The announcements were made by Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Clinton Collymore and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Doodnauth Singh, respectively, during their presentations as the debate on the recently-presented $72.9Bln National Budget which opened on Monday, continued.

According to Minister Collymore, $1Bln has been set aside in the 2003 Budget for the creation of the townships of Parika in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands); Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and Rosignol, Region Five (Demerara/Mahaica).

The existing towns are Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supernaam); New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Corriverton, in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

Regarding the completion of the Deeds Registry project, the Minister of Legal Affairs said the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is providing the major funding for the project, has requested that the ministry enter into new contracts.

The Attorney General explained that an initial US$934,000 contract was awarded to Chemonics International Inc, of which the IDB provided US$700,000 and the Government of Guyana US$234,000, but that has fallen through.

The company had received payments to the tune of US$157,000 and G$10,000, and was required to execute works in relation to the transfer of assets, implementing training and staff evaluation programmes for existing and new members, modernising and computerising of property recording, among other works.

However, another project for the same registry involving Intellectual Property Rights, was undertaken by the Foley & Hogg firm and has already been submitted, the minister said.

And regarding the litigation brought by an insurance company against the Government and the defunct GAC (Guyana Airways Corporation), Singh said it is one of three arbitration matters on which the Attorney's General Chamber has been "in constant contact".

The arbitration issue came about as a result of the former GAC not remitting monies amounting to US$120,000, representing a security amount on each passenger ticket that was sold by the corporation.

The sum should have been remitted to the U.S. Customs Department.

Singh said the Government is being represented by Mr. Roger Ally, a Guyanese lawyer practising in Miami.

So far, two motions to dismiss the claim have been successful and the judge has granted leave to file an amended claim, he reported.

Singh said the other outstanding litigation involves a claim by a Trinidad road construction firm for in excess of $1Bln, in relation to the Timehri/Georgetown road.

The chamber is being represented by Mr. Fenton Ramsahoye, he said.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom-based company, Big Food, has agreed to withdraw its claim for 12 million pounds, in relation to the takeover of the former Bookers assets here, he pointed out.

Also, a claim by Soares Da Costa, a Portuguese construction firm, for in excess of US$3M for expansion work at the Georgetown Hospital Public Corporation, has been settled amicably with a sum of US$1.6M paid with the assistance of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, he reported.

Collymore, who like his ministerial colleague Singh, had supported the budget presented a week ago by Minister of Finance, Mr. Saisnarine Kowlessar, chided the critics including the main Opposition People's National Congress/Reform (PNCR), who are boycotting the debate, and who claim that the budget offered nothing.

He contended that the "gains" would have been much better, had there been political consensus as Guyana operates an open economy, and challenged the opposition MPs to say how a better budget could have been crafted.

He further urged that they occupy their seats in the National Assembly and "let us have some meaningful dialogue."

Collymore sees his ministry as the umbrella of the others, as it is tasked with overseeing the 10 administrative regions of the country.

The minister, who has responsibility for holding Local Government elections, noted that there is still no agreement regarding the electoral system and alluded to a letter from PNC/R Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin.

To loud desk thumping by his colleagues, signalling their agreement, he declared that the Government "wants to hold Local Government elections at the earliest possible date"

During his presentation he also spoke of the projects started by the ministry and which are still ongoing, among them the Urban Development Programme which is rapidly developing; and the five-year garbage disposal project for which the City Council is to submit proposals and locate a new dump site.