SUPPLIES FOR McDOOM FAMILY --- IN the presence of family members, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Shaikh Moeenul Hack, hands over $150 000 worth of supplies to Shireen Edun, in front of the burnt-out building, in which she and her family lived. Fire destroyed the McDoom, East Bank Demerara house, on March 23, leaving Shireen and at least 11 others homeless. CIOG is also collaborating with Guyana Sawmills Limited and Food For The Poor, Inc. in contributing $300 000 toward the construction of a home for the family at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

PANDEMONIUM broke out at the Botanical Gardens yesterday afternoon when a virtually uncontrollable crowd stormed into the gardens to see two homosexuals who had earlier exchanged "marriage" vows, take out pictures at the gardens' Kissing Bridge and the Place of the Seven Ponds.

The mammoth crowd streamed into the gardens in anticipation of the 'couple's' arrival and went berserk when a car in which the 'bride' and 'groom' stopped at the Place of the Seven Ponds. The crowd's wild reaction shattered the gardens' peaceful, serene atmosphere.

Hundreds chased the white car from the roundabout along the Seven Ponds, pass the Mausoleum and up to the Meteorological office, where the vehicle was forced to stop because of a huge pipe across the street.

As the screaming crowd swarmed around the car, which even had a photographer in the front seat, friends of the two helped to clear the way for the 'couple' to get out - and got the shock of their lives when the 'bride,' decked in white complete with veil, a trail, flowers and heels, stepped out of the vehicle.

Hooked on the hand of the supposed bride was a well-groomed young man in cream suit, a few inches shorter than his 'partner'.


As their peers and photographers cleared a path through the noisy throng, the pair, in their early 20s, made a 'bee line' for the bandstand accompanied by a small 'bridal party'.

Within seconds of stopping at the bandstand the crowd converged, screaming, laughing, some amused, others expressing disgust. While some showed their support and clapped in glee, others shouted 'fire' on the couple.

The Chronicle learned from a Guyana Registration Office spokesman late yesterday that the marriage was illegal, that no license was granted for its consummation.

The spokesman also warned that whoever married the couple risked having his marriage license revoked.

Gays have been clamoring for Parliament to pass a Bill authorizing same-sex marriage, but the National Assembly has so far rejected the lobby.

The gay couple was last seen heading briskly up Regent Street after completing their Botanical Gardens agenda, with a section of the crowd behind them and vehicles conveying the 'bridal party' following.

Gay couple creates storm in Botanical Gardens
--- GRO spokesman says marriage illegal

While many will be rejoicing at the minister's delivery of the largest no-tax budget in Guyana's history, some will be fuming at their disappointment that the budget did not give them the ammunition they projected - a tax increase to trigger a sharp rise in consumer prices on the one hand and political mileage on the other.

Budget Day is a very significant part of a nation's history, in that it reviews past economic performance and enunciates new policies and initiatives for the current year, in an effort to sustain growth and economic development.

A major characteristic of each budget presented by the PPP/C administration since it assumed office in 1992 has been the human face of its economic and social policies. This year's budget echoes that very thrust: to enhance economic growth with social equity.

The budget reports that the unfavourable domestic and external environment resulted in a negative growth of 0.6 percent last year. Even so, prudent fiscal and monetary policies by the Government assured that the main macroeconomic fundamentals were intact.

The rate of price inflation was 4.9 percent, the exchange rate was more or less stable, the Central Government deficit kept well within target, and external debt was reduced to US$1.08 billion after the achievement of the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative completion point. The budget also indicated that over 95% of the Public Sector Investment Programme of $16.8 billion in 2003 was successfully implemented.

These were major economic achievements and are comparable to achievement in the region given the difficulties the economy experienced most of last year.

The budget expects the economy to return to strong, positive growth - 2.5% this year - by diversifying our economic base, while allowing the service sector to increase its contribution in overall economic activity. New areas of activity include information technology, eco-tourism and sport tourism.

The budget also identifies policy initiatives that will strengthen the traditional sector - sugar, rice and bauxite. These policy initiatives will provide the strong foundation for sustainable economic growth and longer-term development.

The budget's investment thrust envisages overall improvement in the quality of life of Guyanese as investment increases in the social sector. Education has received a big boost, an allocation of $14.5 Billion or 9.4% of GDP. Health and nutrition investment has been increased to $6.7 Billion, and the country's housing programme is to be intensified with an allocation of $1.4 Billion.

The social safety net and poverty intervention programmes have been implemented and will continue with rigor under accelerated SIMAP, Basic Needs Trust Fund and social assistance initiatives.

All in all, the strategies and investments projected for 2004 depict the theme of the budget, "Investment for Sustained Economic Growth and Enhanced Social Development."

After all, for poverty to be reduced on a sustained basis in Guyana, there has to be growth with social equity and greater investment in human capital. Even though the country faced constraints on a daily basis, investment in people has borne fruit, as indicated on the Human Development Index of the UNDP's 2003 Human Development Report.

The 2004 budget must continue in that direction. For development is about people.

Tuesday, March 30, 2004