26th June 2013

Economic climate favourable to P3 investors – finance minister Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1811

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

UK launches $409M agri project See story on page 10

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Gender P2 commission urges ban of explicit songs

– aimed at scaling up non-traditional exports

Webster wins PSC chairmanship by landslide See story on page 2

IDB launches P7 energy efficiency contest for Caribbean Business community urges P7 review of working hours

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali addresses the 21st Annual General Meeting of the Private Sector Commission. Seated left at headtable is re-elected chairman Ronald Webster. Inset are private sector representatives and other attendees (Carl Croker photo)

CPL signs title sponsorship agreement with NEW GPC/Limacol See story on page 24

Disco owner gets four years for human trafficking

See story on page 17

Protected P9 Areas Commission gets vehicle boost from German bank

Abduction of journalist in Honduras raises P10 concerns

2 News

wednesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Webster wins PSC chairmanship by landslide Gender commission

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rivate Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald Webster was on Tuesday reelected by a majority vote in the face of an aggressive challenge put forward by young contender Clinton Urling.

Webster won by a 16/4 margin when the election results were announced during the commission’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Pegasus Hotel.

A modest Webster told Guyana Times shortly after his re-election that while he was not surprised at his victory, he was overwhelmed at the level of support garnered for the position.

Webster expressed great appreciation for the support and said his focus will now be centred on the establishment of an international trade arm of the commission.

He will also place major emphasis on seeking to maximise the Caricom/Guyana agreements to develop the export market as well as establishing financial arrangements for small, medium and micro-enterprises.

The restructuring of a

Ronald Webster

Caribbean Private Sector entity is also high on the agenda of the reappointed chairman.

Webster advised that various markets and private sector groupings of similar affinity must come together in an effort to strengthen the effectiveness of the body.

Reflecting on the accomplishments during his yearlong tenure, Webster said he was successful in achieving corporate and income tax deductions and improved infrastructure with the materialisation of the Brazil Road and the Amaila Falls project.

Webster noted that he will simply be following the path and vision as outlined a year ago by the Private Sector Commission.

Meanwhile, Urling, who currently serves as president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said his candidacy was not based on winning or losing, but was basically to allow for introspection within the private sector.

Urling added that while he lost the elections, it did not translate into defeat as he is intent on continuing the

struggle in the interest of the private sector.

The GCCI president raised many eyebrows when he announced his candidacy for the private sector chairmanship during last month.

His campaign centred on the transferring of his leadership of the business community, to that of the commission.

During the campaign, Urling highlighted the many initiatives which he introduced to the chamber that could have had transformative effects on the private sector. He believes that a win could have resulted in enormous value for private sector members and the wider society at large.

Urling pinpointed that the chamber has also maintained good cordial relationships with important policy and civil society stakeholders.

He said he intended to bring that same level of leadership to the PSC by working with its membership and other stakeholders to ensure a stable social and economic environment for businesses to succeed.

urges ban of explicit songs

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Nicole Cole

he Women and Gender Equality Commission of Guyana (WGEC) is calling for the immediate ban of two explicit songs being played on the local airways, which it believes seeks to promote gender-based violence.

Commissioner Nicole Cole told media operatives on Tuesday that the commission is totally against having these songs promoted and played in public spaces, which are now played regularly on the airwaves.

These songs Cole is referring to are: “Prescription” by Trinidadian Chutney Singer Ravi B and “Kick In She Back Door” performed by Antiguan Burning Flames.

Cole, who is a sitting member of the Media Monitoring Committee, said the Prescription song promotes substance abuse.

“Really and truly, no doctor would give such a prescription (three bottle of rum a day),” she asserted.

According to her, the song also promotes genderbased violence, which is linked to substance abuse

and often times leads to the murder or the sudden demise of many innocent women. “We want it be banned, because that prescription is a recipe for disaster,” she said.

The second, she explained was produced in Antigua and won the Antigua Road March in 2012 and was subsequently banned there. However, it is making airways in Grenada and other Caricom countries, including Guyana. She stated that the song starts with a women screaming and the singer goes on to say “and the bedroom window lock and ah can’t get in, and the kitchen door lock and ah can’t get in, what must you do... Kick in the back door, bruk it in, bruk it in.”

Cole noted the lyrics are actually promoting rape and sodomy of women, which the commission is highly against. The artiste, she pointed out is expected to perform at the Jam Zone Regional Nite slated for August 16. The commissioner said unfortunately, some women are gyrating to the lyrics, but have not taken the time to understand the deeper meaning of the song and what it actually promotes.

The commissioner declared that both songs are repugnant and disrespectful, and is in violation of women rights. She is therefore calling on the authorities to institute a ban on these two songs. “We are saying no to ‘Kick In She Back Door’ and Prescription... Just imagine a man drinking three bottle or rum each day, what will happen on our roadways and to our women in society.”

Prosecution, defence close case in Sophia murder trial

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he prosecution, led by state counsels Dhanika Singh and Natasha Backer, closed its case on Tuesday after presenting its last witness against Romo Andrews, who is indicted with the murder of 38-yearold Andrew Thomas.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the indictable charge, and is being represented by Attorney Parag Hukumchand. According to reports, the two men had a “beef” the week before the incident. On the day in question about 21:30h, Thomas was at a shop watching television when Andrews came into the shop and blocked his view. Thomas asked the accused to move, but he refused causing an argument to ensue between them during which the accused pulled out a knife and stabbed the other man to his neck. Thomas succumbed while receiving medical attention.

On Tuesday, the prosecution called its last witness, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan

who testified that he performed the post-mortem examination on the body of Thomas, of North Sophia, Georgetown who had sustained an incised fatal wound on August 16, 2009.

The trial judge, Justice James Bovell-Drakes, then called on the accused to lead his defence by giving a sworn statement from the witness box, an unsworn statement from the dock or by remaining silent.

Andrews elected to give an unsworn statement during which he said he committed the act in self-defence after Thomas attacked him with a dog chain. Attorney Hukumchand Parag, who is representing the accused, then closed the defence’s case.

The defence and the prosecution subsequently made their closing addresses before the jury.

The trial will continue on July 2 when the judge is expected to sum up the case after which the jury will retire to deliberate on a verdict.

News

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wednesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

bridge openings

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, June 26, from 05:30h to 07:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, June 26, from 06:15h to 07:45h.

Weather

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East north-easterly at 4.02 to 2.68 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:29h and 18:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.63 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:01h and 12:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.56 metre and 0.46 metre respectively.

Economic climate favourable to investors – finance minister F

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said government has been instrumental in maintaining macroeconomic stability and is responsible for ensuring declining interest rates, adequate external reserve while attracting investors.

Dr Singh made the remarks at the annual general meeting of the Small Business Development Fund (SBDF) on Monday at the Pegasus Hotel.

According to Dr Singh, macroeconomic stability is not an insignificant dimension to the small business environment, but is relevant to the sustainability of businesses and the average person. He noted that government is not only concerned about creating a stable economy, but generating more value-added as well as producing more economic efficiency.

The finance minister said government has al-

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

omy such as Guyana which imports goods and services, it is necessary to have adequate external financing to support such activity. Dr Singh remarked that government has created an environment where key macroeconomic indicators are encouraging to businesses in order to ensure

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ways put the creation of an environment which is conducive to the growth and prosperity of small businesses at the centre of its policy framework.

Dr Singh stated that both small and large investors would not show interest in an economy which fails to display stable macroeconomic growth and favourable prospects in the future.

He said it is critical to have adequate external reserves, as in an open econ-

the local business environment is stable.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to creating, maintaining and enhancing an environment conducive to investment and stressed the importance of having consistent standards and quality attractive to both foreign and local firms. Dr Singh noted that Guyana has made considerable progress in this area; stating that the

country has been achieving uninterrupted economic growth since 2006.

He lauded the efforts of the SBDF and its creators and singled out Managing Director Manjula Brijmohan for her visionary leadership and resilient determination in pursuing the initiative of promoting small businesses in Guyana.

Dr Singh indicated that the accomplishment of 10 years of existence is a noteworthy occasion, especially since the entity has proven its value and worth on the national landscape, starting from the most humble beginnings.

Referring to statistics mentioned in the SBDF 2012 annual report, Dr Singh said the number of loans funded by the entity is testimony to an extremely significant and commendable achievement. Dr Singh remarked that all large corporations would have started as small businesses, pointing out that a successful business requires hard work and perseverance. According to him, every investment made in Guyana is of rel-

evance to small businesses as they serve as a supply link to large investors.

Former People National Congress Reform (PNCR) Central Executive Member Hamley Case highlighted the role of small businesses to an emerging economy, and urged owners to ensure their businesses do not remain at that level. He stated that small and micro enterprises must be seedlings destined for growth into productive businesses, but this requires an enabling environment.

Case likened small businesses to developing plants and the funding agencies as the nurturers. He added that some persons may have the finances to start a business, but may not have an idea and some may have bountiful ideas without the necessary financing capital. Case encouraged small businesses to seek out opportunities to work with big entities and examine ways of networking and developing a supply-demand chain.

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wednesday, june 26, 2013

Views 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

Endless possibilities for coconut

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n a previous occasion in this column, we had outlined the significant benefits that could be derived from the local coconut industry and some steps that could be taken in order to ensure its revitalisation and modernisation and to become a major export earner.

We wish to restate that this is a very promising industry and for this reason we are pleased that the government, through the Agriculture Ministry is taking some notable steps in developing the industry as they relate to increasing production capacity and enhancing quality. For example, in addition to the hosting of a coconut expo and having more local personnel trained in the field, Guyana has already started to collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the governments of Brazil and Mexico to develop the industry.

In Guyana, coconut ranks third after rice and sugar in terms of acreage cultivated. It is estimated that there are currently 24,000 hectares of coconut cultivation across the country with an average annual production of 90 to 100 million nuts.

Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, production has seen a steady decrease over the last decade or so. Surely, we cannot afford to allow this industry to die, hence the need for all stakeholders, including farmers, government, donor partners and the technical people to collaborate and work feverishly to bring it to a much higher level where it can compete internationally as a foreign exchange earner.

Coconut production relies on Guyana’s comparative advantages in terms of abundant land, adequate water supply and affordable labour. It delivers a wide variety of products, including coconut water, coconut oil, coconut milk and dried coconut, which are all in demand regionally and internationally. In fact, it was suggested a few days ago that we develop a ‘Guyana brand’ of coconut water not only for local consumption but for export purposes on a large scale. This is a very useful idea and should be taken seriously as coconut water is recognised as a major health drink internationally.

Additionally, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy had 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 essence, once the industry is developed and modernised, there is great potential to earn much foreign exchange providing that profitable markets are secured.

Already we were told that farmers in Pomeroon will be supplying 50,000 litres of coconut water per month to a Trinidadian company. This market which was secured after rigorous negotiations will certainly encourage and motivate farmers in Pomeroon to expand coconut cultivation since they would be paid well for their hard work. It is also hoped that other communities involved with growing coconut would use this as a motivation to expand their acreage and go after overseas markets aggressively to sell their products.

However, it is well accepted that there are many challenges the coconut industry faces which must be addressed. These challenges include; poor drainage, high costs of production, lack of profitable markets and limited options for manufacturing and processing.

A position paper by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) had outlined three main areas of intervention to aid in the coconut industry. These include, increasing the productivity and production potential of the existing coconut sector, assessing the state of Guyana’s coconut oil industry and its future and considering possible support mechanism, and exploring other coconut derived products in terms of their value-added and export potential.

That being said, what we are seeing is a renewed drive and passion to see the industry develop and expand. The administration is eager to see the sector move forward and this is evident in the fact that they are helping to create the necessary support systems such as providing technical assistance to farmers etc. It is therefore hoped that all those involved in the industry, including the farmers, manufacturers and processors etc take advantage of the various forms of assistance and work with the authorities to further develop the sector.

Karijini National Park in Western Australia is one of the largest and most photogenic national parks in Australia. The park is famous for its sheer gorges, waterfalls, sparkling rock pools and cool swimming holes. Karijini is about 275km south of Port Hedland and 100km east of Tom or Paraburdoo. The park is all about exploring serpentine tunnels of marbled rock, clambering over boulders, squeezing through narrow tunnels, inching your way along ledges, paddling through subterranean waterways, and descending deep into chasms which have been eroded into the landscape over two billion years (Photo and caption by Ignacio Palacios/ National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Kudos to the Guyana Police Force Dear Editor, I congratulate the Guyana Police Force for a good piece of work. A robbery took place at Plantation Hope, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice and the perpetrators were nabbed at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.

The details of the incident reveal that a couple were attacked and robbed right in their home. They were relieved of $253,000; a quantity of gold jewellery valued $300,000; cellphone cards valued $690,000; and

a BlackBerry cellphone valued $50,000.

The act was committed by three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

However, they were intercepted, and I must highlight this, since many people only like to speak of ill happenings of the local force.

The nabbing took place as police patrols were alerted and their quick response led to the interception of the motor vehicle that was being used by the perpetrators.

This resulted from a roadblock at Good Hope.

So far two men were arrested and a black haversack containing $38,000, a number of phone cards and a toy gun were recovered.

Investigations are in progress, and I ask that this matter come to a quick closure.

It makes no sense to stall when criminals are caught in the act.

About two weeks ago, a number of road blocks were set up and a horde of items were confiscated by the police. I urge for more of these sudden road blocks to be set up. A few mornings ago, I

witnessed a patrol vehicle, combing the streets in a certain neighbourhood, and how quickly the limers dispersed.

I saw no reason for these people scattering so quickly…unless they had doubts about what they were doing there on the road and what they had on them. When I see these kinds of police initiative, I think that reform, all around, is not that difficult to obtain.

Yours sincerely, Haresh Gobin

Athletes should be role models

Dear Editor, I write this letter to register disgust at the number of athletes who were recently found guilty of doping.

It is saddening now that after all this glory, especially that which the Jamaican track and field fans have experienced, it has come to this.

It leaves me to won-

der that, after fans were entertained by their performances, and aspiring athletes, especially young children, choose them as role models, will they be disappointed years later when these doping results are released?

As a sports fan is it time for us to take a stand on doping? After all, these athletes benefit tremen-

dously through endorsements by big names such as Nike, Pepsi, Gatorade and so on. As such, athletes and sportsmen and women owe it to the fans to give us a true win – even if for the sake of the children who look up to them as role models.

Yours truly, Gian Carson

Veronica Campbell Brown

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wednesday, june 26, 2013

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

The new police college on the Essequibo Coast Dear Editor, The Richard Faikall Training College at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast will facilitate a pilot project that will cater for five students from various secondary schools to be prepared for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) information technology (IT) examinations.

IT will boost another key aspect of our society.

It is set to help members of the Guyana Police Force.

The centre itself came via the kind donation of the overseas based Guyanese company, Zara Reality Holdings.

IT, specifically the computer and Internet, is of immense value. I think here of volume of data, where the amount of information and resources available online through the Internet and portals enables users to search through large amounts of materials from library databases around the world.

Therefore, time can be spent more productively analysing and synthesis-

The Richard Faikall Training College

ing data, rather than just digging for and retrieving it. People should be able to work better and faster.

There is little room for any kind of lassitude.

Then there is the factor of immediacy and collaboration, as this centre can allow for teachers and students, and police and civicminded people to interact

together in real-time with rapidly changing information.

Via a simple email or text message, an academic point can be discussed, or a criminal can be nabbed.

I remember having headaches in a class, and then clarified my point as soon as I got to an Internet cafe.

This centre in Essequibo is

much more than the regular Internet.

The world is advancing rapidly, and if here in Guyana, we are getting opportunities to stay abreast, then this should be met with a sense of diligence and proper use.

Yours truly, Haresh Gobin

The importance of CCTV cannot be underestimated

Dear Editor, I was reading how West Indies One Day Cricket Captain Dwayne Bravo was robbed of his cellphone in his native Trinidad and Tobago. Bravo went to service his Jaguar car, but left his BlackBerry phone inside the luxurious car and promised to return some hours later to collect the vehicle.

He did, but no cellphone was found.

Bravo then went and alerted the facilities manager, who then carried out a search for the cellphone. The searchers viewed footage from surveillance cameras that revealed who took the gadget. It was an employee in his 20s, who was recently hired to service vehicles.

He was caught on tape removing the cellphone from Bravo’s vehicle. This is like a closed deal then. The law is soon to take its course.

Evidence is the name of the game.

In late May of this year, a bizarre drama was recorded on surveillance camera.

A 42-year-old man died after he was shot to the head.

The incident occurred outside a Bourda drinking spot.

The accused eventually surrendered and now is awaiting trial.

It is time now for more closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) to come into use.

They are absolutely vital to the solving of many crimes.

Currently, the usage of these systems is in almost every facet of life.

In fact, in many countries, installing of CCTVs is mandatory for some places of operation. This will help Guyana. We have many shoplifters and pick-pockets thieves who actually ply their dirty trade in many stores during peak hours.

CCTV cameras can also be used outside government offices and other special government facilities. The systems work well for increasing security in banks.

Today they have developed to that point where they are very simple and inexpensive enough to be used even

as home security systems.

I think that the onus is on the business people to safeguard themselves.

Having the evidence will help the police to catch the criminals, instead of their efforts going towards inquiring who the criminals really are.

Actually CCTV security systems are the next big thing on the general security scene. They have already overtaken all other means of security, including spy cameras. CCTV cameras are and will continue to develop into the greatest security solutions available worldwide.

We must go this route.

Yours respectfully, Annalisa Ally

Dwayne Bravo

Requests to remove stray animals still go unheeded Dear Editor, I am worried that stray animals are still seen on the roadways of Guyana. I am learning yet again that the Home Affairs Ministry is continuing its appeal to cattle owners to exercise proper supervision of their cattle, especially during this rainy season, when the animals seek to obtain high ground to graze and rest in the absence of such supervision.

Even when it is not raining, the roads provide a nice respite for the cattle.

In the afternoons and early mornings, animals love the warmth of the road. What irks me is that of our lawmen and their response.

They show no interest at all when they themselves have to meander among the animals, particularly the horses.

Every raining season, hordes of animals can be seen along two stretches

– LBI to Mon Repos, and Plaisance to Ogle. Those who have to travel this route can attest to what I am saying. Yet, I see no kind of effort from our policemen.

They are in a very strategic position to call the ministry’s stray catching units, who in all likelihood, will readily respond to requests to remove animals found grazing on private and public properties.

The ministry must move from merely appealing to cattle owners to making sure that they brand their animals and that they have the minimum number of facilities to take care of their various stock.

I am sure that there is an alternative for those cattle farmers, who are not up to it. Some ultimatums will be in order.

Yours faithfully, Anwar Khan

“Things happen to those who oppose us” Dear Editor, These foreboding words were uttered by the late President-For-Life of Malawi, Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda. Might the same be said about Zimbabwe?

Indeed, numerous opponents of the Zimbabwe African National Union/ Patriotic Front (ZANU/PF) have routinely exited from life in mysterious ways via crashes of all descriptions.

The latest is the instance of Edward ChindoriChininga a ZANU/PF member of parliament.

Chininga is a former minister of mines in the forever administration of Robert Mugabe. Till his death, he was chair of the parliament’s portfolio committee on mines and energy. Two weeks ago, he gave a report in parliament that was critical of the diamond and energy industry.

In particular, he shared some damaging information at a seminar in South Africa. The head of the diamond industry authority

in Kimberly indicated that he and Chininga had been exchanging ideas by email.

It is no secret that the huge diamond mines in Marange and Bhikita have produced vast amounts of money that have disappeared into thin air. The appropriate depository of the industry’s product is the Finance Ministry, which is still asking, according to its minister, where is the beef?

True to the Banda decree, Chininga’s car was involved in a one car accident in his constituency.

Even though there were other passengers in the doomed vehicle, the parliamentarian was the only fatality.

There is every reason to believe that ZANU/PF’s violence mantra will, increasingly, be unleashed on the opposition masses in respect of the upcoming national elections.

Yours respectfully, Japhet M Zwana

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Foundation

BY RICHARD GALLAGHER

titudes, and actions.

he impact of television, both positive and negative, on children has been a subject of both heated opinion and scientific research for the last several decades.

Professional organisations such as the American Psychological Association have weighed in on this topic and have confirmed the link between television and violence and aggression. The typical American child watches 28 hours of television a week and by the age of 18 will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence.

In the last several years the television debate has been extended to video games, many of which involve aggression. Because the popularity of video games is relatively recent, only limited research has been conducted on its effects. However, several articles have recently reported that video games may have negative effects on children’s aggression and desensitisation to violence. For reactions to these studies and comments on the issue of video games and violence, AOK interviewed Richard Gallagher, PhD, Director of the Parenting Institute at the NYU Child Study Centre.

Q: Do you think that violence in video games may actually be more harmful than violence in television or movie scripts?

A: Some aspects of video game violence are worrisome. “Firstperson” games in which the player sees the action as if he or she was the shooter can desensitise the player to violence. These games are actually used in military training to help soldiers become used to the process of harming others.

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Q: Does your experience bear out the general conclusion of these studies that we should be concerned about the kind of video games available?

A: Yes. A large number of children and teens are playing increasingly violent games. Most youth are able to recognise the difference between reality and fantasy, so they see the games as pointless entertainment. But, some children get immersed in the violence, which may contribute to a cold-hearted view of other people. It may make them prone to aggressive thoughts, at-

guyanatimesgy.com

Q: Is time spent on video games likely to affect academics?

A: Yes. Clearly, too much time on any video entertainment takes away from time spent on school work.

Q: What is the appeal of video games that leads some children to become addicted?

A: The games provide a high level of quick gratification. You are almost constantly being rewarded and, when you lose, you get to easily start over to work on your goal.

Q: It has been suggested that playing video games has advantages. For example, it may enhance a child’s motor coordination and ability to think quickly and analyse a situation. Do these possible advantages outweigh any negative impact?

A: Used in moderation, the advantages can be very helpful. The negative effects are found with excessive play, so the benefits may outweigh any possible negative impact if the time spent is kept within reasonable limits.

Q: Do you see any other advan-

tages to playing video games?

A: If the games are viewed as a form of light entertainment, they can have advantages. As part of a balanced entertainment diet, the games can provide stress relief for children, they can help with aspects of coordination and concentration on visual details, and they help children relate to one another in some forms of healthy competition. As long as this part of the entertainment diet is not overdone, video games can have useful purposes.

Q: Does a child’s predisposition affect his/her experiences with video games?

A: We don’t know that information right now. However, it seems that children that are prone to get excited by violence are often over stimulated by games. They may have an increased reaction to the content of the games when compared to others.

Several of the teens responsible for school shootings were highly invested in “first person” games.

In a 1982 report by the Surgeon General of the United States and a follow-up report by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) they listed concerns that children might: * become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others * become more fearful of the world around them *be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways towards others.

Q: Are these concerns relevant today?

A: They are even more relevant because of the increased reality in video games. First person shooting games with realistic or exaggerat-

ed depictions of gore seem likely to have an even greater impact than the images being reviewed over 20 years ago.

Q: Should parents limit their children’s access to video games and if so, how?

A: Parents should limit their children’s time on video games.

As noted before, it is helpful to consider a child’s leisure time diet and parents should think about how well balanced it is. Video games that are violent or of limited instructional value can be thought of as treats or guilty pleasures. Children can enjoy them in moderation while they are also participating in leisure activities that enlighten them, provide physical and mental exercise, and enrich their experiences.

Q: What should be the direction of future research into the effects of video games?

A: We need to know more information on the effect of the different types of video games and the different components of video games. For example, which aspects of the games enhance fine-motor coordination and which aspects facilitate concentration. For the different types of content, what are the emotional and physiological reactions to the content and how long do those reactions last?

Finally, what is the impact of different amounts of video game playing and how do video games interact with other forms of entertainment to build or detract from social, emotional, and intellectual development? (www.aboutourkids.org)

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laying outdoors is a form of exercise that promotes well-being and wholesome physical development. Children are naturally drawn to active play outdoors: it allows them to explore their environment, develop muscle strength and coordination, and gain self-confidence.

Playing actively outdoors also increases flexibility, fine and gross motor skills and is related to the development of a wide variety of physical skills, including those involved in sports.

Children have a great need for physical exercise and activity and a chance to use their muscles to run, swing, jump, skate and ride a bike, and to be out in the fresh air and sunshine (appropriately protected from the sun’s rays, of course).

They like to use their whole body when they play outdoors, and find such physical activities interesting and challenging.

When children are pushed in a swing, or when they propel a swing themselves, they engage all of their muscles to hold on, balance and coordinate their body to the rhythm of moving back and forth. Swinging provides children with firsthand knowledge and experience of cause and effect and of understanding spatial learning, such as up and down and back and forth.

Also, while swinging, children get a chance to see the world from a new perspective. To provide comfort and security, use a swing with a back support and a child restraint. For the littlest ones, start out slowly and push from the front, so your face is in full view. Play a peek-aboo game for even more fun!

Toys that require balance and coordination, such as skates, scooters and bikes, teach children new skills, encourage the development of self-confidence and satisfy their interest in exploration. Choose sports equipment that has a growwith-me feature, going from beginner to advanced, so children have the opportunity to master skills at their own pace. The beginner mode will give children that extra boost of confidence they need when learning a new skill. As children progress to the advanced mode, they can practise their newly acquired skills and try new and exciting challenges when they’re ready.

So, take the children outside to play. It’s a wonderful way to spend the day! (www.fish-

er-price.com)

News

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wednesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Business community urges review of working hours

Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul explains the new working hours during a meeting with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and private sector representatives

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he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has issued a call for a review of the new 40-hour work-week regulation which was recently announced by Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul.

The GCCI noted that the concerns of the business community relating to the recently announced National Minimum Wage for Regular Working Hours Order were discussed with Dr Gopaul during a meeting on Monday.

The chamber explained that several businesses have already indicated that the new adjustment to a 40-hour work week will adversely affect the commercial sector, and result in business owners shouldering the cost of overtime and other pay-

ments.

As a result, some business owners are already contemplating the inevitability of passing on the additional cost to consumers.

“The private sector is already saddled with a lot of expenses as it is and then if we are going to ask them to pay overtime in order to get six days of work, they will pass on that burden to the consumer,” said the GCCI The chamber added that the new order can have drastic consequences on the average consumer as well as on the economy in general.

“Our employees will enjoy a good day off after their fiveday work week, but then when they go to the market, they will feel it. This decision has already started to have spin-off effects on certain industries including the

gold mining sector and can have far reaching implications.”

The GCCI said the business community will continue to advocate for a review of the new regulation even as the minister of labour has promised to continue its engagement with the business community to ensure they are fully apprised of the intricacies. The delegation included members of the chamber’s executive and other private sector representatives.

Also present at the meeting were representative of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industries Limited (CAGI) Samuel Goolsarran and Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) President Norris Witter. The chamber sought detailed clarifications on a

number of issues relating to the order which comes into effective on July 1.

The ministry’s engagement with the chamber on this issue is likely to be followed up with labour officials conducting training sessions with business owners on the necessary requirements.

Dr Gopaul was praised for his openness and eagerness to dialogue with the private sector in an effort to offer clarity on the issue. He announced a national working week of 40 hours that spans a five-day week and an eight-hour work day. Beyond that employers are expected to pay overtime charges.

New standard

Dr Gopaul explained that the new standard working hours is a signal development that will benefit 35,000 employed. He pointed out that flowing from this new initiative will be certain leave entitlements with respect to the national laws that are in place.

The minister added that all categories of workers will also benefit from the national minimum wage that will take effect on July 1 and the first in post-independent Guyana. “This must be seen as protecting workers, 31,000 of whom would benefit… from domestic employees to retail store employees,” Dr Gopaul stated.

IDB launches energy efficiency contest for Caribbean

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he 2013 IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest has launched a new call for proposals for improving energy efficiency and expanding access to renewable energy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sponsored by GDF SUEZ, the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), the government of South Korea and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the contest is seeking proposals that promote innovative solutions to energy problems, benefit local communities or regions, create jobs and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Award winners will receive up to US$100,000, as well as technical and business development support to implement and scale up their ideas, moving from a pure concept level to a pilottested stage supported by a business plan ready for submission to other financial entities.

“This is a unique opportunity for individuals and institutions to receive immediate support from international institutions to innovative ideas in the field of energy,” said Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho, lead energy specialist at the IDB’s Energy Division.

Individuals,enterprises and organisations based in

countries that are borrowing members of the IDB are invited to submit proposals, which must focus on the adoption, innovation, assimilation, development and transfer of technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and fossil fuel substitution. Proposals must be submitted by August 15, Eastern Time, via the www.iadb.org/ideas website.

Winners will be announced in November.

GDF SUEZ develops its businesses (electricity, nat-

ural gas, services) around a model based on responsible growth to take up today’s major energy and environmental challenges: meeting energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximising the use of resources. The group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas-supply sources, flexible and lowemission power generation as well as unique expertise in four key sectors: liquefied

natural gas, energy efficiency services, independent power production and environmental services.

GDF SUEZ employs 219,300 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €97 billion in 2012. The group is listed on the Paris, Brussels and Luxembourg stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, ASPI Eurozone, Vigeo World 120 and Vigeo Europe 120.

Toshaos council wants more Amerindian villages opt-in on LCDS

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ational Toshaos Council (NTC) Chairman Derrick John believes there is need for more awareness in Amerindian villages regarding the opt-in mechanism of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in order for communities to willingly sign onto the document.

The opt-in mechanism presents an opportunity for titled villages with forests to voluntarily include their forests into the LCDS initiative, and in so doing, receive payments based on performance. However, this does not mean that if villages choose not to opt-in, they will not benefit under the LCDS, as the programme is designed to reach all Guyanese.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, John disclosed that currently the NTC is in discussions with the government concerning the opt-in mechanism, adding that the council thinks Amerindian villages need to be more educated on the document before attaching their signatories to it.

The chairman also noted that the government needs to do more in sensitising Amerindian communities.

“There has been a lot of verbal response; however, no community has opt-in legally to sign the document, since some communities would like to understand this whole LCDS initiative.” He underscored that the LCDS is heading in the right direc-

tion and can significantly contribute in helping to create a global model to fight climate change through a performance-based incentive.

John noted that climate change is currently a major challenge affecting Amerindian communities.

He stated that Amerindians are seeing the effects of irregular weather patterns on their farm lands as their level of production has dropped.

He added that since Amerindian people are dependent on subsistence farming to sustain themselves, the drop in production has affected many communities.

“This is something we have to deal with from a natural perspective and we are trying to work with agencies and trying to adapt and develop new measures to deal with this,” John highlighted.

In light of this, he said the LCDS would be beneficial in sustaining the Amerindian people’s way of live.

Meanwhile, turning his attention to the Community Development Project (CDP) made possible through monies received from the LCDS initiative, John said communities are enthusiastic about receiving their monies to commence their projects since they are the ones who mapped out their respective projects.

“It is a long awaited project… since all of our dreams and hard work are actually paying off, people are excited. This will bring about tremendous benefits and create numerous jobs for persons,” he underscored.

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wednesday, june 26, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Inmate remanded for assaulting Money row leads peace officer in court lock-up ─ second time he has assaulted officer

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n inmate was further remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Stephon Campbell, of Lot 144 James Street, Albouystown pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on March 13, he inflicted grievous bodily harm on peace officer Lionel

Downer at the court lock-up on Middle Street.

Prosecutor Vernetté Pindar objected to bail on the grounds that the accused has a pending matter in court, a serious offence was committed and that he is a remanded prisoner.

The magistrate refused Campbell bail and he is to return to court for statements on July 22. Campbell, who was unrepresented, first ap-

peared in court on charges of disorderly behaviour against the same peace officer where he was accompanied by two others, namely Fazil Moore and Ray Yokum. The accused was on Tuesday fined $20,000 for this charge.

Additionally, Campbell was found guilty of assaulting peace officer Downer on November 30, 2012. He was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Convicted fraudster gets two-year suspended sentence

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man was convicted of fraudulent conversion when he appeared before Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Hiran Narine, 52, of Riverstown, Essequibo, who

made his first court appearance on October 3, 2012, was found guilty of the offence that he committed between January 1 and January 31, 2012.

The court was told that Narine was solely entrusted

by Nazim Pashaw with six

20-foot pieces of 6” pipe valued at $300,000 to sell and return the proceeds to Pashaw, but he fraudulently converted the money to his own use.

Narine was represented

by Attorney Paul Fung-AFat, and received a two-year suspended sentence.

Teen girls granted bail for assaulting policewoman

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wo teens were granted bail on three charges when they appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Jenel Sancho, 17, and Natasha Sancho, 18, of Lot

123 Sideline Dam, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly behaviour. The teen girls allegedly committed the acts against Sergeant Trisha Beckles as she was acting in execution of her du-

ties at the Ruimveldt Police Station on June 21.

Prosecutor Ronetta Bentham had no objection to bail, and the magistrate granted bail in the sum of $20,000 per charge. The Sanchos are scheduled to appear in Court Six on July 5.

to assault charge

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man was granted bail on an assault charge when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Mohammed Safeek, 66, of 23 Seaforth Street, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm against Lalbuder Singh on June 21 on Seaforth Street.

The defendant stated that the virtual complainant rushed him claiming that he owed him money, and fell, hitting his head at a construction site, and then accused him of the offence.

The magistrate entered a not-guilty plea on Safeek’s behalf after hearing his explanation.

According to reports, the virtual complainant fell to the road and sustained severe abrasions to his upper limbs; however, the prosecution had no objection to bail.

The magistrate granted Safeek bail in the sum of $30,000 and adjourned the matter until July 3. The defendant then requested time to pay the bail, and the magistrate reduced the bail to $20,000.

Assault case stemming from argument over bread dismissed

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agistrate Judy Latchman dismissed counter charges of assault against two teenagers when they appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Druscilla Roach pleaded not guilty to the assault charge which stated that on June 20 at the Postal Housing Scheme in North Ruimveldt Area, she assaulted Delwin Adolph, 17, of Kingston Community High School.

According to the facts, Adolph wanted to purchase a loaf of bread at a shop when an argument erupted between him and Roach about who should be attended to first, because both parties were hungry and wanted to purchase the bread, which was the last loaf available at the shop.

Initially, the magistrate granted both parties bail in the sum of $20,000 and they were to return to court on July 4. However, after the matter was recalled, Attorney Nigel Hughes apologised to the court, stating that the parties no longer wished to proceed with the matter against each other and the case was officially dismissed.

Eyew tness Killing initiative… ...by government Last year, during the Alliance For Change (AFC)instigated protests in Linden, the One Mile Wismar Primary School was burnt to the ground. The community, while not accepting blame for the act of arson, reiterated their faith in educating their children and vowed to rebuild the school on their own. They emphasised they wanted no help from the government in general or the Ministry of Education in particular.

They wanted to use the occasion to demonstrate to the rest of the country the spirit of self-reliance that resided in the good folks of the mining township.

A committee was quickly formed, led by the representatives of Region 10; money started to pour in, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the AFC promised to help with manpower and money, and overseas Guyanese collected donations. The ground was cleared and the structure started to go up.

The minister of education, Priya Manickchand quickly insisted they should be allowed to rebuild the school. This column warned that this was a very retrograde step. Whether well-meaning or not, it would act to foster that malaise of modern man – dependence on governments to do everything for them. This was the surest way to serfdom, we pointed out: the mouth is muzzled...and all that.

Now we hear from the chairman of Region 10 that the people of Linden aren’t going to build the school any longer. The government budgeted $50 million for the job and so their input wasn’t necessary. This is just what we feared. We don’t like to say “we told you so”, but we did say so, didn’t we?

This is outrageous and the Ministry of Education must take the full blame for sapping the initiative of Lindeners. After the minister’s insistence, the interest in the rebuilding waned. After all, what incentive was there to go ahead with self-help when the government had budgeted all that money. APNU and AFC, we are sure, must have collected millions that now will have to be returned to the donors. We heard that their leaders showed up for months on end but there was no one on the site for them to help.

Now we hope no one from the government will dare say that the people of Linden must be weaned from their dependency syndrome caused by 40 years of free electricity. Just when they might’ve started to break that habit, up comes the Ministry of Education to hook them onto another dependency.

Those poor people just can’t win, can they? ...in City Hall Oscar Clarke is a real trooper. Only a couple of months after being shot by bandits, he’s back at his post on the City Council. Clarke is of the old school – none of that “brute force and ignorance” routine from him. He analyses the situation, makes his point – even if it’s just the party line – then sits down with dignity.

The first thing he did on his return was to remind Mayor Hamilton Green it was time he grew up. He was diplomatic and included others in his ambit – but his reprimand to Green was clear. This petty bickering he was dragging out with the acting town clerk wasn’t doing Georgetown any favours. In fact, it was paralysing decision-making and adding to the woes of our beleaguered capital.

Take Green’s latest tantrum: the town clerk summarised the council’s recent agreements with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and to ensure that GPL was on the same page, sent it to the corporation.

“Why wasn’t I shown the letter before it was sent off?” screamed Green.

And they complain of Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee “micromanaging”!! But then, since when has Green even delegated. The spotlight must only be on him. ...in Parliament We know that all that’s said and done in Parliament is privileged. But isn’t it OK for Deputy Speaker Deborah Backer to “get all hot and bothered” about Rohee, as the latter complains? We’re in uncharted waters!

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wednesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Protected Areas Commission GCCI launches "Competitiveness Manifesto" gets vehicle boost from German bank

By Danielle Campbell-lowe

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German Development Bank, KfW representative Josef Haider exchanges a handshake with Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, in the presence of representatives from both entities, after presenting him with the documents for the vehicles

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he German Development Bank on Tuesday handed over two vehicles totalling $16.5 million to the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry and the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), even as it finalises a series of projects amounting to 4.3 million euros.

In the presence of PAC’s Commissioner Damion Fernandes, German Development Bank, KfW representative Josef Haider presented the vehicles to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud at the National Parks Commission, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

The vehicles were procured using funds from the euro 5.15 million committed for the ongoing Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS) project phase two.

From the 5.15 million euro allocated for the second phase the project, four million euro was set aside for the Protected Areas Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Act 2011, while the remaining funds are earmarked for the establishment of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s Protected Areas Commission offices.

Construction of the $30

million offices will commence in the next two months. Funds will also be used for the development of infrastructure management plans in key protected areas.

Haider said the German government looks forward to the third component of the initiative.

Interesting lessons

“We are already heading for the third phase of the GPAS project, we have had quite a successful first and second phases already, we did have some quite interesting lessons that we learnt from these phases and I think we will do a good job for the third phase,” Haider said in his brief remarks.

The KfW mission led

by Haider is currently finalising phase three of the initiative, a grant of euro 4.3 million, with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Phase three includes the provision of additional support for the protected areas management programme, infrastructure and community initiative. Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening environment management capacity in critical areas. This five year initiative will commence in 2014.

Persaud said the vehicles will help the commission to fulfil its mandate. He further said the bank has helped the ministry to move from conception to materialisation, noting that through Germany’s support, the ministry was able to establish the GPAS and PAC. “The commission is unique in a sense because it will further our agenda in ensuring that we develop the type of framework whereby we can pursue activities at the natural resources centre, but at the same time look at issues of the environment that will allow us to fulfil our national as well as our international commitments,” Persaud explained.

Guyana and Germany established formal cooperative relations in 1996.

The GPAS phase one supported sustainable livelihood projects in over 30 Amerindian communities associated with Shell Beach, Kanuku Mountains, Kaieteur National Park and the Upper Mazaruni.

The initiative also led to the drafting of the National Protected Areas Act, demarcation plans for both the Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach Protected Areas, and a draft Kanuku Mountains Management Plan.

he top 20 barriers to Guyana’s competitiveness were included in a manifesto launched by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday, listing everything from governance and taxation to skills shortages and foreign economic diplomacy.

The “Competitiveness Manifesto” comprises the identification of 20 hurdles affecting Guyana’s competiveness, both at home and on the international scene.

Chamber President Clinton Urling stated that Guyana’s economy has been on the upswing, particularly in the past seven years of continuous uninterrupted economic growth of almost seven per cent.

This, Urling noted, is due to Guyana’s national factor endowments as well as government’s shrewd economic policies and the prudent macroeconomic management of the fiscal framework. This has resulted in Guyana improving its competitiveness from where it was 25 years ago and positioning itself from a low income to a transitioning economy.

“The progress seems to be on a trajectory of growth, but in order for private sector companies to compete in the global arena, we need to identify key areas of weaknesses that pose the most challenge and ways in which we can address those deficiencies to ensure the companies are competitive,” Urling stated.

The GCCI detailed that over the years, the chamber has been gathering information from a vast network of small businesses and large operations to identify barriers to trade.

The chamber has reached out to business leaders and sectoral organisations and also sought the input of academia, both locally and at the regional level to facilitate a review of Guyana’s competitiveness. The 20 positions are expected to form and showcase the chamber’s advocacy and outreach activities going forward and will serve as a reflection of the views of the business community.

Urling stressed that any initiative in the public domain which seeks to address any of the barriers will be vehemently supported by the private sector. “This is to ensure that the chamber does

not succumb to the idiosyncrasies or biases of its chairman, director or president.”

Explaining some of the issues, Urling mentioned that ensuring political and economic stability is critical, with history showing a clear correlation between these two factors.

He said the enactment of local government reform is also crucial as these local authorities are responsible for issuing business permits that can be hampered and frustrate investors.

Concerning taxation, Urling disclosed that the business community will be advocating for a comprehensive tax code with direct taxes as against the piece-meal approach.

The business community will also be advocating for the use of alternative energy sources, a transformation of the university, improved educational opportunities and the establishment of a development bank to fund innovative enterprises and risky ventures which may encounter difficulty accessing finance from traditional lending agencies and commercial banks due to high interest rates and rigorous collateral requirements.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, june 26, 2013

News

UK launches $409M agri project - aimed at scaling up non-traditional exports

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he Agriculture Ministry has collaborated with the Department for International Development (DFID) to launch the Guyana Agricultural Diversification Project (GADP) as it seeks to ramp up production of nontraditional and aquaculture produce for export.

The diversification project was launched on Tuesday at the Satyadeo Shaw Aquaculture Station at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The aim of the initiative, according DFID Deputy Head Matt Butler, is to create over 1000 jobs for locals and increase tilapia exports from 1000 kilogrammes to 12000 kilogrammes per week and non-traditional crops from 1000 kilogrammes to 16000 kilogrammes per week.

Funding

DFID will be providing £1.3 million to support the local project. However, there is an overall UK bilateral assistance to the Caribbean to the tune of £75 million between 2011 and 2015.

He said the £75 million project is split into three categories. “One is governance and security, one is disaster risk reduction and climate change and one which this project sits under, that’s job creation.”

Butler pointed out that the approach being used will see G$4 billion being paid out based on results achieved from indicators that have been set out.

“This is a very new type of working for us where payment by results will guarantee value for money,” he said.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, delivering the feature address at the launching ceremony, said the availability of markets is what

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy

drives production.

“Critical in this project is being able to enter the markets that exist at our door steps. The U.S. has just announced that utilising all their total capacity and the capacity that exist in American own aquaculture interest outside of America, they will still need more that 100,000,000 tonnes to meet their local demands, that’s a huge market. I just need a fraction of a per cent of that market for Guyana,” the minister noted.

However, this means that Guyana has to build certain capacities such as sanitary and phytosanitary requirements so that local produce can be marketable on the international stage.

The minister said Guyana also has to consider how in this environment, farmers can produce at a cost that still allows them to be competitive.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has mandated the Fisheries Department, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute NAREI), the Guyana School of Agriculture, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, to work together and I’m invit-

ing CARANA as part of the DFID project to join us in the research to develop a locally produced feed that will allow our producers to be competitive at the market,” he pointed out.

British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre believes the programme will help Guyanese exporters to maximise their potential to tap into markets in the Caribbean, North America and Europe.

“Guyana has a unique opportunity to diversify and expand its agricultural exports.

It boasts abundant water for irrigation and aquaculture; has vast tracts of productive land which present enormous opportunities for agricultural growth and a continuous year-round growing season that allows for multiple harvests and sales to the European and U.S. markets during winter months.”

New investment

He also highlighted that DFID will provide up to US$2 million in support for new investment in non-traditional agriculture and aquaculture, which will be disbursed in relation to the size of the area under cultivation.

“By virtue of impact on the modernisation of agriculture and aquaculture, the up scaling in the sector and the generation of employment, the project is likely to contribute significantly to poverty reduction in the rural areas,” Ayre noted.

The GADP is expected to work at three levels, namely with farmers to introduce new technologies and raise productivity, streamlining the paperwork for investors and exporters and helping to build relationships with new markets and buyers.

Marching in shade S atiricus was pleased that the revolutionary spirit hadn’t disappeared completely from the campuses. He’d seen the articles in the spit press and settled down to find out what was going on. There were so many injustices in the world, he thought. He wondered which one of these outrages the youthful idealists, fired by their solidarity with the oppressed, were protesting.

Could it be the Big Brother (more like “Huge Father”) spying the National Security Agency (NSA) was conducting with Google and the other social networks? Was it the cynical power play in the Middle East?

Was it saving the poor trees from being chopped down in the forests? Satiricus smiled in anticipation as he remembered his own protests back in the day against the Vietnam War. Those were the days it was good to be a student. There were weeks he didn’t see the inside of a classroom.

But as Satiricus looked at the pictures in the papers, he recoiled. “These couldn’t be students,” he thought in horror. “Did they have to repeat their classes for several decades? They were certainly going to be the oldest graduating class in the history of higher education! These people were old!!!!” Then Satiricus glanced at the headline – which he should’ve done in the first place, he thought ruefully.

It was the University of Guyana (UG) staff picketing, the headlines announced.

But by then Satiricus had recognised the Kiss Soon fella from the MuckrakerKN who

he knew had been fired since last year. The Muckraker explicitly captioned the picture with their columnist: “Workers with placards...” What the heck was going on?

Was the staff picketing to get the fellow hired again? Was the MuckrakerKN telling him to find another job?

No. The article explained the staff were protesting late payments of their salaries.

Nothing to do with the government, since the UG administration had made a decision to hold up payments because of the extraordinary amount of “special and extra” payments which couldn’t be budgeted for. UG only had money – $$60,000,000 per month – for the regular salaries. With that kind of money being shared out, Satiricus understood why the unemployed former lecturer wanted his job back.

Anyhow Satiricus was sympathetic. The salaries were supposed to be paid out last Thursday and the UG administration didn’t get around to doling out the cash until the next day – Friday. Gasp!!! Didn’t UG know you need money ahead of the weekend so you could buy clothes and so on for the month-end “sport”?? This was a noble protest. Even though these were all old people, Satiricus was pleased they hadn’t lost their idealism.

But for sure, Satiricus figured, they had gained wisdom. In each of the pictures, the protestors were in the shade. Let the youngsters march in the sun for genocide and such other abuses.

Abduction of journalist in Honduras raises concerns – IAPA calls on govt to take urgent action to counteract anti-press violence

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he Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) has urged the Honduran authorities to investigate the kidnapping of journalist Aníbal Barrow and to take effective action to ensure his protection. It also called on authorities to put an end to the violence being unleashed against the press.

On its website, the news organisation said Since Tuesday afternoon, there has been no indication of the whereabouts of Barrow, 58, whose pickup truck was intercepted by at least three assailants. The driver, Barrow’s daughter-inlaw, and his young grandson were left in various parts of the city, but Barrow’s whereabouts are unknown.

IAPA Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information chairman Claudio Paolillo offered his sympathy to Barrow’s family and colleagues, and publicly called on the authorities “to urgently implement investigative and

protective measures and mechanisms to ensure the safety of journalists and press freedoms.”

According to local media, Barrow’s family said it had not been contacted by the abductors, while the authorities confirmed that Tuesday night they had found Barrow’s abandoned pickup truck, in which they discovered traces of blood and a bullet hole in the passenger-side window.

Barrow is the host of the weekly morning programme “Aníbal Barrow y nada más” (Aníbal Barrow and Nothing More), broadcast by Globo TV. He is also an agricultural engineer and an economics lecturer at the Autonomous National University of Honduras in San Pedro Sula.

Paolillo, editor of the Montevideo weekly Búsqueda, recalled that an IAPA delegation visited Honduras on May 2729. On that occasion the organisation told President Porfirio Lobo and members

of his Cabinet of its concern at the lack of progress on the government’s commitment “to create a special unit for the investigation of crimes against journalists”, as had been agreed during an IAPA conference held in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa in August, 2012.

The IAPA also questioned the impunity surrounding the majority of cases of violence against journalists in Honduras. According to IAPA figures, since 2009, a total of 21 members of the press have been murdered in the Central American country, regarded as one of the highest-risk nations in the world to work as a journalist.

The IAPA is a not-forprofit organisation dedicated to the defence and promotion of freedom of the press and of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1300 publications from throughout the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida.

(www.sipiapa.org)

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, June 26, 2013

Man surrenders to Gender studies centre in the pipeline for UG police after allegedly assaulting ex-girlfriend

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government official's son on Tuesday surrendered to police after allegations of him assaulting his ex-girlfriend surfaced.

The allegations were publicised on Sunday by the 27-year-old victim, who told reporters that her ex-boyfriend barged into her Georgetown home and began assaulting her while brandishing a firearm.

Guyana Times understands that the accused was accompanied by his mother and another relative to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.

The woman disclosed that in the wee hours of Sunday, she opened the front thinking it was her brother, but was confronted by her ex. The young lady said she attempted to close the door, but was overpowered by the man who forced his way into her apartment and began assaulting her.

She said the man became annoyed after she asked him to leave and began hitting her in her face and upper body, leaving her bruised and sore. She noted that after her attacker left, she called a friend who came to her assistance and took her to the police station; however, she left after waiting for over an hour because the officers did not take the report from her.

The woman said the man had

called her later that morning to enquire about her condition, but she disconnected the call. After being encouraged by her friend, she did a medical at the Georgetown Public Hospital and returned to the police station where she lodged the complaint.

The woman revealed that she got into the relationship with the man about a year ago, but ended it in January after suffering severe beatings on several occasions.

Speaking with reporters at her home Sunday night, the tearful woman alleged that she had been assaulted at least 10 times in the one-year relationship. She recalled the abuse began shortly after the relationship started, but she gave it a chance to change, but had to let go after it got worse.

The woman said that the turning point for her was when the man had severely assaulted her while she was pregnant, causing her to suffer a miscarriage. After the loss of her baby, she said, she ended the relationship.

The woman further disclosed that she had reported the abuse before, but had asked that the matter be withdrawn. The woman is determined to get justice following the latest ordeal she went through at the hands of the ex-boyfriend.

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he Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) has announced that the creation of a Gender Study Centre at the University of Guyana is in the pipeline.

This announcement was made on Tuesday by one if its commissioners, Vanda Radzik. Radzik disclosed that an exploratory meeting was held with Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Jacob Opadeyi and coming out of that forum was the idea to establish a centre.

This would bring Guyana on par with other sister Caribbean countries, especially in keeping with the developments at the University of the West Indies (UWI), where there is a gender studies centre at each campus.

“So we are hoping to continue promote and support that recommendation,” she affirmed. The only challenge is acquiring the resources to make the centre operational. Radzik said it would need a director with a good background in gender studies and a secretary to at least kick start such a centre.

Radzik said the commission has also recommended courses on gender development for UG. Suggestions were made to make the courses online, allowing persons to earn a certificate or diploma in gender studies, as part of a framework for the centre.

“We have also committed an award for a UG

student to conduct research on Women Rights and Gender issues and rather than just make it an award for best student, we want to make it an endowment, so that solid information could be garnered,” she added.

This is in an effort to ensure that studies on gender are done regularly and are available to the public. Radzik noted that the research can be archived in the library.

She added that the commission is pressing for UG to become a violence-free and sexual harassment zero-tolerance zone. Discussions were held with the vice chancellor and senior staffers at UG on these matters, especially on the need to have sexual harassment statutes included in the overall policy at the tertiary institution.

Gender studies

The commission is also discussing interim steps to be taken to organise workshops at least every semester on gender studies, using local expertise.

Radzik said, “We would like to consider working with the creative arts centre at UG to take gender issues to other students, on to the streets and have it expressed through creative and popular forms.

And we think that might be the best thing to do.”

Coming out of the discussions too was a proposal for UG to offer retired officers in the armed forces courses, as they enter other spheres of life. This is based on the organisation’s desire for their involvement in the “Speak Up” campaign to address gender and sexual harassment, which it hopes to launch soon.

The issue of creating a day-care centre was also raised with the vice chancellor who agreed to consider the possibility. However, the challenge remains finding the necessary resources to establish such a service for students and staff at UG. The women and gender equality team will be looking to create a private and public partnership to realise this, Radzik said.

The WGEC said talks with UG will continue and hopefully, the Gender Studies Centre will become a reality in the near future.

12 news

wedNesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Broadband Satellites in connectivity deal with O3b O3b Networks Chief Executive Officer Steve Collar said on the service provider’s website that it believes “in a world where affordable, highspeed connectivity is always within reach”, and thanked Arianespace for a “remarkable demonstration of power and beauty” during Soyuz’s liftoff. He confirmed that initial contact was made with the four satellites shortly after their deployment.

The satellites are the first of 12 to be orbited by Arianespace in groups of four, with the next mission planned for later this year, and another in 2014.

B

Soyuz begins its climb-out from the Spaceport’s ELS launch site

roadband Satellites has teamed up with O3b Networks to bring fast, inexpensive and reliable Internet access to Guyanese.

The local business lauded the launch of four O3b Networks satellites, the world’s first fibre-optic speed satellites, on Tuesday in French Guiana by Arianespace.

The cluster of spacecraft was lofted on Arianespace’s maiden Soyuz mission from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), clearing the way for the establishment of telecommunications and Internet services over Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, the Middle East and the Pacific that combine the global reach of satellite coverage with the speed of a fibre-optic network.

Much of this vast region con-

tinues to suffer from a fragmented fibre infrastructure and high connectivity costs.

Connections will be available in Guyana via Broadband Satellites when the collaboration is fully operationalised in November.

O3b’s vast coverage area includes emerging and insufficiently connected markets with a collective population of more than three billion people – a fact that is highlighted in the name O3b, which stands for Other Three Billion. The global satellite service provider seeks to build a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet Service Providers, and enterprises, along with government customers in nearly 180 countries.

Affordable, high-speed connectivity

The cutting-edge satellite network will provide a connectivity solution between cell towers and the core mobile networks. O3b places control in the mobile network operator’s hands with a pool of bandwidth shared dynamically between multiple sites, maximising system efficiency and minimising operational cost. According to Broadband Satellites, the successful launch of the satellites on Tuesday by O3b means that Guyana will be one of the countries benefiting from affordable, high?speed, low-latency Internet and mobile connectivity.

O3b Networks’ investors include Google, SES, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development

O3b Networks team members show company spirit in front of a chartered Boeing 767 that brought executives and guests from Paris to French Guiana for Tuesday’s VS05 Soyuz mission. This aircraft carried the company’s slogan for the mission: “The Journey Begins”, along with the logos of O3b Networks, Arianespace and Thales Alenia Space

Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital, and Luxempart. This initiative was birthed from a visionary idea six years ago in the jungles of Rwanda to solve the challenge of limited affordable international connectivity.

Headquartered in St Helier, Jersey Channel Islands with ground systems around the world in place, O3b is ready to change the broadband experience for millions of people. Its slogan for this crucial launch was: “The Journey Begins”, with these words even emblazoned on a charter aircraft that brought its executives – along with personnel from Arianespace, satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space and other guests – to French Guiana from Paris.

“Definitely, we can now

say that ‘the O3b journey has begun,’” said Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël in comments from the mission control centre after confirmation of the Soyuz mission success. “Let me tell you that there is no better reward for Arianespace than seeing the happy faces of our customer in the front row. In this very moment, pride and gratitude are the two words coming naturally to my mind.”

Better connections

The relatively low orbit of the O3b satellites at 8063 kilometres, compared with the more common satellite altitudes of around 36,000km, means that there will be less delay in the voice and Internet data they handle.

The satellites will pick up this traffic as they pass

overhead and then relay it to ground stations, or teleports, for onward connection to global networks. Satellite broadband is getting more useful these days. Spot beams mean that downlinks are not spread right across the footprint and allow the same frequency to serve multiple receivers, but O3b also addresses the latency problem which usually afflicts satellite systems.

With the successful launch of this satellite, the impact on developing countries will be soon felt, as customers are expected to pay less for broadband services with improved speed and connectivity. The state-of-the-art services will therefore bring higher capacity, lower latency and lower cost broadband access to millions of consumers, businesses and other organisations.

Marias Lodge man sentenced for ganja possession

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Marias Lodge, Essequibo Coast man was sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of being in possession of narcotics.

Heimraj “Bhugnami” Persaud, a businessman, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court for the conclusion of his trial, which had commenced at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court where the witnesses

testified.

Persaud’s attorney gave oral notice to the magistrate that he intends to appeal the decision.

According to court documents, on May 9, after receiving several reports, police ranks conducted a search on the man’s spare parts business in Marias Lodge, during which 90 grams of cannabis (seeds, leaves and stems) were discovered. The narcotic

was found in a black bag.

Persaud was subsequently arrested and told the police that he found the narcotic.

He was later charged and taken to court.

After several witnesses testified against the accused and the prosecution closed its case, the magistrate found the businessman guilty of the offence.

Persaud was sentenced to a fine of $30,000 and a four-year jail term.

Fisherman jailed for fondling woman

A

fter being found guilty of fondling a woman, a fisherman was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment on Tuesday by Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Thirty-two-yearold Anand Alphonso, of Lima Housing Scheme, Essequibo, was convicted of sexual assault under Section Four of the Sexual Offences Act. According to the police report on March 6, Alphonso

touched the victim in a sexual way without her consent.

Alphonso and the virtual complainant were drinking beers when an argument ensued between them. The defendant then tried to unzip the victim’s jeans and touched her pubic area, so she began screaming. At the time, a vehicle was approaching them and the woman used the opportunity to run away. The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and subsequently charged.

The trial into the matter began before Magistrate Scarce on June 5, during which Alphonso was not represented by any attorney. There were three witnesses who were grilled by state prosecutor Krishnadat Ramana.

After the prosecution closed its case, Alphonso was called upon to lead his defence and did so by giving an unsworn statement to the court. However, Magistrate Scarce was unconvinced of his innocence.

News

13

wednesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Rotary Int’l in fight to eradicate polio – Rotary Club of Demerara installs new president

Newly-installed President Osbert James after he delivered his speech at the installation ceremony

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he Rotary International organisation has teamed up with various countries to help with the eradication of polio. This was announced by Assistant District Governor (ADG) KA Juman Yassin during the Rotary Club of Demerara installation ceremony for the new executive Tuesday evening.

“Guyana has won the fight against polio and we should now work towards helping other countries with this,” he said.

In highlighting the work of the local Rotary Clubs and their affiliates, he noted that the University of Guyana’s Rotary club won the Rotary International prize for Latin American countries’ humanitarian projects. The members set up a weekly literacy programme in Victoria on the East Coast of Demerara, under which they taught

Top members of the Rotary Club of Demerara as they welcomed new President Osbert James and complimented former president Eon Caesar on a job well done

sity, fellowship, supporting and strengthening,” he stated in underlining the strategic plan of the organisation.

Build on strong foundation

Newly-installed President Osbert James as he delivered his speech at the installation ceremony

ADG KA Juman Yassin addressing the Rotary Club of Demerara’s 19th installation ceremony

and mentored students for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) this year.

“We work towards increasing humanitarian services, enhancing public image

–we must let the public know what we are doing, the things we do should not be hidden: we need society to know what we are doing to assist with development, leadership role, integrity, diver-

Juman Yassin charged Osbert James, the new president, to take the club in a positive new direction and to build upon the already firm foundation of the group.

James, a long-standing member of the Rotary family, will lead the group for one year.

Speaking at the event held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, the newly ordained president said he was honoured to have been given the opportunity to take the group forward, and to be entrusted with the mandate to lead the board and members of the dynamic club.

“This year, we celebrate our 20th year as a char-

tered member of Rotary International and what a journey it has been. Our mandate as a board and club is to build on all the great accomplishments of the club through the years, and it is my pledge to take the lead in ensuring this goal is achieved,” he added.

Turning his attention to the 2103 theme of the international organisation, which was chosen by Rotary International President Ron Burton – “Engaging Rotary and changing lives”, he said: “While one may ask, ‘Isn’t this part of what we’ve been doing already?’ I’d say, at times you need to take stock, sharpen the saw and refocus.

We will set our vision, we will set our goals and we will go to work as we pledge to all do.”

He added that even as the club continues to do good, members should make sure that they are making a real and sustained impact on the

lives that they seek to change for the better, by daily practising the Rotary ideals and objectives and being guided by the Rotary’s four-way pledge.

He promised to be a good leader with the support from fellow Rotarians in ensuring that the club works towards making a real difference in the lives of people.

“We must be guided by the four ways, the object of the Rotary and the prayer,” he stated. James acknowledged the work of all past presidents and specifically last year’s leader, Eon Caesar.

He assured that he will aim to take the club to higher levels while making way for the president to come.

The club’s total income for the year according to the former president is $19.5 million, expenditure is $11.8 million, and the bank balance is $7.7 million.

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wednesday, June 26, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Six Caricom countries put on Bahamas society paralysed human trafficking watch list in crime fight, says Anglican

The U.S. State Department has placed six Caribbean countries on its Tier Two Watch List, with another four appearing on the Tier Two List

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ven as Caribbean Community (Caricom) governments, during the past year, have seemingly made efforts in addressing human trafficking, the United States says many of them have still not done enough in tackling the issue.

In this nexus, in its 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, the U.S. Department of State placed six Caricom countries – Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, St Lucia,

Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago – on its Tier Two Watch List.

Another four – Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines ─ have been listed on the Tier Two List.

In distinguishing the two lists, Washington defines countries on the Tier Two Watch List as those whose governments “do not fully comply” with the minimum standards in its Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards, and the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is, among other things, “very significant or is significantly increasing”.

Countries on the Tier Two List, on the other hand, are those whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are simply making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

The State Department said Haiti is a source, transit and destination country for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

priest

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nglican Archdeacon Keith Cartwright said on Sunday night the government, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and the church are “hopelessly paralysed” in the fight against crime, as Bahamians are being “mercilessly gunned down like dogs”.

“We all seem to be aimlessly floating and meandering in this river of blood,” said Cartwright in his sermon for the Anglican Church’s Patronal Festival at Christ Church Cathedral.

“We seem to be drowning in this well of violence and crime.”

Cartwright said there is a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life in The Bahamas.

“Human beings, God’s

Anglican Archdeacon Keith Cartwright

sacred creation, are being mercilessly gunned downed like dogs, as our streets and neighbourhoods have become rivers of blood,” he said. “Even elderly grandmothers are being robbed and slaughtered for mere insignificant material possessions.”

Cartwright said there can be no substitute for Christian values and no number of police cars, police officers, magistrates or prison cells can stem the tide of blood.

“Our situation is a national crisis, and we need urgent and focused attention to these challenges,” he said. “The blame game has to stop. Crime is not a PLP problem. It is not an FNM problem. It is our problem.”

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Rio de Janeiro favela police Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff promises operation leaves nine dead reform referendum

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Police seized guns and drugs during the operation in the shanty town

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t least nine people have died in gun battles against drug dealers in a favela (shanty town) in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, police say.

The clashes started on Monday evening after a demonstration in Bonsucesso, which reportedly ended in mass robberies near Rio’s main access road.

Hundreds of police and National Guard officers, with the support of a tank, are being deployed to secure the area. Police say at least six of the victims were suspects and one was a policeman.

At least nine others were arrested during the operation in the Favela da Mare area, and a number of guns and drugs were confiscated, police

say.

The violence broke out on Monday evening, after a peaceful demonstration ended in mass robberies.

Shops, passers-by and demonstrators were robbed by a group of criminals, police say. The gang went on to shortly block one lane of Avenida Brasil, Rio’s main access road, before running into Favela da Mare, police say.

The clashes took place as police followed the group into the favela. A man who was returning home was shot in the head, according to local reports. A police officer and another seven civilians also died in the clashes. Local schools remained shut on Tuesday, affecting thousands of children.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

TT: Ameen in race to unseat Warner

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unapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Chairman Khadijah Ameen has joined the race to be selected as the United National Congress’ representative for the July 29 Chaguanas West by-election.

Ameen, who is also currently acting as the party’s chairman, on Monday confirmed to the TT Guardian that she would be facing the UNC screening committee at Rienzi Complex, Couva, soon. However, she said she preferred not to make any additional comments.

Ameen is among seven candidates who will be trying to replace Jack Warner as the party’s candidate in the

by-election, the TT Guardian understands.

Manohar Ramsaran, himself a former member of parliament, and Pundit Satyanand Mahabir are among the other contenders.

Warner goes before the committee with the full backing of 31 party groups from the constituency. Asked if he plans to go to Rienzi Complex with the usual barrage of banner-waving supporters and tassa drumming, Warner said he did not know what his supporters were planning. He said his track record of representation could not be surpassed by any other member of parliament who had represented the area. (Excerpt

from Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)

razilian President Dilma Rousseff has proposed a referendum on political reforms in an effort to tackle protests that have swept the country.

She also promised to boost spending on public transport and focus on health and education as part of what she called “five

pacts” with the people.

She later met regional mayors and governors, who agreed to her plans. But some activists promised to carry on with the largest protests Brazil has seen for at least two decades.

Rousseff said the reforms would be broad and focus on five areas: guaranteeing economic stability and curb-

ing inflation; investing 100 per cent of Brazil’s oil royalties in education; hiring foreign doctors to provide medical services in remote and under-developed areas; establishing an assembly to eventually amend Brazil’s constitution to ensure reforms make it “from paper to practice”; and investing more than 50 billion reias

(US$25 billion, £16 billion) for new investments in urban mobility projects and to improve public transport.

Mayara Longo Vivian, a leader of the Free Fare Movement, said there had been “concrete measures” among the president’s proposals and that the “fight would continue”. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Jamaica: Anger boils at meeting to discuss unfinished school

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arents of students placed at the unfinished Cedar Grove Academy on Monday reacted with anger to assurances from Education Ministry officials that their children would be offered high quality education when the new school year opens in September.

The source of their anger was the fact that 100 students will be housed inside the church hall of the New Testament Church of God in Gregory Park, St Catherine, while others will attend classes in a section of a basic school operated by the church.

Both facilities are situated next to the unfinished school, which is being constructed at a cost of J$600 million and which, education ministry officials have said, will not be ready to house students until the end of this year.

Sasha Smith seemed very agitated and was first to the microphone as soon as the question-and-answer session started at an emergency meeting called Monday afternoon inside the church hall.

“Why does the experiment have to start with my child? You can’t expect people fi send them pick-

The unfinished Cedar Grove Academy

ney on a dirt track fi him come home with dirty uniform. This is an experiment. This is total rubbish.

That no right. You should have waited until 2014.

The school is not ready,” Smith said angrily. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Suriname to strengthen financial sector with IDB, Chinese assistance

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uriname is to improve its financial sector by strengthening the effectiveness of financial institutions and markets efficiency with a US$50 million loan approved by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), and US$50 million from the China Cofinancing Fund for LAC (CHC).

This is the second in a series of three programmatic policy-based loans supporting the government’s reform agenda for the financial sector. The first was approved on December 2011.

The programme aims to facilitate better access to credit and financial services to the public and private firms and mitigate vulnera-

bility to macroeconomic and microeconomic shocks by strengthening the capabilities of Suriname’s Central Bank to supervise financial institutions and enforce regulations meeting international standards.

The ongoing programme of policy measures continues strengthening Suriname’s macroeconomic policy, le-

gal and regulatory frameworks, supervision of the financial sector and public bank reforms, promotion of the inter-bank and securities market development. This programme is also addressing the need for complementary institutions to enhance Suriname’s enabling environment for greater access to finance. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

15 Around the World

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, June 26, 2013

Family gathers at U.S. whistleblower Snowden Mandela’s bedside still in Moscow airport

T

hroughout the night, crowds of people stood outside the hospital where former South African President Nelson Mandela is being treated, and among the balloons, posters and cards early Tuesday were dozens of news crews and broadcast vans.

More than 40 vehicles crowded the parking spaces outside the MediClinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria, the South African Press Association reported.

Generators hummed and the area was brightly lit for the news organisations doing regular live broadcasts.

Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela left the hospital Monday night, SAPA reported. Other family members, including ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Nelson Mandela, now 94, endured 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999

and daughters Zindzi Mandela-Motlhajwa and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, left earlier in the day.

Government officials paid

visits as well.

Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, spends every night at the hospital, where the former president has been since June 8 for a recurring lung infection. Previously, authorities had described his condition as serious but stable. But over the weekend, his health took a turn for the worse, with the South African president’s office saying he was in critical condition.

“The doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort,” President Jacob Zuma told the nation Monday.

The former president’s health will not affect U.S. President Barack Obama’s planned visit to the country this week, Zuma said, according to the press association. (Excerpt from CNN)

F

ugitive U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden is still in the transit area at Moscow airport, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has confirmed.

Putin said the intelligence leaker remained a free man, and the sooner he chose a destination the better. But a White House spokeswoman said Russia had a “clear legal basis” to expel Snowden.

Because Snowden is in the pre-immigration area of the airport, he is technically not yet on Russian soil.

The Russians have rejected American charges that they have assisted Snowden.

China has also rejected similar charges, saying accusations that it allowed him to leave Hong Kong despite a warrant for his arrest were “groundless and unaccept-

Edward Snowden

able”.

Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday.

He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday, but never appeared.

The U.S. has revoked Snowden’s passport, and he has applied for asylum in

Ecuador. He is being supported by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, and is being accompanied by some of its legal advisers.

Ecuador is already giving political asylum at its London embassy to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Indian rescue helicopter crashes French union strike

The helicopter as it sets off

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ight people have been killed in northern India when a rescue

helicopter involved in flood relief efforts crashed near a pilgrimage site.

The Indian Air Force says five crew members and three civilians died when the helicopter hit the side of a mountain and fell into a river.

It was on a rescue mission near Gaurikund in the state of Uttarakhand.

The army is leading the evacuation of thousands of stranded people, including pilgrims visiting holy sites.

More than 800 have died in the flooding so far.

Officials fear the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered from re-

mote areas. About 97,000 people have been rescued since devastating floods hit the state on June 15.

Early monsoon rains in India are believed to be the heaviest in 80 years.

Swollen rivers have swept away entire villages in Uttarakhand, where there were many travellers in what is peak tourist season.

A spokesman for the air force in the state says the reasons for Tuesday’s crash of the Russian-made Mi-17 are being investigated. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Afghan Taliban attack in Kabul throws peace talks into further doubt

T

aliban militants attacked key buildings near Afghanistan’s presidential palace and the U.S. CIA headquarters in Kabul, a brazen assault that could derail attempts for peace talks to end 12 years of war.

The Taliban, who have said they are willing to

take part in talks with the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s administration, said they launched the early morning assault, which triggered a 90-minute firefight.

A U.S. envoy was in Kabul on Tuesday to try to smooth the way forward for the stalled talks in the Gulf

state of Qatar ahead of the pullout from Afghanistan of most of the NATO-led troops next year. He had been expected to meet reporters at the U.S. embassy, but the conference was called off.

Karzai was also due to attend, but his whereabouts were not known. A palace

official said he was safe.

A Reuters reporter at the palace said the attack began soon after 06:30h.

(22:00h EDT) when at least one man opened fire with an automatic rifle close to a gate to the palace in central Shash Darak district. The fighting was over before 08:00h. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Star is crowded by super-Earths

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cientists have identified three new planets around a star they already suspected of hosting a trio of worlds.

It means this relatively nearby star, Gliese 667C, now has three so-called super-Earths orbiting in its “habitable zone”.

This is the region where temperatures ought to allow for the possibility of liquid water, although no-one can say for sure what conditions are really like on these planets.

Gliese 667C is 22 lightyears away.

Astronomers can see it on the sky in the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion).

An impression of what the sky might look like from the exoplanet Gliese 667Cd, looking towards the parent star and featuring, at top, the other super-Earths in the habitable zone

Previous studies of Gliese 667C had established there were very likely three planets around it, with its habitable zone occupied by one super-Earth – an object slightly bigger than our home world, but probably still with a

rocky surface.

Now, a team of astronomers led by Guillem AngladaEscude of the University of Göttingen, Germany, and Mikko Tuomi, of the University of Hertfordshire, UK, has re-examined the

system and raised the star’s complement of planets.

The researchers used a suite of telescopes including the 3.6m telescope at the Silla Observatory in Chile.

This incorporates the highprecision Harps instrument.

Harps employs an indirect method of detection that infers the existence of orbiting planets from the way their gravity makes a parent star appear to twitch in its motion across the sky. The planets’ presence needs to be disentangled from this complex signal but the Harps instrument is recognised as having tremendous success in identifying smaller worlds. (Excerpt

from CNN)

shuts down Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower

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rance’s Eiffel Tower – normally open 365 days a year – shut down Tuesday because of a strike, leaving tourists at the landmark Paris monument stuck on the ground.

The company that manages the tower says the CGT union, which represents most of the Eiffel Tower’s 300 workers, called the walkout in the morning. It was not immediately clear if the strike would move into a second day.

Company director Nicolas Lefebvre told The Associated Press that management and the union are in negotiations this week over salary raises, compa-

ny profit-sharing policy and other issues.

Tourists were crestfallen when they learned they would have to forgo the classic Paris thrill of a climb up the tower.

“Well, it’s my first time here and actually it is our last day,” said Olga Castillanos, 26, of Los Angeles. Visiting the Eiffel Tower “is the last thing we wanted to do as tourists and we were not able to do it”.

The 124-year-old tower gets about 25,000 tourists daily. Though it is open every day, it occasionally closes because of suicide threats, bomb threats – or strikes.

(Excerpt from France24)

Brawl breaks out in Taiwan parliament in row over tax

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brawl broke out in Taiwan’s parliament as lawmakers from opposing parties clashed over capital gains tax.

The ruling Kuomintang party lawmakers were occupying the podium to prevent the opposition party from

revoking Taiwan’s capital gains tax.

The capital gains tax for stock transactions was approved by Kuomintang last year and introduced in January, but traders and business groups have strongly opposed the tax.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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wednesday, june 26, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

JN to launch Jamaica’s Guinea’s mining downturn of short ‘first’ crowd-funding website duration, minister claims

J

amaica National’s microfinance arm will next month launch a crowd-funding website that will allow entrepreneurs to access financing from people all over the world.

The global portal, isupportjamaica.com, was unveiled by JN Small Business Loans Limited (JNSBL) to hundreds of overseasbased Jamaicans at the 2013 Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, St James.

According to JNSBL, the

website will be launched to the public in July. The company said it is the island’s first crowd-funding website and will assist Jamaicans wanting to start a micro business to raise funds to do so.

With investors and venture capitalists scarce, enterprising business people are adopting the concept of crowd funding, which allows individuals and groups with good ideas to raise sizeable sums of money in small amounts from people around

the world.

JNSBL general manager Philip Bernard said the project is being implemented and managed through a strategic partnership between the company and the JN Group’s philanthropic arm, the JN Foundation. He said the website emphasises the company’s mandate to promote the development of the micro and small business sector, through access to financial services, and by extension, the Jamaican economy. (Jamaica Observer)

North America

Barnes and Noble Nook sales plunge

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.S. bookstore chain Barnes and Noble has seen its fourthquarter net loss more than double to US$118.6 million (£77 million) as sales of its Nook e-books and devices continue to drop.

Sales in the Nook business fell 34 per cent from a year ago, leading to the division making a US$177 million loss. To try to cut losses in the segment, the firm said its tablets would now

be co-branded and produced in partnership with a third party manufacturer.

Shares in Barnes and Noble fell 16 per cent.

Company-wide, Barnes and Noble’s revenue fell 7.4 per cent to US$1.28 billion.

The firm launched its first Nook e-reader in 2009 in an attempt to take on Amazon’s Kindle in the growing e-books market.

But it has been an expensive project and sales have fallen.

In the year to April 27, sales fell 16.8 per cent and losses have grown to US$475 million in the Nook division. It now plans to significantly reduce losses in the segment by “limiting risks associated with manufacturing”. While it will continue to develop its e-readers in-house, its tablet line will now be produced and marketed with a consumer electronics manufacturer that it did not identify. (BBC News)

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uinea’s finance minister claims that the sector will recover within a year from a projected 33 per cent decrease in investment in 2013. Drops in global commodity prices, as well as lower demand from large markets including China and Europe, are key causes.

But the decrease in investment might also be linked to the country’s assertive drive to review and, where necessary, renegotiate unfair mining contracts – making the in-

dustry nervous.

Nevertheless, Yansane does not expect the downturn to be of long duration, projecting that the sector will rebound by 2014/2015.

“For sure for this year, I think the projections are likely to be quite accurate,” he told This is Africa.

“But these projections are based on the existing mining companies. I do believe that next year we are likely to see new mining companies in operation and this,

perhaps, will compensate for the reduction of activities for this year.” Yansane, as a member of President Alpha Conde’s government, has overseen the recovery of Guinea’s economy from a negative growth rate of -0.3 per cent in 2009 – reflecting political instability following a 2008 coup – to a growth projection of five per cent through 2013. Inflation was tamed to 13.1 per cent in 2012, compared with 21.4 per cent in 2011. (This is Africa)

Asia

China Mobile, Etisalat weighing bids for Pakistan telco

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akistan mobile operator Warid Telecom has been put up for sale by its Abu Dhabi owners and is likely to draw interest from China Mobile and Etisalat, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

The Abu Dhabi Group, a conglomerate led by a ruling family member in the oilrich emirate, is seeking to sell all 100 per cent of shares in Warid Telecom, two of the

sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The third source, however, said the company would also be prepared to sell a smaller controlling stake. Pakistan’s mobile telecommunications sector has five operators and is ripe for consolidation after a period when a troubled economy, increasingly high levels of market penetration and stiff competition has forced companies’ margins

lower. The sellers have mandated U.S. investment bank Lazard and British lender Standard Chartered as advisers for the process, the sources said. One estimated a sale could fetch about US$1 billion. Walid Irshaid, the chief executive of Pakistan Telecommunications (PTCL), a unit of United Arab Emirates-based Etisalat, said the company is weighing a potential bid. (Reuters)

Middle East Europe Anglo Irish tape revelations Saudi mulls US$4B deal to spark official investigation modernise National Guard

D

ublin is opening an inquiry into the bailout of Anglo Irish Bank, following release of taped phone conversations between former executives.

The recordings revealed by the Irish Independent newspaper, suggest directors may have underplayed the colossal sum needed to fix the bank. Prime Minister Enda Kenny said

on Tuesday that the public must learn the truth of Anglo Irish’s collapse. But executives at the centre of the row denied they misled regulators. The recordings, from 2008, include conversations about how the bank went about receiving seven billion euros (£5.9 billion) of bailout funds. The bank ended up needing much more.

John Bowe, head of cap-

ital markets, and Peter Fitzgerald, head of the retail bank, are heard discussing a visit to the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA). That meeting was to negotiate the seven billion euros “bridging” loan, a figure which was described on the tape

by Bowe – in more colourful language – as being pulled out of thin air. (BBC News)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Cur GBP

Fixed as at June 18, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Buying

Selling

U.S.

$1366.75

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

$260,585

$202.83

CAN

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

USD

$198.42

$205.58

Net

$242,344

Selling

$268,875

Indicators as on June 25, 2013 Live Spot Gold

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1277.60

$1278.60

Low/High

$1270.80

$1287.30

Change

-5.00

-0.39

June 25 USD GBP EUR June 24 USD GBP EUR

London Gold Fix AM 1285.00 831.88 979.42 AM 1283.25 836.21 978.98

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

US$ per barrel

Change %

$101.16

+0.12

USD per Ounce

Change %

$19.64

-0.05

$1349.00

+18.00

PM 1279.00 828.69 977.83 PM 1292.50 835.77 982.85

Last: 14760.31

Changes: +100.75

% Change: -0.69

Open: 14691.96

High: 14812.03

Low: 14691.96

% YTD: +12.64

52Wk Hi: 15398.48

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

S

audi Arabia is considering a US$4 billion military package from the United States to modernise its National Guard, a U.S. defence organisation has said.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement that it has notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the Gulf kingdom for the “continuation of the United States-supported effort to modernise the Saudi Arabian National Guard”.

The possible deal would also include associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of US$4 billion, the statement said.

The continuation of services under the National Guard modernisation programme is an evolution of Saudi Arabia as “an effective defensive force with the advice, assistance, and training of the U.S. Army”, the statement added.

The modernisation ensures necessary training,

logistics, support, doctrine development and force integration for the continuing expansion and use of their weapon systems. “These services will remain the cornerstone of an effort to upgrade and enhance the infrastructure of this organisation,” the statement said.

The agency said implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.

(continued

(Arabianbusiness)

Investors' guide

The price of bad financial decisions for small businesses (CONTINUED FROM MONDAY)

Common financial mistakes made by small business operators

• Overinvestment – many small businesses go overboard when it comes to buying inventory, especially if the business has any level of initial success.

While increased inventory represents a potential source of revenue, if sales drop, the additional inventory becomes a stagnant asset. With the additional inventory, the business must sell additional sub marginal accounts. This causes the company to have to carry receivables, which can cause problems with cash flow.

• Lack of reserves for contingent funding – in light of the previous financial errors, the company will inevitably lack the funding for depreciation of assets, bad debts and other contingencies. Also, the company may not be able to afford to insure against flood, fire or inclement weather which could cause considerable damage to the business and in many cases, cause the venture to go belly up.

Other important factors supporting small businesses

Another factor which can cause difficulties for a small

business consists in failing to have or failing to follow a comprehensive business plan. Having a detailed business plan with contingencies for any eventuality could save the business in a market downturn and can help prevent bad financial decisions.

Furthermore, having enough capital at the onset is probably the most important consideration when starting a small business, especially recently. The ability to weather difficult financial conditions with a sufficient cash flow also often makes the difference between going bust and staying in business. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Business function A process or operation that is performed routinely to carry out a part of the mission of an organisation.

(TO

news

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wednesday, june 26, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Region urged to implement Michael Jackson’s son to testify in singer’s wrongful death trial fisheries policies

T

he recently appointed chairman of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Barbados Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management Minister Dr David Estwick has urged fellow Caribbean ministers to place special emphasis on the implementation of policies and recommendations coming out of the seventh Ministerial Council of the CRFM, held at the end of May in Barbados.

“An area where focus is definitely needed is the implementation of policies and recommendations in a much more timely manner.

We have seen tardiness to this end in the implementation of policy decisions from the Ministerial Council.

One such policy that readily comes to mind is the Castries Declaration in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [IUU] fishing and the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy,” said Estwick. He went on to emphasise that effort must be placed on implementation if sustainable development, and the conservation and management of fisheries resources are to be achieved.

“Implementation will definitely encourage change – even though change may be unsettling to some,” Minister Estwick, the chair of the CRFM Ministerial Council, said.

Critical role

On Friday, May 31, Estwick assumed the chairmanship of the CRFM Ministerial Council from The Bahamas Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government Minister V Alfred Gray, who noted that, “The Ministerial Council has a critical role to play in shaping the direction of this organisation as a whole, not just in terms of decisionmaking… but to ensure that our various countries’ directorates are fully aware of the importance of this organisation and that we do, as ministers, all that we can to be steadfast advocates, as we seek to strengthen the organisation and the processes which would lead to successes of our various countries’ efforts.”

The Ministerial Council charts the policies of the CRFM. It is also responsible

Dr David Estwick

for providing leadership to the organisation in the areas of research; fisheries management and conservation; approval of strategic plans, and policy positions, work plans and budgets, as well as fisheries cooperative agreements, and donor projects.

The recently concluded meeting approved an unprecedented number of regional policy documents aimed at improving conservation, protection and sustainable use of the region’s fisheries. The ministers endorsed the CRFM’s second strategic plan (2013-2021), which was prepared after extensive consultations with stakeholders and member states. The new plan follows a comprehensive review of the CRFM by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) experts, and it is the first such review undertaken since the CRFM’s inception in 2002.

Addressing climate change

The ministers have also endorsed a regional strategy and action plan to address climate change and disaster risk management in fisheries and aquaculture. CRFM Executive Director Milton Haughton, noted that, “The negative effects of climate change and climate variability on marine ecosystems and fisherfolk in coastal communities are already evident, and according to the experts, the situation will probably only get worse in the coming years.” The experts say that the past decade has been the warmest on record and the cost of damage caused by extreme weather events is rising, Haughton said, cautioning that the region will become more vulnerable in the future. “Our fishers, our fish farmers and our fishing communities, particularly those in the coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to di-

sasters arising from numerous natural and manmade threats, including the recurrent tropical storms and hurricanes during the hurricane season,” he added.

Haughton said that the CRFM was able to secure technical assistance from the FAO for the development of a regional strategy and action plan, and a project proposal for disaster risk adaptation, which the Ministerial Council also endorsed. “This”, said Haughton, “will pave the way for climate-proofing and protecting the vulnerable fishing communities and their livelihoods, and to build ecosystem resilience into our fish and aquaculture management policies at the national and local levels.”

New strategy

The ministers also endorsed the CRFM’s new Information and Communications Strategy, which was formulated through funding and technical assistance by the ACP Fish II initiative. Haughton said that not only has the CRFM been able to launch its new website (www.crfm. net), but it has also been able to effect a strategic shift in the use of modern ICT tools to facilitate greater collaboration via the Internet and the greater sharing of data and information, which means major cost savings for CRFM and its partners across the region. In addition to endorsing these initiatives, the Ministerial Council also put its stamp of approval on the Regional Lionfish Strategy.

“We’ve begun the discussion to ensure that the lionfish, which is said to be an invasive species, becomes a part of our delicacy – our cuisine – and so I am told that those who have eaten it already find it very pleasant on the palate. And I think we’ve got to change the paradigm to ensure that instead of us trying to kill them out, we eat them out. And if we can do that as a region, perhaps it might not be such a bad thing after all.”

Another major development which took place at the recent ministerial meeting is the endorsement of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) Project Strategic Action Programme, a four-year project funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

Disco owner gets four years for human trafficking

A

44-year-old disco owner was jailed on Tuesday for four years after he was found guilty of trafficking a minor at his business place.

Chaitram Persaud, the owner of Soca Paradise Disco in Colombia Village, Essequibo Coast, was charged with trafficking in persons under the Trafficking Act 2005 Section

3:11. Between November 10 and December 14, 2012, at his business, Persaud engaged in sexual exploitation of an Amerindian minor.

The trial, which began on May 7, was conducted at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court at the end of which Magistrate Sunil Scarce found him guilty of committing the act. The defendant was rep-

resented by Attorney Cecil Solomon.

Prosecutor Krishna Datt Ramana presented the case on the state’s behalf, and called four witnesses to testify against Persaud, who gave a sworn statement when he was called upon to lead his defence.

After being told of his sentence, a teary-eyed Persaud looked astonished.

P

rince Jackson, the eldest son of late pop star Michael Jackson, is expected to testify on Wednesday in the wrongful death suit filed by his family against concert promoter AEG Live, a Jackson family attorney said.

Lawyers for the Jackson family will call Prince Jackson, 16, to the stand four years and one day after the King of Pop died from a drug overdose, Attorney Perry Sanders said on Tuesday.

Prince was 12 when Jackson died from an overdose of surgical anesthetic propofol while the singer rehearsed in Los Angeles for a series of comeback concerts in London in 2009.

AEG Live executives, Jackson’s personal chef and the choreographer for his aborted “This Is It” concert series, are among those who have testified at the trial, which began in April.

Witnesses have painted a picture of the singer’s final months. They testified Jackson, 50, had grown so weak he had difficulty executing dance moves and remembering song lyrics.

The “Thriller” singer’s mother, Katherine, is suing privately held AEG Live, which was promoting Jackson’s “This Is It” concerts, for negligence in hiring Dr Conrad Murray as his personal physician.

Paris and her brother Prince, the late Michael Jackson's children, arrive at the Mr Pink Ginseng Drink launch party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, October 11, 2012

Murray was caring for the singer as he prepared for the shows. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.

Prince will follow expert witness Gordon Matheson, a physician, who testified that Murray had a conflict of interest while caring for Jackson because Murray’s heavy debts and monthly salary from AEG Live would bias his care of the singer.

AEG Live has said it did not hire or supervise Murray and argues that Jackson had prescription drug and addiction problems for years before entering into any agreement with the company.

AEG Live also has said they could not have foreseen that Murray posed a danger to Jackson.

Katherine Jackson, 83, along with the singer’s three children – Prince, Paris and Blanket – are listed as plain-

tiffs in the case.

Earlier this month, Jackson’s 15-year-old daughter Paris was rushed to the hospital after a suicide attempt, forcing Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff to order a court investigation into the teenager’s “health, education and welfare”.

Perry Sanders, Katherine Jackson’s attorney, said on Tuesday that Beckloff had reviewed the report on the investigation into Paris’ welfare, and would not be making any changes in Jackson’s children’s living situation.

“In light of all current circumstances and the special investigator’s report, we agreed with the judge that appropriate decisions are being made regarding care of all three children, and no further action is required,” Sanders said in a statement.

(Reuters News)

Chris Brown faces new charges over car crash

T

he R and B star Chris Brown has been charged with a hitand-run and driving without a valid licence.

Lawyers for the district attorney’s office in Los Angeles say the singer gave false insurance information and refused to hand over his licence after his car hit a Mercedes last month.

Both offences together carry a maximum of one year in jail.

Brown is currently on five years’ probation for attacking his ex-girlfriend, the singer Rihanna.

If a judge rules the charg-

Chris Brown

es violate his probation, reports suggest he could face

up to four years in jail.

Brown assaulted his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend in 2009 and accepted a plea deal of community service, five years’ formal probation and domestic violence counselling.

Six months ago, it was claimed he was involved in another fight, this time with singer Frank Ocean, over a car parking space outside a Hollywood recording studio.

Police said Brown was under suspicion for punching the victim but the case was dropped after Ocean decided not to press charges. (BBC News)

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” musical opens in West End

C

elebrities have turned out in London for the gala opening of the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” musical.

Speaking on the red carpet, Roald Dahl’s daughters said their father would have been “chuffed” to have seen his book turned into a musical.

The lavish West End production, directed by Oscarwinner Sam Mendes, is on at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Among the celebrities at the opening night were actresses Uma Thurman, Sarah Jessica Parker and Barbara Windsor.

More than 70,000 people

have already seen the show since it began previews in May. It is booking until May 2014.

Dahl’s much-loved 1964 book, about Charlie Bucket and the golden ticket that takes him on a magical journey through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, has been adapted for the stage by David Greig, with songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Douglas Hodge stars as the enigmatic sweet factory boss Wonka, while the large cast includes former Young Ones star Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe. Dahl’s daughter Lucy told the BBC: “I’ve come

in from California and I haven’t seen any of it, so I feel like I’m one of the lucky children waiting for the gates of the chocolate factory to open.”

Asked what she thought her father would have made of it, she said: “He never bragged or showed his excitement about things on the exterior, but on the inside he would be very chuffed.”

Her sister, Ophelia, who chairs the Dahl literary estate, said Mendes was ideal to direct the project.

“It’s one of the best stories ever and he’s one of the best directors ever – so those two things fit together very well.” (BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WeDnesday, june 26, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) If you are lucky enough to get involved with someone whose objectives closely parallel yours, both you and this person will have an easier time achieving your goals.

dilbert

(June 21July 22) You can make this remarkable day by doing everything in accordance with your highest standards. Don’t compromise just to get things out of the way.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

When something important has to be negotiated, keep in mind that the other party is just as eager to reach an understanding as you are. Don’t blow your cool.

Calvin and Hobbes

CANCER

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Your associates will sense your strength and resolve. You need to realise that you don’t have to be overly aggressive to get your way.

Even though you might do your utmost to conceal your tender inclinations, you won’t be able to help being wonderfully charitable and compassionate toward your friends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Someone who holds you in high esteem might work on your behalf without your knowledge to make something easier for you. Be sure to pay it forward.

Peanuts ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Thoughtful things you do for your mate or special someone will not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Try your hardest to go out of your way for others.

Something that appears to be difficult, even mysterious, will be a piece of cake to you. Don’t hesitate to show your stuff.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) If at all possible, entertain at your place, where friends feel welcome and relaxed. They’ll have a better time there than any fancy place you could take them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) A person you’ve recently met is very anxious to get to know you better.

You’re aware of this, yet for some strange reason you’ve never encouraged the relationship. Why not?

Tuesday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) A gentle reminder should do the trick to get something that you loaned to another returned. The recipient of your kind gesture may have merely forgotten.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) An associate who has been extremely helpful to you in the past can be of considerable assistance you to once again. If you need anything, go to him or her first.

news 19

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capsule carrying three Chinese astronauts has landed safely after a 15-day mission in space.

The astronauts travelled on the Shenzhou-10 craft to China’s space laboratory, the Tiangong-1.

They completed manual docking exercises and astronaut Wang Yaping gave a video lecture to students back on Earth. The Shenzhou-10 is China’s fifth manned space mission and came 10 years after China first sent an astronaut into space.

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A

Wang Yaping is China’s second woman in space

sule touching down in grassland in the Inner Mongolia region at around 08:07 local time (00:07 GMT).

The mission control centre burst into applause after the crew were reported to be safe and well, reports said.

Mission commander Nie Haisheng was the first to exit the capsule at 09:31 (01:31 GMT), followed by colleagues Wang Yaping and Zhang Xiaoguang.

The astronauts needed time to allow their bodies to adjust to Earth’s gravity before emerging from the space

capsule, Chinese media said.

Nie, who has been on one previous space mission, has now spent more hours in space than any other Chinese astronaut, having clocked up over 470 hours across his two missions, China’s staterun Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, Wang Yaping, China’s second woman in space, delivered the country’s first space lecture from the Tiangong-1.

China plans to eventually put a permanently manned space station above the Earth. (BBC News)

The Snowden Effect: U.S. spies say militants change tactics

TOUR

immigration

China’s Shenzhou-10 astronauts return to Earth

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ven as U.S. intelligence agencies and their global partners assess potential damage from Edward Snowden’s disclosures about surveillance programmes, militants have begun responding by altering methods of communication, a change that could make it harder to foil attacks, U.S. officials say.

Intelligence agencies have detected that members of targeted militant organisations, including both Sunni and Shi’ite Islamist groups, have begun altering communications patterns in what was believed to be a direct response to details on eavesdropping leaked by the former U.S. spy agency contractor, two U.S. national security sources said.

The officials said it was too early to tell whether the recent changes in communications methods had caused a loss of critical intelligence or if there was now a greater risk of missing warning signs about future attacks. “You don’t know what you lose until after you’ve lost it,” one of the sources said.

Previous dire warnings of leaks causing huge damage to U.S. national security interests have proved overplayed. The leaking of tens of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables by Wikileaks in 2010 appears to have had far less impact than Washington initially warned.

And militants changing the way they communicate could actually hinder plots as they resort to different

methods to avoid detection.

The charge that Snowden’s leaks are causing damage, made by officials speaking on condition of anonymity, comes as the Obama administration mounts a campaign to pressure Russia to extradite him. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday confirmed Snowden was in the transit area of a Moscow airport, but ruled out handing him to Washington.

The officials declined to specify what changes were spotted among militant groups, fearing that the more details provided on what was known about their behaviour the easier it would be for them to adapt.

One U.S. telecommunications expert said privately that the militants’ latest adjustments likely included reduced electronic transmissions and more frequent switching of cell phones while they seek new encryption methods.

Discussion

Flashpoint Global Partners, which monitors Islamist militant websites, has noted increased discussion of the NSA leaks.

“The simple rule is that ‘don’t be a fool’ don’t give ur real information on Internet through email u use for jihadi activities. just use fake names and TOR browser is must,” one person posted, referring to an Internet browser that can help the user remain anonymous and avoid surveillance.

Exactly how serious the damage might be is difficult

to measure as intelligence agencies do not know how much more sensitive material Snowden possesses that has not yet been published.

Militants have a long history of trying to cover their electronic tracks.

Largely using written messages and trusted couriers, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hid for years until he was killed by U.S. forces in 2011. He advised militants to exercise extreme caution over electronic communications. Thumb drives and SIM cards used to carry information should be destroyed after use, he told them.

Intelligence analysts around the world are working to determine the operational impact of Snowden’s exposure of methods used by the U.S. National Security Agency and Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters agency to tap into telephone and Internet traffic.

Among the potential damage to Western intelligence is that foreign governments like Russia and China may have found out technical details of how Western agencies intercept communications and what specific links they monitor or tap into.

U.S. officials fear that if Snowden, now allied with the anti-secrecy organisation WikiLeaks, releases more of the large cache of classified information he is believed to possess, there could be further fallout for Western counterterrorism operations. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, june 26, 2013

England narrowly beaten by Lehmann’s cultural remedy for Australia New Zealand in first T20 E

ngland fell just six runs short of a remarkable victory as New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20 series on Tuesday.

New Zealand were sent on their way to a record T20 score over their opponents by duo Hamish Rutherford (62) and captain Brendon McCullum (68).

The pair put on 114 from 67 balls for the second wicket, while Ross Taylor caused more damage with a swift unbeaten 32 as New Zealand made 201-4.

Despite great batting from Luke Wright (52) the chase proved too great.

The Sussex man, who was also by far the best England bowler, made what seemed at first insurmountable into very probable as both he and Nottinghamshire youngster Alex Hales took England’s score from 50-1 to 105 after just 10 overs.

Despite losing the wicket of Hales, England still had clubbers Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and Jos Buttler to come, and had also been matching New Zealand’s run rate.

Winning when needing to score more than 200 had only been managed three times in this format of the game and never in England, but the home support were hopeful of seeing one of the

Darren Lehmann

A Hamish Rutherford’s ferocious assault set the tone for a run-strewn night in south London and won him the Man-Of-The-Match award

great innings.

However, as the finishing line came into view England suffered two big setbacks courtesy of brilliant pieces of fielding.

The first was an excellent high one-handed catch

by Taylor at slip to dismiss captain Morgan (seven)

SCOREBOARD New Zealand innings H Rutherford c Hales b Wright 62 J Franklin c †Buttler b Rankin 0 B McCullum* b Wright 68 R Taylor not out 32 T Latham† c Bopara b Dernbach 22 C Munro not out 0 Extras: (lb6, w11) 17 Total: (4 wkts, 20 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-115, 3-161, 4-200 Bowling: W Rankin 4-0-24-1, C Woakes 1-0-19-0, J Dernbach 4-0-31-1, B Stokes 3-0-26-0, J Tredwell 2-0-32-0, R Bopara 2-0-32-0, L Wright 4-0-31-2

England innings M Lumb b N McCullum 29 A Hales c Franklin b Hira 39 L Wright c †Latham b McClenaghan 52 E Morgan* c Taylor b Butler 7 R Bopara not out 30 J Buttler† run out (†Latham) 17 B Stokes not out 9 Extras: (lb8, w4, nb1) 13 Total: (5 wkts, 20 overs) 196 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-105, 3-134, 4-139, 5-184 Bowling: M McClenaghan 4-0-37-1, I Butler 4-0-35-1, N McCullum 3-0-37-1, R Hira 4-0-34-1, Corey J Anderson 4-0-40-0, J Franklin 1-0-5-0

and the second was a run out from the gloved-hand of keeper Tom Latham.

The 21-year-old kept his composure to strike the wicket at the bowler’s end and send Buttler back to the pavilion with eight balls remaining.

Corey Anderson had the unenviable task of bowling the final over, but despite being slogged for six by Ben Stokes first ball, he steadied himself to restrict the Durham player and Bopara to just four more runs as New Zealand clinched a worthy win.

Earlier, England won the toss and elected to field.

They got off to the perfect start when 6ft 7in debutant Rankin, who had previously played for Ireland, had opener James Franklin caught behind in the first over with just one run on the board.

However, the next 19 overs of bowling were tainted by wides, poorly-pitched deliveries and wayward spin, with New Zealand’s

batsmen, in particular, Rutherford and McCullum, taking advantage of the weak attack.

That pair put on a hugely entertaining 114 for the second wicket. Left-hander Rutherford’s 62 came off 35 balls, decorated by six fours and four sixes.

Both Rutherford and McCullum fell to Wright (231 off four overs). The medium-pacer’s delivery to dismiss McCullum was arguably the ball of the match ─ a slow-ball yorker which turned into a daisy-cutter en route to the stumps.

Taylor came in and produced another useful cameo knock from 19 deliveries and was well supported

by Latham who was caught, penultimate ball, by Bopara off the bowling of Jade Dernbach.

New Zealand’s final total of 201 is the highest ever in T20 cricket against their opponents. Their previous best was 192-6 set in Hamilton this year. (BBC Sport)

Rauf, Bowden dropped from Elite umpires’ list

P

akistan’s Asad Rauf and New Zealand’s Billy Bowden have been dropped from the Elite Panel of umpires following the annual review, the ICC have announced.

They have been replaced by England’s Richard Illingworth and Australia’s Paul Reiffel in the 12-member panel for the 2013-2014 season starting on July 1, 2013.

In May this year, the ICC withdrew Rauf from officiating in the Champions Trophy in England following media reports that indicated he was under investigation

by Mumbai police. The ICC, however, clarified that the situation was not a factor in his exclusion from the panel.

“In Asad’s case, it is im-

Asad Rauf

portant to emphasise that the recent speculation linking his name to the IPL spotfixing investigation was not considered during the selectors’ deliberations,” Geoff Allardice, the chairman of the ICC’s umpire selection

panel, said. “The selection panel considered the overall performances of the umpires over the past 12 months when deciding which umpires would be offered contracts for 2013-14.

“It is exciting to see Richard and Paul promoted to the elite panel, but it is also important to acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding contributions of Asad and Billy over a long period of time,” Allardice added.

Rauf was included in the panel of umpires in 2006 and officiated in 48 Tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20Is. Bowden was part of the panel since 2003 and he has officiated in 75 Tests, 181 ODIs and 19 T20Is. Reiffel, a former

Australian fast bowler, played 35 Tests and 92 ODIs between 1992 and 1998. He has been umpiring in international cricket since January 2009 and has stood in 4 Tests, 30 ODIs and 9 T20Is. Illingworth, a former left-arm spinner, played nine Tests and 25 ODIs for England, including the 1992 World Cup final against Pakistan. He has umpired in 4 Tests, 16 ODIs and seven T20Is since July 2010.

Elite Panel of umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Steve Davis, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Rod Tucker, Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel (Cricinfo)

ustralia’s new coach Darren Lehmann has pushed the importance of fun and a balanced perspective on life to remedy a team culture that has variously been described as toxic, insular, selfish, undisciplined, and just plain stupid.

Lehmann has openly desired the national coaching job for quite some time, but given that it has fallen into his lap a mere two weeks before the first Investec Ashes Test, his initial message to the touring team could not afford to be elaborate.

Upon the squad’s arrival in the medieval town centre of Taunton, Lehmann sat down his players and staff to set out a simple but clear direction for the Australian team, both on the field and off it. Relieving the tension of the past few days in Bristol and London was high on Lehmann’s list of priorities, while also ensuring focus shifted instantly to Wednesday’s tour match against Somerset.

“Hopefully with the enjoyment factor, we’ll get that going for a start,” Lehmann said of the culture he wished to create. “When you start winning games you have a lot of fun so we need to start winning some games, simple as that. It’s about getting all the lads and everyone in a direction we want to go. We’re going one way and that is forward and everything starts afresh.

“It’s about life as well, it’s a game of cricket. It’s important we have success and play well but it’s a small part of your life, so we’ve got to make sure we are helping them grow their lives on and off the ground, that is really important to me. Family is a big part of it, enjoying each other’s company while we’re away, and learning about ourselves and different cultures and different people we have in the team.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a job I loved and wanted to do because I fell in love with coaching the first day I started with an IPL franchise. It just probably happened in different circumstances that it comes

across my path right now.”

That path will now include grappling with the various complications of mentoring a national team in 2013, including the influx of Twenty20 money that has muddled the priorities of numerous young players.

The absolutes of Lehmann’s time, as a player who had to carve out nigh on 10,000 first-class runs before making his Test debut, have been replaced by greys like the lavish IPL money on offer to cricketers who have not yet grooved their games.

When referring to numerous matters of club versus state versus country issues, Australia’s team performance manager Pat Howard remarked last summer that “no-one owns the players now”. Lehmann though spoke with typical confidence about sculpting the natural talent at his disposal into competitive, thoughtful and loyal cricketers.

“The priority for us is Australia, that’s every player that is playing any form, their first right is with Australia,” Lehmann said.

“We want to pick the best side each and every time and we’ll worry about the other franchises and issues as we go through.

“We’re guided by CA and selectors along the way and that’s part and parcel of being a new-age cricketer. One thing I will say, they’re a lot better athletes than I was in my day and it’s just about teaching them and coaching them the best way to play the game in different situations.”

Brad Haddin, Australia’s vice captain, said Lehmann’s imprint on the team should soon be evident, starting with the respect he already engendered for his playing career and domestic coaching. “Darren’s got experience at all levels, as a player, a successful coach and a good person, and he’s known for that around Australian cricket and world cricket,” He said. “I think he’ll come into this environment comfortable with where he’s at and comfortable with where he wants to take the team.”

(Cricinfo)

wednesday, june 26, 2013

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21

Djokovic beats Florian Mayer in first round – Serena eases through to second round

T

op seed Novak Djokovic progressed into the second round of Wimbledon with a 6-3 7-5 6-4 victory over Florian Mayer.

Mayer put up a gutsy fight against the 2011 champion on Centre Court, however the world number one outlined his title credentials with a convincing display.

A break in the 11th game of the second set proved the key moment for the Serb.

Fourth seed David Ferrer beat Martin Alund 6-1 4-6 7-5 6-2 and eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro eased to a 6-2 7-5 6-1 success over Albert Ramos.

Meanwhile, Philipp Kohlschreiber raised eyebrows when he quit his firstround match against Ivan Dodig when trailing 2-1 in the fifth set.

The 16th-seeded German, who reached the quarter-finals a year ago, had taken the first two sets, only to allow Dodig to level.

Kohlschreiber had been upset at a number of line calls during the clash on Court 18 and he said: “I’m totally exhausted.

“In the last two or three days I was almost entirely in bed. I have had flu and felt like my body was pretty bad.

I had no energy left.

“I have only been able to practice for 45 minutes over the last two days. I tried to hang in as long as I could but in the end I was tired and slow in the head and felt a pain in my leg.

“Maybe it was bad timing but it is hard to speak about because this is the best grand slam I played last

Novak Djokovic

Serena Williams

Li Na

year. I’m angry and sad but there is nothing I can do.”

Djokovic, meanwhile, admitted there is still room for improvement in his game, despite recording a straightsets victory.

He told BBC Sport: “It was my first match on a grass court this season and my first at Wimbledon, and I’m satisfied.

“It was tricky, because Florian Mayer is a very good opponent with a good variety of shots. His game is suited to grass. It took a lot of effort to come through.

“There are still a few things I would like to do better on. I could serve better. But my game is there.

I’m still trying to find my rhythm.”

Seventh seed Tomas Berdych eased past Martin Klizan 6-3 6-4 6-4, while ninth seed Richard Gasquet was a 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 7-5 6-4 victor over Marcel Granollers of Spain.

German 13th seed Tommy Haas ended Dmitry Tursunov’s involvement with a 6-3 7-5 7-5 triumph, but Australian Bernard Tomic defeated American 21st seed Sam Querrey 7-6

(8-6) 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 2-6 6-3.

Gilles Simon, the 19th seed, also fell as grasscourt specialist Feliciano Lopez notched up a 6-2 6-4 7-6 (13-11) victory over the Frenchman.

Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov both enjoyed straight set successes as they progressed, while there were also wins for Kei Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, Jeremy Chardy, Andreas Seppi and

Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams overcame a minor second-set blip to begin the defence of her crown with a 6-1 6-3 win over Mandy Minella of Luxembourg.

The world number 92 claimed her first service game but the American, 31, took control and easily won the first set.

Minella claimed a break in game two of the second

ICC to ask...

In May, three IPL players, including the Indian fast bowler Sreesanth, were arrested for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing. A franchise owner, Gurunath Meiyappan, was also arrested for alleged involvement in betting a few days later.

In Bangladesh, Mohammad Ashraful confessed to indulging in corrupt practices during the BPL. Last year, the news channel, India TV, carried out a sting operation in which match officials were caught on video agreeing to divulge information.

However, the Indian judicial system has no specific law yet to deal with corruption in sport and the ACSU fears this might allow perpetrators to get away easily.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also face the same issue and culprits cannot be held under criminal offence in the absence of relevant laws.

Hence, Flannagan is likely to recommend that members, and the three countries in particular, ask their federal governments to institute a law to discourage people from getting involved in

From page 22

corrupt practices and corrupt elements.

One of the other important issues likely to come up for discussion is the decision on the venue for next year’s World Twenty20, scheduled between March 16 and April 6 in Bangladesh. Recently the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised a red flag on the delay in setting up proper infrastructure to meet the original deadline set by the ICC. BCB president Nazmul Hasan, who went public with his displeasure over the slow work at two of the four venues, is likely to address the ICC board on this matter. The members are likely to discuss options ─ from setting new timelines or conducting further inspections to moving the tournament to another country as a viable alternative.

The five-day annual conference begins with the Associate and Affiliate Members’ meeting (June 25), chief executives’ committee meeting (25-26), governance review committee, finance and commercial affairs committee, and the HR and remuneration committee meetings (June 27-28).

(Cricinfo)

set only for the five-time champion to win six straight games.

Seeds Agnieszka Radwanska, Li Na and Angelique Kerber all progressed with straight-sets wins.

Polish fourth seed Radwanska, beaten by Williams in last year’s final, began her bid to go one better with a 6-1 6-1 win over Austrian qualifier Yvonne Meusberger.

Chinese sixth seed Li raced past her Dutch opponent Michaella Krajicek 6-1 6-1, while Kerber, the seventh seed, triumphed 6-3 6-4 over Bethanie MattekSands. German Kerber is a potential quarter-final opponent for Williams, who arrived at SW19 on the back of claiming a second French Open title earlier this month.

Williams told BBC Sport:

“I played so much on clay this year it meant the grass transition was harder than I expected.”

Top seed and 16-time Grand Slam champion Williams refused to use her recent row with Maria Sharapova as an excuse for what she labelled a “rusty” performance – despite it extending her winning streak to 32 matches.

She added: “No, it hasn’t been a distraction. Like I said, I’m just here to focus on the tennis. I’m just here to play Wimbledon. It’s the premier tournament in the world, of the year, so that’s what’s most important.

“It felt good to be playing tennis again. I love playing here. Being defending champion is always a special moment for 12 months knowing that you’re going to play at one o’clock on Tuesday.” (BBC

Sport)

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wednesday, june 26, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

“I will make Guyana proud,” says Essequibo cricketer

Ramdhanis, Ali star in GOA Olympic badminton tourney

By Indrawattie Natram

“I

will make Guyana proud; I will stay focused and I will aim high,” were the sentiments of 16-year-old Parmesh Parsotam of Affiance, Essequibo Coast, after he was selected to represent Guyana in the Regional Under-17 tournaments.

Parsotam, also called Rocky, during an interview with Guyana Times Sport expressed his excitement and satisfaction at being selected to represent his country, saying that “being selected is like a dream come true for me, although am brilliant academically I always dream of becoming a cricketer, my heart is for cricket.”

Love for cricket

The cricketer, who wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination recently, said apart from his academics he always loved the sport.

“My love for cricket is unconditional; as a kid I always loved playing and fielding at the ball field. I am so happy to make Guyana Under-17 team.”

Recounting, Parsotam said he started to play friendly matches at different grounds on the Essequibo Coast at the age 10. He said in the evening he would join his friends at the playfield in Affiance for a game of cricket.

“Since I was a kid, I love

Parmesh Parsotam receiving gear from president of the Affiance Sports Club, Haimchandra

to admire Sachin Tendukar: the way he holds the bat, the way he plays cricket and he is truly my role model”.

Parsotam who is the eldest child of his parents said he has a wealth of experience. His last game was at the Everest Cricket Club ground against Berbice. He pointed out that although his team lost the game he managed to keep the momentum and was able to score a fighting 40 batting through the innings.

Parsotam opined that due to his commitment and his determination during the last game, he was able to secure on the national team.

The 16-year-old said he is honoured to represent Essequibo and the Affiance Sports Club. The teenager revealed that his parents and members of the Affiance Sports Club gave him the encouragement he needed for the tournament and gave

the assurance that he will excel.

In recognition of the teenager’s achievement, president of the Affiance Sports Club, Haimchandra (only name given) presented a package of sporting gear to the aspiring cricketer.

Haimchandra said that the club is very proud of Parsotam’s achievement and wished him well in the upcoming tournament.

The president of the sport club said since the club was formed some decades ago it has managed to keep youngsters occupied in the area meaningfully.

Haimchandra said that he had always admired Parsotam’s batting skills and encouraged him to keep batting. The president said he is confident that Parsotam will make Guyana proud, adding that members of the club wish him well on his trip.

ICC to ask members to adopt stronger anti-corruption laws

T

he ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) is likely to recommend that its members adopt stronger anticorruption laws to prosecute players, match-officials and franchise owners found guilty of corrupt practices in domestic Twenty20 leagues.

Sir Ronnie Flannagan, the chairman of the ACSU,

is expected to address these concerns during ICC’s annual conference, which begins at the Lord’s cricket ground today.

Flannagan is expected to highlight the threats and challenges, and give recommendations to ICC members on how to curb the dangers of corruption. These concerns come in the wake

of various corruption crises that have taken place in the last year, exposing the loosely-fit anti-corruption mechanisms that are used in lucrative domestic T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL).

The leading performers pose with their winnings at the completion of the competition on Monday evening

T

he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Olympic Day badminton tournament concluded on Monday at the Queen’s College badminton courts with the remaining categories being contested.

The remaining Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles were played off with Narayan Ramdhani winning the Open Singles by defeating Nicholas Ali in a trilling three-setter that saw both players playing long rallies in the interest of winning crucial points.

Ramdhani won the first game 21-15, before Ali came back in the second 21-19.

Ramdhani then won the third game and final game 21-18 to win the open championship 2-1.

Ramdhani also teamed

Men’s Doubles champions Narayan Ramdhani (left) and Nicholas Ali in a relaxed mood after their triumph

up with his sister Priyanna Ramdhani to win the Mixed Doubles by defeating Ali and Ambika Ramraj 2112, 21-10. The win for the Ramdhani siblings made

Men’s Singles: 1st- Narayan Ramdhani 2nd- Nicholas Ali 3rd- Darell Carepeny 4th - Avinash Odit

Ladies Singles: 1st- Priyanna Ramdhani 2nd- Ambika Ramraj 3rd- Nadine Jairam 4th- Arian Kayume

Men’s Doubles: 1st- Narayan Ramdhani and Nicholas Ali 2nd- Noel Shewjattan and Christopher Persaud 3rd- Jonathon Mangra and Cecil Abrams

them both triple champions as they won the Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories. Below are the summarised results:

4th- Ernesto Choo-A-Fat and Darell Carpenay Ladies Doubles 1st- Priyanna Ramdhano and Ambika Ramraj 2nd- Nadine Jairam and Arian Kayume 3 3rd- Kara Abrams and Crystal Dey

Mixed Doubles: 1st- Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani 2nd- Nicholas Ali and Ambika Ramraj 3rd- Jonathon Mangra and Arian Mangra 4th- Christopher Persaud and Nadine Jairam

Turn to page 21

Sammy signs new deal with Digicel

C

astries, St Lucia ─ West Indies cricket captain in test and T20, Darren Sammy, has signed a new two year deal with regional telecommunications provider Digicel.

Part of the new contract, covering 2013 to 2015, includes the continued use of the top St. Lucian cricketer in promotional and marketing activities.

Digicel will also provide monetary assistance to Sammy and will supply him with a number of gifts including the latest handsets and call credit.

“I remain proud to be the

face and sporting ambassador for this truly extraordinary company,” exclaimed Sammy.

“I know well of Digicel’s involvement with the youth, and sports resonates with them. I look forward to engaging in more youth clinics where I can offer cricketing tips, but also serve to motivate the youth to reach their true potential.”

Sammy made history by becoming the first St Lucian to be selected on the West Indies team.

He was later promoted to captain the team at a critical period and his lead-

West Indies Test and T20 captain, Darren Sammy, signed a new two-year deal with regional telecommunications provider Digicel

ership is widely believed to have contributed to a resurgence of West Indies cricket.

Earlier this month Digicel announced that it was extending its sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team for another three years until September 2016.

“Digicel remains a proud custodian of sports and to its developmental role in society, not only on St Lucia but indeed throughout the Caribbean,” said Country Manager Holly HughesMcNamara.

“Today’s (Tuesday’s)

signing of Darren Sammy for another two-year stint is testament to how we feel, not only about Darren’s ability to inspire and lead the team, but how we feel about the game of cricket”.

Digicel has been announced as a sponsor for the upcoming Caribbean Premiere League Twenty/20 Cricket competition which bowls off on July 30 August 24.

Six franchise teams will battle for bragging rights as matches play in Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. (CMC/WICB)

wednesday, june 26, 2013

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23

Deonarine stars as Windies A draw level Johnny deems

W

est Indies A defeated Sri Lanka A by 90 runs in their second ODI at the Grenada National Stadium on Tuesday.

Guyanese player Narsingh Deonarine starred with the bat and ball, scoring 34 when WI A batted first before returning with the ball to grab 3 for 25 from his 10 overs. His 345 was in support Nkrumah Bonner’s 64 and Lendl Simmons’ 40 as the Caribbean side amassed 240 for 9 in 47.1 overs.

Chathuranga De Silva (3-43) and Suranga Lakmal (2-59) were the principal wicket-takers for Sri Lanka A, who were later bowled out for 150 in 42.1 overs. Dimuth Karunarathne scored 51 and Niroshan Dickwella chipped in with 41.

SCOREBOARD

Narsingh Deonarine

Nikita Miller and Sheldon Cottrell were the other destroyers with figures of 2-32 and 2-25 respectively.

West Indies A innings N Bonner c Karunaratne b Prasanna 64 L Simmons c Prasanna b de Silva 40 K Edwards* c AK Perera b Rambukwella 5 N Deonarine run out (AK Perera) 34 A Fletcher b Lakmal 30 L Johnson lbw b de Silva 5 D Thomas† c Prasanna b de Silva 26 J Holder c Prasanna b Jayaratne 14 V Permaul b Lakmal 6 S Cotterrell not out 4 N Miller not out 1 Extras: (b1, lb8, w2) 11 Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 240 Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-111, 3-116, 4-168, 5-181, 6-191, 7-225, 8-235, 9-235 Bowling: R Lakmal 10-0-592, P Jayaratne 4-1-22-1, M Perera 10-1-39-0, P de Silva 10-0-43-3, R Rambukwella 100-44-1, S Prasanna 6-0-24-1

Sri Lanka A innings N Dickwella† b Permaul 41 F Karunaratne* c Johnson b Miller 51 A Perera c Holder b Deonarine 0 S Kandamby c †Thomas b Deonarine 12 S Priyanjan st †Thomas b Deonarine 5 M Perera lbw b Holder 15 P de Silva lbw b Miller 7 S Prasanna b Cotterrell 9 R Rambukwella c Simmons b Holder 2 R Lakmal b Cotterrell 1 P Jayaratne not out 1 Extras: (lb3, w3) 6 Total: (all out, 42.1 overs) 150 Fall of wickets: 1-94, 2-94, 3-99, 4-112, 5-115, 6-131, 7-145, 8-147, 9-147, 10-150 Bowling: J Holder 8-0-39-2, S Cotterrell 5.1-1-25-2, N Miller 9-1-23-2, V Permaul 10-1-351, N Deonarine 10-2-25-3

club’s participation at TT championships a success …believes Guyana should send a 4x400m relay team to CAC

Stephan James

GCB/GTM U-19 Inter-County…

Jason Yaw

By Treiston Joseph

Berbice on top against Essequibo C …Demerara take first innings against President’s XI

Left arm-spinner Mark Hamilton (left) and right arm-spinner Vishual Narayan (Rajiv Bisnauth photos)

Kamesh Yadram was fluent through the off side during his innings

By Rajiv Bisnauth

D

efending champions Berbice ended day one on the ascendancy against Essequibo in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Company (GTM) Inter-County three-day Under-19 tournament.

At the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary on Tuesday, Berbice, closed on 199-3, a first innings lead of 85 runs, after dismissing Essequibo for a paltry 114 in 38 overs.

Berbice openers Devin Baldeo and Ashkay Homraj made the perfect start and put on a superb 82-run stand. The pair ensured Berbice were given a solid platform which they could use to amass a mammoth first innings total.

Homraj was the more aggressive batsman, stroking six fours and two sixes in his 51, while Baldeo collected six boundaries while rotating the strike regularly in his innings of 71. Sharaz Ramcharran was the other batsman dismissed for 26.

David Latchaya and night watchman Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai will resume today on 34 and 0 respectively.

Bowling for Essequibo

Devin Baldeo and Ashkay Homraj

left arm-spinners Herry Greene and Ricardo Adams have so far accounted for the wickets to fall.

Earlier, Essequibo, who lost outright to Demerara on Sunday in the opening round, were asked to bat first on a slow track in sunny conditions, but it was yet another woeful display by the county’s batsmen, who have struggled at this level for some time now.

Skipper Ricardo Adams topscored with 27 and with Ricardo Peters (15) shared the highest partnership of the innings, 40 runs.

However, their team’s batting floundered miserably again. Mark Gonsalves (25), Avinash Persaud (19) and Rajiv Balgobin (10) were the other batsmen to reach dou-

ble figures.

Fast bowler Romario Shepherd-DeJonge, with an excellent spell, claimed 5 for 27. He was supported by Shawn Perreira, Shailendra Shameer and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai with figures of 2-23, 2-11 and 1-11 respectively.

Meanwhile, over at the Everest Cricket Club ground, the President’s XI batting line-up suffered a stunning collapse as an inspired Demerara gained the upper-hand by taking a vital 60-run first-innings lead.

After deciding to bat first, the President’s XI were bowled out for 81 in 37.4 overs with medium pacer Steven Sankar claiming 5-17. Demerara were then restricted for 141 in 46

overs, on the unpredictable Everest track that saw 20 wickets falling.

The President’s XI, batting a second time reached 5-0. Ryan Shun and Anthony Bhupdeo will resume today on two.

Ryan Shun (30), Akeem Wallace (15 not out) and Vishual Narayan (13) were the only batsmen to reach double figures for the President’s XI in the first innings, who were dismissed 56 minutes into the second session. Kevin Paul, Shivram Persaud and Stephon Brown claimed a wicket apiece bowling for Demerara.

Demerara skipper Kamesh Yadram hit his second successive half-century of the tournament to guide his team, after they suffered a mid-innings collapse of their own.

Yadram topscored with 69, inclusive of nine fours and one six. He received support from Tagenarine Chanderpaul (21), Brian Sattuar (17) and Steven Sankar (14), the other main contributors with the bat.

Left-arm spinner Mark Hamilton and right-arm spinner Vishual Narayan combined to dent the Demerara lineup with figures of 6-47 and 3-39 respectively.

Play continues today from 10:00h at both venues.

oach of Running Brave Athletic Club (RBAC) Sham Johnny after returning on Tuesday afternoon from Trinidad deemed his club’s participation at the Trinidad and Tobago senior championship a success.

Hours after landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Johnny took time out to look back on his team’s performance.

“Well we had some success and some disappointments but overall it was successful, we had some personal bests (PB) and that was a win for me,” Johnny told Guyana Times Sport.

Stephan James, who topped the field in his 400m final and posted the sixth fastest time of the two finals in the competition with 46.95s, according to Johnny is still not receiving the type of competition he should locally.

“What they had were two finals an A and B final and he was in the B final and he won it easily in 47.06s, he is still not getting competition, he had some in the 200m, he got second but ran a PB of 21.17s and that is a win for me,” Johnny stated.

It was also revealed

by Johnny that sprint ace Alisha Fortune suffered a hamstring strain and was not able to compete at the event but will look to the South American Games in order for a chance to qualify for the World Championships.

“Well both Alisha and Natrena suffered hamstrings but Natrena still jumped and got second but I think the next big thing for Alisha besides Boyce Jefford will be at South America Championships where she will have a chance at qualifying for World Games next month,” Johnny mentioned.

In, addition Johnny also revealed that distance ace Cleveland Thomas who took bronze in the 1500m at the championships will have to face some coaching decisions

Sham Johnny

pertaining to his 800m running.

“Well Cleveland got third in the 1500m and he didn’t really get to run a good race cause he was boxed in but we will have to revisit his 800m and make some decision because he really doesn’t have the speed for it so we will have to look at that,” Johnny noted.

Further, Johnny has a firm belief that Guyana can do well with a 4x400m relay team at the Central American and Caribbean Championships expected to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in July.

“If we look at it we really have a good team if we factor in (Winston) George, Jason Yaw, James, Wayne (Harlequin) Shawn Semple and even Elton Bollers we have a good team that can do well and I think we should send them some where they can qualify because these guys are running fast and consistently too,” Johnny told this publication.

Looking forward to what is next for the club and their top athletes, Johnny announced that Yaw and James are preparing for meets overseas.

“Well right now me and Julian Edmonds (RBAC co-coach) will be doing work with Yaw and James; Yaw has to prepare for World Youth and we want James to qualify for World Championships and hopefully he can do it at South American Championships next month,” Johnny revealed.

wednesday, june 26, 2013

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

New Zealand 201-4 (B McCullum 68, Rutherford 62, Taylor 32*, Wright 2-31) beat England 196-5 (Wright 52, Hales 39, Bopara 30*) by five runs

CPL signs title sponsorship agreement with NEW GPC/Limacol

“The coolest sporting league in the Caribbean just got cooler” – Damien O’Donohoe, CPL CEO

D

ays after signing on as the first Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise owner, Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop’s New GPC Inc, through its Limacol brand, has assumed the title sponsorship of the CPL. The tournament will now be called the Limacol CPL according to a CPL release.

New GPC’s sponsorship is a multi-year agreement which will affect all aspects of the tournament, from branding and uniforms to advertising, marketing and promotions. New GPC is also the franchise owner for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Limacol is a well-established and respected brand that is distributed throughout the Caribbean as well as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

“We are pleased that Dr Ramroop and his group of companies have seen it fit to increase their level of support for the Caribbean Premier League,” said Damien O’Donohoe, CPL’s

INSIDE TODAY'S SPORTS

Berbice on top P23 against Essequibo

Chief Executive Officer.

“The coolest sporting league in the Caribbean just got cooler. A brand that has kept Caribbean people around the world fresh for decades has joined CPL as title sponsor. Limacol, the flagship product of New GPC, has made a significant long term commitment to ensure the sustainable future of the largest and most exciting event ever to hit the Caribbean; the product is recognised and used by thousands of consumers, both regionally and internationally and has become a popular household name. We believe

that this partnership will indeed enhance Limacol’s already solid profile, and prove valuable and mutually beneficial for both the CPL and New GPC.” New GPC Executive Chairman, Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, is just as optimistic about the relationship between New GPC and the CPL. “Guyana Amazon Warriors represents an investment we have in the CPL, in the sport, in the players, in our Caribbean; cricket is part of our culture.

In this context, we are expanding our investment in

the CPL by acquiring the title sponsorship,” explained Dr Ramroop.

“We believe in the transformative potential of CPL for the Caribbean region.

Not only does it promise to completely rejuvenate and revitalise cricket in the Caribbean, it has the potential to provide a tremendous economic and social boost as well.

“We feel it is important for the major corporate houses of the region to support this landmark initiative and intend to set an example by taking the title sponsorship of the event. Limacol

is a product that for decades, Caribbean people have used to refresh and rejuvenate themselves. To sponsor the CPL, an event that promises to rejuvenate and refresh not just cricket in the Caribbean, but the region in general, was an obvious fit for us.

“With just a few weeks left to go before the inaugural tournament, we are counting on the the energy and excitement surrounding the CPL in expanding our brand.

Combined with CPL’s media reach that will span the cricket world, we aim to take the Limacol brand and its family of products owned by New GPC. into the homes of all cricket fans around the world.

We thank CPL for giving us this opportunity,” added Dr Ramroop.

The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League starts on 30 July in Barbados and concludes on August 24 in Trinidad. (CPL)

FIVB beach volleyball course underway

Lennie Shuffler

O

ver 20 officials from various parts of the country are currently learning the intricacies of beach volleyball as part of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Grass Root programme for Levels One and Two countries affiliated to the governing body.

The participants, drawn from Berbice, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara, Park Rangers and the Guyana Defence Force, are being tutored by FIVB’s Instructor Mauro Hernandez

Some of the participants listen attentively as FIVB’s Instructor Mauro Hernandez makes a point (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

of Venezuela.

He is being accompanied by compatriots, Johan Gutierres and Leonardo Ojeda, at the Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue.

According to president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), Lennie Shuffler, the course is in keeping with the direction suggested by the FIVB, for Levels One and Two federations to develop beach, school and community volleyball.

Beach volleyball is fast gaining popularity worldwide and is an Olympic sport since 1996.

Shuffler said the GVF is committed to developing this form of the game since being a two-player team game it is cost effective and permits the GVF to send teams to compete outside of Guyana.

“Two people playing, now shoes, it’s pretty cheap for the federation to send a team overseas to compete, and

that’s the direction we’re focusing on at the moment,” Shuffler indicated.

The GVF president noted that the local body has had instances in the past where it had to pay exorbitant sums to send a 17-member contingent of players and officials to tournaments overseas.

Shuffler pointed out that with a much smaller touring party of players and officials for beach volleyball competitions, the GVF would be in a

better position to finance such an arrangement, making the current course a step in the right direction for local volleyball.

The course will end on Saturday when the participants will be presented with certificates.

They will then be required to disseminate the information garnered to their respective jurisdictions to ensure the message of beach volleyball catches on.

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