AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA AND REGION # 10

On this th day of August 2012 the Government of Guyana and Region 10 hereby agree to the following:

i) That the situation of Electricity Tariffs in Linden will remain at the pre-July 1st 2012 rates and the implementation of a future tariff regime in Linden will await due consideration of the findings and recommendations of the Technical Team.

ii) The establishment of a Technical Team to investigate the electricity situation in Linden.

The terms of Reference of the Technical Team are as follows:

a) To review the existing provision and consumption of electricity in the Linden community, including the history, the costs, the tariff structure, and the subsidies;

b) To consider arrangements to provide electricity to the Linden community and the tariffs to sustain such arrangements within a sustainable time frame;

c) To examine Region 1O’s economic circumstances inclusive of the affordability of increased cost;

d) To consider the advantages and disadvantages of the integration of the supply of electricity in the Linden area into the national grid; and,

e) To examine and make recommendations on cost saving measures and options for alternative energy, including the facilitation of conservation education and conservation

The Technical Team will report to the two sides forthnightly and will present their final report within 60 days.

Both parties to the Agreement agreed to cooperate to ensure that all documents, persons and resources required are provided to the Technical Team.

The Technical Team will comprise of seven persons. Three persons nominated by each side and a Chairperson that is agreed on by both parties to the Agreement.

Three proposed by the Region 10 delegation:

Mr. Lloyd Rose

Mr. Haslyn Parris

Prof.Clive Thomas

And three from the Government

Mr. Norman Mc Lean

Mr. Bharrat Dindyal

Mr. Winston Brassington

The team will be chaired by Mr. Narvan Persaud who received the support of both sides.
2) Economic Programme

The two parties agree to establish an Economic Committee with the following Terms of Reference:

a) Examine all studies, all plans, all sectors and their resources in use, new resources and human resources and develop a sustainable development plan for Linden and Region 10.

b) Review all initiatives, including LEAP and LEN with the aim of gleaning the lessons to be learnt from these initiatives and make recommendations for new initiatives.

c) Review Linden and Region 10’s facilities and capacity for food self sufficiency and to the extent feasible develop a plan for self sufficiency as part of the Regional Development Plan.

d) Examine the employment situation of Linden in particular and Region l0 in general and make appropriate recommendations.

e) Review the existing framework within which private investment is attracted to Linden and Region 10 and make the appropriate recommendations.

f) To identify the issues as they relate to policies, administrative capacity, skills development, investment climate etc., which need to be addressed in order to make the new development plan successful.

g) Assess the availability of funding from grants, Donors (bilateral and multilateral), the private sector and the diaspora and make the relevant recommendations for the funding of the Regional Development Plan.

h) To hold consultations with the residents of Linden and Region 10 as well as specific interest groups such as the business, religious farming communities, women and other civil society organizations.

i) To consult with the relevant Ministries and agencies such as GO-INVEST to ascertain the present plans and potential avenues for further expansion of the economic base of the region with specific regard to agriculture, information based technology, value-added manufacturing and the services sector.

The Economic Committee will have the benefit of the existing institutional arrangement and the expertise of the Regional Democratic Council and relevant Ministries in the discharge of their functions. The Economic Committee will also give priority to development projects which will bring the fastest benefits to the Committee.

The Economic Committee will have the benefit of the existing institutional arrangement and the expertise of the Regional Democratic Council and relevant Ministries in the discharge of their functions. The Economic Committee will also give priority to development projects which will bring the fastest benefits to the Committee.

The Economic Committee will report to the two sides monthly and present its final report within 90 days.

The Economic Committee will comprise seven persons, three persons nominated by each side and an agreed on Chairperson. The names will be submitted by the two sides within 7 days and subsequent to that, the chairperson will be appointed by the two sides within 3 days.

In addition, it was also agreed that the following project will be considered for early implementation by the Government:

- i) the drainage and irrigation of West Watooka

It was agreed that the Region will identify and submit other projects for consideration that will bring the fastest benefits to the people of Linden and Region 10. The focal point for the submission of these projects is the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

3) Television in Region 10

a) The Government and Region 10 agree as follows:

i. That the dish and transmitter that were given to the Linden Community will be given to Region 10 Regional Democratic Council. The dish and transmitter should be transferred to the Region within 14 days of the signing of this Agreement.

ii. That it was agreed that Region 10 will apply for a broadcasting license and the Government will facilitate the granting of that license in keeping with the law.

4) Regional Land Selection Committee

The Government and Region 10 agree to the establishment of a Region 10 Regional Land Selection Committee.

The Regional Land Selection Committee will be comprised of the Regional Chairman who chairs the Committee, the NDC Chairman, the Head of the Regional Department of the GLSC and representatives from the various parties represented in the RDC in keeping with the results of the last Regional elections. This Committee will be established in two weeks.

Region 10 will develop modalities to work closely with the relevant Ministries and the communities of Linden and Region 10 to ensure that there is better communication, knowledge and involvement with regard to investments and land developments in Region 10.

Initialed for the GOG by

PM Sam Hinds

HPS Dr. R. Luncheon

Min. Robeson Benn

Mr. Gail Teixeira

Initialed for Region 10 by

Regional Chairman Mr. Sharma Solomon

Dr. R. Roopnarine

Ms. Vanessa Kissoon

Mr. Aubrey Norton

August 17, 2012 6:32 pm