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Lindeners happy to P2 receive education grant

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2306

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Baby needs help for life-saving surgery Page 9

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Four held for Albouystown P7 killing Come Monday‌

APNU to support P8 AFC's NoConfidence Motion

La Union lad killed in road P12 accident

President Donald Ramotar and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh meeting executives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Wednesday at Office of the President to discuss issues affecting the business community. The PSC delegation included Chairman Ramesh Persaud and members Captain Gerry Gouveia, Clinton Williams, Kit Nascimento, Eddie Boyer and Manniram Prashad

Glenn Lall’s illegal spying...

Officials fearful about phone contact with Kaieteur News reporters Page 7

Rodney CoI hears...

Sugar workers severely suppressed under PNC Page 11 regime

Pushcart vending P12 creating countrywide nuisance

2 news

thursdAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Lindeners happy to receive education grant

BY SHELDON FRASER-SEALEY

P

arents and guardians in Linden are happy to receive the “Because We Care” $10,000 grant, with some saying that it will be handy in preparation for Christmas.

There have been long lines at the Cambio/Western Union outlets at both Wismar and Mackenzie.

From early morning into the evening, there are long lines of parents and guardians waiting to cash their vouchers.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, some say the money will be useful in Christmas preparations in terms of catering for some of the needs of their children.

Guyana Times understands that the needs for some children would have to be put on hold until after Christmas, since most of this money would go towards Christmas curtains, household appliances, food, drinks, paint, Christmas

Parents at the Western Union outlet at the Mackenzie shore

lights and decorations, among other things.

Some of the children who did not get their school bags or shoes will have to wait until next year since the school term in already in progress and will soon end.

A few parents say the grant could not have come at an opportune time, around the Christmas season, as it would both facilitate the purchase of some school items for their children and have money for Christmas.

When Guyana times visited the Western Union Branch on the Mackenzie shore, there was a long line from the store to the main road.

The Western Union Manager had to close the gates to the entrance of the building to control the flow of the crowd. The entire compound of the property was filled with scores of parents and guardians who were waiting patiently in line to cash their vouchers.

What was even more evident was there was also a long line on the road apart from those who were cramped in the building.

They even used umbrellas to shade them from the heat of the sun.

One parent said she was happy for the grant as it will be of significant help for her two children, while praising the Government for reaching out to the poor.

Parents and guardians have until the end of November to cash their vouchers and Lindeners are

trying to do so early to avoid a bigger rush later in the month.

Some sources say that some anxious parents have even travelled to Georgetown to use the Western Union facilities these.

A few parents claim that they would use the vouchers strictly for educational purposes. Many parents express disappointed at not receiving the voucher as their children attend private school.

The crowd had people from every corner of Linden,

including Block 22, Wisroc, Amelia’s Ward, One Mile, Canvas City, Half Mile, One Mile, Three friends Mines, Richmond Hill, Green Valley, Victory Valley and Christiansburg.

The Western Union outlets opened at 08:30h, but many persons were there long before.

The “Because We Care” initiative launched by Government seeks to provide some support to parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly.

Blue CAPS demands date for LGE

S

ocial change advocate Blue CAPS said while it is pleased with the announcement made by President Donald Ramotar that a date would be set for Local Government Elections (LGE) in the second quarter of 2015, a specific date should be made known.

According to the group in a release, the President

should go a step further and instruct Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker to announce a specific date for the hosting of these elections.

“Only a specific date, and not a generalised and vague promise, will activate GECOM’s internal processes to effectuate and administer the successful hosting of LGE. “We also urge the President to resume dialogue with the parliamentary Opposition to discuss the hosting of these elections. This is crucial if the Executive wants to avert a successful No-Confidence Motion from the Legislature.

Any attempts to impose on the design of the agenda of the Parliament will be met with resistance by the combined parliamentary Opposition and this would only add to the dysfunctional, and non-productive, political environment that currently prevails,” Blue CAPS said.

The group led by former Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Clinton Urling said it is time the political policy-makers look for solutions that unite rather than divide the country and work together in a bi-partisan manner for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Just days after declaring that it would be “foolish” of him to call Local Government Elections, President Donald Ramotar Tuesday night declared his intention to hold those polls “in the second quarter of next year”.

Condition

However, he said this is contingent on whether the Opposition rams through its No-Confidence Motion against his administration.

In that eventuality, he would use his powers to prorogue or dissolve Parliament, paving the way for fresh General elections. While both options would precipitate General Elections, in proroguing Parliament the President would be avoiding his party be the first to fall on an Opposition No-Confidence Motion.

Ramotar made the comments during an address to the nation aired on State broadcaster, the National Communications Network (NCN) Tuesday evening.

President Donald Ramotar

Government had up to then been resisting holding Local Government Elections, citing a range of reasons why it was not feasible. The main Opposition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), however, which is currently engaged in countrywide protest actions, had demanded that the Head of State set a date for the poll.

In fact, APNU had made the Local Government Election issue the centerpiece of its struggle; giving lip service to the Alliance For Change sponsored NoConfidence Motion.

The President would appear to be calling APNU’s bluff and would be forcing the latter to take a stand. Observers say APNU would be in a “most uncomfortable” place when Parliament reconvenes on Monday as the President effectively gives it two options: one of going ahead with the AFC-sponsored NoConfidence Motion and face the fresh General Elections or supporting its own agenda, which would see its hard fought campaign for Local Government Elections being realised.

Opposition Leader David Granger in reacting to the President’s statement said that the Opposition will not be threatened or intimidated.

“A Partnership for National Unity – APNU is extremely disappointed by the views expressed by President Donald Ramotar in his address to the nation...

It is clear that President Ramotar is trying to intimidate the Opposition by threatening General and Regional Elections and putting Local Government Elections far into the future.

APNU will not be threatened or intimidated,” Granger said.

NEWS

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thursday, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, November 6 from 14:30h-16:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, November 6 from 15:40h-17:10h

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Light rain showers can be expected, with sunny conditions otherwise prevailing in the morning hours. Thundery showers are also expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly at 4.02 to 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 15:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.83 metres.

Low Tide: 09:32h and 21:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.51 and 0.37 metre.

The above-normal high tide advisory is in effect until Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Residents of coastal, low- lying and riverine areas are advised to take necessary precautions against possible flooding.

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Speaker claims President cannot reconvene National Assembly S

peaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that President Donald Ramotar has no constitutional power to reconvene the National Assembly.

The statement said that under Articles 69 and 70, the President as the Head of States and the Executive has the power to convene the National Assembly following a General Election or following the prorogation of the Parliament.

“On January 9, 2012, His Excellency issued the required Proclamation to convene the first sitting of the 10th Parliament. That sitting was held on January 12, 2012, and thereafter, our work commenced.

There has been no prorogation or suspension of the current session,” the statement said.

According to the statement, it is customary for there be one continuous session of Parliament without any interruption until the dissolution for elections.

However, he said the President’s move to set a date for resumption of sittings contradicts the norms.

The annual recess that runs from August 10-October 10 should not be confused with a prorogation or suspension of the Parliament, the Speaker contended.

“As Speaker of the

Speaker Raphael Trotman

National Assembly, I continue to insist that it was beyond the scope of the President’s constitutional authority to set a date for the House to resume sittings after the recess. The President is not a member of the National Assembly and so any pronouncements on the sittings should have been issued and articulated by the Honorable Prime Minister,” the statement added.

President Ramotar on Saturday has directed that steps be taken to reconvene sitting of the National Assembly within the next

14 days.

A release from the Office of the President said having been appraised of Opposition Leader David Granger’s recent statement in the media with regard to talks between them, there is no longer any benefit to the country for any further delays in reconvening sitting of the National Assembly.

“The Government reiterates its position that the convening of a sitting of the National Assembly must be done in accordance with the Standing Orders and long cherished parliamentary

practices.

“The Government has a number of pending legislative matters before the House prior to the annual recess. Further, there are important financial papers relating to the development of the country and growth of the economy that need to be urgently addressed,” the release said.

Trotman had, however, refused to speak to Guyana Times when contacted as regards his statement about the President’s order for the reconvening of Parliament.

The Speaker, when contacted, evidently did not want the Guyana Times and the Evening News to report on the damning sodomy allegations about him.

Trotman, who clearly allowed a private problem to affect his public office, was alluding to articles published in Guyana Times and carried by the Evening News on the allegations levelled against him by a young man, Johnny Welshman.

Trotman has since secured a gag order from the High Court barring Welshman from speaking about the sodomy allegations.

Though the reporter attempted to explain that the query was in connection with the affairs of the National Assembly, the Speaker disconnected the call, advising that contact be made with his Attorney.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, november 6, 2014

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Burnham and Rodney T

he Rodney Commission of Inquiry’s testimony on Tuesday was overshadowed by the President’s bold announcement that he was scheduling Local Government Elections (LGE) in the “second quarter” of 2015. What had most persons in a state of shock was that only the day before the President had reiterated his oft-stated position that LGE would be “a waste of time and money” at this juncture.

Some surmised that the statement by the President must have been a ploy to place the AFC on the backfoot since APNU might abandon even its lukewarm support for their “noconfidence” motion, now that there was a chance for LGE, which they favoured.

Be that as it may, there was an interesting claim made by one of the CoI’s witnesses – Ras Leon Saul, Secretary of the Guyana Reparations Committee and President of the Guyana Rastafari Council. Mr Saul had been the Chronicle reporter at the time of Rodney’s murder, who covered the event. But it was not his report of the murder that stood out, but rather his bold claim that Burnham and Rodney were “two sides of the same coin”.

While one cannot speak conclusively, as this is evidently the first time such an assessment has been made since Rodney reappeared on the Guyana scene exactly 40 years ago in 1974. Coming from his evidently deep reflection within an Afrocentric perspective, Mr Saul’s assertion cannot be summarily dismissed but deserves honest interrogation.

To support his conclusion, Saul makes three key premises: that Burnham and Rodney came from similar backgrounds, defended “the masses” and possessed “an African consciousness”.

On the first claim, Rodney came from a far more humble background than Burnham, whose father was the headmaster of a school in Kitty. This circumstance would have had a profound impact on their horizons – even though both ended up at Queen’s College. A headmaster was already a member of the then colonial middle class and its members would already have set their sights on the road to upward mobility: through the professions or the public service.

According to his sister Jessie, by the time he was 12, Burnham had already written out his ambitions – to become the Mayor of Georgetown, the first Chief Justice of British Guiana, the first Prime Minister of the British West Indian Federation – etc. Rodney’s ambitions were in a different direction – scholarship.

In terms of “defending the masses” – presumably against those that sought to oppress them – Burnham was willing to cut his “socialist” rhetoric and radical actions to fit the policy of the US and Britain to oust a government overtly committed to work on behalf of those masses, just so he could seize personal power.

Rodney, on the other hand, was a committed Marxist who yet refused to be doctrinaire and fused his Marxist perspective with the reality of being a person of African origin into a liberating praxis. Unlike what Saul asserts, the two men never “stood for the same ideas”. Burnham craved Third World leadership recognition and sprouted rhetoric, while Rodney actually lived and eventually died for his ideas.

And this leads us to the last claim of both men having an “African consciousness”. Even as a student, Rodney showed his African consciousness was deep and enduring, and not tactical, by choosing as his PhD dissertation a “History of the Upper Guinea Coast 1545-1800”. Rodney wanted to understand Africa before it was seized and divvied up among the European powers –- and also during the crucial period in which the institution of modern African slavery was established.

Rodney, then, had a profound understanding of African consciousness, exemplified in his “Groundings with my Brothers” in which he made that consciousness accessible to ordinary West Indians. Burnham, on the other hand, postured with refugees from the US, who had a significantly different historical experience. He was a poseur.

Burnham and Rodney were as “chalk and cheese”.

The United Women for Special Children (UWSC) recently donated to the David Rose School for Handicapped Children’s Aquatic Programme swimming goggles, kick boards and swim caps.

This programme is run weekly at the Colgrain Swimming Pool with coach and assistant’s fees also funded by UWSC. In photo are UWSC members Tanya Vieira and Cindy Rahaman handing over items to the teachers and students of the school

Prominent Guyanese have been victims of vile, vulgar assault by Kaieteur News Dear Editor, The Kaieteur News of October 28 carried the screaming headline “Attorney General (AG) reveals plan to hit Glenn Lall, Kaieteur News”. My immediate reaction on reading the headline was one of alarm. The details of the article flowed from a conversation between a Kaieteur News reporter, Leonard Gildharie, and the Attorney General, which the reporter recorded.

The AG contends that the conversation was distorted and manipulated and does not reflect his true dialogue.

He has filed legal proceedings. The Police are also investigating the authenticity and legality of the recording.

However, I am writing on the assumption that the recording was lawful and accurately recorded and was a true recording of the conversation.

I read the published transcript of that telephone conversation as well as I listened to the audio recording.

Any person with “an ounce of brain” who read that published transcript or listened to the audio recording would recognise immediately that the AG did not reveal “any plan” to hit Glenn Lall and the Kaieteur News.

It really takes a person with less than “an ounce of brain” to advance such a claim.

What then did the published transcript reveal? To understand the statements made by the AG, the context of the conversation between himself and the reporter must be taken into account.

Essentially, the AG, in this very private conversation with the reporter, was explaining that Glenn Lall was using his newspaper as a weapon to attack people, and even innocent people

were the subject of attacks, and many without the ability to adequately, or at all, make appropriate responses to unjust attacks, may just walk into Kaieteur News office with a weapon and, “wha come suh do”.

In other words, what was being said is that if Kaieteur News persists in its attacks on the character and reputation of innocent people, then its continued denigration and deration of those people would lead to catastrophic consequences.

That was no more than a few or an opinion of a likely eventuality if the viciousness and vindictiveness being spewed daily from the pages of the Kaieteur News continue.

Former President Bharrat Jadgeo, Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali, Head of NICIL Winston Brassington, the AG himself, and a host of other public officials and prominent Guyanese have been victims of the vile and vulgar assault on their character, reputation and professionalism by the Kaieteur News.

That newspaper’s feature column “Dem Boys Seh” is the tool of its offensiveness. Probably intended to be a satirical column, it often openly names public officials and is marked by vulgar expressions, and a lewd, coarse style, reflective of the depressed minds responsible for it, and whom it may be said by deduction are possessed of less than “an ounce of brain”.

The public will not, however, be fooled. The difficulties faced by Glenn Lall for alleged infractions of the criminal law have been noted by such people in this country, who will examine the allegations for which he has

been charged against his moralist and virtuous posturing. Much is known of Glenn Lall.

With the fullness of time all will be revealed. He has used his newspaper to detract from the allegations of criminality levelled against him. I make bold to say that his claims of a plan to shut down Kaieteur News and to kill him and his staff are only in his imagination. The man seems tortured by his present difficulties in the courts.

The call by his newspaper for public protest in support of his newspaper and for the establishment of a Committee In Defence of Kaieteur News marks his vain expectation, that whatever support he can muster from among the less educated and less informed among us may impact upon the likelihood of a favourable outcome for him in the course and in that state, he appears completely oblivious to the fact that neither sympathy nor public opinion will be considered factors in the determination of his guilt or innocence.

That brings me to Khemraj Ramjattan, his lawyer and the leader of the AFC. It is understood that Ramjattan must aggressively represent his client to justify his fee, but it is known, that must not be done in the sacrifice of professional standards.

Physical defects notwithstanding, where does Ramjattan see in the public transcript, “a plan” that was revealed by the AG. It does appear that Ramjattan’s judgment evident in his and his party’s call for the AG to resign has been affected by political antagonism, rivalry, and no doubt, personal jealousy.

Gildharie was, evidently, extremely deceitful to the

AG. According to Glenn Lall, Gildharie recorded his conversation with the AG. Where was his decency, he never informed the AG that he would record the conversation. The phone call emanated from AG. It was not a solicited interview. It was simply a private call.

Anyway, back to the recording. The Guyana Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Association, “have observed that in the recording, the AG offered in vulgar and obscene language, knowledge of planned illegal activities”.

How on earth could these supposedly trained legal minds arrive at such a conclusion. It is troubling that these learned men and women have applied some socalled conventions of “public discourse” to a private telephone conversation.

If one’s character and professionalism are to be called into question because of the nature of one’s private conversation, then it could be asked, what about a professional who commits an act of rape for which he is not prosecuted but continues in his profession, should not his conscience and sense of morality guide him to appropriate action and should not his character and professionalism be called into question by those who know of his rape, but find it convenient to remain silent.

What a hypocritical bunch!

There may be indiscretions that could be laid at the feet of the AG, but allegations of a threat to hit Glenn Lall and the Kaieteur News must be seen as nothing more than a puff of hot air.

Yours truly, Richard Mendoza

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, november 6, 2014

Agriculture is the backbone of Guyana’s development Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) extends its congratulations to Agriculture Ministers Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Ali Baksh for a very successful Agriculture Month that just ended and for the continued strides being made in agricultural production.

The PPP/C notes that Minister Ramsammy was high in his praise for the family farmer and their contributions to the economy and the development of agriculture and our country as a whole.

The PPP/C has always seen agriculture as the backbone of our development and has been investing in extension services, education, research, marketing and drainage and transportation infrastructure. Recently, we have only been hearing of good news from agriculture.

For example, the opening of rice markets in Panama and Africa, the export of rice in August 2014 alone recorded levels that were greater than annual exports under the PNC regime, the

commissioning of the new state-of-the-art veterinary laboratory at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, the commissioning of the new state-of-theart tissue culture laboratory at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, and the cooperation between Mexico and Guyana to develop the coconut industry.

During Agriculture Month, impressive exhibitions were held showing our people how to prepare delicious dishes with our own produce. Part of what Minister Ramsammy calls the “Eat What We Grow” campaign As we have mentioned earlier, all this have been achieved because of the tens of thousands of family farmers who day in and day out answer the calls of food security and national development. The PPP/C salutes the farmers, their families, and the Ministers.

Submitted by, PPP/C Freedom House

274 Tuschen Police Outpost has animals made a positive difference impounded in the community in October Dear Editor, The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to report that a total of 274 animals were impounded in pounds in A (Georgetown); B (Berbice); C (East Coast Demerara); and D (West Demerara) Police Divisions during the month of October.

The Georgetown Unit accounted for 265, comprising 75 cows, 65 goats and 125 sheep. The Berbice Unit accounted for nine, comprising five horses and four cows.

The Ministry continues its appeal to all cattle owners to ensure the safety of their cattle by properly supervising them during their grazing period.

Owners are also advised to desist from grazing their animals on the parapet along the public roads, since such a practice can lead to animals being involved in accidents that can result in the loss of life, serious injuries to the animals and persons, and damage to property.

Submitted by, Ministry of Home Affairs

NTC Conferences attended by over 200 Toshaos; each allowed to speak Dear Editor, I read an article about Toshaos being “vexed” that the recently-held conference did not address many pressing concerns.

The six Toshaos who claimed that they were sidelined and not able to have their “pressing concerns” addressed is a deception.

They are known associates of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA). But nothing is wrong with this, since it is their democratic right to belong to any organisation of their choice.

What is wrong though, as leaders of their villages, they should have made representations to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs regarding the “pressing concerns” that affect their communities long in advance of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference as part of their duties as Toshaos (Section 22 [I] of Amerindian Act 2006). Did they do this?

The NTC Conferences were attended by over 200 Toshaos. Each one of them is allowed to speak at the business sessions, but need to be mindful that other

Toshaos will have to speak as well in the representation of his/her community interests.

The problem with some Toshaos is that when they start to speak, they do not want to stop to give others a chance to speak and this is where the sessional chairman/chairperson intervenes.

Some Toshaos as well attempt to speak twice on the same subject matter which causes the chair to intervene as well so that every Toshao is granted the opportunity to speak. Were the six Toshaos in the category of long-winded speakers?

If they were, then all they had to do is be short and effective by stating what are their “pressing concerns” and what they would like the Government to do in terms of problemsolving.

Of course, this would be at the business sessions where the President, Ministers of Government and Government officials are in attendance.

Let me inform the six

5

Toshaos that are “vexed” with the recently-held NTC Conference: At the Annual conferences of the United Nations Permanent forum on Indigenous issues (UNPII) held at UN Headquarters, New York, the time allotted to speak is only five minutes.

At the recently-held World Conference on Indigenous Peoples held at the UN Headquarters, the speaking time allotted was three minutes.

In this regard, the six Toshaos being “vexed” with the NTC Conference has no basis and to just accuse the NTC of being pro-Government is simply an unqualified statement and grossly unfair.

What is important for the six Toshaos to recognise is that despite their opposition to the Government of Guyana, their communities are not neglected, but continue to be provided with development assistance. It is, therefore, crucial for the six “vexed” Toshaos to let their conscience be their guide.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Most persons say they feel safer in Tuschen as they have easy access to law enforcement officers

Dear Editor, Please allow me the opportunity to commend Commander Ian Amsterdam for setting up a Police outpost in the Tuschen New Housing Scheme.

This was a very good move on the part of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and certainly should be replicated in housing schemes across the country. For quite a while now, residents of Tuschen have been lobbying for the Police to set up a permanent base there and we are very pleased that it has become a reality.

Prior to the policing outpost being established in Tuschen, there were a series of crimes being committed almost daily, includ-

ing break and enter, street robberies, traffic violations, loud music and a host of other problems involving neighbours, etc.

Almost daily one would hear of a person being robbed or someone being attacked. Now that the Police are showing a physical presence in the community, there has been a massive reduction in various crime-related activities.

However, this is not to say that all is well in Tuschen – there are still minor robberies being committed and uncaring residents still turn up the volume of their music very loud and disturb their neighbours, etc, but most persons would tell you that they now feel

safer as they have easy access to law enforcement officers who always seem to be on the ball and ready to deal with any problem.

From my interaction with the officers there, I have noticed a high level of professionalism and a desire on their part to ensure there is peace and order in the community.

I hope that the necessary resources would be provided to this small team of officers so that they can continue to carry out their duties in maintaining law and order in the community. I also call on the residents of the community to work along with the Police in ensuring that our society is rid of criminals.

I suggest a regular engagement between the residents and the Police so that all stakeholders will understand and appreciate the challenges faced and could offer meaningful contributions to solve the various problems confronting us.

Thank you GPF for making us feel safer and comfortable. The Tuschen Police Outpost has made a positive impact in our community.

Yours truly, Tariq Khan Resident of Tuschen

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thursDAY, november 6, 2014

Page

Foundation

CDC’s Disease Detectives tackle Ebola outbreak

CDC Disease Detective Rupa provides an infection control lesson to health-care workers staffing a health inspection station at the border of Guinea

S

mall boats regularly cross the river that divides the countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone, taking people back and forth across the border. Some of these people carry the deadly Ebola virus.

It was along this river bank that Rupa, a Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Disease Detective, found herself training Guinean medical workers who were screening river passengers for symptoms of Ebola.

Among the symptoms of Ebola are: fever; severe headache; muscle pain; weakness; fatigue; diarrhoea; vomiting; abdominal (stomach) pain; and unexplained haemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.

“They had two physicians, a nurse and a couple other people working in a tiny health post made out of a tarp,”

she said. “They asked me to go there to do an infection control lesson. The staff was really welcoming and happy to have the training.”

Rupa’s work in Guinea is the first time she’s responded to a humanitarian crisis in a non-clinical role. Before becoming an officer in CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service she worked for MSF, often referred to as Doctors Without Borders. She struggled with not having a role in direct patient care during her recent deployment, especially when Ebola patient admissions tripled at the MSF facility adjacent to her office during her 30-day trip.

“Seeing how stretched thin they were with human resources was the most devastating, helpless, heartbreaking feeling possible,” she said.

But she found a way to help by educating MSF nurses about infection control. Health-care providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact with

Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick because they may come in contact with infected blood or body fluids of sick patients.”It really opened up some new roles for us in the field and showed us some other needs that were different from surveillance and data entry.”

During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within health-care settings (such as a clinic or hospital). Exposure to Ebola can occur in health-care settings where hospital staff are not wearing appropriate protective equipment, including masks, gowns, and gloves and eye protection.

Rupa also spent time in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, working with their Ebola data management system and on their contact tracing abilities. Ebola was the talk of the town, she said. “You couldn’t go through 10 minutes of your day without hearing local people speaking about Ebola and what is going on. Everyone’s lives have changed.”

And life will likely be different for a while. Rupa admits, “There is a long road ahead in the battle against Ebola.

However, I feel I was able to help. We were able to identify what the needs are as far as infection control, triage, and where we can place CDC personnel.”

Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive clinical care and the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.

She hopes that she will once again be placed in Guinea. When asked if she would volunteer for another deployment she said, “Absolutely.” (CDC)

Stop just raising your children, start empowering them

By Matthew Arrington

A

s a parent, you always want to be there for your children—whether that’s congratulating them in their victories or consoling them in their defeats. And while this is a natural tendency, this type of behaviour can sometimes have unintended effects; it could even become harmful. Indeed, intervening too frequently throughout your child’s life could stifle his or her interest in trying new things or tackling new challenges.

You see, there’s a difference between raising a child and

empowering that child to grow and be a successful human being.

In a general sense, raising your child involves taking care of his needs until he’s old enough to fend for himself.

Empowering your child, on the

other hand, is enabling him to make his own decisions; it’s the key to raising a strong and responsible adult. After all, your job isn’t simply to usher your child into adulthood, but rather to teach skills that lead to success and independence.

Communicating confidence New experiences offer your child opportunities to practise helpful life skills and develop new interests and talents.

By limiting her freedom to choose, you stifle her ability to grow. What’s more, you put yourself in an authoritarian position, which doesn’t work well as she progresses into

adulthood.

Of course, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t provide support to your children!

Without structure, children are left alone when they need words of encouragement or nudges in the right direction. Empowerment is all about striking a balance between being there for your children, and trusting them to make good decisions independently.

Children flourish when they can become their own person. Telling people that they’re capable of making decisions and accomplishing tasks is powerful at any age, but it’s especially powerful for children and teens. It promotes trust and respect rather than dependency, and it strengthens children’s relationships with their parents.

Here are ways you can empower your child: Build up your child’s dreams. If your child wants to be the world’s fastest person, tell him he can do it.

If he wants to invent a super computer, help him find supplies. Whether your child wants to write a bestselling book, become an opera singer, or be president, encourage him to work toward those goals.

Taking healthy risks is progress for children who are becoming empowered. It lets them experience new things without fear. (Excerpt from empoweringparents) To be continued

NEWS

7

thursDAY, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Glenn Lall’s illegal spying...

Officials fearful about phone contact with Kaieteur News reporters

K

aieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall continues to be denounced for his alleged illegal recording of a conversation between one of his reporters and Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

Already several persons and organisation have condemned the recent act by Lall, who admitted that he tapes the conversation of his reporters.

The Attorney General has since filed court actions against Lall and also sued him, his Editor Adam Harris and his newspaper outfit for libellous publications arising from the tape.

Since the surreptitious recording of the Attorney General, several public officials have expressed concerns about the privacy of conversations they might have had with staff of the newspaper and some have been refusing to take calls from reporters of the news outfit.

“Gotta call a Kaieteur News reporter, so I have to put on me ‘studio voice’... after all I want sound good on tape,” a media practitioner wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

“Make sure u tell the reporter when you are ready and use words like ‘off the record’ and its ‘my personal opinion’ and for peace sake, do not bring up any ‘Gun N’ Roses tunes’,” another person commented.

One letter writer Faruk Mohamed commenting generally on the illegal taping, said: “It is... unquestionably obvious, that the kind of journalism the Kaieteur News subscribes to is devoid of any fairness or balance.”

He said within the course of one year, 50 lawsuits have been filed against this newspaper, and it is internationally recognised that the Kaieteur News is the most sued news outlet in the world.

“Is this not an indication of the type of journalism being practiced by this news outfit?” he asked.

Alarmed

Only on Tuesday, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) had said that it was alarmed at the illegal recording.

FITUG said it has been following, in a general way, the public brouhaha which have stemmed from the taping of the conversation and many of those views focused on the content of the purported tape, which, seemingly, is providing a grand opportunity for essentially the politically-inclined to do some personal bashing.

“But those who are hastening to take a passing advantage at this turn of events should not be shortsighted nor should they allow any exultation at this

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

act obscure to its graver implications.”

For FITUG, certain concerns have come up. The union said there was the disgusting and illegal nature of the taping of a private conversation by two persons, in this case, school chums.

“It is scary to know that in our midst are persons who will not hesitate to violate our right to privacy, in this instance, that of our AG. It may be germane to ask: If the Attorney General of our country can be so easily targeted and illegally taped, who else within the higher echelons of our state apparatus – Government and/or security forces – are being targeted at this time and so on?” FITUG said it found it instructive that the voices shunning intrusion of privacy were not as strong as “one should expect”.

Unprofessional journalism

Before FITUG’s statement, Government on Sunday said Kaieteur News has been engaged in an unwavering and institutionalised policy of unprofessional journalism, which has deteriorated to such levels that the newspaper is now “making up” stories. Noting that the newspaper lacks professional and ethical tenets, Government said the media house is “steeped in fabrications, distortions, character assassination and homophobia”.

It said its prime targets have been the Government, Government Ministers, senior functionaries of the State, sections of the business community, religious organisations, sections of the labour movement and sections of the civil society supportive of the Government “and indeed anyone with whom the newspaper Publisher has a personal grievance”.

According to the Government, headlines are frequently enlarged and inaccurately sensationalised

to scandalise issues and persons and are often times not borne out by the stories to which they relate, even as distorted and inaccurate as those stories themselves are.

“A column within the newspaper which is supposedly satirical, bearing the colloquial caption ‘Dem boys seh’ has been used as an instrument to publish the vilest, most libellous and homophobic sentiments of and concerning hapless citizens.” Government said attempts by those aggrieved by these offensive publications to solicit apologies, retractions or clarifications are met with further abuse and sometimes with greater intensity in subsequent publications.

Observers have charged that Lall was in breach of the Interception of Communications Act. The Act of 2008 prohibits the interception of communications unless a warrant is issued by a judge based on an application.

The law is also clear that any recording or tapping of citizens’ private communications must be authorised by the Chiefof-Staff of the Army, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). However, these officers would first have to apply to a judge for a 90-day warrant to intercept communications.

Only under these conditions does the Act allow the monitoring and recording of transmissions conveyed by fibre-optic cable or any other form of wire line, by wireless telegraphy, Voice Over Internet Protocol, Internet satellite and all other forms of electromagnetic or electrochemical communication.

According to the law, anyone found guilty of illegal wiretapping would be liable to a fine of $5 million and a jail term not exceeding three years.

Four held for Albouystown killing

A

s Police continue their investigations into the Cooper Street shooting which resulted in the death of 27-year-old Lloyd Bourne, initial reports of a drive by execution-style killing was ruled out.

Guyana Times was reliably informed that the Police have now focused their attention in a new direction which suggested that Bourne was shot by someone he knew who was at the time around him.

As such, four persons are in Police custody and are being grilled to gather additional information about the shooting.

A Police source told Guyana Times that after careful analysis and based on information received; it was not possible for someone to push their hand through a window and discharged two round hitting Bourne who was in a gathering without hitting other persons in the process.

They are now questioning persons to ascertain whether or not a car actually passed in the area at the time of the shooting as was previously claimed.

Investigators revisited the area a few times and are working with several leads to crack the case.

Previously, two men

Dead: Lloyd Bourne

were arrested since Police thought that they were withholding information about the shooting. They were subsequently released.

Bourne of Lot 57 Barr and James Streets, Albouystown, Georgetown was shot and killed on Saturday evening while he was liming with a group of men in Cooper Street, Albouystown.

The father of two was allegedly shot twice to the chest by an occupant of a motor car which suddenly sped through the street.

From all indications, Bourne was targeted, since he was among a group of men when the shooting occurred, but no one else was injured and the gathering scampered to safety.

The injured man was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police believe that a stallholder and the person who rushed Bourne to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital are withholding information about the drive-by shooting which occurred about 20:30h, about 15 feet from where the “sweetie” vendor operated his small stand.

On Sunday morning, a group of young men who were standing at the spot where the shooting took place had told Guyana Times that the person who pulled the trigger had to be a marksman in order to have identified Bourne within the gathering and shoot him twice.

This publication also leant that it was not customary for Bourne to ‘lime’ in that street; hence, the shooting leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

Police have since retrieved at least two spent shells at the scene.

A post-mortem performed on the body of Bourne gave the cause of death as multiple gunshot injuries. He leaves to mourn his two children, parents and siblings.

Police are continuing their investigations.

8 NEWS

thursDAY, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Come Monday…

APNU to support AFC No-Confidence Motion C ome Monday, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has assured that it will stand firmly behind the Alliance For Change (AFC) as it moves a No-Confidence Motion against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

On Wednesday, the parties met at the Leader of the Opposition’s Office, Hadfield Street, Georgetown, finalising their plot against the Donald Ramotar Administration.

The AFC in a release said the parties have “concretised their position on the No-Confidence Motion”.

Though the meeting will continue in days to come, the APNU and AFC have agreed that the No-Confidence Motion will be given priority when the National Assembly meets on Monday.

They will be using their one-seat majority to suspend the Standing Order, paving way for the NoConfidence Motion to be debated and passed in the House. Opposition Leader, Brigadier David Granger, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, Basil Williams, Amna Ally, Carl Greenidge, Joseph Harmon, Ronald Bulkan, Winston Felix and Dr George Norton, represented APNU at Wednesday’s meeting.

The AFC was represented by party leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, Cathy Hughes, David Patterson

Opposition Leader David Granger

and Michael Carrington.

The parties will meet again on Friday.

Meanwhile, Patterson, the AFC General Secretary believes that the elections comments made by President Donald Ramotar to dissolve Parliament if the party proceeds with its NoConfidence Motion, is nothing but a bluff.

The General Secretary reaffirmed that his party will be pushing the NoConfidence Motion against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

The AFC, on August 7, tabled a motion of NoConfidence against the ruling party. The motion was proposed by AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo and was seconded by the party’s Executive Member Catherine Hughes.

The one-line motion contained the sentence: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no-confidence in the Government”. It was delivered by Patterson and the party’s Executive Member Dominic Gaskin.

In September last, Speaker of the National

Assembly Raphael Trotman had announced that he found the motion to be unprecedented and qualifies for debate. However, Trotman explained that while the motion has already been placed on the Order Paper, he cannot say when it will be called up for debate.

He had also noted that it can take even up to a year before it is called for debate.

On Tuesday evening in a televised address to the nation, President Ramotar announced that the first post-recess sitting of the National Assembly will be on November 10 and he reminded members of the important matters that were on the agenda during the last sitting, but not dealt with before recess begins.

However, he noted that if the No-Confidence Motion tabled by the minority parliamentary Opposition party is brought up, he will deal with it procedurally. “If this (motion) is passed, it will lead to General Elections,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the President went on to explain that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) requires at least six months to prepare for Local Government Elections (LGE) under the new Local Government Electoral System. With this in mind, Ramotar disclosed his intentions to host LGE in the second quarter of 2015.

Quartet acquitted of West Dem woman’s murder

A

fter just over two hours in deliberation, a mixed jury panel returned not guilty verdicts for four young men who were indicted with the murder of an elderly woman some six years ago.

Nigel Sookram; Steve “Coolie Boy” Sookdeo; Roy Anthony Sewnarine and Vishaul “Markie” Seecharan, were jointed accused of murdering 68-yearold Budhai called “Rhonie” on October 20, 2008, during a robbery committed at her home in Conservancy Dam, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara.

The case was prosecuted by Senior State Counsel Judith Gildarie-Mursalin, who alleged that on the day in question, the elderly woman was at home with her daughter and granddaughter when the four men invaded the house and terrorised them before making off with millions of dollars in cash and jewellery.

Vishaul “Markie” Seecharan being escorted to the court’s holding area after being freed of murder

The state further claimed that during the course of the robbery the men killed Budhai, and called as its star witnesses, her daughter and granddaughter. Both women recounted the ordeal.

The State Prosecutor also called state pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, who testified

that he conducted a postmortem examination on the deceased and found that she died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the four accused elected to give unsworn statements from the dock during which they proclaimed their innocence and denied the allegation against them. The men further claimed that they were beaten by the Police to give and sign caution statements.

In one of the statements tendered in court, Sookdeo reportedly admitted committing the crime. The caution statement detailed that the four young men, all from Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, hired a car from the village and went to Canal Number Two, where they broken into the house and carried out the robbery.

Sookdeo allegedly claimed that they tied up the “old lady” along with the other two females during the rob-

bery.

In the presence of a packed courtroom, the four young men heard that the jury found them all not guilty of murder; as such, they were freed.

However, before setting Seecharan free, presiding judge, Justice Navindra Singh, told the man that he read his probation reports and know what they have done and they know what they have done.

Seecharan reportedly confessed to killing the woman to a probation officer; however, this document was not presented during the trial. With the exception of Seecharan, the men rushed out of the courtroom and moments later were surrounded by their emotional family and friends outside the court.

Despite being freed of this offence, Seecharan has to return to prison as he is currently on remand for an attempted murder charge.

Eyew tness

Calling...

A

...the Opposition's bluff

fter months of Opposition dithering, the President's pulled the rug from under their feet. He's consistently asserted and upheld the separation of powers doctrine - which undergirds our Constitution – and refused to allow the Opposition - as members of the Legislative Branch – to get involved in matters within the bailiwick of the Executive. Like crafting the Budget.

This insistence on the Rule of Law has infuriated them no end. Weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth were heard throughout the land as they carried on about a "minority Government". They pretended to forget that being a Government is like being pregnant: either you are or you're not. There's no such thing as being "a little pregnant" – or being a "minority Government". The President heads the Government of Guyana. Period!!!

Anyhow, we all knew of how the AFC – fighting to remain relevant – came up with its No-Confidence Motion.

Even though it came from a throwaway comment from Nagamootoo and not from some grand strategy by the AFC, it did serve to take the initiative away from its big partner in the Assembly – APNU. That party couldn't say it didn't support the motion – it would be accused of "protecting the Government" - -but then it couldn't show its constituency that it was being led by the nose by AFC either!!

What to do?? Well, Granger decided on a "hold me... loose me" posture. Publicly saying it supported the (AFC) No-Confidence Motion while carrying on about the need for Local Government Elections (LGE) – APNU's position.

Well, this is where the President's decided that enough is enough! He set a date for LGE and demanded that if the Bills that APNU itself accepted are "important" for the country aren't debated, then he's gonna call "snap elections"!!

So Granger now has to either put up or shut up. He may suspect – as this Eyewitness does – that the President can't be serious about LGE. After all, in an ethnically polarised polity while a group may not be inclined to "split the vote" at General Elections (they don't want "THEM" to rule), such inhibitions aren't strong at LGE – where the stakes are so much lower. As such, the PPP stands a chance of being completely wiped out at LGE. But even more dangerous, such local elections have a "demonstrator effect" in breaking down putative supporters' aversions to voting for "the other side". So Granger is now locked on the horns of a different dilemma – go for a pig in a poke on LGE and debate all the bills. Or go for "no-confidence" and watch the President re-seize the initiative and call snap elections.

Either way the PPP wins!!

...out shamelessness

This Eyewitness isn't surprised at the shamelessness of some members of the human species. But this fella Dave Cameron, Head of the WICB, has to get some kind of award in this facet of human depravity. Here's a man (we're using the term rather loosely) who refused to concede that the Governments of Caricom should have ANY role in resolving the farce called the "administration of cricket in the West Indies" and yet he's now calling for Caricom to bail him out with the BCCI's US$42 million claim!!

Caught between the devil (their own arrogance) and the deep blue sea (the arrogance of the BCCI) Cameron's suddenly "seen the light"? Hardly!! It's just that he's seeing all those big bucks from the ICC and BCCI vaporising into thin air and is clutching at any straw. Well, we demand if Caricom's gonna get involved, they extract a quid pro quo from this lizard.

Transparent elections conducted for all territorial boards and WICB and implementation of the recommendations of the Patterson Report. But get the agreement in writing and notarised!!

...another Mook supporter

We mentioned that only one solitary supporter showed up to defend the Mook. Today, another one appeared.

Jeez, he has to give out more "sweeties"!!

news

9

thursday, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Baby needs help for life-saving surgery doctors, while unable to tell her exactly what was wrong with her baby, told her the child would soon perish.

They also advised her to seek medical advice overseas.

By Devina Samaroo

A

desperate Felisha Melvin is pleading with the general public for help for her son who was born with a rare brain defect – part of his brain protrudes through a hole in his skull.

Melvin, 22, expected to give birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy, but to her dismay, little Emannie was born with a partly exposed brain, believed to be Encephalocele, although local doctors have not been able to confirm the exact nature of his condition.

Little Emannie, who is now just over a month old, so far displays normal cognitive development and motor skills.

“I know he got to live, if God wanted to take him, since I pushed him out, God woulda take him. But he is not meant to die. He come here with a purpose and he’s going to live,” the tearful mother told the Guyana Times, as she expressed her happiness for her little miracle bundle.

Melvin, who is determined to do all she can to

Encephalocele

Little Emannie was born with an exposed brain

ensure her child’s survival, has been less than impressed with the medical care she and her baby have received.

She said upon the birth of her child, doctors hurriedly rushed them to the Georgetown Public Hospital for better medical treatment, given the baby’s condition. But, she described her stay at the Georgetown Public Hospital as ‘torturous’, saying the nurses were callous to both her and little Emannie.

Bulk waste cleanup programme moves to Region 6

Under the programme, illegal roadside garbage piles will be removed, and residents within the boundaries of each NDC will be able to dispose of their bulk waste free of cost

T

he Regional Household Bulk Waste Removal Programme which was launched in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) last month, under the “Clean-Up My Country” activities, has moved to Regions Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

The exercise begins on November 10 and will conclude November 19.

Under the programme, illegal roadside garbage piles will be removed, and residents within the boundaries of each Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) will be able to dispose of their bulk waste free of cost.

According to Regional Clean-Up Programme Implementing Officer Bramhanand Singh, “this programme is geared towards assisting person(s) (non-commercial residents) to remove bulk waste from their premises free of cost”.

According to Singh, “persons operating vulcanising

shops, and auto and body works shops are not included in this programme since the waste they generate are considered as commercial waste. To dispose of this type of bulk waste, business owners are advised to solicit the services of private contractors”.

Singh reported that “The bulk waste removal programme is a means of deterring littering since it provides a means to get rid of waste in an environmentally-friendly manner rather than dumping them into water ways and public spaces”.

For this one-off exercise, residents within the East Berbice/Corentyne District, who are desirous of disposing of their bulk waste, are asked to place their bulk waste in front of their premises by 08:00h on the respective day of pickup. Derelict vehicles will not be included in this schedule.

She accused them of often neglecting him and caring for the other infants in the ward. “He used to bleed by he forehead and they never used to clean it, they used to leave him nasty there. I had to beg them for lil’ material and I used to clean he myself,” the devastated mother cried.

According to Melvin,

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Encephalocele is a rare type of neural tube defect (NTD).

The neural tube is a narrow channel that folds and closes during the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord.

Encephalocele is a saclike protrusion or projection of the brain and the membranes that cover it through an opening in the skull and happens when the neural tube does not close completely during pregnancy. The result is an opening in the midline of the upper part of the skull, the area between the forehead and nose, or the back of the

skull.

The CDC estimates that each year about 375 babies in the United States are born with Encephalocele.

Babies with Encephalocele are vulnerable to nervous system and other health problems.

Generally, surgery is performed during infancy to place the protruding tissues back into the skull, remove the sac, and correct the associated craniofacial abnormalities. Even large protrusions can often be removed without causing major functional disability.

A resolute Melvin is seeking to have surgery performed on the child before the situation worsens, but no one seems to be giving her the advice she seeks.

“All I want to know is where it can be done and how soon it can be done.”

Compounding the situation, Melvin, who was born and raised in Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was abandoned

by her spouse after the child was born.

“He said he ain’t able with stress, and I have to keep me stress with me by meself,” Melvin related.

She said the father had also urged her to get rid of the child.

Even though the man has abandoned her, Melvin, who said they were not married and had only been together for a short time, does not regret the moments she had with him.

Melvin now lives with her mother and has the support of her sister in raising little Emannie. Although what they have is not much, she is grateful for what she has because she knows God will guide her through everything.

Persons desirous of helping little Emannie can contact Felisha Melvin on 660-9692 or money can be transferred into her account, No 775-368-4, at Republic Bank.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 6, 2014

News

US wants drug traffickers, money launderers jailed

T

he United States (US) Embassy is calling on the Government to implement measures that will ensure persons who pose security threats are convicted and their assets confiscated in order to prevent the continuation of criminal activities.

This call was made by the Embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt at a reception held in honour of US Commander Southern Command, General John F Kelly, who is visiting Guyana to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

Hunt is urging that stricter actions to be taken against drug traffickers and money launderers.

“Security forces actions must be complemented by a robust programme of investigative and prosecutorial activities which result in the successful conviction and imprisonment of criminal elements. Moreover, increased collaborative efforts must be undertaken to seize the financial assets of criminal organisation and dismantle their sophistication money laundering networks,” he stated.

The Charge d’ Affaires reaffirmed the US’s support to work with the Government and other agencies in order to ensure that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SUCO) has the necessary training and assistance needed for it to function effectively.

On another note, Hunt pointed out that the US Southern Command has played a critical role in helping Caribbean countries, including Guyana increase their capacity to address many joint challenges such as combating narcotics, weapons smuggling and

Man kisser accustom to gettin cast out

D

A section of the gathering at the reception held for General John F Kelly

human trafficking.

According to Hunt, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) has provided a platform for cooperation among the countries to tackle those issues; however, he noted that achieving the goals of the initiative is far more complex.

Partnership and coordination

“(Its) requires ongoing partnership and coordination at all levels of our Governments, as we seek to disrupt and dismantle well-established and wellfinanced criminal organisations,” he said.

Moreover, he explained that as it relates to Guyana, capacity-building within the country’s security forces is critical, but not sufficient to achieve the goals set out under the CBSI. Hunt disclosed that the US’ partnership with Guyana has resulted in substantial joint work between the two countries’ militar-

ies.

He went on to highlight that Guyana has benefitted immensely from this partnership, referring to the donation of the three metalshark aluminum vessels, communication devices and maintenance equipment to the Guyana Defence Force.

“In an effort to ensure that the potential of this investment is realised, the United States Southern Command continues to provide ongoing, advanced training in the successful use and maintenance of these vessels through its Technical Assistance Field Team,” Hunt explained, while adding that there are joint training opportunities in several professional development fields.

In addition, he remarked that social justice is a key element for reducing criminality and increasing opportunities, which the US has been doing through the work of its Humanitarian

Assistance Programme.

These works includes donation of First Aid kits, medical supplies, clothing and shoes, along with building of domestic violence shelters, rehabilitate sports facilities and supporting skills training centres.

Meanwhile, General Kelly in a brief address stated that the US, Caribbean and Latin America share common threats such as human rights violations, human trafficking, drugtrafficking and infectious diseases, among others. On this note, the member of the US Marine Corps pointed out that it is important that the countries work in partnership to address the issues.

He expressed excitement at working with his Guyanese counterparts to tackle these issues, particularly drug-trafficking, which he said is a cancer to any society.

GDF Chief-of-staff,

e man kisser sound worried bout the caste system in Guyana. But whah de man kisser should be worried bout is de fact that every where he been, he end up gettin cast out. From Canada to Grenada to U-Gee, de man kisser accustom to gettin cast out.

De man kisser even get cast out from whah used to be GTV. And that was a place wheh every body who end up deh used to leff deh. De man kisser run to de Chronicle and he get cast out from deh too.

De Stabber was another big cast out scene fuh de man kisser. (Plus Lalloo later find out whah cast out feel like right at de Stabber.) Then de man kisser get cast out a couple times from a pizza place and a shoes place. So by now de man kisser turn a outcast wid all dem cast out whah he get.

Accordin to one good book, only demons does get cast out. Apart from looks and deeds, no body ain’t sure if de man kisser is a real demon or a play ting demon. But fuh sure, no body don’t play wid he. So he can’t be play ting.

That is why de man kisser get so desperate these days.

De man kisser does start to write bout one ting and end up wid some ting else. Half way thru he gon talk bout some people, and then end up wid some other people.

Even de Naga Man, who always gettin cast out, cast out de man kisser Ever wonder why U-Gee deh so bad? Is because people like de man kisser used to lecture at U-Gee. That musbe a desperate place fuh a desperate man to get a wuk deh.

And talkin bout desperate, it musbe desperation whah mek dem boys who seh dem is boys pullin jokes from de internet.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well, if dem boys who seh dem is boys tink now is desperation, wait till de gate at Camp Street open fuh dem.

Brigadier Mark Phillips also conveyed his gratitude to General Kelly for the work the Southern Command has been doing for the local military.

“I want to thank the United States Southern

Command not only for the metal shark (vessels) but for all the good work that you have been doing to enhance the operational capability and readiness of the Guyana Defence Force,” he added.

Packed agenda for parliamentary sitting

W

ith President Donald Ramotar setting Monday, November 10 for the first post- recess sitting, the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaac on Wednesday moved to notify the 65-Member Parliament, supplying each with the Order Paper.

A packed agenda has been set for the 89th Sitting of the National Assembly but on the 33-page Order Paper, the No-Confidence Motion against the Government of Guyana has found itself down at the bottom of Page 23.

In addition to the presentation of 21 papers and reports by Members of the House, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are slated to ask

19 questions with sub-questions on issues ranging from the University of Guyana Student Loan Fund, the Broadcasting of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) press conferences on the National Communications Network (NCN) to the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry and Land Allocation.

In addition to the trail of questions, the Government will be presenting the Food Safety Bill and the Motor Vehicles Insurance Amendment Bill for their first readings while the Education Bill and the Land Surveyors Bill will be read for a second time.

Additionally, a motion would be put by Government for the consideration of Financial Paper Number 1/2014- Statement of

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates.

Notably, the Telecommunications Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill though listed, will not be dealt with during this upcoming sitting.

Following all these items, the No-Confidence Motion tabled by the Alliance For Change (AFC) would surface. The AFC had signalled its intention to suspend the Standing Order, paving the way for the No-Confidence Motion to be given priority.

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan told Guyana Times that his party will be proceeding with the motion during the first sitting.

“It will be the first and only sitting,” he said, noting that the Opposition would be moving ahead “full force”.

Though the PPP/C would want the 65-member of the National Assembly to debate the historic motion, Ramjattan said this would not be permitted, explaining that only a percentage of the members would debate.

The mover of the motion, Moses Nagamootoo will be leading the debate with support from Cathy Hughes, Ramjattan said.

“We will prove that the Opposition is united on this motion,” the AFC Leader declared, as he said the smile on Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee’s face would be transformed into a frown.

thursday, november 6, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Rodney CoI hears…

Sugar workers severely suppressed under PNC regime

A

s the sixth session of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry winds down, evidence continues to surface about the dictatorial leadership in every facet of society under of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government of former Prime Minister Forbes Burnham.

Standing before the three-member Commission on Wednesday was Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul, who was head of the National Agricultural and Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) during the 1978-1980 era, the period under investigation by the tribunal tasked with probing the circumstances surrounding Dr Rodney’s death.

The team, comprising Barbadian Queens Counsel, Sir Richard Cheltenham; Jamaican Queens counsel Jacqueline SamuelsBrown; and Guyanese-born Trinidadian Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, is tasked with, among other things, examining the political, social and economic atmosphere during that period.

Dr Gopaul’s testimony covered a range of events highlighting the suppression experienced by the working class, particularly sugar workers, whom it was reported had made up the largest percentage of workers in any sector at the time.

ers would be entitled to a merit increment. This, he explained was dependent on sugar workers’ performance over the previous year. According to the leader, January had come and the Government had not honoured its obligation.

Workers had looked forward for their incentives but in vain.

This, he explained had become a huge problem after a while since the agreements enter into were not honoured.

He said NAACIE challenged the decision, filing several lawsuits with over 250 members making petitions in the court, claiming that the agreement had been breached.

He recorded that several cases had come up in the courts with the unions being victorious. Although these cases were appealed by the Government, the unions and representatives were still successful.

Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul testifying before the Walter Rodney Commission on Wednesday

Led into evidence by Commission’s Counsel Latchmi Rahamat, Dr Gopaul used excerpts from his book “Resistance and Change: The struggles of Guyanese workers”, a publication which chronicles the hardships faced by field, factory and clerical commercial

workers.

He told the Commission that Executive Members of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) had signed an agreement with Government on the $14 minimum wage requirement.

It was agreed upon too that by January 1979, work-

Man jailed for causing death of six-year-old by dangerous driving

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wenty-nine-yearold Jermain Carrol was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment for causing the death of sixyear-old Clement Joseph Quallis by dangerous driving.

The Church’s Fast Food Outlet maintenance worker, of Lot 34 Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was convicted by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

On his first appearance on June 15 (before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry), Carrol pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that he drove motor vehicle PPP 5931 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Quallis.

Carrol, the father of a three-year-old, was also charged for driving without third-party risk insurance.

The court heard that the child was on his way to a shop in Freeman Street, Middle Road, East La Penitence when he was

struck by the car driven by Carrol. Seven witnesses testified in the case.

In making her ruling, the Magistrate told the court that she was of the belief that Carrol was driving dangerously and as a result, caused the death of the child and that the 5 C’s (consideration, care, caution, common sense and courtesy) were completely ignored by the defendant.

She then judged him

guilty as charged and handed down the sentence, noting that she took into consideration his age, the fact that he has a three-year-old child, the fact compensation was granted to the deceased child’s relatives, and the fact that it was Road Safety Month and given the increased statistics, a strict penalty must be applied.

Carrol was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson.

Tyrannical rule

Government then introduced the Labour (Amendment) Act of 1994, which nullified the decision of the court to legitimise the withdrawal of the increment.

Several senior lawyers had also intervened in the matter, making representation for the workers.

Guyana was said to be

at the hub of tyrannical rule under Prime Minister Burnham, who had ruled since before the country’s Independence from Great Britain in 1966.

Trade unions in Guyana were said to be a part of the fight to restore democracy and favourable conditions for the working class. Dr Gopaul reported that workers during that period were represented by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), which alongside the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and NAACIE, fell under the umbrella of the GTUC. Since 1974, when the Government had instituted a tax on sugar exports, the Guyanese sugar workers represented by the GAWU had been negotiating with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) on whether the tax should be taken on the workers’ income or only on the profits after compensation had been paid to the workers.

Since Government had taken the tax before workers had received their compensation, GAWU had claimed that the Corporation owed the workers some US$85 million.

GAWU sent a letter to GuySuCo and the Prime Minister threatening an in-

definite strike if the sugar company did not agree to pay the workers the US$85 million they were owed, based on the agreement.

GuySuCo did not agree to pay the workers that money and so three days later, most of the 21,000 GAWU members went on strike This massive strike action, which lasted for some 135 days, was held in front of the then Guyana Stores.

During those exercises, sugar workers were beaten and harassed by Police as well as members of the House of Israel.

He noted that the ruling party of the day did not hesitate to victimise workers, pointing out that numerous charges were laid against the 100-odd activists.

The unions, which included NAACIE, CCWU, the Guyana Headman’s Union, and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union, agreed to support the strike.

They also made a call to the GTUC to begin negotiations so that the strike would end quickly and in the sugar workers’ favour.

The workers were severely victimised. Many within the sugar industry had their appointment revoked; persons who had not completed their probationary period were fired; others received warning letters.

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La Union lad killed in road accident T

Pushcart vending creating countrywide nuisance – Minister Rohee promises clampdown

– incident third fatality for Road Safety Month The lad’s father collected a torchlight and it was then he found his son lying in a clump of bushes.

Badly injured

Dead: Gavin Bachan

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t least three persons have died on the roadways since the launch of National Road Month this year, with the recent being that of a 12-yearold of La Union, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Isaiah Khan was on Tuesday evening killed minutes after midnight after he was struck by a speeding motor car.

The Police have since confirmed that the alcohol level in the driver’s blood was beyond the legal limit.

The driver is in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.

According to information received, the lad and two of his sisters had just disembarked a taxi when the car which was speeding lost control, stuck the child and dragged him several feet before disposing him in a clump of bushes.

The child would have sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

At the home of the former Winsor Forest Secondary School student on Wednesday morning, his mother Natasha Bacchus was still trying to come to grips with the brutal manner in which her son met his demise.

She explained that the lad had accompanied his two sisters to the West Demerara Regional Hospital since one of them was not feeling too well. That was about 11:30h, she recalled.

At the hospital, they were sent away and asked to return the following morning. She noted that she and her husband, along with the other children were in the house when she heard a car pulled up and figured they had returned. She immediately instructed her husband to open the door to allow them in, but while doing so, she heard a crashing sound.

As they opened the door, she recalled hearing screams and without hesitation, she rushed out of the house. She explained that the two girls managed to jump into the corner of the road, but there was no sign of the boy.

“He head burst up, he foot and hand break and blood was all over. He de done dead,” she cried. A short distance away, they recognise a car believed to have been involved in the accident.

Bacchus disclosed that as they approach the car, four persons exited – the driver, two Police officers and a woman. She revealed that they were all under the influence of alcohol. After

Dead: Bennett Beveney

the accident, the two Police ranks joined another taxi and left the scene.

“We hold onto the driver… he de staggering and couldn’t stand up properly… he asking we wah happen… so the taxi driver who drop home meh children cuss he up and ask if he nah see he kill somebody”, the woman stated.

He was eventually handed over to a group of policemen from the Vreed-enHoop Police Station and was subsequently taken away.

After hitting the child, Guyana Times understands that the driver attempted to escape via an old road in the area, but crashed into a rock that was in the middle of the road.

The grieving mother said the post-mortem examination preformed on her son’s body gave the cause of death as multiple injuries. She described her son as a very helpful and caring young man who is always willing to learn.

Khan is survived by his parents and seven siblings.

One of his sisters reportedly committed suicide three years ago. The Police are continuing their investigations.

One Monday, Bennett Beveney,54, a welder of Lot 37 Plantain Walk, Triumph, ECD was killed while pillion rider Alicia Penheiro was injured after he collided with a motor lorry at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Dead: Isaiah Khan

According to the Police, Beveney and Penheiro were riding along the Railway and Embankment when a motor lorry proceeding in the opposite direction swerved into their path, causing a collision.

This was followed by another accident on Tuesday which claimed the life of 26-year-old Gavin Bachan of Lot 181 Hope-West Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

Bachan was reportedly on his way home when he allegedly lost control of his motor car and crashed into a rail, a short distance away from the Celina Resort. The accident occurred sometime around 03:45h on Tuesday morning.

National Road Safety Month (November 1-30) was launched on Monday under the theme “The time is now, don’t drink and drive. Stay attentive, drive defensive”.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding were noted as the prime cause of road accidents in Guyana. So far for the year, there have been a recorded 102 accidents, in which 110 persons died, 13 of them children.

This is a drastic increase over last year’s figures, which saw a total of 79 accidents and 85 deaths, including nine children.

he vending of Compact Disks (CD) by pushcart men is popular in Guyana, providing a means of livelihood for some, but remains a horrendous nuisance for many.

The vendors are roaming the streets of Georgetown, blaring vulgar and unpleasant music, much to the annoyance of many citizens.

The issue is not limited to Georgetown alone as these vendors can be found along the East Coast and East Bank Demerara.

“It’s too damn annoying, they pass through your streets blasting these nonsense and disturbing the peace. It’s not fair. People trying to watch lil TV or they passing even by the churches playing vulgar songs; that’s disrespectful man,” a passerby commented.

Music is believed to be a major distraction to drivers on the roadways as the thunderous noises from the pushcarts can suppress the sound of vehicular horns, pedestrians’ voices and a potential warning of danger.

In other words, the noise emanating from the pushcarts contribute to road danger.

However, the vendors strongly defended their trade, noting that this is their job.

Jerry, who recently joined the CD pushcart vending business, suggested that the carts be licensed and for persons who violate certain rules, patrons can simply take down their numbers and report them.

“When they get charged, they gonna know better next time,” Jerry said.

Other vendors noted that they know they are not supposed to blast their music so loud and maintained they use small speakers on the market. They claim that they know there are in restricted areas, but many still play loudly.

According to one of the vendors in the Stabroek Market area, restricted areas include in front of Parliament Building, places of worship and residential areas.

A former pushcart vendor noted that this job, like any other jobs, has its pros and cons. He said he understands the Ministry’s concern because he agrees that loud music is

A pushcart on the road corner in the city

a nuisance, but on the other hand, it is the source of income for many people.

But Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had posed the question: “Which is of more importance; the job or them breaking the law?”

He added: “Now there are some people saying ‘man you know these are poor people, they’re pushing the music carts around, they’re earning a living and we taking bread out of people mouth’. Which is more important? Us taking bread out of your mouth or you who are breaking the laws that could cause somebody’s life?”

Warning

Speaking at the recent launch of Road Safety Month, the Minister mentioned that the National Commission of Law and Order has made a decision to place an advertisement in the newspaper to warn pushcart vendors.

However, what the warning entails remains uncertain.

Minister Rohee stated that the public will have to wait until the advertisements appear to know what the warning will be.

Last year July, a move was made to regularise pushcarts under the condition that they are in a designated location, they do not play loudly and they utilise earphones.

The vendors had opposed this, claiming that the loud mu-

sic will attract more customers.

However, Minister Rohee had explained that the vendors are offering a service and customers do not need to have the music blasted in their ears for them to know what they want.

“We have to get away from this thing that you have to play the music for people to know what kind of music they want.

You don’t have to play the music publicly… if a person knows what kind of music they want, they go straight and they ask for it.”

Additionally, in 2008, a law was passed in Parliament banning music in buses and hire cars. The latest fad appears to be transforming public transportations into discos. Initially, this law was strongly enforced, with Police clamping down on minibuses, especially for blasting music.

Today, many public transportation vehicles are beginning to pick up the trend once again.

However, while the trend annoys hundreds, Traffic Chief Hugh Denhurt explained that the Police cannot raid the buses unless a complaint is filed to the stations.

He said the Police cannot track down the lawbreakers alone; urging citizens that if the noise in the public vehicles annoys them, they should lodge a complaint and the matter will be dealt with.

IMF calls for review of St Kitts-Nevis PetroCaribe agreement

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t Kitts and Nevis should review its PetroCaribe arrangement with Venezuela as it is not receiving the full benefits of the programme, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“I think in principle it was a very good idea because then they were developing a sinking fund but if there is no net benefit being derived by the nation why even bother incurring the debt,” said Judith Gold, the IMF Chief-of-Mission to St Kitts and Nevis.

The latest IMF report on St Kitts and Nevis raises concerns about the level of debt being accrued under the PetroCaribe arrangement and including new debts incurred by the St Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) in purchasing oil under the arrangement. The fund questions whether the original benefits under the programme are being achieved.

Several Caribbean countries are beneficiaries to the PetroCaribe arrange-

ment that provides for concessional financing for a portion of the fuel cost, depending on the market price.

Gold argued that the success of the citizenship by investment programme may remove the need for PetroCaribe for St Kitts and Nevis.

“The specific circumstances right now in St Kitts are such that since the SIDF has considerable amount of resources, it is doing the investment itself that perhaps the PDV SKN (the local PetroCaribe holding company) was supposed to do so, perhaps there is really no need to rely on the PetroCaribe arrangement and then reduce the total potential debt of the country,” Gold added.

With the decline in world oil prices, many economic pundits predict that the subsidies under PetroCaribe would either be reduced or removed, especially if Venezuela continues to experience economic challenges.

However, Gold is of the view that the ef-

fects on St Kitts and Nevis, if PetroCaribe subsides are removed, may not be substantial, as the Federation is not benefiting much from the arrangement.

“Cost of imports will go down so the cost of energy for the citizens on a whole should go down,” explained Gold, regarding the drop in the price of oil.

“Relative to other countries in the Eastern Caribbean, there won’t be negative impact (on PetroCaribe for St Kitts), which is the good part of this agreement because it didn’t have any benefits…

SKELEC is already paying full price (for the oil), the Government is not benefiting from any subsidy so there really won’t be any negative implications.”

In a previous interview with WINN in 2012, Public Works and Energy Minister, Dr Asim Martin said the funding under PetroCaribe made it possible for the Government to undertake a road resurfacing exercise including improvement of roads in Basseterre. (Caribbean News Now)

news

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thursDAY, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Health Ministry launches 6-year disability, rehab plan W

Local agro-processing industry on the rise

A section of the audience consisting of persons in the related field gathered for the launch of the disability plan

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he Health Ministry has launched its six-year disability and rehabilitation strategy with the aim of bettering the lives of persons living with disabilities in Guyana.

The plan was launched at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday under the theme: “Towards improved health partnerships and inclusiveness for all persons with disabilities”.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said that along with mental health, disability is another health area that has been placed on the back burner in Guyana.

However, he added that the Ministry has been working vigorously for quite a number of years to ensure these two areas become priority.

“We are now seeing some degree of progress in these two areas.”

The amount of money allocated in the national budget towards these two areas has been increasing annually, the Minister said. At present, a new facility has been established at the Mahaicony Hospital to care for disabled persons.

“We approach people with disabilities as a social problem. Several ministries are on board and we are working together

for this cause,” Minister Ramsaran said.

Dr William Adu-Krow of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from some degree of disability and they do not receive the required help.

He added that people with disability are four times more likely to be treated badly. The strategic action plan adopted by the World Health Assembly, Dr Adu-Krow said will provide a major boost to WHO and other closely related organisations, towards the efforts to improve the quality of lives for persons living with disabilities across the world.

Remove barriers The plan will also remove barriers and increase access to care for persons with disabilities. The plan is expected to strengthen community-based rehabilitation, rehabilitation assistive technology, assistance and support services among others.

Dr Adu-Krow said very few (25 per cent) children living with disabilities have access to education and only five per cent finish primary school.

Some three per cent of newborns have impairments that must be detected and treated as they

can lead to lifelong disability complications.

Recent surveys show that in Latin America 12.4 per cent and 5.4 per cent of Caribbean population live with at least one disability.

“PAHO Guyana is pleased to participate in this official launch of the national strategy in the rehabilitative services, which is as a result of many months of work. This strategy takes in consideration the global agenda for health and disability, allowing partnership at all levels, whether through Government or non-Governmental agencies. This strategy was built on the principles and values of Health Vision 20/20,” Dr Adu-Krow explained.

Rehabilitation Services Director Debita Harripersaud in presenting the National Rehabilitation Services Strategic Plan, relating to a 2002 survey, said that at that time 6.4 per cent of Guyanese are living with disabilities.

It was projected by the 2002 survey that by 2014, Guyana would have just over 50,000 disable persons. However, Harripersaud said at the time the 2002 survey was done, a number of situations (institutionalised persons and persons with

temporary disabilities) were not taken into consideration, and as such, it is calculated that approximately 200,000 persons are currently living with a disability in Guyana.

Most persons who are affected by disabilities mainly fall into the category of people who are uneducated, impoverished elderly and unemployed.

She said the prevalence of disability is growing nationally, regionally and globally, mainly because of motor vehicle accidents, mental health, chronic health conditions and violence. This calls for improved care and accessibility to care for persons who are disabled, Harripersaud said.

The National Health Vision strives to ensure that all Guyanese are among the healthiest in the Americas and Caribbean by 2020. The objectives of this vision are to put measures in place to improve the mental, physical and social well-being of all Guyanese. Further, it is stated that disability and rehabilitation services will deliver quality, effective and responsive services to people with disabilities, enabling them to participate as equal and productive citizens in equally supportive communities.

Patsan employees accused of stealing freed

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ix former employees of Patsan Trading Services who were accused of stealing $15 million in powdered milk from the company were freed on Wednesday afternoon after they were found not guilty of committing the offence.

They are: Germain Tulloch, of Bel Air, Greater Georgetown, who was the Assistant Bond Supervisor;

porters Jose Rodney, of South Ruimveldt Park, Greater Georgetown; Cordell Minoo, of Blygezigt Gardens, Greater Georgetown; Ramando Persaud, of Campbell Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown; and Marlon Baichu, of Richard’s Town, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) as well as driver Parmanand Persaud, also known as

Cecil Persaud, of Annandale West, ECD. The men appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on the joint charge. It was alleged that between August 28 and September 21, 2012, they broke and entered a bond of Patsan Trading and stole 550 cases of Milex Milk Powder valued $15 million,

property of Allan Seebarran, Sunita Seebarran and Michael Seebarran. Allan Seebarran is the owner of Patsan Trading Services, which imports and distributes Milex Milk Powder, the court was told.

In handing down the not-guilty verdict, the Magistrate said that no evidence was provided to prove that the men stole the milk.

hile agricultural produce of a high quality will go a far way in reinstating Guyana with the coveted title as the “Caribbean’s bread basket”, the development of infrastructure is equally important as it will ensure that the country surmounts the challenges of non-tariff barriers that prevent it from competitively penetrating the export market.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said it is precisely for this reason that the Government invested in the state-of-the-art laboratories at Mon Repos; essentially taking agriculture to another level.

A few months ago, the three multimillion-dollar laboratories were commissioned: the Veterinary Services Lab and the Biological Control and Tissue Culture Labs.

“We have to make sure that we are able to test for pesticides and other chemical residues; we have to able to show the nutritional content of our food… we spend $250 million on importing food into the country. Can we eliminate every cent of that? No, but we can reduce it by exporting some of what we grow,” the Minister said.

The Agriculture Minister spoke of the overwhelming demands of virgin coconut oil and coconut water and Guyana is looking at making these investments with the support of large conglomerates such as Banks DIH and Sterling Products Limited.

However, for this to really take off, the coconut industry has to be fully resuscitated. The present level of cultivation of about 25,000 acres has to be increased and varieties have to be improved.

Minister Ramsammy explained that most of the coconut trees are 40-50 years old, and as such, the industry have to be reinvigorated by planting new ones.

“Thankfully there are many local investors who are looking to double the cultivation… by 2020, Guyana will have a packing industry for coconut that is of international quality,” he said.

What is now required is the financial investments and technical capacity to drive this industry.

The Ministry’s Agriculture Strategy 2013-2020 provides a road map for the sector as a whole, on the way forward.

It entails the F5 approach: food security; fibre and nu-

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Transforming agriculture from the level of subsistence livelihood to wealth generation is pegged as one of the major successes of the sector and in fact, of the country and while many challenges still exist, the evolution process that the sector has gone through thus far, has brought with it tremendous improvements for those involved in it.

Minister Ramsammy said that “you go into the agriculture communities, people work hard, people do struggle but they are living better. It is the farmer’s children who are now our doctors and lawyers and our accountants and our engineers and that is because we have transformed agriculture from one where farmers were only able to put food on the table to now where they are generating wealth.”

Not only is Guyana now seen as an export oriented industry outside of sugar, but it agro-processing industry has developed and increased by 1000 per cent; both in terms of packaging as well as the quantity and quality of local products in supermarket shelves across the country.

trition security; fuel (energy) security; fashion, cosmetics and medicine; and furniture, crafts and green commodities.

Bread basket of the Caribbean

“We know where we are going, and where we are going will change the aspiration and the potential of being the bread basket of the Caribbean into reality,” the Agriculture Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is also working to modernise its legislation; ensuring that it remains relevant as the sector transforms. The Food Safety Bill, the Animal Welfare Bill and regulations targeting the fishery sector are all slated for Parliament soon.

As the issue of food security becomes more crucial for the region and the rest of the world, Guyana must position itself to capitalise on the benefits of being not only food secure, but a net exporter of food, as well, and with local impetus in agriculture ever on the increase and this being backed by increasing modern infrastructure, Guyana has reasons to be optimistic, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 6, 2014

Regional

Scotiabank to close several branches in the Caribbean

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anada’s Scotiabank has announced plans to shut or shrink 120 branches, largely in Mexico and the Caribbean, in a bid to save Cd$120 million (One Canadian dollar = US$0.87 cents) annually.

The bank said it would close down 35 of its 200 branches in the Caribbean and would sever 1500 fulltime employees, including 500 from its international operations.

“In some of these (Caribbean) countries, we are just over-branched and we have to size it to the economic realities of these economies,” said Scotiabank Chief Executive Officer Brian Porter.

Porter said that the bank’s revenue growth has been encouraging outside Canada, but profit has not jumped as much as he would like.

“The frustration for us across the international footprint is we’ve had very solid asset growth over the last

Scotiabank made a record Cd$6.7 billion net income in 2013

three or four years, and not all of that has dropped to the bottom line,” he said, adding that the bank still has plans to grow in the Region.

Scotiabank said the closure of the Caribbean branches were due “to the prolonged economic recovery and continued uncertain outlook” and that it had started restructuring initiatives “in order to improve the speed and quality of service it provides its customers, to reduce costs in a

sustainable manner, and to achieve greater operational efficiencies.

“The bank intends to record a restructuring provision of approximately Cd$148 million in the fourth quarter. The majority of the restructuring provision relates to employee severance charges in the bank’s Canadian banking and international banking divisions and will affect people at all levels of the organisation.” (Excerpt from CMC)

Explosion at Curaçao’s Isla refinery injures two

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n explosion at a gas plant of Curaçao’s 335,000 barrels-perday (bpd) Isla refinery on Wednesday afternoon injured two people, according to workers at the facility.

A spokeswoman for Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, which operates the refinery on the island, said she could not immediately comment on the issue.

A spokesman for the refinery could not be reached.

It remained unclear what impact the apparent explosion had on operations. Workers took pictures that appeared to show firemen on site and flames being doused.

The Isla refinery mainly supplies the US, Central American and Caribbean markets, according to PDVSA’s website. It has been working well below its capacity in recent years because of a lack of power and

other services.

The accident comes a day after a blackout shuttered Venezuela’s 645,000 barrelsper-day Amuay refinery.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro often blames saboteurs out to harm his socialist administration for blackouts or refinery accidents. Critics say refinery issues are due to negligence and lack of investments. (Reuters)

Brazil probes deaths in Belem Police ‘revenge attacks’

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he authorities in Brazil say they are investigating reports that off-duty Policemen killed nine people on Tuesday night in the northern city of Belem in revenge attacks.

The incidents happened hours after a Policeman was shot dead by unknown gunmen outside his home.

Witnesses say men on motorbikes went on a sixhour killing spree, shooting nine people in several areas of Belem. Six of the killings were carried out like executions, Police said.

Tension began hours after Police Officer Antonio Marcos da Silva Figueiredo, 43, was killed by three men.

Rumours of an alleged revenge attack spread quickly through social media overnight, causing panic among residents of the city, which

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he Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) have been officially ordered to ensure that all Policemen and women wear their bulletproof vests while on duty.

According to the Trinidad Express, “This order was given by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams following the wounding of 25-yearold Police Constable (PC) Rondell Phillip, who was shot during an exchange of gunfire between Police Officers and bandits yesterday [Tuesday] morning in St Augustine.”

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The state agency for the protection of indigenous peoples said “although the indigenous communities are ruled by customary law, their acts cannot violate constitutional rights...”

worldwide are accused of being witches every year.

The UN says they are often abused, cast out of their families and communities, and sometimes killed.

But the case here is unusual.

“I’ve been working in Paraguay for 40 years and I can’t remember a similar

episode of an execution for alleged sorcery,” said Jose Zanardini, an Italian anthropologist and Catholic priest. “The tragic death of this woman is isolated and out of the ordinary within the coexistence of Paraguay’s 20 ethnic indigenous groups. In general, the Indians are very

is the capital of Para state.

Many preferred to stay at home, having received messages saying that several areas of the city would be “cleaned up”.

The authorities say “one line of investigation” is that the killings were an act of revenge by the dead Policeman’s colleagues.

The official body responsible for reviewing Police misconduct has launched an inquiry.

But the Para’s Security Secretary said many of the images being posted on social media had false information and used pictures of people killed in unrelated incidents. (BBC News)

TT Police ordered to wear bulletproof vests

Paraguay woman accused of witchcraft burned alive n indigenous woman was burned alive in Paraguay after being accused of witchcraft, a local prosecutor confirmed Wednesday.

Prosecutor Fany Aguilera said that members of the Mbya Guarani ethnic group tied 45-yearold Adolfina Ocampos to a wooden pole and shot arrows at her before they burned her alive. Ocampos was sentenced to death last week by the community’s chief in Tahehyi, a village some 180 miles (290 kilometres) north of the capital, Asuncion. The date of the killing was unclear.

Aguilera has charged nine men in the village with first-degree murder, and they have already acknowledged killing the woman.

A report by the UN Refugee Agency estimates that thousands of people

A map of Brazil highlighting Belem

peaceful and tolerant.”

The state agency for the protection of indigenous peoples said in a statement Wednesday that “although the indigenous communities are ruled by customary law, their acts cannot violate the constitutional rights of respecting the life and the liberty of people.”

(ABC News)

Phillip, who was not wearing his bulletproof vest at the time of the incident, was shot to his chest and the bullet punctured his lung.

He was in serious condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, the newspaper reported.

“We continue to remind officers that bulletproof vests are protective gear not to penalise, but to protect them. So I will continue to encourage them to use them when on duty, as we never know when a situation will occur when you can encounter a fire fight in the line of your duties. To that end, I

have given a directive to all divisional commanders that all officers who will be operating on the field should wear their vests. I see it as important that all officers, whilst on duty, be fully prepared and protected,” the acting Commissioner of Police was quoted by the Express as saying.

However, TTPS Social and Welfare Organisation President, Inspector Anand Ramesar believes the Police Chief should go “a step further” and penalise officers who disobey the order, the newspaper reported.

Bermuda to screen visitors who travelled to West Africa

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ermuda on Wednesday announced that airline passengers who have recently visited countries affected by the deadly Ebola virus will be subjected to health screening on arrival to the island.

As part of a series of measures aimed at preventing an outbreak of the virus in Bermuda, officials at the LF Wade International Airport will also review passengers’ travel history.

Confirming there have been no cases of Ebola to date in Bermuda, Health Minister Jeanne Atherden told a news conference that the Government would not impose a travel ban on people from countries with Ebola, but said a ban had not been ruled out.

She said: “While Bermuda has not ruled out establishing a travel ban for countries with active Ebola transmission, it is important for the public to re-

alise that travel bans can give rise to a false sense of security.

“They alone cannot eliminate the risk of exposure of the population to Ebola. Local residents are exempt from travel bans and can import the disease as a result of their travels.

Therefore, individual responsibility for protecting yourself and our island from Ebola is essential.”

She urged Bermuda residents to avoid non-essential travel to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in view of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

“The airport authorities will be reviewing the travel history of incoming passengers, and if you are entering Bermuda from a country with an ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Customs Officer on duty will direct you to a public health professional who will provide you with additional health information and advice,” Atherden said.(Excerpt from CMC)

thursday, november 6, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the world

US leaders pledge to work together T

he United States Senate’s new Republican leader and President Barack Obama have both promised to end the political gridlock that has so frustrated American voters.

Republicans made historic gains in the mid-term elections and now control both legislative chambers. Incoming Senate leader Mitch McConnell said he would make the ineffective Senate function and pass bills.

Obama said he was “eager to work with the new Congress to make the next two years as productive as possible”.

The election campaign was characterised by widespread frustration ex-

They have promised to end the political gridlock that has so frustrated American voters

pressed by voters about the inability of Congress to work together.

To the Americans who voted for change, the President said: “I hear you.”

“We’re going to go back to work and actually pass legislation”

He told a White House news conference that both parties must address those concerns, but he admitted that as President he had a “unique responsibility to try to make this town work”. On Friday, he will host a meeting at the White House with Democratic and Republican

leaders.

“We can surely find ways to work together,” Obama said. “It’s time for us to take care of business.”

But he warned he would act on his own to reduce deportations and improve border security – action he had delayed until after the election, to the fury of some Latino voters.

Earlier on Wednesday, McConnell pledged to make the Senate more productive.

“The Senate in the last few years basically doesn’t do anything,” he said. “We’re going to go back to work and actually pass legislation.”

He also vowed to “work together” with Obama on issues where they can agree, such as trade agreements and tax reform. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China to send 1000 medics to West Africa

C

hina says it plans to send around 1000 medical workers and experts to West Africa to help in the fight against the deadly Ebola outbreak that has claimed nearly 5,000 lives.

China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission said on Wednesday, it was planning to send “1000 medical workers and public health experts” to Ebola-afflicted countries.

“In the months to come, more than 1000 medical workers and public health experts will be sent by China to assist in the battle against Ebola in West African countries,” staterun Xinhua news agency reported.

WHO says 4500 health workers are still needed to stop the spread of Ebola (Reuters)

China, Africa’s biggest trade partner, has come under fierce criticism for not doing enough in the fight against the worst outbreak of Ebola on record.

While Beijing has already sent a total of 252 people to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the three hardest-hit countries, Cuba has sent 165 doctors and

nurses to help efforts in Sierra Leone and plans to send 296 others soon to Liberia and Guinea.

On Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry said it would send an elite unit of the People’s Liberation Army to help Liberia, the country worst-hit by the outbreak that has killed 4,951 people out of 13,567 infected in eight countries.

Doctors and nurses have been the most vulnerable to contracting Ebola, because the virus is spread through bodily fluids. More than 500 health workers have contracted Ebola, and around half have died.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says 4500 health workers are still needed. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Burkina Faso crisis: India toughs it out in WTO food-stockpiling row African leaders in

I

ndia defied the world on Wednesday in a row over food stockpiling that has crippled attempts to reach a global trade agreement, raising doubts that backroom talks can reach a compromise before a Group of 20 summit this month.

At the end of July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulled the plug on implementing a so-called trade-facilitation deal struck in Bali last year, linking it to the emotive issue of rural poverty in his country of 1.25 billion people.

India wants to keep a so-called ‘peace clause’ that protects its huge state food purchases until the World Trade Organisation can strike a definitive deal on stockpiling. As originally envisaged in Bali, the clause would expire in four years.

Critics say food stockpiling amounts to paying farmers to produce food, building food surpluses that will eventually get dumped on world markets.

15

New Delhi’s blockade has plunged the WTO into its worst crisis in two decades, leading Director General Roberto Azevedo to float the idea of abandoning the consensus principle on which the 160-member group operates.

“India’s position on trade facilitation has been completely misunderstood because of unreasonable positioning by some of the developed countries,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a World Economic Forum conference in New Delhi.

Jaitley repudiated suggestions that India was fundamentally opposed to trade facilitation, which would entail easing port and customs procedures.

A senior US trade official said there was still hope all WTO members would agree but “if we are unable to do so I think there is a lot of interest among countries in exploring alternatives for those countries who, at least initially want to move ahead with those obligations.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

army handover talks

T

he Presidents of Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal are visiting Burkina Faso to press the military for a speedy handover of power to a civilian ruler.

The African Union (AU) said the army acted unconstitutionally when it took over after President Blaise Compaore was forced to resign on Friday.

The AU on Monday gave the army a two-week deadline.

Interim leader Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida later promised to comply.

Compaore quit after mass protests at his bid to extend his 27-year rule.

Colonel Zida met Senegalese President Macky Sall, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Ghana’s John Mahama at the airport in the capital Ouagadougou.

A statement from President Jonathan’s office said the three-man delegation representing

West African regional body Ecowas aimed to “facilitate the rapid resolution of the current political crisis in Burkina Faso”.

They will hold a series of meetings to press for the quick handover, following a threat by the AU to impose sanctions if the military did not act within two weeks.

The BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa says the sanctions could include suspension of Burkina Faso’s AU membership and a travel ban on military officials.

After meetings with Opposition leaders and activists on Tuesday, Zida was quoted as saying that he would comply with the demand.

“If everyone agrees, there is no reason that the transition shouldn’t be done within two weeks,” he said, according to union leader Joseph Tiendrebeogo, the AFP news agency reports.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Jerusalem attack: Netanyahu blames incitement

A

Palestinian driver has rammed a car into several pedestrians in Jerusalem, killing a policeman, hours after clashes at the city’s holiest site.

About a dozen people were injured and the driver was shot dead by Police.

Hamas militants said they carried out the attack.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said it was a result of “incitement” by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

A similar car attack by a Palestinian took place in the same area two weeks ago which left a woman and a baby dead.

Meanwhile, Jordan has recalled its ambassador to Israel over what it called the “unprecedented Israeli escalation” at holy and sensitive sites in Jerusalem.

Also citing continued settlement activity, Jordan is to lodge a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council in protest,

the Jordanian state news agency Petra reported.

The man killed in Wednesday’s car attack was Police Chief Inspector Jidaan Asad, 38, Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

The driver of the car – named as Ibrahim al-Akari – was from Shuafat refugee camp in the east of the city, Police say.

His Facebook page states that he is a member of Hamas, and the Twitter account for the group’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, described him as a member and a martyr.

Hamas, the militant Islamist group dominant in Gaza, and Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, agreed to the formation of a new unity government earlier this year – a move denounced

by Netanyahu. Hamas rejects Israel’s right to exist and advocates what it calls “armed resistance” against the Jewish state. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Ukraine peace plan in tatters, ‘frozen conflict’ takes shape

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko chaired the Security Council meeting in Kiev on November 4

K

iev said on Wednesday it would halt payment of state funds in areas controlled by pro-Moscow rebels, as both sides hardened positions in what is rapidly becoming a “frozen conflict” – a long-term stalemate that the West believes is Russia’s aim.

A day after the rebels held inauguration ceremonies for their leaders, the separatists and the central government each accused each other of violating a September peace deal and signalled they would withdraw support for some of its terms.

The past four days have seen the rebels stage elections for leadership which the Government called illegal, and the Government respond by saying it would revoke a law that would have granted eastern regions autonomy and sent them cash.

Despite a ceasefire declared two months ago, two teenagers were killed by shelling in Donetsk, one of the two separatist strong-

holds, on Wednesday as they played football on a school sports field, the city’s administration said.

The rebels say their newly elected leaders must be allowed to negotiate with Kiev directly; Kiev says this is impossible. Both sides’ positions reverse parts of the 12-point peace plan, the Minsk protocol, agreed in Belarus in September.

With Kiev lacking the military might to break the rebels by force, Western allies now fear that a large chunk of Ukrainian territory will become a Russian protectorate with a parlous economic future, beyond the writ of the central Government.

“We have now realistically entered the phase of a ‘frozen conflict’,” said Yury Yakimenko, a political analyst at Ukraine’s Razumkov political research centre, using a term often applied to other ex-Soviet republics where separatist enclaves have been protected

by Russian troops since the early 1990s. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16 NEWS

thursDAY, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Benjamin’s Bakery awards bursaries to nine students B

enjamin’s Homemade Bakery in Buxton, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday rewarded nine students for their success at the 2014 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) with bursary awards at a ceremony held

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, who was in attendance at the awards ceremony acknowledged the hard work of the students and said Government believes that there is no greater investment to be made than those made for the ben-

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and other officials with the bursary awardees

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh presents a bursary award to Emily Cozier of St Joseph’s High school

at the bakery.

The awards have been ongoing for the past eight years.

The awardees were selected from East Coast Demerara schools from which their performance earned them places at Queen’s College, Bishops’ High School, St Joseph’s High, St Stanislaus College and President’s College.

efit of children’s education.

Commending owner of the bakery, Adrian Benjamin, the Minister noted that the occasion has tremendous significance from a number of perspectives, among which is corporate social responsibility.

“Mr Benjamin has exemplified this principle, the principle of giving back to his community, more than

most small and medium size businesses have. He has over the years been awarding and encouraging young people in his area, and for this we salute and commend him. This gathering has provided us with an opportunity to showcase the fine and distinguished village Buxton is.”

Referring to the gathering which included Buxton’s senior citizens, he noted that they have served both country and community; thus earning respect, salutations, commendations and gratitude.

“This ceremony has always excited me because I believe that Mr Benjamin

has blazed the trail as a small business owner, growing his business, but displaying what businesses ought to be doing throughout the length and breadth of our country, giving back to their communities, encouraging the young people to achieve, to work hard, rewarding strong performance and inspiring others to emulate these performances,” Minister Singh stated.

To the students, the Finance Minister urged, “To those who are not being awarded today, all is not lost, not everyone will do well at the first jump. You might not be awarded today, but when we come back

to award CXC performers, I hope to see some of you young people among the awardees. To those of you who have been awarded, I wish you well, and I say to you that our Government believes there is no more important investment than investing in education.

I pledge to you that our Government will continue to invest the lion’s share of our budget to education and in our young people.”

Observing that over 15 per cent of the National Budget is invested in education, he indicated that this ensures that students have the most modern facilities “…along with the national

programmes…such as the national school uniform, education grants and school feeding are implemented”.

He called on the parents of Buxton to continue to support their children, since “without you, no matter what the Government does, the teachers and headmistresses, without the parents and other family members encouraging the children, ensuring that they do their homework, the attend school, that they are attentive, that they revise for exams, unless family members and village elders do their part, we will not realise the potential of these young people”.

Canadian medical team looking forward to future collaboration – wraps up successful mental health outreach

T

he 19-member Canadian medical team has wrapped up another successful outreach in Guyana. The team included nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, family doctors and occupation therapists.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Health Ministry, Reverend Ram Kalap, one of the founding members of the team, said that lot of ground was covered over the past week.

They visited health institutions at Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); and the National Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Additionally, members of the team held lectures with students from the University of Guyana.

Kalap explained that the team scouted over the last three years to get a bet-

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran (right) with the members of the Canadian medical team

ter understanding of what is needed in Guyana, and subsequently mapped out a collaborative plan with the Health Ministry.

The team was able

to reintroduce ElectroConvulsive Therapy (ECT) to Guyana and even handed over an ECT machine to the National Psychiatric Hospital.

ECT is a procedure in which electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. It causes changes in brain chemistry that can

quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses.

ECT is a tool for psychiatric treatment that has been around for over 50 years.

It was available in Guyana

as late as 1985. It is proven to be very effective and has a higher success rate than drug-therapy for depression.

The team also held sessions that focused on gender-based abuse, suicide prevention and mental health issues. Kalap said that they are eager to continue this kind of collaboration in the future.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said mental health and disabilities and rehab medicine are two areas that have been placed on the back burner; however, over the last two years, the Ministry has made significant efforts to make these two issues a priority.

He commended the team’s work and the team spirit displayed by all of the volunteers, who, though predominantly foreign, did not hesitate to travel to various regions to render services and interact with local medical professionals.

news

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thursday, november 6, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Rodney CoI

Burnham was bent on “militarising citizens” – Ramson

J

ustice Charles Ramson on Tuesday completed his evidence at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI), explaining that the People’s National Congress (PNC) under Forbes Burnham was bent on militarising the citizens of Guyana.

Militarisation refers to a condition in which an increasingly large section of the population become progressively influenced by, or induced into one way or another into military or paramilitary institutions.

The whole concept of militarisation, Ramson told the Commission was born out of a visit by the leader to Zimbabwe.

Ramson made the statement was under cross-examination by Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Attorney Christopher Ram. The Attorney read into evidence of an academic publication written by George Ken Danns and published by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Guyana, titled “Militarisation and development: An experiment in nation building”.

In the publication, Ram read, Danns had written that during the period, there was an omnipresence of uniform military personnel on the streets of Guyana. The former Attorney General said that was certainly his experience. He noted that Burnham himself was often times seen fully clad in uniform, as Commander-inChief of the armed Forces.

Justice Charles Ramson

Many citizens, he said whether by choice or circumstances, took cues from him.

“He had to have his braves with him,” Ramson told the Commission.

Ramson reported that the country had been militarised long before 1978, noting that institutions set up

by Government include the Guyana National Service and the Guyana People’s Militia.

He said he himself experienced them. He told the Commission that Guyana had borrowed the militarisation of citizens philosophy and even had an increased number of in-take within the disciplined forces.

He said the Guyana National Service was phased out by former President Dr Cheddi Jagan. According

to Ramson, Prime Minister Burnham had embraced that philosophy so much that if it were possible, “everybody would be in uniform”.

He told the Commission that the lives and plans of many Guyanese were obstructed because of the imposition of the National Service Programme.

He related that in order to attend the University of Guyana, persons were required to complete at least one year within the paramilitary organisation Ramson said Dr Rodney’s speeches had posed significant threats to Prime Minister Burnham and that given his capacity to militarise the society, he did have the capacity to kill the Historian in the manner in which he was killed.

The Lions Club of Essequibo Coast with a team of two Dentists and one medical Doctor all from the Suddie Public Hospital visited the Capoey Village on the Essequibo to conduct a dental clinic.

The project saw 31 individuals (including children and adults) benefiting from extractions and other treatment related to oral health. Each beneficiary received a tube of Colgate toothpaste and a toothbrush.

The club recently celebrated its 23rd Anniversary on October 23 and continues to uphold its motto “We Serve”. The club wishes to thank the Dentists, Yolanda Coonjah and Jennelle Parris; Dr Allen Richmond, and Dr Brown (Regional Health Officer – Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) for their assistance and cooperation. Thanks are also expressed to Massy Distribution and Global Youth Movement-Guyana for donating the toothpaste

Former Chronicle Senior Reporter, under PNC Govt, escaped dictatorship to Canada

F

ormer Journalist at the Guyana Chronicle, Leon Saul, fled for fear of his life facing persecution under the Government of the People’s National Congress (PNC), and became a “political refugee” in Canada.

Saul told the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Tuesday that he faced severe persecution under the PNC regime. He re-migrated to Guyana four years ago.

Saul was the Chronicle journalist who first reported that a bomb blast had killed Dr Walter Rodney in Georgetown on the dark night of Friday, June 13, 1980.

The night that his report appeared on the front page of the Chronicle, Sunday, June 15, 1980, he said, someone called his house and issued a “death threat” against him.

He duly told this to his Editor, Eleazor Watson, on the following day, who promptly replaced Saul on the story.

“I could not conduct investigative reporting” into the bomb blast, he said.

Under intense, brilliant cross-examination by Counsel for the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Christopher Ram, Saul said only the State had the “resources” to plan and execute the bomb blast assassination of the WPA cofounder and to cover up the conspiracy after.

Globally, the PNC Government is suspected of carrying out the assassination, a charge it has denied.

The current Presidential Commission of Inquiry is seeking to solve the 34-yearold cold case of the worst political assassination in the history of the Commonwealth Caribbean, and Saul sought to shed light on how the State media under the PNC Government reported on the brutal demise of Dr Rodney.

The former journalist said that, contrary to what exhead of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Major General Norman Mc Lean, told the Commission, the PNC Government knew of Gregory Smith’s existence.

The only eyewitness to the bomb blast that instantly killed Dr Rodney, his brother, Donald, who was wounded when the bomb exploded, pointed to Smith as the prime front man in a PNC Government conspiracy to plot and execute a deadly plan to assassinate the populist political leader.

Saul said the newsroom at the Chronicle was aware of Smith’s existence, but not where he could be located.

Captain Gerry Gouveia, former GDF pilot, testified at the Commission that he flew a family that fits the description of Smith and his wife and children to a hinterland location on June 14, 1980, the day after the bomb blast shattered the peace of Georgetown and forever transformed the history of Guyana.

Speculating, Saul told the Commission that it was “possible” Dr Rodney died at the hands of either the PNC; the People’s Progressive Party (PPP); or even his own party, the WPA. But under intense cross-

examination from Ram, Saul said only the PNC State machinery would have had the resources to carry out such a deadly plot, and cover it up after.

Sporting dreadlocks and dressed fashionably in a light beige suit, with a white wool hat over his neat locks, Saul appeared in the witness box looking at ease, and at times Commission Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham had to caution him to tone down his “wit”.

Saul said he fled Guyana after the PNC persecuted him, and became a “political refugee” in Canada.

He said he admired Dr Rodney, and read his books, and became a Rastafarian because of the influence of those books. But he never attended meetings of the WPA, nor did he personally meet Dr Rodney.

He said after he chose to

Saul, however, debunked the idea that Forbes Burnham ordered Dr Rodney’s assassination, insisting under persistent questioning from the Commissioners, that the State may have carried out the plotting and execution without Burnham’s sanction. “If anything it would have been overzealousness on the part of the dirty trick operators, the boys in the back room,” he said in his signed written statement.

Like Burnham and Dr Rodney, Saul attended Queen’s College, where he knew Donald Rodney, the only eyewitness to the bomb blast.

“I was one of the media team sent to view Dr Rodney’s body in the morgue, on the morning of June 14, 1980. I went with photographer Wilfred Lee. I wrote story – attached. I spoke to several sources from Guyana Information Service – peo-

Former Chronicle Senior Reporter Leon Saul

live as a “Rasta” man, and vowed to live only for “truth”, he felt victimised at the PNCcontrolled Chronicle, where he had moved to work as Senior Reporter after excelling at a new communications course at the University of Guyana in 1977. He was first seconded to the Chronicle from the PNC Government’s propaganda arm, the Ministry of Information, and then became a full-time Journalist at the Chronicle. However, he quit after the Chronicle became “untenable”, and after facing State persecution, incarceration, trumped-up charges and the cutting off of his dreadlocks while in lockup, he fled to Canada and applied for Refugee Status as a political refugee, which Canada granted to him.

Saul moved back to Guyana four years ago, and today is head of the Rastafarian Council and an executive member of the Reparations Committee. He is also a playwright and is otherwise involved in drama productions.

The colourful character recounted to the Commission his own thoughts on the crisis in Guyana that caused Dr Rodney’s death, noting that the atmosphere was one of persecution and fear, with several “Rasta” men “killed” and victimised and marginalised.

ple in the John Street area where the incident occurred. I spoke to the Police. The Police gave one response; that investigations were continuing. Reports had come into the newsroom saying it had been Dr Rodney who had been killed. I did not speak to any of the Rodney family,” Saul said in his written statement to the Commission.

He said the atmosphere at the time Dr Rodney was assassinated “was generally a tense situation in the society”.

Saul said that his view is that “an explosive was planted” on Dr Rodney. The PNC Government has said repeatedly that Dr Rodney activated the bomb by accident himself. But Saul said otherwise: “I don’t think he knew he had one (bomb) in his hand”.

Saul told the Commission when he saw Dr Rodney’s body at the morgue on June 14, 1980, the lower torso was blown apart, with the legs attached “to the skeleton”. But he said Dr Rodney’s face was fully intact and easily recognisable.

The former journalist confirmed testimonies throughout the Commission’s hearings that “… there was heavy-handedness in the disciplined force in holding down dissent and preventing Opposition protest”.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, november 6, 2014

ARCHIE

Don’t allow others to overlook or stifle your abilities.

(March 21- Be an active participant both April 19) inside and outside the workplace. Your outstanding ideas will be wasted if you don’t speak up.

ARIES

Don’t be too self-critical.

TAURUS Improvements and changes (April 20- need time to develop. Be paMay 20) tient, and your hard work will pay off. Stick to simple plans with realistic goals, and success will be yours.

dilbert

Keep an eye on your spendGEMINI (May 21- ing habits. Trying to impress June 20) or outdo your neighbours will backfire, as an unexpected expense will leave you strapped for cash.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Someone will misinterpret your attentiveness. Don’t lead anyone on. If you are not experiencing the same depth of feeling, you are best to be blunt about your intentions.

You have a lot to offer. Get LEO involved in an organisation or (July 23- agency that provides help to Aug. 22) the underprivileged. A casual meeting will have a profound effect on your future.

Calvin and Hobbes

Problems with a partVIRGO ner or loved one will surface.

(Aug. 23- Keep a handle on your temSept. 22) per. If you are not careful in what you say, your words may be used against you.

You are craving companLIBRA (Sept. 23- ionship and mental stimuOct. 23) lation. Get together with friends who inspire you. Take part in unusual cultural activities that bring insight into different lifestyles.

SUDOKU

Do your best to finalise SCORPIO a pending situation. Put all (Oct. 24your cards on the table and be Nov. 22) firm about what you expect in return. Real estate or investment deals are looking good.

You are a crusader and unSAGITTARIUS likely to stand by while others (Nov. 23- are mistreated. Your concern Dec. 21) and helpfulness will be recognised and honoured by your peers, friends and family.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD

Wednesday's solution

Your romantic or family sitCAPRICORN (Dec. 22- uation is undergoing change.

Jan. 19) Personal issues can be solved if you have a heart-to-heart talk with those concerned.

Compromise will be possible as long as everyone contributes.

AQUARIUS

Stick to your own agen(Jan. 20- da. Helpful friends may offer Feb. 19) unsolicited advice regarding your personal or professional life. Follow your instincts.

You are the best judge of what is good for you.

PISCES Your heightened intuition (Feb. 20- will keep you on top of any March 20) situation. Your attention to detail and ability to see the whole picture will win approval from your superiors.

thursday, november 6, 2014

19

Courts Pee Wee heats Recognition by St Vincent and Guyana; Shiv for ODI up this weekend Letter to the Sport Editor

– semi-final showdown at Thirst Park

By Avenash Ramzan

I

f the quarter-final games are to be used as a possible yardstick, then Teachers, Students and Parents who usually gather at the Thirst Park ground on Saturdays are in for a sizzling day of football from Georgetown’s next crop of stars.

In what is the penultimate day of action in the annual Courts Pee Wee competition, there is little to separate the schools, four of which have remained in the hunt for overall championship honours.

Defending champions St Pius, who started the competition with two drawn encounters, have quietly slipped into the knockout round, but they would boast that their chances are as good as the other three teams.

Indeed, what has transpired over the past weeks is documented in history and it’s now down to who handles the pressure better in a ‘do or die’ situation.

Both semi-finals will start simultaneously at 13:00h, with St Pius throwing down the gauntlet to a determined Tucville side and Stella Maris trading skills with South Ruimveldt.

The competition has produced some exciting plays at the Banks DIH Ground, Thirst Park

The teams gained entry to the semis after hardfought victories at last Saturday’s quarter-final games.

St Pius and Stella Maris both won 4-3 on penalties after regulation and extra time produced 1-1 stalemates against F.E. Pollard and St Margaret’s respectively, while South Ruimveldt gained a 1-0

WI women suffer tough 2nd defeat

T

he West Indies Women endured a heavy defeat in the 2nd Twenty20 International against Australia Women at Adelaide Oval, losing by 86 runs.

Though Shakera Selman snatched two wickets for 32 runs, the Windies Women could only restrict the Australians to 160/4 in their allotted 20 overs.

Deadra Dottin had 1-14.

The Southern Stars were led by opener Elyse Villani who struck an even 50.

Jess Jonassen (47) and cap-

tain Meg Lanning (45*) also chipped in with solid knocks.

The West Indies Women’s chase got off to a bad start as the visitors were reduced to 19/3 inside the first six overs. Though opener Stafanie Taylor tried her best to consolidate and build an innings, she eventually fell for 19 runs from 23 balls. Shemaine Campbelle was the second highest scorer for the Windies Women with 15 while Shanel Daley scored 14.

Australia Women now lead the 4 match series 2-0.

(Windies Cricket)

result against West Ruimveldt and Tucville stitched together a similar scoreline against St Angela’s.

Six other games are carded for Saturday as the other schools battle for positions 5-16.

Action will kick off at 10:00 hours with Enterprise against Ketley, Smith’s Memorial against

Marian Academy, East La Penitence against St Stephen’s, Green Acres against North Georgetown, F.E. Pollard against St Angela’s and St Margaret’s against West Ruimveldt.

The competition, which will conclude on November 15, is a collaborative effort of Courts (Guyana) Inc., the Petra Organisation and Banks DIH Limited.

SCOREBOARD Australia Women won by 86 Runs E Villani c & b Quintyne 50 J Jonassen c Selman b Quintyne 47 M Lanning* not out 45 J Cameron b Dottin 11 E Perry run out (†Aguilleira) 4 Total: 160/4 (20 Overs) Extras: (w 3) 3 Did not Bat: A Blackwell, A Healy+, E Osborne, S Coyte, R Farrell, K Beams.

Fall of Wickets: 1-93 (Jonassen, 11.2 ov), 2-105 (Villani, 13.3 ov), 3-147 (Cameron, 17.4 ov), 4-160 (Perry, 19.6 ov).

Bowling: S Selman 3-025-0, S Daley 3-0-20-0, S Quintyne 4-0-32-2, S Connell 3-0-26-0, A Mohammed 4-0-29-0, H Matthews 1-014-0, D Dottin 2-0-14-1.

West Indies Women (Target; 161) S Taylor st Healy b Beams 19 H Matthews c & b Jonassen 2

D Dottin c Jonassen b Perry 1 B Cooper c †Healy b Beams 5 S Campbelle st Healy b Beams 15 M Aguilleira*+ c †Healy b Osborne 4 S Daley c Cameron b Perry 14 S Quintyne run out (Jonassen) 0 A Mohammed run out (Perry) 3 S Connell not out 6 S Selman not out 4 Total: 74/9 (20 Overs) Extras (lb 1) 1 Fall of Wickets: 1-4 (Matthews, 1.2 ov), 2-5 (Dottin, 2.1 ov), 3-19 (Cooper, 5.2 ov), 4-39 (Taylor, 8.5 ov), 5-46 (Aguilleira, 11.2 ov), 6-50 (Campbelle, 12.4 ov), 7-57 (Quintyne, 13.6 ov), 8-62 (Mohammed, 15.2 ov), 9-64 (Daley, 15.5 ov).

Bowling: R Farrell 3-0-110, J Jonassen 4-0-12-2, E Perry 3-0-10-2, K Beams 4-0-16-3, E Osborne 4-014-0, S Coyte 2-0-10-0.

Dear Editor, A few weeks ago I wrote a piece advocating that star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul should be named as Sport Ambassador and be given a diplomatic passport instead of him have to que up at the airport, etc, since his counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago and even the small islands enjoy such privilege I gather also that Roger Harper who is a former test player and now a coach for a team participating in the CPL tournament enjoys such privilege. Well I have more news for the Guyana Government.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves last week awarded 15 individuals, including five sports personalities, three singers, one dramatist/writer and two pianists with the privilege of carrying diplomatic passport and wearing the title of Cultural or Sports Ambassador of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dr Gonsalves was the man who should take credit for solving the cricket dis-

pute between the players and the WICB last week, following the disgraceful behaviour of the cricketers in India, in which the BCCI threatened to sue the WICB for US$42 million.

The St Vincent leader is a keen sportsman. He was responsible also to solve the dispute between Chris Gayle and the WICB a few years ago. The Guyana authorities should take a page out of Gonsalves’ book and issue a diplomatic passport to Shiv, a man who has done so much for West Indies cricket.

On this note maybe the selectors should include him in the ODI squad for South Africa. He will be the backbone of the team and the batsmen will bat around him. The team needs someone who can stay for 50 overs, and the others can bat around him.

Maybe if Shiv was in India with the ODI squad be might have been able to persuade them not to take such drastic action.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

Dhanraj ready for motor racing Caribbean Championships

L

ocal motor racer, Andre Dhanraj is optimistic about the upcoming Caribbean Motor Racing Championships set for November 16 at the South Dakota Circuit.

The group two CMRC driver explained to Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive telephone interview that he is well prepared for the event.

“Preparations are going well, the car is prepared we are excited and can’t wait for the races and I think this is going to be a spectacular event for the Guyanese public because it’s the biggest of its kind,” Dhanraj stated enthusiastically.

Further, Dhanraj is confident of his chances when race day arrives, “The car is working excellent, we just did some work on it and we are confident that we are going to score points in the races,” he mentioned.

While Dhanraj is in high

spirits he also pointed out a few problems that exist that slows the rate of improving in motor racing.

“My car is at its maximum performance but they were some rule changes earlier in the year and the Caribbean drivers have adjusted but we haven’t much because we would require sponsorship to get better and nobody wants to give anything.

‘We always go to the event with the hopes of winning but there is only so much we can do, the guys in Barbados have full sponsors and could afford better engines and we have to sponsor our own cars,” Dhanraj highlighted.

Nevertheless, Dhanraj who drives probably the only Volkswagen Golf in the championships urges all Guyanese to come out and support the event while looking for his number 51 car. (Treiston Joseph)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, november 6, 2014

NBA Roundup…

Rehabilitation to BLUTC nearing completion W

ith entries topping 40-horse marks, the principals of the Bush Lot United Turf Club (BLUTC) has already put most systems in place for the club’s horse race meet, scheduled for November 16 at the club’s Sea View Park in Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.

In an invited comment on Wednesday, Coordinator Lakeram Sukhdeo said that majority of the rehabilitation work has been completed.

Sukhdeo further indicated that while entries for the eight-race meet is overwhelming, entries for the feature ‘C’ and Lower event have been slow.

However, he pointed that if the feature race fails to attract sufficient entries by next Wednesday, organisers will have no alternative but to pull the event and reduce the day’s programme to a seven-race meet.

The feature race has a top prize of $1M from a total prize package of $2M and trophy with the animals set

Lakeram Sukhdeo

to cover 1600 metres.

The other events on the day’s card are the ‘F’ and Lower race for a winning purse of $500,000 and trophy over 1400 metres.

Then there is an event for Three-year-old Guyana and West Indies bred animals for a top money of $500,000 and trophy over 1600 metres.

The two-year-old for Guyana and West Indianbred animals will be a 1200 metres affair with the animals running for a winner’s

purse of $400,000 and trophy.

The G ‘3’ and Lower event is also a 1200 metres contest for a winning purse of $400,000 and trophy. The ‘I’ class match up will see the winner pocketing $250,000 and trophy and is another 1200 metre encounter.

The ‘J’ class event will see the animals racing for a winner’s money of the $200,000 and trophy covering a distance of 1400 metres, while the final event is for ‘K’ class horses over 1200 metres for a winner’s take of $150,000 and trophy.

Top individual performers including top jockey, stable and trainer will be presented with trophies compliments of the organizers.

Interested persons can make inquiries with coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram Sukhdeo on 232-0558 or 672-0810 or Chattergoon Ramnauth on 337-5311 or 697-1979.

Race time is 12:30h. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

3rd West Indies A ODI washed out W

est Indies A’s tour of Sri Lanka ended on a disappointing note with the third and final “One Day International” being washed out in Colombo.

The match was aban-

doned and not a ball was bowled at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

This followed a No Result in the 2nd “One Day International” when the match was reduced to a 38-over game.

Sri Lanka A took the series 1-0, having won the first match by six runs on Duckworth/ Lewis. Even that game was affected by rain and was reduced to a 20-over per side match. (Windies Cricket)

Rockets off to hot start three blocks, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Charlotte Hornets.

BULLS 98, MAGIC 90 CHICAGO — Pau Gasol had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls beat the winless Orlando Magic despite playing without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 21 points and Taj Gibson added 16 for Chicago, which finally pulled away in the final minutes of a game that was tied after three quarters.

Rose missed his second

James Harden

J

ames Harden had 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, Dwight Howard added 26 points and 10 boards, and the Houston Rockets stayed unbeaten, beating the Miami Heat 108-91 on Tuesday night.

Trevor Ariza added 19 points for the Rockets, who used a 13-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Patrick Beverley scored 15 for Houston (5-0).

Chris Bosh scored 21 points for Miami (31). Dwyane Wade added 19 for the Heat, with Shawne Williams and Mario Chalmers each scoring 12 and Luol Deng finishing with 11.

RAPTORS 100, THUNDER 88 TORONTO — DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points, Patrick Patterson had 14 and the Toronto Raptors beat the depleted Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lou Williams scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter and Tyler Hansbrough got eight of his 12 at the free-throw line as the Raptors improved to 3-1.

WIZARDS 98, KNICKS 83

Dwight Howard

NEW YORK — Paul Pierce and Garrett Temple each scored 17 points, and the Washington Wizards beat the New York Knicks for the fourth straight time.

BUCKS 87, PACERS 81 INDIANAPOLIS — Brandon Knight had 23 points and seven rebounds, making a key jumper with 22 seconds left, as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers.

PELICANS 100, HORNETS 91 NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds and

straight game after injuring both ankles Friday against Cleveland. He took part in the morning shootaround and was listed as probable to play, but was taken out of the starting lineup about a half hour before the game after going through warmups.

Noah was ill.

Tobias Harris scored 21 points and Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Orlando, which is 0-4 for the first time since dropping its first six in 199091. (Savannahnow)

in their attempt to challenge Europe’s elite.

City knew victory was the minimum requirement to maintain their push for progress - but once again they suffered a self-inflicted wound inside two minutes.

Gael Clichy was perhaps harshly punished for handball but there was no excuse for Toure’s slack marking from the freekick that allowed Doumbia to arrive unattended and head powerfully past Joe Hart.

Toure quickly made amends by scoring the equaliser with a perfectly clipped free-kick from the edge of the area, but this did nothing to ease City’s defensive nerves in a performance that occasionally descended into shambles.

Doumbia should have put CSKA back in front when he raced through but guided his shot inches wide, much to the relief of City and their increasingly anxious supporters.

He did not pass up his next opportunity, however, when Clichy’s horribly sliced clearance allowed Bebras Nacho to play in Doumbia, who this time showed more composure to score easily.

Pellegrini needed to take action after such a dismal first half and his response was to send on Samir Nasri and Fernandinho - followed

by Edin Dzeko just after the hour when there was no upturn in their fortunes.

Just when City thought their night could not descend any further, Fernandinho was red-carded for picking up two rapid yellow cards, while referee Sidiropolous then did CSKA a favour, booking Sergei Ignashevich when the card should have gone to Wernbloom, who would then have been sent off.

There was another red card on the way but it came for Toure, who deserved to be dismissed for a reckless, arms raised challenge on Roman Eremenko. (BBC Sport)

Man City down in the dumps M

anchester City’s Champions League campaign reached crisis point as they were beaten by CSKA Moscow on a desperate night at Etihad Stadium.

Not only did they lose to two first-half goals from Seydou Doumbia, they also saw midfielders Fernandinho and Yaya Toure sent off after the break and ruled out of their next home game against Bayern Munich.

Toure had equalised Doumbia’s first goal but that was a rare high spot in a dismal performance by Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who simply cannot solve the Champions League puzzle.

City now have no wins and only two points from four group games, and must beat Bayern and win at Roma to stand any chance of progression.

And on the evidence produced so far, it is hard to see a team that mysteriously looks so ill-at-ease in this

A deflated Man City team

tournament turning their performances around to produce the results to qualify for the knock-out stages.

City’s fans were furious with Greek referee Tasos Sidiropolous at the final whistle, not only for the two red cards but also for a case of mistaken identity that spared CSKA’s Pontus Wernbloom a dismissal.

The bottom line, however, was that this was a shocking performance from the Premier League champions, especially in defence

in the first half when they conceded the goals that condemned them to another defeat.

CSKA were without midfield man Zoran Tosic because of problems with his visa, but it was City bogeyman Doumbia who did the damage as he now has five goals against them in four Champions League games.

It was exactly a year ago, on Bonfire Night 2013, that Alvaro Negredo’s hat-trick gave City a 5-2 win here

against CSKA, but this was a far cry from that as this performance summed up all the struggles they have had in this tournament.

City face a huge task against all odds to escape this group because nothing they have offered up in the Champions League suggests they will see off Bayern and Roma.

It will also leave Pellegrini facing awkward questions because their efforts this season suggest they have gone backwards

SPORTS

YELLOW PAGES thursday, november 6, 2014

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– Bravo named in ICC ODI team of the year

M

itchell Johnson, K u m a r Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews have been nominated for two of the top International Cricket Council awards.

Australia pace bowler Johnson is in contention for the cricketer and Test player of the year awards.

Sri Lanka batsman Sangakkara and captain Mathews are also up for both.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers completes the cricketer of the year nominees, while Australia opener David Warner has been nominated for the Test award.

England batsman Gary Ballance and all-rounder Ben Stokes have been nominated for the emerging cricketer of the year award.

England captain Charlotte Edwards and team-mate Sarah Taylor are in line for the women’s oneday international prize, although Edwards missed out on the people’s choice award, which went to India bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Stuart Broad and Joe Root have been named in the Test team of the year, but no England players feature in the ODI XI. The winners of the awards, based on performances between 26 August 2013 and 17 September 2014, will be announced on 14 November.

Australia captain Michael Clarke was named cricketer and Test player of the year in 2013.

Johnson won the award in 2009 and Sangakkara in 2012. No player has won the award twice.

International Cricket Council awards - shortlist of nominees

Mitchell Johnson

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC cricketer of the year: AB de Villiers (SA), Mitchell Johnson (Aus), Angelo Mathews (SL), Kumar Sangakkara (SL) Test cricketer of the year: Johnson, Mathews,

year: Corey Anderson (NZ), Gary Ballance (Eng), Jimmy Neesham (NZ), Ben Stokes (Eng) Associate and affiliate cricketer of the year: Calum MacLeod (Scot), Preston Mommsen (Scot), Mohammad Nabi (Afg), Samiullah Shenwari (Afg) Twenty20 international performance of the year: Alex Hales (Eng) - 116 not out v Sri Lanka (World T20), Aaron Finch (Aus) - 156 v England, Rangana Herath (SL) - 3.3-2-3-5 v NZ ICC women’s T20I cricketer of the year: Edwards, Meg Lanning (Aus), Raj, Stafanie Taylor (WI) ICC Test team of the year: Warner, Kane Williamson (NZ), Sangakkara, De Villiers, Root, Mathews (capt), Johnson, Stuart Broad (Eng), Steyn, Herath, Tim Southee (NZ). 12th

Dwayne Bravo

Sangakkara, David Warner (Aus) ODI cricketer of the year: Quinton de Kock (SA), De Villiers, Virat Kohli (Ind), Dale Steyn (SA) Women’s ODI cricketer of the year: Charlotte Edwards (Eng), Mithali Raj (Ind), Sarah Taylor (Eng), Stafanie Taylor (WI) Emerging cricketer of the

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12th man: Rohit Sharma (Ind). (BBC Sport)

Ronaldo wants new contract with Real Madrid

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ristiano Ronaldo says he wants to see out his contract at Real Madrid, which has nearly four years to run.

The Portuguese forward, 29, has been linked with a return to Manchester United, whom he left to join Real in a then-world record £80m deal in 2009.

He was presented with the European Golden Shoe on Wednesday for scoring 31 La Liga goals in 2013-14.

“I hope to finish my contract with Real Madrid at 33 and after that we’ll see if they want me to stay,” said Ronaldo.

“I feel young and still a long way off retiring.”

Ronaldo shares the Golden Shoe award with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, who scored 31 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season before joining Barcelona for £75m.

The Portuguese, who has been nominated for the

Cristiano Ronaldo

2014 Ballon d’Or award to decide the world footballer of the year, has already registered 22 goals in all competitions this season.

In total he has scored 194 league goals in 174 appearances for Real, while netting 55 times in 55 Champions League matches for the current holders.

Speaking to the Real Madrid website, Ronaldo says there will be discussions with club president

Florentino Perez over renewing his current contract, which he signed in September 2013.

He added: “I’m very happy and in a great moment of form. Personally and in sporting terms, everything is going well. I want to win and get as many trophies as possible with this club.”

A three-time winner of the Golden Shoe and twotime winner of the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo says he wants to become the best footballer in history.

“Being the best in Portugal isn’t enough for me, I’m going to work to be the best ever,” he said.

“I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, just to myself. I want to continue working in the same way because it’s harder and harder to improve my figures.

“I want to be the best at the best club in the world.”

(BBC Sport)

22

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thursday, november 6, 2014

from back page

Singh’s X1 remain in TTCB denies control with gripping Ramdin’s removal spinners' contribution as T&T captain – Permaul finish with 8-96 T Earlier, persistent rain played spoilsport as it prevented a single delivery from being bowled during the morning session.

The weather did improve during the postlunch session and play got on the way just minutes after noon.

Vishual Singh’s X1 added a further 39 runs after resuming in a position of strength at 311-6.

Chanderpaul Hemraj was on 39 and Ricardo Adams was yet to score.

However, Chanderpaul, a student of the Sagicor High Performance Centre

Steven Jacobs

and Rajendra Chandrika made a watchful start and were looking rock solid

with their defence before a two-wicket burst leave them at 56-2 at the interval.

The pair put together 54 runs for the first wicket before left-arm spinner Raj Nanan removed the righthanded Chandrika in soft fashion for 29.

Off-spinner Steven Jacobs then earned an obvious leg before wicket verdict against Griffith (20) on the stroke of tea.

Johnson and Deonarine who were both relatively new to the crease added 36 runs for the third wickets before Nannan had his

Leon Johnson collect runs on the leg side

managed to add just three to his overnight total before he was removed by off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine (1-62).

Permaul, with five wickets overnight, then ripped through the lower order, removing Kemo Paul (12), Jason Sinclair (4) and last man Adams (14) in quick succession to finish the innings with 8-96 off 33 overs. Medium-pacer Christopher Barnwell (139) was the successful bowler.

Leon Johnson’s X1 openers Trevon Griffith

Raj Nanan

Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) teammate caught by the forward short-leg fielder Shimron Hetmyer for 19.

With the score 92-3, Shiv Chanderpaul (2) stay at the wicket was cut short when Hetmyer took a sharp catch at silly mid-off to give Jacobs his second wicket.

Both, Deonarine and Barnwell negotiated a few testing moments before the day’s play came to a premature end. Play will resume today from 09:30 hrs and admission to the venue is free.

rinidad & Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath has denied that Denesh Ramdin has been removed as captain of Trinidad & Tobago Red Force for this year’s regional competitions. On Tuesday, Ramdin, recently elevated as West Indies’ Test captain, had claimed that the TTCB was trying to “victimize” him for abandoning the India tour last month. However, Bassarth countered that, saying the TTCB executive had not yet taken any decision on Ramdin, who continued to remain captain.

“We have not appointed any new captain,” Bassarath told ESPNcricinfo. “There is a recommendation from the selectors that we appoint Rayad Emrit as captain of the team from next week. The executive of the board has yet to sit and decide whether we accept or reject the recommendation.

Ramdin is still the captain of Trinidad & Tobago cricket team.”

The TTCB executive board is scheduled to meet this weekend to take a final decision, Bassarath said.

“When the selectors met to pick the team they realised the Denesh would have been in India playing a complete tour. Immediately after that he would go to the South Africa tour. And after that he would go directly to the World Cup. So Denesh was not going to be available to play for T&T for the 2014-15 season. Hence the selectors made a recommendation [to think about appointing another captain].”

Emrit remained a favourite, Bassarath said, only because he had lead T&T successfully last season. “You must remember in the 2014 season, Emrit did lead the team with distinction, where we lost the regional four-day tournament by one point.”

Bassarath, who is one of the WICB directors, insisted that it was not correct on Ramdin’s part to allege that he was being pulled

Denesh Ramdin

Centre in Balmain, Couva, Trinidad. “I think it is more victimisation because they were asking me questions about India and my lawyer said not to talk about it so I think they were trying to get more information on that aspect.”

However, Bassarath rejected that claim and also added that whatever decision TTCB would take would have no bearing on the ongoing talks between players, WIPA and WICB. “That has absolutely nothing to do with this.”

Patrick Rampersad, the T&T third vice-president, was equally categorical about Ramdin’s public pronouncement being incorrect. Rampersad told ESPNcricinfo he was present at Monday’s meet-

ing, which was attended by the top brass of TTCB: Bassarath, Suraj Ragoonath (chief executive), former West Indies player Gus Logie (head coach), along with the treasurer and secretary of the board.

The meeting, Rampersad said, was scheduled to also include Darren Bravo, who did not turn up. “We had arranged the meeting with Mr Ramdin and Mr Darren Bravo,” he said. “Mr Bravo did not show up. Based on what has happened over the last few weeks we wanted to talk to them about their commitment to T&T cricket.”

Rampersad said about a month ago the national selection panel recommended Emrit as a captain for the T&T team. “That was accepted by the executive. Ramdin is the regular captain of the four-day team. Because he was on West Indies duty we had to appoint somebody in the interim. That is done every year. When then the regular captain comes back and is eligible to play he takes over.”

According to Rampersad, Bassarath asked Ramdin how he would respond if he was told that the executive had received a recommendation from the selectors that they prefer to continue with the same captain appointed from the beginning of the season regardless of Ramdin’s availability. “The president also pointed out that this can be done only after the executive ratifies such a recommendation,” Rampersad said. “But he took that to mean that he was fired.”

Rampersad also refuted Ramdin’s claim that the TTCB executive tried to “ask him questions” over the pullout from the Indian tour.

“That was totally untrue.

One question was asked, ‘What transpired in India?’

He said he could not speak about it because that was the advice from the lawyer.

That was the end of the matter.” (Cricinfo)

WICB Directors unaware of sacked captains

T

Leon Johnson’s X1 close-in fielders appeal strongly for a leg before wicket verdict against Trevon Griffith

up for quitting the India tour after the players failed to break the deadlock with the WICB and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) over the Memorandum of Understanding and combined business agreement signed by the latter two in September.

I am axed as captain and they announced Rayad Emrit will be captain going forward for Trinidad & Tobago,” Ramdin told the Trinidad Express on Monday after attending a meeting with the TTCB at the National Cricket

hree WICB Directors have told ESPNcricinfo that, contrary to speculative reports in the Caribbean media, no decision has been taken to sack the three international captains: Denesh Ramdin (Test), Dwayne Bravo (ODI) and Darren Sammy (Twenty20).

On Tuesday some of the directors had a meeting over teleconference, including WICB president Dave Cameron, but the WICB did not issue any release. According to Azim Bassarath, who did not participate in the conference

call, no one had informed him about the trio being removed. He said the task force set up by the three warring parties - players, WICB and WIPA - would report back with steps to resolve the situation. According to him, the next board of directors meeting was scheduled for December 13 in Jamaica.

Another director, who briefly attended the conference call, denied any decision had been taken. “We have not selected the squad yet [for South Africa] so I don’t know where that news is coming from. We had a teleconference meeting,

“I did not stay for the full duration of the meeting. I am not told yet [of anything decision] because I would have the benefit of [what happened] at the meeting. I am told there is another meeting this Thursday and possibly the matter will come up there. I also heard Clive Lloyd will join that meeting.

But I am yet to hear about the Thursday meeting officially.”

Meanwhile, a third director said he could not say “whether that is true or not true” but declined to make any further comments. (Cricinfo)

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thursday, november 6, 2014

Fernandes Double success for PMCC in Berbice cricket breaks into world top 20

By Avenash Ramzan

G

uyana’s squash queen, Nicolette Fernandes, has jumped two places up the world rankings in the latest graph released by the Women Squash Association (WSA).

In the November update, Fernandes improved from 22 to 20 and is now getting closer to a career-best ranking. Fernandes has been consistent in 2014, moving between a career-best 19 and 22 during the year.

With four more events planned for the rest of 2014, including the World Championship in Egypt in December, Fernandes is expected to rise further in the rankings, and no doubt she would aim to improve of her career-best 19.

Despite a climb up the ladder, the 31-year-old Fernandes recently suffered defeat, losing to WSA veteran Aisling Blake in the WSA Silver 25 event at Stade Louis II in Monaco.

Fernandes lost 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 2-11, 5-11 in the one hour contest.

The constant rise up the ranking is a remarkable turnaround for Fernandes, who only at the start of 2009 was rated a lowly 249 after a recurring knee injury had keep her out of competition for a protracted period of time.

Since returning from injury however, Guyana’s most decorated squash player has been on the rise, significantly moving up the ranking with each passing competition.

Nicholas Cameron

R

Nicolette Fernandes

Such was her outstanding performance that at the end of 2009, Fernandes, who is based in England and is under the expert guidance of award-winning coach Carl Ince, had taken her ranking below 100, ending the year at 88.

Ever since then, it has been a steady climb up the ladder for the multiple Sportswoman-of-the-Year, consistently racking up points and making her way up the WSA leaderboard.

ose Hall Town Pepsi were handed a shock three-wicket defeat at the hands of their neighbours Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) when the two sides met in a Berbice Cricket Board, Elizabeth Styles Under-19 limited overs contest last Saturday.

In the match that was played at the PMCC ground and reduced to 43 overs aside, RHT Pepsi won toss and chose to bat first, making 2159 off their allotted overs.

Ashkay Homraj led the way with 75 (3x4s, 1x6), while Bhaskar Yadram made 52, that included nine fours, Brandon Prashad scored 46 (3x4s).

Samuel Kishnasammy took 3-35 and Arif Chan 2-43 for PMCC, who in reply, scored 216-7 off 42.5 overs. They were led to victory by 78 from Nicholas

Cameron, 61 from his brother Dimitri Cameron and 27 from Kishnasammy.

Yadram took 2-43.

In their BCB/New Building Society second division zone fixture, PMCC met Springlands and defeated them by 60 runs in a one sided affair. Batting first, PMCC scored 168 all out with 66 (4x4s) from Lloydel Lewis, 40 from Arif Chan and 29 extras.

T. Ramdass took 4-58 for Springlands, who in their turn at the wicket were bowled out for 108, with only C. Beresford 23 and M. Kendall 21 reaching double figures.

Kishnasammy took 3-8 and A. Wajib 2-25.

With the wins, PMCC have advanced to the quarter-finals of both competitions and will face Number 72 in the New Building Society fixture this Saturday.

23

Bravo insists he is still WI captain...

from back page

But there has been no direct response yet to subsequent claims that a Barbados radio station has reported that Bravo, the one-day captain, would be sacked as well as his counterparts in Test and T20 cricket, Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy respectively.

Ramdin, the 29-yearold wicketkeeper who has been a West Indies regular for almost a decade, has confirmed that he has been sacked as the captain of Trinidad and Tobago, claiming that he was being “victimised” for his involvement in the abrupt departure from India.

“I think it is more victimisation because they were asking me questions about India and my lawyer said not to talk about it so I think they were trying to get more information on that aspect,” he told ESPN Cricinfo.

“I think they are trying to victimise me and some of the other players, but I am not going to let it disrupt me mentally. I am just trying to get back into the right frame of mind to play and I know we [T&T] have a couple of games before going to South Africa so I will just try to get myself mentally prepared.

We have a game against Barbados at The Oval so that is my main focus right now, to get out there and be playing cricket again.”

Bravo gave no hint of that in Durban, saying: “It’s all sorted out and the West Indies are going to be back playing again. As far as I know the best West Indies team will tour South

Africa. Everyone is available as far as I know and we look forward to trying to give the South African boys a good run. It’s always going to be tough, but it’s good that all the matters are resolved now.”

There is no hint of conciliation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, whose secretary Sanjay Patel insisted again on Wednesday that they are demanding substantial financial compensation, believed to be well over £20m, which the impoverished West Indies clearly cannot afford.

“We have sent a demand letter to the WICB claiming damages to the tune of 258 crore,” he told the Press Association. “We are in the process of ascertaining other damages incurred by our hosting centres, after which we will present a final claim amount.

“It is a matter of consideration for the WICB to decide as to how they will cover our damages … they are solely responsible for this entire episode. There has been a direct and disastrous impact [to India].

Other than the financial losses, the collateral damage that has been caused to the BCCI and its stakeholders is irreparable.”

There are still hopes that the ICC may be able to broker a compromise at a board meeting in Dubai next week, with a widespread expectation that Dave Cameron, the chairman of the WICB who has been widely blamed for the current situation, will be forced to stand down. (Trinidad Guardian)

Top American track star visits synthetic track neigbouring schools, motivating them to reach for their dreams especially in sport.

Further, Castlin highlighted reasons why athletes who have never hurdled before should try the event.

“It makes you very dynamic, when you are hurdling there is a lot you put

into it and a lot you can do, you can run the 100, the 200…it just makes you dynamic,” Castlin stressed.

Castlin also shared that the transition to becoming a hurdler is not very easy but calls for dedication and hard work especially due to the technicality of the event.

In addition, Castlin men-

tioned that her focal points on her talks will be a bit more general with regards to sprinting and technique, “go things that you can do to improve every day”.

Castlin urged the coaches and athletes to come out on Friday in order to pick her brain with any questions they might have.

(Treiston Joseph)

Kristi Castlin shares a moment with the Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony during the courtesy call

A

merican track star in the women’s 100 metres hurdles Kristi Castlin is in Guyana and made a courtesy call t the Minister of Sport as well as a visit to Guyana’s lone syn-

thetic track still under construction on Wednesday.

Stopping at the Ministry of Sport around 09:00h, Castlin was briefed by the Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony on the develop-

ment of the track as well as its hopeful uses.

However, at the Leonora track where the stands are yet to be completed, the 26 year old hurdler addressed a number of students from

Kristi Castlin takes a peek at track during her visit to the Leonora site

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

thursday, november 6, 2014

MACORP golf tournament tees off Saturday

Lusignan Golf Club president, David Mohamed (centre), receives the winner's trophy from MACORP’s Chief Executive Officer, Jorge Medina. Sharing the moment is Mining Major Accounts Manager, Angel Amaris (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

By Avenash Ramzan

T

op local golfers will challenge their overseas counterparts on

Saturday when the annual MACORP golf tournament is hosted at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

The company on Wednesday morning unveiled its sponsorship of the Medal Play tournament at its Providence

Singh’s X1 remain in control with gripping spinners' contribution

outlet, where top officials were on hand to showcase the prizes on offer.

Delivering remarks at the launch, President of

the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC), David Mohamad, said he was enthused to once again have MACORP onboard for another year.

He pointed out that the tournament has grown to become one of the country’s leading competitions, attracting a mixture of local and overseas competitors.

“Members and overseas guests even set their schedules to accommodate the MACORP tournament. Last weekend we had the Guyana Open and there are players who have stayed back to participate in the MACORP tournament so we’re expecting a large turnout and a very competitive tournament,” the LGC head said.

Mohamed further stated that the MACORP tournament has had a significant and positive influence on the growth and development of the sport.

“Over the years, golf has risen in Guyana and it’s the support of companies such as MACORP that has led to such expansion and allow us to make so much improvement at the Lusignan Golf Club. MACORP has always been willing to support us, and support us in

Bravo insists he is still WI captain amidst conflicting reports

– Permaul finish with 8-96

By Rajiv Bisnauth

S

pinners Raj Nanan and Steven Jacobs took two scalps each, including star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul to reduced Leon Johnson’s X1 to 106-4, replying to Vishual Singh’s X1 first innings total of 349, at the end of the second day of the Guyana Jaguars second practice game against on Wednesday at the National Stadium.

Test batsman Narsingh Deonarine (23 not out) and

Christopher Barnwell (four not out) battled through to the close manfully, when played ended due to a combination of rain and bad light, but they will have to produce something truly special today, with their team still 243 runs behind.

Raj Nannan (2-32) and Steven Jacobs (2-27) strangled the batting order with their variation, spin and aggressive approach to put their team in total control of proceedings. continued on page 22

big ways; they’re corporate members, they sponsor big tournaments and we’re very appreciative of that,” Mohamad explained.

Chief Executive Officer of MACORP, Jorge Medina, an ardent golfer, expressed his company’s elation at being part of the event for another year, noting that they are satisfied with the progress made over the years.

Another executive of MACORP, Angel Amaris, was also enthused by the growth of the tournament, especially as it relates to increasing number of golfers participating each year.

Amaris, who is the Mining Major Accounts Manager, reflected that when they started in 2006 there were just about 20 golfers, a number that has grown considerably, touching over 50.

In order to ensure maximum participation, the organisers have set the tee-off time as noon for the Medal Play tournament. MACORP is one of Guyana’s leading companies and plays an integral role in providing machinery, especially to the mining sector.

D

Dwayne Bravo

wayne Bravo has insisted that he will lead a full-strength

West Indies team on their tour of South Africa next month despite sugges-

tions emanating from the Caribbean that he would be one of the victims of a purge of the players involved in the decision to abandon the recent tour of India.

Bravo was named on Wednesday in the official one-day team of the year selected by an International Cricket Council judging panel, and had told the media in Durban, where he is to play for the Dolphins in the new Ram Slam Twenty20 competition, that the dispute between the players and the West Indies Cricket Board is “all sorted out”. turn to page 23

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