies, which are expected to be completed in 2017, will be used to invite bids for the hydropower redevelopment contract.

Also, in the coming year, Government will see data collection studies being conducted on wind energy via a demonstration wind project.

GREEN AGENDA Jordan said Government’s Green Agenda, which has been consistently ventilated

by President David Granger, and expressed in many forms – be it green economy, green development, or green pathway – sets out a vision that takes a broad, multi-dimensional approach towards achieving a “good life for all”.

He said the Green Agenda encompasses environmental protection, citizen security, employment and value chain

creation, energy, health, education, social protection, and resilience against climate change and economic shocks. “It is about sustainable development, embracing a broad range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning perfectly with multi-dimensional progress,” Jordan said.

According to him, each of us, as responsible citizens of this land, must strive to ensure that our actions leave minimal carbon footprints. “Whether we are making energy smart decisions on the type of appliance to purchase for our homes; whether we choose to drive to the corner store instead of walking; whether we remember to turn off lights in unoccupied spaces; or whether we design and construct our homes to use more natural light and ventilation, are all important decisions which will determine the magnitude of carbon footprint we amass.

“The Government will prioritise resource allocations to advance our nation along this green trajectory.”

He said that in recognition of its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and our Guyana’s nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, “we have committed to expand our protected areas by an additional two million hectares, by 2020.”

Next year, the Government will engage in consultations with stakeholders; begin the process for delineation of the

expanded area, and design a related management plan.

“These actions are consistent with meeting our commitments under the Paris Declaration and in keeping with Guyana’s commitment as a signatory to the Convention on Biodiversity,” the finance minister said.

He said sustainable management of the country’s environment will see additional resources being allocated for greater compliance and monitoring and strengthening of operations by regulatory agencies. To complement these initiatives within the regulatory framework and curb Guyana’s less-than-desirable consumption and production patterns, Jordan said, Government will be introducing an environmental levy on the manufacturers and distributors of products that use non-returnable metal, plastic, and glass beverage containers.

In addition, he said, “We will grant exemptions of customs duties and taxes on greenhouses and their component parts, among other concessions.”

He said, too, that to create an overarching framework to guide the management of the country’s biodiversity and chart a course for national development, Government will embark on the design of a Green State Development Plan, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The plan will serve as the template to guide the rapid transformation of our economy, reorienting the structure of Guyana’s production base and promoting

diversification to reduce the reliance on the ailing traditional sectors.

“These efforts will lay the path to eliminating our dependency on fossil fuels and moving us closer to the target of 100 per cent renewable energy supply by 2025,” he explained.

He said that building on previous initiatives with a low carbon focus, including the use of renewable energy sources and co-generation alternatives, the Government would review and expand the scope of alternative energy solutions.

CLIMATE PACT WITH NORWAY On the forest and climate partnership agreement between Guyana and Norway, Jordan told the House that the prime features of this agreement, which was signed in 2009, are to safeguard Guyana’s rainforest, improve forest governance, and support Guyana’s holistic green development, including the transition to green and renewable energy.

He said that in a recent meeting held in the margins of the United Nations Climate Change Convention in Marrakech, Morocco, both President Granger and Minister Vidar Helgesen of Norway agreed to have in place, early in 2017, an agreed work plan for detailing Guyana’s clean energy transition. Jordan said the two officials also agreed to continue a dialogue on how to develop their partnership in the 2020-2030 period.

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UNAIDS hails Caribbean’s fight against HIV/AIDS

…says nearly 8000 Guyanese living with the disease

Global fight against corruption

TODAY, the Regional Security System (RSS) Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) goes into operation. This unit, located in Barbados, has taken over from and will continue the work of the Caribbean Criminal Assets Recovery Programme (CCARP) in the partnership between the RSS and the United Kingdom to tackle organised crime and corruption.

The ARU aims to continue promoting and strengthening legislation throughout the region to tackle the proceeds of crime. It proposes to lobby for the establishment of a dedicated forfeiture fund to provide additional resources for law-enforcement agencies, for the criminal justice system, for victim compensation, and for community projects keeping youngsters off the streets.

Drug-trafficking and corruption continue to threaten nations’ sovereignty, the security of its people, its quality of governance, and the moral fabric of their societies.

Guyanese can identify. We have seen loss and destruction of lives and families through drug use and trafficking, the burden on our prison system, reprisal killings (death and phantom squads), and the taint on government through access to and influence in the corridors of power.

Drugs are negatively impacting and altering the lives of people, more so the younger generation, not only in use, but plying the trade- as mules or suppliers- on the glamourisation of the get-rich-quick syndrome. There is diminished attraction to live within one’s means, work hard, and through dint of sacrifice, acquire. At the same time it cannot be ignored, as a matter of practical recognition, that where there are limited avenues for legitimate employment and economic opportunities,the temptation to pursue illegitimate avenues is real.

Corruption continues to wreak havoc on the economic performance of countries. Outside of it being a human rights violation, it brings in its wake compromised public

AS THE world observes World AIDS Day today, UNAIDS has revealed that as of 2015 some 7800 Guyanese are living with the disease.

Cuba leads the way with 22,000, Haiti, 130,000, Jamaica 29,000 and Trinidad and Tobago 11,000. Bahamas is at 8,100.

Director of UNAIDS Latin America and Caribbean, Dr. César Núñez said World AIDS Day 2016 being observed today comes a year after the community of nations committed to ending the pandemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals and six months following a landmark Political Declaration to end AIDS. In a statement to mark the occasion Nunnez said HIV prevention is central to achieving this goal, noting that at this exciting moment in history “we have at our disposal a combination of new science, evidence-based prevention strategies refined over more than 30 years, and the understanding that in order to succeed we must ensure that no one is left behind.”

The UNAIDS official said some of the weapons available are familiar, noting that condoms still matter.” Our governments have committed to ensuring that we have

Director of UNAIDS Latin America and Caribbean, Dr. César Núñez

strengthened national condom programmes with sufficient attention to procurement and distribution. We’ve learned over the last two decades how to use social marketing to target specific audiences and to drive demand for condom use,” Nunez said.

He added:”our region also knows how to prevent babies from being born with HIV. Through the widespread expansion of antiretroviral treatment for mothers living with HIV, there have been dramatic declines in HIV transmission to children. In 2015 nine of every ten pregnant women living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean received antiretro-

officials, elected and appointed. This society is not oblivious to stories of officials hiving off state properties for personal use, while in some cases granting favours to persons in conflict with the law. Corruption impacts various strata of government. For instance, members of the Police Force, whose institution is responsible for serving and protecting, not acting in accordance with. This can see efforts to shield those engaged in illicit activities by not investigating and charging those accused, and during court hearings either compromising the required quality of investigation and prosecution of cases.

Grantley Watson, Executive Director of the RSS, has noted the region being negatively impacted by violence from drug-trafficking and the ARU will help countries confiscate criminals’ assets, reducing their influence and power. It is no secret that Guyana can do well with such support, given the sprawling assets of the nefarious. A case that readily comes to mind is convicted druglord Roger Khan, where decisions by the state regarding his assets are yet to definitively be made.

On the other hand, some countries may have laws to confiscate properties illegally acquired, but the paucity of skills to investigate and identify sources of funding hinder justifying a case in the courts for confiscation. Similarly, where politicians and public officers enter office dirt poor and within short periods of time amass wealth beyond their

viral medicines (88%).”

Cuba led the world by becoming the first country to be validated last year by the World Health Organization as having eliminated this form of HIV transmission. The validation process is underway now in 12 Caribbean countries and territories including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The UNAID official said the success of these countries reminds us that the elimination of new HIV infections among children is a realistic and urgent goal.

According to him, in 2008 Health and Education Ministers in Latin America and the Caribbean committed to providing young people with comprehensive sexuality education through the “Educating to Prevent” Declaration.

“We’ve long acknowledged our responsibility to give young people the information they need to keep them safe throughout life. We must now ramp up our efforts to ensure that adolescents have that education along with access to economic empowerment and sexual and reproductive health services,” he said.

“Today, happily, we have new tools to bolster HIV prevention. Pre-exposure pro-

phylaxis or PrEP—HIV drugs taken by an HIV negative person on a daily basis—dramatically reduces the chance of contracting the virus. The world has agreed to reach at least three million people at higher risk of HIV infection with these preventative drugs.

Many Governments in our region have come onboard.”

He said early HIV testing and treatment can be game-changers as well. “We now know that the sooner a person living with HIV finds out their status and starts treatment, the sooner the levels of the virus in their blood can be reduced, nearly eliminating the risk of infecting someone else. It is on this basis that governments have committed to achieving the 90-90-90 targets--90% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 90% of those people on treatment and 90% of treated people virally suppressed.”

Overall an estimated 55% of people living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean were on treatment in 2015. Achieving this target will require significant investments and commitment.” As governments and health ministries strategize about how to achieve scale-up, it is important to remember that these goals are feasible.”

earnings, in the absence of requisite skills and funding to follow the lead and identify the source, culprits walk free and flaunt their ill-gotten gains.

Where laws such as the Integrity Act are not being enforced and the Integrity Commission absent, with Guyana being a member of the RSS-as it was with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)-it is only a matter of time before pressure will be brought to bear to observe and strengthen our laws. With ill-gotten gains persons of like minds and behaviours are establishing regional and international networks to undermine governments through various forms. Some use religion, poverty, business, politics, and other avenues that have mass appeal to create influence and ensure protection. As these networks take root, governments have a responsibility to society to put systems in place to stem and arrest the problem and make criminal activities a dis-incentive.

The global partnership in the fight against organised crime and corruption can be understood through the desire of right-thing members of society and responsible governments to rid the environment of these scourges that threaten man’s security and societal development.

The RSS would be counting on Guyana and Guyanese in making the ARU efficient and effective.

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Guyanese killed in BVI car accident Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) indicated that the bodies were found in the vehicle that seemingly plunged some 150 feet downhill.

The accident unfolded in the Savannah Bay Beach area and involved two expatriates. Persons

Dead: Dexter Cottoy, a native of Guyana

A GUYANESE is one of two men killed in a car crash in the British Virgin Island (BVI), News Online has reported.

The online news outfit reported that while confirming that two men were killed in a motor vehicle accident on the island of Virgin Gorda on Monday night, the

familiar with both crash victims have identified one of them as 31-year-old Dexter Cottoy, a native of Guyana, who is also known as Decky. The other victim – according to residents – is Calvert Brown, also known as Buju, from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The RVIPF, in a media release this afternoon (November 29), said initial inquiries indicate that the two men were travelling from the Valley to North Sound when the accident took place. “The vehicle was found approximately 150 feet downhill of

the cliff, which overlooks the Savannah Bay Beach.

The bodies of the two were found inside the vehicle,” said the RVIPF. “Virgin Gorda police officers – along with Fire and Rescue Services, medical personnel from the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic, Rasta

Trucking, L&S Garage, employees of Yates and Associates and officers of the BVI Port Authority – were all in attendance and assisted at the scene following the accident.”

Investigations are ongoing, the RVIPF further said.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending December 2, 2016

‘New Hope’ project delivers ‒ gives new hope to 43 families

By Michel Outridge FOR his 43rd Wedding Anniversary, American businessman and philanthropist Joseph Roetheli on Tuesday cut the ceremonial ribbon signalling the official opening of the New Hope Community Development Project at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice.

The project, which is intended to benefit 43 families, is a partnership between Food for the Poor Guyana Inc. (FFP), the Lil’ Red Foundation and Major Giving, a donor agency based in Florida.

cilities, water components and a community centre, was financed by Roetheli, an American.

Roetheli, called “Uncle Joe”, told the large gathering at the function that seeing that his wife, Judy, is ill and unable to travel, he decided to dedicate the commissioning of the project to her as a gift on their anniversary.

Noting that projects such as these are necessary to build relationships with people who could use some help, the grandfather of six said this is his fifth to date, and his way of giving back since he began partnering with FFP

‘Uncle Joe’ helping with the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon on Tuesday to declare the community open

their lives for the better.

Some of the newly constructed houses

Its commissioning was celebrated with prayers, poems, popular sayings and their meanings, dances, songs, skit and drumming by students of Hopetown Primary School and residents of Hopetown.

The New Hope project, which comprises 43 houses replete with sanitation fa-

back in 2009.

A HELPING HAND Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice) councillor, Carol Joseph, who spoke on behalf of Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan recalled that since FFP came to these shores 25 years ago, it’s focus has always been on

giving a helping hand rather than giving hand-outs.

She said that in this manner, FFP has succeeded in breaking the cycle of poverty here, and afforded many people the opportunity of achieving economic independence, sustainability and self-sufficiency, for which the minister is eternally grateful.

She also commended Ro-

etheli for the significant role he’s played in the project, whereby through his generosity, 43 West Berbice families will now have a roof over their heads and be homeowners for the very first time.

Joseph said that in this regard, the name of the project was most fitting, since it offers new hope to those who will benefit and transform

December more realistic

By Ariana Gordon

GUYANA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, believes that December is a more realistic time for outgoing United Nations (UN) Secretary General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to make an assessment of the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy; and not the end of November, as he had indicated to President David Granger.

Minister Greenidge is of the opinion that that assessment would be completed before the end of December.

Guyana had approached the outgoing Secretary General of the United Nations to act in accordance with his obligations under the Geneva Agreement — to choose another means of settling the border controversy

between the two countries, in accordance with Article 33 of the UN Charter; and Mr. Ban had indicated that he would recommend the way forward before he demits office on December 31.

Guyana has expressed much optimism that the border controversy would be sent to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) before Mr. Ban demits office. “(Mr.) Ban Ki-moon (has) committed himself to a set of processes. November was mentioned in the context of stocktaking, and after that, he undertook to hand down his decision. I wouldn’t hold my breath for (his assessment coming at) the end of November,” Minister Greenidge told reporters on Saturday.

“My understanding is that (Mr. Ban’s) decision (would)

be announced before he leaves office, and so we are looking well into December,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said, just one day after returning from meeting with the UN Secretary General.

While in Morocco on November 18, President Granger had said he was optimistic that the outgoing UN Secretary General would hold to his commitment to give an “assessment” of the next step to be taken in the border controversy, and refer same to the ICJ for a final ruling.

Should the UN Secretary General decide to refer this border controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it would bring an end to the controversy that has deeply affected Guyana’s development for 50 years.

“We have to hold Mr. Ban

Ki-moon to his own word. The word he used was ‘assessment’.

November is quickly passing, so we expect Mr. Ban Ki-moon to quickly fulfill his obligation to let us have an assessment,” President Granger has stated.

However, President Granger said, should Mr. Ban fail to act as indicated, incoming UN Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, would be the person to chart the course.

“Of course (Mr. Ban) is demitting office, and Mr. Guterres is going to be the person to make decisions; and of course you know Guyana has (taken) a stand that, (after) 50 years of talking, we need to go to the Court (International Court of Justice) and have this matter settled. This is what we expect. I won’t use the word hope; it is not a planning

DREAM COME TRUE Secretary of the Hopetown Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, Miriam Foster said when they received the application from FFP for 43 house lots for the construction of as many houses for the underprivileged, it was a dream come true.

Fraser said the 43 families now have one year to pay off the $100,000 each for their house lots, since FFP has paid in full the sum of $4.3M to the organisation.

She commended FFP and Roetheli for their sterling contribution to the development of the housing project, and said she hopes that the ministry keeps its promise to

the community to provide it with electricity and water by early 2017.

On behalf of the 43 families, Marla James, a mother of seven, said she is very happy to finally have her own home since she is renting a place which is in a deplorable condition.

James, who works two jobs to make ends mee, thanked FFP and FFP and Roetheli for making her dream of being a homeowner come true so that she and her children can have a better quality of life.

Also making remarks were FFP Chairman, Paul Chan-A-Sue; PRO Wayne Hamilton; and Vice-President of Major Giving, Natalie Carlisle.

‒ for UN assessment of Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy strategy. We have done our homework, relayed our case before the international community, and Mr. Ban Ki-moon is quite aware of the power he has — and Mr. Guterres, (as do) all Secretaries-General of the UN — under the Geneva Agreement,” the President said.

Guyana is restricted from taking action outside of the Geneva Agreement, and has exhausted all other courses. Since taking office in May 2015, the David Granger-led Administration has had to mount international protests against a series of acts of aggression by Venezuela.

This Spanish-speaking country has claimed Guyana’s maritime space following the announcement by U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil of a “significant” oil discovery there. After threatening the company, Venezue-

lan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree, on May 26, 2015, seeking to extend Venezuela’s land claim to also annex Guyana’s maritime space.

Venezuela had, in 2013, sent one of its navy’s vessels into Guyana’s waters to seize a U.S-chartered oil survey ship and escort it to Margarita Island. Also, in September 2015, Guyanese authorities had announced that the Venezuela army had travelled up the Cuyuni River.

Venezuela has consistently claimed that the 1899 Arbitral Award which settled the countries’ borders is null and void, but Guyana has rejected outright the claims by Venezuela, and has insisted that the only solution to the border controversy is by way of juridical settlement, and not by threats.

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Jordan: Prudent financial management priority

–– investment tops $114B; 6,000 new jobs next year

IN keeping with the mantra at maintaining debt at sus- ed to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of good governance, Finance tainable levels, losing access of Terrorism (AML/CFT) have led correspondent banks to Minister Winston Jordan has to concessional external fi- terminate their relationships with their local partners, a pracaffirmed that prudence in nancing could result in sub- tice termed “derisking.” public financial management, stantially higher debt service in light of existing macro-ecocosts over the medium-term. nomic and fiscal constraints will remain a priority.

UPPER MIDDLE-INGovernment this year in a COME COUNTRY bid to promote the efficient and This year, the World effective delivery of services Bank reclassified Guyana to the citizenry has trained 190 as an upper middle-income public servants, in key concepts country, which will limit of Monitoring and Evaluation the availability of grants and 29 (M&E) and will train another “softer term” loans from tra200, in 2017. ditional lenders.

“Our signal improvement in To ensure that Governthe area of expenditure management has continued access to ment is the early presentation financing at affordable rates, of Budget 2017, with the adJordan said it must be innoCredit unions will play an important role in expandvantage of beginning the new vative in pursuing broader ing and deepening access to financial services, as year with approved budgetary sources of funding, such as they have significant potential to reach the most allocations and with the ability Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented Budget blending hard or non-concesvulnerable income groups to implement, from January 1, 2017 to the House on Monday sional resources with grant rather than losing as many as four months of the fiscal year, as has been the practice for the last 40 years,” Jordan said in While this trend has affected his third budget presentation on Monday. countries around the globe, the The disadvantages of a budget presented during the fiscal small economies of the Caribbeyear are numerous and demonstrated over the years – the late an have been hit especially hard. start-up of programmes, and the bottleneck effect in the third and fourth quarters that effectively chokes public sector proSEVERELY AFFECTED cesses and compromises private sector contractors’ capacities Minister Jordan noted that to respond. while foreign-owned banks According to the finance minister, it is alarming that operating in Guyana have not Budget Agencies and managers have to attempt to spend over been subject to derisking, local40 per cent of their budgets in the last quarter alone - a most ly-owned banks have been seworrisome reality that raises concerns about transparency, verely affected by, losing in the accountability, and value for money. aggregate, approximately 37 per “In 2017, we intend to increasingly align and strengthen cent of correspondent relationsystems, procedures, and implementation modalities to inships by the end of June, 2016. crease the absorptive capacity of the public sector.

He told the House that thus “Several key strategies will include the development of far, only one bank has been able procurement plans for key ministries and training; and the to establish new correspondent utilisation of creative performance-based contracts for project relationships to cover about 75 Over the course of 2016, total investments, including Foreign Direct Invest- per cent of those that were lost.

“If this trend continues, fiments (FDI), facilitated by Go-Invest totalled $114.8B, a significant improvement nancial transaction services may over the $89.3B inflow in 2015 become costlier and more limitresources to increase loan concessionality, and reaching out ed, and legitimate transactions may go underground, encourto non-traditional lenders. aging the use of cash and increasing other forms of informality “We must also mobilise domestic resources in support of at a time when we are attempting to deepen financial inclusion. our development goals. The Government is pursuing policies “The end result is likely to undermine the efforts to superto encourage a deep and liquid domestic bond market, which vise and regulate the financial sector and fight money launwill increase fiscal space and give Government more flexibil- dering and combat the financing of terrorism,” Jordan said. ity to respond to external shocks, while reducing our reliance Guyana, in partnership with other Caribbean economies on external borrowing. and international institutions such as the FSB, IMF, and World “I am pleased to announce that Government will, in 2017, Bank, is working to address the threat posed by derisking, pursue the issuance of medium-term Government bonds, through both advocacy and addressing the perceived risks specifically dedicated to the financing of the fiscal deficit,” that lead international banks to sever correspondent banking This year’s investments will yield over 6,000 jobs the minister said. relationships. in various sectors Like other Caribbean economies, Guyana faces a potenGuyana has enhanced compliance with the implementation tially damaging correspondent banking crisis. The local banks of recommendations by FATF and the FSB. staff and permanent secretaries, in order to incentivise perfor- and financial institutions of small Caribbean economies rely “It is critical that international banks work with local banks mance and delivery,” he said. heavily on correspondent banking relationships with global to transfer practices that reduce risk, rather than severing These initiatives will build on a platform that will identify banks to connect with the international financial network. relationships. indicators for determining inputs, outputs, outcomes, and obThese relationships allow local residents to receive remit“In our on-going efforts to enhance our supervisory framejectives as well as set benchmarks and targets against which to tances from abroad, tourists to access cash from their home work, the Bank of Guyana has conducted a thorough review measure progress; specify responsibilities and accountability; accounts, and facilitate the transfer of funds needed to support of its Risk-Based Supervision framework, and drafted updates and identify constraints and risks. trade and investment in the region. and a procedural manual,” the finance minister disclosed.

Jordan pointed out that despite the Government’s success Recently, concerns about meeting new, stricter rules relatIn the quest to deepen and Continued on page 25 ►

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CAL clips Fly Jamaica’s tail A COLLISION between a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) passenger aircraft and a stationary Fly Jamaica Boeing 767, which occurred early on Tuesday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, has resulted in both planes being grounded, both flights being delayed, and a number of passengers expressing frustration at the setback.

Initial reports are that the incident occurred at about 07:42hrs, when the right wing of the CAL aircraft, which was bringing passengers from New York, accidentally clipped the rear of the Fly Jamaica Boeing during touchdown.

However, a statement from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) puts the time of the accident closer to 07:50hrs, and the location as the international apron of the runway.

Aviation sources subsequently told the Guyana

Chronicle that the Fly Jamaica aircraft, scheduled to depart for Toronto, Canada that morning, was being prepared for boarding when the incident occurred. They say that the CAL aircraft, a Boeing 738, had just landed at CJIA when it was instructed

by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to park on the international apron just off the airport’s terminal building; and while taxiing off the main runway, the aircraft made a sharp turn to exit the taxiway for parking, and thus its right winglet, a small extension of the wing, clipped the exhaust cone at the rear of the stationary Fly Jamaica aircraft.

As a result of the collision, both aircraft have been ordered parked as the GCAA and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) begin investigating the incident.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE The cone became de-

The damaged rear end of the Fly Jamaica Boeing 767

tached from the aircraft, the second of two operated by the Jamaica-based airline; and as airport staff

responded to the accident, emergency response teams were reportedly on standby.

Staff of both agen-

cies converged later in the morning at the Control Tower, listening to recordings of conversa-

War on drugs

…project launched to tackle high seas drug trafficking

By Alva Solomon

THE Joint Maritime Control Unit (JMCU) and the Maritime Intelligence Unit (MIU) will be made operational next year with a mandate to combat the transnational drug trade and to search vessels suspected of being involved in the trade of illicit substances.

The move was announced on Wednesday following the launch of the Seaport Corporation (SEACOP) Project.

The project seeks to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies in monitoring maritime trafficking, as well as detecting illicit cargo on board vessels. SEAPORT is operational in 125 countries.

It was initiated on paper following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Ministry of Public Security, Brickdam, Georgetown on Wednesday afternoon. The agreement was signed by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan and Head of the European Delegation to Guyana, Jernej Videtic.

According to the agreement, the programme will see the training and equipping of inter-agency units to identify, search and interdict all forms of maritime trafficking. It

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan shares a word with Caribbean Regional Coordinator of SEAPORT, Karen Clarke and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn

will also provide for the access to databases and regional and inter-regional network of partners, and this approach is designed to move law enforcement towards an intelligence-led approach, with the overall aim of combating the trafficking of cocaine.

According to the EU office, the programme will run until December 2018.It will involve coordination among countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

It has reached Guyana, a move which is an indication of the continuous changes in trafficking routes by drug traffickers, the EU said.

The project will become operational here in two parts: the first phase will be launched on March 6 when nine law enforcement officials from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard who will

be trained by experts from the United Kingdom Border Agency.

The officers will be trained in delivering advanced search techniques for a range of vessels. A second installation of the SEACOP project will be conducted jointly with anti-narcotics ranks from Jamaica. The training will be conducted on the Caribbean Island in late March 2017. The MIU will be launched following the

tions between the ATC staff and the pilots of the two planes in the hope of finding out what transpired on the ground prior to the incident.

Sources at Timehri later reported that it may be too early to determine who would shoulder responsibility for the incident.

Ground operations at the CJIA have been accident-free for decades. The last major aircraft accident at the airport occurred in July 2011 when a CAL Boeing 738 ran off the runway and broke in two after touchdown.

After years of investigation into the cause of the incident, which is seen in aviation circles as one of the most spectacular non-disaster aircraft crashes in recent history, the verdict came back as pilot error. No one was seriously injured in that incident.

creation of the MoU. Minister Ramjattan noted that the launch comes at a time when there should be more collaboration on stamping-out the trafficking of illicit drugs.

“So we very much welcome the support of SEACOP,” he said. Ramjattan also noted that the move will enhance the capacity in the drugs fight.

“Of course, we have had our national drugs strategy

ready for launch, I think the 16th of December,” he said.

He noted that Guyana’s borders are wide and long, adding that the project is especially important in that regard.

EU Ambassador, Jernej Videtic said the project will bring more training and skills to law enforcement here.

Karen Clarke, the Caribbean Regional coordinator for SEACOP in the region expressed delight that Guyana has agreed to participate in the project. She said the maritime intelligence officers will be meeting bi-annually, adding that the training will enhance and strengthen the local law enforcement capabilities.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn noted that the British advisor for the Security Sector Reform Project will take up position in January having passed through “the long-winded” security process.

In addition, he said that Irish Financial Investigation expert, Dr Sam Sittlington, who worked with the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), will return for a three-month period to continue working along with the body.

More jobs 22

By Svetlana Marshall

JEFF Simons, the Country Manager of ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, has said that Guyanese are already reaping the benefits of the developing oil industry.

In a presentation during the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association

(GSMA) Awards and Dinner, Simons ruled out the prospects of constructing a refinery here, explaining that though there is a high potential of producing 100,000 barrels of crude per day within the Stabroek Bloc, it is not economically viable to build a refinery.

He noted that after a period of four to eight years has elapsed, the amount of barrels will reduce. “…you need more oil, you need a really big refinery to be competitive; and right now that doesn’t look like an attractive (venture),” Simons said.

Nevertheless, all hope has not been lost. In a detailed presentation, the country representative said though Shell backed out of the partnership with ExxonMobil during the earlier stages of the project, the discovery of the Liza well in the Stabroek Block was not only surprising, but is very attractive. ExxonMobil is now working in collaboration with Nexen Energy and Hess Corporation on the Liza well.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending December 2, 2016

Simons said that efollowing the discovery, the company sought to have several seismic surveys done in the process of collecting seawater samples, geotechnical data and subsurface information. Simons pointed out that it was only in June 2016 that the second well was drilled.

“The second well has given us the confidence to be able to say ‘now we can go forward with the Liza Phase Development’,” Simons said, while further pointing out that the Liza well has the equivalent of a billion barrels of oil, meaning an accumulation of gas and oil.

As it gears up for production, Simons explained, a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit will be constructed for production of the 100,000 barrels per day.

Within the next two months, the company is hoping to submit its investment plan to the Government of Guyana, before a final investment decision is made by mid-2017.

‒ Exxon to expand workforce, already pumped US$100M into economy “What we hope is that within the six months of 2017, that mid-2017, we are all on the same page and the approvals are in place, so that we can begin cutting steel and doing the fabrication for the FPSO,” he explained.

Production is anticipated to be in full swing by 2020.

However, in clearing up a perceived misconception, Simons told those present at the GMSA Awards and Dinner that Guyanese have already been benefiting from the developing sector.

He said there is a common “misconception that we don’t want to have local content, and we want to bring people; but that is definitely what we don’t want to do”.

It was pointed out that

ExxonMobil operates in 50 countries, and in all of these countries the operations are dominated by locals. “The same thing will happen here as well,” the country representative assured.

To date, he said, the company has pumped US$700M into the project, with US$100M spent locally. In the 3rd quarterly report submitted to the Government, he said, it was indicated that 670 persons were working on the project here, 325 of whom were Guyanese. Additionally, it was pointed out that the company would have received invoices from 115 Guyanese suppliers, who have been supplying fuel, food, accommodation, security, waste management,

medical and aviation services. “The local content is going to expand,” he further assured.

In submitting its development plan, Simons said, the company would also submit a local content plan to indicate how Guyanese will benefit.

“We need to work with our contractors and Government to develop the training apprenticeships and curriculum in the local institutions that will support the skills and talents that we need,” he said.

Earlier this month, ExxonMobil officially gave Government notice of its find of commercial quantities of oil here. The notification is required by Section 31 of the Petroleum Act.

Seized ‘coke’ dumped into Atlantic Ocean THE GUYANA Police Force (GPF) on Friday afternoon dumped into the Atlantic Ocean 55 kilogrammes, 286 grams (kg) of cocaine which had been seized by the police over a two-year period, thus taking off the streets illicit drugs with a local street value of Gy$49M. Ranks from the Police Marine Section and the Narcotics branch, accompanied by the media, a representative of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the Ministry of Public Security, boarded police boat Baramani at the Police Marine Section at Ruimveldt, and went more than six miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.

The solid cocaine was already emptied from packages and made into powder which was placed in a salt bag, while the liquefied cocaine was in four bottles of various brands of rum.

Cocaine being dumped by the police

Head of the Police Narcotics Branch, Superintendent Wayne DeHearte, said the bulk of the cocaine was netted on March 19, 2015 when 40kg of the illicit substance were found in false bottoms of buckets at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

He related that of the total amount of cocaine, 6kg in liquefied form was seized at Guyana’s ports of entry. The cocaine was already placed in bottles of rum destined for

export to the United States.

Earlier this week, 294 kilograms, 232 grams of cannabis sativa with a local street value of $147,115,950.00 was destroyed by fire at the Princes Street Incinerator by ranks of the GPF Narcotics Branch, the police said.

The destroyed narcotics represented mainly exhibits from court cases concluded over a two-year period, besides those amounts found during police raids in which no arrests were made.

Police ranks disposing of cocaine into the Atlantic Ocean

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Guyanese helping to develop world’s fastest aircraft

By Alva Solomon

THE world’s fastest aircraft, the Xb-1, a supersonic jet faster than the Concorde, is being developed by Boom Technology Inc and will fly late in 2017.

And the company’s Principal Engineer, Aerodynamics, who is playing a key role in the development of the super-fast jet, has Guyanese roots.

The company unveiled the prototype for the aircraft a week ago. It is nicknamed the “Baby Boom”and is being designed to achieve Mach 2.2 or 1,451 MPH — 2.6 times faster than other airliners.

According to CNN, Boom Technology and Virgin Atlantic which is owned

by Sir Richard Branson, tickets for the estimated threeand-a- half hour trip from New York-London round trip will be about $5,000. Boom said the aircraft will be able to carry up to 55 passengers It has been in the making two years to date and is set to establish a benchmark for speed and efficiency. With all safety considerations ex-

hausted, it has already attracted the attention of aviation pundits globally, who have viewed the aircraft as the next generation of speed, beyond the famed Concorde.

The aircraft, according to the manufacturer, leverages advances in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion to achieve efficient supersonic flight.

The company noted on its website, that the aircraft has been refined through 1,000+ simulated wind tunnel tests.

Boom jets feature three major aerodynamic advances from Concorde: an area-ruled fuselage, a chine, and a refined delta wing.

“Supersonic performance is highly sensitive to airplane cross-sectional area. Our aircraft features a gentle tapering in the aft cabin, where the wings are thickest, reducing cross-section and disturbances to the surrounding air,” Boom Technology noted on its website.

The XB-1 is powered by three General Electric J8521 turbojet engines and fed by two variable geometry supersonic intakes. Each en-

Kenrick Waithe

An artist’s impression of the XB-1 “Baby-boom” supersonic jet

gine has a variable geometry nozzle system, the company said. The XB-1 uses a compact turbojet engine, while the production airliner uses a medium-bypass turbofan engine for additional quiet and efficiency. The aircraft will be tested at Centennial Airport in Denver, Colorado, late next year.

SO WHO IS THE GUYANESE LINKED TO THE AIRCRAFT? Kenrick Waithe is the Principal Engineer Aerodynamics at Boom Technology, Inc. He is the son of Guya-

nese parents. He appeared in infomercials released last week on YouTube by the company and explains the propulsion system utilised to develop the superjet.

Waithe currently chairs the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Boom Discussion Group. AIAA is the professional society for the field of aerospace and engineering.

According to Boom Technology, Waithe previously headed the Gulfstream team developing quiet boom and supersonic aerodynamics and was also responsible for

advanced computational fluid dynamics methods applied across all Gulfstream aircraft.

He also worked with Lockheed Martin and NASA’s Langley Research Centre.

As such, he carried a wealth of knowledge to Boom Technology.

According to his professional profile, Waithe is a member of a small research team conducting supersonic research on sonic-boom suppression that if successful, could change the current worldwide ban on supersonic flight over land.

He is responsible for

complex aerodynamics and propulsion integration of supersonic and subsonic concepts using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). He also conducts time-accurate analyses on aircraft with propulsion integration and is also responsible for identifying and developing new methods and processes to analyse and design a full aircraft with an integrated propulsion system.

Waithe obtained his education from the George Washington University where he read for a Master’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Previously, he attended the University of Pennsylvania where he read for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Education gets largest slice of budget EDUCATION again has taken the largest slice of the national budget, some $43.1B or 17.2 per cent of the budget, as Government places increased emphasis on the delivery of quality education across all levels.

Included in this allocation is a sum of $1.9B for the School Feeding Programme and $578 million to purchase textbooks. Together with the President’s 5 Bs Programme, these measures are expected to result in improved attendance, attentiveness, and productivity.

In a bid to address issues of overcrowding and facilities’ improvements, over $3.5B has been allocated to construct, extend, rehabilitate and maintain schools, teachers’ quarters and other buildings.

Within this, several new schools are slated for completion, including Yurong Paru Nursery and Hiowa Nursery in Region Nine, Bamia Nursery and Primary in Region 10, and Baramita Nursery in Region One. Also this year, a total of 481 trained teachers were added to the pool of qualified

teachers in the public school system.

“In 2017, we will aim to add another 600 to afford each student increased quality contact time. Furthermore, we will step up distribution of 61 computers under the One Laptop per Teacher Initiative, which was launched this year,” Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the National Assembly in his budget presentation on Monday.

He said approximately 9,500 laptops will be distributed to teachers countrywide to improve classroom instruction and productivity.

And in the area of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), about $2.4B will be invested in the coming years to improve learning outcomes of students, at the secondary level, with the aim of expanding the pool of employable, certified labour that can adequately bridge the skills gap.

This investment will see the expansion of TVET programmes into four hinterland regions. Special focus will be placed on improving access for persons with disabilities.

Next year, $2.5B is allocated for TVET interventions countrywide.

DEPRESSING Looking specifically at Mathematics and English, Jordan said this year, the Mathematics and English Language results at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examination and, more particularly, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), were very depressing.

And the results for English and Mathematics, at the Grade 6 levels, were distressingly alarming, he told the House.

“Our 10 and 11 year old boys and girls took tests on core subjects, which resulted in 14 per cent passing Mathematics, revealing that over 12,000 of our children were not numerate, while more than half of those writing English could not sufficiently comprehend our official language to attain a 50 percent score. This is a crisis!” he said.

But, he noted that Government has wasted no time in tackling this crisis head-on.

In the near and medium

terms, interventions to address the problem include implementing the $337.4M Programme for Emergency Education Reform (PEER), which provides an initial and rapid response that will: i) administer diagnostic and needs assessments across the country for school, class, and child; ii) recruit and retain mathematics specialists; iii) train school administrators for improved monitoring; iv) train teachers in content and methodology; v) roll out a parent involvement strategy in every region; and vi) expand immediately, the number of class periods assigned to mathematics at both the primary and secondary levels beyond the existing meagre four periods; (vii) Commencing and completing the curriculum reform across the entire public education system.; and (viii) accelerating the development of appropriate job descriptions and commensurate remuneration packages, in order to attract specialists and relevant personnel, in conjunction with the Public Service Department and the 60 Public and Teaching Service Commissions, to fill critical

human resource gaps across the country by mid-2017.

Also, in keeping with Government’s commitment to ensure that all sectors incorporate the fundamentals of a green economy, the Ministry of Education has partnered with the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) to reduce the usage and cost of electricity in schools, having conducted energy assessments at 29 secondary schools.

“We have rehabilitated 1,870 watts of photovoltaic systems and installed systems at selected schools in the hinterland regions, so as to facilitate the resumption of the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programmes and improve lighting in these schools.”

UG Turning his attention to the University of Guyana (UG), Jordan said the country’s premier institution remains critical to enhancing the human capital stock necessary for the diversification and ‘greening’ of the economy.

“We look forward to the on-going repositioning of the

university and the efforts to generate revenues and pursue investments that will create a more financially sustainable institution. In 2017, the Government will allocate $2.9B to support the university operations and construct a teaching and learning complex for mathematics and science,” he said.

The Student Loan Agency will also be restructured to ensure institutional sustainability; achieve efficiency in processing of student loans; enable an electronic database to improve client interactions; and improve customer service.

“Mr. Speaker, increased financial allocations alone will not suffice to transform our sector, if teachers are either unpunctual, are frequently absent from classes, or when they do show up for classes, are deficient in classroom instruction and management; It will not suffice if parents are not investing their time and effort to support learning outcomes; It will not suffice if a head teacher fails to care and to supervise,” the finance minister told the House.

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‘Guyana Reparations Story’ launched

By Shauna Jemmott THE Guyana Reparations Committee has launched “The Guyana Reparations Story”, a compilation of four books in a single collection called “undisputable.”

The volume puts together the missing pieces of slavery in Guyana and makes a case for reparative justice. It

has been in the making for the last three years when members met for conversations and oral presentations on slavery and reparations, in keeping with the mandate of CARICOM Reparations Committee.

President Granger earlier this year spoke about reparations and his speech was published in a booklet titled “Crime without punishment

oral traditions and an extensive range of books available were compiled to produce “Undisputable.”

The question of when did Africans arrive here as enslaved people, was raised and Adams said, “We found that date to be 1621.”

The first part of the book titled “In the beginning,” speaks about Africa being the birthplace of all human

The newly launched book, The Guyana Reparations Story

Chairman of the Guyana Reparations Committee and CARICOM Reparations Commission member, Eric Philips, enlightens a young woman about African-Guyanese history

will be available at Austin’s Book Store from Monday.

Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman Eric Philips, who is a member of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, said the book

– The Caribbean case for reparative justice.”

It noted that the crime of slavery needs to be addressed through reparations.

Committee Vice-Chairman Jonathan Adams, said

beings, ‘the cradle of humanity’ and about the discovery of the skeleton of a woman named ‘Lucia.’

Book two, presented by Philips, deals with “Africa before Chattel Slavery” and

presents examples of African life, significance and accomplishments. African civilisation with examples of trade and how Africans contributed to the beginning of Mathematics and online technology are covered.

Book Three “The African Guyanese Holocaust,” notes that Guyana was built on the blood of over 450,000 Guyanese African slaves in the genocide during the slave trade, slavery and slave re-

bellions. “At Emancipation in 1838, there were only 800,000 freed Africans compared to the 5.5 million that were shipped to the British colonies… Enslaved Africans in Guyana worked in brutal and inhumane conditions and were forced to toil without pay, often times working while being starved,” the book stated.

Book Four of the collection titled, “The African Guyanese Reparations

Claim,” lists several claims for reparation, and states it is “the process of repairing the consequences of crimes committed, and the attempt to reasonably remove debilitating effects of such crimes upon victims and their descendants.

“If there was no Indentureship, Africans and Amerindians would have owned 100 per cent of Guyana at Independence. This would have been natural justice.

Amerindians, because they were here when Europeans arrived in the 1600s. Africans, because of the 200plus years of blood, sweat, tears and free labour to build Guyana and to enrich Europeans,” Phillips said.

This chapter speaks about reparation payments made to others who suffered in the world and lists unpaid contributions of enslaved Africans towards building Guyana.

Africans in Guyana cleared, drained and reclaimed 15,000 square miles of forest and swamps by unpaid labour, equivalent to 18 per cent of Guyana’s 83,000 square miles.

As a result, the committee said just as the Amerindians in Guyana were given 13 per cent of Guyana, African’s must at least be given the 18 per cent which they were forced to clear using bucket and shovel.

Several other claims are also highlighted in the book.

The Indisputable will also be distributed free of cost to youths throughout Guyana.

Jordan: Prudent financial management priority From page 18

expand access to financial services, he said credit unions play an important role as they have significant potential to reach the most vulnerable income groups.

However, their regulation has been a supervisory blind spot and various governance issues have surfaced in recent years.

In 2016, a policy decision was taken to bring the supervision and regulation of credit unions under the purview of the Bank of Guyana.

In 2017, Jordan said the Bank of Guyana will work towards increasing credit unions’ familiarity with International Financial Reporting Standards and improving internal control systems in a way that is appropriate for their complex governance procedures.

The Government, he said, also maintains that a strong and resilient private sector is one of the cornerstones of a healthy and robust economy and is committed to maintaining a thriving and fair business environment so that business owners and future entrepreneurs may prosper.

To reinforce and continue to promote such an economic

structure, the Ministry of Business has launched its 20152020 Strategic Action Plan, which focuses on improving the ease of doing business, attracting increased foreign investment, supporting the development and export of value-added industries, increased economic opportunities for and capabilities of vulnerable groups, and increased capacity to develop and promote sustainable business-friendly policies.

BIG IMPROVEMENT Jordan pointed out that between 2015 and 2016, Guyana has improved by 16 places on the ranking of the World Bank’s Doing Business Index.

“This has been the largest single improvement achieved in our history of being on the Index. To further improve our 39 position, the Government will examine the viability of the recently recommended reforms of the World Bank in the areas of starting a business, registering property, trading across borders, getting electricity, and obtaining construction permits, and we will develop an action plan

for implementation,” he said.

Over the course of 2016, total investments, including Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), facilitated by Go-Invest totalled $114.8B, a significant improvement over the $89.3B inflow in 2015.

This year’s investments will yield over 6,000 jobs in various sectors, including 1,327 in agriculture, 1,366 in energy, 1,500 in ICT, and 1,483 in tourism and services.

In 2017, Go-Invest will target $139.8B in investment and the composition of the investment portfolio will be restructured to ensure greater diversification within the economy, with additional focus being placed on the tourism, agriculture, and light manufacturing sectors.

These ventures are estimated to create an additional 3,870 jobs, Jordan said. In addition, on-going institutional strengthening will result in a more data-driven, client-friendly, one-stop investment portal.

“To this end, our Government has allocated the sum of $213.2M for the continued strengthening of Go-Invest in the New Year.

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Nagamootoo leads Guyana’s delegation to Castro’s state funeral Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Chief Whip of the People’s Progressive Party, Gail Teixeira represented Guyana at the State funeral for late leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, earlier this week.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Teixeira travelled to Havana on Tuesday.

Castro, the Cuban revolutionary who built a communist state on the doorstep of the United States and for five decades defied U.S. efforts to topple him, died on Friday last. He was 90.

A towering figure of the 20th century and Cold War icon, Castro stuck to his ideology beyond the collapse of Soviet communism and remained widely respected in parts of the world that struggled against colonial rule. Castro had been in poor health since an intestinal ailment nearly killed him in 2006. He formally

ceded power to his younger brother, Raul, two years later.

In a statement the Government of Guyana had hailed Castro’s contributions to Guyana’s development. Dr. Castro was President of Cuba from 1976 to 2008 and previously Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976, leading Cuba for a total of almost 50 years.

Guyana hails Dr. Castro, globally renowned as ‘El Commandanté’ or, simply, ‘Fidel’ as an outstanding friend and a genuine partner, even before our country attained independence. It was under his leadership that Guyana-Cuba friendly and fraternal relationship had been placed on a solid and unbreakable footing, the government said.

“When an unjust embargo had been imposed against Cuba to isolate the Castro government, Guy-

national dignity and unyielding patriotism.

Though he was ailing for many years and had prepared his people for the in-

mourns the death of a dear friend, a revolutionary icon and a giant of international humanitarianism.

The Government of

Prime Minister Nagamootoo and President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega on the sidelines of the funeral

ana, in 1972, joined three other countries in our region to establish diplomatic relations with a fellow Caribbean state.

Since that time, Castro embraced our countries as partners and responded to our critical needs, especially in the health and education sectors. To this day Guyana benefits from scholarship

and training opportunities afforded to our young people in becoming doctors, engineers and other specialists. We continue to benefit too, from Cuban doctors and medical experts serving our people in our health care system,” the Fidel was an exemplar of unparalled generosity, revolutionary commitment,

Former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica and Prime Minister Nagamootoo

evitable, the passing of this colossus whose greatness is indelibly written in the history of the world across both the 20th and 21st centuries, will evoke an immeasurable pain and loss in Cuba and beyond. Guyana

the Cooperative Republic of Guyana conveys to the government and people of Cuba sincere condolences and assures that at this time of collective global grief, the people of Cuba are not alone.

SportS CHRONICLE

New York Edition

Britain shocked by growing football child abuse scandal

By Michael Holden |

LONDON,(Reuters)-What began as a harrowing account of child abuse suffered by a former professional English soccer player last month has lifted the lid on what could be one of the worst paedophile scandals Britain has ever known.

Andy Woodward, 43, who played in the lower divisions of English soccer, told the Guardian newspaper in an interview two weeks ago how his life had been ruined because he had been molested as a boy by a youth team coach.

His frank revelations of the sexual abuse he endured three decades ago prompted more than 20 other former professionals to come forward with their own distressing stories of suffering at the hands of sexual predators in the sport The allegations of child sex abuse in English soccer

…hundreds report football child abuse to police

About 350 victims have reported child sexual abuse within UK football clubs, police chiefs have said.

from the 1970s through to the 1990s has shocked Britain and led to deep soul-searching in the game amid fears hundreds of young boys might have been involved.

In a sign of how widespread the abuse might have

been, British police said yesterday that about 350 victims had come forward to report sexual abuse within soccer clubs and indicated the number was likely to rise.

Britons are still reeling from another massive pae-

dophile scandal involving one of their most-loved celebrities, Jimmy Savile, a cigar-chomping BBC television star who abused hundreds of youngsters over six decades.

Savile used his fame to gain access to children and

then cow them into silence.

His crimes did not come to light until his death aged 84 in 2011.

"It is a sickeningly familiar tale," an editorial in the Sunday Observer said.

"Report after report has revealed how institution after institution – the Catholic church, the BBC, the National Health Service, councils acting in loco parentis for children in care – have chosen to look the other way when signs emerged of child abuse within their walls."

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) charity said that a helpline dedicated to the soccer abuse scandal had received 860 calls in its first week.

The chairty's staff had made 60 referrals to police or social services in the first three days - triple the number made in the wake of a similar scheme set up for victims Savile.

"STAGGERING" "We've had a staggering surge in calls to our football helpline which reveals the worrying extent of abuse that had been going on within the sport," said Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive.

Meanwhile, English soccer's governing body, the Football Association, has launched an internal review into what it admitted could be one the sport's biggest crises, but cast doubt on claims that some clubs had tried to cover-up allegations.

"If the FA have made errors, we will own up to them as must the rest of football if avoidable errors have been made," Martin Glenn, the FA Chief Executive told reporters yesterday.

"The only way that this gets dealt with is through openness and honesty and everyone exposing what has happened."

On Tuesday, Barry Bennell, 62, who was a talent spotter at Crewe Alexandra and a coach at Manchester City, was charged with eight historical sex offences against a 14-year-old boy.

They included indecent assault, inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency and assault with intent to commit buggery.

Victims tell similar tales of how they were targeted while they were playing for youth teams and feared speaking out would wreck their boyhood dreams.

"My life has been ruined until the age of 43," Woodward, a former Crewe player, said in his Guardian interview. "We've seen with the Jimmy Savile case how people have had the courage, yet I'd say within the football world it's even harder to speak out."

Among the former players who waived a legal right to anonymity to tell their stories are former Manchester City player David White, who won an England cap, and another ex-England striker Paul Stewart, who had a successful career at Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

"My belief is that there's hundreds," a tearful Stewart told BBC TV last week, saying he believed the scandal would prove to be worse than the Savile revelations.

"The access to the children at sport level is very easy and it's perfect ground for (child abusers) to prey."

The NSPCC has not ruled out suggestions the abuse is still ongoing.

"It would be naive to assume that all of the concerns that are being disclosed and being talked about are in the past," said Jon Brown, the NSPCC lead on tackling sexual abuse.

"There are many parallels between Savile and what we are seeing and hearing. Savile's victims were very effectively silenced, they were told they wouldn't be believed."