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quote:
Originally posted by albert: Progress will continue under the P.P.P/C administration
Progress for you and the ruling elites, albert. Certainly not the working class:

CHAMPION OF THE WORKING CLASS?
SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER FEATURES / COLUMNISTS, PEEPING TOM

So the workers of Guyana have something to look forward to this year. Public service workers have been assured that they will be granted an increase this year. There was of course never any need for any such assurance. Public servants have received increases each year since the PPP came to power, and that has been nineteen years ago.

But what has been the magnitude of these increases. Except in those years where the government was compelled by arbitration rulings, the public sector workers have been thrown crumbs in the forms of annual 5% increases. In most instances, this 5% is almost immediately eroded by inflation which averaged 3% and then taxes which was 33.3% of the difference. This means that the workers gained in real terms only about a 1% increase each year. This is the working class record of the PPP administration and the particularly the Jagdeo administration.

The increases for 2011 are going to be going to be imposed on the workers because there has been and is not likely to be any negotiations with the unions representing the workers. This may not be all that bad since many unions have been known to make unreasonable and unrealistic demands while others are driven by narrow political agendas. The government which emerged out of the People’s Progressive Party which has prided itself in being a workers’ party no longer has to be worried about the trade union movement. The glory days of labour are gone, not just in Guyana but all over the world. Workers’ power is not going to emerge through unions anymore. Capitalism has meant that workers are now subject to market forces and instead of banding together are now competing against each other for jobs, thereby driving the rate down.

The private sectors in many countries now have allies in government who constrain wages so that the private sector does not have to pay “uncompetitive wages”. And therefore public employees are reduced to pawns. Their wages cannot increase appreciably since this will drive up wages in the labour markets, and this is not considered in the interest of the private sector and these wages are deliberately constrained so as to support the private sector. When trade unions make demands such as a minimum wage of $80,000 per month, they cannot be taken seriously, since there is no way that either the public sector or the private sector can sustain such a wage increase. And therefore an unreasonable and unrealistic wage demand pushes employers to ignore labour to the extent that they can.

Public workers in Guyana have little choice but to accept arbitrary imposition of wages. The government has proven that it has the capacity, had it since 1989, to wait out strikes called by unions. The workers on the other hand cannot afford to be on strike indefinitely and so the workers are in a position where they do not have much power. Last year the sugar workers were told that the sugar corporation was unable to afford an increase because the company was in dire financial straits, so much so that it had to sell land.

This year, an election year, the sugar corporation has suddenly found itself in a situation whereby it can afford to pay a 5% increase in wages. But with inflation said to be tagged at 3%, and with any additional income above the income tax threshold having to be taxed at 33.3%, it means that the workers are not gaining anything at all from the 5%.

And the ruling PPP administration has become a 5% government, content every year to offer this percentage as an increase to workers. This suggests that little attempt is being made to address the issue of a living wage, a disgraceful situation for a party that claims to be working class in orientation.

Source
FM
WHEN President Bharrat Jagdeo pointed to the positive fiscal results of the local economy, during the first half of 2011, it revealed that what those who oppose and the negative critics were and are still saying are mere far-fetched figments of their imagination. So instantly, one can deduce that Guyana’s economy is being built by hard and astute work from the leaders. Also, the hope is that this kind of news will not be made light of. The populace must be informed. During the past six or seven years, Guyana has been on a significantly elevated growth curve, and this news is pleasant, but not surprising. But why this is so? This is so because over the last five years, the climb has been slow but sure and steady. So this 5.9 percent growth is symptomatic of faith in wise investments and long-term strategies. The local exports actually jumped by 30 percent. So this is something to really shout about. After all, in many parts of the world, economies are struggling, and inflation is difficult to combat. I do think some details are in order here:

The non-sugar sector is projected to grow at 3.4 percent, revised upward from the original projection of 4.6 percent and 2.8 percent at the time of the budget of 2011. Export earnings expanded by 34.6 percent to US$533.1 million. In fact, Export earnings from sugar increased by 32.4 percent to US$50.1 million, reflecting a 30.4 percent increase in quantity shipped to 99,738 tonnes.

Rice continued its trend of successful first crops, with the 2011 first crop being 207,514 tonnes, 23 percent higher than at the corresponding period in 2010, and the highest first crop in the industry’s history. So rice export earnings expanded by 35.1 percent to US$92.6 million, mainly attributed to a 26.4 percent increase in average export price to US$551.4 per tonne, coupled with a 6.8 percent increase in export volume to 167,945 tonnes. So the leap is most salutary and very welcomed. But a word of commendation must go to the ‘behind the scene’ people.

Guyana’s improved performance is due mainly to investments and innovations in drainage and irrigation, the development of new and more tolerant rice strains, higher yields and higher acreage of paddy planted. These facts must not be taken for granted. To reach this far and reap these kinds of results, one must remember the hard work of the leaders. This is where people can now be hopeful that Guyana’s future is beginning to look very secure. In other words, people do not have to panic and leave in droves. Right here in Guyana, a solid living can be made.


The Guyanese populace will endorse the P.P.P/C
FM
quote:
WHEN President Bharrat Jagdeo pointed to the positive fiscal results of the local economy, during the first half of 2011, it revealed that what those who oppose and the negative critics were and are still saying are mere far-fetched figments of their imagination. So instantly, one can deduce that Guyana’s economy is being built by hard and astute work from the leaders. Also, the hope is that this kind of news will not be made light of. The populace must be informed. During the past six or seven years, Guyana has been on a significantly elevated growth curve, and this news is pleasant, but not surprising. But why this is so? This is so because over the last five years, the climb has been slow but sure and steady. So this 5.9 percent growth is symptomatic of faith in wise investments and long-term strategies. The local exports actually jumped by 30 percent. So this is something to really shout about. After all, in many parts of the world, economies are struggling, and inflation is difficult to combat. I do think some details are in order here:

The non-sugar sector is projected to grow at 3.4 percent, revised upward from the original projection of 4.6 percent and 2.8 percent at the time of the budget of 2011. Export earnings expanded by 34.6 percent to US$533.1 million. In fact, Export earnings from sugar increased by 32.4 percent to US$50.1 million, reflecting a 30.4 percent increase in quantity shipped to 99,738 tonnes.

Rice continued its trend of successful first crops, with the 2011 first crop being 207,514 tonnes, 23 percent higher than at the corresponding period in 2010, and the highest first crop in the industry’s history. So rice export earnings expanded by 35.1 percent to US$92.6 million, mainly attributed to a 26.4 percent increase in average export price to US$551.4 per tonne, coupled with a 6.8 percent increase in export volume to 167,945 tonnes. So the leap is most salutary and very welcomed. But a word of commendation must go to the ‘behind the scene’ people.

Guyana’s improved performance is due mainly to investments and innovations in drainage and irrigation, the development of new and more tolerant rice strains, higher yields and higher acreage of paddy planted. These facts must not be taken for granted. To reach this far and reap these kinds of results, one must remember the hard work of the leaders. This is where people can now be hopeful that Guyana’s future is beginning to look very secure. In other words, people do not have to panic and leave in droves. Right here in Guyana, a solid living can be made.

Gerhard you would agree the P.P.P/C has Guyana on the of progress
FM
quote:
Originally posted by albert: Gerhard you would agree the P.P.P/C has Guyana on the of progress
albert do you know what shame is? For all the money you are being paid, one day, albert, one day you will feel shame for what you have done to the people of Guyana. I believe this day will come sooner rather than later.
FM
PPP ALL THE WAY: LET PROGRESS CONTINUES PART 2

Region Three transformation beyond expectations -Minister Ali

-tells houselot applicants at Zeelugt One Stop Shop, 500 house lots allocated

Georgetown, September 2, 2011

Five hundred people were today brought closer to realizing their dream of home ownership, joining thousands of other Guyanese who are today proudly enjoying a comfortable life and improved standard of living.
At a One Stop Shop at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, Region Three, the applicants and family members flocked the centre to have their applications processed for houselots at Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara.


A section of potential homeowners at the One Stop Shop exercise at Uitvlugt Community Centre, who will be benefiting from 500 house lots at the new Zeelugt Housing Scheme, Region 3 (A GINA Photo by Leroy Lyttle)

Middle income, low middle income and the low income house lots were distributed to the 500 applicants.
Housing is a major sector of Region Three and over the past decade more than $23B has been invested in this sector, creating more than 23,000 lots and benefiting over 94,000 Guyanese.

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, addressing the huge gathering, reiterated Government’s commitment to developing and advancing the social development of the country and, providing access to basic facilities including in housing, education, sanitation, road, water and electricity.

Minister Ali indicated that about 2600 new lots would be available in Region Three this year alone with 1000 more lots are to be available at Zeelugt and 200 at Leonora, among other areas.

“Government understands the critical role that housing plays in transforming the lives of people and improving the family unit, bringing families closer so we must appreciate and understand this huge progress that has been made in the housing sector in Region Three particularly which has been one of the centre of growth in the housing programme in Guyana,” Minister Ali said.


Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali addressing potential home owners at the One Stop Shop exercise at Uitvlugt Community Centre, Region 3 (A GINA Photo by Leroy Lyttle)

Within the next five years, Minister Ali said another 500 house lots in the existing Zeelugt scheme will be allocated to cater for the demand in the Region.

“If one is to look at the investment at Zeelugt, we would have invested more than $460M. It would bring benefit to almost 3500 persons directly and of course if you look at the average cost per household or house lot we are talking about $650,000,” Minister Ali informed applicants.

He reassured residents of Government’s commitment of meeting the dream of every single Guyanese in owning a home notwithstanding political rhetoric to derail its investment to improve the lives of Guyanese.

Government has already advanced $60M to the Guyana Power and Light to commence work on the electricity network in Zeelugt.

“In order to accelerate the access to the lots and to ensure that you can start preparing yourself for the construction of your homes we have started infrastructure work which is already 70% completed and by the time you would have completed administrative works, finalizing your house lot, applying for your loans preparing yourself to build the your dream home, the works will be completed,” Minister Ali said.

Region Three, he said is part of the dynamic transformation taking place in Guyana where development is far exceeding residents’ expectations.

Big development plans for Region Three

Minister Ali reminded the gathering of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent announcement that plans are in the pipeline to construct a four-lane road, extending from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
This, he said is as a result of “the high demand, the high traffic demand in the region because more people now own vehicles; there are more families living here so ultimately the demand on the roadways is indeed greater”.
He said that due to Government’s policies in diversifying it services, that “we have been able to develop equitable development, equitable transfer of wealth and the opportunities in every single region across the country”.


Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali interacting with an applicant at the One Stop Shop exercise at Uitvlugt, Region 3

Region Three, has a modern diagnostic centre at Leonora and modern regional hospital which conducts a number of surgeries and provides a range of services.

“I want to assure you of Government’s commitment in ensuring that all our people have access to these facilities and we would work hard now and in the future â€Ķ because I am sure if you look within you conscience you will realize that this Government is a committed Government and would ensure that leadership is committed and continue into the future so that your aspirations, dreams and can be met,” Minister Ali said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Myrna Pitt touted the recently concluded international building a huge success and hoped that potential home owners would have taken advantage of the opportunity to view the wide range of materials, designs and accessories that are currently available on the market to make their dream home a reality.

She said that the CHPA continues to consolidate and pursue partnerships with stakeholders in the building and construction sector, to ensure that the housing delivery process is efficient.

The authority, she added will continue to monitor and assess its performance to ensure maximum and quality service is delivered to the public.

“The success of Government’s interventions in the sector is there for all to seeâ€Ķthere has been tremendous growth in the building and construction sector for the past 18 years with massive investments which continue to grow and is projected to grow again in 2011,” Pitt said.


Staffers of the Ministry of Housing and Water processing applications at the One Stop Shop exercise , Uitvlugt, Region

The consolidated partnership of public/private entities, she said has contributed greatly to the improvement of the quality of life for Guyanese, since homeownership and benefits impact significantly on the social and economic life of the nation and on individuals.

“Together we seek to harness positive energies and maintain the momentum to bring about the phenomenal growth and development of the housing and construction sectors in our country and by extension transforming the lives of Guyanese,” Pitt said.

Meanwhile, Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber informed residents of other aspects of progress taking place in the region inclusive of better road access, new schools, health center and recreational facilities.

He also urged residents to occupy their lots in a timely manner and to make good use of the facility being provided by the Government in their respective schemes. Today’s One Stop Shop event is the eighth hosted by the Ministry for the year 2011 and complements in excess of 50 percent of the Ministry’s target for 2011. In 2009, there were 12 One Stop Shop exercises in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10; while in 2010, there were 15 such interventions carried out in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8.

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FM
PPP ALL THE WAY: LET PROGRESS CONTINUES PART 2

Significant improvement in health sector – Mid-Year report
-huge sums go towards capacity building

Georgetown, GINA, September 3, 2011
The health sector continues to advance with the addition of state-of-the-art institutions and trained personnel to man the institutions, with the aim of bettering health care services provided to citizens. To ensure that this is achieved, $7.2B of the $14B allocated to the sector, was expended for the first half of 2011.
According to a Mid-Year report presented by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on Thursday in the National Assembly, the levels of expenditure have aided in the acceleration of the implementation of the national health programmes.
To further strengthen the skilled workforce and human resource system within the health sector, about $121M has been expended to further enhance health care professionals. This saw approximately 150 clinical and technical health personnel graduate in key field for the first half of this year alone.
The individuals have since been deployed to various health institutions countrywide, while an additional 28 clinical coordinators from remote areas and 42 tutors and part-time lecturers benefited from capacity building workshops to improve their skills.
In addition, 157 health professionals completed the Management Development Programme, while 14 health science tutors from across the three nursing schools completed the Health Science Management Programme.
Efforts are moving apace to merge the professional nurses and midwifery curricula into a single curriculum. While there are over 920 students in training, the Ministry of Health intends to train another 135 professional nurses, 1790 nursing assistants and 120 clinical and technical personnel to complement the growing demand for quality health care provided.
A new Maternal, Perinatal Strategy and Integrated Child Health Strategy 2011-2015 has been completed, while the Health Qual initiative has been extended to 21 health facilities including HIV and MCH wellness sites.
This is expected to be complemented by the nutrition education sessions conducted at 35 health clinics in Regions 3, 4 and 5 benefiting some 7,000 people.
The first half of the year also saw the sector expanding the cervical cancer screening programme through its mobile clinics countrywide.
About 1,450 women benefitted from VIA screening at the 17 locations across the country, for this year alone.
The Health Ministry will be taking the VIA screening services to the Lethem Hospital, East La Penitence and Dorothy Bailey Health Centres in the second half of 2011.
Government continues to place emphasis on health facilities across the country, expending over $227M for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities in the first half of the year.
This includes the construction of the new 214 bed in-patient facility which is expected to be completed shortly and the new emergency ward at the Fort Wellington Hospital. Additionally, works are ongoing on the general improvement of the water distribution and electrical systems at the maternity and medical buildings at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
While works to expand the maternity ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital has commenced, a new waste disposal facility will also be implemented shortly and will be utilized by all surrounding hospitals.
The design specification for the 150 bed specialty hospital is also being finalized.

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FM
quote:
Originally posted by baseman:
quote:
Originally posted by asj:
I doubt wether a dunce like you knows what is jihad?

.

YOU...warped jihad Big Grin


When an ineffable dunce like you has nothing to say and says it with a liberal embellishment of bad delivery, embroidering it with reasonless vulgarities of attitude, gesture and attire. Then there can no other way of describing you as blockhead so stupid, a crank so variously and offensively daft. Just seems like one to ignore.

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FM
PPP ALL THE WAY: LET PROGRESS CONTINUES PART 2

GUYANA’S UNIQUE PRESIDENTIAL EVENT

Written by Rickey Singh --in Barbados

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 02:58
â€Ķ. ‘night of appreciation’ for President Jagdeo
A UNIQUE political event is scheduled to take place in Guyana on Friday night at the Providence National Stadium—a venue best known regionally and internationally for cricket.
It is being promoted as a “night of appreciation” for the country’s Head of State and Government, President Bharrat Jagdeo. And the uniqueness of the occasion resides in the fact that in the political history of Guyana, this will be the first time a celebratory event has been organised to bid farewell to a Head of Government prior to his departure from office.
Home of the CARICOM Secretariat and a founding member of the Community, Guyana’s constitutional governance system is quite different in some critical areas from those of its partners. For a start, it is a republic with an Executive President endowed with enormous powers. There is also the difference in its electoral system of proportional representation (PR), in comparison to the first-past-the-post, or “winner-takes—all” model.
So far as the President is concerned, he/she is restricted to only two consecutive five-year terms in office. And this, basically, explains why non-government organizations, private sector enterprises and the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are involved--(at no cost to the state, I have been told)-with Friday’s “night of appreciation” . Tributes will be paid to the “outstanding achievements” of President Jagdeo who would actually have served a dozen years when he demits that office, possibly in November, when new parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled.
The extra two years, beyond the constitutional two consecutive five-year terms, requires a bit of explanation. He was first sworn in as President, in August 1999, then just 35 years, following the resignation of President Janet Jagan, widow of the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan, who died in office in March 1997.
Cheddi Jagan, who returned to government at the October 1992 general elections, was the second Executive President to die in office, the first being Forbes Burnham, architect of the republican constitution.
For Jagdeo, a development economist and former Finance Minister, his first and second five-year terms were achieved by decisive electoral victories for the PPP. He was to lead a steady path to social and economic development with the international financial institutions and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), pointing to consistent growth rates over recent years, the latest being a unique five percent for the region in the first half of 2011.
His domestic political opponents are, understandably, anxious to see his back and have precious little, if any positive things, to say about him. But even Jagdeo’s most strident critics would find it difficult to ignore his crusading zeal and commitment to Guyana’s social and economic transformation that has been taking place—with a mix of political blunders and natural disasters—over his 12-year tenure as President. Current dispassionate assessments of Guyana’s social and economic progress by the international financial institutions may perhaps better be appreciated when contrasted with 24 years of controversial rule by the now main opposition People’s National Congress (PNC).
That the “appreciation night” for President Jagdeo will take place amid near completion of arrangements for the coming parliamentary and presidential elections will not be ignored by his opponents. It has to take place before the official elections campaign is announced. What would, however, be relevant for those involved in organising Friday’s “appreciation” event is how far Guyana has progressed in socio-economic and cultural advancement, with Jagdeo, first as Finance Minister, and then for 12 years as President. In relation to visionary economic projects, Jagdeo may have effectively stamped his leadership on Guyana’s high-profile initiatives to preserve the country’s forest resources within the framework of the current challenging international issue of climate change. He is regarded as the primary architect of the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
An official blurb on his presidency reminds that “from being one of the most indebted countries per capita in the world, Guyana has, under President Jagdeo’s prudent and visionary leadership, been restored to the path of debt sustainability and international creditworthinessâ€Ķ..”
However, perhaps his more outstanding legacy could be his sustained efforts to heal the bewildering ethnic/social divisions that have, for too long, plagued Guyana, and, consequently blunting somewhat the full impact of achievements across the coastland and hinterland regions over the 19 years of governments by the PPP

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FM
PPP ALL THE WAY: LET PROGRESS CONTINUES PART 2

Guyana stands to benefit asâ€Ķ

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 02:59

China pledges US$1B loan to Caribbean countries to aid economic development
The Business Conference of the third China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Trinidad and Tobago has brought promising results with China committing finances to support regional governments, up exports, offer scholarships, and fortify agriculture.
Guyana is among the CARICOM countries to benefit as Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan on Monday pledged US$1B of preferential loans to support economic development of the Region.
During the opening ceremony, Wang said the Chinese government will further deepen China-Caribbean cooperation in such areas as finance and investment, capacity building, environmental protection, new energy, culture, education, health, trade, and tourism, as well as agriculture and fisheries.
In finance and investment, the China Development Bank will set up $1B in special business loans to finance infrastructure.
China will also donate $1M to the Caribbean Development Fund. In capacity building, the Chinese side will offer training courses for no less than 2,500 Caribbean nationals and 30 at the postgraduate level to study in China. The Asian giant will also help build an early warning and monitoring network for earthquakes and tsunamis and provide training for disaster reduction and prevention.
"China will continue to support the Caribbean countries' efforts in developing their economies, improving people's livelihood, promoting the Caribbean regional integration process, and playing an active role in international affairs," Wang said.
The visiting Chinese official said Beijing also wanted to discuss and sign a protection agreement with the Caribbean to promote two -way investments.
In recent years, China-Caribbean relations have maintained good momentum, with frequent high-level exchanges, deepened mutual political trust, and fruitful cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, science and technology, and infrastructure, he said.
Over the last six years, China-Caribbean cooperation has moved on the fast track, the Chinese vice premier said, adding that bilateral trade, increased by an annual average of 24 percent, reaching $7.2B in 2010.
The China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum is the highest level of economic and trade dialogue mechanism between the two sides, whose mission is to facilitate economic and trade cooperation for common development.
The first two fora were held in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, in February 2005, and in Xiamen, China, in September 2007.
According to a white paper on China's foreign aid issued by China’s State Council on April 21, by the end of 2009, China had aided 161 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations, including 123 developing countries. Of them, 30 are in Asia, 51 in Africa, 18 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 12 each in Oceania and in Eastern Europe. Asia and Africa, home to the largest poor populations, have gotten about 80% of China's foreign aid.

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FM

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