PRESS BRIEFING

Wednesday, 04 February 2004

AGENDA

SIGNING OF GOG/USA MOU ON DEPORTEES

MASHRAMANI 2004

APPOINTMENT OF POLICE COMMISSIONER

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2004

MASHRAMANI 2004
Cabinet at its meeting of Tuesday, February 3, 2004, approved $11.2 M GYD being made available from the Lotto Fund to support Government Ministries and the Administrative Regions’ participation in the 2004 Mashramani celebrations.
This year will be the 34th Anniversary of the Republic and the Mashramani celebrations will include the usual:-

Adult and Junior Calypso competition;
Road March Competition;
Masquerade Competition;
Children Competition;
Children Costume parade;
Steel band;
Costume and Float Parade.

The Regional Mashramani celebrations and Flag Raising activities will also be attended by Government Ministers:-

Region 1 - Minister Carloyn Rodrigues
Region 2 - Minister Dale Bisnauth
Region 3 - Minister Satyadeow Sawh
Region 4 - Central Government
Region 5 - Minister Clinton Collymore
Region 6 - Minister Doodnauth Singh
Region 7 - Minister Clement Rohee
Region 8 - Minister Harripersaud Nokta
Region 9 - Minister Manzoor Nadir
Region 10 - Prime Minister

SIGNING OF GOG/USA MOU ON DEPORTEES
Cabinet at its meeting of February 3, 2004, approved the text of the Memorandum of Understanding between the GOG and the USA on Deportees.
The Memorandum of Understanding would be signed on Friday, February 6, 2004 by the representatives of both Government.
The Memorandum of Understanding went through many rounds of negotiations before its final adoption by both parties.
It addressed comprehensively the framework within which Guyanese, convicted of certain offences in the USA would be deported to Guyana.
The Memorandum of Understanding emphasised time frame and procedures for deportation activities.
Significantly, the Administration was successful having the Memorandum of Understanding address public concerns about protecting the legitimate rights of Guyanese deportees including their property rights and access to earned social benefits.
Deportees would now be able to access legal services to deal with the protection and enjoyment of those rights even while in Guyana.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
Having satisfied all of the requirements, obligations and commitments, President Bharrat Jagdeo appointed acting Deputy Commissioner Winston Felix as the next Commissioner of Police.
The appointment takes effect from February 16, 2004, when he will be sworn in by the President.
The implementation of the commitment to appoint a new Commissioner was unusually prolonged by the delaying tactics of the Opposition PNCR, which included marked intransigence at the level of the Leader of the Opposition and delays in reconstituting Constitutional Service Commissions.
What remained difficult to reconcile was the continuous PNCR public call for Mr. Felix’s appointment and their purposeful sloth in attending to the necessary steps for implementation.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2004
President Jagdeo has invited the major interest groups to a meeting on Local Government Elections for 2004. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2004 at 11.30 a.m. at the Office of the President.
The PPP/C Administration had indicated its intention to have Local Government Elections conducted in 2004.
The PPP/C Administration’s position is supported by many factors:-
The Elections are long overdue and the representatives elected in 1994 need a new mandate from citizens;
The work of the Task Force on Electoral Reform is rapidly concluding;
The Elections Commission is fully aware of Government’s plan.
The meeting is being summoned to critically review the interventions needed to be made and importantly, the time frame within which those interventions can be made, so as to ensure that Local Government Elections are held in 2004.
Equally, important would be the harnessing of the resources needed to bring about the Local Government Elections in 2004.