Guyana Times Daily

Part of the display as the Agriculture Ministry launched its Annual Recipes Booklet at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown (Carl Croker photo)

No-Confidence Motion not a priority for APNU – Granger

Opposition Leader, David Granger said the Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored No-Confidence Motion against the Government is not a priority for his coalition, although insisting that they were committed to the motion.

The Granger-led A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) has been forced on several occasions to explain its position on the No-Confidence Motion and on each occasion it has said that it was committed to it. However, on Tuesday when Guyana Times asked Granger specifically if the motion was a priority for his 26-seat coalition, he said no.

Granger’s position is that the outstanding matters from the last sitting should be dealt with when the next sitting of the National Assembly is held. He explained that the NoConfidence Motion was put to the House by AFC and whenever the matter arises, it will be debated.

Earlier in a press statement, APNU said it remains committed to the NoConfidence Motion, while refuting claims that Granger and President Donald Ramotar are discussing a compromise to avoid passage of the motion. “APNU

remains committed to supporting the No-Confidence Motion when it is brought to the floor of the National Assembly of Guyana. Any suggestions to the contrary are malicious, scandalous and mendacious,” the party said.

The AFC however, remains bent on its position that the No-Confidence Motion should be placed high on the agenda.

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan had told Guyana Times that his party will be proceeding with the motion during the first sitting. “It will be the first and only sitting,” he posited, noting that the Opposition would be moving ahead “full force”.

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

The mover of the motion, Moses Nagamootoo will be debating the motion, Ramjattan said, in addition to Cathy Hughes for the AFC.

“We will prove that the Opposition is united on this motion,” the AFC Leader declared.

“They (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) would have uncontrollable tears running down their faces,” he opined.

But although recess ended on October 10, the Government has not decided on a date for the next sitting of the National Assembly.

Last Wednesday, a high level meeting was held but the Parliamentary Management Committee could not decide on a date for the reconvening of the 10th Parliament.

According to Standing Order 8 (2) “if during an adjournment of the Assembly, it is represented to the Speaker by the Government, or the Speaker is of the opinion that the public interest requires that the Assembly

should meet a day earlier than to which it stands adjourned, the Speaker may give notice accordingly and the Assembly shall meet at the time stated in such notice”.

However, it was explained by the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs that if a date had al-

ready been fixed for the next sitting and Government wanted an earlier sitting, representation would have to be made to the Speaker to do just that.

He stressed that the Speaker could not on his own fix a date for the reconvening of Parliament.

Thieves flee with cash, jewels after invading Prospect home

Thieves early on Sunday morning escaped with an undisclosed sum of cash and jewellery after invading a home at Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Elizabeth Fiedkou of Lot 12 Prospect, EBD told this newspaper that three men forced their way into her home through a window.

They then tied her up and ransacked the house. She related that the incident occurred around 03:00h, and at the time Fiedkou’s son, the mother of his child and four children were in the house but no one heard anything.

“I think they spray we with something ‘cause I hear them spraying up something. Me aint know how they ain’t wake up”, Elizabeth said referring to the others in the house.

The three men reportedly had attempted to break in through the back door but after that proved difficult, they entered through a window. They bound the woman with duct tape and covered her with a sheet.

“I didn’t get to see them, I was lying on my belly facing the wall… they come into the room and snatch my hand and tie me up and tell me to be quiet.”

The woman stated that one of the men held an object to her head and told her to “give me everything” or he will shoot her. The tram-

atised woman related that she did not know if the object behind her head was a gun, since she didn’t see them.

The men escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash and a quantity of gold jewellery including three chain nuggets, a diamond ring worth $130,000, a silver ring with a diamond, three silver bands and three gold chains. They also took a number of colognes with them.

“They left the room but I was scared, I didn’t know if they left the house or not.

When I hear me neighbour start coughing I realised the place get bright so I know they won’t be in the house now.”

Fiedkou then managed to get off her bed and get herself free. She alerted her son about the incident and a report was made at the Providence Police Station. She related that the Police took a statement.

The woman mentioned that robberies are prevalent in Prospect but no justice is being served, saying “like every month, two to three times a month these people breaking in and we ain’t getting nothing from the Police up here.”

To her knowledge, six houses have been broken into thus far for the year, “My neighbour, three houses from me had a workshop and they broke in two times already,” Fiedkou said.

Opposition Leader David Granger

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

october 22, 2014 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, October 22 from 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, October 22 from 15:35h-17:05h

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery showers can be expected during the morning with heavy to light rain showers expected in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North westerly between 0.89 metres and 1.34 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:20h and 15:34h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:10h and 21:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.64 metre and 0.53 metre respectively.

Remigrant vehicle scam... Keep scheme, convict, jail fraudsters – Minister … until

Glenn Lall, other matters

espite allegations of widespread fraud regarding the operations of the Government-run remigrant scheme, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said that it would be premature to suspend the initiative.

However, some citizens believe that to continue the programme could give the likes of Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall who has been charged with corrupting the initiative, a free pass.

The Auditor General’s Office is currently conducting an investigation into the scheme and has since submitted two reports.

Further investigations are being conducted even as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) felt it had solid evidence to charge Lall; his wife, Bhena Lall; and two other persons for allegedly illegally importing two Luxury vehicles under the scheme.

Rodrigues-Birkett told Guyana Times in a recent interview that “it would be premature to do so in the absence of compelling evidence to suggest that the scheme is being massively abused.”

Scheme or scam?

The remigrant scheme is administered by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in conjunction with GRA.

The Ministry is responsible for determining and granting remigrant status while the GRA administers the tax exemptions.

Under the remigrant scheme, a Guyanese who is 18 years and above, who has been residing legally overseas for a minimum of five consecutive years and is now returning to Guyana, can benefit.

Also, Guyanese students/

graduates who have attended or are attending a training institution and residing overseas for a minimum of four years and are now returning to Guyana, can also benefit.

Luxury vehicles

The Foreign Affairs Ministry was forced to revoke the re-migrant status of several persons under the programme as many were using the facility to bring in all manner of luxury vehicles – similar to what Lall is acused of – and other items under the scheme, but never really fully resettled here.

The Minister explained to Guyana Times that the Ministry is yet to receive the results from the probe from the Auditor General, pointing out that if there were any alterations to be made to the carrying out of the probe, “the results of the audit ….(would) be instructive”.

She noted too that she is “not aware that the audit is completed”.

The Office of the Auditor General has reportedly completed two reports regarding the scam, which involves senior GRA officials and some remigrants.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma had disclosed that the two reports were submitted to GRA, noting that one was completed about a month ago and the other recently handed over to the Authority's Board.

He said that investigations are still ongoing in the issue and opted not to reveal any findings of the probe until the Board completes its review.

Sharma explained that his office is probing the scheme all the way back to its establishment in 2010 to

completed

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

find whether the applicants are complying with the stipulated five-year stay and other requirements outlined in the scheme.

When contacted, GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur told this newspaper that the Board after receiving the reports handed him copies for review before discussions commence.

Sattaur said that his legal and investigative teams are looking at the contents of the report and examining the recommendations ahead of appearing before the Board to discuss the report.

Statistics from the Foreign Affairs Ministry show that since the launching of the programme back

in 2010, some 1411 persons have benefited from it. The remigrant programme initiative seeks to create a framework for overseas-based Guyanese to come back and make meaningful contributions to their birthplace.

Meanwhile, in a Letter to the Editor, Mike Persaud said that the major issue behind Glenn and Bhena Lall’s tax evasion charges has to do with fairness in the enforcement of the law.

Dealing with tax cheats

“Right now the Government reportedly has a list of about 100 names –all benefited from tax waivers as remigrants – who are being investigated.”

He said the guilt or innocence of Glenn and Bhena Lall is a separate matter engaging the courts.

"I urge the Government to move quickly to suspend or revoke all tax waivers granted in the last five years to all remigrants – until they can prove they permanently reside in Guyana."

He said a set of criteria can be drawn up to establish what constitutes “permanent residency”.

"At a minimum these should include living in Guyana for at least six months each year, holding a job or running a business and filing annual tax returns in the state of Guyana."

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

Self-proclaimed people’s man

Recent developments in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) have exposed the inability of the current leadership of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) to manage the affairs of its party in a democratic, inclusive and transparent manner.

As a matter of fact, 2014 marks the first year since the party’s formation back in 1957 that there is so much discord, dissatisfaction, infighting, chaos and bullyism taking place within its ranks at Region 10. The problems which are facing that region did not start this year, but have their genesis in the rigged internal elections of 2011.

Those elections saw a cosmetic brand of democracy at work and David Granger, was catapulted to the seat of power within the hierarchy of the PNCR. But the manner in which the leadership responded to the concerns of Region 10 in 2012 during the period of unrest has exposed its inability to respond to and consistently advocate for the needs of their grassroots constituency.

Granger has used his offices both as PNCR leader and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman to launch barefaced attacks on the integrity of those who oppose either the path that he is taking the party down or his elitist management style. This is evident in the manner in which Vanessa Kissoon, Sharma Solomon, Maurice Butters and Aubrey Norton, among others, have been treated because they chose to stand up for their rights.

It is no secret that several other hard-working and dedicated senior party members who fought side by side with consecutive leaders of the PNC have also been sidelined because they failed to support Granger’s militarisation of the party or his elitist and puerile vision of the country’s political system.

Granger went further when he hand-picked and imposed Sandra Adams on Linden as its coordinator because she is willing to dance to his tune. But the residents of Linden and Region 10 have shown over the past four years that they will not allow themselves to be railroaded by any politician, including their comrade-leader.

It is also clear that Granger had no intention of addressing the concerns of Linden about the Clarke/Kissoon spat, the failed operationalisation of several aspects of the agreement signed between the Government and the Region 10 Administration, his own inability to visit the region more frequently to do field work, the imposition of the docile Linden Coordinator, and the fiasco and shooting which took place at the party’s 18th biennial congress.

He could have avoided the embarrassment of having scores of protesters present at the poorly-attended meeting organised where his leadership was compared with the Ebola and Chikungunya viruses.

It is also shameful Granger was pleading his own cause and begging the public to believe that he was “a man of the people” and was “grassroots oriented”. His rationale for being a self-proclaimed people’s person was that no one really told him otherwise face to face.

No other senior PNCR member with any sort of standing within the ranks of party has come to his rescue with the aim of championing his cause at Linden. The truth is, compared to Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte and Robert Corbin, David Granger is the only leader that the people of Linden is now rejecting so publicly since the new post-independence dispensation.

While Granger continues to be in denial about the shortcomings of the PNCR leadership under his stewardship, support is waning at Linden and in the wider Region 10, and the AFC is on the prowl.

The PNCR has started to save face and is organising a series of interventions that can hopefully serve as a temporary plaster for the lacerations and stab wounds inflicted by Granger and those who do his bidding on a region that already has its share of challenges and struggles. Maybe, some historians are not meant to be politicians. Maybe self-proclaimed aristocrats were never meant to lead in the Republic. Maybe Plato was wrong.

Deepavali – origin, significance and message

Dear Editor,

Deepavali – the most vibrant, colourful and grand festival of the Hindus literally means ‘array of lights’.

As the name suggests, it is a festival of lamps (deep means oil burning lamp) and falls during autumn, in the second half of Karthik month (OctoberNovember) around the new moon night and the celebrations actually spread over five days.

People start preparing many weeks in advance; by renovating or at least by whitewashing/painting their homes, making major purchases (a car, a new TV, jewellery for the women folk or any other major expenditure), purchasing new clothes for all family members, decorating their homes, doing shopping for everything that adds to the vibrancy and praying for the well-being of their family and the world.

Many beliefs surround the origin of the festival; the celebration dates back to 50-100 AD. According to one belief, it was an after-the-harvest festival to thank the deities for the bountiful harvest and prosperity bestowed upon them all through the year.

Another belief ascribes the festival to commemorate the return of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the trinity, to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile in the forests and after winning over the Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, in a fierce combat, all of which is described in the great epic, the Ramayana.

That’s the day of actual Deepavali, the third day when homes are lit up and courtyards are decorated with colours and flowers. Several oil lamps are lit and firecrackers burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil, darkness over light, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

Another belief associates the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu, the deity personifying well-being and prosperity, who appeared during ‘Samudramanthan’ – churning of the Ocean by the Devas and Asuras; hence,

the day is celebrated as ‘Danteras’. People shop to acquire valuables and invest in property on the auspicious day, believing in a good return for the same.

Another belief associates with the day of the vanquishing of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna and his wife Sathyabhama on naraka-chaturdasi, the 14th day of the second quarter, celebrated as the second day.

The next day after Deepavali, Padwa commemorates the compassionate deed of Lord Krishna who saved the people of Brindavan from Lord Indra’s (the God of Rain) curse to bring doom to them by flooding the area with a deluge.

The young Lord Krishna lifted the big Govardhan Mountain full of greenery by his little finger, thereby creating a shelter under it. This day is deemed as Padwa when loads of different food items prepared in homes are stacked as a mountain and offered as thanks-giving to the Lord; also husbands and wives gift and recognise each other’s contribution on the day.

The fifth day is Bhai-dooj when brothers and sisters visit each other, wish and give gifts to each other to show mutual affection and appreciation.

Deepavali is enthusiastically celebrated in 13 countries of the world and is a holiday in most of these countries. Melas or big community gatherings are organised with multiple activities of fun and frolic for all ages. It is lights and more lights everywhere, sparklers and pyrotechnics included wherever feasible.

In India, different states celebrate the festival in slightly different ways –Ram Lila in the North, birthday of Lord Mahaveer for the Jains, Sikhs Guru’s appearance day, Kali puja in Bengal and Ganesh-Lakshmi puja in Maharashtra and Gujarat, as the New Year commences for them on Deepavali Day.

In the South, people wake up before dawn and take a traditional oil bath, (considered equivalent to a dip in the holy Ganga River), wear new dresses, jewellery and pray to God. Adults and

children alike begin their day lighting up many different kinds of fire crackers and wishing friends and relatives a happy and prosperous Deepavali.

Adults exchange sweets and savouries with friends and relatives, pray and visit temples, perform Lakshmi-Kubera puja... it is the time for joy and cheer, camaraderie all around, time to renew relationships and strengthen bonds. Businesses start their new year of accounting on the day after a fervent Puja – praying to Goddess Lakshmi Devi for all success in their endeavours for the ensuing year.

New inventory is acquired and an assessment of the previous year’s work is also done at this time. The festival symbolises hope, positive energy and bright vibrations to lead life on to greater ideals.

Deepavali philosophically also signifies the enlightenment within the Divine inner light that glorifies the power of the Soul and the Infinite imminent and transcendent Reality. It reminds the world/societies to move away from Adharma – eschew immorality, lead life into the Righteous Path, to follow the perfect code of conduct and relate to the Supreme Being.

As an ending note, here’s the message for the World from the big festival of lights – May this Diwali purge your heart, mind, and soul from hate, malice, anger and keep your person free of illness.

May it open your hearts and minds towards other fellow beings, the underprivileged and all the animals, birds and other living things that share this world with us.

May the festival brighten every life and mark the advent of a new era of Fulfilment and Perfection, bring Peace, Salvation and true Freedom to one and all.

Many wishes for a very happy and prosperous life.

Submitted by, Mekala Ravishankar

Widows, who have been abandoned by their families, light sparklers after offering prayers on the banks of the River Yamuna as part of Diwali celebrations organised by Non-Governmental Organisation Sulabh International in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on October 21 (Reuters/Ahmad Masood)

Ramjattan, Nagamootoo owe Hindus an apology

Dear Editor, I write to condemn the AFC for its religious insensitivity in calling for the convening of Parliament on the eve of Diwali, the most significant celebration for Hindus in Guyana and one in which almost every Guyanese enjoys through its participation in the motorcades, concerts and meals (delicacies).

Hindus in Guyana were fuming with rage that my very good friends Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Veerasammy Ramayya and other MPs and executives of AFC have the audacity to sign on to the party’s demand that Parliament meet on the eve of Diwali.

At the West Coast motorcade and various other Diwali-related events where I was present and in the mandirs on Sunday morning, it was a subject of discussion – like myself, they cannot understand how the AFC, a party that should have been different from the others, could display such gross disrespect for Hindus on insisting that Parliament meet on October 22 when Hindus are in the midst of celebrating their festival, which is followed by a public holiday in recognition of the importance of the religious event.

Worse yet, they feel Moses, Khemraj, Ramayya, all of whom come from Hindu families, and have Hindu neighbours, should know better to seek the convening of Parliament on such an auspicious occasion for Hindus.

These gentlemen are my friends, but I cannot let them off the hook by

not criticising their insensitivity towards Hindus. It shows they don’t even know their own culture. How could these men allow themselves to be led astray to disrespect the entire Hindu population?

Here it is that non-Hindus and non-Indians could appreciate Diwali, but the AFC MPs can’t show any respect for the festival. Openness and tolerance of other faiths must begin at the very top of any organisation.

When Hindus themselves don’t understand their practices and traditions, they open themselves to humiliation and become the laughing stock of others. Hindus, in fact all Guyanese, are disappointed in the AFC for its religious insensitivity. A public apology is needed. Diwali is an eternally sacred Hindu event of great spiritual significance in the Rig Vedic Adivasi Puranic culture of Hinduism and Hindus. The extraordinary secular features of public displays of pomp and splendour should not detract from the essential protocols of devotion and worship and respect for those who do.

Recognition of the Shakti (invulnerable divine powers) of Maha Lakshmi Devi, the Divine Mother, is of paramount importance to Hindus in Guyana.

I expect my friend Moses, for whom I have great regard and consistently extolled his virtues, and, by extension, the AFC to be mindful of Diwali being a national festival with spiritual, religious and temporal features in re-

spect of which any form of disrespect or violation will redound to the discredit of the country and the nation. DIWALI is a legacy of our illustrious indentured immigrant ancestors and should be seen and duly respected as such.

Calling for reconvening Parliament on Diwali Eve is very disrespectful – it is no different than reconvening Parliament on Christmas Eve or the eve of Eid.

Diwali is not a one-day event. It is observed over a five-day period and it really comes to an end on the sixth day with Goberdhan puja, the day after official observance of Diwali. It is for this reason that Parliament goes into recess in many societies (India, Mauritius, Fiji, Natal, Durban, Guadeloupe, etc) with a large number of Hindus – they don’t wish to appear insensitive to Hindus.

Even in the US, Congress is in recess as in Canada and Britain. In neighbouring Trinidad and Suriname, Parliament has been in recess for the festival. But in Guyana, it appears it is okay for the AFC to disrespect Hindus.

It is also noted that while Diwali is officially celebrated as a holiday on October 22, the day before and after Diwali are very auspicious in which all Hindus engage in fasting and performing pujas.

Also, this year, because of the eclipse and the position of the moon, some experts have claimed that Diwali is on October 22 while others claim it is on the 23th. Because of the interpretation, and to

GRA has unenviable task of ensuring Govt gets fair share of taxes

Dear Editor, Mr Khurshid Sattaur is a man of moral uprightness and one to be emulated. A fearless, no-nonsense public servant who is doing an excellent job in a hostile and unfriendly atmosphere. As head of the Guyana Revenue Authority, he is given the unenviable task of ensuring that our country gets its fair share of taxes. Simply put, he is in a crucial position, a make or break situation if you please – the collection of revenue for the smooth running of the state we call Guyana.

For us to succeed as a nation, the all-important dollar – millions of it – must be collected in a timely and honest manner. This means that his success is our success and conversely, his failure will automatically be our failure. In this regard, all illegal and unsavoury practices to undermine the rights of the people to earn their fair share of taxes is a criminal act and should be condemned for all its worth. At this juncture of our development, we can ill afford the likes of those who intentionally rob us.

Tax cheats ought to be exposed and brought before the courts for non-payment of their dues. They have to pay what they owe, not Khurshid Sattaur, but they owe the people of Guyana.

This is why the Commissioner General would remain my mentor and my hero. I join with the countless number of persons in support of your good work. We salute your most valuable contribution to this nation.

Yours truly,

Neil Adams

No-win situation for all parties

Dear Editor,

please Goddess Lakshmi, many Hindus are observing the festival with celebrations on both nights and some mandirs in New York are having special pujas on both evenings.

At any rate, it has been the custom in Guyana that diyas are lit in front of homes of Hindus on the eve of Diwali and business close up early on that day to facilitate rituals.

Parliamentary business cannot and should not be conducted on that day as it is inauspicious for Hindus – Hindus close out business on that day for the old year in the Hindu calendar; they don’t engage in new business.

AFC should seriously think of attending cultural sensitivity courses and to learn about the religious practices of the various faiths in Guyana. The party leadership needs training in religious sensitivity. They have to be trained to follow the practices of peers in India, Durban, Mauritius, Fiji, Guadeloupe, St Lucia, etc, all of which show their respect for the Indian population.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

One of my lasting memories of Cheddi was his love for people and his constant desire to meet, chat and discuss matters which were very important to them – be it personal or communityrelated, whether he was in Opposition or the Executive President of Guyana.

Today, we are witnessing a different breed of his students and party comrades. In this context, Cheddi, therefore, had set aside one day in each month in order to meet the public at Freedom House.

Those of us who knew him and who worked with him would know he always prepared for a very long and hard day. He would work well into the following day, until the last person was seen and their problems discussed and giving the necessary instructions to those Ministers who were assigned to work with him on that day.

Sometimes he used to remain in the Office of the President, busy getting matters done. At the end of the exercise, an assessment of the day's work would be prepared by all of his Ministers and the actions taken, together with the notes for future reference.

People came from all walks of life and from all over the country, both coast and hinterland areas. Today, if you have an appointment with a Minister, you cannot

find him in office. The problems raised with Dr Jagan were many and varied.

People with problems that could not be resolved at the local level looked to Cheddi for the necessary representation. He made sure that the matters raised and discussed were dealt with promptly and the decisions made and passed expeditiously.

Cheddi was a serious President, regardless of your position – be it Office Assistant, Minister or General Secretary, you knew you had to perform. He was a source of inspiration.

He would tell us where there is a problem, there is a solution. Smilingly, he said that your success served to prove whether you had leadership potential and abilities. There was no doubt that he was by far the most popular PPP politician among the party’s grassroots supporters.

He is known to have got the highest number of votes at each PPP Congress. In the meantime, the PPP is in crisis. Many observers believe that the party will need the most intelligent, able and acceptable candidate to lead the PPP at this time. The reality is that rough times are ahead. This election could lead to a nowin situation.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

Page Foundation

Recently, a patient in Texas was diagnosed with the Ebola virus – the first diagnosis in the United States, followed by two nurses. Unfortunately, that patient died and the two infected nurses are fighting for their lives.

In an effort to share accurate information and tips, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) clarifies what Ebola is and what parents can do to protect their children.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a viral infection, yet it is very rare and is easily transmitted from person to person. There is a serious outbreak in West Africa, however, in part due to lack of germ prevention and access to adequate medical supplies.

What are the signs and symptoms of Ebola?

Ebola typically starts suddenly with a fever but symptoms can also include a severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising. The time from infection with the virus to the onset of symptoms is from two to 21 days (with eight to 10 days being most common).

A person with the Ebola virus can infect others as soon as they begin to have symptoms. Early-stage Ebola disease may be confused with other infectious diseases (eg, flu) because the initial symptoms are similar to those seen with other viral infections.

How is Ebola spread?

Unlike the flu, Ebola is not spread through the air or water. The chances of you or your children becoming infected are slim. Ebola is only transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person or from objects like needles that have been in contact with infected body fluids. This means it does not spread through air, food, or water.

Can you get Ebola from a dog or cat?

At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or being able to spread Ebola to people or animals. The chances of a dog or cat being exposed to Ebola virus in the United States is very low as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a symptomatic person sick with Ebola.

Can Ebola be prevented?

Yes, killing the virus is easy. The Ebola virus can be killed with soap and water, heat, or a disinfectant or sanitising agent.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing hands frequently or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is a good precaution. This is perhaps the most important message for children to learn and share.

Because people in West Africa may not be able to follow these precautions and may not have access to soap and water, Ebola has continued to spread.

Important message for parents: It is much easier to catch to the flu or other respiratory viruses than Ebola. For

What precautions should I take?

* Avoid contact with Ebola patients and their bodily fluids, the WHO advises. Do not touch anything – such as shared towels – which could have become contaminated in a public place.

* Carers should wear gloves and protective equipment, such as masks, and wash their hands regularly.

* The WHO also warns against consuming raw bush meat and any contact with infected bats or monkeys and apes. Fruit bats in particular are considered a delicacy in the area of Guinea where the outbreak started.

* In March, Liberia’s Health Minister

example, based on the Ebola statistics right now, it is likely that flu will cause far more illness and deaths around the globe than Ebola will.

News coverage

Understandably, there is heavy coverage in the media about the spread of Ebola. However, it is a good idea to limit young children's exposure to news stories about it. This way, parents can decide what information they want to share based on their child's level of understanding. Here are some things to remind your children if they are concerned:

* They are safe

* Our health care system (America's) is among the best in the world for taking care of sick people

* Ebola is rare and does not exist everywhere. When cases are found, the person with the infection is taken to a safe place to be cared for so that he can get better and not make anyone else sick.

* Doctors and scientists who know a lot about Ebola are working hard to find ways to prevent or cure this illness.(healthychildren.org)

advised people to stop having sex, in addition to existing advice not to shake hands or kiss. The WHO says men can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to seven weeks after recovering from Ebola.

* There are no vaccines, though some are being tested, along with new drug therapies. The WHO ruled in August that untested drugs can be used to treat patients in light of the scale of the current outbreak.

* The experimental drug ZMapp has been used to treat several people who contracted Ebola: Two US aid workers and a Briton have recovered after taking it but a Liberian doctor and a Spanish priest have died.

BY KATHERINE LEWIS

Separation anxiety can hit at any stage of child development. Maybe your nine-month-old baby suddenly wails when you leave for work, or your two-year-old child sobs during day care drop off. Even older children may balk at being left with a babysitter on Saturday night. One thing’s for sure – separation anxiety is emotionally draining for working moms and their children.

By developing comforting

time for every step, so your child doesn’t feel rushed and stressed. Here’s ours: cuddle in bed together, dress, brush teeth, eat breakfast, drive to school, put backpack in cubby, say goodbye to mommy and daddy.

Our day care centre has a wonderful tradition of a “byebye window.” The top half of the classroom door opens separately, so the parent can lean in and give a kiss goodbye. Older children start the day outdoors, so part of the playground equipment is dubbed the “bye-bye tower.”

rituals and behaving confidently, you can ease the pain and guilt of separation anxiety. Here are eight ways to combat separation anxiety and start the day right.

Use traditions to ease separation anxiety

Children feel more secure when they know what to expect. Establishing a morning ritual helps them through the transition from home to child care. Leave

Children climb up and wave over the fence as the parents drive away.

When a child is having trouble separating, a teacher or parent will say, “Do you want to go to the byebye window?” It’s amazing, but the reminder of the ritual often stops the tears. If your child care provider doesn’t have any goodbye traditions, suggest one! Or, create a ritual or special goodbye words just for you and your child. Of course, it takes a while to establish the tradition, but after a few weeks your child will know what to expect.

Set a positive tone for separating It’s remarkable how sensitive children are to our moods. Even a tiny baby can tell when Mama is upset, and often will start to fuss or get anxious. Bigger children may act out or become clingy if their parents seem unhappy or angry.

So the tone you set for saying goodbye will influence whether your child clutches and wails, or runs off happily to play. Smile and speak with a positive inflection, no matter how sad you may feel inside. Remind your child of the fun things he will do during the day. When you let your own anxiety or unhappiness show through your facial expression or manner, the message your child will hear is: “Mommy thinks something’s wrong with leaving me in child care.” Is it any wonder that he will conclude that he’s not going to be safe and loved without you there? (about.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

Ebola fact box

Govt, APNU hold talks on governance

… but no progress on LGE, assent to Bills

In the absence of the Alliance for Change (AFC), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) met with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration in a quest to advance the national governance agenda.

In a statement, APNU said the meeting was convened in wake of the Opposition’s year-long demand and public protests for the long overdue Local Government Elections (LGE). During the meeting, President Donald Ramotar was urged to set a date for the holding of the LGE. But this was just was one the many petitions that were laid on the table when the parties met.

“APNU also committed to collaborate on a process by which the President would assent to the Local Government Bill, No 12 of 2012; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2013; the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Bill No 24 of 2012 and Bill No 5 of 2013 and the Former President’s (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill No 29 of 2012.”

Due to the absence of the Attorney General who is presently attending a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting in Paris, France, the PPP/C took a decision not to decide on the bills or LGE. Much to its dissatisfaction, the APNU in response reaffirmed its commitment to support the No-Confidence Motion in the National Assembly. “A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is committed to the formation of a Government of National Unity to rid Guyana of winner-takes-all politics. APNU is dedicated to ensuring that our multiethnic and multicultural society will succeed through respect for the di-

President Donald Ramotar

versity, hard work, thrift and sacrifice of all our citizens.”

APNU’s high profile delegation was led by David Granger and included parliamentarians, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Basil Williams, Carl Greenidge and Joseph Harmon. Government was represented by President Donald Ramotar; Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Housing Minister Irfaan Ali; Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon.

Back in September President Ramotar had expressed his willingness to meet with Granger to discuss matters of national importance. Ramotar in a letter to Granger back then had reiterated his commitment to dialogue while inviting Granger to meet with him at a time convenient to the Opposition Leader. Nonetheless, at the time Ramotar expressed concern over the new communication posture and policy adopted by the Opposition Leader which sees him, as of late, utilising the media to send messages to the Executive.

Ramotar’s letter had come days after Granger had threatened to take action if a date for LGE was not an-

nounced. The President then wrote Granger seeking clarity, while stating that the contents of the letter, which contained the ultimatum, were “ambiguous and contradictory” to the utterances made by the APNU in relation to a menu of related issues.“While awaiting your response, Office of the President has noted your resort to the media, where you have been reported to have agreed to commence protests in support of your demands for Local Government Elections,” the President said.

He noted too the media reports which called for meetings with Government on other critical issues affecting Guyana while protesting the use of the media to make these demands. “I must, for the record, express my deep reservation about this media-based communication style you have recently adopted in dealing with my Office. There is nothing that my team and I have done to prompt you to disregard our usual format,” the Head of State said.

Parliamentary committees get down to work ...

despite uncertainty of next sitting

Despite the uncertainty as to when the next sitting of the National Assembly will be held, work resumed at the level of several committees, the Parliament Office said on Tuesday.

Last Wednesday, the Parliamentary Management Committee, which is chaired by the Speaker, met and discussed several matters of importance, including the possible date for the next sitting; Parliament’s role in the LEAD Project; training, workshops and conferences to be attended by Members of Parliament; and the return visit to the Parliament of Suriname. This visit would be the result of an invitation made by the Surinamese Speaker who visited Guyana in October – and aims at establishing a formal relationship between the two Parliaments.

Additionally, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association also met on Wednesday to consider the report of the 16th Biennial Regional Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of the

Special

Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and to look at several other issues on that Committee’s agenda.

Anti-Money Laundering

The Special Select Committee on the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013-Bill22/2013 also met and the Chairperson,

Gail Teixeira, briefed the members of the meeting on Guyana’s appearance before the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in June of this year. The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Carl Greenidge, met on Monday to reschedule dates for the examination of agencies in the report of the Auditor General on the public accounts of Guyana for the year 2012, and to consider outstanding matters to be addressed by the Auditor General, the Finance Secretary and the Accountant General. This Committee is expected to meet again on Monday, October 27. In addition to these meetings, the Foreign Relations Committee would be visiting the Foreign Affairs Ministry Re-migrant Section and Protocol Division on Wednesday, October 29 to discuss issues relating to remigration etc, and to examine the operations of the existing system in the Protocol Division.

LIAT to stage road shows to introduce additional flights here

Adelegation from LIAT’s Commercial Department will be in the Guyana this week for two road shows to promote the launch of three additional flights per week between Barbados and Ogle, taking the airline’s weekly services to 10 per week.

In a release the airline

said the team will be at the intersection of Church and Quamina Streets on Friday October 24 and at the intersection of Quamina and Middle Streets on Saturday October 25 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm both days.

LIAT will be offering special fares to current and prospective custom-

ers who attend the road shows and everyone will be able to book flights right there on location. In addition to the many giveaways those in attendance will be able to win free flights on LIAT by posting pictures of themselves from the road shows on the company’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

LIAT currently operates a daily service between Guyana’s Ogle Airport and Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados. The three additional flights per week will be added from December 1, 2014.

Select Committee on the AML/CFT Chairperson Gail Teixeira

Homeless man accused of stealing from fellow vagrant

Robert Gittins was on Tuesday remanded to prison on a charge of robbery with aggravation.

He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry.

The charge read that on Friday, October 17, at Middle Street, Georgetown, he robbed James Sandy of $6000 and either before or after committing the act, he made use of personal violence against Sandy.

According to the Police’s facts that were read by the

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant, on the day of the incident about 10:00h, Sandy was sleeping on the pavement at the Burnham Basketball Court when Gittins approached him. A scuffle ensured between the two. The defendant dealt the virtual complainant several punches around the body before relieving him of the money.

Grant objected to bail, stating that the defendant has no fixed place of abode. Bail was refused and the matter scheduled for recall on November 14.

Fraud suspect on bail

Aman accused of fraud and illegal possession of an object appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Andre Singh allegedly gave Police Constable Devon Lowe false information about his character saying that he is a ‘principal two police officer’ attached to the Mazaruni prison, knowing same to be false. This charge was denied by Singh.

He is also accused of obtaining one pair of handcuffs, valued $4500, from Military Stores which be-

longed to the inhabitants of Guyana, without lawful authority. He pleaded guilty with an explanation to this charge. According to him, he obtained the said handcuffs some three years ago from his uncle who is now retired from the Police Force.

The facts were as charged according to Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant, who made no objections to bail; and a not-guilty plea was entered on behalf of the defendant.

He was granted $30,000 bail for each charge.

Murder accused remanded to prison

Forty-eight-year-old

Martin Salvagoree was on Tuesday morning remanded to prison on a murder charge.

The logger appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the capital offence to which he was not required to plead.

The charge alleged that on Thursday, October 16, at Nappi Village, Central Rupununi, he murdered William James.

The details of the incident were not revealed in court. The accused was unrepresented and the case was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for December 1.

Security guard denied bail for illegal firearm charge

ASecurity Guard was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday for the unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.

Thirty-one-year-old Jermaine Chapman, of Craig Public Road, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to both charges, which alleged that on October 17 at Arangoy Landing, Cuyuni River, he had a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol and 10 live rounds of matching ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the Court

that on the day in question around 11:15h, a Police rank noticed something bulging out of the defendant’s pants waist as he walked by. He was subsequently stopped and searched during which time the firearm and ammunition were found. He was told of the offence, arrested and charged.

Bail was refused based on the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence and the fact that special reasons were not given by the defendant. The case was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for October 30.

24-year-old remanded for alleged possession of narcotics

Twenty-four-year-old

Mark Pooran was on Tuesday remanded to

Betrayal...

...of a comrade

The testimony of the widow of Dr Walter Rodney, Dr Patricia Rodney, at the Rodney CoI, was a study in grace and courage. “Grace”, not to show any bitterness at the odious betrayal of the principles her husband had died for, by his erstwhile comrades. Some of whom were in the room with her. And courage, to face those “comrades” down and insist there be a Commission of Inquiry into the “murder most foul” of her husband.

After so many false starts, she had to’ve had doubts as to whether there’d ever be any closure on that tragic event. In 2005, after the Government had set the ball rolling on an Inquiry, she’d agreed that Rupert Roopnaraine – pretender to the Rodney banner – would work with her to set the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.

That initiative went nowhere, because Roopnaraine diddled and dawdled, since he knew the revelations would prove fatal to the PNC in the upcoming elections.

He was more solicitous of the effects on the PNC’s electoral fortunes than the need to seek justice for his fallen comrade! Mrs Rodney eventually faced these Pharisees in the WPA down and crafted the ToRs with the present Government, and hence the present CoI.

Finally! No thanks to the WPA. But knowing what was coming down the pike for the PNC, Roopnaraine, now a full-fleshed and open coalition partner of the PNC in APNU, essayed another betrayal of the world-famous scholar who’d been cut down in his prime.

prison on a charge of possession of narcotics.

The man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that on October 18 at Croal Street, he had in his possession 31 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The unrepresented Security Guard pleaded not guilty to the charge, but said it was eight and a half grams not 31 grams of cannabis.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question around 21:40h, the defendant was on Croal Street in the vicinity of KFC when the Police noticed him acting in a suspicious manner and decided to search him. Upon conducting their search, they found 25 small transparent plastic bags within another bag in his pocket. When they were opened, leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were found.

The defendant was then taken to the Brickdam Police Station where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence. Pooran was then told of the offence, arrested, and subsequently charged.

The matter was transferred to Court Five, before Magistrate Fabayo Azore who scheduled it to be heard again on November 13.

He claimed Rodney was “stockpiling arms”... thus giving the PNC and its army (as Granger recently argued) a plausible reason to go after Rodney. Mrs Rodney confirmed what every other WPA activist has asserted: the claim was a figment of Roopnaraine’s imagination. Patricia Rodney, a nurse while married to Walter Rodney, must be saluted for raising her children with great dignity and success – even as she earned her own PhD.

But she made one interesting revelation in her testimony: just before he was murdered, Dr Rodney had decided to emigrate to Zimbabwe. This meant the great champion of Opposition to the PNC dictatorship had concluded that there was not much more he could do to help remove the PNC dictatorship after his bold push in 1979.

What had changed?? Rodney would’ve realised by then – for him to do things like testing walkie-talkies – that he could not count on those who shouted, “Revolution!! Revolution!!”

They’re still among us. Beware!!

...and double-edged swords

Young people say, “Payback’s a bitch!” Old people say, “What goes around, comes around.” And of course there’s always Malcolm X’s “chickens coming home to roost” prediction. We’re talking about the firestorm that’s engulfing David Granger over his cavalier (we’re being kind, here) treatment of his erstwhile Linden “constituency”.

Thing is, it was Granger who “bigged up” Solomon and Kissoon and the rest of the Linden posse. Things were sweet when Granger basked in the reflected glow of their extremist behaviour that got three innocent lives snuffed out. He could’ve manned up and told the people that the electricity equalisation was not such a bad thing – and that he’d given his word to the President of Guyana on the matter.

But Granger took the easy way out – encouraged widespread destruction of property and other illegalities. He didn’t realise that once he went down that road – there was no turning back. Any reasonable response to the Government’s initiatives would be dubbed a “betrayal”. He “tried a thing” at Congress to reassert his authority. But that only backfired.

He has a tiger by the tail...but it’s a tiger he created!!

...by Mook Lall

Mook Lall’s taking down the old couple who were his pawns on the duty-free car scam. These folks didn’t declare to the US IRS where they got the US$200,000 in cold cash to pay for the Lexuses in the States.

This means “forfeiture of property” and “jail time”.

Glenn Lall’s alleged threats to Sattaur

– Police

yet to charge Lall despite submission of DPP’s advice

The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has concluded its review of the Police report on alleged use of threatening language filed against Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur.

This is according to the DPP’s Communications Consultant Liz Rahaman, who told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the office received the file since October 14.

Rahaman explained that subsequent to that, the DPP would have given her advice and the file was dispatched to the Crime Chief,

Leslie James on October 15. However, efforts to contact the Crime Chief for a comment on the matter proved futile.

While he is before the courts on tax fraud charges, Lall could face more jail time if he is charged and convicted of threatening Sattaur.

Jail time

Guyana Times understands that according to the Customs Act, Lall could spend up to three years in prison for attempting to impede Sattaur from the discharge of his mandate and issuing threats to him via the telephone in August.

Food for the Poor hosts Geriatric Health Clinic

Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFTP) in collaboration with the Georgetown Chest Clinic, Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Berbice Regional Health Authority, Cheddi Jagan Dental Clinic and Women of Excellence, successfully conducted a Geriatric Health Clinic, “Caring for the Elderly” last Saturday on the tarmac of FFTP, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Geotgetown.

The outreach saw persons 60 years and over benefitting from a wide variety of medical services, free of charge. According to a release from the organisation the programme, which began at 10:00hrs and concluded at 15:00hrs, provided the services of several medical doctors and nurses; as well as blood pressure, blood sugar testing, foot care and beauty treatment among other things. Free eye examinations and dental care were also administered.

Chief Executive Officer of FFTP, Kent Vincent, disclosed that FFTP has a Giving Club which is made up of specific programmes that the organi-

elderly woman

zation has running currently. The Angel of Hope Programme designed to assist children who have been abandoned or orphaned by their families, School Feeding and Care for the Elderly are just a few of the programmes that donors contribute to and because October has been designated

“Month of the Elderly” the entity has decided to specifically look at the elderly, he stated. “FFTP is giving back to those who are in need”, he concluded.

Persons were high in praise for the services delivered efficiently and in a timely manner.

Sattaur had made a complaint to the Brickdam Police Station when the incident occurred.

Vigilante killing

Up to last week, Sattaur told this newspaper that he was fearful for his life given recent revelations about Lall’s involvement in the vigilante-style killing of an Agricola, East Bank Demerara resident years ago.

“This individual has a certain propensity to be very vicious. Recent reports I have seen… have made me most fearful for my life right now. "I would only hope that

the DPP would act very swiftly in having whatever advice should be given to the Police on the report I made. I don’t know what more I can do, I have filed a complaint,” Sattaur said.

He explained to Guyana Times that Lall had shown that he had the “propensity to deliver” on the threats he had made.

Sattaur said: “I am not a type of person to make a report against a taxpayer; unless I have a belief that those threats are likely to be executed or I have a fear of those threats. I receive threats all the time.

"Fire"

"In this case, I chose to go to the Police because of the likelihood that this individual would come through on his threats.

"He said he is going to give me fire, I don’t know if it’s literal fire or metaphorical fire. The metaphorical has been proven already and I pray to God every day that he does not mean the literal fire.”

Further, the Commissioner General conveyed astonishment over the reactions the issue garnered from civil society and the fact that the usually opin-

ionated Non-Governmental Organisations are silent on the issue.

“I am shocked to know that I have to endure all of this as if I am not human.

"This is a dangerous game he’s playing. He is setting a dangerous precedent to other people who have access to the media,” said Sattaur.

He quickly added that in addition, he has not seen Guyana Press Association coming out and denouncing him for misusing the media. "This individual who is using the media to sully the image of the GRA is being allowed to do so without much criticism,” he said.

“Don’t we have any civilminded people in this country who are prepared to stand up and express their disgust at what is going on right now?” questioned the Commissioner General. Lall and his wife were last Monday arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on multiple tax evasion charges.

They were also slapped with two counts of aiding and abetting in a conspiracy to defraud the Government of due taxes.

These taxes reportedly amount to $102 million.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

An

being treated

Lall offers to pay off taxes – sources

…threatens to blackmail other tax

Kaieteur

Embattled

News Publisher Glenn

Lall has reportedly offered to pay off some of the taxes on the two luxury vehicles he allegedly fraudulently had imported here under the remigrant scheme.

He has also reportedly threatened to blackmail other businessmen whom he claims benefited from similar scams.

This is according to wellplaced sources within the Administration who said that Lall, using a “backdoor contact”, has reportedly ap-

proached the Government with an offer to pay some of the taxes he evaded if the charges are dropped.

The sources said that Lall promised that as a part of his plea bargain, he will release the names of some other prominent businessmen who have also used the remigrant scheme as an opportunity to own luxury vehicles, effectively defrauding the Government of millions of dollars.

Lall and his wife were arraigned in the Georgetown

cheats

Magistrates’ Courts on multiple tax evasion charges earlier this month.

They were also slapped with two counts of aiding and abetting in a conspiracy to defraud the Government of due taxes totalling $102 million.

The court action initiated by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur was taken after a probe was launched into alleged tax fraud involving the importation of two vehicles by a remigrant couple

who are now reportedly overseas, but are due to join the Lalls in their next court appearance, as they are also charged in the same matter.

Prior to the court action, Lall had strenuosuly tried to evade prosecution, claiming that his newspaper was being muzzled.

A self-proclaimed campaigner against corruption, it has been a torried few weeks for Lall, as one startling revelation after another has surfaced about his alleged illegal criminal activity.

One-off residential bulk waste removal programme launched

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has launched a “Residential One-off Bulk Waste Removal Programme” under the regional component of the “Clean Up My Country” Programme.

Under this programme, illegal roadside garbage piles will be removed, and residents within the boundaries of each Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) will be able to dispose of their bulk waste, a release from the Local Government Ministry said.

Last week, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker, along with a team from the Ministry, facilitated cluster meetings with the local body authorities along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara to discuss the plans and proposals for the “Regional Clean-Up” Programme within the localities.

In implementing this programme, a collection vehicle will pass through commu-

nities within the respective NDCs to collect the bulk waste. Residents desirous of disposing of their bulk waste are asked to place such waste in front of their premises for free collection by 08:00h on the day of the pick-up. Communities along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara will be the first to benefit from this programme followed by communities within Region Five

(Mahaica-Berbice).

The Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) pickup schedule is as follows: Monday, October 27: Soesdyke/Huist Coverden; Caledonia/Good Success and Golden Grove/Diamond Place; Tuesday, October 28: Little Diamond/Herstelling; Mocha/Arcadia and Eccles/ Ramsburg; Wednesday, , October 29: Industry/ Plaisance; Better Hope and BV/ Triumph; Thursday, October 30: Mon Repos; Buxton/Foulis and Enmore/ Hope and Friday , October 30: Haslington/Golden Grove, Unity/Vereeniging and Cane Grove.

According to the Ministry, among the objectives of the removal of bulk waste and illegal garbage piles programme is curtailing the multiplication of the viruscarrying Aedes mosquitoes. This activity will also complement the regional ongoing fogging exercise which is aiding in minimising the spread of vector-borne diseases such as Dengue and Chikungunya.

In his address to the Councillors and Overseers at the Cluster Meetings, Minister Whittaker said, “The heath of people is at risk, and this exercise will have a significant impact on our environment.”

Minister Whittaker further spoke about the “the socio-economic impact of a poorly kept environment”. He said that there will be a ripple effect if a person becomes ill. It, therefore, means that person may not be able to work which will affect their household’s income, and ultimately, reduce the household’s spending power. Minister Whittaker also called on the forging of collaborative efforts among Community Development Councils (CDCs); Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the Private Sector and residents to address the issues. He urged the bodies to take proactive steps to ensure that the environment is kept clean and healthy. Minister Whittaker in closing said, “The environment is the responsibility of all of us.”

Mo’ money

It wasn’t that Satiricus was one of those snobs who thought you shouldn’t talk about your money. Heck!! It’s just that Satiricus grew up with so little money, there was nothing to talk about!! So he kinda liked the fact that the Mook, the fella who owned the Muckraker, felt so free to talk about how he got his wealth.

“Hey!” thought Satiricus patriotically, “didn’t that fella over at the Stabber, CurlyLocks – who actually had to hand over his press to the Mook – compare him to the Great Gatsby??” CurlyLocks had to know what he was talking about.

He had to know the Mook inside out. So Satiricus had rushed off to read the book about this “Gatsby” fella. No he didn’t buy one – nowadays you could read anything on the Internet. For free. Not being used to money Satiricus liked “free”.

And he found out that Gatsby made a lot of his money from selling “moonshine” – which is what the Americans called “bush rum”. “Wow!!” thought Satiricus. “Guyana didn’t smuggle bush rum anymore...but the Mook sure did smuggle that “white lady” to New York! The Mook was so clever to put it in the curass and gill-backa he shipped to his friend Tiny who had the fish shops in the Bronx and Queens!” Gatsby also pimped prostitutes – but since he moved the girls across state lines – the Feds called it “human trafficking”. “My God!!” exclaimed Gatsby. “This is incredible!! The Mook did the same thing to make his money when he did “backtracking” to New York! When girls couldn’t pay the US$10,000 per head, his friend Tiny would have them pick fare on 42nd Street!!”

This CurlyLocks certainly knew the Mook up close and personal to say he was just like Gatsby. Gatsby liked to throw big parties where whiskey flowed like the Mississippi River. The Mook did the same in every rum shop around his Muckraker Press!! It was rum till the Mook fall into Sussex Street Canal!!

And when Satiricus realised how Gatsby could live such a life of crime and the FBI didn’t throw him in the slammer –he knew that the Mook was the reincarnation of the Gatsby. The FBI gave the Mook a free pass because he finked on all his old friends who ran the moonshine and prostitution rackets!

And here it was in black and white: the US embassy – the local reps of the Feds has sworn that the Mook was their local snitch!!

When was CurlyLocks going to write the Great Guyanese novel: The Mook – from rags to bags (of money!!)

Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker

Any scrapping of Petrocaribe deal will not severely hurt Guyana – Ramsammy

In light of mounting concerns over the longevity of the Petrocaribe deal, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said any failure of the rice-for-oil deal would not “severely” hurt Guyana’s economy.

Petrocaribe is an alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. The alliance was launched on June 29, 2005, in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

However, there are talks that the Petrocaribe will be discontinued by the Venezuelan Government in the near future. This prediction came from Professor Anthony Bryan who said the programme has become too costly for a country reeling from political instability and economic challenges.

In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Bryan explained that Venezuela was “in serious trouble” and the country was essentially allowing one-third of its total crude production to be sold at discounted rates in Petrocaribe and assistance to Nicaragua and Cuba.

But, Ramsammy told

Guyana Times in an exclusive interview that indeed the deal has been a good one for Guyana and the Caribbean, but fortunately Guyana has not “put all of its eggs in the Petrocaribe basket”.

No absolute dependency

He said: “Guyana does not have an absolute dependency on Petrocaribe. Petrocaribe has been a good thing for Guyana, but Guyana’s economic system is not dependent on Petrocaribe. So my belief is Guyana will not be severely affected if it comes to an end…”

“I would say Petrocaribe has worked well for Guyana. We have been extremely prudent in how we manage that mechanism, as you know in Guyana the project has not only resulted in making available financing through our oil purchases from Venezuela, but, very importantly, has provided a market for rice produced in Guyana,” he explained.

According to the Trinidad Guardian, Professor Bryan had said “the loss of revenue for Venezuela from these programmes is about 400,000 barrels a day or US$20 billion a year. When you add

Sacking of worker:

to that the US$28 billion that the country allows in terms of petroleum subsidies, you can see the problem. So Venezuela will not cut the domestic subsidies, because that will be political suicide so it will have to be a case of easing out Petrocaribe”.

Petroleum

imports

Under the Petrocaribe agreement, the countries purchase petroleum and petroleum products from Venezuela on concessionary terms and the differential between the market and discounted prices is turned into a loan.

In addition, the countries can pay for part of their petroleum imports using noncash mechanisms. Bryan said Jamaica would be particularly vulnerable because the country has used the savings to assist with budgetary support, domestic debt refinancing, and infrastructural development.

“As you know, Jamaica is going through a tough economic plan with the IMF and it needs the savings from this programme, so if it is forced to pay external prices, that can seriously hurt the country’s economy,” he said. Bryan, who is professor

emeritus at the University of Miami, said he expected the assistance to Cuba and Nicaragua will be reduced, but will remain in place for ideological reasons, but warned that Haiti was likely to be in the same boat as Jamaica, since it did not provide either ideological or strategic reasons for Caracas to continue support.

According to the IMF, Venezuela’s economy has been in almost freefall with market distortions that have created major economic disincentives for investment and production inside

the country. This has made Venezuela almost entirely dependent on imports for pretty much everything from electronics to food.

As a result, inflation has skyrocketed (56 per cent last year) as the central bank printed more and more bolivars, Venezuela’s currency, to sustain the exchange rate.

Today, the Government’s official exchange rate remains locked at 6.3 bolivars to the US dollar, but on the black market, the rate is at 80 to 90 bolivars to the US dollar—around 14 times the official rate. Such dispari-

ty means that foreign goods are now incredibly expensive, leading to shortages. It has become so bad that people are only allowed to go to the supermarket once a week, and when they get there, they find little on the shelves.

Bryan said he was disappointed that more countries that are beneficiaries of Petrocaribe have not sought to move to alternative fuels and cheaper sources of energy. He said with the exception of the Dominican Republic, Dominica, El Salvador and Jamaica, the rest have not done a lot to seek out options. He said: “I think the Dominican Republic will survive the removal of Petrocaribe, because it has an excellent energy mix with renewables and LNG along with crude. Jamaica has been looking at alternative sources of energy and they have invested in wind farms and, of course, El Salvador also has a good energy mix. But I am a bit disappointed that more countries have not gone this way.”

Petrocaribe is considered part of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s legacy.

GAWU, GuySuCo referred to binding arbitration

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union on Tuesday agreed to proceed to arbitration over the disciplinary action taken against an employee of the Skeldon Sugar Estate.

The parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement containing the Terms of Reference for the Tribunal.

The Sole Arbitrator was identified as Mr Mohamed Akeel, who is a former Chief Labour Officer, while the Secretary to the Tribunal will be Dexter Semple, a Labour Occupational Safety and Health Officer.

The decision was reached on Tuesday at a conciliatory meeting involving the parties under the chairman-

ship of Labour Minister, Dr Nanda K Gopaul. Also present at the meeting were the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle and other staff of the Labour Ministry.

The industrial dispute arose after disciplinary action was taken by GuySuCo against an employee attached to the Skeldon Estate Stephen Daniels, who was accused of hitting a manager.

Final and binding

It was agreed that the said matter be referred to an arbitration tribunal, which will enquire into the disciplinary action taken against Daniels and based on the evidence and submission by the parties make an award, as the arbitrator deems fit.

The parties agreed that the

award of the tribunal shall be final and binding. The tribunal will meet on October 24, 2014.

Last week, GAWU had expressed disquiet over the GuySuCo’s rejection of the recommendation of Ogle to end the suspension of worker Stephen Daniels. GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rajendra Singh had told Guyana Times that along with the recommendation to have the worker reinstated, the Ministry had cited several cases to support its decision; however, among the authorities were articles published in another section of the media. “This is not credible citation so we requested for them to share a copy of the statement with us so that we can check out the references but they re-

fused,” Dr Singh pointed out. He went on to say that after reviewing the facts of the matter involving the worker and a senior manager, the Corporation responded to the Labour Ministry, informing that it will not be accepting the recommendations made.

GAWU, in an earlier statement, said the unusual position by the stateowned entity does not set a

proper standard for Private Sector employers towards the Labour Ministry.

The Union recalls that Daniels was dismissed verbally on the night of September 19 by Devendra Kumar, Estate Manager of Skeldon Estate, owing to an incident between himself and Daniels.

The next day, Daniels’ dismissal was confirmed in writing. The incident last

September had triggered strikes and widespread protests.

“The Union wishes to emphasise that the manager ought not to personally discipline Daniels since he was a party to the incident. The Industrial Relations Department of GuySuCo, after obtaining objective statements, ought to have made a determination on the incident.”

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Officials of GuySuCo and GAWU signing the agreement for arbitration proceedings

Guyana commits to fixing antimoney laundering legislation

The Guyana Government has committed to fixing loopholes in its anti-money laundering regime as it undergoes review for a second day by the Financial Action Task Force, International Co-operation Review Group FATF- ICRG, in Paris, France.

On Monday when the review commenced Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall reiterated the country’s commitment to international financial legislation, and reported that an action plan was worked out between Guyana and the Americas Regional Review Group (AARG) in which certain technical deficiencies were identified in Guyana’s AMLCFT regime and timeframes were agreed upon for these deficiencies to be rectified.

Significantly, the Attorney General highlighted that a national task force has been established, comprising very high ranking members of government and important stakeholders/agencies of state, and that the national task force is currently reviewing a five-year plan for Guyana’s AMLCFT regime.

“I also highlighted the technical and strategic ongoing assistance which the Government of Guyana continues to receive from the local diplomatic community including the embassy of the United States, the British and Canadian High Commissions, and the European delegation,” the Attorney General said.

Minister Nandlall handed over a Letter of Commitment from President Donald Ramotar to President of the FATF, Roger Wilkins AO, pledging Guyana’s commitment to ensure that the country implements an AML/CFT re -

gime that meets the requisite international standard.

Guyana’s’ case will continue to be reviewed over the next two days of the plenary session of the meeting, and at the end of that process, the country will know its fate.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), through the International Cooperation Review Group’s ARRG, co-chaired by Darlene Boileau (Canada) and Maria Fernanda Garcia-Yrigoyen Maurtua (Peru), had executed a targeted review of Guyana’s deficiencies with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Framework earlier this year.

Nandlall prior to leaving for Paris had said that “We have come to the position of accepting the sad reality that in term of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill of 2013, the Opposition has demonstrated that they are not interested in having the Bill passed.”

According to him, the Opposition parties will do all in their power to ensure that Guyana is blacklisted

by FATF due to the nonpassage of the AML/CFT Bill. While the parties at the level of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee have agreed on the AML/ CFT (Amendment) Bill of 2013 since February; the amendments to the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009 remain the biggest blockage.

In May, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) referred Guyana to FATF after the country was further recognised as a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies due to its non-compliance with the Action Plan developed with the regional body. CFATF had already sounded an alarm, calling on member countries to safeguard themselves from Guyana with the introduction of countermeasures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

But despite the prevailing challenges, Nandlall said Government is doing everything that is possible to enable compliance with Guyana’s treaty obligation with regard to non-legislative requirements.

In the absence of the required legislation, the Government has moved to establish the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

SOCU, when it becomes operational, will be investigating suspected cases of money laundering and terrorism plots, in close collaboration with the FIU. SOCU will be led by Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James.

Just days ago, the Guyana Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom for SOCU’s officers to be trained and monitored by the latter.

Election of AFC leaders put on hold …Patterson

says

everything hinges on No-Confidence Motion

Alliance For Change (AFC) General Secretary David Patterson said the fact that a date for the reconvening of the National Assembly had not been set was what caused the party to postpone its congress.

Speaking to Guyana Times in an interview on Tuesday, the General Secretary explained that the congress has several pertinent motions to debate that hinge on the passage of the No-Confidence Motion.

He explained that based on the party’s constitution, it is bound to call a special congress in preparation for elections, but it cannot call a special congress, with the debate of the motion still being uncertain. The AFC on Monday announced that it had deferred its National Conference, which was slated for this month due to the stalling of its NoConfidence Motion against the Government.

“If the motion is passed, then we will only need to have one congress. If we go ahead with the congress now, it will not be a special congress and then maybe next month we will need

to have another Congress,” Patterson said.

He said too that the decision to call off the congress was made owing to the fact that the Party’s overseas chapter would be coming to Guyana for the congress and it would be inconvenient to have two congresses in a matter of two months.

In a statement, the AFC said as was mentioned during its recent National Executive Meeting, it was anticipated that the NoConfidence Motion would have commenced being debated either this week or at latest next week.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, it appears quite likely that this motion will only be debated either in the last week in October or some time in November,” the AFC said.

According to the party, several of the agenda items at the scheduled National Conference were linked to a successful passage of the no-confidence vote. “With this in mind, please be informed that our conference has been deferred, and will be rescheduled for a time NOT LATER than the first week in December 2014,” the party said.

AFC’s National Executive Committee met and received four nominations for presidential candidate: Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel Hughes, Moses Nagamootoo, and Cathy Hughes. Nominations were also received for prime ministerial candidate: Raphael Trotman, Nigel Hughes, Cathy Hughes, Dr Verasammy Ramayya and Patterson. The decision on who will be elected the presidential and prime ministerial candidates will be made when the party holds its biennial congress.

Free speech essential value in democracy – IAPA’s Assembly underscores

During the opening of the 70th General Assembly of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Alicia Bárcena, and IAPA

President Elizabeth Ballantine stressed that freedom of speech is an essential value in democracy that must be accompanied by media independence and pluralism.

At the ceremony held at ECLAC’s headquarters in Santiago, Chile, Michelle Bachelet said that freedom of speech is an “essential principle” in democracy and she rejected “any restrictive state intervention in that freedom.” She also emphasized the need to guarantee pluralism and ensure that both authorities and the media protect citizens’ right to information.

Elizabeth Ballantine, IAPA’s President, highlighted that “no individual or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press,” a concept enshrined in the first principle of the Chapultepec Declaration, signed 20 years ago. She denounced that today “many anti-democratic actions threaten freedom of speech in the Americas.”

ECLAC’s Executive Secretary also stressed that “the freedom of speech is a non-negotiable, foundational value for democratic coexistence,” and recognized the progress made in terms of informational pluralism. However, she contended that political and social di-

versity are still described in a biased way and that the concentration of media ownership can restrict variety in points of view.

Alicia Bárcena also lamented the risks that journalists face, which have translated into the death or disappearance of 464 reporters in the region since 1987. “Their commitment to efforts to give our people a true reflection of their reality has taken a toll that should never have been exacted,” she said. In the inauguration, which was attended by directors and editors of newspapers and news agencies from various countries that are members of IAPA, Chile’s Foreign Relations Minister Heraldo Muñoz and Minister General Secretariat of Government of Chile Álvaro Elizalde, also took part.

Founded in 1942 and with its headquarters in Miami (United States), IAPA groups some 1,300 publications from more than 30 countries. This organization holds its General Assembly every year in October, alternating between Latin America and North America. The rest of the activities of this 70th General Assembly are being carried out from October 17 to 21 at the Hotel W, in the Chilean capital.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

AFC General Secretary David Patterson

Cash grant recipients urged to be more involved in their children’s education

Over the weekend the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony joined the Education Ministry in its distribution of the $10,000 grant being given to parents across Guyana.

On Saturday, he joined parents at the New Campbellville Secondary School where 450 vouchers were distributed to parents of students who attend the Bel Air, Carmelita, JE Burnham, Gracestock, Happy Hearts and Sherman’s nursery schools.

“We have invested tremendous money in education,” Minister Anthony told the parents gathered, according to a release by his ministry. He added that everyone is concerned about the wellbeing of Guyana’s children however; there is still a need for everyone to work together. This is so because there are still some parents who leave their children’s education solely in the hands of the teachers. In this regard, the Minister recognised the all-present need for parents to be more involved in their children’s education. He explained that it has been found that when

parents help their children good results are achieved.

Another challenge the Minister acknowledged was the fact that some children are not attending school regularly; this he indicated is an area in which the community should get involved.

Minister Anthony noted that while the $10,000 grant would not fulfill all the needs, it will help in some way. He highlighted that in the Caribbean, Guyana has the best education system and this is evident in the fact that Guyanese children have topped the Caribbean at the CXC exams. In this

Vandals disrupt telephone service in GT, Mahaicony, Linden

Voice and data services to thousands of landline customers continue to be severely affected as a result of continued vandalism and theft of the company’s cable facilities, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company said in a statement.

The more recent incidents occurred in North Road Bourda, Nothamshire/ Surapana, Linden and Burma, Mahaicony. In the case of Linden it has been observed that the vandals have been systematically removing cable from the area since the initial cut was discovered on Sunday October 19th. To date they have removed in excess of 2000 feet of cable. These three incidents bring to a total 22 acts of vandalism and theft committed over the past 3 months. The list of the areas affected over the period includes, New Hope, A & B Fields Sophia, Land of Canaan, Lodge, Huist Coverden, Timehri, Montrose, Meadow Brook Gardens, Princess and High Streets Werk-en-Rust,

Durban Backlands, Lodge Housing Scheme, Tucville, Stevedore/Postal Housing Scheme, Guyhoc Park, Sheriff Street, Campbelville, East/West Ruimveldt, East La Penitence, Richmond Hill and Fairs Rust Linden, Le Ressouvenir, Happy Acres, Atlantic Gardens, La Bonne Intention and Chateau Margot.

GT&T cannot overemphasize the debilitating effect caused to the company’s overall expansion and maintenance programme, since there has to be a continuous reassignment of the technical workforce along with the use of unbudgeted expenditure.

Equally and critically important is customers inability to access voice and data services, essentially affecting their economic, social and security wellbeing.

GT&T continues to advise the general public “If you see something, say something”, by reporting to the hotline 0908. Information provided will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

regard, the Minister called on the parents to spend a bit more time with their children and to encourage them to read more.

Meanwhile, on Sunday Minister Anthony travelled to Leonora in Region Three where he met with parents

at the Leonora Secondary School. At that location over 700 vouchers were distributed to parents whose children attend the Stewartville, Saraswat and Uitvlugt Primary schools. While there, Minister Anthony emphasised that the in-

vestments made into building schools, providing text books and improving teacher education are all geared at ensuring Guyanese students acquire a quality education. Importantly, the investments highlight the value the government places on education.

The Minister noted that while Universal Primary Education has been achieved, steps are being taken towards the achievement of Universal Secondary Education. This will ensure all students have access to secondary education. Minister Anthony illustrated that the problem with lack of access to secondary education does not occur on the coast land but in the hinterland where the landscape does not allow for a secondary school to be located in every village.

In the hinterland regions, the secondary schools are built with accompanying dorms to cater for those students who reside very far away from the school. Minister Anthony pointed out that the government’s philosophy of providing education to all citizens is a way of ensuring they have the skills they need. He added this view stemmed from one of former President Cheddi Jagan’s messages which states that “Your ticket out of poverty is through education.”

The Minister reiterated that the present administration is keen on ensuring that all school aged children benefit from an education hence the provision of the “Because We Care” Grant. It is hoped that the monies will be used to enhance the children’s education.

Parents of children in the Campbelville area await their cash grants

Caricom Chairman defends ban on nationals from Ebola affected West African countries

rime Minister Gaston

PBrowne Monday defended the decision by a number of Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries to impose a travel ban on nationals from three West African countries because of the deadly Ebola virus that has killed nearly 5000 people.

Browne, who is also the Caricom Chairman, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) just before boarding a plane for London that “the restriction is necessary”.

“Even if we end up with a single case of Ebola, it has serious consequences for our tourism product. Most of our countries are dependent on

ALBA

tourism and I can assure you that if any of our respective countries has a single case of Ebola then you can see potentially maybe a 30

to 50 per cent drop in tourism. That means immense hardship for our people.”

Several Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and Suriname have implemented restrictions on passengers travelling from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone as a result of the virus for which there is no known cure.

Browne said Caricom states need to go the extra mile to ensure that the virus is proactively managed as it has the potential to have grave consequences compared to other developed countries like the United States. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

summit on Ebola a success, say leaders

Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela agreed on the success of a recent summit of the countries within the regional bloc known as Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the AmericasCommercial Treaty of the Peoples (ALBA-TCP), which addressed a joint strategy against the Ebola virus.

Answering questions from journalists after the summit, Maduro said that the meeting was fair, on time and successful. He referred to the setting up of a common front and fast action brigades in case of emergency in the ALBA countries.

The Venezuelan President said that the countries of the region need strong public health systems and consider health

as a human right and not a merchandise. He added praised the fast reaction of the countries following the call to the meeting, the high quality of the forum and he noted that the most important conclusion of it is that public systems in the region must be strengthened. Meanwhile, Morales

stressed that what is taking place now is the fight for life, disregarding ideological differences among countries, since life comes first, and the forum came up with a plan of action not only for the ALBA countries but for all the Americas and the world.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

More fiscal adjustment needed, says Barbadian Government

Even after introducing a fiscal adjustment programme that included the departure of 3000 of its workers this year, Government will have to make an additional Bds$174.6 million adjustment between now and the end of March.

Central Bank Governor, Dr DeLisle Worrell said this was necessary as the Freundel Stuart administration tried to reach its targeted deficit of more than half billion dollars, the equivalent of 6.6 per cent of GDP, by the end of its current financial year.

Worrell outlined the requirements this afternoon when the bank released its third quarter review of the Barbados economy, in which

the Governor reported no economic growth between January and September, but predicted a return to growth next year (two per cent) and 2016 (2.5 per cent).

The veteran economist also said Government had reached “the most important” objective of its fiscal measures – “to reduce the demand for foreign exchange in line with supply”.

He said in the first five months of its 2014-2015 financial year (April to September) the deficit was reduced by Bds$77 million (0.9 per cent). However, while figures from the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry projected that the measures already in place would further reduce

it by one per cent, Worrell cited the need for “further revenue enhancement and expenditure adjustment” of 174.6 million or two per cent of GDP. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Video beating stirs outrage in Antigua

The Antiguan Police and the Education Ministry are calling on residents to assist in the criminal probe of a video depicting a young girl being beaten into an unconscious state by three other girls who were dressed in partial school uniforms.

In the video, posted last Friday on the Facebook page ‘Troll Antigua’, a number of onlookers, dressed in several local identifiable school uniforms, formed a ring around those engaged in the fight and were spurring on the attackers.

A number of persons in the video appeared to be taking photographs and making videos, while others, who were screaming “fight”, kept the circle tight to prevent the victim from escaping.

Education Minister Michael Browne who described the video content as “disturbing”, told Observer media:

“We’re asking the public, parents, everybody to assist us. Even if it didn’t happen in school, the fact is they are our students and we need to do some-

thing to correct that behaviour of fighting, and we also need to do something to correct that behaviour of students standing on the outskirts watching while a student almost dies and they’re cheering on.”

The beating, which included punches to the victim’s head, pulling of her hair and stomping/kicking her side and back, only ceased when she was no longer moving and was lying face down, sprawled on what appeared to be a basketball court or parking lot.

Islamic Bank-funded school reconstruction in Haiti completed

After the devastating earthquake of 2010, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) came to the aid of Haiti to help in the reconstruction of five schools in the form of a grant of US$5 million. Last Tuesday, the head of the IsDB, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali al-Madani, visited Haiti to witness the completion of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of four of those five schools.

Haiti is not a member

country of the IsDB, but the board of governors of the 56 member countries of the IDB made an exceptional humanitarian gesture and contributed to the long-term efforts of rehabilitation and reconstruction of Haiti in collaboration with other international partners and aid organisations, al-Madani explained.

“The main objective of the project was to provide safe and durable school infrastructure that will allow

8000 children, who could not attend school in the wake of the destruction of their schools, to return to a conducive school environment and continue their education,” he added.

The implementation of the project was entrusted to the Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) The IRW was one of the first international organisations to be on the ground in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.

Designer Oscar de la Renta dies aged 82

Fashion Designer Oscar de la Renta, who dressed former first ladies Jackie Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, has died aged 82, his family has confirmed.

De La Renta, who most recently designed Amal Clooney’s wedding dress, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. Born in The Dominican Republic in 1932, he left home at 18 to study painting in Madrid, Spain.

He soon developed a love of fashion design and began an apprenticeship with Spain’s designer Cristobal Balenciaga. De la Renta made his name in the early 1960s when the then first lady, Jackie Kennedy, frequently wore his designs. He launched his own label sev-

eral years later.

Over the following decades he dressed nearly every first lady up to and including Michelle Obama, who he once chided for not wearing American designers. Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush all opted for De la Renta gowns.

Laura Bush described the designer as “the man who made women look and

appearance in one

dresses at a

ception in October. At a ceremony honouring the designer this year, Hillary Clinton heaped praise upon De la Renta. “This man has been working for more than 20 years to turn me into a fashion icon,” she said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ebola fears prompt Trinidad union to bar members unloading ship from Ghana

The powerful Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) Tuesday prevented its members from unloading a ship from West Africa saying that the state-owned oil company, PETROTIN, had not formulated any protocols to deal with the deadly Ebola virus that has killed nearly 5000 people in West Africa.

But Health Minister, Dr Fuad Khan said that the union was over reacting and that the ship ‘Overseas Yellowstone’ had been cleared to dock at port of Pointe-a-Pierre, South of Port of Spain.

“Unlike clearance processes that occurred when a vessel that had visited Ghana was docked in

Chaguaramas recently, PETROTRIN has called in ‘scab labour’ to help dock the vessel at Pointe-aPierre.

“In light of the heightened global Ebola threat, regular port workers have refused to dock the vessel unless PETROTRIN applies the proper procedures and protocols,” the Khan said.

Ghana is not among the five West African countries from where passengers have been banned from entering Trinidad and Tobago, but OWTU president general Ancil Roget told a news conference it matters not, given the fact that the ships normally would use people from other countries. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne

Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia (left) and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela

feel beautiful”. Mrs Obama eventually made her first

of his

White House re-

Oscar de la Renta continued to enjoy success worldwide

Around the world

Ebola serum for Africa patients within weeks, says WHO

Serum made from the blood of recovered Ebola patients could be available within weeks in Liberia, one of the countries worst hit by the virus, says the World Health Organisation.

Speaking in Geneva, Dr Marie Paule Kieny said work was also advancing quickly to get drugs and a vaccine ready for January 2015. The Ebola outbreak has already killed more than 4500 people.

Most of the deaths have been in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Dr Kieny, WHO Assistant Director General for health system

and innovation, said: “There are partnerships which are starting to be put in place to have capacity in the three

countries to safely extract plasma and make preparation that can be used for the treatment of infective patients.

“The partnership which is moving the quickest will be in Liberia where we hope that in the coming weeks there will be facilities set up to collect the blood, treat the blood and be able to process it for use.”

It is still unclear how much will become available and whether it could meet demand. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Four infant bodies found in Canada storage locker

The bodies of up to four infants have been found in a storage locker in Winnipeg, Canada, authorities say. Police responded to a call from an employee at the storage facility on Monday and discovered the decomposed remains inside.

Tests on the unidentified bodies have yet to take place. Investigators are speaking with “a number of individuals”, they say, but the remains do not appear linked to any infants previously reported missing.

Police spokesman Eric Hofley told Canadian media the finding was “tragic beyond belief”. The bodies are said to be newborns or “of a very young age”, he added. “[They’re] certainly not children.”

The

The remains were discovered at a Winnipeg U-Haul storage facility by an employee who contacted authorities. It is not clear how long the remains were in the storage locker before they were found.

Storing or concealing human remains is in itself illegal, said Hofley. “Until such time as the autopsies have

we won’t know what the full extent of the charges may or may not be.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

US involved in seven air strikes on Islamic State targets

US military forces carried out four air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria on Monday and Tuesday and were joined by partner nations in three attacks in Iraq, the US Central Command said.

Fighter, bomber and attack aircraft were used in the raids and all returned safely, the Central Command statement said.

China’s companies and billionaires lag behind in fight against Ebola, says WFP

China’s corporations and billionaires have lagged behind in contributions to fighting the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, despite multiple economic ties to the region, the World Food Programme said on Monday.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the worst on record, has killed more than 4000 people. China has contributed about US$40 million (£25 million) in aid towards fighting the disease, including

US$6 million to the World Food Programme.

“Where are the Chinese billionaires and their potential impact? Because this is the time that they could really have such a huge impact,” said Brett Rierson, the organisation’s representative in China, at a briefing.

“You can ask the same thing of the corporate sector, being the largest investors in west Africa right now.“ The Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group, a Chinese drug company with military

ties, has sent several thousand doses of an experimental Ebola drug to Africa and is planning clinical trials there.

China has also sent hundreds of aid workers to Africa to help.

Dudley Thomas, Liberia’s Ambassador to China, told Reuters that his country had secured one donation of US$100,000 from a large Chinese building firm that has projects in the country, but few other contributions.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

ISIL ‘launches fierce new assault’ on Kobane

Kurdish fighters in the battle for the Syrian town of Kobane weathered a fresh onslaught by fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as they awaited promised reinforcements from Iraq.

The Kurdish militia faced fierce attacks on Tuesday, fresh from heavy battles on Monday evening in which ISIL appeared to be trying to cut off the border with Turkey before the reinforcements could arrive.

This account is according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who also reported that coalition forces carried out further air strikes overnight, following weeks of attacks in and

around Kobane.

Ankara’s announcement on Monday that it would facilitate Kurdish forces from Iraq crossing its border with Syria to relieve Kobane’s beleaguered defenders marked a major shift of policy and was swiftly welcomed by the US.

Kobane has become a crucial symbolic battleground in the war against ISIL, which is fighting to extend areas under its control in Iraq and Syria, where it has declared an Islamic “caliphate” that has not been widely-recognised.

An influx of well-trained Peshmerga fighters into Kobane could be a major boost for the Syrian Kurds.

Indian woman set on fire on a train in Kerala

AThe strikes near Kobani, Syria, destroyed Islamic State fighting positions, a building and an Islamic State unit.

In Iraq, a fighting position South-east of the Mosul Dam and one South of the Bayji oil refinery were destroyed while another strike North of Fallujah suppressed an Islamic State attack, the statement said.

(Reuters)

woman has died of her injuries after being set on fire on a train in the Indian state of Kerala. The woman, identified as Fathima, 45, had been seen having an argument with a man on the station platform in the town of Kannur early on Monday.

She boarded a stationary train and was seen running out shortly afterwards in flames. Police say they are looking for the suspect. Violence against women is deeply entrenched across India.

The 2012 gang rape and murder of a student in Delhi caused global outrage and sparked a nationwide dis-

cussion about attitudes towards and violence against women, which led to some laws being changed.

Kerala Police Inspector AK Babu told the BBC that some eyewitnesses had reported that Fathima was seen arguing with the man shortly before boarding the early morning train to Cochin.

Police suspect that Fathima was doused in alcohol before being set on fire while she was sitting in the train compartment. The seat covers were also burned. Babu said the Police could not take a statement before her death, as she was too seriously injured. (BBC News)

Man, woman stoned to death for adultery in Syria

Aman and a woman have been stoned to death for adultery in separate executions in jihadist-controlled areas of Syria, a monitoring group reported on Tuesday.

The man was executed in Idlib province in an area controlled by Islamist groups including the Nusra Front, al Qaeda’s official affiliate in Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence on all sides of Syria’s civil war.

It is the first documented case of a man being stoned to death for adultery since Syria descended into civil war in 2011 and hardline Islamic groups emerged as powerful players in areas that slipped from Government control, the Observatory said.

The woman was executed in Hama province in an area controlled by Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot that has seized swathes of Syria and Iraq and is being targeted by US-led air strikes, the

Observatory said. A video posted online appeared to show her execution. A bearded fighter is shown passing down the sentence in the presence of other gunmen and her father, who appears to approve of her execution. Her hands and feet are then tied with a rope and she is forced to kneel in a pit. Covered head to toe, she begins to pray out loud as large rocks are seen striking her body. The video shows the logo of Islamic State.

(Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

The woman’s seat in the train compartment was also burned

determined what is the cause of this,

remains were found at a Winnipeg storage facility

Tracer rounds light the sky over the Syrian town of Kobani during heavy fighting downtown, as seen from the Mursitpinar crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 21

wednesdAY, october 22, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Rodney’s family was under extensive surveillance

By Alexis Rodney

As the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of Dr Walter Rodney continued on Tuesday, the widow of the slain Historian, Dr Patricia Rodney, gave evidence suggesting that the Rodney family, upon its return to Guyana in May 1974, was under extensive surveillance by the state’s security forces.

The surveillance was so far-reaching that it had drawn a loop within the family circle, causing its members to be disrupted for some time. Dr Rodney spoke of she and her husband “safe housing” many nights at different homes. All this, she said, was done to ensure that the family remained safe. She admitted that the constant security threats and harassment of her family was upsetting; however, she noted that she could not allow them to prevent her from doing what had to be done.

Dr Rodney’s testimony corroborated evidence given by earlier witnesses, who had testified that they were constantly harassed and beaten up by agents of the State. These included the Guyana Police Force and the religious cult group House of Israel, and the unending presence of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at many Working People’s Alliance (WPA) activities.

It also spoke to the Commission’s Terms of Reference number four, which seeks to examine and report on the actions and activities of the State and those who were in command and superintendence of the state agencies, to determine whether they were tasked with the surveillance of, and carrying out of such actions against the political Opposition.

Harassment, threats

Under cross-examination by Trinidadian Attorney Keith Scotland, Rodney told the three- member Commission that her home had been subjected to constant searches by Police officers dressed in ordinary clothing.

The searches began and intensified during the months leading up to the death of her husband on June 13, 1980, occurring at least twice per week. She said the homes of her relatives were also frequented by the Police, while close friends of the family were habitually harassed by the said officers. Many persons locally were threatened with the loss of their jobs, while foreigners associating with the family were threatened with deportation.

She cited several incidents, including one where a Rastafarian man working for the family was arrested and had his hair cut off after

he disclosed that he was employed by the Rodney family.

Dr Patricia Rodney, wife of the late Dr Walter Rodney, going through the book Assassination cry of a failed Revolution allegedly co-authored by her husband’s accused murderer William Gregory Smith band had planned to move with the GDF dinner vehicle during the evening to seize the weapons.

She related another incident where her husband had turned up at the Bishops’ High School with some things for one of his daughters’ birthday celebration and was suddenly prevented from entering the school’s compound by GDF officers who were present there. Dr Rodney could not say if it was a normal practice for the Army to be carrying out surveillance at the public schools.

But what was more devastating was the search carried out by the Police Force on the evening of Dr Rodney’s death: 10-15 heavily armed Police officers entered her home to carry out a search for arms and ammunition.

Dr Rodney’s widow said that visit was quite an unusual one, since Police officers had never come to her house in that number, neither did they carry any arms and were ever clad in their uniform. She was asked to draw an inference from that form of visit, but could not, except to presume that the officers wanted to drive some amount of fear into the family.

Asked if she or her husband had ever made an attempt to report their security concerns with the authority, Dr Rodney explained that they never thought it would serve any purpose as they were of the view that the state machinery was against the historian and his family.

MI-5 scrutiny

But the surveillance, she disclosed, did not begin in Guyana. In fact, while the family was living in England, Guyana’s Government had set up surveillance there as well. That was coupled with the scrutiny of the MI-5, the United Kingdom's domestic counterintelligence and security agency . Dr Rodney admitted that her husband was a “great academic” who had an in-

nate interest in the working class. These are some of the things that had brought the pressure on the historian, who had continuously spoken against the undermining of those in the lowest bracket of the social strata. His efforts were also to remind the African community of their roots, and through discussions, provide ways through which they could embrace them.

She spoke of his time in Jamaica, lecturing at the University of the West Indies (UWI), and his efforts to mend the already broken society which was marred by constant protests by the people. She explained that his efforts there and his association with the “common people” including the mingling with Rastafarians, had driven the Government to declare her husband persona non grata, and the family was forced out of the country.

Non-violent

Meanwhile, while many of the searches carried out at the Rodney family home were to find “arms and ammunition”, Dr Rodney said she was not aware that her husband was ever involved in acquiring any arms, as suggested by former Police Constable Robert Gates and WPA Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye. In fact, she said, as far as she was recently made aware, the WPA members were acquiring the weapons to protect themselves from the state, which had grown to become very abusive and raucous against them and their sympathisers.

Dr Rodney also discredited accounts given by her husband’s alleged killer Gregory Smith, who in his book The Assassination cry of a failed Revolution, had claimed that there was a plan by Dr Rodney to subtly attack the GDF and seize the weapons.

Dr Rodney read the accounts from the book allegedly co-authored by Smith’s sister Ann Wagner where it was disclosed that her husCoI

But Dr Rodney said that could not be true and “doesn’t make sense”. She said the “Walter Rodney” that she knew would never be involved in such an activity as she maintained that her husband was not a violent man.

The Lawyer representing the affairs of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Basil Williams drew Dr Rodney’s attention to the public meeting held by the

WPA, where her husband had declared that the then ruling PNC Government, led by Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, must “go and go by any means necessary”. But Dr Rodney said she was only made aware of that statement when it was made by a witness during a previous session of the current investigation. She said that even if those words were used by her husband, it could not be within the context that is being implied. She again maintained that he was not a person that would incite violence.

Commissioner Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, a Queen’s Counsel, had upbraided the Attorney, explaining that it was important that the entire speech be presented so as to avoid losing the framework.

Dr Rodney spoke of her first encounter with the man accused of giving her husband the explosive device hidden in a walkie-talkie. She said her husband had an appointment with Gregory Smith on the evening of his (Rodney’s) death, since she did hear her husband in conversation with Smith over the telephone.

She recalled Smith had visited the home on Thursday, June 12, to meet with her husband. She said he told her that he had an appointment with him, but did not find him when he ar-

rived at the meeting place.

Dr Rodney said she reported the visit of Smith, who she did not know at the time, to her husband when he returned home.

While it was suggested that Smith was in constant contact with Dr Walter Rodney, particularly in relation to the setting up of communication devices, the widow said she could not say. Smith, an electronics expert, who was said to be employed by the GDF, was identified by Dr Walter Rodney’s youngest brother Donald as the person who handed over a brown paper bag with the bomb hidden in the walkietalkie device on the evening of June 13, 1980.

That meeting with Donald, Dr Rodney and Smith was just a coincidence, his widow revealed.

She said that the original plan was for her husband to meet with Smith on his own. It was only by chance that her brother-in-law stopped by that evening, and given the fact that the family had one car only, he decided to allow his wife to do her errands and be transported by his brother.

The events of that evening changed the lives of the Rodney family forever. Donald Rodney, the only known witness to the incident which claimed the life of his brother is yet to appear before the Commission.

Govt sues Caricom Insurance for failing to honour Performance Bond

Government has sued Caricom General Insurance Company Inc for failing to honour a Performance Bond and Advance Payment Guarantee valued at over $14 million for a construction company that failed to execute works to satisfaction on the Synthetic Track.

A statement from the Attorney General Chambers said that on October 15, 2014, Attorney General Anil Nandlall filed an action on behalf of the State against the insurance company seeking to enforce a Performance Bond and an Advance Payment Guarantee put up by this company at the request of Deokie Construction Services for works to be done on the Construction of the Synthetic Track and Field Facility – Phase 3 – Lot 1Construction of Club House/ Pavilion, Leonora, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

The AG Chambers said on January 15 and 28, 2014, Caricom General Insurance Company Inc executed the Performance Bond/ Guarantee and an Advance Payment Guarantee.

The purpose of the Performance Bond is to

guarantee satisfactory completion of the project by the Contractor, failing which the Government is guaranteed compensation for any monetary loss up to the amount specified in the Bonds.

According to the AG, upon execution of the Performance Bond and Advance Payment Guarantee, Caricom General Insurance Company Inc agreed and irrevocably undertook to pay to the Government, any sum not exceeding the amounts stated in the Bonds, upon receipt by them of the Government’s first demand in writing accompanied by a written statement stating that the Contractor is in breach of its obligations under the contract, without the Government needing to prove and show grounds for the demand of the Bond. In breach

On August 11, 2014, the Government terminated the said contract owing to the company’s failure to discharge its contractual obligations. In accordance with the terms of the Bonds, on September 25, 2014, the Permanent Secretary of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry

wrote to Caricom General Insurance Company Inc informing the company that the Contractor was in breach of the contract and the contract had consequently been terminated, and a first demand for the payment of the Performance Guarantee in the amount of $6,220,721, and the Advance Payment Guarantee in the amount of $8,709,009 was made. The AG Chambers said despite the aforementioned claims, Caricom General Insurance Company Inc, has to date failed, refused and neglected to effect payment of the said sum, hence the suit. The Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim was filed in the Commercial Division of the High Court, in which the Attorney General is claiming the following remedies: the sums of $8,709,009 and $6,220,721. Additionally, Government is seeking interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date of filing to the date of judgment and at the rate of four per cent until fully paid and costs. The matter is fixed for hearing on December 3, 2014.

Reconvening of Parliament

Isaacs restates Speaker can’t set date

…says there is no precedent, cites former clerk’s warning

Parliamentary Clerk, Sherlock Isaacs on Tuesday maintained that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman does not have power to reconvene Parliament when a date was not fixed at its last adjournment. He also said that there is no precedent where this was done and cited an earlier warning by his predecessor, Frank Narain for the House to do something to correct the problem. Isaacs, comments come in wake of Former Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran saying that the Speaker, Raphael Trotman should convene the National Assembly as soon as possible and every day that goes by without a sitting amounts to a violation of the parliamentary rules.

Ramkarran based his conclusion on the rule that the National Assembly is adjourned to the “next sitting day” when no date is named upon its adjournment and the fact that there is no procedure to reconvene outlined in the Standing Orders (SOs).

However, Isaacs said when matters are not pro-

vided for in our Rules, “we refer to practice and precedents.” He said in a letter to the editor that the practice is that Sittings are requested by the Government. According to him in the Parliament of Guyana “we have two precedents, one involving Mr. Frank A. Narain, C.C.H., former Clerk of the National Assembly and the other involving Mr. Elwyn Viapree, former Clerk of the Legislature.”

Isaacs cited that in the case of Viapree’s on 8th June, 1963, he was given the instructions by Speaker Rahman B. Gajraj to notify members of a sitting, but Viapree referred the instruction of the Speaker to the then Attorney General, Mr. Fenton Ramsahoye for advice. Ramsahoye, former Attorney General, gave the following advice to the Clerk of the Legislature: “Clerk of the Legislature, Under S.O. 41(9) (to which however, there was no reference in the Assembly) the Speaker could suspend the Sitting for a time to be named by him; alternatively, he could adjourn the Assembly without question put, but in the latter case the adjournment,

Parliamentary Clerk, Sherlock Isaacs

unlike the suspension, is an adjournment simplicitor and not for a time to be named by the Speaker. 2. Even, therefore, if it was competent for the Speaker to adjourn “to a date to be notified” (as he did) this formula did not vest him with the competence to notify the date, and the Clerk of the Legislature is under no duty to comply with the Speaker’s direction in that behalf. The competence in this matter resides where it normally rests, namely, with the Government of British Guiana.”

Thereafter, Viapree re-

plied to the Speaker telling him that in the circumstances upon the advice he was unable to comply with his instructions. The second precedent cited by Isaacs was in 1972 when then Opposition Leader, Cheddi Jagan wrote the Deputy Speaker, Derek Jagan, who was Acting Speaker in the absence of the Speaker, Sase Narine requesting a sitting to discuss a major flood that had occurred. Isaacs said the Deputy Speaker (Acting Speaker) thereafter, wrote the Clerk requesting that he sends out notices to members to hold the sitting

However, the Clerk wrote the Deputy Speaker (Acting Speaker) pointing out that provisions of the Standing Orders which deal with Sittings of the National Assembly. Paragraph (2) of the Standing Order No. 8 states as follows “If, during an adjournment of the Assembly, it is represented to the Speaker by the Government, or the Speaker is of the opinion, that the public interest requires that the Assembly should meet on a day earlier than that to which it stands adjourned, the speaker may

Diaspora, remittances and illegals in foreign countries

Dear Editor, Guianese and later Guyanese started to leave the country before independence. They left in droves for the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, and during the racial clashes in the mid 1960s, more and more started to leave for all parts of the world for a better way of life.

However, the consolation is that most of them are doing extremely well in their professions and businesses. Some excelled and made Guyana proud. What is more important is that a large number of members of the diaspora assist their friends and relatives back home and hundreds send remittances on a fairly regular basis.

While most of them are in overseas countries legally, there are tens of thousands who are illegal in several countries mainly the United States, Canada and a few Caribbean countries.

The latest report from Port of Spain is that a total of 110,012 illegals are in that oil-rich country. Incidentally, the illegals comprise one-tenth of the total population and as a result the Ministry of National Security is taking drastic action to deport and even to

prosecute some of them.

Guyana has the largest number – 25,884, followed by Jamaica with 19,500.

The illegals in Trinidad and Tobago are from 16 countries, mainly from six Caricom countries, as well as from Venezuela – 10,570, and nearly 10,000 from St Vincent and the Grenadines; Colombia – 6388 and as far as Nigeria and Bangladesh.

It might be surprising to the readers that as many as 7169 illegals are from Barbados and 4391 from St Lucia.

Although Guyana topped the list of illegals in Trinidad for the country with most illegals; there are several thousands of illegals including Brazilians, Chinese, Colombians, and Caribbean nationals who are in the Cooperative Republic.

It is believed that the immigration authorities in Guyana are not as vigilant and harsh as their counterparts in other countries especially the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

The Treaty of Chaguaramas makes provision for freedom of movement in the Caribbean Community, but the Treaty is not

always being adhered to by a few countries especially Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua and Barbados.

Jamaica has recently been criticised for deporting Abu Bakr, a Muslim from Port of Spain who went to Kingston to attend the 19th anniversary celebration of the Million Man March which was attended by Louis Farrakhan and other black leaders.

The Jamaican immigration authorities said that Bakr was sent back to Port of Spain in a chartered jet in the interest of public safety. Bakr plotted and tried to overthrow the Trinidad and Tobago Government in a coup in the Parliament Chamber more than two decades ago.

Gerald Pereira, Chairperson of the Black Consciousness Movement in Guyana, was also denied entry to Jamaica. Pereira lived in Libya for many years and served in the Green March, an International Battalion for the defence of the Libyan Revolution.

People tend to move from country to country to seek a better way of life for their families.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

give notice accordingly and the Assembly shall meet at the time stated in such notice. The Clerk shall as soon as possible inform each Member in writing, or if necessary by telegram of any such earlier meeting.”

The Clerk asserted that from this Standing Order “it will be seen that the extent of the Speaker’s power in the summoning of the National Assembly is limited, and although; it may be represented to the Speaker by the Government, or the Speaker may be of the opinion that the Assembly should meet.

Isaacs said there have been no significant changes to S.O. 8(2) over the years and in his view he stands by his interpretation of S.O. 8(2). Isaacs also quoted Sir Michael Davies, Commonwealth Senior Parliamentary Staff Advisor to the National Assembly of Guyana, in a statement he made on 18th February, 2005 Needs Assessment of the Guyana National Assembly:- “Standing Orders are for Clerks, not for Members. One reason Clerks are employed is to provide advice to Members

on the Standing Orders and on the procedure of an Assembly.”

Isaacs also quoted a warning by Former Clerk Frank Narain dated July, 2013 on the said matter. “… Did the National Assembly awake and take steps to simplify or clarify the procedures on this matter to avoid a further recurrence? I do not think that it did. A poor Clerk will continue to be involved. A Speaker will continue to feel that he has the power to call Parliament, if he wants the Sitting.”

Narain said the present Opposition will feel that with its one-member majority, it has the power, but he asked “who really has the power under the Standing Orders? Who is the poor Clerk to take instructions from? Will Members have to run to the Chief Justice for his opinion?” Narain s urged M.P.s, not to “continue to involve and suffer my successor. Do something about this matter now. Something that will suit you if you become the Government and something that will also suit you if you become the Opposition. Is this not possible? Surely it is?”

Has Sharma Solomon fulfilled his commitment to APNU and Region 10 residents?

Dear Editor,

As a Lindener, Sharma Solomon, our so-called Regional Chairman has agitated me to respond to his missive published in the October 19 edition of another newspaper: “Baishanlin has failed to fully honour its commitments to agreements, residents and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)”.

My question to Mr Solomon is, where is the money you collected to aid the construction of a new school from businessmen, well-wishers and other corporate citizens and companies that were sympathetic to the children and people of Linden?

Why is Mr Solomon ranting and raving about accountability and commitment to the people of Linden and Region 10, when he himself is culpable of deceiving the people of Linden?

This is one of several other misdemeanours which have resulted in APNU distancing itself from Mr Solomon. He has lost the respect of his fellow Lindeners and residents of Region 10.

I wish to point out several in-

accuracies in his letter which he continuously regurgitates such as: Baishanlin is violating Guyana’s laws and disrespecting and threatening our environment.

Also, he is peddling lies that Baishanlin is underpaying some of its employees. Who in their right senses in Guyana works for $500 per day? Maybe ‘junkies’ – residents of Region 10 are not ‘junkies’, Mr Solomon. It is said when you tell a lie often, others tend to believe; it’s true.

While Mr Solomon is Regional Chairman, his support and that of APNU continue to dwindle. As such, it is mindboggling on whose behalf he is speaking.

The people of Linden do not take Mr Solomon seriously anymore, particularly since he is holding office at a time when approximately G$12 million has disappeared. This is hideous, and he must be fully castigated for misleading the people of Linden and Region 10.

With regards, Christine Cadogan

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You will obtain good results with sensible food choices and a sound exercise routine. Local farmers’ markets and health-food stores offer many diverse options to improve your diet. Overindulgence should be avoided.

If you shake things up, improve your appearance or enhance your image, your confidence will go up as well. Get involved in something new, exciting and thought-provoking.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Ask old friends questions that will help you get a clearer picture of the way you are perceived by others. Recalling old dreams will lead to a new destination. You will be tempted by a unique offer. Get together with the most interesting and active people you know and make plans to have an adventurous outing.

Minor strife at home will blow over soon. You should be happy with the way other situations are developing around you. Don’t let anyone back you into a corner.

Negotiations will provide enlightening information. Share your ideas with as many people as possible. Your plans will attract more attention than you expected. Be ready to quickly move forward.

You’ll be faced with a substantial change, making it vital that you get all the facts before making a decision. Ask questions to get a better handle on the pros and cons.

Your future should take precedence over other people’s plans. Deal with established professionals when researching the vocation that you are aiming for. The time it takes to learn the tricks of the trade will be well-spent.

A non-productive cycle must be changed. It will be up to you to get the ball rolling. Do whatever it takes to get motivated. No one is going to give you a free ride. You can expect to experience worry or concern regarding children and loved ones. Do your best to keep the peace at home and avoid criticising others.

Move on to a more meaningful relationship phase with friends, relatives or a lover. A deeper bond is possible if you are truthful and build a union based on trust.

Size up why you are feeling at odds with your current situation. It’s time to take control of what’s important and walk away from what isn’t. Home improvements will be beneficial.

PeanuTs

AQUARIUS

GEMINI

calvin and hobbes

MVP prizes for Guyana Softball Cup 4 unveiled

– gold and diamond bracelets, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery, at stake

The prizes for the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) of the Open and Masters categories of the Guyana Softball Cup 4 were unveiled at a simple function on Tuesday at Steve’s Jewellery on Church Street in Georgetown.

Two beautifully crafted 14-karat gold bracelets, accentuated with diamond studs, have been put up as the prizes for the MVP of each category.

President of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), Ramchand Ragbeer, received the pieces of jewellery, noting that the GFSCA is grateful for such noteworthy support from the corporate Guyana.

He added that Steve’s Jewellery has been onboard with the Guyana Softball Cup since its inception in 2011, making it one of the core sponsors of the country’s premier softball tournament.

Proprietor of the business, Steve Narine, said the competition has grown significantly from when it first started and that’s the main reason he has chosen to remain onboard. During the last two years, Steve’s

Jewellery also presented similar bracelets for the MVPs of the two categories.

This year, the jewellery establishment has taken it one step further, adding diamond studs to the pieces, which are worth a combined $400,000. Whose hands those beautiful pieces will be wrapped around will be known on November 2 when the finals are contested at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown.

Also present at Tuesday’s handing over was Vice President of the GFSCA, Ricky Deonarain.

Format

As was the case in previous editions of the tournament, there will be two categories – one for teams contesting the Men’s Open and the other for the Masters players, aged 45 and over.

The champion team in the Men’s Open is guaranteed a whopping $800,000 first prize and a huge trophy, while the losing finalist will have to settle for $200,000 and a trophy. In the Masters’ division, the winning team will pocket $600,000 with the runnerup assured of $150,000. The Man-of-the-Match in both fi-

nals will receive a trophy.

On the day of the final, there will be lots of hampers and giveaways for spectators. Additionally, two spectators can win return tickets from Survival Travel Agency to the beautiful island of Aruba. All the spectators need to do is retain their half tickets and listen for their numbers to be called over the Public Address system during the final.

Two dozen teams will compete in this year’s event, with 12 from Guyana, seven from New York, three from Florida and two from Canada. During the threeday championship, there will be a total of 36 preliminary games, followed by four semi-finals and two finals.

Trophy Stall and New York Better are the defending champions of the Open and Masters categories respectively, while the previous champions were NYSCL New York (Open) and Savage Masters in 2012 and Cotton Field Wild Oats (Open) and Regal Seniors (Masters) in 2011.

According to information emanating from the GFSCA, this year’s tournament has an estimated budget of around $10 million.

Gebrselassie withdraws from Great South Run

Ethiopian distance running legend

Haile Gebrselassie has withdrawn from this Sunday's Great South Run.

The 41-year-old was due to make his debut in the event, which is its 25th year, but setbacks in his training have forced him to pull out.

The news is a double blow for organisers, following the withdrawal of European Championship gold medallist Jo Pavey in the women's race.

Around 25,000 people will run the 10-mile course in Portsmouth.

Lovell performs on day one of District 13’s

Inter School sports

District 13/South Zone started their preparation for the 2014 edition of the National School Championships on Tuesday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground, Base Camp Ayanganna.

On day one of the inter schools championships, field events alone were contested with South Ruimveldt Secondary taking the early lead with 233 points with three events remaining in the day.

Lodge Secondary was in second with 193 points

while North Ruimveldt was in third with 179 points.

Secondary was left in fourth while Central High School and Dolphin Secondary rounded out the top five tied on 131 points. Tasnica

was the stand out athlete in the female under-20 jumps, winning both the long and triple jumps with leaps of 5.20 and 10.07 metres respectively.

Lovell is also expected to perform as the top female sprinter when the day two of the event is held today at the same venue.

ANSA McAL runs away with Corporate Games title

celebrate their victory

Beverage giants ANSA McAL bested their corporate counterparts at sports by claiming the 2014 Corporate Games on Sunday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

ANSA McAL with slogan ‘We have the Ansa’ amassed 40 points to win the overall title while Wartsila took second with 33 points. Noble House Seafoods was third with 32 points as Global Technology

and Qualfon tied for fourth on 30 points. Digicel finished fifth with 20 points.

The Beverage giants jumped clearly ahead to win the event when their football team defeated Qualfon 3-1 in the final.

Christopher Hideakhan, a former national sprinter showed he still had some speed left in his legs by winning the 400 metres for ANSA McAL.

Former National athlete Ianna Graham was

also in action for Global Technology but her time away from the track was clearly visible.

Managing Director of ANSA McAL was happy with the event, “Sport is important to the youth of our country and not everyone might get to be a professional sports person so it is important that we do things like this… We (ANSA McAL) support this and I’m so proud of it,” Harper told Guyana Times Sport.

Tucville

Lovell

Tasnica Lovell

ANSA McAL

Haile Gebrselassie

MCC Warriors CC take clean sweep of T20 series in Guyana

MCC Warriors Cricket Club of Paramaribo Suriname completed a clean sweep of their T20 series last weekend on the Essequibo Coast.

Four matches were played between the visitors, Cotton Field Cricket Club and Affiance Sports Club.

Summarised scores from the matches played:

Game 1: MCC Warriors CC won by five runs. MCC Warriors CC 167-4 in 18 overs (Mohan Balkaran 33, Eon Kooper 47, C Pestano 66). Cotton Field Cricket

Club 163 all out in 17.1 overs (P Lall 38, R Narine 31, M Boodram 5-27).

Game 2: MCC Warriors CC won by nine wickets. Cotton Field Cricket Club 178 all out in 19.4 overs (R Narine 31, S Pankaj 30, R Parasram 30). MCC Warriors CC 179-1 in 15 overs (C Pestano 88, Akshay Persaud 39, Mohan Balkaran 28).

Game 3: MCC Warriors CC defeated Affiance Sports Club by eight wickets. Affiance Sports Club 98-9 in 15 overs with Akshay Persaud, the main destroy-

er with 4-9. MCC Warriors CC 99-2 in ten overs (Mohindra Boodram 50 not out, Akshay Persaud 42 not out).

Game 4: MCC Warriors CC won by six wickets. Cotton Field Cricket Club 94-9 in 15 overs (R Parasram 25, Akshay Persaud 3-7). MCC Warriors CC 94-4 in 13.2 overs (Mohan Balkaran 41).

Pestano won the best batsman and Man-OfThe-Series awards, while Akshay Persaud won the best bowler award.

BCCI suspends tours to WI, expected to take legal action against WICB

India have suspended all future tours to the Caribbean following the West Indies' decision to withdraw from their visit to India last week.

The Windies left India after Friday's fourth oneday match because of a pay dispute between the Board and players.

India were scheduled to tour the Caribbean in February and March 2016.

However, a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said all tours between the

two countries "stand suspended".

The BCCI also announced it would take legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

India will now play a fivematch one-day international series against Sri Lanka, starting on November 2.

The West Indies quit their tour of India after a day of confusion and conflicting statements.

The BCCI first released a statement saying West Indies would be returning

East Coast Cricket Committee 35-over competition…

Deosaran 123* powers Lusignan to victory

National batsman Krishna Deosaran turned in a solid performance on Sunday to guide Lusignan Sports Club to a five-wicket win over Bravados as action in the East Coast Cricket Committee competition continued at the Lusignan ground, East Coast Demerara.

Chasing 225 from a maximum of 35 overs, Lusignan replied with 2275 in 34 overs with the left-handed Deosaran, who represented Guyana at the Under-19 level, scoring a brilliant 123 not out.

His innings proved the highlight of the match, as he stroked 16 fours and two sixes. Leon Morgan with 34 (4x4s) and Shazam Ali with 17 (1x4) provided support as Kellon Carmichael claimed 3-44 off six overs for Bravados.

Carmichael had earlier impressed with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 66, which included five sixes and four fours, to lead Bravados to 2245. Marcus Watkins also cashed in, scoring an even-fifty (8x4s), while Shemroy Barrington chipped in with 34 (2x4s, 2x6s).

Bowling for Lusignan, Emran Khan and Rajendra Naikbarran had 2-32 and 2-33 respectively.

indian cricket board to file lawsuit against WICB

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that it would “initiate legal proceedings” against West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as the fall-out continues on Tuesday following the sudden and dramatic pull out by the senior West Indies cricketers from their tour of the sub-continent.

BCCI also disclosed that all bilateral tours by India to the West Indies have been suspended even as the WICB was meeting in emergency session in Barbados on Tuesday to discuss the ramifications of the decision by the players.

home at the conclusion of the fourth one-day international, which was already under way.

The WICB initially denied that but, after India won the match by 59 runs, Windies captain Dwayne Bravo said the tour had ended and all-rounder Darren Sammy tweeted: "Honey I'm coming home."

There were still five matches scheduled – the fifth one-day international, a one-off Twenty20 international and three Tests. (BBC Sport)

India were expected to play five series against West Indies in the next eight years, including four visits to the Caribbean.

"The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) will initiate legal proceedings against West Indies Cricket Board due to the abrupt cancellation of this tour," it said in a statement after meeting in the southern city of Hyderabad.

"All bilateral tours between BCCI and WICB stand suspended."

The BCCI release made

no specific mention of any claim for damages; but reports suggest that the BCCI suffered a loss of up to 65 million US dollars as a result of the pull out.

The West Indies followed through with threats to quit the tour after the fourth one-day international in Dharamsala on Friday, with one more ODI, a Twenty20 and three tests remaining.

“The Members appreciated the gesture of Sri Lankan Cricket Board for having accepted our request to play five ODIs starting from 2nd of November 2014, at such a short notice,” the BCCI statement said.

“This tour is in lieu of their scheduled tour to India next year which will be reciprocated by India touring Sri Lanka in months of July/August 2015”.

West Indies players are disgruntled over a change in their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the WICB, which they claim results in a drastic reduction in their earnings.

While on tour, they lobbied their union, the West Indies Players Association

for a change to the agreement, and also threatened to withdraw their services if no resolution was forthcoming.

The pullout has angered the BCCI fuelling speculation that West Indies players who campaign in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) will be banned.

But the Chairman of the IPL, Ranjib Biswal, has said that West Indies' cricketers would not face any ban and that the matter was not even discussed in crisis meetings.

"It depends upon them (West Indies players). If they want to play IPL they are welcome," said Biswal, in Hyderabad, where the BCCI's emergency working committee met to discuss the fallout of West Indies pulling out of the India tour last week.

ESPNcricinfo quoted a West Indies Cricket Board Director as calling for an IPL ban on the core group of the players, who were instrumental in West Indies aborting the India tour.

But Biswal said the issue of participation of West Indies players had notat all come up for discussion.

(BBCSport)

The victorious MCC Warriors Cricket Club team

Job done! Batsman Krishna Deosaran poses for a photo after his match-winning hundred last weekend

Action between Indian and West Indies in their final match before the pull out

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Multilateral School (NAMS) reigned supreme when the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) District 16 annual athletic championship was held on Friday at the Welfare Community Centre in East Canje.

With only the swimming events left to be held NAMS have taken a sizable lead on the points table and are expected to dominate in swimming.

NAMS 754, Tutorial Academy (TASS) 706, Berbice High School (BHS) 400, New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) 381, Vrymen’s Erven Secondary (VESS) 377, Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) 362, Canje Secondary (CSS) 243 and School of the Nations (SON) 162 are the current points standing.

Ryan Bumble was outstanding winning the triple jump, 100 and 200 meters in the Under-18 boy’s

category despite stiff competition in the latter two races from SON’s Carlos Trinidad.

Devas Samlall of BEI won the 400 metres ahead

of Trinidad that turned out to be one of the most exciting events of the day.

Trinidad lead for the first half of the race before Samlall challenged and won in the final metres of the event.

Allia Elexey who participated in the U-14 cat -

egory was their most outstanding female athlete as she won the triple jump and 100 metres for NAMS.

Olucho Haynes also had a good day when she won the 800 metres in the girl’s Under-18 category while placing second in the 1500 metres event for NAMS.

TASS’ Donella Joe who was the champion athlete won the high jump, triple jump 100 and 200 metres events while Tyrell Peters took the 100 and 200 metres in the Under-16 boy’s category.

Destheney Lewis of the same school was unstoppable on wheels as she won the 3000 and 800 metres upright cycle events for girls U-14. She also finished second in the 1500 and 800 metres race.

Kareem Samuels of BHS won the boys 100, 200 and long jump U-14 and will form part of the core of district 16 when they meet the other 15 districts at the National Championships in November. Swimming events are slated for Monday at the Albion pool. Meanwhile primary schools of the district held their track events on Thursday at the Esplanade Ground.

All Saints Primary after taking the lead at the field events the previous day, returned to dominate on the track scoring 203 points to lead St Therese's with 115. St Aloysius was third with 78 and School of the Nations fourth with 63.

Pistorius slapped with 5-year prison sentence

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been given five years in jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa also gave Pistorius a threeyear suspended sentence for a firearms charge.

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp told the BBC they were happy with the sentence and relieved the case was over. The defence said it expected Pistorius to serve about 10 months in prison.

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide but cleared of murder.

Prosecutors had called for a minimum 10-year term, and the defence had argued for community service and house arrest.

'Feeling of unease' Pistorius showed little reaction to the sentence other than to wipe his eyes before being led away.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux said his client was expected to serve 10 months in

prison, with the rest under house arrest.

Dup De Bruyn, a lawyer for the Steenkamp family, told Reuters that "justice was served", although he believed Pistorius would probably serve two years.

Before he went down the stairs and out of court, Oscar Pistorius slipped off his expensive watch and handed it to a relative. It seems the athlete probably knew his sentence beforehand, which helps explains the subdued atmosphere in court today.

This case has revealed plenty about South Africa –its gun culture, the strengths and inadequacies of its Police and prisons. But above all it has been a simple story, about the rise and fall of a global icon.

As the crowds and cameras drift away from the courthouse, what lingers is the sense of waste. Of lives and careers for sure. But of time too.

A man and a woman went into a bathroom. Only one came out alive. As the judge

made clear – the trial should have been over in a matter of weeks. Instead it turned into a tortuous, overwrought epic.

Pistorius's uncle, Arnold, said: "We accept the judgment. Oscar will embrace the opportunity to pay back to society."

He appealed to the media to "accept the ruling of court and let us move forward in this process and give us some degree of dignity and privacy".

He said the family would support and guide the athlete as he served his sentence.

The BBC's Nomsa Maseko, outside court, says opinion there was divided on the sentence, with some saying it was too light, others that it was fair.

Pistorius was taken away from court in a Police van to Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru prison. Our correspondent says Pistorius will be evaluated over the next few hours to decide where he will stay based on his disability. (BBC Sport)

l aND FOr Sale

Ryan Bumble wins the 200 metres

Donella Joe

Inter-Guiana Games, second leg… Guyana’s contingent leaves Thursday for Suriname

– Sport Minister confident athletes will do well

Guyana’s contingent to the second leg of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) will leave these shores early Thursday morning for neighbouring Suriname to compete in five disciplines from Friday to Sunday.

The Guyanese will take on their Suriname and French Guiana counterparts in cycling, badminton, chess, table tennis and volleyball.

Both Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who will be travelling with the Guyana contingent, and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony expressed confidence that the Guyanese will do well.

Kumar said all logistics are in place ahead of the three-day event and he is looking forward to Guyana coming out overall champion of this leg. Dr Anthony, while expressing optimism of the team doing, said he is specifically looking forward to the performance of the cyclists, whom he said should be in top condition following their participation in the 8th annual ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage, which concluded on Sunday last.

The Male cyclists are

Kravitz Jeffrey, Akeem Arthur, Alonzo Ambrose and Shaquille Agard, while the females are Ronella Samuels and Toshawnna Doris. The Badminton players are Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani, Jonathon Mangra and Ambika Ramraj. Chess will be represented by regional national junior champion Haifeng Su, Roberto Neto, Jessica Clementson and Sheriffa Ali, while the table-tennis players are Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Priscilla Greaves and Selenas Jackman. The Female Volleyball players are Tamala Onica

Felix, Vashti Pooran, Rafaella Richardson, Kelshine Griffith, Tenisha Cort, Melisa Marks, Lisa Marks, Akeila Brown, Padmini Nankoo, Dian Mandokin and Cassie Junor, while the Males are Devendra Latchman, Samuel Anthony Fraser, Madan Kumar Budhram, Yoganand Dhoray, Steven Anthony Veerapen, Muaaz Inshan, Rolwyn Heywood, Roy Mangrau, Rick Daniel Ritchie, Klondyke Rodney, Joshua Jagmohan, Ravi Rampartab and Xavier Lambert.

The Guyanese will return home on Monday.

WICB to be blamed for...

“The leadership is very weak and the current situation with cricket in Guyana is a testimony to it. As the governing body for cricket in the West Indies, I think more openness and energies should have been spent to fix the problem here and any other territory that have similar issues.

“Instead they choose to sit idle and allow the situation to escalate. Caricom needs to take note quickly and the heads of government needs to act early for cricket is the only unifying force in the Caribbean. It is very clear that the WICB is not capable to run our lovely game of cricket,” Beharry concluded.

Matthias ousted as GFF President

President of the Guyana Football Federation

Christopher Matthias has been booted from his post by FIFA due to the current affairs of Guyana’s football.

The decision was made on Tuesday evening at a high level meeting held at the Pegasus Hotel and headed by FIFA's Head of Member Associations Primo Corvaro.

FIFA's Head of Member Associations Primo Corvaro noted that the lack of quorum as well as two failed congresses has brought about such a decision, resulting in a normalisation Committee being installed to run the af-

fairs of the GFF.

“The lack of quorum paralysed the GFF. We at FIFA and CONCACAF tried to fill the vacancies and find solutions and twice failed due to the legitimacy surrounding the delegates” Corvaro stated.

Corvaro also highlight that five locals will make up the normalisation committee, he furthered that all will be new to sport and the names of the person will be released in three days.

It was also revealed that that backgrounds checks have been done on the five persons and only FIFA will have the power to remove

the committee.

Matthias at the press conference noted that he was comfortable with the decision of FIFA, “Any approach that FIFA takes with regards to the development Guyana’s football is welcomed by me. If indeed FIFA’s objective is the structured approach to the development of the game locally and constitutional reform as we had advanced”.

“If the vision by FIFA is embraced by those who were fighting power, then Guyana football will develop” Matthias stressed.

CONCACAF’s Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal,

made mention that suspension in such cases as Guyana is normally the first route but believes Guyana can move forward with its football.

Matthias was slapped with a no-confidence vote on April 26 which caused a walkout of association namely the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA), East Coast Football Association (ECFA), National Women’s Football Association (NWFA), Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) and East Demerara Football Association (EDFA).

Subsequently the GFF broke into two factions while Matthias slapped the aggrieved members with an indefinite ban due to an illegal ordinary congress.

However, when the parties met for a second congress, it resulted in another walkout by the same aggrieved members which finally resulted in FIFA’s intervention and the Normalisation Committee being named as the solution.

The Committee will be tasked with establishing constitutional reforms of all the constitutions of the nine regional associations as well as to adopt a new GFF constitution and amend the current one, to organise electoral process and run the business of the GFF.

Mature and responsible

Meanwhile, a former Test cricketer, who spoke in a personal capacity and wished to remain anonymous, said that while the WICB must take full responsibility for the situation, he is of the view that both parties must focus on finding solutions to the crisis rather than bitter recriminations.

One senior official from the East Coast Cricket Board, who also wished to remain anonymous calls for a complete WICB overhaul and the immediate intervention of Caricom.

Complete overhaul

“This is the first time in the history of West Indies cricket that a team aborts a tour midway through a series because of remuneration. The situation is an embarrassing one especially at a time when the WICB is more financially equipped that ever.

“The responsibility stops at the head of the WICB Dave Cameron, the same person, who refused to deal with the Guyana situation in a practical manner,” the official pointed out.

It’s not the first time West Indies players and the WICB have engaged in brinkmanship. There were strikes before series against Sri Lanka in 2005 and Bangladesh in 2009. On both occasions, replacements were brought in but the BCCI dismissed any chance of that happening this time.

West Indies tour South Africa for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20 matches from December 10 through to January 28, and Cricket South Africa is unlikely to accept a weakened team.

If the impasse persists and West Indies field a weakened team, the International Cricket Council might also decide to ban the team from next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Australia is scheduled to tour the Caribbean immediately after the World Cup.

Meanwhile to fill the void, the BCCI swiftly arranged a five-match one-

day series with Sri Lanka next month but was not ready to take the estimated US$65 million (40.21 million pounds) loss lying down even though WICB apologised for the team's sudden withdrawal.

For the sponsorship and TV revenue it generates, a series against India represents a jackpot for financially weaker boards like the WICB and India were

expected to make four trips to the West Indies in the next eight years.

India's decision is a fresh blow for the WICB which has already been grappling with a rumbling pay dispute.

The WICB and the West Indies Players' Association signed a new agreement last month covering pay and conditions but it was rejected by the senior players, including one-day Captain Dwayne Bravo who said they were kept in the dark.

The WICB has convened an emergency board meeting in Barbados on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Sport Director Neil Kumar

Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Wavell Hinds

Dwayne Bravo

Dave Cameron

Anil Beharry

Rabindranauth Seeram

The scene at the press conference where Matthias was booted by FIFA's Head of Member Associations Primo Corvaro (in front of microphones)

Carib Beer T20 cricket in Berbice…

Bramble guides Albion to top of Corentyne Zone

The preliminary stage of the 2014 Carib Beer First Division T20 cricket competition in Berbice concluded on Saturday with the final two Corentyne Zone matches.

In the deciding match, Albion Community Centre made light work of Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets to emerge as the top team of that Zone.

After the Albion spin attack had restricted Rose Hall Town to 109-8 in 20 overs, the in-form Guyana wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble barely missed out on his fourth consecutive half-century when, after Albion in their reply were 13-2, he hit 48 to guide the chase as they won by six wickets.

Bramble and former Guyana T20 batting star, Jonathan Foo (30), put on 71 for the third wicket. Bramble, having had scores of 54 against Port Mourant, 82* against Skeldon Community Centre and 77* against Guytrac Upper Corentyne,

WICB to systematically deal with India walkout

– apologises to stakeholders and fans

The West Indies Cricket Board regrets, and is deeply embarrassed by the premature and unfortunate end to the recent tour of India.

The WICB once again expresses to the BCCI and all stakeholders – especially the cricket loving public of the West Indies and India –sorrow for the events leading up to this development.

The Board of Directors of the WICB, today met to formally embark on the process of a careful and systematic review of relevant events and have, initially, decided as follows:

1. to establish a Task Force, comprising critical stakeholders, to review the premature end of the tour to India. The Task Force will meet with all parties, including WIPA and the players, before reporting its findings to the Board of Directors.

2. to request a meeting with the BCCI.

3. to schedule an urgent debriefing with the West Indies Team Management Unit.

4. to assure Cricket South Africa that it will use its best endeavours to ensure a successful tour of

South Africa as scheduled.

The WICB is mindful of the related decisions of the BCCI Working Committee.

In light of the longstanding good relationship between WICB and BCCI, which goes back decades and has produced numerous mutual benefits, the WICB looks forward to meeting with the BCCI to discuss these decisions which can have serious implications for West Indies cricket.

WICB believes that a way can be found to repair the damage that has been caused and to ensure that similar events do not recur, with the focus being on the betterment of West Indies and world cricket.

The WICB thanks all stakeholders, particularly the ICC, BCCI, their broadcasters and sponsors for their patience and understanding in this matter and looks forward to the continuation of a strong relationship between our Boards.

The WICB is committed to acting as expeditiously as the situation allows, and will provide further information to the public as soon as it is appropriate to do so.

now has a tally of 261 runs from four innings at an average of 130.5.

Led by 50 (8x4s) from

Joshua Ramsammy, and 39 from former Guyana Under-19 allrounder Loyydel Lewis, Port Mourant managed a decent 145 in 16.5 overs against Skeldon Community Centre, who in their response, led by 59 (4x4s, 4x6s) from Sherwin Murray, gave good chase, but fell short by 12 runs in the end.

Below are the summarised scores from the games.

At Rose Hall Town: Albion Community Centre beat Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets by six wickets.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets 109-8 in 20 overs (Brandon Prashad 28*, Veerapen Permaul 2-4, Balchand Baldeo 2-10, Sharaz Ramcharran 2-26) Albion Community Centre 112-4 in 14.5 overs (Anthony Bramble 48, Jonathan Foo 30, Keon Sinclair 2-38).

At Port Mourant: Port Mourant beat Skeldon Community Centre by 12 runs. Port Mourant 145 in 16.5 overs (Joshua Ramsammy 50, Loyydel Lewis 39, Parmanand Narine 3-27, Jason Itwaru 2-23) Skeldon Community

Centre 133-5 in 20 overs (Sherwin Murray 59, Parmanand Narine 20).

Meanwhile, the three playoff matches are scheduled for Saturday at 13:30h. Zone A winner West Berbice will meet with Zone B runnerup Universal Solutions Bermine at Bush Lot, West Berbice; Zone B winner Young Warriors will host Zone C runner-up Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets at Cumberland, Canje; and Zone C champs Albion will clash with Zone A runner-up D’Edward at Albion.

Joshua Ramsammy Anthony Bramble

WICB to be blamed for cricket crisis

By Rajiv Bisnauth

West Indies cricket was plunged into a major crisis on Tuesday after India, the world's richest board, suspended all future tours with them following the Caribbean team's abrupt withdrawal from a series in India last week.

The mighty Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) also decided to take legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after the tourists abandoned the series on Friday over a protracted payment dispute between the players and their board.

They still had a onedayer, a Twenty20 international and three test matches left to play.

However, a number of local cricket protagonists, involved with the sport one way or another condemned the WICB for the current dilemma.

MVP prizes for Guyana

Guyana

Rabindranauth Seeram has chosen to empathise with the West Indies players for deciding to return home abruptly, while holding the WICB fully responsible for the current cricket crisis.

“Cricket is the players’ livelihood and they depend on that. I think the WICB is to be blamed for the entire issue at hand,” Seeram said. He added “Cricket in the West Indies will suffer a lot because of the BBCI decision to scraped future tours here. India is a power house in world cricket and West Indies need them.”

Vice-president of the Berbice Cricket Board, Anil Beharry said it was not surprising to see the West Indies Cricket Board in this current state of chaos and dilemma.

Former

middle-order batsman

A representative of Steve’s Jewellery (second right) presents the two bracelets to President of the GFSCA, Ramchand Ragbeer, in the presence of GFSCA Vice President Ricky Deonarain (left) and Proprietor of Steve’s Jewellery, Steve Narine, on Tuesday (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Pistorius

The latest impasse between players and officials in West Indian cricket has far-reaching

the sport in the Caribbean