Tourists returning to Guyana - Nadir
Labour bureau to monitor NIS contributions - Bisnauth
Stabroek News
April 17, 2004
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has received a $16M increase on its $238M budget for 2003 as part of efforts to boost the tourism sector.
Minister Manzoor Nadir in his budget presentation to Parliament on Thursday declared that between September to December 2003, Guyana received the most visitors ever for that time of the year.
During January 2004 there was a 14% increase in arrivals, in February there was a 33% increase and in March a 21% increase.
He referred to last year's budget speech where he had promised 1,000 jobs at the Eccles Industrial Estate. He said that while the estate was fully allocated only 500 jobs were created.
As regards legislation he noted that the draft e-Commerce bill had been on the internet for six months and was receiving feedback from stakeholders. His ministry is working to finalise that bill for Parliament.
Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Dale Bisnauth said his ministry would make and adapt subventions to improve the lot of the poor while SIMAP would continue to fulfil its mandate to ameliorate difficulties experienced by persons dislocated by the development process.
Bisnauth emphasised that the budget makes provisions for the poor and gave the example of the night shelter which houses 60-70 homeless persons every night. He also adverted to the welfare programme which assists persons with the payment of their water rates.
He also said his ministry would be looking at consultation and bargaining issues consistent with the Laws of Guyana since a reduction in strikes would benefit the state in the form of increased taxes.
He said he would like to get the informal sector, including vending and mining, to be more Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) conscious.
The ministry would also be looking at HIV in the workplace and the worst forms of child labour in areas such as mining and toxic chemicals.
In 2004 a department would be established that would include a labour statistical bureau, and would carry out such functions as monitoring contributions to the NIS.
PPP/C General Secretary and MP Donald Ramotar stated that though the economy contracted by 0.6%, that was not a worry since the fall took place in sugar, which was affected by drought and heavy rainfall. The performance of every other sector, he noted, had defrayed the decline in the sugar and gold industries.
Ramotar noted that overall the government is not satisfied with the progress made but believes that progress was affected because Guyana's open economy is heavily dependent on the international economy, which since 2000 has been in serious problems.
Additionally, local growth factors have been tied down by the crime situation from 2002 to this year. All political parties and social organisations must make a clear and categorical statement against crime without shifts or ambiguity, Ramotar declared.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues said within her ministry there was a recognition that there is a need for the training of village councillors. The ministry was able to complete training courses for village captains as rural constables and Justices of the Peace. She stated this training would be ongoing as every two years new captains are elected.
She said they would also be pursuing training in financial accountability since complaints have been made about the use of funds.
She noted that Amerindian communities are involved in forestry and in this regard they would be seeking to do training for wardens to ensure that logging is done sustainably. The supervision of miners and mining activity is also on the agenda for 2004.
An important aspect of her ministry's work would also include the building of the capacity of Amerindian communities. In this regard, she noted the construction of 12 village offices and 10 more for this year.
With regard to land issues, Rodrigues noted that though there have been setbacks, including communities opting out of negotiations, significant progress had been made. She referred to the granting of absolute land titles to communities at Baramita and Konashen. Though she noted the land was not granted through the Amerindian Act.
She said that Cabinet has approved the titles to four other communities that should be issued soon. Consultations for the revised Amerindian Act are complete and the recommendations are being reviewed for presentation to Cabinet in the near future.