PRESS BRIEFING CONTRACTS March 10, 2004
Cabinet has offered its “No-Objection” to the following contracts being awarded:-

Agenda

Contracts

Parliament

PRSP

Incorporation of Housing Schemes into
Local Authorities

22nd Session of the Guyana/Cuba joint
Commission

Pirates/Fishing Boats.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING TO HOUSE GOVERNMENT OFFICES
G$44,576,522.

WORKS

UPGRADING AND REHABILITATION OF THE KAITUMA AERODROME - REGION 1
G$19,746,950.

PURCHASE OF AN ADDITIONAL GENERATOR FOR LETHEM

US$62,118.

PRS PROGRESS REPORT 2002 - 2003
The Draft Progress Report of the Implementation of Guyana Poverty Reduction Strategy for the year 2002 - 2003 is about to be releases.
Its release will initiate the National Review Process involving stakeholders in Guyana.
The Draft Report is prepared by the Government of Guyana and reflects the state of implementation of PRS with regards to the achievement of targets set out in the full PRSP in 2001 and in the various policy areas.
The Review will be done nation wide and facilitated by the staff from the Unit at Office of the President and members from the various organisations
involved in monitoring and evaluation the implementation of the PRSP.
The Review will lead to the three (3) country conferences planned for April at which the views and opinions of participants would be addressed and used to finalise the document.
Over the next 4 - 6 weeks, the Unit would be would be engaged in leading the Review and sensitizing the Guyanese population through the media and directly about progress with the PRS.

CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT
The constructive engagement continues to be affected by the selective delaying tactics of the Opposition PNCR.
As was previously stated the various areas of activity under the constructive engagement have been selectively targetted by the PNCR.
These areas where progress is irreversible continue to benefit from PNCR participation.
Thus, the Parliamentary Sessional Committees particularly the four (4) Sectoral Committees, the Public Accounts and the Parliamentary Management Committee are conducting business as usual.
The PNCR participation at other Parliamentary fora is less principled. A review of the recent PNCR participation in other aspects of the constructive engagement is discouraging.
Bilateral meetings at the level of the High Representatives and the Leaders, continue not being held.
Mr. Corbin has yet to respond to President Jagdeo’s invitation to consult on the reconstitution of the important Integrity Commission.
The situation is somewhat better at the level of the Bipartisan Task Forces where some activity is evident.

INCORPORATION OF HOUSING SCHEMES
Sectoral Housing Schemes in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 with a combined total of 10,587 house lots are at a stage when they can be transferred from under the authority of the Ministry of Housing and Water/CH&PA to the appropriate Neighbourhood Democratic Council on Municipality.
The Ministry of Housing and Water and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development are collaborating on this exercise to implement the statutory provisions regarding this matter and outlined in the Local Democratic Organ Act.
The Ministry of Local Government would be seen organising and hosting Town and Community meetings within all of the identified areas to inform residents of the development importantly to outline the consequences of the incorporation of their Housing Schemes into NDCs and Municipalities.

22nd SESSION OF THE GUYANA/CUBA JOINT COMMISSION
The 22nd session of the Joint Commission should be held in Georgetown, Guyana from March 22 - 24, 2004.
The 2001 - 2003 work programme is practically at its end and focused heavily on the Health and Education Sectors.
Importantly, the Human Resources Development component of the Bilnt Cooperation Agreement has assumed as major proportions as the more long-standing and higher visibility Cuban Medical Brigade presence.
The preparation of the work programme for the 2004 - 2006 period involved Cabinet, the community involved Health and Education Sector and also Agriculture, Culture Youth and Sport.