Cabinet Press Briefing Notes

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PRESS BRIEFING

Wednesday, March 18, 2005

AGENDA

CONTRACTS
APPOINTMENTS - PERMANENT SECRETARIES
MINISTRY OF AMERINDIAN AFFAIRS: OPENING
TOURISM UPDATE

Wednesday, March, 16, 2005

CONTRACTS

Cabinet at its meetings of March 8, and 15 2005, offered its No-objection to the award of the following contracts:-

SECTOR	ACTIVITY	VALUE
AGRICULTURE	Poor Rural Communities Support Services Programme - Rehabilitation and Excavation of channels - Construction of structures, Morasi Water Users Association,	G$22,244,475.00
AGRICULTURE	Poor Rural Communities Support Services Programme: Construction of multi-purpose centre: Siriki Community Development Association, Pomeroon River,	G$16,798,177.00
AGRICULTURE	Poor Rural Communities Support Services Programme: Supply and installation of seed paddy equipment for Crane, Guyana Rice Producers Association, West Demerara Small Farmers Quality Control Project	G$22,626,000.00
AGRICULTURE	Poor Rural Communities Support Services Programme: Rehabilitation and excavation of channels, Construction of structures: Hubu Water Users Association, East Bank Essequibo, Region 3	G$43,697,995.00
HOUSING	Construction of roads, drains and structures at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, Region 4, CH&PA	G$22,108,240.00
WORKS	Construction of approximately 185 meters rip-rap sea defence structure at Sisters Village, East Bank Essequibo, Region 6	G$71,102,750.00

OPENING OF MINISTRY OF AMERINDIAN AFFAIRS

The newly constructed building to house the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will be opened on Thursday, March 17, 2005.

The Ministry previously housed at the Office of the President since 1994 will now occupy its own premises at Quamina & Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg.

An Amerindian Affairs Ministry was established with the coming into office of the PPP/C Government in 1992, initially in the Ministry of Public Works, Communication and Regional Development in Kingston, Georgetown.

The Ministry headed by Minister Rodrigues has contributed to important developments for indigenous people:-

The creation of Constitutional body, the Indigenous Peoples Commission and the Touchou Council;

The ongoing and soon to be completed revision of the Amerindian Act;

A more aggressive approval to titling untitled Amerindian communities;

Improved access to social services in Health, Education and Employment;

Increased educational opportunities, overseas scholarship etc.

All in all, these developments spoke tangibly of PPP/C Administration commitment to Amerindian development.

TOURISM UPDATE

The recent disaster impacted negatively on Tourism arrivals in January/February, 2005 when compared to 2004.

The Administration has launched an aggressive media/advertising campaign to bring home more visitors and counter the effect of the travel advisories issued during the flood.

In this regard, the 2005 Easter Regatta has been extensively promoted as a Tourism event by the PPP/C Administration (Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce).

The event this year, would again benefit from the presence of two yachting flotilla, one here already and over 100 cruise ship tourists.

PERMANENT SECRETARIES

President Bharrat Jagdeo has approved:-

Former Deputy Auditor General, Mr. B. Balram, being appointed as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Communication;

P.S. Mr. K. Jordan being re-assigned to the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce

P. S. Mr. Joseph Singh having his engagement as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce determined.

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