Like Noah's Ark...
Because of the worrisome floods that bedevil several areas of Guyana on an annual basis, citizens have to resort to ingenious means to survive the encroaching and relentless swamps that inundate their abode and the living quarters of their livestock, cattle and other farm animals. In picture at right, these two helpless farmers are transporting their surviving sheep to safer grounds for survival......while at left this household has suddenly found that their home has been transformed into a lakefront property. Farmers in the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary area, persistently hit by flood waters, have complained of losing all their crops and are running out of dry ground for their livestock and animals. Many are keeping livestock in their houses and are threatened by water-borne diseases. President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the area this week and promised that a canal would be dug to drain the excessive rainfall water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the Atlantic Ocean at a cost of $3B.
Ethnic media gets year-end promise from Immigration Minister
Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration addressing the National Ethnic Press and Media Council gathering last month
Members of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council received a year-end promise from Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney.
Kenney pledged to continue working with his colleagues to ensure the Government of Canada, its policies and practices are relevant to the country’s growing diversity and that the government stays true to the theme of unity and diversity.
He was among politicians from every level addressing members of the council during their Christmas get together under the direction of President Thomas Saras.
“Each and every one of the media that you represent give voice to the diversity of Canada, to the diverse communities here in the GTA and reflect voices that are heard right acrossthe country,” said Kenney.
Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s Minister of Education thought it was a time of year Canadians celebrate finding warm places in a dark, cold country. She thanked ethnic media practitioners for being part of what weaves together the fabric of Canadian society and for supporting those families that now make Canada their home. She sees first hand every day in Ontario schools the way children learn tolerance, learn acceptance, learn to love each other for who they are as opposed to where they come from or what language they speak or the colour of their skin.
As Secretary of State for Multiculturalism, Kenney said he looked at the media summary MPs were getting from the central government of Canada agencies that hardly included any reference to the major ethnic media outlets. He felt government was missing millions of voices, millions of Canadians whose primary source of information was through non-official language media or the multicultural media. “We need to hear what that media is saying to really be able to reflect the priorities and understand what’s going on outside there in Canada,” the minister observed.
Consequently Kenney reported his government started centrally in the Privy Council office in the various departments, a far more robust round up of what’s appearing in ethnic newspapers, and on radio and TV programmes on a daily and weekly basis.
“I can tell you the ministers in the Government of Canada, the staff members in the Prime Minister’s office are now for the first time systematically reviewing what is being written about, what priorities are being raised, what issues are being raised in your newspapers. And I can tell you that makes a difference,” Kenney announced
He acknowledged that the stories ethnic publications tell are being listened to in the halls of power in Ottawa. “And that matters,” Kenney added.
He anticipates working with ethnic media representatives and their communities as the government moves forward to ensuring that Canada has a humane immigration policy that responds to the needs of newcomers and the economy. Closely linking the country’s labour market needs with immigration trends has been responsible for the federal government’s announcement of an action plan for faster immigration that will allow many applicants and skilled foreign workers to come to this country within six to twelve months of their application rather than the five to six years, Kenney explained.
City Councillor Michael Thompson addressing the National Ethnic Press and Media Council gathering
Emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing this shortcoming, the Jamaican-born councillor urged the federal minister to look around the room at the diverse gathering of people who are working to make this country a better place.
Kenney proudly reconfirmed that over $100 million have been allocated to accelerate immigration processing. In addition, he disclosed that his government is quadrupling immigrant settlement funding to help newcomers in the process of integration. “So these are all important investments. It is important that newcomers know about these things. That’s why our government understands the importance of multicultural media,” he continued.
Acknowledging immigration as the fuel for Canada’s successful model of pluralism, the minister said Canadians must never take for granted the greatness of Canada where the practitioners of various faiths can come together in a common denunciation of violence and hate.
Chinese, Greek and South Asian performers entertained dinner guests. A Bollywood sample by Ranbir Chauhan was the South Asian contribution to the ethnic cultural presentations at the event, which was well attended by members, relatives and friends as well as members of the Caribbean Consular Corps.