Thursday November 19, 2015
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GRANGER AND RAMOTAR SPAR OVER CRIME FIGHTING
GRANGER AND RAMOTAR SPAR OVER CRIME FIGHTING Ramotar stressed that armies in many countries, including the region, have been actively helping the police to combat crime and improve security which helps to give a feeling of security in the populace. This has become much more frequent as the nature of crimes and criminals change. “I am sure that if the authorities take some time to familiarize
President David Granger
Former President Donald Ramotar has expressed shock at the Guyana Police Force and President David Granger's comments with regard to his suggestion for the government to bring out the army to assist in crime fighting. The former President who also served as Commander-in-chief of the disciplined forces earlier this week suggested via a statement for the six month old coalition government to bring out the army to assist in fighting crime, given its high rate. He said this was implemented under the past administration and it worked well. “I urged that the army should come out to assist the police. This is even more needed as we enter into the festive holiday season. Our citizens have a right to expect that they can go about their business in a secure environment,” Ramotar noted. H o w e v e r , President Granger was quoted in the media on Wednesday as saying that Ramotar should not be concerned about national security and military matters. Granger stated that Ramotar as a former Head of State should not comment on current political activities, and that he should not interfere in the manner in which the
Former President Donald Ramotar
GDF is being managed.
Ramotar
Alluding to interventions that the government initiated to address the crime situation, the President pointed out that positive results are being seen. “I am seeing a lot more criminals being arrested very soon after the commission of the crimes… I am seeing faster response from the CID. He noted his confidence about instructions he has given to both the police force and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which are in the best interest of the country.
The former Commander-in-Chief said he sees it as his duty to make suggestions and to take action where necessary to enhance the welfare of the Guyanese people. “I strongly believe that the army's presence with the police would not only increase their capacity, but serve as a deterrent to criminal activities,” the statement added.
H o w e v e r , R a m o t a r, i n a n o t h e r statement issued today (Thursday) noted that based on the President's comment he is convinced that the government continues to play lip service with regard to its national unity talks. He said it displays the government's intolerance to suggestions. According to Ramotar, a crime committed against any citizen is not just an attack on the victim, but also an attack on the state. “Article 33 of our constitution states that it is the duty of every citizen to defend the state. Clearly, fighting crime is not just the preserve of the regime, but a national issue, and a national duty. The constitution goes against the insular approach that the President seems to be advocating,”
added.
President Granger pointed out that the transformation needed in the security sector will take time even as his Government is working to bring the crime situation brought under control. “I am fully aware of what needs to be done in order to deal with the defence situation that Guyana finds itself in at present and also the crime situation… I am sure in a short period of time, maybe half a year or so, we will be on top of the crime situation,” he stated. In addition, the Head of State explained that the country is dealing with problems which have developed over the past 23 years, which his administration is now trying to rectify. He said the police force has been seriously degraded and the security reforms which were agreed to with Great Britain were never implemented.
themselves with the feelings of our citizens in relation to the crime situation, they will certainly discover how insecure citizens feel,” Ramotar added. He said trying to belittle the situation will not help to give confidence to the people. Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force also responded to Ramotar's suggestion saying that crime is not spiraling out
of control. President Granger stated that part of his administration medium term approach to crime fighting is ensuring that the police force is strengthened by putting emphasis on equipment and training, ensuring they are well-paid, deploying more police ranks to the hinterland, and more patrols in vulnerable communities such as the Rupununi.
PPP fear of a militarized State being realized - Ramotar
Former President Donald Ramotar is of the view that the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C's) fear of Guyana being militarized under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government is now being materialized. His comment came in light of the number of exmilitary personnel that have been appointed to prominent positions by President David G r a n g e r. H e t o l d t h i s newspaper that he has information that a number of other ex-army personnel will be appointed to senior
positions very soon and that the appointments so far is just a tip of the iceberg. During the campaign trail leading up to the May 11, 2015 General and Regional elections, the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had warned that should the coalition APNU+AFC be elected to office Guyana would become a militarized state, given the large number of ex-army personnel who were entering the political arena. The coalition had dismissed the PPP/C's claims, however, shortly after
the government was installed, a number of exarmy staff were appointed to senior positions. These include, Retired Lt. Col. Joseph Harmon, Retired Lt. Col. Larry London and Retired Chiefs-of-Staff Brigadier Edward Collins, Rear Admiral Gary Best. Former soldier, Mark Archer was appointed as Director of Communications within the Ministry of the Presidency. In addition, on Wednesday November 18, President David Granger announced that Retired Major General Michael Atherly will be heading The National Anti-Narcotics Agency. However, it should be noted that Atherly, who retired as Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force back in 2004, currently serves as the Head of the Task Force on Drug Trafficking that is based at the Ministry of Public Security. Ramotar noted that Guyana has more security people in government than any country in the whole western hemisphere. “We have more military and police people in government than the whole of the continent, from Canada right down to Chile and our crime situation is still bad,” he stressed.
NIS launches Online Contributions System – Delinquent employers will be sought There is a higher chance of employers who deduct National Insurance S c h e m e ( N I S ) contributions from their employees' salaries without remitting it to the entity to be caught as persons are now provided with the option of checking their contributions online. This comes as the NIS launched its Online Checking Contributions System at the Cara Lodge today. The system allows persons to check their contributions from any location and make queries which will be answered with days. General Manager at NIS; Doreen Nelson, says this provides a way for employees to keep their employers in-check. “Persons will now be able to see as they now look into this database, exactly whether or not the employer has registered them as employees, whether he has made the deductions
and remitted them to the NIS…The employee also has a responsibility; we need persons to ensure that their NIS records are accurate and confirm that employers are making their payments” the General Manager highlighted. To effectively address the employees' concerns, the NIS will be improving its internal systems she added. She stated that “we have started looking at our 2016 budget and we are seeking to put back in a legal unit because we will need lawyers. We recognize that a lot of persons will be coming in and making complains against employers…we're going to look also at our inspectors and look at if we need to restructure or add more inspectors.” “The entity recognize that even as we put this feature in, there will still be a number of inaccurate records in our database. We will try not
to show that to persons when they come in but what they see in terms of their valid records, the questions will come. There is a queries section where persons can ask their questions, put through their concerns and they can even tell us of any improvements they think we may need in the future” Nelson said. N e w l y appointed Chairman of the NIS Board of Directors; Dr Surendra Persaud, noted that it is with collaboration the entity is working to fix its problems. “The NIS accepts that the records are less than perfect, and the inconsistencies in these records are a source of great dissatisfaction to all Guyanese. But online checking of your contribution record, gives you the opportunity to ensure accuracy” he said. He added that
the entire process of 'querying' will also be made easier as it will decrease the number of times a person has to visit the NIS office. The Online Checking Contributions System is also expected to assist pensioners residing overseas in checking their contributions in a timelier manner. The database is updated on a quarterly
basis. It was last updated on October 31 and will be updated again on January 31. This is so as there are currently 700,000 persons in the NIS system says Nelson as she explained that “the records for each person since we started is right in there; in terms of their contributions, it's not the number of active persons for this year because over the years, we will pay
even if the person dies as there are still benefits to the dependents; the survivors benefits, you need the contributions”. To access the Online Checking Contributions System; visit www.nis.org.gy and click on “create new account”.
GAWU Credit Union Workers protest Ministry of Social protection Members of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Co-operative Credit Union Society Limited today protested the Ministry of Social Protection's office calling for the audit of the Society's account as they were told by GAWU that “without the audit of the account for the year 2014, by the Cooperatives Department of the Ministry, workers
will be unable to receive interest rebate and dividends this year”. The auditing of all Credit Unions were placed on hold previously as the Union stated it received a letter from the Ministry on September 22, 2O15 stating inter alia'; "Please be informed that the auditing of all Credit Unions hos been placed on hold indefinitely". The Credit
Union wrote the Ministry on November 13 imploring that the society be audited in keeping with the Cooperative Society's Act. In a statement G AW U s a i d “ O u r Society is aware that all Credit Unions were written to two years ago requesting that they must be accountable and put themselves in order for annual audits as required by the Law. While we
were never in default, we took note of the Ministry's instructions and welcomed the notion of public-accountability of such Organizations.” It added that “We ore indeed dismayed at what appears to be the reverse of the abovementioned instructions. lt is ironic that our Society wishes to comply with the Low but your
Ministry is requesting of us to be in breach”. The union said if the audit does no commence within a week, it will move to the courts to have a private auditor engaged to conduct the audit. “The non-audit of the Society's accounts not only inhibits the payment of dividends and interest rebates but
the Society for the first time since its establishment would not be able to hold its Annual General Meeting since there is no audited accounts of the Society for it to address its statutory business” GAWU said.
City Council employees to receive 8% pay hike
Debra Lewis and Dale Beresford at today’s press briefing
The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) have
completed negotiations on wages increase for the year 2014. During a press c o n f e r e n c e t o d a y, President of the GLGOU;
Dale Beresford stated that the two parties have agreed to an 8% pay hike retroactive from the 1st of January, 2014. “The increase
has taken into consideration, the M&CC's financial status and also the need for us to get a healthy, productive and quality service to the citizens of Georgetown”, Beresford said. T h i s negotiations were not completed earlier as a result of administrative challenges experienced at the M&CC under the former Government. This is according to Public Relations Officer; Debra Lewis who stated that negotiations c o m m e n c e d immediately after the conclusion of the 2015 National Budget debates. Beresford said
the Union will soon commence negotiations with the City Council on pay increases for 2015 and 2016 and is proposing a 14% increase for this year. “We've also put forward initially a three year package with 20142015 but due to circumstance we have delinked it. Our aim is to have a three or five year package so the municipality can e ff e c t i v e l y p l a n i t s budget” he added. The GLGOU is further urging that steps be taken to widen the revenue base of the M&CC so as to increase its income which can
eventually benefit the council and its employees. This will be jointly agreed between the union and the council and propose to the M i n i s t r y o f Communities. Some of the proposals made to the Council includes; ticketing system or parking meters around the city, the regularization of the public parks; the minibus parks where those minibus operators can use a card which is monetary valuation where when they go into the parks and the monies will use for the upkeep of the city.
DTL WORKERS CALL FOR 'BROOMES TO SWEEP MABURA' DURING STRIKE ACTION The Guyana Agricultural a n d G e n e r a l Wo r k e r s Union (GAWU) will be meeting tomorrow, Friday November 20, 2015 at the Ministry of Social Protection Boardroom at Brickdam, Georgetown with the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) to discuss wages and salaries claims and other benefits for its workers. Seventy workers of DTL staged a one day strike today which the union claims “completely crippled the Company's
operations at Mabura Hill”. It noted that GAWU has been seeking to engage the company since June 22, 2015 to discuss “ a wage/salary increase of twelve (12) per cent; Meals allowance and station allowances to be increase by twelve (12) per cent; Night Premium for Security Personnel; Suitable guard huts for watchmen; Issuance of certain Personal Protective gears, and an improvement in the
quantum of annual level”. However, after three meetings, the last being on November 17, the Company did not approve any wage hike but offered a Christmas bonus of $5,000 to each worker in lieu of a wage increase for 2015. The Company said it could not offer an increase in light of the Company's revenue position. Wo r k e r s a t Mabura Hill today picketed the company
with slogans including “No increase, No work”, “We need 12% increase”, and “We need Madam Broomes to sweep Mabura”. A f t e r t h e deadlock in the talks between the Union and Company on November 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 , G AW U promptly requested the conciliatory services of the Ministry of Social Protection.
Another charged for America Street robbery Following the brazen robbery of some money changers in the City a few weeks ago, yet another person has been placed before the courts. To d a y, t h i r t y f o u r y e a r- o l d C a l v i n
Johnson was remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman after being charged with the offence. J o h n s o n , allegedly on November 03 while armed with a gun, robbed two money
changers on America Street of about $2.1M in local and foreign currency. It is believed that Johnson was accompanied by others when the robberies were committed. He was identified
by two of the robbery victims following an identification parade. He is expected to return to court on December 01.
GuySuCo and GAWU wage talks to continue tomorrow
Komal Chand
Even as the General Agricultural and Wo r k e r s U n i o n (GAWU) claims that the
Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) is making a miniscule offer of
Annual Production Incentive (API) to workers for the year 2015, negotiations will continue tomorrow (Friday, November, 20). President of GAWU; Komal Chand told GNN that “the two parties are far apart in the offer of GuySuCo and the claim of the Union…the Union's forty person delegation and the Company's representative will meet again tomorrow to continue discussions”. GuySuCo and G AW U c o m m e n c e negotiations yesterday on API for workers for 2015. The API is given
to all staff when the industry achieves and exceeds the production targets set for a given period. The Union submitted its claims for API for this crop on Monday (November, 09) and GuySuCo wrote to the union on W e d n e s d a y (November, 11), informing the Union of its agreement to commence discussion on the Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2015.
Errol Hanoman
Day Cares should be Subsidized – Child Care Agency
The Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) is pushing for funding for Day Care services from local businesses and civil society members to
allow for more children to be given the opportunity to enroll in Day Cares. This call was made yesterday by Director of Child Care
and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Greene during an Early Childhood Development (ECD)-sponsored seminar at the Regency Suites on Hadfield
Street, Georgetown. A statement from the Ministry of Social Protection says this call, if taken up by the members of civil society and the Private sector will make partial funding available to develop the sector. It was noted that the initiative is the first in a series of meetings expected to be rolled out nation-wide under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Protection ECD Unit, said C o n c h e e t a G r a y, Manager of that unit. Advisor to Social Protection Minister, and Member of Parliament (MP), John Adams who delivered
Ann Greene
remarks for Minister Vo l d a L a w r e n c e , emphasised that day care services throughout Guyana's 83,000 square miles “must be safe, secure (and) infantfriendly”. According to the release, recent research findings show that children exposed to
E C D e s c a p e delinquency in childhood and deviance in later life. It is also necessary as more mothers are becoming employed.
PPP laments lack of implementation of 2015 budget projects asked the Minister of Finance and the various sectoral Ministers to outline how they plan to implement such a huge budget in such a short time. He said they were told that the government had a plan. He pointed to the fact that it is now six weeks
Juan Edhgill
The Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has predicted that the 2015 National budget is a failed one while lamenting the lack of implementation of projects outlined in the budget. During a media conference on yesterday at Freedom House, Sectoral spokesperson for the Party in the area of public infrastructure, Juan Edhgill, revealed that in Region five, the capital budget is about GYD$236M and out of that sum at the last reporting period only
about GYD$10M has been spent. Earlier in November, Region Six Chairman, David Armogan disclosed that only $15 million has been spent in capital works from the $260 Million allocated to the region. He expressed concern that majority of the allocated funds, which is being solely entrusted with the Regional Executive Officer (REO), would be returned as automatic savings to the treasury
and residents of the region would lose out. Armogan said this is the first time the region would be placed in a position where they would not be able to execute the allocated funds. Reference was made to the past where according to him, they would have exhausted the allocated sum and would have looked for additional funding. With that being said, Edghill noted that during the budget debates, the PPP/C questioned and
before the completion of the year and what is taking place does not represent any serious plan for the successful implementation of both the capital and maintenance budget for the various sectors, particularly in the area of public infrastructure.
He chided the coalition government for operating in his opinion, in a policy deficient environment. “There seems to be no police as it relates to the implementation and laying out of public programmes.”
President to be patron of Scout Association President David Granger is expected to be inducted as the patron of the Scout Association of Guyana on the occasion of the Association's 106th anniversary celebration. The Government Information Agency (GINA) stated that the President was informed of the details of the induction ceremony following a courtesy call this morning by President of the Association, Mr. Ramsay A l i a n d C h i e f Commissioner, Ms. Zaida Joaquin. The induction ceremony is slated for Saturday, November 21 at the Scout Headquarters, Woolford Avenue, where the President is expected to deliver the feature address. The Scout Association of Guyana is the largest and oldest youth organisation in the country. Scouting began in British Guiana in 1909, two years after it was
President Granger is being briefed on the upcoming event by President of the Scout Association of Guyana Ramsay Ali and the Scout’s Chief Commissioner Ms. Zaida Joaquin
founded in England by Sir Robert Baden-Powell. This was the first country in the Caribbean where it was established, and the second in South
America. The initial scout troop was founded at Queen's College, by Sgt. Major George Manley, a member of a British regiment stationed here
Scouting soon spread to other schools and churches. The mission of the Association is to contribute to the education
of the young people, through a value-based system; focusing on helping to build a better world, where people are self-fulfilled as
individuals and play a constructive role in society.
Social Cohesion Ministry expected to realise its goals Minister Amna Ally
Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, said it is her expectation that by the year 2020, Guyana will see a change for the good, in terms of unity among Guyanese believing that her Ministry will achieve its goals in five years' time. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Ally said people have been very responsive during the Ministry's outreaches throughout the country. “I have not had a failure in any of those regions that I have been to, to have my sensitization programmes, and I think that they are responding positively to it, because
the people want the togetherness,” she stated. While noting the positive response, Ally pointed out that there are some individuals who instigate negativity and trying to hinder the progress that has been made thus far. She pointed out that it will not side track the vision that she has in sight for Guyana by the year 2020. She posited that the only way social cohesion could happen, is by working together, in order to have the life that the coalition government promised. “I believe that in
2020, we are going to be able to take Guyana to another level, I believe that by then, people will recognise that this is what w e n e e d . We n e e d national unity for development. We need to have a good life for all Guyanese,” the Social Cohesion Minister added. She urged that political persuasion and ethnic relations not mislead at this point in time, as this will only lead to “serious trouble.”
AS CELEBRATIONS FOR THE GUYANA DEFENCE TH FORCE'S (GDF) 50 ANNIVERSARY CONTINUED, YESTERDAY, PRESIDENT DAVID GRANGER TOOK THE PRESIDENTIAL SALUTE AT THE CONSECRATION AND TROOPING OF THE COLOURS CEREMONY HELD AT THE ARMY'S PLAYFIELD AT BASE CAMP AYANGANNA.
President David Granger and Chief of Staff, Mark Phillips as they witnessed the the marching off of the Colours during the parade
His Excellency, President David Granger and Chief of Staff Mark Phillips receiving the Presidential Salute during the Consecration and Trooping of the Colours parade at Base Camp Ayanganna
Ranks of Guyana Defence Force as they marched on the Colours, during the Consecration parade
From left, Former Army Chief of Staff, Edward Collins, Mexico's Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Ivan Robero Sierra Medel, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn were among some of the dignitaries who attended the auspicious event
The ďŹ ve Colours being consecrated by Force Chaplin Reverend Nicholas Corbin and Assistant Force Chaplin Pastor George Jeffers as Pandit Dhanesh Prashad and Brother Asheel Khan look on
Mash 2016 on - float parade for Independence celebrations performances by the calypso, chutney and soca monarchs will be among the activities with which patrons will be treated. Among the main activities for Mash 2016 are calypso, chutney and soca competitions,
The government is assuring Guyanese that Mashramani 2016 is definitely on. H o w e v e r , according to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the annual costume and float parade normally held of February 23, a public holiday for Mashramani, will be held in May next year to coincide with the country's 50th
I n d e p e n d e n c e anniversary celebrations. In addition, GINA noted that the Annual Republic Lecture series will also occur in May while all other related activities for Mashramani will be held with as per usual with regard to February. According to information emanating from the Mash
children's competitions, which are slated to be held from February 17 to 20, culminating with the children's costume and float parade, Bright up Guyana, and steel band and masquerade competitions.
On February 23, there will be the official flag raising at Parliament Buildings, commencing at 07:00 hrs. All the administrative regions are to celebrate Mash as well.
Secretariat, Mash 2016 will be launched on Friday, November 20, 2015, in front of the Ministry of Education's Department of Culture, Main Street, where the 2016 logo will be unveiled, following a packed programme of activities. Drumming, masquerade, dancing, storytelling, steel band renditions, and
'Good for the gander, but not the goose' – Teixeira on govt. withholding asset for Opposition leader's office Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira says the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration cannot account for some of the assets that are supposed to be transferred to the Leader of the Opposition's office. At a press conference yesterday, Teixeira told the media that among the items outstanding are; eight desktop computers, thirteen laptop computers, one Samsung Galaxy tablet, nine printers, three seater couch, water dispensers, two filing cabinets, fifty all-weather folding chairs, four allweather tables, ten APC backup storage containers, one television, one microwave oven, and one table with five chairs.
She however noted that of those items, some cannot be located, and based on what she saw, they are not at the former Opposition leader's Hadfield Street, Georgetown office, as is supposed to be. “No account as to where some of the assets are, they weren't in Hadfield Street and the Parliament office don't know where they are,” Ms. Teixeira told the media. P u b l i c pronouncement, according Teixeira, by Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Governance Minister Raphael Trotman have indicated that no further assets, including computers will be transferred. She took the government to task for disregarding the
constitution on this matter. “The APNU+AFC administration appears to have scant regard for the constitution and the constitutionality of the post of leader of the Opposition and to the leader of the Opposition act by withholding the transfer of these assets purchased under the Parliamentary office, budgetary allocations for the leader of the Opposition.” GNN reported two weeks ago after speaking with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, on the issue that the delay in transfer of the remaining assets centered on the computers which the government claimed that even though they had erased information from them, they could be retrieved. Isaacs said he
Gail Teixeira
was in the process of writing Minister Harmon on the way forward. To t h i s , t h e PPP/C Chief Whip stated that it is “a bit of a rouse.” She recalled during the transition period after the coalition
government won the elections former Ministers were given a period of 48 hours to clean all cell phones and computers so that they can be handed over. “Computers can be cleaned and yes with
someone you may be able to retrieve, but we obeyed as the outgoing government and therefore you can't have double speak, it's good for the gander but it's not good for the goose.”
FESTIVAL CITY MAN EXECUTED; SON SHOT A thirty-seven year old father and resident of F e s t i v a l C i t y, Georgetown, Christopher Wharton, died after being shot by two armed men. The incident occurred at about 17:00 hrs yesterday afternoon. The latest execution was carried out by two young men who approached Wharton as he sat on his stairs with his five year-old son, Nashan,
Christopher Wharton
who was also shot in his leg. While the motive for the killing is not clear, it is believed that the men who shot Wharton are known to the community. According to information, Wharton resisted when the men approached him by scuffling with one. His resistance was in vain as he was reportedly shot four times. Afterwards, the
men reportedly fired shots into the air as they escaped. Wharton died at the hospital. Residents described him as a caring father who was dedicated to his son after gaining custody sometime back. His son, Nashan, is being treated for the injuries he sustained.
BANDIT INVADES HOME OF BERBICE RIGHTS ACTIVIST Gay rights activist, Miriam Edwards, was robbed at gunpoint after an armed bandit entered her Fort Ordinance, East Canje Berbice, home Tuesday night. Edwards, who is the Director of the G u y a n a S e x Wo r k Coalition and an a c t i v i s t s f o r g a y, bisexual, trans-sexual
and lesbian (GBTL), rights, was reported robbed of a quantity of gold jewelry and a cell phone, valued in the vicinity of about $400,000.00. According to information, she was in her verandah after returning from Georgetown and at about 21:00 hrs, an
armed young man approached her and forced her into the house. She obliged in an effort to spare here children who were in their room. After executing the robbery, the bandit, described as a teenager, quietly exited and joined an accomplice who reported waited
outside. They escaped on a bicycle. A visibly shaken Edwards, was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital by the police who have since reported that one person has been arrested.
Miriam Edwards
ST. LUCIANS BUSTED WITH COCAINE IN VAGINA AT CJIA, JAILED (Newssource photo)
Tw o S t . L u c i a n women who were busted with cocaine hidden in their vaginas at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) earlier in the week, were this morning jailed. The women, Chermisa Wheeler and Andree Willy, who were reportedly
here on vacation, were found to be in possession of the illegal drug following a routine pat down search as they were about to board a Caribbean Airlines flight. The women were found to be acting in a suspicious manner as they
approached the airport body scanner. The cocaine was found wrapped in plastic placed in their vaginas. They were sentenced to 48 and 50 months respectively a n d w e r e unrepresented in court.
Transparency body cites conspiracy between Westford and Spouse -Accuses govt. of failing to upkeep rule of law Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) has zeroed in on what it believes to be preferential treatment being meted out to two senior members of the country's disciplinary forces. The body, in a statement made reference to the cases of Assistant Superintendent Terrence Brown of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who was one of four policemen that were charged recently with a $6M cocaine bribe at Whim Police Station in East Berbice. They were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to allow a man to pass unchallenged with cocaine in a minibus on the Corentyne Coast,
sometime between September 10 and 11. “According to reports, Mr. Brown was the Officer-in-Charge of the Whim Police Station when a vehicle carrying cocaine was interdicted by three police ranks and taken to the Whim Police Station, where it is alleged that Mr. Brown was in charge. The vehicle was released after $6M was paid to the police,” the statement pointed out. The transparency body lamented the fact that Brown and three of his subordinates were charged, but only the subordinates were taken to court, shackled, through the entrance of the court complex and
placed in the prisoner's dock. They were not granted bail, and were remanded to prison. It said Brown was allowed to enter through the backdoor to the court, not shackled, and not required to go in the prisoner's dock. Brown was given bail reportedly on the spurious ground that, if he was not granted bail, he would have been put in the lockups where he would have had communication with the other three.” TIGI argued that the rule of law which underpins the Constitution of Guyana requires that persons be treated equally before the law. “This means that everyone must have the
same rights, whether of property ownership, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of movement, etc,” the statement added. TIGI believes that the preferential treatment displayed is a “negation of the rule of l a w, a n d t h e r e f o r e violates the Constitution.” TIGI also singled out Gary Beaton Head of the GDF Coast Guard, and spouse of former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford. The organisation believes that, given the spousal relationship between the duo, a clear case of conspiracy can be established.
“To any rational person, this is a clear case of a conspiracy to engage in theft of government property,” TIGI noted. TIGI believes that while the government, during its elections campaign, spoke of respect for the rule of law and its plans to upkeep the rule of law,
the failure of lawenforcement officials to investigate and charge Beaton, and the preferential treatment afforded Brown, “undermine that commitment” made by the coalition government.
Guyana not spared backwash of weakening global economic performance –Finance Minister
Minister Winston Jordan
In light of the fact that commodity-producing countries continues to record a weak growth rate in their economy, Guyana had not been successful in evading the backwash of weakening global economic performance, says Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The Minister was at the time addressing participants of the three-day 47th Annual Monetary Studies Conference currently being hosted by
the Bank of Guyana. According to the M i n i s t e r, c o m m o d i t y producing economies have recorded a weak growth of 2.5 percent in 2014, down from the 3.2 percent achieved in 2013 partly due to the drastic drop in commodity prices in the latter part of 2014. As a result, he explained that Guyana has not been spared the backwash of this weakening global economic performance. And because
of this, for the first time in recent memory, the six pillars that have been the foundation of the economy's upbringing, namely sugar, rice, bauxite, gold, diamonds and timber, have all suffered major setbacks. Even a seventh pillar, remittances, which account for more than 25 per cent of the country's GDP, have also recorded decline, the Minister said. “Remittances are critically important for poverty reduction across the region and every effort must be made to ensure that the region continues to have access to that flow” he said. But according to Jordan, who has more than 35 years of experience in Finance under his belt, one of the most intractable problems which Guyana faces is the weakness of the country's external accounts. He revealed that
the region's average performance in this area deteriorated, with the average deficit on the current account increasing from 8.6 per cent of GDP to 9.2 per cent between 2013 and 2014. Only Trinidad and Tobago had recorded a surplus of 4.8 percent of GDP in 2014. But even in this case, he said that the performance had deteriorated from a surplus of 7 per cent of GDP in 2013. \ Additionally, in all other countries, deficits were recorded in 2014 but the tourism-based economies of Jamaica, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) were able to reduce their deficits relative to 2013. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the region will grow by approximately 2.2 percent in 2015, improving to 2.4 percent in 2016. But according to Minister Jordan, this marginal
improvement is unlikely to be reflected in commodity producing countries, the outlook of which is for generally slower growth relative to service-based economies. Offering what he described as the obvious solution to this mostly deteriorated performance, the Minister related that persistent and sustained growth of the region's economies while steadily reducing or managing macroeconomic and financial vulnerabilities is the key to addressing this issue. And while low commodity prices and an improving US economy implies better growth prospects for most CARICOM countries, there are still significant problems however, in terms of fiscal accounts and debt sustainability. To combat this, Jordan argued that an important area for action is
the strengthening of the fiscal accounts which is key to rebalancing the external accounts. He reasoned that service-based economies should use lower commodity prices, in particular the very low fuel prices, to accelerate the fiscal consolidation process with a view to improving debt sustainability. And although commodity producers may have lower debt burdens, lower commodity prices require a disciplined policy framework to shore up revenues and prevent similar sustainability issues from developing. He opined that the legal and regulatory framework for financial risk assessment and mitigation, to deal with any financial vulnerabilities which can threaten the resumption of sustained growth in the Caribbean must be strengthened.
BULKAN TO ANNOUNCE LOCAL GOVT. ELECTIONS DATE TOMORROW The Ministry of Communities in a statement today, disclosed that the date for the long o v e r d u e L o c a l Government Elections (LGE) will be announced t o m o r r o w, F r i d a y, November 20 at 10:30 hrs. The announcement is expected to be made by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan during a press conference. These elections were last held in Guyana in 1994 and several calls
were made in recent years to set a date for the elections. During a recent Press Conference the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) stated that it has embarked on a full-fledged information drive in the local authority areas to ensure that eligible voters are aware of the elections and how they can participate at whatever level. It was disclosed
that the Local Authority Areas still stands at 71, however instead of 65 N e i g h b o r h o o d Democratic Councils ( N D C ) a n d 6 Municipalities as previously existed, there is now 62 NDC's and 9 Municipalities with the declaration of Mabaruma, Bartica and Lethem as towns GECOM is currently conducting its Claims and Objections. The exercise began on
Minister Ronald Bulkan
b e g a n o n M o n d a y, November, 09 and will conclude on December 13. This period allows for persons who will be 18 by February, 29, 2016 to get registered at the upcoming
LGE, conduct transfers from one constituency to another, apply for changes and corrections and object to persons registered in a specific constituency. The hosting of
LGE will be the fulfilment of a major campaign promise made by the APNU+AFC government during its campaign.
Jagdeo to host bilateral meetings in Russia
Bharrat Jagdeo
Former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, has participated in the International Climate Conference in Russia where he was one of the lead speakers. The session included presentations from Head of the United Nations Environment Program, Achim Steiner, and Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, Christiana Figueres. J a g d e o commended the outreach by the Russian government to business enterprises, civil society and the international community as part of its preparation for the upcoming COP 21
Meeting in Paris. He shared his perspectives regarding the prospect for and essential components of, a successful agreement in Paris including the need for a global agreement that is legally binding. Further, he spoke of the necessity of an agreement on climate financing at scale to allow developing countries to raise their ambition levels on mitigation action (as outlined in their INDCs), adapt to climate change and transition to a green economy. The Former President will have several bilateral meetings with various stakeholders while in Russia.
In October, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Jagdeo joined world leaders in New York, as the international community accelerates preparations towards reaching a historic global climate agreement in Paris in December. While there he emphasised how people from developing countries around the world continued to be united in their desire to provide solutions to climate change.
HEALTH
Safe sex for heart patients? Sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, is believed to contribute immensely to people's quality of life. In fact, it is said to be one of the best forms of exercise with a few even singling it out as the most rewarding way to work up a sweat. However, heart patients are sometimes hesitant when it comes to sexual activity. This is oftentimes due to misconceptions about the perceived dangers of sex. Researchers at the University of Rio Grande do Sul and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in a study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, provide practical recommendations
regarding sexual activity in heart patients. Using the acronym KiTOMI -kissing (Ki), touching (T), oral (O), masturbation (M) and vaginal/anal intercourse (I) -- the researchers suggest heart patients abide by those sexual behaviours. "Overall, the risk of death during sex is very low for most clinically stable heart patients, and interestingly, even much lower for the women." Said lead author Ricardo Stein of the Cardiology Division of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in a recent news release. The release said sexual activity is typically well-tolerated by most clinically stable heart
patients, who are typically advised to participate in exercise programmes as part of their recovery plan. Occurrence of sudden cardiac death is very rare, corresponding to less than 2 per cent of all exerciserelated deaths, it continued. Co-investigator Aline Sardinha, also of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, noted that: "Cardiac anxiety, the fear of cardiac-related stimuli and sensations, which are perceived as negative or dangerous, is common in heart patients and surely interfere with the resumption of a normal and regular sexual life." The authors emphasise the importance of sexual counselling to
provide reassurance and reliable information for patients and their partners, including the proper use of medications to treat erectile
dysfunction. " O f t e n considered 'taboo' an objective discussion of sexual behaviour in heart
disease has often been put aside," he continued. "Health-care providers must break this vicious cycle." (Adapted from the (Jamaican Observer)
The real risks of sex with someone who has HIV
On the Today show Tuesday morning to talk about being H I V- p o s i t i v e , C h a r l i e Sheen said that it's “impossible” that he transmitted the virus to any of his sexual partners. Sheen
has an undetectable viral load, meaning that he's being treated and the virus cannot be found in his blood. Is it true that HIV can't be transmitted when the virus is undetectable?
Sheen's doctor, Robert Huizenga, M.D., an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, appeared alongside the actor to explain that Sheen was immediately put on a treatment of anti-viral drugs following his diagnosis. Dr. Huizenga said transmission of the virus is incredibly rare among people who have undetectable viral loads and use protection responsibly. “We can't say that that's zero, but it's a very, very low number.” How low? As Melissa Dahl explains on Science of Us, a recent
study spent six years following more than 1,100 couples where one partner was HIV-positive. It found that early anti-viral treatment reduced the risk of transmission by 93 percent. Another study, currently in its second year, has thus far found zero cases of transmission between partners, and some of the couples weren't using condoms. But “undetectable viral load” refers to the level of virus in a person's blood only. The virus might still be found in genital fluids like semen, pre-ejaculate, and vaginal fluids. That's why experts recommend that
people with HIV use condoms when having any kind of sex: vaginal, anal, or oral. (Yes, oral sex is included.) Regardless, some couples in HIVaffected relationships don't use condoms, in part because of the advent of a preventive pill called Truvada, more commonly known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. It's also possible that people are less concerned about unprotected sex with HIVpositive partners than they used to be. After all, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is no longer
the death sentence it was considered in the '80s or '90s. Even Sheen's doctor said he's more worried about his patient's substance abuse than he is about the virus: “My biggest concern with Charlie as a patient is substance abuse and depression from the disease, more than what the HIV could do in terms of shortening his life because it's not going to.” Still, there's no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS, the final stage of the infection, so it pays to be careful. (Adapted from Yahoo)
Consuming charred meat may raise kidney cancer risk Cancer patients tended to eat more red and white meat, and more of the carcinogenic “char” chemicals caused by grilling, pan frying or barbequing, than people without kidney cancer. People who eat large amounts of meat cooked at high temperature or over an open flame - and are also genetically susceptible - may have a higher risk of kidney cancer, according to a new study. Animal muscle, cooked at high temperatures, produces substances called
heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause changes in DNA that may increase cancer risk, according to the National Cancer Institute. Population studies have not found a definite link between cooked meat and cancer in humans, but studies using detailed food questionnaires have found that increased consumption of well done, fried or barbecued meats is tied to an increased risk of cancer of the colon, pancreas and prostate.
“A few previous studies have looked at kidney cancer and these carcinogens, but this is the first study to find an association between one of these specific mutagens (MeIQx) and kidney cancer risk,” said senior author Dr. Xifeng Wu of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. MeIQx is one of the heterocyclic amines formed by high temperature cooking. “This is also the first study to look at genetic
variants along with consumption of these carcinogens in relation to kidney cancer risk,” Wu said. The researchers compared the dietary patterns and genetic risk profiles of 659 people newly diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma to 699 people without the cancer. People with two gene variants, one involving lipid signaling in the cells and another which encodes for the activation of other genes when oxygen levels are low, appeared to be more susceptible to the cancer-
causing chemicals in cooked meat. These are common gene variants, but their effect on cancer risk was very
small, Wu said. (Adapted from Yahoo Health)
OUR WORLD
Earth is nearing the 'danger zone'
Looks like Earth is already halfway to the danger zone. Less than two weeks before a crucial global climate summit in Paris kicks off, NOAA, NASA and other global temperature monitors released data showing that
the planet is halfway to two degrees of warming, the much publicized limit of "controllable" climate change. Global data from NOAA released Thursday shows that the average temperature across the
entire planet for the month of October was a record shattering 0.98 degrees Celsius (1.76 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than average for the month of October -making it the highest average temperature reached compared to normal in Earth's historical record. It was the warmest October ever observed in 136 years of NOAA records. The NOAA data is backed up by similar data sets maintained by NASA and the Japan Meteorological Agency, which also ranked
October as the hottest month on record compared to average. All of this virtually guarantees that 2015 will rank as the warmest year overall, breaking the record that was set just last year. The temperatures got a boost this year from what may end up being the strongest El Nino ever recorded reaching its peak. El Nino, which is characterized by warming of ocean waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean, is helping to drive global temperatures upward this year. And while this
year's El Nino is already one of the three-strongest El Nino events ever have seen, it cannot fully account for all of the warming. After all, 13 of the 15 warmest years on record have occurred since the year 2000, and this is the first year to feature a strong El Nino since 1998. So what happens if the planet breaches the two degrees of warming threshold? Nothing good, according to reports reviewed by CNN's John Sutter, who has written extensively on the subject.
Sutter -- who pulled reports from the National Research C o u n c i l , t h e Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Bank -- says wildfires in the United States could significantly increase in size, hurricanes would be slightly more intense, more species would be at risk for extinction, Arctic ice would continue to melt, crop yields would decrease and the availability of freshwater would significantly decline. (Adapted from CNN)
Muslim group angry after 4 passengers pulled from airline A leading Muslim group is calling on Spirit Airlines to apologize after four people were removed from a Chicago-bound flight in Baltimore when a woman complained about a man, possibly of Middle Eastern descent, who was watching a news report on his phone. The four were later released without any charges, but they missed their flight from Baltimore Washington International Airport to O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday. "Watching news on your smartphone has never qualified as a
security threat or as suspicious behavior and could have been easily vetted as such with minimal inquiry by the flight crew," the Council on American Islamic Relations said in a statement. "That this was escalated into an ordeal seems to be exclusively due to the passenger's perceived ethnicity," it added. Spirit Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Spirit Airlines Flight 969 was about to take off early Tuesday
morning when a woman reported the "suspicious behavior" of a man next to her who was watching news on his phone, according to Sgt. Jonathan Green, a spokesman for the Maryland Transportation Authority, which patrols the airport. A s th e p lan e was taxiing toward the runway, she grabbed her young daughter and rushed to the back of the plane and talked to a flight attendant, Green said. The captain decided to return to the gate and the man and two others in
his row, another man and a woman, were removed, along with a man sitting behind them, Green said. Four to five other people were removed temporarily as well, according to several passengers, but they apparently were allowed to continue on the flight. "We did not find any criminal activity or violations of any kind and they were free to do what they pleased at that point," Green said. "I'm not going to discredit the captain," he added.. "Americans of all faiths and ethnicities
should be able to travel freely without being harassed or subjected to unconstitutional racial or religious profiling," said CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab.
"We call on Spirit Airlines to issue a public apology to all four passengers and take steps to ensure this does not happen again," Rehab said. (Adapted from MSN)
Man executed for killing 3 children in house fire Te x a s o n We d n e s d a y executed a 36-year-old man convicted of killing his daughter and two stepdaughters in a mobile home blaze in 2000. Raphael Holiday was put to death by lethal injection at the state's death chamber in Huntsville and pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m., a prisons official said. He became the 531st inmate executed by Te x a s s i n c e t h e U . S . Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, the most of any state. "Yes, I would like to thank all of my supporters and loved ones," he was quoted by prison officials as saying in his last statement. Holiday was
convicted of killing Tierra Lynch, 7; Jasmine DuPaul, 5; and Justice Holiday, 1, in a rural community about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Houston. He had been living with Tami Wilkerson, his common law wife at the time, until she secured a restraining order against him for sexually assaulting Tierra, according t o t h e Te x a s a t t o r n e y general's office. About six months later, Holiday, who had attempted to reconcile with Wilkerson, returned to the house and forced the girls' grandmother at gunpoint to douse the home with gasoline, which ignited, it said. The grandmother
survived. After watching the blaze, he fled the scene in a vehicle and was caught after a high-speed chase with police. The bodies of the three girls were later found huddled together in the charred remains of the home, the office said. The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request filed by a new lawyer for Holiday, who argued his federally appointed counsel had acted against his wishes and abandoned further rounds of court filings to spare his life. (Adapted from MSN)
Regional
Regional
Probability of ISIS training in T &T There are groups who have been recruiting T&T nationals for Syria-based terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS), former minister of national security Gary Griffith has confirmed. And the fact that local authorities have evidence that people have left T&T to become foreign terrorist fighters with (ISIS), also confirms the high probability that some nationals have returned home and are not only recruiting locals but training them as well, he said yesterday. Former head of the National Operations Centre, Commander Garvin Heerah, also confirmed several Trinis had returned home in the last three years after linking up
with ISIS in Syria. Both men made the comments following word from local intelligence sources that a n u m b e r o f T & T- b o r n foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) had returned home alongside their families in the last couple years. Griffith also confirmed the past government had been monitoring persons who had been aiding and abetting T&T nationals to join ISIS. “And that included assisting such persons with getting visas and making their way from T&T to the Middle East,” he said. T h e T & T Guardian learned from the Muslim community
yesterday that an East Trinidad man in his late 20s, who had graduated from university with a law degree, was among those who went to Syria in mid2014. He is believed to have been killed a few weeks ago, a source said. The man comes from a prominent Muslim community family. National Security Minister Edmund Dillon on Tu e s d a y p u t T & T o n heightened vigilance with a framework of monitoring and surveillance measures. He also indicated Government was discussing revisiting the current situation of free, unrestricted/unhindered
entry of T&T nationals who have joined ISIS. Some 89 fighters and family members are said to have linked with ISIS to date. Attorney Nafeesa Mohammed, who said local Muslim community Maulanas were scheduled to meet last night to discuss the situation, called for mechanisms for the communities to locate geographically exactly who had gone to Syria, those killed and who had returned. Expressing concern at the recruitment of youths who lack a sense of belonging, Mohammed said of particular concern was the family structure situation where there may be more
than one wife involved. Yesterday, Umar A b d u l l a h , o f To b a g o ' s Lowlands masjid, who said persons had gone to Syria from Rio Claro, San
Fernando, Chaguanas, Diego Martin and Port-ofSpain, said some FTFs were not attached to particular masjids. (Adapted from the Trinidad Guardian)
Man kills three, commits suicide in Florida A Jamaican national is reported to have shot and killed three members of his family on Sunday before committing suicide, police said. They have not released the identities of those killed, but said that the victims include
children. A fourth member of the family is said to be in a critical condition at hospital. A Jacksonville Sheriff's spokesman said police got a call that shots had been fired on Sunday afternoon, and arrived to find five victims with gunshot
wounds throughout the house. Four were pronounced dead at the location. Jacksonville police said the victims include children and that the shooting took place in Oceanway. L a w enforcement officials
say it appears the incident may have arisen from a domestic issue. (Jamaican Observer)
Separate funerals for murder/suicide victims On the eve of her third b i r t h d a y, l i t t l e A r t i e Ramkhelawan was unable to say a final farewell to her father who tried to murder her by slitting her throat or to her mother, who was murdered by the man who later took his own life by hanging. Separate funeral services were held yesterday for Premnath Ramkhelewan and his wife Aarika Bhim. Little Artie remains in hospital recovering from her injuries. Bhim, 26, who was stabbed 17 times by her husband of five years
Ramkhelawan, 25, was cremated at the Shore of Peace, Mosquito Creek, La Romaine following a funeral service at her family's Laltoo Trace Penal home. Ramkhelawan was buried at the Batchyia Public Cemetery following a funeral service at Boodoo's Funeral Home in Penal. Little Artie is still in a serious but stable condition and because of the severity of her injuries, she would remain at hospital for a few more days medical sources disclosed. She will spend
her birthday today at hospital. The girl was found in the backseat of the family car at Penal, bleeding and lying next to the cold body of her dead mother. Ye s t e r d a y, f a m i l y, f r i e n d s a n d villagers came out in their numbers to pay tribute to the young mother. Many wept as they consoled each other. Bhim's mother Sharda was inconsolable. She wept over the open coffin bearing the remains of her daughter. “Why? Why? Why this have to happen,” she
cried. “You could have come to me, you could h a v e t o l d m e something...oh gosh why,why?” Delivering the eulogy, Aarika's aunt Gaitri Surujlal said her niece was an exceptional woman, dedicated mother
and blessing to her p a r e n t s . “How many parents can boast to have children who support them and stand by them through every tribulation? How many parents can boast of having a child
who is always respectful, even at her age Aarika was still obedient to her parents,” Surujlal said. (Trinidad Newsday)
INTERNATIONAL
Suspected Paris attack ringleader killed
The suspected ringleader in last week's bloody terrorist attacks in Paris was killed in a pre-dawn raid yesterday on an apartment building north of the French capital, the Paris prosecutor's office
announced. Authorities zeroed in on a building in the Paris suburb of SaintDenis after picking up phone conversations indicating that a relative of Abdelhamid Abaaoud,
who authorities believe coordinated the shootings and bombings that killed 129 people, may have been there. The Paris prosecutor's office said that Abaaoud's body was found in the Saint-Denis building riddled with bullets. The office said that he was positively identified using papillary prints, which include patterns on fingers, palms and the soles of feet. Exactly how he died, at this point, isn't known. Police fired around 5,000 rounds of ammunition in the confrontation and used
strong munitions that spurred a floor to collapse. The prosecutor's office said Thursday that "we still don't know whether Abaaoud blew himself up or not." That's what officials say happened with the raid's only other fatality that of a woman suicide bomber that Belgian state b r o a d c a s t e r RT B F reported was Abaaoud's cousin. A police dog also died in the operation, while five police officers were slightly wounded. Some residents in the area told CNN they had seen Abaaoud recently in
the neighborhood and at a local mosque. His death, though, does not mean French investigators' work is over. Far from it. For one, at least one Paris terror suspect, a French citizen named Salah Abdeslam, remains at large. And the threat from ISIS, which has boasted about the carnage and threatened more such attacks worldwide, remains very real. Speculation about Abaaoud's activities and movements has proliferated since officials began linking him to the Paris attacks in recent
days, with many observers assuming he was operating in Syria. Abaaoud had bragged in the past of being able to move between Syria and Europe a t w i l l . We s t e r n intelligence agencies are reported to have tried to target him in the months prior to the Paris attacks without success. While they have named Abaaoud, authorities have not yet identified the other terror suspect who died with him or the eight people detained in connection with the SaintDenis raid. (CNN)
ISIS kills Chinese, Norwegian hostages; Beijing vows justice Beijing has vowed to bring ISIS to justice after the group said it had executed two hostages, a Chinese and a Norwegian. ISIS said it had killed the two men, identified as Chinese national Fan Jinghui and Norwegian citizen Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad in its English-language online magazine "Dabiq." President Xi Jinping "strongly condemned" ISIS for the
killing of Fan, the first known Chinese national to be killed by the group, and the country's foreign ministry said the Chinese government would "definitely hold the perpetrators accountable." But how to respond to Fan's "coldblooded and violent" death presents a dilemma for China, which has stayed on the sidelines in the fight against ISIS and
has a long-held principle of non-interference in other country's affairs. To date, Beijing has been vague on the question of what it will contribute to the global fight against ISIS and has declined to explicitly offer its support for air strikes being conducted against the group in Syria. Norway also condemned the killings. It's not known how Fan was captured by
ISIS or whether he was abducted in Iraq, Syria, or elsewhere. "The Chinese government and people have been very concerned about Fan Jinghui's safety since he was kidnapped," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said in a statement Thursday. He added the government had made "allout" efforts to rescue him. China hasn't been
an active participant in the fight against ISIS, but, in the wake of the killing, pledged to "enhance its counter-terrorism cooperation with the
international community." But experts say the chances of Chinese aircraft flying alongside Russian and U.S. planes in Syria and Iraq are slim to none. (CNN)
Boko Haram the most deadly terrorist group in the world
Two bomb attacks in 24 hours -- one of them involving an 11-year-old
female bomber -- killed dozens of people and wounded more than 120
others in the Nigerian cities of Yola and Kano, authorities said. At least
31 people were killed and 72 others injured in a bomb blast Tuesday evening in the northeastern city of Yola, Aliyu Maikano, a local Red Cross official, said. It was not clear whether the blast was from a planted device or the work of a suicide bomber, according to reports. Roughly 400 miles to the northwest, in Kano, two bombings killed 15 people and injured at least 123 in a mobile phone market, Kano state police c o m m i s s i o n e r Muhammad Musa Katsina said. T h e t w o
bombers, who Katsina said were females ages 11 and 18, blew themselves up during the peak of trading, he said. A minivan carrying four other children believed to be bombers dropped the girls off, he said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group, is the prime suspect. The terrorist outfit hit the same market in January 2012, killing 185 people in bomb and gun attacks there. Boko Haram, which operates mainly in Nigeria, has become the
most deadly terrorist group in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2015, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to ISIS. "Also notable over the past year is the major intensification of the terrorist threat in Nigeria," the report said. "The country witnessed the largest increase in terrorist deaths ever recorded by any country, increasing by over 300% to 7,512 fatalities." (Adapted from CNN)
West Indies Board President refuses to meet CARICOM leaders
Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has bristled at the suggestion by West Indies Cricket Board president, Dave Cameron, that his board
was too busy to have an urgent meeting with CARICOM leaders to d i s c u s s t h e recommendations of the Governance Review Panel
report. Speaking on the opening day of the OECS Summit, Mitchell reiterated that CARICOM heads were serious about
ensuring there were fundamental changes in West Indies cricket and urged Cameron to focus on the interests of Caribbean people and not those of himself and his board members. “ W e (CARICOM Heads) said were prepared in the interest of our people to meet immediately to look at how we're going forward,” said Mitchell, who is also chairman of CARICOM's Cricket Governance Committee. “I can't believe this…I saw a [news] report the president of the West Indies Cricket Board says his people are very busy—they are professional people with a lot of responsibilities—so the heads are not
professional people. So we can meet, we can give up everything else. “All I ask the president [is to] accept the responsibility and think less of yourself and your board members and more of the people of the entire Caribbean.” Earlier this month, Mitchell had asked Cameron for an “urgent meeting” to discuss the Governance Review Panel report which among other things, recommended the “immediate dissolution” of the WICB. H o w e v e r, Cameron suggested at the time—and reiterated last weekend—that there was unlikely to be any talks with CARICOM before the already scheduled December 12 Directors
meeting in St Lucia. Delivering the feature address at Cayman Cricket's Annual Awards Dinner in George To w n l a s t S a t u r d a y, Cameron said the Board comprised a “number of professionals” and therefore simply calling a meeting was “not that easy”. But Mitchell said he found it hard to accept the WICB's reluctance to meet urgently with CARICOM Heads especially since it was the Board who had a g r e e d t o t h e establishment of the Panel, and had helped to recommend its members. (Adapted from the Trinidad Guardian)
back".
Mark Footitt, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Samit Patel, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Ta y l o r, C h r i s Wo a k e s . (Espncricinfo)
Bell dropped from England squad Ian Bell faces the end of his England career after being dropped for the Test series against South Africa. Nick Compton and Gary Ballance have earned recalls while the uncapped left-arm quick Mark Footitt has been included after injuries to Mark Wood and Steven Finn. Samit Patel, who was called in as a replacement for Zafar Ansari for the Test series against Pakistan, has been retained while Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan are
both in the 16-man squad but Liam Plunkett has not been able to find a spot despite being in the squad for the Pakistan series. Wood will undergo ankle surgery next week. Adil Rashid, who played the three Tests against Pakistan, has been omitted with the selectors feeling that he would be surplus to requirements on the pitches in South Africa. Instead he is expected to get a Big Bash deal in Australia, with the
Adelaide Strikers, coached b y Yo r k s h i r e ' s J a s o n Gillespie, one of his likelier destinations. Moeen Ali is likely to slip back down the order to No. 8 after his failed try at opening in the UAE. Alex Hales was favoured to open alongside Alastair Cook in the Boxing Day Test in Durban, but that position could yet go to Compton to revive the partnership which was the first combination used after Andrew Strauss retired. The
Cook-Compton alliance remains the most successful of the seven pairings used by England since Strauss, averaging 57.93 in 17 innings together with three century stands. Otherwise, Compton could vie with Ballance for the No. 3 berth vacated by Bell. Bell tweeted that he was "absolutely gutted" to miss out on selection but staved off thoughts of retirement, saying he was "determined to win my place
E n g l a n d Te s t squad:- Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, J o n n y B a i r s t o w, G a r y Ballance, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Nick Compton,
Athletics doping scandal: New blow for Russia
Russia is one of six countries to be deemed "noncompliant" by the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) in the wake of a report that accused its athletics
federation of running a statesponsored doping program. Along with Argentina, Ukraine and Bolivia it has been found guilty of using non-accredited laboratories to
process its urine and blood sample analysis, WADA said in a statement on its website. Andorra and Israel were found not to have adequate anti-doping rules in place while Brazil -- host of the 2016 Olympics -- is among six more countries to be put on WADA's watch list. Should it, Belgium, France, Greece, Mexico and Spain not meet WADA's conditions by March next year, they could all be deemed "noncompliant." Kenya, the subject of a doping investigation by the International Association
of Athletics Federations (IAAF), has been told to detail its doping controls or face sanctions. Meanwhile, the IAAF laid out its criteria for Russia to be readmitted to athletics Thursday, after it was provisionally banned for doping violations. Russia was accused of fostering a "deeply rooted culture of cheating at all levels" in an independent report carried out by the organization's former president, Dick Pound. It claimed more than 1,400 samples were "intentionally and maliciously" destroyed by
a Moscow laboratory even after a WADA plea to preserve them. Athletes were often given notice of out-ofcompetition tests, used false identities and frequently bribed doping control officers to get around other tests. Pound's report also stated the London 2012 Olympics -- in which Russia won 24 gold medals -- were "in a sense, sabotaged by the admission of athletes who should have not been competing." The International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said
at the weekend he was confident Russia would resolve its problems in time to compete at Rio 2016. But IAAF president Seb Coe, who was criticized for not doing more to uncover Russia's doping issues, has warned it will only be readmitted once it passes robust tests. Russia must make doping illegal, ban those athletes and coaches that have been implicated and end the "Omerta" that has surrounded its practices, a statement on the IAAF's website said. (CNN Sports)
Thursday November 19, 2015
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From le , PRO of the Na onal Championships, Edison Jefford, Digicel's Sponsorship Execu ve, Luanna Abrams, Principle Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Glendon Fogenay and Second Vice‐President of the Guyana Teacher's Union (GTU) Julian Cambridge at the handing over
DIGICEL SPONSORS NATIONAL SCHOOLS' TH CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR 5 YEAR Digicel Guyana will play a major role in the National Schools' Championships which will start on November 23 rd at various venues around Region Four. At a simple presentation ceremony on Thursday at Digicel headquarters in Kingston, Principle Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Glendon
Fogenay thanked Digicel for their continued support. “Firstly thanks to Digicel for this sponsorship it is wonderful to work with Digicel and we hope that they continue with us for years to come and that the relationship can only grow in the future. We are working hard to ensure that this year's
championship is the best out of all the previous ones,” Fogenay stated. Digicel's Sponsorship Executive, Luanna Abrams highlighted the importance of Digicel's commitment to the event. “ W e a r e passionate of youth and sport development in Guyana and we once
again pledge our commitment to the championships,” Abrams stated. The Swimming Championships will be h e l d o n M o n d a y, November 23 at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal. In addition to the swimming competition, two field events, Long Jump and Shot Putt, along with the
10km road race, 40km and 25km cycle road race will also take place on November 23. The Games Village will be established on Woolford Avenue. Tutorial High, North Georgetown Primary and Secondary Schools and Richard Ishmael Secondary will house the 16 Districts from across Guyana that
will compete at the Championships. The Games Secretariat has been officially opened at GTU Headquarters, Woolford Avenue, with Districts submitting their entries. The Opening Ceremony for the championship is scheduled for November 24 at 10:30h.