Cable Viewer

The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06GEORGETOWN196.

Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
06GEORGETOWN196	2006-03-01 15:26	2011-08-30 01:44	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy Georgetown

VZCZCXRO3589
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHGE #0196/01 0601526
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011526Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3185
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0313
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0063
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0014
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0017
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 GEORGETOWN 000196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MICHELLE BROOKS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12950: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EFIN EINV SENV GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA ECONOMIC ROUND-UP--FEBRUARY 2006 
 
 
Contents of February 2006 Guyana Economic Highlights: 
¶1. Domestic Economy: Cement Shortage Hampers Construction 
Industry 
¶2. Inflation Watch: Upward movement in January CPI, domestic 
sugar prices rise 
¶3. Trade: Rice producers hopeful as international prices 
rise 
¶4. Investment: GO-INVEST reports heavy FDI in mining, 
forestry sectors 
¶5. Bilateral Economic Activity: China, Germany, Japan, 
Argentina 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Domestic Economy: Construction Industry Faces Cement 
Shortage 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶1. A supply shortage coupled with intense demand has led to 
a near doubling in the cost of cement: from an average of 
GY$$800 (US$4) per standard 42.5 kg bag to an average of 
GY$$1,500 (US$7) in January 2006. Some retailers are selling 
cement for as much as much as GY$$2,000 (US$10) per bag. 
Guyana has seen a substantial increase in construction 
recently, including the construction of a new cricket 
stadium, a number of hotels, and several housing schemes in 
preparation for the March 2007 Cricket World Cup. The 
distributors of cement in Guyana are blaming the inability 
of Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) to deliver. In addition, 
the largest of Guyana's three producers, Mazaruni Granite 
Products Ltd (MGPL), is in receivership and is producing 
below half capacity. Beyond importing from Trinidad and 
Tobago, Guyana is also importing cement from Venezuela. Such 
imports are becoming scarce in the face of rising regional 
demand due to construction activities in preparation for 
World Cup Cricket and also as a result of rebuilding efforts 
in countries that were destroyed by tropical storms. The GOG 
has removed duties on cement imported from extra-regional 
sources in order to alleviate the shortage in the 
construction industry. However, importers have reportedly 
been reluctant to take full advantage of this due to the 
high freight cost associated with importing cement from 
outside the Caribbean. 
 
--------------- 
Inflation Watch 
--------------- 
 
¶2. The Guyana Bureau of Statistics reported a 1.6% rise in 
the Urban (Georgetown) Consumer Price Index for the month of 
January and an increase of 6.9% from January 2005 to January 
¶2006. Flooding that began in mid-December 2005 reportedly 
resulted in the interruption of food supplies to the market; 
food prices increased 3.3% in January. In particular, prices 
for vegetables and vegetable products rose by 26.4%, while 
prices for fruits and fruit products increased 6.5%. This 
trend follows an inflation rate of 8.3% for 2005. 
 
¶3. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) has confirmed a 10 
percent increase in the local prce of brown sugar. Guysuco 
noted that this increse will assist in meeting increasing 
production osts. The increase in the domestic price for 
sugr is a consequence of the increase in the international 
price for brown sugar. It was also noted that the 
international price for refined white sugar has been 
increasing. Guysuco noted that since 2003, the company has 
been gradually effecting price changes to bring the price of 
sugar on the local market closer to the economic realities 
of its business, and it remains extremely competitive. 
According to Guysuco the recently announced 36 reduction to 
be phased in over the next four years in the price to be 
paid by the European Union for Guyana's sugar is expected to 
have a major impact on the revenue stream of Guysuco, which 
is estimated at US$40 million. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Trade: International Market Price for Rice up 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. Rice farmers could expect an increase in price for their 
paddy next crop as international market prices rise. 
According to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), a 
reduction in global stock has fuelle

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

Browse by tag

Browse by classification

Community resources

Viewing cable 06GEORGETOWN196, GUYANA ECONOMIC ROUND-UP--FEBRUARY 2006