October 18, 2016

Archives for July 24, 2016

Only bad news if Govt unprepared – Edghill

Upgrade to “Upper Middle Income” economy

… says Sharma’s statement is ludicrous, demonstrates lack of vision

Guyana’s graduation to an upper middle income country can only be regarded as “bad news” if the Government is unprepared to deal with the consequences, former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill stated.

Former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill

Former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill

A recently released World Bank Classification Report revealed that the Guyana’s economy jumped from being lower middle income to upper middle income from the period July 2015 to July 2016; bringing the country up to par with China, Brazil, Jamaica and Venezuela, which recently fell from being a high income country.
Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma had indicated that this development brings great news for the Government but will spell doom for the ordinary citizen.

Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma

Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma

“It is good because it shows that the Government has gained the confidence of the World Bank and indirectly, the international community… but bad news for the contractors because definitely the World Bank will say we do not qualify for certain categories of loans and other international bodies will follow suit,” he explained.
But Edghill contended that the Minister’s statement is ludicrous and only demonstrates the lack of vision as well as the absence of a coherent policy for the development of the nation.
In an invited comment on Saturday, the former Minister told <<<Guyana Times>>> that such great news can only be considered bad for the people if there is no plan in place to ensure the entire country can be shifted in a direction that matches the improved ranking.
“It would be bad news for the people if the Government is unprepared to relate to the people that the economy has been improving and they are unwilling to pay increased salaries and benefits to the people to allow the citizens to live at that level. So if Minister Sharma is looking in the crystal ball and is saying that Government is unprepared to lift the living standard of the people to accommodate the new classification then it will be bad news for the people. But if the Government is prepared to understand and prepared to act in terms of providing what is needed for the living standards of the people to go up, there’s no bad news, this is good news,” Edghill explained.
He pointed out that since Guyana has moved up in its rankings, chances are the country will not benefit from significant concessions like before.
He explained that, as a result, Government will have to act proactively to ensure the burden does not fall on the population.
“If we don’t raise the minimum wage and pass on benefits, you will be putting more people in the poverty line… So I think Minister Sharma is basically saying that he is happy that internationally we are being recognised but Guyanese people can expect punishment because the Government is not prepared to act in keeping with that developing rating. So maybe he is talking about something that he is privy to or aware of,” he stated.
Every year, the World Bank assesses its 189 member countries along with 28 other economies with populations of more than 30,000.
These countries are classified so that data users can aggregate, and group statistical data of interest, and for the presentation of key statistics. Its main classifications provided are by geographic region, by income group, and by the operational lending categories of the World Bank Group.
Economies are divided into four income groupings: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high and their income is measured using gross national income (GNI) per capita, in US dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method.
Lower middle income economies are countries with a GNI per capita of between US$1026 and US$4035, upper middle income economies are the ones with between US$4036 and US$12,475, while high income economies are the ones with a GNI per capita of US$12,476 or more.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Guyana expanded by three per cent in 2015 from the previous year. The GDP Annual Growth Rate in the country averaged at 2.09 per cent from 1961 until 2015, reaching an all-time high of 11.36 per cent in 1964 and a record low of -13.19 percent in 1982. The country’s basic minimum wage is $50,000 or $600,000 per annum.

Another PPP appointed REO contract not renewed

The last holdover Regional Executive Officer (REO) from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) era has been removed as Government has opted against renewing the contract of long-time Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) REO, Peter Ramotar.

The last holdover Regional Executive Officer (REO) from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) era has been removed as Government has opted against renewing the contract of long-time Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) REO, Peter Ramotar.  Guyana Times learnt that the former REO of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Roderick Edinboro was transferred to Region Seven earlier this month replacing Ramotar. When this newspaper contacted Ramotar on Saturday, he confirmed that he was ushered out of his post, pointing out that his was the final REO from the time of the former administration: “Bulkan made it quite clear that all the REOs would go except me…[Region Seven] was always a PNC-controlled region and they felt once they kept me, there was very little room for me to do outside of the norm.”  Ramotar, brother of former President Donald Ramotar explained that an official reason for the non-renewal was not given. “They didn’t agree to renewal. They didn’t give a reason. I did ask if it had to do with the quality of my work and I was told no....when they came into power they send off all [the] other fellows, they gave me a contract for a year, when the time came for renewal, I applied and they wrote saying that it would not be renewed,” Ramotar noted. “I had a year-to-year contract and I do not think there was any necessity to give a reason,” he noted. The ex-official also opined that he executed his duties with professionalism and left on good terms with his now former colleagues in the region. Ramotar suggested that government perhaps did not have full confidence in his performance: “I guess they probably have people who they have more confidence in doing what they want done…I [tried] to be professional as far as possible, I had a very good working relationship with all the team players –the Regional Chairman and all the councillors; nobody in anyway showed me any disrespect,” he noted When asked about his future now that he is unemployed, the former REO indicated that he is currently in a “job-seeking mode”. Ramotar served as Region Seven’s REO from January 2007 up until the July 7, 2016 date when his contract expired. Before then he served as Region’s Eight REO from 2000-2007. Since the coalition’s assumption to Office in May 2015, several PPP/C REOs have been axed by government, causing the Party to accuse the administration of political witch-hunting. Nigel Fisher – Region One (Barima-Waini); Ashford Ambedkar – Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Paul Ramrattan – Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Yolanda Hiliman – Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), were served with letters of termination. Additionally, government had terminated the services of REOs for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Donald Gagraj; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Deolall Rooplall; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) Ronald Harsaywack and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Claire Singh. Government had sought to defend this action by claiming that it needed more qualified persons to fill the posts, “given the complexity of managing five sectors within the region.” Time and time again, the PPP/C has been condemning the current government for its indiscriminate dismissal of Guyanese professionals on the basis of their “race and political affiliation.” More than any other thing, the PPP/C has objected to the manner in which the dismissals were effected, pointing out that the employees were not afforded due process. (Shemuel Fanfair)

The last holdover Regional Executive Officer (REO) from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) era has been removed as Government has opted against renewing the contract of long-time Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) REO, Peter Ramotar.
Guyana Times learnt that the former REO of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Roderick Edinboro was transferred to Region Seven earlier this month replacing Ramotar. When this newspaper contacted Ramotar on Saturday, he confirmed that he was ushered out of his post, pointing out that his was the final REO from the time of the former administration:
“Bulkan made it quite clear that all the REOs would go except me…[Region Seven] was always a PNC-controlled region and they felt once they kept me, there was very little room for me to do outside of the norm.”
Ramotar, brother of former President Donald Ramotar explained that an official reason for the non-renewal was not given.
“They didn’t agree to renewal. They didn’t give a reason. I did ask if it had to do with the quality of my work and I was told no….when they came into power they send off all [the] other fellows, they gave me a contract for a year, when the time came for renewal, I applied and they wrote saying that it would not be renewed,” Ramotar noted.
“I had a year-to-year contract and I do not think there was any necessity to give a reason,” he noted.
The ex-official also opined that he executed his duties with professionalism and left on good terms with his now former colleagues in the region. Ramotar suggested that government perhaps did not have full confidence in his performance: “I guess they probably have people who they have more confidence in doing what they want done…I [tried] to be professional as far as possible, I had a very good working relationship with all the team players –the Regional Chairman and all the councillors; nobody in anyway showed me any disrespect,” he noted
When asked about his future now that he is unemployed, the former REO indicated that he is currently in a “job-seeking mode”.
Ramotar served as Region Seven’s REO from January 2007 up until the July 7, 2016 date when his contract expired. Before then he served as Region’s Eight REO from 2000-2007.
Since the coalition’s assumption to Office in May 2015, several PPP/C REOs have been axed by government, causing the Party to accuse the administration of political witch-hunting.
Nigel Fisher – Region One (Barima-Waini); Ashford Ambedkar – Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Paul Ramrattan – Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Yolanda Hiliman – Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), were served with letters of termination.
Additionally, government had terminated the services of REOs for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Donald Gagraj; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Deolall Rooplall; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) Ronald Harsaywack and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Claire Singh.
Government had sought to defend this action by claiming that it needed more qualified persons to fill the posts, “given the complexity of managing five sectors within the region.”
Time and time again, the PPP/C has been condemning the current government for its indiscriminate dismissal of Guyanese professionals on the basis of their “race and political affiliation.” More than any other thing, the PPP/C has objected to the manner in which the dismissals were effected, pointing out that the employees were not afforded due process. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Guyana Times learnt that the former REO of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Roderick Edinboro was transferred to Region Seven earlier this month replacing Ramotar. When this newspaper contacted Ramotar on Saturday, he confirmed that he was ushered out of his post, pointing out that his was the final REO from the time of the former administration:
“Bulkan made it quite clear that all the REOs would go except me…[Region Seven] was always a PNC-controlled region and they felt once they kept me, there was very little room for me to do outside of the norm.”
Ramotar, brother of former President Donald Ramotar explained that an official reason for the non-renewal was not given.
“They didn’t agree to renewal. They didn’t give a reason. I did ask if it had to do with the quality of my work and I was told no….when they came into power they send off all [the] other fellows, they gave me a contract for a year, when the time came for renewal, I applied and they wrote saying that it would not be renewed,” Ramotar noted.
“I had a year-to-year contract and I do not think there was any necessity to give a reason,” he noted.
The ex-official also opined that he executed his duties with professionalism and left on good terms with his now former colleagues in the region. Ramotar suggested that government perhaps did not have full confidence in his performance: “I guess they probably have people who they have more confidence in doing what they want done…I [tried] to be professional as far as possible, I had a very good working relationship with all the team players –the Regional Chairman and all the councillors; nobody in anyway showed me any disrespect,” he noted
When asked about his future now that he is unemployed, the former REO indicated that he is currently in a “job-seeking mode”.
Ramotar served as Region Seven’s REO from January 2007 up until the July 7, 2016 date when his contract expired. Before then he served as Region’s Eight REO from 2000-2007.
Since the coalition’s assumption to Office in May 2015, several PPP/C REOs have been axed by government, causing the Party to accuse the administration of political witch-hunting.
Nigel Fisher – Region One (Barima-Waini); Ashford Ambedkar – Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Paul Ramrattan – Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Yolanda Hiliman – Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), were served with letters of termination.
Additionally, government had terminated the services of REOs for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Donald Gagraj; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Deolall Rooplall; Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) Ronald Harsaywack and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Claire Singh.
Government had sought to defend this action by claiming that it needed more qualified persons to fill the posts, “given the complexity of managing five sectors within the region.”
Time and time again, the PPP/C has been condemning the current government for its indiscriminate dismissal of Guyanese professionals on the basis of their “race and political affiliation.” More than any other thing, the PPP/C has objected to the manner in which the dismissals were effected, pointing out that the employees were not afforded due process. (Shemuel Fanfair)

AIDS response slipping in Caribbean – UN official

Complacency is largely responsible for the slippage in the AIDS response in the Caribbean, according to the

United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, Dr Edward Greene

United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, Dr Edward Greene

United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, Dr Edward Greene.
He made this declaration at the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa before more than 18,000 scientists, practitioners and members of civil society.
Dr Greene was referring to the recent 2016 Prevention Gap report issued by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) just before the Conference began on July 18.
The report shows that after years of steady decline, the Caribbean saw a nine per cent rise in new infections between 2010 and 2015 and only Eastern Europe and Central Asia with a rate of 57 per cent had a higher increase.
The Caribbean statistics compared with a two per cent increase in Latin America; three per cent in Asia and the Pacific; and four per cent in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa for the same period. In Western and Central Europe, North America and Western and Central Africa there have been marginal declines in new infections.
Elaborating on the situation for the Caribbean, Dr Greene said that it was necessary for a thorough analysis of the causes and direction of the prevention gap.
Based on his close monitoring of developments in the Region, he identified the possible causes as inadequate attention to testing and treatment, including late testing of people with HIV; lack of care centres, and decrease in the rates of retention of infected people in care.
These, he said, were compounded by equity in access to care especially for the vulnerable populations including men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, those who inject drugs and prisoners.
Only recently Guyana’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud stated that HIV/AIDS cases in Guyana are once again on the rise.
In fact, he said there is need to re-examine the National HIV/AIDS campaign given that there is a developing trend where persons are no longer scared of contracting the disease because of their awareness that treatment is available and so have become complacent in their sexual activities.
According to reports, Dr Persaud stated that statistics explain that it is mostly the younger population that has been engaging in unprotected sexual activities.
He disclosed that nearly 60 per cent of youths begin having sex at an early age and most of them have little to no knowledge on how HIV/AIDS is contracted or know how to protect themselves.
That aside, Guyana recently received US$160,000 from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to begin a Test and START (Start Anti-Retroviral Therapy) programme which will significantly reduce new HIV infections and fast-track treatment.
Some 7700 persons in Guyana were infected with HIV in 2013, National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) Programme Manager, Dr Shanti Singh had announced.
The figure represents 1.4 per cent of the country’s population in 2013. Additionally, according to the statistical report, 5.5 per cent of the 7700 were commercial sex workers while another 4.8 per cent were men who had sex with men.

Govt prepared to listen to GTT’s concerns – President

Government is willing to listen to the concerns of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company on

President David Granger

President David Granger

the passage of the Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2016, though it believes the telephone giant has nothing new to express.
During an interview on “The Public Interest”, President David Granger made it clear that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration is a consultative government and will therefore listen to the concerns of GTT.
“It took a long time for us to bring the Bill to its present state. All parties now in the coalition participated in the Special Select Committee. We heard evidence from the major companies; there is nothing we haven’t heard but we are prepared to sit and listen with them,” he stated.
The President noted however that by no means will government take any measures which will reverse the progress made to liberalise the telecommunications sector.
“We want to make sure that they all recognise that liberalisation is the direction in which the country is travelling and we don’t want any impediments,” Granger emphasised.
Following the passage of the telecommunications bill, GTT Chief Executive Officer Justin Nedd called on the government to honour its contract with service providers.
He posited that in order for the sector to be liberalised, GTT will have to negotiate with the government.
GTT, which had legal monopoly on international voice and data transmissions and the domestic wireline service, has always declared that the sector is free because of the existence of other service providers.
But, Digicel, its biggest competitor, had contended otherwise due to the many limitations in its desire to expand services to the people of Guyana.
Though GTT has publicly stated that it welcomes the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, it still wants to further negotiate with government on the matter.
It is unclear what exactly the company wants further discussions on.
The GTT CEO only proffered that the company is not asking for the monopoly to remain but noted there are some things that need to be resolved.
“Right now there are many grey areas we trying to resolve and we’ve been operating in those grey areas for several years, so we’re optimistic that with liberalisation, it will be clear. Businesses need predictability so once we have predictable operating environment, we know that we can focus on driving the business, providing good services and satisfying the customers,” the GTT head had stated.
Additionally, Digicel is awaiting an engagement with government to discuss its licence and regulations for a level playing field.
With the liberalisation, opportunities will now be available for other service providers to make investments in Guyana.
President Granger, when prompted, indicated that he is not aware of any service providers expressing interest in making an investment locally. (Devina Samaroo)

When will this cruelty stop!

Dear Editor,
The Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation and the Suriname Fisherfolk Organisation have been the most affected by these pirate attacks.
Two months ago four fishermen from the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Co-op in Berbice were thrown overboard to die by pirates from the same Berbice area. One body was found and he was given a decent funeral; the other three bodies were not found. The loved ones and relatives of these men could not even do a proper funeral for them.
When the relatives of one of the men was asked if they had received any assistance from the NIS to which he had been making contributions, they said NIS required a death certificate. His body was not found so there is no death certificate.
Editor, fisherfolk from Guyana and Suriname are the only ones that are robbed, beaten and killed by pirates; it does not happen in other Caricom countries.
We do not know what to do or who to ask for help.
Many promises are made but nothing much is done.
On Monday 18 July a fisherman in Suriname was tied to a car battery and thrown overboard by pirates. When will this madness and cruelty stop?

Yours sincerely,
Pamashwar Jainarine

Go Green!

Satiricus was concerned. He was concerned about the health of our planet since all those developed countries kept pouring putrid pollution into its atmosphere which is its lungs. He was therefore pleased as punch when Pressie donated another million or so acres of our forest towards cleaning Mother Earth’s lungs.
But he was more pleased with the Georgetown Municipal Elections. Not at the cleanup that preceded it – but with the results that maintained the tradition of a “Green Mayor” at the top. As a man in the newspaper business, Satiricus was keenly aware of the importance of symbolism and was perturbed no one paid any heed to this crucial detail.
“Cappo, my friend,” intoned Satiricus to his friend with whom he was quaffing some beers at the Back Street Bar, “it is God’s work that we have another “Green” as Mayor.”
“Wha’ mek yuh she suh?” asked Cappo idly. He was used to Satiricus’ utterances issued out of the blue.
“To make sure our Garden City returns to its green glory,” said Satiricus sanctimoniously. “And our Green Mayor and Green Georgetown can both be symbols of our Green economy,”
“Yes, maan. Me see how de Green Mayah ah bring in Green Parkin’ Meetah fuh put all ova de towng,” said Cappo with a smirk. “De towng guh look prappa nice an’ green!”
“I never thought of it like that,” confessed Satiricus. “I was just looking at the Parking Meters to bring in money to keep the city green.”
“Dat too!” laughed Cappo. “De ‘Merican money de Mayah collect green, yuh know! Me cousin in New Yark she dem a call dem money “green backs”!”
Satiricus looked closely at Cappo. He suspected sometimes Cappo was pulling his leg. “It’s the City that will collect 20% of the greenbacks,” he finally said.
“OK…OK…Me ‘gree dat de Green Mayah serious ‘bout dis Green Economy bizness,” said Cappo as he took a long swig of beer. “Really?” asked Satiricus with a pleased smile.
“Yes, Sato,” confessed Cappo with a twinkle in his eye. “Yuh na see how she mek de Deputy DumbCan ride wan bicycle? He nah pollute de air now!!”
“But he adds to global warming when he carries on all the time criticising the Green Mayor!” agreed Satiricus as he clinked his beer bottle with Cappo’s.
“Leh abee drink to dat!” Cappo said with a laugh.

GBTI 40-miler set for today in Berbice

Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Corriverton Branch, will stage its 9th annual 40-mile cycle road race today on the Corentyne.

The race peddles off from the bank’s Corriverton Branch to Adventure Village and returns to the point of origin.

The event will be contested in three categories; open, juvenile and female. The first riders to cross the finish line will receive prizes while the four juveniles will also be awarded for their efforts. Three trophies and cash incentives will also be up for grabs in the female category. The female category will have a new winner as last year’s winner Marcia Dick will not be competing due to pregnancy. However, Romelo Crawford is expected to receive strong challenges as he attempts to defend the coveted title as ‘The man to ride away with GBTI’s money.’ Today’s race promises keen completion as winners in the Open and Juvenile categories defend their titles against among others, Jeban Crawford who took second prize last year and Zaman Khan; the current National Juvenile Champion.

 

The US Elections and Immigrants

While the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 ostensibly was to assert a US role to “protect” the countries in the Western Hemisphere from European aggression, it in effect gave tacit suzerainty to the inchoate world power. As we were reminded fifty-five years ago by President John F Kennedy, Guyana is quite inconsequential in the grand order of things, but we can easily catch a cold if the US sneezes in our direction.
We have to be very concerned not only about who might become President of the US but also of the domestic issues that will prove decisive in the upcoming elections, since these can profoundly effect on foreign affairs later.
In our case, during the 1960 US elections, the major issue was the rising Cold War tensions between the USA and the communist USSR. John F Kennedy had been trenchantly accused by his opponent Richard Nixon for being “soft on communism”. This made it unacceptable for him to permit a possible “fellow traveller” taking office in Guyana after 1961, when his Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba to derail the communist regime of Castro, failed ignominiously.
Now that the Republican Convention has officially anointed billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump as their candidate for the upcoming November elections and the Democratic Convention will reciprocate with Hillary Clinton later this week, the key issues that will define the agenda of the next president of the USA are now clear, regardless of who actually wins.
Donald Trump has been successful in defining those issues and he did so by invoking fears in Americans about losing control over their century-long march of progress to become the lone superpower standing.
One fear that has resonated is Trump’s invocation of immigration – legal and illegal – as a major reason for America’s decline in general, and for crime and low wages, in particular. After almost every speaker preceding him at the Convention reiterated this leitmotif of the primary campaign, Trump perorated provocatively, “Nearly 180,000 people with criminal records ordered deported from our country are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens.”
During the campaign, it was clear from the nature of the crowds flocking to his banner that Trump was stoking racial fears about the changing demographics of the American populace. Several studies had shown that by 2050 whites would be only 46.3% of the country’s population.
However, in his speech Trump drew a casual relationship between immigration and the economic travails of the country – but disingenuously cited the effect on minorities. “Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-Americans and Latino workers,” he said.
This attack on immigration undermines one of the enduring narratives that America has constructed of its rise to success: that it is a “nation of immigrants” responding to the message inscribed on its Statue of Liberty. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
The new message articulated by Trump would be to deport 11 million immigrants and build an 1800 mile wall costing US$5-10B, along the Mexican border. He would force Mexico to pay for the wall by blocking the US$25B in remittances sent by Mexicans in the US. While Hillary Clinton has up to now supported President Obama’s more traditional stance on immigration that had moved to regularise the illegal immigrants already in the country, she will be forced to modify, if not reverse that position in the coming months. Too many of the traditional Democratic voters have responded to Trump’s demagoguery on immigration.
For Guyana, which only recently was reminded of its high immigration rate to the US – which acts as a safety valve in an economy that is stagnating – and of the US$450M in remittances that props up our economy, there should be concerns.

Teenage pregnancy

The subject of teenage pregnancy is a significant issue in Guyana and has been for a long time now, yet despite efforts being made to tackle the problem from both the government and non-government organisations, it remains among the highest rates in the Caribbean.
Coupled with the high numbers of those teenagers living in poverty, the situation presents serious concerns. Why does a young girl who can barely feed herself have a baby? More mind-baffling is why, after the first she often quickly goes on to have a second and even a third. This culture then becomes a cycle that can be seen repeating itself generation after generation.
The underlying issues leading to teenage pregnancy include gender equality, poverty, sexual violence, negative stereotyping and attitudes, poor education and limited opportunities; all of which many young girls in Guyana face daily.
Gender inequality, despite policy, remains a reality in many parts of the world and here in Guyana the culture of inequality is prevalent. The incidence of reported sexual violence is only the tip of the ice-burg and must make up a large percentage of the numbers of teenage pregnancy each year.
Of those young girls who choose to have children so early in life, poor education and the limited prospects they believe they have contributes to their choice. The issue therefore cannot be dealt with by tackling one area; a much broader approach is necessary.
Family planning should not just be highlighted as a key area for development but should be tackled in an innovative, nationwide drive. It is too large a problem for smaller organisations to tackle effectively.
The government and the family should be a major contributor to the education and guidance of young people in this area to provide a wide societal approach to sex education and make family planning available, accessible and understood.
Sex education in schools is possibly the most efficient medium to educate young girls (and boys) about the issues of teenage pregnancy and the dangers of unsafe sex. There is a need for sexual education to go beyond the practical information and provide the kind of social guidance that is necessary to positively impact on the questionable choices that are so evidently being made by young people in very challenging circumstances.
They should be encouraged to question the irresponsibility of bringing children into the world with no means of providing for them. Are young people being properly spoken to about the realities and responsibility of parenthood? If so why is there no apparent influence on the outcome?
While there are undoubtedly some teenage parents that are doing a wonderful job brining up their children; age does not reflect on their ability to love their child, teenage parents are less likely to have the tools and financial capabilities to offer a child all they need for a secure, safe and healthy start in life.
A child with teenage parents who are financially incapable of ensuring suitable health care standards are met, both nutritionally and hygienically, is more likely to suffer poor health. Development of social skills, language and cognitive ability can also be delayed due to inadequate parental interactions and guidance; something often associated with teenage parents.
Teenage mothers are less likely to ensure their children go regularly to school, learn to attain standardised national literacy and numeracy levels and follow appropriate routines. These children are also more likely to have limited access to life experiences.
The loss of a young parent’s own youth and education, narrowed opportunities and restricted lives are further fallouts of young pregnancies. Young girls find it more difficult to pursue dreams and contribute to society once they have a child.They are often reliant upon others for survival and therefore have little control over their lives and what they can offer their children. Risks during pregnancy for teens is a harsh reality and unfortunately a significant contributor to the age group’s mortality figures.
Young people if you have the choice, think carefully before you make a decision, or fail to make one, and bring a child into the world.
They do not only need love to survive. The need food, adequate shelter, security and guidance. There are far too many children already in need of, and lacking, so much.
We are in the 21st century and women have the opportunity to control those areas of their lives more than ever before. The cultural cycle that exists of children begetting children needs to be broken so we can focus all our family resources of time, knowledge and money on the thousands of young people already in need.

UG social work class honoured for domestic violence advocacy

The University of Guyana’s class of 2014-2016 Social Work diploma students was honoured for their role to eradicate social ills in the society. They received an award at the first ever Guyana Social Work Practitioners and Educators Conference, held Thursday and Friday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown.

Demonstrating Leadership: From left, Shelisa Camacho-Khan, Kimberly Conway, Shanice Edwards, Jonmal Johnson, Barbara Thomas-Holder (Lecturer), Nickesha Bacchus

Demonstrating Leadership: From left, Shelisa Camacho-Khan, Kimberly Conway, Shanice Edwards, Jonmal Johnson, Barbara Thomas-Holder (Lecturer), Nickesha Bacchus

The social work students were awarded for “demonstrating leadership in advocating for the eradication of social ills within the Guyanese society.”
According to the media release, the award followed a walkathon and rally against domestic violence held on June 25. The walkathon’s PRO Anil Persaud had explained that the event was timely, given the prevalence of domestic violence throughout the country.
“Some of us may not know much about the issue and it’s complexities but what we all do know is that domestic violence is unacceptable and it must end if we are to see the brighter future everyone dreams of,” he had noted.
The walkathon was held under the theme, “Stop Domestic Violence: Preserve the family and Humanity.” And the initiative was executed in collaboration with the Social Protection Ministry and included the support of NAMILCO (National Milling Company), St Joseph Mercy Hospital and the Civil Defence Commission.