By Gary EleazarMinister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, in his contribution to the 2010 Budget debates told the House that, “These investments in our people stem from a strong conviction, a Jaganite tradition,NFL Jerseys Store, that our people are the wellspring of our economic strength.”He said that what the nation becomes in the future is dependent on the foundation laid now and, “That is why this budget, was specially designed to invest in the now, for a transformation of our future.”The Minister stated that the primary beneficiary of the 2010 budget was the youth in the country,Cheap Jerseys, which he said is reflected in the allocations flowing through various Ministries.According to Dr Anthony,China Jerseys Cheap, work in areas related to youth is evidenced in every region of Guyana with the programs grouped into five broad aspects namely Health, Education, Citizenship, Parenthood, and Juvenile Justice.The Minister told the House that he has heard the advocacy from Africo Selman, of the People’s National Congress Reform,Cheap Jerseys USA, for the National Youth Policy.“Indeed there exists a National Youth Policy but it is outdated…I have said in the past that the government is committed to upgrading the policy…This year with the assistance of UNDP we will update the national youth policy.”The Minister also announced that this year the Ministry will coordinate a National Drama Festival, which will allow playwrights, actors,NFL Jerseys Cheap, actresses to bring new work to the stage.He said too that discussions are also ongoing within the Ministry to establish a National Theatre School at the National Cultural Centre which itself is slated for massive rehabilitation.On the issue of music in Guyana he said that the country has a strong tradition, a testimony of this can be found in the Guyana Music Festival which after a hiatus was held last year with some successThe Minister said that it has been noted that there are limited opportunities for persons to learn theoretical and practical music and as such his Ministry has decided to address the problem with the establishment of a music school.According to the Minister a specialized team has been developing a curriculum, “the instruments have been procured,Cheap Jerseys Online, and shortly we will recruit teachers to start the program.”

Freed treason accused and political activist,Cheap NFL Jerseys, Mark Benschop, has officially informed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that he will be contesting the May 11 General Elections with the Independent Party, which he heads.Mark Benschop (center) with GECOM’s Deputy CEO, Vishnu Persaud and CEO, Keith Lowenfield.In a Facebook posting yesterday, Benschop, who also hosts an online radio talk show, said that he and another representative, Keisha Sohan, yesterday met with officials of GECOM; Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, and Deputy, Vishnu Persaud.“During the hour long meeting, we expressed our concern about the questionable 75,Cheap NFL Jerseys,000 new registrants, and asked for a breakdown. Surprisingly, we were informed by the officials that the number is much higher.”The Independent Party, Benschop said, has also expressed concern about the 38,000 persons who haven’t uplifted their ID cards and raised questions about the measures being used to reach those persons. “However, it wasn’t a surprise that the bulk of the 38, 000 ID cards belongs to persons from Region 4. Persons need to read between the lines as to what’s happening here, and hopefully those in the coalition are back from their honeymoon and begin to focus on real issues that could possibly affect the outcome of the elections.”Benschop said that his party is of the view that the Preliminary Voters List is heavily padded in favor of the corrupt PPP regime.“This is what the big boys/girls in the coalition need to focus on, instead of attempting to brainwash folks about who is going to split the votes, or who this or who that. Or,Cheap Jerseys Online, are they afraid to talk about the thousands of Chinese and Indian nationals who were allegedly placed on the list illegally in order to cast their votes for the dictators at Freedom House?”The treason charge against Benschop had stemmed from the storming of the Presidential complex on July 3rd 2002, during a march in protest of government’s treatment of the people of Kwakwani and other Berbice bauxite mining concerns.Two persons were shot dead in the compound when presidential guards opened fire on those who had barged in after forcing open the gate.A jury returned an 11 to one verdict of not guilty at Benschop’s trial and it was not until after he had already spent five years in prison that he was eventually pardoned by former President Bharat Jagdeo.Before his charge,Cheap China Jerseys Authentic, he hosted “Straight Talk,” which debuted in 1999.His retrial date was pushed back several times over the years before Jagdeo gave Benschop an unconditional pardon that allowed him to get out of prison on Monday, Aug. 20,Cheap Jeseys NFL, 2007.Benschop’s party will contest the elections against the National Independent Party, headed by Attorney-at-Law, Saphier Husain Subeda; the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the coalition front, Alliance For Change/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU),Cheap NFL Jerseys, among others.