PRESS BRIEFING

Wednesday, May 4, 2005

AGENDA

1. CONTRACTS
2. MALARIA PROGRAMME
3. UPDATE: RECOVERY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
4. SEA FOOD INDUSTRY AGREEMENT
5 PUBLIC CONSULTATION: IMC FOR THE CAPITAL CITY

 

PRESS BRIEFING

Wednesday, May 4, 2005

CONTRACTS

Cabinet at its meeting of May 4 2005, offered its No-objection to the award of the following contracts:-

MALARIA PROGRAMME

Successive weeks have seen Cabinet being briefed about and examining the Natural Malaria Programme.

Cabinet noted the statistics based on data collected across Guyana but particularly where diagnoses were made is the hinterland Regions.

These statistics over the year 2000 - 2004 have shown increases in Regions 1, 7 and 8 less so in Region 9.

The report also implied that there is persistent infection in those geographic areas.

The National Malaria Programme sets out to reduce infection rates, make diagnosis and treat and eradicate the insect vector.

To achieve those objectives, the Administration is providing more resources, organising community involvement and cooperating with the international community.

The most urgent steps include completing the decentralising of the Regional Malaria Units, provision of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides, spraying of residence and fogging of communities.

 

RECOVERY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME: UPDATE

The distribution of the household support grant of $10,000.00 continues. About 30,000 cheques have been distributed to eligible householders.

Distribution has been slowed by data encoding errors, large number of queries and limited access to household.

The productive sector has seen the conclusion of the model of distribution for rice farmers and its implementation.

With regards to livestock sector and small businesses, work is continuing on data capture verification activities and the model.

There continues to be concentrated efforts in concluding all aspects of the Recovery Assistance Programme.

 

SEA FOOD INDUSTRY AGREEMENT

After lengthy consultations, the Government of Guyana is implementing an interim agreement with owners and operators of the Fishing Industry.

The rising acquisition cost of fuel has threatened the sustainability of the industry, putting at risk thousands of jobs in the sector and tax as well as the revenue received by the State.

The Agreement that was reached recently would see the trawlers acquiring fuel for sea based operations at cheaper costs than currently prevails domestically and ensuring that such fuel is used only for their sea based activities.

Under those circumstances, taxes would not have to be based on the fuel in the tanks of their trawler.

This temporary arrangement commits the operators and owners to abide by these stipulations.

Owners and operators have indicated that they can access fuel for their trawlers at cheaper rates than those prevailing in Guyana.

The fuel used for the shore based operations in the industry would not fall within the arrangement.

 

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS, IMC FOR THE CAPITAL CITY

Cabinet noted the commencement of the exercise of Public Consultation on the future of the Mayor and City Council in the Capital City of Georgetown.

The Administration had earlier concluded that since the Council had consistently failed to provide adequate level of service to the citizens, it should reviewed and replaced by an Interim Management Council.

The public consultation were decided on to acquaint the Administration with the views of the citizens on such a course of action.

Members of the Administration have been in communities in Georgetown, outlining Government’s positions regarding performance’s tenure of the Council.

The Government of Guyana would also be making note of the citizens’ positions on the issue.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the Administration will be able to determine whether there exists support among the citizens for its contention that the Council has failed to deliver and thus should be removed.

Once such a determination is made, the Minister would be expected to proceed with the requirements for dissolution.