–? Nigel Hughes says country going back to colonisationAlliance for Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes yesterday called on the government to make public the Marriott feasibility study which dictated that the country needs more hotel rooms.“We do not believe it was driven by data which suggested the need to build the hotel,” Hughes said yesterday.Hughes said that there needs to be data to drive the necessity of projects like the Marriott.“I am unaware of any destination in the world,Cheap Jerseys From China, where you build a hotel and hope people would come,NBA Jerseys From China,” Hughes stated.The government has said that its feasibility study is favourable for the project,NFL Jerseys From China, but is refusing to make the document public, saying it would reveal it to the opposition parliamentary parties behind closed doors.However, Hughes said that if the document is available it should be made public so Guyanese can examine it since it is taxpayers’ money that is being used in the project.“The best thing is to share it with the country; don’t share it with me behind closed doors,” Hughes declared.He said that foreigners would be employed from the ground to the top, since with the lack of hospitality training schools in Guyana,China Jerseys Wholesale, it is unlikely that Marriott management would employ a significant number of locals in management positions.Hughes said that most of the Guyanese who would be employed would end up being gardeners and cleaners and other low end jobs.He said that data does not suggest that there is a huge amount of airlift to Guyana to necessitate additional rooms, and further, the majority of genuine tourists who come to Guyana do not come to Georgetown but go into the interior.His comments came as he further denounced the fact that the government negotiated a construction contract that bars Guyanese from employment.Hughes suggested that the government is pursuing a policy that paints Guyana as being worse off than the colonial days. In those times, he said that the owners and managerial classes were foreign and the workforce was local. But now,wholesale jerseys china, he said with the Marriott project, all classes of workers are foreign.“The multi-lingual negotiators the government chose to negotiate with China, obviously thought it was not in the best interest of the country that any Guyanese be permitted to work at that site because they are not qualified to do so,Cheap Basketball Jerseys For Sale,” Hughes stated yesterday.He said that there is nothing in terms of aesthetics or engineering that is beyond Guyanese engineers or other construction personnel, so it is “unbelievable” that the government would suggest Guyana lacks the skills.

The office of Chairman of the Alliance For Change Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday attracted another round of picketing by a group of about just over a dozen persons claiming to be ‘concerned citizens’.“We are some concerned Guyanese and we’re here concerning matters affecting us,Cheap NFL Jerseys China,” according to the group’s spokesperson.The spokesperson, who gave her name as Shirley Parris,Jerseys Wholesale, told media operatives present that herself and those present are a part of different groups and clubs that came together to have their voices heard.However, when questioned of the names of these groups and clubs, Parris made it clear that for security reasons she could not and would not reveal the names.“For confidentiality we shouldn’t disclose that,Cheap MLB Gear, we just can’t come out and say who and where we belong to”The picketing was described as peaceful by Parris,Jerseys From China, adding that they are using the exercise to raise the concerns written on the placards.A point to note, is that most if not all the ‘concerns’ being raised have already been addressed.When Parris was made aware of this she became tight lipped.“We need some right answers…..from whosoever needs to be addressing it”The protestors told Kaieteur News that they plan on continuing their picketing as long as they are satisfied that they’re being heard.When asked from whom the answers are to come, Parris said, “Answers will come from the persons that need to give the answers, whosoever”Questioned if they were even sure who they wanted the answers to their questions from,Cheap Basketball Jerseys, Parris replied saying no,Cheap Jerseys China, adding that as they ask their questions the answers will come to them.Kaieteur News reporters spoke to Ramjattan, and he agreed to speak to the spokesperson for the protestors. Parris refused to speak to the AFC Chairman, saying that it was the responsibility of the media to provide them with whatever it is Ramjattan has to say.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade has been merged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after its separation some years ago. Under the portfolio of Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, that sector focused on three key trade policy areas in 2011: Trade negotiations and implementation,Cheap Jerseys From China Outlet, capacity building and institution strengthening, and trade facilitation through the ministry’s public awareness programme.A GINA release stated that Minister Rodrigues-Birkett in her 2011 review of the sector expressed Guyana’s disappointment that the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Round of negotiations did not get very far due to disagreements on tariff issues, agricultural subsidies, and implementation issues among others.She said that Guyana will continue to advocate that there be no reopening of the issues that have already been agreed on. Explaining that this is a CARICOM position, the Minister pointed out that while Guyana will continue to advocate for that, the country will also remain very active in the Geneva process in order to defend, if necessary,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, the Region’s interest.The release added that Minister Rodrigues-Birkett emphasized that in terms of trade, Guyana’s position is in sync with the CARICOM region and is working very closely with the office of Trade Negotiations.? Mr Neville Totaram, the lead trade negotiator for the Ministry and the Government of Guyana has been active in that process along with the Guyana Embassy in Brussels.Early this year, Guyana participated in a regional Caribbean forum in Barbados, in preparation for the third global review in July of 2011,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, to evaluate the progress of the WTO six – year old initiative to help developing countries with their trade capacity.Guyana is currently engaged with the CARICOM Secretariat in the development of a Regional Aid for Trade Strategy to cover CARICOM member states. While Africa has done very well with moving forward with assistance in aid for trade, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett thinks that at the level of CARICOM, this has to be accelerated.The GINA release said that in January 2011, notwithstanding Guyana’s earlier positions, but consistent with the stand that any agreement signed must be adhered to, Guyana was the first country in CARICOM to implement the schedule of tariff implementation under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Several training and awareness sessions were carried out on this issue and they will be continued in 2012 especially in the non-tariff areas such as services.Meanwhile,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, preparations have already begun for the review which is scheduled to take place every five years and is due in 2013. Guyana was instrumental in having the review clause in the EPA and while much time has already passed,Cheap Baseball Jerseys, it will be working with CARICOM in that regard.CARICOM/Canada tradeCARICOM/Canada trade negotiations are continuing as Guyana pushes for development to be included. The Foreign Affairs Minister pointed out that while the two sides may have differing views, the negotiations have proceeded nicely, and in 2012 the fourth round of negotiations will take place.It is expected that in 2012 there will be discussions on tariff and liberalization offers in goods and services, as well as development on co-operation issues.Free Trade agreementsAn examination of the CARICOM/Dominican Republic Free Trade agreement is expected to facilitate resumed discussions on how to expand the agreement in the area of goods and services.Work will also continue on the Brazil partial scope agreement in order to prepare Guyanese business people for increased trade with that neighbour.Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that since the opening of the Takutu Bridge for last year alone,Cheap Jerseys Online, over 130,000 vehicles have crossed over to Guyana. Lethem has become a hub of activity on the border as Brazilians flock to the Guyana side to purchase items.The Ministry of Foreign Trade wants to ensure that as Guyana moves forward, that there will be more exporting to Brazil as well.