Wharf lacks facilities – fishermen, vendors P

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Meadow Bank Wharf lacks security, proper facilities – fishermen, vendors

Fishermen, vendors and other stakeholders voiced a number of concerns surrounding the conditions under which they ply their trade to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during his visit to the Meadow Bank Wharf, Georgetown.

Many of the concerns raised during the visit on Tuesday were related to security and environmental issues.

Vendors and fishermen highlighted that presently they have no access to a clean water supply at the Wharf.

“When I come to work here, is no water for me to do my work,” one vendor explained.

According to the Chairman of the Guyana Fisheries Limited, Mohammed Khan, this is as a result of the fact that the well that was previously utilised has now become privatised.

In addition, the fisherfolk noted that many of their problems exist due to the lack of proper management. They added that the absence of rules and regulations along with the lack of an enforcing body has contributed to many of the existing problems.

One vendor pleaded that “we need a co-op; we need a body to handle our affairs. We need a capable body to look into all of our issue”.

Many of the others present supported her plea and added that the lack of management also contributes to the depletion and rapid breakdown of the building and the wharf.

“Nobody pays anything, this is a free for all. The coop is not functioning” one fisherman explained.

Another fisherman chimed in saying “This is the area where we mend our stuff, the roof is leaking. Is better we do it in the sun”.

Further, both the vendors and fishermen highlighted that the wharf is unsafe for business. They noted that they are lacking proper Police presence and surveillance.

“You got to be careful, people unknown to you coming and rob you from nowhere. We need a camera, that we can pick up something” a frustrated fisherman related.

Minister Mustapha, in response to the issues raised, posited that “we will try to restore this facility, I will see from the Ministry’s budget if we can have some funds to at least do some repairs this year and hopefully next year we can put in some request to do budgeting here so that we can do massive work and to rehabilitate this area”.

The Minister further added that he will consult with the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal along with the Guyana Water Incorporated to ensure that they restore a water supply for the fisherfolk at the wharf.

In relation to the security issue, Minister Mustapha explained that “many persons complained about robberies and the security problem here. It seems that if we

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha interacting with a fish vendor

want to develop this area, we have to have proper security. They are also saying that when the Police come, they are not taking the kind of action they are supposed to. I plan to raise this with Minister Benn”.

Only on February 1, 2021, two women were robbed by armed bandits at the Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot located at Meadow Bank Wharf, Greater Georgetown. The women were relieved of a large sum of cash and other valuables including mobile phones and jewellery. One of the suspects was reportedly armed with a handgun. No arrests were made.

TVET institutions move completely online

…10 entities to benefit from $65M in ICT equipment

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across Guyana are now equipped to facilitate complete online classes, making it easier for students to finish the curriculum safely during the pandemic crisis.

The Education Ministry made this announcement on Tuesday after the launching was held at the Government Technical Institute.

Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson expressed that the goal to take TVET online is a testimony to show how the sector can be improved. Consequently, persons must adapt quickly so that Guyana does not find itself in a position where Technical and Vocational Education is stagnated.

“We are keen on reforming TVET and you will see it manifested in our strategic plan, you will see that manifested in our budgetary allocation in terms of how we intend to reform TVET in our country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Advisor to the Education Minister, Africo Selman explained that Government has recognised that without ICT, concepts like equal access to education and education for all would simply be slogans. In lacking the necessary human and material resources, teaching cannot be dispensed equitably so these developments will also address the gaps in geographical constrains. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike said that ICT and TVET are enablers to lifelong learning. He said that the sector believes that every Guyanese can learn a skill and as such, there is the intention to deliver TVET education across Guyana.

He noted that within the Ministry, one of the indicators to determine how well these training institutions are progressing is to assess how many hinterland students attend these institutions on the coast. He said that over the years, dorms have been used to increase the number of students.

With this move to online learning, he underscored that persons from the hinterland communities can enrol into those institutions on the coast without leaving their communities, except when it is necessary for practical exercises.

TVET classes in Guyana are now offered exclusively online

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Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Budget 2021 aligns with manifesto promises, country's readiness for HMIC standards

With BUDGET 2021, President Irfaan Ali's Government has formulated a budget that, long and short, is fully aligned with the PPP's Election 2020 Manifesto and the goal of shifting living standards to equate to a high middle-income country (HMIC). It is, first and foremost, a pro-poor budget, designed to provide support for poor and working-class families. But BUDGET 2021 affirms the Irfaan Ali-led PPP Government's determination to move Guyana forward as a High Middle-Income Country (HMIC). BUDGET 2021, like the Election 2020 Manifesto, sets the stage for a transition, so that living standards are upgraded and the physical look of our country is positively changed forever. BUDGET 2021 seeks to accomplish these goals in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; the need for a resurgence of the traditional economy, which took a beating in the last five years; and a growing debt problem. These are enormous challenges, but BUDGET 2021 Dr Leslie Ramsammy proved the PPP Government is ready for the challenge.

BUDGET 2021 confirms that, with the addition of OIL and GAS in a diversified economy, Guyana is now consolidating its HMIC status. BUDGET 2021 sets the stage for the vast majority of Guyanese to have living standards that equate to an HMIC status. We must ensure every citizen is provided with support to live decently, with dignity, outside of the prison of poverty. Our Government must also ensure that Guyana's infrastructure equates with its HMIC status. With a growth rate of more than 43% in 2020, and a projected growth rate of greater than 20% in 2021; with a rebounding non-OIL economy, a robust domestic and foreign investment profile, OIL and GAS is fulfilling its expectation.

After Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, read BUDGET 2021, no objective Guyanese nor any of our international stakeholders can feel disappointment. The consensus of all stakeholders is that BUDGET 2021 delivered - it is pro-poor, pro-small business, pro-investment. BUDGET 2021 sets about addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and the need to create jobs. These things have a direct impact on the way Guyanese families live. But BUDGET 2021 also, in a dramatic way, addressed the enormous infrastructure needs of the country. By heavy investment in the network of roads and bridges across the country; in housing, drainage and irrigation; and in schools and health care facilities, not only has BUDGET 2021 begun the physical transformation, but is aiding and abetting the transformation of living standards of Guyanese everywhere in the country.

For sure, BUDGET 2021 alone will not achieve the transformation. However, Budget 2021 sets the tone for BUDGETS 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The major goal of any budget must be provisions to support the most vulnerable citizens. BUDGET 2021 is a compendium of support for the poor, for the working class, for those who work hard but still need some support to improve their lives. Our children must be an imperative. In that regard, the cash grant of $15,000 per child in school is a family support, not only supporting children, but the almost $3B that will be spent by families in community businesses will also be a catalyst for the village economy. Those same almost 200,000 children will benefit from another $5,000 each in school supplies vouchers, which will see another $1B infused in the local economy.

Similarly, every pensioner, more than 60,000 of them, will now benefit from an almost $5,000 per month increase in oldage pension, moving from $20,500 to $25,000. This means that our senior citizens will see more than $18B in their pockets, which will end up being spent in the local village economies. Almost 15,000 citizens on Social Assistance Grants would benefit from an increase from $9,000 per month to $12,000 per month. This means that these vulnerable populations will infuse another $2B into their local economies.

Besides direct cash grants or entitlements that citizens will receive (more than $50B in 2021), there are other disposable incomes that citizens will have in their pockets to spend, because they will no longer have to pay out of their pockets. About 30,000 Guyanese senior citizens will benefit from water tariff subsidies. Moreover, every household and business will benefit from a 5% reduction in water tariffs. This will keep about $5B in people's pockets. People will pay 14% less for use of their phones and for internet. Farmers who had to pay more for land rents and lease payments will save from those increases, because those charges are now reversed in BUDGET 2021, saving farmers more than $2B in 2021. Several billion dollars will remain with people. All such money will be spent in markets; at local grocery shops; with taxi drivers, tailors and seamstresses etc.

Budget 2021 clearly has people at the centre. It is truly a people's budget. With its focus on creating jobs; setting the stage for the creation of 50,000 jobs by 2025; with the focus on 50,000 new homes by 2025; with a focus on people's health, and on education and training for the youth; with a transformative infrastructure agenda, BUDGET 2021 really met people's expectation and set the path for transforming Guyana.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Miner, cook drown in interior

Two persons drowned in two separate incidents, one on Wednesday at Rock Creek Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven (CuycuniMazaruni), and the other at Sand Creek Village, South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Dead are 29-yearold Manley Williams and 59-year-old Franklin Smith.

Williams, a miner, drowned on Sunday while taking a swim in an old mining pit at Sand Creek Village at about 11:30h.

According to Police, Williams was seen swimming in an old mining pit located some 40 feet from his camp. It was later observed that the man suddenly went underwater and did not surface.

Shortly after, Williams’ brother went into the pit and conducted a search and discovered his motionless body at the bottom of the pit. His body was subsequently taken out and escorted to Bartica as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, Smith, a cook of McDoom, East Bank Demerara (EBD), allegedly drowned sometime between Wednesday and Sunday at Rock Creek.

Police said that Smith was employed by a Dartmouth village, Essequibo Coast man as a cook at his camp at Rock Creek.

One of Smith’s colleagues told Police that he along with two other workers had left the man in the camp cooking lunch on Wednesday and went to their worksite that is approximately three minutes away.

However, at about 17:30h when they returned, they did not see Smith. He told Police that they waited for several hours but he did not return.

On Thursday at about 08:00h, his colleagues conducted a search in the area but did not find him. It was on Sunday at about 16:00h, the man’s decomposed body was found floating facing upwards in the Puruni River.

The matter was reported to Police, who retrieved the body. A probe is ongoing. (G9)