October 18, 2016

Archives for August 29, 2016

David Granger, Basil Williams, George Norton re-elected to leadership

PNCR Congress

The delegates of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) have re-elected embattled Public Health Minister Dr George Norton as one of the two vice chairpersons of the party.
Dr Norton secured the position when the party delegates voted for its leadership in the Central Executive Committee on Sunday.
The minister has in recent days been taking flack for government over a deal it inked with Larry Singh’s Linden Holding Inc to pay $12.5 million monthly for a Sussex Street property to store government’s drugs and medical supplies.
Dr Norton secured 227 votes. Colleague Minister, Volda Lawrence, was also re-elected as the PNCR’s other vice chairperson.
Attorney James Bond, who had campaigned for the position on the platform of getting youths in the leadership of the party managed to

President David Granger was re-elected PNCR leader unopposed

President David Granger was re-elected PNCR leader unopposed

secure 148 votes.
Clement Corlette, another of the challengers for the vice chairman position only managed to muster eight votes.

Basil Williams was returned as PNCR Chairman unopposed

Basil Williams was returned as PNCR Chairman unopposed

Despite being embroiled in a multimillion-dollar drug bond scandal, Dr Norton was re-elected as one of the PNCR’s vice chairpersons

Despite being embroiled in a multimillion-dollar drug bond scandal, Dr Norton was re-elected as one of the PNCR’s vice chairpersons

Volda Lawrence was also re-elected as a vice chairperson

Volda Lawrence was also re-elected as a vice chairperson

Party Leader Brigadier David Granger was returned unopposed as was Party Chairman Basil Williams.
The PNCR over the weekend held its 19th Biennial Congress at its Headquarters at Congress Place Sophia, Georgetown, which culminated with the elections of the party’s leadership.
The Congress this year boasted participation of 625 delegates and 275 observers from 140 groups.
During the first session which was chaired by Vice Chairman Dr George Norton, a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of party members who died over the last biennium.
The General Secretary’s Report was delivered by Oscar Clarke who informed Congress on the state of the PNCR, the work of the Party’s Secretariat and the major activities during the review period.
Addressing the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord which occurred on 14 February 2015 between the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), the General Secretary said “our decision was a correct one and indeed is the correct one for the future of our Party and….. In-spite of our differences our coalition administration has begun to work together to solve the myriad problems which we inherited…”
General Secretary Clarke also informed Congress about plans for the 60th anniversary of the PNCR on 5 October 2017. He declared that a Special Congress will be the centre-piece of the celebrations along with other activities at the central and regional levels.
The 19th Biennial Congress also approved a motion for the establishment of a resource centre for the preservation of works by former and future leaders of the PNCR.

Scrap the drug bond deal – James Bond

Pharmagate

… “a shamelessly clear corrupt act” – Dr Ramsammy

As the single-sourcing of a makeshift Pharmaceutical Bond on Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, continued to be mired in allegations of corruption and cronyism by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, calls are piling on the David Granger Administration to scrap the contract and go to public tender in keeping with the country’s public procurement laws.
Senior People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) figure, Attorney James Bond is among the most recent voices of reasoning that wants the deal to be scrapped.
Bond whose PNC/R is the largest partner in the governing coalition, told Guyana Times during a recent interview that the deal was a bad one, and should be abandoned, and a more transparent process should be undertaken.

Senior PNCR figure James Bond

Senior PNCR figure James Bond

Former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

Linden Holding Inc bond located at Sussex Street

Linden Holding Inc bond located at Sussex Street

“In my own estimation, indeed the contract should go to tendering. Other bonds may exist and you could have a better deal. I read an article by Ralph Ramkarran, Senior Counsel, and he put it in terms of measurement, square feet, is that the NEW GPC bond would have been far less than this bond now, so if you want to save government some money, if this going to be a long-term arrangement, I think you should go and see if you could get a better deal,” Bond remarked.
Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, who is embroiled in the controversy and faces the possibility of being hauled before Parliament’s Committee of Privileges for misleading the House, is also a senior member of the PNC/R.
Harvard University Professor Dr Leslie Ramsammy also took a swing at those government ministers who offered preposterous excuses in attempting to justify the wrongdoings of the APNU/AFC administration.

Insult to intelligence
Dr Ramsammy, former Minister of Health, noted that the excuses proffered to legitimise what he described as “a shamelessly clear, corrupt act, is not only pathetic, but an insult to the intelligence of the Guyanese public.”
“Justifying blatant corruption by pleading ‘it is human to err’ is the most reprehensible explanation and excuse ever given for raping the national treasury in Guyana or anywhere else,” Ramsammy noted in a statement to the Guyana Times.
He rationalised that to rent a house located on Sussex Street and owned by Linden Holding Inc as a medical warehouse for an exceedingly exorbitant price, without any public tendering, especially when there are better available options for a drugs bond, is far from a mere mistake.
“The tortured attempts to justify this reprehensible contract reveal an ugly arrogance that is typical of dictatorship, arrogance that has disdain for the citizens, that is shameless and which believes that the government is untouchable,” he stressed.
Dr Ramsammy noted that most Guyanese, even diehard supporters of the government are completely convinced that the entire undertaking is a corrupt deal spearheaded by other members of the Cabinet whose instructions Dr Norton presumably acted upon.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran also ruled as unacceptable the excuses provided by government for the shady deal.
“These excuses to justify continuing with a horrendously bad deal makes it difficult to dispel the notion that the Government is playing fast and loose with taxpayers’ moneys…” he expressed in his weekly blog ‘The Conversation Tree’.

Diamond bond
Moreover, Dr Ramsammy pointed out that in addition to the internationally certified warehouse owned by NEW GPC, government could have used its own warehouse in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
“What makes this deal even more preposterous is that the Ministry of Public Health owns an international standard warehouse at Diamond and it is presently less than 50 per cent occupied. This government-owned facility meets all international standards for medical warehousing, including PAHO/WHO standards,” he registered.
“Why would they spend so much money on a facility that was not needed because they do own a real warehouse which is not optimally used?” Dr Ramsammy queried.
The Minister of Public Health did inform Parliament that there was an urgent need for the space because there were supplies at the wharf awaiting possession by the Ministry.
“But how could renting a house which was not ready to store any medicine or anything be the solution? Ramsammy asked, adding that, “in fact, the house is still not ready and the Ministry has paid more than $50 million already upfront.”
This argument was also outlined by Ramkarran who posited that the justifications for not using that bond makes absolutely little to no sense at all:

“The Cabinet sub-committee has justified this grossly uncompetitive contract on the ground that a fire can occur and traffic is heavy at certain times on the East Bank. Well, a fire can also occur at the bond owned by Linden Holding. What happens then? The fire hazard is a potential danger that all owners of buildings have to guard against by deploying known fire prevention mechanisms, not having alternate structures, just in case.”

Health services
Dr Ramsammy also asserted that the annual rental cost for the house will exceed what was budgeted for medicines and medical supplies for at least six regions.
“It is more than what they intended to spend on medical supplies in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10,” he highlighted.
He demanded to know the catalyst that drove the government to spend so much money to rent a house when that same money could have been used to improve supplies to all health centres and hospitals across the country.
He highlighted that in addition to paying for the $12.5 million monthly rent for the house, government will be paying VAT of $2 million as well as maintaining the air conditioning system, electricity, water and security.
“Overall, therefore, the cost would amount to about $200 million per year or $600 million over three years,” he calculated.
Further, Dr Ramsammy noted that since there was no tender or advertising, then how did the company become aware of the government’s apparent urgent need for a building for warehouse?
He also questioned that since government insists the building is internationally certified then why is it still being modified to serve as a warehouse.
“It is intentionally a sweetheart deal,” he concluded.
In this regard, the former Minister is calling for the revocation of the contract.
He posited too that he would also call for the Public Health Minister to resign but it would be unfair.
“It seems unfair to punish one man for the collective misdeeds of the approximately 30 Cabinet members, particularly since we all know that Minister Norton followed instructions and he is the fall guy,” he stated.
Dr Ramsammy also called on all of Guyana to speak out against this blatant act of corruption.
Already political commentator Dr Henry Jeffery, Economist Ramon Gaskin, Transparency advocate Christopher Ram and former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran have called for the deal to be scrapped and for there to be an open public tendering process.

Berbice businessman robbed

– gunman escapes with $2M

A gunman on Sunday morning snatched over $2 million from a Berbice businessman as he was about to make a deposit at a commercial bank in Rose Hall Town, sources say.

Reports are that the businessman, Rakesh Mangalee of Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, was about to use the safety deposit box at Republic Bank when the gunman pounced on him.

Guyana Times was told that the businessman, a Berbice-based distributor, had just exited his car when the gunman came up and demanded that he hand over the bag containing the cash.

The man complied and the bandit snatched the bag and escaped on a motorcycle which was being ridden by an accomplice.

Police B (Berbice) Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam confirmed the robbery had occurred, but did not divulge much detail as investigations are continuing.

He, however, noted that investigators were examining video footage from the Bank’s surveillance cameras, as well as other cameras from nearby businesses.

 

86 graduate from Guyana-Cuba Medical Scholarship Programme

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings and the Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Julio César González Marchante with the 86 new doctors at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings and the Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Julio César González Marchante with the 86 new doctors at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre

Guyana welcomed 86 new doctors who have successfully completed their training under the Guyana/Cuba Medical Scholarship Programme.

The graduation ceremony was held Saturday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and saw many Government officials in attendance, including: State Minister Joseph Harmon; Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings; and the Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Julio César González Marchante.

Delivering the feature address, Minister Harmon urged the new doctors to commit themselves to selfless and dedicated service as they begin their careers.

He reminded that the Guyana/Cuba Medical Scholarship Programme serves as a testimony of the good relationship between the two countries.

“The Cuban Scholarship Programme continues to perhaps be the greatest area of assistance, with the Medical Scholarship Programme being the ‘flagship project’ of training and support,” the minister stated.

Additionally, Harmon acknowledged that the actual presence of Cuban doctors in Guyana, who provide medical assistance in Guyana, contribute to the overall healthcare delivery system.

The minister further highlighted that the hinterland areas are also benefitting, as there has been an increase in doctors assigned to Health Centres in those areas.

Moreover, Harmon assured that the friendship and solidarity between the two countries will continue to grow under the current administration.

Addressing the interns, Minister Norton urged the graduates to work hard to raise the quality of healthcare in Guyana.

He pledged the commitment of government in providing opportunities for them.

“The vision of the Ministry of Public Health is to make sure that all the people of Guyana are among the healthiest in the Caribbean and the Americas by the year 2020, and I know that together we can make it happen,” the minister told the graduates.

In his remarks, the Cuban Ambassador highlighted the importance of a solid relationship to be maintained between Guyana and Cuba.

He said that the Guyana/Cuba Medical Scholarship Programme is a reflection of the solidarity between the two countries: “Only in solidarity will we be able to face the significant challenges we have at present and to achieve a better world that is totally possible.”

Following the ceremony, the interns were required to take the Hippocratic Oath which was administered by Minister Cummings.

Over the last ten years, 700 doctors have graduated from the Guyana/Cuba Medical Scholarship Programme.

 

Dismissed Govt employees struggling to regain employment

Eight months have gone by since 20 fathers who were employed under the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), have been struggling to regain employment so they could provide for their families.

For now, the men have been reluctantly dipping into their savings and searching for “small jobs” here and there in order to make ends meet.

Some of the men who were dismissed

Some of the men who were dismissed

After receiving the royal runaround from several related agencies and persons, including Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, the men said that they took to their last resort – the media – to highlight their situation and call on the relevant authorities to right the injustice they believe was done to them.

The men were employed as labourers, tasked with the responsibility of cleaning up the drains and other areas in their community– Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

They were divided into three groups, each being responsible for a specific area.

Given the magnitude of the work and the consistency to keep the community looking clean, each group leader would hire other persons from the community to aid in executing the cleaning exercises, thus providing other meaningful job opportunities for the locals.

Their last clean-up was in December 2015. In January, they had been informed that their services were no longer needed and that new clean-up groups were created.

The size of the groups has been reduced significantly and consists of members from other communities.

Apart from their claims of being “unjustly terminated”, the men are concerned about the quality of work being done by the new group.

During an interview with Guyana Times the men complained that the new group is doing substandard work and attributed this to the fact that the labourers are not residents of the community and therefore would not take pride in keeping it clean.

Reasons for dismissal

After realising that they were dismissed without reason, the men said they approached their “boss”, CDC Assistant Director Ernest Elliot. According to the men, he was unhelpful in providing direct answers on reasons for their termination.

In fact, they alleged that he was rude in his responses, which they said had an undertone of vengeance.

From their engagement with the CDC assistant director, the men strongly believe their termination was another act of political discrimination being practised by government.

“I think its cause we’re PPP people and that’s why. Because when we met with him, he kept saying that PPP went on sheer skulduggery all the time. He keep using that word, ‘skulduggery’. He musse use it about four or five times,” one of the men, Besham Persaud noted.

The men explained that they visited several other agencies, including the Communities Ministry where, after a number of trips, they finally got a brief meeting with the Minister.

However, they said the meeting was absolutely disappointing since he did not provide any definitive solution to their problems.

The men also wrote several letters to the Agriculture Ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister, calling on them to intervene to ensure that they regain a legitimate means of earning a livelihood.

Family

Persaud has been working as a labourer for the past 15 years, and therefore the dismissal comes as a huge blow for him and family.

“I struggling whe I deh. Sure I find a few jobs now and then, but with that one, I knew for sure I had it cause how often a small job does come up,” he expressed, noting that he has two children, ages 17 and 4.

Hardat Singh, another of the men, expressed similar concerns, noting that his family is currently draining their savings as he searches for another job while simultaneously trying to seek justice from what he describes as being “unjustifiably terminated.”

Roopdeo Samaroo also highlighted his financial struggles, noting that he has two young children who are returning to school today, even as he is financially strapped.

Shortly after the government assumed office, concerns have been raised time and again about the spate of dismissals of persons who were perceived to be affiliated with the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

 

Counterfeit US$50 note surfaces at Kitty business

Businesses beware

Business people are advised to be on guard as counterfeit foreign currency has surfaced. Guyana Times was shown surveillance footage of an alleged fraudster who exchanged a counterfeit US note for Guyana currency at a shop in Kitty on Sunday.
According to the proprietor, the perpetrator entered the grocery shop a little before 14:00h, appearing as a regular customer. He then bought about $4000 worth in groceries, however, just before he was about to leave, he asked the shop owner to assist him in changing a US$50 note, which the businessman agreed to do.
The proprietor explained that he made the shocking discovery shortly after the man left, when his wife noticed that the highlighter

The counterfeit note the shop owner exchanged on Sunday afternoon

The counterfeit note the shop owner exchanged on Sunday afternoon

imprinted its mark deep into the US$50 note; this is usually the case with counterfeit notes. When used on genuine notes, the ink would fade after sometime. This publication was given a demonstration using a US$1 note.
The Kitty businessman explained that he doesn’t normally change money but gave into the man’s request.
“I changed his $50 note but there were other customers waiting so I did not go to check; I changed it hurriedly thinking I could assist the rest of customers which I realised was the wrong thing to do there, not to check the note before,” he noted.
He pointed out that after four years of operating his business, this is the first time that such an event occurred and indicated that in future he would be reluctant to assist customers who may ask for help.
“It definitely made an impact on me because when the mistress came over and she realised the note is not good, I kind of break down because I work very hard,” he stressed.
He added that he intends to report the matter to the police, who will retrieve the note and obtain the shop’s surveillance footage as evidence.

Scott, Nobrega dominated 2 day event

Ecstatic Regatta Concludes

or a second day there were once more abundance of entertainments and thrills as the Aruwai Summer Regatta concluded with the power boat races at the Aruwai Resort.

Dave Scott who drove in the 200 horse power and over category was the day’s most successful competitor, winning three of his four races while finishing second in another. He won the day’s first event which was the Courts 225hp open followed by the Digicel 200 hp and the day’s final race, the 225 hp open. Scott who drove the Jaguar (the name of his boat) was only beaten in the 225 hp which was won by Pomeroon’s own Clint Gonsalves, who drove Cyzie Boys.

Dave Scott standing next to his boat, the ‘Jaguar’

Dave Scott standing next to his boat, the ‘Jaguar’

In total Scott won $420,000.00 dollars in cash and several accolades to go with it as he ended as the day’s top driver. Other winners were, Jose Jardine, Shawn Belle, Danny Benjamin, Israel Henry, Gonsalve and Shawn Jacobs.

The following is a list of the top finishers in each race from the first to the last. Courts 225 hp open- first Scott ($150,000), second Neil Gonsalves ($120,000) first Jose Jardin and third Shawn Belle ($100,000). 75-M1EMF Yassin-first Jardine ($80,000) and second Danny Benjamin ($60,000). Prime Minister’s Office race-first place Shawn Belle ($100,000), second Selwyn Joseph ($80,000) and third place Jardine ($60,000). Lalchand Seeraj 40hp-first Benjamin ($50,000), second Clint Gonsalves (40,000) and third Romeo Randolp ($30,000). Aruwai Canoe- Israel Henry first and second went to Jerman Samuel. Digicel 200hp first Dave Scott ($150,000), second Gonsalves ($120,000) abd Belle ($100,000). Courts 40 hp- first Benjamin ($50,000), second Gonsalves ($40,000) and third Belle (30,000). PM’s Office 225 hp first Gonsalves ($150,000), second Scott ($120,000) and Belle ($100,000). Bartica Service Station jet ski race- first Jacobs ($30,000), second Marlon Sanasie ($25,000) and third Ramcharan Boodhoo ($20,000). 225 open-first Scott ($100,000), second Belle ($80,000) and third Jardine ($60,000).

Most of the day’s proceeding was quite fine with the exception of one accident which left driver Selwyn Joseph unconscious for some period before he recovered and was safe at home up to press time. Joseph’s boat ’the girls them sugar’ hit the rope attached to the buoy and toppled, causing him to be thrown into the water. He was retrieved from the water by life guards who acted quickly to rescue him. At the time he was lifted from the water he was unconscious but was quickly revived by coast guards, who were on duty at the time. Subsequently he was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where he was examined by a doctor, who did x-rays and monitored his condition for some while before he was discharge from the ward.

That accident was the only incident for the two days but it did not stop the patrons’ fun as the activities continued with much anticipation of who the winner of each race would be. After the races ended there was live entertainment by local soca singer Jomo Primo, who entertained the gathering in his usual energetic and rhythmic delivery.

Subsequently there was the award ceremony before the after lime got underway.

Scott was the top competitor on day two while Steven Nobrega won all the races on day one.

Overall it was two days of spectacular activities which showed scope to expand with longer planning among other concerns which could make it one of Guyana’s premier events on the national calendar of summer activities.

 

Berbice pumpkin farmers seeking new markets

With tons of pumpkin being reaped daily, farmers in the Berbice River community of De Veldt, in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) are hoping that government would finally come to their rescue, as more and more pumpkins are left to spoil from lack of export.
What was once known to be a booming business for farmers in the area has suffered a severe blow and residents, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on farming, are once again calling on Government to assist in the acquisition of markets for their produce.
Pumpkin cultivation and exportation have been the main source of income for many families in the community; however, incidents of cocaine being discovered in pumpkins has negatively impacted on the exportation of the produce.
“The residents there now need new markets for the pumpkin. People are planting lots of pumpkin and not getting markets for it”, Lucien Christopher, a farmer and captain of one of the few passenger boats on the New Amsterdam route said.
The farmer explained that, because of the type of soil and the growing market for the vegetable, pumpkin had become the main crop planted in the village. He did note that other foods such as corn, pine, and banana are also harvested there.
Lamenting on the current state of affairs, which he blames on the exporters, Christopher said, “It’s not the farmers you know, it is the exporters who put the cocaine in the pumpkin and because of that the farmers are losing”.
Christopher said that it is his belief that the community has been receiving insufficient attention from the Government.
“These villages like Sand Hills and Kimbia get all of the attention. And Kimbia, which is considered a very far village from New Amsterdam is just 25 miles farther from here”, He complained.
Speaking to Guyana Times recently, the farmer revealed that while he has been in contact with the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), he is also trying to secure his own market. He said he has finished his part here and is awaiting word from partners overseas.
He assured that the pumpkins being planted by farmers in his village are not “fertilizer pumpkin” and are of good quality.

Baboolall keen to satisfy tradition through regatta

By Delvon McEwan

Many might view the Aruwai Summer Regatta as an event that was hosted to rake in millions in profit, but to the man behind the initiative, Chunilall Baboolall, this is not the case as he is keen to satisfy the people of Bartica and the adjacent areas’ cultural desires.

According to Baboolall, Regatta for Barticians is a tradition, “one where we (Barticians) get to showcase and sustain our culture.” Actually the Summer Regatta is not the brainchild of Baboolall but due to the desire of the people in the region, he saw the need to reintroduce the activity after it was absent for a year.

 Part of Saturday’s action

Part of Saturday’s action

The Bartica Races Regatta Club is the original host for the annual Summer Regatta; however, after a downturn in the economy there was no regatta last year. Due to this, Baboolall approached the original host some mere six weeks before this year’s event and was given permission to host the event.

The Regatta was known for its usual power boat races, but the dirt bike inclusion was wholesomely the new host’s idea and he wants to make it a ‘big deal’ locally and internationally, hinting that by the time of the next event, the races on the track could be done under lights.

Chunilall Baboolall (centre) with Region Seven Regional Chairman Gordan Bradford and three of the riders

Chunilall Baboolall (centre) with Region Seven Regional Chairman Gordan Bradford and three of the riders

In total the Regatta investments cost Baboolall approximately twenty million dollars ($20,000,000), ten million ($10,000,000) of which went to prizes and the other half was spent on organising.

With such hefty investments it is Baboolall’s hope that Guyanese enjoy two full days of entertainment and relaxation.

He is inviting all Guyanese, not just the Essequibians, to hop on board as he strives to make this event better the next time around.

Evidently, the entrepreneur is diverting from mining to the tourism sector. He seems to have the ideal initiatives and seems to be on the verge of hitting climax. However, it is just for a matter of patience and consistency, as it is not a sector in which evolution is manifested without the proper approach.

 

Green Bartica Development Plan presented

The proposed Green Bartica Development and Land Use Plan (GBDLUP) was presented for consideration to the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon last week, in his Office at the Ministry of Presidency.
Presidential Adviser on the Environment, Rear Admiral (Rt’d) Gary Best made the presentation and was accompanied by Land Use Expert on the project, Charles Griffith.
Best explained that the objective was to present a consistent and integrated green plan to generate policies that would lead to the sustainable development of the natural capital of Bartica, in an effort to maximise revenue generation and the provision of services to the residents.

Presidential Adviser Gary Best presenting the development plan

Presidential Adviser Gary Best presenting the development plan

According to the plan, Bartica will set the tone of the green economy as Guyana’s first green model town.
The Presidential Adviser pointed to the importance of Bartica as a pathway for Guyana’s green economy.
Several main pillars of the green economy were presented including: sustainable harvesting of natural capital, integrated planning and data management, environmental security, disaster risk reduction, financial mobilisation and technology and science innovation.
Griffith also presented on the aspect of land use, to modernise and industrialise Bartica.
He explained that this aspect of the plan was influenced by the “probable patterns of global and local outcomes”.
Modernisation aspects include the construction of a modern sewer and wastewater treatment system, retrofitting of current infrastructure, climate proofing of future development, the establishment of the following zones: industrial, Government, business, housing, tourism, recreational, research and culture.
Minister Harmon noted that the presentation was impressive and, as such, assured of the Government’s full support towards ensuring that all studies and assessments were completed.
The GBDLUP was also presented to the Minister and staff of the Ministry of Communities, Commissioner and staff of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Minister and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Land Use Committee, and the Bartica Town Council.