Moontown

Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad said more emphasis continues to be placed on promoting trade between the two nations.

Guyana Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad. GINA Photo

“We are working to establish this direct flight and we are working closely with the Venezuelan Government and tour operators also to see how we can get on board soon, since this will make flights more frequent,” Prashad said.

The flights according to Prashad will operate in Guyana out of the newly accredited Ogle International Airport in Georgetown and is expected to come on stream by the end of this year.

The announcement was made recently by the Venezuelan Ambassador here Dario Morandy who said that Venezuela is working along with three companies from Guyana and one from Venezuela, in an effort to ensure that this is realized.

“Works are moving ahead as expected. There are currently no constraints and as such direct flights from Guyana to Venezuela will commence by year-end. This will further boost relations between the two countries which are currently in the best moments. We are happy with Guyana,” the ambassador said.

This direct flight from Guyana to Venezuela will add to the daily flight already established between Guyana and Suriname.

The daily flight departs Suriname’s Zorg-en-Hoop Airport for the Ogle international Airport in Georgetown. (Caribnet)

Both sides agreed that the one-day High-Level Dialogue was an important step forward in their partnership and that it would be critical to see tangible results from their deliberations, activities and the implementation of recommendations.

The United States Congress has set aside US$37M for the financial year 2010 to support the Caribbean Regional Security Cooperation Initiative while the administration has requested US$79M for the financial year 2011.

A Joint Caribbean-United States Framework for Security Cooperation Engagement and a Caribbean-United States Plan of Action on Security Cooperation were also adopted following joint working group sessions of the Dialogue.

The documents provide the principles, the framework and the key objectives which will guide the activities carried out under the Initiative. In addition, the Caribbean has developed a Needs Assessment Matrix which will be regularly updated and which will be of assistance to the Technical Working Groups when they commence their work, and make recommendations in the activity areas identified.

The Caribbean-US discussion on Caribbean regional security cooperation, which includes CARICOM and the Dominican Republic, began a year ago in Paramaribo, Suriname, and culminated with the High-Level Dialogue after four meetings of the Joint Working Group to jointly define and develop the goals and scope of the partnership.

The process was initiated after United States President Barack Obama indicated at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009, his intention to pursue a security partnership with the Caribbean. It was also a response to the concerns expressed for some time by the Caribbean Community in its meetings with the United States over the negative spillover effect of regional initiatives such as the Merida Initiative and the Central American Regional Security Initiative which had led to an increase in illegal drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean-US Security Cooperation Initiative goes beyond security and law enforcement and embraces strengthening and reform of the institutions of the judiciary, prosecution and prisons as well as addressing the social roots of crime.

At the Dialogue, the US inter-agency delegation was headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Arturo Valenzuela. The Caribbean delegations included the Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados and Ministers of National Security of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Guyana and Jamaica. The Regional Security System was represented by its Director, and the CARICOM Secretariat and the Implementation Agency on Crime and Security (IMPACS) by senior officials.

A number of the region’s external partners with interests in the region were present as observers. They included France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, the European Union and Colombia.

The Dialogue was co-chaired by Assistant Secretary of State Valenzuela and National Security Minister Senator Errol Cort of Antigua and Barbuda who is the current Chair of the CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE). Several Caribbean Ministers of National Security as well as Eric Holder, US Attorney General and Head of the Department of Justice addressed the Dialogue.

Holder spoke on the theme of `How Effective Judicial Systems Contribute to Citizen Safety’. The Honourable Clement Rohee, Minister of Home Affairs of Guyana responded on behalf of the Caribbean.

Presentations by both sides followed by an exchange of views took place on the themes of Maritime and Airspace Security Cooperation; Improved Law Enforcement and Capacity Development; and Preventing Crime by Focusing on Youth and Other Vulnerable Populations. (Caribnet)

“As the Jamaican government seeks to uphold the rule of law, the United States stands in support of its efforts to ensure public safety and to combat drug trafficking and other criminal activity,” US Attorney General, Eric Holder told the inaugural Caribbean US Security Cooperation Dialogue in Washington last week.

US Attorney General Eric Holder. AFP PHOTO

He said that the current situation was a reminder to all of the importance of strengthening commitments to protect citizens from crime, violence, trafficking and terror.

Holder also commended the security forces for their service, sacrifice and commitment to the cause of justice.

“Today, we offer our condolences to the Jamaican people and we mourn the loss of the citizens and law enforcement officials, who have been killed in connection with recent attempts to apprehend Christopher Coke for extradition,” he added.

He said the Department of Justice was continuing to monitor the situation in Jamaica and informed that the issue was also a top priority for the Departments of State, Homeland Security and Defense.

Holder also made it clear that drug trafficking and organised crime was not an isolated problem, but was a serious threat to the entire Western Hemisphere, from the United States, to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

“None of us, alone, can ward off the violence. Criminals know no borders. They respect no flag. They embrace no rule of law but their own,” he declared.

Attorney General Holder has surmised that the greatest tool for combating organised crime was partnership and that the United States was proud to name Jamaica among its partners. (Caribnet)

Jagdeo will be honoured alongside US Senator from New York, Kirsten Gillibrand and scientist, Dr Frank Douglas, MD, President/CEO, Austen Bio/Innovation Institute, Akron, Ohio.

Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo. AFP PHOTO

“This is an outstanding group of honorees that are making exceptional contributions to our society and the world community,” said Leyland Hazlewood, President of GABPC.

He said Jagdeo was selected after he received United Nations highest award for environmental leadership, “The Champion of the Earth” award and his appointment by Un Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon to a High Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.

“During the past three years, Jagdeo, who has been one of the youngest presidents of a country, has led an international campaign promoting the recognition and value of forests that remain untouched this contrasts with the destruction of forests that degrade the environment and contribute to global warming,“ Hazelwood said.

He noted that until this time, the world has been more inclined to reward the replanting of trees after they have been cut.

He also lauded Jagdeo for his “outstanding stewardship” in creating Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, which he said is the “world first comprehensive low carbon economic plan.”

Senator Gillibrand was selected for her aggressive action to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050, in an effort to reverse the effects of global climate change and her advocacy for investments in renewable energy production and energy efficient technology.

Dr Frank L Douglas is being awarded for his leadership and success in improving innovation and productivity in pharmaceutical companies.

When asked, ‘Why a Green Gala’, Hazlewood says, “We want to emphasize that we are part of one of the most important movements of our time that pertains to our very survival and future generations. Leaders with foresight and those who understand the imperatives of the emerging green lifestyles believe that it will provide the underpinnings of a new era of economic development and growth. It offers immense opportunities for business. Some will ignore it at their own peril.” (Caribnet)

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud meeting with his Dominican Republic counterpart Salvador Jimenez (GINA photo)

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, at the invitation of the government and private sector of the Dominican Republic, met recently with government and agro-traders.

Persaud held talks with his counterpart Minister of Agriculture Salvador Jimenez on a wide range of issues, the principal one being cooperation between the two countries that would lead to greater economic opportunities for both.

Minister Jimenez indicated his hope in strengthening trade and even pushing for investments from the Spanish speaking country in Guyana.

Persaud met with the country’s agribusiness Association, Goya officials, and visited businesses that have been importing agricultural products from Guyana. Several of the companies have expressed interest in establishing processing operations to utilize Guyana’s available agricultural raw produce.

The Dominican Republic is one of the newest markets for Guyana’s agriculture produce and the visit was aimed at expanding exports and securing investments from that country in Guyana’s agriculture sector. (Caribnet)

The economic and trade advisor at the Chinese embassy in Cuba, Chen Feng, told the Opciones weekly that the investment will consist of 51 percent Chinese capital and 49 percent Cuban.

The hotel complex will have 650 rooms and cover an area of 7.5 hectares (about 19 acres) in the “Marina Hemingway” resort in western Havana.

The diplomat added that, as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral Cuban-Chinese relations, Havana will also host the 23rd Session of the Intergovernmental Commission for economic and trade relations later this year.

China is Cuba’s second commercial partner only behind Venezuela. Both countries currently have 13 mixed projects under way, seven of them on the island in the sectors of light and mechanical industry, communications, agricultural production and tourism.

As part of these increasing relations, the Gran Melia Shanghai hotel was inaugurated in Beijing last
February. It was the result of an accord between its builders: the state-run Chinese firm Xintian (Suntime) and the Cuban firm Cubanacan. It is the first hotel in China to be managed by the Spanish hotel chain Sol Melia. (Caribnet)

The Forecasts of the Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity for 2010 issued by Colorado State University and NOAA, anticipates that the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will be characterized by above-average activity.

Scientists predict that the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season will have significantly more activity than the average 1950-2000 season. The season is expected to see about 8 hurricanes, 15 named storms, 75 named storm days, 35 hurricane days, 4 intense hurricanes and 10 intense hurricane days.
Forecasters have cited two main reasons for their predictions, noting that the combination of these will lead to favorable conditions for hurricane formation and intensification. These reasons included a weakening of the El Nino Conditions and the favorable Atlantic Basin Conditions.

Throughout the season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, the DDM will partner with all local media, audio, video, print and electronic to issue public service announcements and other types of information that provides guidance for residents as they make their preparations this Hurricane Season.

Information and Education Manager, Linton Leonard said, “A number of new activities will be included in the Campaign this year including a partnership with the BVI Tourist Board in the distribution of fliers designed for the Tourism Sector, the inclusion of local artists in the scripting, videotaping and voicing of announcements, a full supplement in the local newspapers, provision of information for the Spanish speaking community, the use of the e-blast technique and other Information and Communications Technology to ensure that the messages are reaching all cross sections of our community.”

Leonard urged residents and visitors to pay close attention to the information being broadcast or printed and to ensure that they remain in a heightened state of readiness for the next six months. (Caribnet)

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (AFP) — Donor countries were to meet in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday for a summit on the international effort to rebuild Haiti, still struggling after being leveled by a massive January earthquake.

“It is the first meeting following a donors’ conference held in New York on March 21, which received pledges of 10 billion dollars,” Haiti’s Finance and Economy Minister Ronald Beaudin told AFP.

The meeting, the “World Summit for the Future of Haiti” to be held in the resort town of Punta Cana, is to be attended by top officials from Europe and the Americas, with the goal of firming up international plans for the massive rebuilding effort and offers of financial support.

Beaudin said only Brazil has actually come through with its pledged donation, sending some 55 million dollars, and said he hoped other donors now will quickly follow suit.

“A mechanism to track the pledged monies has been put in place,” he said.

Aid experts have said Haiti needs about 11.5 billion dollars for its anticipated decade-long rebuilding effort.

Delegations at the meeting from more than 50 countries were to make a full review of projected rebuilding plans and of monies collected so far, so that they can set more concrete deadlines in planning Haiti’s reconstruction.

Among those to set to attend are former US president Bill Clinton and World Bank President Robert Zoellick.

Guatemalan diplomat Edmond Mulet, who heads the UN Stabilization Mission In Haiti (MINUSTAH), last week vowed to speed the creation of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (ICRH), which is to oversee the rebuilding effort.

“To really get the reconstruction phase going, the ICRH has to quickly get down to the task of planning the rebuilding, to ensure efficient coordination of donor resources,” Mulet told a press conference in Haiti.

Mulet said he expects that the organization will up be and running “in the next few days.”

But, he cautioned, “it is important not to create a parallel structure (with the Haiti the government) but to make sure that its efforts reinforce the efforts of the the state — with full respect for Haiti’s sovereignty,” he said.

Beaudin also sought to allay growing fears among Haitians of being governed by foreign interests.

“On this score, there is no need for concern,” Mulet said, pointing out that the ICRH will have only an 18-month mandate.

“After than time, it is the (Haitian government) that will be in charge of reconstruction,” he said.

The secretary general of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, said in a statement on Monday that the effort to advance Haiti’s reconstruction is “urgent” and “cannot be delayed.”

“The Punta Cana summit will allow for a definition of a strategy of solidarity with this country that establishes a timeline and the political and technical aspects of international assistance,” Insulza said.

Meanwhile, Mulet told AFP that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging countries to put in place favorable trade terms for Haitian businesses, to help speed Haiti’s recovery.

“I believe it is essential that the commission focus on the situation of the middle class which has lost everything as a result of the quake,” he said.

“The middle class, which has been the backbone of the country, should receive lines of credit at a favorable interest rate, so that they can relaunch their small and medium-sized businesses and rebuild their homes and offices” he said.

The World Bank announced Friday that it has canceled Haiti’s remaining debt to help the impoverished country recover from the quake.

The Washington-based institution on Friday forgave a loan of 36 million dollars owed to the International Development Association (IDA)

“Haiti now has no further amounts payable to the World Bank,” it said.

The IDA debt cancellation was mad possible by contributions from 13 member nations: Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. (Caribnet)

“Bouterse will be on behalf of the Mega Combination delegated as president,” Bouterse said, while participating in a local popular radio show “Baka na tori” on Sky Radio in Paramaribo.

Desi Bouterse

Bouterse, 64, head of the country’s opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) is part of the four-member political block Mega Combination (MC) that gained 23 of the 51 seats in last Tuesday parliamentary elections. It was the first time voters returned power to the two-time coup stager.

After talks failed to form a coalition government with Nieuw Front of President Ronald Venetiaan, who gained 14 seats, the MC set its eye on smaller parties.

“Who wants to join me, comes along, who doesn’t want to participate, is fine with me,” Bouterse said, adding he gave everyone a chance to work together.

Bouterse took over in a military coup in 1980, and after stepping down in 1987 briefly seized power again in a 1991 bloodless takeover. He is on trial for the illegal executions in December 1982 of 15 people, 13 civilians and two military officials, who opposed military rule.

If convicted, Bouterse could face up to 20 years in prison. His trial resumes June 9 and his bid for the presidency is widely seen as a move to avoid imprisonment by granting amnesty to all those involved in the 1982 killings. (Caribnet)

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba’s communist government started relocating political prisoners Tuesday closer to their families after church-government talks aimed at ending politically embarrassing hunger strikes, dissident and family sources said.

The action came after church-government talks launched May 19 aimed at ending hunger strikes in support of the political prisoners, which have become a major political embarrassment for President Raul Castro.

So far, the Cuban government moved six political prisoners to jails closer to their families on Tuesday, the Archbishop of Havana’s office announced.

The prisoners who have been relocated are Felix Navarro (sentenced to 25 years), Antonio Diaz (20 years), Diosdado Gonzalez (20 years), Ivan Hernandez (25 years), Jose Luis Garcia Paneque (24 years) and Arnaldo Ramos (18 years), the office said.

They all are among the 53 dissidents still jailed after a major 2003 roundup that sent 75 Cubans to jail for opposing the Americas’ only one-party communist regime.

Ortega said he had been informed by Cuban authorities of those six relocations. But he did not mention the case of another dissident Adolfo Fernandez whose family believes he also has been moved.

The government agreed with church mediators to move the sickest among the prisoners — as many as 25 according to dissident sources — to hospitals for treatment. But there was no relocation of that kind immediately known.

Garcia Paneque is a doctor, 45; Hernandez, a journalist, 39; Ramos, an economist, 68; Navarro, a teacher who is 56; Gonzalez, a farmer, 45; and Diaz, an electrician, 47.

The Ladies in White, an activist group of relatives of political prisoners, welcomed the news it has been waiting years to hear.

“It is a door that is opening, it is the beginning of something that we are waiting for, which is freedom for everyone,” Berta Soler, one of the group’s leaders, told AFP.

Last week a dissident on a three-month hunger strike had said the government would take the steps; Guillermo Farinas went on his latest strike demanding that 26 sick political prisoners be freed before he would end the protest, a source of shame for Castro’s government in the only one-party communist regime in the Americas.

Church officials negotiated with the government on behalf of Farinas.

An opposition journalist, Farinas began his 23rd hunger strike since 1995 — denying both food and water — the day after leading Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata died on February 23 following an 85-day hunger strike.

Farinas is currently in Santa Clara hospital in central Cuba, where he has been treated with an intravenous drip since March 11.

Farinas’ case no doubt alarmed the government after Zapata’s drew widespread international condemnation.

Dissident groups say there are more than 200 political prisoners held in Cuban jails. Amnesty International considers 65 of them as prisoners of conscience.

Cuba denies it holds any political prisoners and calls dissidents “mercenaries” funded by the United States and a conservative Cuban-American “mafia.”

The Catholic Church has been pressing Castro’s regime on the issue of political prisoners without, however, resorting to confrontation.

It recently persuaded authorities to drop a ban on a group of wives and female relatives of jailed dissidents known as the Ladies in White holding a public march in the capital calling for their loved ones to be freed. (Caribnet)