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RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000001 
 
SIPDIS 
NOFORN 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR  - SEAN WHALEN/WILLARD SMITH 
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/11 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON XL CH GY
SUBJECT: Pol/Econ Round-up December 25- January 11 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Carol Horning, Charge d'affaires, USAID, USAID; 
REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1.      (U) This "round-up" reporting cable covers the period from 
December 25, 2009 to January 11, 2010. 
 
 
 
Search for next PPP Presidential Candidate Begins 
 
¶2.      (C) The People's Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary 
Donald Ramotar publicly stated on December 30 that the PPP has 
started the process to identify a presidential candidate for the 
2011 national elections. While discussions are "very preliminary", 
individuals identified as potential candidates include Ramotar, 
Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran, Agriculture 
Minister Robert Persaud, and Member of Parliament Moses Nagamooto. 
Ramotar publicly stated on December 30 that he would feel "honored" 
to receive the party nomination and that he would accept. Moses 
Nagamotoo told PolChief on December 31 that Ramotar announced this 
publicly without the "blessing" of the Executive Committee. 
Political and business elites have told PolChief that while Ramotar 
is the front runner, much depends upon power struggles within the 
Party and Jagdeo's post-2011 plans. 
 
 
 
China and Guyana Sign USD5.9 Million Cooperation Agreement 
 
¶3.      (C) On December 23, Finance Minister Ashni Singh and 
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Jungao signed an economic and 
technical cooperation agreement worth USD5.9 million. Singh told 
PolChief on January 8 that likely sectors of cooperation include 
agriculture and the health sector. He said that the Chinese 
government has provided funding for the GoG in excess of USD32 
million over the past five years. The Chinese have invested in 
several projects in Guyana including transportation infrastructure, 
mushroom cultivation, construction of a co-generation plant at 
Berbice to enhance sugar production, loans to finance the 
development of the power sector, and providing medical equipment 
and training for doctors, Singh said. 
 
 
 
Broadcast and FOI legislation Still Not Passed 
 
¶4.      (SBU) In August, 2009, President Bharrat Jagdeo publicly 
promised that by 2010, the Broadcast Bill and Freedom of 
Information (FOI) Bill would be passed, breaking the government's 
monopoly on radio and providing the public access to information. 
Proponents of both bills have argued that the bills are essential 
for allowing private individuals access to radio licenses, and 
improving transparency and government accountability. Despite a 
2008 Guyana Court of Appeal decision stating the government 
monopoly on radio was illegal, as well as repeated calls by 
opposition party members for public access to information, movement 
to pass both pieces of legislation remains slow. Skepticism remains 
over the Jagdeo Administration's commitment to pass legislation as 
dates for approval continue to be pushed back indefinitely. 
 
 
 
300,000 ounces of Gold Declared - Record Breaking Figure 
 
¶5.      (SBU) The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) saw a record-breaking 
declaration of over 305,000 troy ounces declared in 2009 by small 
and medium scale miners, representing a 17.2 percent increase over 
2008 figures. The GGB reported that while the performance of gold 
has been improving in recent years, a parallel market is distorting 
the true production and declaration figures for gold in Guyana. The 
sudden media and public relations campaign announcing "record" 
numbers by the GGB is politically based, according to industry 
analysts. Gold miners are concerned that President Jagdeo's Low 
Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and accompanying regulations 
will hurt the mining industry. In particular, recent government 
proposals mandating miners to provide six months notice prior to 
commencing mining operations and giving the Guyana Forestry 
Commission (GFC) veto power over mining activities, is a cause for 
concern, GGB members said. Launching media campaigns is one way the 
Board puts pressure on the Jagdeo Administration to scrap 
regulations perceived to negatively impact the mining industry. 
HORNING