PRESS BRIEFING

June 8, 2005

A G E N D A

• Launching of National Drug Strategy Master Plan
• Closing of LPC in Region 10
• Follow up:  Disaster Assistance Secretariat
• Update:  Drainage Task Force
  

LAUNCHING OF NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY MASTER PLAN

Cabinet at its meeting of Friday 8 th April adopted the Drug Master Plan in principle and agreed to its subsequent launching.

The Master Plan establishes the Programme, the basis for the implementation of the Strategy with heightened attention to costs/resources.

Areas to be focused on the Implementation of the Strategy include the following:

The launching and the Strategy and its implementation take place at an important time when there is clear cut recognition that fighting Narco trafficking is a national imperative and it is abundantly clear that the Administration must intensify its efforts to fight Narco trafficking and garner more support and assistance to do so.

 

CLOSURE OF LPC IN LINDEN

Cabinet was briefed on the recent closure of LPC and its immediate aftermath.

The Receiver had opted to put up for public auction the moveable and immoveable assets of the financially distressed company.

Plans had been made to provide for continuation of the LPC services to the Linden community.

The Administration submitted bids for assets that were of use to the State and had been important in the LPC’s supply of electricity to the Linden community and Linmine and also powering the water supply to the community.

There were hitches related to delays and logistical problem in acquiring ownership and/or user rights of necessary components of the potable water supply system.

With the Receiver’s involvement, the water treatment plant has been re-operationalised under a new power arrangement and the potable water supply system regularised.

 

UPDATE: RECOVERY PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat updated Cabinet on the discharge of its mandate up to June 7, 2005.

With regards to Household Assistance, the most up to date figures showed practically all of the provided cheques distributed - 53,197 out of 01,736.

With regards to Small business, claims the 820 cheques for claimants are being printed.

With regards to Cash Crops and Rice Farmers, 708 cheques have been distributed and about 4,500 are being printed.

Overall, data collection exercise has been concluded and led to support being provided to the identified categories of affected House Holds, Agriculture (Rice, Cash Crops and Livestock) and Small Business.

Work is continuing at the Secretariat on addressing claims, objections and omissions that have followed the data collection exercise and the subsequent near completion of the distribution of support.

 

DRAINAGE TASK FORCE REPORT

The Hydromet Office reported that rainfall in May was slightly above the average for May. 

By the end of May, the Drainage system on the Coast of Guyana benefited from an accelerated Work Programme that combined inputs from the Central Government through the Task Force, the Regional Administration in Regions 3, 4 and 5, the NDCs, The Georgetown Municipalities, Guysuco and the Commissioners of East Demerara and Boerasarie Water Conservancies.

The Task Force contracted for works to be done in the Conservancies and the three Regions.  Much of that work has been done.

The NDCs and Guysuco particularly on the East Coast have, during the elapsed period, worked mutually to improve drainage in their areas.

Georgetown has benefited from the implementation of an aggressive programme of desilting and rehabilitation of drainage structures.

The drainage functions are now closer to the planned design features of the system, which is to remove a certain amount of rainfall within a day, specifically about 11/2 inches in a day.

Any rainfall significantly above that design level will lead to flooding again.