President refutes lies contained on flyer circulating in Linden
Georgetown, GINA, June 12, 2006.
President Bharrat Jagdeo at a media conference held after a full Cabinet meeting in Linden this morning, refuted lies circulated on a flyer purportedly by the Opposition.
The flyer indicated that government was in collaboration with National Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs), Philomena Sahoye-Shury and a CDC leader, Sheryl Stanton of Koker Street not to pay persons for their labour but to invest the money allocated for such purposes. These persons reportedly did drainage and irrigation work in the community valued $6M.
However, the President said the group started the work despite not being authorised to do so and subsequently sent the bill to the administration.
“Apparently it was circulated that Philomena Sahoye-Shury and Sheryl stole the money that came to pay the workers. This is absolutely untrue because government did not release the money until a few weeks ago. We took a policy decision that although they were not authorised to do the work, we would pay them but this would not happen in the future,” the President said.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who chaired the press conference with the President, said the money was paid in three portions; the final being made last Wednesday.
However, President Jagdeo said these lies would surface now that its the election season noting that there will be many more but he wanted to clear the air for the residents of Linden.
“I don’t care what the political people think but I want the residents of Linden to know the money was not stolen,” the President said.
Following the press conference, several persons who worked with the group met Prime Minister Hinds and made claims about payments.
According to the residents, 82 of the 300 persons who worked on the project were not paid because Ms Shury made the payment late (at night) and they were unavailable at the time to collect their payments. Some residents are dissatisfied with their sums.
Prime Minister Hinds noted that the matter will have to be investigated and urged them to document their claim and forward it to his office.
President Jagdeo said when the matter first reached Cabinet’s attention, Prime Minister Hinds was tasked with an investigation after which Cabinet took a decision to pay the workers.
The Head-of-State reiterated that payments will not be made for any unauthorised work done in the future.
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Government to cushion impact of Omai’s closure
Georgetown, GINA, June 12, 2006
In light of the imminent two-month closure of the Omai Bauxite Company (OBMI) that will see several workers being laid off, Government will intervene in order to cushion the impact.
This is according to President Bharrat Jagdeo who made these remarks at a media conference held at Watooka House, Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), as part of Cabinet Outreach activities to the Region.
The Omai Bauxite Plant in operation at Linden, Region 10.
The President explained that OBMI is facing difficulties with the re-emergence of China on the Market, resulting in Omai’s inability to sell its calcined bauxite. This has led to a stockpile and the Company’s decision to reduce its staff for July and August.
According to the President, a significant number of these employees will be re-hired in September when the Company resumes operations. However, in the interim, government is trying to tailor an arrangement that will cushion the effect on workers.
The Head of State is scheduled to meet a group of the workers at the Linden Constabulary Building to discuss what measures will be taken to address this issue.
The President said the idea is to provide some form of assistance to workers who would have to agree to undergo computer training.
“I want to see every Guyanese computer literate. I hope that we would be able to cushion the two months lay-off caused by the situation on the world market,” the President said.
Meanwhile the President told the media that government embarked on several other programmes to support Linden over the past year, since the decline of the bauxite industry.
He stated that government has been subsidizing electricity cost to the tune of more than $100M per month.
“I hope that over time we can diversify the Linden economy and become less dependent on bauxite,” he said.
The Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP), the President said, is developing a range of services and activities in the region, including training programmes and the development of roads in agricultural areas. LEAP, through the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF) is also providing loans to businesses for investment and expansion purposes.
Additionally, government has pumped $100M into the development of an Information Technology centre in Linden, which is currently operating at a limited capacity.
The Administration he said, is also working to develop the region’s tourism sector, which has tremendous potential.
A significant benefit to the region President Jagdeo noted will be the potential investment by the Russian Aluminium Company (RUSAL), if the feasibility study is positive.
This could result in approximately US$1B being invested in Region 10 and the creation of more than 1000 jobs.
If these jobs are created the President said, workers would also need to be drawn from areas outside of Linden, since the demand would be extremely high.
The administration over the past several years has expended in excess of $1B in the education sector, resulting in new schools being erected in the mining town as well as schools being extended and repaired.
The President noted that government is spending $345M on the school at Wisroc. “This construction is 60% completed. This is a wonderful place for our children to learn, this would become a model school for the rest of Guyana,” he noted.
Additionally, there is the apprenticeship programme, which is a national training programme for youth empowerment from which many Lindeners are benefiting, and government is hoping to train another 500 persons, commencing in September.
Meanwhile on the issue of housing, President Jagdeo said that government has processed 500 land titles for Amelia’s Ward, Block 22 and Wisroc 1B, and will continue to do so for the remaining residents. Titles are also being process at Dalawalla.
Government is also spending $200M on roadworks in Block 22, and $271M in contracts was awarded for works to be carried out in Amelia’s Ward. There has been tremendous improvement in these areas,” the President said.
On the issue of the new Linden hospital, the Head of State said that it will become a reality, although this is not progressing as fast as the government had envisioned. “Government has gone out to tender again and these bids will be opened on June 15,” President Jagdeo said.
He said that government is hoping to have the contract awarded by the end of June, but this is dependent on the bids. This hospital he said will cost $2B.
“I’m very anxious to get the project going so we can fulfill the promise we made here,” he said.
He also expressed satisfaction with the Drainage and Irrigation programme being conducted in the region, although there are some ‘teething’ problems which government is working to resolve.
The Head of State said that government is spending $200M on water supply in West Watooka, Blueberry, Wisroc and Block 22.
He noted that government is also hoping to resuscitate the well at Ameila’s Ward.
“These are not comprehensive plans for Linden but just a few that the administration has in the pipeline,” the President said.
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President launches IT initiative to cushion closure of OBMI
Georgetown GINA, June 12, 2006
President Bharrat Jagdeo today launched an initiative whereby workers who will be laid off during the two-month closure of OMAI Bauxite Company will benefit from Information Technology training, and at the same time will receive a stipend of $25,000 per month.
This was announced when he met the workers at the Linden Constabulary Building.
The President explained that OBMI has to close because it cannot sell the projected amount of bauxite per month as was anticipated and were forced to lay off workers.
“One of our key objectives is to ensure every Guyanese is computer literate.” The President explained that information technology is important and it is in this context that this idea should be pursued. The idea was greeted with support from workers.
He said this will improve work and create more opportunities for persons.
“I have decided to give a stipend to every person to be laid off providing that persons could give me one day per week of their time to be trained at computer classes,” President Jagdeo told the workers.
The training, President Jagdeo said, will take place at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI). Government is securing 20 additional computers to the institute and working to boost its training facilities, so that the 330 workers to be laid off could benefit from this programme.
The Regional Executive Officer of Region Ten, as well as the LINMINE Secretariat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Horace James and the Principal of the LTI will decide what level of training these persons will be undertaking.
Training will be one day per week and according to President Jagdeo, at the end of the period persons will acquire a certificate which he said would hopefully improve their job performance.
Additionally, he agreed to provide uniform allowances for every worker with a school aged child. This he said will be administered by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security. Government will be spending $50M to buy the uniforms
The question of the long book list parents are faced with for the new school term would be expensive, the workers claim.
President Jagdeo said that the school system has adequate texts but if there are optional texts, these schools should indicate this to the Ministry.
According to General Manager of OBMI, Robert Walsih, from all indications it is likely that production will recommence on September 1. However, operations are likely to begin earlier providing that sales on the world market do not increase.
Outlining the scenario that causes the closure, Wilsih said in 2003, 60,000 Refined Aluminium Super Calcined (RASC) bauxite was produced and sole and in 2004 quantity doubled. Up to 2005 it had reached 200,000. However it was projected that only 150, 000 WOULD be produced and sold this year and from recent months, the monthly sale has been dropping.
The $25,000 offered to workers undertaking the IT programme is below the tax threshold and will not be taxed.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who was also present at the meeting said that government began talks with China which is at present supplying calcined bauxite at US$40 lower than Guyana.
President Jagdeo noted that government has maintained its subsidies of $130M monthly for electricity.
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