22nd june 2013

Govt courting COPA Airlines to ply Guyana route

Guyana eyes coconut water brand

GNBS holds consultation to revise old acts

No effort to deny senior officers their leave – Home Affairs Ministry Motion tabled for ratification of Arms Trade Treaty

Habitat launches housing pilot with Beharry Group

Students from Christ Church Secondary School display coconut products at the inaugural Coconut Exposition at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation on Friday (Carl Croker photo)

Expectations high as building expo nears

Housing and Water

Minister Irfaan Ali has disclosed that International Building Expo 2013 is moving apace, noting that it is anticipated to be the largest expo the country has seen so far.

At a press conference held at the Guyana National Stadium to update the media on the progress of the event on Friday, Ali disclosed that so far three full-scale models of homes are expected to be built. He underscored that the expo this year will see 10 foreign companies, with 28 corporate sponsors, while some 103 exhibition booths have been sold thus far.

Expectations

He said this year’s expo is geared towards fulfilling the expectations of the thousands of persons who will pass through the expo and to highlight both investment and opportunities for the general public not solely in the building and construction sector, but also in home furnishing and interior decorating areas.

“The approach of the ministry is not only to make housing more affordable but to make home ownership and family development easier because…we are moving from just the allocation of

land to the provision of homes and now going into furnishing,” Ali explained. He added that over the last two weeks, the ministry has seen a rush from persons who have applied for house lots now requesting transfers to the turnkey homes or the professional homes initiatives.

He disclosed that the ministry is now developing a full-scale model of houses scheme that will cost about $18-$19 million, complete with land. This model is currently under construction at the stadium where it will be on display for the expo. “So we’re developing models to cater to every segment of the market from 4.9 all the way

to $18 or $19 million.”

Turning his attention to Silica City, which will be the main attraction of the expo, he said it has been creating tremendous excitement as the response from the public has been overwhelming. Ali stated that Silica City is located in Kuru Kururu and covers about 2700 square miles; however the ministry is looking at the initial development covering about 500 acres. He noted that persons will be fully educated as to what the development entails and the vision behind it.

Ali highlighted that contractors are determining what would be the ‘most ef-

ficient’ cost. He underscored that the project will be costly hence the ministry is looking to partner with the private sector to undertake this initiative.

Some of the corporate sponsors include Republic Bank, Courts Guyana, Sunshine Villas and Impressions. As usual, all sponsors will offer special incentives at the expo.

Special gate prices will be in place for persons at this year’s expo. International Building Expo 2013, slated for the Guyana National Stadium, will be held under the theme “Consolidating Partnerships for Sustainable Development”.

No effort to deny senior officers their leave – Home Affairs Ministry

The Home Affairs Ministry said in a release it wishes to respond to an article in the Kaieteur News dated Thursday, June 20 captioned “Senior Police Officers accuse Rohee of taking oversight too far”.

The ministry said it was deeply concerned over the misleading information being peddled as well as the allegations attributed to senior officers of the Guyana Police Force, that Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee is ‘abusing his civilian oversight functions.

The ministry said it sees this as yet another attempt by the Kaieteur News to create tension and conflict between the ministry and the Guyana Police Force.

“Senior officers of the Guyana Police Force are indeed eligible for 42 days Annual Vacation Leave.

This position has not changed. However, consideration must be given to maintaining adequate levels of command in the Guyana Police Force at all times,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the reality is that cur-

rently there are nine assistant commissioners, four of whom are substantive commanders and five of whom are based at the police headquarters. There are six senior superintendents of police performing the role of commander; three at divisions and the remaining three at police headquarters.

“These commanders all have applied for annual vacation leave during the period June to September 2013. If this situation is not properly managed, there could very well be an instance where at some point during this period all the commanders will be on vacation leave,” the ministry said.

It added that the ministry needs to make it known that it is for this reason that it was considered wise for the annual leave to be staggered so that an adequate number of senior officers are available in the event of any unforeseen situation. In this way, officers can be granted annual leave at various periods during the year rather than all at the same time.

A model of the Housing Ministry’s new home under construction

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, June 22, from 14:30h to 16:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, June 22, from 15:35h to 17:05h.

Govt courting COPA Airlines to ply Guyana route

By SaBatini DanielS

Smetre and 0.58 metre respectively.

truggling to find an alternative to Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), which has recently hiked its fares, the Guyana government is now courting COPA Airlines to service the local market, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali said on Friday. At a press conference Ali announced that government has approached COPA Airlines, which is based in Panama, to examine the possibility of having that airline operate in and out of Guyana. He stated that there have been initial discussions with the airline and as a result, a team from COPA Airlines is expected to visit Guyana soon, to analyse the market and to confirm its interest in a possible collaboration.

The tourism minister also disclosed the possibility of a fourth airline coming into the country to operate before the end of the year as well; however, he remained tight-lipped on the identity of the airline.

Ali also noted that Fly Jamaica has indicated that before the end of July, it should commence operations in the country, which will ease the

burden of Guyanese who are now wholly dependent on Caribbean Airlines. The minister said since CAL will be facing more competition, the air carrier should utilise this time to build customer loyalty, rather than focusing on taking advantage of the situation to increase travel rates. “So regardless of what happens, you will have a loyal customer base who knows that you are a good carrier and who know

they can get a good price out of you… you can’t create an atmosphere now where the prices are ridiculously high that persons lose trust and confidence in you, just because of your fares,” he stressed.

Ali noted that the hike in CAL’s prices has been challenging, since summer is one of the peak visitor periods. However, he expressed hope that Fly Jamaica will pick up the slack, once it becomes operational in the country. “I’ll be very frank, I cannot wait until the competition comes in,” he declared.

In light of CAL defending its prices by saying late bookings mean passengers pay more, the minister added, “If you book late, early, half year, there is no way you can be paying US$1400 for economy-class tickets to the U.S., there is no way you should be paying US$800 for economyclass tickets to Trinidad. The Trinidadians don’t pay it – we should not be asked to pay it, it’s clear as that.”

He said the government has received informal requests for CAL to be taken before the Caribbean Competition Commission for the hike in airfares, but did not disclose if

it was contemplating doing so.

Updating the media on ongoing talks between the governments of Guyana and Trinidad spurred by the fare hike, Ali said these discussions are coming along with mutual respect.

Minister Ali also noted that CAL should be congratulated in certain positive aspects of its operations. “When the gap was created when EZjet and Delta exited, Caribbean Airlines added on almost four to five additional flights and triple up the seats which come into Guyana,” he reminded.

When questioned if Guyana is contemplating taking flagship carrier status from CAL, he said the issue should not be looked at giving and taking away. He underscored that Guyana derives certain benefits from the arrangement, such as direct flights out of Guyana – something tourists has been calling for a long time now.

“So it doesn’t have anything to do with flag carrier… it has to do with the business model and it has to do with understanding how important this Guyana market is.” (sabatinid@guyanatimesgy.com)

Hundreds celebrate Caribbean heritage with the OAS

Close to 300 people including Caribbean nationals and representatives of the diplomatic corps, the private sector and government celebrated Caribbean heritage at the Organisation of American States (OAS) with Secretary General José Miguel Insulza and Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin on Thursday evening.

The Caribbean heritage event is in keeping with a proclamation by the president and Congress of the United States, recognising the contribution of Caribbean people in the U.S.

Addressing the event

which took place in the Hall of the Americas, feature speaker Dr Una Clarke recounted her story as an immigrant who made history becoming the first Caribbean woman to be elected to the New York City Council. “Caribbean people haven’t asked for handouts, we have asked for opportunity. When opportunity is provided, we turn around and create more opportunity for others. We understand struggle, and we earn respect,” said Dr Clarke.

During the event, Secretary General Insulza was presented with a surprise Caribbean Heritage honour, for his commitment

to the region and its people. “Caribbean countries have added significant value to this organisation,” Insulza noted , “my commitment and support for the Caribbean and its people remains strong.”

Among the feature presentations was the launch of the latest project by Jamaican sociologist, cultural heritage specialist and author Margaret Bernal, a book titled “Caribbean Reliquaries”, which has received widespread acclaim in the Caribbean Diaspora.

Caribbean folk performances, exhibits from Caribbean member states, a collection of Caribbean

art including a tapestry detailing the Caribbean’s heritage from artist Lorna Ramlochansingh, were also part of the evening, while two Caribbean staffers Serge Bellegarde and Beverly Wharton-Lake were recognised for their commitment to the OAS for 41 and 30 years respectively.

According to OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin from Suriname, “the Caribbean is an undeniable presence at the OAS, and tonight we celebrate the achievements of Caribbean people in our institution, in this country, and in the Hemisphere as a whole.”

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Jagdeo’s call timely

The discourse on the impact of climate change on the world and the need for urgent action by all players is gaining momentum. Our own former president, Bharrat Jagdeo has been a major voice on the international stage, providing global leadership in the climate change battle. Just a few days ago, he was invited by the Commonwealth secretary general to lead an expert group on climate finance to identify solutions to enable small, poor, and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries fight to climate change.

In Jagdeo’s view, a combination of robust analytics, proof of action, and an informed and critical mass of countries advocating for systemic, international policy change can transform global policies into becoming a reality rather than a vision.

Recently, the World Bank, a global institution with a tremendous amount of power and financial leverage, issued a new scientific report which supports what Jagdeo has been saying all along. The findings contained in the report titled, “Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts and the Case for Resilience”, should serve as a wakeup call once more for those who have become complacent or have reneged on their commitments made to tackle the climate change phenomenon.

The report certainly takes the climate discussion to the next level, building on a 2012 World Bank report that concluded from a global perspective that without a clear mitigation strategy and effort, the world is headed for average temperatures of 4oC warmer than pre-industrial times by the end of this century.

The report states that communities around the world are already feeling the impact of climate change, with the planet only 0.8oC warmer than in pre-industrial times. It says that many of us could experience the harsher impacts of a 2oC warmer world within our lifetimes – 20 to 30 years from now –and a 4oC temperature rise is likely by the end of the century if global action is not taken urgently.

The research, based on scientific analysis by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analytics, uses advanced computer simulations to paint the clearest picture of each region’s vulnerabilities. It describes the risks to agriculture and livelihood security in Sub-Saharan Africa, the rise in sea level, loss of coral reefs and devastation to coastal areas likely in South East Asia, and the fluctuating water resources in South Asia that can lead to flooding in some areas and water scarcity in others, as well as affecting power supply.

For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the researchers found food security will be the overarching challenge, with dangers from droughts, flooding, and shifts in rainfall. Between 1.5°C and 2°C warming, drought and aridity will contribute to farmers losing 40-80 per cent of crop land conducive to growing maize, millet, and sorghum by the 2030s to 2040s.

Similarly, in South East Asia, coastal cities will be under intense stress due to climate change. A sea level rise of 30 centimetre, possible by 2040 if business as usual continues, would cause massive flooding in cities and inundate low-lying cropland with saltwater corrosive to crops. Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, a global rice producer, is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise. A 30 cm sea level rise there could result in the loss of about 11 per cent of crop production. At the same time, storm intensity is likely to increase.

Further, inconsistencies in the monsoon season and unusual heat extremes will affect crops. Loss of snow melt from the Himalayas will reduce the flow of water into the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra basins. Together, they threaten to leave hundreds of millions of people without enough water, food, or access to reliable energy. Bangladesh and the Indian cities of Kolkata and Mumbai will be confronted with increased flooding, intense cyclones, sea-level rise, and warming temperatures.

The World Bank on its part has committed to providing support for vulnerable countries. This includes helping them develop strategic plans and investment pipelines that integrate the risks and opportunities of climate change; providing the tools that countries and cities need to better assess and adapt to climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions tracking, energy use and efficiency assessments, and assessments of resilience; creating best practices and norms through its projects for making infrastructure resilient; and using its convening power, financial leverage, and targeted climate funds to increase support for clean energy, low-carbon development, and climate resilience.

It is clear that Jagdeo’s call for there to be stronger political will to tackle climate change must be taken seriously. We therefore join the call for countries to deploy their individual and collective powers to address, what he described as a continued global failure of policy, without which, financing and innovation cannot be properly achieved at the pace required.

Looming garbage

Deposits of mud on roadway are a nuisance

Dear Editor,

The Annandale South cross street (before the Market Road) is now next to impassable, at least for cars. The scooping of the two drains was done and rightly so. However, the deposits were left on the eastern side of the street. It is still raining and this accumulated and elongated mud heap becomes slough across the street, impeding people’s use of it. A few villagers got upset and just pushed the mud right back into the drains. The place is a mess. Did the workers get payed to also remove the deposits? Is it protocol to do a half good job, leaving a situation worse than when the job was not done?

Please, I am asking for some kind of intervention. The people were asked by the public works minister to report on such things, and this is what I am doing.

Across sections of the Corentyne, Berbice highway, it is the same thing. The road is covered in thick mud, spewed on the road by caged-wheel tractors exiting the back dams from the rice fields. Several complaints have been raised by motorists and residents, regarding the current state of sections of the roadway. It is time for some action to be taken.

Now these rice farmers have to do their work, but they can at least clean the road ways when they are

done. This may call for just a little planning and scheduling.

Actually, I am bit shocked with the infantile approach over in Corentyne. Several months ago, the problem was raised with the Region Six chairman, and he issued an appeal to rice farmers to exercise caution and common sense by cleaning their tractors before bringing them out on the public road.

Also, the president of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) had appealed to farmers to be a little more considerate, even though he acknowledged that the work has to go on and that farmers, as

Congrats Simona

Dear Editor,

I write this to applaud the recent achievement of Simona Broomes on being awarded a Trafficking in Persons

(TIP) Special Hero by the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. This award recognises her as a hero in this light, which is directly attributable to her efforts

such, do not have a choice. These rice farmers are valuable and their work must not be impeded. However, they have to understand that others have to use the roads.

I was always told that the entire Berbice area is one of peace. Well, it is time for the Corentyne people to manifest this.

If nothing is giving and both sides are pressing, then I suggest that the law be applied. As for the Annandale case, I have a feeling that someone is short-changing the people. I do ask for some investigations here.

Yours truly, Iqbal Bacchus

Broomes!

in rescuing young girls from the rings of prostitution and abuse. It is certainly a major step in the efforts to reduce trafficking in persons and we applaud

you. Keep up the good work and we know the fight is far from over.

In support of women, Annalisa Ally

First lady’s timely message for fathers

Dear Editor, The first lady sent a timely message to all fathers. She said that there remain in our society too many fathers who are avoidably absent from the lives of

their children. She also encouraged them to find ways of being part of their children’s lives because a father-figure is important in the upbringing of our sons and daughters.

Alas, this is not the thinking of many fathers. If ever we are going to build a stable society, then family life will have to be strong. The role of fathers must always be emphasised and

good role models should be used as examples. At the same time, irresponsible behaviour should be condemned.

Yours truly, Camille Drifield

Residents are seen at their home near a dump site in Manila. On Thursday, June 20, the Philippines capital banned disposable plastic shopping bags and food containers as part of escalating efforts to curb rubbish that exacerbates deadly flooding (BBC News)

The new minimum wage

Dear Editor,

When the rule regarding the new minimum wage came into existence, I was a bit sceptical regarding enforcement. Well, I should not have worried. The news has it that the Labour Ministry has already been successful in the prosecution of many employers who have flouted various labour laws. This enabled it to recoup large sums for workers who were cheated.

This is a very important move. It sends a strong message. So I too join in cautioning employers to ensure that their employees benefit from the recently set minimum wage, which takes effect from July 1.

The issue here that readily comes to mind is that of exposing those employers who are going to shortchange employees. These employers may very well victimise employees who tell on them. This can be done via using fewer employees, but

working the retained group in a more stringent manner.

How can we determine expectations of employees?

These employers can also bargain with some employees who are desperate –they can agree to work secretly, that is, with no kind of record. This will mean that employers flouting the law will leave no paper trail.

Like I said, it is great move to make the minimum wage phenomenon a reality, at least prioritising it. However, the few complications I have mentioned must be looked at.

Recently, I have been reading about a possible hike in bus tariff for night operators. This kind of thinking should be across board then. There are many shift workers, who still do not get a night premium. In fact, some of them agree to forfeit it, all because of desperation.

If bus operators want an

increase in the fare, then it stands to reason that commuters must get a raise in pay. From a sociological stand point, only the nonopulent use the bus. Where will they get the extra money? I find it strange that bus operators are asking for a hike in fare, but they manifest evidence of really making it big. They have fancy rims and sophisticated music systems. Are these needed in the transportation industry?

Guyana has a lot of lofty principles and regulations. However, it is enforcement that is needed. There must be a secret way to check on the employer-employee situation. The same goes for bus operators – they must be stopped from discriminating. I reiterate that if they want the increase, then they must up the ante in their quality of service.

Yours truly,

Gary Sinclair

Police success in city raids

Dear Editor,

A few weeks ago, and in a persistent manner, I was reading about the need for increased police presence and how the police force should be more pro-active in seeking to prevent crimes and not just solve them. In one day alone, I was stopped by the police three times. I did not mind, as only the guilty, or the prospective criminals are opposed to this kind of practice.

Police on mobile patrols stopped and searched a man

and found an unlicensed firearm and two rounds. It is not far-fetched to say that at least one criminal activity was stopped. This man was driving a motorcycle and the police stopped him and during a search of his person, they found an unlicensed .38 revolver with two rounds in his possession.

My ploy may work even better, if I have a say. Those arrested must tell the sources of these things and then, most importantly, where

they were taking them. Also, various destinations for these items are links in the crime chain. Too many people buy stolen stuff.

This kind of effort is what we need. As time passes, the crooks will have to find other ways to ply their wicked trade. Eventually the law will close in on them, and we will all feel safer.

Respectfully submitted, Fabian Gonsalves

Chanderpaul will be missed in the CPL

Dear Editor, The news about Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s absence from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is very depressing and I am very upset to the point of being angry.

Since 2007, when Brian Lara exited the scene, Chanderpaul quickly became the embodiment of West Indies Cricket. His absence will surely be missed.

I did follow a number of games at the ICC Champions Trophy, currently going on in England. The West Indies fared badly, as well know, and the talk was where is Chanderpaul. He could have made a big difference.

The tournament is being played under some harsh batting conditions, and he always strives when others are failing and falling apart. He would have been a big boost to this inaugural CPL tournament in the West Indies, even though T20 is not his forte.

Born August 16, 1974, makes Chanderpaul almost 39 years old. Will he be around for another edition of the CPL? His T20 scoring rate is just under 100,

and he has played a mere 22 games. I think that in many ways, his absence will allow him to be further extended in test cricket, which is the ultimate.

His record stands currently at 148 tests for 10, 830 runs. He may still catch Lara, who leads quite comfortably at 131 tests for his 11, 953 runs. As it is, Chanderpaul is definitely one of the greats in West Indies cricket.

Yours sincerely, Yollane Morrison

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation

(Continued from friday)

By MATT RICHTEL

The combination of cooperation and competition resulted in greater satisfaction and often in higher scores as well. “It’s as consistent of a finding as we’ve had,” Dr Tauer said. “Kids prefer the combination of competition and cooperation. It’s a significant increase in enjoyment.”

But what about when a child is playing on his own, or with his sister, or with a few others? Dr Tauer had some con crete advice: Even more basic than the need to win, he told me, is the need to feel good and to have an accurate worldview. So if I let Milo win all the time, he might initially feel good, but at some point he’s going to develop a sense that something is not right. He needs to be allowed to lose, ideally in a situation where he has a part ner, and where cooperation and mas tery are part of the scenario.

McEnroe at Wimbledon. He is also a father of five and someone who thinks a lot about parenting, as I’ve come to know the last few years as his friend and occasional tennis partner.

The emphasis on competition, he told me, somewhat misses the point – even at the level of champions. The greatest players he has known and played against, he said, are problem solvers. When they play against other greats, they relish the challenge of solving a difficult problem. Winning or losing is simply a measure of wheth

weight out of those words and diminishing their importance while accepting them as a fact of life.

David Johnson, a professor emeritus of educational psychology at the University of Minnesota, who has done pioneering work on the conditions that make competition enjoyable and enhance performance, suggested one way to change the culture around winning: Have Milo encourage other children. Urge him to recognise excellence and effort in others and to give shout-outs when he sees them.

“One of the biggest culprits in psychology is wanting children to feel good all the time,” Dr Tauer said. “Trying to avoid competition is making it bigger than it needs to be.”

Dr Tauer, it turns out, was speaking not just as a researcher and coach, but as a parent of two boys, ages seven and 10, with very different competitive temperaments. One isn’t much into competition, he said, and the other just doesn’t work as hard unless something is on the line. As a child, Dr Tauer fell somewhere in between, he said, interested in mastering skills but still upset if his team lost.

Next, I sought the advice of a tennis champion, Erik van Dillen, who as a teenager in the late 1960s was the best player in the country. He went on to win the Davis Cup in 1972, as Stan Smith’s doubles partner, and beat a young John

er or not they have solved the problem. He has watched them carry those same problem-solving skills into the rest of their lives, he said, and he hasn’t noticed any diminished sense of self-esteem when they lose or any heightened sense of self when they win.

In that spirit, van Dillen gave his children the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling, which urges the maturing soul to regard both triumph and disaster as “impostors.”

To hear him and Dr Tauer tell it, the problem might be the very questions I started out with: How often should I let Milo win? How often should I allow him to lose?

Maybe the more relevant question is, what does it mean to win or lose? The answer: On most days, a lot less than the words have come to imply on TV. So maybe what I ought to be doing is taking the

That way, Dr Johnson said, he’ll be fostering a spirit of cooperation even in the midst of competition. And when he loses, as he inevitably will, he will receive encouragement in return. By taking the emphasis off winning and putting it on mastery, Dr Johnson said, the individual and the team – classroom, country, world – will grow in the process.

“The creativity, the innovation, the quality of product all goes up as you nurture talents and performance of others,” he said.

This was heady stuff for a parent trying to teach a child to put competition in its proper perspective, especially in a culture that often does not.

“It’s a lot of responsibility,” he agreed, laughing. I tried it out. The next time Milo and I played ball, this time with two of his friends, I encouraged him to praise their efforts and skills. His first time up, Milo whacked one. Then his buddy did, too.

“Good one,” Milo yelled.

It caught on. A few days later, we were going to play ball again, this time with his little sister. I reminded Milo to encourage her for her effort and her good work.

“I know,” he said, as we unpacked the bat. His sister shouted: “I’m going first!”

(The New York Times)

By SHANNON OTT

We all want our children to do their best and try their hardest. But, as we know, doing their best won’t always lead them to winning their soccer game, being champion of family game night, or even scoring first place at the school science fair.

It’s normal for our children to feel some disappointment when they don’t win, but it’s how they handle their disappointment that matters. When they are frustrated by a loss, they may be inclined to walk away, be mean or yell at friends, find ways to marginalise a friend or sibling’s win, or throw a fit. It’s important to give your child tools they can use to be a gracious loser (and a gracious winner) and also to set your expectations with them about what is acceptable winning and losing behaviour. Here are a few ways that I recommend:

Do unto others

If your child has lost a game, ask the child to imagine what it would be like if they won and imagine how happy the winning child must be and encourage them to support them. Remind the child of a specific time that they had won a game and a friend or sibling had congratulated them and how good that felt. Then, the next time they are the winner, ask them to remember what it was like to be the losing child. Remind them to have compassion for their friends or siblings that have lost the game and to not brag about their win.

Model magic Are mom, dad and any other important adults in your child’s life modelling good sportsmanship for them? I believe strongly in the age-old saying that “Actions speak louder than words”. Make sure that dad is congratulating mom when she gets to a higher level on Angry Birds than he does. And, make sure that mom is supportive of dad or grandma when they take the winning title at the Scrabble throw down at family game night. Adults tend to be very supportive of the children’s wins and losses, but be sure they are also modelling that with each other.

Practice, practice, practice It’s natural for children to be frustrated or sad when they lose. They won’t turn into gracious winners or losers overnight. Work with them consistently so that they understand its importance and it becomes second nature. Being a good sport will be a key skill for success as an adult in their careers, their hobbies and especially in their relationships.

Loser’s choice If a younger child is having a particularly hard time understanding being a gracious loser, perhaps on family game night, the loser can get a turn picking the next game to be played, snack to be eaten, or movie to be watched. The child can then be distracted from the loss by the “control” that they will have over choosing the next snack, etc. When the focus is put on something else, mom or dad can then work with the child on gracious losing/winning techniques when he/she is more calm.

Punishable crime

In our house, being a poor sport is a punishable “crime” against our house rules. It will send you right to a timeout if you can’t congratulate the winner and keep your personal upset to a minimum. This means offering a verbal congratulation without any snark or attitude and no throwing any fits or whining. If the poor sportsmanship is not resolved by a simple time-out, the punishment will escalate accordingly, including having to sit out for the next round of the game.

Healthy competition

Remind your children that having a competitive spirit is a healthy thing and the desire to win is good. Having drive and motivation to practice and play hard to reach their goals is an important part of life. However, when they’ve given any game or sport their best effort and come up short of a win, being gracious is the best way to be invited back for a rematch! (Famingo)

Shot Albouystown teen recovering

– lawyer calls for thorough probe

By Vahnu Manikchand

Attorney Nigel Hughes has condemned the shooting of the 17-year-old Albouystown teenager by the police on Thursday evening, while calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Quinn Neblett of Sussex Street, Albouystown, was shot to his abdomen sometime around 21:10h. The bullet reportedly passed through his abdomen and left hand. He is currently a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent a surgery and was responsive to the treatments.

According to an aunt, Roxanne Neblett, the teenager is recovering in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital, while noting that her nephew keeps falling in and out of consciousness. She noted that he cannot eat or drink anything and will have to undergo another surgery soon.

Meeting with the press at the scene in Albouystown on Friday, Attorney Hughes demonstrated a walkthrough of the events which

occurred, pointing out the spot where the teenager was shot. He said that a police officer in civilian clothing got into a fight with another teenager at an unfinished house during which the officer was injured.

The attorney related that the officer’s family took the young man into a room at the incomplete house where they administered a beating on him and left. “The officer then returned later in the evening, sometime between 08:30h and 09:00h, with a squad which is not the squad from this area. There were a driver and some heavilyarmed police officers in a pick-up,” said the attorney.

Construction site

He disclosed that the officers were armed with semi and fully automatic weapons and stopped at the construction site where several young persons were liming, including Neblett, who left and went into another yard hiding.

Hughes pointed out six bullet holes in the wall of the small room where Neblett was shot. “It can be seen that anyone in this room could not be a threat to

anyone outside. Quinn was neither armed with a firearm nor was he armed with a knife, the police just shoot him, an innocent and unarmed person point- blank.”

The attorney revealed that after the officers took the teenager to the hospital, the same officers returned about 45 minutes later in a car and picked up the spent

shells from scene.

“They removed all the evidence which would have implicated who the shooter is. Up to this point, almost 24 hours after the first incident, no police officer has returned to the scene, has taken any photographs or has taken any statement from the eyewitnesses,” explained the attorney.

Hughes also revealed that he contacted the officerin-charge of the investigation and was told that they had not obtained a statement from any witnesses as yet. “I have already interviewed six eyewitnesses who have given statements to me and I hope this does not become another situation where evidence is readily available and not collected by the police,” stated the attorney.

The attorney indicated that he is doing everything he can to ensure that the investigations into this incident results in the prosecution of the person responsible for the shooting. Hughes had escorted the eyewitnesses to the police station to ensure that statements were taken by the police.

Investigation

However, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Guyana Times that the police are not denying they have shot the teen and are currently investigating the incident. When asked about the officers returning to the scene and removing the spent shells, Persaud said he was not aware of that.

Meanwhile, in a press release, the police said that about 18:30h, an off-duty police officer in plain clothes, Constable 21510 Thorne, was attacked by three men armed with knives, who attempted to rob him at Hunter Street, Albouystown. The officer put up resistance and managed to escape, but was wounded to his right arm and left leg. He was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital and sent away. Then sometime around 21:15h, Constable Thorne was being escorted home by a mobile patrol vehicle when he saw the suspects at James Street, Albouystown. The statement said that as the police ranks approached the suspects, they ran in different directions and were pursued on foot by the ranks.

“Constable 21148 Wilson caught up with one of the men who attacked him with a knife and wounded the constable to his left arm. The rank was forced to resort to the use of force and discharged two rounds at his attacker, which struck him to his left leg and abdomen,” the release said. (vahnum@guyantimesgy.com)

No effort to deny senior officers their leave...

“It is to be noted that the current political and public order climate needs to be monitored closely, as threats to the maintenance of peace and good order in Guyana continue to be made by the political opposition as demonstrated by their support for the call made by Mr Mark Benschop to ‘begin finding ways to shut the country down, either by blocking all roads, highways, bridges, airports’, in his protest against the proposed increase in electricity rates.”

Tight control

The ministry added that the crime and traffic situation also needs to be kept under tight control. “There must be a high level of proficiency and response capabil-

ity within the force in case of any eventuality, since given the experiences at Linden and Agricola, the political opposition cannot be deemed trustworthy in so far as the maintenance of peace and good order in Guyana is concerned.”

Status report

“The ministry wishes to state very emphatically that at the police change team meeting to which reference was made, there was no discussion on annual vacation leave for police officers, although it is known that Assistant Commissioner Josiah has strong views on the subject. What arose at the meeting was a status report on a proposal by the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration by the

Guyana Police Force on the establishment of Cops and Faith Community Network. The objective of this programme is to have the police and pastors working together to prevent violence in communities instead of the police picking up youths and charging them for certain minor offences.”

The ministry said as part of the programme, the pastors would counsel and mentor the youths in an effort to help them to move away from their deviant behaviour.

“The matter was dis-

cussed at the senior management level of the Police Force and generally accepted.

“However, at the meeting with the minister, a certain senior rank aired his differences with the ministry on the matter and the minister indicated that he would discuss the matter further with the commissioner who was not present at the said meeting.”

According to the ministry, the minister did not at any time during the meeting seek to "deny retired officers their benefits or make

them beg" for it, as is being bandied about. “Lack of attention to details of the discussion at the meeting could have been the reason for this misunderstanding. The ministry remains committed

from page 2

to addressing all concerns of members of the Guyana Police Force using the existing internal arrangement which has been working successfully,” the Home Affairs Ministry said.

Shot teen: Quinn Neblett

saturday, june 22, 2013| guyanatimesgy.com

Canje man on $100,000 bail for allegedly raping teen girl

An East Canje man was on Friday placed on $100,000 bail when he appeared before a Berbice magistrate on a rape charge.

Ramlall Mc Lean also called “Chris”, a mechanic of Lot 12 Canefield, East Canje, appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court to answer the charge. He was not required to plea. He told Magistrate Roby Benn that the alleged victim

and her parents were standing outside of the court room and, “did not want any story”.

However, Magistrate Benn advised the accused that the complainant and her parents have to inform the director of public prosecution. “You cannot go. They have to tell the DPP, and she will advice them.” Magistrate Benn said. “But they living at me,” the defendant replied.

Alleged accessory to theft on $300,000 bail

Aman charged with being an accessory after the fact appeared before Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Dale Henry, 28, of Lot 429 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which states that between June 8 and June 14, he comforted, assisted and maintained John Mackenzie, knowing that he stole a quantity of phone cards valued $3,000,000, property of Daphnie Langevine.

According to the prosecution facts, Mackenzie and the accused, who are friends

and live together, were previously charged with robbery under arms against Langevine. On June 14 at 12:00h, the accused was apprehended with one hundred $500 phone cards, fifty $1000 phone cards and two hundred $200 phone cards at Parika, which were positively identified by Langevine as his property.

The accused was told of the offence and cautioned after which he admitted to the said offence, stating that he found the articles in his home and was going to sell them at Parika.

The magistrate granted Henry bail in the sum of $300,000 and he is to return to court on June 25.

The incident is alleged to have been committed between March 1 and 31, at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice. Police are contending that he sexually penetrated a 13-yearold girl. The court asked Mc Lean why he did not make an earlier court appearance.

“Sir, a couple months ago, the police tell me they got an arrest warrant, but they never show me. They would tell me to leave some-

thing. Last Wednesday, they told me the same thing, but I did not get any money, so they arrest me. Your worship, I don’t know about this story”, was his reply to the court.

“This is not the place to make your complaint,” Magistrate Benn replied, adding: “You have to make your complaint to the Police Complaints Authority.” McLean is expected to return to court on July 19.

Minibus conductor accused of assault

Aminibus conductor was granted bail on assault charges when he appeared before Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Ramnewar Narine, 29, of Lot 437 Block 8, Mon Repos, pleaded guilty to the charge which states that on June 8 at Cummings Street, Georgetown, he assaulted Balban Singh, the virtual complainant (VC).

Narine told the court that on the day in question, he and Singh had an argument, during which the VC chucked him and he responded in kind. Singh then fired a punch which caught the defendant on his neck

and he swung back at Singh. A not-guilty plea was entered by the magistrate on the defendant’s behalf after he listened to the Narine’s explanation. The prosecution had no objections to bail.

The magistrate granted bail in the sum of $20,000, and the next court date was set for June 26.

Before leaving the courtroom, the magistrate asked the defendant if he had the funds to pay the bail to which he responded that he only had in his possession $14,000. The magistrate then told Narine that he should call someone for assistance or else he would be heading to the Camp Street jail.

“I am not a thief,” says man charged with receiving stolen property

Aman charged for receiving stolen property appeared before Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Rondell Edwards, 28, of Lot 155 Cooper Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to the charges which state that between May 30 and June 2 at Meadow Bank, Georgetown, he received one electric generator valued $150,000, property of Rudolph Richardson, knowing same to be stolen.

According to the defendant, his mom had taken ill and he took the article to pawn it for $50,000 to offset her medical expenses. He was at work when he was approached by the Virtual Complainant (VC) and police, and told of the offence.

Edwards then took them to the person from whom he had purchased the item, while stating that he is not a thief.

The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of $75,000 and the next court date was set for June 25.

22-year-old gets four years for illegal possession of firearm and ammo

Aman was sentenced to prison on charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition when he appearing before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Magistrate Latchman ruled that Shavon Rodrigues, 22, of Lot 101 Light Street, Alberttown, was guilty for the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition on March 8 at Sussex Street, Georgetown.

Attorney Dexter P Todd, who appeared on behalf of Rodrigues, asked that his client be awarded a lesser penalty in light of the ruling. He stated that his client is not known by police and that he has been a lawabiding citizen who has four young children for whom he is the sole breadwinner.

The magistrate stated that having considered all the mitigating factors, Rodrigues is sentenced to a fine of $50,000 and a jail term of four years on each charge that will run concurrently.

Larceny case against man of unsound mind dismissed

Acase of simple larceny against a man of unsound mind was dismissed when he appeared before Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Andrew Dawson, 44, of Ninth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read against him.

It is alleged that between May 22 and May

25 at Burnham Drive, Dawson stole two rearview mirrors valued $15,000 and one water pump valued $10,000, property of Simon Harris.

The defendant remarked that the car belongs to his mother and the house belongs to his grandmother when the magistrate read the charges against him.

Dawson’s sister, who was accompanied by her reputed husband, appeared in court and stated that

her brother has been mentally ill for over 22 years. Her spouse told the court that when Dawson “was behaving himself he is the best brother-in-law ever” but when he steals, it distresses the family who does not know what sets him off. He asked that Dawson be placed on a bond and be compelled to stay away from whatever drugs he may be taking. He further stated that he did not wish to go ahead with the case,

but asked that Dawson be helped.

Dawson’s sister said he did not present a physical threat and she wanted him to go to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The defendant then responded that he indeed goes to the hospital and takes the prescribed medication, but he recently lost them.

The magistrate dismissed the matter and ordered that the accused seek medical attention.

Eyew tness

New opportunities...

...in the Rupununi

With the compulsion of the yellow spit press to rip down Guyana, we’re not seeing enough coverage of a major development in our Rupununi savannahs. For about five years or so, the government’s been working to develop rice farming there. With some funding from the Spanish government, a pilot project was launched in the Moco Moco area.

The rice, alternated with beans, gave decent yields on the 80-odd acres that were planted and harvested. This modest move was intended to basically satisfy the needs of Lethem which uses about 400 tonnes of rice – mainly by relocated coastlanders. The grain is still not the staple of the indigenous peoples of the interior, even though consumption is increasing. That venture seems to be plodding along.

But the news that the Barbadian investors in a commercial venture – Santa Fe – in large-scale rice cultivation, is now being harvested deserves wider publicity. This is actually the future of the Rupununi...transformation of its vast open lands into farmlands spewing out rice, beans, soya and other crops for a hungry world.

What has impressed us about Santa Fe is that, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel as the local rice mavens for the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and others were doing with the Spanish-funded initiative, they’ve gone directly to the varieties and methodologies of the Brazilians who have cultivated rice successfully for years over their side of the border – on identical land and under identical climatic conditions.

Most of that cultivation had to be abandoned but not for agricultural reasons – instead for political ones. They’d been planting on lands designated as reserved for their Amerindians and five years ago, the Brazilian Supreme Court threw them out. At the time, a great deal of storm and fury was raised. Some had threatened to relocate their operations on our side of the border, but we haven’t heard anything recently.

The bottom line is that the Santa Fe cultivation must not be allowed to be a one-off proposition. The news must be spread far and wide among our coastland farmers. Rice can be grown successfully in our interior. While the challenges there are different than the ones they are used to up to now, they were overcome by the Brazilians and now by some Bajans. The latter must be complimented for taking the risk and putting their money where their mouths are.

This contrasts with the Trinis who seem to like playing “hold me...loose me”.

...for opposition slackers

If it’s not one thing, it’s another with these opposition types. First, they complained the government hadn’t given them enough time to study the legislation on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill demanded by our overlords. This from people who’re faster with their mouths than the “speeding bullet” the Man of Steel’s been compared to.

Has the complexity of any subject ever fazed them? Look at how they “cut first and asked later” on the Amaila Falls Project. Did they worry about weighing political risks, arbitrage costs, project financing and management, internal rates of return and suchlike? Not in this lifetime. But they’ve been vociferous enough to match any rabid mob bent on ripping down the seawall with their bare hands.

Anyhow, now that we were given a reprieve...they’ve raised new – and in their estimation – more substantial objections. They must have their vacations between August and October – just when the bill must be completed. They’ve collected their duty-free cars as parliamentarians and now how dare the government ask them to do something for the country?

August is “summer” and summer means vacation!

...for an Elizabethan scholar

What is this we hear? Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Cambridge and Cornell graduate and expert in Elizabethan literature is “shadow minister of agriculture” for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)? He should demand of Dr Leslie Ramsammy: “If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow, and which will not, speak!”

UG staff demand meeting with VC over unpaid contributions

The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) is demanding an urgent meeting with Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi, threatening to take legal action against the university’s administration for the non-payment of several contributions representing deductions from salaries.

UGSSA Vice President Dr Melissa Ifill revealed at a media conference on Friday that the association is in the process of filing a class action lawsuit against the university for failing to pay over NIS, health insurance, pension schemes, PAYE and credit union contributions.

Benefits

“All of these payments are not up to date and has had a negative impact on the lives, livelihood and benefits we were to be receiving,” Dr Ifill said.

She stated that numerous allowances have not been turned over to staff in relation to leave passage, book and other allowances for research purposes.

As such, Dr Ifill said the various unions of the university have agreed to immediately take legal action against the university.

She revealed that subsequent to a meeting with staff members, the association has also decided to stand in support of temporary staff, some of whom have not been paid since 2012 and some since February last.

“For some, this is their only source of income and they are in a crisis mode and we stand with them,” the vice president said.

Dr Ifill disclosed that it was only on Thursday that staff were informed they would not be paid until June 25.

She said this announcement was met with widespread protest and a decision to embark on a sit-in until such payment was made.

However, at 11:30h on

Friday, the staff was again informed that salaries were payable as at 15:30h on that day.

“Owing to the fact that this was not an isolated occurrence and it was done at extremely late notice, they were told that same day that they would not have been paid on that day, that sparked a protest and the reason we met was to decide essentially what would be the strategy going forward,” the vice president noted.

In addition to payment, Dr Ifill pointed out that there are some very sore issues affecting the proper functioning of the university, including the unsanitary condition of the campus.

The association has decided to invite an occupational, health and safety

officer to scrutinise the surroundings and pronounce on it.

Dr Ifill is anticipating that such a pronouncement would result in the closure of various departments and buildings which require urgent rehabilitative works.

According to her, staff members would now be “working to rule” and will no longer go beyond the call of duty.

“For too long, staff members have gone above and beyond. We have been subsidising this university in so many ways and we will no longer do so. We will be fulfilling our contractual obligations, but will not be going the extra mile,” Dr Ifill remarked.

The association has also issued a week’s ultimatum

to the administration seeking a concise proposal outlining the time and manner in which the unpaid contributions would be dealt.

“We will also reinforce our disgust by staging a picket daily from Monday to Friday until the deadline for a response from the university and if we receive no response, we will reassess and take further action.”

In its demand for a meeting with the vice chancellor, the association is contending that the recently installed Dr Opadeyi has never met with staff even after several predicaments.

Crises

“Notwithstanding the successive crises in both May and June, he has not called a meeting regardless of our pleas. We think it is high time that the head of the university meet with staff members and apprise us of the current situation and very importantly outline his plan for the future. As it stands, we seem to be operating on an ad hoc basis,” Dr Ifill said.

University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) President Bruce Haynes said since the university embarked on a restructuring through the Trevor Hamilton and Associates re-

view, there is still no sense of a clear direction.

Haynes conceded that while the vice chancellor has a bevy of plans for the university, he has not sought out like-minded persons or established a support base from which to project and accomplish those plans.

Fresh perspective

He added that although the vice chancellor came with a fresh perspective, he has inherited a dire situation.

UGSSA President Dr Patsy Francis in further highlighting the plight of the university, stated that the untimely payment of salaries is just a “tip of the iceberg”, and does not represent the totality of decay which they campus faces.

Dr Francis mentioned that the university has not been able to operate in an environment which fosters the development of good academic programmes, and the delivery of a quality education.

“We have been quite dismayed at the fact that the university has been badly managed and continue to be mismanaged, and to this end, we have taken serious action to rescue the university from further degradation,” Dr Francis stated.

UG Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi UGSSA President Dr Patsy Francis UGSSA Vice President Dr Melissa Ifill

Motion tabled for ratification of Arms Trade Treaty

Foreign Affairs

Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is to move a motion in the National Assembly next week to have the House approve Guyana’s ratification of the global arms trade treaty.

Guyana last week signed on to the accord during a ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. In the whereas clause, the minister said the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Arms Trade Treaty on April 2, and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has played an integral role in furthering the agenda which led to the adoption of the treaty.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

the Republic of Guyana at the United Nations, New York on June 3, 2013, be it resolved that this National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana approves of Guyana’s ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty.”

It would be interesting to see how the opposition approach the motion since it had earlier voted down the Firearms Amendment Bill, a key related bill, owing to the fact that it was tabled by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Everybody peepin

De calypsonian Super P sing a song about how everybody peepin, but it look like he sing that song fuh de whole world, knowin how every ting he seh in de lyrics woulda come true. Right now is sheer peepin goin on in de world.

De Americans peepin people computer, bank account and cellphone. De U.S. guvament want to see who people emailin and who people talkin to pun de internet. Plus de U.S. want to see how much money people have, what dem buyin, and fuh who dem buyin it.

The minister said the adoption of the treaty is considered to be of great significance in that it will aid in achieving the purpose of contributing to international and regional peace, security and stability; reducing

She further stated that treaty seeks to establish the highest possible common international standards for regulating or improving the regulation of international trade in conventional arms and to prevent and eradicate illicit trade.

human suffering; and promoting cooperation, transparency and responsible action by states parties in the international trade in conventional arms, thereby building confidence among states parties.

“And where as the Arms Trade Treaty was signed by

Rohee had said the government, like others within the Caribbean, was particularly concerned about the impact that trafficking and the importation of guns were having on the socioeconomic fibre of society, as well as the safety and security of citizens.

Firearms act

“It is not the size of the country that matters, but its commitment towards stamping out this,” Rohee told legislators then, noting that government was dutybound to correct “lacunas” within the existing firearms act which did not expressly criminalise trafficking of firearms and the importation of lethal weapons which would later be assembled to commit crime.

Rohee said statistics show that Guyana now ranks behind Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in terms of seizure of illegal weapons and firearms. He said Caricom and the United Nations were also taking serious steps to address the increased smuggling of firearms. The minister said while Guyana does not produce or manufacture firearms, it was worrying that there has been an increase in the number and types of lethal weapons seized by the security force over the past few years.

He acknowledged efforts by the police force to establish a specialised Firearm Investigations Unit to deal with the situation.

On April 2, the UN General Assembly adopted the landmark Arms Trade Treaty, regulating the international trade in conventional arms, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. The treaty will foster peace and security by putting a stop to destabilising arms flows to conflict regions. It will prevent human rights abusers and violators of the law of war from being supplied with arms. And it will help keep warlords, pirates, and gangs from acquiring these deadly tools.

De U.S. guvament peep so much that one of de workers who was bein paid to do de peepin get tired of peepin, so he run away till to Hong Kong. Now de Americans peepin he too to see what he doing wid all de peepin information he run away wid.

Even though de Americans peepin whole day and whole night, dem still can’t see when foreigners comin over de border and when other people goin in de country illegally. Even people from Guyana mek de back track wuk look easy, although de U.S. peepin all de time.

When de Americans got broke, dem peep China and see how much money de Chinese guvament had. Is then de U.S. start to borrow, because dem peep and see de Chinese got plenty money. Up to dis day, dem still borrowin and can’t start payin back.

But de peepin ketchin on to other countries now. De UK guvament peep a whole G8 meetin and not even de Americans coulda tell what was goin on. Now India start peepin people email and tappin people phone just like de U.S. De Americans should give Super P an award fuh that song.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well, in Guyana. de more some people peep is de less dem see. Freddie Kissmansoon peepin people business whole day and he still can’t see any body who is good. Ah wonder if people should peep de Man Kisser what dem gon find?

GPOC’s Tuschen community outreach fizzles

Aplanned community outreach at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo by the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) on Friday fizzled after no one showed up.

According to the Post Master General Henry Dundas, the aim of the outreach was to meet with residents and sensitise them of the operations of the postal service.

“This will be the first of many community outreach… we arranged this so that the residents will get the opportunity to interact with GPOC’s management team,” said Duncan, adding, “We wanted to hear from the public to get a feel of how people feel about the post office in general.”

Dundas noted that the

GPOC believes that it is important to have feedback from the public in order to make its services more efficient and effective. He mentioned that the outreach programmes will also be going to Essequibo, New Amsterdam Berbice and the Georgetown catchment areas. It was emphasised that this outreach will enable management to be in a better position to respond to issues that may arise with the postal services.

Guyana Times was at the location for the meeting which was scheduled to start at 10:00h, but no resident was present. It was noted that there were public notices in the newspapers as well as posters at the post office to notify residents of the meeting.

Habitat launches housing pilot with Beharry Group

Cognisant of the relation between home ownership and an improved standard of living, Habitat for Humanity and the Edward B Beharry and Company Limited have teamed up to ensure that several Guyanese, who would not otherwise be able to afford a home, realise this crucial dream.

Beharry Chairman

Anand Beharry disclosed that his company will provide in excess of $14 million to the housing pilot which is expected to last an initial 12 months.

Amazing cause

Speaking at a media conference to announce the launch, Beharry described the initiative as an “amazing cause” and called on all Guyanese to join in.

“All you have to do is have Champion Chowmein for lunch or Indi Curry for dinner and top it off with an after-dinner mint from our Chico line of products and you will be helping to build a home for those who are less fortunate. It’s as simple as having a meal with your family,” Beharry said.

He stated that Guyanese can perform small tasks that can translate into a huge difference in the lives of others and must begin looking “within” for the assistance they need.

“Let us work together to build homes for those who cannot afford to do so. We would not only be providing four walls and a roof, we would be giving families a future. A child would have a safe environment to grow and learn and become a productive member of our coun-

try; a mother and father would have space to relax after a hard day at work; a family would have a home to pass on to generations to come.”

Beharry remarked that the company has a long history of dispensing its corporate responsibility through support to sport, countrywide feeding programmes, medical outreaches, education and many other ventures.

“This is yet another initiative undertaken to support the development and empowerment of the people of our country… to raise funds for the construction of homes for families who do not have the financial capacity to do so on their own.”

Poverty cycle

Beharry said the company is examining ways of sustaining the initiative and definitely the project is expected to run way beyond the $14 million mark. The monies will be paid over to Habitat on a quarterly basis.

Habitat’s Country Director Rawle Small said his anticipation is that the initiative will serve as a catalyst to break the cycle of poverty, increase the standard of living and ultimately become a household name.

Small was elated at the

collaboration with a locallybred company whose motto entails tradition and excellence.

He added that this motto has since become more than just two words and is now the driving force behind the company’s growth and passion for using its resources and business model to invest in Guyana.

Partnership

“This partnership seeks to support the development of Guyanese families; one house at a time... and also marks the largest local project collaboration Habitat has undertaken since its doors opened in 1995,” the director related.

He stressed that the project is an opportunity for Guyanese from all walks of life, whether home or abroad to derive great benefit from buying locally manufactured goods and encouraged citizens to purchase the Beharry line of products.

With the active participation of almost every citizen, Habitat is expected to build 10-15 homes across the regions of the country. “Families who otherwise cannot afford to build a house, but who are very deserving and for whom a home

of their own would literally transform the life of a child, a mother, a father and a family,” Small pointed out.

He said that the support of the public would also provide financial literacy, training and a maintenance plan to the beneficiaries. Although qualifying families have not yet been selected, persons living under extremely vulnerable circumstances will be given preference for this particular project.

Happy ending

“Each family has a story and every story has a beginning, a mid point and an ending. We want the stories of each family supported by Habitat and Edward B Beharry and consumers to have a happy ending. We want each beneficiary, when they are reflecting on the course of their lives, to pause and smile when they remember the moment they were handed the keys to their own homes. They must be pleased to know that two organisations and their country folk delivered a life-changing moment and were there for them when it mattered most,” Small said.

He noted that the several homes will be constructed simultaneously and is expected to be completed in 52 days. According to Small, the hope is to continue the project with the intention of having it serve as a model for emulation by other entities.

“The way we see it is that we are helping them to build roots here and if they become homeowners, they are less likely to migrate, but would want to stay and develop this country,” Beharry Company Director Anjuli Beharry said.

CARILED initiative resumes as local director is appointed

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-funded Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED) is back on stream after it was suspended when its former head Dr Naresh Singh was caught up in a conflict of interest scandal.

Guyana has since appointed its own local director and has been advertising for local development officers to work in the various regions as part of the programme.

New appointee

The new head of the Caribbean project is Alix Yule. Yule has more than 20 years of experience in the field of international development in the continents of South America, Africa and Asia.

During an interview with Guyana Times, Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud said Yule took office in March 2013 and is stationed in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He said the transition in directors had taken a toll not only on Guyana, but participating Caribbean states. On the local arena, Guyana has ap-

pointed a new national coordinator for the CARILED initiative, Dhanraj Singh after Parmanand Chandernauth demitted office.

Currently, the CARILED national coordinator is in the process of recruiting local economic development officers (LEDOs) who will form a critical part of the programme when it comes into full swing. Interested persons have until June 27 to apply for the positions of LEDOs in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six. According to the minister, the selection process for LEDOs across the selective regions will be completed by

July 15.

Meanwhile, according to www.rp-canada.net, some of the recent allegations made against Dr Singh have been confirmed as false, unfounded and misleading.

Dr Singh is very pleased to know that his name is being restored. After several months of being dragged through the mud, at considerable cost to his career and reputation, things are getting cleaned up.

False allegations

A series of allegations has been found to be completely false, unfounded and misleading. Relevant parties have dispelled the malicious accusations. These are: funding to CARILED) being suspended as a result of the investigation into Dr Singh.

Actually, the CARILED work is proceeding normally; Singh may have been in conflict of interest when he accepted a Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) post as director; on fact, Dr Singh won out fair and square in an open competition that had almost 200 applicants; and Singh left

his job with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under a cloud. In truth, he was highly recommended by these employers to his new position. CIDA referenced Dr Singh’s outstanding work for them and provided a solid reference for Dr Singh’s application to the post of deputy secretary general at the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Recent negative claims refer to Dr Singh’s work at CIDA in 2010. Ironically, this was the year that saw a host of nominations for Dr Singh to be considered as an Outstanding Canadian Public Servant. The nods were given by colleagues as well as senior Canadian and international public officials.

Dr Singh is now looking forward. His plans for the future include visiting professor at O P Jindal Global University in India; collaborative projects in the realm of international development on the legal empowerment of the poor, local economic development and sustainable livelihoods; and writing a book about inclusive and equitable prosperity.

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Director General Guy Ryder will attend the eight ILO meeting of Caribbean labour ministers to be held from July 2-3, at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The theme of the two-day meeting is “The Caribbean and Labour 2013 and Beyond – Strengthening Decent Work for Development”. The meeting is being organised by the ILO in collaboration with the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

The director general will address the opening ceremony of the meeting, along with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development Minister Errol McLeod, and Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin La Rocque. The ILO Assistant Director General and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Regional Director, Elizabeth Tinoco will also be

in attendance.

During his visit, the ILO director general is also expected to attend a breakfast meeting of the tripartite partners from the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation (CEC), the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL), and labour ministers of the Caribbean.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for delegates to take a position on critical issues related to employment and labour in the Caribbean and to have a discourse on decent work for development; the post2015 sustainable development agenda: ILO’s strategy for the adoption of full and productive employment and decent work as an explicit goal of the global development agenda beyond 2015; international and regional meetings; the 102nd session of the ILC 2013 and preparation for ILC 2014; and labour migration, labour market information system, and policy coherence.

ILO director to address Caribbean labour ministers in TT Nations University to bring LLM to Guyana

Nations University

Director Dr Brain O’Toole has disclosed that the university is currently looking at the possibility of bringing the masters’ of law (LLM) programme to Guyana.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, he disclosed that talks with the head of the LLM programme at the University of London are slated to take place soon.

Dr O’Toole said on Wednesday, the university held consultations to garner responses from persons who would be interested in the LLM programme. As such, he described the meeting as successful as over 20 of the country’s leading lawyers attended and voiced their interest in the programme.

He said Guyanese can expect the programme to be implemented soon, noting that University of London, Undergraduate Laws Programme Director, Professor Jenny Hamilton, who is currently in Guyana, is in the process of speaking to her colleagues in London in charge of the LLM programme. “I think it can be within a matter of months… very soon.”

Additionally, Dr O’Toole disclosed that on Wednesday, he and Hamilton engaged in discussions with the University of Guyana Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi on possible areas the universities

can collaborate. Currently, Nations University offers a bachelor of laws degree (LLB) programme, which Dr O’Toole said has received tremendous response. The LLB programme costs about $2.4 million and is paid in installments. The university also has an ongoing partnership with Republic Bank where it offers a loan scheme to persons who wish to do the programme, but are not in a financial position to do so. The director disclosed that the university is currently looking to see if such a plan can be available to other programmes.

Meanwhile, Hamilton disclosed that the LLM programme enables persons to specialise in different areas of law, underscoring that it is not primarily for lawyers, but rather it is designed for professionals from any field.

“We have students all over the world who are engineers, health workers, policemen, prison guards, government workers, social workers, custom officials… it’s something they see as being very valuable in terms of their own career enhancement.”

She pointed out that today, many fields of work require persons to have substantial knowledge of law. She added that the advantage of the LLM programme is that it has a range of specialisation, such as medicine and the law, among others.

The model homes

Dr Naresh Singh

saturday, june 22, 2013 |

Essequibo women want abused shelter on the coast

Sare calling on the Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC) to open a shelter on the Essequibo coast so that women can have a place of refuge from abusive situations.

This request was made by women who attended a public awareness session, entitled “Access to Justice for Women” held on Friday at the Anna Regina Town Council. The forum was facilitated by the Women and Gender Equality Commission.

One participant of the forum, Desiree Charles, who spoke on behalf of other women said that often women are being abused and do not have anywhere [on the coast] to go. The mother said due to the lack of a housing facility for abused women, many are forced to return to

the same situation.

She said women are often faced with many dramatic challenges and often do not have a shelter to seek comfort. Charles said if a home is built on the Essequibo Coast for abused women, then women can be stronger and feel more confident in an effort to overcome their problems. Charles said women who are abused need to feel that sense of security and there must be a place for them.

In responding to the request, Chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission Indranie Chandarpal said that over the years the problem has arisen whereby families occupy the Help and Shelter and refuse to move. She said the women want to take up permanent residence sometimes and it becomes a challenge for the W&GEC.

She said, however, she

Caricom foreign ministers to visit Turks and Caicos

Caribbean Community (Caricom) foreign ministers are to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands on a fact-finding mission next week.

The Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell is chairing the grouping that includes his colleagues from Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis and Haiti.

A brief statement issued said that the ministers “have embarked on a fact-finding mission about the status of the Turks and Caicos Islands” but gave no further details.

But the communiqué issued at the end of the Caricom Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting (COFCOR) in Trinidad last month, noted that the coun-

cil had been “updated on the situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands following the island’s democratic elections held in November 2012 and underscored Caricom’s commitment to supporting that associate member’s democratic tradition”.

London in August 2009 resumed daily administration of the affairs of this British Overseas Territory, disbanded the locally elected government and suspended the legislature after a Commission of Inquiry said it found widespread corruption under the administration of former premier Michael Misick.

The former premier, who resigned in March 2009, after the commission made its findings public, is to go on trial later this year.

will make the necessary recommendations to facilitate the request. The chairperson of the commission said that what the commission is trying to promote is counselling sessions for young couples. Chandarpal said counselling will be facilitated for young couples, “we don’t want young women to rush into relationships, they should have dialogue with their partners and create mutual understanding”.

Attending the forum was Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, Senior Probation and Welfare Officer attached to the Human Service Ministry, Mahendra Takoordat and administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau Hymawattie Lagan, along with representative of the Guyana Police Force Sergeant Persaud.

Guyanese man cops Canadian immigration award

Guyanese-born Canadian citizen Narine Dat Sookram has been named among the 25 top immigrants to Canada at the fifth annual 2013 RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, presented by Canadian Immigrant Magazine. The awards celebrate the inspiring stories and achievements of immigrants to Canada.

Sookram is well-known in the Waterloo Region area as a social activist for his many years of providing assistance to newcomers to Canada, as well as for his longstanding cultural leadership within the Canadian-Caribbean community. Founder and president of Active Vision Charity Association, which provides books and school supplies to Guyanese youth and promotes the West Indian’s rich culture, Sookram said the secret to the immigration journey is all about balance.

“You really don’t want to give up your own personal rich cultural values, but rather you want to respect and adapt the Canadian culture and be as open as possible, because the more open you are, the more possibilities you are giving to yourself,” he said.

Bright future

A winner of the Waterloo Region 40 under 40 Award and Guelph 40 under 40 Award, Sookram feels that empowering youth, in particular, is the key to ensuring a bright future for any country. “Youth are the leaders of tomorrow and this is something we have to be conscious of. Youth, especially in today’s world, are full of fresh ideas and, as a social service worker, it is my obligation to empower them,” he said.

But he passes on his wisdom to newcomers of all ages, urging them to move out of

their comfort zone and meet new people. “There are many resources available although sometimes they can be hidden. The key point is to know what you want and work toward it to achieve that goal through ongoing networking, keeping in mind that you will not be successful at every first try. Which is okay, because it gives you time to see what works and what does not work. The bottom line is we are in control of own lives and the choices we make will determine [our] failures and successes,” he signs off.

Meanwhile, NBA All-Star and philanthropist Steve Nash, dancer and choreographer Wen Wei Wang, physician and activist Izzeldin Abuelaish are also among the winners of the awards.

“Winners are a diverse group, ranging from artists to philanthropists to entrepreneurs from a variety of ethnicities across the country,” said Margaret Jetelina, editor of Canadian Immigrant Magazine. “Each of these winners has an inspiring story about overcoming challenges and making their country a better place to live. We are

proud to present our top 25 award to these very deserving recipients.” Over 600 nominations were received in just two months, from which 75 finalists were shortlisted by a panel of judges comprised of past winners and dignitaries.

More than 30,000 votes were cast online, the highest number received in the award’s history. The Top 25 winners will be honoured at awards ceremonies on June 20 in Toronto and on June 26 in Vancouver. The programme is proudly supported by title sponsor RBC Royal Bank and associate sponsor Chevrolet.

The awards programme is also supported by the Toronto Star, Metro, Sing Tao, CBC Toronto and South Asian Focus.

Valuable contribution

“These winners are role models, not just for new Canadians, but for all Canadians who will be inspired by the valuable contribution these individuals have made to their communities,” said Multicultural Markets, RBC Director Paul Sy. “These extraordinary individuals are living proof that anyone can make a difference and contribute to the rich fabric of Canadian life.”

The RBC Top 25 award winners will receive a commemorative plaque and a Cdn$500 donation towards a registered Canadian charity of their choice. “The Canadians recognised by the RBC Top 25 Immigrant Awards are passionate, innovative and resourceful,” said General Motors of Canada, Sales, Service and Marketing Vice President Marc Comeau.

“At Chevrolet, we are proud to celebrate these remarkable individuals and their ability to inspire others to reach for their dreams.”

Over 100 commence nursing course

The Health Sciences Education Department has been mandated to generate professionals who are well-qualified and able to serve the Guyanese public, and in this regard, nursing services contribute a great deal to this mandate.

On Wednesday, 103 new nurses and nursing assistants officially joined the Georgetown School of Nursing located on East Street; where they would be taken through medical training. The professional

registered nurse programme usually lasts three years, while the nurse assistant programme has a duration of a maximum of two years.

The New Amsterdam Schools of Nursing will be receiving their intake of nurses later this year. Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran noted that his ministry is working on ensuring that the two schools are in good shape. At the nurses’ orientation, at the Regency Hotel, he emphasised that in 2012, the government spent just

under $400 million on medical training to ensure that Guyana’s health-care system has the necessary workforce to give care in a range of areas and locations.

This year, over $369 million was budgeted for human resource development to enhance the competency of health officials within the system, which is benefiting from the return of 278 Cuban-trained doctors deployed countrywide.

Minister Ramsaran pointed out that apart from

the investment in medical training, funding had been channelled into ensuring health institutions are in good standing as well. Apart from the new trainees, there was also a large turn-out of parents. Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan urged the trainees to pay attention to their tutors and to ask questions so that they can receive the best education. These training opportunities have not only ensured the health-care system has the necessary support staff, but it gives Guyanese youths an opportunity to pursue medical studies. With regards to continuous academic progression, the students after serving for several years can pursue higher medical education in their respective fields. Most importantly, they can access higher education at the University of Guyana, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and via scholarships.

Narine Dat Sookram

The 2013 batch of nurse trainees at their orientation

cores of women on the Essequibo Coast

The gathering at the Anna Regina Town Council

Guyana eyes coconut water brand

The Agriculture Ministry is looking to establish a Guyanese brand of coconut water recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a health drink.

According to Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Guyana is presently working with the FAO, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the governments of Brazil and Mexico to develop the coconut industry, which utilises the third largest acreage of cultivated land after rice and sugar.

Training programme

Noting Mexico’s success in the area, Minister Ramsammy stated that Guyana is presently concluding arrangements with IICA to send a Guyanese professional to that country to undergo a two-month training programme in all aspects of the coconut industry.

He noted that in the streamlining of the coconut industry, there is the possibility of developing virgin coconut oil for export and using shells to develop energy so that there is no wastage.

In this regard, a coconut exposition has been planned to further promote the commodity locally. The inau-

gural Coconut Exposition hosted by the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), brings together agencies and departments within the Agriculture Ministry, as well as other stakeholders, to promote products and services in the coconut industry. The expo sees participation from agencies such as the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), the Craft Producers Association, and coconut farmers. It was not-

ed that the objective is to create greater awareness and promote the market opportunities that exist for coconut and coconut products. Some of the products that will be on display includes extra virgin coconut oil, coconut water, canned coconut cream and milk, coconut craft, wine and coconut dishes among others. The coconut industry in Guyana has been identified as one of the sectors with huge potential for further development. The coconut already exists in Guyana as one of the key non-traditional crops and its production

relies on Guyana’s comparative advantages in terms of land, water and labour. Coconut delivers a very wide variety of products, including coconut water, coconut oil, coconut milk and dried coconut, which are all in demand regionally and internationally. Guyana, at the beginning of this year had produced between 90 and 100 million coconuts per year, which approximates to some 70,000 tonnes and the world export market for coconut products, is about US$6 billion, while Guyana exports nearly US$3 million in coconut products.

GNBS holds consultation to revise old acts

The first in a series of public consultations was held earlier this week to revise two outdated Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) acts.

According to GNBS Executive Director Evadnie Innis, the public consultation sessions are being held to review the metrology act and the National Standards Act in keeping with newly developing world standards. During a presentation made to various stakeholders, it was noted that the metrology act, which was called the Weight and Measures Act and drafted in 1981 and 1984, has been revised after being. The revision of the acts, she explained, is also in keeping with the World Trade Organisation standards and seeks to make the work of the GNBS relevant, in the areas of metrology and standards.

New fines

The private sector raised concern about ambiguity in the structure of the act as well as the ethics and power being given to the inspectors as detailed in the new act. Members of the business sector believe the fines attached to the offences are exorbitant and wanted to know the justi-

fication for the raise in the fine. It was also emphasised that there is a need to include the various regulatory bodies attached to the GNBS in the act, and for the standards body to enforce the rule that all importers display their GNBS licences.

The revised act will focused on provisions for regulations on relevant areas and addressed forgery, fraudulent weights, deceptive packaging, and commercial trade and manufacturers amongst other issues presently affecting the bureau.

According to GNBS Public Relations Officer

Lloyd David, the Metrology Act will ensure that devices are up to the required standards and will ensure proper enforcement of the laws. He noted that the bureau, in keeping with past and future regulations, has acted swiftly on complaints by consumers on the poor practices of businesses. With the new act, it will have the power to destroy devices that do not comply with in the regulations of the revised act.

National standards

The director noted that relating to the changes the acts could bring to the work and mandate of the GNBS, “the standardisation department of the GNBS promotes national standards for the various sectors of the economy, while the metrology and standards compliance department deals with standards compliance, weights and measures and consumers complaints investigation”.

Attending the meeting were representatives from the collaborating regulators to the GNBS: the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Transport and Harbours Department;

Healthy response to Coconut Expo

assess some of the

As part of continued efforts to boost Guyana’s coconut industry, steps are being taken by government through the Agriculture Ministry to undertake initiatives that will springboard the third largest industry in Guyana.

For some time now, government has been pushing for the development of a large scale coconut industry, given the country’s proliferation of the product.

On Friday, the Agriculture Ministry through the New Guyana Marketing Corporation hosted a Coconut Expo, to showcase hundreds of different products that can be derived from coconut extracts.

Coconut products

Guyana National Industrial Company Inc (GNIC); Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA); the agriculture and tourism ministries, as well as stakeholders such as merchants and the general public.

It was noted that after these consultations, the GNBS plans to present the new pieces of legislation to government, with the hope of having them passed by year-end.

The GNBS is classified as a semi-autonomous agency which falls under the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry. It is governed by a National Standards Council representing various interest groups and sectors, and executes the following work programmes: standardisation, technical assistant, auditing services, product certification, laboratory certification, laboratory services, administration and finance, weights and measures, standards compliance, metrication, codex, technical assistance, standards information and communications. It also provides a wide range of services to industry. These include inspection, testing, calibration, certification, and training.

The event was held at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation Guyana Shop and saw persons turning out in their numbers to buy and sample the various coconut products on display.

Guyana Shop Manager Kevin Macklingam said the initiative is the brainchild of Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

“As you know, the coconut industry is the third largest economic industry in Guyana and this Coconut Expo is part of the wider effort to boost the industry further… this initiative is actually the brainchild of the agriculture minister,” Macklingam related.

Macklingam said the ministry is working to make the event an annual one, with the hope of attracting persons locally and abroad.

A large variety of coconut products were on display, including milk, coconut cream, water craft and edibles among many others. These items were made by local producers here in Guyana.

“We have milks, coconut creams, water in the can and bottle, we have oils, crafts, edibles and other coconut products and we are having participants from around the country here today display-

ing some of the products that are made from the coconut extract,” he added.

The Agriculture Ministry said more focus will be placed on the expansion of the country’s coconut sector given the benefits that could be derived from increased exportation.

Dr Ramsammy had said Guyana will be placing more emphasis on expansion and to boost the country’s coconut industry, though regional and extra regional support.

The minister said Guyana has a thriving coconut industry, which was developed over the years; mainly by the country’s private sector. However, he admitted that a lot still needs to be done to address the industry’s continued growth. Several years ago when the industry took a global downturn, coconut products remained popular on the market, given its demand.

Marketing prospects

The agriculture minister stated that the marketing prospects for coconut products have never been better. In spite of this fact, the minister said it is hardly recognised in Guyana like many other countries.

Coconut ranks third, after rice and sugar production in Guyana. This year, 80,000 hectares of land will be dedicated to rice production; 36,000 to sugar; and 24,000 to coconut production.

The country is currently seeking to expand the industry, through partnerships with its Caricom and European counterparts.

Guyana is still seeking to include representatives from the various commercial banks, the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), among others to take the sector to the next level.

Coconut products on display at the expo hosted by the New Guyana Marketing Corporation

GNBS Executive Director Evadnie Innis

Persons

edible products on display during the New Guyana Marketing Corporation's inaugural Coconut Exposition on Wednesday

Regional

Jamaica's Teachers Association president bats for flogging in schools

President of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) Clayton Hall believes flogging should be retained in schools as a form of punishment in specific circumstances.

Choosing his words carefully, Hall told the Rotary Club of Mandeville that 18 years as an educator had taught him that corporal punishment was a useful disciplinary tool.

“I am not indicating that all children should be flogged and I am also not saying that flogging must be the solution to all the problems we have. I am merely indicating that flogging or corporal punishment is for me a great deterrent to unwanted behaviour,” he said.

Hall told the Jamaica Observer following his speech at the Golf View Hotel that in his view “no child over 15” should be flogged and the punishment should not be carried out by the class teacher or anyone “emotionally involved in the situation”. Also, he said it should not be carried out immediately but only after a “process” to determine the appropriate measure and to explain to the student the reasons for the punishment.

In a question-and-answer session at the tail end of his presentation, Hall — who is principal of Spanish Town High in St Catherine — confirmed that he was voicing his personal views on corporal punishment.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Brazil's Rousseff summons Cabinet over protests

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has held an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the country’s most widespread unrest in two decades.

Protests began more than a week ago over transport fare rises, but they are now also directed at corruption and the cost of next year’s football World Cup.

More than a million people are reported to have taken part in demonstrations on Thursday in about 100 cities.

One man died when a car drove through a barricade in Sao Paulo state.

A woman is also reported to have died as a result of inhaling tear gas in the northern city of Belem.

President Rousseff called

off a trip to Japan to deal with the crisis.

However, correspondents say there is speculation Rousseff will make a national radio address.

Rousseff initially praised the demonstrators, saying she was proud so many people were fighting for a better country.

She has since sought to distance herself from

The Bahamas upgraded in latest U.S. human trafficking report

The Bahamas has improved its ranking in the latest U.S. State Department report on human trafficking after the country made “tangible progress in implementing a victim-centred approach to addressing human trafficking” in the last year.

According to the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, The Bahamas continues to be a “destination, source and transit country for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking”.

The report has consistently observed these trends in the last three years.

“Migrant workers are especially vulnerable to involuntary servitude in The Bahamas, particularly the thousands of Haitians who arrive in The Bahamas largely voluntarily to work as domes-

tic employees, labourers and in agriculture,” the report read.

“Other large, vulnerable, migrant worker communities are from China, Jamaica and the Philippines.”

The Bahamas was upgraded from a tier two watch list country to a tier two country.

According to the report, tier two countries are those whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

“Groups especially vulnerable to sex trafficking in The Bahamas include foreign citizens in prostitution or exotic dancing and local children under 18 engaging in sex with men for basics such as food, transportation or material goods,” the report read. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

the protests. On Thursday night, protesters tried to storm the Foreign Ministry in Brasilia. They were driven back by police, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas.

In Rio de Janeiro, at least 29 people were reported injured after clashes between riot police and groups of masked young men trying to approach city hall. (Excerpt from BBC News)

TT: Kamla complains to Carmona

Integrity Commission

Chairman Ken Gordon on Thursday cancelled a news conference scheduled for Friday, minutes after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met with President Anthony Carmona at President’s House, Port of Spain, to officially complain about Gordon’s meeting with Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. The Integrity Commission had indicated earlier on Thursday that Gordon was expected to defend the so-called secret meeting with Rowley. But soon after the prime minister’s meeting with Carmona, the commission sent out a news release cancelling the event and saying Gordon would instead issue a statement on the matter. It is unclear whether Gordon would also resign, but some sourc-

es have indicated that his resignation was unlikely.

Rowley met with Gordon on May 15 at his private residence in Glencoe, five days before he presented a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister for debate in the House of Representatives. It was during his presentation that

Rowley produced 31 emails related to the Section 34 fiasco which purportedly came from addresses belonging to the prime minister, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Local Government and Works Minister Suruj Rambachan and other government officials. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Conference positions Jamaica as next animation hub ─ World Bank

The World Bank says a major two-day animation conference and festival in Jamaica is aimed at positioning the island as the next animation hub while promoting job opportunities for talented youths.

The Washington-based financial institution said it is partnering with the government of Jamaica, the government of Canada, JAMPRO and Toon Boom, Inc in staging the conference, dubbed “KingstOON” at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The conference, which opened its doors to the global animation industry on Thursday, is also organised in collaboration with leading Jamaican universities and training programmes, including The University of Technology (UTECH),

UWI and The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. The World Bank said KingstOON brings together international and Jamaican industry leaders, universities, businesses, government officials, animation professionals and amateurs, students, and young dreamers “with the aim of showcasing Jamaica’s growing crop of local animators and visual artists. “Jamaica has a huge

asset in its talented youth,” said Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, World Bank director for sustainable development in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

“Through partnerships with educational institutions and the private sector, Jamaica can create the right conditions to tap into the global animation industry and become a new hub, creating thousands of jobs,” he added. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

TT Integrity Commission chairman refuses to step down

Embattled Trinidad Integrity Commission

Chairman Ken Gordon Friday refused to step down despite calls for him to do so following his decision to meet with Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley as the controversy over the “emailgate” scandal continues unabated.

In a lengthy statement, Gordon said “the inflammatory and highly irresponsible statements which have been made coupled with the distortions of fact are

to be deeply regretted” and that the “meeting was held in full accordance with the Integrity in Public Life Act, one of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago”.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met with President Anthony Carmona on Thursday, but would not divulge the details of the hour-long meeting. She told reporters that she was “not at liberty to discuss the details of the meeting.

But earlier in the week, as she addressed a meet-

ing of her ruling United National Congress (UNC) –the biggest partner in the three-party coalition government – Persad Bissessar said that Rowley’s “secret” meeting with Gordon, ahead of his disclosure of the emails in Parliament last month “strikes at the very heart of our system of governance and the independence of our institutions in this country”.

Meanwhile, in a statement Gordon said coupled with the Oath of Secrecy

which commissioners are required to take, Part II, Section 5(2a) and (c) of the Integrity in Public Life Act states in part that in the exercise of its functions under the act, the commission (and by extension, all commissioners): (a) shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority; (c) the commission shall have the power to do all such things as it considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying out its functions.

Helicopter crash kills Nicaraguan air force chiefs

Key members of Nicaragua’s air force, including the chief of staff, are among 10 people killed in a helicopter crash.

The helicopter was returning from a military base

in the north-west when it came down near a lake west of the capital Managua. The cause is unknown.

Air force Chief of Staff Colonel Manuel Lopez was killed in the crash, the

Nicaraguan army said. The air defence chief and the head of air force counterintelligence were also among the dead, the army said.

The soldiers had reportedly been at a training session in the north-west town of La Paz Centro and were returning to the capital when the crash happened. Army officials said an investigation was under way.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Clayton Hall

President Anthony Carmona greets Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar on her arrival at his office for a meeting

The protests continue to grow larger and angrier

The World Bank is aiming to make Jamaica the next animation hub in the region

June 22, 2013

Putin criticises West on plan to arm Syrian rebels

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Friday criticised Western nations for failing to ensure that weapons it plans to supply to Syrian rebels do not fall into the hands of al Qaeda.

“Where will those weapons end up,” Putin told the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which was moderated by CNN’s John Defterios. Putin questioned how weapons could safely be supplied to rebels if the U.S. recognised one of the key opposition groups was al Qaeda’s affiliate Jabhat alNusra.

“If the United States and the State Department recognise that one of the key opposition organisations al-Nusra is a terrorist organisation officially recognised as terrorist which is linked to al Qaeda, how can they give

weapons to that part of the opposition?” he said.

“There are no answers to those questions... so it is not as simple as some people would suggest. We believe that our position is well founded... we believe only the Syrian people themselves can guarantee a long-

Christian “gay cure” organisation folds to gay syndrome

After 37 years, Exodus International, an organisation whose mission was to “help” gay Christians become straight, is shutting down. But not before issuing an apology.

“We’re not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change – and they want to be heard,” Tony Moore, an Exodus board member, said Wednesday.

The announcement comes less than a day after Exodus issued a wideranging apology to the gay community for “years of un-

due judgment by the organisation and the Christian Church as a whole,” a statement from the group says.

“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” said Alan Chambers, the president of Exodus. “For quite some time, we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honouring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.” Chambers, who has a wife and children and previously identified as gay, has acknowledged that he has “ongoing same-sex attractions”. (Excerpt from CNN)

term solution.”

His comments came as Syrian rebels said Friday they have received heavy weapons – including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles – from “brotherly nations that support the Syrian revolution”. (Excerpt from CNN)

Around the World

India floods: Death toll in Uttarakhand passes 500

The death toll from flooding and landslides following heavy monsoon rains in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has passed 500.

The state’s Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said 556 bodies had been seen floating or buried in “slush”, and that the army was working to recover them.

The charity Action Aid says 5000 people are missing in the area.

Many of those stranded in the mountainous region are Hindu pilgrims visiting local shrines.

The worst affected area is around the holy town of Kedarnath.

The Indian army is leading rescue efforts. The authorities say troops have yet to reach some remote mountain areas.

Indian Home Minister

Michael Jackson went 60 days without real sleep

Michael Jackson died while preparing to set a world record for the most successful concert run ever, but he unknowingly set another record that led to his death.

Jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without REM – Rapid Eye Movement – sleep, which is vital to keep the brain and body alive. The 60 nights of propofol infusions Dr Conrad Murray said he gave Jackson to treat his insomnia is something a sleep expert says no one had ever undergone.

Propofol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no REM sleep, yet it leaves a patient feeling refreshed as

Suicide bomb kills 13 worshippers in Pakistan

Asuicide bombing at a Pakistani religious centre killed 13 worshippers on Friday, the third major attack to test the new government since the Taliban vowed revenge for a U.S. drone strike that killed its deputy commander. The spate of violence has

shattered a period of relative calm after the May election that returned former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to power, and underscores the challenges he will face in restoring stability to the militancy-hit nation.

More than 60 people have been killed in less than a week from attacks that in-

cluded suicide bombers targeting women students, a hospital and a funeral procession.

Friday’s blast tore through a Shi’ite Muslim seminary in the volatile city of Peshawar, killing at least 13 and injuring 40, police said. TV images showed dazed victims in bloodied clothes wandering through rubble and ornate, shattered tiles.

“The bomber was brought by two other persons who shot dead the security guard,” city police chief Shafiullah Khan said.

Security forces blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the suicide bombing and for the funeral attack, though the group denied its involvement. An allied radical Sunni Islamist group admitted to the bus and hospital attacks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

if they had experienced genuine sleep, according to Dr Charles Czeisler, a Harvard Medical School sleep expert testifying at the wrongful death trial of concert promoter AEG LIve.

If the singer had not died on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic, the lack of REM sleep may have soon taken his life anyway, according to an opinion by Czeisler.

Lab rats die after five weeks of getting no REM sleep, he said. It was never tried on a human until Dr Murray gave Michael Jackson nightly propofol infusions for two months. (Excerpt from CNN)

Sushilkumar Shinde said more than 33,000 pilgrims had been rescued in the past few days, but at least 50,000 people were still stranded.

Earlier on Friday, 40 bodies were recovered from the river Ganges in the temple town of Haridwar, according to local police official Rajiv Swaroop.

Haridwar is downstream from the region where heavy rains on Sunday night triggered flash floods and landslides. Flood-related deaths have also been reported in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states and neighbouring Nepal. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Singapore haze hits record high after Indonesian fires

Pollution levels reached a new record high for a third day in a row in Singapore, as smoky haze from fires in Indonesia shrouded the city state.

The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00h on Friday (04:00 GMT) – the highest in Singapore’s history. The index also reached 400 in one part of Indonesia, which is readying helicopters and cloudseeding equipment in an effort to tackle the fires.

Schools in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia have closed temporarily.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong warned that the haze could remain in place for weeks.

“We can’t tell how this problem is going to develop be-

cause it depends on the burning, it depends on the weather, it depends on the wind,” he said.

“It can easily last for several weeks and quite possibly it could last longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra which may be September or October.”

A PSI reading above 300 is defined as “hazardous”, while Singapore government guidelines say a PSI reading of above 400 over 24 hours “may be life-threatening to ill and elderly persons”.

“Healthy people [may also] experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity,” the government says.

The PSI dropped down to 143 at 17:00h (09:00 GMT), although this is still classed as “unhealthy”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

French mother caught trying to sit exam for daughter

A52-year-old French woman faces prosecution after being caught trying to sit a baccalaureate English exam in place of her daughter.

Kitted out in typical teenage attire including Converse trainers and lowwaisted skinny jeans, the woman made it into the exam hall at a Paris high

school on Wednesday.

But despite the disguise, an exam supervisor who had overseen the 19-yearold daughter when she sat her philosophy paper earlier in the week soon realised she was an imposter and alerted the principal.

Police were called and the woman now faces fraud charges. The consequences for her daughter could be more serious as she could be banned from taking public exams for five years.

Introduced by Napoleon in 1808, the multi-subject baccalaureate is the main school-leaving exam in France and has to be passed by students wishing to go to university. (Excerpt from France24)

President Vladimir Putin

The Kedarnath Temple, high up in the Garhwal Himalaya, is a site of pilgrimage for Hindus

A 52-year-old French mother was caught trying to sit an English exam for her 19-year-old daughter on Wednesday

A rescue worker collects evidence from the site of a suicide bomb attack at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Peshawar, June 21

Consulting giant to enter Jamaican market

Latin American business and technology consulting giant LatCapital will be introducing its services to Jamaica, the island’s private sector lobby group announced Thursday.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) said Thursday that it will be hosting a financial business solutions seminar, in collaboration with LatCapital, at the Spanish Court Hotel on Tuesday,

North America

June 25. The event will help facilitate the company’s entry in Jamaica, according to PSOJ President Chris Zacca. “We are pleased to be facilitating LatCapital in introducing their services to Jamaica,” Zacca said.

“We always welcome the entry of new market players, especially now during times of fiscal constraint, and I’m hopeful that the respective players in the financial and banking sectors will find value in the compa-

ny’s business solutions,” he added.

LatCapital is a subsidiary of SAP, one of the largest software companies in the world. The company’s portfolio of business solutions includes mobile technology and its use in central banks; cloud computing; governance risk and compliance; information management – data governance; information security management and web technologies. (Jamaica Observer)

Wall St rebounds modestly, Oracle drags on Nasdaq

Stocks rose slightly in a volatile Friday session after two days of sharp losses, as investors grappled with the changing outlook for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.

Shares have slumped since Wednesday when Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke laid out the Fed’s plans to pull back on its US$85 billion in monthly asset purchases.

Coming into the day,

the S&P 500 had fallen nearly five per cent from its all-time closing high of 1669.16 on May 21 and was on track for its largest weekly drop this year.

The current pullback is the largest since an 8.9 per cent decline between September and November. However, stocks rebounded from losses later in the day, after the Wall Street Journal published an analysis saying the market

may be misreading the Fed’s message, and that reduction in bond buying may not come as soon as some expect.

“The market read what it wanted to read but although there was a reaction in stocks, yields aren’t moving,” said Joe Saluzzi, co-manager of trading at Themis Trading in Chatham, New Jersey.”It just shows that the equity market is nervous and would react to any headline at this point.” (Reuters)

Rosneft in US$270B China oil supply deal

ussian state oil com-

Rpany Rosneft has agreed to double its oil supplies to China, in a deal worth US$270 billion (£175 billion) over 25 years. Under the terms of the deal, Rosneft will supply 300,000 barrels of oil a day to China starting in 2015.

It is a further sign that Russia – the world’s biggest oil producer – is focusing on Asia, not Europe, as its main business partner of the future.

Rosneft will receive US$70 billion upfront, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Rosneft’s chairman Igor Sechin told reporters in St Petersburg that the supply deal would be one of the biggest in the country’s history.

The upfront payments will be particularly welcome for Rosneft, whose debt level has surged since it acquired Anglo-Russian producer TNK-BP in a US$55

billion cash-and-stock deal in October 2012.

According to ratings agency Standard and Poor’s, Rosneft faces large debt maturities of US$6.6 billion in 2013, US$15.9 billion in 2014, and US$16.2 billion in 2016. The Chinese payments will lighten this load considerably.

Russia currently exports about 4.4 million barrels of oil per day, with Asian markets accounting for 17 per cent of that. (BBC News)

Namibia: N$120M investment for Okahandja

An important development is on the rise in the Garden town of Namibia. Construction of the Okahandja Shopping Centre started in February this year. Located on the corner of the B1 and M187 (Gross Barmen Road), the two-phase development project will host popular South African retail outlets as well as local companies. The development is expected to contribute significantly towards employment creation in the

China’s

Ctown. With retail tenants such as Shoprite, Edgars Active, Legit, Jetmart, Pep, Dunns, Bears, Hungry Lion, Spur and many others, the Okahandja Shopping Centre will be a welcome asset to the small town’s shopping landscape. Financial institutions such as First National Bank (FNB) and Nedbank will also occupy space at the centre.

Phase one comprises approximately 9600 square metres of retail space and phase two comprises ap-

proximately 8700 square metres. With a total investment of N$120 million, the Okahandja Shopping Centre is one of the largest private investments (of its kind) to date to be made in the town.

“We can appreciate that approximately 300 jobs will be created indirectly as a result of this development, and will create excellent economically viable opportunities for the town to grow and prosper further. We have secured a good tenant mix. (allAfrica)

credit crunch spooks markets

hina is facing a tricky problem with its economy – and that’s making the rest of the world skittish. In its bid to control surging real estate prices and a head off a credit bubble, the Chinese government could end up sparking a credit crunch and slow economic growth more than expected.

And as seen this week, concerns about the world’s second-biggest economy can rattle investors all over. The People’s Bank of China, which maintains

Middle East Asia

tight control over the banking system, has been taking a tough line with Chinese lenders. It refused to inject cash into the financial system earlier this week despite rocketing short-term borrowing costs and evidence that the economy is slowing.

Growth in China slipped to 7.8 per cent last year. The government’s target for this year is 7.5 per cent. But the risk of a disappointment is rising and with it the prospects of a weaker-than-expected recovery in the global economy. HSBC, which cut its China forecast to 7.4 per cent this week, said it believed Beijing would not act to stimulate the economy unless growth was heading to seven per cent.

“We believe markets will worry about the slowdown, but take time to get enthusiastic about the prospects for reform,” noted HSBC strategists Garry Evans and Herald van der Linde, downgrading Chinese equities to neutral from overweight. (Yahoo! Finance)

Dubai eyes deal for Angry Birds theme park

Dubai is likely to sign a deal to become the first country in the Middle East to host an Angry Bird-branded theme park by the end of the year. The company behind the plans told Arabian Business that more parks are planned across the Middle East region.

Nigel Cann, director of operations and business development at Gebal Co, a play equipment sales firm which is the regional repre-

sentative for Lappset, the company that builds the Angry Birds theme parks, said Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Doha were currently all bidding to build the first Angry Bird-themed park in the Middle East.

“It is not far off neck and neck but we have an investment company in Dubai that is looking a lot more likely at the moment but time will tell,” Cann told Arabian Business.

“I think towards the end of this year [a deal will be signed],” he added. In terms of the level of investment, Cann said “it all depends on the size of the budget... You can pay AED6 million (US$1.6 million) up to AED60 million.” (Arabianbusiness)

The basics of finance and

how

it determines success

For smaller businesses it may not be practical to hire a professional for all of the financial work, but there several software programs available that help to educate the owner on basic bookkeeping techniques.

A business owner should be familiar and comfortable with using the following:

• Day to day expense tracking – an owner needs to be able create and analyse reports that give an idea of the health of a business.

• Accounts receivable

and accounts payable – An owner needs to be able to tell when payment is expected and prepare for any outgoing expenditures

Of equal importance is the ability to determine the current financial state of a business and whether expansion is possible or even necessary due to competition. Being able to identify future trends that can positively or negatively impact a business will go a long way toward helping a business develop staying power in ever shifting

market places. Regardless of the size of a business, the goals of the business and the owner should be kept firmly in mind. While smaller businesses may not immediately benefit or be able to afford an accountant that is an expense that should be worked into a budget as soon as possible. Accountants and even financial planners are able to keep a business on track. They can help to establish realistic long-term goals to increase the chances of success. (Business Dictionary)

Princes Street fire leaves six homeless

An early morning fire at Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown on Friday has left six people homeless.

The fire reportedly occurred around 02:30 hours, waking up the family of five who lived in the upper flat of the two-storey building. The lone occupant who lived downstairs was not at home at the time of the fire, according to an eyewitness and neighbour Ernestine Raymond, who lives at the back of the building.

“I deh in my bed lie down, heard the gentleman over here say fire and I get up and come and open my front door… then I see this smoke downstairs.”

Raymond told this publication that she, along with the family, took cover in the empty lot next door as they awaited the fire tender.

She noted that the Guyana Fire Service was summoned and firefighters showed up soon after, while neighbours came out to look on.

“The fire service, at the

time I called them, they didn’t take long to meet, I don’t know if other people called before me, but they didn’t take long,” the neighbour said.

“One of the fireman now, he had to take a brick and pelt to break the window to get to spray water in but, he wasn’t getting enough in cause it was a small hole, so I tell him he gotta come round to the back door. So they decide to push the fence down and run upstairs.”

The fire was said to have originated at the bottom flat of the house, but its cause is yet to be determined.

The family who lived at the house located at 46 Princes Street, Lodge, was unable to save their belongings from the blaze. However, the structure of the house is still standing, since it is the interior of the house that suffered most from the fire. They are now said to be sheltering at relatives at Norton Street.

FAO Statistical Yearbook

paints detailed picture of agriculture

The 2013 edition of the Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) Statistical Yearbook released earlier this week sheds new light on agriculture’s contribution to global warming, trends in hunger and malnutrition and the state of the natural resource base upon which world food production depends.

Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture grew 1.6 per cent per year during the decade after the year 2000, new FAO data presented in the yearbook show, with the sector’s total annual output in 2010 reaching five billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 eq, a measure used to compare and aggregate different greenhouse gases). This equals 10 per cent of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Contributors

Among the various agriculture sectors, livestock activities and the use of synthetic fertiliser are the largest contributors. This does not include emissions caused by land use change and wild fires. Issued annually, FAO’s Statistical Yearbook is an authoritative compendium of data on the major trends shaping global food and agriculture today. For each thematic area, brief analyses of the main trends are paired with graphical data visualisations as well as tables with key indicators.

The topics it covers include: capital and investment, climate change, food availability, food production

and trade, food prices, hunger and malnutrition, the consequences of political instability and natural- and human-induced disasters on food security, the state of the agricultural resource base, and sustainability and environmental impacts.

Almost 870 million people, or 12.5 per cent of the world’s population, were undernourished in 2010-2012; the vast majority of them (852 million) live in developing countries. Between 2005 and 2011, one out of four African countries reported a stunting rate of at least 40 per cent. Stunting rates also exceeded 40 per cent in South and South East Asia during the same period, with peaks in India, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal and Timor-Leste.

Crop production

African countries show the highest rates of underweight prevalence. During 2005-2011, 16 African countries showed underweight rates of at least 20 per cent, with the highest levels recorded in the Horn of Africa. Global crop production has expanded threefold over the past 50 years, largely through higher yields per unit of land and crop intensification.

Global per capita food supply rose from about 2200 kcal per day in the early 1960s to over 2800 kcal per day by 2009. At 3370 kcal per person per day, Europe currently has the highest average per capita food supply. Cereals occupy more than half of the world’s harvested area and are the

“She

Pmost important food source for human consumption. Of the 2.3 billion tonnes of cereals produced each year, one billion are destined for human consumption, 750 million tonnes are used as animal feed and 500 million tonnes are either processed by industry, used as seed, or wasted.

Economic trends

Following a decade of slower growth in the 1990s, global public spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) increased steadily from US$26.1 billion in 2000 to US$31.7 billion in 2008. Most of this increase was driven by developing countries. China and India accounted for close to half of this growth, but other countries – particularly Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Nigeria and the Russian Federation – also significantly increased their spending on public agricultural R&D. Still, these trends mask the negative developments that have taken place in numerous smaller, poorer and less technologically advanced countries.

Buoyed by high commodity prices, agriculture has demonstrated astonishing resilience during global economic turmoil. In 2010, agricultural value-added at the world level rose by four per cent, in contrast to a one per cent increase in overall Gross Domestic Product. The new edition of the Statistical Yearbook was released during the regular meeting of the FAO’s governing conference on June 15-22.

saturday, june 22, 2013 |

guyanatimesgy.com

Ready” for Palm Court tonight!

ulse Entertainment is known for its high quality and best concept parties over the years and come this evening will be no exception when the group hosts “She Ready”.

The event is set for this evening at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown.

The party is set against the backdrop of welcom-

ing the highly anticipated “Summer Fete” featuring Machel Montano.

Patrons at “She Ready” will get a chance to win stage front and general admission tickets to “Summer Fete”.

It is all about putting party goers in the mood for a grand performance by the soca king on July 27 at the Guyana National Stadium. Admission to “She Ready” is $2000 before 23:00h, but ladies will be admitted free before 22:00h. Music will be provided by Pulse Entertainment and the best deejays in town will rock the house throughout the night. Come out and have a blast! Pulse Entertainment always does it the right way.

IDB makes US$15M policybased grant to Haiti

AUS$15 million grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will support policy, legal, and institutional reforms to benefit Haiti’s agricultural sector.

Farming plays a fundamental role in the Haitian economy, accounting for around half of the country’s jobs and almost one quarter of national income. The new grant is the second in a series of programmatic operations that provide the Haitian

OAS head

government with budget support as some of its key agencies address constraints affecting agriculture. These fast-disbursing grants complement other larger, multiyear agriculture investment projects financed by the IDB and other donors in Haiti.

Specifically, the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development Ministry and the Inter-Ministerial Land Use Committee are taking steps to modernise animal and plant health servic-

es, increase farmers’ access to agricultural innovations, expand access to irrigation, reduce crop damage caused by floods, and improve land management services.

As one of Haiti’s leading donors, the IDB is currently financing investment projects in the agriculture sector totalling more than US$200 million, including crop intensification, irrigation, rural value chains, farming technology transfers, land tenure clarification, and watershed management.

stresses role of armed forces in inter-American relations

Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza highlighted on Friday at the graduation ceremony of the 2013 class of the InterAmerican Defence College (IADC) that contemporary armed forces are called upon to serve as a “direct complement to states’ activity in the field of international, global and Inter-American relations”. He said, “This course and this college, which brings together military officers and civilians from all the countries of the Americas, is a vibrant example of that.”

Congratulating the 56 graduates, Secretary General Insulza stressed the “constant effort of teaching and academic renewal” that has characterised the institution, and added that the annual graduation ceremony “marks the organic ties that bind us to the IADC and the Inter-American Defence Board, ties that were reinforced when our leaders agreed to make the InterAmerican Defence Board an entity directly dependent on this organisation.”

Challenges

In his speech, the secretary general discussed the challenges of an increasingly globalised reality. “Humanity has attained new goals in communication, life expectancy, wealth, education, scientific and technical development and the advancement of freedom and democracy,” he said, and recognised the singularities that have brought the Americas to a “very favourable moment.”

“The results of the decade of the 2000s were better than those of the previous two decades, and helped reduce poverty significantly,” he said. At the same time, he referred to the statistics of poverty reduction of recent dec-

ades and said that although these achievements are still insufficient, “they had the effect of generating a new optimism and drive in the hope that, this time, the period of growth will be longer than in previous occasions, for the benefit of our peoples.”

Secretary General Insulza emphasised the democratic achievements of the OAS member countries that live “in a new climate of democracy, in which its preservation and strengthening is the core task of our organisation”.

Good governance

Democracy and good governance, he said, are prerequisites for peace, security and development. “The tasks of providing defence and security acquire their true meaning when linked to the right of each of our citizens to enjoy in peace and freedom the fruits of joint development efforts and the benefits provided by democracy,” he declared. The Americas “is a hemisphere of peace, in which the risks of conflict between our nations are dwindling”.

The leader of the hemispheric institution mentioned the legacy and relevance of the Inter-American College, an institution that “offers a

valuable range of knowledge, enriched by a constant intellectual exchange that has been maintained throughout its history”. In that sense, he considered that “it can greatly contribute to the debate on strengthening the InterAmerican Defence System”. The College “has an essential role in its ability to research and reflect on matters of hemispheric defence, to answer questions on how to modernise and make even more effective the existing hemispheric structure,” he added.

The OAS leader also referred to the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on Security in the Americas, at the Special Conference on Security, held in Mexico City in 2003, which introduced into the concept of security the need for a multidimensional approach considering both traditional and new threats.

Threats

“The challenge we have in the Inter-American system is to define how to respond effectively to these risks and threats in an increasingly complex world, that are difficult to confront in isolation,” he said, adding that today more than ever, it is necessary to maintain multilateral cooperation with an integrated vision and mutual support.

“Due to the multitude of issues involved in hemispheric security, it is essential to encourage the strengthening of cooperation between our countries in the area of security, and the OAS has a key role to play in this.” Therefore, it is the time for the establishment of a new structure for the management of military and defence issues in the Inter-American system,” he said.

The graduation ceremony took place at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC.

The building that was gutted by fire

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

SUDOKU

You’re likely to fare unusually well if you put yourself in the background for as long as you can. Keep in touch with events, but don’t try to alter or run them.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

You could be rather lucky through an involvement with either a club or a social organisation. More than one of your associates will put you onto something good.

The people who are willing to assist you today might not be of the same mind tomorrow. Be sure to take advantage of any help they offer you.

You are likely to make a much better impression on people than you realise. New acquaintances will likely be eyeing you as a future friend.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

If you conduct yourself with self-assurance, you’ll fare much better than your opposition in most competitive situations. The secret is to think like a winner.

(March 21-April 19)

Usually, you’re the one who comes up with the bright ideas, but today there is likely to be a plethora of fresh thinking among your peers. Listen carefully and you may learn something.

(April 20-May 20)

There is a strong chance that you could team up with someone to generate a second source of income. The partnership element will be essential.

(May 21June 20)

Group endeavours should work out rather well, provided you’re not intent on playing the dominant role. You’ll be more effective in a support capacity.

Conditions influencing your material security are apt to be far better today than tomorrow. If you have anything of a financial nature pending, take care of it now.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t neglect any matter that requires some kind of communication, be it verbal or via your computer. You shouldn’t have any trouble expressing your thoughts in either venue.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You could be especially good at spotting some real bargains. When working at your computer or out and about, keep a lookout for anything special that you need.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Free yourself of any encumbrances and you should be able to make some impressive achievements. You’ll be dynamic operating independently.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

arCHie

dilbert

Furnished rooms and apartments; 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apart

ments- long & short term rental. Affordable rates Call: 227-2199, 227-2186, 227-2189

caR RenTal

Journey Inn Apartments & car rent-

al. Rooms & car to rent from $3000 Premio, Vitz. Phone: 689-6668, 6394452.

provided in 72

from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte Street, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

It’s here again!!” Music summer camp 2013” register now!! keyboard, guitar,

FlOweRs

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

FOR SALE

Learn transcendental meditation and reduce stress, be happy increase intelligence, develop your full brain potential, improve relationships, be successful, be peaceful, develop higher states of consciousness , a technique that works for everyone, enroll now for next class. Contact Askoke (certified teacher) email kashokejp_68 @yahoo.com. Phone: 233-693

Healthworld Holistic Centre: Psychotherapy available for all types of abnormal behaviors –addictions, emotional, suicidal, anger, relationship and sexual problems. Treatment of stress disorders, depression, fear, low self-esteem, insomnia, trauma, psychosomatic sicknesses, and children's disorders. We also conduct IQ evaluations and behavioral assessments. By appointments only. Clinic hours: 11:00 – 17:00h. Tel: 592-621-0552. Email:healthworldhc@gmail.com

Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK, Immigration and Visa matters. Self Sponsorships, Holiday/Visitor’s Visas, Work Permits, Students Visas, Family,

YELLOW PAGES

saturday, june 22, 2013

Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 6213249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks. Get your extra key today.

OpTician

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 2750322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

spiRiTUaliTy

Learn transcendental meditation and gain deep relaxation, eliminate stress, increase creativity and intelligence, promote health, attain inner happiness and fulfillment and contribute to peace for the world. Contact certified teacher Ashoka: 233-6921, email kashokejp_68@yahoo.com

Suriname astrology palmist and Djuka healer, the most powerful spiritualist in the world, are you suffering from the following problems - (any religions) love, marriage, family, health, business, husband and wife relationships, property, court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking, also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah, etc, and gives powerful protection. Private and confidential. Phone: 601-5947.

Dutch Spiritual work. Unite lovers, get rid of evil, enhance prosperity, good luck baths and charm bowu guards, etc. Phone: 220-0708, 612-6417, 687-5653

Divinations and cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá and Khemetian spiritual guards, pendants, crystals, and rune stones to help you overcome problems with love, relationships, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money and many more. Call 10:00-16:00h on: +592-690-1824. Email: anew-life@live.com

TOUR

SUMMERTIME TRAVEL DAILY FLIGHTS. LETHEM, PORT KAITUMA, MAHDIA, KAIETEUR FALLS, PARAMAKATOI. JUNE 29 - JULY 1. PARIMARIBO-SURINAME, BOA VISTA-BRAZIL, KAIETEUR FALLS DAY, ESSEQUIBO & MAZARUNI RIVER. TEL: 264-2851, CELL: 668-6501

“Festival of India” returns to Guyana

MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762 , 220-5177. A NAME AND A SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST.

One cook interior phone:680-5346. Clerical staff. Must be computer literate, knowledge of CorelDraw will be an asset. Send applications to Jarrods, 51 Main Street, Georgetown.

After five years of absence, the “Festival of India” returns to Guyana, bringing the Indian culture and a host of items for the exhibition.

The exhibition is the fifth to be held by its host, the Indo Global Chamber of Commerce (IGCC). The exhibition was opened on Thursday and will be going until July 3 at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Georgetown.

The exhibit features creations from India which includes clothing, footwear, Indian delicacies, furniture, artwork, jewellery and cosmetics.

IGCC President Ajai Singh said the exhibition is being held to strengthen business relations between Guyana and India, and invited the Guyanese public, especially business entrepreneurs to come out and support the event.

The first “Festival of India” exhibition was held in

Guyana annually from 2004 to 2007.

Singh said India’s culture has become universal and can be found in countries worldwide. He noted that clothing plays a big part of the Indian culture, especially in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname.

The IGCC president also disclosed that the outfits and accessories that were brought for the exhibition are what are in style right now in India, and calls on persons to take advantage of the opportunity to “dress like a star”.

“We do not focus only on selling our products. We have a lot of new trendy and fashionable outfits which are made of good quality of cloth because these businessmen are also in the garment business,” Singh said.

In addition, he noted there will also be a famous astrologer from India who will look at people’s horoscope and predict their fu-

ture. “Dr Panday is not a fake astrologer, he has a doctorate in astrology and he is a professor in astrology,” said the organiser.

Various Indian businessmen, who are owners of garment factories, are urging Guyanese to come out and support the exhibition. The men noted that they have “one-of-a-kind design outfits”.

IGCC is an organisation which works to create and sustain environments for the growth of trade and commerce in India. The organisation is a non-profit commerce and trade management organisation.

Founded in 2004, the IGCC is an association with a direct membership of over 2000 medium and small manufacturers from the private and public sectors, and an indirect membership of over 5000 small traders and manufacturers from 20 national and regional sectoral associations.

GT&T employee died from multiple injuries – autopsy

AGeorgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts.) Tel: 2251540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

post-mortem examination conducted on the body of Trevon Morris, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) employee who died in a horrific accident on Tuesday, revealed his cause of death as multiple injuries. The autopsy was done on Friday morning by state pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.

Morris, 26, of D Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, a contract worker attached to the company, died on Tuesday between 10:00h and 11:00h after the driver of the vehicle lost control and veered off the Mabura trail. Two other full-time staffers, Jermaine Prince, who was driving, and Lawrence Harris, were in the double cab vehicle; however, they are in stable condition at a city hospital.

According to information received, the men had left for Lethem around 05:00h

that morning in two vehicles. However, while on the trail Morris’s co-workers in the other vehicle, which was in front, noticed that the vehicle in which he was travelling was not behind them, so they stopped and waited for them. After five minutes with no sign of them, the coworkers became concerned and turned back.

The men then found the vehicle toppled in some bushes off the trail; how-

ever, none of its occupants were inside. The driver was standing while another occupant was sitting in the bush and Morris was lying on the road. Calls were made to the Mabura Health Centre and assistance was immediately sent.

The 26-year-old man has been working at the phone company, where his mother and aunt also worked, for some three years now. This publication was told by relatives that this is the first time the man was embarking on such a trip, while lamenting that it ended tragically for him. His aunt, Deslyn Morris, told this publication that the family is currently making arrangements for the young man’s funeral which is likely to be sometime early next week. Morris was described as a friendly and hardworking person. His aunt reminisced that he always had a smile on his face. He is survived by his two children, mother and three siblings.

Some of the Indian wear available at the fifth “Festival of India”

Trevon Morris

Mercedes banned from Silverstone test over Pirelli “tyregate”

Mercedes have been banned from this year’s young driver test and reprimanded for taking part in a controversial Pirelli tyre test.

Pirelli has also been reprimanded for its role in Lewis Hamilton’s team running a 2013 car at the threeday test in Spain last month.

An FIA tribunal found the team breached F1’s rules and an article covering bringing the sport into disrepute.

It took into account that the FIA had given “qualified approval” to the test.

In a statement Mercedes said it “acknowledges and accepts the decision of the FIA International Tribunal.”

It added: “In the best interests of the sport, the team does not intend to avail itself of any right to appeal the decision.

“We now wish to bring this matter to a close and focus on the forthcoming British and German Grands Prix, both of which are important home races for the team.”

The young driver test runs for three days at Silverstone from July 17-19. Last year, Mercedes completed 1354 kilometres in the rookie test. The Pirelli test, conducted with race drivers Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 15-17, ran for 1000 km.

Costs of the investigation and international tribunal procedure have been shared equally between Mercedes, Pirelli and governing body the FIA.

The tribunal said that: (i) Mercedes had broken article 22.4 of the sporting regulations by running an illegal in-season test with a current car; (ii) The FIA’s qualified approval did not and could not override article 22.4; (iii) Mercedes “did obtain some material advantage” which “at least potentially gave it an unfair sporting advantage”

The tribunal found in mitigation that: (i) There was no intention by either

Pirelli or Mercedes to gain “any unfair sporting advantage”; (ii) Neither Pirelli not Mercedes acted in bad faith; (iii) Pirelli and Mercedes “disclosed to the FIA at least the essence of what they intended to do in relation to the test and attempted to obtain permission for it; and Mercedes had no reason to believe that approval had not been given”; (iv)

The action of FIA race director Charlie Whiting, who had indicated the test would be permissible, were “taken in good faith and with the intention of assisting the parties and consistent with sporting fairness”

The tribunal said it was “unable to express any opinion” as to whether testing carried out by Ferrari with a two-year-old car in 2012

and 2013 was “properly authorised”. But it said it was “equally unsatisfactory” that Whiting had given his consent to this even though the tribunal “had no evidence before it which indicates his opinion had in fact been wrong”.

The decision to split the costs equally suggests the tribunal felt the FIA was not completely blameless in the

episode.

The hearing on Thursday had established that Mercedes had asked permission for the test from the FIA, which had said it was theoretically possible as long as the other teams were given the same opportunity.

Neither Pirelli nor Mercedes informed the other teams of the test, apparently thinking that a previous general request to the teams asking for assistance in tyre testing was sufficient.

The test was conducted behind closed doors with Hamilton and Rosberg wearing black helmets rather than their normal colours.

Mercedes said at the hearing that they regretted the decision to change their helmets and apologised for it.

The test caused outrage among the other teams when they first heard about it at the Monaco Grand Prix. They insisted that running a current car was against the rules. (BBC Sport)

Brilliant James leads Miami to NBA title

MIAMI – LeBron James, his legacy as one of the game’s greats now secure, led the Miami Heat to their second straight National Basketball Association (NBA) title on Thursday with a 95-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

James, the sport’s biggest star playing at the peak of his powers, dominated the decisive seventh game of an epic series through a combination of athleticism, pinpoint shooting and sheer force of will.

The critics who slammed him when he left his former team Cleveland to join Miami in search of an elusive championship ring, then questioned his nerve when the Heat lost the 2011 Finals to Dallas, were silenced.

When it really mattered, in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a Game Seven decider, he scored a game-high 37 points and pulled in 12 rebounds.

“The vision that I had when I decided to come here is coming true,” said James, who was also named Most Valuable Player of the finals for the second year in a row.

“Through adversity, through everything we’ve been through, we’ve been able to persevere and win back-to-back championships. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

Miami were the overwhelming favorites to take the title after winning a franchise-record 66 games during the regular season, including 27 in a row, the second longest streak in American professional sports.

But they met their match in San Antonio, an ageing team who had collected four

championships since 1999 but whose best days were supposedly behind them.

The Spurs were just seconds away from clinching the championship in Tuesday’s sixth game before Miami staged an extraordinary comeback to win in overtime and force a winnertakes-all decider.

“It’s no fun to lose, but we lost to a better team,” San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich said. “And you can live with that as long as you’ve given your best.

“It was a great series, and we felt that. I don’t know if ‘enjoy’ is the right word, but in all honesty, even in defeat, I’m starting to enjoy what our group accomplished already.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern described the wildly fluctuating series as a “championship for the ages” which had “captivated a

global audience” with its escalating drama.

Courtside tickets for Thursday’s game were selling on the secondary market for up to $30,000 and the game lived up to all the hype with both teams fiercely contesting every possession.

Frenzy of excitement

The Spurs made a great start, opening up a sevenpoint cushion in the first quarter before Miami reeled them in then got their noses in front.

James shot 12-of-23 from the floor and drained fivethree pointers while Dwyane Wade, who won a third title with Miami, had 23 points while Shane Battier, who was benched earlier in the series, played one of the games of his life, sinking six three-pointers from behind the arc.

“I believe in basketball

San Antonio while Kawhi Leonard had 19 points but the Spurs were inconsolable after their loss.

They had led Game Six by five points with 28 seconds left, only to see the title ripped from their grasp when Miami won in overtime then carried the momentum in Thursday’s game with the advantage of home court.

“The obvious word is ‘disappointing.’ It was a tough end to the game. I made some bad decisions, missed some shots,” said Duncan.

“I don’t know what to say. Just give credit to the Miami Heat. LeBron was unbelievable. Dwyane was great. I just think they found a way to get it done.”

Despite trailing for most of the game, the Spurs were

tine layup then James nailed a jump shot and added two free throws. James averaged 25.3 points during the finals and joined Michael Jordan and Bill Russell as the only players to win the regular season and Finals MVP awards two years running. Russell presented him with his trophy as confetti rained down from the ceiling of the South Florida stadium and fireworks exploded outside over the Miami skyline.

“This is the ultimate,” James said.

“I can’t worry about what everybody says about me. I’m LeBron James from Akron, Ohio, from the inner city.

“I’m not even supposed to be here. That’s enough. Every night I walk into the

gods. I felt they owed me big time,” said Battier. Tim Duncan had 24 points and 12 rebounds for

still within two points with less than 30 seconds to go but Duncan missed a rou-

Mercedes was banned from Silverstone test over Pirelli “tyregate”

locker room, I see a No. 6 ‘James’ on the back, I’m blessed.” (Reuters)

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James holds the MVP trophy and the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (left), LeBron James (centre) and Chris Bosh celebrate winning the NBA Championship following Game Seven (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Brazil protests will not affect cup, says FIFA

FIFA has denied that the Confederations Cup could be cancelled because of the mass protests across Brazil.

The dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup is taking place amid demonstrations involving more than one million people in 100 cities across the country.

An 18-year-old was killed as a car rammed into a crowd of protesters in the state of São Paulo on Thursday.

Reports in the Brazilian media say the football tournament may be cancelled, but FIFA has dismissed these reports.

“Neither FIFA nor the local organising committee have ever discussed the possibility of cancelling the tournament,” a FIFA spokesman told BBC Sport. “There are currently no plans to discuss it.

“These reports are pure speculation.”

Protests began more

than a week ago over high transport fares but are also highlighting corruption and the cost of next year’s football World Cup.

The Confederations Cup is made up of eight teams, including the World Cup winners and the reigning champions of the six confederations that make up FIFA – plus the next hosts, Brazil. Matches are taking place at six venues across the country.

There are eight games left in the tournament, which ends with the final on Sunday, June 30. Italy and world and European champions Spain are among the countries taking part.

Play is due to resume on Saturday with Italy facing Brazil in Salvador and Japan playing Mexico in Belo Horizonte.

Brazilian media carried reports on Friday that the tournament was in danger of being cancelled.

One report said a team was considering leaving because they were worried about relatives of players, in the country to watch the matches. It was also reported that FIFA was negotiating with teams to try and persuade them to stay.

A statement from the Italian Football Federation dismissed suggestions the Azzurri had considered pulling out of the tournament.

Federation vice president Demetrio Albertini insisted: “We have never even considered the possibility of withdrawing from the Confederations Cup. Reports that we want to retire are a complete fabrication.

“We are sorry for what is happening here in Brazil, but our security is assured with great professionalism and we are calm.”

The 2014 World Cup begins next year on June 12.

(BBC Sport)

olympic day activities shifted

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has changed some of the venues for the 2013 World Olympic Day activities scheduled to begin today with a triathlon event. Weightlifting, volley-

ball and karate are scheduled for 12:00h, 12:00h and 10:00hs respectively, and they have been moved from the National Park to the National Gymnasium while the karate exhibition has been moved to

the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) building.

Meanwhile, the Special Olympic event, scheduled to take place at 10:00h, will also take place at the National Gymnasium.

Ernie Els leads Munich Open after two rounds

South Africa’s Ernie Els leads the Munich Open on 12 under at the halfway stage after following his opening-round 63 with a three-under 69 in Germany.

Els sank six birdies but a double-bogey six at the seventh and a dropped shot on the 16th blighted his card.

England’s Matthew Baldwin birdied the ninth,

his last, to also shoot a 69 to move up to joint second with France’s Alexander Levy (68).

Defending champion Danny Willett’s seven-under 65 lifted him to 10 under.

Willett, who was among the morning starters from the 10th, had a couple of birdies in his first nine holes and the Yorkshireman picked up five more shots on the second

canje Knights record second win in mackeson basketball c/ships

Canje Knights recorded their second win in the Mackeson Top Six basketball tournament when they beat Rose Hall Town Jammers 69-44 in game five of the tournament to join Smythfield Rockers at the top of the points table.

Rose Hall, playing their first game of the competition, were no match, allowing seven points to be scored before they opened their account. Guard Carlos Crandon was precise, shooting outside and recording five three pointers in his 18 points. He got support from

Kevin Emanuel, who shot a game high of 19. Steve Roopnarine scored nine for the winners.

At half-time the Knights were leading 25-18 and increased the lead to 42-32 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter they had a 25-point lead with five minutes on the clock when the entire field was substituted to give other players a run.

For Rose Hall Perry Cort led the way with 13 points while Eman Wiggins scored 11.

The competition continues on Sunday at the

Vryman’s Ervin court in New Amsterdam when Smythfield take on Rose Hall Jammers.

The competition is being played on a round robin basis with the top two teams advancing to the final. At stake is $80,000 for the winner. The competition sponsored by ANSA McAL. In the points standing Smithfield are on four points after two games with Canje who have played three games. New Amsterdam are on two points after two games while Fryish have lost both their games.

(Andrew Carmichael)

England have “proved people wrong” – Trott

Jonathan Trott believes England have “proved a few people wrong” about their approach to one-day cricket by reaching the Champions Trophy final and putting themselves within one win of their first piece of 50-over global silverware.

Throughout this tournament, especially after the defeat to Sri Lanka at The Oval which left them needing to win every subsequent match, England’s tactics have been picked apart. The chief area for debate has been the top-order, of which Trott is a crucial part, and whether they score at the tempo required in modern one-day cricket.

Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler have had lean tournaments with the bat – although Ravi Bopara has provided late impetus –but England have rigidly stuck to their formula and order, even in the 24-over contest against New Zealand, which was win or bust for them.

In that game they were led by Alastair Cook’s 47-ball 64 and Trott says that the rest of the team feed off the example laid down by their captain, who is leading in a global event for the first time, and that they have the utmost belief in how they approach the game.

“A lot of people were a bit sceptical,” Trott said. “But this team has proved a few people wrong with regards to their takes on the game of cricket and how it should be played.

“He’s a really good leader and he’s always got the backing of the changing room, for whatever he decides is the direction of this team. He’s fully in charge, with Andy Flower and Ashley Giles, and the guys are always following him.”

There has been plenty for Cook to deal with during this tournament, from the fallout of David Warner’s punch at Joe Root in a Birmingham bar to the accusations of balltampering, which started to fly around after the defeat to Sri Lanka. Trott, though, said Cook had taken everything in his stride as he has since making his England debut in 2006.

“He got brought in and played straightaway as opening batsman and captain, from not having played,” he said. “A lesser person could have maybe buckled under the pressure. We’ve seen how he handles pressure, going to India for his first tour as Test captain and winning there – and now this.”

There is added significance for Trott with the final being staged at his home ground of Edgbaston – the same applies to Ian Bell, Chris Woakes (who has not featured during the tournament) and the coach Ashley Giles, who was previously in charge at Warwickshire – and the prospect of a defining match in England’s history at a place he knows so well had long been in Trott’s sights.

“You always have a little cheeky sneak at the fixtures, and where the final is going to be played, and I was very excited about getting here - and it’s happened. For me personally, I’m very excited. The guys are looking to seize the opportunity. They don’t come around very often.” (Cricinfo)

nine to briefly put him top of the leaderboard and in contention for the weekend.

“It is a birdie-fest out here,” he said. “People make a lot of putts and the greens are obviously better in the mornings than the afternoons, but if you can keep hitting it inside 15-20 feet you have a chance.”

Overnight leader Els continues to lead the way though after a birdie on the 18th moved him one clear of the field.

The 43-year-old, who will defend his Open title at Muirfield in July, said: “I’m quite fortunate to be where I am. I didn’t play as well as on Thursday. I fought hard for a score and I’m satisfied with that.

“You just want to stay in the race and keep trying to go forward.” (BBC Sport)

strong Windies a for one-day series

t John’ s ANTIGUA –

SThe West Indies Cricket Board on Thursday announced a 13-member West Indies A-Team squad for three One-day matches against Sri Lanka-A this Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at the Queens Park stadium in Grenada.

There are eight changes to the squad that contested two Twenty20 matches on Tuesday and Wednesday this week at the Arnos Vale Multiplex in St Vincent.

Kirk Edwards will captain the side in the three matches.All of the players, except left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell have made international appearances for the senior West

Indies side, but batsman Nkrumah Bonner and offspinner Shane Shillingford have never played One-day Internationals. Squad: Kirk Edwards (captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Sheldon Cottrell, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Veerasammy Permaul, Shane Shillingford, Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas Team management unit: Junior Bennett (head coach), Lockhart Sebastien (manager), Stuart Williams (assistant manager), Oba Gulston (physiotherapist), Dexter Augustus (video analyst) Schedule of matches

Protests continue in Brazil amid the Confederations Cup

Jonathan Trott

Ernie Els

saturday, june 22, 2013

Injured Dilshan out of West Indies tri-series

Upul Tharanga will replace the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan in Sri Lanka’s squad for the tri-series in West Indies, while Ajantha Mendis also got a recall at Thisara Perera’s expense.

Scans after Thursday’s Champions Trophy semi-final against India showed Dilshan had suffered a second-degree tear to his right medial calf muscle and will be in recovery for four to six weeks. The injury also put him in doubt for South Africa’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, which begins on June 20.

Mendis has been increasingly regarded a Twenty20 specialist, and has not played an ODI for Sri Lanka since January. His inclusion strengthened Sri Lanka’s spin resources on tour, with Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake and Jeevan Mendis also traveling. Perera’s exclusion was a surprise, though, and Dilhara Lokuhettige, who has been with the team in the UK without having played a match, will remain in the squad as they head to the Caribbean.

Perera has been a fixture of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs sides in the last 18 months,

Tillakaratne Dilshan

but made only 15 runs in two innings in the Champions Trophy, and bowled eight overs for no wicket. Tharanga has also been out of the side since January, but had an encouraging season of firstclass cricket, in which he averaged 66.66 in 14 innings. Dilshan tore his calf in the fourth over of Sri Lanka’s innings, after he had struck Umesh Yadav for two boundaries. Though he took painkillers, he was unable to continue batting and retired hurt in the next over. He returned in the penultimate over of the innings, but hobbled between the wickets during his stay, and did not

take the field as Sri Lanka failed in their attempt to defend 181.

The tri-series in the West Indies will feature India, as well as the hosts, and begins on June 28.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis. (Cricinfo)

Premium cue competition touches east coast this weekend

The East Coast Demerara leg of the Premium Cues countrywide pool competition will take place on Sunday at Jameel’s Sports Bar at Vryheid’s Lust starting from 13:00h.

The playoff will attract some of the top pool players on the East Coast who will be competing for a top prize of $50,000 with the runnerup securing $30,000 while the third place finisher will take home $15,000.

The tournament entitled “Premium Cues Showdown” is sponsored by Banks DIH Limited under the Premium Beer brand.

Brand Manager Brian Choo Hen, said that the response so far has been overwhelming as the tournament was organised to promote pools across the country and to showcase new talent.

johil commercial supports Boyce jefford classic for fourth year

The Boyce Jefford Track and Field Classic committee renewed its alliance with Johil Commercial on Friday when the company offered its sponsorship at the business’ headquarters on North Road.

The track and field classic, which takes place on August 17 and 18 at the Police and Mackenzie Sports Club grounds, Linden respectively, will receive assistance from the company for the fourth successive year.

The business, known as the local supplier of mining and farming equipment, believes that the track and field classic aids in sustaining development of sport in the country.

“This event has shown that there is a serious effort to develop a place for track and field, and that is to our mind, a very good way to go. We’ve been privy to several ideas behind the scenes of the event and we continue to be impressed,” proprietoress Jennifer Desarz told media representatives.

Desarz, who is Brazilian, believes that the event will

bear great things, especially for the community of Linden, acknowledging the company’s pleasure of being a part of the venture from the start.

Colin Boyce, chairman of the management committee for the Boyce Jefford Track and Field Classic, thanked Desarz for supporting the meet.

“We are committing to all our sponsors; we will continue to raise the bar for athletics in Guyana with the aim of making this event a signature event. We cannot

do that without such support and we are very grateful for your unswerving support,” Boyce indicated.

The meet has seen the likes of double Commonwealth medallist Aliann Pompey competing at the second edition and hometown hero Marian Burnett competing at last year’s event. Organisers will be hoping be hoping to make another major impact in Guyana while providing clubs with significant monetary prizes as it has done over the past three years.

All Saints Primary win U-13 football competition

All Saints Primary School of New Amsterdam won the Hearts of Oak Master Football Club/Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) New Amsterdam branch InterPrimary School U-13 boys’ football competition on Thursday at the All Saints, Scott’s School ground, New Amsterdam.

The tournament, which was played on a round robin basis saw five schools participating in the 15-minute game competition. St Therese’s copped the second place with New Amsterdam Primary third.

results of the matches played saw St Therese’s Primary starting things off on a winning note by defeating St Aloysius 1-0; Edvon Stephen was the scorer.

Game two saw All Saints Primary beating Overwinning 2-0 through a double off the booth of Kevon McAndrew.

St Aloysius and Overwinning drew nil-all while the score was the same in the game between St Therese’s and All Saints who put aside St Aloysius 1-0 in the penultimate game of the competition. Tyrece Williams scored for All Saints. NA Primary and Overwinning played to a nilall draw to end the competition.

Choo Hen said there were playoffs in Essequibo, Berbice, West Demerara, East Bank Demerara and the top players are expected to compete in the grand finals.

White Chair Bar at Hope West, Enmore and at New Club 17 Bar at Bee Hive.

According to Choo Hen, two preliminary competitions were played on the East Coast last weekend at

“We are encouraging sports enthusiasts and pools lovers to come out and have an enjoyable time at Jameel’s Sports Bar. Patrons can expect an entertaining day with lots of fun,” he added.

Teammates were my motivation, says Lara

Brian Lara’s knack of scoring big hundreds in test cricket won him accolades during his glittering 16-year-old international career, but also invited criticism from certain quarters.

The 44-year-old who retired in 2006, though dismissed his critics’ claims that he played for himself, saying his teammates were his biggest motivators.

“A lot of media and peo-

ple said a lot of success was individual.

“How wrong could that be. My biggest motivation in life has been my teammates. Playing within the team is what motivated me.

“My performances might have led to individual praise but for me playing within the team was the best thing that ever happened to me. I believe a team is a sum of individuals and each individual is dependent on the

other,” Lara said during an event here.

The style left-hander from the west indies, considered as one of the all time best batsman, has nine scores in excess of 200 in his 34 test centuries. Besides he also has 10 scores in excess of 150. He still holds the highest individual score record of 501 not out in first class cricket and 400 in test cricket. (first published in the Asian Age)

The schools that took part were St Therese’s, St Aloysius, All Saints, Overwinning and New Amsterdam Primaries. In

NA Primary and St Aloysius played to a scoreless draw while Overwinning went down to St Therese’s 0-1; Ryan Rose was the goalscorer. All Saints and NA Primary failed to score against each other when the two teams met, however St Aloysius registered a 2-0 win over Overwinning with Alisie Ogleton and a defense error accounting for the goals.

The Most Valuable player of the tournament was Shaquan George of All Saints, Best Goalkeeper was Tierre Philips of NA Primary and the Most Promising Player was adjudged to Daniel Dharamdat of All Saints Primary. The most goals award went to Kevon McAndrew. (Andrew Carmichael)

Cool Runnings affiliated to beach

football body

Cool Runnings Beach Football Club (CRBFC) has recently been formalised into a fully functional club.

The team, which has been in existence since 2010 and which has been involved in the promotion of local and international beach football, is now an affiliated member of the Guyana Beach Football Association (GBFA). Coordinator of the GBFA Rollin Tappin said that following a recent meeting with team members, an executive arm was installed which now includes him as president, Wanda Richmond (vice president – youth development), Dexter George

(vice president – finance), Rowena DeJonge (secretary), Rawle Gittens (organising secretary), Annazette

Carew (assistant secretary), Jermaine Grandison (club captain) and Dexter David (marketing coordinator). The move to have the executive of the team installed came after the team could not participate in the much anticipated World Cup Qualifiers, which were recently held in Nassau, The Bahamas. Tappin further noted that the club intends to begin its functions firstly by setting up bank account and a constitution, while also continuing to participate in beach football competitions locally and internationally. Also, the body will be involved in promoting beach football tournaments.

Rollin Tappin

Colin Boyce (left) receives the cheque from a representative of Johil Commercial at the handing over ceremony

GTM U-19 Inter-County Cricket Tournament… Rain washes out day one

The resumption of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Companysponsored (GTM) Under-19 Inter-County three-day day cricket competition got off to a rainy start on Friday with the first day play in both matches being abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The matches were scheduled to be played simultaneously at the Police ground where Essequibo face Demerara and at the Everest Cricket Club ground

April 23, but was put on hold due to the unrelenting rains.

Play is expected to start at 09:30h today, weather permitting.

After the day’s play was called off, Demerara coach Quason Nedd said that while his players were disappointed not to have taken the field, they remain hopeful for some play today.

Essequibo coach Forbes Daniels also expressed his disappointment.

“We would have liked to have been out on the field

3rd Digicel Schools Football...

Leonora, Waramadong win on opening day

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

The third annual Digicel Secondary Schools Football Championship commenced on Friday afternoon with Leonora Secondary and Waramadong Secondary recording convincing wins to usher in the 2013 edition of Guyana’s premier schools football tournament.

Playing at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, Leonora Secondary, the 2012 Region Three champions, inflicted a 3-1 defeat on St John’s Secondary, while 2012 national runner-up, Waramadong Secondary, started their campaign in thrilling fashion, blowing away Three Miles Secondary 6-0.

On Carifesta Avenue, the competition was officially declared open when senior officials of Digicel, including Chief Executive Officer Gregory Dean, Marketing Manager Jacqueline James and Public Relations Officer Shonnett Moore, president of the Guyana Football Federation Christopher Matthias and Arnold Sookraj of the Ministry of Education met the two teams who were contesting the Region Three zone. Immediately after that, James performed the ceremonial kick-off to signal the start of the 2013 competition, which got underway with the first match being played on a damp outfield.

The opening exchanges produced a cautious approach from both teams as they sought to get acquainted to the wet surface, especially an area on the western end which had a thin layer of water.

As the game gained momentum, Andrew Fowler, who found himself in the penalty area, received a smooth pass from midfield, and broke the deadlock with a sizzling header to put Leonora Secondary in the lead.

The goal sparked the Leonora boys, who continued to play deep into St John’s half, on many occasions squandering goalscor-

ing opportunities when they seemed destined to score.

The St John’s boys were also often guilty of relinquishing possession, though they had limited opportunities at goal.

With a one-nil advantage, Leonora Secondary was the happier team at the half, while it was back to the drawing board for St John’s.

Whatever plans St John’s came out with was quickly countered as Tevin Garraway, running down the right flank, found an opening in the defence to beat the diving keeper and double Leonora’s lead in the 46th minute.

The Leonora lads would hold on to their lead for the next seven minutes, before Stephon Bentick pulled on back for St John’s in the 53rd minute.

With a foot back in the game, St John’s began to test the defence of Leonora Secondary, but could sneak in the equaliser.

Any chance the St John’s boys had of levelling the score and taking the game into extra time was quashed when Gavin Graham found the back of the nets in the 85th minute to seal the deal for Leonora Secondary.

At the half-time break, Digicel brand ambassadors, Soca artiste Michelle “Big Red” King and national cyclist Alanzo Greaves, conducted the draw for the quarter-final line up of the competition.

The quarter-finals will see Region Three versus Region Four; the winner of the Region Five versus Region Nine game against Region 10; Region Six versus Georgetown; and the winner of the Region Two versus Region Seven match against the winner of the Region Eight versus Region One game.

Up to press time, the official times and goalscorers were not available for the Waramadong/Three Miles’ game, which was played in Bartica.

The annual competition has attracted 147 schools and is being played across all 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

where the President’s XI oppose Berbice.

However, persistent showers for most of the day left the grounds waterlogged, causing officials to abandon play at both venues just after lunch.

This is second time that the commencement of the tournament has been hampered by rain. The tournament had commenced on

so that our players get the maximum playing time” Daniels said.

Berbice coach Renrick Batson and the President’s XI coach Adrian Amsterdam both expressed their disappointment over the weather. The competition is a yardstick for the junior selectors to pick the Guyana team for the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional Under-19 competition, scheduled for later this year.

The boundary areas of the Police ground under water

Umpires Imram Moakan and Pritipaul George, match referee Colin Stuart and the curator of the Everest Cricket Club ground made their final inspection before the day’s play was officially called off

The Miami Heat players, coaches, owner and other staff pose with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy (lower left) after their team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game Seven to win the

Finals basketball playoff in Miami (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Digicel Marketing Manager Jacqueline James performs the ceremonial kick-off to signal the start of the 2013 competition, while members of the Leonora and St John’s teams and president of the Guyana Football Federation, Christopher Matthias, look on approvingly (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)