The Caribbean Star 28th Sept 2018

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Vol: 5 #104, 28 September, 2018

Weekly Newspaper

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Petrotrin’s past

Guyana’s future?

CARICOM headquarters location, Guyana, is among those closely following the debate over whether the Petrotrin refinery in Trinidad and Tobago should be shut down or not.

In their case, the reason is self-evident: Guyana will shortly be producing a great deal of crude oil offshore and will need somewhere to refine it.

Lady Gaga Flaunts Rumored...

SEE PAGE 27

Don’t use children as ‘weapons’

Sports section

SEE PAGE 04

Questions over Divali date: Is it correct?

Stuart Law resigns as West Indies coach

Miller ordered to halt shipments after wrong rice sent to Panama

SEE PAGE 06

The UWI ranked among the top in the world SEEPAGE PAGE11 28 SEE

SEE PAGE 40

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28 September, 2018

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28 September, 2018

Nearly two dozen students rushed to hospital Twenty-three students of the Tutorial High School and the Richard Ishmael Secondary School were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) midday after suffering from smoke inhalation following a grass fire at the nearby Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) sport complex.

The ground at the complex caught on fire shortly after 11 am.

As the fire spread across the field of dried grass, clouds of smoke covered the area and firefighters were called.

The thick smoke forced teachers and students to evacuate their school buildings and suspend classes.

Students from the Tutorial High School were allowed to go home, one student said.

Man dies in Liliendaal crash following birthday celebration

After the evacuation of the schools, 21 students from the Tutorial High School and two from the Richard Ishmael Secondary School were rushed to the hospital.

Up to afternoon, 14 students remained at the hospital under observation.

Mitzy Campbell, GPH Public

Relations Officer, told Stabroek News the students were treated for smoke inhalation.

She noted that they all received oxygen and the necessary medical examinations.

She further noted that the students who are asthmatic and showed signs of complications were kept for extended observation.

Caribbean Star Weekly Newspaper

A Tutorial High student, in the company of her mother, recalled that it was during the second period when she and her classmates were forced to evacuate their class. She stated that a cloud of smoke enveloped the entire the school compound.

The student explained they were later moved to a ground opposite the school but the situation was worse. It was at this point that some students began to show symptoms of illness.

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One person is dead and two others including the driver are said to be critical after the car they were in reportedly collided with a utility pole at Liliendaal on the Rupert Craig Highway this morning.

Dead is Isiah Corletta, 25, a resident of Lot 99 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Mikhail Punch, said to be the driver, and a female occupant whose name is unknown at this time are presently receiving treatment at the said hospital.

Traffic Chief Linden Isles this morning confirmed the accident which he said occurred around 2.20 am. According to Isles, information revealed that the trio was in motor car, PWW 676 driven by Punch and proceeding west along the southern lane of the public road when the driver reportedly lost control and they collided with the pole.

The occupants managed to get out of the mangled car and were transported to the hospital. At the time of the accident, they were said to be heading to Georgetown following a hang at the Plaisance line top. Corletta celebrated his birthday.

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28 September, 2018

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Don’t use children as ‘weapons’ WHEN relationships between parents go sour, sometimes children are used as weapons, an act, Chilcare and Protection Agency (CPA) Legal Officer Telisha Williams said, must be strongly condemned since it is child abuse.

According to Williams, who was at the time speaking at a twoday Sexual Abuse Workshop at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre, Eve Leary Georgetown, on Tuesday, the using of children in such circumstances puts them at risk and denies them their basis rights. The workshop focuses on harnessing a multi-disciplinary approach, involving police, doctors, child protection officers, police prosecutors, DPP prosecutors and child advocacy centre social workers, in addressing sexual abuse.

Under the theme “Turning courageous conversations into critical action to intervene and reduce the impact of sexual abuse,” the legal officer said children have the right to grow to adulthood in health, peace, and dignity.

Williams said children’s right can be infringed upon if their health, nutrition, education, social and emotional development are willfully disrupted.

“Government has a role to play to ensure that the rights of the child are met. We have school feeding programmes. We have bus services so that parents have no excuse for not sending them to school

Georgetown Public Hospital, Paediatric Surgeon, Dr. Marisa Seepersaud

because Government provides free transport for children, along with school vouchers,” she explained.

She explained that children also have a right to freedom of expression commensurate with their age and stage of development.

The CPA legal officer also highlighted that parents need to be more open with their children and their needs, while an environment needs to be created where they are educated on their roles, what is expected of them and how they can protect themselves.

Williams said children should feel comfortable discussing things with their parents while society should promote children’s welfare, which would deter child abuse.

She explained that on many

occasions, the sexual abuse of a child causes a rift in the family and the child ends up feeling guilty and blaming themselves for the abuse.

“That child may even feel pressured and say they don’t want to even move forward with the report. After saying that my father molested me or my uncle interfered with me or my half-brother or sister, the child may feel pressured to say that they no longer want to move forward with the report or they may later say that they lied just to ease tension on the family,” the legal officer explained.

She said in such a setting, it is ideal for the agency to remove the child so that he/ she does not feel pressured to withdraw their statement to the police which will stop persecution of the sex offender.

BROAD BASED INVESTIGATION Further, she said, “if there are other children in the family, an investigation must be done to inquire whether they were also molested or sexually abused since such offenders have a pattern in which they operate.”

In addition, she noted children should not be witnessing abuse in the household since parents and

UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Sylvie Fouet

other family members abusing each other physically or verbally, has a negative effect on the child.

Meanwhile, pediatric surgeon at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Marisa Seepersaud said child abuse has become so prevalent globally that children are being destroyed by adults at various stages of their lives.

She explained that only the extreme cases hit the news but beyond the public’s view, there are many children being abused physically, emotionally and sexually indoors.

“We have got to do what we can to stop this, as such, these seminars are wonderful because we probably won’t recognise all of them, a lot of time we only see the physically things but there are so many other abuse taking place before,” she explained.

Adding that such seminars provide participants with the education needed to recognise the various factors, she explained that there are many practical ways in which to deal with each abuse which can save many children from developing negative complexities.

She noted that professionals participating in the workshop can assist parents in dealing with the challenges that they face.

Underscoring that children are the future and their development should be protected, the pediatric surgeon said there needs to be a consorted effort from all walks of life and professions to spread the awareness needed to address issues of sexual abuse.

Staggering number of cases Guyana has been observing Child Protection Week which commenced Sunday last. The CPA has expressed alarm over the staggering 481 cases of child sexual abuse that have been reported to the agency within the first six months of 2018.

Statistics revealed that 393 were

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28 September, 2018

CPA Legal Officer Telisha Williams

girls while the other 88 victims were boys. In May, the agency recorded 238 cases of sexual abuse against children under the age of 18. CPA Director, Ann Greene said the alarming number of reports is linked to the fact that citizens are more vigilant in communities where child abuse occurs. She also noted that the CPA has been educating community members about this scourge.

According to Greene, there have been numerous sensitisation sessions with members of the community, including the Guyana Police Force. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Leslie James said the Guyana Police

Force (GPF) is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of child abuse are placed before the courts.

“I wish to indicate very clearly that the Guyana Police Force has always been committed to dealing with child sexual abusers.

Testimony to this fact are members of the Gender Based Unit across the divisions of the Guyana Police Force, who interacted with a multistakeholder agency to examine the current state of affairs in relation to investigations and other matters pertinent to sexual abuse and specifically to the child,” Commissioner James stated.

As Guyana observes Child Protection Week, the United

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Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) handed over a study on sexual, physical and emotional violence against children to Ministry of Social Protection. The document states that poverty, poor parenting, cultural norms, stress, alcohol and drug abuse are among the primary contributors to violence against children.

The study has found that female children are more at risk of being victims of child abuse in both urban and rural areas. It also states that there are higher instances of abuse in differently abled children.

Ministry of Social Protection, subject Minister Amna Ally said Government attaches great value to children and is committed to ensuring they are protected from exploitation. Moreover, the Minister of Social Protection noted that every effort is being made to ensure children are provided with every opportunity to become productive members of society.

UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Sylvie Fouet lauded the collaboration between her organisation and the Ministry of Social Protection. She said that the recommendations that emanated out of the study called for an all-inclusive approach, whereby stakeholders from across sectors are involved in the business of child protection.

Commissioner of Police Leslie James

This recommendation speaks to the theme of this year’s Child Protection Week observances‘Supporting families to prevent child abuse through education and community development.’

Ms. Fouet disclosed that part of the report focuses on early abuse, which can impact the development of a child’s brain in the long term.

“The report actually fits very well because it’s on social norms and understanding the behaviours and the drivers…it will help to plan a coherent response. The system can do certain things but the community has to come in and that’s where I think the report brings a response from the individual, the collective and the system,” Ms Fouet said.

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28 September, 2018

6

UG gets $5M from PM’s office for constitutional reform education The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) handed over $5M to the University of Guyana (UG) as funding for constitutional reform education.

UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith received the cheque from Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at the OPM. The Department of Public Information (DPI) said that the Constitutional Reform Education programme is a collaboration among the OPM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Guyana.

Nagamootoo said that constitutional reform is not for “sloganeering” nor should it be used as an electioneering platform.

“What I see happening is an attempt by politicians, when it is convenient to politicians, to talk about Constitutional Reform outside of the context of what it means to the ordinary person, whether or not the ordinary person understands the Constitution,” PM Nagamootoo stated.

Nagamootoo’s government has been severely criticised for failing to live up to commitments for constitutional reform.

UNDP Resident Representative, Mikiko Tanaka said after a 2016 mission, it was determined that

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (third from right) and UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith (third from left) during the handing over. (DPI photo)

consensus across political parties and public education were the two pillars of constitutional reform.

She noted that “any discussion around reforming would require that understanding of what is in the Constitution or what is lacking

or what needs to be changed.”

According to DPI, Deputy ViceChancellor, Dr. Barbara Reynolds said a survey and the education awareness programme will extend beyond the Coastland to ensure Guyanese from all regions are

involved.

DPI said that OPM will print 500 copies of the Constitution which will be handed over to schools and Toshaos across the country. This will be done before the close of 2018.

28 September, 2018

the hindu belief

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THE MYSTICAL CITY OF ‘‘JINNS’’ Experience the Wonder of the Magical Land

As We Drive You to The Fifth City of Delhi Every site can be viewed in vivid imaginations and every visitor in each visit adds unique colors to the site. And the way a writer perceives the place and its beauty, gets reflected in his narration! But certainly, I am not a writer, I am a traveler rather!

And for this experiencing and feeling the warmth of the ancient memories, I am loitering in the live streets of the magnificent Firozshah Kotla!

The Mystery of Jinns The fort, constructed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq around 700 years ago, is a bundle of fables!

Every inch and brick of the glorious monument screams about a numerous unveiled tales. One such thrilling story is the story behind it’s popularity as the “Fort of Jinns”. While digging the past, people around me unfolded the fort’s secret mystry; The Mystry of Jinns. It is believed that their lies around 450 Jinns inside the fort. This fact, although rumored, definitely gives chills

again has a history behind it! The myth was cascaded when after emergency a saint naming “Laddo Shah”experienced the mystical powers of these Jinns in reality while his stay at Firozshah Kotla.

He then propagated this experience to his disciples and since then the “myth” started to be valued as an unquestioned “belief”!

Tales that take you to Tranquility

down the spine! But what is more fascinating is the fact that, besides all horrendous haunted stories, the magnificence and beauty of the fort lures the visitors the most.

Thus, the bizarre stories never stop one to dive deeper into the glorious history and they automatically get drifted to explore its beauty more and more!

Epitome of Aristocracy Expanding his territory from old Indraprastha to Riz, Tughlaq made “Firozshah Kotla” his new capital. Thus, Tughlaqs left no stones unturned in adding all possible grandeur to this grand fort! Being a magnetic source of attraction, the two much appealing “pillars” present in the fort are live examples of this aristocracy.

If stories are to be believed, these great pillars were specially brought from Meerut and Ambala.

Tourists come and go, but a wanderer like me would just get stuck with a single touch of the mystical pillars. These enigmatic pillars

will, undoubtedly, leave one with unsolved puzzles.

Asokan Pillar

Collage of Faith and Superstitions Not just one but a considerable number of people have faith in the magical power of the Jinns in the fort. Thus, every Thursday of the week, a huge mob of believers visit the talismanic fort; all with a written letter inscribing their plea inside it. Presuming that some mystical power would hear their prayers and would take away their pain and sorrows, they enlighten candles and diyas and leave the letters there itself.

Believing this “superstition” seems a bit tough, but the eyes of the visitors sparkling with a ray of hope and relief

compel you to develop an automatic “faith” in this “superstition”!

Myth, Faith and Belief It is, thus, believed that Jinns fulfill all your wishes. This faith

Now what would set you aback in the journey is our next encounter, i.e., Minar-e-zarin! As the sayings go by, this 13.1m-high Minar, which is surrounded by railings, is the home to the most famous Jinn of all times, Laat Vale Baba. This much believed Jinn is assumed to be the head of all the Jinns in the fort with the supreme powers of healing and peace. This strong belief seems live in people’s faith when they are seen making efforts just to have a single touch of the walls of the sorcerer minar in order to retain peace and tranquility in their hassled life! Science has definitely back aided and justified many phenomena, but what science should be applied here to decode this wizard mystery still perplexes me the most!

Trust or Mystery?

The black soot layered on the walls is often blamed as a black spot on the beauty of the fort; many opine that it is a proof that

the fort is deteriorating. But to add-on to the queue of all such transcendental values, this soot also has some hilarious belief!

W h e n put as a “Kajal”, this magical black soot enhances the beauty of a women’s eye to an extent where the entire elegance of the fort seems to get imitated in those blue-hued eyes!

From Jinns to the Diyas and Letters, to Minar-e-zarin to the Soot on the walls, the myths are hard to believe. The believers find their full faith in it, though. Now, whether it is merely a mystery or largely a trust, take a drive to further decide!

28 September, 2018

8

Good Hope family held at gunpoint in home invasion Armed bandits last night invaded a Phrase Three Good Hope, East Coast Demerara house where they held a couple at gunpoint and carted off over $1M in valuables before escaping with their motor car. Reports are that the incident unfolded around 9.45 pm at the house after Nikeita Deoroop, her husband, Kevin Ramsaroop, a taxi driver and their two-year-old daughter had already retired to bed.

Deoroop related to this newspaper last night that the men gained entry into the house

by breaking a louvre window. She said she heard a strange noise and got up to enquire what it was when she was greeted by three men who were already in the house.

Deoroop said two of the men held her and Ramsaroop at gunpoint, while the other proceeded to ransack the house for cash and jewellery. She suspected that it was more than three bandits.

“They said ‘give we all the money and the jewellery’ and they told me if I move or do anything they gonna shoot my daughter”, Deoroop said.

The bandits carted off $400,000

in local and foreign currencies, a quantity of gold jewellery, cell phones, televisions and other electronics, she said.

The men then escaped in Ramsaroop’s Nissan Bluebird motor car, PSS 8984 which he plied his trade with. While all this was happening, the couple’s twoyear-old daughter was asleep.

Deoroop said the child eventually woke up and she pleaded with the bandits to hold her daughter before she started to cry. They allowed her.

Following the incident, Deoroop

said neighbours told her that they noticed the men scaling their fence to gained entry to the premise and they tried to call out to alert them but got no answer.

As a result, neighbours said they called the Vigilance Police Station and informed them what was happening but they failed to show up in time, Deoroop added.

“Had they (police) respond right away they coulda stop that car from leaving this area”, Deoroop said.

She said the police arrived after the bandits escaped.

Statia addresses European business community

AMBASSADOR of the European Union to Guyana, Jernej Videti?, last week hosted the second meeting of European businesses operating in Guyana with tax chief Godfrey Statia delivering the feature address.

Also present at the meeting were the honorary consuls of EU member states in Guyana, including for Finland, Germany, Ireland and Sweden. Some of the European businesses represented ranged from those operating in telecommunications; oil and gas; fuel distribution; consultancies; agriculture and pesticides; tourism and horticulture, the EU office here said in a release.

The highlight of the meeting came in the presence of Statia, commissionergeneral of the Guyana Revenue Authority, who took time to listen to and candidly address a number of concerns. While he impressed upon the gathering that there have been substantive improvements in the functioning and effectiveness of the GRA under his tenure, he nevertheless recognised that there still remain challenges which are currently being addressed.

Statia’s participation also helped to shed light on the efforts of the Guyana Government and the GRA to simplify rules and procedures for foreign businesses in relation to the country’s tax system. His participation also served as a steppingstone towards establishing helpful dialogue between European businesses and the GRA in particular, on investments.

The meetings hosted by Ambassador Videti? are part of the EU Delegation’s push towards increased economic diplomacy. The primary aim is to assist in improving the business climate for EU businesses operating in Guyana and to aid in attracting further investment from European companies to set up shop in Guyana.

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28 September, 2018

PPP, AFC trade intimidation charges The Alliance For Change and the People’s Progressive Party are claiming their candidates and backers of lists of candidates contesting the November 12 Local Government Elections (LGEs) are being bullied and intimidated by each other’s activists and supporters.

The AFC said it considers this campaign tactic by the PPP as a threat to Guyana’s democracy given that the PPP government sabotaged the AFC by refusing to hold LGEs between 1994 and 2014.

In a release, the AFC said, the party received credible reports of the bullying and intimidation of its local government candidates and their supporting signatories by PPP activists and operatives and that “Various persons who backed AFC candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections have been coerced into visiting GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) offices to request that their names

be removed as signatories.”

Calling for this matter “to be urgently investigated and for Returning Officers not to be cowed by the PPP to invalidate any of the signatories since at this stage the presumption of regularity should apply,” the AFC said, it reaffirmed its support for GECOM. The AFC said, “The PPP has also resorted to widespread verbal abuse, threats and victimization of persons who openly supported the AFC in PPP strongholds in the 2015 National and Regional Elections, and now for the November 12th Local Government Elections.”

Urging its supporters to remain strong and not to give in to the “PPP’s defeatist tactic”, the AFC said, it was contesting the LGEs for the first time as an independent party, and anticipates that its candidates will be successful throughout Guyana.

“The PPP is fearful of AFC’s challenge and is trying to use

our party as the scapegoat for its campaign to discredit GECOM and elections in Guyana,” the AFC said. The PPP in a statement in response to the AFC, said, it noted the AFC’s ‘spins’ “regarding the moves by several persons to have their names, which were included on the AFC List of Nominators (backers list) fraudulently, removed.”

The PPP said while the AFC has accused it of intimidating LGE candidates into removing their names from AFC lists, “the facts are a matter of public record, including reports by the local media corps over the past two weeks, which speak to persons being ‘tricked’ and ‘pressured’ into signing AFC List of Nominators.”

The PPP said at the Whim/ Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) where Mavis Nagamootoo, sisterin-law of AFC Executive and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, is

the leader of the list, 51 people have submitted sworn affidavits to have their names removed.

Though the people have sworn affidavits, the PPP said, some of them were being subjected to a confrontation with Mavis Nagamootoo and by the returning officer (RO) to have their names removed from the AFC list of nominators. They are concerned about the confrontation, the PPP said, due to their worries that they would be targeted.

Some of them, the PPP said, “are also being subjected to questioning by the Returning Officer, an act that can be described as intimidation, given the line of questioning.”

Such questions, the PPP said, include “Which political party do you support? Why did you not object to your name being included on the AFC list earlier?”

The 51 people with sworn affidavits, the PPP said, should not be subjected to such treatment.

GPHC conducts modern orthopaedic surgery The Orthopaedic Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), with assistance from the visiting Chinese medical brigade, recently conducted one of its first modern surgeries.

The Orthopaedic Department is the largest of its kind in the country and conducts ten operations on average daily.

Stabroek News has been informed that the recent procedure was required for a patient who was involved in motorcycle accident and sustained injuries that required treatment at the department.

Dr. Zou Guoyou, an Orthopaedist from the Chinese Medical Team who spoke with this newspaper, explained that x-ray studies of the patient’s injuries showed that the patient sustained a comminuted (multiple bone splinters) fractured tibia, with the tibial plateau collapsed.

It was noted that due to the complexity of the fracture and the difficulty involved in fixing such fractures, a pre-operative discussion among department consultants was arranged by the head orthopaedist.

Dr. Zou stated that based on the classification of the fracture as a Schatzker Type IV – a

classification that usually has a very bad prognosis – surgeons initially proposed that an anterior approach be used. This specific technique would have seen two large V-shaped incisions, that is, antero-lateral and medial, being made to expose the fracture.

However, this extensive approach many times leads to infection and skin necrosis because of its extensiveness.

The feasibility of using such

a technique was further challenged by the surgeons based on the fact that the fracture was extending posteriorly and as a result it was decided that a CT scan be done to further study the nature of the fracture.

It was noted that though an anterior approach seemed reasonable, based on the Schatzker classification, it was the surgeons’ belief that

this specific fracture seemed to be beyond the Schatzker classification. Resultantly, it was seen as necessary to study CT films before choosing a surgical approach. understands that the CT films showed that the location of the fracture was mainly posterior medial, thus it was determined that the “posteromedial approach” which is said to have been mentioned in many academic literatures, would be a suitable approach. With that being the agreed technique, Dr. Zou, who has experience using the posteromedial approach in China, along with Dr. Khan from the Orthopaedic Department was able to perform the surgery, the first of its kind, at the GPHC. It was noted that with the success of the operation at the GPHC, doctors were able to highlight the shortcomings of the Schatzker classification and benefits of the CT scan studies in assessing patients with such fracture patterns.

They also now have the capacity to treat future cases of tibial plateau fracture in a more accurate manner.

Added to this is the fact that the GPHC has recently acquired a CT scan machine, thus opening even more options for surgeons at the institution.

28 September, 2018

10

Bath woman suffered 20 years of abuse by husband prior to death, residents say While the police in Berbice are awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death of Chandrawattie Williams, whose body was found on Tuesday partially decomposed, neighbours and close friends disclosed that she suffered 20 years of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of her husband.

The body of Williams, also known as “Geeta”, 44, of Bath Squatting Area, West Coast Berbice, was discovered by her 13-year-old son on Tuesday around 6 pm in their house. However, sources close to the investigation told Stabroek News that no discernible marks of violence were noticed on the woman’s body and that several containers suspected to contain poisonous substances were seen around the area where the body was discovered. As such, in order to ascertain the cause of the woman’s death, a post-mortem examination is expected to be done sometime this week.

When Stabroek News visited the village, relatives and residents relayed that the woman suffered greatly at the hands of her husband, who is a driver and cash crop farmer.

The woman’s brother, Narampaul Mohan, 39, of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, relayed that last Sunday the couple’s son, 13, came to their house as he would normally do whenever his father would launch an attack on his mother. Mohan related, “The man is very violent when he drink, so when he drink the son does want get away cause he does want beat the boy too…

Sunday when the boy come he get away cause he been a beat

would often visit him may know of his location, while others suggested that he may be hiding out aback the village.

she”. Mohan explained that on the following Tuesday the child received a call from a relative informing him that his father wanted to see him at home.

However, upon arriving home, the child discovered his mother’s lifeless body in their bedroom.

“I tell the child bathe and eat and then go, so he go when place dark, so when he go now according to he, he see half of the door open and he close back the door and put on the light and when he go in the room he see he mother on the ground and he run out and then he start scream,” Mohan relayed.

“The boy say the father was there with a cutlass, the son is the last person to see him”, he further related.

While the father’s whereabouts are still unknown, residents suggested that his relatives who

Witnessed Meanwhile, residents in the area also noted that they too witnessed the man beating the woman on Sunday afternoon. One resident who lives close to the couple said, “Sunday she been a look after she garden and he beat she and that was the last time me see she”.

“If you hear how she a holla when he a beat she, that a normal for them, me call police nuff time.

Them police a come, me na go lie, but then she a go back with the man. Them police must be get fed up, sometime when them police come, he a hide,” another resident said. An elderly woman living in the area told Stabroek News that she was afraid to go on record because residents had been subject to verbal abuse from the suspect in the past.

“He does turn and cuss all them neighbour when abie talk for the girl,” she stated. The woman said that the man started to beat the woman on Saturday and continued on Sunday. “He been a beat she and she a holla in the house. She shaky; licks make she shaky…Me call the police and them say them disgust run and come and the boy a hide”, she claimed. “But police does come and he a run and hide in the bush”, she added.

Both Mohan and residents said that they would have encouraged the woman numerous times to separate from the man. Mohan noted, “All the time abie tell she left he, if he beat she, she a left he for a three month and come

here and when we na deh she get away and gone back…One time he beat she, chop she foot, one time he buss up she head, one time he chop she in she head and she does left and go back still”, the emotional brother said.

A resident related, “He beat she so bad till now when she a walk she a tremble and so, me does tell she lef am but this girl a go back all the time, he get that girl how she been so, she na mad or nothing, he beat she make she turn like da”.

Mohan noted that his sister herself had filed several complaints with the police, who would intervene and arrest the man but it would always end up with Chandrawattie not showing up to court or pleading to have the matter dropped.

Mohan said that sometime last week the husband also attempted to attack his son-in-law with a cutlass “and the boy get he lock up”. According to Mohan, the last time he saw his sister was when she visited sometime in August. “I can’t remember the last time I see the man, he don’t come around here, we don’t pay no attention to him”, the brother said.

Meanwhile, residents in the area spoke very kindly about the woman, who they stated was very helpful and quiet. “If you na talk with she you na hear she mouth”, one said. The resident noted that Chandrawattie would often assist her husband in the garden located in their yard, which he shares with his brother.

Chandrawattie is survived by four children, two of whom were fathered by her second husband.

Sharma calls for tighter security after Finance Ministry break-in The Ministry of Finance’s Main Street, Georgetown office was over the weekend broken into during which documents, datasaving devices and personal items were stolen and its Junior Minister, Jaipaul Sharma has since cited the need for tightened security at the premises.

Sharma last evening confirmed the break-in with Stabroek News but declined to provide details, noting that it’s an ongoing police investigation.

Staff at the ministry told this newspaper that the break-

in seemed to have occurred sometime on Friday night as when Saturday employees turned up for work they realised that documents and data- saving devices were missing and they immediately alerted their superiors who in turn called the police.

Sharma said there is definitely a need for tighter security at the Ministry. He said this is even more important since this is the Budget period and staff are working 24/7. He said that it is his understanding that the

contracted security firm failed to report the matter after it occurred. “I don’t know what was their excuse was but we definitely need to get tighter security at all times”, Sharma said.

He said a meeting will be set up with the security service to determine why no action was taken.

“I am sure they (security) must have heard some strange noise but they did not report the matter”, he noted.

“There is a lapse at the level of security. Maybe the security

company will say it’s a lapse on our side in terms of securing the building before persons depart and so these are the things we have to look into”, Sharma added.

Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman when contacted referred this newspaper to Assistant Superintendent and lead investigator into the matter.

Wright was at the scene on Saturday following the report and said that fingerprints were taken along with other evidence.

Investigations are ongoing.

28 September, 2018

11

Cabinet expects clear recommendation on way forward with RUSAL – Harmon MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon said the Task Force set up to address industrial relations issues, in the light of U.S.-imposed sanctions on the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) – a subsidiary of Russian Aluminum Inc. (RUSAL), is continuing its work.

At the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday, Harmon told the Guyana Chronicle that Cabinet expects clear recommendations that would guide how the company should treat with the more than 500 workers at its Aroaima, Region 10 worksite, in the event that it has to shut down its operations here.

“We expect that before that deadline expires, we will have a memorandum coming to Cabinet with clear recommendations as to what needs to be done,” he posited.

The minister added: “you see, a document does not just arrive at the Cabinet, it has to be studied by a member of the Cabinet, a minister, and a memorandum, impact, and all of these issues that Cabinet should consider; all of these have to be part of a memorandum which accompanies the report of any committee that has been established.”

The Guyana Chronicle understands that an interim report completed by the Task Force was handed over to the Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman. In the interim report, the Task Force recommended that the workers be given a similar payment

package that was applied by LINMINE, BERMINE and OMAI in the past. “Based on the decision of the companies to terminate their operations in Guyana, and since they have benefited from concessions given to the mining sector, they pay a similar package that was applied in the case of LINMINE in 1993 and onward, BERMINE in 2002 and onward, and OMAI Gold Mines in 2004, which means that the minimum pay for each year of service shall be equivalent to six weeks for each year of service to the maximum of two years’ pay in benefits,” the task force recommended in its interim report.

According to the report, workers’ representation by the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and People’s United and General Workers Union (PU&GWU) at BCGI and Oldendorff Carriers, respectively, has been fraught with challenges. As such, a recommendation has been made for Compulsory Arbitration in keeping with the Labour Act. Minister Trotman, while not acknowledging that he is in receipt of the interim report, told this newspaper last week, that a report would be submitted to Cabinet soon.

RUSAL BCGI has indicated to its managers that mining and shipping of bauxite at its Region 10 location would come to a halt from October 1, 2018.

28 September, 2018

12

Gas bottle explosion severely injures Kitty couple A Railway Line, Kitty couple is presently warded at the city public hospital after they sustained severe burns about their bodies during a gas bottle explosion at their home early morning.

Stabroek News understands that the incident occurred around 5.15 am at the bottom flat of the Lot 45 Railway Line, Kitty house, occupied by Meera Hemraj, 36 and her husband, Rabi Hemraj, 39. Reports are that the couple had just awoken and was in the kitchen when a gas bottle exploded as Meera was about to light the gas stove.

Rabi reportedly sustained burns to his arms and legs while Meera was burnt to her upper body.

They were both taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were treated and admitted to the Burn Care Unit, where they remained up to afternoon. Their conditions are listed as stable.

The incident has also left most of their bottom flat destroyed. When Stabroek News visited the scene, a number of persons were in the process of clearing up the area.

While sections of the concrete wall were still standing, almost every appliance was broken.

Clothing and other belongings were also scattered on the ground.

The Kitty Railway Line house where the explosion occurred in the bottom flat.

This newspaper was informed that Latchman Samaroo, an occupant of the upper flat of the house, reportedly related to the police that he was sleeping when he was awoken by a loud explosion coming from the kitchen area of the lower flat. As a result, he said he rushed down to enquire what was happening when he saw the couple with injuries to their bodies.

The gas bottle that reportedly exploded was also in the vicinity, he added.

A resident, Lall (only name given), told this newspaper that

he was one of the first to make it to the scene. Lall explained that he and a few of his relatives were just about to start preparing for a religious function.

“All of a sudden suh we hear a ‘boom’. I thought was something like a transformer went off but then when ah watch over the road, I saw smoke coming out of a building so I run across to the people them (Hemraj’s) and ask them wah the problem and then a girl (Meera) run out and seh that how the gas bottle go off and she get burn and she requesting to go to the doctor”, Lall explained.

911 He said he immediately tried to contact the 911 emergency system but got no answer. “….We call 911, we call the fire service, futile, because nobody ain’t answering the phone, nothing, so we ain’t get in contact with no one”, he said.

By this time, neighbours were alerted and they rushed over to render their assistance.

According to Lall, the occupants of the top flat were trapped in the house for a while since they could not find the key to open the door. “….So they had to come out ah some window at the side and then the neighbour go over with a fire extinguisher and try

fuh see…..but there wasn’t no fire, just smoke and then subsequently the neighbour go over back and bring a ladder to assist them to bring down the children….then a … guy go and he start, well he was trying to get inside right but when he realised that the front window have grill work he did lashing the glass so I tell he it aint make sense to break it and it got grill work”, Lall recalled.

He said they eventually made their way out of the house.

The Guyana Fire Service and the ambulance subsequently arrived by which time the victims were already transported to the hospital by a taxi.

Another resident, Esther (only name given) said she heard the explosion all the way from her Austin Street, Campbellville home.

Esther explained that she and her husband had just awoken when she received a call from a friend informing her of the incident.

“I does wake up early so after we heard the thing, we didn’t take it fuh nothing. We thought was some tyre did burst or something but after my friend call me from Shell Road and she ask me if I hear that fire deh pun the line top, I tell she no and then me and meh husband come out and go to see wah happen but when we reach we didn’t see no fire”, she related.

Esther said when she arrived at the scene, the injured Meera was seated in a car to be taken to the hospital. Rabi was about to join her, she added.

Meanwhile, another resident, Marlon Nurse, said the explosion shook his entire house. “Everybody get up and run outside…I couldn’t even think what was it because the whole house shook”, Nurse said.

He said when he exited his house, he noticed a man on the road who was shouting to the occupants to ‘Get out’.

The Guyana Fire Service and the police have since launched an investigation into the incident.

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28 September, 2018

Miller ordered to halt shipments after wrong rice sent to Panama The rice miller who was responsible for shipping 20 containers of rice that were rejected by Panamanian authorities has since been ordered to stop supplying pending an investigation, head of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Nizam Hassan says.

Speaking to Stabroek News afternoon, Hassan confirmed that 20 containers that were sent by the miller were rejected after the Panamanian authorities discovered parboiled rice instead of white rice.

Hassan explained that more than a week ago, the GRDB received communication from one of its representatives in Panama about a shipment being flagged. As a result, investigations identified a miller who was then given the directive to stop packaging rice at night.

After more shipments were flagged, the miller was then instructed to stop using his

facilities and then eventually ordered to stop shipments temporarily until the investigations are completed.

Hassan noted that this is the first time the GRDB has had a shipment of rice rejected from Panama and the situation is perplexing given that staff from the GRDB would have made their routine checks of the rice coupled with the fact that the miller is unable to offer any explanations.

The miller has since reportedly

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accepted responsibility for the mix-up and has also launched his own investigations.

Explaining the process, Hassan said the millers bag the rice at their facilities (although some who do not have bagging capacity would use other facilities), after which GRDB staff would do random sampling of the rice.

After the samples are taken and tested, the miller is then given the go ahead to load the rice (approximately 2,700 bags) onto the container.

After that is done, the GRDB fumigates the container, closes it and adds a sticker with all the relevant information. Another sticker is then attached by the miller, who would then deal with the logistics to ensure that the rice is shipped properly to Panama.

“We don’t know whether it is an operational issue, whether it could have been a mistake, or whether it was deliberate. We don’t know if something happened with the bags that were placed,” Hassan said, while also adding that they are unsure of the amount of parboiled rice that would have been shipped instead of white rice. This, he

explained, is because after the Panamanian authorities would’ve discovered the parboiled rice, they would have rejected the entire container.

When questioned about the consequences the miller would face if the GRDB investigations reveal that the parboiled rice was shipped deliberately, Hassan was unable to say. He explained that since it is an isolated incident and has never occurred before, a discussion of sanctions would have to be taken to the Board. However, he said it cannot allow such deliberate actions to be accommodated.

In order to rectify the problem, Hassan noted that the order will most likely be filled by another miller to fulfil the GRDB’s contractual obligations. He added that its staff will now be checking all the rice that is being prepared for shipment instead of conducting random sampling.

Hassan also sought to dispel rumours of the rejected rice being sent back from Trinidad before it reached Panama. He said this is not true and the GRDB does not have any reports of any similar incident.

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28 September, 2018

15

28 September, 2018

‘We hope GECOM will remove the candidates’ The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) succeeded in getting the names of a total of 169 backers of Local Government Elections (LGE) candidates for the Alliance For Change (AFC) in Region Six removed just before Wednesday’s deadline, according to party General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, who has alleged that they were victims of fraud and deception.

“We hope GECOM [the Guyana Elections Commission] will take steps to remove the candidates,” Jagdeo told his weekly press conference in Queenstown, Georgetown, where he also noted that 44 sworn affidavits were refused by the Returning Officers (ROs) in the region.

The removal of the names from the lists was effected before the midnight deadline on Wednesday, based on instructions ROs would have received from the office of the Chief Election Officer (CEO), following interventions by opposition-nominated commissioners of GECOM. Stabroek News made several attempts to contact GECOM’s public relations officer for an update on the cleansing of the lists but was unsuccessful.

In Crabwood Creek, Jagdeo said, many people were on the ground waiting for hours to get their names off the list but the RO was missing. Late in the day, he added, the RO finally accepted 36 affidavits. “Many are hardcore supporters of the PPP. Some of them are card bearing members of our party whose names were fraudulently used,” Jagdeo noted.

In Corriverton, 39 affidavits were accepted, while in Number 51 Village/ Good Hope, 43 were accepted, and in Whim/Bloomfield, 51 were accepted, he also said.

Based on reports coming out of those areas, Jagdeo said, some of the ROs were reluctant to give a receipt for the affidavits that were accepted.

In Number 52 Village to Number 74 Village, he said, 31 affidavits were refused by the RO and in Black Bush Polder, 13 affidavits were refused.

Jagdeo added that the PPP was awaiting word from GECOM to see how the issue in which people who do not want to be backers of lists, particularly of those opposing the PPP, would be dealt with. “We are following up where some of these ROs were openly partisan,” he said.

In Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands), Jagdeo said, in Tuschen, affidavits were also accepted: in Klien/ Pouderoyen, six; in La Grange/Nismes, 13; in Canal Polder, 10; in La Jalousie, 13 and

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In the case of Whim/Bloomfield, he claimed that the RO told the people who requested that their names be removed that they “have a confrontation” with the head of the list of the candidates to prove that they did not put their names on the list.

Huge problems If GECOM does not address this issue, Jagdeo said, “I foresee serious legal challenges. Nobody

can tell a citizen that they must back a list or a candidate they do not support.”

The PPP, he said, will be more vigilant across the country. “This is not like in the past when we were a little more trusting because we have seen how a pattern has emerged.”

In terms of getting the names off the list, Jagdeo said, the PPP experienced “huge problems” with the GECOM machinery itself.

28 September, 2018

16

Port Kaituma River water safe for drinking, GGMC report finds Following reports by the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) that tests on the Port Kaituma River had registered mercury contamination levels above WHO guidelines, a recent report from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has found that the presence of the metal in the river is not significant.

However, the report noted that high enough levels of mercury were found in the river sediment to indicate that aquatic species within the area may be affected. It was also noted, however, that further research would be required to provide evidence on this front and for an advisory to be issued regarding the consumption of aquatic species in the area.

Acknowledging the differences in readings, the report also recommended that not only are the results shared with GWI, but that the methodologies and results from the entities be compared. However, it should be noted that the GWI, after conducting follow up tests, had revealed that the mercury levels in the water of the River had abated.

They had also said that further tests would be done to ensure that the results stay the same, as well as tests in other communities that are near to mining operations.

A joint team from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the GGMC was sent to Port Kaituma in July after the Environmental Division of the Commission received a letter from GWI stating that they had tested the water being supplied to the residents of Port Kaituma from the Kaituma River, and found that it was contaminated with mercury in concentrations higher than the guideline set out by the World Health

Organisation (WHO).

The report related that as a result, GWI ceased pumping water from the Port Kaituma River and requested an intervention from relevant authorities. The investigation followed and a final report was subsequently produced.

“The findings of this investigation indicate that mercury concentration in the waters of the Port Kaituma River, near the GWI Pump Station, were not appreciable when compared to international guidelines for drinking water quality,” the report noted in its conclusion.

It said that with respect to the mercury analysis done on the river water samples, it was found that at all sample points the concentrations were within the WHO guideline of 0.006 mg/L with the concentrations ranging from 0.000016 mg/L to 0.000219 mg/L. The average concentration recorded was 0.0000761 mg/L. Even when measured against the drinking water Maximum

Contaminant Level (MCL) – 0.002mg/L – that is enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), it was found that all sample points were within the standard.

The report also noted that while the Canadian interim sediment quality guideline (ISQG), also known as threshold effects level (TEL), and the probable effects level (PEL) for mercury in fresh water sediment are 0.174 and 0.486 mg/kg dry weight, respectively, when examined, four samples were found to exceed the guideline value. However, all concentrations were below the PEL level.

This means that while the quality of the water was found to be safe, there were “high enough” levels of mercury contamination of the river sediment suggested by the findings to indicate that there may be some effect on the aquatic species in the area. Given the overall findings of the research, it was recommended that “Officers assigned to the mining districts

should undertake, where relevant, to ensure that sample points at and near pump stations or known water sources are included in their routine water quality monitoring. Further, the Environmental Division should endeavour to lead investigations to ascertain the status of rivers/ creeks within mining districts where GWI pump stations are located and where contamination from mining operation poses an imminent threat to the community.”

In terms of the methodology used to conduct the investigation, the report noted that a reconnaissance survey starting at the confluence of the Kaituma Canal and the Kaituma River, also known as Pump Creek, and ending at the Walabaka Creek was first conducted on July 26, and was done in order to ascertain whether there was any influence of mining in the river and to establish sample locations. After the survey was done, 11 sample points were selected and five team members were involved in collecting samples of water and sediment to be analysed for the presence of mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead. One sediment sample was taken at each of the 11 sample points using the Ekman grab sampler, while two water samples were taken at each point (for a total of 22 water samples).

Those samples were delivered to the Kaizen Environmental Services.

An additional five water samples for mercury had also been collected and were sent to the Act Lab last month.

For the other heavy metals – Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead – nothing unusual was found as the results of the tests showed that all three were well within the normal levels.

Ministry laments vandalising of traffic signs On Monday, 17 September 2018, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) says it was observed by two workers from the Ministry, while visiting the site of Schoonord Road leading to La Parfaite Harmonie on West Bank Demerara, that seven out of ten bump traffic signs and metal posts that were installed by Design Perspectives a few weeks ago were missing with only the foundation remaining.

A release from MoPI said that the ministry’s workers discovered that the Traffic Signs on

the Fourth Road Project are being vandalised.

In addition, the signs are bent and party flyers are pasted on some.

“The MoPI is calling on vandalisers to refrain from such activities since they ultimately inconvenience the citizenry by destroying much needed infrastructure”, the release said. Citizens interested in reporting any instances of vandalism are urged to contact MoPI’s Public Relations Department on 2270799 or the nearest police station, the release added.

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28 September, 2018

Severance payouts among priorities of new GuySuCo Board Chairman

Ensuring that the over 7,000 workers laid off by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) receive their severance payments and planning for current and future staff are among the top priorities of newly-appointed Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors John Dow. “We have to look at the severance situation and see where we are because we have a responsibility to our employees,” Dow, an engineer and agriculture expert, told Stabroek News.

“We have to plan but first we owe those workers the responsibility to ensure welfare is looked at,” he further stressed.

A large number of workers who were made redundant by GuySuCo at the end of last year received a portion of their severance at the start of the year, with a pledge that the remainder would be paid in the second half of this year.

President David Granger has assured that government’s promise to the workers will be kept. But with the end of September approaching and the payments still to begin, workers are anxious and have voiced their frustrations at having to wait on their legal entitlement.

Dow, who was announced as the Chair-man of the new board by Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Monday, said he has a meeting with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the corporation Dr. Harold Davis Jr on Friday and hoped to meet with the full board for the first time next week because he wants to start executing government’s plan for the three remaining estates soonest to ensure the company’s viability.

A member of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry, Dow has insider knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry and intends to leverage that along with the government’s plans for the industry to ensure that GuySuCo is both self-sufficient and profitable to the state.

During the hearings held by the CoI, it was revealed that none of the estates was turning a profit and the industry’s average cost of production was a whopping US$0.45 per pound of sugar.

Dow’s focus will be on ensuring that GuySuCo’s three estates realise their full potential and improve their previous harvests even as it upgrades its current infrastructure to suit the global

John Dow

trends. “We can do it and will need to improve our yields,” he said.

But immediately when he settles in to work, Dow said that having a direct word on severance for the workers would be a key task for him. The appointment of Dow, John Browman, Richard Cumberbatch, Paul Cheong, Fitz Mc Lean, Vishnu Panday, Ramesh Persaud, Nowrang Persaud, Roy Hanoman, Claude Housty and exofficio member Davis Jr. comes almost five months since the life of the previous board expired.

The life of the previous board came to an end on the last day of April. Government was to initiate the process to identify candidates to form a new board but there was a delay after it was advertised in March that Colvin Heath-London, who heads the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) overseeing the divestment of some of GuySuCo’s assets, was the new Chairman of the Board, with Komal Singh, Verna Adrian, Fritz McLean, Rosh Khan, George Jervis, Arianne McLean, Vishnu Panday, and Annette Arjoon also identified as directors. However, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan later clarified that Professor Clive Thomas remained the board Chairman as Cabinet had deferred a decision on a replacement. Cabinet documents appointing Heath-London and a new board had been sent out without approval of the full Cabinet and the appointments were subsequently rescinded.

Power struggle During the five-month period that the corporation operated without a Board, there had been

a tussle between the company and the SPU over its operations.

More recently, following reports that the SPU has been doing maintenance and rehabilitation work at shuttered estates, with one of the most recent projects being the rehabilitation of the Estate Lounge at GuySuCo’s LBI office, the corporation put out a statement saying that no one was authorised to undertake any works without its approval.

The Kaieteur News reported that Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited had suspended further financing from a $30 billion bond that it had financed through the SPU for works on the three GuySuCo estates after funds were misused to repay interest on a debt.

While the assets of the corporation were used to secure the bond, GuySuCo has no interactions with the bank since through the third party agreement the SPU is the trustee and is answerable.

This newspaper understands that the matter involving Republic Bank and the SPU was resolved last week.

The SPU has explained that GuySuCo must submit applications that are vetted to make sure it meets the approved criteria of the bondholders. It said that two disbursements have been made so far: one for $880 million and another for just over $1.1 billion. It stated that monies from the bond facility will be used to purchase equipment for production of white sugar, the development of co-generation plants and operational expenses.

It emphasised that the monies obtained from the bond facility were not acquired to facilitate the payment of debt.

However, senior personnel at GuySuCo have told this newspaper that it seems that the corporation was being penalised wrongfully and its recapitalisation works are being put on an “unnecessary hold,” which will further delay plans for the industry. One official said the company believes that the claim by the SPU that it spent outside of its remit was “in direct retaliation to what was written by one of our employees,” with the bank being caught in the middle.

“We have never seen the Trust Deed but have a plan which the SPU knows about and it is working according to that.

We were given $2 billion for operational expenses and used it

accordingly. When you see what has caused this whole matter, you would understand that the bank was probably told something else.

We do not communicate with the bank, so they are only told the SPU’s version. It is like a power of attorney agreement…,” an official said.

“This is being done in direct retaliation to what was written by one our employees, probably to give the impression that we are not competent to do what we said and frustrate the process— that we were given $2 billion and cannot manage it. Well, in the budget we are given billions and our books are audited annually and you never hear of any problems here. Let the records show for themselves,” another official added.

A senior government official blamed the crafters of the Trust Deed, saying that “ambiguous language leaves room for more than one interpretation and that would make both persons right.”

He said that “you cannot have a document such as Trust Deed and have words such as “reasonable” and those things in it. Who determines reasonable?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Dow said that he did not have all the details of events that have transpired and therefore would wait until he had all the facts on the matter before commenting.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder last week said that he expected that when the new Board is appointed, the tussle between GuySuCo and the SPU would come to an end. He said that the two sides would have the opportunity to meet “first to try to trash out any differences” before his or any subsequent Cabinet intervention.

Holder also reiterated that funds secured by the SPU would be used to undertake a three-phased approach in the revamping of the sector. “The funds are needed and will be used in a threephased project where the first is recapitalisation, then we move to white sugar [production] and last is co-generation. A state paper went to the parliament where it explained in detail where we were going and what would happen,” he said.

He pointed out that the assets of the corporation are in the “hundreds of billions of dollars” and he was optimistic that with the new Board in place “much will begin happening.”

28 September, 2018

18

Tobago Chamber boss sacked while on vacation Un­cer­tain­ty now sur­rounds the sta­tus of both the chair­man and vice chair­man of the Cham­ber of In­dus­try and Com­merce›s To­ba­go Di­vi­sion and ex­act­ly who is re­spon­ si­ble for the man­age­ment and con­ trol of the in­sti­tu­tion›s op­er­a­tions.

This af­ t er chair­ m an Claude Benoit was al­leged­ly oust­ed by the ex­ec­u­tive and vice-chair­man Mar­ tin George and a man­age­ment team were giv­en re­spon­si­bil­i­ty to steer the cham­ber for­ward dur­ing a reg­ u­lar month­ly meet­ing last Mon­day.

Con­tact­ed on the is­sue, Benoit con­firmed the sit­ua ­ ­tion, «Yes, I am, but I am await­ing a de­ci­sion from the head­quar­ter›s lawyers be­fore the next step is tak­en.»

Al­so con­tact­ed on the un­usu­al de­ci­sion, George said, «The vice chair­man and a man­age­ment team are fo­cused on the three im­por­tant as­pects of the Cham­ber›s man­age­ ment at this time.»

Pressed for clar­i­fi­ca­tion, George re­peat­ed his com­ment and not­ed that the cham­ber «is prepar­ing a pre-bud­get state­ment, a break­fast meet­ing with Com­mis­sion­er of Po­ lice Gary Grif­fith and a Cham­ber Can Cook event on No­vem­ber 3.»

Guardian Me­dia un­der­stands that news of Benoit›s oust­ing was sent to the Cham­ber›s Trinidad head­quar­ters via a let­ter dat­ed Sep­

tem­ber 12, six days be­fore Benoit re­turned to To­ba­go on Sep­tem­ber 18. In it, the rea­sons be­hind the de­ci­sion were stat­ed. They in­clud­ed «the way the Cham­ber is func­tion­ ing,» Benoit›s «ex­tend­ed ab­sence» and his «lack of com­mu­ni­ca­tion with the Cham­ber.»

How­ev­er, Benoit, a two-term As­ sem­bly­man, told Guardian Me­dia that when the Trinidad Cham­ber got the let­ter they im­me­di­ate­ly

called him to ask what was hap­ pen­ing. He said when he re­turned from va­ca­tion he got wind that ac­ tion was al­ready tak­en in To­ba­go and news of the de­ci­sion was «in the pub­lic do­main.»

Asked if he had vis­it­ed the To­ba­ go Cham­ber›s of­fice and done his any of du­ties since then, he said: «I have not been there.»

Asked if he was ac­cus­tomed to mak­ing de­ci­sions on be­half of the

cham­ber while abroad, the busi­ ness­man said: «Once I am out of the coun­try the vice chair­man does those du­ties and he has the pow­er to do every­thing that the chair­man can.»

Pressed on why a de­ci­sion might have been tak­en for his re­moval, he said since he was ap­point­ed in March he had at­tempt­ed to change the way the cham­ber was con­duct­ing busi­ness with the To­ ba­go House of As­sem­bly and Gov­ ern­ment.

«I have been an As­sem­bly­man and I know that ne­go­ti­a­tions and di­a­logues are im­por­tant if the cham­ber is to move ahead and I want­ed the cham­ber to go in a par­tic­u­lar di­rec­tion.»

He added: «I want­ed to set the stage for us to move for­ward.»

Asked how he felt about the sit­ u­a­tion, he said: «The bot­tom line is that it doesn›t look good.»

Guardian Me­ dia al­ so spoke with some cham­ber mem­bers, some of whom al­ so at­ tend­ ed the month­ly meet­ing where the de­ci­sion to re­place Benoit was al­leged­ly made. How­ev­er, all of them said the de­ci­sion was «news» to them. None of the mem­bers, how­ev­er, was will­ing to have their names or de­tailed com­ments record­ed.

28 September, 2018

the christian word

During the month of September, many churches hosted Back To Church events featuring the theme “You Belong Here.” This is an outreach to people who once were excited about attending worship services and Bible Study groups or classes. However, in recent times, their interest shifted, and they lost the passion for Christ and the Church. There could be many reasons for that, and yet, we need to get back to a strong relationship with Christ (the Head) and the Church (His Body). Additionally, this outreach seeks to encourage every person in America to go to church where they would learn the Word of God, increase their faith, love Jesus more, and build friendships in the fellowship of Christians.

THE GATHERING OF SAINTS IS IMPORTANT TO JESUS The Bible teaches the principles of a community of faith in Jesus Christ. That means people who gather together often and share common beliefs and goals. Jesus said He will build His Church.

The New Testament teaches Jesus gave gifts to the Church, including Pastors who are spiritual leaders to shepherd the flock. All of this means Christians need to go to church. Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Our mission is to take the gospel to the world. How can we fulfill this mission without full cooperation of the entire Body of believers? How will people who need the love and power of Jesus see the importance of ministry in Church if we show lack of interest.

Jesus is building His church and He is calling us back to the flock.

SOME REASONS PEOPLE SAY THEY DON’T GO TO CHURCH Some people have lost interest in church attendance for a wide variety of reasons. Some say the church is full of hypocrites. To some, church is a business or an entertainment show. Others think church leaders want their money. There may be some who were hurt by someone in church and they don’t want to confront that person, so they stay away or simply lost confidence in all church leaders. Families may be concerned that the church does not have something to offer their children.

Church services are boring or too long for many. Questions arise as to what the church is doing for

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“UNLESS THESE MEN STAY WITH THE SHIP, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED”

the community. Still others may say they are looking for the “right church.” Now, let’s think about it. The church has imperfections because all of us are imperfect.

An imperfect person cannot justly critique another imperfect person.

What we really need is an attitude that supports each other in spite of short comings. Indeed, church leaders must present themselves as people of integrity. That has its price to pay, but it honors the Lord and appeals to the congregation.

When it comes to money, let’s be honest. The church has expenses and who should support its facilities where our families are blessed?

Remember God’s promises, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38.

GOD IS STILL WORKING ON HIS PEOPLE As we sit under sound Bible teaching, the Holy Spirit changes us from full of imperfections to becoming a little more perfect every day. Think of Noah’s ark. It was not a comfortable and sweet smelling place like a hotel or cruise ship. It was full of a variety of animals. That means it was not sweet smelling. There were no comfortable beds as we have. The fact was, the ark was the best place to be at the time. You would rather endure that discomfort inside than be outside the ark. church could bear some similarities. We may not

* This page is for Non-Profit, educational and intellectual purposes for the community.

like everything, but we are prepared to stick with it and encourage each other as we grow in faith, in godly character, and in proper relationship with fellow believers in Christ. We must persist in prayer, Bible study, fellowship and fulfilling our mission of taking the gospel to people who don’t know the Savior.

IT IS BETTER TO BE INSIDE LOOKING OUT The title of this article comes from Acts 27 where Paul and many others were in a ship in the midst of a terrible storm. Paul had told them at the start not to sail because they would be in danger. Since he was not a sea-faring person, the Centurion believed the captain’s recommendation and ordered the ship to set sail. We can learn many lessons from that. We sometimes ignore what God is saying to us and we follow the advices of others contrary to God’s desires for us.

God showed Paul that every life will be saved although the ship will be lost. The Apostle saw some men trying to jump ship using the small life crafts. He shouted to the Centurion that the men must stay in the ship or their lives would be lost. The storm raged for fourteen days. They were terrified. A lot of hurt and loss could be avoided if we only listen to good advice. With social deterioration in today’s world, there is much dysfunction in society that we want our children to avoid. We must protect our families from the corruption, crime, violence, sexualized culture, drugs, hatred and anger. Therefore, we must stay in the ship, that is, get

firmly attached to the Church and the presence of God. Parents, make sure you bring your children to church often so they develop good habits and enjoy good relationships in church.

GOD’S MERCIFUL PROVIDENCE PULLS THINGS BACK TOGETHER God in great mercy saved every person on the ship. Despite tough circumstances, they all reach shore safely because the Centurion finally listened to Paul directions. We are blessed to know God forgives us of our wrong choices and He pulls things back together for our good.

Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” He is great and wonderful. He is able to steer us back on the right track if we call on Him. You might think it is hard for God to forgive you. You might think God can’t pull you out of that group you find yourself in or the trials you are going through. God can!

Your future does not depend on your past if you are trusting Jesus.

Listen, the best place to be is in the ship. Come back to church with a commitment to develop yourself and be used of God until Jesus comes again. Take your family back to church this weekend.

Pastor Haniff Bacchus Calvary Assembly of God 102-07 Rockaway Blvd, Ozone Park, NY 11417 Tel. 718-659-4500www. calvaryozone.org

28 September, 2018

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28 September, 2018

Ria’s parents tell all to Commissioner Griffith Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith visited the parents of missing Ria Sookdeo on Tuesday.

He heard the pain her parents have endured since their daughter was dragged out of her vehicle and taken away in September 2016.

Frankie Rajkumar, her father, said he was grateful that Griffith made time to visit the family.

“I cannot reveal what was discussed but I want to say thank you to the Commissioner of Police for taking time to visit us and talk about Ria. Since the incident happened we have been pleading with the then Commissioner of Police to speak with us on the incident. I am very thankful to Mr Griffith,” he said.

Commissioner Griffith disclosed that he met the Sookdeos while speaking on a morning programme on Wednesday.

He also declined to give details of the meeting or the status of the case. Rajkumar said his family was hopeful that Griffith would solve the case of his missing child.

“I hope something good comes

Never found: Ria Sookdeo

FLASHBACK: Mark Sookdeo, the husband of abducted mother of two Ria Sookdeo reacts on learning about the missing hairdresser in September 2016.

out of this,” he said.

Following the safe release of kidnap victim Natalie Pollonais, Rajkumar had made a public plea for Griffith to review his daughter’s case.

Suspect held in $1 million ATM robbery Estate Constables, who were restocking an ATM, were approached by three armed assailants who announced a robbery.

The suspects then relieved the Constables of eight bins containing an undisclosed amount of cash and two loaded firearms from the victims, before escaping in a silver Police officers at the crime scene where a Republic Bank Limited Nissan X-Trail motor ATM was robbed at St. Helena Junction on Monday. vehicle.

The vehicle was Police say they have arrested a found abandoned at Centeno 38-year-old man in connection Road, El Carmen Village, St. with the robbery of three security Helena, without registration officers who were at the time plates. CCTV footage showed the replenishing a Republic Bank suspects switching into a white Limited ATM, in the Caroni Hyundai Tucson motor vehicle district on Monday. and making their escape.

The suspect, a labourer Enquiries led to the 38-yearof Trincity, was arrested by old suspect being arrested, after officers attached to the Cunupia officers found the same white and Chaguanas Criminal Tuscon parked in the driveway Investigations Departments of the suspect’s Trincity home.

(CID), around 11a.m. on Monday.

Both vehicles were seized, The incident occurred around processed and discovered to 12:10pm at the St. Helena have been reported as stolen.

Junction, when three armed Cpl. Steve Rajoo, of the Cunupia G4S Secured Solutions Limited CID, is leading enquiries.

Sookdeo, a mother of two, was abducted near her children’s primary school by men dressed in police tactical gear on September 22. Her handbag, cellphone and one side of a pair of slippers were

left behind.

Police interviewed several people in connection with Sookdeo’s disappearance but no one was arrested. No ransom was demanded for the 34-year-old hairdresser.

Rajkumar said he was confident that Griffith would be able to “crack” his daughter’s case.

He said, “I want my child to come home and I want to know why she was taken. This has been a difficult time for us and we are still praying that she would return home safely.”

28 September, 2018

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Town Clerk leased land not owned by City Hall to shipping company Town Clerk, Royston King leased a parcel of land to a shipping company, but the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Georgetown Municipality says that land is owned by government’s holding company for State assets.

Chairman of the one-man Commission of Inquiry into City Hall’s administration, Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard that the probe would focus, on among other things the leasing of the land under the Town Clerk’s signature.

“Among the matters I have to deal with are the financial affairs of the City Council…the granting of a lease to a shipping company by the Town Clerk. This land is being claimed by NICIL (National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited). The area of land is 1 Lot 1 Mudlot, Lombard Street, Georgetown,” Kennard said.

In documents seen by Demerara

President David Granger presenting Justice (Ret’d) William Ramlal with his instrument of appointment shortly after being sworn in.

Waves Online News, the Town Clerk signed a lease agreement on April 5, 2016 for the land at an initial cost of GY$625,000.

By September of that year, the evidence before the Commission

of Inquiry is that the company realised that the land was owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the government holding company.

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City Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreen several months ago had confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News that City Hall had contracted a local firm to valuate several Demerara River wharves, partly with the objective of leasing a number of the facilities for use by the oil and gas sector.

The Commission of Inquiry Chairman said the probe would also focus on the non-remittance of National Insurance Scheme social security contributions, income tax and credit union deductions.

A number of retired employees of the City’s municipality on Monday testified that they were owed gratuities and experiencing delays in the payment of pensions.

The Inquiry, according to Kennard, would also deal with a complaint by then Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan that Mayor ChaseGreen had “improperly rejected a motion of no-confidence against the Town Clerk”.

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Venezuelan woman freed of gun charges after cops kill friend A 21-year-old Venezue­lan woman, who was charged with firearm and am­mu­ ni­tion pos­ses­sion af­ter her friend was killed in an al­leged shootout with po­ lice in March, has been freed.

Mag­is­trate Re­han­na Ho­sein dis­ missed the charges against Moni­ka Jerez-Gon­za­lez dur­ing a hear­ing in the Port-of-Spain Mag­is­trates’ Court.

Ho­sein’s de­ci­sion was based on com­ plaints from Jerez-Gon­za­lez’s lawyer Criston J Williams over the fail­ure of the po­lice of­fi­cer, who charged her, to at­tend hear­ings of the case.

The mag­is­trate al­so con­sid­ered that pros­e­cu­tors had no wit­ness­es ready to tes­ti­fy al­though the case was list­ed for tri­al. Pros­e­cu­tors had al­so failed to dis­close the ev­i­dence against JerezGon­za­lez dur­ing pre­vi­ous hear­ings, as re­quired un­der the Crim­i­nal Pro­ce­dure Rules.

Af­ter the de­ci­sion was hand­ed down, an emo­tion­al Jerez-Gon­za­lez thanked Ho­sein and the Ju­di­cia­ry for ex­pe­dit­ ing her case.

Jerez-Gon­za­lez, who main­tained her in­no­cence since be­ing charged, al­so claimed that po­lice fab­ri­cat­ed the case against her.

Ac­cord­ing to po­lice re­ports, around

11.30 pm on March 28, Jerez-Gon­za­lez and her 31-year-old friend Mar­co An­ to­nio Gon­za­les, al­so from Venezuela, drove past a road­block in Diego Mar­tin and failed to fol­low in­struc­tions from po­lice to stop.

Po­lice claimed they were shot at when they even­tu­al­ly in­ter­cept­ed the ve­hi­cle along St Lu­cien Road. They re­turned fire and wound­ed both friends.

Gon­za­les died on the scene while Gon­za­lez, who was shot in her face, was tak­en to the Port-of-Spain Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal for treat­ment.

A quan­ti­ty of Unit­ed States (US) cur­ ren­cy was al­leged­ly found on Gon­za­ lez, while the loaded gun was al­leged­ly found in­side the car.

An au­top­sy per­formed Gon­za­les’ body showed that he died from six gun­shot wounds—one in the back of the neck, four times in the mid-back re­gion and one to the low­er back.

The cou­ple was vis­it­ing T&T to pur­ chase food items to ex­port his coun­try, which is in the throes of an eco­nom­ic and so­cial cri­sis. Gon­za­les’ body was flown to Venezuela for his fu­ner­al.

Jerez-Gon­za­lez was al­so rep­re­sent­ed

by Kavi­ta Roop-Boodoo.

Dr Raj can sue Customs in sex toys impasse Busi­ness­man and sex ther­a­pist Giri­raj “Raj” Ram­nanan has been giv­en the green light to pur­sue a law­suit against the Comp­trol­ler of the Cus­toms and Ex­cise Di­vi­sion over the seizure of three ship­ments of sex toys and oth­er para­pher­na­ lia. De­liv­er­ing an oral rul­ing at the Hall of Jus­tice in Port-of-Spain, High Court Judge Ricky Rahim grant­ed Ram­nanan leave to pur­ sue his ju­di­cial re­view law­suit against the di­vi­sion.

In the law­suit, Ram­nanan, the own­er of To­tal Im­age Lim­it­ed, is claim­ing the di­vi­sion is act­ing il­ le­ gal­ ly in its de­ lay in bring­ ing pro­ceed­ings against his com­pa­ny to for­feit the al­leged­ly pro­hib­it­ed items. His lawyers, Jagdeo Singh, Di­nesh Ram­bal­ly, Kiel Tak­lals­ingh and Ka­ri­na Singh, con­tend the Cus­toms Act re­quires the di­vi­sion to bring such pro­ceed­ings with­in a rea­son­able time af­ter a seizure.

Be­fore grant­i­ng leave, Rahim asked the di­vi­sion’s lawyer, Har­ richa­ran Kassie, about the al­leged de­lay. Kassie could not im­me­di­ate­ ly jus­ti­fy it be­fore Rahim.

Rahim gave Ram­nanan’s lawyers un­til Oc­to­ber 9 to file the claim and ad­journed the case to No­ vem­ber 1. Ac­cord­ing to an af­fi­ davit from Ram­nanan at­tached

to the ju­di­cial re­view ap­pli­ca­ tion, he pur­chased and shipped the pack­ages to Trinidad be­tween Au­gust and No­vem­ber, last year.

The pack­ages, to­geth­er val­ued at US$1,045.27, con­tained con­doms, pe­nis pumps, whips, vi­bra­tors and dil­dos. The pack­ages were seized by the di­vi­sion’s en­force­ment unit for con­tain­ing pro­hib­it­ed items.

In Feb­ru­ary, Ram­nanan and his at­tor­neys met with Cus­toms of­fi­

cials over the ship­ments and were of­fered to plead guilty to the il­le­gal im­por­ta­tion of the items or face for­fei­ture. How­ev­er, no for­fei­ture pro­ceed­ings were filed and the items were not re­turned.

While Ram­nanan elect­ed to not plead to the charges, he ad­mit­ted he had done so with oth­er ship­ ments in the past. But say­ing he did so be­grudg­ing­ly, Ram­nanan said: “How­ev­er, on the ma­jor­i­ty

of oc­ca­sions the very same items would be re­leased af­ter be­ing ini­ tial­ly de­tained by Cus­toms be­ cause the pre­sid­ing Cus­toms Of­ fi­cer was of the view that the very same items were not breach­ing the law and not in­de­cent or ob­scene.”

Ram­ nanan claimed his busi­ ness has suf­fered as a re­sult of the seizures.

In ad­di­tion to de­c­la­ra­tions that the di­vi­sion act­ed il­le­gal­ly and an or­der seek­ing the im­me­di­ate re­ lease of the items, Ram­nanan is seek­ing fi­nan­cial com­pen­sa­tion for the loss­es he in­curred.

The is­sue of the le­gal­i­ty of im­ port­ing sex toys arose last month af­ter e-couri­er Web Source is­sued a no­tice to its cus­tomers warn­ing that such in­ti­mate items fell un­ der the di­vi­sion’s list of pro­hib­it­ed items. The list in­clud­ed oth­er con­ ven­tion­al con­tra­band, in­clud­ing drugs, firearms and cam­ou­flage cloth­ing.

But Fi­nance Min­is­ter Colm Im­ bert re­spond­ed to pub­lic furore over the is­sue, say­ing there was no law di­rect­ly pro­hibit­ing the im­por­ ta­tion of such items. How­ev­er, he not­ed it was with­in the di­vi­sion’s purview to de­ter­mine what con­sti­ tut­ed in­de­cent or ob­scene items un­der the leg­is­la­tion.

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28 September, 2018

Petrotrin’s past, Guyana’s future?

Tropical Storm Kirk: CAL, LIAT cancel flights Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and LIAT announced the cancellation of a number of flights, as a strengthening Tropical Storm Kirk moved closer towards the Lesser Antilles.

CAL said BW 434 (Trinidad to St Lucia), BW 435 (St Lucia to Trinidad), BW 412 (Trinidad to Barbados) and BW 413 (Barbados to Trinidad) have been cancelled.

Stray bullet kills woman watching TV

CARICOM headquarters location, Guyana, is among those closely following the debate over whether the Petrotrin refinery in Trinidad and Tobago should be shut down or not.

In their case, the reason is self-evident: Guyana will shortly be producing a great deal of crude oil offshore and will need somewhere to refine it.

PM defends Sandals deal

THE GOVERNMENT’S Tobago resort deal with Sandals Inc could close off by the end of November, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said on Sunday.

Government has also issued proposals for the construction of a massive marina in Tobago and should have some initial details of the project to share in the next fortnight, the PM said. The Prime Minister also again defended the arrangement against claims by the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) and other critics that the sweetheart deal was a giveaway of local assets to the international hotel chain, founded and run

by Jamaican businessman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

A WOMAN hit last week by a stray bullet while watching television in her Barataria home has died at hospital. Bissoondaye Seemungal, 56, died at the Port of Spain General Hospital on Monday where she was warded since she was injured on September 16.An autopsy found that she died from a gunshot wound to the back.

Seemungal lived in North Barataria. Seemungal was sitting in her living room with her husband

and son when around 9.10 p.m. they heard explosions. Moments later, the woman complained of a burning sensation to her back, and then saw blood emanating from that area. An ambulance took her to PoSGH, and she underwent surgery.

A doctor listed her condition as satisfactory. However, she succumbed to her injury and died on Monday. Police visited her home and found a small hole in her wooden front door.

CWI to hunt ‘comparable’ coach as understudy to Stuart Law

Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron says he is hoping for a “seamless transition” following the shock resignation of the regional men’s team head coach Stuart Law. The Australian said Monday

he would leave the post at year end, following tours of India and Bangladesh in the coming months, to take up the head coach position with English County Middlesex starting next January.

Building quakeresistant homes

CONTRACTOR Emile Elias wants to talk about earthquakes. Specifically, he wants to talk about the 6.9 earthquake that shook up the country on August 21, 2018.

“Make no mistake,” he says, “that earthquake was a wake-up call for all the people of T&T.” NH Construction executive chairman Emile Elias, St Joseph Member of Parliament Terrence Deyalsingh, HDC chairman Newman George and Housing Minister Edmund Dillon tour the Mahagony Court construction site in Mt Hope earlier this month.

28 September, 2018

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Questions over Divali date: Is it correct?

DEBATE has again followed Government’s declaration of the observance of Divali 2018 in Trinidad and Tobago, with one Hindu organisation claiming its given date of November 6 is off the mark.

The Sanatan Vidwad Vidyalaya Hindu School of Theology has questioned the manner in which Government decides on where its advice will come from, as to the dates of some events on the Hindu calendar.

Head of the School of Theology, Pandit Vishnu Narine, in a Letter to the Editor of the Express on Republic Day, said “unfamiliarity with the basic tenets of lunar calculations (Tithi) coupled with carelessly interchanging solar and lunar data may well be the reasons for this continuous grave error”.

Narine said proper calculations have shown that the festival of Lights should be celebrated in T&T on November 7.

“For yet another time, our

Hindu population is being subjected to the heart-rendering situation whereby it is misguided on the date for Divali 2018.

Hindu Shaastras (Law Books) clearly declare that Divali ought to be celebrated on the day which ushers in the sunset of the New Moon in the month of Kaartik (October/November). That date is wednesday 7th november, 2018,” Narine said. Narine said it should

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be noted that places East, West, North and South of T&T, outside of India, are observing Divali on Wednesday 7, November.

These include Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, England, Guyana, Suriname, the United States and Canada, he said.

“The intelligence of the wider Hindu population should not be insulted by declaring dates without proper consultation. The

proper observance of Utsavas (auspicious days) help to shape the Hindu mind so that he/she becomes an exemplar within the family, and aspires to improve the social fabric with the goal of creating a progressive nation,” Narine said. “We implore those mandated with the relevant responsibility, to rectify the situation.”

Divali 2018 was declared in a statement from the Ministry of Communications last week.

The release stated that: “Her Excellency, President Paula-Mae Weekes, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Holidays and Festivals Act, has appointed Tuesday 6th November, 2018 as the date of the public holiday in celebration of the festival of Divali.”

The Office of the President directed queries to the Ministry of Communications, where a representative said the annual date is advised by a group of leading Hindu organisations.

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28 September, 2018

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PM, UNC in fake oil scandal uproar “Come out­side and say dat!”

That was the chal­ lenge Prime Min­ is­ ter Dr Kei­th Row­ley and oth­er PNM MPs threw out to the Op­po­si­tion UNC, as both sides clashed loud­ly on Row­ley and the AV Drilling com­pa­ny in Petrotrin’s “fake oil” scan­dal mat­ter.

The noisy ex­changes were part of ’s last day of the Third Ses­sion of the Par­lia­ment that pro­rogues. The Fourth Ses­sion be­gins. clash arose when UNC MP Roodal Mooni­ lal ques­tioned Row­ley on whether files and doc­u­ments con­cern­ing the “fake oil” scan­dal in Petrotrin had been se­cured since the re­ fin­ery was clos­ing. Row­ley said Petrotrin’s board was man­dat­ed to se­cure all as­sets, in­clud­ing files and doc­u­ments.

Mooni­lal asked Row­ley oth­er queries on the mat­ter, in­clud­ing press­ing Row­ley on whether he had any busi­ness or per­son­al in­ter­est in AV Drilling or the scan­dal.

Row­ley replied, “If you think the Prime Min­is­ter has any busi­ness in­ter­est in there, come out­side and say dat!”

PNM MP Fitzger­ald Hinds al­so shout­ed (and kept on re­peat­ing), “Go out­side and say it!”

UNC MPs shout­ed back, “Call (Po­lice Com­ mis­sion­er) Gary (Grif­fith) for pro­tec­tion!”

PNM MPs re­tort­ed, “Leh we go out­side!”

UNC MPs, in­clud­ing Op­po­si­tion Leader Kam­ la Per­sad-Bisses­sar, con­tin­ued re­ply­ing, with UNC’s Rudy In­dars­ingh de­clar­ing, “We want no bad johnism in here!”

Deputy Speak­er Es­mond Forde warned every­ body, “I’ll not tol­er­ate any out­bursts like that again ever in this Cham­ber.”

Forde par­tic­u­lar­ly cau­tioned Per­sad-Bisses­ sar, In­dars­ingh and PNM’s Colm Im­bert.

Al­so, Min­is­ter in Pub­lic Util­i­ties Max­ie Cuffie de­liv­ered a per­son­al ex­pla­na­tion to MPs on his re­cent year-long ab­sence from Par­lia­ment.

Speak­ing in a soft­er, slight­ly lilt­ing voice than

he had pre­vi­ous­ly, Cuffie con­firmed he’d suf­fered a stroke on Sep­tem­ber 5 last year and was hos­pi­talised at Port-ofSpain Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal and lat­er the St Clair Med­ical Cen­tre, since the PoS­GH lacked a drug he need­ed. He added that he went abroad for fur­ther med­ical at­ ten­tion.

He thanked PNM col­leagues and Row­ley for their “tremen­dous sup­port” and Per­ sad-Bisses­sar for her wel­come back, as well as UNC’s Dr Fuad Khan. Cuffie said he’d met a staunch UNC sup­port­er who said Khan had told her to pray for Cuffie as he was a good man. Cuffie al­so not­ ed oth­er UNC state­ments which he said sought to have his time away cut short, though Khan had de­fend­ed his leave.

“I recog­nised it (state­ments) as a ploy to weak­en my po­si­tion, but I was al­ways guid­ed by the Holy Spir­it - that’s why I’m here,” Cuffie said, thank­ing “...God for the un­de­served kind­ness that led to my re­cov­ery.”

“As we move to the Fourth ses­sion of Par­lia­ ment, I’ve vowed to serve my con­stituents and the peo­ple of T&T in this and fu­ture ses­sions of Par­lia­ment - by God’s grace.”

Par­lia­ment’s Fourth ses­sion of the fiveyear term be­gins at 1.30 pm. Both the Up­ per and Low­er Hous­es of Par­lia­ment will meet si­mul­ta­ne­ous­ly. It will not be a cer­e­ mo­ni­al open­ing.

Mom of six strangled—autopsy

Suspect held in $1m ATM heist In less than 12 hours, po­lice ar­ rest­ed a 38-year-old man in con­ nec­tion with Mon­day’s over $1 mil­lion heist at a Re­pub­lic Bank Lim­it­ed ATM in St He­le­na, Pi­ar­co.

In­tel­li­gence re­ceived led in­ves­ ti­ga­tors to the sus­pect’s Trinci­ ty home at about 11 pm that same day, where they al­so found a white Tuc­son be­lieved to have been used in the rob­bery parked in the sus­pect’s dri­ve­way. The sus­pect is said to be a labour­er.

The ve­hi­cle was im­pound­ed and it lat­er con­firmed it was re­port­ed as stolen.

The oth­er ve­hi­cle used in the rob­bery, a sil­ver Nis­san X-trail, which was the ini­tial get­away ve­

hi­cle used by the sus­pects, is al­so be­ing processed by crime scene in­ves­ti­ga­tors. That ve­hi­cle, which bore no li­cence plates, was found aban­doned in a bushy area at Cen­teno Road, El Car­men Vil­lage.

Ac­cord­ing to a po­lice re­port, at about noon on Mon­day three armed men, who an­nounced a rob­bery, ap­proached three armed G4S Se­cured So­lu­tions Lim­it­ed es­tate con­sta­bles who were re­ stock­ing the ATM. The guards were re­lieved of their guns and eight bins con­tain­ing the mon­ey be­fore es­cap­ing in the sil­ver Nis­ san X-Trail.

Cpl Steve Ra­joo of the Cunu­pia CID is lead­ing en­quiries.

Po­lice’s sus­pi­cion that Williamsville moth­ er Tri­ cia Far­ row was stran­gled to death on Sat­ur­day was con­firmed by an au­top­sy at the Foren­sic Sci­ence Cen­ tre in St James.

How­ev­er, in­ves­ti­ga­tors have to wait for the re­ sults of vagi­nal swabs tak­e n from Far­r ow’s body to de­ter­mine whether she was raped.

Mean­while, no one has been ar­ rest­ed for her mur­der al­though her fam­i­ly is point­ing fin­gers at a rel­a­ tive who was ac­cused of rap­ing and al­most killing her six months ago.

A fam­i­ly mem­ber said that it was dif­fi­cult for them to sleep on Mon­ day night fol­low­ing the dis­cov­ery of her body.

Be­sides her death, they said it was trau­mat­ic know­ing that the per­son who com­mit­ted to the odi­ ous crime was still roam­ing their vil­lage freely. Far­row, 44, of Morne Rush, Williamsville, was found on Mon­day at an un­oc­cu­pied house along Hill View Dri­ve, about 50 me­ tres from her home.

A re­port said when the own­er went to the house around 8.50 am he saw a body on the ground and im­me­di­ate­ly went to the Gas­par­il­

lo Po­lice Sta­tion. He re­ turned with a team of of­ fi­cers who found Far­row, a moth­er of six, ly­ing on her back at the side of the house.

A belt was fas­ t ened around her neck and at­ tached to the drainage pipe. Her pants and un­ der­wear were re­moved.

She was last seen alive by her fam­i­ly around 1 am Sat­ur­day, when she went out­side to in­ter­vene in an ar­gu­ment be­tween her broth­ er Ty­rone and an­oth­er rel­a­tive. Ty­ rone told the T&T Guardian that af­ter he was struck with a piece of brick he went home, leav­ing Far­row and the rel­a­tive stand­ing un­der a street light about 30 me­tres from where her body was lat­er found.

Far­row’s son Ker­win Ban­do said six months ago, a neigh­bour alert­ ed him and his fa­ther to some­one scream­ing in the bush­es. When they checked, they found Far­row ly­ing par­tial­ly naked in the bush­es gasp­ing for breath.

It was less than 30 me­tres from where her body was found on Mon­ day. Weeks lat­er, he said she had a con­fronta­tion with a rel­a­tive and shout­ed out that he had raped and tried to kill her. How­ev­er, she nev­er re­port­ed the in­ci­dent to the po­lice.

31

28 September, 2018

Wo rld News Highlights Japan braced for high winds and heavy rain as a typhoon roared north on Friday, enveloping outlying islands in high seas before taking aim at the rest of the nation and raking across its biggest main island at the weekend.

escalating pressure campaign against Beijing that Washington is pursuing on multiple fronts, senior U.S. officials said on Thursday.

A U.S. government probe into Myanmar’s campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority was not aimed at determining whether genocide or crimes against humanity had been committed, but those responsible could still be held accountable for those crimes, a top State Department official said on Thursday.

Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson called on Prime Minister Theresa May to rip up her proposal for Britain’s exit from the European Union, ratcheting up the pressure on May as she prepares to face her divided party at its annual conference next week.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday it had killed four militants at the Saravan border crossing with Pakistan in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Fighting to salvage his U.S. Supreme Court nomination, Brett Kavanaugh angrily denied on Thursday a university professor’s accusation that he sexually assaulted her 36 years ago in a day of dramatic testimony that gripped the country.

A flotilla of small boats rescued all 47 passengers and crew from an Air Niugini flight that crashed into the sea short of the runway at an airport in the tiny South Pacific nation of Micronesia on Friday, the airport’s manager said.

Italy’s new government proposed a 2019 budget that would set a deficit target three times as big as the previous administration’s goal, setting up a clash with the European Commission and sparking a sell-off of state bonds.

China still has to address a series of “weak links” in enforcing pollution rules, the environment ministry said on Friday after publishing its latest investigations into the compliance records of seven provinces and regions.

Supreme Court lifts Sabarimala temple ban on women of menstruating age like pummelling punchbags bearing photographs of some of the main players like Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker.

China still has to address a series of “weak links” in enforcing pollution rules, the environment ministry said on Friday after publishing its latest investigations into the compliance records of seven provinces and regions.

Lawmakers from Mexican presidentelect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s party submitted a constitutional reform bill on Thursday that would allow for a referendum to cut short the six-year presidential term, a promise he made on the campaign trail.

Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance on the revival of television comedy “Murphy Brown” on Thursday, joking about her experience with emails in an episode that took jabs at President Donald Trump and the media.

As China winds down for a week-long national break, the country’s graft watchdog has sent officials happy holiday wishes - with a twist.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said the United States has failed to comply with the timescale agreed for the withdrawal of Kurdish YPG militia from northern Syrian city of Manbij, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday described what he said was a secret atomic warehouse in Tehran and accused Europe of appeasing Iran as he sought to rally support for U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The numbers in Italy’s budget document announced on Thursday are not written in stone, an offical of Italy’s ruling League party said on Friday.

Texas on Thursday executed a man convicted of kidnapping a woman in 2000 and choking her to death while he was driving, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a last-minute appeal by his lawyers who argued the death was an accident.

The Italian president called the Economy Minister on Thursday to ask him not to resign after the government targeted a budget deficit of 2.4 percent for the next three years, several newspapers said.

Londoners fed up with Brexit can vent their rage with a special gym routine that includes high-intensity exercises

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday that U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet was welcome to visit any time after she urged Caracas to allow an international investigation of the humanitarian situation in the country.

The Rohingya issue should not be complicated, expanded or “internationalised”, China’s top diplomat said, as the United Nations prepares to set up a body to prepare evidence of human rights abuses in Myanmar.

Christine Blasey Ford began her testimony in front of a Senate committee by saying she was “terrified,” and at times she looked it.

President Donald Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court went before a Senate committee on Thursday, with dramatic testimony over almost nine hours from Kavanaugh and from a woman who has accused him of sexually assaulting her when they were high school students in Maryland in 1982.

The United States is working on a counter-offer to stop Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] from building internet infrastructure in Papua New Guinea, its top diplomat to Australia said on Friday.

Ryanair is bracing on Friday for another strike by staff as walkouts in six European countries, mainly cabin crew, force flight cancellations that will disrupt the plans of more than 40,000 travellers.

Britons would vote 52 to 48 percent in favour of remaining in the European Union were there to be another Brexit referendum, showing only a small change in public opinion since the 2016 vote, according to a poll of polls.

Canadian legislators, in a symbolic move, on Thursday voted unanimously to strip Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary citizenship in response to crimes committed against the Rohingya minority.

President Donald Trump’s accusation of Chinese meddling in upcoming U.S. elections marks a new phase in an

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday he could relinquish his plans for more ambitious spending in order to secure passage of his government’s 2019 budget in parliament, an important test for his four-month-old minority government.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said on the eve of talks with President Tayyip Erdogan that Germany wanted to work with Turkey economically, but added she would also raise sensitive issues of human rights and prisoners with him.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned members of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that they must “set the example” by enforcing sanctions on North Korea as China and Russia suggested the council consider easing the tough measures.

The Israeli military on Thursday released a video clip and photos of what it said were Hezbollah Shi’ite militia rocket building sites in Lebanon.

Germany has an interest in an economically stable Turkey, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, adding that she also wanted to discuss critical issues such as human rights during her upcoming talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday he had had a frank discussion with his Iranian counterpart about detained British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and that he would not let the matter rest.

The Kremlin on Thursday cast doubt on photographs that appeared to show a suspect in the Skripal poisoning case was a Russian intelligence officer, saying that “many people look alike.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called on the United States to reverse its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and cuts in aid to the Palestinians, saying these had undermined the two-state solution to the conflict.

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

32 ARIES (March 21-April 19) A Full Moon in your sign has you focused on your personal needs in the context of your relationship. You might need to confront where you’ve been a little bit too selfish at the expense of your partnership. If you remember that the key word in relationship is “relate,” you’ll have an easier time adjusting to the demands of a partnership. Sometimes you feel like you’re better off alone so that you can do your own thing and not have to deal with all of this diplomacy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) The faith you have in your partnership is about to intensify in the most incredible way. If you’ve been on the fence about where this connection is going, wondering whether or not the two of you are really on the same page about the big picture topics, this week everything changes. You’ll suddenly know with every fiber of your being that yes, this is the person who is meant to be your person. You’re finally ready to love harder than you have in quite some time.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) A dramatic shift in your social life is possible because of your love life.

In a very real way, it’s possible that your circle of friends is changing because of a new person you’re dating. You might be spending more time with couple’s friends rather than your single friends, and this week one of your single pals might express a real problem with this. You might realize that the two of you no longer have as much common ground as you once did, and if so, it’s possible that you’ll begin to distance yourself from this person.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Your love life is about to receive a kick in intensity that is like adding a bunch of spice to your favorite recipe, and then needing to recover from the mouthful of deliciousness you ate. Your lover might show a surge of possessive -- even obsessive -behavior toward you that stems from his or her insecurities. At first, you’ll be flattered ... maybe even turned on. Once the initial excitement of being so desired wears off, however, you’ll start to notice the red flags behind this behavior.

Remind your sweetheart that love and control are two different things entirely.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Passionate communication with your partner is on the agenda, and the two of you are definitely going to feel sparks from your mental connection. You might share a bright idea with your lover and ask him or her to be your sounding board as you flesh it out.

Or, the two of you might be talking avidly about your relationship and where it’s heading. If you have any kind of contract to sign together such as one for a pre-nuptial agreement, a business contrac,t or even a home purchase, you’ll have an edge. Go for it!

VIRGO (Aug 23- Sept 22) Something about your love life scenario is leaving you feeling off.

You’re not feeling any lighthearted, passionate vibes from your lover. In fact, you might be getting the cold shoulder. In some cases, you’ll discover that your sweetheart wants to take a break from your relationship in order to figure out what he or she truly wants. This news will come as a serious blow to your ego and your heart -- especially since you would rather stay together. Curate more self-love this week and do your best to give your partner his or her space.

LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct 22)

28 September, 2018 CAPRICORN (Dec 22 Jan 19)

When there’s a Full Moon in your partnership sector, you know it’s going to be an eventful week in your love life. This Monday, that’s exactly what you can expect. Sure, it might be a dramatic turning point for you and your love, but it doesn’t necessarily have to mean a break. It could be a complete illumination about the current situation you’re in together and a sudden knowing of what needs to happen next. Although you and your partner are likely to be more sentimental and reactive about things, it’ll be clear that something has to change.

One of your friends might be way too pushy when it comes to your personal life. He or she seems to think that they have an exclusive right to meddle, and to offer you extremely intimate advice when it wasn’t even asked for. Be aware that this week that particular pal of yours might go into overdrive. You might have to set things straight. Adding to this, it’s possible that you’ll hear emotional news from a family member.

You might need to lean on your partner for support.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18)

On Sunday your ruler, Pluto, will turn direct after having been retrograde for several months. While Pluto has been retrograde you’ve been re-considering the impact your words have on others, including your lover. The intensity and sometimes severity of your speech might have been too much for your partner to handle.

Over the last few months, however, you’ve had a chance to regroup and figure out how to communicate without intimidating your partner. Now, you’ll realize that this approach makes you even more powerful than ever.

SAGGUTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21)

This week you might be ready to tell your lover that you’re completely “ride or die” for him or her.

The love you feel might have become so passionate and so intense -- and so fast -that you never even saw it coming. You might also be over-the-moon excited to discover that your sweetheart genuinely wants to get to know you -- and all your unique traits -- in the deepest way possible. Yes, Sagittarius, someone is definitely into you. All in. And you reciprocate the feelings, that’s for sure.

Not wanting to deal with a legal matter between you and your partner will only frustrate you more this week. Perhaps you’re going through a separation or divorce. If so, it’s possible that you have to endure the not-so-happy time period of going to court in order to divide assets and figure out the logistics of it all. You might really feel the stress on Tuesday concerning this. Fortunately, by Thursday you’ll have a surge of motivation to get this phase of your life over with so that you can turn the page. It’s time.

PISCES (Feb 19 - March 20) You’re not going to settle for anything less in love than being treated exactly as you know you’re worth being treated. If you’re in a situation where you don’t feel as if you’re number one in your partner’s eyes, then you might be ready to call it quits. In some cases, this has to do with you realizing that your partner is struggling to choose between you and another person he or she has feelings for. Once you process that this is your reality, you might walk away. You’re not going to be anyone’s second choice.

The weekly horoscopes are updated on every week to gives you an in-depth insight into your family, your love life, any career opportunities, friends and money issues.

28 September, 2018

Entertainment News

33

Lady Gaga Flaunts Rumored Engagement Ring While Wearing Victorian Gown At ‘A Star Is Born’ Premiere Lady Gaga showed off her rumored engagement ring while slaying the red carpet of the premiere of ‘A Star is Born’! Check out the photo of her enormous bling right here!

Not only was Lady Gaga was the spitting image of Elizabeth I at the premiere for A Star is Born, but she also rocked some regal jewelry on THAT finger. That’s right, the singer was spotted wearing a huge pink rock rumored to be an engagement ring from her beau Christian Carino. While the two are rumored to have been engaged since November, 2017, they haven’t confirmed that they’re set to get hitched. However, that ring she was wearing was definitely conspicuous. Check out a close-up photo of Lady Gaga’s engagement ring below and judge for yourself!

Rihanna Touched That Chris Brown Wants To Help Her After Home Burglary – Will She Let Him? After Rihanna’s Hollywood Hills home was robbed on Sept. 25, ex-boyfriend Chris Brown wanted to play detective. RiRi has already decided who she’ll be turning to for help, HL has EXCLUSIVELY learned.

Rihanna, 30, is counting on help to figure out who broke into her Hollywood Hills home on Sept. 25. Chris Brown, 29, volunteered for the search team, as we’ve told you on Sept. 26. And the offer didn’t go unnoticed, we now learn!

“Rihanna is really freaked out and frightened by this second break-in at her home,” a source close to the Anti singer EXCLUSIVELY shares with HollywoodLife. The first break-in was committed by 26-year-old Eduardo Leon in May, who was arrested for felony stalking and burglary. But the perpetrators of this week’s crime remain unidentified. “She’s relieved she wasn’t at home at the time but feels violated knowing strangers have been in her house. She feels vulnerable, so knowing that Chris wants to step in and handle this for her really hits her in the heart. She appreciates that he still cares so much.”

But will the Fenty Beauty CEO take up Chris’ offer? The “Look At Me Now” rapper has

already charged his security team with the task of finding out “who is messing with [Rihanna] and breaking into her place,” a source close to Chris EXCLUSIVELY told us on Sept. 26. But remember, Rihanna is the epitome of a boss lady. She’s got the situation under control, as she’ll be relying on her own intelligence.

“She’s having her own team handle this, they’re looking at ways to beef up security,”

our source now reveals to us. “She already has a very sophisticated security system, but her team is looking at what other options they can implement to secure the home further.” RiRi’s security system does need beefing up, because in addition to the two break-ins, her alarm was “accidentally triggered” on Aug. 13, which caused a fleet of LAPD cars and a helicopter to rush to her abode, TMZ reported.

Rihanna even has a last resort. “And if they don’t feel satisfied, she may sell her home because her safety and security is number one,” our source admits. “She is terrified of another break in, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

Before Rihanna jumps to putting her house up for sale, she does have some clues. The Los Angeles Police Department’s public information officer, Jeff Lee, provided more information about this week’s home invasion. “Prior to officers arriving, it looks like three black males fled the location.

They are still outstanding,” the officer told USA on Sept. 26. “Just like any other burglary, officers will sift through video surveillance to identify these guys and if there is no luck they will release the videos to the public to identify responsible parties,” Lee continued to explain.

28 September, 2018

34

MOMENT

ACTUALLY

OR PUBLICITY STUNT?

2k18 has been the year of wardrobe malfunctioning through out Hollywood, but it’s everyone’s worst nightmare to be onstage in your underwear! Of course, for h’wood celebrity entertainers, many performance outfits are nothing more than flimsy lingerie, and there are few stars that have experienced average folks’ worst fear while onstage. But the question that pops up in mind that whether it was actually a wardrobe malfunctioning or a publicity stunt? Because whether it was severe camel toe or a nip slip, these stars managed to keeps their cool while performing basically in the nude! And there are few incidents that make us ponder upon it for instance in 2004 singer Janet Jackson masterminded the Super Bowl halftime stunt that left her right breast flashed in the audience as told by the head of MTV. “Janet Jackson engineered it.” - Tom Freston, MTV Chief Executive

Halsey

Britney Spears

Oops she did it again! 36, years old Britney Spears, has had quite a few onstage wardrobe malfunctions in her day — especially as of late. With the minimal coverage, all that dancing onstage it’s bound to happen! Britney gave quite a flash show on July 23, 2018 but she kept it calm at her Radio City Music Hall show, and kept on dancing! This one wasn’t as bad as the malfunction she experienced a few weeks prior in Maryland. Where she was seen taking a moment to adjust her top while on stage, but one of her nipples remained exposed. She kept on dancing. But on July 23 Britney’s entire boob and nipple were visible through her black bra and she didn’t even notice it until two minutes.

In July During a concert at the Bold Point Pavillion in Providence, Rhode Island, accidentally Halsey showed a little more than was planned. At one point her outfit failed to contain her breasts as they eventually ended up busting out of her outfit. Halsey didn’t mind wardrobe malfunction and continued like a true pro. Later Halsey took to twitter.

“Sorry my boobs came out of my shirt tonight I’m gonna fix it but also ur welcome I guess u got ur money’s worth lmao” -Halsey

Cardi B

Poor Cardi B, also suffered problem with the wardrobe at VMA awards few months back, where her breast came very close to popping out of her gorgeous pink outfit while she was giving a speech on stage.

Fortunately, it didn’t happen but was close! One similar wardrobe incident took place on January 20, this year, when she gave an entire performance with her hand in front of her crotch

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj very well knows that the show must go on, accidentally on September 2, 2018; the 35-year-old rapper exposed her breasts as she performed at the Made in America Festival in Philadelphia. Minaj in a belted mini dress was shimmying with her long orange hair in a top knot when the front of her dress fell open. Like a true ‘Queen’, she flawlessly handled it and covered herself up and continued on dancing.

The 26 years old, undergone a major wardrobe malfunction when his jeans ripped in front of a humongous crowd as he performed some serious choreography to “Hit The Quan.” It all went down during his Sunday night; show in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Aug. 23, 2015. He was showing off some epic dance moves.

Initially everything seemed fine but when he turned from one side o another drastically there is a major hole in the crotch of his pants. Even though he knew about the hole in his pants, he kept the performance on like a true professional.

Chris Brown

35

28 September, 2018

#MeToo hits Bollywood: Priyanka Chopra, Twinkle Khanna, Farhan Akhtar tweet in support of Tanushree Dutta right now. To be alone, questioned.

«No woman wants publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity. What happened to her on set was intimidation. Her only fault was she did not back down -- (that) takes a special courage to be Tanushree Dutta.»

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted: «India in general does

MUMBAI: Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Hansal Mehta among many others have come out in support of actress Tanushree Dutta, who has spoken up about her sexual harassment at the hands of veteran actor Nana Patekar on a film set a decade ago.

Tanushree, a former beauty queen, who had first raised the allegation against the actor in 2008, brought the spotlight once again on her unpleasant experience of working with Nana during the shooting of «Horn ‹Ok› Pleass ..

While speaking to IANS, Tanushree said it was because of Nana›s powerful position as a National Award winning actor that her voice had remained suppressed for so long.

Here›s what the celebrities have tweeted: Priyanka Chopra: Agreed..the world needs to believe survivors.

Farhan Akhtar, who has launched a social campaign Men Against Rape and Discrimination or MARD in 2013, re-tweeted a string of posts by an eyewitness about the details of Tanushree›s ordeal.

«This thread is very telling.

Janice (Sequeira, who at that time was with a news channel) was there at the time of the incident being debated. Even when Tanushree Dutta had career concerns to keep quiet 10 years ago, she did not. And her story has not changed now. Her courage should be admired,not her intention questioned,» Farhan said Sonam K Ahuja said, «I believe #TanushreeDatta and @ janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s upto us to stand together.»

Actress Richa Chadha wrote that «It hurts to be Tanushree Dutta

not have a conducive work environment. Mental harassment, abuse and predatorial behaviour by people in positions of power are prevalent and considered perks of being in power. Years of oppression and colonial rule have permanently altered our DNA.»

28 September, 2018

36

MARVEL REVEALED IT’S FIRST CHOICE FROM B’WOOD

DEEPIKA FEARS SLIPPING INTO

DEPRESSION AGAIN

New Delhi: Deepika Padukone has always been vocal about her mental illness, in fact she was completely transparent about her battle with depression, and recently at a discussion titled ‘Finding Beauty in Imperfection’, organized by FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) explained that while opening up, her aim was not to look ‘brave’ and she felt it was important for her to share. “For me, coming out with my experience and sharing it with the world really was about being honest.

At that point, four years ago, I didn’t think about it as being brave. There wasn’t much awareness…even we weren’t familiar with what I was going through. There was also this feeling that, ‘Maybe we should not talk about it and keep it hush.’ So there was a lot of stigma.”

–Deepika Padukone Further ‘Padmaavat’ actress also said that sharing things to world made her feel that “huge weight is off my shoulders”.

“I felt completely transparent. There was no fear of being judged, and I think it just made me a much happier person. It made me understand how fragile life is. It’s made me much more sensitive to people’s thoughts, feelings and emotions.” –Deepika Padukone Deepika explained that everyone has a story, and people should not be quick to judge and label others. “We very easily judge people and label them. Everyone has a backstory.... it is very easy to pass a judgment. But when you understand what someone has been through, it just makes you a lot more aware of the people around you.” –Deepika Padukone “Because it was such a bad experience for me that I’m always aware now. Obviously, that fear of slipping into it again is there. I would never want to experience that again.” –Deepika Padukone

New Delhi: Be it television shows or movies, Marvel has formed a huge fan following among India audience in the past few years so much so that , despite all the big Bollywood releases Avengers Infinity War is still the biggest earner in 2018 so far.

Since Marvel has done excellent business in India, Marvel has plans to please its Indian fan base by adding a pinch of Indian Culture in Marvel movies. “I think in the next few years Marvel is going to try to create characters with a real toehold in Indian culture. I think that’s going

to be an exciting thing for Marvel. My hope is that the fan in India feels just as much part of the Marvel universe as some kid in New York.” - Stephen Wacker, VP – Creative Development, Marvel Not just this Stephen further revealed that there is one actor from bollywood who had to be in the Marvel project with Indian taste.

“If we make Indian content, we have to put Shah Rukh Khan. He has to be in it.

I can’t speak for the movies. If we have stories set in different countries, the goal is always to use actors from that part of the world.” - Stephen Wacker

SUSHANT TOPS

INSTA BLOCKLIST Mumbai: Reel life Dhoni, actor Sushant Singh Rajput is one of those celebrities who is vastly active on social media site. He is very fond of interacting with his fans; in fact the state is that none of his fans goes disappointed from his account. But recently Sushant was temporarily blocked from Instagram›s commenting feature.

The actor after getting blocked took the screenshot of the message

by Instagram that read that he was misusing the feature.

“It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast. You›ve been temporarily blocked from using it.

We restrict certain content and actions to protect our community.

Tell us if you think we made a mistake.” –Screenshot read It seems like that it’s not for the first time the actor was blocked by the application as he captioned the screenshot with“Why do I get blocked all the time @instagram? I’m REAL and I am replying to

my friends in REAL TIME. And yes there are many replies per minute as I’m efficient. What’s the problem?”

Sushant replies to as many comments as possible on his post, well, this might be the excessive use, Instagram was referring to.

37

28 September, 2018

caribbean

Connection

Man Does Not Live By Sugar Alone - A Balanced Diet Is More Important Than Singling Out Individual Nutrients Or Foods I was recently messaged an excerpt about the Government›s plan to remove bullas from school.

This also contained a long list of comments from persons who are undoubtedly much upset and affected and do not agree with the decision.

The message noted that the minister of education told teachers «Bullas and all those things will be withdrawn, generally, from the market, and it (approved food items) had to be whatever products are very much consistent with the Government›s nutrition policy».

It goes on to note that manufacturers would get a standard on sugar content to operate from.

One noted comment was, «You write from a place of speculation and unverifiable wishful thinking, based on your own experiences that you are projecting on to others. You don›t get to choose what others eat unless you are paying and even if you did, no one has to follow your DICTATES.» So enlightening!

I imagine that I was sent this message to ‹tease› a response from

bread, despite having more sugar.

The highest calories are in the low sugar bread, with the highest total carbohydrate, which will all turn to sugar anyway, once inside the body.

me, and, I admit it was successful.

So let me try to shed some light on those things.

As said previously, it is when calories taken in exceed body needs that underpin obesity, the main risk factor for diabetes and most chronic non-communicable disorders, whether the calories come from so called ‹healthy or unhealthy food›.

So let›s examine the products for the evidence, ensuring that we are comparing ‹like with like› such as common types of different breadstuff at the same weight, as shown below. This shows that the sweet product, bulla, is less ‹fattening› (calorie dense), than the low sugar bread and the nutribun has less calories than the wheat

NO NUTRITIONAL BASIS I hope, therefore, that sugar is not the only criteria being used to assess food products. From my perspective, there ought to be more concern about the level of sodium in the low sugar bread, which could aggravate high blood pressure.

Will we then ban all types of ‹breadstuff› from the market, for being fattening, including banana bread, pumpkin and carrot bread, corn bread?

There is no nutritional basis to ban those things from our shelves.

At this rate, we will bring back undernutrition, and added to anorexia (from fear of eating) in our youth. There should be no concern about displacing local agriculture, as this would target cooked meals.

Perhaps these named breadstuff could be reassigned, to nourish our ‹budding› student athletes, as

they would be most appropriate as ‹after-school pre-training nourishment›.

Given the emphasis on the sports product, we need to ensure that our athletes are properly nourished, thereby, enhancing performance.

Further, standards can be misleading when they do not consider nutritional requirements in its totality.

Often, emphasis on only socalled ‹healthy foods› merely create imbalances. For instance, some medical practitioners still insist that patients abandon all ‹red meat› in favour of fresh fish (which, of course, the population fries). In addition, the lack of red meat in the diet has these same patients taking iron tablets to correct the anaemia which resulted, and randomly using a number of alternative ‹healthy› imported foods that contribute to the obesity.

When will we return to the concept of the balanced diet for ‹healthy› eating, rather than singling out individual nutrients or foods?

Argentinian, Chilean Embassies Join For Splendid Wine Dinner

Back in February 2016, GraceKennedy Limited entered the wine market with the launch of Harbour Wines and Spirits. Since then, customers and consumers alike have been able to experience a wide range of wines with a variety of tastes to meet every palate and pocket from countries such as Argentina and Chile.

On Monday, specially invited guests were given a tour of South America with the very best wine the region has to offer, from the Maipo Valley in Chile, to the Andes mountain range in Argentina.

The occasion saw the Argentinian and Chilean embassies joining forces with Harbour wines for a wine dinner at the residence of the Chilean Ambassador, Francisco J. Bernales. The evening was a dream, finally realised by Argentinian Ambassador to Jamaica Areil Fern·ndez.

With Patricia Guzman, wine

ambassador of Concha y Toro for the Latin American region, in the island, she was the perfect captain for the gastronimic fare - six-course meal prepared by Culinary Federation of Jamaican›s chef Patricia Jose Malcolm with a capable team including Junior Chef of the Year Stephaun Farquarson and noted executive pastry chef Lincoln Peterkin.

These delectable dishes were paired with Vina Maipo Vitral Sauvignon Blanc, Trivento Reserve Chardonnay, Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, Vina Maipo Limited Edition Syrah, Trivento Golden Reserve Cabernet Franc, and Vina Maipo Protegido Cabernet Sauvignon. Tying it all together with dishes including lobster served in a coconut shell topped with corn chips and toasted pepper flakes or a Jamaican-style Beef Wellington, it was a feast for the palates.

(From left) Jason Clarke; Cecile Levee, owner of Wine With Me and Melarka Williams, CEO Ingenuity Technologies.

28 September, 2018

38

Region urged to track progress of Tropical Storm Kirk BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — A tropical storm warning has been issued for Barbados and St Lucia after depression Kirk regenerated into a tropical storm over the Western Tropical Atlantic on Wednesday.

A tropical storm watch has been in effect for St Vincent and the Grenadines as Kirk, with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, is located 470 miles east of Barbados and 595 miles east south east of the French island of Martinique.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in its 5:00 am (local time) bulletin, said the centre of the storm was located near latitude 11.8 North, longitude 52.7 West and is moving toward the west near 18 mph.

The NHC said that a westward to west-northwestward motion is expected through Friday night and that on the forecast track,

Kirk is expected to approach Barbados and the northern Windward Islands Thursday afternoon and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea by Friday morning. It said that the winds

could strengthen as Kirk moves through the central Lesser Antilles Thursday afternoon and evening. Rapid weakening is expected on Friday after Kirk emerges over the Caribbean Sea.

The NHC said that tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the warning area

by Thursday afternoon, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

“Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by Thursday afternoon or evening,” it said, adding that Kirk is expected to produce total rainfall totals of four to six inches with maximum totals of 10 across the northern Windward and southern Leeward Islands from Barbados and St Lucia northward across Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe.

“These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.» September is usually the peak month for Atlantic hurricanes, recording more hurricanes in that basin than any other month on record.

The hurricane season ends on November 30.

Jamaica Customs on target to implement WTO agreement The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) has demonstrated its full commitment to implement the provisions of the World Trade Organization›s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), evidenced by the incorporation of these provisions into the agency›s three-year corporate strategic plan (2018-2021).

The TFA came into effect or was entered into force, in February 2017 and is the first multilateral agreement in the 21-year history of the WTO, and marks a new phase of trade facilitation reforms globally. It contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for cooperation between Customs and other authorities on trade facilitation, compliance issues, technical assistance and capacity building.

Implementing the TFA in Jamaica The process towards full implementation of the TFA is already underway, and is supported by the National Trade Facilitation Task Force, as stipulated by the agreement. Category A notifications became immediately binding, upon entry into force of the TFA, and should not present significant challenges for Jamaica, as these provisions are largely being practised.

Jamaica is positioned to increase its capacity in a number

assistance, and will require a transitional period following the agreement›s entry into force.

of key areas that will enhance trade facilitation and allow for greater efficiency in its Customs operations. Through commitments by developed countries and donor institutions, Jamaica should be able to fulfil its TFA obligations, and has notified its Categories B and C commitments as capacities allow.

Category A Under the TFA, developing and less developed countries› members are to notify the WTO of which provisions they will implement upon entry into force.

Such provisions do not have a transition period, and are called Category A notifications. Category A notifications are determined based on self-designation, and

become binding on members upon the agreement›s entry into force.

Category B Category B notifications are those provisions that will be implemented after a transitional period has passed, following the agreement›s entry into force. The principle of self-select is used to determine the implementation date for Category B provisions which would then become binding upon the member state. These are typically provisions which the member only requires time to be able to implement.

Category C Category C notifications are those provisions that will be implemented upon the acquisition of capacity through technical and financial

Implementation of the TFA generally The agreement sets out a broad series of trade facilitation reforms, comprising 12 core provisions which should be immediately implemented by all developed country members upon its entry into force. The TFA prescribes measures to improve transparency and predictability of international trade, creating a less discriminatory business environment. Its provisions include improvements to the availability and publication of information about cross-border procedures and practices, improved appeal rights for traders, reduced fees and formalities connected with the import and export of goods, faster clearance procedures and enhanced conditions for freedom of transit for goods.

The TFA is a significant multilateral agreement for developing and less developed countries (LDCs), as it provides these members with the ability to establish their own implementation timetables for the agreement, based on their capacities to do so.

The TFA was ground-breaking for developing and LDC members of the WTO, as implementation of its provisions was based on national capacity. Additionally, the TFA provides support for developing and LDC members in building their capacities, which is entrenched in the agreement.

39

28 September, 2018

Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records to the world

As Usain Bolt›s Tracks and Records restaurant prepares to launch in November, the chain is looking at breaking into the Japanese market ahead of the 2020 Olympics.

The company has been receiving interest coming out of Japan and will be heading there following the London launch to discuss potential opportunities for Tracks & Records in Japan.

Usain›s move to Australia to play football has also generated great interest for a Tracks & Records Australia.

“The company is actively looking at the possibilities to really take Tracks and Records and brand Jamaica to the world,” FRANJAM Managing Director Gary Matalon told the Jamaica Observer.

Usain Bolt will be travelling to London in November for the official launch party of the first Usain Bolt›s Tracks & Records Jamaican bar, restaurant and late lounge in the United Kingdom.

The Jamaican-chain restaurant is 12,000 square feet and will have a soft opening on October 10. It will be the first of 15 restaurants to be opened across the UK over the next five years.

Split across two floors, downstairs boasts a stylish bar, dancefloor and club where reggae music and live DJs play until late, alongside a Jamaican-inspired chill-out area to immerse guests in the island›s vibes.

Upstairs the restaurant will sit 175 people, and standing about 300 comfortably.

Downstairs has a total capacity for 250 people with 180 in the main room, 25 in the boardroom and 45 in the Appleton room.

“Currently the focus is very much on the launch of the first Tracks & Records in London with the plans for the other 14 locations across the UK to be announced in due course.

However, we have looked at potential locations including Birmingham, Brixton, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Manchester and

several others across the United Kingdom.,” Matalon told the Business Observer via e-mail.

SME Group PLC, the UK franchise owner, was founded in 1982 and the company portfolio has grown to operate various franchises including KFC, Pizza Hut Home Delivery, Costa Coffee, Warren›s Bakery and hotels. After 36 years, the company is now diversifying its portfolio further to introduce innovative and authentic new, full-service and fast-casual concepts to the UK. Offering an authentic slice of Jamaica in the heart of the capital, Tracks & Records will be located a few minutes walk from Liverpool Street Station at 94 Middlesex Street, E1 7EZ. It will be open from 11 am until midnight Monday to Wednesday and until 1 am Thursday to Saturday. The train and tube station is the third largest in London and is at the centre of the City, London›s financial district – packed full of offices and busy pubs, bars and restaurants.

“After much success

with our Tracks & Records restaurants, we›re delighted to be opening in the UK. I believe this signifies the first time a local, home-grown concept has evolved into becoming an international franchise and this further confirms Brand Jamaica›s potential and gives us widespread hope that we can export many other Jamaican brands through this business model,” Gary Matalon said.

The unique space features a mix of bold flavours with Usain›s sports memorabilia and a soundtrack of reggae and dub, courtesy of live DJ sets from some of the leading names from the UK circuit.

Designed to give guests a real taste of Jamaica, diners can enjoy his favourite dishes, the release says, such “as jerk chicken and pork and fried fish and bammy – all packed full of authentic seasonings and spices”.

The rum bar features a carefully curated, extensive collection of more than 150 global rums – of which 100 are Jamaican, the release says.

The menu also offers an array of signature cocktails including traditional favourites and a new range all exclusively created for London.

Throughout the space guests will feel fully immersed in Usain›s world as, alongside the trademark Tracks & Records dishes and drinks, the unique interiors have been created with his style in mind – including a slick bar, modern wall art and vinyls, as well as exclusive Bolt memorabilia throughout.

“Our new location, in the heart of the capital, is the perfect spot for friends to get together and embrace Jamaican culture by enjoying traditional flavours, while dancing the night away,” Matalon further stated.

Usain Bolt said: “London is my second home and a place very close to my heart – so it›s brilliant to be sharing a taste of Jamaica in the capital.”

This is the UK›s first Tracks & Records restaurant, with three others in Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.

28 September, 2018

40

The UWI ranked among the top in the world The University of the West Indies has broken into the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for the first time.

The 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings has ranked The UWI among the world’s top institutions.

According to a statement from The UWI, the rankings show that The UWI is located among the 1,258 top universities in world for 2019.

This puts The UWI in the elite band of the top 5 per cent of universities worldwide based on data showing that there are over 25,000 recognised universities, globally. Specifically, Times Higher Education ranked The UWI at 591 out of the 1,258 universities which made the list. The UWI is the only Caribbean institution on the world-wide list. It was also the only Caribbean university ranked earlier this year in THE’s 2018 Latin America University Rankings, in the region that is home to over 100 universities contributing to sustainable development.

In 2015, when Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles took over the reins, he declared an

intention to radically globalise the University and to prepare it for regional and global comparisons within the THE’s rankings. This required the considerable mobilising of the evidence relevant to its academic legacy and current strategic agenda as a strategic project.

Vice-Chancellor Beckles, in establishing an Office for Global Affairs, and giving a remit to the redesigned Office of Strategic Planning, recognised the need for The UWI to be competitive internationally within a global sector. The Vice-Chancellor’s vision to have The UWI

recognised within the top 5% of the best universities in the world has now been realised.

Elated about the news, ViceChancellor Beckles said, “The excellence of The UWI has been a well-kept secret for far too long.

Now, with these very impressive global ranking results, we can begin to share with the world the story of this academic enterprise in the West Indies that highlights the intellectual achievement and scholastic contributions of the Caribbean community.”

Regarded as the definitive list of the top universities, THE’s World University Rankings is the only

global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across their core missions of teaching (the learning environment); research (volume, income and reputation), international outlook (staff, students and research); citations (research influence); industry income (knowledge transfer). The 70-year-old regional university, which is relatively young among its counterparts in the World Rankings, scored in the top 10% of universities (#290) for its international outlook and in the top 30% (#370) for research influence.

The UWI’s exceptional performance in the 2018 Latin America University Rankings and now the 2019 World University Rankings demonstrates a series of deliberate strategic initiatives advanced by the implementation of the University’s five-year strategic plan for 2017-2022. Themed the Triple A Strategy, the plan is centred around widening Access to quality tertiary education, greater Alignment of The UWI with academic-industry partnerships relevant to the region›s needs and Agility and alertness in engaging global connections and possibilities.

28 September, 2018

Cricket & sports section

41

Yankees› CC Sabathia ejected two innings shy of $500,000 bonus New York Yankees starter CC Sabathia, in the middle of a onehitter and two innings shy of earning a $500,000 incentive-based bonus, was ejected from Thursday afternoon›s game at Tropicana Field.

Sabathia entered Thursday›s game having pitched 148 innings this season. In what will be his final start of the year, he needed to last through the seventh in order to make it to 155 innings and receive the bonus.

But he was tossed by home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza in the bottom of the sixth inning after throwing a 92.5 mph cutter into Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jesus Sucre›s left leg.

«I don›t really make decisions based on money, I guess,» Sabathia said after the Yankees› 12-1 win over the Rays. «Just felt like it was the right thing to do.»

Carapazza had issued warnings minutes prior, following a pitch in the top of the inning from Rays reliever Andrew Kittredge that sailed behind Yankees catcher Austin Romine›s head. After the warnings, the next batter to be thrown at or hit would lead to ejections.

«Any time you feel like your player›s safety is in jeopardy, all guys take exception to that,» Sabathia said.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who said he didn›t see the original warning issued from Carapazza, understood why his pitcher felt he needed to retaliate for Kittredge›s errant pitch.

«There›s no question there was intent. You›ve had some guys hit this series, and then you throw one

over the head? Just kick rocks. I hated it,» said Boone, who once played with Sabathia while with the Cleveland Indians. «If you›re going to play that game and you start messing around with people›s heads, we›re going to take exception to that.»

Earlier in the game, Rays first baseman Jake Bauers was hit by a pitch. The day before, Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier suffered a hairline fracture when a slider from Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka hit his right foot.

It was just after Kittredge›s ball went whizzing past Romine when Sabathia emerged from the Yankees› dugout and yelled in the direction of his opposing pitcher.

As Sabathia jawed at the pitcher, Romine, who hit the dirt because of the pitch, dusted himself off and had what he called a «conversation between catchers» with Sucre.

Once that half-inning ended with the Yankees scoring four runs to extend their lead to 11-0, Sabathia›s yelling resumed in the bottom of the sixth, and he was ejected after his very first pitch of the inning plunked Sucre.

This was Sabathia›s fifth ejection of his career, and his second this season. He also was ejected from the dugout at Toronto on July 7.

As he was walking off the mound following the ejection, Sabathia turned toward the Rays dugout, pointed and shouted: «That was for you, b----.» It was unclear toward whom specifically he was directing his anger. Then, feet from the Yankees› dugout, Sabathia made a motion toward his crotch as he glanced back at the Rays dugout.

«I don›t even remember what I said,» Sabathia later said. «I was just yelling.»

Cameras caught some surprised

Tampa Bay players. Rays pitcher Snell was seen motioning with his hands and saying: «It›s 11-0. Why?» Around the same time, Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge positioned himself along the first-base line near the Rays dugout, attempting to keep the peace. Eventually, he started laughing with Rays pitcher Sergio Romo as the Rays stood outside the dugout.

«You never know what›s going to happen with stuff like that,» Judge said. «You never know if someone›s going to run out, or if someone›s going to do something. So you just got to be prepared, and be able to protect your teammates.»

Following the game, the Yankees traveled to Boston, where they will begin a three-game series with the Red Sox to close out the regular season. When the rivals met at Fenway Park in April, then-Yankee Tyler Austin was hit by a pitch that caused a benches-clearing brawl.

Thursday›s fireworks overshadowed an otherwise dominant outing from Sabathia, who earned his 246th career win.

He›s now 50th on baseball›s alltime wins list, passing Dennis Martinez and tying Joe McGinnity.

Sabathia›s 129 wins as a Yankee puts him in sole possession of 11th place on the franchise›s alltime list.

«He looked like he was playing catch out there with Romine out there,» Boone said. «It was really exciting to see him so on top of his game, especially this time of year.»

Across five-plus innings, Sabathia allowed just one hit and struck out five on only 55 pitches.

Teenaged Vastrakar pips experienced Pandey in India›s World T20 squad Seam-bowling allrounder Pooja Vastrakar has returned from an ankle injury to be picked in India›s 15-member squad for the upcoming World T20 in the Caribbean while the more experienced quick-bowling allrounder Shikha Pandeyhas been left out. This marked the only change from the touring party that swept Sri Lanka 4-0 in the recently concluded T20I series to go with their 2-1 ODI series win.

Pandey›s exclusion came as a follow-up to India›s preferred selection choices during the Sri Lanka tour in which she sat out the entire T20I series and played only one of the three ODIs. The team management had tasked Mansi Joshi and 19-year-old pace-bowling allrounder Arundhati Reddy with shepherding the pace attack in

the T20Is that was without the recently retired Jhulan Goswami.

India also opted to head into the tournament without a proper back-up wicketkeeper for 20-year-old Taniya Bhatia, who impressed with the bat and the gloves during the Sri Lanka

tour. Veda Krishnamurthy, who has one stumping to her name in international cricket, is the only other player with some wicketkeeping experience in the squad.

Harmanpreet Kaur retained captaincy, despite questions

over her on-field choices and selection calls in recent times.

In a tri-series at home, involving Australia and England in March this year, India had suffered an early exit. In the subsequent Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur in June, India relinquished the title to Bangladesh, having lost to them twice in the tournament.

India are pooled in Group B in the World T20, with Australia, Ireland, Pakistan and New Zealand, and will kick off the tournament on November 9, against New Zealand. Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Mithali Raj, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Anuja Patil, Ekta Bisht, D Hemalatha, Mansi Joshi, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy (Cricinfo)

28 September, 2018

42

Mohammad Amir dropped for two-Test series against Australia Mohammad Amir will not be part of the side that takes on Australia in two Test matches next month. The 26-year-old, who has missed just one Test since his comeback to international cricket in 2016, appears to have paid the price for his poor ODI form in the recent Asia Cup, resulting in his exclusion from the 17-member squad named by the PCB. He went wicketless in the last five ODIs he played and has picked up just three ODI wickets since the Champions Trophy final last year at an average in excess of 100. He was impressive in the three Tests Pakistan played this year - one against Ireland and two against England - where he took 12 wickets at an average of 18.40.

His bowling average in the UAE, however, is far less flattering, albeit over a small sample size; in four Tests at Pakistan›s adopted home, he has taken seven wickets at 56.42.

There are a number of other notable changes to the Pakistan squad, announced the day after an ignominious exit from the Asia Cup at Bangladesh›s hands, which denied them a shot at the title against India on Friday.

Their overall performance in the

tournament was well below par.

Several batsmen struggled for runs, while spinners were largely ineffective, and Pakistan›s fielding standards suffered a significant dip. Shan Masood, a Test specialist until now, was included in the Asia Cup squad, but didn›t get to make his debut. He finds himself left out of the Test side now, with Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq designated to share opening duties. Haris Sohail keeps his place in the Test side, while Usman Salahuddin, who travelled to England but played just the one game, is also part of the squad.

A key inclusion, for the first

time in over a year, is that of reserve wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Since Sarfraz Ahmed took over full-time captaincy duties in all three formats, he has played every international game in all three formats, and been the only travelling wicketkeeper with the side. That changes as Pakistan gear up to face Australia in the wake of intense scrutiny over the part Sarfraz›s captaincy played in Pakistan›s exit from the Asia Cup, and his personal form with the bat.

Wahab Riaz, left out rather dramatically from the tour to the UK after questions over his fitness, is back in the line-up, as are a

raft of spinners, indicative of the likely nature of the pitches the two Tests will be played on. Pakistan might not have named a single spinner in the A side that will face Australia in a four-day game, but no less than three specialist spinners form part of the Test squad. In addition to the usual suspects Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan, the 33-year-old offspinner Bilal Asif has been included, and would make his Test debut if he plays a part in the series. Asif previously played three ODIs for Pakistan in 2015.

There continues to be no place in the side for Mohammad Hafeez, dropped for the Asia Cup in the wake of continuous problems with his bowling action which limited his reliability as an allround option. Even though he was recently cleared by the ICC after being reported for the third time, there is a sense Pakistan are looking to move on from the 37-year-old, who last played a Test match in 2016.

The 26-year-old left-arm mediumpacer Mir Hamza is there in the squad. In 56 first-class games, Hamza has picked up 278 wickets at an average of 17.74, and has 26 five-wicket hauls to his name.

Dale Steyn will add value as mentor - Ottis Gibson Dale Steyn is set to play his first ODI since October 2016, and with the World Cup just over eight months away, South Africa coach Ottis Gibson has reckoned the quick will add value to his squad as a mentor.

«With his experience, [he›s a natural mentor] anyway because that›s the kind of guy he is,» Gibson said four days before the start of the ODI series against Zimbabwe. «He›s talking to the guys around the group, and to have his experience there, whether he plays or not, [is great]. There›s nothing to say he›ll play every game, but to have him in and around the dressing room and the nets passing on his experience can only be a good thing for the guys.

«Once Dale is fit, to me he›s still one of the best two bowlers in the country, other than KG [Kagiso Rabada]. And he›s gone away and he›s proven his fitness, so he comes back and we›ll see how he goes in the next couple of games.

«He›s someone who›s still clearly very passionate about playing for his country, and we›ll make an assessment on Dale in this series and the next against Australia, the next six games, and we›ll see how we go forward from there.»

How Steyn fits into a team that already contains both Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi is just one of the conundrums facing South Africa as they brace for the World Cup next year. Their ODI against Zimbabwe this weekend marks the first of 16 that South Africa will play before their World Cup opener

against England at The Oval on May 30, 2019 and the upcoming games against Zimbabwe - and possibly those which follow against Pakistan - will likely be South Africa›s last chance to test new players and combinations before they settle on their World Cup hopefuls, Gibson hinted.

«Every person that gets an opportunity now will know that there will be less and less opportunities going forward, so you have to make every opportunity you get count at this stage,» he said.«We›ve looked at some guys, and this series and the next one to my mind and I›ve spoken to the selectors about it already - are probably the last sort of opportunities to see guys we›ve discussed but haven›t had the opportunity to see yet. I think by the time we get into the Pakistan and certainly the Sri

Lanka series in the new year, that we›ll be looking to pick the team that we think is most likely to be the team that goes to the World Cup. So this is an opportunity to look at one or two other players.»

With Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla injured and Quinton de Kock and David Miller rested, the most obvious positions South Africa might be looking to experiment in are in their top and middle order. Heinrich Klaasen and Dean Elgar have played just six ODIs each, while Christiaan Jonker has just a solitary T20I to his name. They are largely untested options, though Gibson sees plenty of potential in Jonker and a «like for like» replacement for Amla in Elgar.

«When you look at this squad that we have right now, Faf is missing, Quinny is missing, Hash is missing, and there›s no real seniors,» Gibson said. «Dean is a likefor-like swap for Hash. Again you think about the World Cup, and this is thinking a little further ahead, and then you look at Dean›s record for almost every county he›s played for in England, then clearly he comes into the conversation. So, this gives us an opportunity to see Dean as a like-for-like replacement for Hash, and see how he goes. He›s always made it clear that he›s still keen on playing one-day international cricket, and this gives us an opportunity to see him in that position.

«We wanted to see Klaasen a bit longer, and Christiaan Jonker came in and did quite well for us in the T20.

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28 September, 2018

No action taken over Moeen Ali›s ‹Osama› allegations

A Cricket Australia (CA) investigation of Moeen Ali›s allegation of slur from an Australian player during the 2015 Ashes series has found no evidence for further pursuit of the claim.

In an extract from his new book, Moeen stated that an Australian player had called him «Osama» during the first Test of the series, in Cardiff, and that he had told the England coach Trevor Bayliss, who then raised the matter with Australia›s then coach Darren Lehmann.

However, the unnamed player involved denied the allegation, claiming he had called Moeen a «part-timer».

When Moeen›s account of events came to light, CA indicated that the governing body was in touch with the ECB, and that a further investigation would take place. The CA integrity unit, until recently headed by Iain Roy but now helmed by Sean Carroll, subsequently interviewed numerous Australian players from the 2015 Cardiff Test and team management, while also communicating with the ECB›s own integrity unit.

The investigation concluded on the weekend, and it is understood that no other player said they heard the alleged remark. «We have followed up with the ECB and our team management and confirmed that the incident was investigated at the time, with a response provided to Moeen,» A

CA spokesman said.

«Moeen elected not to progress the matter any further and we have not been able to ascertain any new additional evidence through our enquiries. As such, the matter is considered closed. We take a zero-tolerance approach to remarks of this nature; they have no place in our sport, or in society and any allegations raised with us are treated seriously and respectfully.

«Representatives of our country are expected to uphold a high standard of behaviors and values, and they are fully aware of the consequences should they fail to do this.»

Bayliss has said that Moeen did not want the matter to be taken further, a process that would have involved the ICC and the racial vilification clauses of its code of conduct. «He didn›t want it to go any further. He was happy for it [to be dealt with between the two teams],» Bayliss told News Corporation. «He›s a very softly-spoken sort of a bloke. He doesn›t want to create too many problems for anyone.

«I›m not going to make too much of it, it was bloody three years ago, let›s move on. [Cricket Australia] can do what they like I suppose, everyone has sort of forgotten about it and moved on since then. I don›t see it as any real big deal. It was a hardfought series. But no, I thought [relations after that point] were

OK. You›re not party to what goes on out on the field and certainly nothing else was reported or anything through that series so we just left it at that.»

Under the CA code of conduct, the governing body would have had the option of re-opening the matter and laying a charge if new evidence had been found by the integrity unit.

Meanwhile, CA›s own cultural reviews are believed to be in their closing stages, with the report on the organization’s wider operations submitted by Simon Longstaff, the director of the Ethics Centre and has been viewed by the directors of the governing body›s Board.

This review of the organization is expected to be made public.

According to the reviews› terms of reference: «The first, overarching independent review will investigate whether any wider cultural, organizational and/or governance issues within CA, and more broadly within Australian cricket, should be addressed to ensure these events never occur again, either on tour or whilst playing in Australia. This review will investigate links between player behavior (particularly on this tour of South Africa) and the organizational, governance and culture within CA and Australian cricket.

«The separate player review will, in consultation with a small panel of current and past

players, consider a behavioral Charter for the Australian men›s cricket teams that balances the performance demands of elite cricket with expectations of all Australians in regard to on- and off-field role modelling.

«It is expected that at various stages the findings from this Wider Cultural, Organizational&/ or Governance review will crosscheck with the work of the panel that is exploring a Charter for the Australian men›s team - and, where appropriate, incorporate any findings or relevant information into its work.»

The review of the Australian men›s team, conducted by the former Test opener Rick McCosker, is set to be submitted shortly, with a concurrent drafting of a charter for player behavior also near to completion, as indicated by the national team captain Tim Paine before his departure for the tour of the UAE to play Pakistan last week.

«Cricket Australia has committed to sharing the findings from the concurrent reviews before the season begins,» a CA spokesman said.

«There are still a number of steps to be taken before the process is complete. At such time, we will engage key stakeholders, among them the media. It would be inappropriate to comment on speculation or provide a running commentary while the process is ongoing.»

(Cricinfo)

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October 7 - 14, 2016

September, 2018 Caribbean Star 28Newspaper

The West Indian . Oct 17, 2015 . Page 61

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28 September, 2018

Pakistan dance to captain Rohit›s tunes It›s one thing to expect your fast bowlers to be disciplined, another to set fields and challenge the batsmen to take risks. This is what Rohit Sharma did superbly as captain on Sunday, as India arrested Pakistan›s late surge and then chased down 238 in a canter to make it four wins on the trot in the Asia Cup. After Bangladesh held their nerve against Afghanistan, India were confirmed as the first finalist.

ESPNcricinfo examines a few of Rohit›s tactics that hurt Pakistan on Sunday.

Fakhar Zaman is Pakistan›s enforcer at the top, a factor coach Mickey Arthur has underlined as the key to their ODI success.

Earlier this year in Zimbabwe, Fakhar became the first ODI double-centurion from Pakistan and has formed a formidable opening combination with Imamul-Haq. So when Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah kept cutting off Fakhar›s scoring areas by bowling stump-to-stump on a length, denying him room to pull and play flat-batted strokes, Rohit deliberately kept mid-on a touch wide and left midwicket open.

Since the angle from right-arm over the wicket takes the ball away, he was trying to play on Fakhar›s ego by forcing him to hit into the vacant region on the leg side. As it turned out, Fakhar stopped short of playing the pull and had limped to 6 off 24 balls at the end of seven overs.

Rohit isn›t one for making changes unnecessarily. Not

bowling Kedar Jadhav against Bangladesh despite him having picked career-best 3 for 23 against Pakistan when the sides last met was a prime example. But when Fakhar and Imam were struggling to force the pace, he sprang up a surprise by introducing Yuzvendra Chahal in the eighth over.

It was left-field because Chahal had only bowled four Powerplay overs in ODIs prior to Sunday.

Two days ago against Bangladesh, he was introduced in the ninth over. Here, he struck off his sixth delivery as Imam was given out lbw upon review after he was beaten by sharp turn trying to work the ball with the spin. It was Chahal›s first Powerplay wicket in ODIs. In the previous game between the two sides, Babar Azam misread a Kuldeep Yadav googly that dipped and spun away to castle him. If bringing Kuldeep on in the 11th over was more to get on the batsman›s nerves, it was a

ploy well thought out.

With the left-right combination in place, Rohit operated spin in tandem. The stand-out move was having a backward short leg for Fakhar, who struggled against sharp turn. With no fine leg for protection, there were runs to be had if he could paddle the ball fine. Fakhar tried this against Chahal and was almost beaten by the bounce and got a top-edge that just eluded Dinesh Karthik and rolled to fine leg.

The spin choke was on, and because the fast bowlers had built so much pressure, Fakhar was forced to look for a release against spin. Fifty-six balls hadn›t yielded a boundary. Drying up boundaries meant pressure and he fell after he was thrown off balance trying to slog-sweep an overpitched Kuldeep delivery.

Then when Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz came together in the 16th over, Rohit immediately brought back Bumrah instead of letting

the game drift. Malik›s average of 45.01 against spin is significantly higher as compared to his 34.78 against pace. His strength lies in manipulating the field and playing percentage cricket before exploding in the end overs. By not feeding his strengths, Rohit forced Malik to alter his plans immediately.

Rohit bats for continuity, having been in and out of the Test squad himself. At the arrival press conference in the UAE, he made it clear experimentation for middle order spots wouldn›t come at the cost of continuity and results.

Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik have been the biggest beneficiaries of this policy at the Asia Cup. Batting at Nos. 3 and 4 respectively, the pair have made the most of the whatever little batting time they have had. The flip side to the ploy has been time on the bench for KL Rahul.

Another noteworthy aspect has been Rohit›s ability to separate captaincy and batting. It has helped, of course, that barring the Hong Kong game, India haven›t really been challenged. When they last played Pakistan, Rohit played out a testing opening spell, before he decided to hook Usman Khan out of the attack by hitting him behind square for three sixes.

That he›s coming off a two-month break - he wasn›t picked for the England Tests - has also allowed him to remain mentally fresh for the rigors of playing in the UAE heat. After four games, he has scores of 111*, 83*, 52 and 23.

(Cricinfo)

Moeen Ali needs to believe he›s a Test-class spinner - Graeme Swann Graeme Swann has called on Moeen Ali to cast aside any selfdoubt and take charge of England›s campaign against an «out-of-sorts» Sri Lanka next month.

While Moeen has been a consistent presence in England›s ODI side this year, he was dropped from the Test side during the New Zealand tour in March but returned for the fourth Test against India in Southampton, where he produced a Player-of-theMatch performance with both bat and ball.

Swann questioned the mindset of both Moeen and Adil Rashid, the players whom he believes will be the key if England are to succeed in Sri Lanka.

«I think it is a big series because after being 4-1 [in the Test series against India] I think it›s very easy to rest on your laurels,» said Swann. «That will mean nothing if they don›t go well

against - let›s face it - a massively out-of-sorts Sri Lanka team.

«They›ve had a stinker of a time at the Asia Cup and this is a very good time to play them. I don›t think we›ve got the resources to go out there and really challenge them if we don›t believe we have, because I don›t believe the spinners are in the right mindset.»

Moeen was brought back into the England Test side ostensibly as the second spinner to Rashid and, in the second innings at the Ageas Bowl, was promoted up the batting order to No.3 ahead of Joe Root. He has expressed a wish to continue batting higher up the order and playing the supporting spinner›s role but Swann is not convinced Moeen is best suited to either role.

«Mo is still in that [mindset of] ‹I›m No.2 spinner I want to bat No.3›.

That is not the way to go. If Mo

turns up at the airport and says, ‹I›m going to go to Sri Lanka and be Man of the Series, I›m going to take loads of wickets and I›ll bat No.6 where the team needs me, not at No.3 where I›m not suited› then I think England will win. But I think it›s all about getting the best out of the spin bowlers who, let›s face it, when you go to the subcontinent are the major players.

«Yes, the Test series is a different form and it›s in a different country but it seems with Mo that he›s so fragile that he needs confidenceboosting all the time. And I implore him to just come on, grab it with both hands. You›re a really, really good bowler and stop worrying about being known as the No.2 spinner. It doesn›t make any difference, the ball doesn›t change shape because you›re the No.1 or 2 spinner, the pitch doesn›t change length, the same batsmen are

batting. Nonsense.»

Swann was speaking at the launch of the Cricket World Cup Participation Plan, in which ECB and ICC hope to use the tournament to inspire 1 million children to play the game, and he feels that, whatever the results may be in Sri Lanka, England are right on track in their preparations seven months out from a home World Cup. «I think from a one-day point of view, with the World Cup coming here next year, we couldn›t be in a better place at the minute because the one-day series against India proved to us that we could beat India in England and come back from a pretty slow start to the series as well», said Swann. «And Eoin Morgan is undoubtedly the best man for the job as skipper.

«He has that team really believing they can do anything from any situation and England are favorites.»(Cricinfo)

46

sports section

Stuart Law resigns as West Indies coach Stuart Law has resigned as West Indies› head coach after less than two years in the job.

The 49-year-old›s tenure will end following the tours to India in October and Bangladesh in November, after which he will move to England to take charge at Middlesex.

Law was credited with improving West Indies› standing in Tests during his time in charge, as well as securing qualification for the 2019 World Cup. He was also involved with moves to bring back a number of star players, such as Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, after disagreements with the board.

«I have had to make the difficult decision to leave my role of head coach with CWI,» Law said in a press release. «It has been very enjoyable, and I believe we have made tremendous strides forward as a team during the past two years.

«I will be taking a role with Middlesex which will keep me close to my family, whilst continuing within the cricket family. I wish the players and staff of CWI every success in the future.»

Law took over from Phil Simmons, who was sacked in September 2016 on disciplinary grounds. He won six out of 15 Tests, including a famous chase of 322 at Headingley last year, and secured series wins over Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, as well as a draw with Sri Lanka.

The team›s record was even more impressive in T20Is - eight wins in 19 matches including victory over a World XI team at Lord›s in May. It was a different story in ODIs, though. He took over with West Indies having failed to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy and they had to make sure of a World Cup spot the hard way via the ICC Qualifier in Zimbabwe earlier this

year.

CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said: «I am disappointed that Stuart is leaving as I believe that we have made real progress under his leadership. I know it was a difficult decision for him and that ultimately the opportunity to work in England, where his family is now based, was a major factor in his decision. We will start the process to appoint a new head coach immediately.»

Law has signed a four-year contract with Middlesex and will be their head coach for all three formats. He replaces Richard Scott, who left the club midway through the season with Middlesex struggling to mount a promotion challenge from Division Two of the County Championship. Law›s arrival also means the end of Daniel Vettori›s two-season spell as specialist T20 coach.

A former Australia international who had a long county career with Lancashire, Essex and Derbyshire, Law said it was a «great privilege» to take on «one of the plum jobs in world cricket».

He has previously coached Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as with Queensland and Brisbane Heat, and Cricket Australia›s high performance program back in his home country.

Middlesex were crowned county

champions in 2016 but suffered relegation a year later. They have consistently underperformed in the limited-overs formats since winning the T20 Cup in 2008.

«We have always tried to recruit the right kind of person at Middlesex and we believe Stuart is the right man to build on the foundations laid over the past decade,» Angus Fraser, Middlesex›s director of cricket, said. «He will provide a fresh voice and a fresh vision to inspire our players, and drive them towards our twin goals of promotion back to Division One of the county championship and limited-overs success.

«I would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Johnson for leading the 1st XI in the county championship since July. Richard has done an excellent job since taking over from Richard Scott and has helped Middlesex finish the season on a positive note.

«I would also like to thank Daniel Vettori for his time and commitment to Middlesex as T20 coach. During the two spells Daniel had with us, he made a really positive impression on everyone at the club and we are grateful that he has been so understanding that the arrival of a new coach means that his specialist role will not be required next year.»(Cricinfo)

28 September, 2018

McLean, Taylor help West Indies women go 1-0 up

A three-wicket haul from captain Stafanie Taylor helped West Indies defend 124 at Kensington Oval and take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against a South Africa side featuring four debutants.

It was a mixed day for the new faces. Robyn Searle (14 off 30 balls) and Faye Tunnicliffe (14 off 29) struggled to force the pace during the chase. This, along with the regular loss of wickets, hampered South Africa, for whom only Chloe Tryon (23 off 16) and Marizanne Kapp (30 off 22) passed 20. Taylor was both incisive and frugal with her offspin, finishing with figures of 3 for 16 from her four overs.

The other two South Africa debutants had a decent outing, with the seamer Tumi Sekhukhune (4-0-12-1) and the offspinner Saarah Smith (3-017-2) doing their bit to keep West Indies to a manageable total.

Aside from Natasha McLean(38 off 41) and Deandra Dottin (22 off 19), no one in the top six got into double figures, and at the 17-over mark West Indies were 98 for 6, their run rate below six an over. Then came a brief but vital partnership, with Merissa Aguilleira and Kycia Knight adding an unbroken 26 for the seventh wicket in 18 balls.

(Cricinfo)

Bereaved Kemar Roach set to miss West Indies› warm-up match Kemar Roach will return to Barbados following the death of his grandmother and will rejoin West Indies› squad in India after her funeral. This means the fast bowler is likely to miss West Indies› twoday tour match against the Board President›s XI in Vadodara. The match begins on September 29, and is West Indies› only warm-up match before their two-Test series against India, which begins in Rajkot on October 4.

Roach, as a result, could go into the first Test without any recent longformat match practice; his last redball match was the first Test against Bangladesh in Antigua in the first

week of July. He took five wickets in the first innings of that Test match, but also picked up a hamstring injury and was rested for the second Test in Jamaica. Since then, Roach›s only top-level cricket has been a pair of T20 games for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League in August. The 30-year-old Roach is the most experienced of the five fast bowlers in West Indies› squad, having played 48 Tests since his debut in 2009. Shannon Gabriel (37 Tests) and Jason Holder (34) are the two other senior quicks, with Keemo Paul having played just the one Test so far and Sherman Lewis - who replaced the injured Alzarri Joseph . (Cricinfo)

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