| Home | President's Speeches | O.P Statements |
| Policy Position | Current Photos | Comments and Responses | Media Advisory |
PRESS BRIEFING
Wednesday, 12 January 2005
AGENDA
• CONTRACTS
• CITY FLOOD INVESTIGATION
• PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATION
• POLITICAL RE-ENGAGEMENT
CONTRACTS
Cabinet at its meeting held on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 and offered its No-objection to the award of the following contract:-
SECTOR |
ACTIVITY |
VALUE |
HOUSING |
Construction of roads, drains and culverts at Hampshire (South) Belvedere (South) and Williamsburg (South) East Berbice , Region 6 |
G$227,989,850 |
HOUSING |
Construction of roads, drains and culverts at Kaneville, East Bank Demerara |
G$290,533,474 |
Budget Day is planned for January 24 th , 2005.
Minister Kowlessar confirmed that the preparations are on track for Budget Day.
Cabinet teams of Ministers are in Guyanese communities doing the last lap consultation on the Budget.
The Prime Minister led a Cabinet team which included Ministers including Ministers Nokta and Rodrigues to Region 1, meeting with residents in Mabaruma, Kaituma and Moruca.
The feed back was extensive and remained consistent with earlier reports all emphasising the need to address and improve delivery of public goods and services, Health, Education, Human Services and Social Security were all identified by the communities.
Other areas to be visited by the Prime Minister's team included Regions 7, 8 and 9.
On Thursday, January 13 and Friday, January 14, 2005, Region 7, including Phillipai, Kamarang and Bartica.
On Saturday, January 15 and Sunday, January 16, 2005, including Paramakatoi, Kato, Madhia.
On Wednesday, January 19 and Thursday, January 20, 2005, including Aishalton, Lethem, Karasabai and Annai.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Steps have been taken to re-establish the political re-engagement between the governing PPP/C and the PNCR.
The PNCR has finally named representatives and has practically conceded that the outstanding issues could not have been implemented without a re-engagement process. The re-engagement would now allow the outstanding matters to be addressed adequately and brought to successful conclusion as have all the others dealt with under the Dialogue Process 2001 - 2002 and the Constructive Engagement Process of 2003.
Detailed briefs on identified outstanding issues would be prepared and proposals on the way forward outlined for the contemplation of the parties.
Essentially, under these new conditions, the constructive re-engagement can now resume.
The Report on Drainage Systems in Georgetown provides the basis for understanding why Georgetown floods.
The Report identified that pumps were in operation at Kitty, Liliendaal, Kingston Forestry compound and Water Street .
The one at John Fernandes was not functioning.
The sluices at Cowan Street , Muneshwar and Sessex Street and Riverview all had problems with
mechanical operations and their outfalls.
It is obvious that the Municipality has not monitored and maintained the system adequately.
The pumps were being damaged by debris/garbage accumulating in their inflow channels.
The underground sewage channels were also blocked. The sluices are poorly operated and/or are malfunctioning. The PPP/C Administration has had no other resource but to organise a Government/Private sector response to plan and implement mechanical cleansing of drains, underground channels and outfalls and to rehabilitate malfunctioning pumps.
Work has already started and Private Sector contribution is significant.