Guyana Times Daily - February 26, 2015

man dies in Parika lock-ups

...Police launch probe, family seeks justice

Gang-raped teen too traumatised to give statement – mother EU plugs €25,000 into Media Monitoring Unit

Barbadian national found dead in city hotel

No confirmation yet from int’l observers for May 11 polls

A section of the delegates at the Fifth Delegates’ Conference of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) held on Wednesday at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Georgetown (Carl Croker photo)

thursday, february 26, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

EU plugs €25,000 into Media Monitoring Unit

The European Union (EU) has committed €25,000 (G$5.89 million) to support the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in reviving the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), which was relaunched last week at the Georgetown Club.

Director of the Americas Department in the European External Action Service, Roland Schaefer, who is in Guyana for a two-day working visit, and the Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, endorsed the initiative Wednesday morning at GECOM headquarters.

The funding towards the re-establishment of the MMU comes from the governance component of the Technical Assistance Facility of the 10th European Development Fund. Funding has also been given by the EU from this instrument to provide two international experts to support GECOM in its capacity-building activities.

Total EU funding in support of GECOM-related activi-

ties ahead of the forthcoming elections amounts to 300,000 euros. The initiatives were undertaken as a result of requests by GECOM and the Government of Guyana.

Last week, media managers signed onto GECOM’s Media Code of conduct following the completion of a two-day workshop. At the event, the MMU was also

launched. Owners and editors of all media houses pledged to practise journalistic integrity and professionalism while covering the upcoming elections. The 2015 Code of Conduct is a re-drafting of the renewed and unselfish endorsement of media operatives in the upcoming elections.

Dr Surujbally commend-

ed media operatives for participating in the training sessions, which subsequently led to the signing. The GECOM Chairman said media operatives should be reminded that they were above the “political frame”, noting too that they should hold fast to the truth. Alluding to the MMU, he said it has maintained a smooth track record due to its ability to promote peace during elections. “Media monitoring made elections a success in the past and this did not change

‘Watermelon

in 2011. With you (media operatives) doing your jobs, you in turn make ours easier,” he said.

However, Dr Surujbally warned that if any media practitioner or entity defied the conditions within the Code of Conduct, GECOM would not hesitate to act accordingly. “If anyone gets out of line, we will not take it sitting down,” he emphasised. In addition to the signing of the Code of Conduct, members of the MMU were revealed to the press.

However, these individuals are still to undergo training in this capacity, but GECOM said the various media houses will be informed in no more than a week of the commencement of monitoring. All of the persons appointed to serve as part of the MMU, Dr Surujbally disclosed, are holders of degrees from the University of Guyana, mainly in the field of communications. Some are also experienced in the field of journalism.

murder trial Judge to rule today on no-case submission

The prosecution has closed its case in the famous “Watermelon Man” murder trial at the Berbice Assizes on Wednesday after calling 11 witnesses including Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan and five Police

Officers. The defence then made a no-case submission.

Both sides made legal submissions in the absence of the jury. Justice Brassington Reynolds is expected to rule on the no-case submission today.

The State’s case is being presented by State Prosecutor Judith Mursalin while Attorney Peter Hugh is appearing for the defence.

On trial are Ojay Van Gourie, also called “OJ” and “Bilall” and Troy Holigan, also called “Shatta” for the March 27, 2010 murder of Hansraj Samaroo, a New Amsterdam Market vender also called “Watermelon Man” and “Bubby” of Hampshire Village Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In her opening address, Prosecutor Mursalin said that the deceased and his wife were at their Hampshire home. He was watching television and Kumarie, his wife, was cooking in the kitchen downstairs. “She was confronted by a man with a gun. She called out to her husband and the man with the gun used the inner stairway and went up to the upper flat of the building where her husband was. She then heard what appeared to be a gun shot. Kumarie then went upstairs and observed the said man with the gun and her husband was standing bleeding from the groin.”

According to the State, Kumarie also saw two other men there who were also armed with what appeared to be guns. Mursalin said that Kumarie was relieved of jewellery which she had in a wardrobe and then the men made good their escape.

She said that Hansraj was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died the following day. “A postmortem examination was performed on the body of Hansraj Samaroo on March 30, 2010 by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan, who gave the cause of death as shock and hemorrhage and a lacerated femoral artery,” the court was told.

Among the witnesses to testify was the dead man’s son; Ramnarine Samaro who lived next door.

He told the court that on the day in question he heard what appeared to be a gunshot and opened his window and observed a stranger in his father’s house. He said the front door was open and

the houses are about 15-feet apart. “I saw “Bilall” and my father wrestling.”

Under cross examination by Attorney Peter Hugh, the witness said his father and “Bilall” were about one foot away from the door. “I could not say if “Bilall” had anything in his hand because I could only see one hand.” He said the accused had a hat on his dead and a rag around his neck.

The witness told the court that he is aware of what a shot gun looks like and did not see a shot gun in the hand of any of the six men he saw jumping over his father’s gate and running away. The prosecution’s key witness is the dead man’s wife Kumarie Samaroo.

Samaroo said after hearing what appeared to be a gunshot she went up stairs and then rushed to her husband but was confronted by two persons. “One is a tall, dark in colour and the other one is light skin… not too short.” She said the tall one had a long gun and the shorter one had a short gun.

She referred to the gun as a short silver gun. She said she knew the number one accused. “I saw him in the market. I did not know his name at the time when they left my home that night. They take my money and jewellery. The one had the gun in front of me and he pull off my jewellery.”

The widow told the court that the men stayed in her house for about 30 minutes.

Under cross examination, she said all of the persons in the house were wearing hats. The witness was asked why she did not mention the colour of the eyes of the persons that were in her house when she gave a statement to the Police, and she replied by saying; “Now the question is asked. The Police did not ask me for shape or colour of eyes.”

The trial continues on Wednesday when another Police witness is expected to take the stand. Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan and Ballistics Expert, Police Sergeant Eon Jackson testified.

Jackson told the court that it was a 12 gage shot gun which was used. However under cross examination by Attorney Peter Hugh, he said that 12 gage shot guns were the most popular guns licensed to persons in Guyana.

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

Man’

FERRY SCHEDULE

WEATHER TODAY

1.00 metres respectively.

WCD man dies in Parika lock-ups ...

Police launch probe, family seeks justice

By Bhisham mohamed

Acarpenter was on Wednesday morning found dead in the Parika Police Station lockups after he was reportedly beaten hours after being arrested and taken into custody following a report of damage to property against him.

The discovery was made around 08:45h by Police ranks who went to conduct routine checks on prisoners.

The dead man has been identified as Zaharudeen Rozan, 38, formerly of Lot 18 Hague Back, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and of Cornelia Ida Housing Scheme, WCD.

Police in an initial statement said that the man was found lying on the floor of the lock-ups and was still alive, but this might not have been the case since reports reaching this newspaper suggested that the man was already dead.

Police ranks at the detention facility remained tight-lipped about the incident.

The death of Rozan comes in wake of renewed criticisms of the way the Guyana Police Force and the Police Service Commission handled the recent promotions of two officers who were charged for allegedly torturing a teenage boy back in 2009.

Regarding Rozan, the Guyana Times understands that there were about three other prisoners in the lockups and they are being grilled by a team of investigators who travelled up to

the Police station.

In addition, the man might have been crying out for pain, but was reportedly ignored by the ranks on duty.

Following the discovery, Rozan was reportedly left for well over an hour before he was taken to the Leonora Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police stated that the man was arrested on Tuesday evening about 21:10h following a report of damage to property that was made against him.

At the time of his arrest, this newspaper understands that the man was manhandled by the Police after he resisted arrest. Rozan was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.

At the home of the dead man, his mother, Raimoon Rozan, told the Guyana Times that her family was informed of her son’s death about 16:30h by a group of Police officers who visited their house.

She said that the Police questioned her about her son. She said the lawmen told her that Rozan was ar-

closed that after he left home, he drove a minibus and then worked as a carpenter.

The man’s wife, Swabera Hussein, explained that they separated well over a year ago. Their union produced three children aged 13, 10 and seven. She stated that she accompanied one of her children on a school tour and upon their return, she received the devastating news from her brotherin-law.

Initially, she was told that her husband met in an accident and died, but later she learnt that he was arrested and placed in the lock-ups.

Damaged fence

The neighbour whose fence was allegedly damaged said that he was not at home but received a telephone call from a friend who told him that Rozan was “rocking” the gate to get into the yard.

During the commotion, a few staves broke and a neighbour summoned the Police. It was at this point, Rozan was allegedly beaten

ceived while in Police custody. Khatoon was arrested after his wife lodged a report of domestic violence.

After his apprehension, the Police ranks reportedly gave him a sound thrashing. The injured man was thrown into the lock-ups, but was released a few days later without being charged or placed before the court.

While at home, Khatoon cried out for pain and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he was admitted due to the extent of his injuries. However, he took self-discharge and went home. He died moments after returning home from the medical facility.

A Post-Mortem Examination revealed that he died as a result of multiple injuries to his neck and body.

According to the report, the man suffered a broken jaw and a ruptured ligament in his throat.

In addition, the autopsy performed by Dr Nehaul Singh also revealed that Khatoon received severe injuries to his chest which re-

rested on Tuesday evening and while in custody, he hit his head on a metal pole and subsequently died.

She admitted that her son was a heavy drinker and normally got into trouble. She went on to say that her son worked with them on the rice field, but left after he started to drink heavily.

The woman further dis-

and thrown into the Police truck which sped away.

This incident comes less than five months after a father of four died following an alleged beating by Police ranks at the Leonora Police Station.

Asif Raheem Khatoon, 38, of Lot 102 Meten-MeerZorg, WCD, died as a result of injuries he reportedly re-

sulted in a massive blood clot forming in his body. The matter was investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) but nothing has come out of the matter.

In the case of Rozan, the Police in a release stated that an investigation has been launched into the man’s death by the OPR.

Dead: Zaharudeen Rozan

The fence which was allegedly damaged by the now dead man

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

Becoming a Republic

Republic Day. The dream of all colonial people has been to break the yoke of foreign rule that had compelled their subservience in what was often their own country. The model for freedom for most of them was the 1776 United States War of Independence, in which settlers fought their 'home Government' to become masters of their own fate.

In that war, the colonised people were descended from the same stock as the rulers, and in a cruel twist of logic, determined that their African slaves were only threequarters of the worth of a white colonist.

This twist complicated the fate of most of the other colonies, such as Guyana, where the "natives" were nonwhite. Using an analogous logic, Britain announced without any sense of irony that we had to undergo a period of tutelage, before we could become "independent". Other white settler colonies such as Canada and Australia, of course, were automatically spared this "tutelage".

The tutelage, not surprisingly, was intended to produce natives who would serve the interests of the "mother" country and continue to do so when the latter had to depart. There was never any question that the colonial power intended to remain in place ad infinitum: their focus was not to leave until they could be assured of loyal tokens at the helm of "independent" countries.

After World War II, when it became obvious, even to Britain, that it could no longer muster the force to keep the Empire as a going enterprise, Independence was announced in 1947 for India and Ceylon in Asia, and a decade later, for Ghana in Africa.

The plan for their oldest colonies in the West Indies, but now not so economically attractive, was to cobble them together in a West Indian Federation in 1958 that would be subservient to Britain.

The contraption collapsed by 1962 and Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago became independent that same year because their leaders were considered "suitable". Guyana, never a member of the Federation, had been promised independence around the same time - under "whichever party won the 1960 elections".

But the victorious People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was deemed extremely "unsuitable" by the new super-power –the US – which replaced Britain on the world stage.

So we endured 28 years under a regime that was installed into power by US manoeuvres that included racial riots and arson. The People’s National Congress (PNC), under the "more suitable" Forbes Burnham, later tried to assert its independence from the US after Guyana became a Republic in 1970.

Even though it nationalized "the commanding heights of the economy", Guyana remained tied to the US through the dialectic of the latter's fear about the PPP becoming an ally of the US's Cold War enemy, the USSR.

The dialectic allowed the PNC to rig all elections between 1968 and 1985 without sanctions being imposed on it – even from Caricom. Guyana could never be a true "Republic" under such a scenario: it was just that the lines of control were changed.

During the period of PNC's "independent" line of "cooperative socialism" in the 1970s, the control was exerted through extension of credit by the multilateral institutions controlled by the US and Europe.

By 1988, the PNC under Desmond Hoyte had to return to the fold of orthodoxy under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) "conditionalities". There was very little independence under the ministrations of that institution. Unlike the complaints against "austerity" today in Greece, the retrenchments and downsizing in Guyana and other Third World countries then were sold as "salutary".

That albatross on our Republic was inherited by the PPP/Civic in 1992 but fortunately through the disciplined ministrations of Bharat Jagdeo, Guyana emerged relatively unscathed.

Today, we have a new opportunity to start with a clean slate and craft a truly indigenous path to become a real Republic. The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is as good a place as any to begin this journey.

A message to the youths of Guyana

Dear Editor, We stand together at the most critical time in Guyana since 1992. Once again we are faced with the same threat of our past, as the same faces of the PNC have risen again.

Like wolf in sheep’s clothing, they are waiting with intent to destabilize everything this Government has built. It is easy to say that it was the past, but a wolf can’t pretend to be a sheep when it is already born as a wolf.

As a young mixed race Guyanese, I am proud and happy that I was able to develop with the PPP/C, and mentored by a great man (Dr Leslie Ramsammy). This has been the only party in the history of Guyana that truly saw a future for everyone, and created an environment for all to succeed and achieve their dreams.

I remembered when I

decided to become a public servant, I was given the opportunity to attend the University of Guyana and after graduation, I got promoted to serve my country at a higher level.

I was never one day asked or told that I should be a “party man” for my promotion. I was supported purely on my merit as a Guyanese. So to accuse us of racial politics is a complete joke.

We all watched our children, brother, sisters and friends developed themselves to become whatever they want and achieved it; whether it is to belawyers, doctors, teachers, nurses and business men and women. You achieved it with the partnership of a progressive Government that has always invested in the youth of Guyana. I have seen young people (like myself) became the youngest direc-

tors and business people, leading national and international projects because the PPP/C put its future and faith in the future generation.

This is why President Bharat Jagdeo was one of the youngest leaders in the world when he became President.

Therefore, the idea of the PPP/C being out of touch and not reflecting the needs of the youths is a blatant lie. We have already moved forward and we are presently well in the future, with the young people right with us.

The PPP/C has always and continues to invest greatly in young people every day. The reason why it is not obvious anymore is because it has become the norm that we take for granted, but this is what our elders shed their blood for.

I am confident when I say no longer do the little boys

and girls have to walk bare feet to school with failed dreams, because as you read this right now, and look at yourself and family. You see those dreams realized in front of your very eyes.

It is the result of a golden partnership between you and your Government that made these dreams a reality.

On May 11, you have a decision to make. For many of you it will be the first time, but I guarantee that it will be the most important decision you will make for you and your family’s future.

You will decide if you want to stop dreaming under the Opposition or continue to realize your dreams with the PPP/C.This time, my brothers and sisters, you literally will be saving the future of your country.

Malcolm Watkins

The economy was bankrupt under the PNC

Dear Editor,

The AFC leaders such as Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman and Moses Nagamootoo are now in Berbice trying their utmost to justify the coalition and their main argument is trying to tell the people in Berbice that the PNC under Hoyte was very different from the PNC under Burnham.

They further claim that Carl Greenidge did a fine job as Minister of Finance! These AFC con-men are now claiming that the late Desmond Hoyte was a man of principles. I cannot doubt that he had principles just like the AFC leaders who are so versatile in rigging, stealing and corrupt practices.

The history of this country will bear testimony that the 1985 General Election under the late Hoyte was the most comprehensively rigged election, ever!

Hoyte gave himself 77.6 percent of the total votes cast and gave the PPP 15.6 percent. Out of 294,8801 votes cast, the PNC had 228,718 votes, the PPP 45,926 votes, the UF 9,810 votes and the WPA 4,176 votes.

This gave the PNC 42 seats, the PPP 8 seats, the UF two seats and the WPA one seat. Even today the PNC is not able to get more than 135,000 votes but after all the bad things they did to this country and its people they got over 228,000 in 1985!

What do Trotman and

the AFC deceivers have to say about this? Hoyte was well-trained under Burnham and the same can be said of David Granger who was the liaison officer to Forbes Burnham and second in command of the Army, which was the tool used to massively rig the 1985 Elections.

Then what happened when the results of the 1992 Elections were declared?

Hoyte claimed that the elections were rigged and whipped up frenzy and hate among his supporters. He gave them a slogan which they chanted: “Slo fyah mo fyah!”

And it was only because of the timely intervention of former US President Jimmy Carter on Election Day 1992

that quelled the violence which erupted by the PNC supporters, when they were instigated by Hoyte’s claims of rigging. Hoyte had “free and fair” election pushed down his throat! Economic sanctions would have been imminent if the PNC misbehaved.It must be appreciated that the PNC Government under Hoyte was under severe international pressure, especially from the USA, which was taking its toll.

The economy was bankrupt under the PNC and international assistance would have come to an end if they did not agree to have a free and fair election in 1992, and because of this Hoyte

In celebration of Black History Month, the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) has put on an African cultural exhibition, at Thomas Lands, Georgetown, which ends on February 28 (Marceano Narine photo)

Albert Boodhoo stood his ground despite Police intimidation

Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) learnt with dismay of the passing of Albert Boodhoo, widely and popularly known as “Thicker Persaud Khalideen”.

Cde Albert, as we would fondly call him, died at age 72 in New York on February 20. A trade unionist and also a political stalwart, he served GAWU in different capacities, including in the high Office of the President of our Union.

As a member and leader of the Union, he represented the Union in different workers' fora overseas and in Guyana. He also served in the Executive Committee of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

In many of the long and bitter battles GAWU had waged to become the recognized Union in the sugar belt to replace the Man Power Citizens' Association (MPCA), Cde Boodhoo displayed courage, consistency and firm leadership.

He stood his ground despite the daunting situations characterized by

Police intimidation and semi-suppression of Union actions by the powers that be in his time.

In the rich history of GAWU, a number of illustrious comrades have emerged, forged and nurtured by the workers' struggles.

Cde Albert has been one of these and one who made a worthwhile contribution to our workers all-round betterment.

Cde Boodhoo, who was cremated in New York on February 23, has earned the respect of sugar workers and by extension the workers of Guyana for his contribution in their overall class battles of our past. These battles are still going on, and the courage displayed by comrades such as Cde Boodhoo, are sorely needed as we continue in the arduous tasks of defending and winning other victories for our working people.

GAWU salutes Cde Boodhoo and expresses its condolences to his wife, children, siblings, other relatives and friends.

GAWU

A woman of class

Dear Editor,

I congratulate you, dear friend, and former working colleague on your accession to the high office of Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP/C in the upcoming General Elections. Your selection as a running mate for President Donald Ramotar is most welcome by yours truly and I hasten to say of all Guyanese.

I wish you God's blessings in all you say do and think. I met Elizabeth Harper at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. I was a Second Secretary in Political Division II, while Ms Harper was a Senior Foreign Service Officer in Political Division I.

We were a cadre of professionals that established a standard of cordiality and statesmanship that went way past my time at the Ministry.

I know Ms Harper would be reading this, so I with nostalgia remind her of the days when we had to maintain professional outlook as befitting members of the diplomatic corps when all the prevailing circumstances militated against it.

We had to showcase

The

economy was bankrupt

had an extra two years to further sell off the assets of the country.

The PPP made a huge effort to cleanse the voters’ lists from 1990 to 1992, so that there will be a free and fair election. The electoral list had numerous dead and fictitious names. Today Ramjattan, Moses, Trotman, Dr Veersammy Ramayya and Charrandass Persaud are saying that Hoyte was a man of principles!

Guyanese must be reminded that the removal of the ban on food items, the removal of the price control later on, and foreign exchange restrictions were the direct results of the 1988 deal with the IMF and World Bank.

The PNC’s neck was on the economic guillotine! But this did nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in Guyana who had to pay exorbitant prices for these scarce items.

The Indian businessmen to whom Hoyte reached out to were the distributors of these scarce items and they made fortunes fleecing the poor people! They donated millions to the PNC coffers under Hoyte.

Unfortunately, in effect, the removal of the ban only meant that you will not be jailed for having these food items in your possessionthey were still unaffordable!

The Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), which Hoyte introduced, was drafted by Greenidge, but was based on recommendations from the IMF and the World Bank. These lending institutions gave the directives as they always do!

Guyana to the world. We were the public relations of a failed state called Guyana. Nevertheless, the Foreign Ministry officials rose to the challenges of the day and made the best there was in those troubled times.

Those were the days of other professional women such as Elma Langevine Daniels, Barbara Haley, Audrey Jardine-Waddell and of course Elizabeth Harper. Ms Harper comes from a gene pool of dignified ladies.

So, it came as no surprise to me when Ms Harper was selected to be President Ramotar's running mate. Elizabeth, as she was fondly called by her working colleagues then, always carries a smile and is most welcoming to all who know her.

She is affable and has a winsome personality, a canvas to gaze on. She brings to the political stage a freshness as the morning dew on the grass. I commend Ms Harper to the position, knowing that she will do her work with due diligence. I wish you all the best.

Neil Adams

These greedy businessmen would normally sell a few items at control prices and then sold the rest at high black-market prices.

The ERP did nothing to change Guyana’s fortunes, since the mismanagement and corruption from PNC days under Burnham continued unabatedly.

By 1991, 60 per cent of the population was living below the poverty line and inflation rose from 40 per cent in 1988 to 125 per cent in 1991. Wages and salaries fell far below the inflation rate and the Guyana dollar was devalued by more than 4,333 per cent.

On May Day 1991, the General Secretary of the TUC Joseph Pollydore lamented the fact that workers were in a state of abject poverty and could not even buy basic food, and that the Government has left children breadless and homes rice-less because of the inability of breadwinners to buy even minimum quantities for their families.

Workers refer to the ERP as “Empty Rice Pots”!

Furthermore, in 1990, the per capita GDP fell to US$370 US, and when Hoyte took over it was US$500!

Moreover, during all the years under Hoyte’s administration, the GDP continued to fall to the extent that during the 1991 Budget presentation, Greenidge admitted that several economic indicators were doing badly.

Two years after PNC took office Guyana became one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere with a per capita GDP of US$500. Hoyte in 1988 went to the IMF and the World Bank for help and it was the IMF which implemented the ERP Hoyte had to change course for economic survival.

The PNC under the Hoyte’s Administation further plunged this country downward and it was Greenidge who was the architect of the economic policies of the country and indeed what an ‘economic genius’ he was!

The Guyana dollar was devalued from $4 to US$1in 1985 to $125 to US$1 US by 1992. This sent the cost of living to astronomical heights during that period, and even though the bans were lifted on food items, the Guyanese people could hardly afford them because of the impoverished wages and salaries they received.

In 1992 the minimum wage was $65 per day and that could not have bought a pound of chicken!

When Hoyte removed the ban on basic food items, these food items became scarce and only PNC businessmen were given the quota of scarce food items.

visas are given for less than US$200. That he PPP/C has made tremendous improvements to our standard of living, is indisputable!

The PPP/C had the Herculean task of rebuilding what the PNC destroyed through stealing and corruption and then had to embark on building this nation from scratch. If the PPP/C had taken over a country with a thriving and prosperous economy then this country would have developed far more than it has today.

Furthermore, if the AFC and APNU had cooperated with the PPP/C Government, then this country would have gone far ahead, even though the PPP/C had to rebuild it from scratch. The PPP/C has successfully achieved ‘mission impossible’!

Since June 29, 2013, I had written in the press that the AFC has betrayed the trust and confidence of its members and supporters. I then asked the question if the AFC has been hijacked by the PNC members from within the AFC. It is now clear to all that this has happened!

and to move away from petty personal issues.

We must look at what legacy we can give to our children and grandchildren. Do we want to give our children and grandchildren another 28 years under the PNC?

Do we want our children and grandchildren to be jailed for basic food items? Do we want our children and grandchildren to become dope addicts? Do we want to become the begging bowl of the Caribbean?

But the PNC always seems to catch a ‘packoo’. In the last election the WPA cohabited with the PNC to give birth to APNU and now the AFC as the newly wed of the PNC has given birth to APNU/AFC.

None of the third parties have been able to bring any good to this country because they never understand that they have to rise above their own selfish political ambitions for the good of this country.

It was that same year that Guyana showed a positive economic growth of 6.1 per cent after 15 years of negative growth. Ironically, this economic growth was achieved only after selling off 15 of the 41 State owned enterprises at lesser than market value, and by rescheduling the US$2.1 billion foreign debt.

The PNC under Hoyte made some remarkable ‘achievements’: after the ban was removed, basic food items were scarce and unaffordable with long “Guylines” in sun and rain; we had 94 cents on every dollar going to service debts; we had no foreign currency reserve; we had a huge deficit in the Consolidated Fund of $18 billion; workers were pressured by heavy taxes; and rice, sugar and bauxite went down to its knees!

Not to mention the falling and decaying infrastructures, the 13 hours per day blackouts and the thriving back track business and contraband businesses! Many Guyanese paid between US$10,000 and US$20,000 to get away from this country and many thousands of families were broken.

The PPP/C Government has allowed families to be reunited since there is no need to risk one’s lives and those of their families in order to escape the hell the PNC created. Today, thousands of

I have spoken to some AFC members who have told me that when they moved from the PPP/C to the AFC they did so simply because they had personal problems and grievances with one or two PPP/C officials in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), but have since realised that there is a need to look at the bigger picture

Just look at the result of the coalition arrangementit is simply about who gets what if they should win the election. Third parties have only served to bring untold sufferings to the Guyanese people by facilitating the PNC to get into power.

The question is: will the AFC be the one to it this time? All Guyanese are now aware that the AFC must never be trusted again!

Haseef Yusuf

Page Foundation

Anthony is in bed when he hears the front door slam. He covers his head with his pillow so he doesn’t have to listen to the sound of his parents arguing. Anthony knows that his mother has been drinking again. He starts worrying about getting to school on time and realises he will probably have to help get his younger sister ready too.

Why do people drink too much?

Lots of people live with a parent or caregiver who is an alcoholic or who drinks too much.

Alcoholism has been around for centuries, yet no one has discovered an easy way to prevent it.

Alcohol can affect people’s health and also how they act. People who are drunk might be more aggressive or have mood swings. They may act in a way that is embarrassing to them or other people.

Alcoholism is a disease. Like any disease, it needs to be treated Without professional help, a person with alcoholism will probably continue to drink and may even become worse over time.

Diseases like alcoholism are no one’s fault. Some people are more susceptible to wanting to drink too much. Scientists think it has to do with genetics, as well as things like family history, and life events.

Sometimes what starts as a bad habit can become a very big problem. For example, people may drink to cope with problems like boredom, stress, or money troubles. Maybe there’s an illness in the family, or parents are having marriage problems. No matter what anyone says, people don’t drink because of someone else’s behavior. So if you live with someone who has a drinking problem, don’t blame yourself.

How does alcoholism affect families?

If you live with a parent who drinks, you may feel embarrassed, angry, sad, hurt, or any number of emotions. You may feel helpless: When parents promise to stop drinking, for example, it can end in frustration when they don’t keep their promises. Problem drinking can change how families function. A parent may have trouble keeping a job and problems paying the bills. Older children may have to take care of younger siblings.

Some parents with alcohol problems might mistreat or abuse their children emotionally or physically. Others may neglect their children by not providing sufficient care and guidance. Parents with alcohol problems might also use other drugs.

Despite what happens, most children of alcoholics love their parents and worry about something bad happening to them. Children who live with problem drinkers often try all kinds of ways to prevent them from drinking. But, just as family mem-

drinking problem has to take charge. Someone who has a bad habit or an addiction to alcohol needs to get help from a treatment center.

Alcoholism affects family members just as much as it affects the person drinking. Because of this, there are lots of support

bers don’t cause the addiction, they can’t stop it either.

The person with the

What if a parent doesn’t see a problem?

Drinking too much can be a problem that nobody likes to talk about. In fact, lots of parents may become enraged at the slightest suggestion that they are drinking too much.

Sometimes, parents deny that they have a problem. A person in denial refuses to believe the truth about a situation. So problem drinkers may try to blame someone else because it is easier than taking responsibility for their own drinking.

Some parents make their families feel bad by saying stuff like, “You’re driving me crazy!” or “I can’t take this anymore.” That can be harmful, especially to children: Most young children don’t know that the problem has nothing to do with their actions and that it’s all in the drinker’s mind.

Some parents do acknowledge their drinking, but deny that it’s a problem. They may say stuff like, “I can stop anytime I want to,” “Everyone drinks to unwind sometimes,” or “My drinking is not a problem.”

groups to help children of alcoholics cope with the problem.

Why do I feel so bad?

If you’re like most teens, your life is probably filled with emotional ups and downs, regardless of what’s happening at home. Add a parent with a drinking problem to the mix, and it can all seem like too much.

There are many reasons why a parent’s drinking can contribute to feelings of anger, frustration, disappointment, sadness, embarrassment, worry, loneliness, and helplessness. For example: * You might be subjected to a parent’s changing moods . People who drink can behave unpredictably. Children who grow up around them may spend a lot of energy trying to figure out a parent’s mood or guess what that parent wants. One day you might walk on eggshells to avoid an outburst because the dishes aren’t done or the lawn isn’t mowed. The next day, you may find yourself comforting a parent who promises that things will be better.

Lots of people fall into the trap of thinking that a parent’s drinking is only temporary. They tell themselves that, when a particular problem is over, like having a rough time at work, the drinking will stop. But even if a parent who drinks too much has other problems, drinking is a separate problem. And that problem won’t go away unless the drinker gets help.

* It may be hard to do things with friends or other people . For some people, it feels like too much trouble to have a friend over or do the things that everyone else does. You just never know how your parent will act. Will your mom or dad show up drunk for school events or drive you (and your friends) home drunk?

* You might be stressed or worried . It can be scary to listen to adults in the house yell, fight, or break things by accident. Worrying about a parent just adds to all the other emotions you may be feeling. Are you lying awake waiting for mom or dad to get home safely? Do you feel it’s not fair that you have to be the grown up and take care of things around the house? These are all normal reactions.

Although each family is different, people who grow up with alcoholic parents often feel alone, unloved, depressed, or burdened by the secret life they lead at home. You know it’s not possible to cause or stop the behavior of an alcoholic. So what can you do to feel better (or help a friend feel better)? (teenshealth.org)

6000 homes in hinterland to receive solar panels

Despite its massive drive to expand its services, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc may not be able to provide electricity to every Guyanese home.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon made the statement on Wednesday during an announcement that some 6000 homes will receive 65-watt solar panels in GPL’s “off grid” areas.

Hinterland communities in Regions One (Barima-Waini); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazuni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) will benefit from the $166 million project which will see homes being powered by the solar panels.

“It completes a project initiated by the PPP/C [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] that saw already some 13,000 panels installed exclusively in households in Amerindian communities,” Luncheon told journalists on Wednesday.

These Amerindian communities are off the grid of the power company, Luncheon related, continuing that despite its transmission and distribution, many homes may remain without the much needed service.

“As you know GPL is on a “rambunctious” expansion mode, but there are, of course, limits to those expansion. There are communities that are likely to continue to be off grid, even with the more optimistic expansion of the grid associated with the current initiatives and benefits,” the Cabinet Secretary noted. He continued: “I don’t believe that they will end up

in Bara-Bara up the creek and I don’t believe they will be going to Sand Hills, Upper Berbice River”.

The 6000 panels will be distributed to households in selected hinterland and coastal riverine communities, through Government’s Unserved Area Electrification Programme (UAEP).

The project, piloted by Minister with responsibility for energy, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, is at its final phase.

“His expectations are that the Hinterland Electrification Unit, an entity which falls within the Prime Minister’s cluster, his expectation are that these 6000 systems will be installed soonest,” Dr Luncheon said.

As was done in the earlier phase, the project will be relying on trained residents of the various communities to assist in the installation of the systems on the selected homes, the Cabinet Secretary said.

At the onset of the project close to three years

ago, Government had underestimated the number of households and had provided some 13,000 panels for the communities.

“Long before we were finished distributing the 13,000 panels, it became clear that there were serious underestimation as there were as many as 3000 additional households,” Luncheon related.

Asked if there is any hope of such a project expanding, Dr Luncheon related that Housing Minister Irfaan Ali had indicated that in the wave of the expansion of the housing drive, the project could very well continue. He said too that because hydro and solar power belong in the

category of clean and renewable energy, the possibilities are unlimited where that was concerned. “So yes, I could very well see solar panel installation picking up and making a decisive contribution to both off and on grid homes.”

The distribution of the panels began as early as 2012 in several Amerindian communities. The solar panels, worth G$75,000 each, were handed over to the Amerindian communities of Tapakuma/ St Denys, Wakapao, Akawini, St Monica, Karawab, Mashabo, Betany, Mainstay, Capoey and Kabakaburi in Region Two by the Prime Minister’s Office.

A home in Potarinau, Region Nine benefiting from a solar power unit given by Government (GINA photo)

Eyew tness

Tis the season...

...for silliness?

Up north in the late summer, when their legislatures are recessed, it's called the "silly season". The real, solid, substantive news slows down to a trickle and to keep the presses humming, all sorts of ridiculous things suddenly become "news"!! Two-headed calves being born and aliens landing from Alpha Centurai.

In Guyana, some of the same flightiness breaks out when our legislature is "dissolved" and General Elections are scheduled. It's supposed to be politics, politics, politics... but most of it ends up as puff, fluff and stuff.

Take the last event before Prezzie pulled the plug on Parliament - the unveiling of the PPP/C's Prime Ministerial Candidate. That the PPP/C chose Elizabeth Harper - an individual the Opposition had no clue was even in the running - just shows that the APNU-AFC Opposition's political antenna's need some tuning.

The PPP/C pulled a classic case of "misdirection"announcing early on that old stalwart Sam Hinds was not interested. The Opposition, locked in their racial calculus when it comes to politics, bet the house on Carolyn Rodrigues as the "logical" choice.

But logic only works if the premises of the argument are sound. Fact of the matter is the PPP/C doesn't have "race" on their brain like the Opposition, nor do they think that Guyanese citizens are so Neanderthal in their political choices.

It's clear from the choice of their Prime Ministerial candidate, they believe Amerindians will vote for them because of their unparalleled record of bringing them out of the PNC dystopia called "the hinterland". No need to pander to them like the Opposition's doing.

But what the PPP's doing - as opposed to the Opposition - is stressing a more fundamental cleavage - sex. How long hasn't there been the cry for women to be represented in the corridors of power? Why's the Opposition surprised by the PPP/C listening to this cry?

But no...in this "silly season" imagine the best they can do is Mrs Harper participating in protesting the Opposition illegally slashing the budget! This of course, moves her from the ranks of "civil society" into a die-hard" unreconstructed PPPite!! So a person from "civil society" can't disagree with the Opposition?? Imagine what'll happen if they ever get into power!

And then we hear about Ms Harper sitting quietly through the press conference introducing her candidacy means "she can't speak"!

What we won't hear about is that the PPP/C's picked a self-confident professional woman who's successfully run a large institution most competently for the longest while.

And that when it comes right down to it...nothing beats success like success!

...to downplay Mash?

The consensus is: this year's Mash wasn't "as big" as last year's. The number of floats was down...and most significantly so were the number of private sponsors. And that's something that deserves analysis. When Mash was launched back in 1970, down in Linden, it was an overt imitation of the Trini Carnival. In fact, it was called "carnival".

Political types then jumped on board to connect it with the fledgling "Republic Day". Point of the matter is that since then, the Government's been the driving force behind Mash, even though as Minister Anthony bemoaned, the private companies are exhorted every year to get aboard.

A big part of the problem is the original conflation of a "cultural" event and a "historic commemoration" of our Republican status. There's nothing wrong about folks wanting to let off steam and have a good time. If they feel they want to do it by imitating the Trinis - so be it!! We see even J'Ouvert is being imported.

But the Government should stick to commemorating our Republic. And leave the "sporting" to private initiative. Maybe on another day.

...soul cleansing

APNU politicians should really take up PPP/C's Rohee's invitation for them to have a chat with the Rodney COI. Confession's always good for the soul.

Mechanic found guilty of carjacking

The Mechanic alleged to have stolen the car and possessions of the Virtual Complainants (VC) Jeremy Knights and Theresa Fredericks was found guilty today when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-two-year-old Quacy Roberts of Tucville, North East La Penitence, Georgetown was found guilty of the charge of feloniously appropriating from Teresa Fredericks a Toyota Primo motorcar that was left in her possession by Jeremy

Knights. The car was valued at $2.8 million. It is also alleged that the defendant stole a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone valued $53,000, Jeremy Knights’ BlackBerry Torch cellphone valued $50,000, Fredericks’ purse valued $10,000 and $3000 which was in her purse. The incident reportedly occurred on October 18, 2014.

Speaking in the defendant’s defence, was his mother, Agnis Roberts and his girlfriend, Candace Thomas, who testified that the defendant could not have sto-

len or facilitated the theft of the items, since he was not there.

Agnis Roberts told the court that her son could not have been at the vulcanising shop when the incident took place as stated by the Police since he had burst his foot the day before and was in his bed. She continued by saying that she was sure he was there, since it is customary for her to make checks on her children before she goes to bed. She went to bed at 22:30h.

Thomas corroborated

Man freed of Industry businessman’s murder

Twenty-six-year-old Edward Skeete was set free on Wednesday after a jury panel found him not guilty of a murder committed during a robbery in 2011 at Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Skeete, of Lot 309 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, was indicted with the murder of businessman Bede Ramjewan on April 27, 2011 at Crown Dam, Industry. The trial began on February 9, 2015 during which State Counsel Natasha Backer, who along with Counsel Narissa Leander, prosecuted the case, calling approximately 13 witnesses.

The State’s case was that on the day in question, Ramjewan was walking on Crown Dam, when he was confronted by Skeete and another man, who tried to relieve him of his bag. The man was reportedly returning from a commercial bank.

According to the prosecution’s main witness, he recalled seeing the three men on the dam. He told the court that he heard a “loud explosion” and then saw the two men running. They then jumped onto a motor cycle and escaped, he related.

The prosecution closed its case on Wednesday, after which the accused was called upon to lead his defence and elected to do so by giving an unsworn statement from the dock. He immediately declared his innocence. Skeete said that he was at home on April 28, 2011, when a party of Policemen showed up and arrested him for murder. “I tell them that I didn’t know nothing about no murder,” he said.

The 26-year-old said after being taken into custody at Eve Leary, he was later transported to the Sparendaam Police Station where he was a part of an identification parade. He further claimed that after he reiterated his innocence to the Police officers, one of them said that someone will have to be charged, and they should use “pretty boy” referring to him.

Following this, both the prosecution and the defence attorney, Nigel Hughes, made their closing addresses to the mixed jury panel.

The presiding judge, Justice James Bovell-Drakes did a lengthy summing up of the evidence presented in court during the trial. He reviewed key evidence given by witnesses and informed the panel about the laws and rules they have to abide by when deliberating on a verdict.

The panel subsequently retired to the jury room and after spending approximately one hour, returned with a verdict. The foreman of the panel informed the court that they found Skeete not guilty of murder.

this story, telling the court that she had accompanied the defendant to the hospital, and back to his home, where she stayed with him until he fell asleep.

This, she said, happened around 22:30h and it was at that time that she left the house and returned to her own home.

Presiding over the matter was Magistrate Judy Latchman who read the details of the trial for the court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Latchman read that VC Knights had testified in court that he had stopped his car near a vulcanising shop in East La Penitence, Georgetown.

He had said that when he stepped out the car, he was immediately accosted by a male with a handgun. He said he saw several other persons in a neighbouring alleyway. Also the witness had informed the Court that the second VC – Fredericks –was still in the car, unaware of what was transpiring.

The witness continued that the man with the gun lead him some distance away from the car and proceeded to rob him of the mentioned articles. To escape from his attacker, Knights told the court that he jumped into a nearby trench.

Magistrate, Latchman stated that Fredericks was able to corroborate Knights’ story as she testified in court that she saw Knights walking up the road wet after the incident.

However, before this, the second VC, Fredericks had testified in court that on October 18, 2014, after Knights had walked some distance away from the car with someone, she exited the vehicle and proceeded to wait on him at the back of the car.

She said that it was at this time that the defendant (Roberts) approached her. The witness testified that she had looked at the defendant for about four minutes before recognising him as the mechanic from the vulcanising shop.

The witness continued that the man that went with Knights came back without him and proceeded to cuff her in front of the defendant. The second assailant then instructed the defendant to get in and drive the car, adding that he had called the defendant “mechanic.”

She detailed that the defendant got into the driver’s seat of the car and drove off with the accomplice. It was after this that Knights had

reappeared, wet from the trench

Magistrate Latchman stated that the court believed Federicks account of the robbery; that she did indeed see the defendant on October 18 and he did indeed drive off with the Primo.

The Magistrate acceded that recognition is a problem in most cases, even with family members. However, she stated that the court chooses to believe the witness as the place was well lit and she had known him previously.

The Magistrate said she will also attach weight to Federicks’ statement that she was cuffed by a man while the defendant watched.

However, Magistrate Latchman stated that she believed that the defendant’s witnesses were “witness of convenience” who concoct a story of the defendant not being present at the robbery.

The Magistrate claimed that she was astounded that the mother and girlfriend, being so concerned with the defendant’s welfare had not reported him being in bed when he was first accused of the crime.

She is to sentence the defendant after a probation report on March 16.

Quacy Roberts of Tucville, Georgetown, was found guilty

Freed: Edward Skeete

Govt to toughen stance against companies siphoning off workers’ NIS, PAYE

By Devina Samaroo

Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul and President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Carvil Duncan on Monday flayed employers who default on remitting their workers’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and tax deductions.

They threatened that serious action would be taken against those in breach.

Almost daily retired Private Sector workers complain of missing NIS contributions owing to their former employers’ failure to remit their contributions that were deducted. Only recently, one of the country’s top corporations – the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) – admitted to failing to remit over $1 billion in NIS contributions for its workers. The Corporation later said it was in the process of working out an arrangement to make the payments.

Both Duncan and Gopaul were at the time addressing the opening session of the FITUG’s Fifth Delegates’ Conference at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House), Kingston. In addition to NIS and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions, Duncan made reference to the nonremittance of union dues and also some employers resisting trade unions’ rights to organise their workers. “We have encountered serious difficulties by some employers who have been resisting trade unions’ rights to organise their workers, and on the other hand, who have been collecting workers’ dues and not handing it over to the trade unions,” Duncan, who also heads the Guyana Labour Union, said. He reaffirmed that employers should not be allowed to breach the laws, and stringent action must be taken to ensure they accordingly comply and discontinue the defiance against trade unions.

Dissatisfaction

On the issue of workers’ deductions not being remitted to the respective authorities, such as the NIS and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for PAYE tax, Minister Gopaul expressed his deep-

est dissatisfaction about the situation. “Any employer who fails to deduct and remit to the Guyana Revenue Authority should face the full force of the law,” he declared. In further venting his disgust at the situation, the Minister speculated that employers use workers’ money for personal benefit or to reinvest into their entities instead of remitting the deductions to the respective agencies.

On that note, Dr Gopaul also pointed out that while some employers comply with that requirement, they were not timely in doing so, and as such, workers were unable to immediately access their benefits. “NIS benefits should be remitted to NIS so workers can have their protection

and sickness benefits immediately upon filing a claim,” the Minister noted. He said more stringent measures must be in place to stop this “bad management practice”.

“This practice must be brought to an end and employers must be prosecuted,” the Minister exclaimed.

He also highlighted that the manner in which management would terminate an employee’s employment was a grave concern. The Minister opined that employers sometimes dismiss an employee without paying his/her required benefits – another violation of the law. Nonetheless, with the Ministry’s interven-

used to collect an average of $16 million; last year, we collected in excess of $50 million on behalf of workers who have been victimised.”

Late January after it was exposed that GuySuCo owed some $1.5 billion to the NIS, the Corporation responded by saying that the Scheme will be honouring all outstanding claims made by sugar workers despite the company having not paid over millions in workers’ contributions to the staterun social security agency.

According to a release from the Corporation back then, NIS had “instructed all its local offices to honour all legitimate claims for benefits

tion, Dr Gopaul is optimistic the situation will improve. “Last year, we tripled the amount of benefits made payable by employers for violating these laws. In the past, we

submitted by sugar workers”. GuySuCo had stated that its officials had met with NIS officials and worked out a payment schedule for all outstanding contributions.

Those who wish fuh no more tomorrow

Some people got life easy and some got it real hard. It does be hard fuh dem who got life hard to tek tings one day at a time. Or to look forward to another day as just another day.

One man who wish that tomorrow would never come is Nagga Man. Since de Prezzi announce de elections, is every day Nagga don’t want no tomorrow. At first, he was friken a former Prezzi. Now, he friken a woman.

That is because Nagga Man had lie pun Pappa Cheddi and seh he must be de next Prezzi. Now he does start to get bassidy when he see a photo of a former Prezzi. Nagga also can’t watch the current Prezzi eye to eye because he tell de same lie to he too.

But when a man is a born liar, no body can stop de. Green Jah learn that when Nagga tell he that he gon show up the rally. And dem Berbice people learn that when he tell dem he gon never give he bamzee to Green Jah.

But here now is de Nagga Man claimin that when he give up he bamzee, he get back more than bamzee in return. Now Green Jah is a old soldier, so any guess whah he give to Nagga in exchange fuh de bamzee is a very good guess.

Fuh some people, every day is de same misery, but some days is more misery than some. De man who want not one but two Lexus deh every day in de cold. He don’t wanna hear tomorrow much less see it.

But no matter whah he try, de Lexus money trail still there even fuh de blind to see. As old people seh, boat done gone in de water already, and soon de Lexus might end up in water too.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell maattie! That is when he gon beg fuh no more water when de HighR-S done wid he, and he put on he pumpkin jump suit.

Black History Month: ACDA showcasing African inventors

Black History Month has been celebrated primarily in the month of February for the last five decades with the aim of promoting research and preserving, interpreting and disseminating information about Black life, history and culture. In Guyana, the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) has sought to enlighten Guyanese about Black history.

This year, ACDA has put on an African Cultural Exhibition themed “Is African Inventions reclaiming and benefiting from our stolen legacy” at its Thomas Lands, Georgetown headquarters. It features information and pictures on items invented by people of African descent.

Despite having to compete

with the annual Mashramani celebrations, ACDA was able to facilitate tours by several schools whose students were apprised of African culture and the many inventions unrecognised as African innovativeness.

“We also share with them lots of information about inventions that were done by Africans that are now owned by others, because they couldn’t patent it as slaves or the patents were taken by others,” explains Dr Eric Phillips, ACDA’s Head.

He cited the automobile as an example of this. Charles Patterson, who was born a slave, built an automobile before Henry Ford, whose name is widely associated with the development of the car. Other inventors to suffer a simi-

lar fate are Fred Jones who developed refrigeration for trucks, Phillip Emeagwalli who created processes to innovate Internet apps and Patricia Bath who invented a laser surgical device. There are many others.

Innovation

ACDA is placing focus on Science, Technology and Mathematics with the aim of reinvigorating a sense of creativity among youths via the exhibition and its school programme. Phillips lamented that a lot of emphasis was being placed on phonics and not enough on Maths, Science and Technology.

“We need to force our young kids to get back to things we did a long time ago with our hands; innovation is about Math and Science and that’s something we talk to the students about…the basis of competing with young people all over the world is Math and Science,” he pointed out.

The exhibition was opened earlier this month. Last year, ACDA hosted an entrepreneurship conference and has been effective in linking several young participants with business financing.

Africans came to Guyana initially as slaves and have consequently lost much of their culture, an ordeal that Dr Phillips believes remains

unrecovered. Related organisations have failed to attract young people bringing into question the future of such traditions. Given this reality, ACDA has crafted a succession plan that now sees the involvement of more young peo-

Head of ACDA, Dr Eric Phillips

ple in its management.

The Association has a school programme where it incorporates African history and culture. It also offers free culture lessons on Saturdays where interested persons can learn drumming, dancing and participate in storytelling. “ACDA cannot do it alone,” Dr Phillips said, insisting that African history has to become part of our schooling. “Mash is once a year and a lot of things happen, but we do not teach history,” he lamented.

Because of the piece-meal approach to understanding culture, Dr Phillips, a lecturer at the University of Guyana believes that “we are losing a lot of it”.

“It needs to be institutionalised; the media also has a great role to play, we need to deliberately reach out because we are fractured,” Phillips told Guyana Times

Black History Month is celebrated in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in October.

The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in the US announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week”. This week was chosen because it encompassed the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, dates Black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th Century.

The US Embassy in Guyana and Castellani House have teamed up to observe the occasion with a screening of ‘The Butler” at 18:00h today (February 26) following which there will be a panel discussion. The event is being staged at Castellani House.

Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul speaking at FITUG’s Fifth Delegates’ Conference

FITUG President Carvil Duncan

A section of the Black History Month Exhibition

Nursing students refuse to be relocated

Students of the Georgetown School of Nursing on Wednesday continued their protest action, signalling their refusal to accept the Health Ministry’s decision to relocate them.

The students had staged their first protest last Friday after realising that plans were made to transfer them from the East Street complex to the Kingston Annex.

Despite the Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran’s assurance that

moves are afoot to improve the facilities at Kingston to make it more “ideal” for the nurses, the students are contending that the building is small and inadequate to conduct proper training sessions.

According to the President of the Student Society Onika Harris, the building does not have a canteen, library or a laboratory.

She also stressed on the size of the building, noting that it cannot accommodate the more than 406 students,

Neesa Gopaul murder trial

even with a shift system.

“The Ministry should realise also that in an area like that, it is not safe for us, as females to be on the road at nine-ten ‘o’ clock in the night,” Harris argued.

“First of all, if they are saying that the nurses’ performance isn’t satisfactory, they need to check to see the facilities we’re working with.

"Instead of using resources to build a quarter for the doctors, they should use those resources to improve the facilities for us,”

she argued.

She also noted that when it rains heavily, the entire entrance to the single lab, and sometimes even the lab itself, are flooded.

Adding to that, Harris said the textbooks in the library are outdated and that there are only eight lecturers for a large body of students.

Meanwhile, the nurses began their protest from the building on East Street and made their way to the Health Ministry on Brickdam, all along chant-

ing “Moving us is a waste –Kingston has no space.”

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Student Society Taruna Mangar, the nursing students plan to protest every day until the decision to relocate them is rescinded or a satisfactory reply from the Ministry is issued.

However, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran has already declared that the Health Ministry has no grounds for reversing the decision.

He maintained that the

Kingston Annex is already equipped as a nursing school, noting too that students are currently being trained there without any problems.

The Minister had also expressed his belief that the protest is politically motivated

According to reports, the nursing school on East Street will now facilitate some doctors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in order for them to be accredited.

Police had no evidence against two accused – investigator tells court

Superintendent of Police

Hugh Jessemy on Wednesday told the court that he was not aware that the Police had any evidence against Jarvis “Barry” Small and Bibi Shareema Gopaul to charge them for the murder of 16-year-old Neesa Lalita Gopaul, which they allegedly committed sometime between September 24 and October 2, 2010.

Jessemy returned to the stand on Wednesday to be cross-examined by defence attorneys. He was first grilled by Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam, who along with Attorney Glenn Hanoman and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos is representing Small.

On Tuesday, the officer had testified that he assisted with the investigations into the teenager’s murder and had even applied for an extension of time for the two accused. During cross-examination, he was asked by the attorney whether there was any evidence against Small between October 6 and 8. The duo was charged and placed before the Court on the latter day.

In response, the officer said he was not aware that the Police had gathered any evidence during that period against his client. Amsterdam went onto put sever suggestions to the witness about the investigations. He asked Jessemy whether any enquiry was made to find out if Small was present at the time of the murder; whether he received any information that the first named accused participated with anyone in the murder; whether he received information that suggested that his client knew when or where the teenager was killed.

The witness replied to all the questions, saying “no sir.” He also responded with

the same answer when he was further questioned if the Police gathered any evidence between October 6 and 8.

On the other hand, Attorney George Thomas, who is representing the mother of the dead teenager, also asked the witness if he accepts that the Police had no evidence against Shareema Gopaul when they charged her for her daughter’s murder. The officer said that he does not know. Furthermore, based on questions posed by Attorney Thomas, Jessemy said that he did not know why the Police had charged her because as far as he was aware, there was no evidence against her.

In addition, he went onto say that there was no evidence that implicated Shareema Gopaul by herself in the murder or along with her co-accused.

During his evidence in chief, Jessemy had told the court that that he took an ordinary statement from Shareema Gopaul and was asked to read the statement. The statement detailed that Shareema had told him that while in Form Two at Queen’s College, Neesa became “wayward” and would even sleep out at times.

She added that on September 23, 2010, she along with her two daughters went into bed and were watching television, however she fell asleep around 22:00h and when she woke around 05:00h the following morning, her eldest daughter was not in bed.

Shareema further related to the officer that about an hour later, she realised that Neesa was nowhere in the house and on September 25; she filed a missing persons report. According to the officer, the woman also narrated to him that on October

3, she received a call from a Police officer informing her that her daughter’s body was found as such she went to the Lyken Funeral Home and identified her based on the clothing she had on the night she went missing, that is a multi-coloured dress top

and a black tights.

Attorney Thomas asked the Police officer whether he did anything to investigate the contents of the statement given by the second named accused and he responded in the negative. He was further questioned whether he had

obtained footage from the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) to see whether the teen had crossed the bridge in the company of her mother. But the officer pointed out that he would not have been able to see them since they would have been in a vehicle.

Jessemy was also asked whether the Police received any information that implicates the woman in her daughter’s murder from the time the statement was taken to the day when she was charged.

The nursing students protesting in front of the Health Ministry on Wednesday

thursday, february 26, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Solomon criticises PPP/C; commends Harper

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Campaign Manager in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

Sharma Solomon is calling on Guyanese to vote “wisely” during the upcoming elections, claiming that his party has a better plan for the country.

Solomon, who is in the process of mending a broken relationship with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) - especially with leader David Granger, condemned the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

He contended that Guyanese should say no more to corruption, poverty, discrimination, Police brutality, torture and extra judicial killings.

The Region 10 Chairman, in his 1180-word statement on Facebook, commended the former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Elisabeth Harper on her appointment as the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Commendations

“Mrs Harper is a long standing public servant and politics is another form of public service.

"This opportunity is taken to welcome her to the fold and to make known that expectations are held that in addition to the diversity she brings to the PPP/C slate, her experience in diplomacy would guide the PPP/C in ensuring the nation sees a spirited campaign on the issues.”

But despite his warm welcome and acknowledgement of the great potential that lies within Harper, he said Guyanese would have to decide between the “David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo ticket and the Donald Ramotar/Elisabeth Harper ticket,” opining that the former is offering the country change through real unity while the latter has nothing to offer.

Under the Cummingsburg Accord, APNU and the Alliance for Change will contest the elec-

tions as a single party with Granger as the Presidential Candidate and Nagamootoo as the Prime Ministerial Candidate while President Ramotar is running for another term in office - and a majority in the National Assembly - with the support of Harper under the PPP/C.

With the majority of Guyana’s population below the age of 35, Solomon said the young population, which will play a critical role in this election, should take stock of the challenges that continue to face the nation due to recrimination, discrimination, nepotism, corruption, unemployment, the lack of youth involvement in nation building and a substandard education system.

“The Ramotar/Harper ticket offers more of the same,” according to the APNU Campaign Manager, who noted that President, Ramotar had the opportunity to change course but instead has kept the country on a path to disaster.

According to Solomon based on his analysis, the PPP/C Administration, during its 23 years in office, has sold out Guyana to foreign investors at the expense of Guyanese who are often denied work and treated as second class citizens.

He said too that under these agreements, universal cooperate practices and laws are often disregarded.

“Region 10 can speak to this with the presence of Bai Shan Lin, RUSAL/BCGI, Bosai, and the forestry concessions given out without regard to plans and adherence to internationally adopted management.

"The grievances of bauxite workers employed at RUSAL/BGCI have been languishing for the past five years and the Government seems unconcerned.”

He said Region 10 is not the only district suffering in this regard but the whole of Guyana, contending that records show that over the past 16 years, billions of scarce financial resources have been spent on projects either poorly thought out or poorly constructed.

“Offhand we have the

Skeldon Sugar Factory which cost tax payers more than US$200 and it is basically a white elephant, underperforming.

"The mismanagement in sugar and ignored intensified calls by the trade unions and others to arrest this decline has seen the Government applying a band-aid to a festering ulcer, is not displaying a desire for betterment for the country and workers who will are affected.”

Solomon said having Harper on board will not change the course of direction for the PPP/C.

However, he pointed out that the APNU-AFC coalition has made public its Plan of Action which is designed to foster peace and equality among the people

through a system of inclusionary democracy.

If elected into power, he said the coalition promises to have an accountable Government in place that will respect state institutions and facilitate the holding of the long awaited Local Government Elections.

“A Granger/Nagamootoo ticket will bring a screeching halt to the Smokey and the Bandit runaway cart by establishing commissions within 100 days of office, and such include the Procurement Commission and Integrity Commission," said Solomon.

Barbadian national found dead in City hotel

ABarbadian national was on Tuesday afternoon found dead in a room at the Hicksville Hotel, 79 West Ruimveldt Estate Housing Scheme, Georgetown suspected to have suffered a heart attack. The discovery was made hours after he had checked in with a woman.

The dead man has been identified as Colin Maughan, suspected to be in his late fifties. The identity of the woman was unknown.

Guyana Times understands that the Barbados

national was found lying on the bed clad in his underwear and investigators believe that he might have suffered a cardiac arrest, since there were no marks of violence about his body.

Additional reports suggested around 18:30h on Tuesday, staff of the hotel was making spot checks in the building when they realised that the door of the room was left ajar. They reportedly called out several times, but there was no answer and it was at that time,

Elections 2015

No confirmation yet from int’l observers for May 11 polls

Days after announcing that international observers have been invited to overlook the upcoming general and regional elections, government is still to receive a response from the selected individuals.

Cabinet secretary Dr Roger Luncheon said conventional international State agencies and observers that were used during previous elections have been re-invited to overlook this year’s polls.

“I don’t believe that we could get responses immediately, it is our expectation that those who are fielding the electoral observer mission before, will do us the honor of doing the same thing during this upcoming elections”, the Cabinet Secretary told report-

ers minutes after his post Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday.

Election experts and long-term observers usually begin their work weeks before the actual Election Day, observing candidate registration, the legal framework, the media situation, the work of the election administration, and the campaign environment.

On Election Day, shortterm observers monitor the opening of polling stations, the vote cast, and the counting and tabulation of results.

After the elections, observers remain in the country for another few weeks to monitor how effective election-related shortcomings and complaints are dealt with by the election admin-

istration and the judiciary. The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has already commended the Guyana Elections Commission on what it termed a “pro-democratic” move in welcoming international observers, noting that this was a step in the right direction towards free and fair elections.

The international bodies that usually field delegations for the elections here include the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Guyana, will on May 11, head to the polls one year shy of its constitutionally due date for elections.

Auditions for Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar open today

Actors and potential actors are invited to attend an audition for GEMS Theatre Productions presentation of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Ceasar” at the National Cultural Centre today at 17:00h.

The production is aimed mainly for the benefit of students writing Literature in the Caribbean Secondary

Examination Council (CSEC). Julius Ceasar is being taught in many schools as part of their Literature curriculum. The staging of the play will help them to have a better understanding of Shakespeare’s work.

The play will be staged at the National Cultural Centre and the various schools would be invited to attend. The produc-

tion will travel to various parts of the country and performed in schools. This is an open reading and interested persons with a flair for Shakespearean language and knowledge of his works are all welcome to audition. Veteran stage performer, Derek Gomes will direct the production which will be staged in April.

Gang-raped teen too traumatised to give statement – mother

The 18-year-old Bellevue, West Bank Demerara (WBD) teenager, who was allegedly gang-raped by a group of men on Old Year’s Night, is still not in a frame of mind to give a written statement to the Police, according to his mother.

During a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, the woman disclosed that several Police ranks from the Leonora Police Station visited her son, but after an assessment of his condition, the ranks were asked to return, after relatives claimed that he was not quite ready to speak.

the staff decided to enter.

As they entered, the man was seen in a motionless position. The management was immediately contacted and the Police were summoned. Maughan’s body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home, and Police attempted to contact their counterparts so that the man’s relatives in the Land of the Flying Fish can be notified.

The Police are trying to locate the woman with whom the man checked into the hotel.

“After the family talk… we decide that let wait lil bit more… he nah really ready to tell the public what happen to he… is like he shame and want keep it to he self,” the teen’s mother stated.

He, nevertheless, provided the names of three people who might have participated and orchestrated the horrific attack on December 31, 2014. Two of the persons identified work at supermarket in Vreed-en-Hoop, WBD, where he was employed pri-

or to the incident.

The other, the mother said is a well known character in the area and might have been the master mind behind the rape. After the incident, Police had arrested him but due to the constitutional 72-hour detention period, he was released on both occasions.

She added that the Police have been in contact with the family and admitted that it is up to her son to provide them with a statement. A senior Police rank reiterated that the Police are waiting on the statement noting that it is critical to the investigation.

He stated that while the names have been provided, a statement on what occurred is vital, especially in this case. The three persons, he added have already been contacted and have all denied being involved in the alleged rape.

However, the woman said that her son is on the road to recovery and has started to move around. While she is happy that he is reintegrating into society, she is concerned that her son will remain traumatised

for the rest of his life.

“Every time he see a car coming in he direction, he run in the house and collect a cutlass as if somebody coming to do he something,” the woman stated. The mother disclosed that once she had to run behind him and take away a cutlass because he had started to behave hysterical.

She is hoping that once the statement is provided to the Police, justice would be served.

On the day in question, the teen was invited to a party organised by his best friend at a house in Vreeden-Hoop.

After the party, he was reportedly drugged and allegedly raped by at least 10 men. After the incident, the best friend’s step father allegedly attempted to further harm him but he managed to escape.

He went to his sister’s home and after giving a brief synopsis of what took place, he went speechless. He was subsequently hospitalised for more than two weeks but was discharged and is at home on the road to recovery.

APNU Region 10 Campaign Manager Sharma Solomon

Ramotar hits campaign trail in Essequibo

...promises to address

By IndrawattIe natram

President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday embarked on a two-day elections campaign visit to Essequibo, calling on residents to support his re-election bid and also hand the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) a majority at the upcoming General and Regional Elections slated for May 11.

President Ramotar held several packed meetings with PPP/C groups and members of the public during which he experienced the disadvantages of incumbency. He was told of the lack of electricity, poor drainage and irrigation, impassable roads and the need for better prices for paddy. The President, along with his entourage, reassured residents that the electricity problems would be minimised and that their other complaints would be addressed.

Meetings were held at Good Hope, Aurora, Huis t’Diren and Adventure.

At one of the meetings, Ramotar told a packed audience that it was time for

“Princess Cinderella’s”

in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara.

The President had pointed out then the importance of cheaper energy in the face of growing demands, noting that the low fuel prices would not remain stable. “We don’t control that, we cannot build on expecting that this will last forever … we need to try to ensure we have power at cheap prices,” he said. The previous company, Sithe Global, pulled out in August 2013 after the National Assembly failed to reach consensus on the necessary legislative arrangements to move the project forward. Sithe Global had already expended approximately US$16 million on preparatory works. The Amaila Falls Access Road is already approximately 95 per cent completed and is currently in a usable condition.

Cinderella the Princess Ramotar noted also that shortly a Call Centre would be established at Anna Regina in an effort to create job opportunities for young people, while a modern building to house the

the people to decide and to vote for a Government that would rule with a majority and take Guyana forward. The President promised residents that another PPP/C Government would deliver cheaper electricity and would create a bridge between the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam. The President said that he was presently negotiating with another company to get the Amaila Falls Project off the ground.

Late last month, Ramotar had announced that construction of the hydro project would start before the end of the year. “We are working towards trying to start to build Amaila before the end of this year. A lot of work has already gone into it. Norway has already transferred US$80 million to the IDB [Inter-American Development Bank]. We have already identified another company to step into the shoe of Blackstone and Sithe Global,” he disclosed while addressing the gathering at the commissioning of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc Power Plant

Abram Zuil Secondary and a new wing at Suddie Public Hospital would be constructed. “Comrades, you know for yourself, you know what Essequibo Coast was in the past, the Essequibo Ferry used to take hours, the journey used to be so long, the roads were very bad, Essequibo is not Cinderella in rags but Cinderella the Princess,” Ramotar noted.

Promises

During his first meeting at Good Hope, the President told residents that the upcoming elections were crucial, underscoring that everything was in the hands of the people. He said together as a people, collectively, PPP/C can return to Government.”Guyana has a bright future, but that future is in everyone’s hands. Older persons need to talk to young people about the struggle, the struggle was difficult, in the past we couldn’t even have a loaf of bread in our hands; if you get caught then, you will be jailed,” Ramotar explained. He cautioned residents to not be fooled by the prom-

complaints

ises being made by the

Opposition parties, pointing out that the Opposition was just interested in getting into power and had no development plans for the people. Highlighting that the

Opposition was not a good partner, Ramotar said with its majority in Parliament, it used its power to block developmental projects. He listed the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, the Amaila

Falls Hydro Project, the Speciality Hospital and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion as projects that was blocked by the Opposition. Ramotar stressed that the Opposition was not an ideal partner for the PPP/C Government, noting that because of the lack of partnership, he was forced to prorogue Parliament.

He said the prorogation had allowed GECOM to continue registration so that persons could get on the voters’ list. Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Chairman Parmanand Persaud, who also addressed residents at the various meetings, said the Region has progressed under the PPP/C.

He noted that Region Two has 13 booming housing schemes and two water treatment plants would be estab-

lished at Dry Shore, and Somerset and Berks. In an effort to boost electricity capacity in the Region, three Wartsila power plants will be commissioned at Anna Regina. The Chairman noted that construction of roads and rehabilitation of culverts and streets were done over the years. The President’s delegation included Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Alli Baksh, Rice Producers Association General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj, Chairman Persaud, and Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo. President Ramotar said his two-day visit to Region Two was aimed at interacting with residents and outlining his party’s plans for the development of the country.

President Donald Ramotar receives a warm welcome from students of the Good Hope Nursery

President Donald Ramotar addressing a packed “bottom house” gathering at Aurora Village

Headlines dominate worldwide with news of Jamaica decriminalising ganja

News of Jamaica’s move to decriminalise small quantities of ganja has gained much international media attention with some 160 online news articles, according to Google.

The debate on the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, often referred to as the ganja law, was piloted in the House, by National Security Minister Peter Bunting.

The Bill was passed with five amendments in the Senate on February 6, piloted by Justice Minister, Senator Mark Golding, under intense scrutiny from the Opposition, during a seven-hour debate.

It then moved to the House of Representatives where the 2015 amendments were passed in the House of Representatives yesterday, after a marathon debate seeing more than 12 contributions from both sides of the aisle, among other things, establishes a legal

New

Marijuana has been illegal in Jamaica, despite its role in the Rastafarian faith

and formal framework from which a legitimate Cannabis (Ganja) Industry may be developed in Jamaica.

The topic also lit up Twitter after it was passed by the House of Representatives late Tuesday. Some of the headlines dominating today’s news on the issue include:

In the United States, ABC News, Newser and Mashable, respectively, headlined their articles: ‘Jamaica Passes Act

Decriminalising Small Amounts of Pot’, ‘In Jamaica, a Little Pot Now No Crime’, and ‘Jamaica (yes, Jamaica) finally decriminalises marijuana’.

Dunya News in Pakistan read: ‘Ganja! Jamaica eases marijuana law’.

The United Kingdom’s Sky News reported: ‘Jamaica: Legal Ganja Law Gets Go-Ahead’ and the Herald Scotland posted, ‘Jamaica rolls out legal pot law’. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

PM pledges new beginning for St Kitts and Nevis

Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris took the opportunity during his public swearingin ceremony on Sunday to thank his friends and colleagues for their support but also to pledge a fresh start for the people of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

Assuring inclusion of people of all party affiliations, Harris stated that his team’s historic victory belongs to the people. “We start today on a journey of new beginnings,” said Harris. “And I would certainly wish

that it would be a new beginning for all of our people; for Labour people, for PAM people, for CCM people, for NRP people, even for NIP people and those who are not affiliated because certainly it is a historic journey and I recall that everywhere that we went throughout this campaign, we recognised the opportunity for us working together to make history on behalf of the people. Today’s celebration in my view is really the people’s celebration,” he said.

Harris spoke to a common goal that Team Unity

has pursued throughout the just-concluded political campaign and which will be at the centre of his Administration’s governing agenda.

“We spoke with young people and we spoke with old people,” said Harris. “We spoke with rich people. We spoke with our economic citizens. We spoke with the poor and needy. And we recognised wherever they stood, our people want the best for St Kitts and Nevis and that was a common goal that should unite us always. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Bolivia flooding displaces thousands in Pando province

Flooding has forced more than 4000 people from their homes in the town of Cobija in northern Bolivia after the river Acre burst its banks.

Heavy rains have also caused the nearby river Tahuamanu to burst its banks.

Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera travelled to Cobija on Tuesday to deliver aid to the town.

He said some of the neighbourhoods located closest to the river would

have to be moved and promised government help to relocate their residents.

The Mayor of San Pedro de Bolpebra, on the border with Peru and Brazil, said his town had been almost completely swept away by floodwaters.

“The river waters rose to 14 metres [46 feet] above their normal level, so between the community and the authorities we have decided to rebuild a new town to avoid more damage,” Mayor Romulo Terrazas said.

Cobija resident Jhenny Huasimave told La Razon newspaper that she had lost “almost everything” and was staying in a shelter in a local sports centre.

“We’re looking after the little we have left and are sleeping in the stands,” she said.

“But our situation is a sad one, it’s too crowded, we need help,” she added.

Vice President Garcia said the Government would send more help in the coming hours. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuelans protest Maduro’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago

Venezuelans residing in Trinidad protested in Port of Spain on Tuesday, calling for the resignation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who arrived in Trinidad on Tuesday morning on a working visit.

Spokesperson, prominent psychic Yesenia Gonsalves, said the group met outside Queen’s Hall on Tuesday morning and marched to President’s House at noon where Maduro was expected to have a meeting with President Anthony Carmona.

Gonsalves in a telephone interview with the Express before the protest said: “There is a big crisis in Venezuela right now. There is a lot of violence. People are not getting the basics like food and medication. Children with cancer are dying the hospital because there is no medication. Everything they want they have to line up in very long lines for one item alone. He does not have good policies and we want him to resign.”

“He is not helping the country; the country is going down every day. People are not safe in Venezuela,

protested outside the Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain, calling for peace in Venezuela follow-

they are scared to go out and be free. You cannot speak anything against his policies because they threaten to jail you. He is not democratic he is a dictator. We are tired. Want to him to resign. We consider him to be a criminal and we want him out,” said Gonsalves.

Last February a group of Venezuelans also

ing the deaths of persons in violent protest action against Maduro and his Government. Thousands had taken to the streets in Venezuela, demonstrating over the scarcity of basic goods and alleged human-rights violations, as well as high levels of criminal violence.

from Caribbean News Now)

Argentine spy at centre of Nisman case accused of smuggling

The Argentine spy at the centre of a scandal over last month’s death of a state prosecutor was accused on Tuesday of importing tonnes of contraband merchandise during his final years as head of the country’s counterintelligence office.

Antonio Stiuso was forced out of the SI intelligence service in December, weeks before state prosecutor Alberto Nisman accused President Cristina Fernandez of trying to cover up Iran’s alleged involvement in a deadly 1994 bombing.

The government says Nisman, who was found

shot dead on January 18, was manipulated by Stiuso into levelling the accusation as a way of smearing Fernandez.

Nisman’s mysterious death has brought long-simmering questions about the integrity of the Argentine justice system to a boil, prompting the Opposition to take to the streets to demand answers.

In its latest accusation against Stiuso, the Government on Tuesday said he secretly imported tonnes of unidentified goods whose destination remains unknown.

“We have concluded that

in 2013 and 2014, contraband imports were received totaling 94 tonnes. These goods did not go to the SI, nor did they serve any function of the agency,” national intelligence chief Oscar Parrilli said in a televised address.

“Much of this merchandise entered the country under the name Antonio Stiuso,” he added. Some customs agents have also been implicated in the illegal import operations, he said. Stiuso left Argentina last week after making a statement to the prosecutor investigating Nisman’s death. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Report cites “poor decision making” for Bahamas plane crash that killed Myles Munroe

The Department of Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit (AAIPU) says “poor decision making” led to the plane crash that killed nine people, including religious leader Dr Myles Munroe last November.

The AAIPU has issued its final report on the crash that occurred on November 9 last year. “The AAIPU has determined that the probable cause of this accident was the poor decision making of the crew in initiating and continuing a descent in IMC below the author-

ised altitude, without visual contact with the runway environment,’ said the report.

Munroe, founder and president of Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI), his wife Ruth, Dr Richard Pinder, a BFMI executive, Lavard and Rudel Parks and BFMI youth ministers were on board the bombardier Learjet piloted by Captain Stanley Thurston and co-pilot Frankan Cooper.

Diego DeSantiago, 38, a resident of Colorado in the United States, who frequently travelled with Munroe as a translator, was also killed in the

crash. The AAIPU said that the aircraft with registration number, N17UF, had made an initial ILS instrument approach to Runway 16 at the Grand Bahama International Airport, but due to poor visibility and rain at the decision height, the crew executed a go around procedure.

“During the second attempt, the aircraft struck a crane positioned at Dock number 2 of the Grand Bahama Shipyard at approximately 220 feet above sea level, some 3.2 nautical miles (NM) from the runway.” (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives in Trinidad and Tobago on a working visit

The streets of Cobija in northern Bolivia turned into canals after the river Acre burst its banks

Around the World

Israel’s Africa policies “an exercise in cynicism”

ecret documents ob-

Stained by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit expose a deep disdain by South Africa’s spies for their Israeli counterparts, with intelligence assessments accusing Israel of conducting “cynical” polices in Africa that include “fuelling insurrection”, “appropriating diamonds” and even sabotaging Egypt’s water supply.

Political wariness on the part of the South Africans is hardly surprising giv-

en Israel’s extensive military and security cooperation with the apartheid regime ousted in 1994. The current South African Government is led by the African National Congress, which aligned itself with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

A secret analysis from South African intelligence dismisses a tour of African countries by the Israeli Foreign Minister in 2009 as “an exercise in cynicism”.

It says Avigdor

Israel

Lieberman’s nine-day trip to Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya laid the groundwork for

Avalanche buries scores in Afghanistan’s northeast

An Afghan official says scores of people have been killed in an avalanche that buried about 60 homes in the north-eastern Panjshir Valley.

Most of the victims were in Panjshir province north of Kabul, where two days of heavy snowfall killed at least 90 people, according to Provincial Governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri.

Emergency officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the toll, which is expected to rise.

arms deals and the appropriation of African resources, while hiding behind “a philanthropic façade”.

Israel has long maintained ties with African countries based on its own security and diplomatic needs. Its ties with the old apartheid regime in South Africa were strongly based on military needs, and reportedly included cooperation in the development of nuclear weapons.

Kenya, from where Israeli Special Forces staged a commando raid to free hostages held at Uganda’s Entebbe airport in 1977, has long been counted as an important ally.

Reports in the Israeli and Nigerian media last month said the US had blocked Israel’s planned sale of military helicopters to Nigeria. Israeli media hailed Israel’s deepening ties with President Goodluck Jonathan for putting an end to a December 30 United Nations Security Council resolution setting a timetable for Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Paris Police arrest al Jazeera journalists over drone

Al Jazeera’s Nicole Johnston, reporting from Kabul, said the reason it was difficult to reach Panjshir was because it has two large mountain ranges with a narrow valley in the middle and one road in and out of the province.

“So far they have been able to clear only 50km into that road,” she said.

“The Provincial

Large swathes of Afghanistan have been covered in snow over the past 24 hours as a major storm has interrupted an otherwise mild and dry winter.

Governor told us that they managed to get 300 people together to try and help the emergency teams, but they don’t have the right equipment.

“They are using shovels and in some cases their bare hands to try and get people out.

“Many of those houses that have heavy dumps of snow on them are in the higher mountain ranges.”

Avalanches are common in Afghanistan’s mountainous north. (Al Jazeera)

Swine flu: Indian Health Minister urges calm

Indian Health Minister JP Nadda has urged the public not to panic, as the number of deaths so far this year from swine flu passed 900 from 16,000 cases. Rajasthan and Gujarat are amongst the worst af-

fected states.

Officials in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city, have announced restrictions on public gatherings as a precautionary measure.

Weddings and funerals may take place, but participants have been told

they must wear protective masks.

There have been 16,235 cases in the outbreak. The H1N1 virus has killed nearly 4000 people in India since 2009. The current outbreak is India’s deadliest since 2010.

The Gujarat State Assembly’s Speaker and Health Minister both have swine flu. Some Opposition politicians have criticised the Government’s response, describing it as a public health crisis.

Workplaces and schools have been open as normal, but a charity walk and concert are among several public events in Ahmedabad which have been put on hold.

Organiser Kaushal Mehta said the walk was to have taken place on March 1: “Around 5000 (BBC News)

Three al Jazeera journalists have been arrested for the alleged illegal flying of a drone in Paris after being spotted by Police in the Bois de Boulogne area.

A spokesman for prosecutors said there was “no relationship for the moment” between the arrests and mysterious drone flights over the city at night.

Drones flew over the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks five times for a second night running on Tuesday.

Flying drones over Paris without a licence is banned by law.

The offence carries a maximum one-year prison sentence and a €75,000 (US$85,000) fine.

A judicial source told AFP news agency of the three people arrested: “The first was piloting the drone, the second was filming and the third was watching.”

The names and nationalities of the journalists have not been released. AlJazeera is a Qatar-based satellite TV channel. (BBC News)

Ukraine under pressure from currency fall, gas supply threat

Ukraine came under increasing economic pressure from a collapsing currency and a threat to its gas supplies from the Kremlin on Wednesday, just as a longawaited ceasefire took hold in the east.

As the truce appeared to be coming into force, the Ukrainian army reported no combat fatalities in the past 24 hours, but the news did nothing to halt a currency slump that forced the central bank to ban most trading before intervening to prop up the hryvnia.

In rebel-held eastern

Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists were withdrawing heavy guns from the front. Kiev said it was too early to do likewise, but its acknowledgement that most of the front was quiet suggested it too could implement a truce that had appeared stillborn when the rebels launched a major offensive last week.

The cautious good news from the front has come amid dire economic consequences for a country teetering on bankruptcy.

With the hryvnia currency in free fall as investors flee, the central bank called

a halt by banning nearly all commercial currency trading until the end of the week. It later jumped into the market to buy dollars, reversing a free-fall in the hryvnia that it called “irrational”.

Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said the ban was bad for the economy. He had learned about it on the Internet and would demand an explanation from Central Bank Chief Valeria Gontareva.

Gontareva said there was no fundamental reason for the panic in the currency market. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China drops leading technology brands for state purchases

China has dropped some of the world’s leading technology brands from its approved state purchase lists, while approving thousands more locally made products, in what some say is a response to revelations of widespread Western cybersurveillance.

Others put the shift

down to a protectionist impulse to shield China’s domestic technology industry from competition.

Chief casualty is US network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc, which in 2012 counted 60 products on the Central Government Procurement Centre’s (CGPC) list, but by late 2014

had none, a Reuters analysis of official data shows.

Smartphone and PC maker Apple Inc has also been dropped over the period, along with Intel Corp’s security software firm McAfee and network and server software firm Citrix Systems.

The number of products

on the list, which covers regular spending by central ministries, jumped by more than 2000 in two years to just under 5000, but the increase is almost entirely due to local makers.

The number of approved foreign tech brands fell by a third, while less than half of those with security-related

products survived the cull.

An official at the procurement agency said there were many reasons why local makers might be preferred, including sheer weight of numbers and the fact that domestic security technology firms offered more product guarantees than overseas rivals.

China’s change of tack coincided with leaks by former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden in mid2013 that exposed several global surveillance programmes, many of them run by the NSA with the cooperation of telecom companies and European Governments.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

has long maintained ties with African countries based on its own security and diplomatic needs

Police spotted the drone flying in the Bois de Boulogne woods in western Paris

The outbreak is India’s deadliest since 2010

Mash winners announced

Tand Float

winning the King prize followed

Two marijuana traffickers nabbed in Berbice

Police in Berbice found two persons on separate occasions on Wednesday with a quantity of cannabis which is believed to be for the purpose of trafficking.

Reports are that at about 10:30h, a party of Police Officers acting on information stopped a 24-yearold man in Vrymen’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). A search was carried out and 815 grams of cannabis was found on the man.

The drug was discovered concealed in a multicoloured bag marked karibee rice.

The man who is a labourer of lot 46 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam was at the time carrying the bag on his back in which the illegal substance was found. He is in custody awaiting charges.

Four hours later, Police on the West Coast of Berbice made a similar discovery. According to a source close to the Police, ranks were on anti-crime duties and were conducting a stop and search exercise when they stopped a white Toyota Fielder, bearing registration number PRR 2749 with a driver and four passengers. One of

by Digicel taking the Queen, Male and Female prizes respectively.

Taking the full costume prizes in the small category are the Ministry of

ond place and Slingshot in third. In the medium category the first prize was taken by Digicel followed by the Ministry of Health in second place, with third place go-

“Unruly”. For the Regional Competition Full Costume in the small category, the first prize went to Region Five; in the medium category the first prize was tak-

Education with first prize followed by the Ministry of Agriculture in second place and third place Region Five.

In the medium category, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs took first place with the Ministry of Tourism in second, followed by Region Ten in third.

In the semi-costume division in the small category, the first place was taken by the Ministry of Housing and Water, followed by the Ministry of Local Government in sec-

ing to Region Six. The large category was won by the Guyana Police Force with second going to the People’s Progressive Party and third to the Guyana Youth and Student Movement.

For the floats category, in the non-commercial category the first prize was taken by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport with second going to Ministry of Local Government. Slingshot took the third spot, with the Road March King going to Jumo Primo for his song

en by Region Ten, the second prize went to Region Four and the third prize, to Region Three. For semi costume in the small category, the first prize went to the Ministry of Local Government with Region Six taking the first prize in the medium category. Individual pieces were won by Region Three which took the King prize, with Region Six winning the Queen. The Male was taken by Region Four, and Region Ten, the female prize. (GINA)

Suspected drug trafficker remanded

Sthe passengers – a 32-yearold cash crop farmer of Number 22 Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) who was sitting in the front passenger seat had in his possession a black and pink haversack.

The haversack was searched and parts of the illegal plant were found in a plastic wrapped parcel. The cannabis was weighed in his presence and amounted to 699 grams.

The farmer told Police that he purchased the parcel in New Amsterdam. He too is in is custody awaiting charges.

Commander of B Division, Assistant

Commissioner Brian Joseph had recently promised to weed out the cultivation of the illegal drug in Berbice.

unil Persaud was remanded to prison on Wednesday for being in possession of and trafficking 15 grams of cannabis when he appeared in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant provided the details of the case to the court. Grant said Police had acted on information received regarding the defendant, and orchestrated a sting operation, which gave the defendant the impression that there were interested

parties willing to buy cannabis from him. The Police Officers involved in the sting handed over the money to the defendant while he in turn handed over the cannabis. Police Prosecutor Grant added that that the money used in the sting were marked bills.

The defendant entered a not guilty plea to both charges; however, Chief Magistrate SewnarineBeharry refused bail. The defendant’s case was subsequently transferred to the Vreed-en- Hoop Magistrate’s Court for trial on February 27.

Duo accused of trafficking 15 kilos of ganja

Fedrick McLean

Two men were refused bail when they appeared in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to answer a charge of trafficking in narcotics.

Fredrick Mc Lean, 35, and Carl Lampkin, 25, both of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne),

pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 22, at Lot 28 Sheet Anchor, Canje, they had in their possession 15 Kilos 454 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Attorney Mursaline Bacchus represented Lampkin and asked the court to take into consideration that there are special circumstances which resulted to Lampkim being involved; hence the court should grant him bail.

Attorney Bacchus argued that Lampkin ventured into the house of his friend who is the number one accused.

However Police Prosecutor Phillip Sheriff noted that the drug was found in the house and both accused were in the house at the time of the find.

Magistrate Sherdel

Isaacs-Marcus refused bail and set April 20 as the trial date. On Monday this publication reported that the marijuana was found in the

he winners of the Mashramani 2015 competitions have been released after be-

ing audited by Nizam Ali and Company, Chartered Accountants. The winners for the

Costume Band

Parade competition are the Ministry of Education,

Sunil Persaud pleaded not guilty to trafficking in narcotics

living room of the house which is situated next to the Canje Bridge.

Carl Lampkin

The Education Ministry Float copped King prize

The Digicel float won Queen prize

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs which took first in the medium category

The bag the farmer was carrying at West Coast Berbice

The Vrymen’s Erven, New Amsterdam bust

Ending hunger, malnutrition top priority for Caribbean

Over the last two decades efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition in the Caribbean have made substantial progress, but these need to be further strengthened, according to Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva.

Since 1990 the prevalence of undernourishment in the Caribbean fell from 27 to 20 percent, but even now more than 7.5 million people still suffer hunger while obesity is another challenge the region faces, he noted in a statement on Monday to agriculture ministers from the Caribbean Community (Caricom). They were meeting ahead of this week’s Caricom summit which is also slated to take place in the Bahamas.

“Ensuring food security and nutrition for all needs to be our main goal,” Graziano da Silva said, noting how the Caricom nations are address-

ing this by bringing together a series of strategies that tackle the “multiple dimensions of food insecurity”. “This is a winning combination, and FAO is proud to play an active part in all these efforts,” he said. At a Caricom level this is represented by Caricom’s Food and Nutrition Security Action

Plan approved in 2011. The FAO Director-General noted that at a national level many of Caricom’s 15 member states are developing national action plans in response to the Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral.

Speaking to the ministers, the FAO Director-General stressed how a vibrant agricultural sector helps to drive sustainable and inclusive development in the Caribbean. “Agriculture creates employment opportunities, especially important for the youth, and is critical to reduce rural poverty. Agriculture can supply the Caribbean tourism industry,” he said, adding that local production can help recover and revitalise traditional crops and increase self-sufficiency during times of volatile international food prices and food import bills.

Graziano da Silva noted how the island nations of the Caribbean are particularly vulnerable to extreme natural events such as hurricanes, how these are made more frequent, violent and unpredictable by climate change, and how they threaten agriculture, food security and sustainable development. In this context, he underscored the importance of disaster risk management, raising preparedness levels, adapting to climate change and building resilience.

FAO’s Director-General outlined to the assembled agriculture ministers the main aspects of the organization’s three regional initiatives noting how they will provide important support to formal discussions and priority setting that will take place at the next FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2016.

The first of FAO’s regional initiatives centres on supporting countries’ food and nutrition security efforts through zero hunger and malnutrition programmes; improving food and feed systems to address the food import bill; building resilience, and; strengthening agriculture, food security and nutrition governance and policy. The second focuses on strengthening family farming, recognising that in the Caribbean as in many other parts of the developing world, family farmers play a crucial role in increasing local availability of food thus reducing hunger and malnutrition.

FAO’s third regional initiative works to improve food and feed systems and is specifically designed for the Caribbean. It aims to boost and add value to local production; recover local products; reduce the dependency on food imports and; a provide employment opportunities, especially for youth, in agriculture and aquaculture.

Commonwealth govts call for legislative reforms to prevent criminal exploitation of virtual currencies

Commonwealth governments have set out recommendations to look at ways to counter the risks and maximise potential economic benefits of virtual currencies.

This follows a two-day meeting in London last week attended by representatives from ten Commonwealth countries. Leading international experts shed light on the advancing technology used to create digital currencies, and ways in which users can carry out transactions without detection.

This raised concerns that these relatively new currencies are increasingly susceptible to criminal use, particularly with regards to the potential financing of terrorism. Participants also looked at the possible benefits virtual currencies could offer developing economies, such as a reduction in transaction costs for remittances and micro-payments. They agreed, however, that better frameworks needed to be in place first to manage associated risks.

The forms, functions and attributes of these currencies are highly complex, borderless and ever-evolving, making it very difficult for governments and international law enforcement to carry out investigations into suspect transactions. There are more than 500 digital currencies in existence. Bitcoin, the most commonly known, was given as an example to explain how these currencies are acquired, valued and exchanged.

One of the participants explained that value is primarily based on “faith” and “demand” within online communities who operate these systems collectively. The only way to

trace transactions is through the ‘blockchain’, which is essentially the public ledger; although developments in technology, such as the creation of Darkcoin, now allow users a greater degree of anonymity. It was widely acknowledged that international responses to virtual currencies are disparate, including within the Commonwealth. This was clear from the different viewpoints presented by member countries during the meeting. The representative from Singapore characterised the country’s approach as “embracing new technological innovations” - Singapore was the first country in Asia to open a Bitcoin ATM and now has eight.

Describing virtual currencies as “very concerning”, the representative from India encouraged all Commonwealth countries “to be on the same page” to develop more effective safeguards. Representatives from member governments acknowledged the need for a broad range of legislative reforms to prevent criminal exploitation of virtual currencies. In their final statement, they recommended preparation of technical guidance for member states in the areas of regulation and legislation, and the drafting of a report on virtual currencies to present at the next Heads to Government meeting in 2015. The two-day Virtual Currencies Round Table was a result of a mandate issued at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013 to tackle cybercrime and find ways to create safe money transfer operations.

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Give yourself a boost and put new events on your social calendar. Attending a variety of functions will help you meet new people. A casual conversation will lead to a professional opportunity.

If you are frustrated or uninspired with your current career, ask for advice. Don’t let anxiety or self-doubt prevent you from taking an important step forward. You have a lot to offer.

A purchase or a personal improvement will help build confidence and give you the additional pride required to reach your goals. Treat yourself to a cultural or sporting event.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

You can satisfy your yearning for change by becoming involved in a fundraising event. You will feel satisfied working toward a good cause with people who share your concerns.

Don’t underestimate the benefits of networking with a variety of people. It will help you open the door to an important discussion that could allow you to gain some vital information.

Family members will be hard to deal with. You can never be too careful when it comes to money. Gambling or going out on a limb for someone will lead to trouble.

Share your ideas. Peers or clients will be impressed if you use your positive attributes to prove that you are able to successfully tackle any task. There will be discord amongst your peers. Don’t do or say anything that could be used to discredit you, your superiors or your co-workers. Do your job and keep your opinions to yourself.

A partnership will go through growing pains. Keep your expectations realistic. Diplomacy is necessary, along with give-and-take, if you are going to make your relationship work.

Plan an entertaining event. Spirited mental or physical challenges will help everyone loosen up and have fun. People who play together stay together. Include the one you love.

You need a change of scenery to refresh and revitalize you. Get together with an old friend or visit local areas of interest. Resist the temptation to sit at home. Take a closer look at your professional future. Some changes will need to be made in order to adjust or improve your current financial status. Look into long-term investments.

AQUARIUS

GEMINI

PeanuTs

Calvin and Hobbes

dilberT

arCHie

Gizmos & Gadgets renews

RHTY&SC sponsorship – Leroy Bristol and Collis Butts join Club, Rajiv Ivan released

One of Guyana’s leading electronic stores, Gizmos and Gadgets, renewed its cricket sponsorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) for the sixth year.

The sponsorship covers the Club’s first-division team and the package is worth $300,000.

Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Managing Director of the

company, Ravi Mangar and Marketing Manager Divya Sieudarsan for their continued sponsorship of the team.

Foster said under the Gizmos & Gadgets sponsorship, the teams won the Ramcharitar Construction Services 50-over, Universal DVD 20/20, and Busta Champion of Champions competitions.

The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets team in 2015 would once again be led by former national

Under-19 Captain Shawn Pereira with national player Royston Crandon as his deputy, while Delbert Hicks would serve as the coach.

The team have lost the services of Dominique Rikhi and Shailendra Shameer, who have migrated to North America, while Rajiv Ivan has been released by management.

Foster stated that the Club was currently in a rebuilding state and would be using 2015 to develop new cricketing talents.

All-rounders Leroy Bristol and Collis Butts have also joined the Club and would strengthen the first-division team while young and promising cricketing talents like Brandon Prashad, Vihal Crandon, Kevlon Anderson, Brandon Corlette, Cylus Tyndall, Junior Sinclair, Joshua Gobin, Azam Khan, Jason Sinclair, Keith Simpson and

Kumar Joseph would be given opportunities to further develop their careers.

The team over the period of the sponsorship – since

2010 – have successfully completed over 500 personal development projects with the main aim of assisting others.

The Gizmos and Gadgets Marketing Manager stated that her company was pleased to be associated with the RHTY&SC, an organisation which has a proven track of achievement.

She also disclosed that her company’s management was satisfied with the performance of the team on and off the cricket field.

Over the years, the Club produced several cricketers who have represented Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies.

Those players include Shemaine Campbelle, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Delbert Hicks, Dominique Rikhi, Plaffiana Millington, Brandon Prashad, Askay Homraj, Shailendra Shameer, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano, Vihal Crandon, Melanie Henry, Erva Giddings, Jason Sinclair, Junior Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson.

Fifa executive committee member

Michel D’Hooghe has been cleared of corruption by an investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The governing body’s ethics committee found “insufficient evidence to suggest” that the 69-yearold Belgian “had violated their code of ethics”.

D’Hooghe, who is head of Fifa’s medical committee and an executive mem -

ber since 1988, denied any wrongdoing.

Russia was awarded the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 tournament went to Qatar. The decision in December 2010 to award both tournaments was the source of controversy, prompting a 430-page Fifa report into allegations of corruption.

Fifa’s ethics committee cleared D’Hooghe of four allegations of wrongdoing. It said it was satisfied

that a painting that he received from the Russian bid “has no commercial value” and “was offered as a friendly gesture”.

The ethics committee also dismissed an allegation that D’Hooghe accepted a trip paid for by a bidding nation.

The statement added that “air travel and other expenses for the trip were in fact covered by Fifa” as it was related to his “function as chairman of the Fifa medical committee”.

Auto Fashion continues relationship with Kashif and Shanghai Tournament –

Fruta Conquerors replace Bartica

The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation on Wednesday continued their longstanding relationship with Auto Fashion ahead of their 25th football tournament set to kick off on March 20 at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground.

At the simple handingover ceremony, it was revealed Auto Fashion will sponsor the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize as well as the other trophies.

Proprietor of the store, Noel “Rupee” Shewjattan noted that his establishment has always supported the tournament and this year was no different.

Shewjattan also hinted at what the future holds for the MVP depending on Government’s intervention: “If they can take off the duty, next year for sure I

Fifa executive member Michel D’Hooghe cleared of corruption

D’Hooghe was also cleared of allegations that he helped secure a business opportunity in Qatar for the son of a close friend.

Fifa’s investigation found “insufficient evidence to prove that he was in any way involved in these efforts”.

There was also “no concrete evidence” on the fourth allegation, that a relative of D’Hooghe’s was offered employment in Qatar shortly after the vote. (BBC Sport)

will donate a nice sports car to the winner.

“I think a car will add more excitement to the tournament and when you think of it, a lot of these players can’t really go out and buy one and I would be happy to actually make that happen. So next year, if the Government can help with regards to the duty, I will commit to giving the MVP that car,” Shewjattan stated. Kashif Muhammed and Aubrey “Shanghai” Major, Directors of the organising group, noted that it was companies such as Auto Fashion that allowed tournaments and sports in general to be successful, while thanking the company for its support.

Auto Fashion now joins ANSA McAL, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Demerara Distillers Limited under its Pepsi Brand, Church’s Chicken, Cell Phone Shack under its Plum Brand, Hits and Jams Television, Sonic Business Services, Club 704 and JGS Telecommunications as the tournament’s sponsors.

Meanwhile, the organisers announced that Georgetown-based Fruta Conquerors were added to the tournament, replacing Bartica.

The tournament will see the winners bagging $2 million, while second place will receive $1 million. Third and fourth places will collect $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.

Gizmos & Gadgets Marketing Manager Divya Sieudarsan hands over the cheque to RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

Rajiv Ivan

Collis Butts

Noel “Rupee” Shewjattan (middle) hands over the prizes to Kashif Muhammed (left) and Aubrey “Shanghai” Major at the presentation

Michel D’Hooghe

Wilson, K O’Brien seal tense win

With nuggety wicketkeeper Gary Wilson for company, the big-hitting Kevin O’Brien set right the mess he had left Ireland in with some ordinary plans and bowling

scrapping, and by the time it ended Ireland had only two wickets in hand and four balls to spare.

Thanks to the first World Cup and second ODI hundred for UAE, 106 off 83

SCOREBOARD

United Arab Emirates innings (50 overs maximum)

Amjad Ali c Sorensen

b KJ O’Brien 45

AR Berenger c Porterfield

b Stirling 13

Krishna Chandran c KJ O’Brien

b Stirling 0

Khurram Khan lbw

b Dockrell 36

SP Patil† c Stirling

b KJ O’Brien 2

Shaiman Anwar c †Wilson

b Sorensen 106

Rohan Mustafa c †Wilson

b Cusack 2

Amjad Javed c Joyce

b Sorensen 42

Mohammad Naveed c & b Cusack 13

Mohammad Tauqir* not out 2

AM Guruge not out 0

Extras: (b 1, lb 4, w 11, nb 1) 17

Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-53, 3-73, 4-78, 5-125, 6-131, 7-238, 8-269, 9-276.

Ireland Bowling: JF Mooney

6-0-32-0, MC Sorensen

10-0-60-2, AR Cusack 10-

0-54-2, PR Stirling 10-027-2, KJ O’Brien 7-0-61-2, GH Dockrell 7-0-39-1.

at the death. Despite their blitz, Ireland didn’t finish the match easy. UAE kept

Ireland innings (target: 279 runs from 50 overs)

WTS Porterfield* b Mohammad Tauqir 37

PR Stirling c †Patil b Guruge 3 EC Joyce c †Patil b Amjad Javed 37 NJ O’Brien lbw b Mohammad Tauqir 17

A Balbirnie c sub (Saqlain Haider) b Mohammad Naveed 30 GC Wilson† c Amjad Javed b Mohammad Naveed 80 KJ O’Brien c Mohammad Naveed b Amjad Javed 50

JF Mooney c Amjad Ali b Amjad Javed 2 AR Cusack not out 5 GH Dockrell not out 7

Extras: (b 4, lb 3, w 2, nb 2) 11

Total: (8 wickets; 49.2 overs) 279 Did not bat: MC Sorensen Fall of wickets 1-4, 2-72, 3-94, 4-97, 5-171, 6-243, 7-259, 8-267.

UAE Bowling: Mohammad Naveed 9.2-1-65-2, AM Guruge 7-0-21-1, Amjad Javed 10-060-3, Mohammad Tauqir 9-038-2, Rohan Mustafa 9-0-45-0, Krishna Chandran 5-0-43-0.

by Shaiman Anwar, and a World Cup-record seventhwicket partnership between

Anwar and Amjad Javed107 in 11.5 overs - UAE recovered from 131 for 6 in the 35th over. They defended with passion and precision to have Ireland down at 97 for 4 and 171 for 5, but they wilted in the face of the onslaught from O’Brien and Wilson, dropping catches, misfielding, some of them walking off with cramps.

It was an important match for Ireland to win. In the last World Cup, they had beaten England but lost to Bangladesh, thus losing out on a quarter-final spot. Having conceded 147 in the last 15 overs, a repeat of their poor death bowling against West Indies who recovered from 87 for 5 to post 300-plus, Ireland were staring at similar fate with their top order struggling for fluency, but their lower middle order and the famed luck of the Irish rescued them.

O’Brien joined Wilson with 108 required off 68 balls and Wilson on 43 off 46, the only batsman remotely near a run a ball for Ireland. The first ball O’Brien faced he muscled it to mid-off. The second he pulled away for four. Business was about to pick up. You could see UAE were feeling the heat already. There had been literal heat too: they had lost their opening bowler Manjula Guruge to what looked like cramps. Others were falling too.

Mohammad Tauqir, the 43-year-old captain who

had bowled beautifully with dip and drift for the wickets of William Porterfield and the other O’Brien, Niall, walked off in the 43rd over.

Kevin O’Brien and Wilson had added 36 by then, but were yet to steal the game. O’Brien now lofted down the ground, and the substitute fielder, Nasir Aziz, managed just a parry for four over him. Before that too, Ireland had enjoyed a bit of luck. Ed Joyce added 16 after being bowled by Javed. Except the heavy LED bail just came off, lit, and went back into

its groove.

This drop of O’Brien was to prove costlier as he went on to demoralise the attack in his 25-ball 50. He hit eight fours and two sixes, but everything bowled to him was a candidate for being hit. By the time he fell to a slower ball from Javed, the equation had come down to 36 off 32. John Mooney can bat a bit, but he was struggling, which made Wilson’s role more important. He stayed calm except for one moment in the 47th over.

With 21 required off 20, he

went down on a knee to look to ramp Javed and missed. He was given not out presumably because he had got outside the line as is the case with such lbw appeals but the replays showed the ball had nipped back enough to hit him in front of off. Just when you thought UAE were going to get lucky, the replay also showed the ball to be only clipping the top of the stumps.

Wilson then saw the struggling Mooney end his innings poorly, but seemed to have ended the game with back-to-back drilled boundaries down the ground in the 48th over. Javed, though, was not giving up yet. As Wilson looked to run the next, a shortish delivery, down to third man, Javed showed fearlessness by diving forward from short third man and sending Wilson back for 80 off 69. Twelve runs remained. Fifteen balls. And two wickets. Crucial runs with Anwar, hitting the stumps without removing the bail, taking three timely wickets and now this brave catch, Javed didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. It was down to him in the 49th over, with 10 runs to get. He began with two immaculate dots. The third one was a yorker dug out into the leg side, but Ireland stole a second with the fielder running in from the deep letting the infielder chase the ball, which goes against the norm. (Cricinfo)

The ‘magic wand’ behind India’s turnaround

It is a 15-minute leisurely walk along the Swan riverfront in Perth to a restaurant serving simple south Indian meals near the jetty. A couple of India players and a member of the support staff strolled along to the place last evening to enjoy a relaxed dinner. It was a busy time at the restaurant, but no one disturbed the players while they ate, barring a single fan who also patiently agreed to wait for a photograph till they had finished.

Personal space in public places is a luxury for Indian cricketers back home, and they enjoy whatever precious leeway they get while touring. They have to come to value this space so much that they guard it zealously from all outside interference. They like to exist in their own cocoon - just the players and the support staff. Come occasions with still greater scrutiny than their usual high levels such as the World Cup, the cocoon enveloping the squad only gets thicker, shutting them from the world as much as possible. It becomes even more critical then that the inner space around the squad remains free of negatives, and an enabling atmosphere

is created. Especially when you have been on the road for three months, and are expected to do so for another month. Especially when you have won nothing in those three months leading into a world tournament where you are the defending champions.

You go right away into the two big games in your group, against arch-rivals Pakistan, and South Africa, a side you have never beaten previously in a World Cup. Watchers are expecting you to beat

the weaker sides in the group and scrape to the knockouts riding on the predictability of the format. And you come up with two thumping victories in matches you were widely expected to lose. The team management, the support staff, the captain and the players face flak when the side does not do well. They also deserve credit for delivering such a sensational start to their World Cup title defence.

MS Dhoni was asked what magic wand had he used to engi-

neer this turnaround. He put it down to the squad having faith in each other and keeping together during tough times previously on the tour.

"I think it's the belief and trust that we have in each other," Dhoni said. "What's very important is to have that belief and that magic wand actually is the support staff and the 15 players because irrespective of what others think, what really matters is what 15 people who are part of the team are thinking and how the management is working. If we are moving in one direction and we are together, there are more chances of us making a strong comeback."

As always, it has helped that they have a captain who has lasted as long as he has due to his approach of treating cricket for what it is: a game. "It's not the end of the world, and that's how I feel any sport needs to be taken," Dhoni had said when asked how the side had dealt with their winless months in Australia.

It is how Dhoni had approached the Pakistan game as well, saying that no matter who the opposition was, you were going to earn the same number of points for a win.

Although he had admitted it was not a normal game, he promised his players would try to treat it as that. Which is what they managed to do.

Living in the present might sound a cliché but that is what India have had to do in Australia. They had no option but to put away the losses where they belonged: in the past. There is already enough pressure of expectations in the present, according to Dhoni, for the players to entangle themselves in thoughts of past defeats.

Whatever Dhoni wanted from his squad in the build-up to the tournament could not be achieved if the spirits sank in the dressing room, highly probable when the wins are not coming.

"Well, that's really the job of the leader," Dhoni said. "What we wanted to do from a management point of view was to keep the morale high. It is very crucial because if the morale is down then it becomes more difficult to come back. Everybody is smiling, and even going through a lot of difficulties and problems, and if you turn up every day to improve yourself as a cricketer, you know the result will follow."

(Cricinfo)

India at the World Cup

Kevin O’Brien winds up for a big blow

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NBA roundup… Curry returns to help Warriors top Wizards

Stephen Curry returned from a onegame absence to lead all scorers with 32 points, Klay Thompson added 17 more and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Washington Wizards 114-107 in NBA action on Tuesday night.

Curry missed Sunday’s loss at Indiana with a sore right foot and played nearly 34 minutes, hitting 11 of 18 field goal attempts, including five of nine from 3-point range.

Marreese Speights added 16 points off the bench for the Warriors, who have won five of six.

Paul Pierce led the Wizards with 25 points, 18 in the second half. Marcin Gortat added 16 points and 11 rebounds, while John Wall chipped in 16 nd 11 assists.

Mavericks 99, Raptors 92 Monta Ellis scored 20 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 18 as the Dallas Mavericks hit seven of their first 10 shots of the fourth quarter to defeat the Toronto Raptors.

The victory was Dallas’ third straight, its longest winning streak since early January, and pulled the Mavericks within one game of first-place Houston in the Southwest Division.

DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 18 points. Toronto closed a stretch of four road games in five days with its third consecutive loss, one short of its season high. The Raptors are second in the Eastern

Conference, their lead over No. 3 Chicago shrinking to one game.

Dallas’ Rajon Rondo sat the final 20 minutes after having words with Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle during a timeout.

Washington has lost four straight and nine of 11.

Cavaliers 102, Pistons 93

Kevin Love tied a careerbest with eight 3-pointers for 24 points and LeBron James added 19 points and 11 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied in the second half.

Love fell just one short of teammate J.R. Smith’s record of nine 3-pointers against Detroit. Love missed both his two-point attempts.

James nearly had an odd triple-double, turning the ball over nine times, one short of his career high. Kyrie Irving added 18 points for Cleveland, which has won 17 of its last 19 games.

Reggie Jackson had 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in his second game with Detroit, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

added 21.

Tayshaun Prince started at small forward in his first game as a Piston since he was traded to Memphis in January 2013.

Thunder 105, Pacers 92 Russell Westbrook had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Thunder picked up their seventh straight win.

Westbrook claimed his third triple-double of the season and the 11th of his career, despite resting for the entire fourth quarter. Serge Ibaka had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Enes Kanter added 15 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City won its third straight without Kevin Durant. The reigning MVP had a screw replaced on his surgically repaired right foot on Sunday, and he is to be re-evaluated within a week.

C.J. Miles scored 21 points, George Hill scored 13 and David West and Solomon Hill each added 11 for the Pacers, who had won three straight. (Vancouver

Oscar Pistorius challenges prosecutors’ appeal

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Lawyers for jailed South African Olympic athlete

Oscar Pistorius have launched a legal bid to prevent prosecutors from appealing against his acquittal on murder charges.

Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled in December that prosecutors could appeal against the acquittal.

She had sentenced Pistorius to five years in prison for the lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter.

Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013.

He said he mistook her for a burglar, while prosecutors argued that he shot her after a row at his upmarket home in the capital, Pretoria.

The double amputee athlete was acquitted by Judge Masipa of both premeditated murder and the lesser murder charge of do -

lus eventualis, also known as common-law murder.

In South African law, this charge applies if the accused knew they might kill someone but still went ahead with their course of action.

Prosecutors argued that Judge Masipa misinterpreted the law when she cleared Pistorius of

murder on the basis that he did not intentionally shoot Ms Steenkamp.

Giving them permission to appeal in December, she said: “I cannot say... that the prospect of success at the Supreme Court of Appeal is remote.”

The BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says that defence lawyers are now challenging the judge’s decision, and do not want the culpable homicide verdict to be overturned.

On 13 March they will appear before Judge Masipa and intend to cite previous cases to back their argument that the appeal should not be allowed.

Pistorius was one of South Africa’s most celebrated sportsmen until his arrest.

He made history by becoming the first amputee sprintera to compete at the Olympics in London in 2012. (BCC

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A Ally and Sons Inter-Secondary Schools U-17 cricket competition...

Durant, Lewis and Corlette star in latest round

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organised 2015 A Ally and Sons Inter-Secondary Schools Under-17 Cricket Competition continued recently with pacers Dominique Durant, Isiah Lewis and all-rounder Brandon Corlette being the outstanding performers.

Below are summarised scores from matches played.

At the Rose Hall Community Centre Ground, Vrymen’s Erven Secondary took first innings points from New Amsterdam Secondary School (NASS) in their drawn match.

Junior Williams 2-12 were the successful bowlers for Vrymen’s Erven Secondary.

At Area H Ground, Lower Corentyne Secondary School (LCSS) of Rose Hall Town took first innings points from JC Chandisingh Secondary School of Port Mourant in their drawn match.

JC Chandisingh Secondary in their first innings made 78 all out, with former Guyana Under-15 batsman Matthew Hardyal hitting an attractive 40. Joshua Beharry took 3-20 and Karan Arjpaul 2-10.

Minister Westford is RHTY&SC Silver Jubilee Celebration Patron

Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford will serve as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Silver Jubilee Anniversary Patron. This was confirmed after a delegation from the Club paid a courtesy call on the Minister at her Waterloo Street, Georgetown Office recently.

The delegation, led by long-serving Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster conveyed to the Minister the Club’s activities for 2015, and also discussed the duties of the patron for the year 2015.

Batting first, NASS were bowled out for 36, with Dominique Durant securing figures of 5-14 and Isiah Lewis 3-6. Vrymen’s Erven Secondary School in reply reached 129-9, with Junior Williams making 28 and Isiah Lewis, 24. Floyd Kissoon claimed 3-20 and Brandon Corlette 2-28 respectively.

Batting a second time, NASS made 108-6, with Brandon Corlette hitting 46. Kyle Michael 2-10 and

LCSS in their first innings made 186 all out, with Ezekiel Kempadu –26; Keith Simpson – 24; Kevlon Anderson – 23; Junior Sinclair – 22; and Veeramootoo Senwasane –20, being the main scorers.

Asif Ally took 3-44 and Joshua Harrichand 3-52.

Minister Westford pledged to fulfil all her duties as patron and work along with the Club to make a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.

Among the main projects Minister Westford would be working on with the RHTY&SC are the Annual

Youth Review Magazine, a television commercial featuring the Say Yes to Education and Say No to Drugs Message, distribution of school bags to less fortunate students and the hosting of several fundraising events.

The Club Secretary/CEO expressed thanks to Minister Westford for accepting the

role as the Silver Jubilee Patron and expressed confidence that she would successfully fulfil her duties. The Club each year undertakes over 200 programmes under the sub-headings of sports, education, anti-drugs, anti-suicide, community development, youth development, and awards among others.

YWCC Mash Cup a huge success, says Beharry

– Rose Hall CC emerge champions

Young Warriors Cricket Club

(YWCC) President

Anil Beharry has described Monday’s Mash Cup Tournament as a huge success.

The one-day 2015 tournament attracted 11 second-division teams from Number 19 to Gangaram.

Rose Hall Community Centre emerged as champions after defeating Buski

ed Canefield, while Rose Hall CC beat Betsy Ground Triple Star and Number Seven overcame Goed Bananen Land. The 2014 champions Young and Restless drew the bye.

In the second round, YWCC surrendered to Buski Eleven, who drew the bye to the final. Seawell succumbed to Rose Hall CC.

The final match of the second round was the biggest

Outstanding players of the day were – Rudolph Baker of the YWCC, David Loaknauth of Buski Eleven, Jainabi of Seawell, and Raymond Mohamed of Number Seven.

Andrew Grant of Rose Hall CC was the most consistent player, winning three Man-of-the-Match awards.

Proceeds from the event will go towards replacing

Eleven in the final.

In the first round, the well-organised five overs- aside competition saw hosts YWCC defeating Gangaram and Buski Eleven edging Number 19 Kendall's Union.

Seawell then defeat-

upset with defending champions Young and Restless losing to debutant Number Seven.

In the only semi-final, Rose Hall CC was again dominant, with their youthfulness and disposed of Number Seven.

the stolen YWCC covers, further development of the venue, and the day-to-day running of the Club.

The Club took the opportunity to thank the long list of sponsors, teams and fans for their support and promised that the tourna-

ment would get bigger and better.

Murray into Dubai Championships quarter-finals with easy win

Britain’s Andy Murray cruised into the Dubai Championships quarter-finals, taking just 57 minutes to beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-0 6-2.

Sousa, who has never won a set in five matches against the world number three, made 38 unforced errors.

Murray took the first set in 21 minutes against his Portuguese opponent, who then dropped his opening service game in the second set and never recovered.

The Scot will play Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus or Croatia’s Borna Coric next.

Murray, who reached the final on his last appearance in Dubai three years ago, was a third-round victor in straight sets against Sousa at the Australian Open last month.

He won just as comfortably this time, as Sousa made 19 unforced errors in the opening set, which Murray secured with an ace. The world number 50 did manage to get off the mark by winning the third game of the second set. But Murray forced another break of serve to go 5-2 in front, before he served out the

Brandon Corlette

Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford and RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

Rose Hall CC skipper Ameer Rahaman collects the winning trophy and prize money from Inshan Satar of Jim Bacchus Travel Service in the presence of club members

Members of the winning team in a celebratory mood after winning the Mash Cup 2015

victory with the minimum of fuss. (BBC Sport)

Andy Murray

Squash starts season with handicap tournament

The Guyana Squash Association and telecommunications giant Digicel have teamed up to serve off the annual Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash Tournament on Tuesday at the Georgetown Club squash courts.

The tournament kicked off with 12 matches. Ashley De Groot, Ben Mekdeci and John Maikoo were among some of the winners.

De Groot with a +1 handicap to Alex Cheeks +7 was able to pull off the win in two straight sets that ended 15-8 and 15-9.

Mekdeci with a -11 handicap to David Fernandes +8 battled his way to victory in two straight sets at 16-14 and 15-12.

Maikoo holding a +7 advantage to Timothy Jonas +10 was able to win the match in three sets 2-1 at 15-11, 10-15 and 15-9.

Full results: John Maikoo +7 defeated Timothy Jonas +10 1511, 10-15, 15-9; Ingram

Edwards +4 defeated Stephen Fernandes +7 1512, 8-15, 15-11; Dwayne Jan +9 defeated Andrea King+8 8- 15, 15-13, 1513; Joe Mekdeci 0 defeated Taylor Fernandes+6 13-15, 15-12, 15-9; Daniel Islam +7 beat Robert Hiscock +8 16-14, 155; Shane Seebarran +11 beat Jonathan Fernandes +9 15- 11, 15-11; Sarah Lewis +11 defeated Robin

Low +10 18-16, 8-15, 1510; Anthony Islam +9 defeated Haopei Yang +10 15-13, 15-9; Raphael De Groot -13 defeated Medhi Ramdhani +5 15- 11, 1512; Kyle Waldron +10 defeated Jonathan Edwards +12 15-10, 15-8; Ashley De Groot +1 beat Alex Cheeks +7 15-8, 15-9; and Ben Mekdeci -11 defeated David Fernandes +8 16-14, 15- 12.

Mullings appeals Split Decision...

This publication was able to confirm on Wednesday that Abdool, who is also CABOFE’s President, was in receipt of the petition. It was understood that Abdool reviewed the fight in its entirety on Wednesday and was due to reveal his findings at a press briefing today.

The crux of the matter is whether the cut above Mullings’ eye resulted from a head-butt or a legal punch and if Atwell was indeed knocked down or had actually slipped. It is understood that point deductions for holding are not reversible, as they are given solely at the discretion of the Referee.

Mullings also told the Gleaner that he has the utmost respect for Abdool and believes he will make a fair and just decision.

Boxing report

With a partisan crowd cheering him on, Atwell dominated the early exchanges by landing some powerful jabs that rocked the Jamaican and forced him on the defensive. Mullings managed to land a few of his own, but nothing to shake Atwell, who was clearly the fitter fighter, as he skilfully created space when needed and swayed from a few power punches.

At the end of the fourth round, the judges had the card 38-38, 40-36, 3937 in Atwell’s favour, but Mullings started to attack in round five with the aim of notching up valuable points. However, his chances took a blow in round six when he suffered a nasty cut above

the left eye, prompting Atwell to launch a vicious attack on his opponent.

With blood gushing from the wound, Mullings was peppered by Atwell with some ferocious jabs and

More support for RHTY&SC Silver Jubilee Celebration

Support for Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) as it celebrates its Silver Jubilee Anniversary continues to pour in as five major businesses have come on board.

The Club on Thursday last received support from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Guyana Oil Company, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, the Law Firm of Cameron & Shepherd and Tiger Sports.

Club Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster, who is spearheading the Silver Jubilee yearlong celebration, stated that the Club intended to make the year 2015 a memorable one.

Foster expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Patrick Harding of the GGDMA, Abdool Kadir of Guyoil, Ralph Ramkarran of Cameron & Shepherd and Sheik Mohamed of Tiger Sports for their support.

Foster assured the donors that the contributions would be used for their intended purpose. He stated that the Club would continue to uphold its very high standards and principles of success, honesty, hard work, dedication and striving to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

hooks, but the Jamaican got into the action towards the end of round eight by unleashing a flurry of punches on the Guyanese. Atwell was ahead on the judges’ card at the end of eight, with scores of 76-76, 80-74, 79-74.

The final four rounds were shared by the boxers, as Atwell used his punches to good effect in rounds nine and 10, before Mullings found a new leash of life in the final two rounds, going on the offensive from the moment the bell rang.

The ploy was quite understandable as the only means of a victory at that point for Mullings was a knockout, but he was up against a game Atwell, who withstood bravely everything that was thrown at him.

Ashley deGroot Ben Mekdeci

Clive Atwell with the WBC Junior Welterweight Belt

Match Referee Eion Jardine

A representative of Tiger Sports hands over some of the trophies and balls to RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

Mullings appeals Split Decision loss to Atwell

– Abdool to reveal findings today

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

What seemed like a straightforward decision in the

main fight at the “Caribbean Collision” boxing card has now been thrown into controversy following an appeal by Sakima Mullings, who ended up on the unfor-

tunate end of the results on Saturday night.

Guyanese Clive Atwell won the 12-round contest against the Jamaican by Split Decision to become the World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE)

Junior Welterweight champion in front of a fair-sized crowd at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

According to a report in the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, Mullings filed a petition on Sunday shortly after he returned to the island, calling for the result to be overturned and a rematch ordered, citing poor decisions by Referee Eion Jardine.

Two judges, Francis Abraham of Guyana and McKenzie Granger of Trinidad, scored the fight 118-111 and 116-112, respectively, for the Guyanese boxer, while Clifford Brown of Jamaica scored the bout

WICB congratulates Gayle on historic feat

The West Indies Cricket Board has extended sincere congratulations to Chris Gayle, following his amazing double hundred that propelled West Indies to their second victory today in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, when they beat Zimbabwe by 73 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis Method.

Gayle was in recordbreaking mood, smashing an incredible 215 off just 147 balls with 14 fours and 16 sixes before he was out off the last ball of the West Indies’ innings of 372 for two from their allocation of 50 overs in the Pool B match at Manuka Oval in the Australia capital of Canberra.

He became the first player to score a triple century in Tests, a double century in One-day Internationals and a century in Twenty20 Internationals.

Gayle’s 22nd ODI hundred surpassed Garry Kirsten’s previous best of 188 made against the United Arab Emirates in 1996. The 16 sixes equalled the record for the most in an innings.

Officer of the WICB Michael Muirhead.

“It must be a great feeling for him to have achieved the highest score in the history of the Cricket World Cup. His performance, we are sure, helped to make the day of every West Indian, whether at home or abroad, fans of the game or not.”

in favour of Mullings 115113.

Mullings is contending that Atwell head-butted him, opening up a cut over his left eye, but Jardine failed to deduct a point. The Jamaican welterweight champion also said he knocked Atwell down during the fight, but the referee ruled it a slip.

Mullings is also accusing Atwell of holding excessively in the fight, especially in the later rounds, when he [Mullings] had found his range. The Jamaican pugilist, whose loss against Atwell was his first to a Guyanese fighter and the second of his career, has lodged an appeal to the Fight Supervisor and President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, to have the tape reviewed to verify the soundness of his allegations against the Referee.

“On behalf of the directors, management and staff of the WICB and the people of the region, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team for their emphatic win and Chris for his brilliant innings today,” said Chief Executive

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time)

Today: 19th Match, Pool B - South Africa v West Indies, 23:00h

Friday: 20th Match, Pool A- New Zealand v Australia, 21:00h

Saturday: 21st Match, Pool B- India v United Arab Emirates, 02:30h

Muirhead added: “He deserves every accolade that he receives following such an incredible innings. We know such an achievement does not come easily and we want to thank him for the tremendous effort he displayed.

“Now that he has accomplished such a feat, he has now set a high standard for himself and other members of the team to follow, and we are sure they’ll meet it or beat it in the coming weeks of the tournament! We urge fans to ‘rally hard’ around the team, as they set their sights firmly on winning the title.”

During the innings, Gayle reached the 9,000 run landmark in ODIs and is now second behind Brian Lara 10,405 in the West Indies all-time list. He also broke several West Indies records.(Windies Cricket)

SCOREBOARD

Scotland innings (50 overs maximum)

KJ Coetzer b Dawlat Zadran 25

CS MacLeod c Najibullah Zadran

b Dawlat Zadran 0

HJW Gardiner lbw

b Hamid Hassan 5

MW Machan b Mohammad Nabi 31

PL Mommsen* c †Afsar Zazai

b Gulbadin Naib 23

RD Berrington c †Afsar Zazai

b Dawlat Zadran 25

MH Cross† c †Afsar Zazai

b Shapoor Zadran 15

JH Davey c Hamid Hassan b Shapoor Zadran 1

RM Haq c Gulbadin Naib

b Shapoor Zadran 31

AC Evans c Mohammad Nabi

b Shapoor Zadran 28

I Wardlaw not out 1

Extras: (lb 12, w 12, nb 1) 25

Total: (all out; 50 overs) 210

9-0-53-1, Mohammad Nabi 100-38 -1, Javed Ahmadi 1-0-8-0 Afghanistan innings (target: 211 runs from 50 overs) Javed Ahmadi not out 24

Nawroz Mangal not out 6

Extras: 1

Fall of wickets 1-7 (MacLeod, 1.6 ov), 2-38 (Gardiner, 10.5 ov), 3-40 (Coetzer, 11.1 ov), 4-93 (Machan, 21.2 ov), 5-95 (Mommsen, 22.2 ov), 6-132 (Cross, 30.4 ov), 7-134 (Davey, 32.5 ov), 8-144 (Berrington, 36.4 ov), 9-206 (Haq, 49.1 ov), 10-210 (Evans, 49.6 ov) Bowling: Shapoor Zadran 10 -1 -38-4, Dawlat Zadran 10-1-29-3, Hamid Hassan 10-1-32-1, Gulbadin Naib

Total:(0 wickets; 6 overs) 31 To bat: Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi*, Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai†, Gulbadin Naib, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran Bowling: I Wardlaw 3-017 -0, JH Davey 2-0-100, AC Evans 1-0 -4 -0

Chris Gayle

Sakima Mullings (black trunks) tries to evade a right hand from Clive Atwell during Saturday’s bout

GBBC and CABOFE President Peter Abdool

Sakima Mullings suffered a cut above the left eye