GNN Online Newspaper - Oct 29, 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

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VENEZUELA IMPOSED EMBARGO ON GUYANA

-PAGE 9

CONCERNS OVER PSC APPROACH FOR POLICE PROMOTIONS -PAGE 2

Rice, sugar industries not given enough attention -Jagdeo tells Essequibians Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo has assured residents of Region 2 that the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will win the next elections, due in 2020 by landslide victory. He noted that systems are being put in place to ensure this happens.

Party members who were elected to serve the people at the grass root level are working painlessly to ensure that the PPP/C secures victory at the next election, the leader posited. “The errors made during the May 11elections will be corrected,” he assured supporters. He stated that though the PPP/C was cheated out of office it will not be defeated.

The former President made these remarks during the PPP/C community outreach in Region 2, which commenced on Monday

evening.

Accompanying him are former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, former Minister within the Agriculture Ministry Alli Baksh, Members of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj and Zulfikar Mustapha along with Sham Nokta.

Speaking to residents during a bottomhouse style meeting at Golden Fleece on the Essequibo Coast on Wednesday, Mr. Jagdeo urged that they stay strong and not lose sight of the bigger picture. The majority of Region 2 residents depend largely on the rice industry which is in a serious crisis.

Jagdeo said that from all indications, rice and sugar, which are the two major industries in Guyana are not being given attention, adding

that if the A Partnership f o r N a t i o n a l Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) continues along the path they are traversing they will send the Country back into dark days. “The Administration has failed rice farmers and has done nothing to support them, since being elected to Government,” Jagdeo stressed.

He spoke to the state of the economy, saying that the PPP/C Government over the years was able to significantly transform Guyana from a highly indebted nation to an independent one. While admitting that the PPP/C is not a perfect party, he pointed to the fact that Guyana has outperformed the entire economy.

However, he lamented that the economy now lacks growth and that investors have lost

confidence in the coalition government.

H e t o l d supporters that the A P N U + A F C government's focus is on spending money on their Ministers, pointing to the recent salary increases.

During the meeting, residents were given a chance to raise

their concerns. Some residents registered their disappointment with the APNU+AFC government given the fact that they voted for them at the May 11 polls. They spoke of the coalition government inability to fulfill a number of promises that were made to them leading up to the

Elections.

During the campaign season, the APNU/AFC had promised farmers up to $6000 per bag of paddy once elected.

However, that promise is yet to be fulfilled. Some rice farmers say they have been deceived since they are only receiving $2000 and less per bag this crop.

Concerns over PSC approach for Police promotions Last year the Police Service Commission (PSC) embarked on a new initiative where it reportedly ignored normal procedures governing the promotion of senior police officers.

The initiative entailed inviting every single police officer from the rank of Inspector to Senior Superintendent for interviews ahead of the annual year end promotion.

Now, it appears that the PSC is stuck with that new approach, which according to some within, the Commission might have bitten off more than it could chew.

The sources allude that the approach may have been implemented at the time to reportedly appease some police officers and to afford others preferential treatment.

A senior member of the Presidential Guard along with another officer await their turn to be interviewed by the Police Service Commission

The Guyana News Network learnt that the Police Service Commission is now in the process of conducting its second round of interviews under that new approach which it adopted last year. Prior to 2014, the

norm for conducting interviews for the promotion of senior officers was based on a list that was sent to the Police Service Commission by the Guyana Police Force. It is understood that the list was usually finalized by

the Commissioner of Police.

In 2015 when the list of promotions was released, sources revealed that there were several concerns and disgruntled police officers who claimed that they were over looked for

promotion based on criteria which at that time was not explained to them.

Then, the PSC indicated that in order to meet a larger number of officers and examine the reasons why some persons were not listed for promotion considerations, it took a decision to invite other officers who were not listed as among those to be considered for promotion.

T h e Commission had shy away from claims that it failed to adhere to the list submitted by the police force. It explained that persons from the list submitted by the force as well as others who it though were eligible for promotion based on their years of services and performance could have been considered.

At the moment the PSC is interviewing senior officers from across the country as part of the broad based process for the confirmation of those o ffi c e r s f o r y e a r e n d promotion.

The Assistant Commissioners of Police are to be elevated to the position of Deputy Commissioners of Police will have to wait on consultations between the Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger since those appointments are reportedly made at that level. There are presently eight Assistant Commissioners of Police with vacancies for four more.

GRDB SEEKS TO RE-NEGOTIATE RICE FARMERS LOANS

Nizam Hassan Government, through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will be engaging the banking sector next week to explore possibilities to help cushion the effects of the ailing rice industry.

The meeting with the Banking sector was confirmed by Head of the

GRDB, Nizam Hassan who told GNN that the engagement is “for them to look at refinancing and things to do with the interest rates in their portfolio to soften the impact of the low paddy price.”

This comes as rice farmers had called on government to re-negotiate

with the Commercial Banks payments of their loans given the low price they are receiving for paddy. The farmers say they cannot afford to honour their obligation to the Bank since they are not making money.

In some cases farmers have pledged their houses, machinery, and equipment and could lose those if they do not pay the bank.

T h e R i c e Producers Association (RPA) has already indicated that it will be meeting with the bankers association with the hope that there can be some intervention on the part of the bank to ease the burden of the

farmers who have outstanding loans and mortgages. The RPA is looking to see what can be done in terms of restructuring of loans and waiving off of interest and giving farmers longer periods to pay them back.

Farmers throughout the country are under a lot of pressure due to the current crisis the rice industry is facing. Some of them have indicated that they will not be replanting for the next crop since it is not feasible. They say the only way they will be able to venture into the next crop is if the Government offers its immediate assistance and/or they receive subsidies on every bag

produced.

Government said it continues to search for international markets for Guyana's rice, in wake of the closure of the Venezuelan market. Agriculture Minister Noel Holder advised that Guyana currently sells rice to 50 countries around the world, and too much of an issue is now being made out of the collapse of the Venezuelan market.

“As a matter of fact, currently, the Portugal market is as big as the Venezuelan market, about 30 percent or so, I think too much of a big thing is being made out of the lapse in the Venezuelan market,” the

Minister commented.

C u r r e n t l y, t h e Government is pursuing the Panama market, as “I have even had discussions with the Minister, during the Mexico meeting, so we are pursuing that, we are looking at new markets, it is an ongoing situation, we are even discussing with the Bahamas, they have an interest as well, and Haiti, we are looking at it as well.”

R e c e n t l y , President David Granger had announced that the government will be stepping up its efforts in finding markets for Guyana's rice as he lobbied the international community on his various overseas engagements.

OIL & GAS SEMINAR GPHC to set up BEGINS TOMORROW trauma center With Guyana being poised to harvest its wealth of natural resources in the Oil a n d G a s s e c t o r, t h e Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be hosting a two-day workshop on Building Capacity for M a n a g i n g t h e Hydrocarbon Sector from October 30 – 31, 2015 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

The work-shop will be focusing on the element needed for the implementation of the legal and regulatory frameworks to govern the petroleum sector. It will address participatory decision making processes, revenue management as well as the human, social, physical and financial capital improvement needed to support economic diversification.

The sessions, while drawing from international experience in

this sector, will also focus on the lessons learnt that will be most relevant to Guyana.

The forum is also expected to build on the foundations of an effective governance framework for the oil and gas sector, which will be drawn from the Draft National Upstream Oil and Gas Policy; being created with support from

the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Seminar is expected to benefit both policy makers and stakeholders involved in the natural resources sector in Guyana, enhancing their knowledge to provide them with the capacity to make informed decisions and implement reforms.

T h e G e o rg e t o w n P u b l i c Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday received a total of $80M worth of equipment from the People's Republic of China, for the setting up of a center to deal with trauma inclusive of Anesthesia machines.

In physical medicine, major trauma is an injury or damage to a biological organism caused by physical harm from an external source and can sometimes lead to serious long-term outcomes like chronic pain.

I n p s y c h o l o g y, trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a severely distressing event while in sociology, trauma is a type of damage to the social life of an individual as a result of stigma.

The signing of the documents for the collaborative venture at the GPHC's Resource centre was effected by the Chinese A m b a s s a d o r M r. Z h a n g Limin, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge.

Delivering brief remarks at the handing over c e r e m o n y, M i n i s t e r Cummings expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for its support,

Chinese Ambassador Mr Zhang Limin and Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings exchanging documents related to the donation of medical equipment from the Chinese Government which she said is very timely. speaking Caribbean country She added that the to recognise the People's Government's aim is to move Republic of China (PRC), the country forward, and one and after more than 42 years of the main sectors which of friendship and will be completely reformed cooperation, the bilateral is health. relationship shared between Ambassador these two countries Limin also echoed Minister continues to flourish.

Cummings' sentiments, In 1966, when stating that the two countries G u y a n a g a i n e d have shared a long and Independence, steps were prosperous relationship, and taken to promote ties pledged that they will between the two nations. The continue to do so. relationship between the two After the official countries has been steadily handing over ceremony, heightening. Guyana has Minister Cummings, along thus far benefited from with the Ambassador several areas of assistance unveiled the plaque for the from the Chinesecenter. investments, infrastructure, In 1972, Guyana health, river transport and was the first Englishsecurity among many others.

Red House could become Centre for all Presidents -Land deal to be scrapped The APNU+AFC administration and the Opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP) has agreed to scrap the land deal on which the Cheddi Jagan Reading and Research Center is located.

T h i s w a s disclosed by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; Basil Williams who noted that “A team from the PPP visited me and we discussed the issue and we looking at seeing how it can be

resolved. That is ongoing, the land has to be returned to the state”.

It was revealed to the National Assembly on August 21, that the former government had privatized Red House and placed several members of the party as the directors of the entity. It was also revealed that the property was leased to the company for 99 years at a rate of $12,000 per year; which is $1,000 per month.

“The lease arrangement was a device to really hide from the eyes of equity, the nature of the transaction, that is a sale or give away of the land – A 99 year lease is a transport,” Williams said.

The government has also proposed that the building be used as a research center for all of Guyana' previous Presidents as opposed to the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan alone.

Berbice Bridge Inc. IAC to host Cancer submits proposal Awareness Fair to lower tolls

The Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) has submitted a proposal to the Government to accept subvention to lower its toll.

It was announced on Wednesday by National Insurance Scheme (NIS) representative on the BBCI's Board of Directors Dr Surendra Persaud that the BBCI has submitted a proposal a few days ago to the government accepting the $40M subvention for the proposed reduction in tolls for crossing the Berbice River Bridge.

According to Persaud, several suggestions were made on “multiple aspects of the bridge and its subvention”.

The company is awaiting a reply from the

Government.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson says an announcement on the way forward will be made before the ending of the week as the proposal is being reviewed by cabinet.

T h e A P N U + A F C administration had promised to lower the Berbice Bridge tolls during their campaign for the 2015 Regional and General Elections.

However, following its election to office, the BBCI stated that it was not consulted on the process and would have to seek the advice of all of its shareholders before it could make a decision on

the matter. The company argued that its financial plight requires a longerterm agreement which would enable a refinancing of its debt with creditors.

The government then moved to introduce the River Taxis to provide a cheaper mode of transportation for persons across the river, noting that it has no intention to cause the BBCI financial loss.

F i n a n c e Minister, Winston Jordan told the National Assembly on August 10, 2015 that the toll for passenger cars and buses will be reduced from $2,200 to $1,900, a 13.6 percent decline while the toll for all other types of vehicles would be reduced by 10 per cent.

The Indian Action Committee (IAC) in collaboration with the Cancer Institute of Guyana and Texilla American University, will host a Cancer Awareness and Health Fair on Saturday October 31, 2015.

The event which will be held at the IAC Office which is located at 1 7 6 2 R a i l w a y Embankment, Cummings Lodge (two doors east from the UG Road), is in support of Cancer Awareness Month 2015 According to the IAC, Doctors, Nurses and Consultants from the Cancer Institute of Guyana and Students of the Texilla American University will provide to the public a wide range of health services.

These include

Blood Pressure Testing, Blood Glucose Testing, Body Mass Index and Dental Checks. Flyers and brochures on a range of topics such as mammograms, diabetes,

hypertension, alcohol, tobacco use among many others, will be distributed.

The Health Fair commences at 10:00 hrs and concludes at 13:00 hrs.

GuySuCo and GAWU to meet on tomorrow The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) are expected to m e e t t o m o r r o w. T h i s comes at the heels of the recent strike action called by the union.

According to a statement from the union, it was invited to a meeting with GuySuCo and has accepted the invitation hoping for a start of negotiations on the wages issue for 2015. The union says it feels the three days strike action was successful in meeting its objective. “ G AW U t a k e s the opportunity to recognise the success of the three (3) day strike action which we feel was solid and demonstrated the

unity of the industry's workers in defence of their interests and rights.

We feel that this action, in a small way, influenced the meeting of GAWU/GuySuCo next Friday.”

H o w e v e r, t h e G u y a n a S u g a r Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) Industrial Relations officer related t h a t d e s p i t e G AW U calling off its strike action, only 50% of the cane harvesters are back at work. He noted that is however, an improvement from yesterday where only 30% was back at work.

He noted that “we have written the union again to say that four estates, workers are still on strike. We raised further concerns that the

cane for sale, they are demanding exhorbitant payments on the cane; which still left to be sold…any further continuation of the workers being off the work will just jeopardize the meeting so they need to speak to the workers to get back to work”.

On the table for discussions are GAWU's proposals for wage increases for 2015 and possible adjustments to certain fringe benefits. It is hoping that the negotiations will bring positive and satisfactory results especially in the context of the exceptional performances of the workers during the crop which resulted in the surpassing of weekly targets on a number of occasions, the union said.

The sugar workers represented by GAWU proceeded in strike on Sunday, October, 25 to protest the delay of a meeting between the union and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to some to an agreement on the union's wage claim submitted since March, 08, 2015 of a 9% increase for all filed

and factory workers represented by the union.

The meeting forms part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement established between the two partners.

GAWU noted that the industry's current crop could come to an end in four or five weeks and the wage must be addressed before the crop ends.

T h e s u g a r corporation on the other hand, said it is awaiting the findings of the Commission Of Inquiry's report into the Sugar industry which is being considered by the government.

Guyana not blacklisted - Williams -Steps taken to strengthen Financial Intelligence Unit

Attorney General Basil Williams

Attorney General and Minister of Legal affairs Basil Williams says there are no new measures to be put in place for the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). He noted, “There is nothing to be done with the FIU because I could show you…those things have been met but the thing is that all those things are ongoing” during a press conference today.

He added that the FIU is fully resourced and is not a one man unit as it was under the previous administration.

He says “the institution, has to be constituted…the committee has to be

appointed, the appointments committee has to be constituted in Parliament, the body has to be appointed including the director of the FIU, the deputy director and other senior officers so that's another aspect of it and I must say that the new legislation has criteria and qualifications for the persons…”

He told a news conference that the FIU is tackling financial crimes, including the seizure of assets as an independent b o d y. T h e A t t o r n e y General said that at present there is a void that gives suspects a two day window to move assets or

m o n e y t o a d i ff e r e n t location, but his office is currently looking to have that process regularized.

With the regularizations, Williams stated that the application to seize assets should come within five days.

These comments came on the heels of criticism from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding the strengthening of AntiMoney laundering institutions. FATF noted that since June 2015, Guyana has taken steps toward improving its AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing o f Te r r o r i s m A c t , “however, the FATF has

determined that certain strategic deficiencies remain.”

It has since recommended that Guyana should continue to implement its action plan, by ensuring and implementing an adequate legal framework for identifying, tracing and freezing terrorist assets.

FATF also wants Guyana to ensure a fully operational and effectively

functioning financial intelligence unit; establish effective measures for customer due diligence and enhancing financial transparency and implement an adequate supervisory framework.

As it relates to Guyana's overall review at FAT F, t h e A t t o r n e y General said that Guyana was regarded as “light years away from being blacklisted.”

He stated that “there is no question of us being close to blacklisting so that brings us to question why the previous government had alarmed this nation by saying we will be blacklisted, all these things will happen to Guyana and the likes when we have maintained a status quo in the compliance division…it had to exist before we submit our AML/CFT amendment bill”

RAMJATTAN SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR SEEKING TO ENGAGE HINDUS – SWAMI AKSHARANANDA Maha Lakshmi Puja –must be observed on the evening of Tuesday, November 10.

On the contrary, to agree that Amavasya comes to an end, no later than 13:59h on Wednesday, November 11, as one of the organisations has done, and yet to insist that Diwali be observed four hours after on the evening of November 11, is clearly incomprehensible”

Swami Aksharananda

Hindu leader and academic, Swami Aksharananda, is of the view that Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, should be congratulated for seeking to engage several Hindu organisations with regard to the 2015 date for Diwali.

Akssharananda said it is

ambition of dominating the entire Hindu society.

None should be given de facto monopoly.”

He reiterates the position that Diwali must be observed during the period of Amavasya (a period of darkness that precedes the birth of the new moon), which

Dr. Vindhya Persaud

clearly a continuation of a policy of former President Bharat Jagdeo, who sought to consult the widest possible cross section of the Hindu population on matters that affect them deeply.

according to him, comes to an end not later than 13.59 on Wednesday, November 11 after which the new moon is born. He cited astrological guides, the Bhavani Shankar Panchang, the Kashi Vi s h v a n a t h P a n c h a n , several panchangas prepared in North America in English, for the benefit of Hindus in this hemisphere, and two reputable online p a n c h a n g a s , drikPanchang.com and myPanchang.com.

According to the learned Swami, “it is perhaps the first time since Diwali has been made a holiday that so many groups have been consulted by the Minister concerned. The best and most informed judgement on this and other issues He stated, “this can only be made when the views of all are examined. being the case, it naturally No single organisation follows that Diwali – s h o u l d e n t e r t a i n t h e Lighting of Diyas and

It should be noted that the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) agrees that the new moon would be born at around 13:47 hrs on November 11.

However, it insists that Diwali must be during that night which means the celebrations would be held during the new moon. The Swami added that to do so will result in the violation of the fundamental principles of panchang.

“From all appearances it would be a deliberate and calculated blunder. It will means celebrating Diwali in the shuklapaksha or bright half of the month”, Aksharananda added.

He explained that Diwali in New Delhi must b e o n N o v e m b e r 11 .

However, if allowance is made for the 9.5 hours of time difference between Guyana and India, it will come back to the duration of Amavasya in Georgetown, Guyana at from 11:53h on Tuesday, November 10 to 13:47h on Wednesday, November 11.

The GHDS had instructed the 2015 date for Diwali be November 11 and this has since been reflected on national calendars.

Aksharnanda's position reflects that of the Vi r a a t S a b h a a w h i c h articulated that Diwali must be observed during the darkest night which, according to its calculations, is the night of November 10. The Viraat Sabhaa subsequently presented a petition supported by a vast majority of Hindu leaders and Pandits to Minister Ramjattan to have the date changed to November 10.

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Ramjattan had told GNN recently that his decision to change the date for the national holiday in observance of Diwali, was based on compelling evidence premised on religious considerations presented by the Pandits and it could not have been ignored. He questioned the authority of the President of the GHDS, Dr. Vindhya Persaud in pronouncing on the date. According to him, she is not a Swami or a Pandit and believes the wisdom of the learned Priests. Dr. Peraud, who is a Member of Parliament for the Opposition People's Progressive Party

(PPP), has since received their support for the N o v e m b e r 11 d a t e .

Ramjattan has since deem that “a mockery and politicization of the issue”.

uncritically applying them to Guyana. Many Hindus have known for the longest while that this copy has been consistently off by an entire day on numerous occasions”.

The GHDS claims it has been deciding these dates for forty years and this is the first time it has been c h a n g e d . H o w e v e r, Aksharananda posited, “what one fears may have been happening, with at least one of the locally generated calendars now invoked as the authority, is the wholesale copying of Indian calendars and

According to him, this time around there has been a significant departure from what prevailed in the past. He noted Minister Ramjattan's invitation to a wide cross section of Hindu leadership and sought their input on the m a t t e r, a n d m a d e a pronouncement for the purpose of the Official Gazette.

TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR LATE COVE & JOHN ASHRAM GURU ‐“He made a very important contribu on to our cultural diversity”, ‐ Ramotar

Following his death y e s t e r d a y, t r i b u t e s continue to pour in for the

late Spiritual Leader (Guru) of the Cove & John Ashram on the East Coast

of Demerara, Swami Vidyananda. The Indian Action Committee (IAC) has expressed sincere condolences to the executives and devotees of the Ashram.

A statement from the IAC noted how revered the late Swami Vidyananda was and referred to him as "a beacon of spirituality” whose guidance was much sought. According to the IAC the Swami's humility was exemplary and would have positively influenced the lives of many.

F o r m e r President Donald Ramotar, said he is very sad at the passing of the Swami. “I count myself very fortunate for the opportunities I had to

meet and interact with him. He made a very important contribution to our country's cultural diversity”, Ramotar noted. He offered his condolences to the followers of the Swami a n d t h e H i n d u community.

“I recall the last time we met was at the launching of his book. I am happy to have a copy of that book”, Ramotar added.

Administrator of the Cove & John Ashram, Swami Shivashankar told GNN that the Guru would be missed. “He was a spiritual guide. Always there to advise on life and other issues. He was like a father-figure and a friend”, Shivashankar solemnly noted.

He stated that the late Vidyanandan, who hailed from Albion, Berbice, was the first Guyanese to be ordained as a Swami and was the leader of the western branches which include Guyana, Canada, England and New York.

President of the Viraat Sabhaa, Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud, said that the late Swami was a man who exhibited his life with nobility and virtuousness. “He was consistent in his religious pursuit and beliefs. His departure will leave a dent not only at the Ashram, but within the Hindu community at large”, Pandit Persaud added.

S w a m i Vi d y a n a n d a d i e d yesterday at the Long

Shore Jewish Hospital, Long Island, New York.

GNN learnt that the 79 year-old Guru was ailing of recent. He was on dialysis and recently had an operation for a knee replacement. While the actual cause of death is still to be determined, it is believe that he might have suffered a heart attack.

He was attached to the Cove & John Ashram since 1973 serving in various capacities including Science and Headmaster of the Hindu College.

Swami Shivashankar said that wake will be held nightly until the funeral.

He noted that the body will be flow back to Guyana within the next few days.

'Green Expo' begins tomorrow -Banks offering loans for energy efficient ventures Republic Bank Limited along with several other banks will be offering loans to persons desirous of setting up or purchasing energy efficient equipment at the Mayor and City Council's (M&CC) 'Green Expo' slated to begin tomorrow at the Parade Ground and last throughout the weekend.

“The banks will be offering loans so that persons visiting the booths can access energy efficient equipment…China trading is displaying energy efficient bulbs, companies teaching how you can compost, Jermaine presenting the alternative to Styrofoam boxes, garbage receptacles that can be used at different locations, National Hardware will display energy efficient equipment, Small solar panels will also be on display” the M&CC's Public Relations Officer;

Debra Lewis said.

During an interview with GNN, she noted that over 25 businesses will be participating in the venture which seeks to promote an energy efficient and eco-friendly environment.

Alongside the Expo, there will be a 'Green Conference' where lectures will be given on the importance of such initiatives and the availability of resources for such ventures.

Speakers include European Union Ambassador to Guyana; Jernej Videtic, United States Ambassador to Guyana; Perry Holloway, a team from the Guyana School of Agriculture, Professor Clive Thomas and Chancellor; Carl Singh.

Lewis said “they will address the issue of energy conservation, the

focus to promote an ecofriendly city and all aspects of that includes; energy conservation, water conservation, among others”.

Conference will be hosted under the theme “towards environmentally sustainable city”.

On Saturday at 5:00, there will also be an entertainment segment in which schools will be participating.

The 'Green Conference and Expo' seeks to start a national discussion and encourage the establishment of partnerships to promote and maintain a “clean and green” environment. The conference will also seek to promote eco-friendly practices and various conservation methods, both domestic and commercial, and would target, among others, the manufacturing sector, food and beverage

distributors, electrical, construction and

mechanical services, and the mining, health and

waste management industries.

Over 300 Mabaruma residents against township status

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee addressing Mabaruma residents

In light of the g o v e r n m e n t ' s announcement that it will establish three new towns, n a m e l y, M a b a r u m a , Bartica and Lethem, some residents of Mabaruma are not comfortable with this move.

During the

Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) district conference held in Mabaruma recently at Wauna Primary School, a resolution was presented and adopted to this effect.

The Party in a statement noted that over three hundred residents of

Mabaruma have voiced their concerns against the move. “We the residents of constituencies within the Mabaruma/Hosororo/Kumaka Neighbourhood Democratic Council ( N D C ) w h o s e names/signatures have been affixed to the

attached Resolution do declare that we are not in agreement with the Government's decision to declare Mabaruma a Town during 2016,” the statement noted.

The residents say that despite the developments and improvements that have taken place within the NDC during the past two decades, there is yet further improvements to be realized, primarily in the areas of utility services and infrastructural improvements before township status is attained and contest the 2016 Local Government Elections.

“Furthermore, elevation to the status of a To w n w i l l i m p o s e increased cost of living on citizens of the Township in terms of the statutory requirement for them to

pay rates and taxes,” the statement added.

Residents have asserted that what they need as a matter of urgency is the creation of more job opportunities which would allow for an increase of their earnings and hence their ability to meet the additional expenses occasioned by any elevation of M a b a r u m a t o To w n status.

The three new towns have been published in the Official Gazette (Extraordinary) on October 21st, 2015, which are Mabaruma, Region One; Bartica, Region Seven and Lethem, Region Nine.

The towns, in keeping with regulations will have their own Mayors, Deputy Mayors, and Town Councilors. As

part of the plans, the coalition government wants to hold Local Government Elections in the first half of next year, giving more autonomy to the community leaders.

With regard to Mabaruma, there will be between 10-14 Councilors, according to the orders signed by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.

The three new towns will be in addition to six others across the c o u n t r y, t a k i n g t h e number up to nine.

The current towns are Corriverton, Rose Hall, New Amsterdam in Berbice; Georgetown; Linden, Region 10; and Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

Dynamic Airways plane crash has no effect on local flights Following a Dynamic International Airway's Boeing 767 passenger jet engine bursting into flames earlier today at the Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport, local representative of the

airline, Gerald Gouveia, told GNN that the incident will not affect flights to Guyana.

The No. 405 flight was bound for the S imo n B o liv ar International Airport, Venezuela, when its left

Gerald Gouveia

engine caught fire as the plane was preparing to take off. Gouveia explained that “the aircraft that was doing the Fort Lauderdale-Caracas flight are not the ones that are used on the Guyana route so our planes are alright so this will have no effect on the Guyana schedule”.

Dynamic is a small airline that connects Fort Lauderdale, New York, Venezuela and Guyana.

According to the F e d e r a l Av i a t i o n Administration, the pilot reported that fuel was leaking from the aircraft's engine before the fire began. ."Hey, uh, Dynamic is, out of the left engine, it looks like it's leaking a lot of -- I don't know if it's fuel, it's fluid leaking out of the live engine," the second plane's pilot told Air Traffic Control. The Dynamic aircraft pilot then replies "We copy.

We'll probably need to go back to the ramp," but a few moments later, the fire

started.

Reports says several passengers were injured with one seriously burned. The National Transportation Safety Board says it hasn't yet made a decision on whether to launch an investigation.

The airline encountered several problems after its launch in Guyana in June last year causing it to suspend all flights for a period of time.

This was due to the difficulty of securing time

slots at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport for the month of July. The airline promised to return on August, 08, 2014 but was unable to honor that date. It also had reasons to fire problematic ground handling personnel.

After gaining permission from Department of Transportation (DOT) in the Unites States and filing documents with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, it re-entered the

local aviation sector on November, 22, 2014.

Further, in December, 2014, the airline again was criticized after passengers travelling back to Guyana for the Christmas Holidays were allegedly left stranded at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport in N e w Yo r k d u e t o maintenance issues.

Venezuela imposed trade embargo against Guyana – PM tells Mexico Summit

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamooto, told the gathering at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2015 Global Summit in Mexico, that Venezuela has imposed a trade embargo against Guyana, by refusing to buy its rice or to sell it fuel.

“Our border with our Western Neighbour was settled in 1897 under the treaty of Washington.

However, Venezuela has sought to reassert a false claim to five eights of Guyana which includes all of our vast forest and mineral resources as well as our exclusive maritime zone”, Nagamootoo said.

He noted that Venezuela has also sought

to block oil exploration off Guyana's coast and gold extraction within Guyana. This according to the Prime Minister is a clear violation of international law and treaty obligations.

“Guyana claims territory from no one. Guyana does not imprison political opponents or practice blackmail or bullying diplomacy. We seek to be part of a community of nations that respect the rule of law and to align with transformative movements like OGP”, he added.

T h e O p e n Government Partnership is a multilateral initiative that aims to secure

concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. To become a member of OGP, participating countries must endorse a high-level Open Government Declaration, deliver a country action plan developed with public consultation, and commit to independent reporting on their progress going forward.

Nagamootoo stated that the five-month old APNU+AFC government is fully committed to the rule of law, open democratic

BBCI installs new jack-up barge and scale

Businessmen traversing the Berbice River Bridge had been complaining that the defective scale which existed resulted in them paying high prices. This they claim ultimately affected the price of their goods. Their concerns were aired at a meeting

with the Chambers of Commerce of Regions Five and Six. In this regard the the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) yesterday commissioned a new 100ton weight scale to provide enhanced services to

commuters. It also commissioned a jack-up barge at the eastern side of the structure.

The revised cost of the designs which catered for more flexibility and redundancy in the system with fewer risks came at a price of

governance, open justice, the free media and accountability. During his address he pointed out that partnership on the core tenets of transparency, civil participation, and the fight against corruption are a celebration and a strengthening of democracy and, importantly, it allows for the development of both citizens and country.

“We undertake to follow all the procedures hereon to become a member of OGP and to seek endorsement and full approval of our candidature”, the Prime Minister added.

GY$177M. The revised design also caters for the removal and replacement of one large pontoon at any point under the bridge, except the high span and acceptor/ retractor spans.

With the equipment in place to change pontoons, BBCI's management will determine which should be prioritized, nevertheless it is hoped that the initial pontoon can be changed before the end of the year.

Chairman of BBCI, Egbert Carter said that the bridge sits on 39 pontoons which are four times larger than those of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and a different technology has been deployed which sees less movement of pontoons as traffic utilises the bridge.

Minister within the Ministry of Public

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, noted that BBCI has demonstrated that it can effectively drive processes and solutions for a better Guyana.

“Guyana stands at the cusp o f g r e a t achievement…especially c o n n e c t i n g infrastructure… the Berbice River Bridge is one of the main connectors of commerce, people and aspirations…without these connections, lives and livelihoods are affected, time is lost and progress will still be a dream,” She remarked.

The works are being executed by Industrial Fabrication Inc., (INFAB). The Contractor in outlining the steps that should obtain for the implementation of the jack-up barge, hopes that it

can take the turning of one tide to change one pontoon.

“By jacking-up the bridge the integrity of the pontoons is not comprised … the jack-up can be applied to raise the bridge, when it's raised, the pontoon will float, thereby allowing for repairs or removal,” he explained.

He added that it has four high quality jacking ramps, seven individual pontoons which all will be floated and connected alongside the pontoon that will be changed, after which the chains will be transferred to the jack-up pontoon.

The jacks will be deployed to raise the bridge which allows for the changing of the pontoons.

Guyana drops ranking in World Bank “Doing Business” report

Guyana has dropped five places in the world rankings for the ease of doing business.

According to the World Bank's 'Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency' report, Guyana is ranked at 137, having been ranked at 132 last year. Last year's ranking of 123 was adjusted to 132 based on data corrections.

T h e Wo r l d

Bank's 'Doing Business' reports sheds light on how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business when complying with relevant regulations.

It measures and tracks changes in regulations affecting 11 areas in the Doing Business regulations in the life cycle of a business: starting a business, dealing with

construction permits, g e t t i n g e l e c t r i c i t y, r e g i s t e r i n g p r o p e r t y, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency and labor market regulation. Doing Business 2016 presents the data for the labor market regulation indicators in an annex.

Meanwhile, the report noted that developing economies quickened the pace of their business reforms during the last 12 months to make it easier for local businesses to start and operate, More than 60% of world's economies improved their business rules in past year, says the World Bank Group's annual ease of doing business measurement.

In addition, it

found that in Latin America and the Caribbean region had the smallest share of reforms, with less than half of the region's 32 economies undertaking a total of 24 reforms. Costa Rica and Jamaica were among the world's top 10 improvers.

Mexico is the region's highest ranked economy, with a global ranking of 38.

Meanwhile, Guyana's government has promised to smash the “suffocating red tape” that stifles businesses and stunts growth in the country.

Finance Minister Wi n s t o n J o r d a n s a i d government intends to make some serious changes to ensure that doing business in Guyana is made easy because it recognizes that business is not only the engine, but also the driver of economic growth and

innovation.

The report does not present rankings of economies on labor market regulation indicators or include the topic in the aggregate distance to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing business. In a series of annual reports Doing The economy profile presents the Doing Business indicators for Guyana to allow useful comparison, it also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2015(except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period January–December 2014).

The Doing Business methodology has limitations. Other areas i m p o r t a n t t o

business—such as an economy's proximity to large markets, the quality of its infrastructure services (other than those related to trading across borders and getting electricity), the security of property from theft and looting, the transparency of government p r o c u r e m e n t , macroeconomic conditions or the underlying strength of institutions—are not directly studied by Doing Business.

The indicators refer to a specific type of business, generally a local limited liability company operating in the largest business city.

Because standard assumptions are used in the data collection, comparisons and benchmarks are valid across economies.

Body of fallen Guyanese/NYPD cop to arrive tonight

NYPD officers carries Holder’s casket

The remains of 33 year old Randolph Holder will later this evening arrive in Guyana escorted by several members of the

N e w Yo r k P o l i c e Department (NYPD).

The body of the fallen policeman who was born in Guyana to Guyanese

parents, will then be escorted to a city funeral home where it will lay until his funeral service on Saturday morning.

Senior officers from the NYPD are expected to be part of the team escorting the body from the United States.

Several family members of the late cop are also expected in Guyana for his funeral.

A C h u r c h Service is scheduled for Saturday at the St. Georges Cathedral while the body is expected to be interred at the Le R e p e n t i r c e m e t e r y.

Holder was killed in New York one week ago after chasing a suspect along a lonely street in New Yo r k . T h e m a n reportedly shot him after they encountered each other.

Over the last few days there has been various services to mourn the death of one of New York's finest. He came from a family where his father and grandfather were members of the Guyana

Randolph Holder

Police Force. The family lived in Lodged and the man would usually visit Guyana from time to time. He moved to the United Stated some ten years ago.

HEALTH

WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER REFRIGERATE YOUR BREAD Is your refrigerator running? Well, don't put your bread in it. The truth is, if you want to keep your bread fresher for longer, wrapping it in plastic and storing it in the fridge is the worst thing you can do. It sounds counter-intuitive (no pun intended), seeing as how refrigerators were invented to help us preserve the freshness of food.

So to understand

why, Serious Eats broke it down into the science of "retrogradation and recrystallization of starch," a complicated way of saying that during a bread's lifetime (which begins when a bread cools after being heated during baking), its starches (which were rearranged when baked) will regroup back to their original, crystallized state. Thus, your bread becomes hard, or stale.

Putting it into the fridge simply hustles this process along. So what should you do if you want you cherish your bread longer?

David Norman, of Austin's popular bakery and beer garden, Easy Tiger, said to start by buying whole loaves, not sliced bread, as a bread's shelf life is significantly reduced once it's sliced.

Cut off what you want to eat, and if you're planning

on finishing the loaf in the next couple days, set the loaf cut-side down against the table, he told The Kitchn.

Say you bought your bread in bulk? The best way to halt that recrystallization process is to keep it in the freezer: Wrap it in an airtight container or bag to store it; then let it completely thaw before taking it back out of the container. (Huffpost Taste/Yahoo)

You probably have Herpes, WHO says

Two-thirds of the world's population under 50 have the highly infectious herpes virus that causes cold sores around the mouth, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, in its first

estimate of global prevalence of the disease.

More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 suffer from the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), usually after catching it in childhood, according to a WHO

study. That is in addition to 417 million people in the 17-49 age range who have the other form of the disease, HSV-2, which causes genital herpes.

HSV-1 normally causes mouth ulcers rather than genital infection, but

it is becoming an increasing cause of genital infection too, mainly in rich countries. That is because improved hygiene in rich countries i s l o w e r i n g H S V- 1 infection rates in childhood, leaving young people more at risk of catching it via oral sex when they become sexually active.

H S V- 2 c a n increase the risk of catching and spreading HIV, the disease that causes AIDS. Little is known about any link b e t w e e n H S V- 1 a n d HIV/AIDS, although it can lead to other serious complications such as encephalitis. “We really need to accelerate the

development of vaccines against herpes simplex virus, and if a vaccine designed to prevent HSV2 infection also prevented HSV-1, it would have far reaching benefits,” said Sami Gottlieb, a WHO medical officer.

Nathalie Broutet, also a WHO medical officer, said the U.S. National Institutes of Health and companies i n c l u d i n g GlaxoSmithKline Plc were involved in trials to determine whether a therapeutic or preventative vaccine was preferable. Gottlieb said GSK had previously abandoned a vaccine trial after finding the product was not effective against

HSV-2, although it did show some efficacy against HSV-1.

“That was interesting and promising and gave a proof of concept that these vaccines can be developed. There's a lot of work ongoing and we're hopeful that we'll have an HSV vaccine in the future,” she said.

Several phase-1 and phase-2 trials were u n d e r w a y, s h e s a i d .

Genocea Biosciences Inc recently dropped work on a pneumonia vaccine in favor of its more promising work on genital herpes. (Yahoo Health)

TUBERCULOSIS NOW RIVALS HIV/AIDS AS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH For the first time, tuberculosis infections rivaled HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death from infectious diseases, the World Health Organization said in a report released on Wednesday. It found that during 2014, 1.1 million people died of TB in 2014.

During the same period, HIV/AIDS killed 1.2 million people globally, including 400,000 who were infected with both HIV and TB.

D r . M a r i o Raviglione, director of the WHO TB program, said the report reflects the dramatic gains in access to HIV/AIDS treatment in the past decade, which has helped many people survive their infections. But it also reflects disparities in funding for the two global killers. “The good news is that TB intervention has saved some 43 million lives since 2000,” but given that most cases of TB can be

successfully treated, the death rate remained “unacceptably high,” Raviglione said in a telephone interview.

The report features data from 205 countries and territories on all aspects of TB, including drug-resistant forms, research and development and financing.It found that 6 million new cases of TB were reported to the WHO in 2014, fewer than two-thirds of the 9.6 million

people worldwide estimated to have fallen sick with TB l a s t y e a r. A m o n g t h e estimated 480,000 cases of multi-drug resistant TB in 2014 — a superbug form of the disease that resists the two most potent anti-TB drugs — only one in four was diagnosed.

D r. G r a n i a Brigden, interim medical director of Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, said the

report “should serve as a wake-up call that enormous work still needs to be done to reduce the burden of this ancient, yet curable disease.”

Funding disparities were a key issue, Raviglione said, noting that international funding for HIV/AIDS is 10 times higher than for TB, with $8 billion spent on HIV/AIDS interventions, compared with a total of $800,000 spent on TB. Part of that disparity is because HIV/AIDS largely affects resource-poor countries in

Africa, whereas TB is more prevalent in countries such as India and China, which are better able to finance their own domestic efforts to address TB infections.Even so, there remains a $1.4 billion gap in the amount of funding needed for TB interventions in 2015.

Raviglione said it is time to start funding TB at a level that can make even more of a difference in curbing global deaths. (Yahoo Health)

OUR WORLD

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SUN FOR 49 DAYS"

Hassan Mohammed and his family inside the Russian airport

A Kurdish family that fled the Syrian civil war has landed in a bureaucratic purgatory: the Moscow airport. Hassan Abdo Ahmed Mohammed, his wife and four children want to settle in Russia, but

the government says their visas are fake. Returning home is out of the question because of the dangers there.

So the family set up camp inside Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport and

wait while their lawyer tries to untangle the red tape. Their home for the last 50 days: A barren corner of the airport terminal overlooking the tarmac. Air mattresses are spread on the floor for

napping. Suitcases have been pushed against the walls. They can't cook, so UNICEF brings them food.

They use airport restrooms.

With no doors to keep out passersby, they family stretched a cord to mark their space. A handwritten sign says, "Please don't touch our thing (sic) becaus (sic) we are living here." The situation improved a little bit r e c e n t l y. T h e U n i t e d Nations and a nongovernmental organization convinced Russian authorities to let the family spend nights in a hotel located inside the airport terminal, Mohammed told CNN. "After 44 days of sleeping on the ground of the airport, in the cold, they decided to put us in a hotel," he said. "The condition of the room is not

great, and they put us in the smoking area." But they must spend their days on the hard floor of the terminal, hearing every announcement on the blaring public address system and enduring the looks of travelers passing by.

It's not a good place for the couple's children: three boys, ages 8 to 13, and a 3-year-old daughter. "We have not seen the sun for 49 days," Mohammed said to CNN. Conditions were so bad that Mohammed's wife became sick and had to spend two weeks in a hospital, he said.

"We were not allowed to see her, even her kids," he said. "She is back now, but she still does not feel well."

Mohammed and his family are Syrian Kurds who fled a civil war that has left 300,000 people dead and forced 10 million

people from their homes.

While thousands of refugees from Syria, Iraq and other Mideast nations flowed into Europe, Mohammed and his family headed for Russia. He said they chose that country because his wife's sister and cousin live there.

Mohammed thinks Russia's close ties with the embattled Syrian government are interfering with his plans to enter Russia. "Russia has a very strong relation with the Syrian regime, and they don't want to encourage Syrians to leave the country," he said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the country has taken in 1 million refugees from Ukraine and accepted 8,000 people from Syria in September. (Adapted from CNN)

NORTH KOREA BELIEVED TO EARN A FORTUNE FROM FORCED LABOR OVERSEAS, U.N. SAYS North Korea's catalog of abuses against its own people within the secretive country's tightly controlled borders has been widely reported. But Kim Jong Un's regime is also believed to be pocketing huge sums from tens of thousands of its citizens who are sent abroad to toil in forced labor conditions, the United Nations says.

The laborers are made to work as long as 20 hours a day without enough food and under constant surveillance, according to a new report from Marzuki Darusman, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea. He told a news conference Wednesday that the practice has become more

visible in recent years and that "the numbers have grown."

"I think it reflects the really tight financial and economic situation in the North," Darusman said. The overwhelming majority of the workers are employed in North Korean allies China and Russia, according to the report. But the rest are spread across a range of countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

CNN reported on t h e p r a c t i c e i n M a y, highlighting the case of a North Korean man who worked on a construction site in Kuwait for five months without receiving any pay. He eventually

managed to escape his minders and take asylum in the South Korean Embassy.

His story chimed with those of other escaped workers who have told rights groups of long hours, little or no pay, no freedom and harsh living conditions.

Those who do get paid are believe to receive between $120 and $150 a month, but their employers "pay significantly higher amounts" to the North Korean government, the U.N. report said. Kim's regime appears to be orchestrating the system "to circumvent United Nations sanctions imposed on the country with a view to earning currencies," it

explained, citing a 2012 report from a rights group that estimated North Korea was raking in between $1.2 billion and $2.3 billion a year from the scheme.

Much of the money generated by the workers is believed to be diverted to the regime's military and nuclear program, as well as to its elite inner circle .Governments in the host countries appear to be turning a blind eye to the abuses of the North Korean workers' labor rights, Darusman suggested. He warned that companies hiring the workers "become complicit in an unacceptable system of forced labor."

It estimated the number of North Koreans

Kim Jong working abroad to be above 100,000. The main industries 50,000, attributing the employing them are mining, number to a 2014 study by l o g g i n g , t e x t i l e s a n d the Asan Institute for Policy construction. ( A d a p t e d f ro m Studies. A South Korean CNN) government official told CNN earlier this year that the total is thought to be around

WITCH WINS PROTECTIVE ORDER AGAINST WARLOCK IN COURT A judge granted a protective order against a warlock on Wednesday, spelling relief for the Salem witch who accused him of harassment. The two squared off in court before a Salem District Court judge, who granted the protective order to witch priestess Lori Sforza. She had accused selfproclaimed warlock Christian Day of harassing her over the phone and on social media over the past three years.

During testimony that at times became heated, Sforza accused Day of making incessant phone calls

at night and humiliating her on Facebook, The Boston Globe reported. Day's lawyer countered that the dispute stems from a onetime business partnership that fell apart years ago.

Before 2012, Day let Sforza perform psychic readings rent-free at one of his occult shops in Salem, he told The Associated Press in an interview after the hearing.

Their relationship fell apart when Sforza revealed plans to start her own witchcraft shop nearby, Day said. The two are still business rivals.

"This is a business dispute gone wrong. That's all it was," Day said. "They don't want me to make snide remarks on Facebook; I won't make snide remarks on Facebook." During the hearing, Sforza reportedly told the judge that she can see into her own future, saying, "That's why I'm here today."

Sforza, 75, uses the business name Lori Bruno and says she is a psychic witch who descends from a line of Italian witches. She also leads a pagan church in Salem.

(Yahoo)

Regional

Regional

Head and body found in dumpster A severed head, and the body which police believe it belongs to, were found hours apart yesterday morning in east Port-ofSpain. This is the 17th headless body found in Trinidad since 1997. The arms had also been removed from the body, likely to prevent identification of the murdered man through a fingerprint trace.

Up to yesterday, police had not identified the man but said the severed head belonged to a man of East Indian descent who seemed to be in his thirties or forties. The head, partially wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in a bin located along Quarry Street, was found sometime after 5 am yesterday by PoS City Corporation workers

while carrying out their weekly cleanup duties.

The headless body was found in a blue tarpaulin before being placed in the trunk of a white BMW One Series car. The car's license plates had been removed and there were several dents along its left side. A district medical officer viewed the body and made certain pronouncements before

ordering the body be removed to the Forensic Science Centre.

The Head of the PoS Division then called on the new Government to have CCTV cameras placed in all “hot spot” areas and to ensure that existing cameras are working so police would be able to properly monitor activities in those areas. (Trinidad Newsday)

Panday predicts Kamla will win UNC election Despite the internal elections of the United National Congress, (UNC), being just over one month away, party founder and first political leader, B a s d e o P a n d a y, h a s predicted victory for incumbent leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, saying she was not only contesting the election, but was also in control of the electoral process.

“If Kamla is fighting the election and she is in control of the election process, who you think will win,” Panday said during a telephone

i n t e r v i e w y e s t e r d a y.

P a n d a y, w h o w a s returning from a trip to Tobago, also pointed out that the Opposition party would not be an effective Opposition as long as Persad-Bissessar remained in control of the party.

“If Kamla Persad Bissessar and her cabal remain in control of the UNC, they will not see power for the next 15 years, they will not be, and cannot be an effective opposition, because every time they raise their voices about corruption,

or mismanagement or waste, the PNM will shove a rotten fish down their mouths,” Panday said, adding, “because they are guilty of so much corruption, so much mismanagement, how can they critise this Government so they will be weak, so therefore they will be an ineffective Opposition, and never able to take the government, until this leadership they have is removed.”

Panday said there was a need for an independent body to monitor the

electoral process to ensure “free and fair” elections.

Meanwhile, the president general of the All Trinidad General Workers' Trade Union, (ATGWTU) and National S o l i d a r i t y A s s e m b l y, (NSA), political leader, Nirvan Maharaj has added his voice to the list of persons who have called on Persad-Bissessar to “do the right thing from a moral and ethical perspective, and withdraw her quest for continuing leadership of the United National Congress.

Maharaj had

Basdeo Panday

offered to contest the Couva North constituency in the 2015 General Elections, but had been

rejected by the PersadBissessar led screening committee. (Adapted from the Trinidad Newsday)

CEO of Caribbean Airlines quits

Michael DiLollo

After just 17 months on the job, the Chief Executive O ffi c e r o f C a r i b b e a n Airlines (CAL), has resigned with immediate effect. Michael DiLollo, 48, who was appointed C E O i n M a y, c i t e d personal reasons for his decision.

He was appointed following the sudden resignation of Robert

Corbie in September 2013.

The airline's chief financial officer, Tyrone Tang, will act as CEO until a permanent replacement is found.

Members of staff were informed of the resignation via a memo from the airline's chairman Phillip Marshall.

DiLollo, a pilot, gave no hint of plans to

quit when he addressed the media earlier this month.

He then said he was ready to land the airline in a break-even financial position and that the airline was “well on our way, very well on our way to achieving that target.” (Jamaica Observer)

INTERNATIONAL

China one-child policy to end -Two per family in place

China will allow two children for every couple, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, a move that would effectively dismantle the remnants of the country's one-

child policy that had been eased in recent years.

"China will fully implement the policy of 'one couple, two children' in a proactive response to the

issue of an aging population," Xinhua reported, citing a communique issued by the ruling Communist Party.

Xinhua said the proposal needs to be approved by China's top legislature before it can be enacted.

China, now a nation of more than 1.3 billion people, instituted a policy of one child per couple to control population growth in the 1970s. When its propaganda didn't work, local officials resorted to abortions, heavy fines and forced sterilization. The decision to end the restriction followed a fourday strategy meeting of

senior Communist Party officials.

China began relaxing the controversial policy in January 2014, allowing couples to have a second baby if the mother or father was an only child. The move was hailed as a major liberalization of the threedecades-old restriction, but new figures released in January 2015 suggested that fewer people than expected were taking the plunge and expanding their family.

Nationwide, nearly 1 million couples eligible under the new rules had applied to have a second child, state media reported at the time. Health officials had

said that the policy would lead to as many as 2 million new births when the policy change was first announced, and it was estimated that 11 million couples were eligible.

C h i n a ' s government has said the country could become home to the most elderly population on the planet in just 15 years, with more than 400 million people over the age of 60. Researchers say the graying population will burden health care and social services, and the world's second-largest economy will struggle to maintain its growth.

"China has already

begun to feel an unfolding crisis in terms of its population change," Wang Feng, a professor at Fudan University and a leading demographic expert on China, told McKenzie earlier this year. "History will look back to see the one-child policy as one of the most glaring policy mistakes that China has made in its modern history." Wang said the onechild policy was ineffective and unnecessary, since China's fertility rates were already slowing by the 1980s. (Adapted from CNN)

40 African leaders dressed in Modi's signature look Since being elected to office l a s t y e a r, I n d i a n P r i m e Minister Narendra Modi's sharp dressing and flamboyant wardrobe have consistently made headlines both in India and abroad. Yesterday, his government took his sartorial diplomacy a step further when over 40 African heads of state donned traditional Indian attire at a dinner held on the sidelines of the 3rd IndiaAfrica Summit in New Delhi.

The African leaders were dressed in raw silk kurtas, “Modi jackets” and safas (Indian headgear), a look frequently sported by Modi. The only exceptions to the dress code were the presidents of Zimbabwe and South Africa, Robert Mugabe and Jacob Zuma. The summit is being held between Oct. 26

and 29, to boost economic ties between India and African countries.

A sleeveless waist coast, the “Modi jacket” is a more colourful variant of the iconic “Nehru jacket” worn

by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

For the India-Africa summit, the Indian government had specially commissioned the Indian fashion label Biba to design bespoke jackets and kurtas in various colours for each leader. Last year, the Indian PM had also gifted a “Modi jacket” to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to India.

In interviews, Modi has described his flair for “mixing and matching colours” as a gift from god.

His attention to clothes is said

to extend to designer glasses, pens and watches. Most of his clothes are made by his longtime Ahmedabad-based tailor Jade Blue, who even sells a trademarked "Modi kurta", the short-sleeved cotton tunic associated with the PM. The most famous instance Modi's sartorial flamboyance is the pinstripe bandhgala (an Indian suit) worn by him during US President Barack Obama's visit to India in January. Its navy-blue fabric had his full name monogrammed in tiny letters into the golden pinstripe. Following public debates about the value of the suit, which allegedly cost around 1 million rupees or $15300, it was finally sold at a charity auction for approximately 43.1 million

rupees or $693,000.

During the same visit by Obama in January, Modi came under the Indian media's scanner for changing

his clothes thrice in a single day, even overtaking the American First Lady Michelle Obama. He has also been in the news for adopting

the colourful headgear of different Indian states during his visits. (Adapted from Yahoo)

Hundreds killed by Russian air strikes in Syria

At least 595 people have been killed by Russian air strikes in Syria nearly a month into Moscow's military campaign, a monitoring group has said.

About two-thirds of those killed by Moscow's attacks since September 30 were opposition fighters and the rest were civilians, including 48 children, the Syrian

Observatory for Human Rights reported on Thursday.

The Observatory said it had documented the deaths of 185 civilians, 131

fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and 279 members of opposition groups after Russia carried out strikes in 10 of the country's 14 provinces. Russia says its aerial campaign targets ISIL and other "terrorists", but rebel forces and their backers accuse Moscow of focusing on moderate fighters instead.

Several medical groups have also accused Russia of strikes that have hit field clinics and hospitals in Syria. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Thursday that air strikes in northern and central Syria have hit at least 12 hospitals in recent weeks, killing at least 35 patients and medical

staff and wounding more than 70 others.

The attacks have also caused the displacement of thousands of civilians, the MSF said. Russia's air campaign has given new momentum to the Syrian army's ground forces, who have launched offensives in several provinces with air cover from Moscow. Yet, the offensives have had mixed results.

In the central province of Hama, the regime has taken several villages but failed to advance much towards a key town on a highway in the region. And in Aleppo, it has captured at least six villages from rebel forces, along with several hilltops. Meanwhile, an ISIL advance has severed the only

route in and out of the government-held west of Aleppo.

R u s s i a ' s intervention in Syria follows that of a US-led coalition that has been carrying out strikes against ISIL and rebel groups in the country since September 2014. The US-led coalition does not coordinate with D a m a s c u s h o w e v e r.

According to the Observatory, the US-led strikes have killed 3,649 people since they began, around six percent of them civilians.

The monitor said earlier this week that US-led raids had killed 3,276 ISIL fighters, 147 members of opposition fighters and 226 civilians. (Al Jazeera)

Pink ball leads to 'boring cricket' - Hastings

Australia fast bowler John Hastings is the latest to hedge his bets when it comes to the pink ball. It was in use in Vi c t o r i a ' s o p e n i n g match of the Sheffield Shield season against Queensland at the MCG and Hastings mentioned at the end of the first

day's play that the pink ball lost its hardness rather quickly, and also p o in ted o u t th at it doesn't swing after approximately 15 overs leading to "a boring brand of cricket."

A s a workaround, Hastings suggested changing it

after 50 overs of use rather than 80 overs as is custom with the red ball. "It's certainly better than the first few pink-ball games that we've played but I think there's a fair bit of work to do," he said. "The main issue for me is the hardness of the ball. It just doesn't stack up to the red ball. Maybe if we change the ball at around 50-55 overs and get a new one or a seminew one, it might be a better contest towards the end.

"We've bowled about 15-16 overs with it and it stopped swinging," he said. "It's just a matter of the ball

doesn't move off the straight. It's tough work. All you've got to do is set straight fields and it's quite a boring brand of cricket when do have that pink ball."

If conventional swing was restricted, Hastings felt reverse swing with the pink ball was underwhelming.

"It did actually go a little bit there at times.

It wasn't consistent. But the main thing is that when you get a red ball to go reverse, it's actually quite hard and it can zip off the wicket.

But with the pink ball we didn't really get the zip off the wicket."

Hastings also

indicated the fielders found it difficult to pick up the ball as it got discolored, echoing the comments made by Test batsman Adam Voges after the PM's XI match against the touring New Zealanders. Cricket Australia, however, said it did not read too much into the issues.

day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand beings on November 27, shares that trait. It is hosting a Shield match currently, where it is understood that the groundstaff were encouraged to prepare a grassy surface to keep the pink ball functioning optimally.

It was noted that with a lush outfield the pink ball's durability w as in cr eas ed , b u t when the pitch and the outfield were abrasive as in Manuka Oval where the PM's XI match was held - the deterioration happened faster. Adelaide Oval, where the inaugural

When asked if the difficulty in sighting the pink ball posed safety concern for the players, Hastings said.

"I don't really know. It could well be but I'm not 100% sure. I felt okay at mid-on, I felt I could pick it up okay."

(Espncricinfo)

Blatter: US was agreed host for 2022 World Cup Sepp Blatter has claimed there was a backroom deal to give the 2022 World Cup to the United States before voting took place, but that the agreement was broken in favour of Qatar after high-level interference.

A meeting between then French president Nicolas S a r k o z y, E u r o p e a n football chief Michel Platini and then crown prince of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani had crossed the preconceived plan, outgoing FIFA chief Blatter told Russian media on Wednesday.

"In 2010, we [ F I FA ' s 2 2 - s t r o n g executive committee] had taken a double decision, we were

agreed to go to Russia [in 2018], then in 2022 we'd return to the United States," said Blatter, who is currently suspended while being investigated for alleged corruption. Everything changed, Blatter added, "after talks between Sarkozy and Qatar's prince who is now running the emirate" - a meeting followed by lunch between the two men and Platini.

"Four votes of Europe were taken from the US, so the result was 14 to eight. With those four votes it would have been 12 against 10 [to the advantage of the USA]." It is not clear which committee members' votes Blatter referred to. If the US had won the right to host

the 2022 World Cup, "all we'd be talking about now would be the marvellous 2018 World Cup in Russia and not about any problem at FIFA," Blatter said.

Blatter's comments prompted the head of the English Football Association (FA) Greg Dyke to say he would look into recouping around $32m spent on England's failed 2018 bid. Dyke said investigating the claims was a "good idea" as it would be "very nice to get taxpayers' money back". The head of the FA predicted that Qatar would be stripped from hosting the 2022 tournament when Swiss investigators would complete their probe

into the bidding process for the event.

Hitting back in an interview with Al Jazeera, Qatar's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah responded: "I want to see his face when we host the 2022." "We

deserve to have a 2022 World Cup in Qatar, an Arabic state…an Islamic country. The Arabic region needs such a tournament for the youth of the Arab region and I think we deserve to have one," the foreign minister told

the host of Al Jazeera's UpFront, Mehdi Hasan. ( A d a p t e d f ro m A l Jazeera)

Thursday, October 29, 2015

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2015 DIGICEL GOLF OPEN TO FEATURE SENIOR FLIGHT

The 2015 edition of the Digicel Open Golf tournament will feature a senior flight for players over the age of 60. This was revealed as the tournament launched earlier today at the main sponsor's Kingston office.

Captain of the Lusignan Golf Club Chatterpaul Deo, announced the new club against the backdrop that over 60 persons have already been registered

for the medal play tournament, with the maximum target of 80 expected to be exceeded.

The usual flights (0-9, 10-18 & 19-28) for the males and (0-36) for the females however will remain with the male champion of the two day tournament being decided on the gross score while the females will be decided on the net.

He indicated that

once this limit is exceeded, they will have to start earlier than expected, with the initial start being pegged at 5:30.

He noted that the United States of America (USA), Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname will have representatives at this tournament, highly considered the flagship tournament for golf locally Meanwhile, President of the LGC Oncar Ramroop,

said “We are all set, all prepared for this weekend, we may run into some difficulties because the possibility exists that we may have more than 80 persons and we think that is probably the maximum number that we can handle. We are not sure where it's gonna finally end but it's going to be very interesting.”

Louanna Abrams Senior Sponsorship and

Events Executive during the launch yesterday said, “As you know digicel's interest in sport has come alive 6 years ago and as such the company has decided to sponsor this Guyana open we label as the Digicel Guyana Open and it has been quite successful every year.

This year we expect a large turnout” Last year's w i n n e r w a s Av i n a s h

Persaud who took his tally for the tournament up to 5 as he dethroned his brother and 2013 champion Avinda Kishore.

In the Ladies division, Joaan Deo finished with an overall net of 141 and a gross of 181 to claim the title and in the process dethrone multiple times champion Christine Suhkram.