Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698069216052.pdf (Guyana)
6th Sitting March 1986 Thursday, 1986-03-06 (73) (61) (Absent) (Absent) (Absent – on leave) (11) (3) Ministry of Manpower, Housing and Environment Minister of Health * Non-elected Member .m 1 (4) *Cde.

R.C.

Fredericks, A.A., M.P., Minister of Youth and Sport within the Ministry of Education Cde.

C.G.

Sharma, A.A., J.P., M.P., Minister within the Office of the President *Cde.

D.M.A.

Bernard, M.P., Minister within the Ministry of Education *Cde.

D.A.N.
D.A.N.

Ainsworth, M.P., (4) Minister of State within the Ministry of Manpower, Housing and Environment Cde.

J.T.

Kissoon, M.P., Minister of State within the Ministry of Agriculture Cde.

D. Sawh, M.P., Minister of State within the Ministry of Forestry *Cde.

Dr.

Faith A. Harding, M.P., Minister of State within the Ministry of Planning and Development Parliamentary Secretaries (3) Cde.

A.K.

Habibulla, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the President Cde.
Stella Odie-Ali, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, Home Affairs *Cde.

Jean M.G.

Persico, A.A., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, Education (Absent – on leave) Government Chief Whip (1) Cde.

Jennifer A. Ferreira, M.P., Government Chief Whip Other Members (24) Cde.

R.E.

Williams, M.P.

(Absent – on leave) Cde.

Agnes W. Bend-Kirton, M.P.

Cde.

E.H.A.

Fowler, M.P.

Cde.

Joyce Gill-Mingo, M.P.

Cde.

M. Ally, M.P.

Cde.

Bissoondai Beniprashad-Rayman, M.P.

Cde.

Elaine B. Davidson, M.P.

Cde.


H. Doobay, M.P.

Cde.

Joyce M. Munroe, J.P., M.P.

Cde.

Edwina Melville, M.P.

Cde.

Amna Ally, M.P.

Cde.

L. Arthur, M.P.

Cde.

J.R.L.

Bovell-Drakes, M.P.

Cde.

N. Calistro, M.P.

Cde.

G.W.

Chin, J.P., M.P.

Cde.

F.M.

Cumberbatch, M.P.

Cde.

M.I.

Deen, M.P.

* Non-elected Member 2 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER wish urgent opportunity petitions petitions pending the decision of the courts.
STATEMENT BY MINISTERS Chairman, most phenomena petroleum opportunity familiar gasolene neither Christmas the Palace, balance 4 the not been we Papalized 5 supplies Sugar expand keep s we would problem.

We garnered was 6 supply balance value represented per fuel intermittent our trade.

In the meantime, re- importance Public Cde.

Cde.

George Daniels.

Speaker, benefit advice.

that our namely, immediate hours 7 Prime Minister agreed effect Assembly interested some we of the budget.
I have read the budget statement it contains all the same old clichés and parameters.

We seem to be in a rock in which we cannot extricate ourselves.

There is a light at we 8 features have been swamped by the negative aspects.

see an increase Press means there are once sectors which over-patronised.

We call these warps – they are warps in the budget structure these warps moves.

we have worn out $ those the security here we place.

they warp was debts 9 total budget.


18.5% were approximately We are friends on the opposite side wrong, for twenty one years therefore, progress never came.

Cde.

Speaker, when we look at the statistics for last year, the Government estimated at a budget - occasion like this expenditure of $80.5m on debt charges but our friends found $55.5m more to solve the debt, they found that, that had to be found in foreign currency and local currency.

$55.5m more they found from their grasp.


Security had estimated $180.9 m, Army Militia, National Service, Police $190.8m.

Our friends found $224.5m, $83.4m more they found somewhere.

10 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY spent conclude we Why went be was were Housing spent vote was they co-op development the other side, Cde.

Donald Ainsworth, was ousted from the Ministry of Education but I am sure that his ouster would not have resulted in such a large saving.

million.
million.

My 11 Something are the we saying that we should We will fuel.

be are They are available in of 12 pudding the are Mammoth waste What is going to happen we e e. squeeze more We e: 13 workers help these me a Memo from be me.

here.

Give a zero merely were estimated expected is 14 statement.
Speaker IMF as Ministry am hearing that was permit me 4643 of the 1986 Budget Speech: 15 1986-03-06 14:45-14:55 hrs “It was stated that within recent years there has been a growing tendency for the short-medium and long-term development needs of the Government to be met by short-term borrowings.
Thus, in an economic environment characterised by what appears to be a perennial disparity between expenditures and revenues, we have been borrowing in a manner which compounds the imbalance in the accounts of the Government.” He is actually saying that what he said in 1985 obtains so far for this year.

Cde.

Speaker, how can we borrow short-term expensive money to finance long-term projects.

Wages and salaries consumptions?

We are going to be in serious problems.


There is a big scramble for foreign currency.

We can see the desperation in the Government when they are taxing barrels.

Taxing barrels, taxing alms.

It is alms they are taxing.

Many Guyanese family make sure that they send at least one person away overseas so that they can send back barrels and remittances and the Government are taxing alms.

Guyana is like a gigantic alms house and the Government is the biggest beggar and the biggest mendicant.
We are saying that the Government should renegotiate the foreign debt.

The Government should pay 10 percent to overseas creditors.

We are not saying they must not pay.

Give them something, about five or ten per cent, the IMF included and renegotiate the local section of the debt, then produce more and export more.

We on this side are prepared to produce more.

You are lamenting the loss of the sugar market of 100,000 tons of sugar but if they have that market they do not have that amount of sugar.
They do not have the bauxite to recapture the bauxite market last December.

They do not have rice to recapture lost markets in the USA and the West Indies.

We are calling on them to also build up the tourist industry.

Why does Guyana not have a tourist industry?

16 from Canada.

Company.

The Minister went people like to say As and my colleagues Budget.

17 The Speaker: Cde.

Chandisingh.

The Vice President, National Mobilisation, and Deputy Prime Minister Cde.
Speaker, in his Budget Speech, the Minister of Finance Government’s prospects for 1986.
I would like to take this opportunity to compliment and commend him on his well- excellent [Applause] Finance economic and be seen progress these reserves the To dynamism of the maximum im actually contribute new resources purposive and part of and past we we must times service this matter another important factor in the equation, but we are concerned with development that 18 e certain such Minister of Finance, terms believe addresses appreciation thrust and world economic situation and economy.
lose 19 Of course the Jermiahs and ill-wishers in and outside of our country tend to see and to concentrate on only the short-comings and irritants and Cde.

Speaker, these see these do exist and on that basis, on that distorted and limited perspective, they tend to predict gloom and nothing but gloom.

There is however, Cde.

Speaker, no inevitability about these predictions, far from it.

Time and again our people’s efforts have proved them wrong.
So often, as we can all recall these Jermiahs and ill-wishers predicted our national doom, they have predicted it so often Cde.

Speaker that if these predictions had come to pass Guyana long ago would have been nothing but a wasteland but Cde.
Speaker, we have survived as a nation where with all the difficulties encountered, with all the irritants arising as we have seen in a name from a World Financial and Economic Order Guyanese of all walks of life, of all political and religious persuasions, of various cultural and ethnic origin work, play, live and worship in harmony and in a relaxed atmosphere in our land.

So the more, as a nation we have by no means gone down or gone under as some would have us to believe.
For Guyanese over the past twenty odd years have been imbued with the spirit and determination to meet challenges and to overcome them, to think for ourselves, to be self-reliant and innovative, to be self confident and this as my colleague the Minister of Finance has said already is attributable to the work of our late President and Founder Leader Cde.

L.F.S.

Burnham.

Cde.


Speaker, in the course of this debate my colleagues from the Government side of the House will illucidate and elaborate on some of the programmes envisaged for development.

I would like now however, Cde.


Speaker, to refer to certain aspects of the programme for the infusion of dynamism in so far as this relates to the involvement of people, for the further democratisation of our society, the mobilisation of our people’s minds and energies to control their lives and the agencies that affect their daily lives.

Mobilising and motivating our people for sustained and strenuous work that lies ahead to quote our President, Cde.

Hugh Desmond Hoyte.
Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

In this respect I would like to take as my starting point the reference to regionalisation on page 42 of the budget speech.

With your permission Cde.

Speaker I quote the two relevant paragraphs.


20 hrs “In an effort to strengthen the administrative capacity and heighten the efficiency of regional administrations, the Government embarked in 1985 on a reconfiguration of Central Ministries and Institutions, fully recognising that the deployment of skilled personnel to the ten administrative regions where projects are actually implemented was a key task.
This measure was informed by the fact that effective monitoring of programme implementation can be most meaningfully undertaken within the region.

During 1986 the regions will be given an increasing role in the management of their own affairs with the regionalisation of Health and Educational facilities.

This is in addition to their commitment to the maintenance of assets, particularly rehabilitation of Drainage and Irrigation schemes.” Cde.
the new was been expressed people peace see the Health, Development and Manpower.

Together with these, the previously regionalised bodies namely Guywa, programmes people have the first invaluable experience implementing programmes of relevance to local needs and aspirations.

democratic which the planning would completed year.

been the past be completed s have Principal 21 management and finance a cadets in the region.

Significant improvement have also improvement have region.
materialised in the field of professional staff such as Engineers and Senior Agricultural field of Engineers staff for both crops and livestock within the regions and with the regionalisation of the regions Ministries of Education and Health in particular more professional experts are being placed at the disposal of the Regional Democratic Council in order to improve the the to quality of the Regional Administrative and consequently the speed, quality, competence speed, and efficiency of the delivery of services to the people.
the people.

22 1986-03-06 es help arrangements are being seek co-operate es ed e addressed Session fiscal prudence, development and growth.
Development as a process efficiently de e development e e implementation e e new now requested and people and their interrelate their centres reason mu few will 23 the performance their localities, and con- their es, e the recommended es their least, recommended courses amelioration department Regional time-prints; Regional Chairman comprehensive the Management Committee which are 24 expected inform them are: discipline; the preservation the s development; the with which the remain The role remain items.
emphasis the Leader/President, e people e economic dynamism.

He while their attainment must new capitalise we v actively regional people more 25 intellectual society.
independent system seeks a dynamic relationship between our ideology and its inherent system of economic active energy efforts development on the one potential people and their promoting self-reliance and releasing their productive democratic framework for development taken continuing and stepped resources expect the coming period more development.

people alertness the Guyanese people.

They have growing in maturity wisdom.


they have Together we will stand up 26 1986-03-06 National Assembly 15:25 – 15:35 hrs 15:25 hrs The Speaker: Cde.

Ali.

Cde.

M. Ali: Cde.

Speaker, the privilege is ours to debate the speech which was presented in this August body on Friday 28th February, 1986.

Before I go on I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the hon.

Minister of Finance, Cde.

Carl Greenidge.

[Applause.]

Cde.


Speaker, in 1971, the Government announced a policy objective of self- sufficiency in food for Guyana so as to move away from being a traditional importer of food supply.

This was followed by the banning of a range of imported products where local products could serve as substitutes.

Cde.

Speaker, massive investment was put into the agricultural sector for increased production through the diversification of agriculture.

Since 1964 Cde.
Since 1964 Cde.

Speaker, when the Government assumed office many millions were spent towards agricultural development.

The General agricultural policy for the 1970-1979 period was concerned with achieving self- sufficiency in goods required for feeding and clothing the nation, increasing the volume of variety of export goods, establishing co-operative production systems in livestock, and creating greater employment opportunities.

Cde.
Cde.

Speaker, during the seventies the diversification of agriculture resulted in increased production and the introduction of cotton, corn and a number of other produce which replaced imported goods of similar types.

The seventies also saw an increase in the production of traditional export-crops such as rice and sugar.

The processing of a range of produce such as cotton and oil-palm also occurred.

Cde.
Cde.

Speaker, in an effort to increase production, incentive schemes were introduced for farmers who benefitted from duty-free importation of agricultural machinery, to loans and grants.

They also benefitted from the pest control units created to control and curb diseases that attacked seedlings and plants.

During this period, Cde.

Speaker, the Government spent millions of dollars on sea-defence, river defence, pumps, drainage and irrigation, roads, and training facilities.
Also many millions were allocated for developing more than 250,000 acres of farming areas such as Black Bush Polder, MMA and Tapacuma.

In dealing with research, Cde.

Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture conducted extensive research in livestock and various crops with a view to improving production methods and efficiency in the industry.

27 1986-03-06 15:25-15:35 hrs Between 1970 and 1979, Cde.
Speaker, many million were invested by the Central Government on drainage and irrigation and sea defence and river defences.

Most of the land which will benefit will be land used for agricultural development.

These include Tapacuma 57,000 acres, Black Bush Polder 50,000 acres, M.M.A.

150,000 acres, Boeraserie 11,000 acres, Vergenoegen/Bonasika 32,000 acres.

Cde.

Speaker, land is also being maximized through intensification of cultivation based on land improvement and improved husbandry practices.
Remarkable progress was made, Cde.

Speaker, in the intensification of paddy cultivation and other crops.

With respect to paddy the national average paddy yields increased during the seventies from ten bags per acre to twenty-two bags per acre involving about 300,000 acres of land.

In dealing with the target for 1985, Cde.


Speaker, the total acreage targeted for 1985 was 220,500 acres and the amount sown was 203,246 acres giving a yield of 4,096,398 – 140 lbs bags of paddy with an average of 21.6 bags per acre for the first and second crop.

In dealing with the target for 1986, Cde.

Speaker, it is expected that 244,220 acres of land will be put under cultivation and when harvested will produce a yield of 194,000 tons of rice.

From this Cde.
From this Cde.

Speaker, we note that there is an increase of 378,86 tons of rice as against the first and second crop of 1985.

28 1986-03-06 15:35 hrs National Assembly 15:35 – 15:45 hrs Cde.

Speaker, from this crop we saw an increase of 378,86 tons of rice from the 1985 first and second crops.

Highlighting on the 1986 first and second crops, the Government will spend millions of dollars on repairing dams, kokers, bridges, canals and sluices which will increase and assist in this crop.
Also, Nari-Guyana Libya Company and Guysuco will be coming together to produce a better seedling.

The Government of Guyana will be receiving from the G.D.R.

twelve combines which will help in the harvesting of rice.

Looking at the Budget Speech, page 31, it states: "The Rice Industry was restructuring during 1985 along the lines authorised by the 1984 Rice Bill and three new corporate entities were established with effect from August 1, 1985, viz.
– Guyana Rice Milling and Marketing Authority, Guyana Rice Export Board, and the National Paddy and Rice Grading Centre.

With the establishment of these entities, a great deal of work has been done on improving, revising, restructuring and establishing new systems in some cases, of the accounting, marketing, quality control, market information and domestic distribution systems."

A little bit on Guysuco.


Guysuco which remains our largest net earner of foreign exchange had a challenging and successful year.

Production increased marginally to 243,000 tons from 241,861 tons in 1984.

But more importantly, productivity registered a sharp increase and the yield of sugar per acre was the best since 1979.

Despite the fact that the world sugar price touched a new law, good progress was made in turning around the Corporation financially.
In 1985, the operating loss was reduced dramatically to $77,6M from $119.7M in 1983 and $102.2M in 1984.

Better productivity, increased efficiency and strict control of expenditure all helped in this achievement.

The central Government, Cde.

Speaker, believes in helping those who help themselves and it has therefore been decided to increase the Government's equity in Guysuco by $368.6 million thereby reducing the heavy interest burden which has tended to distort Guysuco's income and expenditure account.
Guysuco also believes that the home market must generate some part of the additional funds needed to equip and diversify the sugar industry and the Corporation is therefore authorizing an increase of 7 cents per pound in the local price of sugar with immediate effect.

This will leave the local price still well below prices in our sister Caricom states.

Cde.
Cde.

Speaker, 1986 will be a decisive year in Guysuco's continuing efforts to reshape, rationalise and diversify the sugar industry to meet circumstances as they exist today.

These circumstances are very different to what they were a decade ago.

In marketing, whereas in 1944 Guyana enjoyed a Commonwealth Sugar Agreement quota of 190,000 tons in the E.E.C.

and the sugar market in the U.S.A. has shrunk so drastically, our quota there has been reduced to a mere 18,000 tons.
This loss of 100,000 tons of sugar quota has completely changed the marketing outlook and had made it essential to tailor production more closely to what remains of our remunerative outlets.

29 1986-03-06 15:35 – 15:45 hrs Cde.

Speaker, hand in hand with the shrinking of our sugar quotas has gone a decline in the pool of labour available for planting and harvesting cane.
Mechanisation which the industry has been investigating and gradually introducing has not kept pace with the decline in available labour.
The declining market and the reduced labour force have led to a situation in which our country neither requires nor can service the acreage of cane and the factory capacity it required and could service a decade ago, and because field and factory capacity got out of line with the ability to service that capacity and the remunerative outlets for it, the industry has incurred substantial deficits in the last few years now.
Good progress has been made in analysing what needs to be done and a start made to implement the steps that are necessary.

Guysuco will be aiming to reshape the industry so that a smaller crop is harvested and processed during the best weather opportunity days and sold in markets subject to the least possible extent to the usually very depressed world sugar price.
At the same time, all unutilized and underutilized assets, all inefficient assets and all uneconomic assets will come under careful scrutiny as part of Guysuco's effort to complete the reversal of its financial fortunes.

It is perhaps fortunate that in the same period when market opportunities in sugar price have been shrinking, the opportunities to diversify both within and outside the industry have been multiplying.

Guysuco will be stepping up its diversification activities in 1986.
A pre-feasibility study for a project to generate energy from surplus bagasse has been completed and dairy operations at Rosehall and Uitvlugt are to be enlarged and a dairy farm is to be established on the coast.

Guysuco's activities in Aquaculture and in growing rice and legumes are being stepped up.

Work has also begun to find alternative uses for the large acreage which will have to be taken out of cane cultivation over the next two years.
The reshaping of the industry should have very little, if any, adverse implications for employment.

Even a reshaped and more tightly organised industry may well continue to be short of many skills by 1987/1988.

30 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 15:45 – 15:55 HRS (Cde.


M. Ally continues) It must be remembered with the many new will meet new together in the accomodate was the year e House performance of the economy exposed areas Minister of other members of the House to both congratulate the Honourable Minister on with Cde.

Speaker, debates have ensued causes for the development of societies.

hypotheses have been advanced.

How- Marxist system have been its primary development of societies.
development man, his ability to understand and resources human basic needs means knowledge, the the clothing, guide 31 theme was Cde.

Speaker, stated the constitution requires that this nation develops its capacity in a systematic study of nature and behaviour the material based Speaker, knowledge and Consequently however, in March been declared by his Excellency Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (deceased) on the 6th October, 1984.

Generally speaking Cde.


Speaker, both institutions have as their task, the removal of scourge of dependency which if allowed degree the which es e mass may IAST Cde.

Speaker, were institute.

some twenty digesters these digesters have been providing energy for the digester is used Cde.

Speaker, circulating that the the use of biogas digesters Cde.

Speaker, is that not only will it be able from digester driers 32 are necessary the use of ceramic House Cde.
Speaker is aware and perhaps is in possession of products which result from the experiment conducted by this institute and which is Vanceram.

33 1986-03-06 15:55 hrs 15:55 – 16:00 hrs National Assembly Other strains of production include production of floor tiles, sanitary ware, white body formulation which, according to some investigation, it was projected by an external source that the clay material we have in this country could not have been able to produce as a white body formulation.
That achievement came about as a result of the application of our knowledge through the I.A.S.T.

and we are now producing ceramic ware with a white body formulation.

We begin to produce two local glazes hitherto imported into this country.

In the field of mineral science we have done work in terms of utilizing the local seashells which will be used in the production of glass.

In addition, through the work of I.A.S.T.


two grades of optical polishing material have been produced and are currently being used by different agencies with a high degree of success.

In the field of natural products, we once boasted of the use of gloy imported from overseas.

As a result of the work of I.A.S.T., we are in a position to produce and are producing, our own adhesives from a number of sources one of which is fisheries, the other cassava.
The use of this adhesive, along with balata latex, is ideal for the production of cardboard cores and that is being used by SAPIL at the moment.

As a result of the work of I.A.S.T., we have been able to find a material which will be used as a replacement for imported foam which was used in the production of furniture.

It is a combination of balata latex and coconut fibre.

For the use of balata, too, the work of I.A.S.T.


is at such an advanced stage that we are in a position to produce soles for shoes from a combination of balata latex.

In addition to that, the I.A.S.T.

has been able to produce resin from balata, which is an important input in the production of paint and experimentation is going on.
They are currently using the products from the use of resin from balata introducing a corrosive paint and some of it has been used as … The other has been used for marking the traffic signs for road users.

If I may turn to the National Agricultural Research Institute, specifically the Institute is to plan, develop and implement research that is designed to produce technologies and systems required to achieve and maintain national self- sufficiency and export capacities in food and fibre.
The work of this Institute basically is to produce seed material which is relevant to the circumstances of this country.

In the production of rice, work is being done and is in an advanced stage of producing high quality seed.

The production of this type of seed will take into account the peculiarity of the environment, climate conditions and the need for efficient output.
Seed farms are involved in a production programme to provide sufficient quantities of these seed to contribute to the increased production of rice.

34 1986-03-06 15:55 – 16:00 hrs In the area of GUYSUCO production, work is being conducted by N.A.R.I.

in production of suitable livestock meal using products such as sorghum and soya.
In addition to the use of … plan to provide ourselves with edible oil, work is being done to produce soya in large quantities in order to be able to extract edible oil and the residue which results from the process will be used in the livestock industry as the meal for livestock.

If I may just project briefly – The Speaker: You will have to return after 4 o'clock to project that.

It is now 4 o'clock and we will take the suspension until 4:30.

Sitting suspended at 16:00 hrs.


35 1986-03-06 16:30 hrs On resumption – 16:30 – 16:35 hrs The Speaker: Cde.

Bovell-Drakes, five minutes more.

Cde.

Bovell-Drakes: Thank you very much, Cde.

Speaker.

I was trying to give projections for 1986.

In 1986 the I.A.S.T.

will be working on the production of cassava starch to replace imported starch for the use of the textile mills.

They will be conducting work on the production of indigenous flours.
This will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, N.A.R.I.

and current users of indigenous flours.

They will improve ceramic body preparation to the level at which a plant preparing raw materials from the ceramic industry, both domestically and in CARICOM can be developed.

They will develop capability in the further use of balata.

These are just two of the important projections for I.A.S.T.

For N.A.R.I.
For N.A.R.I.

there will be conducted work to generate and test technology of eleven primary and secondary groups of crops of economic importance to supply the domestic market as well as the export market – rice, coconuts, corn, sorghum, peanuts being included.

In animal husbandry, there will be work to intensify research into beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats, hog and poultry production which will contribute substantially to the feeding programme of this country.
In terms of genetic resources and technology control N.A.R.I.

will do work to collect, introduce and produce new cultivars, enrich the gene pool of each of these species and develop resistance to pests and diseases as well as ensure that they are responsive to the environmental conditions of this country.

I think the foregoing stimulates interest of all in this Assembly in the work of I.A.S.T.

and N.A.R.I.
and N.A.R.I.

Suffice it to say that all that has been said earlier only represents the beginning of a process of recognizing …… and using resources for the benefit of the people of this country.

Both Institutions expect to deepen the level of their contributions to the fulfilment of article 14 of the Constitution and to avail ourselves of opportunities for the full use of our capabilities.
The year 1986, with its budgetary theme "Conservation for Growth and Development" must give further inputs to this drive.

One is assured of the unconditional support of this Assembly for the work now being developed by these two institutions.

The work of the scientists of these two institutions gives credence to the observation of the Minister of Finance on page 2 of the Budget Speeches.
"There can be no doubt that the greatest and most important virtue instilled in this nation by our Founder Leader is the attainment of self- confidence.

A capacity to face our task secure in the knowledge that as a nation we are equal to any task."

I think the I.A.S.T.

[Applause] The Speaker: Cde.

Bovell-Drakes, I think your time is up.

Cde.

Ferose Mohamed.

36 1986-03-06 National Assembly 16:35 – 16:45 hrs 16:35 hrs (Cde.

Feroze Mohamed) Cde.


Speaker, it is my opinion that the Budget Speech does not exude confidence and optimism in the future as I had expected.

In fact, I think the speech is more reflective of the general negativism and feelings of pessimism already permeate the entire country.

The presentation by the Cde.

Minister of Finance cannot inspire people in our country today nor give hope.
the Minister spoke about the silver lining but in my opinion that silver lining is not in the distant future, and indeed it is obscured by economic dark clouds which will grow darker.

The speech promises continuing difficulties, and prospects for allocation are not bright.

The speech offers a bleak period ahead.

The Cde.

Minister of Finance also referred extensively to the proposals and ideas contained in the 1985 Budget Speech.

No doubt this is to show continuity between this year and last year.
I too looked at the 1985 Budget Speech and I was surprised to find that in certain areas there are certain major differences between the 1985 and 1986 Budget Speech.

In a one year span two Budget Speeches were delivered in this Assembly by the same Minister, belonging to the very Government, but it appears in a certain sense that the speeches were coming from two different Governments.
There is some degree of inconsistency and I would venture that there would be some areas of political opportunism expressed.

In 1985, the Budget Speech was replete with notions of socialism, socialist orientations, social thrust and the Cde.

Minister even launched into a broad-side of strong critique of bourgeois individualism nurtured within the education system.

This is 1986 and they seem to be back-pedalling.


There was simply one passing remark to the question of socialism in the beginning, and that remark was left hanging unsupported, by the teller and thrust of the emphasis of 1986 Budget Speech.

In this speech the Government seems to be more interested and more concerned in the state of relations with the multilateral financial institutions.
Now they seem to be more concerned with the involvement of the foreign/private agencies in our economy, more involved in the reduction of the State sector.

It seems to be clear, that the suggestion of a change in direction is in the making.

If this is correct and the course is about to be changed then we warn once again that there are many pitfalls in a changed course.

Such a course in the long run can jeopardize political and economic independence.
In the Budget Speech it was calculated that certain measures were needed to lift ……… But at the same time whilst experimenting with these measures simultaneously, perhaps unwittingly, you may also be opening the doors to neo-colonialism.

The conditions exist for us to be ensnared within the neocolonialist grasp.

There is economic instability and decline.

The Government has created an invidious climate for themselves.
The Government is undemocratic, unpopular, the composition Constitution 37 1986-03-06 16:35 – 16:45 hrs of the Government itself and the composition of the Government all of these factors create the base whereby if we are not careful then we can be entrapped in the grips of the powerful imperialists, controlled financial institutions and relations with which we have been so worried and concerned about at this moment.
If that happens then we are fearful that we will be setting out on a path which eventually will lead to policies becoming increasingly opportunistic and even pre-imperialist and even reactionary.

On page two of the Budget Speech the Minister said and I quote: "Today some 77.2 percent of school aged youths is enrolled in schools.

Similarly, adult literacy has been sustained at over 90 percent in recent years."

Personally I do not see that as something for them to pat themselves on their backs about.
My own interpretation is that 32.6 percent of our school-aged youths are not enrolled at this moment.

That figure to my mind is alarming especially since over the years the Government has always projected themselves as being so extremely concerned about education and education was said to be a gem in their crowd.

In this age and in the times we live I would say something ought to be done to ensure that all our school-aged youths should be enrolled in school.
However, such statistics by themselves does not offer a clear picture on the real situation that exists in our school.

We have to take into account other factors.

One factor I wish to draw attention to is the drop-out rate.

In recent years it has become a phenomenon and the possibility are at this moment that this would escalate in the coming period.

Apart from the drop-out rate there is absenteeism.

Here too the proportion is reaching an alarming stage.
Drop out and absenteeism are no doubt the consequences of the deteriorating economic situation in many families, families who can ill afford the cost of education.

Drop outs and absenteeism too no doubt are consequences of the absence or deterioration of school related facilities.

38 quality problems abuse, we problem.

The given.


perferring too expensive and burdensome, preferring system; the perennial adequate we place we rate realise blame running 39 What major problems that staff Caribbean shortage matter.

not 40 problem, there the prevent intellectuals their development.
system Gazette What is wrong with the M We who education system we are unable es, teachers year we come here problem s more become areas supply e duress are to perform When you admittance 41 tension, In the question of effects dimension.

this problem have been really inadequate raised harassment raised over shortage transportation alike.

the meals activities will serious adverse irreparably crisis creating another.

must will benefit these the We so crucial to all-round welfare.
transportation have the 42 1986-03-06 16:55 – 17:05 hrs had to come back to Port Georgetown because it developed problems mid ocean.

Times like these, with the difficulties reaching the levels they are, they offer the greatest criticism of this Government's shortsightedness when they decided to discontinue and dismantle the rail transport system and at the same time to do away with private buses in this country.
The budget speech says the Government proposes to permit more privately owned cars and minibuses now that the G.T.S.L.

has failed hopelessly to alleviate the problems of transportation but I wonder whether it is the solution or it is any solution.

If you cannot find fuel, you cannot get as the Prime Minister earlier said the things to run the vehicles why bring them into the country in the first place.
I am afraid that that is not the answer and I do not think the Government or the Minister really paid much attention to how to solve this transportation problem.

One cannot speak of education without looking at the accommodation available for those who will have to enjoy the benefits of education and go to school.

Often and over years, it has been raised in this House about the physical problems and the physical conditions that exist throughout the country.
We cannot live now that nothing was done to resolve these problems.

Schools are in a state of disrepair, many schools do not have proper water supply, sanitary facilities for many do not exist.

Toilets do not exist.

There is the perpetual shortage of furniture.

Some schools are in an extremely bad shape, namely for example, Graham Hall Primary and the Richmond Hill Primary in Leguan.

Now in these conditions we understand that regions will take over the education system.
I want to feel that the regions at the moment are less equipped, ill- equipped and unprepared to take on the responsibilities of education.

True, many regions have been doing this before and inspite of the fact that regions have been taking on this responsibility, I cannot say that much was accomplished in bettering the physical conditions of many schools.

The Speaker: Cde.

Mohamed, how long more do you want?

Cde.

Mohamed: Two minutes more.


The regions can only perform if it can get the support of the people.

Unfortunately the problem of this Government is it does not have people and therefore, from that aspect, the undemocratic character of the regions today, I am sure they will not be able to perform their duties properly and fully and I do not think that they will be able to better the conditions or take on the responsibility of education.
There are many programmes, subject areas that have been introduced over 43 recent years in the education curriculum.

Agricultural education, community high school programmes, career guidance, work study, industrial arts programme, adult education, science education.

There are many a sad commentary one can make on each one of those subject areas or programmes.

They are not doing well.

Much of the experiments around them have failed.


Government is unable to sustain these programmes and I think the time has come for us to have another look and to begin seriously at this moment to think about in a realistic way an education reform for Guyana and finally Cde.

Speaker, I want to take the opportunity of just making and emphasising the point made by the first speaker on this side Cde.
Collymore about the housing problem and say as he did that it was rather significant that no mention was made about this question.

44 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY was rather mention was made this question.

Rents today are soaring, consuming between 30 and 40 per Development we we when we these the coming year, Statement presented Minister will show measure s problem The Speaker: course be with why there is a problem.
me the The Vice President, Education and Social Development and Deputy Prime Minister Speaker, address my mind to my presentation have gone before others imaginative presentation of the Finance.

make my the last speaker they seem wax warm and wonder whether crises and exacerbating difficulties that are understandable.

make mention of the we were make some change in direction.

I am wondering why recognise that he was right in the first place.
I would also want to say that to speak those remarks to the People’s National one’s head the realise the Caribbean merely indicates world where citizens of poorer anniversary 45 1986-03-06 17:05 – 17:15 hrs of Free Education and the twentieth of Independence, Fortune has dictated that I should speak for the first time in this Assembly in defence of the investment our Government has made in the area of human resource development and training, which the Minister of Finance spoke about.
I looked for guidance to bestir my mind in the wee hours of this morning when I was preparing my presentation and it came sure enough.

It came in the form of a statement made at the Third Session of the First Supreme Congress of the People in December 1984.

It reads thus: "One of the most important, if not the most important of supporting services in our thrust forward, is Education.
A significant percentage of the national budget is expended on Education and in spite of the well-known financial and economic problems the Government has not resiled from its commitment to free education from nursery to university.

The important role of teachers has been recognised in several ways, including a special salary adjustment upward in 1982.

But one may ask whether the nation is getting its money's worth.

Is the whole system sensitive to and sufficiently supportive of the national thrust?"
Let us delete the phrase "in our thrust forward" and replace it by "in moving our nation forward," the words of our President Cde.

Desmond Hoyte, and let us similarly delete "1982" and replace it by "1985" and I submit it would be completely relevant and valid today.

Further, I venture to say, without any claim to clairvoyance, that if we delete "in spite of the well-known financial and economic problems," it would be equally relevant and valid ten years from now.
Such is the profundity and the timelessness of that statement that it needs no accreditation, yet I am sure that all in this Assembly must realise that the statement was made by our Founder/Leader the late President and I submit it in all humility as my guide.

Cde.

Speaker, the relationship between Education and the development of any nation is fundamental; and it is vital both in the horizontal and vertical integration of our total developmental effort.

No investment in it, therefore, can be too much.


We and, I am sure my friends across the floor, will be ad idem on the inadequacy of the funds made available this year, but our circumstances force upon us the understanding they deserve.
My task, therefore, is to ensure that the anticipated performance of the central Ministry and its regional institutions in the context of this national budget reflects our ability to effect development within our means and to produce qualitative and quantitative returns upon our investments.

It is to our credit that compared with the sum of $11.7 million spent on Education in 1964 when the People's National Congress Government came into office, the amount expected to be spent this year is $165.9 million.
[Applause] And, as the Ministry of Finance reported, in 1965 65 out of every 100 children were attending school and today 77 out of 100 attend school, a difference amounting to some 90,000 children.

That cannot be wished away.
In 1976 Government assumed full responsibility for and control of education and every citizen now enjoys the constitutional right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training but, by virtue of this right, that citizen also has to develop within him the responsibility for making a contribution to the 46 1986-03-06 17:05 – 17:15 hrs economic, social and cultural advancement of this country's socialist thrust – I repeat "socialist thrust" considering that our Member of the Minority Party is still afraid that we have to use the word "now" – commensurate with the level of knowledge, skills and ideological orientation he has acquired.
The tasks are clearly envisaged in a programme of educational reforms which emphasise: 1.

2.

3.

4. improvement at the teacher education level.

improvement in administrative and supervisory skills.

strengthening of institutions at all levels in the educational system and innovations in curriculum development processes.

Cde.
Cde.

Speaker, with regard to the reorganisation of the teacher education system, there is need to remind this Assembly that three years ago all teacher education facilities in Georgetown, namely, the Lilian Dewar College, the Cyril Potter College, the In-Service Teacher-Training Programme and the Nursery Education Programme, were moved to the Turkeyen Teacher Education Complex in order to rationalise and maximise scarce professional, material and financial resources.
47 1986-03-06 17:15 hrs National Assembly 17:15 – 17:25 hrs During 1985 this process of rationalisation was taken a step further by the integration of the four teacher education programmes under one central administration.

The resulting economic benefit has been a saving in administrative overhead expenses and the optimalisation of the use of lectures across all programme offerings.
From this reorganisation there is expected to emerge also relative standardisation of criteria for selection of student teachers and certification of trained teachers.

All student-teachers will now spend between forty and sixty percent of each week actually teaching in schools under the supervision of trained and experienced co- operating teachers.

It is intended that through the use of co-operating teachers the systemic link between school and training institution will be maintained and developed.
Greater involvement of the Faculty of Education in the University of Guyana in the field of teacher training is also being promoted.

In its attempt to provide equitable, if not equal, opportunities for all, the Ministry has embarked upon and will continue its programme of upgrading courses for Hinterland and Coastland teachers which is unique in many ways.
It is vocational and residential, and conducted in three phases spanning a one-year period and involved distance learning and Micro-Teaching materials and techniques.

At the end of the last phase teachers will write examinations, success at which, will make them eligible for entry into the formal teacher education programme.

The course instructors comprise tutors from the existing teacher education institutions, competent practising teachers and nominees of the Guyana Teachers Union.
With regard to the improvement in administrative and supervisory skills the major emphases this year will be in the area of strengthening regional capabilities by providing specialised professional assistance to Regional Education Officers and their staffs and by upgrading the quality of supervision in schools.

Cde.

Speaker, I would wish to digress at this point to remind the Assembly of the initiative taken in June 1982 to implement the policy of Regionalism with respect to the delivery of education.
Decentralism or Regionalism and the delegation of central authority as conceptualized serves to bring about improvement in the administration and supervision of schools taking that authority, as it does, closer to those to whom education is being delivered and thereby promoting greater local involvement and support.

To effect the regionalization of education, the Ministry's personnel structure has had to be re- organised as officers were needed to operate the new regional structures.
Some such arrangements have proved beneficial to the system as some officers returned to districts from which they came; others broke down with the registration of officers unable or unwilling to be relocated.

In most cases, however, the response by Regional Democratic Councils has been heartening as members continue to work in close collaboration and in harmony with the Ministries representatives in the delivery of education.
48 1986-03-06 17:15 – 17:25 hrs The key role in maintaining the parity of educational services in the ten regions of Guyana is that of the Regional Education Officer, the District Education Officer or Supervisor, the School's Welfare Officer and, of course, the School Administration.

These are, as it were, the middle level managers and advisors who turn policy into practice, convert plans into action programmes and evaluate the impact of those programmes.
The ministry is only too well aware of some cases, some of lack of relevant skills, others of inefficiency, incompetence and derogation of duty, and for this reason improvement in the system and quality of middle-level administration and supervision is being emphasised.
Some Regional Chairman have already urged consideration of the matter of shifting of responsibility for various types of decisions and actions from the centre to the region and from upper to lower levels of personnel, and for the determination of educational policy based upon the peculiar needs of individual regions.

Some of these responsibilities have already been shifted and discussions are continuing with respect to others now being carried out by the Teaching Service Commission.
In the meantime existing reporting and monitoring mechanisms are being reviewed with the intention of making them more supportive and evaluative.
With this in mind also and using the model of business management, the Ministry is working towards the introduction of a school inspectorate manned by a team of educational quality-controllers at all levels of the learning-teaching process, capable of examining and analysing the "product" which may be reports, books, behaviours and physical facilities, and recommending appropriate remedial or disciplinary measures.
This innovation will be implemented within well-defined administrative structures that will facilitate optimal-co- ordination of efforts.

The strengthening of institutions in the educational system must of necessity involve the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of the physical environment in which children learn – With the expansion of the schools in the Georgetown area, the Regional Administration is responsible for the construction and rehabilitation of school buildings.
In spite of this however, the Ministry of Education still holds overall responsibility for the quality and efficiency of the education system throughout the country.

Because of this it must ensure that the physical facilities in which learning takes place must conform to a certain specified standards.

It is, therefore, necessary for the Ministry to monitor, on an on-going basis, the condition of school buildings throughout the country.
49 1986-03-06 17:15 – 17:25 hrs Positive steps have been taken to establish a unit capable of effectively grappling with this problem of maintenance and rehabilitation of the one hundred and twenty-five schools in Georgetown.

Staff with relevant expertise has been recruited for the first time to carry out tasks related to inspection, preparation of quantity of surveys and related work programmes.

This unit will also be expected to render assistance to and monitor the work of the Regions.
With regard to the School Furniture Programme, the Ministry in its endeavour to improve school facilities has also embarked on a programme for providing adequate furniture to schools.

This programme which is organised by the Pre- Vocational Education Unit involves Practical Instruction Centres and those Community High Schools which specialise in Industrial Arts.

Out of school youth also participate after normal school hours and at weekends.

They receive a small stipend.


The first batch of contracts has been given out for the construction of over a thousand sets of furniture.

Inherent in the import of this programme is a socialization function whereby appropriate habits of self-reliance are developed in students enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge in practical and businesslike situations and to generate funds at the same time.

50 (Cde.
50 (Cde.

Burnham continues) reduced programme is be come development bright education system, change renewal, expansion and revision.

average change.

educators grapple bringing with the and task race against present shortage resource demands that careful attention be given to defining objectives, identifying priorities, setting targets and adopting strategies to achieve these.
and mechanisms must improved change must be fundamental, the Ministry will embark Vertical Integration improve the education integration namely, level developmental needs those equip them the programmes them to cope, preparatory possible Similarly, pupils programmes and the unfamiliar environment.
51 Establishment of Local Subject Committees among of English grammar was given regular regard, implement 52 that get graduate envisaged that improve English primary emphasis as we depend Everyone must would measures reading weak reader.

developing experiences.

being difficulties values.

we meet the demands 53 1986-03-06 17:15 – 17:25 hrs schools have been renowned are to be congratulated.
So, too, the teachers who, in the face of difficulties not of their making, have redoubled their efforts to deliver the best possible services to those in their care.

Let me not be unmindful, however, of those students who might not have shone academically but who have attained excellence in service to their school and in their concern for their fellow students.
But as we contemplate, however briefly here, the subject of excellence let us be cautious and aware of the danger of an educational system which is evaluated by examination alone, and of a concept of excellence based on the single criterion of successful examination performance and accumulation of high marks, of "As" or of "grade 1s."

That is merely to aid and abet, unfortunately, the "cram shops" that are so unfortunately prevalent in our schools today.
We would encourage our teachers to strive rather to present to their students various criteria of excellence, and models of excellence they can conceptualise by which they may learn to judge themselves as they pace each other in pursuit of excellence the actual attainment of which may elude many a capable young person.

54 1986-03-06 17:35 hrs (Cde.


V. Burnham continues) National Assembly 17:35 – 17:45 hrs In valiant pursuit of all forms of excellence the Ministry of Education in its programme for 1986 will among its special initiatives continue to broaden school curricula to cater for a wider range of interests, attitudes and needs.

My colleague Cde.
My colleague Cde.

Bernard, Minister within the Ministry of Education will be dealing with these little later on, but I wish to make a brief mention of just three of these because of their peculiar significance.

These are the establishment of the President's College for children of exceptional ability, the St. Barnabas Special School for slow learners, the promotion of Equal opportunities for girls and women in Technical and Vocational Education.
The President's College is an expression of our Government's concern that children should receive the type of education best suited to their abilities.

Gifted children are special children and as such they are deserving of special services, as are our handicapped children who are also special, but in a different way.
The services to the former, however, are intended to assure academic and technical preparation for leadership roles as well as the development of a high degree of socialist consciousness and behaviour.

When we shall have provided ourselves with the means of delivering education of the best possible kind to all our children, there is no doubt that higher percentages will achieve excellence and more institutions will have to be found to provide the services for which these students will have qualified.
Because of social environment, psychological and in some cases physical factors, some students cannot cope with the pace of the normal programmes.

Inevitably, they experience continued failure, frustration and disappointment, and either drop out of school or join the ranks of the unemployed or the street sellers or simply drift through school until it is time to leave.
This project is an attempt to reserve this pattern and give the students an opportunity to experience success, to learn at their own rate, improve their self-concept and make school life attractive and meaningful, by providing stimulating activities and working in small groups.

Each child is treated as an individual and works at his own pace.

He can measure his success as he goes along.

He does not have to compete, neither does he have to work under the strain of an examination.
At the end of the three- year course, some will be able to re-enter the normal stream of the Secondary school to write external examinations, while others will pursue studies at vocational centres.

The rest will be assisted to gain meaningful employment, including self-employment.

This school like the President's College is the first of its kind, and, it is hoped that, depending on its success, more schools of this kind will be established in the other regions of Guyana.
Promotion of Equal Opportunities for Girls and Woman in Technical and Vocational Education – The provision of free education from nursery to university level was aimed directly at increasing the accessibility to education regardless of sex, ethnic origin and socio-economic circumstances in order to eradicate all barriers to equality of educational opportunities.
55 1986-03-06 17:35 – 17:45 hrs However, an appraisal of the education system of 1982 and a survey in 1985 revealed that although no major barriers exist to deter women's entry into technical education and training, there is evidence of oblique, subtle and covert ways through which stereo-typing limits the education and status of women in Guyana.
The majority of girls still tend to choose female-dominated electives even though they are exposed to the identical curricula as boys in the first three years of secondary school education.

In an attempt to remove these barriers the Ministry of Education with the assistance of UNESCO has introduced a pilot project an Affirmative Action programme in two secondary schools (North Ruimveldt Secondary and Lodge Community High School).
The major objectives of this pilot project are: To expand and improve educational programmes and activities in pre-vocational education and career education in two secondary schools To heighten parents', teachers' and students' awareness of those subtle barriers covert and overt, which limit girls' expectations, aspirations, choices and behaviours To sharpen students' awareness of career possibilities and existing conditions in technical and vocational occupations.
To convince parents, teachers and employers of the need for changing attitudes towards girls' participation in non-traditional education and training To help girls to discover their talent (if any), aptitudes and interest in technical and vocational education No presentation on the delivery of education opportunity to all can be completed without mention of community participation.
In this regard, the Ministry and all its outreach agencies will be making a determined effort to increase the level of such participation in the education system.

With the introduction of the system of regionalisation, as has been mentioned, some of the responsibility for making decisions that affect the functioning of the school system has already passed to the Regional Authorities.
As a consequence, communities and more especially the parents in families now have a greater opportunity to determine the quality of education offered in their schools.

The level of involvement of the parents and other members of the community in the provision maintenance and development of the facilities of the school, and in the protection of these facilities in bound to make an impact on the type of service the school renders to the community.
It follows, therefore, that the school, the family and the community must work closely together to achieve their common objectives, among which must be an improvement in the quality of life in that community by virtue of the output of knowledge and skills by the school into the community.

The Speaker: Cde.

Burnham, just a minute.

If you are to continue, would someone kindly move an extension.

Cde.

Thomas: Cde.

Speaker, I wish to move that the Cde.

Vice President be allowed to complete her address.


The Speaker: Is it agreed that an extension of fifteen minutes be given to Cde.

Burnham?

56 1986-03-06 17:35 – 17:45 hrs Comrades and honourable members answered in the affirmative Cde.
Burnham: As the Government of the people plan and initiate change in the interest of the people, it behooves that same people in all the families, the neighbourhood and other social groups, the workers' groups and the Party groups to understand the nature of the collective and co-operative effort that they must continue to make so that there is evident consistency in the expectations they have for the child, in the rewards given and the punishments meted out to the child in whatever group he finds himself.
For, all of these groups, not only families and schools contribute to the development of children's knowledge skills, values and behaviors.

In pursuance of our important socialist thrust, no group can be closed shop, each is a dynamic part of the whole society.

The Soviet Educator, Anton Semyonovich Makarenko in his book on education in the USSR puts most expressively the relation of the family to the total society.
He says: "Our family is an organic part of Soviet society, and every attempt it makes to build up its own experience independently of the moral demands of society is bound to result in a disproportion, discordant as an alarm bell.

Our parents are not without authority either, but this authority is only the reflection of social authority.

57 continues remarks Assembly as well who spread the face burdens, attendant commitment Many feelings 58 The Speaker: Cde.

Prashad.

The Minister of Transport (Cde.


Prashad): like Minister position expenditure of Government as envisaged for the experienced e e commitment schemes, adequate fare Parliament the drew attention e e e these services, e these services would need these efforts, sectors wages e e new equipment and spare generous level.

improvement review.

the these measures have combined the enchancement of service has remains e progress has been made toward achieving these es has been acceleration years ahead.
The main improve the services e encourage with There fleet them the attended moderate due systems medium-size 59 service, because experimental stage, to be fare, the fares e congestion hours.

the The company establishment entire The Emergency repairs were e was 60 the fleet however, are being made commence a study for the ferry services.

Whilst the ferry services e s. concern these services; but the appropriate authorities have am satisfied that these vessels have the safety regulations.
I recognise that these vessels are terms of speed present would wish to say a little more on the maritime administration and on the role of the private operator provision services when later on, I deal with the plans commissioned into service be used farmers produce have not been confined 4 new were e were cost Waini, Pomeroon, Essequibo and Demerara Rivers.
The improvement works the Timheri have been deployed and members Development have been we improve connection, we also secured two modern fire fighting standby generator has been procured electricity there.

Department also completed the region position improvement will immense 61 Lethem runway enables Corporation say, the industries located in this area regard this facility service of some per Needless long-felt need.
Domestically, one Twin and was therefore number of services the communities limited Some communities, especially in the Mazaruni, where the airfields are restricted length were dependent services operators.

estimated the Guyana Airways Corporation carried per cent of the available traffic whilst the balance was lifted by private operators.
The trend in recent years has been for private operators to growing share of the Ministry has favourably responded their representations for the importation of replacement aircraft since these were brought in at the owner’s expense and again at no Foreign Exchange Internationally, carried some the traffic to destinations in South America, the Caribbean and the United States.

long haul to cities like New York, Toronto and London.
London, passengers by the airlines serving Guyana year this senses, the level of service was lower than in years.

reduced airlines now passengers, limited baggage capacity has delays in the receipt of those items.

the year, however, Government has acquired a new TU-154M owned operations.

Guyanese crews have been trained and will eventually direct to New York, route.

service who use this route.

long fuel efficient and its purchase the terms of its purchase were very favourable.
This will result Foreign Exchange be spent on the lease of the existing aircraft.

62 1986-03-06 hrs 17:55 – 18:05 As we are on the subject of Foreign Currency Savings in air transport, I must mention the effects of the Sale of Travel Tickets Act, 1985 which came into effect on November of last year.

Members will recall that its main purpose was to compel persons not ordinarily resident in Guyana to purchase airline tickets for travel overseas in Foreign Currency.
The Act is expected inter alia to curb the practice indulged in by many Guyanese residents overseas of purchasing their airline tickets in Guyana rather than in the country of their normal residence.

During the four months since the introduction of the Act, the airlines and travel agencies in Guyana collected approximately US$70,000.

But as I mentioned, even further savings should accrue to the economy through a greater number of persons purchasing return tickets from abroad.
From our examination of the debts, we estimate that the annual foreign currency savings from the measure will be approximately $US500,000.

63 1986-03-06 18:05 hrs (Cde.


Seeram Prashad continues) National Assembly 18:05 – 18:15 hrs In keeping with the Government's policies of encouraging the private and co- operative sectors to play a greater role in providing economic goods and services, operators in these two sectors are being offered the opportunity to expand their activities in the area of bus transport services.
The policy of licensing mini buses has been successfully followed over the past three years and these vehicles are the most rapidly growing segment in public transport reflecting the popularity of this type of vehicle with the traveling public.

In the main, these vehicles have been imported into the country at the expense of private individuals and without the provision of any foreign exchange expenditure by the Central Bank.
The initiative taken by the private sector demonstrates a willingness to be creatively involved in the solution of problems and the ability of this sector, to mobilise funds and invest in areas that offer a reasonable return on investment.

One of the characteristics of road transport operations is that entry conditions are not very restrictive and it requires a relatively small amount of capital for an individual to commence business.
For this reason, these operations have always been an attractive field of investment for the private individual and small co-operatives.

To the extent that we can encourage this form of enterprise in Guyana, we will be promoting selfhelp and self-employment and will also be freeing the resources of the state for investment in more complex undertakings.

The Government's commitment to a viable state transport enterprise still remains.

In order that G.T.S.L.


may fulfill this role, however, there is need for some restructuring of that Company and that process which was started last year is continuing.

The Company will have to ensure year is continuing.

The Company will have to ensure that the resources invested in it are better managed and in common with other state enterprises, it has been charged to eliminate the deficit on its operations.
Some of the problems experienced by the Company were due to the inability to secure financing for the regular and adequate supply were due to the inability to secure financing for the regular and adequate supply of spares which had to be imported.
It is intended to correct this situation by maintaining the fleet at a level consistent with the state's inability to procure these essential inputs in the light of its other pressing priorities.________ ______________________________________________________________ Later in 1986 it is expected that the fleet will be augmented by 100 new buses.
In water transport, our efforts will be directed during 1986 at strengthening the maritime administration with a view to being able to implement policies and plans more effectively.

Undoubtedly, there are certain weaknesses which have to be corrected if we are to develop a really efficient maritime sector.

The training of more professionals in this field is one of the priority tasks for 1986 and the years immediately ahead.
We have an undesirable situation where too many of the trained or experienced personnel have to be retained beyond the age of retirement because of the lack of qualified junior officers who could be used as replacements.

This situation may have arisen from historic reasons such as inappropriate salary structure and the greater attraction of positions outside of T.&H.D.

64 1986-03-06 18:05 – 18:15 hrs Nevertheless, it is a weakness which has to be corrected without further delay.
The second area for attention is the separation of the operating and regulatory functions of the department.

The rationale for this is simple.

At present, the department performs dual functions; it operates shipping services but it also administers the laws governing the operation of such services.

In the best of worlds, it would be difficult to reconcile the two roles.
65 1986-03-06 18:05 – 18:15 hrs Where, as in the present case, there are numerous constraints on operations, the tendency will be to concentrate on operations to the neglect of the regulatory administration.

The law under which T. & H.D.

was established and still operates may need to be revised.

A new maritime code has been drafted and is now with the law office.

Hopefully, it might be enacted this year.


It envisages the establishment of a Maritime Administration and the regulatory functions now being carried out by T. & H.D.

will be vested in that Administration.

With the separation of these the Department will services.

Active one given services be responsible the development of the ports dredging.

projects the year are the ferry services the the the the vessels; the rehabilitation Wakenaam stelling.
The thereas services the remains the Nevertheless, there few we propose year: stricter expenditure a modest order to areas the department lounge baggages for which purpose a baggage conveyor soon be installed at a G$550,000; 66 1986-03-06 18:05 – 18:15 hrs installation of a new well at Timehri to ensure the continuous the commencement new development of the consideration efficient sector, exception played when the They have taken into to make private services.

maintained 1970’s expended.


them goal manageable we lose sight smaller be a size 67 Cde.

Seeram Prashad What we attempting the the three to let enterprise, initiative determine respective market shares.

The incentive sectors to efficient.

It establishment two the Phase two assist the be the the passengers The journey Speaker, ECU$12.2M.

the 68 1986-03-06 18:15 – 18:25 hrs The Speaker: Mr. Abraham.
Mr. M. A. Abraham: Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note that the budget presentation of 1986 brings on optimism, but does this optimism exist in the homes of the Guyanese housewives.

Mr. Speaker, especially for those housewives in the North West area where it is difficult to come by a cake of soap, where it is so difficult to come by a file, a file that you use for farming, for sharpening your cutlass.

I understand that St. Ignatius in the Rupununi you can get a six inch file for $56.50.
Mr. Speaker, that is not surprising.

There is a little store down in Regent Street where you can get that same file for $48.50.

When farmers and housewives are faced with such a situation Sir, one wonders where is this optimism that the budget speaks about.

What about those fellows out there?

I passed earlier today and there were about two miles on either side, two miles coming, two miles going of cars lined up there for fuel.

Some of them were there all night last night.


Mr. Speaker, when I left Lethem yesterday there were about three hundred people waiting to be brought out of Lethem to Georgetown, mostly hucksters.

The Minister of Transport would know that for the past four or five days the aircraft was laid up for maintenance and we hope that very soon that bottle neck at Lethem would be ….
I would like to ask Sir, whether it is possible for the Tupolev that the Minister so proudly spoke about could not at least fortnightly service be given to Lethem, with such a brand new airstrip there.
I think we should give it a try and so help those Guyanese people, those hucksters, sometimes we tend to call them the bloodsuckers of Guyanese but they have been performing for the past years though we admit that the price of the things that they bring into the country are very exorbitant, but nevertheless they have been providing drugs that could not come in normally and there is great complaint.
Quite a lot of people have come to me and said Abraham what is the position here, we have been here laid up in Lethem for fourteen days, fifteen days, we cannot come out.

We have seen people come in two days ago and three days and they have gotten on the flight and we cannot get on.

Mr. Speaker, surely something could be wrong with the GAC personnel in Lethem where people are complaining and cannot get to come out and yet 69 someone is given that opportunity.
The Speaker: Mr. Abraham, want we are dealing with the will deal with now.

When the time comes we Mr. Abraham: appreciate correction.

We are talking especially that system speak Shea.

that road is a night mare.

I would like to know whether Government intends to do any work on that road.

The bridges, those bridges are in a terrible state of dis- repair.

There is a very rough creek which could be a danger to life and limb.

A creek about six or seven miles down at Aishalton.
It would be very very good if Government could concentrate and spend some more money on fixing a good and decent bridge across that creek.

Cde.

M. Stephens over there will tell you more about it.

The next thing I speak about is the river cleaning exercise in the Maruka river.
There used to be a time when Government provided employment for the Amerindians in Maruka and the people of Maruka used to have the benefit of a very clean river, passenger traffic to and from Maruka but now ever so regularly boats down, launches cannot go through the Maruka river, it is blocked by moca bush.

It would be interesting to know whether Government does intend to spend some money this year on the river cleaning exercise in Maruka of the North West District.
70 Mr. Abraham continues NATIONAL ASSEMBLY recent times e people speak Moruca about two months ago where a gentleman named Anthony La Cruz was subjected to someone in the he place Moruca in West where the man La Cruz was beaten by the the police their give the time they overstep their become people.

The incident was covered in the Mirror newspaper.

the people recently e investigate e be the where they serve.

Mr. the am e, e school e measure people length.

the Rupununi Vice was, school.


stand seems to place.

money.

be the question of shortage e due the Government 71 the free e steps Mugabe.

One we the the them they recently give as update, Government wonders why We keeping people increase.
know what are three am they the we the department be here incidence house be be use some are now Government assigned Government Most needs year Some do not have when other serve over when leaned Recently we had experience when an long time life 72 1986-03-06 18:25 – 18:35 hrs We must pay credit to the hard-working Regional Chairman.

She is trying to get things going.

Due to the defectiveness of the tractor it came up on its rear wheels.
The two wheels came back on the driver of the trailer and smashed him to death.

This happened about a week ago.

73 National Assembly 18:35 hrs heartened s.” Our Rupununi are remarks private those them Cde.

Speaker, although it is easy to talk about brain drain, we sometimes forget that some of our best serve.
A fine example p that are recommended remain presentation Assembly speak 74 18:35 – 18:45 hrs governments whose economies are There is often pressure investment human resource sectors of education as alternative to investment in economic ventures and is a mistaken belief that secondary priority to welfare matters is a clever strategy and at times of difficulty we could escape from our problems by slashing on welfare matters such as Education.

But, Cde.

Speaker, we could never accept such a position.


We believe that sustainable economic development is only possible where we give high priority to investment in the education sector because we believe that sustainable economic development is a function of growth and development in the education system and in development of human resources.

There are many ways of measuring that commitment.


I will use for the sake of convenience the proportion of GLP allocated to the Education Sector and I chose carelessly and at random from some other underdeveloped countries.

Let me take the percentage of GLP allocated to Education.

We per cent; per cent; per cent; Kenya, per cent, Costa Rica, 417 per cent; Barbados, per cent compared per cent.

Cde.
Cde.

Speaker, we also been able to achieve relatively high sectors of expenditure in education sectors and in capital spending in the education sector because we believe that National resource development is tied Development very clearly we will use system.

strategies education more briefly with the economic strategy and economic benefits.

Some of the special projects which will come on stream during 1986 and which are on-going into 1986 as we see to re- organize and develop.
We believe investments in education increases more productivity.

We believe that acceleration of development depends upon acceleration in the growth of development of the education sector and we believe that all indicies of development are positively correlated with the quality of spending and the quality of development in education.

Therefore, Cde.
Therefore, Cde.

Speaker, we do not pretend to apologise for the amount of resources that we put in the education system and we do not pretend to apologise for having an innovative and creative educational strategy.

75 1986-03-06 18:35 – 18:45 hrs I notice that members of the Minority were very worried with the large numbers of educational experiments which were going on in our education system.

I would only pause to point out that we do not apologise for being an innovative and a creative people.

Cde.
Cde.

Speaker, we will continue to experiment, when our experiments work we will take pride in what we have done and when they do not work we will adopt new strategies in improving the Ministry of Education.

[Applause] Cde.
[Applause] Cde.

Speaker, one of the important strategies which we will use in strengthening our education system is in consolidating and coordinating the management of education resources within that system and to that and we have recently declared open a centre for education resource development which is part of a UNSSCO major project in the field of education for the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

76 National Assembly 18:45 hrs (Cde.


Bernard continues) This UNESCO/Latin America project highlighted development.

We the emphasis end we are re-modelling improving the quality and efficiency in centre materials and equipment forms.

The National Centre for Education and Resource Development will have umbrella centre, the maxim-size test improving the system and some important educational workshops be central manner, imported science laboratory equipment.
We have come to the conclusion that we cannot in dream to afford the equipment we need for science because teaching 77 1986-03-06 laboratory because of the emphasis examinations.

Therefore, we have decided to adopt a strategy we will be designing stream exchange but to create in our materials extending the science equipment would be very limited indeed.
Speaker, emphasis secondary systems and innovations implemented a human development undertaken in conjunction with the there will be be The the be accomplished es e, natural sciences and education Department of Guyana.

strengthening the country’s free that is, the Government the the New Amsterdam establishing a programme of specific areas not provided Strengthening effected 78 improvement from by was of of our management hope enlighten him.
We has be responsibility be able Regions something 79 80 81 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 18:55 – 19:05 hrs begin between permanent things area will 82 systems neighbouring was closed community programmes Teachers teachers than empty Cde.

Speaker, because Universities of e We We will delivered e. we growth which We about about 83 consider to fervent hope every member of forward Cde.

Speaker, These the appasite the preferred optimism.
there 84 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY in one marked him relentless she there pervasive shadow the be The 85 people.

perspective.

has dealt would their Budget which the achieve development.

needs We people people Member Assembly we economic Assembly 86