PRESS BRIEFING
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
AGENDA
- CONTRACTS
- APPOINTMENTS
- REACH-OUT SERVICES
- RATIFICATION OF GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY
- PARLIAMENT
- RECOVERY PROGRAMME
- REVISED AMERINDIAN ACT
PRESS BRIEFING
CONTRACTS
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Cabinet at its meeting held on Tuesday, March 22, 2005, offered its No-objection to the award of the following contracts:
SECTOR |
ACTIVITY |
VALUE |
EDUCATION |
Purchase of a packages of supplementary textbooks under the Education for All Fast Track Initiative |
G$281,753,552.00 |
WATER |
Supply of control panel spares for submersible motors for Guyana Water Inc. |
G$57,537,800.00 |
WATER |
Supply of drilling equipment for the Hinterland Potable Water Supply Programme, GWI |
G$65,000,000.00 |
WORKS |
Supply of 100 galvanised 10 feet deck plates for the Demerara Harbour Bridge |
|
RATIFICATION: FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL
Cabinet, at its meeting of March 22, 2005, agreed to ratify the Framework Conventions on Tobacco Control.
The Ministry of Health would be moving to Parliament with the enabling motion adoption of which would see Guyana depositing the Instrument of Ratification at UN Headquarters in New York.
The Convention set standard for advertising and publicity for health warnings about Tobacco usage.
RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION MEASURES
The President announced on Friday, March 19, 2005, the measures for short term recovery and rehabilitation.
Those measures included the following:-
- Financial assistance to approximately 70,000 households in Regions 3, 4 and 5 and part of Georgetown to the tune of G$10,000.00. No assessment will be required and householders will be advised shortly on how they can access the grant;
-
Another $700 M GYD approximately in cash/kind to revitalise the production in crops, fisheries and small businesses. Assessments have started today to determine assistance
To implement those measures of the recovery and rehabilitation project, a Recovery and Rehabilitation Secretariat has been established at the Office of the President headed by Mr. Robeson Benn.
The following directives have been given:-
- The household assistance is a single payment to affected households across the Regions;
-
The support to the productive sector will be based on authorised assessment and public screening. The Secretariat has been operationalised and the delivery of assistance planned to commence April 2005.
Cabinet Minister will be visiting the identified assessment centres in Region over the week ending March 26, 2005
REVISION OF AMERINDIAN ACT 2005
With the conclusion of the Cabinet mandated National consultations on the Revision of the Amerindian Act, Minister Rodrigues presented the findings and recommendations to Cabinet at its sitting of March 22, 2005.
Cabinet examined the outcome of the consultative process, paying attention to the views expressed and the recommendations made with respect to the various sections in the circulated draft Bill.
About 50% of the recommended amendments from the consultation were accepted and will form part of the Bill to be tabled in the National Assembly.
Cabinet concluded its examination of the recommendations and approved the presentation of the amended draft Bill to Parliament.
APPOINTMENTS: REGIONAL TENDER BOARD
The Ministry of Finance and the National procurement and Tender Administration Board have concluded the appointments of the Regional Tender Board for the ten Administrative Regions.
The Regional Executive Officer currently in Georgetown have been advised of the composition of their respective Regional Tender Board.
Each Board of five members had two nominees from the Regional Administration and three nominees from the National Board.
PARLIAMENT
A sitting of the National Assembly is planned for Thursday, March 24, 2005.
The 2 nd reading of the Regional Health Authorities Bill and the consideration of a number of motions dealing with Financial Papers related to Fiscal year 2004 and the administration of Custom Duties.
With the end of the 1 st year of operation, the four Sectoral Committees of Parliament have had appointments of their Chairpersons and Vice Chairperson have alternated.
The governing PPP/C now chairs the Economic Services and the Foreign Affairs while the Opposition chairs the Social and Natural Resources Sector.
MINISTERIAL REACH OUT EXERCISE, MARCH 24 - 28, 2005
The period March 24 - 28, 2005, sees Guyana celebrating the National Holidays, Easter and Phagwah.
Cabinet Ministers would be part of the celebrations in the following locations/events.
The Easter regatta will be attended by Ministers Nadir and the Prime Minister who will be in Bartica over the weekend.
In Lethem, Ministers Westford and Baksh would be part of the special government delegation to the Rupununi Rodeo.
On the Corentyne Coast, at No. 63 Beach, holiday makers there would be joined by Ministers and Ramsammy in the Easter celebrations.
At the Dharmic Sabha Kendra in Campbellville, Cabinet Ministers will join the Hindus in the annual Phagwah celebrations being held this year on Saturday, March 26, 2005.
