Speaking to reporters at an end of year press conference, in his Georgetown office, he said: "We managed to accomplish much of what we wanted."

Bisnauth said, in Labour, the Ministry promoted workers’ rights, apprehended disputes, provided conciliation, arbitration and inspection services, facilitated settlements of trade union claims and enforced and monitored International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and recommendations, as well.

According to him, there were no significant work stoppages or disruptions in the public sector but 168 strikes in other workplaces, the majority in the sugar industry.

Bisnauth said the Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Mohamed Akeel, and his officers settled many of the issues.

He explained that, whenever there is a quarrel between employer and labour bodies, the parties try to settle it by themselves but, when they cannot, they invite the Ministry to intervene.

Bisnauth disclosed that there were eight requests made for arbitration, the most outstanding of which involved Public Service Ministry (PSM) and Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

He said, during 2002, his Ministry was called upon 64 times to help labour and management resolve problems and were successful in taking 49 to conciliation.

Giving statistics, Bisnauth said the Ministry received 699 complaints, investigated 603 and, arising out of those investigations, the aggrieved employees recovered $10.1M.

He said, up to year-end, there were eight employers before the Court, facing charges for several breeches ranging from failure to pay overtime, severance, for holidays and wrongful dismissal.

Bisnauth declared it was commendable that 605 labour inspections were completed last year and 416 breeches by employers identified in the process.

He also said seminars for employers and employees played an important part in the life of the Ministry because, if Guyana is to become competitive in the global market, goods and services must be produced at comparable prices.

“…and we cannot do that with work stoppages and time wastages on the job,” Bisnauth pointed out.

He said, to effectively handle the situation, a tripartite committee, comprising representatives of National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the trade union movement, Ministry of Labour, Government and the Private Sector, meets once a month.

Bisnauth said working conditions in the mining sector is an area his Ministry will focus on this year, with a view to reducing accidents and the use of chemicals at workplaces.

Emphasis will also be put on HIV/AIDS at those locations.

Minister within the Ministry, Ms Bibi Shadick spoke, too, about the Difficult Circumstances Department, which caters for the poor and vulnerable in society.

She revealed that the unit, staffed by two persons, interviewed 7,000 applicants last year and recently secured the services of an attorney-at-law to accommodate those who approach it with legal problems.

Shadick said $25M was disbursed in 2002 also from the Poverty Alleviation Fund, covering expenses for 34 funerals at a cost of $1M, $2.8M for prosthetic limbs from Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre for 71 persons and $8.8M for the visually impaired.

She said they have another source from which small amounts are provided for medication and eyedrops and disbursement from that was $2.3M.

During the year, the Ministry also opened the residential component of the ‘Drop-in Centre at ‘The Palms’ on Brickdam and, through Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP), a counseling centre was opened next to the centre, also in the city.

Shadick said the night shelter continues to serve and accommodates an average of 85 persons per night, below the 150 it can take on any given night.

She acknowledged that the Children's Bill and the Family Court Bill were not legislated but said they are still engaging Ministry’s attention, before going to Cabinet and Parliament.

Shadick said a Women’s Affairs Officer (WAO) has been appointed in every Administrative Region and that was a major breakthrough.

A register was established for every women’s organisation in the country, she said, adding: "We are now aware of the activities in which they are involved, with a view to addressing their needs.”

The WAOs will be housed at the Regional Administration offices, from where they will be better able to monitor the groupings and render necessary assistance or make recommendations to the Women’s Affairs Bureau at the Ministry.

Shadick said it was significant to train 72 volunteers in intervention counselling and intervention skills so they could better help those affected by domestic violence.

She said, in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), the procedure was undertaken in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Probation and Family Welfare Department and every village there was affected.

Shadick said, from this month, the system will also collaborate with the Police on reported abuses.

She lauded the new arrangements for Old Age Pension books distribution and said it led to the uncovering of several discrepancies, resulting in a Police probe of the related scam.

Minister Shadick said an interim report by the Office of the Auditor General, following an intensive investigation into the fraudulent encashment of vouchers between May and October 2002, indicated that a total of 8,078 frauds were committed and the amount defrauded was $13,958, 784.

She said, consequently, three employees of the Ministry had their services terminated, for reasons, which may or may not be connected to the revelations and other inter-departmental factors could have been responsible.