PRESS BRIEFING
Tuesday, 16 December 2003

CONTRACTS

EDUCATION CONTRACT FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO SCHOOLS IN PACKAGE B:-

(1)BETERVERWAGTING
COMMUNITY HIGH

(2) CHARLESTOWN SECONDARY

(3) PARAMAKATOI COMMUNITY

(4) ROSIGNOL SECONDARY SCHOOL

(5) ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE

G$28,448,205.00

G$52,727,912.00

G$18,283,152.00

G$29,681,890.00

G$26,291,576.00

HOME AFFAIRS CONTRACT FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE MAZARUNI PRISON
G$12,952,408.00

HEALTH CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF LABORATORY ITEMS: GPHCG - $36,247,534.34

WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF BOULDERS: PROFIT/FOULISG - $63,000,000.00

LOCAL GOVT. CONTRACT FOR THE EXECUTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE ECCLES LANDFILL SITE - US$61,050.00

1. CONTRACTS

2. APPOINTMENTS:

* National Archives of Guyana
* Guyana National Standards Council
* Central Housing & Planning Authority

3. COMMUNIQUÉ FOLLOW UP

4. NATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM

5. UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA: BERBICE
CAMPUS, TAIN, PORT MOURANT

NATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM

The Government of Guyana continued its commitment to cricket in Guyana and the Regions when Cabinet authorised funding to meet the expenditure to conduct preliminary works at the proposed site of the National Cricket Stadium.

The proposed site is at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The Government of India committed to providing tangible inputs towards Guyana’s goal of constructing the National Cricket Stadium.

Cabinet approval of funding is to acquire necessary date for:-

* Land surveying: Cadastral to photographic - $2.1 M GYD
* Soil investigation - about the same cost.

Cabinet approved the use of Lotto funds to meeting the expenditure for the investigation.

COMMUNIQUÉ FOLLOW UP

Since the last Cabinet Press Briefing, progress with implementing the agreement under the constructive engagement continued.

Parliament continued to be the main focus of attention, both as a direct beneficiary of the agreements under the Constructive Engagement as well as the source of legislative deliberations and oversight of the Executive.

Since the relocation of the Public Utilities Commission, the extent and pace of the rehabilitation has increased in the Public Buildings.

The many new Committees of Parliament continue to engage in discharging their mandates on a weekly basis. Notable among them are the Management, Sectoral and Appointive Committees.

With regards to the Bi-partisan Task Force, progress with the drafting of the Reform Local Government Legislation has been slowed.

The President met with the Leader of the Opposition and both Leaders addressed outstanding Constitutional appointments.

They were able to conclude some of these appointments and resolved to continue those consultations to finality.

Outstanding are the Public and teaching Service Commissions appointments.

Meeting of the High Representatives would resume during the current week.

UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA: BERBICE CAMPUS, TAIN, PORT MOURANT

Cabinet approved the sum of $10 M GYD being deposited in the High Court as security to enable the contractors to proceed with the construction of the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus at Tain, Port Mourant.

It has been over eight (8) months since the contractor who was awarded the contract, had its execution interrupted by a Court Injunction Order on behalf of Mr. Harold Singh and other members of the society.

The agreement by Cabinet would, by establishing a surety to compensate the society if so decided, allow the completion of the construction work on the Berbice Campus of the University of Guyana at Tain, Port Mourant.

APPOINTMENTS: GUYANA NATIONAL STANDARD COUNCIL (GNSC)

Cabinet at its meeting on Friday, December 12, 2003, approved the appointment of the following persons as members of the Guyana National Standard Council (GNSC) from the period January 1,2004 to December 31, 2004:-

* Mr. Melvyn Sankies
* Dr. Chatterpaul Ramcharran
* Dr. Gocool Persaud
* Mr. Rameshwar Ramrattan
* Mr. Patrick Dial
* Ms. Elisa Florendo
* Mr. Leevan DeSantos
* Mr. Marvon Persaud
* Mr. Dhanpaul Dhanraj
* Mr. Brian Greenidge
* Mr. Willet Hamilton
* Mr. Valmikki Singh
* Representative,
Information Technology
Association of Guyana (IT)
* Mr. William Benjamin
* Mr. Naresh Singh

ADVISORY COMMITTEE, NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF GUYANA

* Dr. James Rose
* Mr. Tota Mangar
* Mr. G. Persaud
* Representative, General Registrar Office
* Mr. Lloyd Nickram
* Ms. Hazel Woolford
*Mr. kamal Ramkarra
* Ms. Ameena Gafoor
* Ms. Lelia Parris
* Mr. Dudley Kishore
* Representative, Parliament Library
* Ms. June Dubissette

CENTRAL HOUSING AND PLANNING AUTHORITY

* Dr. Moti Lall
* Mr. Llewellyn John
* Mr. Brijmohan Bejai
* Mr. Arthur Corlette
* Mr. Waldron Kendell
* Mr. Sammy Rampersaud
* Representative, Linden Town Council
* Ms. Eliza Florendo
* Mr. Leon Leslie Rutherford
* Representative, Ministry of Health
* Mr. P. K. Balram
* Representative, Private Sector
* Representative, PNCR