President Jagdeo signs documents indicating CSME readiness

President Bharrat Jadgeo signing the documents at State House

Georgetown, GINA, December 25, 2005

Today, President Bharrat Jagdeo affixed his signature at State House to documents signaling Guyana’s readiness for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

Senior Legal Officer attached to the CARICOM Secretariat, Sophia Ally who is tasked with getting the signatures of all the Heads of Governments, said that on December 7 during a Special Conference it was agreed by all the Heads to sign the documents indicating their commitment.

“President Bharrat Jagdeo became the sixth CARICOM leader to sign the documents,” revealed Ms. Ally.

Each CARICOM member State under the revised Treaty of Chagauramas has an obligation to be CSME compliant by the December 31 deadline.

The CSME seeks to convert its 15-member State into a single, enlarged economic entity, a single market.

It is intended to provide an open market without cross-border restrictions and to facilitate the free movement of final products, goods, labour and services. The CSME is expected to be a great boon to the Caribbean.

TOP

Mahaicony farmers under water

• President visits, pledges assistance

President Jagdeo with residents and officials in Mahaicony

Georgetown, GINA, December 25, 2005

While some Guyanese were celebrating in the merriment of Christmas, residents along the Mahaicony River, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) were not that fortunate.

Excessive rainfall in upper Mahaicony River caused extensive flooding to both farm and residential land, affecting more than 200 farmers and their families.

President Bharrat Jagdeo was at hand today to empathise with residents who would lose their crops and even livestock and cattle in many cases.

“I am really sad that on Christmas Day so many people are suffering. Many of them are under water. It has caused major disruption in their lives. They are also suffering huge losses because they are going to lose almost everything,” the President said.

Head of the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary/Agriculture Development Association (MMA/ADA) Rudolph Gajraj, explained that the flooding is caused by heavy rainfall noted at Moraikobai, which is located more than 80 miles along the Mahaicony River, and further afield.

President Jagdeo was at Mahaicony on December 22, when reports of ‘swelling in the river’ were made. Subsequently, several interventions were put in place, including the installation of a pump at Mora Point, one of the many communities along the river.

However, the water has since risen significantly.

“In fact the river is higher than the land at present. There is very little that you can do. You can’t even pump water anymore…but they are bringing in some equipment to see if they can save some of the areas that are empouldered,” he added.

According to Gajraj, the river level has risen to 57 GD today, as opposed to 56.9 yesterday. The Abary River is at 55.9 GD and the Mahaica River is at 54.6 GD.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Harry Narine Nawbatt, who accompanied the President, explained that an excavator should arrive in the area later today, as attempts are underway to ‘tie’ dams to avoid flooding of cultivated areas.

Meanwhile, Head of the Civil Defence Commission Col. Chabilall Ramsaroop (rtd) has since visited the area to assess the situation and has provided the President with a report.

The Head of State dispelled rumours that the flooding is being caused by discharges through the Maduni and Lama sluices.

“Yesterday Minister Nawbatt visited there with the media and saw that is not true…since the 12 th December it was not opened and if that was the problem, then Mahaica would have been visited first, not Mahaicony,” he said.

However, the President assured residents that they will be assisted by Government. He explained that Government has already allocated funds to assist rice farmers, as was announced on December 22, but these were not necessarily to deal with the consequences of flood.

“We’d have to find some way of assisting these farmers but also the people who are into cash crops and cattle rearing. I have already asked that the vet come in here,” he said.

The cattle and livestock in many cases are left to perish, since almost all the high lands are covered.

The President visited as far as Gordon Table along the river before making several stops to meet residents. At Gordon Table, one woman told President Jagdeo she is a wildlife exporter and this would severely affect her business, while, several other mooted the idea at Mora Point to create highlands to accommodate their cattle and other animals, which could be seen neck-deep in water.

President Jagdeo explained that Government’s long-term plan, includes establishing high lands on both sides of the river to cater for animals in the event of such recurrence. Additionally, by February next year, Government will access equipment through a US$4M loan from the Italian Government, which will drastically boost the Administration’s capacity to address such situations. After the January flood, which also affected Mahaicony residents because water from the conservancy was channeled through the river causing flooding, substantial works were done in the area.

Meanwhile, residents complained to the President about the substandard works done by the Guyana Power and Light contractors recently at Mora Point in the planting of light poles. Minister of Public Service and Health (ag) Dr. Jennifer Westford, who was at hand, was tasked with following up the matter.

Regional Chairman, Harrinanie Baldeo will revisit the areas, including Moraikobai to further assess the situation.

And commenting on his Christmas Day, the President noted that “it is a normal working day for me. People have problems, so my job doesn’t end.”

The Head of State begun his Christmas, by joining children in South Sophia for breakfast, after which he visited those in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Pediatric Ward before going to Mahaicony.

TOP

Children receive Christmas day cheer from President Jagdeo

President Jagdeo with children of Sophia on Christmas Day

Georgetown, GINA, December 25, 2005

In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, President Bharrat Jagdeo today met children and community leaders of Sophia, and conducted a tour of the Pediatric Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Accompanying the President was Dr. Jennifer Westford, Acting Minister of Health and Minister of Public Service, and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Jennifer Webster.

Webster noted that, “The President is the sort of person who likes to reach out to the people. This is the best way of showing that this is really a caring Government.”

Maxine Cameron, a member of the Sophia Women’s Association, said, “Today we’re holding a Christmas brunch for the children from Plumb Park to ‘E’ Field. This covers the entire South Sophia area.”

She indicated that the children were given ‘pepper pot’ and bread followed by chicken and chips. President Jagdeo also provided them with gifts.

Cameron said that the intention is for every child to be happy, and to instill in them, the true meaning of Christmas.

“We work with the Sophia Nursery School throughout the year, providing children with clothing, shoes, and other articles, and we also try to assist parents with their kids,” Cameron said.

The association receives assistance from Cameron’s sister, who resides in the United States of America, and public spirited citizens. It has since received financial assistance from President Jagdeo.

The Head of State’s next stop was the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he interacted with children in the Pediatric Ward.

President Bharrat Jagdeo interacting with a patient of the Pediatric Ward of the
Georgetown Public Hospital.

Minister Westford noted that “the children and nurses are pleased to see the President today. This visit will go a long way in boosting their morale and spirits.”

The Head of State distributed gifts to the children and offered them words of encouragement, as those who are in hospital are too sick to be sent home for the season, as is customary.

Webster said that a large activity is planned for Tiger Bay on Thursday, which would give the children and residents of that community the opportunity meet and interact with the Head of State.

To date, in excess of $5M has been spent on the President’s Christmas outreach activities.

TOP

TOP