As part of the conference, local bodies erected booths to provide information on gender issuesBy Desilon DanielsWith the ultimate aim of developing a gender policy in Guyana, a two-day conference on women and gender concluded yesterday with Sita Nagamootoo emphasising that gender must be centrally positioned in the formulation of public policies.The two-day conference was held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal and saw wide participation by key stakeholders. Amongst the gathered organisations were the Ministry of Social Protection and the Gender Equality Commission of Guyana.During yesterday’s session,Wholesale World Cup Jerseys, Nagamootoo, a former Cyril Potter College of Education Principal, spoke at length on the importance of gender equality, particularly in a nation such as Guyana. She also stressed the importance of women empowerment and the role education played in promoting equality.According to Nagamootoo, women over the years have been made aware of the unequal gender relations between men and women and have therefore acquired a greater voice to address the inequalities present in their homes, workplaces and the larger society. She added that investing in women’s empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and essential economic growth.“Women are agents of change on economic, social and political processes. Women must be encouraged to articulate their needs and interests as well as their visions of society,” she said.Furthermore, opining that such a convention at the national level was “long overdue”, Nagamootoo said, “This conference today provides us all with the opportunity to not only look to the future but to also reflect,” she said.She went on to say that much progress has been made in gender issues and gender equality. However, she added, there was still much more to be accomplished. She also noted the inequalities even within equality,Cheap Authentic NFL Jerseys, such as when some women are being respected while others are not.“No country can boast of socio-economic success if it fails to provide equitable opportunities and resources to boost male and females and in particular the youths of that national community,” she said.According to the educator, gender inequality undermines both development and health. She said that therefore the views of both women and men and also those of the youth must be factored into the national development agenda since the development of a nation affected everyone.“It is imperative therefore that gender be centrally positioned in the formulation and implementation of public policies…There is much to be proud of, but we still have a long way to go,China Jerseys Cheap,” Nagamootoo emphasised.She added that the development agenda must focus on supporting the promotion of more equal relations between men and women. Furthermore,Cheap Jerseys, she said,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, every policy and programme which is created in the future must keep in mind that they affect women and men differently, since these groups harbour different perspectives.“In designing policies, programmes and projects, cognizance must be taken of these differences in experiences and situations between men and women, between boys and girls,China Jerseys Cheap,” Nagamootoo said.Additionally, she stated that the achievement of gender equality does not translate to men becoming the same as women.“The term equality should mean that the person’s rights or opportunities should not depend on the person being male or female,” she said.Similarly, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence said that hosting a discourse on gender issues was a necessity going forward.“This conference is a national one on gender and development policy. The conference provides the opportunity for Guyanese from the 10 administrative regions to share their views, knowledge and experience in crafting Guyana’s first ever gender policy,” Lawrence said. She continued, “So these two days mark the beginning of the process for the formulation of a gender policy and the emergence of the Gender Service Unit.”On the first day of the conference, a number of issues had been raised by the present stakeholders. These issues ranged across a number of areas including sexuality, health and gender inequalities. Recommendations and problem areas had also been highlighted during the first session. Some of these recommendations included the respect and the recognition of the rights of the elderly and the importance of culturally appropriate awareness education in the areas of trafficking in persons, rape and domestic violence.The introduction of sex educati

The Leguan Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) believes that there is a correlation between the enhancement of communities on the island by the Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) and the taxes collected last year.This notion was expressed by Albert James,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Chairman of Leguan NDC, during a meeting with staff of CIIP. James said that he is satisfied with the delivery of the project and stressed that effective drainage is critical for cultivation and residential areas.According to James,Discount NFL Jerseys, assistance provided by CIIP to improve residential drainage networks allows the NDC to place more emphasis on the cultivation drainage network. This,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, he noted has contributed to increased economic activities on the island.“With CIIP focusing on residential drains we were able to divert resources to cultivation drains. We were able to build and rehabilitate more bridges and kokers which helped our farmers. Farming is Leguan’s major economic activity,NFL Jerseys From China,” he said.James stated that besides the financial benefits, CIIP has helped to enhance the appearance of the island. “Just look around at the trenches and parapets and the difference is visible,Cheap NFL Jerseys,” he said.The Chairman said he is disappointed that some residents do not find it important to clean their front drains and parapets.Drainage enhancement works are also being executed on the neighbouring island of Wakenaam. Like its neighbourhood, Wakenaam depends heavily on farming and as such effective drainage is critical during this rainy season.Communities including Sarah,Cheap NHL Jerseys, Melville and Good Success have benefited from improved drainage. Community Enhancement Workers have also helped to clean and clear Maria’s Pleasure and Caledonia Burial Grounds. The team is currently enhancing Sana Souci Burial Ground.

Georgetown Deputy Mayor and Guyana Elections Commission Commissioner, Robert Williams, passedFormer Deputy Mayor Robert Williamsaway early yesterday morning following a prolonged battle with heart related complications. Williams, who was also a Mayor, was a patient at the Caribbean Heart Institute, located inside of the Georgetown Public Hospital building.He was admitted at the Institute in early December,Cheap Jerseys, after suffering from a heart related ailment. The late Williams had maintained his position as Deputy Mayor until his death. His wife, Gwen Williams, along with other family friends all gathered yesterday at the hospital after news of his death circulated.Relatives said that they received the news of Williams’s passing some time around 09:00hrs. Relatives described Williams as “fun loving” and a dedicated worker.Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council, Royston King, yesterday in an invited comment said that the Georgetown Municipality was saddened by Williams’s passing, since he had made sterling contributions to Guyana’s capital city, Georgetown.King said that Williams served as Mayor of Georgetown from 1987 to 1989 and became Deputy Mayor in 1998. He headed several important committees at City Hall including the Finance Committee, City Works Committee,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and Market and Public Health Committee.“He played a significant role in the development of the New Vendors’ Mall located at Water Street. Perhaps his greatest contribution to Local Government is the conceptualization and establishment of the Guyana Association of Municipalities,” King stated.He noted that Williams’ passing is a great loss to the Council because he was part of the institutional memory of the Municipality. His contributions in statutory meetings as well as local communities advanced the interest of many residents.? “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children and relatives,Wholesale NBA Jerseys,” King added.The Alliance for Change also yesterday extended condolences to the family and relatives of Williams. Williams,China Jerseys Cheap, the party said, gave diligent service to the city of Georgetown especially through trying times, serving as Deputy Mayor, a position he held for over a decade and Chairman of Municipality’s Finance Committee.The AFC said that Williams’s sterling contributions to the work of the Guyana Elections Commission where he served as a Commissioner for many years will forever be remembered. “His passing is a great loss to the city and to the entire Guyana” the AFC noted.The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) , also said that it was? saddened by the passing Commissioner Williams. GECOM said that Williams was a permanent member of the Guyana Elections Commission, a position to which he was appointed since GECOM was established as a permanent entity in 2000.The elections body said that Williams will be remembered for his insightful, open-minded and logical contributions during Commission meetings.? “His lucid and practical approach to the solutions of conundra which the Commission perpetually encounters will be dearly missed”.GECOM noted that notwithstanding his ailing health,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, Mr. Williams was never absent from any of the ever increasing meetings of the Commission in the run up to the 2011 General and Regional Elections.? Such was his level of commitment to and the seriousness with which he approached his responsibilities as a GECOM Commissioner.The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in a press statement yesterday stated that it is deeply saddened at the passing of Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Robert Williams.The Party described Williams as an exemplary figure,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, who was involved in politics for a number of decades. He worked beyond the borders of political loyalty in advancing the interest of the nation.This character was clearly illustrated over the past few years when as Deputy Mayor of Georgetown he worked closely with the PPP/C Government to address the challenges at City Hall. He also negotiated several emergency interventions by Central Government to address the inadequacies of Municipality’s management.As a Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Williams took principled positions on matters of vital national interest.“His being one of the leading voices inside City Hall towards improving the management of our Capital City will surely be missed along with his exemplary work as a GECOM Commissioner, among his many other endeavors during his long and distinguished career,” PPP/C asserted.The PPP/C also expressed sincere condolences to the relatives, friends and collea

– owners upset over Livestock Development’s treatment ?Some dog owners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the treatment meted out to them by members of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority last week. According to Conrad Gomes, the owner of four pit-bull pups, he almost lost his dogs as they barely escaped being euthanized.He said that on Tuesday a colleague, Mr. Clive Patterson, transported four pit-bull pups from the Mazaruni district to the Eugene Correia International Airport, Ogle, using an aircraft attached to the Correia Group of Companies.Patterson yesterday said that after arriving at the airport, the customs department informed him that the pups needed to be cleared by a veterinarian. However, he was still allowed to leave with the animals without this ever happening.The pit-bull pups which were detainedDog Owner, Conrad Gomes (Centre) flanked by his colleagues,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, Clive Patterson (left) and SteveGomes, who is a miner in Mazaruni, said that the dogs were birthed at his camp since he owns a number of adult pit-bull dogs for security purposes. He said that he sent the dogs to Georgetown to give them away to his friends.He said that the pilot who flew the aircraft transporting the dogs called him around 17:00hrs on Tuesday to inform him that he needed to have the dogs returned to customs for the vet, Marlan Prince,Authentic Adidas Hockey Jerseys China, to examine them.Gomes said that he took back the dogs and was informed that they would be quarantined at the GLDA’s office at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.The owner said that he was confused by the ordeal. He said that he was advised to visit the Sparendaam Police Station to query the matter. However, even while there he could not be given an answer since the situation seemed to be strange to the officers present.According to Gomes, he was informed by the vet that if the pups are being moved from one region to another, they need to be documented.Kaieteur News contacted the vet yesterday for a comment but the man chose not to speak on the issue, saying that it would be best that a comment is had through his superiors.Based on documentation provided by the owner of the dogs,China Jerseys Cheap, the four pups were held at the entity’s quarantine station from November 22 to November 24, because the authorities were doubtful as to whether the animals were bred in Guyana and since there were no documents to prove their origin. Until the origin could have been proven,Wholesale Jerseys From China, the dogs were kept at the facility for two days.Gomes said that he was asked to bring the mother of the pups to the GLDA to prove that they were born in Guyana. He said that he was given an ultimatum to bring the mother by 13:00hrs on Thursday or the pups would have been put down.A friend of the owner, Steve, in an effort to stall the killing of the pups, went to the GLDA office at Mon Repos with a lawyer, while simultaneously, the handler Mr. Patterson was attempting to get the mother out of Mazaruni to reunite with the pups.He said that after being reunited, the pups immediately began suckling, which apparently was enough proof to have the dogs released.The three dog lovers said that they were completely upset by the attitude meted out to them by the GLDA officials and their haste to have the dogs killed. Steve said that the camp is not located near a border area,Wholesale China Jerseys, so it is unlikely that the dogs could have been imported.According to documentation,Cheap Jerseys China, the reasons for the dogs being detained were given as arriving at the airport without documentation, the questionable health status of the animals and as a mitigating measure against the spread of disease.Gomes was made to pay $40,000 to the GLDA for the four days the dogs were in quarantine. He said that it is the first time that he has ever found himself in this situation and it is not the first occasion he has transported dogs from his camp to Georgetown.

By Leonard GildarieIt is rather unfortunate, but after eight months of dwelling on a particular subject, we must bring the curtain down on what has been an interesting learning experience, as regards one of Guyana’s most exciting sectors – housing. There is only so much that can be said and only so many challenges that can be issued to citizens and government alike.Owning a home in Guyana has become something very close to the heart of many. It makes you an instant millionaire, to paraphrase our President, while at the same time it allows you to be a part of the Guyana dream.As I have said time and again, the housing sector,Cheap China Jerseys, because of a number of factors, remains probably the most challenging in the country. Not only is government grappling in re-organising and regularising squatting areas, it is dealing with making new land available, preparing the infrastructure for new schemes and processing thousands of applications for new lots.It is a significant challenge, with constant arguments that there is enough land for every Guyanese to own a piece.A visit to the Housing Ministry one morning will find scores of hopefuls waiting since first light to meet with officials for some transaction or the other.The construction sector has been one of the fastest growing in the country, with many spin-offs. These include the brisk trade of hardware importers and suppliers; the transportation sector, the demand for labour, an increase in mortgage processing and home insurance, the opening of neighbourhood stores and block-making facilities,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, among other related areas.The demand for construction materials has been huge. There had been a reported shortage of sand…yes, sand… at one time, andWhether it is a home in Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, or one in Mahdia, owning one is a dream close to the hearts of the majority of Guyanese.cement and stone at other times, forcing government to issue import permission for cement for other distributors. There has also been a reported shortage of some preferred types of wood, with prices rising in an alarming manner.Along with the housing drive came the inevitable problems,cheap nfl jerseys, including the clear absence of mechanisms to enforce agreements between contractors and new house lot owners.Because of the logistics, training or assistance to prepare the involved parties in dealing with the challenges has proven costly to especially the new house lot owners.Many homes have been left incomplete because of unscrupulous contractors involved in all kinds of rackets to rob their employers. But there have been complaints,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, also, of homeowners deliberately robbing contractors.A large percentage of jobs awarded to these builders – and there are questions about the criteria used to describe them as such – was done so verbally, providing another hurdle in the fight to regularise the situation.Over the past few months, we have examined how to apply for a mortgage, the process of working to prepare the estimates for your home; the need to shop around for better prices,cheap nfl jerseys online, how to choose your contractor; working with the local NDC and the protection of wooden doors and windows.We have also spoken of how to avoid touts at some lumber yards, looking out for scamps who would short-change you on the measurements and quality, etc.What have remained among the biggest challenges are the rising cost of construction and the inexperience of adhering to budget.There are no immediate fora to turn to, and while there is a fair degree of literature around and much advice to be offered, none has fully been centralised or personalised. The Ministry of Housing has some measure of this available, but still the complaints have continued.The Guyana Forestry Commission, only recently battling to stabilise a reported wood shortage for the local market, has disclosed it will shortly be launching a handbook on the alternatives to the more popular types of wood available in Guyana. That publication is also expected to address some of the concerns raised by new house lot owners.There have been requests from our readers for information on places to shop for construction materials and lists of approved contractors.A possible website is also being considered and worked upon and will be up shortly. A complete handbook guide to housing is imminent.So all in all,Adidas Hockey Jerseys Cheap, it has been an enlightening experience, with even government officials welcoming the articles. I am confident that until the website and handbook come out, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Housing Ministry, along with t

Two members of a Yakusari,Wholesale Jerseys, Black Bush Polder, Berbice family, returning from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, chose the wrong location and time to stop to relieve themselves early yesterday morning. They were attacked and robbed by three gun-toting bandits who left them stranded on the Mahaicony Public Road until day clean.Vijay Ayana, accompanied by his cousin- in- law Chetram Gobin had gone to collect his wife Lalita,Wholesale Jerseys, who had returned from St. Maarten.The journey back home was long and the two men stopped to relieve themselves, while Lalita Ayana slept in the back seat of the car.“When we reach Mahaicony, they stop the car just before the gas station not far from the police station,Jerseys From China,” Lalita Ayana told this newspaper.She said that she was later told by her husband that a car pulled up alongside theirs and three men came out and held the two urinating men at gunpoint. They pushed them to the ground and rummaged through their pockets, taking out all the contents which included cash and other important documents.The men also relieved Gobin, who is also visiting from overseas, of his gold band and chain, while they took away a gold chain from Vijai Ayana. They then turned their attention to the sleeping Lalita in the car, awaking her with two gun butts to her head.“They were saying, ‘the bag,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, give us the bag!’ they fired a shot just above my head and then they grabbed my bag,” Lalita told this newspaper.In the bag were a little more than US$2100 and all of Lalita’s important documents including her passport, and bank cards.The men also threw away the keys for their car, rendering them immobile as they made good their escape.“I cried out for help and some people took me to the police station…the police were crawling (moving very slowly),” Lalita Ayana said.Obviously,NFL Cheap Jerseys, the incident has severely dampened her spirits for the Christmas season. It has also shattered the plans of Chetram Gobin who is scheduled to return to St. Maarten tomorrow (Saturday).“I wish if they (bandits) could leave the documents somewhere where we could get them back. We don’t care for the money now,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, all we want are the documents,” Lalita Ayana pleaded.The incident occurred despite police assurances that incoming early morning flights will be monitored with a view to limiting the chances of visitors for the Christmas season being robbed on their way from the airport.Early last month, Assistant commissioner in outlining plans for the police A division Christmas policing plans announced that the officer in charge of the Number Four Sub-Division (Timehri), is expected to obtain the itinerary of incoming flights at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and coordinate with other stations along the route from the airport with the aim of protecting visitors who are expected in droves for the holidays.“We know that these guys (criminals) target the late night flights and try to rob people when they come down to Georgetown. Now if we have it locked from the airport to the city, what we find is happening, is that they follow the incoming passengers to other areas on the East Coast (Demerara), and West Demerara to rob them,” Josiah had told a gathering at the Police Officers’ Mess.He had added that there will be snap roadblocks to augment the other plans to protect the incoming visitors.

Guyana has signed an agreement with the Republic of Congo to increase cooperation between the two countries in the fields of forestry and wood industries,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, according to the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).According to the report,Cheap NHL Jerseys Online, the Memorandum of Understanding covering a five-year period was signed by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and Congolese Minister of Forestry and Sustainable Development, Henri Djombo. This agreement will see the two countries establishing and developing cooperation to address sustainable forest management,Cheap Jerseys, REDD+ initiatives and the enhancement and development of processed wood and wood-based construction industries.Recognising the importance of sustainable utilisation of forest resources for the economic and social development of the two countries which boast large areas of pristine rainforest,Stitched Jerseys, bilateral cooperation in technical,Cheap NFL Jerseys, industrial and managerial aspect of the forest industry will significantly enhance the development of the two countries.The report noted that other initiatives will include exchange visits by delegations from the two countries and exchange of information on science and technology relating to forest, tree seedlings,Wholesale China Jerseys, genetic material and other forest resources.It will also see other group studies and human resource training and collaboration in research and production and joint surveys.The two countries will also explore trading in timber and other forest products and the training of technicians and other experts in forestry related disciplines.