27th June 2013

Policy on sexual harassment still on cards

P17

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1812

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, June 27, 2013

CDB president for official visit to Guyana See story on page 2

Major investment forum opens today EU envoy hosts reception to mark Croatia joining grouping See story on page 3

PRICE

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Western P3 diplomats back holding of local govt elections this year High tides sweep through P7 Lower Pomeroon

See story on page 17

City P9 sanitation improvement project moving apace Three in P13 custody after narco busts in city Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett joins EU Ambassador to Guyana Robert Kopecky in a toast to Croatia’s ascension as a member of the European Union (Carl Croker photo)

Gold, silver prices Four-year-old hit lowest level killed in road since August 2010 accident See story on page 12

See story on page 7

Clampdown on vulgar lyrics P13 overdue Linden unrest victims P17 receive compensation, but complain

2 News

thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Scotiabank begins Regional CDB president for official visit to Guyana HIV Testing Week

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he annual Regional HIV Testing Week hosted by Scotiabank, through its Bright Future Programme, will begin today at its Robb Street branch.

Residents can visit any one of the testing sites during the day where trained personnel from the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) will conduct confidential screenings and provide counselling on taking precautions to stop the spread of HIV. This is the fifth year that Scotiabank in Guyana is participating in this initiative, which will move to its Carmichael Street, Bartica and New Amsterdam branches on Friday.

There will also be a clinic on Sunday, June 30 at Parika and several other sites where persons can access testing and counselling during the regional testing event.

Partnership

Country Manager Amanda St Aubyn said the bank was proud to contribute to the health of communities by partnering with the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership (CBMP) on HIV/AIDS. She added that Scotiabank is happy to open up its branches to host clinics for the annual HIV Regional Testing Week.

“As a bank with a long history and strong roots in Guyana, we need to continue taking action and provide HIV/AIDS support because we know the importance of the health of members in our communities,” St Aubyn said.

She noted that Scotiabank’s

Country Manager Amanda St Aubyn

support of the programme is part of the bank’s Global HIV Strategy launched in 2011, which works to fight stigma and discrimination by promoting awareness and education.

CBMP Executive Director, Dr Allyson Leacock congratulated Scotiabank for its committed involvement in the HIV prevention initiative now in its sixth year. CBMP, which was founded in 2006, unites 112 top broadcasters from 24 countries in the region’s first coordinated media response to the pandemic.

“Our unique collaboration creates a powerful response to fighting the spread of HIV and raising awareness on the importance of preventing the disease in our region. We would also like to thank the ministries and departments of health who provide valuable support to facilitate testing and counselling,” Dr Leacock said.

In 2008, the CBMP and Scotiabank, in collaboration with regional health ministries, piloted the first HIV regional testing day in Barbados, which has

since expanded across the Caribbean and into a week of testing.

This year, CBMP expects that approximately 10,000 people from across the region will be tested.

Trinidad and Tobago will introduce the HIV Regional Testing Day this year which brings the total number of countries participating to 21. Belize introduced the programme in 2012 and more than 500 participants were tested that year.

In 2012, Scotiabank supported the HIV Regional Testing Day in Guyana by hosting five clinics and testing 368 persons; 23 per cent more than 2011’s figure. Scotiabank also supported the HIV Regional Testing Day in 20 countries in the Caribbean with more than 13,000 participants.

Commitment

The bank said it is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates both in Canada and abroad, through its global philanthropic programme “Bright Future”.

Recognised as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, the financial institution has provided on average approximately US$47 million annually to community causes around the world over the past five years.

In March 2007, the CBMP launched the umbrella campaign “LIVE UP: Love. Protect. Respect”, which is an innovative cross-cutting brand to support all of the partnership’s programming components. It is the first media-led campaign on HIV/AIDS to reach across the entire Caribbean.

T

he Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has an extremely important role to play in supporting economic and social development in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, according to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, who was recently elected as the new chairman of the board of governors of the bank at its last annual meetings held in St Lucia in May of this year.

Minister Singh made the statement as he announced that CDB President Dr William Warren Smith, had graciously accepted his invitation to visit this country, and will be in Guyana from Wednesday, June 26 to Friday, June 28. Minister Singh stated that he was extremely pleased that Dr Smith would be visiting Guyana, this being the CDB president’s second visit to this country.

The minister pointed out that Guyana was the first country that Dr Smith had visited after he assumed the presidency of the bank in May 2011. The visit gives the CDB president a good opportunity to see the development progress being made in Guyana and to witness the excellent work being done by the bank in support of economic and social development.

The CDB’s current portfolio of projects in Guyana includes a US$34 million project to rehabilitate the West Coast Demerara Road, a US$16 million project to upgrade hundreds of community roads, a US$7 million project to construct two new technical

CDB President, Dr William Warren Smith

education and vocational training centres, and the provision of grant resources to fund the flagship Basic Needs Trust Fund poverty programme.

These interventions taken individually or as a collective have and will benefit all segments of the country’s population, underscoring the confidence and prominence “we as a government place on CDB as a key development partner,” Dr Singh said.

Dr Smith’s visit coincides with the launching of the Basic Needs Trust Fund’s seventh cycle, a programme that has provided resources to vulnerable communities in order to improve access to basic public services.

During his visit, in addition to his discussions with Minister Singh, the CDB president will pay courtesy calls on President Donald Ramotar and Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque.

News

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thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

bridge openings

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, June 27, from 05:30h to 07:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, June 27, from 07:10h to 08:40h.

Weather

Countrywide: Heavy rain 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 4.47 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.

Major investment forum opens today A major investment conference will open here today, with the focus on encouraging greater foreign direct investment and enhancing the ease of doing business in Guyana including through export credits.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana David Devine and partners will be hosting the two-day conference, according to a news release, under the theme, “Maximising Opportunities for Investment in Guyana”.

The feature address today will be delivered by President Donald Ramotar, and Caribbean Development Bank President, Dr William Warren Smith. Meanwhile, on Friday speakers will include Caricom IMPACS Executive Director Francis Forbes, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh. The seminar will focus on enhancing Guyana’s economic prosperity, by iden-

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, David Devine

tifying the challenges and opportunities facing foreign and local investment in Guyana.

Additionally, the conference will seek to promote good governance by identifying areas where greater transparency, regulatory reform, and enhanced enforcement is required, outlining the impact of bribery and corruption on

investment; discussing international best practices and identifying the means to measure and report on initiatives recommended.

Stakeholders will share best practices and success stories that can be adapted and implemented in Guyana and identify effective recommendations for enhanced investment, the release added. In this regard, local and international experts, from organisations such as the Export Development Canada, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, Caricom IMPACS, the Department for International Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Union, the Private Sector Commission, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have been invited to make presentations and engage in

panel discussions under six thematic areas. The areas are: challenges and opportunities of investing in Guyana, investment promotion, investment protection; capital markets decision processes; corporate governance, and security.

According to the organisers, the seminar is a multi-stakeholder collaboration with several partners including the Canadian High Commission; the Guyana government; the European Union; the U.S. embassy; the British High Commission; the United Nations Development Programme; the InterAmerican Development Bank; REPSOL; Pacific Rubiales; the Private Sector Commission; and the Beharry Group of Companies (specifically, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, and North American Fire Insurance Company (NAFICO); and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Western diplomats back holding of local govt elections this year

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estern diplomats here said the path is now clear for local government elections to be held in Guyana, with a parliamentary select committee completing its work on the four bills critical to the process.

In a joint statement, representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union noted that at the start of 2013, political party leaders, civil society, private sector representatives, and members of the diplomatic community all expressed confidence that this would be the year in which Guyana would move forward to ensure that its citizens benefit from strong and effective local governance. “We are now midway through the year and, with a concerted effort, local government elections and the safer, more prosperous, and more democratic communities they can help build – are within reach.”

According to the diplomats, after months of debate, hard work, and compromise, the parliamentary select committee on local govern-

ment has forged agreement on the four bills necessary to establish a more modern and effective system of local governance. “This is a significant and positive step forward.

We welcome this action on the part of Guyana’s elected representatives to come together in the national interest.”

Constructive progress

The donors said that the path is now clear for approval of these four bills in the National Assembly before the upcoming annual recess. “We encourage all parties, with the support of civil society, to build on the constructive progress and goodwill thus far achieved to complete these vital pieces of legislation in the coming days so that technical preparations for local government elections can begin as soon as possible. Building on our established record of constructive engagement and support for effective and responsive democratic institutions, we look forward to supporting the Guyana Elections Commission, the government of Guyana and civil society organisations, as they move

forward to prepare for local government elections this year,” the diplomats said.

They added that however, there is much work ahead to boost public knowledge of the local government election process, the role of local government organs, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens and elected officials.

Democracy

Guyana’s constitution states, “Local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organised so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live.”

The diplomats said all of Guyana’s political parties have consistently affirmed their commitment to hold local elections and reinvigorate local government entities.

The Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana Trades Union Congress, and many other stakeholders have likewise raised their voice to reinforce this national consensus. The envoys noted that this consensus is so broad, because stakeholders recognise that elected local government puts power into the hands of the citizens, giving them a vital framework to participate directly in building their communities. It also makes possible the active civic participation that leads to better services, increased investment, and greater accountability and transparency, all of which contribute to better governance and stronger communities. The path is now clear for the restoration of effective democratic local governance in 2013. That is good news for the citizens in every community in Guyana, the diplomats said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, june 27, 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

The minimum wage

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he announcement by the labour minister that Guyana will be imposing a national minimum wage for all workers as from July 1 has elicited some discussion in business circles. From the comments appearing in the press, it does not appear that the specified monthly minimum wage of $35,000 monthly is the problem. According to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), some of his members are balking at the ancillary regulation that the salary is calculated for a 40-hour work week of five days.

What this means in effect is that any work done outside his framework would be considered “overtime” and would necessitate the worker being paid at “time and a half” the regular rate. From anecdotal evidence, for all the “shop” girls, this would translate into all Saturday work being considered “overtime”. Security firms and domestics would also be affected. It is alleged that employers of minimum wage workers were not given enough time to make alternative arrangements to deal with the new contingency. While this has been debunked, it does not actually address another fundamental issue that has been raised: that raising the minimum wage will have an inflationary effect on the economy.

Guyana is not the only country that is grappling with the issue of a minimum wage and maybe the experience of other countries might offer a new perspective. In the U.S., a federal minimum wage was introduced in 1938 at 25 cents per hour for a 40 hour work-week and over the years this was raised to the present US$7.25 per hour. President Barack Obama has floated the proposal to have this be raised to US$9 per hour but was shot down. His argument reminds us that the original term was “minimum living wage” and was supposed to be sufficient to provide the wherewithal for that contingency.

Very few are willing to argue directly against this proposition so that the argument is made that raising the minimum wage will have an inflationary effect since employers will have to pass on their increased costs (from wages) onto the products they ship to the market. Their goods might also be priced out of that market especially from foreign competition where labour costs are lower. This has been the most powerful argument recently in the face of Chinese mass production at very cheap rates for almost every product under the sun.

Proponents of a living minimum wage, however, counter this argument by pointing out that firstly, wages in those countries will also rise and in fact this has occurred in China where by 2004, minimum wages jumped very steeply. This fact is tied to another more fundamental argument that ultimately the entire system of capitalist production rests on the ability of consumers – read “labourers” – they must be capable of purchasing the goods.

In fact, in the U.S., there are some who advocate that the minimum wage be doubled to around US$15 per hour to boost the spending power of the poorer classes and provide the needed stimulus to get their economy moving again.

What all of these arguments suggest is that the issue of a national minimum wage is not as simple as it appears. But in all of the back and forth, we cannot afford to forget the original proposition that people need a minimum living wage.

Our tradition was honed to fall back on the European tradition of trade unions bargaining vigorously to secure living wages. But what has been our experience is that too many of our workers have fallen through the cracks. In an era of a debilitated and divided labour movement, the government must be commended for taking the bold step it has. From the comments of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry Ltd (CAGI) there were adequate consultations and the GCCI was represented in those consultations.

We look forward for equitable treatment for minimum wage workers.

Youths of Santa Rosa putting their new volleyball and net, which they received from the government, to use (GINA photo) see story on page 11

I have been wrongly branded Dear Editor, An opposition member of Parliament has done it again. I have been branded me a “nuts and bolt man” and of “micro management”. These accusations are not new to ministers of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration. And so long as the People’s National Congress (PNC) remains in the opposition, so it will be.

I am convinced that Guyana will become a “paradise lost” if the PNC is to regain the seat of power.

We only have to cast our minds back to the 19641991 period to assess their track record in government.

Will the joint opposition do better?

Hardly likely, just look at their behaviour with their one-seat majority in National Assembly and make your own assessment.

As a matter of fact, just look at how they run the Georgetown municipality

and ask yourself if they can’t run a municipality, how can they run a government?

The PNC members have convinced themselves that only they can administer our country’s security sector. That is why they are not approving a single bill that is laid in the National Assembly to bring improvements to the security sector under the PPP/C administration. It is not about Clement Rohee, it is about the ego of the opposition members.

Having dug themselves into a hole, they find it hard to extricate themselves from that very hole, less they bring shame onto themselves. The opposition talks about “setting policies and dealing with the bigger issues”. How laughable! Do they really want to listen to policies and bigger issues with respect to the security sector? No way! Who do they think they are fooling?

As far as the joint oppo-

sition is concerned, only under the PNC will the security sector improve. They have all the answers! They know it all!

Regrettably, there is no one in the PPP/C who supports either APNU or the Alliance For Change (AFC).

So Rohee or no Rohee, both the AFC and APNU will have to await a change of government to get their way in the security sector.

Moreover, Rohee or no Rohee at the Ministry of Home Affairs, the PNC will never change its stripes.

They have never found acceptable any PPP/C Minister of Home Affairs. In fact, they have never found the PPP/C an acceptable government. And that’s the bottom line.

Instead of worrying over Rohee, Backer and her backers should pay attention to what Dr Henry Jeffrey wrote in his “Future Notes” on June 19, 2013 where he said:

“APNU has not been able to transmit an acceptable vision of the future, and its political antics have left many confused.”

The PNC has never told the nation what is their vision for the security sector in Guyana. But the question is do they have one?

Moreover, the Stabroek News in its Editorial of June 23, 2012 had this to say about the PNC: “Although now in opposition for two decades, the PNC has failed to take the opportunity to rejuvenate itself or move in to secure ethical grounds with an acknowledgement, at least of its fraudulent past.”

I would therefore recommend to the opposition members that, instead of getting hot and bothered about me, they should go rejuvenate themselves.

Yours, Clement Rohee Home Affairs Minister

Kudos for housing initiative Dear Editor, The Beharry Group and Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc have done something that is most wonderful for lower income Guyanese. They have put together a 12-month partnership programme to raise funds for the construction of their homes, namely those who are not high earners. I know that many will jump on this, as it is in the desire of most Guyanese to get that house, and they usually are most willing to go that extra-mile.

This partnership is about

a portion of funds raised from the sale of Beharry’s products going to Habitat Guyana. The monies raised will contribute to Habitat’s efforts to aid housing projects through community development initiatives. These include things like youth empowerment programmes, disaster response and recovery training, and of course provision of houses for the lower income bracket.

As an international, nongovernmental and non-profit body, that was founded all the way back in 1976.

Habitat’s thrust is all about

building “simple, decent and affordable” homes.

Where Guyana is concerned, Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc began its work since 1994, following an invitation from then President Dr Cheddi Jagan. From this humble start, the organisation has supported over 3000 families within all 10 administrative regions.

The Beharry group on the other hand has been in operation since 1937. The company is now one of the largest food manufacturing and distribution companies

in the Caribbean. Such a partnership therefore holds out a lot of hope for success.

Across the region, Guyana is leading the way where housing programmes are concerned. I am sure that many more partnership ventures can be attempted.

Currently the government has a few good initiatives that many are capitalising on. Even materials and furniture are now more available and affordable.

Yours truly, Janice Hinds

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

West Demerara Hospital needs some revamping Dear Editor, A stitch in time saves nine – this little adage came to me when I read of the plethora of physical and service level problems at the West Demerara Hospital.

The conclusion to all of this is that of censuring, purging and a brand new start.

I will not get into any blame game, but I think that there needs to be a quick overhaul. A hospital must be equipped physically to do whatever it sets out to do.

This is a general hospital and certain expectations must be met. I think that at times staff members at-

tempt that which is beyond skill, experience, expertise, equipment and available medication. This is when trouble can develop.

No one can work miracles, and my best suggestion is that there be a commitment from all staff members to work to the best of

their ability within the given framework at the hospital. One thing that must never be excused though is that of attitude. This will really help to alleviate any bad situation.

Yours sincerely, Damien Glasgow

Compensation for Lindeners should be accepted Dear Editor, The Linden protests remain a very sad chapter in Guyana’s history. However, we can only hopefully learn from it and resolve to abstain from destructive protests.

Currently the window is open to collect compensation for those persons who were maimed or had their properties damaged during the July-August 2012 protests.

This was the ruling based on the recommendations of the independent Linden Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

Word is out that at least 15 victims of the Linden unrest will meet with the Region 10 chairman seeking advice whether or not they should

accept the compensation offered by the government.

This, as I have just said, is how the CoI ended its probings. The terms of reference and the commissioners themselves were all the designs of both the current administration and the joint opposition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC). All through the investigations, both sides backed off and allowed for candour and transparency.

I think that it is only fair that the matter should now come to a closure with the disbursement of the various compensations. In insurance pay outs, even if the insured amount is huge, it is not

a case of monetary value in comparison with a life. No one has that right to measure the value and worth of a human life. If this were so, then there would not be plans to build facilities for the homeless and the mentally challenged.

Government has set aside some $50 million for the rebuilding of the One Mile Primary School. Many Lindeners were trying their hands on it, and they quickly found out how arduous the task really is. This school was destroyed during the ugly protest. Children are currently displaced, and it is a case of prolonged agony to really help them in their improvised environments.

Most likely the new school will be more modern, but no one can attach a price for what is happening socially and psychologically to these unfortunate students.

The earlier the school is up and running, the better it is for everybody, particularly the children.

I say the same here for these victims, who must now be compensated. I urge them to think wisely and be practical. In the end, they need to move on with their lives. I am sure this kind of mindset will be met with a lot of wellwishers.

Yours faithfully, Karen Sommerset

The police are indeed blundering in many cases Dear Editor, President Donald Ramotar rightfully took a swipe at the Guyana Police Force regarding the many cases that are being thrown out of the courts, as a result of lack of evidence and tardiness by certain officers.

Just a few weeks back officers attached to the New Amsterdam Prisons did not appear in court to give evidence, and this resulted in the dismissal of a very seri-

ous case.

Then just a few days ago, someone accused of raping a woman in Berbice was set free. The woman did not show up and nothing else mattered.

I therefore support the president in his rebuke. I can see why justice is a major pillar in any democracy.

According to the president, one of the deficiencies was the number of cases that the police make and are thrown

out of court for the lack of evidence and poor preparations. Why should victims suffer injustices all because of laziness or incompetence on the part of the police?

Two more cases involve one for treason, where the charge instituted was faulty, and the other for murder, where the suspect was freed because of the lack of evidence. The police force is vital to any country, and since a lot of money is be-

ing pumped into it here, the reasonable thing to expect is some embracement of professionalism from officers.

Since the president is quite au fait with a few bad practices in the local force, he should now ensure the necessary changes are implemented. If not, hold the erring ones to accountability.

Yours sincerely, Phillip Richmond

Meten-Meer-Zorg police should investigate accident

Dear Editor, I was really moved when I was listening to the “President’s Diary” that was aired and televised over the weekend. The president made a clarion call to the Guyana Police Force to really up the ante.

I recall when former President Jagdeo expressed similar sentiments. He told the force back then that he preferred to answer critics regarding slain criminals on the run, than having to comfort grieving loved ones of any deceased.

The relatives of a man, who was killed in a hit-andrun accident on the MetenMeer-Zorg Public Road some six months ago are very upset. This is because, according to them, the Leonora Police Station is most unresponsive and uncaring.

So far nothing has been achieved, even though the police have quite a lot to go on. The suspicion of a hitand-run stemmed from this.

I am asking that this matter be pursued to the limit. I think that this will be in line with what the president was

talking about over the weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Resident of Meten-Meer-Zorg (Name withheld by request)

UG protests Dear Editor, I am not surprised that the protest at the University of Guyana (UG) is now getting longer, bigger and bolder. Somehow, there is a feeling in me that UG is not being taken as seriously as it should. Outside of the current gridlock, I can comment on a few things that have been affecting the institution – these three issues should have never surfaced.

First, grades are not up online for students who completed studies as far back as three years. For some, only their final year grades are there. This goes to show that there is a kind of slothfulness where records are concerned.

Second. The noise factor is still very much evident.

Even in the middle of examinations, vehicles are traversing the main entrance that leads to the admissions department. Add that to the arbitrary sounding of alarms from vehicles and you have another headache.

Third, when I think of the shuttle service of the hire cars, I am most irritated. These cars perform an important duty and yet there is no park for them at the top of the UG access road. They squeeze themselves in a little muddy patch juxtaposed by the main highway. What indignity! I do not know who are the ones directly responsible for these three matters, but they need urgent attention.

Is it any wonder the

country is being overrun by offshore tertiary schools, leaving UG far behind and with an increasing paucity in attendance?

Now the fact that UG staffers have decided to take their demonstrations over the non-payment of their benefits and tax and insurance contributions off campus is a sign of their deep frustration. This should not have been. In recent months, money issues surfaced and salary dates kept fluctuating.

There are many more ugly stories and all of this took place within a fourmonth period. If things were properly dealt with from the beginning, I think this stand-off would have been avoided.

The main issues at the moment are dissatisfaction with the state of things at the university and the need to do better, necessity to effect the level of change that the university requires, and desire to impact persons who have enough authority and influence to make UG what it should be. Now these expectations will not be realised overnight. However, the longer stakeholders wait, the worse things become. I urge the academic community to get together and iron out the problems at UG. It is an institution that must be protected and invested in.

Yours truly, Annalisa Ally

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y definition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder or neurobehavioral disorder characterised by significant difficulties either of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsiveness or a combination of the two. ADHD impacts school-aged children and results in restlessness, acting impulsively, and lack of focus which may impair school performance.

Ways of managing a child with ADHD

1. When you find a medication that works, make sure your child is covered all day, every day. Children do not need to take breaks from medication and can safely take it daily. Some parents only give the medication for school and not for evenings, weekends and holidays.

This does a great disservice to your child who needs the medication at these times to cope with homework, study, extra-curricular activities, chores, socialising with siblings and peers and even to enjoy relaxation time.

2. Set up very firm and clear routines in your home. Have daily routines and weekly routines and put them up on the wall.

Everything should be structured from the time they get up to the time they go to bed. ADHD children function much better when the schedule is totally predictable.

3. Set up a good rewards

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation system for good behaviour.

For ADHD children, good behaviour is a lot of hard work.

Some people believe you should not reward good behaviour and it should be expected but for ADHD children its one of the hardest things to do. If there are no rewards, it is generally not worth it to them. Remember that your ADHD child doesn’t want, but needs, attention. It’s usually very easy and quick to get bad attention but good attention is harder to earn and far less guaranteed. You need to make rewards for good behaviour much easier to earn than punishment for bad behaviour is.

4. Make sure your rewards system suits the ADHD child. They can’t behave for a whole week in the hope of a reward on Friday; they need immediate and frequent rewards. Set up a points chart and award points on a regular basis (a lot throughout every day) for good behaviour like getting started on homework or chores, staying on task, completing tasks, playing well with siblings, getting ready for bed without a fuss and basically any behaviour you want to target and improve.

As well as your points chart have a second chart of rewards they can exchange for their points. Small rewards they can exchange for small amounts of points like a special play time with dad, and extra 10 minutes of TV, a special treat after

dinner. Or they can save up their points for bigger rewards like a friend over for a sleepover and day out etc. have lots of rewards because the novelty will keep them interested. As the children grow and change so must the rewards.

5. Know what to do if it doesn’t work. If the reward system doesn’t work, it is usually because the child has too many privileges al-

bad behaviour. You need to keep your rewards and discipline systems totally separate. If an ADHD child works hard to earn points and then loses them, they tend to give up on the system entirely and feel worthless.

7. When you need to talk to your child, make sure you have his/her attention first.

Say their name and wait for them to respond of look at

ready so it’s not worth anything to them. Make sure your child has all their rights like food and clothes and so on but don’t just give privileges without them being earned. Like TV time.

6. Once your child has earned points or rewards, never take them away for

you. Avoid giving instructions while they are doing something like watching TV, wait till its done or turn it off for a second if you have something to say. Make sure you say what you need to say while in a close vicinity to the child, yelling an instruction over to your child while

they are playing in the pool wont work. Remove them to the side first, then talk.

8. When speaking to your child, use as few words as possible, ADHD children have short attention spans and struggle to pay attention.

The less you say, the more they hear. Keep instructions to one sentence maximum.

9. If your child is misbehaving, use the three step procedure. It’s important to use the same system, every time. If you do something different every time they will constantly test you to see what you will do next.

Always use the exact same consequences so they become predictable and boring and the child knows immediately exactly what will happen when they misbehave and won’t have to constantly test you.

Step one – awareness – when you child first starts to misbehave use step one.

In this step you simply correct your child’s behaviour.

Usually an ADHD child either doesn’t realise what they are doing, or doesn’t think anyone minds or anyone has noticed. If you see something you don’t like let them know.

Get their attention first and phrase it as something to do not something to stop.

Example “Johnny, keep your hands to yourself”. Don’t threaten punishment at this point, just state the behaviour you want to see and expect to see it. (www.wikihow.com) (TO BE CONTINUED)

BY RUTH ELLIOTT

S

ome parents ask: “Why should I use incentives?

Isn’t that just teaching children to be greedy?”

NO! Using incentives teaches children that hard work pays off!

Children finally see how it is more rewarding to do the right things instead of only getting attention when they are misbehaving.

Getting attention for being good builds in your child the satisfaction of being an achiever; a person who is part of the solution, not the problem.

It establishes good habits of creativity, self-control and goal setting.

You will notice the difference in your child’s attitude immediately! If you are consistent, they will see that being good is so much more fun than being punished for misbehaving!

NOTE: Always remember to think things out and plan ahead! Explain the new programme (of incentives) clearly to your children before you do it. Remember that you are the leader! BE calm. Be confident.

You are the boss, not them.

REWARDS: Decide on a treat they will only get at the end of the week: (something simple and inexpensive. For instance: ice cream, candy bar, a trip to the store where they can pick out one item. There are many rewards that are not food, toys or money, such as choosing a special parent approved video; getting to play a video game for a limited time; a visit to a fun park: the zoo; visit to a free museum; visiting grandparents if they are not too far away, having a special book read to them, getting to go swimming, having a friend over for a movie and popcorn, a special craft project, gardening or other fun activity to do with you. The list can go on and on, limited only by your imagination!

All week long, make sure to deny them that special treat and remind them that they will get it at the end of the week after they have earned their stickers or ‘good marks’. At the end of the week, give them the treat you have agreed on. You will figure out what will work best for your schedule.)

Improving the diet can help behaviour, too. Many children become hyperactive just from getting too much sugar and overly processed foods. Some children cannot have them ever – check with your physician if you think your child is gluten or wheat intolerant. When mine were little they would become hyper if I would let them eat candy, soda, dessert, or artificial colours, so I would limit those treats to the ‘reward day’. (I could tolerate a barrel of monkeys once a week but not EVERY day!) Make sure to explain what you are doing beforehand, and you will both enjoy it! (www.gomommygo.com)

News

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thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

High tides sweep through Four-year-old killed in road accident Lower Pomeroon – thousands of dollars in cash crops, other produce destroyed

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xtreme high tides over the past two days have swept through several farmlands in the Lower Pomeroon, Essequibo, resulting in acres of crops being flooded.

Cash crop farmers in the area are currently counting their losses as tonnes of pumpkins and blooming plants are submerged in water. On a visit by Guyana Times to farmlands in the Lower Pomeroon on Wednesday, many acres of cash crop were submerged due to sporadic high tides.

Cash crops such as corn, pumpkin and watermelon were under salted water.

Francis Raymond from Grant Unity, Lower Pomeroon, told this publication that his two acres of pumpkin is presently under water. The farmer, who is owner of 15 acres of land, sadly said he will lose thousands of dollars in pumpkin due to the high tides.

Raymond said his farmland is under water for approximately two days and the pumpkins are beginning to rot. The cash crop farmer said his produce was in the flowering stage and was expected to be harvested within a week’s time; however, due to the high tides and poor drainage in his area, he lost his entire crop.

Cash crop farmer Francis Raymond walking through his flooded pumpkin patch

in his area. He explained during last month, he paid extra to empolder his land, but noticed there is still more building up of the land to be done. He said while he is upgrading and rehabilitating his plot of land, other farmers are neglecting theirs, thereby allowing the water to sweep through. He advised other

Francis Raymond's cultivation under water

The farmer said on his 15 acres of land, he cultivated eight acres of coconut and five acres of plantain. He said this year; he decided to cultivate pumpkin and now is discouraged due to the flooding. The farmer said he was hoping to earn to provide for his family; however, due to the flooding, he is now counting looses.

When asked what exactly is the main contributing factor to his farmland being flooded, he said “the natural spring tide and lack of poor drainage”

farmers to empolder their lands to stave off the effects of the massive high tides.

The farmer is calling for the front embankment in the Fear Not area to be upgraded so that farmlands can be cushioned against flood waters.

Another farmer who experienced six feet of water in her farmland also related that she lost all her pumpkins due to flooding. Coleen Benjamin from Fear Not, Lower Pomeroon, said she lost some $400,000 due to a lack of market for

her produce.

The farmer said she had tonnes of pumpkins; however, due to the abundance of the vegetable and lack of marketing capacity, hundreds of her pumpkins were spoilt.

She said that she harvested tonnes of pumpkins and would usually transport them to the Charity Market where buyers usually make their purchase, but due to the excess of pumpkin on the local market, she was forced to store her pumpkins in her storage bond but it eventually spoiled.

Many other farmers in the area also faced with similar problems are calling for improvement in drainage and irrigation in the Fear Not community, Lower Pomeroon. Farmers in the areas of Grant, Fear Not, Malbourgh and Hackney are suffering huge losses due to the high tides.

The Lower Pomeroon over the years has been prone to prolonged flooding due to high tides mainly because of the make-up of the farmlands. Many of the farmlands are low; however, recently the Agriculture Ministry had gifted farmers higher lands at Siriki and Abram Creek for farming.

The government of Guyana through the Agriculture Ministry is presently investing millions in the Upper Pomeroon River (other side) to build embankments to safeguard farmers in Kabakaburi and other Amerindian communities.

A

Belladrum Nursery School pupil has become the latest road fatality on Guyana’s roadways, taking the death toll to 50 after she was struck by a speeding car yards from her home at Plantation Foulis, West Coast Berbice on Tuesday.

The accident occurred about 08:20h.

Four-year-old Trichel “Bibi” Williams, of Lot 9 Plantation Foulis, sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahaicony Hospital on Tuesday morning.

Police said the driver was taken into custody, as investigations revealed that he was proceeding along the roadway allegedly at a fast pace when he collided with the child who was standing in the corner of the road. She reportedly died on the spot.

The child’s mother, Bevon Babb explained that Williams had just crossed the road and was awaiting public transportation in the company of her sixyear-old brother to take her to school when the accident occurred.

The distraught mother stated that prior to the accident; she had given

Dead child: Trichel “Bibi” Williams

her children money and saw them cross safely before heading back into the yard. A few seconds after, she said she heard a crashing sound and when she looked back, she saw her daughter landing on the parapet close to the trench while the car lost control and jumped the trench.

The grieving woman recalled screaming, dropping her four-month-old child, and running towards her injured daughter. When she arrived at the scene, the child’s father was there, but he collapsed after seeing his injured daughter.

Babb said from all indi-

cations, the child was dead, but a neighbour helped to pick her up and rushed her to the hospital. The driver, she added, was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police.

The child’s father upon regaining his composure heard that his daughter had died and collapsed again. He is in a state of shock and disbelief, and hopes that the driver faces the full blunt of the law.

Babb explained that a post-mortem examination was performed on the child’s body on Wednesday, which confirmed that she suffered a broken neck and spine, and lacerations to the body. The child leaves to mourn her parents and three siblings. She is expected to be laid to rest today.

8 news

thursday, june 27, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Child rights commission to hold workshop on reporting on children

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he Rights of the Child Commission (RCC), with technical support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and institutional assistance from the University of Guyana (UG), will facilitate a media colloquium on Thursday, July 4 with the aim of establishing a Code of Practice for Reporting on Children.

RCC Chief Executive Officer Orrin Boston told

Guyana Times that based on information garnered from the UNICEF database, language and graphics used by the media at times are not in keeping with the Rights of the Child legislation.

It is anticipated that the forum, which will attract senior journalists and reporters in the country, would lead to media consensus on formulating a Code of Practice for Reporting on

Children. Boston said RCC and UNICEF are hopeful that following the consultation process and the compilation of the code of practice, it will be adopted by all reporters or journalists when reporting on child-related issues.

“Themes that will be explored include garnering interviews, photography, visual exposure, and ethical guidelines in reporting sensitive issues such as trau-

ma.”

Before the document is compiled; however, feature presentations will be conducted by child rights advocates and agencies including UNICEF, RCC, and the Child Protection Agency.

There presentations are expected to stimulate discussion on framing and reporting on children in the context of protecting and advancing their rights in the media.

Man on trial for raping ex

T

he victim in a Corentyne rape and buggery trial testified that she and the accused once lived together when the court proceeding opened on Tuesday in the Berbice Assizes.

On trial for two counts of sexual assault is a 29-yearold man. It is alleged that between April 27 and 28, 2009, the two acts were committed. State Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar in presenting the state’s case, said the victim was walking along the road with an aunt when the accused rode up to her on a bicycle carrying a cutlass. She said the accused is known to the victim because they were involved in a relationship.

In her evidence, the virtual complainant (VC) told the court that she lived with the accused in 2007 for about six months. She said about 21:30h on the night in question, he threatened her with a cutlass and forced her to sit on his bicycle before

taking her to the Liverpool Community Centre where the acts were committed.

According to the victim, she did not scream because she was told if she did, she would have been hit with the cutlass.

As the victim related the graphic and horrific incident, the accused sat in the docks with his head bowed and did not look at the witness as she told her story.

In the story, she said that she was left at the community centre and had to walk in the dark for about 10 minutes to get home after the incident. According to her, she reached home about 01:30h and reported the matter to her sister. Later that day, the police were informed.

Under cross-examination by Attorney Sasha Roberts, the VC said during the time that they lived together; she never made a report to the police about the accused. She said she had moved on and was living with someone else in

Suriname, but was home for the Easter Holidays.

The woman said she never tried to made contact with the accused since she returned to Guyana and had not encouraged him to leave his wife. She also told the court that she never had intentions of marrying the accused.

The accused in his evidence under oath said that he met the VC in 2007 when she was in a fight with a boy and pulled him away from her. He said that he and the VC,who is now 27 years old, later started going out.

“We does go like night clubs an so.” His story is that they lived together in 2008. The accused, who is now married, said when he and the VC were living together, he had plans of marrying her. Now she had been trying to pursue a relationship with him since she returned from Suriname, “I did not accept that proposal.

She was upset with me for

marrying.”

Hussain told the court that on the night in question, the VC called him when he was riding along the road and later told him that she had not had sex for the past three months.

“She is the one who suggested that we go to the community centre, because we use to go there before we were living together.” The accused said what transpired was consensual sex and denied having anal sex with the VC that night.

The prosecution is contending that the VC did not give the accused permission and that he used force and made her fearful. “It is for you the jury to decide whether the accused committed each offence. Sexual offences are usually done in private and so the victim’s story should be enough for you to convict the accused.”

Prosecutor Kaulesar is to cross-examine the accused when the trial continues today.

Suspect accused of Murder accused set robbing wheelchair- man ablaze bound man remanded A

A

32-year-old man was remanded on a charge of robbery when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

Cecil Anderson pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that Anderson, who was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, robbed Alfred Mekdeci on June 12 at Subryanville, Georgetown of one gold chain valued at $250,000.

According to the facts of the case, on the day in question, Mekdeci was in

his wheelchair rolling along when he was approached by the defendant who asked him for the chain, but he refused to hand it over.

Anderson then pulled him from the chair, so he became afraid, took off the chain and gave it over to the defendant who made good his escape.

The local authorities, acting on a tip, later apprehended the defendant who was placed on an ID parade and identified by the virtual complainant.

The chief magistrate denied bail and Anderson will return to court on July 12.

man charged with murder appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

Edward Emmanuel, 49, of Bartica, did not have to plead to the indictable offence, which alleged that on June 2 at Chinese Creek, Kuyuni River in the Essequibo District, he, along with Kenrick Benjamin, murdered Elroy Sealey. An arrest warrant is currently out for the other defendant who did not appear in court.

Emmanuel was represented by Attorney Lawrence Harris. According to reports, on May 21, Sealey was at a shop when he and

the accused had an argument and the accused left.

Sealey then proceeded to the camp where the two accused were stationed with a cutlass and began firing chops while threatening to kill them. As a result, Edwards threw a lit cup of gasoline at the deceased which caused him to be engulfed in flames. Sealey was rushed to the Bartica Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital in the High Dependency Unit (HDP). He was pronounced dead on June 2.

Emmanuel was refused his pre-trial liberty, and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for July 5.

Republic Park man gets bail for threatening language

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man was granted bail for using threatening language when he appeared before Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

London Dorway, 46, of 483 Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 23, at 3378 Kaneville, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown he used threatening language

against his ex-reputed wife Donetta Dorway.

Attorney Alan Lancaster made an application for reasonable bail on Dorway’s behalf to which the prosecution had no objection.

The magistrate granted Dorway bail in the sum of $30,000, and placed him and his wife on a bond to keep the peace pending the termination of the matter.

The next court date was set for July 5.

Eyew tness Overvaulting ambition...

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...in business

rying to rationalise the murder of his elder relative King Duncan, Macbeth confesses, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’ other... (side).” The old king had done him no harm...he was weak and befuddled and all that. But that was no reason for doing away with him, was it?

Well, Clinton Urling had even less reason to try to unseat the elder Ronald Webster...weak and befuddled as he may be, as head of the Private Sector Commission (PSC). But unlike the earlier instance of “vaulting ambition”, Urling was given his comeuppance when he lost ignominiously to Webster in the vote. But he betrayed his churlish nature and ambition when he brushed aside the offer to be vice chairman.

Looks like its leader or nothing with the owner of the cow-heel soup kitchen in Tiger Bay. He assured all and sundry that he’s the man with the plan to get the business of business going in Guyana. Nothing wrong with a bit of ambition – in fact success in business positively demands it. But the lesson of Macbeth – and not so incidentally of the Masters of the Universe from Wall Street – is that the ambition can’t be “overvaulting”.

They say it’s from the small things we really get to know people’s character. So we won’t bother too much with all the high-falutin’ stuff Urling spouted when to everyone’s surprise, he launched his challenge against Webster. With the Internet nowadays, anyone can download all sorts of nice sounding words.

Let’s look at what one food critic wrote about the famous soup Urling’s father bequeathed to him.

According to the good lady, she took some friends to sample the house speciality when – horror of horrors! – she discovered Urling had prepared the major components of the soup separately, rather than letting them all simmer into a savoury melange. The attendants simply ladled the pre-cooked ingredients together when serving the order. You can imagine the taste!

The point of the story is that Urling is in too much of a hurry to satisfy his vaulting ambition and is prepared to go to any lengths – or sink to any depths – to accomplish that task. We notice that after the defeat in the PSC, Urling is to use the bully pulpit of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to keep his flag flying.

Like we said, nothing wrong with ambition...just watch its reach.

...by USAID

We’re all excited that USAID’re back in Guyana, to help us develop and sort out our problems. This time they’re going to help us with strengthening our democratic institutions such as Parliament and local government. But we hope after their experience in Haiti, they’ll be giving the American people value for the money they’re spending.

Seems that after receiving US$651 million to rebuild about 15,000 homes for Haitians after the catastrophic earthquake, USAID were only able to complete 2649.

But the money’s all gone!!! The 55-page report by the Government Accounting Office tells a sorry tale.

Even though they were involved in designing a model replacement home, USAID didn’t provide a plan to their grantees. Incidentally, none of them were local Haitian firms.

As a result, the grantees did whatever they wanted to do. As the report said: “Some grantees constructed shelters that consisted of nothing more than simple plastic sheeting over a timber frame without floors, doors, or windows.” At US$245,000 per dwelling!!! Most alarming was that, of the seven recommendations made by the inspector general, USAID rejected six and insisted: “We did nothing wrong!”

....in GECOM

One report suggests that Dr Steve Surujbally has been advised by his lawyers (?) that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Executive Officer Gocool Boodhoo has no contract. Really? And the other five times or so he was automatically rehired doesn’t give him a reasonable expectation that must be rebutted by cause?

news

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thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

City sanitation improvement Caricom to develop regional database system project moving apace

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GWI personnel rehabilitating the delivery mains at Hunter Street on Wednesday

he US$10 million Georgetown Sanitation I m p r o v e m e n t Programme (GSIP), which is being funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank and the Guyana government, is progressing smoothly with delivery mains currently being rehabilitated.

The executing agency, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) disclosed that the first phase of the project is in full swing. GWI Senior Engineer Arshad Yacoub explained that the first component – three kilometres of the 5.5 kilometres of delivery mains in Georgetown – have been completed, and will benefit approximately 50,000 persons.

Upgraded networks

“Installation works of delivery mains at Forshaw and Peter Rose streets to Light and Fifth streets have also started.” Work was also conducted at Hadfield and Smyth streets – Pump Station S; and on Quamina Street between Camp and Waterloo streets.

He said while the three kilometres of delivery mains were being reconstructed, sections of the roads were excavated and bridges broken to facilitate the process. The restoration process has been prolonged owing to inclement weather.

“We would like to sincerely apologise to the public for not reinstating the roads, but this is due to the inclement weather that we would have had over the few days. The weather is fairly good now and we are trying as hard as possible to have them reinstated,” the engineer assured.

Within the next month, six kilometres of the ring mains or force mains will be reconstructed. In an effort to commence the renovation of these mains, several key streets in the city will be closed periodically, including Waterloo, Sussex, New

be formulated to effectively manage the upgraded network, Yacoub told Guyana Times.

“Also this component will include seminars for hotels and restaurant owners, because they are using the sewage network and they create grease straps by pumping the fats from the food into the sewage networks which is severely hampering the network,” he explained.

GWI Senior Engineer Arshad Yacoub

Market, and Light streets.

However, systems will be put in place to facilitate the traffic as the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has already been consulted.

Though this aspect of GSIP is disrupting the lives of persons traversing the city, Yacoub said the reconstruction of the delivery and force mains are critical to the supply of efficient services.

“The existing sewage system as it is right now, these pipes are very old, fragile and delicate and they were laid about 80 years ago, so with the increased population, the increased amount of sewage in the network is putting additional pressure on these delicate lines causing them to blow out,” he explained.

Additionally, under phase one of the GSIP, eight of nine pump stations have been rehabilitated. In the past, 15 of the 24 pump stations in the city were rehabilitated. In addition, one backup pump each will be placed at the 24 pumping stations.

“The idea is to have two pumps within each sewage station where one will be on duty and the other one will be on standby.”

Meanwhile, component two of the GSIP focuses on strengthening GWI’s operations. As a result, an Asset Management Strategy will

Seminars

Seminars will also be conducted with several primary and secondary schools within the city, focusing on proper sanitation and hygiene.

Turning his attention to the third component of the project, the engineer disclosed that an energy efficiency pilot study will be initiated. He explained that inefficient electro-mechanical equipment will be removed from 12 pumping stations and replaced with energy efficient equipment.

Through a Mexican consultant, GWI is expected to experience a significant drop in the amount of energy consumed by the listed pumping stations. “We are very optimistic that the energy bills for these stations will reduce significantly,” Yacoub posited.

The fourth component of the programme will be executed with assistance from the Health Ministry.

During this, the final leg of the programme, there will be mass administration of DEC tablets for the next five years to reduce the prevalence of filaria in the region. “This will be done over a five-year period, once every five years each adult, each child will be given DEC tablets. The idea is to interrupt the transmission that causes filaria.”

aricom Regional Statistics Officer Christopher Richards said a draft data policy and a national statistics submission system will form part of the framework for the organisation and use of statistics databases in the region.

Richards said the purpose of the system is to provide guidance to the Regional Statistics Programme of the Caricom Secretariat and the national statistical offices (NSOs) of member states on the effective capture, storage, organisation, management, and use of statistical data.

He presented the draft policy to his colleagues and members of the media. The statistics officer said the policy will provide a common approach for the organisation, submission, and dissemination of databases in Caricom, and support the establishment and maintenance of a master data registry.

Richards explained that statistics are key for the monitoring of the regional integration process and owing to the variation in the development of systems for

managing statistics among member states, there is need for harmonised, robust databases with good organisation and management, conforming to database standards.

He detailed that NSOs utilise a variety of tools and platforms to store and process statistical data with MS Excel being the most widely used. There is also widespread use of desktop databases as in MS Access.

However, several data management issues have arisen, including duplicated copies of data, lack of separation of data storage from data analysis, use of “desktop” systems which limit possibilities for centralised access and security, and underutilised servers. There are also several issues as it relates to data submission.

Data challenges

Richards disclosed that the Caricom Secretariat faces challenges in getting required data from countries in a timely manner and in the required format, while stats offices have reported challenges in sourcing, preparing, and submitting data.

He stated that progress

has been made in defining electronic templates and formats, and there is need for the further streamlining and structure collection and submission process.

According to Richards, the key considerations should be a consistent standard in the structure and properties of data to be submitted, the minimisation of duplicated collections, the processing and submission of data in a move towards consolidation of information resources – a single point of truth – that support building of data warehouses for future data analysis Among the key projects undertaken through the Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP), funded under the ninth replenishment of the European Development Fund (EDF), were the organisation and use of statistical databases and web-based communication infrastructure, an InterAmerican Development Bank Common Framework for Statistics Production in Caricom; and a framework for Statistics Data Warehousing in Caricom. turn to page 13

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, june 27, 2013

News

A Latin America with opportunity for all

By World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim

L

atin America has had a good decade. Over the last 10 years, economic growth averaged 4.2 per cent, and 70 million people escaped poverty. Macroeconomic stability, open trade policies, and pro-business investment climates have supported and will continue to support strong growth in the years to come.

Crucially, economic gains are being broadly shared. A recent World Bank report found that the middle class in Latin America grew by 50 million people between 2003 and 2009, an increase of 50 per cent. For a region long riven by wealth inequality, this is a remarkable achievement.

Global growth

As I prepare to travel to Latin America, I see a region that has come a long way from the “lost decade” of the 1980s and is emerging as a driver of global growth.

But we have much more to do, to ensure that Latin America’s people share in their region’s growing prosperity. Although inequality is declining, Latin America remains the world’s most unequal region. From 200810, eight of the world’s 10 highest countries in income inequality were in Latin America, as mea-

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim

sured by the Gini coefficient. Intergenerational mobility also remains limited: A young person’s parents’ economic and social background, as well as whether they were born in a rural or urban area, still largely determines that person’s economic future.

And, in countries that have benefited from the commodity boom of the last decade, the benefits of natural resource wealth have failed to reach all members of society, fuelling social tensions among those who feel left behind. If unaddressed, inequity will continue to stoke volatility across the region. But striving for shared growth is not just the right thing to do from a social and political perspective; it is an economic imperative.

World Bank research suggests that when poverty levels increase by 10 per cent, growth decreases by one per cent and investment falls by up to eight per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Delivering on the promise of growth will require Latin American policymakers, along with their partners in the development community, including the World Bank, to ensure that economic gains benefit all citizens. Some countries are showing how this can be done. In Brazil, policy reforms have helped equalise educational attainment.

In 1993, the child of a father with no formal education completed four years of schooling on average. Today, Brazilian students complete between nine and 11 years of schooling, regardless of their parents’ education.

Economic inequality

Conditional cash transfer programmes have also played a role in levelling Latin America’s economic playing field. In the 1990s, Mexico and Brazil pioneered these programmes, which provide cash payments to the poor in return for productive activities, such as enrolling children in school and mothers going for medical check-ups. Similar programmes have sprung up across the region. We know that overcoming the region’s history of economic inequal-

ity is possible. But what will it take to achieve shared prosperity for all?

First, governments must ensure that the market does not leave people behind.

Latin America’s strong gains in poverty reduction in the past decade resulted from increased wages and bettertargeted social policies. This trend must continue.

Second, policymakers should do more to provide disadvantaged children with quality education. Doing so would raise their productive capacity and enhance social inclusion by empowering poor children to participate more fully in their economies.

Services

Finally, leaders must improve their ability to deliver services to the poor. Without improved capacity for quality delivery, even the best policies will mean little to their intended beneficiaries.

The bank will provide support in this area, by helping Latin American governments take a more scientific, evidence-based approach to the delivery of development services.

Latin America has made tremendous progress in recent years. But more needs to be done. When I visit the region, I look forward to learning what it will take to ensure that opportunity and prosperity extend to all of Latin America’s people.

Linden parents, teachers prepped to deal with special needs children

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arents, teachers, and welfare officers of Region 10 on Tuesday benefited from a training workshop aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with children who have special needs.

The two-day workshop was held at the Mackenzie Primary School and concluded on Wednesday. It is a collaborative initiative of the Region 10 welfare department, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Education Ministry, and was presented by Education Ministry Special Needs Consultant Joseph Wangija.

In his presentation, Wangija related to participants that at the end of the training workshop, they should be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary for identifying and understanding special needs children, the difficulties they face, and the type of support they require.

“A disability can be defined as a disadvantage that arises as a result of exclusion as an outcome of the in-

teraction between persons who have impairments and the social and environmental barriers they face due to a society’s failure to take account of their rights and needs,” he related.

Special education

Special Education Needs (SEN), he said, is an intervention designed for children with learning challenges or difficulties. “A child is said to have SEN whenever there’s something limiting them from studying or learning as effectively as others,” Wangija related.

Further, he explained that in understanding special needs children, it is important to look at them from three major perspectives: visible, invisible, and attitude challenges. Wangija explained that the visible challenges include those that you can see simply by looking, for example, special needs children who are paraplegic, or have Down’s syndrome or spina bifida. Invisible challenges, he noted, are difficulties which we cannot see but which affects children, such as autism, moderate hearing

difficulties, and dyslexia.

“Attitude challenges that may affect the child’s learning include stereotyping and prejudice.”

Wangija noted that the initiative will be taken to all education districts across Guyana, since the aim is to conduct a study and survey of children with special needs in order to reach out to them. He said for example, visually impaired persons or children who are identified during the process may have services made accessible to them, so that they can receive spectacles or any other form of help.

He noted that the team will also be working closely with health institutions.

National survey

“As part of an effort between the Ministry of Education in collaboration with UNICEF, we are trained to do a national survey to ascertain the number of children with special needs. So when we know the number of children with Special Education Needs in the country and the types

of Special Education Needs they have, we should also be able to come up with their ages so that we can make informed approaches as to how we can address their needs,” Wangija said.

Another aim of the survey and training, he noted, is to identify the types of equipment or facilities necessary for helping persons with special needs and also the costs associated with making such accessible.

“After acquiring the information, we are going to narrow it down to the final destination, in that we will assess their needs so that their problems may become solved in relation to Special Education Needs,” Wangija said. He stated that measures which will be used to identify special needs children will include targeting various teachers at schools across the country that will be trained so that they can identify the children. “So after getting that information, we are going to impart it into the national database that we are creating,” he disclosed.

Some tings in life never easy to understand O

ld people does always seh that some tings in life does never be easy to understand. One day yuh could be livin like a king and next day yuh down to nuttin like a string. That is just like Job in de Bible. One day he had every ting, but de next day every ting gone and he end up like pauper.

De U.S. is still a powerful nation, although not so powerful anymore. And there was a time when any ting de U.S. guvament want, it had to get it…whether by hook or by crook. Long ago, once de U.S. army bark, yuh know it gon bite soon.

But right now, no matter how hard de Americans bark, and dem barkin real hard these days, dem can’t find a man name Snow Den. It look like Snow Den gone and lock heself up in de lions’ den and he leff de U.S. barkin outside.

One old man seh that it look like Snow Den gon show dem a ting or two.

At least Snow Den not in America, so de U.S. guvament can’t send de soldiers fuh he so easy. But de UK guvament, which is another powerful nation, lookin fuh a man who dey right in dem own backyard and dem still can’t get he.

A long time now de WikiLeaks owner dey right in de UK. And de same reason de UK guvament want to arrest he is de same reason de U.S. guvament want to arrest Snow Den. It funny how one day de U.S. and de UK talkin bout free speech, but next day dem want to lock up dem own people fuh free speech.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

Well, if de Guyana guvament had to lock up people fuh talkin too much, is de whole Cabinet and de whole of Parliament woulda get lock up!

Medical officials arrested after threatening police ranks

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wo medical officials in Berbice were on Friday arrested at a popular drinking spot after they reportedly threatened to kill any police who attend their respective medical institutions to seek medical attention.

The two officials were reportedly under the influence of alcohol and were also arrested for disorderly behaviour. The file on the issue is being prepared to be sent to the director of public prosecutions for recommendations while the two officials were placed on station bail.

According to information received, on Friday last, 04:30h, police ranks attached to the New Amsterdam Police Station received a report of threats and responded to the Club Castle at Chapel Street, New Amsterdam.

On arrival at the drinking spot, police ranks informed a pharmacist of the report against him and attempted to arrest him. The pharmacist was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and reportedly behaved disorderly with the police ranks.

In his attempt to resist arrest, the pharmacist reportedly assaulted a police rank, who proceeded to forcefully arrest him and placed him in the police vehicle. During the commotion, another medical official, who was at the time with the pharmacist began behaving in the same manner. Police attempted to arrest him and a scuffle began.

Both men were arrested and taken to the police station where they were detained and subsequently released. The police are investigating the matter.

guyanatimesgy.com

11 News

THURSday, June 27, 2013

Pollution M

any activities around us cause pollution or undesirable changes to our environment that affect our way of life, health and survival. Pollution also affects other living things and usually stems from changes to the environment that are of a physical, chemical or biological nature.

There are different types of pollution.

Some chemicals when released into the environment cause air, water and land pollution.

Excess noise and light are also forms of pollution.

Pollution comes from many sources. As in most countries, pollution in Guyana is linked to human activities. Whether we grow crops, rear livestock, manufacture, sell and use goods, construct roads and buildings, drive or use transportation – some aspect of our activity may lead to pollution. The chart below shows some of our common activities all of which has some potential for causing pollution.

Protection Regulations. The agency also works with different sectors of our society to raise awareness of the need to prevent and reduce pollution.

Tackling pollution

Do your part

Here in Guyana, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates all activities that may cause pollution. It also assists businesses, organisations, institutions and the general public to maintain and conserve nature’s biodiversity and prevent and control pollution.

The regulatory part of the EPA’s work is guided by the Environmental Protection Act and its Environmental

If we are the ones causing pollution, then we are also the solution.

Remember our environment reflects us; here are some tips for becoming an agent of change: o Adopt a positive attitude and respect the environment; o Get involved in environmental

enhancement activities; o Dispose of your waste properly; o Conserve energy and water; o Reduce the amount of waste you produce; o Reuse items when possible; and o Report serious environmental problems to the EPA.

Children's activity: Catch the pollution Make yourself a pollution catcher to see what kinds of things may be polluting the air.

Materials * Food can (make sure it has something in it to make it heavy, such as beans or peas. Or, if the can is empty fill it with stones). * Double-sided scotch tape * Marker * Magnifying lens * Optional: Directional compass

How to make a pollution catcher

5. Place the can outside in the place you chose.

1.

Find a place outdoors where you can sit the can without anyone touching it, such as a window ledge, or fence post.

2. Take the can and peel the label off.

3. Optional – use the marker to write North, South, East, and West on the can. Use a compass to tell where north is. After completing step four, place the can facing the right direction.

4. Cover the sides of the can in double sided scotch tape. Try to touch the tape as little as possible.

Did you catch any pollution?

After a week, check and see what kinds of things are stuck to the tape. You may want to use a magnifying lens to have a closer look.

Did you catch any pollution?

You can share your ideas and questions by sending your letters to: “The Earth Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division.

Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

Local Govt Ministry presents much-needed equipment to Region One communities

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arlier this month, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry embarked on an outreach to several Region One communities during which teams comprising government ministers heard about the needs and concerns of residents from 21 communities in the Moruca sub-district.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud

Wednesday reported that based on the request of residents in Waramuri, Wallaba, Parakese, Assakata, Haimacabra and Santa Rosa, the ministry was able to make available funds to purchase some of the needed items.

Some of the needs related to transportation, supply of medical drugs, education, sports equipment, and more doctors and teachers.

Waramuri had expressed

the need for support to upgrade their playground.

Minister Persaud indicated that the request was presented to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry and it is his understanding that the ministry will provide $1 million to that community. The ministry in 2012 was also able to give support to Shea for its ground.

Additionally, Kamwatta has also expressed interest in developing its sports

ground and the Local Government Ministry has guided village leaders on preparing their submissions to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry.

Minister Persaud noted that at Haimacabra a request was made by the women’s group for a sewing machine, and on June 21 that request materialised when a machine valued $50,000 was presented to the women. On that

same day, the residents of Parakese received their solar panel and fittings worth $400,000 for the health hut, to ensure adequate lighting to the facility whenever there are medical emergencies at night.

The minister added that at Wallaba a similar situation existed; however, that village’s solar panel was damaged and they reserved one from the Local Government Ministry.

Residents of Assakata benefited from a fogging machine which will be put towards the eradication of acoushi ants which are affecting the farmers.

Meanwhile, a youth group in Santa Rosa received a volleyball and net.

Minister Persaud highlighted that the residents commended the government for its interest and pro-developmental interventions in the villages. (GINA)

12 news

Thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Gold, silver prices hit lowest Suriname to host fourth meeting of CDEMA Council of Ministers level since August 2010

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T

he world price for gold fell to its lowest level in almost three years on Wednesday and was on course for a record quarterly loss after U.S. data reinforced expectations for an end to ultra-loose monetary policy.

Prices could slide to levels below US$1000 per ounce, investors and analysts said, with scant potential for U.S. or European data or developments to reverse an accelerating move out of bullion. Strong gains in U.S. orders for durable goods, the largest annual rise in house prices in seven years, and rising consumer confidence fuelled speculation the U.S. Fed would rein in its US$85 billion monthly bond-buying programme, which had helped push gold prices to record highs in recent years.

Lowest level

Spot gold tumbled to its lowest level since August 2010 at US$1223.54 an ounce and was down 3.5 per cent at US$1232 an ounce at 11:48 GMT. U.S. gold futures for August delivery were down 3.4 per cent at US$1231, having hit a low of $1223.20.

“We bought gold for two reasons – because we were worried about the inflationary impact of policy and because we thought the financial system was going to fall apart,” said Diapason Commodities Management chief investment strategist Sean Corrigan. “Although it may be completely the wrong judgement, the market has decided that none of those at the moment is a concern.”

Spot prices have fallen

This spells trouble for Guyana’s booming gold mining sector if the drop in prices is sustained

by more than a quarter this year and by 22.8 per cent this quarter, their biggest quarterly loss since Reuters data began in 1968. “There’s nothing in the macro space that is seen changing any time soon for sentiment to shift. If you look at yields, they are going higher, and people are more bullish on the dollar – all of this creates a difficult environment for gold,” UBS analyst Joni Teves said.

European share markets were up Wednesday. Gains in global stock markets this year will be a signpost of more losses in gold, analysts say.

The world’s largest goldbacked exchange-traded fund (ETF), New York’s SPDR Gold Shares, reported the biggest one-day drop in its holdings in more than two months at 16.23 tonnes on Tuesday. That brought the fund’s total outflow for the year to 381 tonnes.

“There has been 550 tonnes of gold sold out of ETFs since mid-February,” Natixis analyst Bernard Dahdah said.

“That’s the equivalent of saying we’ve added to the

gold market an additional 11 per cent on top of 2012’s gold (mine) output.”

Demand in number one consumer India is likely to fall this quarter as the government moves to curb gold imports to reduce a record current account deficit. In the latest move, India’s central bank told rural regional banks on Tuesday they could no longer provide loans against gold jewellery and coins. Worries about a liquidity crunch in China, the world’s second-largest gold consumer, drove down share prices despite attempts by the Chinese central bank to soothe markets. Physical gold demand could be hurt by a slowdown in Chinese growth, analysts said.

Silver prices underperformed gold, falling more than five per cent to their lowest level, since August 2010 at US$18.39 an ounce.

Spot prices were later down 4.9 per cent at US$18.65 an ounce. Spot platinum was down 1.8 per cent at US$1325 an ounce, while spot palladium was down 2.6 per cent at US$645.50 an ounce. (Reuters)

he regional Comprehensive D i s a s t e r Management (CDM) Strategy 2013-2023 will be among the main topics on the agenda when the fourth meeting of the CDEMA Council of Ministers convenes on Friday, in Suriname.

The strategy seeks to build on and advance the achievements realised, since the CDM approach was introduced to the region in 2001.The CDM strategy is a roadmap towards Caribbean resilience to all forms of hazard impact, thereby supporting the enablement of sustainable development. This 2013-2023 strategy will also make an important contribution to the post-2015 global framework for disaster risk reduction.

The council will also deliberate on key policies and supporting procedures necessary for adoption and implementation of this strategy at the national and sector levels.

The meeting will also discuss the second phase of the organisational restructuring of CDEMA. The first phase commenced in 2009, soon after the agency transitioned from CDERA, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, to CDEMA, and included changes to CDEMA’s governance structure, as well as the expansion of operations at the coordinating unit. The second phase is expected to address, among other issues, the staffing of the coordinating unit to meet the anticipated implementation requirements of the CDM Strategy beyond

2013.

Another key area that will engage the attention of the council is the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) and how this could be used to greater advantage by governments for climate-related and other extreme events impacts.

The CDEMA Council of Ministers meets annually in one of the agency’s 18 participating states to discuss and make decisions on policy and matters that are brought before the body by the Management Committee of Council. This approach ensures that the mandate of the agency is being met.

This is the first year that the government of Suriname will host the CDEMA Council of Ministers meeting, since Suriname became a member in 2009.

St John’s nurses association hosts medical outreach

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he St John’s nurses association Guyana held a medical outreach at Fogarty’s Store on Water Street, Georgetown on Wednesday.

The medical outreach is part of a week of activities dedicated to the commemoration of the establishment of the St John’s Association 78 years ago. The week commenced on Sunday with a church service at the St George’s Cathedral followed by a parade back to the headquarters on Cowan Street. On Monday and

Tuesday, volunteers from the association visited the Archer’s and Uncle Eddie’s homes where they interacted with the resident senior citizens.

On Wednesday, 20 nurses from the association were present at the outreach and administered blood pressure tests. They had seen about 100 residents when Guyana Times visited in the afternoon.

According to the area commissioner Railton Evelyn, St John’s Nurses Association Guyana has

been observing St John’s week for more than 20 years, and has been always looking for ways to give back to the community. He stated that volunteers are always present at events, private or public, to give assistance in any way possible.

St John’s week continues today with a visit to a women’s home along with a programme at the Golden Years Club of the association. The week of activities ends with a graduation ceremony for another batch of nurses trained in first aid.

International Red Cross head TT among UN Public Service for two-day visit Award winners

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adateru Konoé, the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world’s largest humanitarian network, and the president of the Japanese Red Cross will be paying an official visit to Guyana, which commences today and ends on Friday.

The IFRC is one of the three components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which for a number of years has been actively serving the Caribbean region through its regional office located in Port of Spain, a release from the local Red Cross body said.

Konoés visit to Guyana is intended to explore ways to deepen the relationship and level of cooperation between the IFRC and the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), which is celebrating 65 years of service in Guyana. The president will engage in discussions on the national society’s emergency programmes and issues related to disaster

IFRC President Tadateru Konoé

preparedness.

President Konoé will also use the opportunity to meet with officials of the Caricom Secretariat. These meetings are expected to lead to a better understanding of the socioeconomic dynamics of the Caribbean region, and in particular the needs of Guyana, in the fulfilment of its humanitarian mandate and development agenda.

The IFRC assists whenever there is a national disaster which is beyond the scope of capacity for the national society

The GRCS said like all national societies, it has to raise its own funds to cover the costs for its local programmes and projects. The national society although it has increased its resource base, is experiencing a greater need by an increased number of persons and communities seeking assistance. “There is a misconception that national societies receive funding from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, and as such do not need local assistance,” the GRCS said.

The IFRC president is also expected to pay a courtesy visit to President Donald Ramotar, as well as to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett. IFRC is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 187 national societies. It acts before, during, and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

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he United Nations will award 29 countries for their innovative projects in fighting poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Trinidad and Tobago will receive a UN Public Service Award for the TTBIZLink initiative submitted by its Trade, Industry, and Investment Ministry. The award ceremony will be staged today to conclude the UN Public Service Forum, which is currently being held in Manama, Bahrain.

The awards will be presented to delegations from around the globe during the high-level award ceremony, a release from the UN said.

The UN Public Service Awards honour projects that fight poverty and promote sustainable development.

The theme for this year’s global forum is “Transformative e-government and Innovation: Creating a Better Future for All”.

Winning project

Trinidad and Tobago’s winning TTBIZLink project facilitates online applications for trade and business services. It was designed to reduce duplication and delay in the processing of such applications and thereby improve delivery of business services by government agencies. The TT Trade, Industry and Investment Ministry gave examples of dramatic reductions in the processing times for business services to support its entry of TTBIZLink.

The 2013 winners include: Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates. Second place finishers include: Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, Ethiopia,

Georgia, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America.

The forum and awards ceremony, hosted this year by the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, are organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Public Administration and Development Management in partnership with UN-WOMEN, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA); and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), among others.

In 2003, the UN General Assembly designated June 23 as UN Public Service Day to celebrate the value and virtue of service to the community.

News

13

thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Decision on Boodhoo's Clampdown on vulgar lyrics overdue contract imminent – some entertainers say rules should apply

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hief Elections Officer Gocool Boodhoo is expected to know his fate soon and may very well take legal action if necessary.

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally has been provided with advice from lawyers on how to treat the request

by Boodhoo to consider a renewal of his contract.

The lawyers for Dr Surujbally also suggested that Boodhoo’s post be advertised.

However, the statutory meeting of the commission scheduled for Tuesday last was not held, owing to the absence of two commissioners, Dr Keshav Mangal and Attorney Jaya Manickchand.

The commission was expected to meet and discuss the issue pending the legal advice provided to Dr Surujbally.

The GECOM chairman had postponed a previous meeting with the commissioners, asking for time to seek legal advice on the issue.

He sought the advice of his lawyers after receiving a letter from Boodoo’s Attorney Mursalene Bacchus that no decision should be made on the resumption of his services until an appraisal on his performance was forthcoming.

However, sources within GECOM confirmed that

across the board

By Bhisham Mohamed

I

Gocool Boodhoo

an appraisal on Boodhoo’s performance is subject to waiver and is based on the decision of commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission.

A GECOM official told Guyana Times that a performance appraisal is not mandatory and the commission has the power to waive any such appraisal on the part of employees.

It is expected that the decision will be put to a vote, but opposition commissioners are not in favour of the proposed extension to Boodhoo’s contract which expired at the end of April.

Boodhoo’s fate would ultimately be decided by a majority vote of the complete quorum of commissioners.

The commissioners are legally mandated, based on a unanimous decision, to

deal with all issues relating to employment of senior functionaries of the commission.

Boodhoo, who has been with the commission in excess of 10 years, has applied for a renewal of his contract.

While the commissioners had earlier requested correspondents that Boodhoo may have received during his years in office to allow for an assessment, the opposition’s contention seems to be pointed at the 2011 incident involving Boodhoo’s announcement of national elections results in favour of the ruling administration.

The current commissioners are Vincent Alexander, Dr Keshav Mangal, Charles Corbin, Jaya Manickchand, Sandra Jones and Mohamood Shaw.

Three in custody after narco busts in city

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he Police Narcotics Branch on Wednesday unearthed a quantity of cocaine and marijuana following raids on two houses in the city which led to the arrest of two women and

a man.

The raids were conducted on a house at North East La Penitence and one at Albouystown respectively by members of the task force during which 250

grams of cocaine and 6.87 kilograms of cannabis sativa were discovered. The three persons were immediately taken into police custody to assist with investigations.

Caricom to develop regional...

The approach to data management includes a centralised database at the national level to hold data for submission, a decentralised mechanism for updating and maintaining the database, a regional database at Caricom Secretariat for aggregating data, and a data “replication” mechanism for updating the regional database.

Richards revealed that the region must find a standard way of representing different types of data from different countries, and cited prior work on harmonisation at the Caricom level, as well as international efforts.

He said there must be a web application for data entry and maintenance, a data replication routine for forwarding data to the secre-

tariat, and the use of query and reporting tools for data access and reporting.

Detailed system

Richards explained that in order to develop a webbased communication infrastructure, there should be an assessment and human resource audit in ICT, field visits to selected member countries, testing of the data transmission infrastructure, preparation of a user guide, and the training in the installation and maintenance of the system.

The statistics officer revealed that there has already been a detailed design and implementation plan of the proposed system, an operational and secured webbased communication in-

from page 9

frastructure system, and technical documentation as well as user manuals and training conducted.

He explained that, however, there must be guiding principles.

Richards pointed out that national statistics represent a valuable and necessary resource, and stated that regional statistics based on national data are necessary to support and advance the regional integration movement.

He added that effective use of ICT tools can improve the capture and use of statistical data and stats offices should establish a data governance framework for coordinating management of official statistics and for overseeing the application of the provisions of the policy.

n light of the recent calls by the Women and Gender Equality Commission for the ban of two vulgar songs being played on the local airwaves, which it believes are promoting genderbased violence; prominent personnel in the local music industry have praised the move, but said “too late shall be the cry”.

Commissioner Nicole Cole on Tuesday made the call at a press conference where she said “Prescription” by Trinidadian Chutney Singer Ravi B and “Kick Een She Backdoor” performed by Antiguan Burning Flames have serious negative implications to the Guyanese populace.

According to Cole, the songs promote genderbased violence, which is linked to substance abuse and often times lead to the murder or the sudden demise of many innocent women. Burchmore Simon, founder of Kross Kolor explained that song writers use their poetic licence to write their pieces, but it has to do with how well people use their intellectual ability to interpret the song when they are presented for public consumption.

Simon added that “Prescription”, the chutney hit is “blatant” and cannot be interpreted in any other way, but in the case of “Kick Een She Backdoor”, it can be interpreted depending on the person’s mentality.

He explained that decade ago, musicians created calypso and it was used to send a strong message to public figures who were “screwing up” but over the years, he noted, it has been revamped with new melodies and rhythms to a newer version called “soca”.

Some warped, some too sensitive

He said that while the songs are creating some stir on the local airwaves, it has to do with the mindsets of the listeners. Some warp-minded and some might be too sensitive. “ Simon stated that there are a number of other songs being played on local airwaves that are derogatory, especially to women, but the commission has not previously come forward and expressed their concerns.

“Why now?” he asked, noting that they should have denounced this type of music from the inception

and not wait until a monster is created and cannot be controlled, he added.

He explained that there should be more positive music on the local airwaves, noting that music is very influential to the growing generation, especially the youths.

On this note, he add-

has heard worst songs discriminating against women and other people in society but yet, there were no calls by the Women and Gender Equality Commission to ban them.

“If the time comes for us not to play the songs on radio programmes; or television or at a party… then we will adhere, but these same songs are enjoyed by partyholics.”

Derogatory music

Ravi B

ed that the songwriters should be more conscious, noting that it is not always about commercialisation, but more or less a sense of responsibility to the public.

The relevant authorities, he added have taken too long to put their feet down, but will support the decision.

Not quite sure

Slingerz’s Deejay Garwin when asked for a comment stated that as a deejay, he is not even quite sure about the meaning of the song since it can have more than one.

“I guess the time will soon come when Guyana will have an opportunity to ask the singers what the song really means when they visit Guyana during the Jamzone celebrations,” he added.

He further stated that he

Popular emcee and television personality WR Reaz disclosed that banning of derogatory music on local airwaves should have happened a long time ago.

“Why wait now?”

“Prescription, Kick Een She Backdoor are all popular songs that are listened and enjoyed by a huge section of the Guyanese population, but if they have to be banned, by all means ban them, but at the same time ban all the gun violence songs… ban all the songs that promote guns, money and sex,” he added.

Both Karma and Burning Flames are due to perform at the Jamzone Regional Night on August 16 at the Guyana National Stadium, and when asked for a brief comment on the call for the ban, Hits and Jams Director Kerwin Bollers explained, “Music is music… entertainment is entertainment… It should not be taken for nothing more or nothing less.”

He added that movies are directed for entertainment purposes and so are video games. “What is wrong with music?”

Bollers stated that if the group is calling for more control mechanism, he does not have a problem with that, but on the ban, he said “it is garbage”. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

14

thursday, June 27, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Brazil Congress rejects Aruba to run solely on sustainable energy by 2020 controversial amendment

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The wind farm at Vader Piet, Aruba

he 70 square-mile island of Aruba is on track to becoming the world’s first sustainable energy economy and achieving the goal of running on 100 per cent sustainable energy by 2020. In recent years, sustainability efforts within the travel industry have progressed from a niche consid-

eration to an industry-wide priority; 96 per cent of Conde Nast Traveler readers believe hotels and resorts should be responsible for protecting the environment in which they operate.

Following efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and CO2 emissions, Aruba built the Vader Piet Wind Farm in

winter of 2009. Located on the island’s northern coast are 10, 180-metre high wind turbines that currently produce 20 per cent of Aruba’s electricity. Plans are in progress for a second wind farm, which will double the energy capacity and continue to decrease Aruba’s carbon footprint.

Harvard University, Centre for Environmental Studies Director Professor Daniel Schrag and member of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology to President Obama, explained, “Few places in the world approach 50 per cent renewable energy use, and Aruba could soon be at nearly 40 per cent with a second wind farm.”

The island’s constant supply of sun, eastern trade winds and ocean currents allow for research and field-testing of renewable energy technologies. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

One paper said the defeat of PEC 37 was a result of “pressure from the streets”

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razil’s Congress has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that was a key grievance of protesters who took to streets across the country.

Demonstrators had argued PEC 37, which would have limited the power of federal prosecutors to investigate crimes, might

open the way for more corruption.

On Tuesday, the measure was defeated by 430 votes to nine.

Congress also voted to use all the royalties from newly discovered oil fields for education and health.

Some of the largest oil finds in recent years have been discovered off the

Brazilian coast and the country is expected to be able to produce tens of billions of barrels of crude oil over the coming decades.

Congress voted to allocate 75 per cent of the royalties of newly found sites to education and 25 per cent to health, but it is not clear when those royalties would start coming in.

The PEC 37 constitutional amendment rejected on Tuesday had opposed by many protesters and its defeat has been described by one national newspaper as a direct result of “pressure from the streets”.

The amendment would have assigned the power to conduct criminal investigations exclusively to the police, thus removing the role of federal prosecution service from the evaluation of criminal charges. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

St Kitts prime minister describes opposition Jamaica Council of statements as “mere propaganda” Churches says no to violence against gays

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rime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has dismissed opposition claims that he was leading a minority government in St KittsNevis.

Appearing on his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister”, Douglas told listeners that his St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) administration holds a majority in the National Assembly.

Six opposition legislators have already said they will support a vote of no-confidence in the government and have even gone to the courts to get the parliament to debate the issue as a matter of urgency.

Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas

But Dr Douglas, who has already said he is awaiting the court’s ruling on the application filed by the opposition, said that he had been chal-

lenged by a young man who resides in the United States to “speak more frequently about the legitimacy of your government”.

He told listeners that he accepted the young man’s advice that “you cannot assume that the man and woman in the street, who are busily earning a living and taking care of their children, have the time to really follow these issues”.

He said the young man also indicated that “the opposition is hoping that if you just allow them to keep saying that your government is illegal, the people might believe them”.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Student charged for stealing US$2.1M

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52-year-old woman has been charged in connection with theft offences totalling around US$2.1 million following an eight-month investigation led by police financial crime investigators.

Officers announced Tuesday morning that the woman, a Canadian

who is a student in Grand Cayman, had been charged and would appear in court next Tuesday, July 2.

The woman, who was not named by authorities, has been charged with eight counts of theft.

The victim was said to be an elderly male, currently resident in Grand Cayman.

The woman was first arrested on October 10, 2012 at her home in George Town on suspicion of theft.

In a short statement on Tuesday, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service stated: “After a lengthy and detailed investigation by the Financial Crime Unit of the RCIPS, on Friday, June 14, they

charged a 52-year-old female, who is a Canadian citizen here on a student visa, with eight counts of theft totalling US$2.1 million.”

“Other charges relating to obtaining property by deception, forgery and money laundering have also been registered at the court.” (Excerpt from Cayman Compass)

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he Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) while yet to make its final position on the issue of homosexuality known, has said it “does not support the segregation of, or violence towards, those who indulge in the practice”.

In a paper presented at the JCC’s biennial central meeting at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church last Wednesday, the council’s General Secretary Reverend Gary Harriot said, while the contents were not “the official position of the JCC”, it is a step to further the dialogue of what is hoped will become a position of the council.

The JCC said, based on biblical principles, it will

B

Tourism Minister Richard Sealy

Sealy continued.

He explained that the Bajan Expo series highlighted to Barbadians and tourists alike, several communities that “are true treasures of this land”.

Noting that these districts were places that “our tourists want to experience and [that] they want to be immersed in”, he pointed out the expositions were being done to enhance community tourism.

“As we continue to focus more and more on heritage and culture tourism, we have to see to it, that what we are doing at the community level is elevated and seen as a legitimate part of the tourism experience and something we have to develop,” the tourism minister emphasised. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Observer)

TT: Prime minister hands over computer, cellphone to investigators

Barbados encourages community tourism I

arbados is a destination that encourages its visitors to experience and explore its communities, said Tourism and International Transport Minister Richard Sealy, as he addressed the Martin’s Bay, St John edition of the Bajan Expo series last Saturday. The event was organised by the Tourism Ministry.

“There are many very popular destinations that when you land at the airport, you are put in a coach and you are taken to an all-inclusive hotel; and you leave that property when you are returning to that same airport to go back home. That is not what we offer as a destination.

We like to encourage our visitors to go out and experience and explore,”

continue to advocate the institution of marriage to be reserved for a man and a woman. In that same light, it is appealing to members to ensure that a wholesome and Christ-centred perspective on sexuality is included in their discipleship programme.

“Many persons, especially the young, are confused regarding their sexuality and the permissiveness of this post-modern world does nothing to help,” the paper said.

It went on to note that humanity shares a common human brokenness and deserves to receive the love and pastoral care of the church as Christ portrayed in his earthly ministry. (Excerpt from Jamaica

n an act to show she had nothing to hide, Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar on Tuesday made her way to the Police Administration Building, Port of Spain and handed over computer equipment and a cellphone to investigators probing the email controversy.

Accompanied by American Information Technology (IT) expert Jon Berryhill, Senior Counsel Israel Khan, two advisers, and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, PersadBissessar spent close to two hours assisting the police.

Persad-Bissessar received a letter last week from Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson request-

ing information on the type of equipment she used to send and receive emails between September 1 and September 31 last year.

In response to the letter, Persad-Bissessar wrote to the police through Khan, her attorney, indicating that while she was willing to share information with them, she wanted to have her IT expert and Khan present when she handed over the equipment for examination.

The prime minister made good on her promise on Tuesday when she arrived at Police Administration Building in her official vehicle, about 14:00h, and was greeted by Richardson. (Excerpt

from Trinidad and Tobago Today)

15 Around the World

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, June 27, 2013

Gays score in U.S. Supreme Court ruling T

he U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a law denying federal benefits to gay couples and cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California.

The justices said that the Defence of Marriage Act, known as Doma, discriminated against samesex couples.

They declined to rule on California’s prohibition of gay marriage, known as Proposition Eight, in effect allowing such unions to resume in the state.

Opinion polls indicate

that most Americans support same-sex marriage.

Wednesday’s decisions do not affect the bans on gay unions enshrined in the constitutions of more than 30 U.S. states.

But the California ruling means that 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia now recognise same-sex marriage.

The Doma opinion grants legally married gay men and women access to the same federal entitlements available to opposite-sex married couples. These include tax, health and pension benefits

India floods: Scandalous reporter sacked

and family hospital visits.

The landmark 5-4 rulings prompted celebrations from gay rights advocates outside the Supreme Court in Washington DC and nationwide.

The legal challenge to Doma was brought by New York resident Edith Windsor, 83.

She was handed a tax bill of $363,000 (£236,000) when she inherited the estate of her spouse Thea Speyer – a levy she would not have had to pay if she had been married to a man.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A

n Indian television journalist who reported on deadly floods while sitting on the shoulders of a survivor has been sacked, says the channel he worked for.

The reporter had been widely criticised after the video appeared online.

A News Express statement called his behaviour “inhuman”. The channel says it did not broadcast the footage and does not know who uploaded it.

More than 800 people have died in floods and landslides which swept parts of northern India 10 days ago.

Video of Narayan Pargaien reporting from

Uttarakhand state, which has borne the brunt of the disaster, has been viewed thousands of times online.

In it he perches on the shoulders of a man who is standing in flood waters, while the reporter delivers a piece to camera.

News Express said Pargaien was guilty of “grave misconduct”. What he had done was “not just inhuman but was also against the culture” of the channel, it said in a statement.

“You cannot ride on someone’s back for a story. We terminated him on Tuesday,” Nishant Chaturvedi, the head of the channel, told AFP news agency. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Syrian death toll tops 100,000, watchdog says

M

ore than 100,000 people have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the country’s uprising in March 2011, the Syrian observatory for Human Rights watchdog said on Wednesday.

The observatory said the toll now stands at 100,191 people, with at least 36,661 civilians killed, including more than 3000 women and more than 5000 children under the age of 16.

The group, which relies on a network of activists, doctors and lawyers on the ground throughout Syria, said 18,072 rebel fighters had been killed.

On the regime side, the group reported the deaths of at least 25,407 army soldiers, 17,311 pro-regime militia and 169 members of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, which has dispatched fighters to battle alongside the Syrian army.

The group counted another 2571 unidentified people killed in the fighting throughout the war-torn country up until June 24.

The figures are a testament to the levels of violence wracking the country, which has been ravaged by a civil war that began with peaceful demonstrations calling for regime change. (Excerpt from France24)

K

evin Rudd returned as Australian prime minister on Wednesday, executing a stunning party room coup on Julia Gillard almost three years to the day after being ousted by his former deputy and less than three months out from a general election.

The reinstatement of Rudd was a last-ditch effort to shore up support by the governing Labour Party, which opinion polls show faces catastrophic defeat at a poll scheduled for September 14.

The Mandarin-speaking former diplomat draws strong popular support but has di-

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

vided and destabilised his party after launching two failed leadership bids in the past 18 months.

Analysts said the leadership change could backfire.

“I don’t think it will help Labour. I think they’ve dug themselves a deeper grave,” said John Wanna, professor of politics at the Australian National University.

The return of Rudd could now see Australia go to an election in August in an effort to cash in on his greater popularity with voters and an expected honeymoon period with the electorate.

The leadership change followed a series of opinion polls showing Gillard’s minority government could lose up to 35 seats, giving the conservative opposition a massive majority in the 150-member parliament. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Porn, wine and kazoos on IRS worker charge cards

P Narayan Pargaien said the man whose shoulders he perched on “wanted to show some respect”

Rudd returns as Australian PM after toppling Gillard

ornography, wine bottles and kazoos were among improper purchases made

by IRS employees using their work-issued charge cards, according to watchdog report.

Like a lot of big companies, the Internal Revenue Service allows some of its 90,000 employees to use company

charge cards to buy workrelated items, such as office supplies.

However, employees made a host of “improper” purchases – ranging from a dinner averaging US$140 per person to Thomas the Tank Engine rubber wristbands – according to the Treasury Inspector General for tax administration. The re-

port was released as part of a regular audit of IRS budget expenses.

The report comes at a particularly bad time for the IRS, whose employees have recently been in the spotlight for singling out political groups, including Tea Party conservatives, for extra tax scrutiny over the years.

The inspector gener-

al said the IRS has been negligent when it comes to catching employees who circumvent US$3000 caps on transactions, by splitting purchases into several transactions.

The agency also does not have a good record at turning off credit cards as soon as employees depart or retire. (Excerpt from CNN)

Edward Snowden’s Ecuador asylum bid may take weeks

E

cuador could take weeks to rule on an asylum bid by fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, officials say.

Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said it had taken Ecuador two months to grant asylum to Julian Assange, the founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

The website has been lending legal support to Snowden, who is in a transit zone at a Moscow airport.

A WikiLeaks Tweet said the American was “well” and being accompanied by one of its legal advisers “at all times”.

The website has not further elaborated on Snowden’s whereabouts.

Both WikiLeaks and Russia have denied reports that the Russian secret police have questioned the American.

Snowden first fled to Hong Kong before flying to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on Sunday.

He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday but his seat remained va-

cant.

The 30-year-old IT expert has had his U.S. passport revoked and applied for Ecuadorean asylum.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the case to that of Assange, who has been living inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than a year. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Egypt braces for mass protests

T

wo years after Egyptians gathered for dramatic protests to bring down their leader, dissidents are bracing for deja vu.

The Tamarod – “Rebellion” – movement is planning massive protests Sunday calling for President Mohamed Morsi’s impeachment. The group said nearly 20 million Egyptians had signed its petition by Wednesday.

“Since the arrival of (Morsi) to power, the average citizen still has the feeling that nothing has been achieved so far from the revolution goals which were life in dignity, freedom, social justice and national independence,” the Tamarod campaign states. “(Morsi) was a total failure in achieving every single goal, no security has been reestablished and no social security realised.

The imminent unrest

The muslim Brotherhood marks the anniversary since President Mohamed Morsi was elected, on June 21 in Cairo

prompted the U.S. embassy in Cairo to close its doors to the public on Sunday, which is normally a workday in Egypt.

“As potentially violent protest activity may occur before June 30, U.S. citizens

are advised to maintain a low profile and restrict movement to the immediate area of their residences and neighbourhoods starting on June 28,” the embassy said in a statement.

The Egyptian military

said it would intervene if Morsi’s Salafi supporters carry out their threats to disperse these protests by force. Salafis are hard-line Islamists who have called for Sharia law in the country.

(Excerpt from CNN)

16

thursday, june 27, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

Chamber backs THA budget requests

T

he TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce, through its Tobago Division, has applauded Finance Secretary in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Joel Jack for giving some attention to accountability during his maiden budget presentation on Monday.

In an official response to the THA budget, the chamber said it expected initiatives announced in the budget presentation will be followed by announcements of key performance indicators and specific

performance measurements.

“With respect to tourism, the chamber agrees with Secretary Jack that there needs to be much more focus on Tobago’s tourism product.

Tourism in Tobago represents a great portion of the island’s GDP and has been on the decline for a number of years.

“Although previous budget statements have emphasised the importance of tourism as an economic catalyst, there has been little or no real focus at a national level made to avert disaster in this area.

“While we note that the finance secretary made mention of some initiatives for tourism, such as enhanced/ upgraded tourism sites on the island, increased focus on customer-service training, tourism research and expansion of room stock, as well as efforts to acquire real-time statistics on tourism in Tobago, the division would be interested in hearing more definitive plans as to the means by which funds will be invested in this area to holistically improve the tourism product.”

(Trinidad Guardian)

North America Coke to market first “natural” mid-calorie cola

C

oca-Cola Co announced plans on Wednesday to sell a mid-calorie cola sweetened with sugar and the naturally occurring nocalorie sweetener stevia in Argentina, becoming the first to market with a product long seen as being critical to the soda industry’s growth.

The new product, CocaCola Life, will have half the calories of regular Coca-Cola.

The world’s largest soda company has used stevia in

45 products, such as Vitamin water Zero and Fanta Select, but never in its flagship cola.

The move would put Atlantabased Coke ahead of archrival PepsiCo Inc in the race for better-tasting low-calorie beverages as the U.S. carbonated soft drink market continues to decline because of growing concerns about obesity.

Coca-Cola Life will go on sale this week in Argentina, where Coca-Cola has 50 per

cent of the soda market, compared with Pepsi’s 16 per cent share, according to industry newsletter Beverage Digest, which was first to report the news.

There is no date for introducing the product elsewhere.

Company executives at a news conference in Buenos Aires likened the launch with the 2005 debut of Coca-Cola Zero, which was first introduced in Australia and later sold elsewhere. (Reuters)

Europe

Italy to spend €1.5B to boost youth employment

I

taly’s government has announced it will spend 1.5 billion euros (US$2 billion; £1.2 billion) to try to boost youth employment. The funds include tax breaks for companies that hire people aged 18-29, and will target the country’s deprived southern areas. Two in five young Italians are out of a job, while the national unemployment rate is about 12 per cent. The measures were unveiled on the eve of a European Union summit in Brussels on youth

joblessness.

Prime Minister Enrico Letta said that the money aimed to get at least 200,000 young Italians into the workforce by aiding those with temporary contracts as well as boosting training and school-leaver schemes.

In addition to the measures to boost youth employment, the Italian government also said it would delay a planned rise in value-addedtax (VAT), which will cost it an additional one billion eu-

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Cur GBP CAN USD

ros.

Letta’s predecessor, Mario Monti, had announced the VAT increase in 2011 in an attempt to improve investor confidence in the government’s capability to repay its debts. The proposed VAT freeze must be approved by parliament first.

“These are all measures that will help consumer spending in the short term... and a bridge to economic recovery,” said Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni. (BBC News)

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

Selling

U.S.

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

$260,585

$198.42

$205.58

Net

$242,344

Selling

$268,875

Buying

$1366.75 $202.83

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

Museveni, Kenyatta, Kagame in ambitious East Africa development plan

P

resident Yoweri Museveni’s first major meeting with Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Paul Kagame of Rwanda focused on agreeing to a Memorandum of Understanding to improve relations and enhance development of the three countries.

The three heads of state agreed on five major issues today that would define future engagements.

“The meeting focused purely on issues of business and investment in the region,” said Ofwono Opondo, execu-

tive director of the Uganda Media Centre, at State House Entebbe where the presidents met.

According to the communiqué, the presidents agreed to revamp the East African railways network and build one standard railway system, clear non-tariff barriers by forming a customs territory, as well as set up two oil pipelines connecting the three states.

The presidents also resolved to invest in building an oil refinery in Uganda. They

further agreed on improving accessibility and affordability of electricity in their countries, as well as investing in the exploration of renewal energy sources.

Also agreed on was the fast-tracking of the East African Community, as well as expediting of an identity card for the people of East Africa. Uganda, it was agreed, would superintend the process of improving the railway network, oil refinery construction and establishing of a political federation. (allAfrica)

Asia

LTE-Advanced 4G network launched in South Korea

S

outh Korea has started offering what are billed as the fastest ever 4G data speeds made available to consumers. SK Telecom says its LTE-Advanced network allows files to be downloaded at up to megabits per second.

That is twice as fast as before and 10 times the rate of its 3G service.

Although in practice subscribers will get a slower rate,

the firm says it will still be fast enough to start offering a full-HD 1080p video streaming service from early July.

It also said it would offer a group video chat service with higher video and audio quality than had been possible before. Samsung has released a special version of its Galaxy S4 handset with a new communications chip to offer access to the LTE-A system, and SK Telecom says it expects

another six compatible devices to launch before the end of the year.

Existing smart devices will not be able to take advantage of the speed boost, but users who do decide to upgrade will not face additional data fees. The service is initially being offered in 44 cities including the capital Seoul, and SK Telecom said it had plans to double that number in the future. (BBC News)

Middle East

Etisalat eyes Dubai’s Tunisie Telecom stake

T

hirteen companies including Abu Dhabibased Etisalat and Turkey’s Turkcell have expressed interest in buying Dubai Holding’s 35 per cent stake in Tunisie Telecom, a government official said on Wednesday. The Tunisian government said last week that Dubai Holding, which owns the stake through its unit Emirates International Telecommunications (EIT), was considering selling out of the former monopoly Tunisie

Telecom.

EIT, which paid US$2.25 billion for the 35 per cent holding in 2006, has hired Credit Suisse to advise on a sale, banking sources told Reuters on Tuesday. “There are 13 companies which expressed interest in buying a 35 per cent stake, including six known international companies,” Ahmed ben Hussien, an official in the Ministry of Communications told Reuters. “Turkcell and Turk Telekom, Korea Telecom,

Etisalat and two others from China,” he said without giving more details. Etisalat chief executive Ahmad Julfar declined to comment. Etisalat is the largest Gulf telecom operator by market value and is the sole remaining bidder for Vivendi’s 53 per cent stake in Maroc Telecom.

A Turkcell source said on Tuesday the company was in the process of evaluating the opportunity, while Turk Telekom declined to comment. (Arabianbusiness)

Investors' guide

Small business accounting practices

W

hile the bad financial behaviour of large corporations such as Enron are often told as anecdotal warnings to small businesses, small business owners often practice creative accounting in order to reduce tax bills and attract investors.

Privately owned small businesses have a distinct advantage over large, publicly traded corporations – there is no necessity for financial transparency, except to major private shareholders. However, small business owners should remember that even the smallest form of creative accounting – such as not printing receipts to understate

earnings – can have a massive negative impact on your company if the IRS decides to audit your company, and can cause even worse problems if your company is found guilty of tax evasion and fraud. Here are some suggestions to keep your company on track and out of trouble.

While understating profits for the purpose of lower taxes may seem like a solid idea and a victimless crime, this can negatively impact your company’s credit in the future.

Your legally reported profits are all kept on record, and banks, venture capitalists and angel investors will unlikely back you with capital if your record of sales growth is poor.

In addition, abusing capital losses on your tax returns to reduce taxes owed can have a negative impact on future financing, as banks may require larger amounts of collateral in exchange for a loan.

This can also damage your ability to qualify for Social Security benefits years later. As the owner of this small business, your own personal standing is directly linked to your business’ tax returns, and all these drawbacks will be applied to your personal taxes and loans as well. To top of all this nastiness, an IRS audit will quickly identify misreported earnings, and the penalties are steep. (Business

Dictionary)

Business concept – Accounting

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

Practice and body of knowledge concerned primarily with methods for recording transactions, keeping financial records, performing internal audits, reporting and analysing financial information to the management, and advising on taxation matters.

It is a systematic process of identifying, recording, measuring, classifying, verifying, summarising, interpreting and communicating financial information. It reveals profit or loss for a given period, and the value and nature of a firm’s assets, liabilities and owners’ equity.

news

17

thursday, june 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Policy on sexual harassment Linden unrest victims receive compensation, but complain still on cards

A

s reports of sexual harassment in the workplace continue to climb, the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) is calling for the speedy creation of a sexual harassment policy in Guyana.

WGEC Commissioner Gillian Burton said discussions were held with the Guyana Police Force and the University of Guyana to have a policy of that nature put into place, to address the issue.

“We are asking that it goes even further, that a policy be put in place to protect persons in the workplace to address sexual harassment and gender-based violence,” she asserted. Burton said persons are also taking their domestic violence issue to the work place, therefore the creation of a policy, which will encourage a safe space, is necessary.

Policy

“The fact that persons would have stated that they would have been sexual harassed... we need a policy to state where persons can go for help and the mechanisms by which persons could be sanctioned.”

The WGEC said the time is now to have a policy put into place, so that enforcement and other agencies could help to ensure that there remains a limited amount of such cases or none at all.

The commission started dialogue on this matter last year, with various organisations and communities. The policy, the WGEC said will ensure that persons are prosecuted for their

to make official reports due to fear of the associated stigma and a lack of confidence in the legal system to deliver justice promptly.

Nothing has changed for the better since then. In a poor country such as Guyana, with a profusion of single mothers, maintaining a job is literally a matter of life and death and most females are very hesitant to report cases of sexual harassment. But the violations are not confined to the poor and include all sections and ethnic groups.

Torment

Gillian Burton

wrong actions and women are protected from sexual harassment.

In Guyana, sexual harassment is covered under the Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997. The act states, “‘Sexual harassment’ is defined, as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace or in connection with the performance of work which is threatened or imposed as a condition of employment on the employee or which creates a hostile working environment for the employee.”

Back in 2006, the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour reported that while “the law prohibits discrimination based on gender there was no legal protection against sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) reported that while the problem is widespread, victims were reluctant

It was reported from studies that most Guyanese men believe that sexual overtures are harmless, but the reality is it causes physical and emotional torment to the women. The more serious the nature of the harassment, the more distressing it is for victims.

Sexual harassment of females is therefore a serious problem and many women in Guyana are tortured by it daily. It is clear that many do not understand their rights, much less how to deal with this problem. The WGEC wants to take action now to intensify the fight against sexual harassment in all its ugly forms, with the hope that they do not have to repeat this plea again, two years down the road.

Recently, Caribbean countries, such as Barbados, have been moving to criminalise sexual harassment in the workplace. On May 5, 2012, a symposium was held with participants to gather their views on harassment in the workplace.

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon with Lindeners who travelled to Georgetown to collect payments for damages suffered during the 2012 Linden unrest

R

egion 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon is questioning the formula that was used by the Linden Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to determine the amount of money handed out to the families of those who suffered losses in the 2012 Linden unrest.

At a press briefing on Wednesday at the Critchlow Labour College, Solomon said while the families received the payments as part of compensation from government, they are not satisfied with what they were awarded. He said monies awarded cannot compensate for the lives lost, or injuries sustained.

And, although the families have already signed for the money, they have made it clear that they are not pleased with what was allotted to them. “What was said by the persons who signed, it was a voucher but there were small prints that ask for them to state that they were satisfied with that amount that was

given,” he said. The Region 10 chairman is also dissapointed that the recipients were not allowed copies of their vouchers.

“Persons who sign in receipt of payments were told that they were not allowed to leave with statements that they signed to and they all signed, stating clearly that they object to what they were signing to as they were not prepared to sign without understanding . It is with this that they’ve accepted in protest.”

He continued: “We weren’t given the opportunity to put that no objection on that statement that they signed to, so they did it verbally in that they were not in understanding of what it is because they were told that if you don’t sign, you wouldn’t be paid.”

After collecting the monies, the Lindeners are now calling for a detailed explanation of the formula used to determine such. “There are established formulas that are

used to arrive at compensation and that is the point we want to establish. We would like to know what was the formula used by the CoI that investigated this matter,” he said.

Solomon pointed out that “The region through its bilateral engagements with the government would have laid this at several of our engagements, putting this on the agenda, that, it is a stingy amount given, but we would like to know what formula was used to arrive at compensation. We’ve formally made that known to the government”.

If the community is still dissatisfied with explanations given, the RDC would be seeking to take further legal action. In July 2012, Lindeners were engaged in violent protest action for a number of days over the increase in tariff hike in the region. During the demonstrations, there were burning of buildings and logs and the blocking of roads.

President fulfils promise EU envoy hosts reception to mark Croatia to Chenapau’s residents joining grouping

C

Chenapau Toshao David Garcia and Amerindian Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall shake hands after the presentation of the boat and engine. Also in photo are staff of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry

L

ocated in Region Eight, Chenapau village on Wednesday received an aluminium boat and a 40horsepower engine, handed over through the Amerindian Affairs Ministry on behalf of President Donald Ramotar.

The items were presented to the village’s Toshao David Garcia by Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall at the Amerindian Affairs Ministry in Thomas Street, Georgetown.

Dharamlall said the village requested from the president a few months ago a boat and engine, to transport the children from the village to

their school in Mahdia.

“It is one of the most remote villages in Guyana, hence his excellency thought that it is important as part of widening education development as our country is working towards universal secondary education,” Dharamlall explained.

Many of the students of Chenapau attend the Mahdia Secondary School and transportation is one of their challenges. Garcia thanked the president and the Amerindian Affairs Ministry for providing them with the boat and engine valued $1.5 million.

roatia will next week join the European Union (EU), which the grouping said will mark another historic milestone for the body.

The Republic of Croatia will accede to the membership of the EU, bringing an end to a 10 year accession process that initially commenced in 2003. Croatia will become the 28th member of the EU and this will be the seventh time the EU is being enlarged, the EU office here said in a statement.

The statement, quoted EU Ambassador to Guyana Robert Kopecky at a reception in honour of the occasion, saying that the process of preparing for Croatia’s accession started in February 2003 when Croatia made its formal application for EU membership. He said the European Commission examined Croatia’s application and gave a positive opinion in 2004, recommending the opening of accession negotiations. In the same year, the EU granted Croatia the status of a candidate country.

According to Kopecky, in 2005, accession negotiations started with the screening of Croatia’s legislation to identify where modifications were needed to ensure compliance with EU norms and rules.

Administrative capacity was analysed in each sector, and an important set of reforms leading to alignment with EU

law were kicked off in all the areas of accession negotiations.

The accession negotiations were based on a new approach, with a stronger focus on the rule of law and strict conditions for both opening and closing the negotiating chapters. This approach helped to set the right priorities in all sectors, assisting Croatia to gradually comply with the requirements to become a fully prepared member state. The accession negotiations were concluded on June 30, 2011. On October 12, 2011, the European Commission adopted its favourable opinion on Croatia’s accession to the EU.

Treaty

The Accession Treaty was drafted based on the outcome of the accession negotiations before being translated into all official EU languages and Croatian. The European Parliament gave its consent on December 1 and the council took a decision on Croatia’s application on December 5, 2011; enabling the signature to take place on December 9, 2011.

The EU was first set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. In 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community began to unite European coun-

tries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace.

The six founders are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The 1950s were dominated by a cold war between the east and west. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC), or Common Market.

Croatia with a population of some 4.5 million people is a small, boomerang shaped country facing the Adriatic Sea in central Europe. Located at the northern end of the Balkan Peninsula, it shares borders with six neighbouring countries. They are Slovenia to the north, Hungary to the north-east, BosniaHerzegovina and Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the south and Italy to the west across the Adriatic Sea. The geographic shape of Croatia, along with its numerous and diverse neighbours gives an idea of the forces of history in the region.

Communist state

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independ-

ent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal Tito. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia’s ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.

In April 2009, Croatia joined NATO. Meanwhile, Guyana's Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana has always supported integration and through the African Caribbean Pacific Group in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and Cariforum. Guyana has benefited and with that the relationship has become more than just economical, but even political as well. Integration has over time become less of a choice but more of an imperative, she said. Being founder members of Caricom and part of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Guyana appreciates the importance of integration and the Croatia accession into the EU will bring better lives for the People of Croatia. Guyana recognised and congratulates the people of Croatia on the historical milestone they have made in their country’s history.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, june 27, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) The secret to dealing successfully with others is to treat everybody as an equal. This will be true whether dealing with your boss or an underling.

dilbert

(June 21July 22) Your insights should not be treated lightly, especially if they could lead to an advantage in your career and/or add some weight to your wallet.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

When shopping, quality should be given priority over price when it comes to a decision between two items. Take plenty of time to study the intrinsic value of each.

Calvin and Hobbes

CANCER

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) To make the kind of impression you’d like, you should take a little more time than usual to select your attire. There’s a chance you could encounter someone special.

Be an attentive listener, because a colleague is likely to pass on some extremely valuable information. You’ll need to read between the lines to take advantage of it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) A fortunate situation could develop through someone who thinks the same way you do. What transpires will be made possible through mutual trust.

Peanuts ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Your sincerity, compassion and warmth will be a light and an example to others. These attributes put you a cut or two above all others.

Your ambitious aims can be achieved if you put your mind to it. It will be important, however, that you think and act big.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Make the needs of your loved ones paramount to your own. True joy comes from being a giver rather than a getter.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) When dealing with others, you can call favourable attention to yourself by being understated. A whisper commands attention, while shouting turns others off.

Wednesday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) An unusual occurrence is likely to give you an advantage over your associates. It could also be something of a financial windfall.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) You should pay attention to both your intuition and your common sense.

Collectively, your reasoning powers and your perceptions will be exceptionally accurate.

news 19

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uyana-born actress Rhona Fox received the Rising Sun Award at the Caribbean Heritage Salute to Hollywood and the Arts gala in Hollywood, California, on Friday, June 20. She was honoured along with actor Reno Wilson (currently stars on “Mike & Molly” on CBS and is of Antiguan heritage) and Paula Madison (a former vice-president of NBC Universal and part owner of WNBA Los Angeles Sparks team, of Jamaican heritage).

The Caribbean Heritage Organisation (CHO) has been hosting this awards ceremony since 2007 and selected Fox as this year’s emerging actor. The Rising Sun is awarded to one actor of Caribbean heritage each year and past recipients include Tatyana Ali. In her acceptance speech, Fox said she was humbled to receive this prestigious honour and shared it with everyone attending, as the gala also served as a fundraiser for local charities and a scholarship in Haiti.

“I’m so thrilled to receive the Rising Sun Award from the Caribbean Heritage Organisation and had an amazing time celebrating this incredible recognition in true Hollywood fashion,” stated Fox. “All this support encourages me to keep chasing this crazy dream of mine and I look forward to making my Caribbean people proud.”

The red carpet event took place at the ritzy Hilton Universal City and kicked off with a VIP press reception, where Fox was interviewed by various media outlets. The party then moved to the formal ballroom, where dinner was served and patrons were entertained by musical numbers and various Caribbean folk dances, which included Garifuna and Junkanoo dance ensembles.

The awards were presented to the three honorees, with video tributes introducing each person. For Fox’s tribute, she was congratulated by her mother, soca star Farmer Nappy and dancehall icon Shaggy. Each honoree delivered heartfelt

Rhona Fox

acceptance speeches before the gala erupted into dancing and a true celebration.

“We are honoured that the beautiful and talented Rhona Fox was present to receive our 2013 Rising Sun Award,” says CHO Executive Director Marva Herman, who has been spearheading this salute to Hollywood and the arts since 2007.

Done CaribbeanAmericans proud

“Rhona, as an emerging actress and entrepreneur, has done us CaribbeanAmericans proud, and we look forward to even greater things from her,” added Dr Claire Nelson, the architect behind Caribbean-American Heritage Month and founder of the Institute of Caribbean Studies. Dr Nelson presented Fox with the Rising Sun Award.

Fox was born in Essequibo, Guyana and relocated with her family to Nassau, Bahamas at 10 years old. She migrated to New York City to attend university and the Big Apple remains home for the rising actress.

According to Fox’s official website, after attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, Fox spent the first seven years of her career as an award-winning news promotion producer at ABC and FOX news affiliates, before becoming the

editor-in-chief of JAMROCK Magazine, a then nationally-published Caribbean lifestyle and entertainment magazine. Ultimately, she parlayed her extensive professional media experience into launching a music media-marketing firm aptly named FOX FUSE, representing clients such as Pitbull, Lil Jon, and Shaggy.

The company became a partnership in 2010, to allow time for her to embark on an acting career.

Working in entertainment offered a natural transition into acting for Fox, who told her mother since she was a five-year-old in Guyana that she will become an actress one day. Being surrounded by opportunities in New York forced her to make the leap towards fulfilling her ultimate dream.

Fox’s first acting gig placed her on the set of the RocA-Wear 10th Anniversary commercial in August 2009, where she was directed by Spike Lee. Ever since then, she was truly bitten by the acting bug.

She was awarded Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead Award in 2012, along with the City of New York Proclamation, for her contributions to the arts.

The summer is heating up for Fox, as she is booked for various film and commercial projects, and looks forward to representing her Caribbean culture and people on the world stage.

Govt engages Baramita community

TOUR

immigration

Guyanese actress Rhona Fox honoured in Hollywood

– to provide update on developments and future plans

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A

team from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and related agencies will engage in discussion with the Amerindian community of Baramita in Region One today, to clarify concerns of mining and development.

The team will be headed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister

Robert Persaud and will include representatives from the Amerindian Affairs and Local Government ministries, along with technical officers of the natural resources and environmental sectors. They will meet with stakeholders to discuss land, environmental, forest, and mining concerns.

The meeting resulted

from a request from the community in relation to the development of a mining operation and the involvement of a UK-based Russian company.

This meeting is part of the ministry’s efforts to ensure the development of the mining sector is done in sync with the rights and expectations of indigenous communities.

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guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, june 27, 2013

NFL’s Aaron Hernandez Island Mist Water charged with murder road race launched A

n American football star has been charged with murder after a fellow player was found dead last week in a Massachusetts industrial park.

Aaron Hernandez, 23, was taken in handcuffs from his home south of Boston in connection with the death of Odin Lloyd, 27, a semi-professional player.

Hernandez was dropped from his team, the New England Patriots, after Wednesday morning’s arrest.

The National Football League called the arrest “deeply troubling”.

The league has struggled to improve its image after a string of cases involving dog fighting, gambling, and homicide, among other criminal charges.

Hernandez was also charged with several firearms violations. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors say Lloyd was shot multiple times and that the former Patriots tight end had a dispute with him a few days before.

The dead man’s family say he and Hernandez were friends, and that Lloyd’s girlfriend and Hernandez’s fiancee are sisters.

Prosecutor Bill McCauley said surveillance footage from Hernandez’s home showed him leaving earlier on the night of the killing with a gun.

Aaron Hernandez

According to authorities, Hernandez and two friends picked up Lloyd at home at 02:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on 17 June. Hernandez told Lloyd he was upset about an event at a nightclub days before.

Lloyd texted his sister about an hour later, according to prosecutors.

“Did you see who I am with,’’ he wrote. He sister asked whom, and he later replied “NFL” and “Just so you know”.

Minutes later, workers at the industrial park reported hearing gunshots, McCauley said.

Hernandez’s lawyer called the case “circumstantial” and “not a strong case” but a judge ordered him held without bail.

In a separate case, Hernandez has been sued by a man who says the football player shot him in the face in February.

Alexander Bradley lost an eye in the shooting, but

Florida police said they had dropped an investigation after Bradley refused to cooperate.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Patriots said they would drop Hernandez from the roster during the Massachusetts investigation.

“At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do,” the team said in a statement.

Hernandez of Bristol, Connecticut, was drafted by the Patriots in 2010 after playing at the University of Florida. He played in the February 2012 Super Bowl, the NFL championship game. His contract was renewed last year in a fiveyear, US$40 million (£26 million) deal.

He also signed an endorsement deal with footwear and apparel firm Puma in April.

A Puma spokeswoman declined to comment on Wednesday. (BBC Sport)

Coach of Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts receiving the sponsorship cheque from Country Manager of Guyana Beverage Company, Robert Selman while Tampico Brand Manager Alanna Ramjattan and American Classic Brand Manager Christine Kellawal look on

G

uyana Beverage Company has confirmed a commitment it made a year ago when it handed over the sponsorship cheque to the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) for the hosting of the second annual Island Mist Water Road cycle race.

Last year when the event was launched Country Manager of Guyana Beverage Robert Selman had promised to make the event an annual one.

The Island Mist Water 60-mile road race will be held on July 6. Last year the event was limited to cyclist of the FACC, however this year the event is opened to all cycles.

At a handing over ceremony held at the company’s Palmyra branch in Berbice, Selman was happy that the company is giving back to the community.

“The Guyana Beverage Company don’t spend its money on alcohol and on parties. We invest our money back into sports and education,” adding that the objective is to try to keep youths off the streets.

“The management of Guyana Beverage believes that this is the way to go forward to encourage the youths to get involved.”

The company has been operating in Guyana for the past 20 years and has been

Carmichael)

Cook can go past Tendulkar – Pietersen

From page 24

Paulinho heads Brazil... K

Scolari’s Brazil but the jubilation among the players and coaching staff at the final whistle showed just how much this meant. Brazil never approached their fluent best but they did just enough to get over the line.

The build-up had been every bit as passionate and spiky as the game itself.

Cesar had described the rivalry between the nations as more intense than that of Brazil’s with Argentina, while Uruguay captain Diego Lugano had accused Neymar of attempting to fool referees by diving.

But for all the talk, on both sides, of a fiesta of South American football, the match was fraught and fractious. Neither side found their fluency, as Uruguay drained the game of pace and momentum, quietening the crowd and adding to the mood of tension around the ground.

But it was an incident in the 14th minute, involving two players who had featured in the build-up, that changed the mood. Uruguay won a corner and as the players jostled in the penalty area, Luiz grabbed a handful of Lugano’s shirt and the Uruguay captain went to

in Berbice for 12 of those.

According to Selman, this year’s sponsorship money has been increased.

Prizes will be awarded to the top six finishers.

There will also be prizes for the veterans, juniors and female riders. The race will ride off from outside of the company’s Palmyra branch to the Number 51 Police Station and return to the starting line. The beverage company’s manager also took the opportunity to thank the FACC for organising the event.

Coach of the club Randolph Roberts expressed gratitude to the company on behalf of FACC. (Andrew

ground for a penalty.

The Brazil players surrounded Chilean referee Enrique Osses and the stadium erupted in fury. Forlan was made to wait and wait to take the spot-kick and his effort was low and tame, allowing Cesar to dive to his left and turn the ball behind with a flick of his glove.

The noise that rumbled around the Estadio Mineirao initially appeared to shake Brazil from their slumber.

And yet for the remainder of the half, they looked a side lacking cohesion, confidence and sustained threat – insipid not inventive.

Uruguay continued to threaten, frustrating Brazil, snapping in tackles and denying them space.

Rodriguez headed just over while Forlan fizzed a curling left foot shot just wide.

It seemed it might take a mistake, some individualism or a piece of good fortune to break the deadlock and give Brazil hope – so it proved.

With half-time in sight, Paulinho’s lofted pass spun perfectly into the path of Neymar. He forced the ball back across goal, but it was deflected into the path of Fred, via a deflection off

Lugano, allowing the local boy to force the ball into the net with his shin.

And yet Brazil were still prone to lapses in concentration. With the second half just minutes old, their captain Thiago Silva ended a calamitous series of errors by passing the ball to Cavani in the penalty area. The highly-rated Napoli striker fired a low shot beyond Cesar before many Brazilians had taken their seats, to level the game and stun Estadio Mineirao into silence for a second time.

The introduction of home-town hero Bernard lifted the home crowd once more. His quick feet took him past two Uruguay defenders within minutes of his arrival only for Fred to fire high and wide when the ball finally came his way.

Uruguay dropped deeper and deeper as Brazil went to the flanks in search of an opening. Cavani, though, still threatened. One shot deflected narrowly wide, but with time running out it was the hosts who struck the decisive blow. Neymar floated a corner over from the left and Paulinho rose highest to head in at the far post and spark scenes of jubilation.

(BBC Sport)

evin Pietersen has marked his anticipated England comeback by boldly predicting that Alastair Cook has the ability to challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s world-record number of Test runs.

Tendulkar, with 15837 Test runs, is more than 2000 ahead of his nearest rival, Ricky Ponting – and he is not quite finished yet.

Cook remains 8000 adrift, although he has regularly matched Tendulkar at the same stage of his career, leaving Pietersen no doubt the record is within his compass.

Pietersen, who is expected to return for England today in the second T20 international against New Zealand , has always freely admitted that he has little knowledge of cricket history, which will be a relief to Cook, who has enough problems to deal with in managing England’s Ashes campaign without being tipped to surpass the most celebrated living batsman.

Pietersen’s accolade for Cook came in the second part of a pre-recorded interview with Darren Gough on Talksport – an interview which, in protest at the English media’s coverage of his controversial career, he has billed as his only pronouncement of the summer.

Alastair Cook

“His first series was against India away and we beat India,” Pietersen said of Cook. “He’s done exceptionally well, his cricket just keeps getting better and better.

“For me he’s the right man to lead England, he’s doing a great job for us and he will continue to get better and better and break every record anyone’s ever set, certainly in the English game. He’s on target to go for Tendulkar’s numbers, if you look at the numbers and look at his age.”

Pietersen also offered glowing praise for another colleague who is tipped to have a long and fruitful England career in Joe Root – not that he was overly aware who the young Yorkshireman joining England on tour for the first

time in India last winter was.

“I never knew of him, I never heard of him, because when you’re on the scene and young players come you just don’t,” he said. “But I knew that he was going to be good when he walked out to bat in Nagpur in his first Test match.”

By the time Root made his debut England were 2-1 up with one Test to play and needed to avoid defeat to win their first series in India for 28 years.

“I was batting and… we just didn’t want to let India back into it at all and he walked out and – just his face walking towards me for 20 metres – I thought this kid’s going to be a flipping superstar.

“It was just the confidence that he walked out to bat with in his debut Test match in India, two spinners bowling, from each end, we’d just lost a wicket or a couple of wickets and he walked out with a smile on his face, and went ‘All right lad, you ok, you’re playing well there.’

And I was like, ‘Mate! I’ve played 90 odd Test matches and I don’t walk out like that.’ But it’s brilliant for English cricket, absolutely brilliant.” (Cricinfo)

thursday, june 27, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

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MORE SHOCKERS! Federer suffers earliest Wimbledon exit since 2002 - Sharapova beaten in second round

D

efending champion Roger Federer suffered his earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2002 with a second-round defeat to world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Seven-time winner Federer, 31, lost 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) on a dramatic day that had seen a record seven players retire through injury.

Federer, Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have now exited the competition to boost Andy Murray’s title hopes.

The top-ranked player in Murray’s side of the draw is 15th seed Milos Raonic.

Fifth seed and two-time champion Nadal was also on Murray’s side of the draw but lost in the first round.

And sixth seed Tsonga withdrew from his secondround match because of an injury, one of seven men and women to do so on day three.

Champion's run

Federer’s defeat meant it was also his earliest Grand Slam exit since losing in the first round of the French Open in 2003.

It also ended the 17-time major champion’s run of 36 consecutive quarter-final appearances in Grand Slam events, which started at Wimbledon in 2004.

The 27-year-old Stakhovsky’s previous best display at Wimbledon was reaching the second round in 2011 while he has never gone beyond the third round at a Grand Slam event.

And things started well enough for Federer, who edged a tight first set on a tie-break, before Stakhovsky took the second set tie-break

Sergiy Stakhovsky

to level.

Federer put pressure on his opponent’s serve in the third set but could not find the breakthrough.

And he was made to pay when his own serve was broken in the 11th game, which constituted the first service break of the match.

Stakhovsky, who came to the net almost twice as much as Federer, moved to the brink of victory with an early break in the fourth set but Federer showed his class to level at 3-3.

He had set points on the Stakhovsky serve at 5-6 to take the match into a decider but his unheralded opponent stood firm to force another tie-break.

An early mini-break grew into a 5-2 lead for the Ukrainian and although Federer saved one match point with a courageous pass he faltered on the second, sending a backhand wide.

It was Federer’s first defeat by a player ranked outside the top 100 since losing to 101-ranked Richard Gasquet at Monte Carlo in 2005.

It was also the earliest defeat for a defending Wimbledon men’s sin-

Roger Federer

gles champion since Lleyton Hewitt lost to Ivo Karlovic in the first round in 2003.

Meanwhile, Third seed Maria Sharapova is out of Wimbledon after losing 6-3 6-4 to world number 131 Michelle Larcher de Brito.

The 2004 champion fell three times on court number two and required lengthy treatment on her hip in the second set.

At one point Sharapova complained to the umpire that the court was dangerous but after the match she refused to use this as an excuse for her defeat.

Portugal’s De Brito, 20, suggested the court was slippery because there was cut grass sitting on the surface.

Number 12 seed Ana Ivanovic is also out, losing 6-3 6-3 to 2012 junior champion Eugenie Bouchard.

The match was moved from an outside court to Centre after Victoria Azarenka pulled out through injury.

The 19-year-old world number 66 broke Ivanovic five times in a match lasting only 63 minutes.

Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki also suffered a surprise defeat as she fell 6-2 6-2

to Czech Petra Cetkovska.

In what was only her third tournament since four months out with a stress fracture of her foot, world number 186 Cetkovska comfortably saw off the Dane in just 75 minutes.

Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain is Bouchard’s next opponent before a potential fourth-round meeting with former champion Petra Kvitova.

Navarro, who is the 19th seed, recovered after losing the first set to beat Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 1-6 6-3 6-3.

Monica Puig, who knocked out fifth seed Sara Errani, is through to the third round after she beat Silvia SolerEspinosa of Spain 6-2 5-7 6-4.

Kvitova advanced without hitting a ball after her opponent Yaroslava Shvedova pulled out with an arm injury.

The Kazakh became the seventh player to withdraw through injury on Wednesday.

Victoria Azarenka, the Belrussian second seed, was among the casualties, handing a walkover to Italy’s Flavia Pennetta as she failed to recover from a knee injury

Michelle Larcher de Brito

Maria Sharapova

sustained in her first-round win over Maria Joao Koehler.

Former world number one and 16th seed Jelena Jankovic is out, beaten 7-5 6-2 by Vesna Dolonc.

The Serb, who is ranked 97 in the world broke Jankovic five times on her way to setting up a third round clash with German Kirsten Flipkens.

American Sloane Stephens did make it through

Limacol CPL T20 – Kavem Hodge will breathe...

I would dream of playing cricket for the West Indies at the highest level. I lived and breathed cricket but never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would be part of such a tournament.”

Dream

Now Hodge is living the dream and on July 30 at the LCPL opening match against the Barbados Tridents, he will breathe some of his youthful energy and enthusiasm into the St Lucia Zouks.

He was born in Roseau, the capital of Dominica, but moved to Antrizle with his mother and his older sister to live with his maternal grandmother and grandfather, the latter a cricketer himself. A few years later his grandparents moved temporarily to the U.S. to live with their daughter; his mother joined his stepfather in the UK; and his sister moved to Antigua. In the blink of an eye but only for a split second, 11-year old Kavem was homeless. However, his uncle took him in, followed by a neighbour and other good Samaritans until his grandparents returned. Five years

later he met his father for the first time.

All along it was cricket that kept him going. He says he will never forget the first time that Claudius Sanford placed a “hard ball” in his hand, which put him on the path that led to where he is today.

“Mr Sanford was a coach who went around to the primary schools in our area identifying persons to play in the Under-13 East Zone League. He recognised my talent and introduced me to the hard ball. He gave me my first chance to play in the Under-13 Zone League.”

He was one of the chosen few. From representing the eastern part of the island, Hodge went on to represent his country at the under-13 and under-15 levels.

As captain of the under-15 for the Windward Islands, he led the team to victory, something they hadn’t tasted in 10 years. At the age of 17, he was the first WestIndian to attend the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy in Australia and the only one to receive a full threemonth scholarship from

the academy, while others were participating through their local associations. At the under-19 level he has represented Dominica, the Windward Islands and the West Indies, playing in India, Dubai and at the Youth World Cup 2012 in Australia. By the third year of playing for the Under-19 Windwards team, Hodge was voted MVP but for him, the CPL is like the icing on the cake.

When he found out that he was drafted, he did not believe it.

Selection

“There was such a long list and I had no control over whether I was picked so I was practicing in the nets at school and Akeem Dewar, who was selected for the Jamaica franchise, came to tell me that I was picked. I thought he was just pulling my leg so I didn’t take him on and then another player told me and I still didn’t believe. It was not until one of the UWI coaches showed me the tweet from LCPL which said I was picked that I believed. I felt a sense of relief

and a whole lot of excitement at the same time.”

Hodge is once again one of the chosen few and when he puts on the blue uniform of the Zouks, he says it will be with a sense of pride and privilege.

“I am getting goose bumps just talking about it.

To be part of such a tournament and to wear the same team colours with the likes of Darren Sammy, Herschelle Gibbs, Tamim Iqbal and Albie Morkel is a great honour,” said Hodge enthusiastically. “I am sure I will be nervous but I will also be very proud. I will be a true ambassador for my country, the Windward Islands, the St Lucia franchise and LCPL and I am going to play my part. Everybody understands their role and each other’s strengths and we just have to stay focused and keep our eyes on the prize. I will do my best.”

Hodge says he is focused on the task ahead yet cannot help but look back and acknowledge individuals such as Emmanuel Nanthan, Dr Donald Peters, Gifford Walsh, Jeff Pierre, the

but she had to be at her best to see off the challenge of German Andrea Petkovic.

The 17th seed was on court for two hours and 36 minutes before eventually prevailing 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 8-6.

Marion Bartoli and Kirsten Flipkens overcame unseeded opponents with straight-sets wins over Christina McHale and Bojana Jovanovski respectively. (BBC Sport)

From back page

ished he wants to visit her in Antrizle before he gets back to his studies in sports science at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados where he is on a full scholarship.

Hodge says he is happiest when he is playing cricket but a close second is swimGrateful ming, followed by hiking. For “I will be forever grateful him these additional activito all of these people. Mr La ties are a combination of fun Fond encouraged me at ev- and fitness training. He urgery opportunity, telling me es all young people that have to take the game seriously, a dream to work towards it, put in the work and to value to understand that sacrifices my wicket. I’m also thankmust be made and to do the ful to my grandparents for letting me live with them. right thing consistently. He They showered me with love, is obviously grounded, resoinstilled discipline in me, lute in his belief that young taught me respect, kept me people need more guidance on the right path and didn’t and self-belief, and that anyhesitate to use the rod,” he thing worth having is worth professed sheepishly. working hard for and that His grandfather, everything happens for a Nicholas Laville, didn’t live reason. As a result, he has to see the day that his grand- valued each and every expeson takes to the field in this rience in his life thus far and inaugural tournament but wouldn’t change a thing.

Hodge knows that he’s smilFrom humble beginnings ing now and his grandmothto the prestigious LCPL, er, Victoria Laville, will be watching and waiting, wait- Kavem Hodge is clearly a ing for him to come home. keeper in every sense of the As soon as the LCPL is fin- word. (CPL) Cavaliers team and the late Tom La Fond who all assisted in his upbringing, helped him to believe in himself and/or opened their homes to him when he was going to the Dominica State College and needed somewhere to stay in town.

22

thursday, june 27, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Tri-Nation ODI Series…

The bowling must be consistent, says Clive Lloyd

Cycling double-header billed for early July

From Ravendra Madholall in Toronto

A

n exciting triangular One-Day series is anticipated from Friday when hosts West Indies square off with India and Sri Lanka for supremacy at various venues across the region.

And, according to ex-West Indies and Guyana skipper Clive Lloyd, the Caribbean side can capture the title but their bowlers need to be consistent.

He made this revelation on Sunday in Toronto where he was part of the Guyana delegation that celebrated the country 47th Independence anniversary in Scarborough.

The former left-handed batsman felt the bowling is a little erratic but should they play to the best of their abilities, winning the tournament will not be difficult for the Caribbean side.

“I strongly believe we have a very good and balanced team but the guys have got to play to the best of their abilities; the bowling’s a little weak, they need to work and try different bowlers. Kemar Roach is an excellent bowler and he should be the one to look at while I think they should try Guyanese fast bowler Ronsford Beaton; he is very impressive,” the 68-year-

Robin Persaud

Geron Williams

Naomi Singh

ollowing the completion of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s National Cycling Championship and the “Wheat Up” Caricom Day race this weekend, local riders will again be in action in the first weekend of July for a double-header carded for the National Park and the West Demerara roadways.

On July 6, the riders will converge on the inner circuit of the National Park for the second annual Malta Supreme 11-race programme, set to pedal off at 09:00h.

Among the events slated for the day are the 12-14 Boys and Girls (three laps), Veterans Under-50 (five laps), Over-50 (five laps) and Over-60 (five laps), Juveniles (10 laps), Mountain Bikes (five laps), BMX 6-9 (two laps), 9-12 (three laps), 12-14 (three laps) and Open (three laps) and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational.

The experiened Robin Persaud is the defending

champion of the feature race.

He won last year’s event in a time of one hour, 20 minutes, 05.97 seconds (01h: 20m: 05.97s).

Alonzo Ambrose (Juveniles) and Virgil Jones (Veterans Under-50) also won their respective categories. At the conclusion of the races, Malta Supreme Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie, and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart, will assist in the presentation of prizes to the top performers.

The following day the action switches to West Demerara with the staging of the fourth annual Seven Seas/Dr Chase Nerve Food 50-mile road race.

The race will commence from the Wales Police Station at 08:00h, proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

The veteran, mountain bike and female riders will turn at the Uitvlugt

Community Centre on the upwards journey and finish at the Harbour Bridge.

The first six finishers in the Open race will receive prizes, while the first three Juniors, Veterans, Mountain Bikers and females will also be rewarded.

The top Veteran Over-60 participants will also collect a prize.

Eight prime prizes will be at stake during the race.

The defending champion of the Open race is Geron Williams, who won the 2012 edition in a time of one hour, 53 minutes, 16.95 seconds (01h: 53m: 16.95s), while Talim Shaw (Veteran), Michael DeRoche (Mountain Bikes) and Naomi Singh (Females) won their respective categories last year.

Representatives of the sponsor will be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the race.

Both events are being organised by national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed.

F Clive Lloyd

Kemar Roach

old Lloyd asserted.

The Caribbean side will be led by Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo, starting off their campaign against Sri Lanka at Sabina Park, Jamaica, on Friday. Two days after, they play India at the same venue.

Lloyd also stated that Bravo is a good captain but cited that the selectors should have continued with Darren Sammy, who was recently relieved of the position for ODIs. Lloyd, who featured in 110 Test and 87 ODIs matches for West Indies and an amazing 490 First-Class matches, reckoned that the tournament will be great preparation for the ICC World Cup next year.

“It will serve as a preparation series for West Indies

and the other participating teams; I think we have great ‘strikers’ of the ball and that should boost their confidence of this important assignment beginning on Friday; they are at home and that is a huge advantage,” the veteran cricket administrator revealed.

He also spoke of Bravo’s captaincy mentioning that Sammy is a versatile cricketer and should have still held the position.

“I don’t have a problem with Dwayne’s (Bravo) captaincy; he is a fine cricketer and can be called upon anytime, but I think Sammy has taken over the responsibility at a difficult time and he has done well since then and deserved a longer try, however, I am confident they will do well against Sri Lanka and India in the Caribbean,” Lloyd concluded.

GCB/GTM U-19 Inter-County...

Leg spinners Perreira (7-17) and Sankar (747) spin Berbice and Demerara to big wins

By Rajiv Bisnauth

B

erbice leg Spinners Shawn Perreira spun a web around the Essequibo batsmen to claim figures of 7-17 off 3.4 overs as the defending champions demolished their counterparts by innings and 108 runs in two days of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company (GTM) Inter-County Threeday Under-19 tournament.

It was abject surrender by the Essequibo batsmen who had no answer to the questions posed by Pereira on a turning track at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

Faced with a huge first innings lead of 226, Essequibo lost their last seven wickets for just 18 runs and were eventually bundled out for 118 in 22 overs. Opener Avanesh Persaud was the only batsman that offered any resistance, stroking 52 with four fours and four sixes.

The other two batsmen that managed double figures were Ricardo Adams (21) and Julio Jones (19).

Fast bowler and Man of the Match Romario Shepherd-DeJonge, added two more wickets to his first

Berbice fast bowler Romario Shepherd-DeJonge (right) collects the Man-of-the-Match trophy from junior selector Julian Moore

Chairman of the Junior Selectors, Nazimul Drepaul hands over the Man-of-the-Match trophy to Steven Sankar in the presence of the winnings Demerara team (Rajiv Bisnauth photos)

innings tally to finish with match figures of seven for 72 runs. Shailendra Shameer claimed the other wicket.

Berbice extended their first innings lead that virtually dented any hope Essequibo had, despite Herry Green’s figures of 6-147.

Berbice’s last pair, Romario Shepherd-DeJonge (26 not out) and Kevon Jawahir (28) added 51 runs before the innings came to a close 10 minutes into the second session at 340.

Resuming on 199-3, overnight batsmen David Latchaya and Gudakesh

Motie Kanhai tentatively pushed their scores to 46 and 14 respectively before they were dismissed.

The other batsmen that reached double figure were Shailendra Shameer (32) and Shawn Perreira (15).

Meanwhile, leg spinner, Steven Sankar picked up 7-47 as Demerara crushed the President’s XI by eight wickets, also within two days.

At the Everest Cricket Club ground, Sankar, who was adjudged Man of the Match, after grabbing 12 for 62 in the match, bundled out the President’s XI for 128 in

their second innings, setting Demerara a target of 69 runs.

Demerara chased down the target without much fuss to reach 69-2. Brian Sattuar was left unbeaten on 41 (5x4, 2x6) while skipper Kamesh Yadram was not out on five.

Tagnarine Chanderpaul and Andrew Gibson were the batsmen dismissed for 18 and one respectively. Off spinner Vishal Narayan claimed both wickets for 25 runs.

Medium pacer Dexter George bowled Anthony Bhupdeo (2) off the very first ball of the day to trigger a batting collapse after the

President’s XI resumed on five without loss.

Still with a deficit of 55 runs, the President’s XI were reduced to 34 for five with Ryan Shun (14), Avishkar Sewkaran (9), Mark Hamilton (1) and Keon Morris (3), all being dismissed within the first hour of play.

Danesh Mangal and Vishal Narayan then gave the President’s XI a brief glimmer of hope with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 42 runs before lunch and in the process wiped off the 60run first innings deficit.

The duo extended their partnership to 52 runs before Sankar, who had earlier accounted for the wickets of Shun and Morris picked up the five remaining wickets,

completing the formalities soon after returning from the lunch break.

Narayan was left unbeaten on 38 while Mangal made a fighting 30. Akeem Wallace (14) was the other batsman to reach double figure.

Medium pacers Kevin Paul, Dexter George and spinner Stephon Brown all picked up a wicket apiece for Demerara.

Demerara now lead the points table with 31 points while Essequibo are on 22.5 points. The final round starts on Saturday with Demerara playing Berbice at the Demerara Cricket Club ground while the President’s XI will oppose Essequibo at the Wales Community Centre ground.

thursday, june 27, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

“Wheat Up” cycling meet hits seawall bandstand on Caricom Day

RBC President Brian Allen (third left) receives Namilco’s sponsorship cheque from Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod. Other staff members of Namilco, including Assistant Managing Director Autamaram Lakeram (centre), share the moment (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

W

ith the aim of attracting more spectators to cycling, the Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) will use a different format for this year’s “Wheat Up” cycling event set for Monday in observance of Caricom Day. Unlike previous years, the 10th annual Caricom Day race will take place around the seawall bandstand circuit with the RBC hosting the 12-race programme, commencing at 09:00h.

The previous nine editions of the race were held on the East Bank

Demerara public road, moving off from the National Milling Company (Namilco) at Agricola, proceeded to Soesdyke, Linden Highway, before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

Next Monday, the riders will compete in various categories, including the 1214 juveniles (three laps), Junior/Category Four (five laps), Category 1-3 (five laps), Veterans Over and Under-50 (five laps each), Win and Out Open (eight laps), Team Time Trials (three laps), Mountain Bikes Open (five laps) and

BMX 6-10 (two laps) and 10-14 years (two laps). The female riders will also compete in a five-lap event.

The feature race will be the “Wheat Up” 30lap Open, which has a top prize of $30,000 and a trophy, an increase from last year. The champion will also receive a year’s supply of “Wheat Up” from the Namilco.

Speaking at the official launch of the event on Wednesday morning in Namilco’s boardroom, president of the RBC, Brian Allen, said the event this year is geared at attracting

more spectators, hence the sea wall bandstand as the venue.

Allen argued that “for too long spectators have been deprived of quality cycling”, and it is against this backdrop that the format of this year’s event has been changed.

Finance Controller at Namilco, Fitzroy McLeod, lauded Allen and his team at the RBC for its innovation, noting that it will create an avenue for the sport to be showcased.

McLeod used the opportunity to invite families to witness the event, which he said will be very competitive, since Namilco has upped the prize money this year.

While the top six finishers in the main race will receive cash prizes, the top three to the finish line in the other events will also be rewarded with cash and trophies.

A total of 15 prime prizes will be at stake during the main race, with the runnerup collecting $25,000, third $15,000, fourth $7000, fifth $6000 and sixth $4000. All the cash prizes are being accompanied by trophies.

Over $260,000 in cash and trophies will be distributed at the end of the day’s activities. Also present at Wednesday’s launch were other staff of Namilco, including Assistant Managing Director, Autamaram Lakeram. (Avenash Ramzan)

23

Digicel Schools Football…

Vryman’s Erven whip Manchester Secondary 13-1

V

ryman’s Erven Secondary sent a strong message to the other schools in the Region Six zone by dishing out a 13-1 thrashing on Manchester Secondary in the third annual Digicel Schools Football Championship.

Stephen Boucher slammed home six goals to lead Vryman’s Erven’s victory charge, with his teammates offering solid support.

Boucher got into the act long after his teammates had given Vryman’s Erven a solid platform. He scored all of his goals in the second half, finding the back of the nets in the 60th, 70th, 74th, 81st, 83rd and 85th minutes.

Akeem Haynes (5th and 37th), Kevin Little (30th and

39th), Ojay Green (26th), Bouris Griffith (48th) and Ray Hinds (88th) were the other players to score.

Garfield Browne’s 69th minute strike was the only spark for Manchester Secondary.

In other results, Annandale Secondary outplayed the Institute of Business Education 5-0; Craig Secondary defeated St Cuthbert’s 3-1 and Patentia Secondary got the better of La Grange 5-2.

A total of 147 schools from all 10 regions of Guyana started the knockout competition, which is Guyana’s premier school football tournament, last Friday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Smythfield Rockers qualify for final of Mackeson basketball tournament

S

mythfield Rockers kept their unbeaten record in the Mackeson Top Six basketball tournament when they brushed aside Rose Hall Town Jammers 61-41 on Sunday at the Vryman’s Ervin Court in New Amsterdam.

Smythfield had some anxious moments at the start as they led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter and 18-24 at the half. By the end of the third quarter Michael Bowen had 10 points and

Jamal Felix, along with Andre Shako had seven points each as their team took a six-point lead.

Bowen eventually hit a game high 24 points and received support from Shako, 14, and Felix, 13.

The Rockers are now assured of a place in the final while the Jammers with two matches to play have no chance of meeting there. At stake in the ANSA McAlsponsored tournament is $80,000 for the winners.

PYO launches Walter Rodney Memorial tapeball competition T

he Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), the youth arm of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, will soon bowl off an inaugural male and female 10-over tapeball competition in memory of the late political activist and historian, Dr Walter Rodney.

The male aspect will feature approximately 36 teams battling in a fourround competition, starting with a regional playoff followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The female version will involve four teams and will be run alongside the male tournament.

Action in what is being called the “PYO Championship League” will bowl off on June 29 and conclude with the male and female finals on September 1 at the Guyana National Stadium Parking Lot, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Six teams from six districts/regions will compete in the playoffs of the male competition.

The Region Four “A” (East Bank Demerara) zone will

Let’s play! Members of the PYO display the massive trophies that will be up for grabs at the upcoming competition (Photo: Carl Croker)

start on June 29, while the Region Four B (East Coast Demerara) zone will commence on July 14.

Action in Regions Two, Three and Five will also bowl off on July 14, while the Region Six zone will get underway on June 30.

On the distaff side, one team each from Regions Two, Three, Four and Five

and Six combined will begin battle on August 21.

The teams for both aspects of the competition have been drawn from the PYO and other youth groups across the various regions.

The winner of each district/region will be presented with a branded PYO cricket bat, compliments of

the PYO National Steering Committee. The overall champions of the two categories will be presented with the coveted Walter Rodney Cup. In giving a basic overview of the tournament, the PYO said it is built on the foundation of the immortal ideologies/concepts of former great leaders of

Guyana, including the late Rodney, hence the tournament being named in his honour.

“Of the many Guyanese heroes, our organisation still to date preaches the ideals of Dr Walter Rodney as we recruit youths of all classes, colours and creeds into our prestigious 61-year-old organisation.

In memory of this great individual our organisation’s sports committee thought it best to host a national cricket competition titled the ‘PYO Championship League: In memory of Dr Walter Rodney’ where PYO teams from across the regions will vie for the coveted Walter Rodney Cup,” a PYO statement read.

thursday, june 27, 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

Paulinho heads Brazil into Confeds Cup Final

Kavem Hodge will breathe youthful energy into St Lucia Zouks

A

ntrizle. The name sounds funny. You can’t find it on any map. A Google search makes no difference. Where and what is Antrizle?

It’s a tiny speck of a village on the east coast of the island of Dominica with a population of less than 700, but emerging from it is a rising star that just might cause mapmakers to reconsider giving it some space on the chart.

Kavem Hodge, who turned 20 earlier this year on 21 February, is a middleorder batsman and left-arm spinner. He is one of only two Under-23 picks in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) draft for the St Lucia Zouks franchise team and the youngest

INSIDE TODAY'S SPORTS

PYO launches Walter Rodney Memorial P23 tapeball competition

member of the team. When he began playing windball cricket on the beach in the seaside village where he grew up, he could not envisage a LCPL, let alone imagine that he would one day be drafted to play cricket for a franchise.

“At five years old, I was the youngest on the side.

The other guys were much older and I was the wicket-keeper. Imagine that,” says Hodge. “I love to bat and bowl but I also enjoy wicket-keeping. I’m still the keeper when I play in the Castle Bruce league and for the Marigot team in the Northern T20 League. We would go to the beach on weekends and play cricket, swim, play cricket, swim and so on until we were

Brazil’s Paulinho (right) heads the ball to score a goal past Uruguay’s Martin Caceres and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (left) during their Confederations Cup semi-final soccer match at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes)

Kavem Hodge

tired. That was our passion.

During the week it was the same. In primary school, we would play cricket before school started, during break, at lunchtime and after school. Sachin Tendulkar was my hero back then and still is. continued on page 21

B

razil scraped into the final of the Confederations Cup with victory in an emotional and highly-charged encounter at the Estadio Mineirao on Wednesday.

Paulinho’s late header ensured the Selecao finally saw off a resilient Uruguay to set up a clash with Spain

or Italy in the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

Fred had given Brazil a scarcely-deserved firsthalf lead, prodding home Neymar’s cross.

But Uruguay hit back shortly after the interval when Edinson Cavani capitalised on an error from Brazil captain Thiago Silva to strike a

low shot beyond Julio Cesar.

Home goalkeeper Cesar had earlier saved Diego Forlan’s first-half penalty, after David Luiz pulled down Uruguay captain Diego Lugano.

This was a test of character and spirit for Luiz Felipe continued on page 20

GCB/GTM U-19 Inter-County...

Leg spinners Perreira (7-17) and Sankar (7-47) spin Berbice and Demerara to big wins

See story on page

22

Leg spinner Steven Sankar completed the return catch off Ryan Shun (Rajiv Bisnauth photo)

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