Guyana Times Daily

Uncertainty ends over UG student loans

THURSDAY, AUgUST 21, 2014 | gUYAnATimeSgY.com

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Uncertainty ends over UG student loans

− Govt clears funding for increased tuition

overnment has approved additional funds for the University of Guyana Student Loan Fund to facilitate the increase in tuition fees that will take full effect with the commencement of the new academic year 2014/2015.

During the 2014 Budget presentation in March, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh disclosed that $450 million was budgeted for the Student Loan Fund but by April, this sum was reduced to zero after the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) signalled their collective disapproval.

The Opposition had taken this course of action after the Student Loan Fund was lumped with items it had deemed objectionable. Their decision, however, was made before the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi announced the hike in tuition fees.

Estimates

By June, the Finance Minister had moved to the House with a Statement of Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates totalling $4.5 billion for the period ended June 16.

This sum included $225 million for the Student Loan Fund.

On Wednesday, Minister Singh disclosed that the Government has taken a decision to provide additional funds to cater for the increase in tuition fees.

His announcement came one day after Cabinet concluded deliberations on the matter, having examined it exhaustively.

As a result of the decision, Minister Singh has given directives for the Student Loan Agency to commence the processing of loan applications immediately for the 2014/2015

Academic Year.

In July, the University’s Administration Council adjusted fees applying to both new and continuing students who are pursuing programmes which previously attracted a fee of $127,000.

Students are now required to pay an incremental increase beginning with $130,000 in 2014, $145,000 in 2015 and $160,000 in 2016, in addition to the $50,000 Facilities Fee. The new Guyanese students who will be commencing study from September will be required to pay $210,000, inclusive of the Facilities Fee for most programmes.

In 2013, approximately 40 per cent of the student population acquired loans; however with the increase in tuition, this figure is expected to skyrocket.

Finance Minister, Dr Singh however made it clear that the loans granted to finance tuition fees will not include the new Facilities Fee which totals $50,000 per year. The Facilities Fee replaces the Miscellaneous Fee which was historically paid by students outside of the student loan arrangement.

Approximately six days ago, the University’s Vice Chancellor signalled his intentions to temporary close both the Turkeyen and

Tain Campuses if Cabinet had not found favour with the increase in tuition and withheld additional funding for the Student Loan Fund. These threats were immediately dismissed by Singh who noted that the matter was still engaging the attention of the university.

Tuition fees

Nevertheless, on Wednesday he said the Administration’s decision to endorse the increase in tuition fees and subsequently its commitment to provide the required loans are in keeping with its promise to ensure that no Guyanese student is denied access to university education because of nonaffordability.

According to him, the hike in tuition fees would provide the required revenues needed to improve the quality of education provided to students, in addition to the creation of a more conducive environment.

But he said, “The University’s Administration needs to make a more concerted effort to streamline its operations to ensure value for money, more prudent management and a sustained higher quality of teaching and research output.”

Though Cabinet has signalled its approval for additions funds for the Student

Loan Fund, it remains concerned over the poor rate of repayment of loans previously granted. It is therefore calling for increased “voluntary compliance” even as the Government explores options for strengthening enforcement to raise repayment rates.

The ideal option, Minister Singh declared, would be for persons to act responsibly and repay previous loans they were granted voluntarily without any stringent enforcement measures having to be applied.

Dr Singh had indicated that thousands of graduates from the University of Guyana have failed to honour their debts by repaying their loans; a situation he described as truly troubling.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Jacob Opadeyi

Weather: Heavy rain showers can be expected during the day with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

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heights of

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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

Education need of the hour

Last week’s announcement of the CSEC results for the year and the conclave on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) held a week later at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) is a tale of the status of two systems of education in Guyana.

In the former, the Education Minister herself took centre stage in front of TV cameras to deliver the “Top 50” in the CSEC. In the latter, only stakeholders were engaged in an interactive seminar to discuss the way forward in TVET.

In Guyana, the British bequeathed a system in which the focus was on “general” rather than “vocational” education – the model being the “grammar school” exemplified by Queens College. Viewing the natives literally as the “hewers of wood and drawers of water”, this meant they were to be qualified in the skills necessary only to produce the primary products that were needed at most, basic skills. Secondary processing and manufacturing that demanded higher technical skills were for the “Mother Country”. This was the genesis of “underdevelopment”.

The Minister’s conspicuous absence symbolises the fact that we have not yet jettisoned that “colonial mentality”. And this is really the irony: that we give such low importance to TVET in our country even though at our level of development, it has the potential to most develop both our youths and the needs of the country.

At this point in our history, TVET can play the necessary vital role to develop our human resource by creating the skilled manpower to enhance our industrial productivity and not so incidentally, to provide the wages that can enable our people to improve their quality of life.

It might surprise many, and maybe some officials in our education system, that we are in the last year of a five (and final) year of executing a plan guided by a “Policy on Technical and Vocational Education and Training 20092014”. The “Strategic Plan 2008 -2013”, in terms of TVET, “recognises a shortage of trained staff in some sectors and the need to improve existing facilities and provide better equipment. It recommends a gradual increase of the number of TVET schools and ensuring that they are properly equipped”.

That these same needs were identified last Tuesday should be cause for concern – not least by those in the Education Ministry responsible for this area as much as for passes at CSEC.

At this time, there is still some uncertainty as to what constitutes “TVET” and in the literature used in Guyana, the terms Technical Education (TE) and Vocational Training (VT) are sometimes used synonymously. However, more rigorously, the term TE should refer to post-secondary courses of study and practical training aimed at preparation of technicians to work as supervisory staff. The term VT refers to lower-level education and training for the population of skilled or semi-skilled workers in various trades and it does not enhance their level with respect to general education.

Both systems are part of the TVET programme in Guyana and are covered at the Carnegie School of Home Economics; Government Technical Institute; Linden Technical Institute; Essequibo Technical Institute; New Amsterdam Technical Institute; Guyana Industrial Training Centre; Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre; Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre; Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre; Craft Production and Design Division and the University of Guyana.

The latter focuses totally on TE and offers diploma and degree programmes in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Geology and Mining.

At Tuesday’s seminar at NCERD, which appears to have occurred in a media Black Hole from which no information can escape, the Director of Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Mr Sydney Walters, made some pertinent remarks that should be of interest to all Guyanese. We invite the Education Minister to confer the wider coverage that is axiomatic when she is involved.

Unacceptable behaviour from someone who should be a role model

Dear Editor,

I noted that the Kaieteur Newspaper published an article entitled, “ECHO tells Bai Shan Ling to cease logging operations or face the courts.” This is simply laughable.

I am reliably informed that after leading a picketing exercise in front of the GFC office, Royston King and his group were invited by the GFC to its Boardroom to be apprised of the real facts.

However, I learnt that King conveniently remembered then that he had another meeting to go to and abandoned the rest of his group who chose to accept the GFC’s offer to provide clarity.

The agenda of Mr King is however clearly exposed since he still chooses to make totally ridiculous claims, and give inappropriate and irrelevant advice that is simply not applicable in the current situation, while refusing offers for clarification.

This is unacceptable behaviour from someone who is supposed to be a mentor and a role model to young minds and community residents. If this is the kind of teaching and guidance ECHO is imparting to the members of the environmental youth clubs, I would strongly urge parents not to send their children to this forum, since their young minds would only be poisoned with inaccurate information.

But let me identify some glaring mistakes and totally outrageous statements. The company’s name is Bai Shan

Lin (not Bi Shan Ling as stated in the article). Who will verify that BSL is operating within the law – is it a case where ECHO is looking for a consultancy that it is most unqualified for?

The forest regulatory agency has the mandate to ensure the forest sector companies operate within the law and this is exactly what they are doing. One only has to read the reports of the independent auditors that is on the website (www. forestry.gov.gy) and peruse the various guidelines that we concession holders must comply with to be educated on this.

GFC has clarified that BSL can log and can export, having satisfied the GFC's requirements to do so. In summary, it can do limited harvesting from the SFEP, and the maximum allowable harvesting from its joint venture concessions. It can export logs in keeping with the log export guidelines. It has the relevant export licences to do so.

In keeping with the guidelines, a timber company is in the business of logging and profit-making – it is therefore only natural that they would seek to harvest as much as they can and as many species as they have markets for.

Once they comply with the sector’s set guidelines, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, more companies should follow this example so that the Government gets the increased returns from our forest resources within the acceptable limits of harvesting.

If King had done even a little bit of research before penning his vitriol, he would know that deforestation and forest degradation due to forestry activities as verified by international auditors on behalf of Norway, approximated a mere 360 hectares (ha) last year. These auditors also praised the systems in place as being very strong; compliance by stakeholders was also deemed satisfactory. The Guyanese public must be made aware that this is just a smokescreen by King.

How can he assume that there will be damage to the environment in the face of all this evidence and in light of all of the sectors’ controls? Let me alert King that we the loggers sometimes feel very strongly that GFC is in fact over regulating the sector. Maybe this is an area that he can channel his energies to.

GFC, EPA and the media have all reported the BSL is currently doing an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) in keeping with the EPA Act. Sadly however, King and ECHO seem to be unaware of this – is this a reflection of their understanding of current affairs?

Is this the kind of outdated and incorrect information they saturate the youth/environmental clubs with? Is this the kind of garbage that is fed to community residents under the guise of “educational programmes and projects to foster environmental protection awareness”?

As a small logger, let me say that in the past years

there were simply little or no markets for our logs/lumber. We depended and were at the mercy of lumber dealers on the Coast, and had to transport our produce there. We had to accept the grade and price of the buyer, then endure another waiting period before we were paid. With BSL, we get a very fair price, our produce is collected from us, and we get our prompt payment. Is this a bad or unwanted development King? Or do you and your organisation hold the view that the interior people must remain impoverished and their children have no secure future?

Are they to remain like that so that they can be fed the trash that yourself and other media houses are maliciously publicising? Let me warn all of you that what you are trying to do is equivalent to taking bread out of our children’s mouth, and leaving them without hope for the future.

But we will not let this happen. We will not stand by idly and let your silly attempt at publicity for ECHO and whatever other agenda you have succeed. Closure of BSL operations will directly affect us small loggers and our families.

We call on you to stop this malicious campaign, and act responsibly as you should. Also, please do proper research next time you have the compulsion to write an article for the newspapers. You owe this to the young members of your club.

Sincerely,

Mark Fraser

A rescue helicopter hovers over an area devastated by a massive landslide in Hiroshima, western Japan, where at least 32 people have been killed. The landslides were triggered when the equivalent of a month’s rain fell in the 24 hours up to Wednesday morning (BBC News)

Observing Lord Krishna’s birth: Guyana, New York and India

Dear Editor,

Janamashtmi is a propitious day in the Hindu calendar that annually pays obeisance to the birth or appearance of Lord Krishna. Hindus all over the globe paid great reverence to the Lord last Sunday and Monday – in India it was a holiday where the celebration takes on a very festive mood.

Temples in New York also observed the Lord’s birth on Saturday night in NY with the festivities continuing into Sunday morning. And some did on Monday night because of time difference.

In Guyana, reports say Hindus observed the festival on Sunday night into Monday with temples packed with worshippers. In NY, the temples were packed with worshippers on Sunday morning. Many temples hosted Ramayan kathas the preceding nights culminating with Janamashtmi celebrations.

It is one of the biggest festivals in India. Unlike say in Guyana, temples in NY are beautifully decorated inside and outside with and colourful flashing lights around temples and peoples’ homes as they welcome the Lord. The pandits made offering on behalf of the worshippers unlike in Guyana or Trinidad or New York... here people make their own offerings with the assistance of the pandit.

In NY, at the avrios temples, worshippers performed elaborate poojas and made offerings specially prepared for the occasion – on Janamshtmi special mantras are recited.

People may be curious to know how is it possible for God to be born and why it is necessary for him to be on earth. In Hindus philosophy, there is only one God and can take many names; Hinduism does not condemn the Gods of other faiths.

In Hinduism, God is not really born but the lord makes his or her appearance to guide people how to live; it is the only religion in the world in which the God visited the people. Lord Krishna made his appearance on earth as a baby with normal parents and a childhood like every other child to show people how to live.

Krishna appeared on earth with a lotus flower and a conch and in beautiful clothes with four arms carrying a mace and discus. It was impossible for Krishna to come from a womb with such armaments. But his mother Deokhi experienced all the symptoms of pregnancy and love for a child

as he appeared suddenly on earth in his mother’s arms.

In Hinduism, Gods and Goddesses make their appearance in the world whenever there is decay in religion. God and Goddess take human forms to protect the good and destroy the evil. In fact, Krishna said that whenever there is a decline of dharma, “I shall manifest myself in order to restore balance”.

Lord Krishna is just one of the reincarnations of the supreme being known in Hinduism as Brahm which itself has two meanings – God with form and God without form. So God can take the form of a human. Hence Lord’s Krishna’s human appearance in the world over 5000 years ago in human form. Some may question whether God can take birth. But in the Vedas, the world’s most ancient scriptures, we are informed that God takes countless births.

Lord Krishna told Arjun that “he (Krishna) has taken countless births and so have you (Arjune)”.

Lord Krishna is one of the most revered Gods among Hindus. And for the occasions, they frequently hold kathas or religious discourses on the Bhagavad Gita which is a description of Lord Krishna’s thoughts and actions. People worship Lord Krishna because he is known as the saviour and protector of those who seek and surrender unto to him.

He was the charioteer friend and mentor of Arjune helping him in battle against evil and to save the nation. People consider Janamashtmi as a perfect day for pooja and Hindus often throng to the mandirs

Harmon is masquerading as a forest expert

Dear Editor, I wish to refer to a recent newspaper headline, “Halt and investigate Bai Shan Lin’s operations immediately; seek special sectoral meeting to probe operations – APNU.”

The Bai Shan Lin logging company is working within the forest laws of our country and their operations must not be halted. With elections in the air, PNC/ APNU’s Joseph Harmon is simply engaging in political campaigning aided by the Kaieteur News, using Bai Shan Lin as their political football.

Harmon seems to be masquerading as a forest expert, but is totally ignorant on the operations of Guyana’s forestry sector and the operations of Bai Shan Lin.

The Parliamentary Natural Resources Sectoral

to worship as they did in NY and Guyana.

Worshipping began at midnight and continues throughout the night into the morning. Through worship, a devotee becomes conscious of his/her faults, limitations, hatred and anger. By worshipping Lord Krishna, these internal enemies are destroyed and are replaced by love, cheerfulness, compassion, and devotion.

In the NY temples, as in India, and Guyana and Trinidad and elsewhere, it is normal for Kirtan groups to lead the congregations with devotional songs. Worshippers engaged in bhajan and kirtan singing and chant mantras in praise to Lord Krishna and they rocked symbolic hammocks for the lord. In India, businesses distributed mittai and food to the public (especially to the poorer class).

Virtually every Hindu found time to visit the temple in India as compared with Guyana or NY where only the very devout, like myself, do. While devotees may have felt fulfilled and blessed that they made generous offerings to Lord Krishna, they must not think of Janamashtmi as a once in a year event. Lord Krishna provides us with an example of how to live.

Every moment of our lives should be spent prostrating to the Lord and of performing good deeds to humanity as indeed I have been doing in several poor villages in UP, where my ancestors made the journey to Guyana.

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

Committee met a few weeks ago and now Harmon wants the Speaker of the House to call an “Extraordinary Meeting of the Sectoral Committee”, with the presence of Bai Shan Lin’s officials to explain their operations.

Why didn’t Harmon put to the Natural Resources Minister all questions pertaining to Bai Shan Lin and the natural resources sector when the committee met a few weeks ago? This shows that Harmon is on the campaign trail.

Harmon must know that the harvesting of forest produce by all companies must be below the allowable cut and in this regard the GFC has its monitoring systems in place.

So the photographs of Bai Shan Lin’s logs and containers in the Kaieteur

News are total non-issues. To prove what I’m saying, Harmon, I am inviting you to the forest for a field walk.

Finally, the REDDMonitor.org is a website that lies about Guyana’s forest performance and matters that pertain to Guyana’s forests. Janet Bulkan usually posts comments on this website. No wonder the Kaieteur News gets its erroneous information from this website.

Nevertheless, I am challenging both Harmon and the Kaieteur News to studiously apply themselves to the response given by James Singh, Commissioner of Forests, in relation to the erroneous information about the Bai Shan Lin company.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Betrayal of public trust

Dear Editor, Every politician who betrays public trust by engaging in electoral malpractices deserves no immunity or sympathy. Such a politician, when known through court processes, deserves no second chance. They should be disqualified from contesting in any matter in this country.

There should be a resolute effort to hound every such politician out of the public position they have disgraced and stop

them from seeking another chance of occupying the same public offices they have betrayed. There should be no rest in the endless war corruption. But, of course, that war must be conducted with sanity as well as with resolution.

We as cohorts should also take responsibility and ensure that those who engage in corruption do not get our support for irregularities.

It is a violation of our

rights as voters. We should use our votes for the good of Guyana, as opposed by particular political parties or individuals.

We should demonstrated courage in defending truth and justice for all and who are completely honest in fulfilling public and private responsibilities. We need to demonstrate the spirit to near zero tolerance for corruption.

Sincerely,

R Persaud

Page Foundation

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a viral infection. It is characterised by a fever and severe joint pain. Its name comes from a Tanzanian word which means “that which bends up”. It refers to the stooped posture and painful joints that are the main features of this illness.

How does chikungunya spread?

Chikungunya is spread by the bite of an infected female tiger mosquito. The same mosquito causes dengue. This mosquito typically bites during the day, especially in the mornings and evenings. The mosquito breeds in stagnant water. Chikungunya spreads quickly in densely populated areas where such breeding places are plenty.

What are the symptoms of Chikungunya?

The symptoms of Chikungunya in children include:

• a fever

• severe headaches

• chills

• nausea and vomiting (and other signs similar to meningitis)

• severe pain in the joints

• diarrhoea

• a rash

Once infected, symptoms usually take between three to five days to show. The symptoms usually last for about seven days, but joint pain and tiredness can last for several weeks or even months.

How does Chikungunya affect children?

Chikungunya affects children more severely. They are more likely to

have rashes than adults are. Although joint pain is not as common with children as with adults, it can be quite severe. But, children rarely die from Chikungunya.

Children are vulnerable because they tend to take afternoon naps. This makes them an easy target for these mosquitoes that bite during the day. You will need to take measures to keep mosquitoes at bay while your child naps.

What do I do if my child has symptoms of Chikungunya?

If your child has any of the above symptoms, call your doc tor and book an appointment. It is likely that the only symp toms you be rash and a fever. Your baby might not be able to explain yet that his head or joints are hurting, or that he feels nauseous. If your child is old enough, you could try to find out more by pointing to certain areas of the body and asking your child if he feels any pain there. It might be hard for you to tell if your little one has an ordinary virus or a mosquito borne illness. So if you suspect a problem, it is best to take him to the doctor.

are similar.

There is no specific drug to cure Chikungunya. But, your child can be treated for the symptoms instead. Paracetamol can be given to your child to help the pain. But, make sure you follow the recommended dose for your child’s age. Do not use aspirin. Giving your child lots of it can give him severe side effects such as vomiting. Anti-inflammatory drugs should also be avoided – they could affect your child’s platelet count in their blood.

Besides the medicines your doctor prescribes, plenty of rest, nourishing food and ice packs for the fever can make your child feel better. Make sure your child gets of fluids. This will help him recover and will prevent dehydration. The infection may last for about seven days and recovery can take up to two weeks. But, the joint pain can sometimes last for even a few months. Your child may also be tired for several weeks.

Is alternative medicine effective in treating joint pains post Chikungunya?

Your doctor may do a blood test to confirm the illness, as the symptoms of dengue and Chikungunya

Many have found ayurveda (the traditional Hindu system of medicine (incorporated in Atharva Veda, the last of the four Vedas), which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems

and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing) to be effective in treating joint pain and fever. Ayurvedic remedies such as amritarishta, vilvadi gulika and sudarshanam gulika are said to be effective for fever. Punarvasa and pressing small warm cloth bags filled with rice bran may help reduce joint pain and swelling. But, do consult a reputed ayurvedic practitioner.

How can I prevent my child from catching Chikungunya? There is no vaccine against Chikungunya. Your best bet is to prevent mosquitoes from biting your child. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water in warm and humid weather. So make sure your house and surrounding areas are free of uncovered stagnant water, rotting vegetation and old flower pots, especially in the monsoon season. You could also:

• Make your child wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers, especially if he goes out to the park to play or while he sleeps in the afternoon.

• Ensure that your child wears light-coloured clothing. Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes.

• Install wire mesh on windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.

• Use citronella oil-based creams and sprays or other herbal mosquito repellents.

• Use mosquito nets while sleeping.

• Stay in air-conditioned or cool areas. Mosquitoes do not thrive in the cold.

(Baby Centre)

Babies and young children are very sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and can quickly get stressed by heat. As they rely on others to take care of them it is very important to watch them closely and to keep them from getting hot or dehydrated.

Signs of heat stress and what to do

Babies and young children may not show signs and symptoms early of being affected by the heat even though they are. Signs to watch for are:

* looking unwell,

* being floppy or more irritable than usual,

* having drier skin, refusing to drink,

* having fewer wet nappies than usual.

The soft spot on top of a baby’s head (fontanelle) may also be lower than usual.

Feeding and drinking

Babies and young children are not able to tell you they are thirsty, so it is important to make sure they are getting enough to drink.

* Breast-fed babies may need extra breast-feeds in hot weather, but in most cases other drinks are not needed. Small amounts of cool boiled water can be given between feeds, especially if the baby is having other foods.

* Bottle-fed babies may need extra formula or small amounts of cool boiled water if they seem thirsty.

* Give young children regular drinks throughout the day, ideally water. Avoid giving sugary or fizzy drinks.

* A refreshing idea for young children is to freeze fruit pieces (orange quarters, watermelon) for them to suck on – but be prepared for the sticky mess!

Keeping cool

* Dress babies and young children in light, loose clothing (singlet and nappy, loose top).

* Regularly sponge down with lukewarm water, or try a lukewarm bath.

* Cool or cold water should not be used.

* Choose the coolest place in the house for babies or young children to sleep.

* Make sure air can circulate around the bassinette or cot (remove any liners or padding).

* Don’t leave babies to sleep in a pram which can become hot.

* If you don’t have a fan or air-conditioner you can cover your baby or young child’s body with cool damp cloths and place wet towels or sheets around the bassinette, or cot to cool the air immediately near them. Check regularly to make sure they are not getting too cold.

* If you use a fan, don’t point it towards your baby or child but use it to keep the air circulating.

* If you have an airconditioner, make sure the room does not get too cold, about 24 to 26 degrees Celsius is low enough.

Going outside or travelling in the car

Avoid taking your baby or young child out during periods of extreme heat.

* If you have to go outside, protect their skin from the sun by keeping them in the shade or by covering their skin with loose clothing and a hat.

* Use baby or toddler formula sunscreen on skin which cannot be covered by clothing. Always check the product label before applying. Babies can overheat very quickly in hot weather and especially in cars.

* Avoid travelling when it is hot. If travel is necessary, do it early in the day.

* Even in cool temperatures cars can heat up to dangerously high temperatures very quickly. Never leave babies, children, or pets alone in a car, even if the air-conditioning is on, as they can still get stressed from the heat.

* Make sure a baby or young child does not have the sun shining on them when travelling in a car, or when the car is still, as this can cause overheating.

* As their skin is very thin, it can burn from sunlight coming through car windows, especially if their skin is not covered.

* Never cover a baby capsule in a car with a rug or towel to shade baby from the sun as this will restrict air moving around the baby, making them hotter.

* When leaving the car, check there are no children left in the car.

* One way to remind you that a baby or young child is in the car might be to keep a stuffed animal in the baby car seat when empty. When the child is buckled in, put the stuffed animal in the front seat next to you. (Child and Your Health)

Prison Service contracted for clean-up campaign

– GTUC questions move

The “Clean-Up My Country” Programme Committee has contracted the Guyana Prison Service to spruce up sections of the Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown.

But the move was condemned by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) as being against International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

On Tuesday, the Committee handed over equipment to the Prison Service which will be used to clean up portions of the Le Repentir Cemetery. The Prison Service was contracted to de-bush Block Seven of the cemetery.

In a release, the Committee said as part of the contractual agreement, the Prison Service agreed to provide the skills and the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry agreed to supply the tools needed to get the job done and transportation to remove the debris to the Haags Boosh Dump Site in Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara. The Prison Service team comprises 24 inmates and four supervising officers.

Under the “Clean-Up My Country” programme, Le Repentir Cemetery

will see a major facelift where access roads will be rehabilitated, vegetation will be cut down and internal drains will be de-silted.

The first phase of the works commenced on August 4 on which the Guyana Beekeeping Association removed several bee hives from the cemetery. During the second phase, contractors began de-weeding and desilting internal drains and landscaping low-lying areas.

Today, the Prison Service will commence the clearing of the bushes in the compound.

Stakeholders

To oversee this countrywide programme, several stakeholders are seated on the Implementation Committee. These include representatives from the Local Government Ministry, the Environment Protect Agency (EPA), Anti-Litter Campaign, Public Works Ministry and engineers from the Mayor and City Council.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the GTUC condemned the contracting of prison labour for the clean up, while calling on Government to uphold ILO

Conventions and Decent Work Agenda.

“The GTUC notes with concern that the Prison Service has entered into a contract with the Local Government Ministry to use prisoners on its ‘CleanUp My Country’ Programme.

“This issue must not be guided by the perception of a group or some members of the public; it must be guided by internationally accepted principles which this country has embraced through the adoption of the ILO Forced Labour Convention Number 29.

“As long as money is being paid by the State, it is engaged in the act of a contract for labour/services,” the statement said. The GTUC quoted Article 2 of the convention which states:

“1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term forced or compulsory labour shall mean all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.

“2. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this Convention, the term forced or compulsory labour shall not include (c) any work or service exacted from any person as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law, provided that the said work or service is carried out under the supervision and control of a public authority and that the said person is not hired to or placed at the disposal of private individuals, companies or associations.”

This qualifier means if a person is sentenced to community activity then he or she can be assigned work or service, according to the union.

The work of the Le Repentir Cemetery falls under the purview of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). There is a relationship between the M&CC and two trade unions – the Guyana Labour Union and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union.

The contracting out of any aspect of M&CC’s operations has to be discussed and agreed upon by the parties, guided by international conventions, local laws and Guyana Decent Work Agenda, the union said.

thursDAY, August 21, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

GDF Chief denies ‘ducking’ info on Rodney inquiry

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Mark Phillips has refuted claims that the military was deliberately seeking to stymie the work of the ongoing Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) by failing to provide pertinent documents to the Commission.

The Army Chief noted that it was against his “policy”, to be involved in such a practice, pointing out that the organisation has been doing all it can to assist the work of the Tribunal.

During his cross examination at the fourth sitting of the Walter Rodney CoI earlier this month, lawyer representing the interest of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Christopher Ram had accused the GDF of tampering with the investigation into the death of Dr Rodney, in an effort to hide pertinent information which could corroborate allegations that it had a hand in aiding former member and accused assassin William “Gregory” Smith, out of the jurisdiction on June 14, 1980.

But Phillips in responding to that allegation reiterated that the Army had already pledged its support to the Commission. “You will recall that when the Commission was established, one of the first organisations that commissioners contacted was the GDF when they made a courtesy call to the organisation, since then we have indicated that we will cooperate fully with the Rodney Commission of Inquiry”.

Brigadier Phillips said the Army has since been doing so and has provided all of the documents that have been requested by the Commission. Asked about the missing documents, Phillips said he could not say because all the documents in the possession of the Army have been handed over.

“I am not aware of any covering up. It’s not my policy to cover-up in this regard as it pertains to the Commission”, he told reporters on Tuesday.

The Walter Rodney

Commission of Inquiry, probing the circumstances surrounding the death of the Working People’s Alliance Leader, Dr Walter Anthony Rodney, had requested from the military, information that would assist it in determining whether or not “Gregory” Smith was indeed whisked away to Kwakwani in one of its aircraft, a few hours after Dr Rodney was assassinated. But Colonel Cargill Kyte, former head of the Air Corps, informed the Commission that the records requested could not be found.

He said too that searches were carried out at the Air Corps for documents relating to the flights carried out on June 14, 1980, but again none was found.

The Commission had also sought information which would assist it in confirming that Smith was employed by the organsaition. While a pay sheet with the name “William Smith” was presented to the Commission, Officer-in-Charge of the GDF Personnel Department, Lieutenant Colonel West told the Commission that he did not find a “Gregory” Smith. Colonel West said that the investigation carried out by staff at the Army’s Personnel Department showed that there was no record of the Sergeant being Struck off Strength (SOS), Absent without leave (AWOL), deserting the Army or ever being dismissed.

Christopher Ram, put it to Colonel Kyte that the disappearance of the records is not “an act of God” or an accident, but a well orchestrated plan by the hierarchy of the Guyana Defence Force to conduct a massive cover-up into Dr Rodney’s death.

The Army Sergeant and electronics expert William “Gregory” Smith, who became an active member of the Force on June 27, 1975, had been accused of handing Dr Walter Rodney a bomb planted in a device, which exploded and caused his death on June 13, 1980.

An official of the Clean-up Guyana Committee hands over a brush cutter to a Prison Officer

2 Ravi’s Wash Bay workers accused of simple larceny

Appearing in the courtroom of Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts were two wash bay employees employed at Ravi’s Wash Bay. The duo was accused of stealing cash from a customer’s car. The charge read that on the August 16 on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, the defendants stole a sum of $25,000 from the Virtual

Rondell Conisnally

Vendor who used toy gun to rob jailed for 12 months

A48-year-old, vendor residing at Leopold Street, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday after being charged for robbery under arms.

The charge alleged that at 05:00h on Wednesday morning at Main Street, the defendant, John Martin, robbed Monik Vossey of one Plum cellphone valued $12,000 and at 05:30h at Water Street, he robbed Miguel Sammy of a sum of G$6400.

On the day in question, Vossey was with some friends in a minibus when the defendant approached her menacingly with what appeared to be a gun demanding the cellphone. Vossey, who was afraid of

the gun, handed the phone to the defendant.

Around half of an hour later, the defendant held Sammy at gunpoint and relieved him of his money.

As he was about to make good his escape, but was nabbed by members of a security company. He was arrested and taken to the Police station. The court was made to understand that the gun used by Martin was a toy gun, resembling that of a 9mm pistol.

Martin pleaded guilty to the charges laid against him. Magistrate Azore taking into consideration the fact that the defendant admitted to his wrong doing and that it was a toy gun used to execute the robbery, sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment.

Complainant Dennis Adams.

Nineteen-year-old Rondell Conisnally of Lot 22 William Street, Albouystown, Georgetown and 21-year-old Andrew Vellon of Lot 154 Nonpariel Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

They were both fined $15,000 each and are scheduled to reappear in court on October 8 where they will be face Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Housewife lands in court for unlawful assault, abusive language

A21-year-old housewife of Lot 34 Farm Squatting area, East Bank Demerara made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore charged for unlawful assault and abusive language.

The charges read that on August 16, Keisha Ramgobin, at Farm Squatting Area, Ramgobin allegedly unlawfully assaulted Fredia Machicle, so as to cause actual bodily harm. In addition, it is also alleged that she made use of abusive language to the Virtual Complainant (VC).

According to the explanation given by Ramgobin, she was playing cricket with her son in their yard.

When it was her turn to bat, she hit the ball a bit too hard and it went into the neighbour’s yard. She claimed

that she called out to her neighbour several times but there was no answer, so she took it upon herself and trespassed into the yard.

The neighbor, she claimed, then came out with a “chapper” and begun to wave it in front of her face. She apologised and went back into her yard. She told the court that she did not touch nor did she made use of abusive language to the VC because she knew she was wrong.

Ramgobin pleaded not guilty to both charges. There were no objections to bail by Police Prosecutor Simone Payne and the defendant was granted two separate bail amounts: $25,000 for the unlawful assault charge and $10,000 for the abusive language charge. She is said to appear at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on October 20.

Investigations into missing money in D Division continues

Crime Chief Leslie James on Wednesday told Guyana Times that investigations are continuing into the disappearance of more than $8 million from the registry of D Division (West Demerara to East Bank of the Essequibo).

He said investigations will soon be completed and once there is enough evidence to prosecute the rank involved, the Police Force will take steps in that direction. Up to late Tuesday eve-

ning, the person who was implicated in the misappropriation and a Sergeant who was under close arrest has reportedly been released on Wednesday.

This information, however, could not have been confirmed by the Crime Chief.

The matter was brought to the forefront about a week ago after it was leaked by a senior officer. According to reports, the Sergeant served as the finance office in the division for a number of years and more so, under several

Man on $100000 bail for two offences

Appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday was 30-year-old Junior Hermon Persaud after he was charged for assault and malicious wounding.

The first charge alleged that on August 15, at Waterloo Street, Georgetown, Persaud unlawfully assaulted Jone Richmond, the Virtual Complainant (VC) to cause actual bodily harm. The second charge alleged that on the same day at Brickdam, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the said VC.

The VC’s Attorney Adrian Thompson told the court that the injuries that his client received appeared as if the defendant was beating an animal and requested that the defendant be placed on a bond to stay away from his client.

The unrepresented Persaud pleaded not guilty to both of the charges laid against him. Bail was granted in the sums of $35,000 for the assault charge and $65,000 for the malicious wounding and is said to return on October 6.

commanders.

The irregularities in the division were discovered after the now divisional commander Ian Amsterdam requested an audit of the division.

The rank might have

been also accused of ordering fuel refills from a particular service station for personal vehicles. Persons with information about the irregularities would have met the divisional commander.

Husband fined $25000 for assaulting wife

Franklin Dover, 37, of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged for assaulting his wife.

Dover pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on August 18 at Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, he unlawfully assaulted the Virtual Complainant (VC) Nodafa Melville.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne indicated to the court that on the day in question, the VC was at home talking to some friends when the defendant came home. The de-

fendant was under the influence of alcohol and got into an argument with the VC after which he subsequently dealt her two cuffs. The VC made a report at the Golden Grove Police Station. The defendant was later arrested.

Dover, who is also a miner, apologised to his wife in court saying “Ah sarry deh”. His wife accepted the apology and informed the court that it was the first him he had hit her. He was fined $25,000 or an alternative two months.

He also was placed on a one year bond to keep the peace and a breach of this would result with him being imprisoned for six months.

Eyew tness

Education...

...and student loans

This Eyewitness notes the political mileage being made by the Opposition over the issue of student loans to assist students to attend UG. Those same folks screaming about the fees being “raised”’ – which actually acknowledges that it’s tied to the value of the US dollar – are the same ones screaming that the students aren’t repaying their loans. And that 85 per cent of them emigrate to “greener pastures”.

So you’d think they suggest the logical thing – which is, to put some measure in place to ensure that those who owe the Government money can’t just decamp like that. We won’t even mention the moral obligation of at least returning something to our still poor country that gave them their education. We know it’s the politically correct thing to go on about the Government providing every man, woman and child the opportunity to get an education.

But the “government” is actually in a position to do all of that because of our tax dollars. These folks that acquire their education, don’t they also have a reciprocal obligation to give back something to their country? What was it JFK said?? Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country? Doesn’t this resonate with anyone, anymore?

But on these student loans, there are some more mundane, but just as significant issues. Right up there is the one about whether the Government must fund an “education” that’s completely out of whack with what the country needs.

Can we really afford to pay for all those folks going after degrees in, say, sociology?? Shouldn’t we maybe only give loans for subjects like “agronomy” or “power engineering” or some such subjects?? In today’s editorial, for instance, what about all those Technical Education subjects that our business community’s just dying for??

And finally there’s the reality that even the great US of A is having to confront right now: when all these students that take all this money to fund their education don’t repay – whether because they’ve gone AWOL or because they’re just deadbeats – the sh*t’s going to hit the financial fan sooner or later. When it’s later, it may cause as much damage to our economy as their NINJA (“No Income; No Jobs) housing loans did to theirs.

And they haven’t been able to get out of their financial mess even now.

...for democracy

Like Trinidad, Guyana’s now a nation of minorities. Even though we don’t have the official ethnic breakdown of the 2012 census, an educated guess is that we’re most likely at about 34 per cent African Guyanese; 33 per cent Indian Guyanese; 19 per cent Mixed; 10 per cent Amerindian Guyanese and four per cent “Other”. Can’t get more spread out of that, can we?? So what’s all this talk about “racial voting”. Seems to this Eyewitness that Kamla has a point.

With no one group even approaching 50 per cent of the population, in their constituency based system, making sure that any winning candidate receive at least 50 per cent of the vote – by having “run offs” – makes eminent sense.

The top two candidates (not reaching 50 per cent) would face each other in the “runoff” and the winner by definition would have to be capable of getting “crossover” votes to get that 50 per cent hurdle. Meaning, of course, that he would have to be seen as acceptable to folks not part of his/her “traditional constituency”, no?

So maybe with our push for increased “constituencies” here, to give us “geographical representation” – we’re up to 25 right now from the “pure” Proportional Representation (PR) that Burnham and the British introduced back in 1964 – maybe we ought to also have “run offs”. What do you think??

...for conservation

the while, the Norwegian agency channelling its Government funding for our forest conservation couldn’t say anything because their monitoring and verification mechanism showed we were within limits. Nothing’s changed. But because of the Opposition vendetta suddenly noises are heard. What’s new??

Andrew Vellon

Health Ministry on high alert for Ebola

The Health Ministry is on high alert and has instituted a number of measures in light of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The Ministry has been conducting awareness sessions with various personnel at the Cheddi Jagan International airport (CJIA) including port health workers, customs, and immigration and airline staff.

Guyana was alerted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the Ebola outbreak that commenced late last year, and which has hit West African countries such as Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud said that while there are no reported Ebola cases in South America and the Caribbean, any instance of this disease at this point in time would be as a result of travellers.

Sanitary controls

“We are looking at beefing up additional port health officers on duty so that all incoming flights would be monitored. We have already written through the airport authorities to all the airlines asking them to strengthen their sanitary controls of flights,” the CMO said.

This means that airlines have to prepare a general declaration for each arriving flight, a significant part of

which, will relate to health. It will include the identification of any passenger on any flight who may be showing symptoms of Ebola.

Passengers who have passed through or are coming from West Africa (based on their passports and travel itineraries) will be properly screened.

Dr Persaud said that “when we identify those persons, we would hold an interview with them to ensure that they are symptom-free”.

Ebola is described as a very aggressive disease, whereby symptoms manifest in a matter of days. In the initial stage, these

such as vomiting, diarrhoea and skin rash.

Meanwhile, the latter stage includes symptoms such as bleeding and organ failure. The CMO assured that once these signs are detected, the Ministry has measures in place to ensure that the disease, which is spread through direct contact, is contained.

There is a port health office at the CJIA; however, the Ministry is working to establish an area that could be identified as an isolation area where additional measures can be put in place.

“We are depending heavily on the flight declarations

symptoms may include high fever, excessive muscle aches, sweating, weakness, headaches, sore throat, and hoarseness. In the second phase, affected persons may experience tell- tale signs

to identify persons with fever. Rarely someone with an Ebola infection would endure a flight of four hours and more and not manifest symptoms suggestive of the disease,” the CMO said.

Health workers are a high-risk group as they will be tasked with caring for persons affected by the disease. As such, they were trained on the use of personal protective equipment. Moreover, personnel at most hospitals were administered training on how to properly outfit themselves in the protective gear.

“Ebola is spread by direct contact so personal hygiene is critical… we are focused on training health workers on the safer handling of body fluids such as blood, sweat, urine and sputum,” the CMO said.

Advisories

Additionally, precautionary advisories will be distributed to travellers who are going to or will be passing through countries in West Africa. This will be done through travel agents and at the airport.

Under the Ministry’s infection control programme, hospital staff were trained in the proper disposal of equipment and other materials used to treat persons with infectious diseases such as gauze and injections. These programmes are ongoing.

Many countries have put out restrictions to travel to the Ebola-affected West African countries; however, since Guyana does not have direct flights to those destinations, those measures have not been instituted at

this point in time.

The CMO explained that most persons coming to Guyana from Africa have to transit the US or Europe, where strict screening measures are already in place.

“In terms of transmission from the US to Guyana, because of the control measures that the US has, we are confident that there is a low possibility that someone from Guyana can come into contact with someone with this disease at this point in time, but we do have our control measures,” he assured.

Recovery

Once affected persons would have made a full recovery from Ebola, they can return to normal life, since transmission occurs when the virus is active, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2014 Ebola outbreak is one of the largest in history and the first in West Africa.

As of August 19, the CDC recorded 2240 cases (including 1383 laboratoryconfirmed cases) and 1229 deaths.

The outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013, but was not detected until March 2014. Researchers believe that the first human case of the Ebola virus disease leading to the 2014

outbreak was a two-yearold boy who died December 6, 2013 in the village of Meliandou, Guéckédou Prefecture, Guinea.

His mother, three-yearold sister and grandmother then became ill with symptoms consistent with Ebola infection and died. People infected by those victims spread the disease to other villages.

Ebola is transmitted from primates to humans; thus far, researchers have shown that the deadly strain of the virus is present only in primates in Africa. A milder strain of the virus was found in primates in parts of China and the Philippines.

There have been no report of South American primates having any virus similar to Ebola, but tests are ongoing in South, Central and North America.

The Health Ministry says it is on high alert and has instituted a number of measures in light of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud

Shaik Baksh is the man for the job – Dr Ramsammy

In response to criticisms in some sections of the media over the appoint of Shaik Baksh as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said “time will tell”.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, the Agriculture Minister said Baksh has proven himself worthy of heading the sugar industry.

“We believe that he could do the job,” he said. According to Minister Ramsammy, had the

President appointed another individual, there would have still been criticisms. “We have to do what is best for the industry.”

In addition to chairing the GuySuCo Board of Directors, Baksh remains Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI); a position he has held since October 2012.

Baksh had served as Housing and Water Minister from 1998 to 2006 before being appointed Education Minister after the 2006 General and Regional Elections.

Guyanese shot dead in French Guiana

AGuyanese man was on Monday evening shot and killed in French Guiana reportedly by someone with whom he had a long-standing dispute.

Dead is 36-year-old Hazley Greenidge, a father of two. According to information reaching Guyana Times, on Monday evening there was a confrontation between Greenidge and another person with whom he had an old grievance.

However, he subsequently left the scene of the quarrel and was heading home when he was shot several times about his body. A cousin in Guyana disclosed that the man’s wife died a few months ago and so he took his two children and went to the neighbouring country where another child of his resides.

Relatives here are still unsure of what exactly transpired and are waiting for the mother of the man’s child to return to Guyana so they can get more details.

The cousin explained that Greenidge had an issue with his attacker since the previous time he was in French Guiana, but they do not have details on the incident.

Wood still a problem fuh some people

Wood used to be a cheap ting in Guyana long ago. Every where people look dem used to see plenty wood house long ago. But nowadays every body mekkin house wid concrete and steel. And tings wid wood disappearing one by one.

So it look like wood goin to de dogs. No body ain’t wanna build wid wood any more. Plus up to now G-P-Hell still got wood problems. Not too long ago, de See-HeeHo seh dem ain’t gettin good wood to use fuh poles. He complain that when de wood poles go in de holes in de ground, dem still don’t stand up straight. No matter how deep is de holes.

Well, when he mek that announcement, people wasn’t sure who or which wood he was talkin bout. Some body seh it mighta been de See-Hee-Ho self. Other people seh dem G-P-Hell wuk men does never get good wood. Some times dem does even have to tie two together to mek one. But a reporter who does wuk near to a market seh he know fuh sure it musbe a newspaper man. Accordin to de reporter, he know a lotta people who know de same man inside out. Literally and figuratively.

And talkin bout that same man, it got some people who can’t see wood and leff it down. Dem must seh some ting bout any wood whah dem see. Plus tek plenty photos. Then bad talk de wood and de owner.

Well, as old people seh, yuh can please some people some of the time, but yuh can never please all people all de time. That is tru tru story. And that is how yuh does know when people gotta problem wid some ting. Dem does have to open dem mouth and talk nuff bout that same ting.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Is no wonder de same man send five reporter to one press conference just to hear bout wood. That man don’t wanna miss any ting wheh wood concern. One is wood, he want it!

14 Guyanese held in TT for suspected labour trafficking

Fourteen Guyanese nationals were arrested in Trinidad and Tobago last Thursday suspected being victims of labour trafficking, the Trinidad Express has reported.

The Guyanese were rounded up by members of the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) at a business place in Central Trinidad. According to the Express, the CTU led a team of officers from the Labour Ministry’s labour inspectorate, Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and National Operations Centre (NOC) air division to several locations in Chase Village, Chaguanas, last Thursday.

The officers found 14 Guyanese nationals, who were taken for screening to determine whether they were victims of labour trafficking. A National Security Ministry release stated several documents were seized from the business place.

Further enquiries revealed that four of the Guyanese nationals were il-

legal immigrants. The illegal immigrants were handed over to the Immigration Division for further processing.

“CTU, in conjunction with the labour inspectorate, identified several labour violations, including the absence of work permits, lack of payment of overtime wages and an inadequate wage register,” the release stated. The release added that the CTU continues to work closely with local and international partners to counter human trafficking in Trinidad and Tobago.

“At a recent convening of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons several ministers of Government agreed to support the provision of all the necessary resources and staffing required by the unit for the most appropriate victim care and assistance and for effective investigation of human trafficking,” the ministry stated.

GuySuCo Chairman Shaik Baksh

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

“Do not write off Dynamic Airways”

– Gouveia says despite US cancellation

By Jomo Paul

Despite being faced with several hurdles, including the cancellation of its licence by the Department of Transportation (DOT) of the United States Government, local contact person for Dynamic Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia said the airline should not be seen as a “fly by night operation and written off by local travelers”.

Gouveia, Chief Executive Officer for the Roraima Group of Companies, is the local ground handler for Dynamic Airways. He said that the airline remains committed to plying the Georgetown to JFK route.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday, Gouveia pointed out that while the company’s licence may have been listed as “cancelled” on the official Charters Report of the US, in actuality the company “surrendered” its licence to the organisation.

Since its inaugural in June, the airline has been hit by a spate of issues including lengthy flight delays, the unavailability of a ground handler at the JFK and shuttling of passengers from one airport to another.

But Captain Gouveia insisted that the airline remains committed to service in Guyana and will be looking to expand the routes when it recommences operations in the near future. He said too that Dynamic Airways is expected to recommence operations sometime between November 2014 and January 2015.

He said that things will proceed differently when the airline recommences, since both he and his wife, who is also an aviation stalwart, are consulting the executives of Dynamic Airways on the steps forward.

“I am very excited about working with Dynamic Airways. I still feel Dynamic

will be good for Guyana… we will now be sitting at the table… things are going to be very different” said Gouveia.

Questioned about the implications of the difficulties faced by the airline for passengers’ confidence, Gouveia said that the company is in the process of an “organisational restructuring” and will “definitely be flying the Guyana-JFK route”.

Dynamic Airways had suspended Guyana-JFK flights from July 15 because of operational difficulties with securing time slots at the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York for the month of July, and had promised passengers that they will

stated that all flights starting from August 8 will not be impacted by this change and will be operated as displayed on their website and in their reservation system.

Gouveia however said that the airline is committed to the Guyana route, and will base one of their 767 carriers here, and that Roraima Airways remains ready to support the operations of Dynamic in Guyana. He said all passengers who had begun their journeys and were stalled due to the airline’s sudden suspension were placed on other carriers, while those who were yet to travel, were fully reimbursed.

In addition, Gouveia boasted that the first batch

resume operations from August 8.

The airline had said then that the temporary suspension “will allow us to secure time slots at JFK airport, organise better groundhandling and check in process, as well as secure integrity”. The airline had also

of 25 Guyanese flight attendants who are to begin working with the airline have completed their training in North Carolina, USA and have returned to Guyana.

Dynamic Airways made its inaugural flight to Guyana on June 27.

Guyana to participate in international Qaseeda competition

Guyana will be represented at this year’s 12th International Qaseeda Mehfil, which will be hosted by the Hedayatul Islam in Paramaribo, Suriname on August 29 and 30. Guyana’s participation will be through the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA) and the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC).

The country will be represented in all categories –Male and Female, Junior and Senior and in addition to the participants, a large delegation will travel from Guyana for the event.

The event in Suriname follows Trinidad and Tobago’s hosting of the annual event in April last and will also see participation from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Pakistan, Canada and Holland and according to the Hedayatul Islam, plans are already underway to make this event unique and memorable.

Guyana’s contingent will be representing this country under telecommunication giant, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and will be led by ACIC President General Hakeem Khan.

Trinidad and Tobago’s

International Qaseeda Committee Chairman Al Haj Imam Ahmad Hussain will lead his country’s delegation to the event.

Suriname’s main committee is headed by President of the Hedayatul Islam, Al

organisations also followed with similarly activities.

Next year’s event will be hosted in Guyana in August.

The 3rd annual “Late Zaid Ali Award” for the Most Improved Qaseeda Singer in the host country at the international Mehfil will also be presented.

The late Zaid Ali was a Trinidadian who loved Qaseeda singing and was part of the Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation to many of the Qaseeda competitions in the past.

The family of the Ali had decided to make this yearly award in his memory to the junior contestant from the host country, who has shown the most potential in the singing of Qaseedas.

The award covers a trophy and a monetary award set aside to train this winner

Haj Basheer Khodabux and Hadji Sarafat Ali. The twoday event is expected to be attended by thousands of Surinamese.

Qaseeda is the singing of songs in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and in Guyana, GUSIA was the first organisation to have organised such competitions in the past. Thereafter, other

in Urdu language. This task will be undertaken by the host organisation each year to provide the training.

Last year’s winner was Saieed Hoosein of Trinidad and Tobago and the presentation of the award was made by Trinidad and Tobago’s internationally acclaimed Qaseeda and Classical singer Jameer Hoosein.

Guyana Foundation appoints new Board member

The Guyana Foundation has appointed Byron V Garrett to its Board of Trustees to serve a twoyear term commencing on September 1.

Garrett brings a distinguished record of achievement in the United States to his new role with the Guyana Foundation. He is the Chairman of the National Family Engagement Alliance (NFEA), the Director of Innovative Schools for Microsoft, and an Executive Consultant for Scholastic.

He served as a lead strategist and planner for NBC News’ Education Nation and produced the first Annual Building a Grad Nation Summit for the America’s Promise Alliance, featuring United States Vice President Joe Biden.

The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Parent Teacher

Association, Garrett has a unique combination of experience, from both non-profit and governmental sectors, having served as the first Chief-of-Staff for the Office of Public Affairs at US Customs and Border Protection (an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security).

Prior to this, he served

as National Programme Leader for the National 4-H Headquarters at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the programmer’s seven million participants and 90,000 clubs.

While at USDA, he was appointed by the White House as co-convener of the Helping America’s Youth initiative, an interagency effort to address challenges facing youth and to promote successful solutions.

He served as a Policy Advisor for Faith and Community Initiatives for then Governor Janet Napolitano (former US Secretary of Homeland Security). Prior to that role, he was the Director of the Governor’s Division for Community and Youth Development, where he administered multiple boards and commissions.

Garrett is a former K-8 charter school principal.

He has been a guest on the Today Show, MSNBC, Fox and the Dr Phil Show, and featured in a number of publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and JET Magazine.

He was named among Ebony’s “Power 150”, an annual list of “The Most Influential Black Americans”. Garrett is a member of the Advisory Board for Mocha Moms, a Board member of the CeCe Peniston Youth Foundation, a member of the regional Advisory Board for Usher’s New Look Foundation, and an Advisory Board member for Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

An accomplished writer and speaker, he has authored several books, including The ABC’s of Life, and delivered presentations all across the US, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.

According to founder of

the Guyana Foundation, Supriya Singh-Bodden, “the needs in Guyana are great, requiring urgent attention, so our Board of Trustees has been actively seeking out like-minded individuals who share our vision that in an increasingly interdependent world, we have the opportunity and the duty to reach across physical geographic boundaries to bring relief wherever it is needed. We are all so delighted that Garrett has accepted our invitation to join our Board of Trustees, and are confident that his professional background and experiences would be a significant asset to our team. We look forward to the exciting possibilities that he brings, particularly to our youth empowerment and literacy programmes, and will very shortly be announcing several events that he will be spearheading for us”.

Dynamic Airways Ground Handler, Gerry Gouveia

The Hedayatul Islam, Paramaribo, Suriname

Byron V Garrett

Leader of the Suriname Delegation, Al Haj Basheer Khodabux making brief remarks

Only vessels with monitoring systems will be licensed –Dr Ramsammy

… move prompted by spate of pirate attacks on fishermen

Agriculture Minister,

Dr Leslie Ramsammy said trawler owners will be denied a fishing licence unless they are in possession of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), while in 2015, artisanal fishermen will have to be in possession of a Global Positioning System (GPS) in order to be granted a licence.

This, Dr Ramsammy explained, will also help to solve a bigger problem.

“There is the allegation that big boats come and meet the fishermen and trawlers out at sea to take away the fish so Guyana does not benefit.”

He however, added that the extent of this alleged act is not known, but will be with the installation of the VMS tracking device. In addition, installation of VMS will also solve the problem

of trawlers getting into the track of the artisanal fishermen and destroying their fish nets.

Further, the Agriculture Ministry will work along with the Home Affairs Ministry on an aggressive anti-piracy programme.

The Minister urged that all fishermen become licenced, and explained that even though they had asked for increased coast guard presence, they are not happy when coast guards ask to look at their licence to ensure they are fishing legally.

He stated that some fishermen fish without a licence and practice illegal methods of fishing. Dr Ramsammy further explained that coast guards will not only be present at sea to help prevent piracy, but will also check with fishermen for their licence to ensure they are fishing legally.

“Only about one-third of artisanal fishermen – the most targeted group of fishermen for piracy – are licensed.” he said, while adding that of 87 trawlers operating at sea, more than half have the VMS system.

He urged that artisanal fishermen install GPS systems in their vessels. He said while GPS will be an additional cost to fishermen, he believes it is necessary to save lives, and though it will not completely get rid of piracy, it will make the act less frequent.

Digicel introduces *136# to activate data plan

As part of Digicel’s commitment to provide the best and most effective services to its customers, the telephone giant introduced another option whereby customers can activate their data plan on their Smartphone by dialing *136#.

*136# is the new short code being used to activate a data plan on any smart phone. Users with an iPhone, Samsung, HTC, Noika, BlackBerry, DL700 or any other Smartphone, can now simply dial *136# and they will be able to activate a data plan of their choice on their smartphone.

“Our customers can now enjoy the ease of dialing one short code to activate a data plan. We believe this will enhance the customer’s experience and make it convenient for data subscribers to activate a data plan on their Smartphones.

“Now, iOS android and BlackBerry users can use one short code when activating a data plan. This will eliminate *139# short code all together. At Digicel, our customers always come first,” Head of Customer Care Sherwyn Osborne said.

Digicel offers four types of data plans: daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly. By dialing *136# from any Smartphone, customers can choose to activate a daily plan which costs $290, a weekly plan costs $1160 or a monthly costs $2900 and a quarterly plan (three months) worth $7500. All these prices are VAT inclusive.

In addition, Digicel customers have the privilege of enjoying unlimited free data from 00:00h midnight to 05:59h every day.

Bush Lot New Housing Scheme forms CPG

Community members of Bush Lot New Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice, on Tuesday initiated a Community Policing Group (CPG) in an effort to control violence and maintain peace in their community.

According to a release, Bush Lot Village already has two other CPGs, but due to it being a very large and continuously develop-

ing village, the other two groups are unable to patrol the new scheme.

At the commencement of the meeting, prayers of gratitude were offered by representatives of three religions: Pandit Pramdat Sukra, Pastor S Lochan and Majee W Ishak, seeking God’s divine blessings in all future endeavours of the new CPG.

The newly elected exec-

utive members are Pandit Pramdat Sukra (Chairman), Z Karim (Vice Chairman), R Mathura (Secretary), S Lochan (Treasurer), Taramattie (Secretary/ Treasurer) and 12 committee members.

The release said the election was held peacefully and with the full cooperation of all present, with the newly elected CPG members, promising to uphold

the peace in their area as well as to serve their community in the best of their ability, with the help of Fort Wellington Police officers. Donations were made to the Treasurer on behalf of Pandit and Mrs P Sukra and Ms R Kerut, to purchase stationery as well as other miscellaneous items the group will need to function effectively.

The executive members of the Bush Lot New Housing Scheme CPG

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Amerindian Affairs Ministry rolls out Heritage Month activities

– Karrau named Heritage Village 2014

The Ministry has rolled out activities planned for Amerindian Heritage Month, naming Karrau, Region Seven, as this year’s Heritage Village.

Amerindian Heritage Month will be observed from August 31 to September 20, under the theme: “Traditional embodiment for Amerindians development”.

According to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry’s Programme Coordinator, Judy Da Silva, this year’s celebration promises to be bigger and better.

“It is a month when we converge not only in Georgetown, but in all our villages throughout the length and breadth of Guyana to celebrate our culture and our heritage. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is playing a big role in helping with the coordination and the planning, and we know that this year it will be bigger, it will be better, it will be brighter, it will be nicer,” she said.

An interfaith service on August 31 will lead the way for the activities. This will be held at the Umana Yana on August 31t commencing at 17:00h.

The Amerindian Heritage Month activities will kick off with the official launch on September 1 at the Heritage Village, Sophia Exhibition

Centre. It is expected to be packed will cultural presentations from Amerindian villages in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Da Silva is urging Guyanese to come out, teasing with all the Amerindian delicacies that will be available for sampling.

“It’s going to be nice, we have good things in store for you on that day. I know that on September 1, not only Amerindians converge at the exhibition complex, but we have all other Guyanese coming to celebrate with us,” she pointed out.

The cultural extravaganza will be held from September 2 to 6 also at the Heritage Village. Coordinator of this event, Anil Roberts disclosed that apart from cultural exhibitions and entertainment programmes, there will be presentations by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, President Donald Ramotar and other indigenous leaders.

In addition, there will be the Food and Craft Exhibition on September 6, with products from the various villages on display. The Stephen Campbell exhibition will also be held again this year to celebrate the work he has done for the development of Amerindians.

Another event Guyanese look forward to during Amerindian Heritage Month is the sports and games celebrations. This will be held at the Everest Cricket Ground on September 20 and 21 and will include sport such as cricket, volleyball and football, along with other activities such as piwari drinking and archery.

Then on September 26, there will be the Heritage Dinner, a fund-raising activity for patients who require medical treatment and tests such as MRI and SCT Scan that they cannot afford. Tickets to the dinner, which will be held at the Georgetown Club, cost $7000 per person.

Meanwhile, the Region Seven village, Karrau, selected to host this year’s Heritage Day activities is located in the lower Mazaruni River, just five minutes away from Bartica.

According to the Coordinator of heritage day activities, Romano James, this will be an opportunity for Karrau and other nearby villages to showcase their cultural heritage.

The village is home to approximately 301 Amerindians and was inhabited by the Arawaks. The main economic activities Karrau are logging, farming and mining.

Narco-sub was built to fetch tonnes of cocaine – Home Affairs Ministry

The Home Affairs Ministry has commended the security forces for the discovery of a blue SelfPropelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel in a creek along the Waini River, North West District last Thursday, contending that the vessel was built to transport tonnes of cocaine.

The blue Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible was found by the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Special Forces, Coast Guard and Air Corps

The Ministry in a release, said this was the first time a SPSS was found in Guyana, and was built to trans-ship tonnes of narcotics/contraband, smuggled into the country, possibly for onward movement through the north-west coast onto the Trans-Atlantic route.

“The Ministry applauds the work of the security oper-

atives and reaffirms its commitment to regional and international cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect in the fight against the world drug problem,” the release said.

The semi-submersible craft is believed to have links with a Colombian drug cartel.

The Colombian drug dealers are known to use this innovative technology to ship narcotics across the Caribbean and the US.

CANU Director James Singh, who headed the search operations that led to the discovery of the vessel, could not confirm whether there is indeed a connection.

He told Guyana Times that investigations are currently ongoing and no more information can be disclosed to the public at this time.

According to CANU, the craft was already fitted with a diesel engine and steering

wheel, navigation and other machinery to deem it serviceable. However, no contraband was on board the SPSS. CANU, along with the GDF, acting on intelligence from an ongoing investigation conducted an operation along the Waini River.

During a search of one of the creeks branching off from the Waini, the vessel was discovered about two miles in, along with a camp consisting of three structures – accommodation, workshop area and generator. The accommodation had the capacity to sleep approximately 12 persons. In addition, there was also a kitchen area located within the accommodation. The workshop consisted of pulleys, power tools, paint, and several fibre- glass materials. Based on the items present, it is believed that the SPSS found in the creek was built in the area.

Suriname pulls out from hosting ACP Summit

Suriname on Tuesday announced that it will no longer be hosting the Summit of the African Caribbean and Pacific States in November this year.

In a release the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Suriname said that cabinet reconsidered hosting the Heads of State and Government meeting because the country will remain chair of the Union of South American States UNASUR for longer than planned. Suriname took the lead of the South American bloc a year ago; chairmanship was supposed to be handed to Uruguay during a meeting of Heads of State on August 22, but “Uruguay has requested to postpone until October,” Foreign Affairs said.

The Ministry said that there were “some internal matters that should be taken care of first”. An exact date for the transfer could not yet be given because that would be determined by the Presidential elections that will take place in Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay itself.

The press release stated that as Suriname will remain UNASUR chair until at least October, this brings with it “enormous responsibilities.” It said the pressure the ACP Agenda would create prompted the President to decide to reconsider hosting the summit. The cancelation comes a week

after Suriname said it was making all necessary preparations for the summit, including putting in place measures to prevent possible transmission of the deadly Ebola virus by visitors from West Africa.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 1,000 people have died from Ebola in West Africa in the most severe outbreak of the virus since it was first identified in 1976. Among the hundreds of officials from the 79-member ACP, there would be delegates from West Africa. The ACP Group includes former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Delegates

The summit that would be held at the local Chamber of Commerce premises in Paramaribo in Paramaribo, would bring about 1,000 delegates to Suriname. Their meeting would precede the 100th session of the ACP Council of Ministers on the 3rd and 4th November and a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 5th November. These have also been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament had announced that it was boycotting Suriname as the host country of the European UnionAfrican Caribbean and Pacific (EU/ACP) conference. The conference, which is billed as

the largest multilateral meeting after the United Nations General Assembly is expected to attract an estimated 1,000 delegates from Europe and the ACP countries.

The EU Parliament is suggesting that the new venue be Guyana, Curacao or Aruba. European legislators say the recent passage of the legislation providing an amnesty to President Desi Bouterse and others implicated in the December 1982 murders of known opponents of the then military government headed by Bouterse.

Dutch Euro parliamentarian, Thijs Berman, said there it was an unanimous decision by the European Parliament against hosting the EU-ACP conference in Suriname. But ACP parliamentarians are expected to decide next week when they meet in Denmark whether to support the EU parliament position.

Euro parliamentarian Toine Manders, who rallied fellow legislators against hosting the meeting in Suriname, said the decision could affect future EU-ACP relations. “There will be no meeting without the Euro parliamentarians, so we should choose a different host country. It would be bad for our relations if the meeting isn’t held at all,” he said, hinting that it was Europe anyway which is footing the bill.

The co-ordinators at the launch of the Amerindian Heritage Month on Wednesday

The semi-submersible craft that was found in a creek off the Waini River in the North-West

US tried but failed to free hostages in Syria

AUS secret military mission had “recently” tried but failed “to free a number of American hostages held in Syria”, the Pentagon has revealed.

It did not say whether the US troops had also tried to rescue US journalist James Foley, a video of whose beheading by Islamic State appeared on Tuesday.

However, senior US officials – speaking on condition of anonymity – said this was the case. IS said Foley’s death was revenge for US air strikes on its fighters in Iraq.

US President Barack Obama condemned the killing as “an act of violence that shocks the conscience of the entire world”. He compared IS militants, who control large parts of Syria and Iraq to a “cancer” and said the group’s ideology was “bankrupt”.

The UN, UK and others have also expressed abhorrence at the video.

Foley’s mother Diane said he “gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people”.

The Committee to

Protect Journalists said it was “extremely concerned for all journalists” still held by IS, describing Syria as “the world’s most dangerous place to be a reporter”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India yoga guru BKS Iyengar dies

Indian yoga guru BKS

Iyengar has died in the western city of Pune, aged 95.

Iyengar was admitted to hospital last week and died early on Wednesday following kidney problems, doctors treating him said.

Iyengar was credited with his own brand of yoga, and taught author Aldous Huxley and violinist Yehudi Menuhin, among other celebrities. Iyengar yoga is now taught in more than 70 countries and the guru’s

books have been translated into 13 languages. One of yoga’s finest teachers, Iyengar practised what he called an “art and science” for more than eight decades and ran one of India’s top yoga schools in Pune.

He continued to practise – “practice is my feast”, he once told a correspondent – in his old age and could still do the sirsasana – or the headstand – for half an hour until last year. He used around 50 props, including ropes and mats, to align and

stretch the body.

“When I stretch, I stretch in such a way that my awareness moves, and a gate of awareness finally opens,” Iyengar told the Mint newspaper last year.

“When I still find some parts of my body that I have not found before, I tell myself, yes I am progressing scientifically... I don’t stretch my body as if it is an object. I do yoga from the self towards the body, not the other way around.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Around the world

Landslides hit Japan’s Hiroshima, killing at least 36

At least 36 people, including several children, were killed in Japan on Wednesday, when landslides triggered by torrential rain slammed into the outskirts of the western city of Hiroshima, and the toll could rise further, police said.

Seven people were missing after a month’s worth of rain fell overnight, loosening slopes already saturated by heavy rain over the past few weeks.

“There was rain and

thunder all night, beating down so hard I was scared to go outside,” a resident told Fuji TV. “Great big drops. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Helicopters clattered overhead, lifting out survivors, as rescue workers searched through mud and piles of stones in residential areas about 5 km (3 miles) from the city centre.

Houses had been pushed 100 metres (yards) by the landslide in the worst-hit area, where thick, knee-high mud hampered rescue efforts.

“The rain was just pouring down and the street in front of my house turned into a river,” a man in his 70s told national television NHK. (Excerpt from

Among those dug out of the debris were two brothers, aged eleven and two, whose house was struck as they slept. A child’s red school bag, covered in mud, lay in the debris.

Air strikes again batter Gaza as peace negotiations collapse

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza were once again at war on Wednesday night. A day after peace talks in Cairo crumbled, Israeli air strikes pounded the strip and rockets rained down on Israel.

As the death toll in Gaza rose well above 2000 on Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, compared the Hamas movement in Gaza to the Islamic State (Isis), calling the two groups a “branch of the same tree”.

At a press conference on Wednesday night, Netanyahu said the Gaza war launched on July 8 “will be a continued campaign” aimed at restoring “calm and safety” to Israeli citizens.

He said the latest bout of Israeli military action

The death toll in Gaza has now risen above the 2000 mark, and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu claims Hamas has suffered its ‘harshest’ blow

in Gaza was “the harshest blow Hamas has taken since its foundation”, but warned that if Hamas rocket fire continued, Israel would hit back “sevenfold”. “This is a continuous campaign. The struggle against terror lasts for years,” he said.

The Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, added that

Israel “had killed hundreds of Hamas terrorists” and would continue to do so. The UN security council expressed “grave concern” at the resumption of hostilities and called upon the parties to resume negotiations to urgently reach a “sustainable and lasting ceasefire”. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

James Foley has been missing since he was seized in Syria in 2012

Cuyuni boat accident… Body of 5-year-old recovered

The body of five-yearold Beesham Munilall, who went missing on Monday after the boat in which he was travelling crashed into a rock in the vicinity of the Dukwarri River, Cuyuni, has been recovered.

The child, who lived with his father Beesham Munilall Snr, mother and six-year-old sister at the Venezuelan border was reportedly with his father when the accident occurred. The father, according to reports was devastated by the unfortunate news.

Jane Babulall, the grandmother of the dead child when contacted on Wednesday morning told Guyana Times that she received a telephone call from her son about 07:00h, informing her that the lad’s body has been recovered.

She added that the body has been taken to the Bartica Hospital and was subsequently moved to the Lyken’s Funeral Home. While the woman is aware of the accident, she is not too certain what occurred on the day.

“I got a call from someone telling me that my grandson

missing after a boat collided with a rock… I don’t know where they were going… but meh son cannot take it.”

The distraught woman added that her son made one telephone call to her and he was brief. “All he said was mom he missing… he dead,” she said, in a faint voice.

She said that her son would move around in the region to look for work and might have been doing so when the accident occurred.

Her son, she added, lives at the Venezuelan border with his family and hardly comes out to visit her, but she would hear from them from time to time.

According to a release from the Guyana Police Force, Munilall, five, and Jose Henriqu Salvao De Souza, 66, of Junior Rose Landing were passengers “on a boat travelling along a river at Dukwarri, Cuyuni when the vessel struck a rock and several passengers were thrown overboard”.

Many of the passengers managed to make their way back to the safety of the boat

except for the five-year-old and the Brazilian national. A search party was established which led to the discovery of the Brazilian national, but up to late Tuesday afternoon, there were no signs of Munilall.

Earlier in the month, Leon D’Aguiar, 20, of Mahaica Village, East Bank Demerara and Junior Williams, 19, formerly of 1275 Spurwing Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and Lot 31 Broad Street, Georgetown met their demise after falling into a creek at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

It was reported that the men were crossing a creek in Aranka Backdam when D’Aguiar reportedly slipped into the water and Williams attempted to rescue him, but was pulled overboard.

D’Aguiar, according to reports was not a good swimmer; hence, his friend went to save him. After the incident, several search parties were formed, and their bodies were recovered a short distance away from each other two days after.

Value chains a critical part of Caribbean agriculture

Value chains are fast becoming a critical part of the agricultural landscape, as countries seek to develop a competitive sector by linking farmers with end markets.

While there are a number of guides for analysing value chains, research for the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) has concluded that the existing methodologies are set at too high a level to be used by those stakeholders who actually operate in a value chain.

To address this issue for value chain participants in the Region, a project, titled “Developing capacity to analyse and strengthen root and tuber value chains in the Caribbean Region, for improved food security”, was developed through a joint effort between CARDI and CTA.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to improved value chains for roots and tubers and their processed products, leading to increased domestic consumption of these products and, where possible, addi-

tional exports that can increase farmer incomes and promote food security.

Under this project, it is proposed to produce a methodology for assessing root and tuber value chains in the Caribbean, to pilot this in six countries (Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St Kitts, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago) and to ensure that the results are widely distributed.

It is envisaged that the approach adopted will make considerable use of “multistakeholder” techniques to both gather information and identify solutions to value chain problems. It will also identify opportunities for enhancement of livelihoods of the stakeholders along the value chains.

To activate this project, a series of activities has since been held, namely, regional workshop to introduce project to the national coordinators from each of the six pilot countries; draft methodology produced; and data collection among the six chains in each country using the draft methodology.

‘One Destiny’ launches inaugural Guyanese ‘mas band’

In becoming the first Guyanese ‘ mas band’ to hit the Parkway, ‘One Destiny’ says it is portraying the Caribbean Community (Caricom) member state’s Coat of Arms in making a difference.

“This year, One Destiny is portraying the national motto, along with the meaning of the Guyana flag,” said band leader Zeelema Verwayne in a Caribbean Life interview.

“This year’s portrayal is based on the fact that this year is going to be the first year after so long for the Guyanese community to have a truck on the Parkway,” added the Georgetown, Guyana-born native, who is also producing mas for the very first time.

“We decided to execute this idea because it has been talked about by many to have representation of our country on the road, but never taken seriously; and we’ve made it a ‘living reality,’” Verwayne continued.

“I hope that, after this year on the Parkway, we open an eye for the rest of our community – that shows that we, as Guyanese, can come together in unity and make things happen, where it is all about fun and laughter,” she said.

Verwayne said most of the masqueraders, who are Guyanese, will play in five sections: Essence, Raw Purity, Endurance, Passion and Unity. Each section comprises 30-40 masqueraders.

“I just want us to have clean fun and represent for Guyana what we haven’t seen on the Parkway in years,” Verwayne stressed.

“I love the idea of having a truck on the Parkway and seeing nothing but Guyanese following behind it,” she added. “It’ll be a fun and joyous experience, and I think that it will bring our community closer together.”

Verwayne also disclosed that Guyanese artistes Adrian Dutchin and Jomo Primo will be among others on the float.

Masqueraders will also sway to sever-

al Guyanese deejays – Kado, from Unity Family; First Class Sound; Uprising Star; Samuel Top Ranking; Kash; and GT Hi Five.

“I just want to say thank you to all in advance, who are taking the time to join and make our first year a successful one,” Verwayne said.

“One Destiny” mas camp is located at 4807 Church Avenue, between 48th and 49th streets in Brooklyn.

Verwayne can be reached on Facebook at “wearefamilyandfriendsofguyana”; email at familyandfriendsofguyana@gmail.com; or call (347) 384-0497 or (347) 383-8718.

8 Caribbean countries sign on to rainfall insurance

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is lauding the inception of the excess rainfall insurance package from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) and also commending the countries in the Region that have purchased a policy for 2014-15.

This information is analysed and presented to stakeholders at national validation workshops in the beneficiary countries. The first of four incountry workshops was held in Trinidad in July 2014. The others to be held are St Kitts and Nevis on September 1, Barbados on September 3 and St Vincent and the Grenadines on September 9.

Following which, the next step is finalisation of the reports to be presented at a regional validation workshop, on September 23 and 24 in Trinidad. It is expected that at this regional validation workshop, each country coordinator will present their reports.

With these individual country feedback, the methodology will be refined and finalised, and will then be distributed for use within the Region, along with the African and Pacific countries linked to the CTA.

The world over, development of agriculture value chains is actively promoted as an answer to problems of low producer incomes, poor market access and even food security. (Caribbean News Now)

The CCRIF recently announced that eight of its 16 members have purchased the policy.

The excess rainfall product was developed by CCRIF and global reinsurer, Swiss Re, and is aimed primarily at extreme high rainfall events of short duration ranging from a few hours to a few days, whether they happen during a hurricane or not.

It is independent of the hurricane policy and if both policies are triggered by an event, then both payouts become due.

CDB President, Dr Warren Smith said the excess rainfall product is a very important mitigant to the effects of natural hazards in the Region.

“This is a very important development in the life of the CCRIF and in the response to the effects of natural hazard events in the Caribbean. In a Region where the prospect of being affected by serious damage from natural hazards is a high probability for most of our countries, it is vital that there is a suite

of products that can help the countries mitigate the losses that can be experienced from these events,” Dr Smith said.

The CDB President noted that different Caribbean countries are vulnerable to one or more of the natural hazards including flooding.

“The excess rainfall product that has now been rolled out by the CCRIF fills a slot in the response mechanisms of countries, and it is especially important for those countries which are more vulnerable to flooding than they are to other such events,” Dr Smith added.

The eight countries to have purchased the facility are Anguilla, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia.

According to CCRIF, the excess rainfall product is parametric and so a payout can be made within 14 days after a rain event that triggers a country’s policy, without waiting for timeconsuming damage and loss assessments on the ground.

CCRIF was developed through funding from the Japanese Government, and was capitalised through contributions to a multidonor Trust Fund by the Government of Canada, the European Union, the World Bank, the Governments of the United Kingdom and France, CDB and the Governments of Ireland and Bermuda, as well as through membership fees paid by participating governments.

CDB, which contributed US$5 million to the development of the institution, represents the donors on the Board of Directors of the CRIF.

The CDB is a regional financial institution established in 1969 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of the member countries in the Caribbean.

There are 19 regional borrowing member countries, three regional nonborrowing member countries and five non-regional, non-borrowing member countries. As of December 31, 2013, CDB had total assets of US$1.45 billion.

Monifah Alexander (Nelson A King photo)

CDB President, Dr Warren Smith

Dead: Beesham Munilall

Dead: Leon D’Aguiar

Dead: Junior Williams

GDF receives more military aid from China

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has provided the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with equipment support totalling five million Renminbi (RMB) – over US$819,600, using rate of US$1 equals 6.1 RMB – to boost the efficiency of the Army and help protect Guyana and its borders.

An excavator, ambulance, front-end loaders and inflatable boats with engines, among other pieces of equipment were on Wednesday morning handed over to the GDF. Chinese Ambassador to Guyana

contributions that the country is making in many parts of the world, and more importantly, in Guyana. “The contribution that we have received here today, from the People’s Liberation Army is indeed very vital in assisting the GDF to build its infrastructure, and facilitate its work in a more effective and efficient way,” the President said.

The President said that with the country’s terrain (low-lying coastal plains, rugged mountains in the interior and its vast river network), the equipment will play a very important role

Zhang Limin symbolically handed over the keys to some of the equipment to Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Ramotar who in turn presented them to Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Mark Phillips at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown.

This follows Tuesday’s signing of a military aid agreement totalling 30 million RMB (approximately US$4.8 million) between the two militaries for China’s 2014 assistance. Also witnessing the event was Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

President Ramotar said that Government and the country value very much, its relationship with the People’s Republic of China and appreciate the great

in the work of the Army as it relates to defence and maintaining communication in the not so accessible parts of Guyana. It will assist the Army in moving more quickly, and to better respond to emergencies and difficulties in any part of Guyana, the Head Of State said.

President Ramotar also noted the contribution of the People’s Republic of China to international and regional development over the years. He pointed out that this support has increased greatly over time and China has become one of the main drivers in the international economy. “Their friendly relations and investments in many parts of the world have helped greatly during the time of the financial and

City Hall, Govt Ministries pledge support for clean-up campaign

Natural Resources

Minister Robert Persaud, Public Works Minster Robeson Benn and acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba have pledged to pool their resources to ensure the effective countrywide implementation of the “Cleanup my country campaign”.

economic crises to keep the world economy going,” he said, adding that the nation has become the destination and the biggest trading partner of many countries in the world.

The President also highlighted Chinese investments in the development of Jamaica, The Bahamas, Africa and South America. Guyana has enjoyed 42 years of bilateral relations with China, which has seen frequent exchanges between the two countries in several areas including the military. In fact, the support provided to the GDF today represents China’s 2011 military assistance to Guyana.

Assistance

Brigadier Phillips explained that in the process, and still to come, is the 2012 assistance of 10 million RMB, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Major General Li of the People’s Liberation Army explained that in order to show the importance that the PLA attaches to the China-Guyana military to military relationship and effort to help the GDF to further develop itself, the Chinese military decided to increase its military aid to Guyana for this year to the tune of 30 million RMB.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Limin noted that the two countries’ bilateral military cooperation is an important part of their bilateral collaboration and that over the many years, regardless of international challenges, this bilateral military relationship has developed smoothly.

He said that it has lived through a test of time to promote friendly relations between the two militaries and between the two countries’ peoples. Ambassador Limin said that the signing of the 2014 agreement on Tuesday, and the handing over of the equipment represent a new start in this military cooperation

They gave their support to the programme during a meeting with Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker and the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme Implementation Committee on Wednesday.

At the meeting, which was held at the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Minister Persaud embraced the need for such a programme.

He emphasised the importance for sustainability which can be done through volunteerism of community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs); enforcement of the Anti-Littering Law by Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and civil servants; and utilisation of private enterprises and citizens of the communities to monitor their community works.

He stated that this is an opportunity for a synergetic approach to get the job done.

On the other end, Minister Benn cemented his continuous support for the programme by providing the team with the technical guidance and skills as in the case of engineers.

One factor which he stated that can hinder the pace of the clearing of parapets is the infestation of foreign species of vegetation. He stated that the species are rapidly spreading across the country, and from observation, they are harder to cut.

Enforcement

He pointed out that failure of effective solid waste removal systems will defeat the nature and objective of this programme.

Minister Benn also emphasised that improving the environment has to do with the conscience of the people.

The Public Works Ministry also noted that a clean environment can be sustained through enforcement of public health officers.

Also present at the meeting were the City Engineer and Solid Waste Director, all of whom are seated on the

Implementation Committee. The municipality representatives’ role is to provide the team with the issuance of notices to persons who are seen as encumbrances to the programme.

In addition, the Council has agreed to collaborate with the Ministry to implement a schedule in communities to remove bulk waste.

Minister Norman Whittaker in his address to the team and colleagues expressed concern and the need for sustainability. He urged everyone, both civil and statutory, to have an obligation to maintain a clean and unpolluted environment.

He saluted his colleague Minister Robert Persaud for push for the Anti-Litter Law, but pointed that if it is not enforced at the individual level, this programme will not be futile.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of Environment Protection Agency and Anti-Litter Community Liaison Officer, Engineers, Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

fans

Santana the Puppet and his band of merry misfits have just returned to Trindad from a very successful visit to Guyana where they performed at the “Kiss My Art Festival,” an annual event that showcases that country’s visual and performing arts. The festival took place on July 27, at the Promenade Gardens in Georgetown and attracted people from across Guyana.

The “Kiss My Art Festival” this year saw dozens of very talented young people exhibiting their creations alongside several of Guyana’s most respected

established artists and artisans. The visual arts display featured photography, paintings, video productions, textiles, jewellery, pottery, sculpture and more.

As for the performing arts, the Lexo TV team was the festival’s headline act this year, featuring life-size versions of Santana, Narine and Pastor Stewart engaging in a three-way standup comedy session that had the audience in stitches and calling for more at the end.

Founder of Lexo TV, Roger Alexis said he was surprised to discover that the short films he produc-

es and uploads on YouTube are very popular in Guyana and that Santana and the other puppets have so many fans here. The fan base in Guyana is quite diverse, from children to senior citizens following the shorts and wanting to meet the puppets.

While in Guyana, the Lexo TV team took two days to explore Georgetown and shoot footage for an upcoming short that will see Santana, Narine, Pastor Stewart and other characters on an adventure in Guyana. (Trinidad Express)

Being interviewed: Santana, Pastor Stewart, Narine and their creator, Roger Alexis on set during a television interview in Guyana

Santana has many Guyanese

President Donald Ramotar gets familiar with the latest set of equipment provided by the Chinese military to the Guyana Defence Force

President Ramotar takes a look inside the new GDF’s military ambulance received as part of a five million RMB aid package from the Chinese military

From left: Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker, Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud and acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba briefing the media following their meeting on Wednesday

Tournament rules support Amazon Warriors position on CPL final − Neil Kumar

Director of Sport Neil Kumar has issued the following statement in the aftermath of te decision to award the Caribbean Premeir League (CPL) title to the Barbados Tridents:

I wish to comment on the controversial outcome of the second Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, played between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Barbados Tridents on August 16 in St Kitts and Nevis.

It is incumbent upon me to highlight a few sections of the playing conditions, or rules, of the tournament.

I have copied and pasted those sections below, verbatim, which may apply given the circumstances that obtained before, during and after the game, not only for the fans of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, but also for anyone who follows the game of cricket.

12.4 Length of Innings

12.4.1 Uninterrupted Matches.

a) Each team shall bat for 20 overs unless all out earlier.

b) If the team fielding first fails to bowl the required number of overs by the scheduled time for cessation of the first innings, play shall continue until the required number of overs has been bowled. The length of the interval shall be reduced as per clause 15.1 (minimum 10 minutes) and the second

session shall begin at the scheduled time or ten minutes after the end of the first innings (whichever is later). The team batting second shall receive its full quota of 20 overs irrespective of the number of overs it bowled in the scheduled time for the cessation of the first innings.

c) If the team batting first is dismissed in less than 20 overs, the team batting second shall be entitled to bat for 20 overs.

d) If the team fielding second fails to bowl 20 overs by the scheduled cessation time, the hours of play shall be extended until the required number of overs has been bowled or a result is achieved.

e) Penalties shall apply for slow over rates (refer to the Code of Conduct).

12.4.2 Delayed or Interrupted Matches

a) Delay or Interruption to the Innings of the team batting first (see Appendix 2)

i) When playing time has been lost the revised number of overs to be bowled in the match shall be based on a rate of 15 overs per hour in the total remaining time available for play.

vi) Penalties shall apply for slow over rates (refer to the Code of Conduct).

b) Delay or Interruption to the innings of the team batting second (see Appendix 3)

i) When playing time has been

Neil Kumar

lost and, as a result, it is not possible for the team batting second to have the opportunity of receiving its allocated, or revised allocation of overs in the playing time available, the number of overs shall be reduced at a rate of 15 overs per hour in respect of the lost playing time. Should the calculations result in a fraction of an over the fraction shall be ignored.

ii) In addition, should the innings of the team batting first have been completed prior to the scheduled, or re-scheduled time for the

commencement of the interval, then any calculation relating to the revision of overs shall not be effective until an amount of time equivalent to that by which the second innings started early has elapsed.

iii) To constitute a match, a minimum of 5 overs have to be bowled to the team batting second subject to a result not being achieved earlier.

iv) The team batting second shall not bat for a greater number of overs than the first team unless the latter completed its innings in less than its allocated overs.

v) A fixed time will be specified for the close of play by applying a rate of 15 overs per hour. The timing and duration of all relative delays, extensions in playing hours and interruptions in play, will be taken into consideration in specifying this time.

vi) If the team fielding second fails to bowl the revised overs by the scheduled or re-scheduled close of play, the hours of play shall be extended until the overs have been bowled or a result achieved.

vii) Penalties shall apply for slow over rates (refer to the Code of Conduct).

12.5 Extra Time

Where the start of play is delayed or play is suspended for whatever reason, up to one (1) hour of extra time may be added.

As regards slow over rate, the

Guyana Amazon Warriors bowled 20 overs in 95 minutes, while the Barbados Tridents bowled 15.5 overs in 93 minutes. This clearly shows that the Tridents deliberately dragged on the game, while the umpires continued to smile.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the Cricket Committee of CPL and the International Cricket Council (ICC) must explain their role in the CPL tournament. Further, the Amazon Warriors Management must diligently pursue their appeal of the decision to award the game to Barbados Tridents to the ICC.

The Caribbean people are expressing total disgust at the outcome. Is the sponsor of the Tridents team guilty of something? Who owns the Tridents? Who owns the CPL?

In view of how the game was conducted, I call on the WICB, the Cricket Committee of CPL and the ICC to reverse the decision taken on the final and that the match be declared null and void, or a no result.

I also feel compelled to attach, as part of this statement, a complete copy of the “Playing Conditions of the Caribbean Premier League 2014” for your own perusal.

I thank all cricket fans for their continued support of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Logie: TT deserve more Regional trophies

Discipline. Versatility. Commitment. These are some of the traits new Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board head coach Augustine “Gus” Logie will be looking to cultivate and develop in his players as he tries to add to the trophy cabinet.

The former West Indies batsman and coach, Logie, is yet to have a full training session with all of his new charges, most of whom were involved in the recently concluded Limacol Caribbean Premier League Twenty20.

Despite that, Logie has hit the ground running with some of the players who are available.

He had a training session with Adrian Barath, Adrian Ali, Yannick Ottley, Mark Deyal, Bryan Charles, Ricky Jaipaul and Stephen Murray at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain Couva on Monday and he said it was good that he was getting to work with a small

group of players so he could give them more individual attention.

Logie, who was coach of the regional side when they won the ICC Champions Trophy title in 2004, was also adamant that T&T should have more silverware in their trophy cabinet which is something he wants to correct.

Trinidad and Tobago have not won the regional four-day title since 2006.

“When you look around T&T, many of the players have done well individually but the national team has not really succeeded. We have not captured the four-day championship for some time now even though we have quite a few players on the West Indies team. Collectively as a team we need to win championships,” he told the Express on Monday.

“With the kind of infrastructure we have and the quality players we have we

deserve a few more trophies on the mantelpiece and that is my aim at this point in time,” he added. But having talented players alone is not enough to win trophies Logie explained.

He said: “We keep talking about having talented players, but talented players are all round the Caribbean. We need to be disciplined in our approach to our cricket and we need to understand that patience

is a requirement in both the 50 overs and four-day tournaments.

“We play a lot of T20 cricket. We know how to hit the ball out of the ground, but what we need start doing is making sure we keep

our wickets for longer periods and build big, long partnerships.

“There is talent all around and what we have to do is discipline that talent. We have to nurture that talent as much as possible and at the end of the day we have to motivate that talent to perform at a higher level,” Logie added.

Already motivated by Logie’s input is wicketkeeper-batsman Adrian Ali, who was happy for the individual help he has already received from the new national coach.

“I was shocked to get so much personal attention from the coach because he does not really know me because he just come in the system, but between two days, he has done work personally with four players— myself, Barath, Yannick and Deyal...He is making a difference already,” said Ali. (Trinidad Express)

Trinidad and Tobago have not won the regional four-day title since 2006

Berbice cyclists to battle for ‘Sawmills Trophy’

Berbice cyclists will once again have the opportunity to compete against each other on Sunday when the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) stages the ART Sawmills Enterprise 40-miler.

The event, which is opened to cyclist from Regions Five and Six, will peddle off from Marks Bridge in New Amsterdam and proceed to Corentyne and turn around at Adventure Village before returning to New

Amsterdam for the finish at Main and Alexander Streets.

The first six cyclists to cross the finish line will receive prizes. Additionally, six sprint point prizes will be up for grabs.

On Wednesday, Azim Yunus of ART Sawmilling Enterprise presented the winning trophy and cash incentives to organiser of the event and Coach of FACC Randolph Roberts. At the simple presentation ceremony, Yunus said the com-

pany is pleased to be associated with sport. According to him, the sponsorship is part of the organisation’s motto of giving back to the community. He said when the business community gets involved in such activities it helps young people to be occupied meaningfully.

Roberts, in thanking Mr Yunus, noted that cycling is a very expensive sport and needs the support of the business community and other members of the community.

Sunday’s race is expected to see cyclists from both the FACC and Trojan Cycle clubs renewing their rivalry, with the likes of Andrea ‘Padlock’ Green, Ray Millington, the Crawford cousins Romallo and Juban, Elijah Brijadar, Andrew Hicks, Wasim Hassnu, Audrel Ross, Edmond Francis, Keith Griffith, Gary Benjamin, Turhan Harris and Syborne Fernandez among others in action.

Top female cyclist Marcia Dick is also expected to be on show.

Apart from ART Sawmilling Enterprise, Homline Furnishing, Tripple ‘S’ Taxi, Arokium Funeral Home and Senior Superintendant of Police Marlon Chapman have also contributed to the event.

CONCACAF Champions League

Alpha United go down to Portland Timbers in second home game

Alpha United have found themselves in a spot of bother after losing their second home game in the CONCACAF Champions League at the Guyana National Stadium on Tuesday.

The Alpha boys had lost their opening game against Olimpia 1-nil and suffered a worst fate as they were thrashed 4-1 by Champions League debutants Portland Timbers in Group 5.

Steve Zakuani, Maxmiliano Urruti, Fanendo Adi and Alvas Powell scored for the United States side (1-00, three points), while Barbosa Murilo tallied for the Hammer (0-0-2, 0 points).

After traveling 2,500 miles from Portland to Boston and another 2,500 miles to the north coast of South America, the Timbers were scheduled to take a 4,700 trip home to the Pacific Northwest,

the longest trip for a single game in CCL history.

Portland head coach Caleb Porter made a bold decision, using a lineup that did not include any of the starters from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the New England Revolution.

Zakuani, who has not scored in 16 Major League Soccer games this season, found the back of the net in the 18th minute. He raced down the left side past his marker, creating a 1 v 1 situation with goalkeeper Ronson Williams, before depositing a 10-yard shot into the lower right corner for a 1-0 lead.

In the 34th minute, Urruti caught Alpha United ball watching to double the advantage. The 23-year-old Argentinean maneuvered his way into the area and tucked an eight-yard effort to the near right post for a 2-0 lead in the 34th m

The host cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 44th minute,

when defender Barbosa Murilo struck a 30-yard free kick that hit the crossbar and bounded into the net past goalkeeper Andrew Weber.

Revived by the goal, Alpha United came out with a passion after the break, forcing Weber to make an immediate fingertip save on a shot from distance.

Moments after Michael Nanchoff powered a long attempt off the crossbar, Adi, a second-half sub, restored the visitors’ twogoal lead, slotting home from inside the area into the left corner in the 66th minute.

Powell, a right back, tallied the final goal with seven minutes remaining in normal time, netting from close range. In the next Group 5 match, Alpha United will visit Olimpia on August 28. (CONCACAF)

Pollard, Ramdin rescue West Indies

Nasir Hossain and Anamul then scrapped to add 53 for the sixth wicket, somehow surviving against Sunil Narine, who zipped deliveries in and out and was on a roll during the Powerplay. West Indies bowled haphazardly for most parts except when Narine was in the attack, but he went wicketless while Dwayne Bravo picked up four with mostly ordinary deliveries.

Anamul did not look assured, but even when he is punishing bowlers, he seems always to give a chance. He survived a close lbw appeal in the 36th over, but he looked unflustered by the happenings at the other end or out of Narine’s hand. In the nineties Anamul lifted one towards midwicket, where he was dropped by Kirk Edwards, and soon celebrated his century with a fierce scream.

That was the cue for the Ramdin-Pollard show. They did not start flashily but Pollard began to knock a few big ones, while Ramdin rotated strike, and Bangladesh wilted.

There wasn’t much wrong with Mushfiqur’s rotation of bowlers as he tried to pick up the vital sixth wicket. His fields, however, were too standard and he hardly attacked the batsmen. Because the first five wickets had come with almost similar fields for all bowlers, Mushfiqur did not see many reasons to change things. It has never been his style.

Al-Amin conceding so much after taking three quick wickets didn’t help. Mashrafe Mortaza and Sohag Gazi bowled superbly early on but were ineffective in their second spells.

Bangladesh innings (50 overs maximum)

Tamim Iqbal c Pollard b Holder 26

Anamul Haque lbw b DJ Bravo 109

Imrul Kayes run out (Simmons /†Ramdin) 9

Shamsur Rahman c †Ramdin b DJ Bravo 8

Mushfiqur Rahim*† c Narine b Gayle 12

Mahmudullah b DJ Bravo 11

Nasir Hossain c †Ramdin b Rampaul 26

Sohag Gazi run out (Gayle/ Rampaul) 2

Mashrafe Mortaza c Pollard b DJ Bravo 3

Taskin Ahmed not out 0

Extras (lb 2, w 8, nb 1) 11

Total (9 wickets; 50 overs)

217 (4.34 runs per over)

Did not bat: Al-Amin Hossain

0, CH Gayle 4-0-19-1

West Indies innings (target: 218 runs from 50 overs)

CH Gayle c Al-Amin Hossain b Mashrafe Mortaza 3

KA Edwards b Mahmudullah 10

DM Bravo c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Al-Amin Hossain 7 LMP Simmons c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Al-Amin Hossain 0 D Ramdin† b Sohag Gazi 74 DJ Bravo* c Sohag Gazi b AlAmin Hossain 5 KA Pollard c Mahmudullah b Al-Amin Hossain 89 JO Holder not out 22 SP Narine not out 3

Extras (lb

Bangladesh began their defence of 217 with consecutive maidens from Sohag Gazi and Mashrafe Mortaza, and they continued to keep Chris Gayle and Kirk Edwards quiet. The chase had gone nowhere after five overs and Gayle’s frustration boiled over. He was caught at third man off a top edge.

Mushfiqur then took two sharp catches. He dived to his left to snatch a steer from Darren Bravo and then moved slightly forward to grab Lendl Simmons

and give Al-Amin his second wicket. Edwards had swiped and was bowled by Mahmudullah and by the 14th over West Indies had also lost their captain to a loose pull that was caught at deep square leg.

Taskin Ahmed hasn’t played enough for anyone to think of judging him on his loose lines, while the allrounders Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain didn’t make much of an impact. The upshot was that West Indies were able to pull off an escape act. (espncricinfo)

Fall of wickets 1-41 (Tamim Iqbal, 12.1 ov), 2-69 (Imrul Kayes, 16.6 ov), 3-80 (Shamsur Rahman, 20.1 ov), 4-117 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 27.6 ov), 5-141 (Mahmudullah, 33.5 ov), 6-194 (Nasir Hossain, 46.6 ov), 7-201 (Sohag Gazi, 48.1 ov), 8-217 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 49.4 ov), 9-217 (Anamul Haque, 49.6 ov)

Bowling: KAJ Roach 10-0-48-0, R Rampaul 10-1- 48-1, JO Holder 9-0-39-1, DJ Bravo 7-0-32-4, SP Narine 10-1-29-

Anamul Haque’s third ODI century was arguably his most demanding. Photo: AFP

Manager of ART Sawmilling Enterprise Azim Yunus (right) hands over the winning trophy and sponsorship money to the Coach of Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts

India could face 4-0 loss in Australia − McGrath

Former Australia

fast bowler Glenn McGrath has suggested that India are likely to cop another 4-0 Test series loss in Australia unless they improve on all aspects of their cricket. India play four Tests against the hosts from December 2014 to January 2015, followed by an ODI tri-series that also features England.

McGrath told ESPNcricinfo that India would be under severe pressure if Australia play with the same intensity as their 5-0 thrashing of England during the Ashes at home last year.

“For India to be competitive in the upcoming Australia series, a lot of things have to change. We saw, as you mentioned, England when they toured Australia last year, they were well and truly beaten 5-0. Now they have well and truly beaten India 3-1. It’s going to be a tough series for India in Australia,” McGrath said.

“If Australia play anywhere near as they have been, then they are going to be really tough to beat. To be honest, I can’t see India winning a Test match, so my prediction is as it usually is - I predict Australia to win and win 4-0. It’s up to the Indian team to prove me wrong and to somehow find some way to turn around their form. Their fielding, their batting, their bowling [to a degree], they’ve got a lot of work to do in the next few months.”

McGrath termed India’s performance in the Tests against England as “or-

dinary” and said the losses could be put down to a matter of getting the basics right, like converting the opportunities that the bowlers create.

“It could have been better, no doubt about that. I have enjoyed Varun Aaron coming in, bowling with a bit more pace. Ishant Sharma has always promised a lot, he’s still taking wickets, but unfortunately, he’s had a few injury worries, his pace has dropped down. Pankaj Singh looks raw but has a lot of potential. As a unit they

could have bowled better but they did create quite a few chances. That’s what you have to do at that level. But you can’t afford to drop 3-4 catches in every Test match. If you do that, you’re not going to win any. Overall, the bowling was 7-7.5 out of 10.”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished as the side’s leading wicket-taker with 19 dismissals, was one of the stand-out performers for India in the Tests.

“He’s done well. [He] bowls pretty good areas, he swings the ball and has got

the knack of taking wickets, too. So it’s all about playing at this level, being successful, believing in yourself and then being able to improve and learn from every game you play.”

McGrath pointed out that one of the main issues India face on overseas tours is the lack of a quality fast bowler. He said that Varun Aaron had shown the potential to fill that void but urged him not to trade his pace for something else. Aaron’s intensity was impressive in the two Tests that he played in England, taking five wickets.

“I think India’s biggest problem has always been that they haven’t got an express, out-and-out fast bowler,” McGrath said. “I mentioned Varun Aaron, who bowls good pace, but the rest, you can say, are probably medium-pacers, so then you’ve got to be able to swing the ball, you’ve got to be able to build pressure.

“I’ve done a bit of work with Varun at the MRF pace foundation. I’ve been impressed with his attitude and the way he goes about things. The thing that is special about him is that pace. He has to bowl 145-plus, up around that 150 km mark. He can’t afford to lose that, so the one thing he doesn’t want to do, and what most bowlers really shouldn’t be doing, is trading pace for something else. You need that control, no doubt about that, but you need to keep what makes you so special. So for someone like Varun Aaron, he needs to be bowling 145-150 kph for him to be in the Indian team.”

Michael Phelps can swim faster than ever, says coach Bowman

Olympic legend Michael Phelps returned to competition because he believes he can swim faster than ever, the American’s coach Bob Bowman said.

Phelps, 29, who won a record 18 Olympic titles from 2004-2012 and 22 medals in total, announced his comeback in April.

“If he didn’t think he had the chance to get faster, I don’t think he would have come back,” Bowman said.

Phelps races in five events and three relays at the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia, which begin on Thursday.

The four-day meet at the new Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport is his first international event since ending his 20-month retirement and it is regarded as key preparation for next year’s World Championships in Russia and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Phelps qualified for the

US team after two secondplaced finishes at the trials earlier this month in Irvine, California.

After coming seventh in the 100m freestyle, he was beaten by a fingertip in one of his signature events, the 100m butterfly, and finished sixth in the 100m backstroke.

But he staged an exciting battle with Ryan Lochte in the 200m individual medley and finished just 0.05 seconds behind the world record holder in the event in which he has won three Olympic golds.

Asked about his form, Phelps said: “I have been working on the basics that hopefully make a big improvement with my freestyle stroke.

“At the nationals, I missed a couple of walls, I jammed a couple of walls. Those were the big things that I guess I forgot how to do. With some extra practice, I hope it’s going to pay off.”

Barcelona transfer ban appeal fails

Barcelona will be unable to sign players until January 2016 once the current transfer window shuts, after world governing body Fifa rejected the club's appeal against a transfer ban The Spaniards were given the 14-month ban after being found to have breached rules on signing international players under the age of 18.

It was suspended after they appealed, allowing them to sign Luis Suarez.

Barcelona will now take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The ban will start in the next transfer window, early next year, which means their summer acquisitions will be unaffected.

And the Catalan club could, if they wanted, sign more players before the current transfer window ends on 31 August. In a statement, the club said it would

“continue defending its interests before the highest sporting authority, in this case the Court of Arbitration for Sport”.

Barcelona added that the punishment was an “affront to the spirit” of their “world renowned” academy La Masia, which is regarded as being the foundation of the club’s success in recent years. Players are instilled with a philosophy of how the game should be played and many of the first team, such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, have graduated from the academy which is situated near the Nou Camp.

The Spaniards have also been ordered to pay a fine of 450,000 Swiss Francs (£305,000) and been told by Fifa “to regularise” the situation of all minor players concerned.

“FC Barcelona is to serve a transfer ban which will see

the club prevented from registering any players at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods,” read a Fifa statement. Meanwhile, the Spanish

Football Federation (RFEF) has been told to pay a fine of 500,000 Swiss Francs (£340,000) and told to “regularise its regulatory framework and existing system concerning the internation-

al transfer of minors in football” within a year.

The Catalans have signed eight players during the current transfer window for a total of about £130m. They paid a reported £75m for

former Liverpool striker Suarez, although Barcelona subsequently said the figure was nearer £65m, while defender Thomas Vermaelen was bought from Arsenal for £15m.

According to Glenn McGrath, Varun Aaron could fill the void of an out-and-out fast bowler in the Indian side. Photo: Getty Images

Phelps qualified for the US team after two second-placed finishes at the trials earlier this month in Irvine, California

Barcelona were originally sanctioned by Fifa’s disciplinary committee on April 2 for breaking the rules in the case of 10 minors

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Manchester United sign Marcos Rojo for £16m on five-year deal

Manchester United have announced the £16m signing of Argentina international defender Marcos Rojo on a five-year contract. The 24-year-old joins from Sporting Lisbon, with Nani moving to the Portuguese club on a season-long loan.

“Playing for the world’s biggest club is a dream for me,” said Rojo, who will wear the number five shirt.

The left-sided defender played in six games as Argentina reached this summer’s World Cup final in Brazil. Rojo is United’s third signing of the summer and strengthens manager Louis van Gaal’s defensive options.

The Dutchman started with debutant Tyler Blackett as part of his

three-man defence in last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City. By the end of the game, winger Ashley Young was being used in the left-back role following a switch of formations.

“Marcos is a very gifted defender. He can play either as a central defender or left-back,” said Van Gaal.

Rojo could make his debut in Sunday’s game at Sunderland, with fellow summer signing Luke Shaw out for another three weeks because of a hamstring injury.

Sporting will receive £8m immediately, with further instalments of £4m being paid on 1 December this year and 1 July, 2015. In addition they will get 20% of any sell-on fee for

Rojo over £18.4m. Rojo, who joined Sporting from Spartak Moscow in July 2012, missed the Portuguese club’s first league game of the season last weekend. United have been searching for defenders following the summer departures of Nemanja Vidic , Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra , with Rojo’s versatility making him a good fit for United manager Louis van Gaal’s preferred 3-52 system. “He has ability, physical strength and a willingness to learn,” added Van Gaal. “That means he has a very bright future ahead of him.

“He had a very strong World Cup and has been playing in Europe for a couple of years now.”

Italian Fa boss to face racism investigation

The President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is to face disciplinary investigations from Uefa over alleged racist comments. Carlo Tavecchio, 71, caused controversy during his election campaign

in July for calling African players “banana eaters” during a speech.

He beat former AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini in the vote.

Uefa confirmed its chief ethics and disciplinary inspector will submit a report before a decision is made.

Tavecchio has already apologised for the comments made during an address to a summer assembly of Italy’s amateur leagues on July 28.

Shalom

Rojo is United’s third signing of the summer and strengthens manager Louis van Gaal’s defensive options

Carlo Tavecchio

Malta Supreme 11-race cycling set for Saturday

National cycling coach

Hassan Mohamed is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to ensure that young riders participating in the 38th annual Teach Them Young cycling programme are given maximum opportunities to test their competitive skills.

On Saturday, the longserving coach will host the third annual Malta Supreme Non-Alcoholic Malt 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park, the third race in as many weekends at the venue.

The event will pedal off at 09:00h and will take the regular format of an 11-race programme, concluding with the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race.

That race was won by Alanzo Greaves in 2013, as he clocked one hour, 16 minutes, 55.44 seconds (01:16m: 55.44s). Hamzah Eastman won the Juveniles event,

while Junior Niles and Stephano Husbands were champions of the Veterans Under-50 and Mountain Bikes respectively.

Banks DIH Brand Manager for Non-Alcoholic Malt, Clayton McKenzie, and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart, are expected to

witness the race and assist in the presentation of prizes.

“This is one of the races that I’ve organised as part of the eight-week Teach Them Young camp. More such events will take place over the next two weekends as we seek to give the youngsters more opportunities to compete,” Mohamed said.

Mangru wins Middle Pocket pool competition

Sunil Mangru, popularly known as “Mahaica Boy,” emerged champion of the second annual Summer 8-ball pool competition on Sunday last at Middle Pocket Arena at Lot 39 Fourth Street, La Penitence.

Competing among a field of 42, Mangru defeated Sean DeSouza in the final to walk away with the cash prize and trophy. Ronald

Teams from Mahaica to Number 5 Village will be involved in keen domino action on Sunday when a tournament is held at Menace Hang Out Bar in Calcutta, Mahaicony.

The competition, in observance of Emancipation, is being hosted by the Menace Hang Out Bar in

“Skipper” Mohan finished in third spot, followed by Ravi Ramlall of Middle Pocket Arena.

For the victory, Mangru pocketed $50,000, while DeSouza collected half that amount. Mohan won $10,000, while Ramlall had to settle for $5,000.

The day’s activities were sponsored by Ansa McAl Trading Limited, Middle Pocket Arena, Brian Urling,

Ramdin, Simmons fined for dissent

Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin and teammate Lendl Simmons have been fined by the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for dissent shown in the controversial final with Barbados Tridents on August 16 in St Kitts and Nevis.

According to information reaching Guyana Times Sport, Ramdin was fined for dissent shown following the dismissal of all-rounder James Neesham in the 13th over of the Amazon Warriors innings.

The Neesham dismissal brought a furious reaction from Ramdin at the nonstriker’s end.

Neesham was ruled caught behind off Jason Holder, although video footage appeared to show that the ball had not touched the gloves.

The Amazon Warriors skipper slammed his bat and gloves down into the ground immediately what seemed to be another glaring umpiring decision gone against his team during the game.

Earlier, in the Tridents’ innings, Dwayne Smith had survived a very close LBW appeal that television replays clearly showed should have been given out.

After the appeal was turned down, Simmons sig-

Malik was given the benefit of the doubt in a leg before wicket decision to the first ball he faced from Krishmar Santokie. Television replays showed that the ball would have clearly gone on to hit

Skipper’s Jewellery, Derick’s Variety Store, Sunil Pool Bar, Andrew’s Electrical and Contracting Service, Sir Cordet Speed Boat Service to Cuyuni Mazaruni and Royal Food Products.

Ramlall thanked the sponsors for making the event possible, while he also lauded the players for their high level of competitiveness, which was key in making the competition a success.

on Sunday

association with the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA).

Dominoes will get cracking from 13:00h.

Entrance fee per team is $6000.

The organisers are Menace Hang Out Bar, Johnny “Overseas” Barnwell and Aubrey Fraser.

nalled for a review by the third umpire, although the umpiring decision review system was not in place for the CPL tournament.

The game, which the Tridents controversially won on the Duckworth/Lewis method, was marred by several questionable umpiring decisions by Barbadian umpire Gregory Braithwaite.

The Tridents’ Shoaib

the stumps. Malik went on to make 55 not out and was later named Man of the Match.

All-rounder Navin Stewart was also on the receiving end of a few dubious wide calls in the game, which has still left a bitter taste in the mouths of the many Amazon Warriors supporters worldwide, many of whom have been letting

their sentiments known on the internet, incuding social media. Meanwhile, it is interesting to see if the Tridents will be penalised for their slow over rate, which cricketing pundits argue should have been taken into consideration before a decision was made to stop the game and deny the Aamazon Warriors to bat their full quota of overs.

The Amazon Warriors bowled 20 overs in 95 minutes, while the Tridents had bowled 15.5 overs in 93 minutes when the game controversially ended.

Hassan Mohamed Alanzo Greaves

From left: Winner Sunil Mangru, runner-up Sean DeSouza, third-place finisher Ronald Mohan and Ravi Ramlall, who ended third

Lendl Simmons

Dwayne Smith survived an LBW appeal that television replays showed should have been given out

Annual swimming camp unearthing new talent

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

The annual swimming camp organised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) is nearing completion, but more importantly, is unearthing new talent that could serve the country well in the future. This is according to coach Paul Mahaica, who made this disclosure during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport on the progress made so far.

During a visit to the camp at the Colgrain Pool on Wednesday morning, the youngsters were observed going through their drills under the guidance of a team of coaches led by the experienced Cuban, Isabel Maria Cousa Fals.

According to one of the coaches, Mahaica, this year has been the largest ever in the history of the camp in terms of participation, with 120 youths attending the sessions.

Of that number, 95 of them came to the camp without any prior knowledge of the intricacies of the sport. Mahaica, who is a Level II FINA-certified coach, pointed out that significant progress has been made since the camp started several weeks ago.

He said it is a joy to witness the youngsters being initially afraid to enter the pool to being able to handle themselves with little supervision within the space of weeks.

Mahaica added the team of coaches has observed a high level of talent among the 2014 group, something that will definitely be nurtured going forward.

While some of the youngsters possess natural talent, making the job of coaching a lot easier, others need extra work and they will be placed in clubs depending on their level of interest in the sport.

According to Mahaica, one of the encouraging things is the support of parents, who are attending the sessions on a daily basis and monitoring the children’s progress.

Mahaica said they are at the stage now of assessing the swimmers, who, depend-

ing on their level of talent, will graduate to the more stringent programme being offered at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal.

“The programme has been a success so far and I want to thank all the coaches, especially Isabel, and the National Sports Commission for once again investing in this programme. This can only make our swimming get better,” Mahaica concluded.

The camp will conclude on Friday with a closing ceremony that is expected to be attended by high ranking officials of the NSC, the Sport Ministry and the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association.

Fortune springs into action at World Masters today

Guyana’s lone representative at the North, Central American and Caribbean World Masters Athletic Championships (NCCWMA) in San Jose, Costa Rica, Alisha Fortune wil spring into action today.

Competing in the 35-39 age category, Fortune will contest the Women’s 400 metres race in which she is expected to medal based on her time entered.

Fortune will enter the race with a time of 59.0secs, which is more than 3 minutes faster than her competitors. She will be up against Alejandra Cedeno of Venezuela, Heidy Gonzalez of Costa Rica, Beatriz Granados of Costa Rica and Mayra Valentina CARRILLO of Mexico.

The Guyanese sprinter will also contest the 100 (Friday) and 200 metres.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport prior to her departure on Tuesday, Fortune expressed optimism of returning good results as she is well prepared and in high spirits, despite being uncertain of travelling at the last minute since sponsorship was slow in coming.

Yaw

2Battle of the Contenders shifted to September

The Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s Battle of the Contenders card has been shifted to September 13 and will now be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The event was originally scheduled for August 30 in open air at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park, but the concerns over the weather have forced organisers to make the switch.

Sakima Mullings of Jamaica will take on Guyanese Dereck Richmond in a Junior Middleweight eight-round clash, while Iwan Azore and Dexter Gonsalves will meet in a Junior Welterweight eightround contest.

Two other fights are carded for the night with Richard Williamson looking for revenge against Dexter Marques in a Super

Youth Olympics 2014…

Bantamweight six-rounder rematch, and Jamaican Kemahl Russell taking on Guyanese Winston Pompey in a six-round Middleweight bout.

Mullings is fresh off winning the Wray and Nephew Contender Series in Jamaica and will be bubbling with confidence when he enters the ring against Richmond, who also participated in that series, but failed to make the final.

Mullings is on a 12-bout winning streak and will no doubt look to extend his winning ways after notching up 16 wins (10 KOs) and one loss from 17 bouts. Richmond is coming off a loss in his last encounter, which was his first defeat to go with three wins and a draw.

Admission to the venue is $2,000 (Ringside) and $1,000 (Stands).

makes it to ‘B’ final of 400 metres

013 Carifta bronze

medallist Jason Yaw returned a below-par performance at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing China on Wednesday as he ran way below his Personal Best (PB) and failed to qualify for the ‘A’ final of the Boys’ 400 metres.

50

“I am well prepared despite it being very tough in the last week, since I was running around for sponsorship, but I definitely feel great about being able to go and represent my country.”

Fortune’s trip is through the blessings of the Guyana Masters Athletics Association (GMAA).

The GMAA had said on Tuesday that the association will also be hoping to have Fortune and others participate in the South American Masters Championships in Medellin, Colombia in November.

“Fortunately I am ready to go and by God’s grace I will go and do Guyana proud and come back with gold.

Heading into the meet with a PB of 47.43, Yaw was able to clock only 49.41 for sixth in his heat, which was won by Jamaica’s Martin Manley in 47.14secs. Second was Denmark’s Benjamin Lobo Vedel in 47. 27, while third was Spain’s Jesus Serrano in 48.13.

The ‘B’ final will be contested on August 23 and Yaw, who has the best PB in that line-up, could emerge the winner if he could replicate the form that brought him his PB.

He will be up against Australia’s Michael Mullet, Trinidad and Tobago’s Kashief King, Puerto Rico’s Ezequiel Suarez, Thailand’s Vitsanu Phosri, United States of America’s Andrew James and Republic of

Korea’s Mingi Choi. Meanwhile, swimmer Hannibal Gaskin was second in his heat on Wednesday, but his time was not fast enough to gain him a place in the semi-finals of the 50 metres Butterfly.

Gaskin swam 28.11secs to finish behind winner Berk Ozkul of Turkey who clocked 25.52. Third was the United Republic of Tanzania’s Shabbir Ammaar Ghadiyali in 28.41.

The Guyanese will now compete in the 100 metres

Freestyle today. Table tennis player Chelsea Edghill has already crashed out of the Youth Olympics after failing to win a game in the group stage of the Women’s Singles table tennis tournament.

Competing in the Women’s Singles in Group ‘F’ on Sunday, Edghill lost in three sets, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 to Natalia Bajor of Polana during the morning session. Returning in the af-

ternoon to play her second group game, the Guyanese fell 3-0 to Karoline Mischek of Austria, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6. On Monday she lost her final group game 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 to Rea Rakovac of Croatia. Swimmer Britany Van Lange competed in the Girls’ 100 metres Freestyle but failed to make a qualifying time. She will hope for better results in the 50 metres Butterfly today.

This young lady makes a splash during Wednesday’s session as other participants and coaches look on

Paul Mahaica

Chelsea Edghill

Jason Yaw (right) and Britany Van Lange prior to their departure for the Youth Olympics

Dexter Marques Sakima Mullings

Alisha Fortune

Tournament rules support Amazon Warriors position on CPL final − Neil Kumar

Pollard, Ramdin rescue West Indies

Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin fought to bring West Indies out of trouble and secured a tense victory, the absence of which would have raised questions over whether the sudden departure of the coach Ottis Gibson on the eve of the series had adversely impacted the side. Their counterattacking stand of 145 forced Bangladesh to give up yet another great match-winning position, in the first ODI in Grenada.

For nearly an hour into West Indies’ innings, the happenings on the field mirrored the apparent confusion off it. When Pollard joined Ramdin at the crease at 34 for 5 in 13.1 overs, in pursuit of 218, the chase was on its last legs. They produced two timely and well-paced innings.

Ramdin did the early running, ensuring building blocks were put in place after the rot that ate up half the batting order. He ran hard, found gaps regularly and saw to it that Pollard was not deprived of the strike. It was key that Pollard finds his groove, and 16 balls into the partnership, he struck a straight six off Al-Amin Hossain.

Boundaries started to flow as Pollard began to swing freely, but his head remained so still as his arms, hip and feet worked fluidly to smash deliveries into the stands. West Indies passed 100 in the 26th over and Pollard got to 50 off 39 balls.

By the time Ramdin brought up his half-century in the 31st over, Bangladesh had all but given up.

small rain delay broke the flow of the partnership, but despite Ramdin’s dismissal for 74 off 76 balls shortly after the resumption, Pollard thundered on a little longer. He was dismissed for 89 off 70 balls in the 38th over, with West Indies 17 away from the target, via a marvelous running catch from Mahmudullah to give Al-Amin his fourth wicket. The tail, however, ensured their good work with the ball was not undone.

Knowing they did not posses the power of Pollard, Bangladesh had built their total with a different approach. Their challenge to West Indies centred around how long Anamul Haque could stay focused in the middle. After a restrained but encouraging start by Tamim Iqbal, the innings meandered for a considerable period, and though it regained some momentum, it never really hit the right pitch.

Following a hard-earned opening stand of 41, Tamim pulled a catch to short midwicket, after which Imrul Kayes and Anamul were involved in a collision that led to Kayes being run out. The middle-order batsmen played sensibly before getting out to soft dismissals and at 141 for 5, Bangladesh were poised to unravel.

Denesh Ramdin

Kieron Pollard watches the ball fly over the midwicket boundary. Photo: WICB Media/Randy Brooks