Guyana Times Daily - February 11, 2015

wednesday, february 11, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trawler bursts into flames during welding operations at Pomeroon

Atrawler, "Tina 2", that was moored in the Pomeroon River in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) burst into flames Tuesday morning after sparks from a welding operation on board were ignited.

The ignition created huge flames that scorched the interior of the trawler. The incident reportedly happened around 10:00h.

Information reaching Guyana Times indicated that the fire quickly spread to the front of the trawler.

However, crew members were able to put a pump into operation put the fire out.

Reports say two men were carrying out mechanical maintenance when the incident occurred.

According to information the trawler, which is owned by a West Coast Demerara Businessman, usually transports goods to Charity via the Pomeroon River?

Scores of boat operators, farmers and residents of Charity gathered at the waterfront as the

However, with the help of public spirited citizens the crew was able to quell the blaze.

to information reaching this publication no one was hurt.

The "Tina 2" on fire

Officers from the Anna Regina Fire Station on board the vessel speaking with the mechanic

Fire fighters trying to put out the fire from the trawler

wednesday, february 11, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY FERRY

SCHEDULE

President Ramotar to dissolve Parliament by

By Michael younge

President Donald Ramotar is expected to dissolve the 10th Parliament of the National Assembly by or before month-end in keeping with the requirement and the spirit of the Constitution of Guyana.

Ramotar was expected by his political opponents to issue a presidential order or proclamation on Tuesday or today that would have cleared the way for the dissolution of the 65-seat legislature three months ahead of the planned May 11, 2015 elections.

But when contacted by the Guyana Times on Tuesday evening, Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall explained that the

sequences of the President delaying the dissolution of Parliament further despite the intense political campaigning that was already taking place while Parliament was prorogued, the Attorney General said there would be none. He

Head of State can dissolve Parliament any date after February 12 this year.

He explained that the Constitution requires that Parliament “must be dissolved within three months” of the date announced for elections.

Nandlall stated that legislation also adumbrated another requirement: political parties must present their lists of candidates some 32 days prior to the planned date for elections to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The AG said if one counts backwards and discounts the 32 days which must be available for the political parties to submit their lists then the President can choose to dissolve Parliament any date before this time period expires. Thirty-two days before May 11 would be April 9 and, therefore, this could be Nomination Day for Elections 2015 if the President chooses to dissolve Parliament in February.

Additionally, the President could move swiftly and to avoid any sort of crisis to dissolve the Parliament by February 28 this year. Questioned further about the possible con-

reasoned that the continued prorogation of Parliament did not prohibit political parties contesting this year’s Regional and General Elections from continuing their political work.

“Every political party has a freedom and democratic right to do public political work right through the year,” he remarked.

Asked about the disquiet that such a delay could cause among the already uneasy political Opposition parties, Nandlall responded: “I am concerned about constitutional and legal compliance and regularity.”

Nandlall said that anyone who has any griev-

ance or concern about the President’s decision not to end the prorogation of Parliament by February 11 or 12 was free to move to the courts for recourse when questioned about the possibility of legal action by the Opposition groups on the issue. He declined to comment when asked to share the date on which the President has been advised to dissolve Parliament.

Ramjattan: “Haul yuh ass!”

Efforts by this newspaper to contact Opposition Leader David Granger for a comment proved futile, but when the Guyana Times contacted the AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, for a comment on the matter, his response was, “Haul yuh ass”, accompanied by the usual vulgarity and vileness that dominate his discourse with selected sections of the media.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally made it clear that he could not pronounce on the legality or illegality of the move. He maintained that GECOM has been advised of the date for elections and was working towards ensuring that elections were held as planned. Dr Surujbally also stated that the President has the benefit of legal advisers and would “know when he can do it" (dissolve Parliament).

He stayed clear from saying that the Commission’s work could be affected or the period for official campaigning could be reduced

by arguing that these matters were outside of his ambit as Chairman. But GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, admitted that while the dissolution date could have “some impact” on the schedule in place to hold the elections, this was outside of his realm.

He echoed the sentiments expressed by Dr Surujbally reaffirming his position that GECOM was committed and actively planning for this year’s General and Regional Elections. “I am sure the President has been adequately advised. These matters related to the dissolution and prorogation are outside of GECOM’s constitutional ambit,” he said, they appeared better subject matters for the concerned legal luminaries.

Government had hoped that the issue of when Parliament will be dissolved would not generate any significant amount of controversy, but members of the Opposition feel otherwise. Two weeks ago, President Ramotar responded to criticism levelled against him over the dissolution of Parliament, informing that he would dissolve the legislative body when it was constitutionally due.

Ramotar has since signed the proclamation order declaring May 11 as the date for General and Regional Elections in Guyana. The proclamation has already been gazetted as stipulated by the Constitution.

Leader David Granger

President Donald Ramotar

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

What David Hinds said and meant

Opposition politician Dr David Hinds is quoted in a section of the media as urging APNU to campaign harder in “East Indian communities”. Hinds is also reported as saying that it was easier to make a strong case to Afro-Guyanese to support an Indo-Guyanese Presidential Candidate rather than to Indo-Guyanese to vote for an AfroGuyanese.

Hinds reportedly argues that the ruling PPP/C could lose the elections if APNU again focuses its attention on electioneering in East Indian communities in the hope of capturing another 30,000 to 40,000 votes, while leaving the AFC to win another 10,000.

Hinds, who is a seasoned WPA Executive Member, made those pronouncements during an interview where he appeared to be expressing concern over the failure so far of the PNCR-led APNU and the AFC to agree to a pre-election coalition in time for the May 11 elections. But there are many questions that arise when one looks carefully at the comments attributed to Hinds.

Firstly, he appears to be suggesting that Indo-Guyanese are more racist than Afro-Guyanese when he makes his surmise that they are more likely to support their own. Hinds does this despite the fact that East Indians participated in every single elections in Guyana’s pre- and post-independence history, despite Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte rigging elections.

Secondly, Hinds makes that distasteful assumption despite the fact that Janet Jagan was elected President of Guyana by a voting population that included Indo-Guyanese, and she was anything but Indian.

Is Hinds saying that Guyanese of East Indian heritage are incapable of voting for Governments and Presidential Candidates on the basis of meritocracy, the plan they present and their own personal vision for a developed Guyana? He also does this despite the fact the WPA is part of APNU, which has been touting itself as a multi-ethnic party.

Surely, there would be no need to refer to any voting constituency as East Indian if APNU has embraced the message it was seeking to promote to Guyanese. There would be no need to convince them to campaign in “East Indian communities” if they were really interested in appealing to a wide cross-section of voters.

Hinds’ argument that Moses Nagamootoo, who is being touted as a possible candidate for the Prime Ministerial position in the electoral alliance, would be more appealing to Guyanese of East Indian heritage because of his race lacks merit.

Is Hinds saying that East Indians again would not be enticed by David Granger’s plan for Guyana’s development, are unconcerned about the issues he has been raising with respect to corruption and governance, and could not care less whether the Government was undermining the Constitution?

Even his analysis of how APNU should go about securing support from what he deems East Indian communities is degrading and suggests clearly that he strongly believes that the 2015 elections will be fought by two ethnic groups. He has even dismissed the AFC’s ability to attract a wide and balanced cross-section of votes apart from the two main political parties.

Is the WPA, which refused to accept the existence of race and class in society for more than three decades, finally accepting the concept that elections in Guyana are racebased and there is need for a possible shared governance structure?

Hinds must say clearly what he means by his continued insistence that there are East Indian communities and African communities in Guyana, when clearly there is the emergence of large multi-ethnic groups in the country which are removed from the sensitivities of race and race politics.

As a matter of fact, it can be argued that the biggest voting bloc which comprises youths is uninterested in race and uninterested in the politicians who seek to disparage or promote racial insecurities.

Hinds must understand the implications of his statements on the image of the WPA, APNU, the AFC and Guyana as a whole.

Russia intends to continue seeking peaceful settlement in Ukraine

Dear Editor,

A new round of armed escalation in eastern Ukraine is growing, especially in connection with massive shelling of Donetsk, Lugansk, Uglegorsk and other cities, and active hostilities in the Debaltsevo area.

Peaceful civilians are the main victims of the continuing violence. Many international organizations are increasingly concerned over the Ukrainian army more and more often resorting to methods of warfare involving arms with an effect similar to weapons of mass destruction.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission already has some material evidence of this. The refugee flow is growing, civilians are suffering, and infrastructure is being destroyed.

There are more than 800 thousand of Ukrainian refuges in the territory of Russia today. Attacks on hospitals, kindergartens and residential areas are a source of profound concern.

The most important task is to stop immediately all hostilities and restore the direct dialogue between the Ukrainian authorities and representatives of the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics on implementing the Minsk accords.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, a number of other states, the OSCE, the United Nations and many human rights organisations have been consistently calling for this.

Regrettably, the public rhetoric of the Ukrainian leaders and the actual actions of the Ukrainian army “on the ground” are increasingly suggesting the contrary conclusion, notably, that Kiev is determined to solve the problem solely by force despite all earlier accords and Kiev’s commitments to the international community.

We are convinced that it is absolutely necessary to resolutely reverse this destructive trend and ensure the return of the conflicting

Ukrainian parties to direct dialogue at the negotiating table.

Russia intends to continue actively facilitating a peaceful settlement. This is the goal of the recent initiatives on de-escalating the conflict and disengaging the sides, which President Putin laid out in his address to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on January 15 of this year.

President Putin met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and President of France Francois Hollande at the Kremlin to discuss solutions to the situation in southeastern Ukraine on February 7.

Joint work is underway to prepare a text for a possible joint document on implementing the Minsk Agreements based on the suggestions formulated by the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany.

The document will include proposals from the President of Ukraine, as well as suggestions drawn up during the meeting on February

9 and added by the President of Russia. Russia intends to send another humanitarian convoy to Ukraine. A note in this respect with a proposal for the Kiev authorities to inspect the cargo on the border was dispatched to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on February 4. Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly informed US representatives about serious concern regarding Washington’s intention to provide modern lethal weapons to Kiev, directly or through intermediaries, under the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which permits and even encourages these deliveries.

Considering the revenge-seeking plans Kiev, this would not only escalate tensions in southeastern Ukraine, but would also threaten the security of Russia, whose territory has been shelled on several occasions from the Ukrainian side.

Denis Kopyl Press Attaché

Horrible decisions in the courts

Dear Editor, Guyana is in deep trouble. When I say trouble, I mean deep trouble when it comes to matters engaging the courts. Gone are the days of rulings, fair and balanced. It is now a system of bad to outrageous decisions made by some magistrates and judges. And the most distressing part of this corrupt scenario is that all of these matters have to do with capital offenses, murder being top of the list. The other serious offense is drug trafficking.

When these matters come up for hearing, some judges refuse to try the matter, far less to grant judgment. It is a serious and distressing situation pervading the country and if nothing is done about it Guyana will sink into cha-

os and confusion. You look to the courts for redress only to realize that it is the worse place you can go to. I make these bold remarks based on a recent case involving a magistrate (name given), who freed (name given) on the basis that there was “insufficient evidence” to find him guilty.

This magistrate, having all the facts before her, that is, a senior member of a household where children died, could not find him culpable of a crime.

The facts of the case are about someone giving his accomplice something to take up to the USA to deliver to a cousin there. That accomplice somehow forgot to take the item up north and left it at a Guyana address.

Some young ones in that

household then, without supervision, mistakenly drank from it, which sent them to an untimely death. Now, the facts are clear that this man is a producer and trafficker in drugs, no doubt about that.

The accomplice did not forget the item. I believe this was done on purpose. Around that time, several drug busts were made at the airport with North American bound travelers. So this person would have thought that the chances of getting through looked slim, so the drug was left behind.

The individual would have purposefully left for the interior, holding on to the alibi used quite extensively, “It wasn’t me I was in the bush.” So, if the accomplice was caught at the airport, he would have absolved himself

of the crime.

Meantime the hapless unsupervised children drank the concentrated stuff and got poisoned. This is crystal clear even to a layman like myself, but not to the magistrate, with everything becoming murky.

The magistrate could not see through the scheme only to make the excuse that the individual charged could not have been the one who placed the drugs. Drug traffickers expertly package their product so as to avoid detection. How many times haven’t we read or seen these occurrences. In fact, a few years ago a group of traffickers was caught with the well packaged stuff in tins of fruit juices at Coldigen on the East Coast of Demerara.

These 'Good Samaritans' took time out to attend to this horse that collapsed while on its journey along Homestretch Avenue, Greater Georgetown. The animal was eventually attended to by a vet (Carl Croker photo)

Avoid personal, racial, ethnic and religious attacks

Dear Editor,

In what has been referred to as the “crazy season” of elections in Guyana, I find a recent column not only crazy but very unfortunate in its failure to appreciate the need for new initiatives to break the log jam that has been stifling national progress in recent years, even as admitted by the Government of the day.

The writer and I share a friendship that goes back to High School days but that does not preclude our entitlement to different political views or approaches to national issues.

However, what I find most detestable is the degeneration of his presentation into such an acute personal attack on a prominent politician and Member of Parliament.

I am no politician, nor do I belong to any political party; but I am sufficiently aware that in a democracy we need politicians who can bring to the table varying philosophies, experiences and approaches to deal with

seemingly intractable governmental issues.

Numerous politicians in all sides of the several political divides in Guyana have paid their political dues over decades of hard work and sacrifices. They deserve our admiration, not admonition, for staying the course.

I think it is unfair, unjust and reprehensible to launch personal attacks on such persons for advocating what they consider to be potential solutions for Guyana’s seemingly intractable problems of good governance and equitable treatment of our many competing communal interests.

I take this opportunity to beg all our fellow Guyanese (here and in the Diaspora) to please raise the bar above the personal, racial, ethnic, religious or other such divisive levels so that the electorate can make informed voting decisions based on objective, pragmatic issues, competencies, integrity and credibility, as opposed to who can ‘cuss down’ the most!

Nowrang Persaud

Dear Editor,

While there is a stiff competition for the Presidency of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the poor performance of,our cricketers, allegations of bankruptcy by the WICB - both financial and in terms of finding suitable players - to represent the Caribbean squad, it seems as if our cricket is doomed unless swift remedy is taken to alleviate the situation.

There is no doubt that the standard of our cricket is deteriorating. We failed miserably in the first warm up match leading to the World Cup - both our batsmen and bowlers were way below standard against England.

We lost in two of the three formats of the matches against South Africa. It seems therefore our players will not be in serious contention in the World Cup. It very unfortunate since the West Indies won the first two World Cup tournaments in 1975 and 1979 and was in the final for the 1983 tournament.

Clive Lloyd was at the helm and now he is the Chairman of the Selection

Panel. Of course it is decades since the West Indies were a force to reckon withthings have changed in several areas - modern technology, emphasis on money, etc, etc.

The big question is can the Caribbean players rise up to the challenges of contemporary cricket? I think we can, but a lot has to be done both in terms of administration, the attitude of players, better cricket grounds, improved facilities, better coaches, etc.

It is easy to identify the problems, but to correct

them needs money - a lot of money - and it seems as if the WICB is not in a financial position to do so. In fact, it is in such a bad way that it is alleged that it is finding it difficult to pay the players.

Unconfirmed reports state that the cricketers were not yet paid for the South African tour, neither were the regional players paid for the recently concluded One-Day series and the Four-Day series. It is rumoured that the WICB is awaiting on funds they expect to receive from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the World Cup to pay the players. However, we have to bear in mind that the Board has a huge Bill to pay for the tour abandonment in India earlier last year.

The WICB has submitted a proposal to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), but it has been denied and the Indians are pressing to be compensated for the financial loss of the tour because the players refused to play because of financial disagreement with the WICB.

There is a serious grouse

between the West Indian Players Association (WIPA) - the players representatives - and the WICB, and this rift should be tackled as expeditiously as possible.

Dave Cameron, who took office as President of the WICB in 2013 is being challenged by Joel Garner, a former West Indies pacer who is now the President of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA). Both Cameron and Garner are optimistic of winning. The big question is can a former cricketer do a better job than a business executive? Even if this is so, he will have to get the support of not only WIPA, but several organizations in the Caribbean, as well as political leaders in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and the Caribbean Community (Caricom). We should remember at all times that cricket is an integral part of the Caribbean people and that sport is mainly responsible for unity in the region.

Oscar Ramjeet

GCCI welcomes reduction in electricity rates

Dear Editor,

The Labour Ministry should investigate this death Is the WICB bankrupt?

Dear Editor,

The death of 17-year-old Caricom Rice Mill employee Treeson Gitten was reportedly because of the negligence of the company and the supervisor to fix the dilapidated and rotten bulk tank stored with tonnes of paddy.

How can a management supervisor knowingly send an employee into a rotten tank stored with paddy to cork a hole which was leaking? This bin had to have been leaking paddy for years of crops.

In my tenure as the union representative for workers at this rice mill, there was a vibrant workers and management health and safety committee, which used to meet once a month at meetings to report on hazardous and dangerous working conditions.

Countless smaller tragedies routinely get shoved under the rug by supervisors. I would advise the workers that if the hazards are not fixed, they should refuse the orders from management or the supervisors and do not risk their lives.

If there were regular inspections of these tanks and bins which are used to store paddy, the work safety inspectors would have been able to identify the hazard and prevent the death of Treeson and many more accidents at this rice mill.

In the past, when all the paddy is being milled or processed, the operation will be shut down and maintenance

will be done to rectify these hazards. It is the onus of the company to prevent accidents and deaths, train its supervisors and remind them how to do their job correctly to prevent unnecessary injuries at the work site.

Accidents can occur when management fails to take corrective measures to fix problems, which in this case existed over a long period. That iron bin full with field paddy came crumbling down and buried Treeson and injured several others on the job.

I was really surprised that the security guards, who were on duty, prevented villagers from nearby villages to enter the compound to assist after this accident.

Before the divestment of this complex, whenever there was a disaster and the siren is blown, people were allowed to enter the compound to assist. They could help in tangible ways in saving millions of dollars worth in buildings and machinery.

In my honest opinion, I think if the people were allowed to enter, Treeson could have been alive today.

Circumstances are now developing under which the Ministry of Labour will have to intervene and do an investigation to see how this individual was employed in a factory and what caused his death.

Mohamed Khan

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is understandably heartened about the news that electricity rates are going to be reduced by 10 per cent starting in March.

The Chamber believes fundamentally that a core mandate of any Government's fiscal management and policy must be to intervene proactively to ensure that savings are passed on to businesses and the general public whenev-

Horrible decisions...

If my memory serves me right, wasn’t it this same magistrate who freed someone charged with murder? In that matter the accused was freed because the Police officer attached to the case did not turn up for court.

What more evidence do you need more than a photograph? You are talking about a capital offense, murder, and a magistrate can free an accused knowing fully well that he is going to flee the jurisdiction. What is the Judicial Review Commission doing about this?

So, the latest gross miscarriage of justice came as no surprise as the rulings just gets worse and worse. Did we ever stop to think why some justices suddenly get amnesia when drug related cases come before them?

The answer is all too familiar. Other extra-judicial matters are in play here. There is a strong malodorous stench of “collusion” exuding from the pages of such judgments. It is cer-

from page 4

tainly not a case of voodoo as one of my friends suggested.

He opined that our justice system is suffering from a serious situation of hexed judges and magistrates. I vehemently reject that supernatural nonsense because it only happens with certain select justices.

Why only a select few justices are affected by it? Why others go about their duties unaffected? It is plain and simple common sense. Covert actions are at work here other than the rule of law. So the foolishness continues.

It is high time to put the voodoo spirits to rest by seizing telephone records and other extra judicial activities gathered in order that these suspect justices be put in their places.

I guarantee you that voodoo notion would have been exorcised, and judges and magistrates would be circumspect in their judgments.

Finally, I urgently call on the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judicial Review

er international commodity prices and related events provide an opportunity to do so. It is in this vein that the Chamber also encourages its members and other members of the Private Sector to wherever and within rea-

son consider adjusting their prices for the benefit of their consumers during this period.

Marissa Lowden Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Commission to recall this case and set a retrial so that justice can finally be served. The lives of those

children would not be in vain. Neil Adams

WICB President Dave Cameron

wednesday february 11, 2015

Page Foundation

Ways to fix rude tween behaviour

tips to deal with your child’s attitude as she grows into a teenager

BY JULIE TILSNER

When your tween starts talking back, or yelling at you or rolling her eyes every time you start to open your mouth, you’re bound to feel shock, then maybe anger followed closely by hurt.

“In the beginning you try to chalk it up to a reason, just as you did when she was

enting skills,” adds the mom of five, including two tweens, from Flagstaff, Arizona.

This may be especially true if it seems that your child has gone from happy to snappy before her time. After all, this is the kind of behaviour you expect from 13- and 14-year-olds – not children who haven’t even hit the double digits. But the onset of sassiness is not

younger: Is she hungry? Overtired? “ says Christina Bess, the mom of a nine and a 12-year-old in Maplewood, New Jersey. “And then you realise the reason is, she’s a tween.”

“The first time I heard her say something under her breath, I was surprised,” says Gamin Summers of her “extra-sweet” nine-year-old daughter. “She’ll mutter, ‘You clean your room’ at me. I know it’s normal, but when you put everything into raising them right and they come back at you with disrespect, it stings and it makes you second-guess your par-

your fault. With adolescence looming, children naturally feel compelled to start going their own way. “They’re not intentionally being disobedient,” says Mary-Ann Lowry, a parenting coach and educator from Thousand Oaks, California. “They’re on a path toward ‘individuation,’ when they really try to figure out who they are separate from you.”

And then, of course, there are myriad outside influences. Thanks to cellphones and texting, for example, tweens are developing closer bonds with their peer groups and, as a result, pushing away from their parents at earlier

ages. Plus, many TV shows and even books aimed at this age group often portray adults as clueless fools – as any parent who’s been on the receiving end of “Duh!” can attest.

It’s worth noting, too, that regardless of when tween ‘tude sets in, boys and girls tend to act out differently. “Girls get dramatic and overreact, while boys alternate between withdrawing and being defiant,” says Lowry. When Maura Rhodes, a mom of four, mentioned that she didn’t want her children to grow up to be rude or ugly, her 10-yearold daughter, Eliza, fixated on the wrong message.

“You just called me ugly!” she cried, and ran upstairs to her room, threw herself across her bed and sobbed.

“Of course, I was referring to ugly behaviour,” says Rhodes. “But Eliza homed in on the ‘u’ word and decided I was referring to her appearance – because, after all, she’s a tween girl, and what else do tween girls care about?”

By contrast, Dawn Blanchfield’s 12-year-old son, Kyle, is now bigger than she is and has taken to playing the tough guy. “He’ll do that ‘Yo, dawg, what up?’ posturing. It can actually be intimidating to the entire family, but I don’t think he realises that,” says the mom of two from Sacramento.

(Parenting.com)

5 values you should teach your child by age five

(Continued from tuesday)

Value number three – Determination

Five-year-old Jake showed his mother a drawing that he’d made with his new crayons. “That’s very bright and colourful,” she told him. “Nice job!” The child then ran to his room and dashed off another drawing to bring to his mom for praise – then another and another.

“Each one was sloppier than the last,” his mother said. “I didn’t know what to say.” A good response might have been: “Well, Jake, that drawing isn’t as carefully done as your other one. Did you try your best on that?”

Determination is a value that you can encourage from a very young age. The easiest way to do so is by avoiding excessive praise and by providing children with honest feedback, delivered in a gentle, supportive fashion.

Another powerful way to help children develop determination is to encourage them to do things that don’t come easily-and to praise them for their initiative.If your son is shy, for instance, quietly encourage him to approach children on the playground, even if it makes him feel nervous and scared. If your daughter is quick to blow a fuse, teach her strategies (such as counting to ten or taking a deep breath) for holding back a temper tantrum. Congratulate children when they manage to do things that are difficult for them. The child who hears “Good for you, I know that was really tough!” is

bolstered by the recognition and becomes even more determined to keep trying.

Value number four –

Consideration

Anne was frustrated because her daughters, ages three and four, ended up whining and fighting every time she took them grocery shopping. “I finally told them that we needed to figure out how to do our shopping without everyone, including me, feeling upset,” Anne says.

The mom asked the girls for suggestions on how to make the trip to the grocery store a better experience for all. The four-year-old suggested that they bring snacks from home so they wouldn’t nag for cookies. The three-year-old said she would sing quietly to herself so she would feel happy.

The girls remembered their promises, and the next trip to the supermarket went much more smooth-

ly. Leaving the store, the younger girl asked, “Do you feel really upset now, Mommy?” The mother assured her that she felt just fine and remarked how nice it was that nobody got into an argument.

Do these small problemsolving exercises actually help a child learn the value of consideration? You bet. Over time, even a young child sees that words or actions can make another person smile or feel better, and that when she’s kind to someone else, that person is nice to her. This feedback encourages other genuine acts of consideration.

Value number five – Love Parents tend to think that children are naturally loving and generous with their affection. This is true, but for loving sentiments to last, they need to be reciprocated. It’s chilling to realise that over the course of a typical busy day, the phrase “I love you” is probably the one that a child is least likely to hear.

Let your child see you demonstrate your love and affection for the people in your life. Kiss and hug your spouse when the children are around. Talk to your children about how much you love and appreciate their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. And, of course, don’t let a day pass without expressing your affection for your child himself. Show your love in unexpected ways: Pack a note in his lunch box. Tape a heart to the bathroom mirror so he’ll see it when he brushes his teeth. Give her a hug-for no reason. Don’t allow frantic morning dropoffs or frenetic afternoon routines squeeze loving gestures out of your day. I can practically guarantee you that the more you say “I love you” to your child, the more your child will say “I love you” back. The more hugs and kisses you give, the more your home will be filled with love and affection. And when our children feel free to express their love to us, we instill in them perhaps the greatest value of all.

(Parents.com)

AFC can deliver 11% Indian votes to APNU

...for outright win – Nagamootoo

Saying that A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) will easily win 40 per cent of the votes at the upcoming elections, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said it could give the David Granger-led coalition the other 11 per cent it needs to clinch a majority.

This was disclosed by AFC Presidential Candidate Moses Nagamootoo on Sunday as he tried to sell the proposed Pro Democracy Alliance between the two parties at a public meeting held in APNU’s stronghold – Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

At the last elections, the AFC under an Indian Guyanese leader Khemraj Ramjattan won 10.3% of the votes mainly from the Indian dominated Region 6 votes.

In 2006, the AFC had secured a similar percentage of votes but under the leadership of Raphael Trotman, most had come from the APNU African dominated constituency.

Conceding that the AFC cannot compare itself with APNU in terms of its electoral strength, Nagamootoo who was hand-selected as Presidential Candidate by AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan said electoral alliance was the way to go. Nagamootoo was deliberately selected by Ramjattan who arbitrarily jettisoned the “presidential candidate rotation principle” to se-

lect the Indian Guyanese AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo over the Chairman Nigel Hughes.

The AFC has been afraid to coalesce with APNU fearing the backlash from its constituency who have not forgotten the muck and stain of the People’s National Congress track record in government.

Newly-minted executive member of the AFC Daizal

More than 12 murders so far in 2015 – Police

Even as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) records a drop in serious crimes, there have been a staggering 12 murders in the month of January alone, representing a 29 per cent decrease when compared to the 17 murders recorded in January 2014.

This is according to the Police’s monthly statistic update on murders, armed robberies and traffic matters, which was released on Tuesday.

In the release, the Police said that there was a 12 per cent reduction in the number of serious crimes when compared to last year.

These serious crimes include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, lar-

ceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.

Reports indicate that C Division (East Coast Demerara) and F Division (Interior locations) recorded the highest number of murders within their district; that is, four each. There were two murders in A Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) and one each in Divisions B (Berbice) and E (Linden/Kwakwaini).

D Division (West Bank Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) and G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) did not record any murders during this period. There were two cases of murder as a result of domestic violence, one execution and two of unknown nature.

Meanwhile, as it relates to robberies, the Police said that there has been a substantial reduction in the number of burglaries and break and enter and larceny being committed. They have been dropped by 15 and 18 per cent respectively.

“At the end of January 2015, robbery under arms overall has decreased by 28 per cent in comparison to January 2014.

"The statistics indicate a decrease of 28 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 27 per cent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators,” the Police disclosed.

Samad had also said that the coalition will not happen, deeming the talks as a “talent scouting” exercise.

A source also told this newspaper last week that the coalition talks have been bogged down by disagreements as to who will lead the alliance.

The parties have also not been able to agree on the name for their party and the symbols. Guyana Times was told the APNU has been holding out that it will not change its name and also does not want to give up its symbol.

Unsure about talks Nagamootoo, speaking at the political meeting said the two parties have been working in unity since the 10th Parliament convened. He said what happened in Parliament should send a signal that the party is serious when it talks about unity.

“We don’t know where the talks will go, we have stated our position but honestly speaking, this small seven seat party called the AFC, we cannot compare ourselves to a 26 seat party called APNU. APNU can always have 40 per cent of the votes.

“APNU is like a large umbrella that has attracted large numbers of people, particularly Afro Guyanese. But APNU cannot win an election alone, APNU needs to have a strategic alliance with the church and the trade unions and other groups and the AFC could bring in the eleven per cent,” Nagamootoo told the meeting which in-

cluded senior members of APNU.

Some 330 odd persons attended the meeting. Nagamootoo said the AFC needed the support of APNU in order to get a NoConfidence Motion in the Parliament and all the other actions taken by the alliance, including cutting of the National Budget in the tenth Parliament. This he added was only successful because of a unity it developed with APNU.

“One of the major parties of APNU being the PNC [People’s National Congress], and so as these elections approach we want to forge the closest possible unity not only with APNU but with the trade union movement, with the church, with the civil rights organisations, with women groups, with youth groups…

"We don’t know where the talks with APNU will go; we are hoping that we will reach some accord and that we can understand that in a strategic alliance it is not the strongest who can bring hope, but the small party who can bring the cross over votes.

"And to be fair we need to hold out an appeal to people who once voted for the PPP/C [People's Progressive Party/ Civic]; Guyanese of East Indian decent that they have nothing to fear and nothing to lose if they vote for a collation of parties at the next election which include APNU and the PNC,” Nagamootoo told the gathering.

“However if we cannot succeed in this short space of time to bring together a uni-

ty among the parties of civil society to have one block contesting the election as happened in Sri Lanka… then obviously we are prepared to go alone as sad and disappointing as that may be.” He said the AFC will like to share the Government with APNU and give three places to the PPP/C.

According to the party Vice Chairman, if the nation has another minority Government and the PPP/C gets back into power with 35 per cent of the votes and 65 to the Opposition, no one can guarantee that Guyana will have stability or peace. “Thirty-five per cent cannot rule 65 per cent it is not only immoral, it is mathematically wrong,” he shouted.

Speaking of plans the AFC has if it is to be elected into Government, Nagamootoo said the AFC will ensure that no one earning a salary of below $70,000 will be required to pay income tax.

Public servants will receive a 10 per cent across the board wage hike and the cost to cross the Berbice River Bridge will be reduced to $1000 for a small vehicle. Nagamootoo also said that under an AFC led Government, the current marijuana laws will be reviewed. Central Executive Member Michael Carrington while addressing the gathering said that if elected, the party will double the investments made in health and education.

This was the first time the eight-year-old alliance held a public meeting in that part of New Amsterdam.

AFC Presidential Candidate Moses Nagamootoo

Young Guyanese demanding more from elections campaign

– remain largely optimistic about Guyana’s future

BY JANELLE PERSAUD

As politicians gear up for fresh elections on May 11, several young Guyanese have expressed disappointment in the political campaigns and an expectation of “much more” than the everyday rhetoric to demand their votes.

They are also displeased about the state of politics and consequently its effects on the country but nonetheless remain optimistic of a better Guyana.

Mario Joseph is an Economics Major at the University of Guyana who believes that colonialism has left a stain that perpetuates division along racial and class lines noting that “politicians, ever since the country’s independence have maintained this division and opportunistically capitalised on this”.

He is saddened at the fact that such a culture is inherited by his generation.

“It is my belief that education is the only means by which this culture can be expunged, since our institutions of socialisation are designed to maintain the status quo, including the family and even school,” the young man opined, acknowledging that any such change would take time.

Adamant about being the change he wants to see,

Joseph told Guyana Times he would appreciate more face-to-face interactions with politicians during their campaigns.

“I’d like to have them be very specific about their policies and proposals, not just generalisations and wild promises,” he said.

“A political party can win my vote firstly by demonstrating the technical know-how and capacity of their party to manage the affairs of the country.

"The party must comprise academic and moral stalwarts with sufficient experience. Secondly, the party must have a clear, demonstrable vision for Guyana for the next five years and beyond.

"Finally, individuals with tainted reputations and even criminal associations must have no part in the party.”

Joseph has an optimistic outlook on Guyana’s future, mostly because he intends to play an active role in the changes that will unfold.

“I am an individual, like many others who want to see Guyana thrive. I, like many others, believe in the potential of this resource rich nation.

"There are some rather simple measures that can be taken to improve much in Guyana’s national institutions and state of affairs in infrastructure, manufacturing and export, among other key components of the economy,” he explained.

On the other hand, Grace Hutson, a student and Radio Broadcaster has noted that the importance of youths’ involvement in politics cannot be over emphasised. She believes that more needs to be done to encourage such participation.

Hutson opined that young people are often discouraged from politics out of fear of being victimised, among other reasons.

On a note of encouragement, the International Relations major believes it is

important for young people to educate themselves on the issues and move beyond voting in an election.

“As youths we bring a different perspective and creative ideas; allowing us to voice our opinions would only see the advancement of politics in Guyana,” she added.

Hutson criticised what she said were “shallow” campaign adverts alluding to past and present Governments in office.

“Both Cheddi and Burnham have done their part but can we put that to rest and focus on the way forward?? Can we stop cussing out each other during elec-

tions?? Drop the pettiness please!!! What I want to hear is a plan for Guyana’s development and specific plans of action in solving problems like poverty, corruption and improving education, etc,” she said.

Hutson’s choice of Presidential Candidate must be someone who is “charismatic, a navigator, a mobiliser, an inspirational servant leader, guardian of national wealth and resources and most importantly, have a vision”.

The rest of the team must be able to steer the country towards a just and humane society, and knows how to get the country there.

Entrepreneur Clayon

Halley says he looks beyond campaigns to determine how to vote, since it is quite normal for politicians to make unrealistic promises. For him, a party’s work and accomplishments, whether in office or as an Opposition, are determinants of his support.

“My vote would be determined on the functionality of a party in the years/period leading up to an election, functionality in the sense of how well did a party represent the people, how effective they were in achieving the goals outlined in their manifesto or how well did they fight for that which they had promised,” he outlined.

Halley further stated that while some youth have become apathetic because of continuous fear of victimisation, others may still be interested.

“I am of the view that young people are interested in politics, it’s more a fact of young people being used for political gains and not given the opportunity to play an integral role in decision-making and national building,” he said.

Asked about his optimism in Guyana’s potential and future, the young man quoted the preamble to Guyana’s Constitution which states that “the future" of Guyana belongs to its young people.

“We cannot rule out the fact that this is a blessed nation and it’s true wealth is yet to be discovered; under proper management

"I foresee Guyana becoming a force to reckon with and a champion among the great power houses of the world, hence I’m more than optimistic, I’m excited about our future,” Halley declared.

But Andrew Hussain was very interested in what was taking place today. He subscribes to Aristotle’s conclusion that man is by nature a “political animal” who would ensure self preservation before all else.

Turn To page 11

Eyew tness

Messiahs...

...solving racial voting

New York cabbies are notorious for their garrulousness. They have an opinion on everything under the sunand make sure their captive audiences hear it! Mike Persaud’s a Guyanese who ended up as a NY taxi driver and who really believes he’s found the answer to the racial voting conundrum of his native land.

Simple: “The two major parties need to become genuinely multi-racial”. Now, why didn’t they ever think of that??!!

While all Guyana can’t fit into his cab to hear him wax prolix on his favourite subject, unfortunately he has access to the letter pages of the newspaper to remind us ever so often on his “solution”.

The quotation above is from his latest letter in the Stabber. As to how to reach this Holy Grail, he used to advise that the PPP/C floats an African-Guyanese Presidential candidate while the PNC does the same with an IndianGuyanese candidate.

He once made this proposal to then leader of the PNC Robert Corbin, who promptly threw him out on his ear. And after evidently receiving the same cold treatment from the other parties, Mike seems to be trying a different tact. Nothing less that redefining the meaning of “winning democratic elections”!!

Now you’d think after 2500 years after the Greeks starting this whole democracy business, we’d have figured out what “winning” was, no? According to Mike, the answer is “NO”!!

The Cabbie asserts that in a “bi-communal” society like ours (never mind that we have THREE major race groups here), you can’t claim you’ve won an election if your votes come mainly from ONE of the groups!! So what is this?? Mandela didn’t “win” in South Africa after apartheid when mainly Blacks votes for him??

Or are we supposed to introduce some kind of “communal rolls” like Fiji?? Even when they’ve now abandoned it because it “reinforces” the ethnic voting?? And this is the problem that all these armchair generals come up against with their “solutions”. Facile proposals like putting up “ethnic” leaders, as the Opposition APNU and AFC are doing, goes against the spirit of what democracy’s all about.

Parties have to be prepared to reject the constant drumbeats of “race” and begin to stress programmes and policies that would benefit all Guyanese. Even the supporters of the AFC are shocked at their leaders bargaining their votes - intended to split the PPP/C’s support - to be named as the Presidential candidate solely on the basis of race.

The ERC should be reconstituted pronto so that it can rein in some of this extremist racial rhetoric. And Mike should look to solve racial profiling by New York City cops.

...forming Government

Another fella “catching ‘e tail” but having the answers to all that ails Guyana is Ruel Johnson. The fella was just bitchslapped by a real published writer, Ryhaan Shah, who advised him to quit with the whining and whingeing and get on with getting his work published - abroad. See, of course, if he can stand real competition.

Anyhow, Johnson’s “astounded and infuriated” by the inability of APNU and AFC to sort out their leadership negotiations. We don’t know how the heck it escaped them that all they had to do was ask Ruel Johnson! He’s always glad to take time off from panhandling to solve other’s problems.

In fact, without even being asked, he sent off a full listing of the Cabinet the two parties form and get on with defeating the PPP/C!!!

The list boggles the mind. We ask just one question: Will Basil Williams accept Nigel Hughes as AG??

...and charlatans at UG

Back in the day, the Pied Piper of Hamelin lured the town’s children to their doom with his fancy tune. The students of UG should not listen to the nonsensical tune their lecturers’re spouting to demand a 75 per cent raise. They should return to classes and not be lured away from their education.

Jennifer Smith

Mario Joseph

Energy sector can evolve into revenue earner – President

The energy sector has the potential to be an important revenue earner for Guyana, as soon there will be enough capacity to export electricity, according to Head of State, Donald Ramotar. Substantiating his statement, the President pointed to futuristic projects that are extremely feasible.

“When you look at the Upper Mazaruni with 4000 megawatts capacity in that area alone, you can see that we can become a powerhouse in exporting electricity to our neighbours,” the President stated. This has been recognised by stakeholders such as the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), he added.

The President made these statements as he was delivering an address at the commissioning of the country’s largest power plant, at Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three, on Monday. There is a proposal, being

mooted to have a regional interconnected system, he explained:

“From Brazil’s Roraima State through Guyana, through Suriname, through French Guiana and back again to Brazil on the East that can allow us to develop our renewable energy resources, even if we can’t consume all of it at the same time and we will excess to export and become a major earner for our society.”

Solar and wind power can also be used, the President added, noting the exploration is currently underway for oil.

“We have to build an energy sector that is flexible and capable of switching from one source to another”. The creation of high paying technical jobs is dependent on the supply of cheap reliable energy, President Ramotar stated, as he noted that one of the current issues raised

by disgruntled students and faculty members at the University of Guyana is that of high standards.

“That is the crux of the matter right now when the Administration is trying to make people more accountable, trying to lift the qualifications of the lecturers so that they could deliver more quality education to our people to run our country.”

A lot of work has gone into the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, which will be located on the Kuribrong River, and under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Norway has already transferred US$80 million to the IDB. Another firm has already been identified to replace Blackstone/ Sithe Global, the President stated.

Sithe Global had initially been associated with the project, but withdrew after the political Opposition slashed allocations for its development.

At the end of 2014, the road works to the hydro project site was 95 per cent completed, and if all goes well, the road will be handed over by March of this year.

A total of US$28.9 million was spent on the project up to December 2014, since the project’s inception in 2010. It has an overall cost of US$43.5 million. Government is also examining other renewable energy sources, as well as the rice and sugar industries have huge possibilities of co-generating power using bagasse and rice husk.

wednesdAY, februArY 11, 2015 |

Guyana exported US$54M in timber products

Guyana earned a total of US$54 million from timber exports, not just logs exports, as was reported in the Guyana Times story head-

lined “Reduction in deforestation recorded – despite US$54M in log exports, ” the Guyana Forestry Commission clarified.

The country only uti-

lised just over a quarter of its maximum allowable annual cut for 2014, with stringent reforestation policies in place for the logging companies.

Police find gun in Soesdyke house

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force have arrested a man after discovering an unlicensed firearm in his house. The discovery was made

during a search at the Kairuni Village, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara on Monday.

Acting on information, ranks unearthed an unli-

More than 12...

On the other hand, traffic has seen some six deaths on the country’s roadways from five accidents thus far for the year. This figure accounted for the period ending January 2015 and represents a 55 per cent decrease in road fatalities when compared to 11 deaths from 10 accidents in the same period last year.

Luckily no children have died in any of the fatal accidents. Nevertheless, minor accidents saw a decrease of 24 per cent with only 22 cases compared to 29 last year, while dam-

age accidents recorded a 29 per cent drop with 30 cases thus far for the year compared to 42 in 2014.

Inattentiveness

Pedestrians continue to be the main victims of reckless road users with three persons having lost their lives by the end of January 2015. Additionally, one pedal cyclist and another person travelling in a minibus also lost their lives in separate road accidents.

The Police have complained that “inattentiveness” has been recognised

censed .32 semi-automatic pistol with two rounds. The man remains in custody assisting with the investigation.

as one of the major contributory factors to the fatal accidents recorded thus far, accounting for three of the five fatal accidents in January this year.

The Traffic Department of the Police Force continues with its enforcement exercises and has since registered some 5022 cases against errant motorists at the end of January.

Of this number, 43 were charged for using cellphones while driving, 82 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 1234 cases were for speeding.

President Donald Ramotar

Walter Rodney CoI...

Rohee slams PNC’s Williams for “political grandstanding”

As the inquiry into the death of Historian Dr Walter Rodney continues Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee has accused People’s National Congress (PNC) Attorney, Basil Williams, of “political grandstanding”.

The minister returned to the stand on Tuesday to be cross examined, during which he was asked by the PNC lawyer whether there were any instances under his watch where the Guyana Police Force would have had causes to open fire into a protesting crowd.

Rohee, in clear objection to the Attorney’s line of questioning, pointed out that at the beginning of his testimony Williams had warned the Commission of “political grandstanding” in light of the upcoming elections but is now inciting such by trying to link events of the 1980s under the PNC regime to

that of the 2012 Linden unrest, during which three persons were shot and killed.

“What is Mr. Williams seeking to do now is to establish a case to link what happen at Linden where the police shot into a crowd with what happened then… I have worked with you in Parliament for years, I know your style,” Rohee said.

However, the Attorney told the Minister that the Linden incident was not the only one where police had shot into a crowd under his tenure, referring to a protest on Brickdam in 2011 when members of the crowd were shot with rubber bullets. Chairman of the Commission, Sir Richard Cheltenham, interrupted the Attorney; enquiring about his questions on recent events rather than on events that occurred during the period under review. Commissioner Cheltenham

says the Attorney’s line of questioning “might be the subject of another inquiry”.

Earlier, the PNC Attorney had suggested to the Minister that all political operatives at the time were justifiably under surveillance within the remit of the Police’s Special Branch but he denied this. Williams con-

tinued asking Rohee whether the Special Branch was operating on the relevant rules and Standing Orders (SO). He replied that he was not aware of what SO the Special Branch was operating under but knew the SO of the Police Force as a whole.

Williams made reference to evidence the minister gave during his chief testimony that he would have been privy to certain information about earlier events after becoming the Home Affairs Minister.

“The kind of political intelligence questions that I’m now more conscious of having serve in the ministry in so many years… Well now that I am Minister of Home Affairs, I am a part of a lot of information,” the Attorney quoted the minister having said previously.

“You could speak to 1970 to 80 because of your present position as Minister of Home Affairs, do you agree with that?” questioned Williams, to which Rohee responded saying “I could speak to it based on my association with the Guyana Police Force and the knowledge of how they respond to policy issues”.

The Attorney pointed out that Rohee said he had “the knowledge” and did not specifically say he had knowledge of the operations but the Minister maintained that he was referring to the Police Force and its branches responding to policy issues.

At this point, the Attorney underscored that the witness, by saying this, has introduced into the Commission the present and has gone beyond the remit of the 1980. He further asked the Minister whether the police, in any of the demonstrations in June 1978 to 1980, ever shot into a crowd of demonstrators. Rohee responded in the affirmative, noting that many events occurred during that time, all of which could not be covered.

Williams then reminded the minister that had testified that House of Israel members were going around hitting persons with sticks and questioned how he could not remember the police shooting at a protesting crowd. The Chairman interrupted the PNC Attorney, stating that a witness could not be expected to possibly say or remember everything. “If he has omitted something you wish to bring to his attention, then you are free to do it,” Commissioner Cheltenham noted.

The Attorney further asked whether the police of the day in 1980 shot into the crowd of demonstrators during any of the public meetings killing them. The min-

“The Iceman Cometh”

Back in his bygone, dissolute youth, Satiricus had read the play, "The Iceman Cometh". Not voluntarily, mind you...but for an exam. Even though he'd failed miserably at "lit-richer", Satiricus always remembered that the "Iceman" was actually the symbol of "death".

And that's why whenever April rolled around, and taxes became due, Satiricus would moan to his wife, "The Ice Man Cometh". Who likes to pay taxes?? It was like death.

In the past, Satiricus used to be petrified when the Government would roll out his "name and jail" tax fraud examples. In addition to jail time, fella’s houses and cars were seized to pay off taxes evaded. People became thankful that they didn't have to give up their firstborn! But now it was going to be different.

And in the end, Satiricus knew he had to thank the Mook for this complete turnaround in tax philosophy by the Government. The MOOK had made it clear that he did not believe in taxes of any sort.

Property taxes?? "Bun Dem!!" said the Mook, who owned properties all over the City. Rather than pay taxes, the Mook promised not to print the names of City Officials who had dipped into the City coffers!! The thiefing at City Hall covered a whole lotta property taxes!

Then there were the customs duties on importing boots. The Mook figured that Customs Officers were very needy and should be helped. "Why me gat fuh pay de Guvment and deh gon waste de money pan people in big office?? Me could gi'e pore people straight!"

And so it was that the Mook paid no taxes on his containers of boots - but made several Customs Officers rich. He told his friends he felt like Robin Hood: "Me gie de Guvment hood!!"

Then there was this huge tax on bringing in cars into the country. The bigger the engine the bigger the tax. The Guvment said they wanted to cut back on pollution and gas guzzlers.

"Ha!!" Satiricus snorted. The Mook quickly saw the injustice of this as did Satiricus. And so it was the Mook brought in two big gas guzzlers for a retired couple, didn't pay the taxes and was ready to go to jail for this. Satiricus sobbed quietly as he remembered the big heartedness of the Mook.

Folks from across started to picket in support of the Mook's bold move. Pensioners sent in their pension books to give him support.

Even though the Mook wasn't put in Jail, there were signs of "Free Mookie!!" And the Guvment could not withstand the pressure of the people for the dear old Mook.

They called in the Mook and pinned a medal on the broad chest of the Mook. They announced a tax holiday for everyone in the country.

What a guy!! Satiricus hoped the Mook would get the Order of Roraima. He had killed the Ice Man

ister responded also in the positive. “It is almost impossible to document every single instance of police action at the time. I wrote down what I considered to be the cases and the situations and instances that I remember clearly. But I do know of cases where the police shot teargas and fired bullets, not killing people in crowds but to scare people away. I do recall that.”

Additionally, the PNC lawyer pointed out to the witness that he is the Minister of Home Affairs and Head of Public Security before asking him again whether the police shot into any of the crowd of protestors. The chairman told the PNC lawyer he could not premise his question on

the fact that the witness is the Home Affairs Minister since many of the police actions he is being questioned about would have happened at a time when he was not presiding as the Minister. At this point, Williams highlighted that the witness had already established that he became privy to information about the events of 1980 after becoming the Home Affairs Minister.

Specially appointed State Counsel Latchmie Rahamat then interjected, outlining that Rohee had already answered the question when he said there were cases where tear gas and bullets were fired into the crowds but no one was killed.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on the stand at the Rodney CoI

Guyanese nabbed with cocaine in Nerve Tonic

United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officers in Aruba late last month nabbed a 28-year-old Guyanese with a quantity of cocaine in Nutrophos Liquid Nerve Tonic.

Only last year, four people in Guyana died after traffickers laced a bottle of SSS Tonic with cocaine. The suspect in that case was however freed of the charge recently.

According to media reports, the Guyanese national had applied for admission to the United States. He was then referred for secondary inspection at which point CBP officers discovered six brown bottles inside boxes labelled “Nutrophos Liquid Nerve Tonic with Vitamin B” wrapped in clothing.

Each bottle field tested positive for cocaine. The man, who was flying to Miami, admitted to carrying the narcotic, which had an approximate street value of US$150,000. Guyanese have routinely been caught with cocaine in a variety of food, medical and others

items.

In May 2014, four people died after drinking cocaine-laced SSS Tonic. The accused in the case – Deon Layne – was freed recently by a city Magistrate. The court had found that a prima facie case had not been made out against Layne, age 34, of HH Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown. He was charged with having 252 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking on May 2, 2014.

The facts of the case read that on the day in question, at around 21:00h, the defendant went to the home of Candacy McGarrell’s niece who was visiting from the United States of America (USA).

The defendant gave her some bottles of SSS Tonic to take for the mother of his child who resides in Philadelphia, USA. The court heard that the woman left Guyana without the tonic, stating that she did not know who had to collect the tonic when she arrived at JFK International

Young Guyanese...

He has listed several questions for the Government of the day that he would like answers to as a young Guyanese. These focused heavily on issues of accountability, the state of the University of Guyana and social progress.

“I would like to urge people from all walks of Guyana to sit down before you cast your vote and analyse life in Guyana, it’s beyond your hair texture and skin colour. You have to vote for policies and how much/often can your next President reach out to critical aspects of livelihood,” he said.

Hussain expects the same level of accountability displayed by Trinidad and Tobago’s Kamla Persad-Bissesar of any Government he puts into office. “I am optimistic about Guyana’s future because we as citizens of this country hold change; we determine who our leaders of tomorrow can be.”

Airport.

The five occupants of the home later ingested the laced tonic. Six-year-old Jahaquel Blair; his parents, 42-year-old Alex Blair and Simone Pryce, 36; and their neighbour, 36-year-old Natasha George died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after consuming the liquid.

The post-mortem examination report revealed that the four died as a result of consuming the tonic which contained liquefied cocaine. Twelve-yearold Jamal Waterman was the only survivor.

Clearance operations

CBP pre-clearance operations allow for advance inspection of passengers and special coordination with law enforcement upon arrival in the United States. Through preclearance, the same immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections of international air passengers performed on arrival in the United States are instead completed before departure at foreign airports.

Currently, pre-clearance operations exist at 15 foreign airports in six different countries, benefiting air passengers, airports, and air carriers, in the United States and abroad.

“The Caribbean continues to be a transit point for narcotics to the eastern seaboard,” said Director for CBP Pre-clearance, Dylan J De Francisci.

“Having pre-clearance officers positioned at this last point of departure continues to be successful in intercepting narcotics before they enter the United States, ” De Francisci said.

From page 8

However, Jennifer Smith, a Teacher in the Rupununi is not very optimistic. She related that while she remains concerned mostly about corruption, the other political parties have failed to convince her that they can in fact do better.

Constrained in her responses via Facebook, Smith added that “one (political party) came to the Rupununi recently to campaign and they did not impress me at all. They did not convince me that they are better than the ruling party.”

Like Hussain, Smith perceives that politicians are largely concerned with addressing their own concerns and those of their families and friends.

“I wish politicians would be honest, address the needs of the people and stop making false promises,” Smith added.

UG students happy over resumption of classes

Several students at the University of Guyana (UG) are happy about the resumption of a few of their classes, although the industrial action by the university’s labour unions continues.

On the Turkeyen Campus on Tuesday, Guyana Times spoke to several students of the Law Department who say they were pleased that all classes within that department had resumed.

One young lady commented that “if they had started class mid semester we would have died.” She explained that the Law programme needs to go on or students will be affected when they write the Regional law exams for entrance into the Hugh Wooding Law School.

The student continued that the industrial action of the unions had “horrible timing” as she was finishing up her law programme at the university adding that demands by other students and the unions were “too extreme.”

Students in the Technology Faculty shared similar sentiments. One student who was

a Computer Science Major said that he has had one elective course since the semester started and he was quite glad since he believes that the entire protest for better conditions at the university is “being blown out of proportion.”

He continued that students cannot wait for changes to be made as they have their lives to go forward with. The young man stated that he had wanted to take a few courses during the summer to fast track his degree, but this may not be possible if the strike action continues.

Khemraj Tulsie of the Environmental department stated that he was unaffected by the industrial actions. He explained that his lecturer was flown in to teach the Environmental Economics class, which is a Post Graduate Course.

He explained that the courses had been set since last semester and were pushed back because of the unavailability of the Lecturer at the time.

Acknowledging that the semester could be extended, the student related that this could affect her residency in the summer.

However, a number of her colleagues stated that the condition of the faculty still

needs to be addressed. They told Guyana Times that when attending sessions for Legal Ethics or Human Growth (which usually carries around 200 students) in the HS301 classroom they are forced to sit in the corridors or wait downstairs until the lecturer can explain what was taught.

A few students doing the Medical Rehab Programme stated that they have had one course since semester started on January 26, 2015. One student said she “understands all the conflict that’s going on and hopes it gets resolved soon” but she is quite pleased that a few of the Medical Rehab classes have resumed. She is worried that the courses may be forced into a short programme whenever classes resume.

Khemraj Tulsie studies for an Environmental Economics exam

A small group of students shows up for lectures at the Health Sciences Faculty

CBP officers discovered six brown bottles that tested positive for cocaine

wednesday, february 11, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tax workshops for self-employed persons begin

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced a series of Taxation Workshops geared specifically at meeting the needs of self-employed persons. These interactive sessions are being facilitated free of cost at the GRA’s Headquarters, 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, from 09:00h to 12:00 Monday to Friday and are expected to conclude on Friday, February 20.

Over the years, the GRA said in a release it has noted with increased concern the tendency of self-employed persons to take a lacklustre approach to the payment of taxes. This category of taxpayers often experience difficulties in correctly completing tax-related documents and in many instances, would ignore their obligation to pay taxes on a quarterly basis.

It is against this backdrop that the GRA has taken the initiative to design a series of workshops aimed at ensuring that self-employed persons are well-informed of their tax obligations, thereby, fostering healthier relation-

ships, and further allowing for easier transaction processes between them and the Authority. The specific areas of concentration for these sessions include: the Preparation of Financial Statements, deductions allowed and expenses to be claimed, correct preparation and completion of Tax Returns, record-keeping and other areas of difficulty facing self-employed persons.

In this regard, GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur has expressed the hope that with the completion of these workshops, there would be a significant increase in the number of accurate returns submitted to the Authority and increased levels of compliance among self-employed persons. Sattaur further urged self-employed persons to “get in contact with the GRA and register

as soon as possible to be a part of these workshops. The registration process is ongoing and new persons can register at anytime.”

For the GRA’s purposes, a self-employed person is any person who works for him/herself and is responsible for setting charges for goods or services offered. Examples of self-employed persons include doctors, lawyers, beauticians, barbers, taxi drivers, minibus owners and operators, farmers, hucksters and shopkeepers.

The GRA is encouraging self-employed persons to take full advantage of these workshops since it is in their best interest to understand their tax obligations.

Persons desirous of participating in these workshops or in any other specific workshop on various tax-related matters can contact the Communication and Tax Advisory Services Division, Tax Advisory Services Section, 227-6060 extensions 1201, 1203 and 1204, to schedule a convenient date. All workshops facilitated by the GRA remain free of charge.

GPSU not accredited by GECOM to observe polls

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said it has not accredited the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) to observe the upcoming elections contrary to media reports.

In a statement on Tuesday, the elections body cited two reports: one in the Kaieteur News on February 4, 2014 and Stabroek News

on February 7, 2015, both declaring that the labour union has been accredited.

“GECOM wishes to categorically state that it has so far made no such accreditation of the GPSU as an Observer of any kind for the upcoming May 11 elections. GECOM would like to further point out that it is in receipt of a letter of application for Domestic

Observer Status from the GPSU, to which it responded – by way of a letter –meticulously outlining a menu of terms and conditions that the GPSU must satisfy before consideration could be given by GECOM for accreditation. Upon the agreement by the GPSU on the terms and conditions outlined by GECOM, the Commission would then

write to the GPSU, inviting them to meet with GECOM officials relative to a further finalisation of accreditation arrangements.”

According to GECOM, it welcomes the interest shown by the GPSU in ensuring that the election management body produces elections that are transparent, free, fair and credible.

Gang-raped teen: Mother says justice delayed is justice denied

...lad braves pain, emotional trauma on way to recovery

By Michael younge

Forty-eight-year-old

Deomattie Persaud, whose son was gangraped by 10 men on Old Year’s Night in the vicinity of Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara, is again calling for the perpetrators of the heinous act to be brought to justice as her son limps along the road to recovery.

Persaud, speaking with the Guyana Times on Tuesday afternoon, said she hoped that her 18-yearold son would be able in a matter of days to give a full and frank statement to the authorities about the circumstances under which he was raped and those who were involved.

The housewife said she was consumed with pain each time she looked at her son but would regain hope as he demonstrated strong signs of recovery.

She told this newspaper that ranks from the Guyana Police Force visited her home on Tuesday with the aim of securing a statement from her son, but he was still not emotionally ready to speak or give a detailed analysis of the ordeal.

Persaud has expressed concern that the Police have not acted more aggressively in the matter and have, to date, failed to take more decisive action against those allegedly involved.

She fears that those accused of raping the teen could elude justice or tamper with her son in some shape or form as they are left to roam the streets without being kept on the Police radar.

“My son did not deserve this. He never did anyone any wrong,” she insisted during the interview before pointing out that she would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the Police are given all the evidence they need to bring those responsible to justice. Persaud said, in the meantime, she was focusing her energies on helping her son develop the strength to move about and function normally.

She still has to feed him sometimes. Most days, she is left to care for him, ensuring that he takes his medication and engage in rehabilitative care.

“He has improved a lot. He speaks. But he does not go anywhere,” she confided in this newspaper. Persaud

said she spent most of her time with her son as he is the second youngest of her nine children. She is only interested in witnessing his return to normalcy so that the family can get past this pain.

She denied allegations that her son was sick or mentally ill prior to the incident on Old Year’s Night. She rebutted any claim that the 18-year-old was mentally unstable, but related that the incident has had a negative impact on his willingness to relate to others outside of his family circle.

“Some people in my village (name given) are saying that I got mad certificate for my son and how I took him to New Amsterdam to get the madness out of his head. But this is not true. He is not mad and was never sick,” she said convincingly during the interview.

Assistance

Until the lad recovers fully, his mother says she is willing to accept any form of assistance from the public or the relevant authorities as it is very expensive to meet his needs.

“Is a lot of money I does be spending on taxi fares and travelling up and down. People does want know how I does mek out, but I does try hard to get what my son needs but it is hard,” she told the Guyana Times

When the Guyana Times visited the lad, he was having lunch. He was clad in a long pants and tshirt. He appeared to be alert recognising at one point that “there were too many things in the soup” that he did not want to eat. He was very fond of the faces around him, responding slowly to the voice of his sisters and nephew who were in the room.

Asked by this publication whether he was feeling a bit better, the lad shook his head without speaking.

Asked if he wanted to say anything about the incident, he immediately went blank and laid on his bed, clearly indicating an unwillingness to recount the horrors that he endured.

That aside, he appeared to be drowsy from the medication he was on, but even that drowsiness failed to hide the emotional pain and discomfort evident in his eyes.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

Caricom boosts CSME awareness programme

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat is compiling a team to effectively inform others within the region on the details of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Representatives are being drawn from Guyana, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica and St Vincent and

Guyana Education Trust College echoed similar sentiments. “It will now enable me to go back to my classroom to teach my kids about their rights and opportunities as a Caribbean person and as being a part of CSME.”

During an interview with Guyana Times Right Angle Imagining Consultant

the Caricom Secretariat is here physically they are not necessarily churning out the news to keep the media focused and attuned to CSME issues and so we feel this is very critical in this entire process”.

The Guyana leg of the Canadian funded project is expected to conclude in March after commenc-

the Grenadines. This project, which seeks to improve the flow of information within the six member states, is being executed by Right Angle Imaging Consultancy; a St Lucian-based organisation, and forms part of component 300 of the Caricom Trade and Competitiveness Project.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Legal Affairs and Tourism, the National Accreditation Council, Guyana Marketing Corporation(GMC),and CXC level teachers concluded a Spokesperson Training Programme at the Cara Lodge Hotel.

Free Movement of Skills, Free Movement of Capital, the Caricom Complaints Procedure, Free Movement of Services, Free Movement of Goods and the Right of Establishment were among the areas covered during the two days of extensive training. Additionally, the representatives were trained how to effectively deliver pertinent information on the Single Market and Economy while building a relationship with the media.

Joy Browne-Skeete, Head of Department at Queen’s College told Guyana Times that the programme was very beneficial. “Normally teachers are put on the spot and we need to know how to deliver, we have to deliver the content and more so if we are going to be representing the CSME, we have to be knowledgeable of the content area before we can actually inform Caricom nationals on the whole”. Browne-Skeete said too that she was equipped with additional skills and knowledge on how to engage students while teaching on the CSME.

Valini Kirton-Leitch, another teacher from the

Carolyn Walcott explained that national country reports conducted within the select Member States revealed “very low levels of awareness” on the CSME.

She said while the media have not played a leading role in the dissemination of information on the CSME, there is also a lack of skilled persons who can speak to CSME issues. “So today’s session is really meant to build a team of people who can expertly speak to the public through the media on CSME,” the consultant explained.

Prior to this Spokesperson Training Programme, a Communication for Development Workshop was held with stakeholders drawn from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), National Accreditation Council, and the Ministries of Tourism and Education among other organisations. Additionally, work site meetings and training programmes for teachers were also conducted.

“The teacher training was consistent with curriculum change because young people…they are not necessarily interested in the Caricom Single Market and Economy, partly because they do not know, or they think outside of the region is better for them in terms of their future economic livelihood. So integrating the CSME into the school’s curriculum is another very good strategy from a national perspective,” Walcott explained.

Next on the agenda is a media workshop set for next week. “The media are not sensitising the public, and the reason for the low awareness is because the media do not necessarily find CSME issues attractive, and this was what showed up in Guyana’s Country Report. It also revealed that although

ing on January 19, 2015. Right Angle Imagining Consultancy which secured the contract in October, 2014 will establish a comprehensive strategy that will address the collabora-

tion of persons on information as it relates to the five regimes established under the CSME. “We hope that out of that there will be a very robust strategy that is inclusive and that focuses on the participation of all sectors of society in not just the education and the information but the communication and the engagement of citizens”.

Right Angle Imagining Consultancy Consultant Carolyn Walcott engaging stakeholders during the Spokesperson Training Programme on Tuesday

Some of the participants who were present on Tuesday

Missing Caribbean Airlines Director’s body found

Relatives of former Caribbean Airlines (CAL) pilot and prominent Chaguanas businessman Azad Niamat are shocked but also relieved over the discovery of his body on Monday.

Niamat’s body was found in Tamana on Monday morning, one mile away from the Brazil Arena Road, San Raphael, where his Toyota Prado SUV was first seen. He was found 11 days after he went missing.

He served as a Director on the state-owned airline. According to reports, Sergeant Jitendra Tooleram and other officers went to Brazil Arena Road after a villager contacted them,

Missing CAL Director Azad Niamat

saying he found a body in the forested area.

The man told Police that around 10:00h he was walking along the roadway when

he got a foul stench and knowing there was a search in the area for Niamat, he called the Police.

He was found with his hands tied behind his back and his mouth covered with duct tape.

Police said there was no visible signs of violence on his body but were quick to point out that due to the advance stage of decomposition they are uncertain as to his cause of death.

Niamat, who lived close to the famous Lion House on the Chaguanas Main Road, left home on January 29, saying he was going to a hardware store to buy wood. He was never seen again.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Argentinean Prosecutor’s death: Unexplained DNA found

Forensic experts in Argentina have found DNA from an unidentified person in the apartment of Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who died in mysterious circumstances

last month.

Nisman was found in his apartment, shot in the head, hours before he was due to testify against President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. He had accused her of covering up Iranian involvement in the 1994 attack on a Buenos Aires Jewish centre.

The bomb attack killed 85 people. Ms Fernandez has rejected the allegations. Iran also denies involvement. More than three weeks after Nisman’s death, it remains unclear if he committed suicide, was induced to commit suicide or was murdered.

Judge Fabiana

Palmaghini, who is investigating Nisman’s death, has ordered tests to try to identify the genetic material found in his apartment. Those who could have visited Nisman on day of his death, January 18, will be asked to come forward to provide a DNA sample, she said.

A long-time acquaintance of Nisman, Diego Lagomarsino, said he was in the apartment on January 17. Lagomarsino lent Nisman the gun that was later found next to his body. He said the prosecutor asked him for the gun because he “feared for the safety of his daughters”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

St Lucia rattled by “burst” of earthquakes

St Lucia was struck by a “burst” of earthquakes on Monday, but disaster officials said there were no reports of injuries or damages.

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said that it had been informed by the Trinidad-based Seismic Research Unit (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) that the island had been hit by eight trem-

SEC sues

ors during a nine-minute period.

It said the largest of the tremors was located at 13.84°N and 61.06°W with a magnitude was 2.3 and a depth 17km.

“NEMO has not yet received any reports of damage as a result of this event; however, the SRC will continue to monitor the situation and advice the Organisation as the activity warrants,” NEMO said,

urging the population to be wary of the situation and take the necessary precautions to save lives.

“Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Don’t wait until you’re certain an earthquake is actually occurring. At the first sign of the earth shaking, if you are in a building, stay inside and away from windows,” NEMO warned.

Cayman Islands

bank, four other companies

The SEC is seeking disgorgement, restitution, penalties and an injunction, according to court papers filed

The United States regulatory agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sued the Cayman Islands-based Caledonian Bank and four other companies, claiming that they took more than US$75 million from unregistered sales of “virtually worthless” penny stocks.

The SEC sued Caledonian

Bank, Caledonian Securities, Clear Water Securities, Legacy Global Markets, and Verdmont Capital, in US federal district court in Manhattan. The Caledonian defendants are based in the Cayman Islands. Clearwater and Legacy are based in Belize, and Verdmont in Panama.

All of the allegations were the same, the SEC said

in its 39-page complaint. First, they filed “bogus registration statements” with the SEC, purporting to register securities to public shareholders, though there were no such sales and the securities stayed in the control of the issuers and their affiliates.

“In the sham offerings, the issuers pretended to sell securities to shareholders in such places as Serbia, Mexico, Ireland, Norway, Panama and Jamaica,” said the SEC in the court filing. It alleged that the restricted securities were then “passed off” as free-trading stocks in the United States and sold to the public. The agency claims the defendants operated as affiliates, dealers, sales outlets and underwriters, in connection with four shell companies: Swingplane Ventures, Goff Corp, Nostra Energy and Xuamnii Inc. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Brazil’s Rousseff under pressure,

but impeachment seen unlikely

For the first time since a corruption scandal erupted at Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras last year, senior Opposition politicians are publicly floating the possibility of impeaching President Dilma Rousseff.

She does not face an immediate risk of impeachment, leading opponents told Reuters, but that could change if prosecutors find evidence that Rousseff knew of or benefited from the mas-

sive graft scheme.

Prosecutors say executives at Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA), as Petrobras is formally known, conspired with contractors to skim billions of dollars for themselves and political parties when Rousseff was the company’s chairwoman from 2003 to 2010.

The scheme continued after she became Brazil’s President in 2011. Rousseff has conceded that graft took place but emphatically de-

nied that she knew about it at the time. She has urged a full investigation and prosecutors have not presented any evidence that she was complicit in the scheme. However, a steady stream of arrests and new revelations about the misappropriated money, as well as a recent sharp downturn in Brazil’s economy, appear to have emboldened Rousseff’s opponents in Congress and elsewhere. (Excerpt from Reuters)

OAS Electoral Department meets with provisional electoral council in Haiti

The Director of the Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Gerardo de Icaza, met on Monday with members of the Provisional Electoral Council of Haiti on behalf of the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza.

De Icaza is visiting Portau-Prince to continue supporting the electoral process and to learn about key technical and administrative aspects of the upcoming elections. During the meeting with the Council, he reiterated to its members the continued support of Insulza for the Haitian democratic process.

In addition, DECO/OAS electoral specialist Cristóbal Dupouy will travel to Portau-Prince where he will hold meetings with different stakeholders throughout the week. This visit of the OAS officials reflects the interest of the Inter-American body in collaborating on the solution to the political situation in the Caribbean nation.

(Caribbean News Now)

(Antigua Observer)

Alberto Nisman was laid to rest at the Tablada Jewish cemetery in Buenos Aires

US closes Yemen Embassy and orders Ambassador to leave

The United States has ordered the closure of its Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, and said its ambassador will leave the country by Wednesday.

US officials said on Tuesday they were suspending operations at the Embassy citing security concerns.

According to the Reuters news agency, the US will ask either Turkey or Algeria to look after its interests in Yemen while the Embassy is closed.

Yemen has been plagued by crisis since Houthi fighters forcefully took power on Friday, in a move denounced by the international community.

Yemen has been plagued by crisis since Houthi fighters forcefully took power on Friday, in a move denounced by the international community

Around the World

Anti-corruption party wins Delhi poll in landslide

The Houthis dissolved Parliament and installed Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a cousin of Abdel-Malik alHouthi as the new President, in place of the ousted AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi.

rious revolution” that has “broken the shackles of injustice and corruption”.

The group, who are accused of being backed by Iran, have defended their takeover, calling it a “glo-

The Houthis belong to the country’s Zaidi Shia community who make up a fifth of Yemen’s 25 million population. (Al Jazeera)

Mali’s Tuareg rebels blamed as rare elephants poached

Arare species of elephant in northern Mali is being targeted by poachers, threatening its survival, the Government has said.

Authorities have blamed poachers linked to the Tuareg MNLA rebel group for 19 deaths in the past month.

The Government says rebels are selling the tusks to international smuggling rings to raise money for weapons.

The Gourma species –

the northernmost herd in Africa – is believed to be down to just 350 to 500 animals.

On Tuesday, Colonel Soumana Timbo of the Government’s nature conservation division asked MPs to provide military support to protect the species.

Timbo told the BBC that the small number of rangers assigned to the region was already risking their lives.

“In the Gourma zone there is total insecurity. We have about 10 rangers cov-

ering about 1.25 million hectares, so it’s quite insufficient,” Timbo told the BBC.

“If we send out two rangers on a motorbike they are risking their lives. So we really need joint patrols – military and rangers – and we need to focus all our efforts on stopping this massacre.”

Northern Mali has been a flashpoint of conflict since Mali’s independence from French rule in 1960, with the Tuareg rebels campaigning for independence or more autonomy.

The region has been further destabilised by the emergence of jihadi groups including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has targeted both the Government and the rebels.

In its own attempt to combat poaching, South Africa on Monday appointed a panel of experts to examine the viability of a legal rhino horn trade. (Excerpt from BBC News)

French families of switched babies awarded US$2M

Two French families whose babies were switched at birth more than 20 years ago have won more than $2 million in compensation.

A court in the southern town of Grasse ordered the clinic at the centre of the mix-up in Cannes to pay $2.13 million, six times less than what the families had called for, according to the AFP news agency.

The clinic was ordered to pay US$450,000 to each of the swapped babies, who are now adult women, US$340,000 to three parents concerned and US$68,000 to three siblings.

However, the court

threw out a suit against doctors and obstetricians also brought by the family.

Speaking on French television, a lawyer for one of the families said they were “completely satisfied with the decision” and “relieved that the court had recognised the clinic was responsible”.

There was no question of the families appealing the decision, said the lawyer.

Sophie Serrano, 38, gave birth to her daughter Manon at a clinic in Cannes on July 4, 1994.

The baby suffered from jaundice and doctors put her in an incubator equipped with lights to treat the prob-

lem, along with another affected newborn girl.

An auxiliary nurse unwittingly switched them and although both mothers immediately expressed doubt about the babies.

Ten years later, troubled by the fact his daughter bore no resemblance to him with her darker skin, Manon’s father did a paternity test that revealed he was not her biological parent.

Serrano then discovered she was not Manon’s mother either, prompting a probe to try and find the other family who had been handed their biological daughter. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conceded defeat in Delhi state elections after vote counting showed anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal’s party heading for a landslide victory.

According to initial results, released on Tuesday morning, the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by former Chief Minister Kejriwal, was further ahead than straw polls earlier in the week had predicted, and leading in 62 seats out of 70.

Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would hold just seven seats if the current trend continued.

The counting had not finished on Tuesday morning and final results were subject to change.

“Such a big mandate is very scary, and we should live up to people’s expectations,” Kejriwal told his cheering supporters, who showered rose petals on him outside the party’s headquarters in New Delhi.

The BJP has been on a winning streak since demolishing the competition in national elections in May, with many attributing its success to Modi’s charisma, his promises of economic growth and voters’ fury over endem-

ic corruption. Al Jazeera’s Faiz Jamil, reporting from New Delhi said the extent of the lead had not been expected.

“The AAP has about 85 per cent of the vote – that is more than an absolute majority,” he said. About half of the votes have so far been counted.

“The support for the party started a few years ago based on the anti-corruption movement. On the back of that they won a minority government in Delhi, but stepped down after 49 days because they could not pass legislation. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Officials say more patrols are needed to protect the elephants

Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

UGSS spent around $1M to host pageant, amid crisis

The University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) has defended the timing of its pageant held last Saturday, in the midst of the current crisis the university is facing. The Society spent close to $1 million to host the pageant, although it complains about the lack of facilities in classrooms.

Observers say the money could have been used to purchase some of the items the UGSS had complained they were not receiving at the university. Vice President of the UGSS, Crystal Blackmore during a telephone interview with Guyana Time on Monday said the UGSS had begun planning the pageant

geted total would have to be dangerously extended, and the partnerships secured with Private Sector would also be endangered. In essence, we would need to spend additional monies on extending our advertising on media outlets, reserving the venue and its advertising package and retaining our contracted trainers,” Blackmore said.

Further, she was adamant that monies accumulated by the UGSS are not to be spent on campus facilities such as classroom seating and neither for payment of salaries. Blackmore further stated that the proceeds from the pageant went directly towards the payment of tuition fees of the contestants.

the university slowly begun after it had not commenced for the 2015 semester.

Protest action

However, the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the UG Workers Union (UGWU) had continued to stage protests in front of the university.

Speaking with this publication, some students at the university were eagerly anticipating the resumption of classes.

Sachin Ramsaran, a final year Electrical Engineer student said he is very disturbed at the present situation and is looking forward for the

low and cost of living is ever increasing. However, something must be done, classes need to go on,” London explained.

One student in the faculty of Social Sciences who requested to remain anonymous, in addressing the timing of the pageant said “perhaps the timing of the pageant was wrong but nevertheless, I think the lecturers deserve a raise. It is not for me to determine the amount but there are some lecturers who work tirelessly.”

Funding for sport Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Jacob Opadeyi on Monday

since early November last year. She explained that initially, the pageant was slated to be held in December but because the semester was pushed back, the UGSS was forced to hold the pageant when it did.

She added that the UGSS was not fond of prolonging the hosting the pageant because it felt that more money would have had to be spent on advertising, among other expenses. “The postponement of the programme would have only resulted in wasted human resources already invested, our previously bud-

She said the UGSS invested a total of $200,000 into the pageant, while an additional $700,000 was donated by the Private Sector.

The $700,000 was distributed as follows: male and female pageant winners were awarded with $200,000 each for payment of tuition fees, first runner ups were given $100,000 each and the pair in third place was given $50,000 each.

The payment of the fees will be executed at the start of the registration period in September, Blackmore stated. As of Monday, classes at

commencement of classes.

He said “This problem has been around for a while now; this is not the first strike. I just hope everything is settled once and for all so we don’t have to go through this again.”

Final year Civil Engineer student, Jorge London said while he understands the lecturers’ plight, something has to be done because the university’s activities needs to proceed.

“I believe nothing is wrong with protesting if the reason is for betterment. The salaries of lecturers are indeed

said the institution has monies reserved for sports and facilities but not to pay huge salary increases.

Opadeyi told Guyana Times that an increase in salaries would be a recurrent condition which would have to be fulfilled on a monthly basis, whereas events such as sporting activities and pageants occur once annually. These activities do not place a continuous financial burden on the university.

He stated that at present, the university spends $80 million monthly on salaries. Opadeyi was at the time

3-vehicle accident at “Punt Trench”

Three vehicles were involved in an accident on Tuesday morning which saw an East-West "Back Road" bus flipping onto its side at the junction of Independence Boulevard, commonly known as “Punt Trench”, and Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Residents gathered the scene when they heard the impact of the ‘Pitbull’ minibus slamming into an IST car with licence plate PMM 4895, which subsequently slammed into a parked A&E 100 Sprinter with registration number PHH 2548.

The driver of the minibus (BSS 8685) told this publication that he had the right of way along Hunter Street. According to him, he has been driving that route for some time and has never been involved in an acci-

responding to questions on the source of the additional $30,000 which was given to each of the 11 participants in the UGSS pageant.

Opadeyi said if the additional $330,000 awarded to the delegates would pose a concern, he has no qualms using his personal funds to repay the monies. “If that is an honest concern I will pay it from my pocket. You see, those are the things you have to do to encourage student

dent before. He stated that the driver of the car was obligated to stop as a sign at the corner so indicated.

However, the IST driver Clinton Jones stated that the minibus driver was speeding and he should have been aware that he was about to cross Hunter Street and waited. Jones said he was driving down “Punt Trench” and was unable to swerve away from the incoming minibus.

The driver of the Sprinter, Lennox Crawford, was quite upset at the state of his vehicle as he was not even in it when the accident happened.

Guyana Times understands that no one was hurt, except for a passenger on the bus who complained of a sprained ankle.

participation,” Opadeyi said. He added that on February 14, seven students are scheduled to travel to Barbados to compete in the Regional Barbados Relay match.

This he said, would also be funded entirely by the university. On Saturday, Opadeyi said the University stands to go bankrupt if it pays the 60 per cent salary increase across the board that is being demanded by the workers’ unions.

Guyanese Women Roundtable to be launched soon

Social activist, Dr Dawn Stewart, who once worked side by side with the late Dr Faith Harding, will soon be launching a campaign called Guyanese Women Roundtable (GWR), with the aim of having more women involved in politics.

According to Dr Stewart, the campaign was designed to have more women involved in the welfare of Guyana’s electoral system. It was pointed out that the 10th Parliament has only20 female representatives.

“I often wonder who pushes the issues that affect the lives of women, thus affecting the life of children and men, because as you know women are highly committed to promoting national and local policies that address socio-economic and political challenges that face women, children and disadvantaged groups, typically, women are very focused on that,” Dr Stewart said.

She opined that if more women were actively involved in the decision-making process, many issues facing Guyana would have been prevented.

Issues surrounding healthcare, security, social services and education are linked to moral behaviours and guidelines, she further opined.

“What do we do to stop that type of behaviour and bring moral guidelines into our community? Those are real issues, maybe they are not issues that our campaign persons may look at as sound issues, but I believe that women of Guyana have the power to address those issues,” she added.

Dr Stewart highlighted that while cultural change is an individual development, the Government still has a critical role to play in fashioning the minds of Guyanese.

“There are no incentives for cultural change because there are no consequences for persons who break simple rules or laws,” she said, referring to persons who sell alcohol to underage children or minibus operators who create a hazardous roadway but are yet supported by passengers.

She added that many are still dying from preventable diseases, noting too that teenage pregnancy is still on the rise yet persons who

Dr Dawn Stewart

rape young girls are still walking free. Fatal accidents, poor law enforcement, a defunct educational system were among other issues highlighted by the social activist. Dr Stewart despondently pointed out the sad reality Guyanese are living in, noting that these serious issues have become so prevalent that they are referred to as

the norm.

According to her, there is no order in the society, and as such the objective of the campaign is to advocate for those with authority to address these issues.

“We want to mobilise women to address the issues to change the entire landscape, cultural and social…”

She also noted that Guyana needs an extensive constitutional reform.

Dr Stewart referred to the elderly woman that was recently raped and murdered and rhetorically asked what the consequences will be. She also pointed out other cases where persons were charged with rape, among other immoral charges, yet they are walking free.

“I know a lady who was raped when she was 13, now she’s 30, now she said how do I get over this if every day I see my rapist and I see him and I pass him every day and he acts as if nothing happened,” Dr Stewart related.

On that note, she said Guyana seriously needs to address the issue of paedophiles, possibly by creating a sex registry.

She pointed out that the nation records numerous underage girls giving birth, which counts for statutory rape, yet no action is being done to charge those persons who impregnated the young girls.

Dr Stewart noted that these prevailing issues are being neglected by the men in Parliament and as such, more women need to get involved to propel these changes.

“Five years from now, we must see more young women in Parliament and more women in key leadership positions making decisions, not accepting decisions but making decisions that affect the life and wellbeing of children, women and the elderly,” Dr Stewart said.

She also stated that there are burning questions that need to be answered such as, what are the qualifications to become a Parliamentarian or a Minister.

The launching of GWR will take place on Thursday at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Building at 156 Waterloo Street, Georgetown at 17:30h.

Delegates of the UGSS Pageant pose during the event

Two of the vehicles involved in the accident at the corner of "Punt Trench" and Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown

CRIP upgrades, constructs roads valued $144M on ECD

The Housing and Water Ministry has rehabilitated and constructed several community roads on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) valued $94 million under the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP).

According to a release from the Ministry, this investment has directly benefited more than 5100 residents living in Enterprise, Enmore and Good Hope. The contract for the project was awarded to GuyAmerica Construction Inc, and included the upgrading of Enterprise Sideline; First Cross Street (East) and Sideline (East) in Good Hope and Pasture Dam in Enmore. Previously, these roads were in deplorable condition with potholes, and depressions.

Today, they have smooth surfaces with safety features such as road signs, speed humps and road markings installed. The importance of these roads to residents cannot be understated. Residents now have easier access to the main

thoroughfare, health facilities, schools, places of worship, and businesses.

Lucille Anthony, a 62-year-old resident of Enmore, is pleased that Pasture Dam now boasts a sturdy surface that could stand up to rainy conditions. As the road’s name suggests, it was a dam that provided great discomfort during the wet season. Residents were forced to use builders’ waste to fill potholes.

“Sometimes whenever it rain, it get slushy: schoolchildren couldn’t walk with

Malaria cases

their footwear … but this looks good and I hope it last long … because I born and grow here and now we get a proper road,” Anthony said.

She said Pasture Dam is also used to transport employees and goods of Enmore Sugar Estate and Packaging Plant. She believes some of the trucks helped to damage the surface and hopes caution is taken while using the road.

Residents pleased Residents of Enterprise expressed similar senti-

down

by half – Vector Control Unit

The number of malaria cases in Guyana has declined by more than half for 2014. Director of the Vector Control Unit, Dr Reyaud Rahman disclosed to the Guyana Times in an exclusive interview on Saturday.

Dr Rahman said malaria cases for the reporting year were well under 15,000, a significant decrease over the figures for the past two years, recorded around 30,000. In fact, he said the figure was the lowest for the past two decades. But this accomplishment came with its challenges.

“2014 was a really challenging year for us … We started to do a lot of work in 2013. We pretty much did a lot of field work; our men were in the fields quite a lot and we spent a lot of money doing so … we went out in the fields, in the hinterland regions and in the backdams looking for cases … we were doing that work actively but then Chikungunya came, so we’ve been going back and forth,” he explained.

Nonetheless, he is proud of the work that was accomplished and aims to further reduce the number of malaria cases in the next three to five years to below 1000.

Dr Rahman said the department intends to conduct more tests in the interior regions with the hope of capturing cases of the illness before they become severe.

He pointed out that the survival rate of an infected individual relies on the early detection of the disease.

On that note, the Vector Control Unit Head revealed that less than 20 people have died as a result of malaria in 2014.

Persistent

“In this day and age, nobody should die from malaria. That is why we are so persistent when we try to get into the interior regions,” he said. According to him, the department will continue to improve its strategies and train more personnel to provide better quality control to tackle malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

The Unit plans to set up sites at various locations in order to reach more people. “All the health centres have the capacity to do malaria smears, but the sites are to build their capacity with other diseases,” Dr Rahman noted.

He said the Unit also wanted to erect independent sites at strategic locations where there was high- population density or people normally traverse but no clinics like the Ogle International Airport and the Mabura Crossing.

“We are trying to bring down the diseases by testing more people because the more people we find with the disease, we get to bring it down. Let’s say we go to a mining camp, our main activity would be to take off a smear from the persons because a lot of times, if they get sick, it may take days to get out from the areas to reach a health centre,” Dr Rahman explained.

He also acknowledged that their visits to the camps are not limited to malaria tests, but noted that the malaria virus was a priority. The doctor said teams would normally visit each region for three months, every six months.

In addition, regional staff would conduct similar activities in their absence.

There are three types of malaria in Guyana, P falciparum, P vivax and P malariae. The most severe and deadly type of malaria remains P falciparum and 90 per cent of persons with this type of malaria who do not access or use treatment will die.

For this reason, Dr Rahman said it was very important for persons to know which type of malaria they have contracted in order to be effectively treated.

ments even though they did not have a mud road. They are pleased that travel from Enterprise to Nonpareil is not interrupted by road defects. According to a motorcyclist, “playing dodge pall is the fitting description of how this road was before it

repair … now I can ride my motorbike and don’t have to worry about riding in a pothole … I am happy the Ministry rehab this road… it got other roads in the community that need repairs.”

Currently, CRIP is constructing roads in Beterverwagting and Enmore. These projects are expected to benefit another 700 residents.

Dr Miller Street, better known as Bakewell Street, in Beterverwagting; and Lumber Yard and Sheik Streets in Enmore are the roads under construction.

The aggregate cost to reconstruct the roads is $50.3 million.

Andre James, a taxi driver operating on the East Coast of Demerara for the past 12 years, said that Dr Miller Street was one of the

most deplorable roads he was forced to traverse. He is grateful that the Ministry has undertaken to reconstruct this road.

He recalled, “At the head of the street by the embankment there was a high bump…an afternoon I driving and I didn’t see the bump and I drive and hit the bottom of my car and put myself in expense to fix it … and that is not all… that road was polkadot.”

The contractor is currently excavating the failed areas, including the “high bump”, reconstructing the sub-base and placing crusher run.

Meanwhile, in Enmore, the contractor is compacting crusher-run and preparing to place asphalt on Lumber Yard and Sheik Streets.

Russian Diplomats’ Day observed in Guyana

... Russia willing to make compromises – Ambassador Smirnov

As Guyana joined Russia in observing Diplomats’ Day 2015, the Russian Ambassador to Guyana Nikolay Smirnov said the country is “willing to make reasonable compromises” as it relates to the crisis with Ukraine.

Ambassador Smirnov, during a simple ceremony at the Russian Embassy on Tuesday, said the current complicated global situation is the result of problems that have accumulated over 20 years.

He pointed out that the “striving of some western countries to preserve their dominant positions in the world at any price and to the detriment of all other states” has contributed to the current problems.

The Ambassador noted that the problems can only be resolved through diplomatic methods and direct political dialogue between Kiev authorities and the representatives of the peo-

ple of Donetsk and Luhansk.

“Like in many conflicts, Russia supports non-military and political means to resolve differences,” Smirnov said, noting that lethal weapons will only destabilise the situation.

He further stated that despite sanctions that contradict the United Nations Charter and pressure on Russia, the country would never enter the path of selfisolation, suspicion and the search for enemies, noting that active foreign policy will be consistently upheld.

“Only collective efforts and reliance on international law and the central role of the United Nations will produce answers to the threats and challenges facing all of mankind”.

On that note, the Ambassador said Russia is actively working within the UN, in the G20, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

“There is a strong belief

that the policy of honesty and openness are the driving power in our profession that provides for achieving of the set goals,” Smirnov concluded.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday Russian diplomats marked their professional day –Diplomats’ Day, which was established by a Presidential Decree in 2002 to commemorate the founding of the Russian Diplomatic Service in 1549.

Since Russia is bordering with 18 countries, the realisation of foreign policy is of priority for the Government of the Russian Federation. This holiday was officially instituted in 2002 by President Vladimir Putin and has since symbolised a combination of Russian efforts to address current tasks with continuity, respect for the memory of their predecessors and the preservation of traditions of Russian diplomacy.

Director of the Vector Control Unit, Dr Reyaud Rahman

A section of Dr Miller Street that is being constructed

Cuban Ambassador Julio Marchante, Venezuelan Ambassador Reina Arratia, Ambassador to UNASUR at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Audrey Waddell, Chief of Protocol (Foreign Affairs Ministry) Esther Griffith, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Smirnov, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin, Argentine Amabassador Luis Martino, Brazilian Ambassador Lineu Pupo De Paula, and the European Union representative Dereck Lambe

wednesday, february 11, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

ECD sugar workers down tools

... after 15 sacked for “negligence”

BY GOMATIE GANGADIN

More than 380 sugar workers from the Enmore and La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD) sugar estates downed tools on Tuesday morning in protest of what they deemed the wrongful dismissal of 15 workers for the inadequate application of fertiliser on

executives from GuySuCo met on Tuesday afternoon at Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s office where the matter was extensively discussed.

He stated that during the meeting, GuySuCo expressed that it will not engage in any discussions unless the workers call off their strike and return to work. To this end, he said that the

canes from since July 2014, despite the supplies were issued.

However, by the end of the day, workers’ representatives, their union and management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) signed an agreement for full resumption of work today while the matter is being discussed.

President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) Komal Chand, told Guyana Times that the Union has begun to take action.

He said that the workers’ representatives, the union, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and the

With the 10 per cent reduction in electricity rates, the average Guyanese consumer can expect to pay $48 per kilowatt hour (kWh) come March 1, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said on Tuesday.

This represents a 10 per cent reduction from the $53 presently being paid.

In addition, consumers classified as ‘lifeline residential’ by the GPL will pay as low as $43 per kWh while commercial businesses will pay $62 as opposed to $69. For industrial businesses: small, medium and large scale will pay $48, $54 and $56 respectively.

During a media briefing at GPL’s Head Office in Kingston, company Chairman Winston Brassington added that for those classified as Governmental, those in the residential category will pay $52 and $53 respectively, while for commercial businesses under this category, the cost will be $65 per kWh.

He further stated that industrial businesses will pay

their colleagues, noting that it is an act of injustice which has been meted out to them.

According to the workers’ representative, Rampersaud Ramprashad, the matter arose since July of last year and it was proven at a hearing that the workers were not at fault and were reinstated at their respective posts.

However, on Saturday last, the workers in question were each given a letter by the estate’s security guard which stated that they were being dismissed with immediate effect for substandard work.

“The matter occurred since July 25, 2014 where they were claiming that the workers did substandard work throwing fertiliser despite the fertiliser being finished.

"On that day, management visited the worksite and never carried the workers or the union and we had a hearing.

leaders of the different gangs have signed a Memorandum of Agreement or a Terms of Resumption with the company for work to resume on all of the estates today.

Chand also disclosed that meetings will continue today with the company and the Agriculture Minister to plot a way forward for the dismissed workers, after which an update will be provided.

Injustice

The sugar workers, who took to protesting outside of the LBI Estate, expressed their dissatisfaction with the actions taken by management of GuySuCo to dismiss

"We went to a hearing and everybody was cleared at that hearing. On August 7, we went to a stage two meeting and everybody was cleared there and they said that they will update us on the matter,” Ramprashad said.

He queried the legality of the action since he stated that they were given their usual quantities of work and were paid from July to present for their work.

“Since July; you got six and half months done. The man them been doing them work. They were paid for the same substandard work they say they do. Substandard work got a ruling in the es-

tate. If you do substandard work, you cannot be paid for it. You will not be paid, so how them get paid?” Ramprashad asked.

Inadequate fertiliser

In a statement, GuySuCo said that the workers were summarily dismissed for inadequate application of fertiliser, intended for 10 weeksold cane plants, at Felicity Fields 49, 49A, 52 and 53, a section of the LBI cultivation, on July 24-25, 2014, noting too that prior to the dismissal of these 15 workers, three junior staff and one senior were earlier dismissed on September 19 and September 26, 2014, for allowing these workers to have fertiliser inadequately applied to the cane plants.

“The Corporation’s agriculture audit team was deployed to make an assessment of the extent of fertiliser not being applied to the cane plants. It was revealed that there were massive skipping, and further the supervisory staff made full payment to the 15 workers for the poor quality of work done.

"Two hundred and twenty-six CWT [hundredweight] of fertiliser was intended to be applied on the fields that comprised 20.3 hectres, of which it’s estimated that almost half of the amount was applied. The rest could not be accounted for,” the statement said.

The Corporation noted that it spends more than $2 billion annually to import fertiliser and finds it totally unacceptable that fertiliser that is intended to nurture the cane plants could not be applied to them in the stipulated amount, noting too that this could have been the contributing factor for the

East Demerara Estate experiencing low cane yields and stunted cane growth.

A First Aider, who was also dismissed by the company, expressed bewilderment to this publication as to the reasons behind his dismissal.

He noted that if the workers were indeed dismissed for substandard work for the inadequate application of fertiliser, despite the fertiliser being issued, what then is his fault since he is simply a First Aider and not involved in that process.

“I am a First Aider but I was also penalised and knocked off from work. Right now I am so angry, how I

the ground, in the field, cannot send fertiliser without management decision. If we have to throw two field manure, you cannot send three field or two and half field.

"The man who was mixing the fertiliser maintained no record of the amount of fertiliser sent out. He say he give we the fertiliser and then they say that the amount of fertiliser issued ain’t use but he ain’t even get any record to prove anything. He can’t show any record and he still on the job. They ain’t fire him,” one of the workers opined.

Wife of one of the dismissed workers, in tears,

could be dismissed just like that? Twenty-five years I work with this company for,” the man said.

The aggrieved workers noted that the Manager who is in charge of issuing the fertiliser cannot even provide records for the issuance but is still on the job while they are paying for his negligence.

“Is only yesterday [Monday] we get to know that the Foreman was sending excess fertiliser to the field.

"At no time, no staff on

told Guyana Times that she is now pondering how her children will survive since her husband is the breadwinner for the family.

“Seventeen years now my husband wuk with them and them just fire he just like that. What meh gon do with my children? How me gon provide for them?” the woman cried. The men have noted that they will be standing in solidarity with each other and will not relent until the issue has been resolved.

$50, $56 and $59 respectively. With the new rates, GPL anticipates that consumers will collectively save some $3 billion annually on their electricity bills.

Further, consumers whose billing cycle begin in the latter part of February and ends in March will benefit from the reduction on their entire consumption for this period, Brassington said.

He pointed out that this means that the GPL will not prorate consumption when applying the reduced rate.

But, it was made clear by the Chairman that consumers should be aware that the 10 per cent reduction is being applied to energy charges and not fixed charges.

The decision to lower electricity rates was announced Monday, given that fuel prices began to drop significantly on the international market last June.

However, to safeguard the sustainability of the company, this decision will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. Brassington stated that while the cost of fuel was unstable on the international

market presently, in order for the present 10 per cent reduction to be reduced, the cost of fuel would have to increase to US$70 per barrel.

At present, fuel is being sold for approximately US$52 per barrel. Brassington also highlighted that while the cost of fuel played a significant role in the price of electricity, the Government has measures in place that would ensure rates remained within a certain margin.

This means that should rates go up because of increased gas prices in the future, consumers are not expected to pay more than they are currently paying.

The next review of rates is scheduled for July.

When asked how the reduction of 10 per cent was arrived at, Brassington explained that while the company can afford a larger decrease, the reduction was calculated based on the company’s accumulated foregone revenue.

He explained that in 2013, it was revealed that the company was entitled to a 12 per cent increase in

rates because of increased gas prices among other contributing factors.

But the company did not capitalise on this, thus that 12 per cent was reduced to a little over four per cent last year, which again, the company did not take advantage of.

Sustain self

Given the loss in revenues the company sustained after refusing to take advantage of this suggested increase, it believes the 10 per cent reduction is justified and will not be objected to by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Brassington pointed out that the total projected foregone revenue for 2014 amounted to $29 billion. This loss in revenue has been happening for the past 10 years, officials of the company stated.

But, this year, as a result of the drop in fuel prices, the company anticipates it will be able to comfortably sustain itself.

“This year we will not require subsidy for operation cost from the Government,

which is the same as last year,” Brassington stated.

However, he added that it was very likely that the company would continue to require assistance from the Government for capital projects. He explained that “in any company, loans are taken to carry out capital works.”

He added too that GPL was not indebted to any pri-

vate company (third party) for loans taken since all instalments were paid when due.

The company had stood to save $7 billion annually, but since $3 billion of this amount is being passed on to consumers, the allotted savings is now $4 billion annually.

Further, the company expects to save about US$35 million this year in fuel costs at the present cost of fuel on the international market. But, if fuel prices were to increase to about US$70 per barrel, then the company will meet its projected fuel bill of US$70 million for 2015.

Last year, the company spent US$105 million of fuel, creating a saving of US$15 million on the projected fuel bill for that year.

On Monday, President Donald Ramotar, during the commissioning of GPL’s new power station at Vreed-enHoop, announced the reduction in rates after he had previously revealed that he was lobbying for lower electricity costs since the fall in fuel price.

The wife of one of the dismissed workers broke down in tears as she contemplated the source of her husband’s next income

The union’s representative Rampersaud Ramprashad speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday morning

GPL Chairman Winston Brassington

R&R 11-race programme switched to February 21

With Mashramani activities taking centre stage at this time of the year, the organiser of Saturday’s 24th annual R&R International 11-race programme has been forced to delay the hosting of the event by a week.

The venue for the cycling event – the National Park – will host the junior Mashramani parade on Saturday, leaving organiser Hassan Mohamed with no choice but to shift the R&R race to February 21.

“The National Park is unavailable for this weekend, so we will host the races next Saturday. I’m asking the cyclists to take note of this change,” Mohamed said.

Last year’s main race, the 35-lap School Boys and Invitational, was won by Marlon Williams, who clocked one hour, 19 minutes, 10 seconds (01h: 19m: 10s), with Alanzo Greaves

second and Hamzah Eastman third.

Other category winners were Jamal John (1214), Raul Leal (Junior) and Ralph Williams (Veterans Under-50).

YWCC continue winning ways

The Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice defeated the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) in a return practice match played at the Red Rose Ground.

Batting first, the YWCC struggled to 152 all out in 34.5 overs on a pitch that had overnight preparation moisture.

They lost Wahid Edwards early for five off Omesh Khemraj, and never really recovered.

Kevon Sinclair batted with great maturity for 28 and held the innings together. His skipper, Ishwar Singh came down the order and top-scored with a rapid 30.

Left-arm spinner Omesh Kumar took 3-20. He was supported by his brother, Tameshwar Kumar with 2-16 and Viendra Gooniah, 2-50.

Incumbent president Wavell Hinds was on Monday night re-elected president of the The West Indies Players’ Association during its Annual General Meeting held at the Hotel Four Season, Kingston, Jamaica.

In reply, the UCCA made 121 all out in 29.1 overs, with Tameshwar Ramoutar top-scoring with 30. Kevin Ramdeen took 3-12 and Linden Austin 2-17.

The YWCC said it would like to thank the UCCA for hosting them and they looked forward to more matches with other teams as they try to keep their team busy and well prepared before the season gets into full swing.

Hinds was re-elected unopposed as president, but has a new vice president in Nixon Mclean, who was previously Honourary Treasurer. Hinds will serve as president until 2017. Meanwhile, Wayne Lewis retained his position

as Honourary Secretary, with the new Honourary Treasurer being former West Indies captain and Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs. Newly elected Assitant Honourary Secretary is Windward Islands Volcanoes captain Liam Sebastien. (Digicel

SportsMax)

Wintz “excited”

about playing in CPL

– “I can’t wait to test my skills and play in what is going to be a dynamic and exciting competition”

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Fast bowler Paul Wintz is anxiously awaiting the third edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as yet another chance for him to continue his swift rise of recognition.

Following the official CPL 2015 Draft, which was held in Jamaica last Thursday, Wintz was snapped up by the local franchise, and is one of six newcomers in the 15-man squad for this year’s tournament.

Wintz joined Australia’s Brad Hodge, West Indies veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sir Lanka’s Thisara Perera and local superstars Devendra Bishoo and Assad Fudadin as the newcomers in the Guyana Amazon Warriors outfit.

With three first-class matches and two T20 games under his belt, the 28-yearold told this publication on Tuesday that he was excited to be part of the third edition.

“I am very excited to be on board with CPL, and am looking forward to it. I think

Wintz GBTI

it is a great initiative mixing with some international stars,” Wintz said.

“Rubbing shoulders with international stars like Brad Hodge, Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thisara Perera will be great, and apart from that the CPL will feature some of the world’s best cricketers and I can’t wait to test my skills and play in what is going to be a dynamic and exciting competition.”

Wintz, who was part of Guyana’s 2010 Champions League T20 side, said he was relishing the oppor-

tunity to learn a lot from Malinga, who is regarded as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. “I’m really looking forward to meeting him (Malinga) and talking to him so I can learn a lot to improve my bowling.”

Guyanese Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs and Robin Bacchus were not selected, along with New Zealander James Neesham, who were part of the team last season. Other members of the squad are Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan; Trinidad’s Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin and Guyana’s Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul and Ronsford Beaton.

The CPL is the Region’s premier T20 tournament, attracting sold-out crowds and is viewed by millions across the globe. The 2015 CPL will take place from June 20 to July 26. The Amazon Warriors lost at the final hurdle in the previous two editions, to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and Barbados Tridents in 2014.

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Silver Jubilee Anniversary Tapeball Cricket Tournament sponsored by the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI) bowls off today with three matches.

The tournament targets both males and females, and is used by the RHTY&SC to identify 30 promising players for its Cricket Development Programme which will be conducted by Coach Delbert Hicks.

Central Corentyne Secondary, Winifred Gaskin Secondary, Manchester High School, Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary, JC Chandisingh Secondary and Lower Corentyne

Secondary School are the schools identified to participate in the tournament.

The female matches commence at 09:30h, and will comprise 10 overs per side, while the male matches start at 11:30h.

Fixtures for the opening rounds are: Winifred Gaskin v Secondary versus Manchester High at Ulverston Ground; Corentyne Comprehensive will play hosts Port Mourant Secondary and Lower Corentyne will clash with JC Chandisingh at Area ‘H’ Ground. Central Corentyne drew the bye. The semi-finals of the tournament are fixed for Monday, February 16, while the final is scheduled for Friday, February 20 at the Area ‘H’ ground. GBTI’s Port Mourant Manager Ghoeblall Mahadeo and RHTY&SC Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster are expected to declare the tournament open at the Area ‘H’ ground at 09:00h.

Hassan Mohamed Marlon Williams

Kevin Ramdeen Kevon Sinclair

Fast bowler Paul

Rohit 150 powers India’s win

Rohit Sharma’s 150 underpinned India’s surge to 364 for 5 against Afghanistan in the World Cup warm-up match at Adelaide Oval, allowing MS Dhoni’s team to go on and win their first match on the tour.

Afghanistan delivered some compelling passages of play in front of a crowd of 3,591, but India were able to hold their shape for longer periods, ultimately sinking the innings of the Associate nation 153 runs short of their steep target. The Indian tally was largely down to Rohit, who weathered threatening overs with the new ball to go on to the defining score of the match.

Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran each bowled strong spells up front, claiming the early wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli. But from an uncertain 16 for 2, Rohit and Suresh Raina forged a restorative partnership of 158, and Ajinkya Rahane provid-

used for India’s heavy loss to Australia on Sunday.

Javed Ahmadi and Usman Ghani had Afghanistan’s chase off to a busy start, and after Ahmadi fell, Nawroz Mangal played with considerable flair. But

SCOREBOARD

India innings (50 overs maximum)

RG Sharma c Mirwais Ashraf

b Mohammad Nabi 150

S Dhawan b Hamid Hassan 4

V Kohli c †Afsar Zazai

b Dawlat Zadran 5

SK Raina run out

(Mohammad Nabi) 75

AM Rahane not out 88

MS Dhoni*† c Nawroz Mangal

b Shapoor Zadran 10

RA Jadeja not out 11

Extras: (lb 7, w 13, nb 1) 21

Total: (5 wickets; 50 overs) 364

Did not bat: AT Rayudu, R Ashwin, AR Patel, MM Sharma, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav, B Kumar, STR Binny Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-16, 3-174, 4-269, 5-322. Afghanistan Bowling: Hamid Hassan 8-1-49-1, Dawlat Zadran

8-0-66-1, Shapoor Zadran 8-058-1, Mirwais Ashraf

6-0-29-0, Mohammad Nabi

9-0-62-1, Aftab Alam 4-0-400, Samiullah Shenwari 3-0-260, Javed Ahmadi 4-0-27-0

Afghanistan innings (target: 365 runs from 50 overs)

ed further acceleration in the later overs.

Hamid and Dawlat were each more expensive when they returned later in the innings, and none of Afghanistan’s other bowlers were able to keep things tight, though Shapoor Zadran gained some hint of reverse swing late in the innings on the same pitch

Javed Ahmadi c †Dhoni b Yadav 17

Usman Ghani c Yadav b Jadeja 44 Nawroz Mangal c †Dhoni b MM Sharma 60 Asghar Stanikzai c Mohammed Shami b MM Sharma 20 Najibullah Zadran st †Dhoni b Ashwin 4

Samiullah Shenwari run out (†Dhoni/Jadeja/Rayudu) 17

Mohammad Nabi* b Jadeja 1 Afsar Zazai† not out 24

Mirwais Ashraf b Raina 2 Nasir Jamal not out 2

Extras:(lb 13, w 6, nb 1) 20

Total: (8 wickets; 50 overs) 211 Did not bat: Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Gulbadin Naib

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-93, 3-153, 4-158, 5-160, 6-169, 7-199, 8-206.

India Bowling: UT Yadav 9-035-1, Mohammed Shami 9-039-0, MM Sharma 9-1-40-2, RA Jadeja 10-2-38-2, R Ashwin 10-1-37-1, SK Raina 3-0-9-1.

the asking rate was always rising, even as India’s fielders gave Afghanistan more chances than expected when Mohammad Shami and Ambati Riyudu both dropped skied catches.

Even when one was taken – in the case of Ghani –Dhawan’s running, diving effort had the ball spilling free, before he tapped it up and it was clasped on the rebound

by an alert Umesh Yadav. Eventually the pressure of the scoreboard brought more wickets, as both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowled with parsimony on a pitch that was beginning to tire after its second use in the space of three days.

The Indians were seeking their first win since arriving in Australia in November, something Afghanistan had already achieved twice, albeit against club teams in Perth. Both sides used more than 11 players in the fixture, which did not carry ODI or List A status.

Batting first on a surface ideal for the purpose, India made a diffident start in the face of testing early work from the highly regarded Hamid, who had Dhawan dragging on and nearly claimed Kohli’s outside edge in the same over. Dawlat lacks Hamid’s pace and bustle, but was still able to swerve a full delivery enough to have Kohli edging behind for only five.

Rohit took his time to get going but was soon unfurling a handsome array of strokes, helped by Raina’s rotation of the strike - their left and right hand combination caused trouble for the Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi and his bowers, as they kept having to adjust lines and fields.

Raina’s exit brought Rahane to the crease and another strong partnership ensued. Rohit looked good to add to his tally of double centuries in 50-over matches before he skied Nabi to long off, but Rahane carried on with aggression and intelligence to push India past 350 - too much for Afghanistan. (Cricinfo)

scotland beat ireland in sydney warm-up

Scotland thrashed Ireland by 179 runs in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match in Sydney.

Matt Machan top scored with 103, adding 96 with captain Preston Mommsen (56) and 98 with Richie Berrington (52), as Scotland made 296-6 in their 50 overs.

Ireland made a steady start before seamer Alasdair Evans (4-17) took four wickets in his first three overs.

Spinner Majid Haq wrapped up the innings with 3-9 as Ireland collapsed to 117 all out in 27 overs.

While Scotland know they will face sterner tests than their fellow International Cricket Council (ICC) associate member when the World Cup begins this weekend, they will take heart from an assured batting display after Mommsen won the toss at Blacktown International Sportspark in the Sydney suburbs.

Former skipper Kyle Coetzer fell to Max Sorensen (3-55) without scoring but his opening partner Calum MacLeod made a steady 41 before Machan, Mommsen and Berrington helped the Scots post a formidable total.

In reply, Ireland captain William Porterfield (23) and Paul Stirling (37) added 57 for the first wicket before Evans ripped through the top order.

Five wickets fell for 20 runs in less than five overs, and Gary Wilson (15) was the only other Ireland batsman to make double figures as they collapsed to Haq and Josh Davey (2-36).

Ireland, who lost to Sydney club side Randwick Petersham last Friday, play their final warm-up game against Bangladesh at the same venue on Thursday, the same day that Scotland head across the city to face West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Both Ireland and Scotland then head to New Zealand for their opening group games, with Ireland meeting the Windies in Nelson on 16 February, and Scotland up against co-hosts New Zealand in Dunedin a day later.

n Tuesday's other warmup game in Adelaide, India opener Rohit Sharma

smashed 150 from 122 balls, including seven sixes, as they made 364-5 against Afghanistan.

A shock looked possible when India were 16-2 early on, but Sharma added 158 with Suresh Raina (75) and 95 with Ajinkya Rahane (88 not out).

Usman Ghani (44) and ex-captain Nawroz Mangal (60) led Afghanistan's reply but the loss of four wickets for 16 runs in mid-innings ensured India maintained their supremacy, although the Afghans managed to bat their full 50 overs and finished on 211-8, losing by 153 runs. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

Scotland innings (50 overs maximum)

KJ Coetzer c Joyce b Sorensen 0

CS MacLeod c Wilson b Dockrell 41

HJW Gardiner lbw b Sorensen 12

MW Machan b Young 103

PL Mommsen* c Stirling b Sorensen 56

RD Berrington c Mooney

b Young 52

MH Cross† not out 12

JH Davey not out 1

Extras: (b 1, lb 5, w 11, nb 2) 19

Total: (6 wickets; 50 overs) 296

Did not bat: I Wardlaw, FRJ Coleman, SM Sharif, AC Evans, RML Taylor, MA Leask, RM Haq. Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-42, 3-86, 4-182, 5-280, 6-286.

Ireland Bowling: CA Young 6-030-2, MC Sorensen 10-1-55-3, JF Mooney 4-0-50-0, AR Cusack 10-1-59-0, GH Dockrell 8-0-401, AR McBrine 10-0-36-0, KJ O’Brien 2-0-20-0. Ireland innings (target: 297 runs from 50 overs) WTS Porterfield* c Berrington b Evans 23

O’Brien† c †Cross

Rohit Sharma pulls for four

Seamer Alasdair Evans (right), born in Kent to Scottish parents, captured four wickets in his first three overs

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Bolt gearing up for Valentine’s Day debut

Jamaica’s double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt is scheduled to make his return to the track at Saturday’s Camperdown Classic after cutting his injury-plagued season short last August.

Bolt, who ran just three races in 2014, has been entered for the Valentine’s Day Camperdown Classic on February 14 at the National Stadium.

Following his 9.98sec victory in Poland on August 23, the Racers Track Club announced that Bolt would be shutting down his season while healthy in favour of his preparations for the 2015 season which includes the World Championships in Beijing, China.

The 28-year-old Bolt is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events and the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting. He is also the first to achieve a “double double” by winning 100m and 200m titles at consecutive Olympics (2008 and 2012), and went even further with the “double triple”, which includes the 4x100m relay.

Bolt’s Racers Track Club teammates, including Commonwealth Games 100m champion Kemar Bailey-Cole, and Olympic 200m bronze medallist Warren Weir have all been entered for the meet, which will be the second of the six Digicel Grand Prix Athletics Series.

The status of Yohan Blake, the 2011 100m World Champion, is not clear.

The Camperdown Classic will also see the return of Melanie Walker, the 2008 Olympic 400m hurdles and 2009 World Championships gold medallist.

Walker holds the Olympic 400m hurdles record of 52.64 seconds set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and 52.42 seconds done at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany, which is the second fastest of all time. The 30-year-old has indicated that she wants to run the shorter 100m hurdles and it will be interesting to see which event she participates in.

Kerron Stewart, the 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist along with Schillonie Calvert and Ristananna Tracey are also entered for the meet. (Jamaica Observer)

Richardson downplays Windies horrendous warm-up loss

Team manager Richie

Richardson said West Indies were wary of peaking too soon at the World Cup but there looked precious little chance of that on the evidence of their heavy defeat to England in their first warm-up on Monday.

England dismissed the twice world champions for 122 before reaching their target with more than 27 overs to spare for a thumping nine-wicket victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“Not a very good start but it’s not about the start, it’s about the finish,” Richardson told reporters.

“We are obviously disappointed with our performance but we will review it and come back. Our plan is to ease into the World Cup, we don’t want to peak too early.

“Tonight is no reflection of how we have been training or anything to do with the mood in the camp. It was just very strange that England got the better of us in that particular way.”

West Indies arrived at the World Cup in some turmoil and without former captain Dwayne Bravo after rows over player contracts led to the abandonment of a tour of India last October.

Richardson, however, said the abject manner of yesterday’s defeat had come as a complete shock to him.

“I have no explanation

for it because I didn’t expect it,” he said.

“People might be wondering what is going on. But I can safely say we have been playing well, the guys have been in very good spirits, it was just one of those things.

“Hopefully, you won’t see a performance like this from us again.”

The West Indies never really recovered from losing Darren Bravo and Chris Gayle for ducks in the opening over yesterday and Richardson said it would be wrong to read anything into the fact that the latter had not fielded.

“Chris Gayle has been training well, he hasn’t really complained about any injuries, he played football with the guys this morning,”

the former West Indies captain added.

“He’s in good shape, we just want preserve him as much as possible and then hopefully as the tournament goes on he will go from strength to strength.”

Richardson was equally sanguine about the performance of 23-year-old captain Jason Holder, who was dismissed for one run off three balls and failed to take a wicket.

“Worried, no?” he said.

“If the selectors didn’t think he couldn’t have done the job they wouldn’t have given him all that responsibility.

“So far, he’s done a good job and shown a lot of character, he’s managed to get the guys to rally around him. (Windies Cricket)

wAnTed

Richie Richardson

Usain Bolt

Trinidad to host CPL semifinals, final

Trinidad and Tobago have won the right to host the semi-final and the final of the 2015 Limacol Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 competition, organisers announced on Monday.

CPL Chief Executive Officer Damien O’ Donohoe also announced that the twin island republic have secured the rights ahead of competing venues United States and Dubai.

T&T, home to the Red Steel franchise, will host seven matches, including the CPL final dubbed “Super Bowl of the Caribbean”.

“We actually had bids from outside of the Caribbean to host the finals but Gerry (T&T Minister of Tourism Gerald Hadeed) was insistent that we brought it back here to Trinidad and Tobago,” said O’Donohoe during a press

conference at the Ministry of Tourism.

“It was actually two countries (that bid to host the semifinals and final). One was going to be the United States and the next one was going to be in Dubai”.

O’Donohoe told reporters that taking the competition into the US market remains a goal of CPL which officials say has been growing in popularity after two seasons.

“We were in discussions to take some games over there...that is the future,” he explained.

“I have always said and it was always part of the plan to take the CPL into the US because we believe we have the best platform and we all know if you can make any traction in the US, the scale that they have changes things considerably”.

The announcement of the venue for CPL semi-finals and finals follows last Thursday’s draft which saw Barbados Tridents retaining the bulk of the team which lifted last year’s title while St Lucia Zouks have strengthened their squad significantly.

The third edition of the CPL will start slightly earlier this year, running from June 20th to July 26th.

“We are going to have the top West Indies and international stars in Trinidad for two weeks, so we have to come up with initiatives to make sure they get into the schools, into the summer camps,” said O’Donohoe.

“The CPL final is the Super Bowl of the Caribbean and you are going to have the biggest stars from the world of cricket and the biggest entertainers, and big celebrity names”. (CMC)

BCB to commence U-17 Inter-County Tournament preparations today

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), in its usual proactive way, will today commence early preparations for the 2015 Under-17 Inter-County Tournament.

According to President Anil Beharry, the Board has arranged several talentspotting sessions across the Ancient County.

Players eligible to participate in these sessions must be born on or after September 1, 1998.

Sessions will be held as follows:

Players from the Lower Corentyne area will assemble at the Albion Sports Complex

today at 15:00h.

Players from the West Berbice area are asked to be at the Bush Lot Ground on Thursday from 15:00h.

Players from the Upper Corentyne area will be trained at the Skeldon Community Centre Ground on Saturday from 10:00h.

Players from the East Bank/New Amsterdam/ Canje/Number 19 areas will gather at the Cumberland Ground on Monday from 15:00h, and players from the Central Corentyne area will have their session today at the Bush Lot Farm Ground from 15:00h.

gFsca mash softball set for February 21

As Guyana celebrates 45 years as a Republic, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) is marking the occasion by staging its first event of 2015 – a Mashramani one-day softball tournament.

The day-night tournament will be held on February 21 at the Demerara Cricket Club Ground on Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. Matches will start at 14:00h and will conclude at 23:30h.

Fourteen teams will be accepted to compete in the competition. Eight teams will play in the Open category (males of any age) and six teams will contest the Masters category (40 years and over).

The Male Open will be 5/5 overs, while the Masters will be 10/10. Matches will be played on two pitches simultaneously.

The entrance fee for the Open category is $15,000 and the Masters is $20,000. The champion team of each category will receive $50,000 and the runner-ups will receive $15,000 each. The yellow floodlight ball will be used, and teams can purchase them at Mike’s Pharmacy on Sheriff Street. Teams interested in competing can call GFSCA Organiser Wayne Jones, on 650-1790 or 685-6908 to book their spots early. Meanwhile, a day-night softball 14-team tournament will be held on the last Saturday of every month at the DCC Ground.

“Caribbean Collision” boxing card...

Fly Jamaica to sponsor door prize

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

One lucky patron at the upcoming “Caribbean Collision” boxing card will be the winner of a ticket to one of three Fly Jamaica’s destinations. This was revealed by a senior official of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) on Tuesday afternoon.

According to GBBC Matchmaker Eion Jardine, Fly Jamaica has agreed to put up one ticket for the winner to travel to New York, Canada or Jamaica.

“So we’re encouraging persons who come to the Sports Hall to retain their tickets and listen carefully for the winning number. We also want to thank Fly Jamaica for coming onboard for this card,” Jardine said.

Apart from providing the

ticket, Fly Jamaica will also be flying in the Jamaican Judge, Keith Browne, who will be part of the officiating team on the February 21 five-fight card. The card will be headlined by a showdown be-

Courts supports high schools for Relay Fair in Barbados

CCaribbean and is expected to include the Swedish and obstacle relays along with the

and continues to do so as it attracts more overseas

Known for its contributions to sport in Guyana, the furniture giant strongly advocates for healthy and active lifestyles.

Courts Guyana Inc is hopeful that the representing athletes can eventually grow from the regional scene and someday represent the country at the World Championships and the Olympics.

tween Dominica-based Guyanese Clive “The Punisher” Atwell, who has replaced the injured Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, and Jamaican Sakima Mullings. The duo will square off for the vacant CABOFE Junior Welterweight belt over 12 rounds.

The card, the first for 2015 in Guyana, will start with a clash between debutants Travis Fraser of Guyana and Charwin Estwick of Barbados in a Junior Middleweight six-rounder, and will also see an eight-round Middleweight rematch featuring Edmond DeClou and Dereck Richmond. The last time these two met, DeClou suffered a broken jaw. He has not entered the ring since.

In the other two fights, Quincy Gomes will face debutant Keeve Allicock in a four-round Lightweight contest, while Dexter Gonsalves will match gloves with Mark Austin in an eight-round Welterweight rematch.

The action will start at 20:00h at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and admission to the venue is $3000 (Ringside) and $1500 (Stands).

The GFSCA is inviting the first 14 teams to compete in the one-day tournament

CPL Chief Executive Officer Damien O’ Donohoe (second right); T&T Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed (second left); T&T Sport Brent Sancho (right); and other officals after announcing that Trinidad and Tobago have been awarded the semi-finals and final of the 2015 Limacol Caribbean Premier League

BCB President Anil Beharry

Guyana Inc donated $100,000

to Queen’s College and Tutorial High School to

participation in the

Eion Jardine

Gumdac Doubles badminton tournament...

Ramdhani siblings win Mixed Doubles title

The Gumdac annual Open Doubles Badminton Tournament commenced on Monday at the Queen’s College courts with siblings Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani carting off the Mixed Doubles title.

The top male and female players defeated Jonathan Mangra and Abosaide Cadogan 21-10, 21-12 and Nicholas Ali and Siya Persaud 21-10, 21-13. Ali and Persaud got the runner-up spot by defeating Mangra and Cadogan 20-22, 21-18, 14-21.

In the Open Men’s Doubles, Haymant Ramdhani and William Holder defeated Akili Haynes and Christian Beharry 21-5, 21-3 in the first round, while in the quarter-finals, Guyana’s top Doubles pair Narayan Ramdhani and Nicholas Ali defeated Tyreese Jeffrey and Lakshman Das 216, 21-7, and Guyana’s exnational players Gokarn Ramdhani and George Melville defeated Tyreese Richards and Ransell Ramsaroop 21-6, 21-7.

The tournament will continue this afternoon at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall at 18:00h. Matches will be played in the remaining quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

RHTY&SC One-Day softball tournament billed for Thursday

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)sponsored Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Inter-Primary School One-Day softball tournament will be played on Thursday at the Area H Ground.

Rose Hall Town and Belvedere Primary Schools will clash in the first match at 09:30h, while Port

During the first two editions, the flamboyant batsman was able to feed off top international players such as Sunil Narine, Martin Guptill, James Franklin, Mohammad Hafeez, James Neesham, Lasith Malinga, and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who were all part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors camp.

With the Sri Lankan pair Dilshan and Malinga returning this year, and their fellow countryman Thisara Perera and Australian Brad Hodge set to debut in the CPL, Griffith will look to tap into the vast experience of the international quartet.

“The CPL set-up is very professional and I’ve learnt a lot from just being around the international players; just looking at their approach and observing the way they go about preparing for a game,” Griffith said.

Griffith, who has a highest score of 41 from 12 T20 matches, opined that the Guyana Amazon Warriors are a “balanced” unit, which should go one step further and win the title this year, after losing to Jamaica

Mourant and Tain Primary Schools will play the other game starting at 11:00h.

The losing teams would battle for third place at 12:30h, while the finalists will clash for championship honours at 01:45h.

All matches are 10 overs per side, while the top teams and individual performers will receive trophies and medals. Senior executives of the RHTY&SC and GT&T

would distribute the prizes after the finals.

The tournament is being played as one of the 200 programmes/activities that the Club plans to organise for its Silver Jubilee Celebration during 2015.

The Club has also secured sponsorship for a female softball tournament for Primary Schools. That Tournament will be played in March.

Giftland supports Road to Mecca II

TChampionships is gaining traction. Giftland OfficeMax has thrown its support behind the event on Tuesday.

At the simple handing-over ceremony, held at the store’s main branch on Water Street,

Georgetown, Giftland handed over balls and other paraphernalia that will be used during the tournament.

Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Vice President Michael Singh collected the items, noting that the event could not be successful without the support of

companies like Giftland. Marketing Assistant at Giftland OfficeMax, Breeanka West highlighted Giftland’s history of support for sport, stressing that the support for the tournament is just another aspect of the company aiding in the development of sport and Guyana’s society.

Siblings Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani dominated the Mixed Doubles

Tallawahs in 2013 and Barbados Tridents last year. The CPL will be held from June 20 to July 26 with the Barbados Tridents putting their title on

the line against Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia Zouks, and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

he Road to Mecca II National Basketball Club

GABF Vice President (Operations) Michael Singh (right) receives the official game ball and other items from Marketing Assistant at Giftland OfficeMax, Breeanka West

Trevon Griffith

WICB disregards

21-day deadline

– Sport Minister to decide on way forward for new GCB elections

By Rajiv Bisnauth

he West Indies

TCricket Board (WICB) has ignored the 21day deadline given to it by Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony regarding the setting of a date for new elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

Minister Anthony had written to the WICB on January 19 as stipulated in the new Cricket Administration Act, and had proposed that the elections be held on March 15 this year.

In that correspondence, the Minister had given the WICB 21 days in which to

Wintz

“excited”

about playing in CPL

Page 19

– “I can’t wait to test my skills and play in what is going to be a dynamic and exciting competition”

reply and then set a date for new GCB elections.

The WICB has since confirmed receipt of the correspondence, but has not responded to the Minister within the deadline, which expired on Monday.

“We haven’t got anything from them (WICB) as yet, but I will meet with the staff and decide on the way forward,” Minister Anthony told this publication on Tuesday.

New elections will ultimately breathe new life into the leadership of the entity, something the WICB seems reluctant to accept.

The WICB has always been in support of the GCB

and its refusal to work along with the Ministry of Sport in solving Guyana’s off-field issues is no surprise.

New GCB elections under the Act will bring an end to the longstanding impasse between the GCB and the Government.

It will also bring an end to allegations of mismanagement of cricket in Guyana.

Meanwhile, when asked the current status of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), Dr Anthony pointed out that there was an injunction against those persons who continued to function as executives of the Board, and that was being

dealt with by the Attorney General’s Office. It is hoped that the issue will be ironed out shortly so that fresh elections will be held for the DCB, thereby enabling it to participate in the GCB elections.

The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) had their elections last month. Both Boards have signalled their readiness to participate in the upcoming electoral process.

The two entities have made it absolutely clear that they have no difficulties with the date proposed by the Minister for the GCB elections.

Caribbean Premier League 2015... Griffith looking for breakthrough season

By avenash Ramzan

With just two matches spread across two seasons, Guyana Amazon Warriors opening batsman Trevon Griffith has had limited opportunities to justify his selection and set the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) alight.

After warming the benches and watching the action from the dugout, Griffith has been given another chance to play in the “Biggest Party in Sport”, as the Warriors again snapped him up at the Player Draft held last Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica.

There is an old adage “third time’s the charm”, and no doubt Griffith would be hoping his third appearance in the Region’s premier T20 tournament would provide the level of success that eluded him in the first two.

Griffith was bought by the franchise in Round 13 for US$5000, a clear indication that the Warriors still have faith in the dashing left-

hander from the Demerara Cricket Club.

“I know I didn’t get many opportunities in the first two years, so I’m looking to do my best this time around; get some runs in the practice games and hopefully break into the playing XI more often,” the 23-yearold Griffith said during an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

The former West Indies Under-19 player made his CPL debut in 2013, scoring 17 against the Antigua Hawksbills, but he did not get another chance in the middle until last year, when he also played a solitary game, scoring six not out against eventual champions Barbados Tridents.

Learnt a lot

Despite his limited on-field appearances, Griffith said he has learnt a lot by just being part of the “professional set-up” of the CPL, as he was afforded the privilege of rubbing shoulders with some of the game’s biggest names.

Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

WICB President Dave Cameron

Fast bowler Paul Wintz

Trevon Griffith bats in the nets during a training session with the Guyana Amazon Warriors last year