| Home | President's Speeches | O.P Statements |
| Policy Position | Current Photos | Comments and Responses | Media Advisory |
PRESS BRIEFING
APRIL 13, 2005
AGENDA
CONTRACTS
Cabinet at its meeting held on 2005-04-12, offered its No-objection to the award of the following contracts:-
SECTOR |
ACTIVITY |
VALUE |
EDUCATION |
Purchasing of packages 7 (Lots 1 - 3)Supplementary textbooks under the Education for All-Fast Track Initiative |
US$151,198.82 |
The Drainage Task Force was invited to make an up to date report on its activities to Cabinet on Tuesday, April 12, 2005.
The Task Force had been established by the Administration to prepare and implement an acute phase response to the Drainage System on the Coast in anticipation of the May-June rain.
Members of the Task Force included Engineers Alsopp, Narine. Carter, Gomes, Howard and the overseas based Mr. Goodyear.
The main points of their contributions was:-
The Task Force emphasised that clearing outfalls properly was a most important component of the effort both on the Coast and river banks.
Work was also being done in the Conservancy to promote the westward channelling of water to the Demerera River outlets and stock piling material to be used to prevent overtapping of the Dam.
In anticipation of the coming rains, the Task Force advised that the water levels in the Conservancy and the GUYSUCO Crown Dam were being suitably maintained.
Cabinet Ministers turned out to communities in Regions 3, 4 and 5 on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, to obtain reports on reaction to the work being done in the Flood Recovery Programme.
During the subsequently held Cabinet Meeting, the Coordinator of the Recovery Secretariat in the Office of the President, Mr. Robeson Benn, briefed Cabinet,
Mr. Benn disclosed that the primary work on collection of date was progressing satisfactorily and the auditing and vetting was also being done.
Cabinet Ministers reported on their findings of their morning visits to the communities in Regions 3, 4 and 5 and called for faster and more thorough work.
Cabinet called for more staff to be utilised, commended the volunteers who had contributed to the data collection effort and urged victims to use the hot lines to report their concerns to the Unit.
Cabinet concluded that the work had to be accelerated.
From Friday, April 8 to Sunday, April 10, 2005, Cabinet was in Regions 5 and 6.
The regular Cabinet Meeting took place on Friday, April 8, 2005, in Albion and in addition to Cabinet members, Regional Officials from Regions 5 and 6 and elected representatives were invited.
National issues that were considered included the following:-
Cabinet noted the exoneration of Minister Ronald Gajraj by the Commission and supported his return to work.
The Drug Strategy Master Plan was adopted in principle with minor correction to be done to statistical reports prior to public release and tabling in the National Assembly.
The Regional Officials were briefed on the details and obligations of the Accountability Framework under which Cabinet would be regularly updated on Regional matters.
Cabinet subsequently met with a wide cross section of community bodies including, women, youths, religious groups, elected business and workers organisations.
The delivery of goods and services was a major topic among which Health, Water, Roads, Electricity and Policing matters predominated.
Community Policing was emphasised and it was decided that reports from those sectors would be included in the monthly Accountability Framework Reports.
Cabinet members turned out to meeting in East Berbice on Saturday and West Berbice on Sunday.
The matters raised are being compiled and collated and would be the subject of greater Cabinet scrutiny at the upcoming Cabinet meeting.