Tuesday November 17, 2015
paper -PAGE 2
'RACIAL DIVIDE MUST END' – Amna Ally
-Govt. must end vilification - Rohee
BRING OUT THE ARMY TO HELP FIGHT CRIME - Ramotar -PAGE 8
'Racial divide must end' – Amna Ally -Govt. must end vilification - Rohee Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally has deemed “obnoxious” calls made by the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for the scrapping of her Ministry. During his weekly press conference on Monday November 16, General Secretary of the P P P, C l e m e n t R o h e e announced that the party will not be participating in national unity talks with the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government. The party is also advocating for the scrapping of the Social Cohesion Ministry, which was established under the current administration. “The Party will continue to monitor these developments and to offer support where necessary, and whenever called upon by representative religious bodies to ensure that unity prevails and that the APNU+AFC's so-called Ministry of Social Cohesion does not succeed in its divisive manipulative, deceitful and bribe-sharing efforts to divide Guyanese socially, politically along
religious lines ostensibly for electoral purposes,” Rohee noted. In an invited comment, Minister Ally rejected the statements made by Rohee. She expressed disappointment with his remarks since according to her, he is aware of the work the Ministry of Social Cohesion has been doing since it started. Minister Ally also rebuffed Rohee's statement that the Ministry's genuine role is to act as a smokescreen to promote racial and political discrimination in favour of the APNU/AFC coalition. “This Ministry was not set up for any political games, this Ministry was set up in order to reduce inequality and to make people understand that we are one, to work towards national unity and so on,” the Minister clarified. She said the PPP is accustomed to racial divide and racial politics, however, the coalition government is trying to put an end to this. “We want to end that, we want all Guyanese to see
themselves a one,” she told GNN. F u r t h e r , Minister Ally clarified that “Our business is to help to empower women, young people and let the people of the hinterland region enjoy the same facilities as those on the coastland.” She is urging Rohee and the PPP to think nationally and let the Ministry go forward. Meanwhile, with regard to the unity talks, Rohee announced that the Central Committee, following ongoing consultations with its membership, concluded that the environment is not right at this time for any unity talks. He said the party has always been open to talks with stakeholders on the question of national u n i t y, h o w e v e r, t h e current political atmosphere obtaining in Guyana at this time, is not conducive to engaging the APNU+AFC on such a highly politically sensitive matter “There is continuous witchhunting, arbitrary dismissals and brazen
Minister Amna Ally
termination of contracts of long-standing government employees and public servants, among other reasons; the Party's membership is not in the mood nor supportive at this time, to engage in national unity talks with APNU/AFC,” Rohee noted. He said the responsibility rests with government to end its campaign of vilification, stigmatizing and labelling of PPP leaders as “thieves”, and as
“corrupt”; since only then will the Party participate in national unity talks. R o h e e ' s comment was made one day after Minister of State Joseph Harmon highlighted the importance of national unity for national development and nationbuilding. He was speaking at the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) Regional Congress at Vreed-enHoop, Region 3 on Sunday.
He said the result of the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections is a clear indication that Guyana is “deeply divided” along racial and ethnic lines. As such, Harmon said the time had come for the cycle of racism to be b r o k e n a n d h e underscored the importance of unity. “We the leadership must take consorted effort to foster national unity and social cohesion, said Harmon.
Wi-Fi in schools begins The eGovernment Unit has begun rolling out Wi- Fi networks in schools, while Hinterland and remote areas are expected to benefit from internet access by the end of the first quarter of 2016. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), e G o v e r n m e n t A d v i s o r, Floyd Levi said the unit began rolling out of Wi-Fi in secondary schools at the President's College, following a visit by President Granger to the institution in October. This project will serve as a pilot to determine the exact needs and requirements for the other schools to benefit. “We are using this as the pilot project, to ensure that we are able to fulfill the
demands and requirements and then we move on to the other schools. We expect that this can be done within the first quarter of 2016. We have been mandated to provide internet access to all tertiary educational institutes, such as the Cyril Potter College of Education, the University of Guyana (UG), all of the Technical Institutes and Secondary schools," he said. He added that the Unit assured that usage of the Wi-Fi service is monitored so as to ensure students' safety and control "At President's College, they have a strict regime. The Wi-Fi comes on at 6:00 am and goes off at 10:00 pm and what we have done is to install a "white list" of sites. This blocks them
from visiting sites, which is not approved by the administration or is deemed inappropriate. This is in keeping with international guidelines so there is control" he said. It is expected that all government ministries, agencies and public buildings will be outfitted with Wi-Fi networks for visitors and consumers to access during their visits. H e s a i d government was focusing on having the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hubs and Internet Access Points operational by the end of 2016. The ICT Hubs which is expected to benefit all Guyanese but more so, the remote and under developed
Floyd Levi communities is especially c r i t i c a l f o r t h e Wi - F i networks to become operational. The Unit was actively pursuing a similar project, this time to service students in the Hinterland and remote areas, who have limited or no access to internet and have commenced work in the Paramakatoi, Region Eight area. "Some of the subjects that are taught at the CXC levels require that School Based Assessments
(SBAs) are submitted online and the students who live here at are a disadvantage with that so we are trying to fix this. The ground work is currently being done and we are working towards getting all elements in place. We have a very ambitious plan for the hinterland and remote areas," the advisor said. Additionally, plans are underway to consolidate internet access and email services for ministries, by way of an agreement with Microsoft and CISCO
Corporations. This will see email addresses for these agencies being moved to the gov.gy domain. Under the One Laptop Per Teacher (OLPT) project which will replace the One Laptop Per Family; computers acquired under a grant from the Government of China is currently undergoing several tests to ensure that they are not problematic as was the case with the previous batch which was sent Levi disclosed.
SIX CHARGES FOR BLIND MAN The police have received instruction to charge a 52 year old man who was among four persons ďŹ ngered in the robbery and terrorizing of a supermarket in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. The Guyana News Network was informed that the man who was discharged from hospital on Monday is now blind in both of his eyes. Information received from police
sources revealed that the man would be charged with four counts of robbery under arms, one count of unlawful possession of arms and unlawful possession of ammunition. The man has been in the hospital for approximately two weeks after he and three other invaded a business place at Mahaicony and brutalized its owner and workers. The men then made good their escape in
the businesswoman's vehicle, but were later cornered and captured. The three other managed to escape. However, two of the three men were captured the following d a y, w h i l e t h e o t h e r remains at large. T h e businesswoman and her employees have been able to positively identify the m a n d u r i n g a n identiďŹ cation parade.
Trade Unionism being undermined by Govt. - FITUG The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is offended by the decision made by the Government to appoint one seat to FITUG and two to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB). FITUG says it “alerts the workers of Guyana and urges its affiliates to guard against the return of the days when seats and positions of the trade unions were handed down based on the Union's loyalty to the powers-thatbe”. It added that the Government is in
violation of the Trade Union Recognition Act (TURA) which states that “The Board shall consist of seven members each appointed for a period of two years as follows:(i) A Chairman appointed by the Minister after consultation with the most representative organisations of workers a n d t h e m o s t representative organisations of employers, (ii) Three members appointed by the Minister on the nomination of the most representative organisations of workers and (iii)Three members appointed by the Minister on the nomination of the
m o s t re p re s e n t a t i v e organisations of employers”. FITUG is of the view that this is a discriminatory act against the most representative Organization of workers It says “the Government should not have engaged in such an act which is contrary to the easily understood law. We w e r e p r o m i s e d respect for the rule of law but in reality the opposite is surfacing day after day. The workers and their legitimate organisations must be conscious of the worrying situation and speak out and stand up in defence of their hard won rights before it is too
late.” The Board became functional with effect from November 01, 2015. FITUG also raised concerns with the appointment of the Tripartite Committee by the Cabinet. 'That Committee, among others, comprises of six (6) representatives of
workers. The GTUC has been awarded five (5) and FITUG has been requested to nominate one (1). This is another discriminatory act against the most representative Organization of workers.” It said T h e l a s t Tripartite Committee headed by former
Minister of Labour, Dr N.K. Gopaul, comprised representatives according to the membership of the FITUG and the GTUC, four (4) and two (2) members respectively. FITUG says it “sees a developing danger – trade unionism is being undermined”.
DDL, Unions sign historic labour agreement
Union Representatives, DDL Reps and Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and three workers' unions; Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), Clerical and Commercial Wo r k e r s ' U n i o n
(CCWU) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) earlier today signed a collective labour agreement which seeks to benefit workers employed at the privately
owned company. The signing of the agreement which was facilitated at the Ministry of Social Protection, Department o f L a b o u r, s a w i n
attendance, Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, who lauded the efforts to the two parties to evade the intervention of a third party or arbitrator. This, Ogle said, was a sign of maturity and a testimony to the fact that collective bargaining is alive and well in Guyana. “Collective bargaining is well and alive in Guyana – this is proof of collective bargaining and its four parties” he declared adding “we are glad that you can reach an agreement without third party intervention” the Chief Labour Officer said. Under the 5 year agreement which expires in 2019, workers who would have been receiving the minimum wage of $49,741 per month, will now be receiving $60,000 – a
20% increase negotiated by the three unions. All other increases to salaries will be retroactive. Additional benefits negotiated under the agreement include fridge allowance, travel allowances, annual increases to salaries and the granting of necessary equipment relative to their department of work. Representing the lead negotiating union – GAWU – was G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y, Seepaul Narine, who explained that the agreement had been as a result of fruitful negotiations between the participating bodies. Noting that this achievement is a historic one, given the nature of industrial relations in Guyana, Narine revealed that membership of the
unions play a critical role since the power vested in the unions are as a result of the confidence expressed by the workers. “We believe that membership of unions play a critical role in agreements such as these. And before drafting this agreement, we held numerous consultations and discussions with workers and they agreed. So they [the workers] are eagerly awaiting these benefits and increases” he added. Representing DDL was Ms. Manita Singh-Bird who expressed that while DDL demands much from their staff, they remain committed to providing social benefits and attractive remuneration packages for their employees.
Diplomatic postings…
Hamley Case tipped for UK; Clarissa Riehl for Canada
Clarissa Rieh
Brigadier Julian ‘Bruce’ Lovell
Halim Majeed
Government will soon a n n o u n c e t h e appointment of a number of Diplomats to Brazil, Cuba, India, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Reports are that businessman Frederick Hamley Case could be posted to the United Kingdom as Guyana's High Commissioner to that country, replacing
Laleshwar Singh who served in that capacity for some twenty years under the Peoples P r o g r e s s i v e P a r t y / C i v i c administration.
P e o p l e ' s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member and Attorney, Clarissa Riehl, is reportedly earmarked to become Guyana's High Commissioner to Canada, replacing Peoples Progressive Party stalwart Harry Narine Nawbatt. He also served as Guyana's Ambassador to Brazil. R e t i r e d Brigadier Julian 'Bruce' Lovell is believed to be considered for the Ambassador posting to Brazil given that he was attached to that country
in a military capacity. F o r m e r Political assistant to President Forbes Burnham, Halim Majeed, is touted as a nominee for the position as Guyana's representative to Cuba, replacing Attorney, Mitra Devi Ali. According to information the names have been submitted to President David G r a n g e r f o r consideration and will be discussed at the level of Cabinet shortly. T h e APNU+AFC coalition
has already appointed Cheryl Miles as Guyana's Ambassador to Venezuela. She took over from Geoffrey Da Silva, a former Minister of Trade and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest). T h e government has said that it would not be replacing Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, George Talbot who are career Diplomats.
Government to place representative on Ogle Airport board The Government will be reviewing the entire working operations of the Ogle International Airport following issues raised by small operators at the airport. It will also be looking to place a representative on the Board of the Ogle Airport Inc (OAI). Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure; Annette Ferguson says the lease agreement which exists between the Ministry and the OAI provides for such a position. “Currently there is a lease agreement between the Ministry of Public Works (as it was then) but there are a few things in that agreement which allows for the Minister of Public Infrastructure to identify
someone to sit on the Board of OAI so I think during the whole review process, Government should consider having a representative sit on the Board” Ferguson said. While noting that “the Ogle Airport is a private company” operating on a lease from the Government, Minister of Public Infrastructure; David Patterson says in its review, the Ministry is also discussing the need for legislations to govern privately run airports. Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI) which represents 14 shareholders concluded a lease agreement with the government On November 5, 2001 and in December 1, 2001 assumed management and operation of the airport.
The lease was issued by the Lands and Surveys Department for 441 acres for a period of 25 years. It provides for the Airport to be developed and operated as a “public aviation facility” in accordance with the Civil Aviation Laws of Guyana. The decision to have the Airport privatized was made after a study was conducted under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Air Transport Reform Programme which recommended that “it was feasible” for the G u y a n a S u g a r Corporation (GuySuCo)owned airport's development and management. The OAI was formed by a consortium of aircraft owners after the government made available the option of privatization to members of the Aircraft Owners Association and on May 10, 2000. Following the submission of a Draft Ogle Airport operator
agreement which paves the way for a possible levy on property if domestic airlines do not pay their debts to the OAI Board of Directors. Recently, nine small operators at the airport formed the National Air Transport Association (NATA) to voice their concerns with the operations of the facility. President of NATA; Gerald Gouveia stated that operators were extremely concerned that the OAI Board was about to approve an “Airport Operators Agreement” that would have seen that company having a
“continual” right to keep in possession property belonging to all operators until all debts are paid. But OAI's CEO Anthony Mekdeci said operators was well aware that the Aircraft Operator Agreement was under consideration for more t h a n o n e y e a r. T h e agreement which is said to be patterned after other international airports, if approved, empowers OAI to seize properties after 14 days notice have been given for unpaid fees, charges or other liabilities. “In the event that payment remains outstanding, thereafter, OAI may at its
entire discretion, sell, dispose of, remove or destroy such aircraft or equipment,” it stated. M e k d e c i , explained that the Operators have to pay for the use and services provided by the airport, however some of the Operators do not pay OAI, resulting in the loss of millions and the entity have to find a mechanism in which to collect its fees. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e document still has to be approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
ISLAMIC MONTH OF SAFAR BEGINS The Central I s l a m i c Organization of G u y a n a (C.I.O.G.) is informing the Guyanese public and the Muslim community that the crescent for the month of
Safar has been sighted. The month of Safar 1437 A.H therefore commences Friday 13th November, 2015.
TWO MEN ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT WITH COCAINE IN HOTEL Two men, one of whom confessed to swallowing over 20 cocaine pellets, were remanded on Tuesday on a charge of conspiring to traffic cocaine. Thirty-five year old Dwayne Adams of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge, however, following instructions from his Attorney he subsequently changed his plea to not guilty. Adams had initially confessed that he swallowed the illicit drugs. The duo made their appearance in the
Georgetown Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Judy Latchman. Meanwhile, Hubert Smith of 3464 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was also charged entered a not guilty plea. Both Smith and Adams were occupying a hotel room at the Alpha International Hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara on November 13 when ranks of the Customs Anti – Narcotics Unit (CANU), acting on information, invaded the room. Adams had swallowed a total of 25
pellets which he later passed out while in custody. Attorney Peter Hugh who represented both Adams and Smith argued that the conspiracy charge was misplaced. He argued that it could not be a conspiracy since Adams claimed ownership of the illicit substance while Smith had no knowledge. Adams had admitted to owning the drugs in a caution statement. Both men were refused bail and are scheduled to make their next Court appearance on December 7.
(Newssource photo)
Man wanted in relation to Bagotstown murder Trevor Anthony Amsterdam
The police this afternoon issued a wanted bulletin f o r Tr e v o r A n t h o n y Amsterdam. According to the police, Amsterdam, whose last known address was given as Bagotsville, West Bank Demerara, is wanted in relation to investigations into the murder of Jermaine Simon which occurred on
November 10, 2015, at Bagotstown, EBD. Persons with information which may lead to his arrest are asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 2256411, 227-2128, 226-1389, 226-7065, 226-9941, 2258196, 911 or the nearest police station. All information
will be treated with strict confidence. Simon of 46 Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, was shot in his forehead while riding a bicycle. It is believed that as he was riding, a man rushed out of a yard and shot him. On March 16,
2015, police had issued a wanted bulletin for Simon in connection with the murder of Providence teen, Ryan Sooklall, who was shot and killed while with friends a short distance from his home. He was killed on March 1.
CRITICAL REFORMS NEEDED AT GECOM – Jagdeo Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that as long as there are no reforms at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), there will never be free and fair elections in Guyana. He noted that the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has grave misgivings about GECOM's preparedness for Local Government Elections (LGE). “We have been arguing for changes at GECOM and the first is to give confidence about the future through a dual system of voting with enhanced biometrics. We prefer retina scan for every Guyanese individual, you vote on the machine so you walk up to the machine, you look into it, it scans your retina you vote there, it issues you with a slip of paper, you check whatever it is accurate (in terms of which party you voted for). So you put that in the box so there is a dual system, you can count from the
machine and the box,” Jagdeo explained. J a g d e o emphasized that this process takes the Presiding Officers out of the picture, since they will no longer be issuing the ballot. He stressed that this is something that the PPP/C has always been concerned about. F u r t h e r, M r. Jagdeo stated that “The last elections infact, was the first one after a long time that we could not get a list of the Presiding Officers. GECOM refused to give us a list of the Presiding Officers and Mr. Surujbally supported the APNU Commissioners for that to happen. It turned out that many of them were very partisan. If we move to this new system then we can avoid that happening.” With regard to the issue of hiring of staff and ethnic balance at the Commission, the Opposition leader lamented that if persons
are hired based on merit then the present imbalance would not be so glaring. “Because you can't say 95% of the people of one race are the only ones who can pass the test,” Jagdeo further emphasized. He said his party has reports that the tests were administered in a bias manner. “We have seen many instances of how the test was conducted, some people their applications were thrown away, people of indo-Guyanese origin finish University and failed the test. A simple test that a person with secondary education can pass. There is no transparency. We think it's deliberate and that's why w e a r e u rg i n g f o r a transparent process in hiring people,” said Jagdeo. He is therefore pushing for an impartial body to conduct the interviews and administer the test. The Opposition
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
leader said his party is investigating reports that there is a move to change staff at the General Registrar Office (GRO) with a sinister purpose. In addition, the PPP/C is also examining reports that a large number of new recruits into the army are being placed by the military-dominated A Partnership for National
Unity+Alliance for Change coalition. If this is true,” the Opposition Leader added, “It will destroy professionalism in the army and career advancement based on merit, something we have worked hard to secure.” He believes this is part of a sinister plot to subvert free and fair elections in
Guyana given the role the army played under the Burnham era. According to Jagdeo, if the reports turn out to be true, the Party plans to expose it and to draw international attention.
GPL Engine down at Bartica -Load shedding implemented The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) Inc. has implemented a load shedding guide for areas in Bartica as one of its engine has been taken offline to due to damage earlier today. In a statement, GPL stated that “during the
early hours of this m o r n i n g , Tu e s d a y, November 17, a damaged cooling component on the No. 11 Engine at Bartica necessitated the engine being taken offline thus reducing available capacity to the Township”. It is working to
have the engine back up by Sunday, November 22 as efforts are underway to replace the damaged components. G P L i s appealing to customers for patience and check “ TA R Z I E t e l e v i s i o n station, GPL's
Daily load shedding guide from Tuesday, November 17 to Sunday, November 22, 2015 as follows: Time
Areas
08:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs
Byderabo, Agatash , First Avenue between Fifth and Ninth Streets, Fifth Street between Seventh and Fourth Avenues., First Street between Fourth and Seventh Avenues
16:00 hrs to 00:00 hrs (Midnight)
1 – 4 Miles Potaro, a section of Mongrippa Hill, West Indian Housing Scheme.
00:00 hrs to 08:00 hrs
Old Housing SchemeMongrippa Hill (Part 2), First Avenue between First and Fifth Streets. Third Avenue between First and Fifth Streets,
REGION SIX RESIDENTS PRAISE CRIME FIGHTING EFFORTS -Govt. Envoy says majority of crimes are petty P r i m e M i n i s t e r, M r. Moses Nagamootoo's Region Six envoy, Gobin Harbhajan, has reported that residents in the East Berbice/Corentyne region are praising the Coalition government's intensified efforts to fight crime. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Harbhajan said the residents lauded Vice
President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan because in most of the cases, the criminals were apprehended within weeks. This, Harbhajan reported, was very different to what the residents were subjected to in the past when crimes went routinely unsolved. In addition, he said that during his many
interactions with residents, they explained that they are cognisant that the majority of the crimes in the region are of a petty nature. Following efforts by certain sections of the media to describe the crime situation as “out of control”, Harbhajan said he decided to go on a fact finding mission on the
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo
ground in Region Six. “I decided to visit with prominent persons from the region to validate whether the crime situation was spiraling out of control as we have been reading in one newspaper in particular,” Harbhajan said. “I made visits around Corentyne, Berbice where I gathered information from respectable individuals in the community such as former President of the Upper Corentyne
Gobin Harbhajan
Chamber of Commerce, David Subnauth; Vibert Welch, Chairman for the Cop and Faith Community and the Berbice/Corentyne District Chairman for the Community Policing Group, Abdool Nasir.” The Prime Minister's representative reported that, “They all agreed that residents experienced petty crimes.” Further, they believe that with the expected picking-up of t h e e c o n o m y, s u c h
crimes will definitely take a downward turn. Late last week Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, noted that Guyana is presently dealing with an 8% increase in serious crimes. He however pointed out that the percentage is down from a 13% mark that obtained earlier this year when he took over the management of the Criminal Investigation Department.
Bring out the Army to help -fight crime Ramotar Former President Donald Ramotar has condemned the attack on the home of Assistant Commissioner Leslie James by armed bandits early Monday morning. Ramotar, in a statement noted that the brazen attack on one of the most senior police officers tells the grim story of how crime is sparling out of control in the country. “It is a slap in the face of the Guyana Police Force and the government as a whole. I am very disappointed at the casual way the government seem to be handling the situation,” Ramotar stated.
He recalled that the Army was called out to do joint patrols with the police in times of heightened criminal activities under the Peoples P r o g r e s s i v e Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration. “During the holiday season, the PPP/C administration had a programme where the army and police had joint patrols between November 15 to January 15, to minimize the crimes in the country,” Ramotar recalled. He said the coalition government should ensure this
continues since it has worked well for the past administration. “ I a m extremely disappointed that the mentality in the APNU +AFC regime is to keep the army in barracks. The trend all over the world is for the army to come out and work with the police in combating crime, as in the case of Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico among others in the world,” Ramotar stated. He is of the view that as the nature of crime evolves, the role of the disciplined forces must also evolve. In other parts of the world Ramotar said
the army is doing more to fight crime. “I call on the regime to immediately take steps to have the army assist the police with joint patrols now. If Mr. Leslie James's home was so wantonly invaded, no one is safe from the criminals,” the former President said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie James and his family were attacked and robbed after armed bandits invaded their lot 453 Hendy Street, Block X, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara home around 3:00 hours Sunday morning.
Donald Ramotar
T h e m e n gained entry to the former Crime Chiefs' house by prying open a window in the bottom flat. They carted off $400,000 in jewellery during the ordeal which lasted just over ten minutes.
The attack happened mere days after the Guyana Police force launched its Christmas policing plans.
HEALTH
You may be cheating death by drinking coffee Americans love coffee, and each sip of it may be lowering risk of early death for the 54 percent of adults who drink it every day. In a new study, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health studied the benefits of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and found both conferred a lower risk of dying from the leading causes of death in the United States. F o r t h e s t u d y, published in the journal Circulation, researchers analyzed data from three 30year-old ongoing studies. The studies comprised of 208,501 participants in total, who completed a follow-up
questionnaire about their diet every four years. The researchers also tracked coffee consumption among the participants over the years and found a pattern emerge that was directly related to how much coffee they drank on an average day. Those who drank about 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day were far less likely to die from life-shortening illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes; neurological diseases like Parkinson's disease; and even suicide. In their study, researchers also a c c o u n t e d f o r environmental factors that influence death, such as
smoking, body mass index, physical activity levels, alcohol consumption, and other dietary factors. Ultimately, coffee proved to be linked to the lower death rate. "Bioactive compounds in coffee reduce insulin resistance and systemic inflammation," said the study's co-author Ming Ding, a doctoral student at Harvard's Department of Nutrition, in the press release. "That could explain some of our findings. However, more studies are needed to investigate the biological mechanisms producing these effects."
Previously, researchers have found drinking 4 to 5 cups of coffee a day could cut a person's risk of Parkinson's disease nearly in half, when compared to those who drank little to no coffee. In a more recent study on coffee's benefits, the same
3 to 5 cups a day reduced risk of dying from heart disease by 21 percent. It was only a decade ago that Harvard researchers first discovered too much coffee did not cause high blood pressure. Several years later, they
examined 36 studies encompassing more than one million participants and found heavy coffee consumption actually protects the heart and lowers the risk of heart disease. (Adapted from MSN)
Childhood friends discover they were switched at birth Two childhood friends made a startling discovery that has changed everything they thought they knew about themselves and their families: They were switched at birth. The CBC
reports Luke Monias and Norman Barkman were born on the same June day in 1975 at the Norway House Indian Hospital in Manitoba. They were so
close growing up they considered themselves brothers, reports the To r o n t o S t a r. B u t “persistent jokes, rumors, and suggestions” dogged them throughout the years. The CBC reports people would always point out how much more Monias and Barkman looked like each other's family than their own. But what was suspected for decades was
finally confirmed by a DNA test Tuesday. “I didn't believe it until I saw the paper,” Monias tells the Star. “That's when it hit me.” Now the two want answers and an apology from the Canadian government, which was operating the hospital when the mix-up happened, the CBC reports. “The mental, physical, and spiritual well-
being of both men has been deeply affected by the loss of their proper identity,” a local official who has taken up Monias and Barkman's cause tells the Huffington Post Canada. The trio are worried the hospital may have done the same thing to other children, per the CBC. Canada's health minister says she's “very concerned” and has asked officials to
look into it. But despite the major revelation, there's one thing that hasn't changed for Monias and Barkman. “He's still my brother,” Monias says. “No matter what.” (This mom thought the hospital gave her the wrong baby. She was right.) (Yahoo Health)
Modern Sleeplessness: How Your Phone Is Keeping You Up At Night Modern day usage of electronic devices like smartphones, iPads, and ereaders seems to be skyrocketing, with new reports revealing that teenagers spend nearly nine hours a day absorbing media, and more and more adults complaining about “phubbing,” or “partner phone snubbing,” negatively impacting their relationships. But that troublesome addiction to electronics is more than merely rude: It could be costing you sleep.
According to a British study published in Frontiers In Public Health, our bigger, brighter cell phones are emitting more and more light in order to display the high-contrast images we've all happily grown accustomed to, and it could be robbing us of an hour of sleep or more a night. In this case, however, sleep is not being lost to the seemingly never-ending work emails or all-tootempting social media streams. R a t h e r, t h o s e
precious zzzz's are being lost to the blue-green wavelengths of light emitted from cell phones, iPads, Kindles and other popular electronic devices, which disrupt the system and slow down production of the sleep hormone melatonin, something the body normally starts to produce as it begins to get dark in the evenings. Meaning, scrolling through Instagram on your cell phone before bed could essentially prevent you from falling asleep for an extra
hour…even after you've put the phone away. As new and improved cell phones and other electronic devices continue to be developed, the type of light emitted from them has changed as well. And sadly for those who may harbor hopes that their particular brand of smartphone is the exception to the rule, no one electronic device is better than others when it comes to negative sleep repercussions. So what can you do? “The best thing is to not
use a screen at all for two hours before your desired bedtime, but if you are going to, then using a device that
has some sort of filtering software, like a f.lux, can help. (Adapted from Yahoo Health)
OUR WORLD
Heavy rains kills 70 in south India and Sri Lanka Heavy rains in south India and Sri Lanka has killed over 70 people while inundating homes, farmland and highways, forcing authorities to shut down schools and colleges in some areas, officials and media reports said. The flooding, prompted by incessant
rains over the past seven days, has submerged parts of Tamil Nadu state, including its capital Chennai, where most of the deaths and devastation has taken place. Caused by a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal, the heavy rains have also affected Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh states, as well as neighbouring Sri Lanka. The military has been called in to help rescue at least 2,000 people that have been left stranded in Chennai. Residents have complained of not getting enough help from the
government. Jayalalithaa, Ta m i l N a d u ' s c h i e f minister, announced a $75m relief fund has been set up and brushed aside criticisms the government was poorly prepared to deal with the flooding in Chennai, one of India's biggest cities. "The rain that was meant to be spread out over the monsoon months has poured in just a few days," Jayalalithaa said during a visit to a flood-hit area in Chennai. "No precautionary measures would have managed to
prevent water logging and damages. In areas where flooding and damage have been caused, relief, rescue and repair works are being taken up on a war footing." In Sri Lanka, floods in the northern parts have affected 58,000 people. India's southeast coast is vulnerable to annual cyclones in N o v e m b e r a n d December, and severe low pressure formations in the Bay of Bengal have resulted in heavier than usual rainfall, said
weather officials. In India's Chennai, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Villupuram districts, 2337cm of rain was recorded on a single day, much higher than the usual annual average. Government officials said around 10,000 people living in low-lying coastal areas have been evacuated from their homes and given refuge in relief camps. (Al Jazeera)
Islamophobia seen as US states shun Syrians A string of United States governors have said they will refuse the resettlement of Syrian refugees in their home states in the wake of the deadly Paris attacks, prompting accusations of Islamophobia. At least 26 state governors from the right-wing Republican Party said on Sunday and Monday that they would refuse to accept Syrian refugees. The states include: Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Alabama, Michigan, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, Mississippi, Arizona, Illinois, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arkansas.
The announcements come just days after a series of assaults across the French capital left 129 dead and more than 350 injured. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group claimed the attacks. S e v e r a l governors cited reports that a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the suspected attackers, who was killed during the incident. While states do not have the authority to prevent the resettlement of refugees within their borders, governors can order their local refugee programmes not to cooperate with the federal
government. Nonetheless, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a civil rights group, says the governors' announcements are indicative of growing Islamophobia among many in the US. 'This is really a non-issue because refugees and immigrants are checked thoroughly by the authorities before entering the US." Although the US has only accepted about 1,500 Syrian refugees to date, the White House announced earlier this year that 10,000 more will be resettled in
the country over a 12-month period. Omar Hossino, communications officer of the Washington DC-based Syrian American Council, said it is unlikely that potential attackers could successfully pose as refugees to gain entry to the US. "Syrians are the ones fleeing both ISIL and [Syrian President Bashar alAssad] because they will be slaughtered if they don't," Hossino said. Meanwhile, other Republican officials said that the US should only accept Christian refugees. Florida governor and
presidential candidate Jeb Bush said that the US should limit the resettlement of Syrian refugees to "the Christians that are being slaughtered". E c h o i n g B u s h , Te x a s
Senator Ted Cruz said that there "is no meaningful risk of Christians committing acts of terror". (Adapted from Al Jazeera)
Man sentenced for killing, dismembering boyfriend A man who killed and dismembered his boyfriend, leaving the head near the Hollywood sign, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. City News Service says 40year-old Gabriel CamposMartinez was sentenced Monday by a judge who urged him to explain why he committed the murder. Campos-Martinez earlier
declined to make a statement. Authorities say Campos-Martinez lived with Hervey Medellin (med-eh-YEEN') before he strangled the retired airline ticketing agent in December of 2011. Medellin's head and other body parts were scattered near a hiking trail in Griffith Park near
the Hollywood sign. A dog being walked found the head a month after the killing. Authorities later found hands and feet. Campos-Martinez was arrested last year in Texas. (MSN)
Regional
Regional
EVIL DAD IN MURDER/SUICIDE; SLIT THROAT OF 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER Her tender throat slit by her own father and left for dead, a three-year-old girl is believed to have spent hours in the backseat of a car at Penal, bleeding and lying next to the cold body of her 26-year-old mother, who was fatally stabbed by the man. Little Artie Ramhkelawan, who if she survives, turns three on Thursday, was up to last night warded in serious but stable condition at San Fernando General Hospital. Her mother
Aarika Bhim, 26, of Laltoo Trace, Penal, did not survive the attack which occurred sometime between Sunday night and yesterday morning. Her common-law husband of five years, Premnath Ramkhelawan, 25, committed suicide by hanging himself at the back of their home. Bhim's father Puranand Bhim, 57, who lives upstairs the couple's home, made the discovery at about 5.50 am yesterday when he went to
tend to his animals. He first discovered his soninlaw's body at the back of the house with a rope around the neck hanging f r o m a r a f t e r. Immediately, the father of three alerted other relatives and went in search of his daughter and granddaughter. As he was walking to the front of his home, a resident called out to Bhim enquiring why the family's green Nissan B13 car was parked in a track about
500 metres from the house. “When I walked up there, I saw my daughter lying in the backseat. There was blood everywhere. My granddaughter was sitting next to her with her mother, eyes opened big. She was not crying, just staring. She did not say anything as I held her,” Purmanand said as he struggled to hold b a c k t e a r s . A resident noted that upon seeing the injuried child, he was unable to go to work. “If you see blood. She had
them on her hands and neck. I was on my way to work but after seeing that, I just turned back and made my way home. “It was a sickening sight. If there is one good thing I hope can come out of this
tragedy... this evil, is that little girl survives and grows up to make something of her life. What an evil man he was,” said the man. (Adapted f ro m t h e Tr i n i d a d Newsday)
Two-year-old girl shot dead while sleeping Tragedy struck early this morning in Diego Martin as a two-year-old girl was shot and killed by gunmen. However, the fatal bullet was intended for her father. Police identified the victim as Keira Singh. According to reports, around 1am Kieron Paul, 25, his wife, their twoweek-old baby, and Keira were all asleep in their
Good Session Drive, Patna Village, Diego Martin home when gunmen forced their way into the house. They fired shots at the family, intending to kill Paul, but it hit little Keira instead. She was shot in her stomach. She died on the scene. (Trinidad Guardian)
TT children trafficked to ISIS A twelve year-old boy is among children who have reportedly been trafficked out of Trinidad and Tobago for the purpose of recruitment to ISIS, MPs have been told by the Ministry of National Security's Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU). The Annual Report 2014 of the CTU, which was tabled in Parliament last Friday by Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon also states that in a separate matter two CTU police officers travelled to Turkey as part of an international operation undertaken to repatriate three persons – including two teenaged girls – who had possibly been trafficked to Syria by
their father. The report does not name individuals. In relation to the 12-year-old boy, CTU deputy director Alana Wheeler, tells MPs this matter was one of several operations which the CTU embarked on in “the latter half of 2014”. She said the case involved, “one 12-year old male T r i n i d a d a n d To b a g o national - armed conflict/ ISIS”. No further details are given. In a separate investigation, CTU officials liaised with officials in Turkey and London in relation to a family. “ C T U investigated a report of possible trafficking of a
family of five Trinidad and Tobago nationals to Syria by the father,” the deputy director reports. “The investigation led two CTU police officers to travel to Turkey to repatriate three of the family members (one adult female and two teenaged girls). F u r t h e r unconfirmed reports revealed that the father and two of the three boys were killed in Syria.” In terms of the overall functions of the CTU, the report says 35 matters were received and i n v e s t i g a t e d .
A d d i t i o n a l l y, more than 90 persons were screened for human trafficking indicators, which are the signs that persons may be in a country involuntarily, or under
coercion. Six of these were identified as victims of t r a f fi c k i n g . “These included one Trinidad and Tobago national who is a child, who was exploited as a
c h i l d s o l d i e r, t h r e e Venezuelan nationals for sexual exploitation, and two Guyanese nationals for labour exploitation,” Wheeler states. (Adapted from Trinidad Newsday)
INTERNATIONAL
French President calls for grand coalition to defeat ISIL
President Francois Hollande French President Francois Hollande has called for a global coalition to eradicate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group following the deadly attacks in Paris. The appeal comes as French fighter jets continue
raids aimed at ISIL targets in its stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. A spokesperson for France's military command told Reuters news agency the warplanes struck a command centre and a recruitment centre for fighters in Raqqa
on Tuesday. Speaking to members of the French parliament at the Palace of Ve r s a i l l e s o n M o n d a y evening, Hollande also said he wanted to extend the state of emergency for three months and would meet US President Barack Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin to "unite our forces to achieve a result that has taken too long". Beginning his speech with the words "France is at war," Hollande declared: "We will defeat terrorism." ISIL claimed responsibility via statements and videos for Friday's attacks that killed at least 129 people and wounded hundreds more in the French capital. The group gave
warning in a video on Monday that any country hitting it would suffer the same fate as Paris, promising specifically to target Washington DC. Politicians from all French political parties responded to Hollande's words with a standing ovation and by singing the national anthem. In a show of patriotic defiance, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was reopened and lit up in the colours of the French flag. Hollande said he had ordered air strikes on ISIL's headquarters in Raqqa and would continue to wage war "mercilessly", sending an aircraft carrier to triple French air power in the region.The strikes were
carried out in coordination with the US. Hollande also said France wanted more effective controls of the EU's external borders to avoid a return to national border controls and the dismantling of the 28-nation EU, Reuters news agency reported. Additional security spending would be needed and France would not let EU budget r u l e s g e t i n t h e w a y, Hollande said. France will also increase police recruitment and halt previously planned cuts to the army. Security forces have so far put more than 100 people under house arrest and raided 168 premises since Hollande declared a
s t a t e o f e m e r g e n c y. Prosecutors have identified five of the seven dead assailants - four Frenchmen and a foreigner fingerprinted in Greece last month. His role in the carnage has prompted speculation that ISIL took advantage of a recent wave of refugees fleeing Syria to slip fighters into Europe. Police believe one attacker is on the run, and suspect at least four people helped organise the carnage. He is also alleged to have spoken about a bomb. Officials said checks were being made into whether the allegations were credible. (Al Jazeera)
Britain to recruit nearly 2,000 spies to counter ISIL The UK has announced it will expand its domestic and international spy agencies by recruiting 1,900 new intelligence agents in the wake of attacks in France and the Middle East. David Cameron, UK prime minister, made the announcement on Monday during the G20 meeting of the world's leading economies in Turkey. He called on the states to band together to cut off financing to proscribed entities, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
Speaking separately to BBC Radio 4, Cameron said the attacks in Paris on Friday, which left 129 people dead and hundreds more wounded, could have happened elsewhere in Europe, and the threat posed by ISIL and its supporters was widespread. "Those attacks in Paris could have happened in Belgium, they could have happened in Denmark, it could have happened in Sweden, it could have happened here [UK]," he said. "These extremists coming out of Syria and Iraq
are radicalising our own citizens in our own countries, they want to cause the maximum damage to our countries and our way of life." He said: "Here at this summit, we have agreed to take further important steps to cut off the financing that terrorists rely upon ... to counter the extremist ideology and the terrorists' propaganda ... and to better protect ourselves from the threat of foreign fighters, by sharing intelligence and stopping them from
travelling." In a transcript of the G20 summit speech released on the prime minister's website, Cameron said the UK would be doubling its spending on aviation security and stressed the need to provide financial assistance to countries with particularly vulnerable locations. He said the fight against ISIL was the "struggle of our time". British officials Prime Minister David Cameron have previously claimed to group, which controls large country and up to 600 British have foiled a number of ISILinspired plots against the UK parts of Syria and Iraq, has citizens are believed to have within the last six months. The repeatedly threatened the fought for the group. (Al Jazera)
Charlie Sheen says he is HIV-positive
The actor Charlie Sheen told NBC's "Today Show" on Tuesday that he was diagnosed as HIV-positive about four years ago -- and
that a few people who knew it demanded money from him to keep the secret. "I'm here to admit
that I am in fact HIVpositive," Sheen said. "And I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of
sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about the (alleged) threatening the health of so many others, which couldn't be farther from the truth." "It's a hard three letters to absorb," he said. "It's a turning point in one's life." He said he the diagnosis came after he suffered a series of migraines. "After a battery of tests ... they walked in the room and said, 'Boom, here's what's going on,' " Sheen said. He said he revealed the diagnosis to people he thought he trusted, but some of them demanded money to keep
the information to themselves. He paid those people "in the millions," he said. "We're talking about shakedowns," he said. "I've paid those people -- not that many." One of those people, he said was a prostitute who entered his bathroom, took a cellphone picture of his medication and threatened to sell the image to tabloids. Asked if he would continue to pay the people he'd been paying, he said: "Not after today, I'm not." Sheen, 50, is one of Hollywood's bestknown actors, starring in
hit films like "Wall Street" and on the CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men." He was fired from "Two and a Half Men" in 2011 after a public meltdown that had the actor lashing out at the show's creator. Among the more notorious points of his career, Sheen entered drug rehab twice and lived with three women. Sheen has been married multiple times to women including Brooke Mueller and Denise Richards and had children with each. His salary on "Two and a Half Men" was one of the highest on TV at the time, at $1.25 million per episode in 2010. (CNN)
nd
AUS vs NZ – 2 Test
Match drawn; Johnson retires
There was no fairytale J o h n s o n , b u t i t w a s Johnson's final acts in Test fi n i s h f o r M i t c h e l l satisfying all the same. cricket were to take two
wickets in the last session as New Zealand's batsmen played out a draw, but it was a result that meant Australia retained the Trans-Tasman Trophy after their win in the first Test in Brisbane. Johnson departed from Test cricket to the cheers of his adopted home crowd, with 313 Test victims to his name. The WACA is a venue where Johnson has previously taken clumps o f w i c k e t s q u i c k l y, sometimes late in the day, but New Zealand began the final session with all ten wickets in hand. Not
even Johnson at his peak could have run through them in just one session, especially when bad light forced an early end to proceedings. Set an unlikely 321 to win from a minimum 48 overs, New Zealand finished at 2 for 104 from just 28. Their firstinnings centurions, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, were at the crease to prevent the kind of ridiculous collapse that would have been required to precipitate a result in this, the fourth-highest scoring of the 400 Tests that have ever been played
i n A u s t r a l i a . Ta y l o r finished unbeaten on 36 and Williamson was on 32, having come together after Johnson turned back the years with two wickets from short balls that stirred the crowd. S c o r e s : Australia 9 for 559 dec (Warner 253, Khawaja 121) and 7 for 385 dec (Smith 138, Voges 119, Southee 4-97) drew with New Zealand 624 (Taylor 290, Williamson 166, Starc 4-119) and 2 for 104 (Johnson 2-20) (Adapted from Espncricinfo)
Andy Murray: I don't want to live in fear Britain's Andy Murray says he is not afraid to play in the Davis Cup final despite security concerns in Belgium. Next week's final takes place in Ghent. The city is 35 miles from Molenbeek, the focus of a manhunt for one of the suspects involved in the Paris attacks. "I don't want to live in fear each time I step on a court," said Murray, 28, who has been named in the provisional five-man squad for the tie. Tuesday's
football friendly with Spain in Brussels has already been cancelled. Belgium's government has raised the terror threat level to three in the c o u n t r y, a n d t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Te n n i s Federation said in a statement on Monday it was "continuing with preparations" for the Davis Cup final "with the emphasis on security operations". Meanwhile, the Lawn Tennis Association,
British tennis' governing body, said: "The LTA is in regular dialogue with the ITF on event security relating to the Davis Cup final. We are also taking advice from the Foreign Office and will continue to closely monitor the situation. "The safety of everyone in the British contingent, including our players and fans, remains our number one priority." ( A d a p t e d f ro m B B C Sport)
FIFA bans leaders of Nepal and Laos federations in bribes case In yet another case of FIFA e l e c t i o n b r i b e r y, t h e president of Nepal's soccer federation was banned for 10 years on Monday. Ganesh Thapa, who will lose his place on FIFA's Under-20 Wo r l d C u p o rg a n i z i n g committee, was implicated in bribery at elections to choose Asian delegates on the world governing body's executive committee. Thapa was a former vice president of the A s i a n F o o t b a l l Confederation when it was led by now-banned Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, yet retained his
positions in Asia and at FIFA despite being under suspicion since 2012. Thapa's misconduct related to elections for Asian seats o n t h e F I FA r u l i n g committee in 2009 and 2011, the FIFA ethics committee said in giving its verdict Monday. Thapa was guilty of the ''solicitation and acceptance of cash payments from another football official, for both personal and family gain,'' the ethics panel said. His ban comes more than three years after a forensic audit of Asian Football Confederation
accounts identified Thapa's son, Guarav, for receiving $100,000 from Bin Hammam in July-August 2009. Guarav Thapa was then an AFC staff member, the audit report said. The FIFA ruling in Thapa's case did not specify which FIFA seats in 2011 were tainted by election bribery. As well as the 10year ban from soccer, Thapa was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,900). In a related case Monday, the top soccer official from Laos was suspended from soccer for two years by FIFA's ethics
committee. Lao Football Federation President Viphet Sihachakr was found to have sought and accepted a payment from another official relating to the 2011 election for a place on FIFA's executive committee. Sihachakr was fined 40,000 Swiss francs (around $39,700). He will also lose his place on the F I FA d e v e l o p m e n t committee which allocates tens of millions of dollars annually in project funding. (Adapted from Fox Sports)
rd
England beats Pakistan in 3 ODI James Taylor produced an innings of class and style to help England to victory in a low-scoring ODI in Sharjah. Taylor, with an unbeaten 67, added 117 for the fifthwicket with Jos Buttler to see their side to victory with nine overs and six wickets in hand, giving England a 2-1 lead in the series with only one match - in Dubai on Friday - left to play. The apparent comfort of that margin is somewhat deceptive, though. Not long after Taylor came to the middle, England were struggling on 93 for 4 and seemingly facing an uphill battle against spin bowling on a pitch that was beginning to turn sharply. Had Pakistan taken their chances, the
result could well have been different. One of those chances was presented by Buttler. Moments after joining Taylor, he skipped down the pitch against the bowling of Shoaib Malik, yorked himself and should have been stumped by a distance. It was a moment that summed up a shoddy evening's work from Pakistan. The excellence of their bowlers was undermined as chance after chance went down and the ground fielding sunk to a level some way below that required in modern international cricket. They also lost three batsmen to unusually dozy run outs.
There was a moment, when Pakistan were 132 for 2 with more than 20 overs of their innings remaining, when it appeared a total approaching 270 was achievable. For 11 overs in mid-innings - from the 26th to the 37th over Pakistan's most productive scoring shot was a single and, though there was a flurry of sixes in the final few overs, there were no fours after the 26th over and only three after the 16th. Scores:- England 210 for 4 (Taylor 67*, Buttler 49*) beat Pakistan 208 (Hafeez 45, Woakes 440) by six wickets
Tuesday November 17, 2015
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MITCHELL JOHNSON
RETIRES