Guyana Times Daily

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Minister Irfaan Ali hailing the occasion as a resounding success (Carl Croker photo)

GNIC not blacklisted for ship repair contracts

... but Govt cites poor work ethic

By Vahnu Manikchand

The Guyana Government has not blacklisted the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) from receiving contracts to repair some of the state-operated vessels.

Instead, the company was overlooked in some cases owing to its poor work ethic, which included untimely delivery of work and unapproved adjustments of contracts.

The GNIC had complained last month that it being overlooked for lucrative Government contracts is of serious concern, saying this might be a subtle blacklisting of its drydock” facilities at Lombard Street, Georgetown.

Adverse effect

“The pervasive, unchecked emergence of ship repair facilities” on the Parika Beach, East Bank Essequibo and in Berbice… has had an adverse effect on the number of jobs coming to GNIC,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Clinton Williams, had said.

Williams said, in recent times, the company lost out on tendered docking and repair works on the Lady Northcote and the

MV Makouria, as well as the supply of spare parts for Transport and Habour Department (T&HD) vessels, despite having submitted the lowest bids. “The company’s management is now concerned about this apparent subtle blacklisting of their drydock,” Williams said. Contacted on the issue, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said he could not comment on the issue, because he had not seen what the GNIC CEO said.

Williams said too then that recently GNIC was declared the lowest bidder for a number of contracts

for structural repairs to the MV Malali and the ML Thompson, and to fabricate unifloat pontoons and buoys for the bridges in the Amaila Falls Road Project and for the Demerara Harbour Bridge. GNIC also submitted the lowest bid for fabrication of 30 pairs of connecting posts for the Harbour Bridge and was currently awaiting the announcement of contract awards. The GNIC CEO said every ferry that plies the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice Rivers, ferrying passengers and cargo into interior regions, have spent

time in the large GNIC drydock undergoing major and minor repairs and reconstruction.

“The MV Torani measuring 172’ x 37.5’ was actually built in this same shipyard and handed over spanking new to T&HD in October 1960. This was touted as the largest ship building job ever to have been undertaken in British Guiana and independent Guyana. The main deck was designed by the Ferguson Brothers of Port Glasgow, Scotland. It was this same Scottish shipbuilder who constructed the Torani’s sister ferry, the MV Makouria.”

History

Williams said the history of the GNIC dates back more than 150 years to the colonial era when the company was owned by a private Scottish entrepreneur, Hugh Sproston. Many remember the MV RH Carr that was pre-1970, the sole means of transport between Mackenzie and Georgetown. “It seemed to hold a quiet romance,” one senior citizen reminisced, “slipping through virgin jungles on either side of the Demerara River”, adding that this ship was powered by steam originally (it was built in Saltney, Wales in 1927) before being converted in the

Lombard Street Shipyard to use diesel fuel. Sprostons became the Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC) in 1976, then the GNIC in 1995. The company has always traded on its spacious drydock which, with a maximum capacity of some 800 tonnes, remains one of the chief ship repair facilities in coastal Guyana, equipped with the necessary human expertise and mechanical facilities.

Poor work ethic

When contacted on the issue, a top official of the T&HD said that the vessels mentioned above were historically repaired and maintained at the GNIC, primarily because they were made at the company’s dock yard. However, the official said over the years, GNIC had been unreliable in its completion of works, which often cost Government more money. “They have a tendency to finish the work late and the longer we have a vessel docked, it’s more money we have to pay to support the absence of a particular vessel.” Besides, the official said as was mentioned, the GNIC indeed does submit low bids in some cases for projects, but most times there are unapproved variations in the contracts, which drive up the final cost. “So

it’s not like after their low bid, they don’t increase the prices... we always have variations of contracts and things are added on which were not approved and we have to pay them for it...,” the official who requested anonymity said.

The official also mentioned that the GNIC some years and was contracted to carry out repairs and maintenance work for the dredge Steven, but took considerable time at the dockyard, far beyond what was agreed. “We ended up with shippers complaining about the river channel being silted up and all these things we have had to endure.”

Asked if the company was told of its shortcomings, the official answered in the positive, saying that the T&HD has always engaged the GNIC on the issue of its work ethic. “These things have been communicated to them...”

Despite these hiccups, the official maintained that they have not blacklisted the GNIC, but had taken deliberate steps to ensure that it received value for money and timely delivery of work. “Notwithstanding, we have recently granted them the contracts to repair two of our pilot launches,” the official said. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)

GNIC CEO Clinton Williams

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

Govt to Glenn Lall: Stop trying to “confuse the public”

... says

APNU, AFC condoning illegal, criminal activities

The Government of Guyana said in a statement issued late Monday night that it has noted with keen interest the call by Glenn Lall, Owner and Publisher of the Kaieteur News, on October 5 for people to stand by him and his newspaper.

“As much as Mr Lall

seeks support have nothing to do with the right to freedom of expression,” the statement said.

“Rather Mr Lall is asking the Guyanese public to

support the following unlawful activities: tax evasion of millions of dollars; attempting to pervert the course of justice by blackmailing his opponents to drop the charges; manipulating the Georgetown

Power and Light]; maligning people; and threatening to expose private and personal matters of his ‘perceived opponents’ in order to have his unlawful activities dropped.”

The statement noted that the call has been publicly supported by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). It also questioned whether Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan and Leader of APNU, David Granger would now call on the Guyanese public to support Lall for the specific crimes he has been accused of.

“Aren’t the Opposition parties condoning Mr Lall’s illegal activities? Aren’t they saying to John Public that it is alright to follow Mr Lall’s lead and be accountable to no one?” the statement asked.

“One would have thought that the Opposition political par-

ities, especially as they have grand designs of being in government one day.

“One has to wonder if this is the kind of Government they will offer the Guyanese people. Once again the friends of the Opposition are above and beyond the law merely because it is their friends!

“So blind is their hellbent onslaught on the Government that they

may wish to confuse the public that this is an issue of press freedom, in fact, the

for which he

Municipal Council for non-payment of rates and taxes; stealing electricity from the GPL [Guyana

ties would have been more judicious and distanced themselves from supporting such unlawful activ-

are willing to support tax evaders and maligners in order to bring down the Government,” the statement added.

Kaieteur News Owner and Publisher Glenn Lall

Opposition Leader David Granger

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

The two Lexus luxury SUVs which were seized and parked in the GRA holding facility. Glenn Lall and a remigrant couple have been charged for tax evasion

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

Our Constitution

Criticisms about the present Constitution abound from Opposition quarters. Claiming that the PPP/C is using the "Burnham Constitution", the Opposition is unfortunately only focusing on making changes that will assist in the removal of the PPP/C Government as occurred in 1963. We repeat our response from exactly one year ago.

Such charges ignore the fundamental changes in that Constitution wrought by the constitutional reform process initiated in 1999 and implemented in 2000. The alterations were so far reaching that for all intents and purposes, a new Constitution had been created.

The Government had commenced the process for constitutional change as early as 1995, when a Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) was formed and hearings were held across the country, as well in a Parliamentary Select Committee. The process was interrupted by the 1997 elections, which the PPP/C won according to all foreign and domestic observers.

The PNC, however, claimed that the poll was flawed and launched massive street protests that segued into ethnically directed riots and violence. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) – brokered the Herdmanson Accord of January 17, 1998, which included an agreement to complete the reform of the 1980 Constitution.

A new 20-person CRC, acceptable to all parliamentary parties, was assembled and included individuals drawn from the widest possible cross-section of society. For six months, the CRC conducted hearings and took submissions from every Guyanese individual or organisation that expressed a wish to do so.

Their submissions were reviewed by a parliamentary Joint Select Committee, which then furthered the 182 recommendations (drawn from 32 subject areas) to the Oversight Committee of the National Assembly.

The final changes were approved unanimously in 2000 by all the parties in the National Assembly, including the PNC. Surely, 182 alterations in the 1980 Constitution proposed from such a diverse body of national opinion, could not have resulted in “the same old 1980” Constitution after 2000.

The most criticised feature of the 1980 Constitution had been the powers allocated to the presidency: he was a de facto dictator, who for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth had complete veto power. He could be President for life and could hire and fire at will most public officials (Article 232) and determine the length of tenure of others whom he might not have even appointed.

In the new Constitution, the powers of the President are diminished considerably, while those of the Opposition Leader (who had been derided as “Minority Leader in the 1980 Constitution) and the Parliament, are increased.

The President is now limited to two terms and his power to fire is now restricted only to those individuals not appointed by the service commissions. Even on those offices he created, if their salaries are charged to the Consolidated Fund, the appointments must be reviewed by the National Assembly.

In critical constitutional appointments such as the Police Commissioner, the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice, the Opposition Leader has veto power, since his agreement is necessary for confirmation. It is for this reason that some constitutional offices have been occupied by individuals in an “acting” capacity.

The Elections Commission had been the vehicle for rigging elections in the past, but the President can now only appoint its Chairman from a list submitted by the Opposition leader. Under the 1980 Constitution, the President merely had to call the Minority Leader and that was considered as a “consultation” to satisfy that requirement.

Now, the term “meaningful consultation” has been constitutionally defined to ensure that the President obtains the opinion of the Opposition Leader. Parliament also obtained a greater share of power in the new Constitution, with four sectoral committees now scrutinising all areas of governmental policy and administration in real time.

Finally, the President can also now be impeached and cannot dissolve Parliament to evade such a sanction or circumvent it by appointing the tribunal to investigate the charges.

All in the new Guyana Constitution.

India should reach out to her Indo-Caribbean Diaspora

Dear Editor, The newly elected Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has a great task ahead of him if India is to become one of the respected global powers. In order for any country to secure power, it must first secure its identity.

In a world of globalisation, India has more resources than she recognises to bolster her identity – resources that reside outside of India in the form of her Diaspora. The Indian Diaspora reaches far beyond the shores of the motherland.

Members of the Diaspora are prepared to lend India a helping hand in her development and in projecting her power. They have access to unlimited resources, but they lack support from India, which has not taken effective advantage of the capacity and ability of its Diaspora.

India should and must make alliances with and encourage further allegiances from the communities of her Diaspora who have interest in seeing India grow into a world power. The Diaspora recognises that once India grows and develops and acquires greater status, then the status of the Diaspora will also grow.

India must reach out to the descendants of those Indians who left her shores a long time ago under the British Empire and who now live in distant lands where they contribute

to national development in a variety of areas not the least being medicine, health care, engineering, education, and government positions. They can provide political support to India through the positions they have achieved in their homelands and through the resources of their own countries.

Just as caste and regionalism are being put aside in favour of uniting the country under heavy patriotism, India must reach out to lands where the Diaspora is settled that will provide extra hands like her own goddesses thereby extending the reach of her power.

The Caribbean Diaspora Indians can provide India with a base of political and military power in the West. Guyana has rich minerals that literally pop out of the soil and a multitude of land that is yet unoccupied.

Suriname has a variety of resources including gold, diamonds and potential for hydrocarbon. Trinidad has economic might and the fruits of black gold flowing through its veins, and can provide India with a source of oil, pitch, and gas that can be converted into methanol and other goods and can take the strain off India’s dependence on any Mid-East sources.

If India can depend on those who are loyal to her, she will be ready to stand on her own. Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname lie in strategic locations

on the globe. Trinidad, for example, is the gateway into South America and the Atlantic just as the Philippines was coveted by America for the same purpose of using the Pacific Ocean.

The Chinese have already made a second landing in these countries developing and extending China’s growth by reaching out to Chinese descendants and sending in more reinforcements for business and trade. Large numbers of Chinese are in Suriname, Trinidad and Guyana and in virtually every country in the Region. India is in deep slumber and once again late to the dinner table.

There must be mutual benefits for India and her Diaspora in any relationship. India must give public recognition to her Diaspora Indians, especially those in the Caribbean Region. These nations are her western footholds. She must ensure their economic and political progress in the sometimes hostile environment they live, especially in places like Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname.

India should not leave the progress of her Diaspora to the mercy of other regional forces like her Diaspora in Fiji where they have been persecuted by black Melanesians, with India depending on Australia to secure the protection of Indians.

In maintaining the

security of Indians overseas in places where they comprise large numbers like Fiji, Guyana, and Suriname, India will gain respect from the other great nations patrolling the globe.

Those other powers will know India means business and that her nationals should not be messed with – just like how other countries know that nationals of the US or China or France, etc are not to be messed with.

The countries that persecute Indians will know that India will no longer remain silent and go quietly into the night when the safety and security of her nationals are affected. Hostility towards Indians worldwide will decrease with the oppressor knowing that they must think twice before taking action against India’s descendants.

One of the reasons why Indians overseas have suffered and India has not mounted an effective response is her inept bureaucratic system and an entrenched foreign policy that kowtows towards others (even lesser powers). The foreign policy establishment has to be revamped.

Better education and retraining is needed. Doing more of the same will not make India a great power. It must change its foreign policy outlook and behave like a great power.

Guyanese superstar Eddy Grant made two fans’ night when he posed with them during GuyExpo 2014 (Carl Croker photo)

The Guyanese electorate isn’t stupid

Dear Editor, I have already dealt with the idiotic display of a noconfidence vote in a previous letter. However, for emphasis I shall re-educate the framers and promulgators of this notion.

Khemraj Ramjattan in his haste to rule this part of the world has come up with the bright idea of a NoConfidence Motion. His mistaken belief is that come the following day a superpower, possibly the USA, would have removed the PPP/C from office.

He failed to take into account a long drawn-out debate on the matter before the final vote, coupled with the fact that they would have to face an electorate for which they are ill-prepared.

As we delve further into our analysis, what is Ramjattan’s standing in the party. It is a known fact that this man is not loved nor is he respected in that party; he is being used for the Indian vote.

You would remember the temper tantrums thrown

by Raphael Trotman when Ramjattan was to assume the position of leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC). He was furious with the idea of an Indian leading the party. The question remains, why should an Indian wield so much power in the AFC?

It is already their contention that Guyana is “dominated” by a predominantly Indian PPP/C, then why should the AFC be “burdened” by them any further?

Another complicated hurdle the ambitious Indian duo have to live with.

In addition to that, who really is going to take the lead in the new government should they win the next election? Is it the AFC with its measly seven seats, or APNU, the larger and more experienced partner?

These are the worrying questions that Ramjattan has to face up to, which caused him to make that outrageous bribery allegation that the PPP/C is trying to buy its way out of a No-Confidence Motion. It is something David Granger

vehemently denies and which Ramjattan cannot prove.

On the other hand, there is what I call the Granger PNC/APNU factor, the larger, more powerful coalition partner which also wants to rule Guyana… alone. This party always had those lofty ideals of taking hold of power.

However, the reality is they too cannot do so with 26 seats. There has to be an arrangement of some kind with the AFC, so what should that arrangement be? My take on that is, let APNU command the major roles and leave the dregs for the AFC, or give them a prime ministerial role.

Well, all of this is not going down too well with Moses Nagamootoo, who wants to lead his people to the promised land; he wants to lead. So, they will strike a deal of convenience: let the AFC party hold the prime ministerial post. And may I add, it will be 1964 all over again.

Remember the coalition deal hammered out between

Caribbean Airlines: Friend or foe to Guyanese?

Dear Editor,

I read with interest letters surrounding Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) and its loyalty to the Guyana market and I must admit that the airline has indeed served us well over the years.

This is even more evident when one looks at the number of different carriers that have come and served the market for short periods of time and left. I would however like to share some other views on CAL, to really determine the extent to which the travelling public in Guyana has benefited.

The cost of a ticket from Georgetown to Port of Spain, a 55-minute flight, ranges between US$300US$400 depending on the season, while a four-hour flight from Port of Spain to Miami, Florida on the same Caribbean Airlines amounts to the same price or even less. The same can be said for many other routes and anyone can verify this fact

by simply going online and checking the prices of these tickets.

Why is this so? Logically it does not make sense? The answer is simple, CAL currently enjoys a monopoly on the GEO-POS route and its management appears to use this to its advantage, since there is lots of competition on the POS-MIA route.

Caribbean Airlines is a loss making entity which is subsidised on an annual basis by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. How has that impacted Guyana and the rest of the Region?

The shareholders in LIAT are not happy with this subsidy and have openly criticised it as unfair competition. What it appears CAL is doing lowering fares to the point that other carriers cannot compete.

As I mentioned before, we have seen coming and leaving the Guyana market including the reputable Delta Airlines. Those close to the industry have con-

India should reach out...

India must throw out all the Lord Macaulay disease that has infected the foreign policy system and retrain its civil servants to reclaim the great heritage of India.

India must instil in the minds of her youths and her Diaspora her great history. India should stop acting politically correct and base its policies of the ancient scriptures of the land – the Hindu ethos of its origins.

Prime Minister Modi must urge our biggest attention grabber in the world to get on board with the new

programme of reorienting the Indian mindset about her greatness and her origins – Bollywood. The film industry must make movies about the truth of India’s history, her conquerors and her real contribution to the world.

The population of India and the world should know what Indian culture is truly about and not the colonial and Mughal version given to the world or the schools of India that have no basis in truth. The colonial and Mughal versions serve only

the PNC and Peter D’Aguiar that eventually turned out to be the PNC only, and the last election for this country? The AFC can well learn its lesson and avoid falling into that trap.

No good thing can evolve out of a coalition of these two parties. And who will suffer in all this mess? The answer, the people of Guyana. Can we afford this foolishness at this critical juncture of our history? A resounding no!

So, where are we? We are at the stage where the Opposition are of the assumption that they can brainwash the youth into voting for them. They are

banking on the erroneous thought that the youths who did not live through those turbulent years of PNC slavery would cluelessly cast their vote for the coalition.

But here’s the reality of that assumption, those youths would have witnessed “slo fiah, mo fiah” when Indians were attacked and their businesses burned; the Lusignan massacre, the Agricola thug attacks and the direct involvement of Nigel Hughes and APNU.

The youths would have seen the violent display at Linden and the way they were rewarded for their horrible behaviour. Not forgetting the many, many armed

robberies committed by people of a certain ethnicity against those of another on a daily basis, right here in our midst. These are the glaring facts that caught the Opposition flat-footed.

Apparently, these guys think the Guyanese people are gullible and stupid, that they would disregard all this factual evidence and go blindly vote them into office. Do they think that these things can be wished away as mere coincidences? Well, if they entertain that thought, then I ask them to think again.

Sincerely,

Neil Adams

The wanton destruction of wildlife

firmed that the reason Delta withdrew its service was because of predatory pricing.

The issue of protectionism is another point for consideration. Do you remember the difficult time RedJet was having while trying to enter the market? It was given the ‘royal run around’ by the authorities.

It would be interesting to see how the market would operate if there were to be no subsidies to any of the carriers and everyone was allowed to compete fairly in an open market environment. I am certain that we would be able to attract more carriers and as a result of such prices will be lower.

I must confess that I am a big fan of CAL because of the service and reliability it offers in the Region. The question remains though, is Caribbean Airlines really a friend or foe of the Guyanese traveller?

Sincerely,

Larry Tate

from page 5

to soil the world’s perception of Indians. This informational hegemony must be countered.

Also, other nations have tried to physically hegemonise the world – seeking dominance and control. We must hegemonise ourselves with pride in ourselves and from this a courageous nation will be developed ready to battle every problem that arises.

Bollywood should let the world know about our contribution to the World Wars and how many of us were sacrificed for the freedom of

Dear Editor,

Mr A Persaud has written to the press “correcting a distortion of the facts” in response to my letter regarding wanton destruction of wildlife.

It is regrettable that, prior to writing my letter to the press, my attempts to make contact with Mr Persaud on this matter were futile as he could have informed me directly of the circumstances leading to the extraordinary photo of the dead puma sent to me by a concerned citizen albeit two years later.

I hope that he can understand my confusion as the hunter in the photograph next to the dead puma was posing, not with a shotgun, but rather with what appeared to be a high-powered rifle. Nevertheless, better

the Europeans, Africans and Asians. People have been poking fun at Hindu Gods and Goddesses out of ignorance; Bollywood can correct this problem by explaining Hinduism.

Also, Bollywood can make movies about the Diaspora Indians who fought alongside their India-born brethren in World War Two and for India’s Independence. India and the world should also know of the contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose and the Sepoy soldiers during the wars and

late than never.

I restate, as in my original letter, that I believe in working with hunters to address wildlife issues, so I am delighted to learn that Mr Persaud and I share a similar approach to conservation.

Indeed it is this kind of staunch commitment that is necessary to enable us to partner in what I believe is a needed awareness campaign to educate hunters not only on species that are protected from hunting but also on mechanisms to assist when capture and relocation are desired.

Additionally, the fact that the puma meat was given by Mr Persaud “to a Chinese friend who considered it a delicacy” has just broadened the scope of the

those who were shipped to the Caribbean because they fought against British imperialism.

There is a huge gap in knowledge and in relations between India and her diaspora. This gap must be bridged through knowledge in the schools about the presence of Indians worldwide. The history of indentureship needs to be told to Indian students – it is an important part of India’s history.

As the gap closes between India and her Diaspora, peo-

awareness campaign to also reach the Chinese companies and individuals so as to educate them that our wildlife is much valued by Guyanese and tourists alive rather than in a pot.

On Mr Persaud’s contention that “pumas are being hunted legally to this day even in the USA”, I would point out that the American wildlife regulatory agencies have a long history of very robust monitoring of their hunting seasons and such harvesting of wildlife, whereas in Guyana, we are very much in our embryonic stage.

We have a long way to go but the signs are encouraging as the Permanent Secretary of our Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has committed that Ministry’s full support for the awareness programme.

I am convinced that with the help of concerned hunters, such as Mr Persaud, and others who generously engaged me this week that we will get there.

Finally, regarding the questioning by Mr Persaud of my “agenda” for campaigning so strongly about the indiscriminate shooting of pumas and other wildlife, I attach a photo which I hope makes pellucid what my “agenda” is.

Sincerely,

Annette ArjoonMartins

ple will understand the importance of the Diaspora. And the reach of India’s power shall become greater. Lord Rama once built a bridge connecting India to her kin in Lanka. Now that bridge must extend to wherever Indians and her diaspora have landed. Let us be our own avatars for once. All other nations and powers have had a crack at India; it is about time the favour is returned.

Yours truly, Vassan I Ramracha

Annette Arjoon-Martins with a cub

Page Foundation

The importance of attachment in the lives of foster children

Why is attachment theory important for those who work with children?

Attachment theory is concerned with how children’s early relationships affect their development and their capacity to form later relationships. It can be useful in helping those who work with children in care to think about both past and future. It can increase understanding about what children may bring into the new relationships that care involves, and, looking forward, how one can build on the past, modify expectations and strategies that are no longer helpful, and help the development of new positive relationships.

The concepts derived from attachment theory have been widely embraced by those who work in child welfare as they offer a framework for under-

children experiencing behavioural problems.

What does attachment mean?

The British psychiatrist John Bowlby pioneered the concept of attachment in the 1940s, and used the term ‘attachment bond’ to describe a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with a mother or permanent mother substitute in which both find satisfaction and enjoyment.2 In his influential work, Bowlby described the attachment system that helps an infant to seek comfort from their caregiver and develop a sense of security. Bowlby used the term ‘attachment behaviours’ to refer to the actions or signals of infants, such as crying, smiling and vocalising, which usually summon their caregiver and which therefore help the infants feel calm and safe.

fant or young child and the infant or child’s parent (usually the mother) or preferred caregiver. The theoretical basis of most of the attachment research is that secure attachment in infancy will predict good social and emotional outcomes. However, attachment theory is continually evolving in the light of new research and the importance of attachment to developmental issues in middle childhood and adolescence, such as a child’s independent involvement in life experiences beyond the home (at school, with peers and in the community), is also recognised.

How do the different types of attachment help to explain children’s behaviour? Individuals respond to distressing situations in unique ways. The way a child behaves in times of emotional distress, or their

caregivers in unfamiliar circumstances and then reunited. The ‘strange situation’ measures the balance toddlers achieve between the developmental tasks of attachment and exploratory behaviour. Infants were classified into three main groups on the basis of how they reacted to separation (crying, yelling or other distress signals) and reunion (contact seeking, positive gestures and exploratory activity). These were a secure group and two insecure groups (avoidant, and ambivalent/resistant). At a later stage, Mary Main and Judith Solomon11 proposed a fourth group to the three established categories for infants who could not be classified as either secure or insecure, and called it disorganised/disoriented.

How to create a strong sibling bond between your children

BY STEPHANIE MORGAN

The sibling relationship is often the longest, and certainly one of the most important, relationships a person will have in life.

So what can we do as parents to ensure that it will be a positive one? While the future is never 100 per cent certain, there are some basic family principals you can put in place early to try to foster a strong sibling bond.

I recently attended an excellent talk on creating healthy sibling relationships from the beginning. There was a lot of information (the lecturer regularly teaches a 10-week course for parents on the subject). Here are five tips that I found to be especially helpful:

rimental to a child’s wellbeing. But did you know it can also lead to older children imitating these behaviours and bullying younger siblings? Practising positive parenting techniques fosters a healthy parent-child relationship as well as a respectful sibling relationship and high self-esteem (which reduces competition amongst siblings).

egorise attachment security

What is currently known rity in attachment developed oped by Mary Ainsworth and her colleagues10 called the ‘strange situation’. In

tion’ study, toddlers (aged

The original attachment classifications have been described for children up to 20 months, but there have been several attempts to classify attachment relationships in older children and in the adult population. This has confirmed the four patterns of attachment behaviour that originated from the ‘strange situation’.

Children who are secure in their relationship readily seek contact with the caregiver when stressed or worried. In turn, the caregiver is able to respond with comfort and nurture appropriate to the situation, and the child quickly returns to play and exploration. Thus, the child and the caregiver are in tune with one another. (Excerpt from community.nsw.gov.au)

Play as a family: This strengthens the family unit and children who are taught to value the family as a whole will also value their siblings more. Dedicated family playtime also models for siblings how to play fair, which will lead to a healthier relationship. Remember that your involvement in play will decrease as your children get older (but regularly scheduled family time is always important!). The more work you put in early, the better they’ll play together when alone later on.

Use positive parenting: We all know that continued negative parenting practices like yelling and over-punishing can be det-

Curb tattling with “small problems” vs “big problems”: Tattling is such a slippery-slope. It’s impossible for me to watch my children all the time and I certainly want my threeyear-old to let me know if the one-year-old is doing something dangerous. But older siblings can easily start to take on the role of second parent if tattling is encouraged. That’s why I love this concept of “small problems” vs “big problems”. Basically, we tell our son that anything dangerous he sees our daughter doing is a big problem and he should tell us. Pretty much everything else is a small problem and it’s mommy and daddy’s job to worry about it. There’s some grey area of course (hitting or pushing comes to mind) but so far this is working wonders in our home.

Reduce rivalry by reinforcing healthy behaviours: One of the most interesting things I learned was that children have an intense need to be an individual within the family unit. To them, standing out translates to being significant within the family. What’s really fascinating is that they will actually identify who they are in contrast to their siblings – even if that means they have to position themselves negatively. For example, a child will go as far as being “bad” because their sibling is “good”. To put a stop to this, be sure to identify positive attributes that are special to each of your children and reinforce them often. Reduce rivalry by promoting internal pride: Nothing fuels the fires of sibling rivalry more than vying for mom and dad’s praise. Teaching the children to take internal pride in their accomplishments will cut down on their need for (and the competition for) your approval.

Wondering how exactly to do this? The next time your kiddo accomplishes something, fight the urge to issue an instant, “Good Job!” and ask instead how the accomplishment made her feel.

(momtastic.com)

PPP/C observes 22 years in office

... as Opposition ratchets up hostilities

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Sunday congratulated the Government and people of Guyana on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary since the return of democracy to Guyana after 28 years of dictatorial rule.

The party in a statement said October 5, 1992 can justifiably be regarded as a defining moment in the political life of Guyana.

“For one thing, it marked a break from nearly three decades of authoritarian rule by a regime that was foisted on the backs of the Guyanese people by Western imperialist powers which eventually morphed into one of the worst forms of quasi-military and dictatorial rule in the English- speaking Caribbean.”

According to the party, October marked 22 years since the end of authoritarian rule in Guyana following the election to office of the PPP/C Administration after some 28 years of minority rule.

The party said it is a well

both from the democratic forces within the country led by the PPP and from the international donor community led by the Carter Centre.

"The cumulative effects of these two forces forced the PNC to grudgingly cave in to demands for democratic elections which resulted in the end of dictatorial rule and the dawn of a new day in the body-politic of the country.

“The PPP became the main victim of the democratic rupture which took place in the elections of 1968, a mere one year after the PNC kicked out its junior coalition partner, the United Force but only after it had taken total control of the electoral machinery of the state including that of the Elections Commission. It is pertinent to note also that in the elections of 1964, the PPP was engineered out of office by Anglo-American vested interests.

Actually, the United States Administration applied pressure on Britain not to grant political Independence to the colony of British Guiana under the leftist PPP Government. Buckling under pressure, the British Government introduced a new electoral system of Proportional Representation which replaced the First-Past-the Post or Constituency model which saw the PPP winning a majority of the seats in the Legislative Assembly in the 1964 General Elections even though it failed to win a majority of the popular votes.”

The, party said the plan hatched by Anglo-American vested interests in collaboration with local reactionary elements worked out well, thanks to a combination of

established fact that all elections, national and regional, were blatantly and massively rigged by the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime in order to perpetuate its life in Government.

“It would be useful to make mention of the fact that the democratic reforms which took place during the elections of October 5, 1992 did not come about as a result of the altruistic intentions of the then PNC regime but due to intense pressures

racial tension and other acts of political destabilisation fomented by Opposition elements with support from the CIA and other reactionary overseas bodies.

“It is indeed a sad narrative of failed governance that spawned the entire period of PNC misrule which led not only to the impoverishment of the Guyanese people, but at a more fundamental level to the degeneration of the nation-state to a point where the country was reduced to

the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, slightly ahead of Haiti in terms of per capita income.

"Guyana became a laughing stock among Caricom na-

tions and at one time was deemed “uncreditworthy” by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”

The party said it was against the above background that the struggle for free and fair elections has to be situated, noting that the country had reached a point where the regime had become a national liability and a brake on the country’s development.

The PPP and other democratic forces formed a broad alliance, the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) which comprised of a number of political parties, civil society organisations and prominent individuals, which along with the Carter Centre and other international donor agencies, turn on the political heat on the PNC regime which forced Hoyte, then President, to agree on democratic reforms.

National and regional elections which were constitutionally due in 1990 were postponed by two years to allow for a new Voters List and other democratic changes to the elections process.

The most significant of these changes were a new Elections Commission made up of an equal number of representatives from the Government and Opposition sides, a new Voters’ List and the counting of votes at the place. Hoyte refused to agree on the latter on the ground that it would be a “logistical nightmare” to count votes at the place of poll!

Elections held on October 5, 1992, as widely anticipated, led to the end of PNC dictatorial rule and the election to office of the PPP/C. Immediately prior to the 1992 elections, the PPP entered into an alliance with a group of individuals from civil society made up of intellectuals, businessmen and other members of civil society.

Dr Cheddi Jagan became Guyana’s first democratically-elected Executive President and Samuel Hinds

from the Civic component became Prime Minister.

The PPP/C, despite predictions by Hoyte that the new Government could not survive one year in office, is

celebrating this month 22 years in office, having won successive elections in certified free and fair elections.

During this period, the presidency changed hands following the death of Dr Jagan to his wife Janet Jagan, and following her passing, to Samuel Hinds, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, the current President.

The party said one common denominator of all the Presidents that served at the helm of the PPP/C Administration was their ability to take the country along the development continuum as the country soars to higher and higher levels of achievement and recognition and as a proud member of the international community.

It noted that despite obstructions tactics employed by the combined political Opposition aided and abetted by a hostile Opposition media, the country continues to make substantial progress

in every facet of national life.

“The PPP/C is proud of the role it has played and continues to play in the restoration and consolidation of democratic rule in Guyana.

“Congratulations are in order for His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, all former Presidents of the PPP/C Government, Cabinet Members, both present and past, the leadership and entire membership of the ruling PPP/C and all those who have contributed in one way or the other to the growth and development of this beautiful and great country of ours.”

Former President, Dr Cheddi Jagan

Former President Janet Jagan

Former President, now Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

President Donald Ramotar

The PPP/C said one common denominator of all the Presidents was their ability to take the country along the development continuum

STARR Computer to roll out Smart Labs in schools Patriotism...

STARR Computer has been the authorised dealer of Lenovo computers for the last eight years and is soon to implement the “Smart Lab” in the school system. The Smart Lab will see students who carry large volumes of books and other educational materials instead using a flash card or compact discs.

STARR Computer

Director Michael Mohan explained that the Smart Lab will soon be introduced in the education system as technology advances in the country. The initiative can be set up at very low prices with a high level of satisfaction.

One of the lab was installed at Maes Secondary School last week. This Smart Lab is energy efficient, low cost and requires a small footprint (space).

Mohan added that the energy consumption is approximately 112 Watts (two

light bulbs) for a “six terminal workstation” – a perfect solution for schools, offices and home users with large families.

This innovative Smart Lab solution at Maes Secondary School consists of two Lenovo Think Servers which power up to 24 workstations. Each workstation consists of an adapter which connects to one monitor plus a keyboard and mouse.

Data storage

Each, he stated has the expandability to accommodate USB connections, and a headphone, allowing 24 to 48 students to use the system simultaneously.

“In addition, each student can store all their data information and school contents in a single flash drive which they can hang around their necks instead of fetching 30lbs of books on their backs daily,” he added.

This low priced solution

40th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week being observed

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) will be observing the 40th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week from October 5-11 under the theme “Fire safety, a national priority get involved”.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, a series of events, including, school lectures and exhibitions will be held as part of raising awareness on the dangers of fires and the importance of fire prevention.

To usher in the week of activities, a church service was held at the GNSC Sports Complex. Among those in attendance were, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, Prison Director Welton Trotz and Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff

Mark Phillips. All citizens are encouraged to take preventative measures during Fire Prevention Week and beyond, to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the hazards of fire, thereby ensuring the safety of neighbourhoods, and aid the brave men and women of the GFS who risk their lives every day to protect citizens.

Meanwhile, over the years, the Fire Service has been given much support by the administration as several new fire stations have been constructed in communities that have been developing.

In some instances, more fire tenders have been procured, and recently Cabinet gave its approval for training of additional persons interested in joining the Fire Service.

replaces the conventional practice of expensive “stand alone” and “high maintenance” computers which can add up to millions of dollars.

“In short, this solution allows over 60 per cent energy savings (electricity) and up to 90 per cent maintenance cost reduction of a traditional lab. STARR Computer was able to deploy this 48 user Smart Lab in one day,” Mohan reiterated.

He also stated that the low-cost solution requires minimal space for the lab installation, and, most importantly, with the low energy consumption, a small renewable energy kit can be installed to power the entire lab.

The Smart Lab solution is least expensive when it comes to having a school lab functional over a longer period of time. Most importantly, each individual workstation performs and

functions in the same manner as the traditional desktop.

Mohan suggested that this new concept would be a great opportunity for corporate citizens (private sector) to step up and sponsor a class in their community schools, so as to help develop young people in Guyana.

This solution can open the doors to electronic interaction between teachers, students and parents. And better yet, help grow the economy.

Widely used

Mohan said that the Lenovo line of computer equipment is not strange to the Guyanese market. In fact, it has been the most widely used brand by Guyanese over the years due to its durability and fast connections.

The Director stated that only recently, Lenovo took over the IBM Server business after acquiring Motorola's phone division earlier in the year.

Lenovo, he explained, is now poised to be the computer superpower of tomorrow. In 2004, Lenovo had acquired IBM PC division and elevated its standing from number three to number one in 2013.

“With the addition of the IBM high-end System X Servers to Lenovo current line of PC, Think-station, and, Storage enterprise under the umbrella as one Lenovo and one Channel, STARR Computer Inc is poised to increase its 'endto-end' portfolio to provide a wider range of products and services to the Guyanese public,” he said.

Vagrant accused of stealing car mirrors

A42-year-old vagrant was on Friday remanded on a charge of stealing the rare view mirrors of a motor vehicle when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The allegation states that on October 2 at Princess Street, Georgetown, Wayne Gibson stole two rearview mirrors valued $40,000, belonging to Lionel Seenarine.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant told the Court that on the day in question; the defendant was seen removing the mirrors from the car. An alarm was raised and he was arrested.

Refuting the Prosecutor’s facts, Gibson told the Court that he is a vagrant and on the day in

question he was lying under a trailer when he noticed two men interfering with the car.

He did not pay attention to them since he thought the vehicle was theirs.

He noted that he only became aware it was not when the two men began running with a plastic bag and dropped it next to him.

Moments after, he noticed a crowd running towards him, shouting “Is he, is he! So I get up and run caz I thought they coming to kill me so I just jump in the koker,” he said.

Based on his explanation, the Chief Magistrate entered a not guilty plea for him, stating that she cannot let him take the blame for someone’s crime.

However, the Prosecutor objected to bail and Gibson was remanded to prison until today.

Eyew tness

I...and scoundrels

t was observed by Samuel Johnson: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”. But as his biographer, Boswell explained, it “did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak of self-interest.”

Johnson’s acuity in diagnosing the foibles of man is borne out by the fact that 250 years later, he might as well have personally known the owner of the Muckraker, Glenn Lall, who’s cloaking his self-interest with patriotic posturings! Did you, Dear reader, see his “front page comment” – obviously penned by his house slave Adam Harris while he frolics with some of his dear friends on the beaches of Hawaii??

The King of Slime had the chutzpah to claim he’s been working all his life to “serve the Guyanese people”!! So when he conspired to evade taxes on shoes he smuggled into Guyana, he was helping “Guyanese” as his bank account swelled?? And when he bilked the curly-locked Samaroo (now over at Stabber) of the newspaper he turned into a conduit for sewerage, he was helping Guyanese?

What about the “backtracking and underworld connections” which the US Embassy detailed in the WikiLeaks cables?? Or the snitching on business friends?? And we’re supposed to believe this fella with such a “sketchy past” (the phrase is courtesy of the US Embassy) is helping Guyanese by being the beneficiary of two dutyfree luxury vehicles brought in by two impoverished remigrants??

Gimme a break!! No wonder a century later Oscar Wilde modified Johnson’s aphorism a bit more pointedly: “Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious”!!! Glenn Lall is one of the most vicious blackmailers of any number of figures associated with the PPP/C in general and Bharrat Jagdeo in particular. Denied the “favours” he demanded by President Jagdeo, he used the privileged position of the press in a democratic society to tear down the reputation of everyone associated with Jagdeo. Stay quiet or else!!! He’s tried to convince President Ramotar that he’s only after Jagdeo. But the President would have seen the steel claws in the velvet gloves which have ripped into his character by Lall. President Ramotar would know that the filth that’s written about him in “Dem Boys Seh” is spewed by Lall and transcribed by Harris. Beware of feeding the monster!! It’ll devour you in the end.

...subverted

The Stabber News is also obsessed with hatred of former President Jagdeo. But unlike Lall who tried to cosy up with Jagdeo and was fervently supportive of the PPP/C Government until rebuffed in 2008, the Stabber was always anti-PPP/C. Protecting their class interests and projecting their class biases, they resented that someone from “the countryside” like Jagdeo could become President.

The cabal that met weekly at their Camp Street Colonial quarters were, of course, the ones with the pedigree to govern. When Jagdeo stood down the armed uprising against the state between 2002 and2008, it only further enraged them, but their hatred of Jagdeo has blinded them to even elementary logic.

Take their editorial defence of the Muckraker’s claim that the “GRA and Jagdeo are out to destroy” it. Even if the email was hacked and not concocted, exactly how would the financial figures for GTimes, the Stabber and the Chronicle “destroy” the Muckraker??

Or do the figures show the GTimes is now the biggest selling newspaper in Guyana??! Ooooo!! That’ll be the straw that breaks the “Royal Pretenders” backs!!

...and the people

Despite the polls, Dilma Rousseff received the largest block of votes in the three-way electoral race in Brazil over the weekend. She’ll defeat her rival Aecio Neves in the run-off because she’s pro-people. That’s patriotism!!

STARR Computer Director Michael Mohan demonstrates how a SMART Lab operates

Caribbean bankers urge Guyana to pass AML Bill

– to protect Region’s financial system

The Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) has applauded Guyana’s efforts to put alternative measures in place to address the technical deficiencies in its existing legal and financial legislative framework, but urged that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill be passed.

“The passage of the AML Bill is not only about Guyana, but also about the international financial sector as a whole in order to protect all financial systems, within the Region, from ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks. We are only as strong as our weakest link,” said CAB Chairman Carlton Barclay.

Billions of dollars are laundered each year, posing significant policy concerns for Governments worldwide. As a result, Governments and international bodies have undertaken efforts to deter, prevent, and apprehend money launderers.

Non-compliance with the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations will have a significant impact on correspondent banking rela-

tionships which, in turn, are of vital importance to the facilitation of business in the financial services sector of the Region.

“Guyana’s expediency in passing the AML/CFT Bill will not only benefit its own economy and growth but strengthen our regional financial network and its reputation worldwide,” the CAB said.

The CAB is a community of banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean/Caricom Region, which provides opportunities for discussion on issues impacting the regional banking/financial services community as well as for the sharing of experiences

and networking.

CAB is dedicated to the advocacy of national and institutional adherence to AML/CFT. It recommends and supports full compliance with the AML/CFT standards in order to protect all financial systems, within the Region, from ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks by offering ongoing training and education for its members.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall had recently said Guyana is in the process of putting in place alternatives to address the technical deficiencies in its existing legal and financial legislative architecture for the assessment of the FATF.

Interaction

This position was made clear during the face-toface interaction with the Americas Regional Review Group (ARRG) in Miami on September 29. Nandlall, who led the Guyanese delegation to the interaction, said that all of this is as a consequence of the nonpassage of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill.

“Were we able to pass the Bill, then we would not have had to go through this process, but because we did not

Five-star gated community being built at Providence

Astate-of-the-art fivestar gated community is expected to be completed in three years' time behind the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The community called New Life Community is owned by a Chinese investor.

A Chinese representative told Guyana Times that the houses will be constructed mainly by Chinese but Guyanese will also be part of the workforce.

The modern homes will range from G$55 million to G$110 million.

The official related that the area is already being prepared and construction should get underway shortly. She added that the New Life Community is designed and will be constructed based on the most advanced planning and layout which makes it significantly different from the others.

The houses will be built in four specifications: Caramel Cottage measuring 5181 square feet; Silk Haven, 4477 square feet; Tropical Escape, 2907 square feet and Sunrise Villa measuring 3353 square feet. All the houses will have a master bedroom and garage, among other amenities.

She explained that the community will have its own mall, park, bar, post office, swimming pools and gymnasium, all to make life

for the occupants more convenient and delightful.

The community will also have an underground water purification mechanism that will be installed in every home. It will be using both municipal power and self-owned generators.

The New Life Community will be surrounded by a fence equipped with shocking devices, more than 300 infrared monitoring detectors and a 24-hour on duty team of heavily armed guards for maximum protection.

Communities of this sort have been built in Europe, and stand out for being fashionable, unique and artistic.

The company promoted the community at the re-

pass that Bill, we now have to look at alternative mechanisms to satisfy the technical requirements,” he explained.

FATF has appointed a special body comprising representatives from the Americas to work with Guyana for the purpose of making a presentation of Guyana’s case to that body’s plenary meeting on October 18-24 in Paris.

This high-level team will send its work plan to Guyana along with other issues that it may identify for addressing for consideration by FATF. During the meeting with the ARRG, some of the proposals put forward by Guyana as part of the work plan, were also discussed.

Essentially, the final report that will be prepared by Guyana under the supervision of the ARRG will be Guyana’s case to FATF at its October plenary.

Minister Nandlall described the process as a “work in progress”, but noted that the engagement with the ARRG was fruitful and constructive.

As it stands, Guyana is the only country that is so technically deficient in terms of its financial crimes legislative framework in the

Western Hemisphere. All of the other FATF member countries are now concluding their fourth round of examinations.

Minister Nandlall explained, “We are still to graduate from the third round because of the nonpassage of that Anti-Money Laundering Bill.”

Pursuant to the provisions of the extant AML/CFT Act of 2009, the Attorney General said that he had promulgated regulations, guidelines and ministerial directives; however, the issue remains as to whether or not they have the force of law and are effective in addressing the identified technical deficiencies.

Meanwhile, in a previous interview, Nandlall described the parliamentary Opposition’s unrelenting objection to the passage of the Bill as “obstinate” and “obstructionist”. He said that he is not the least bit optimistic that the Opposition will see reason and support the Bill.

Compliance

The AML/CFT Bill was tabled in the National Assembly since early last year and despite the pressures mounted by Guyanese and foreigners alike; the Bill that will bring Guyana into compliance with international requirements, has been voted down, re-tabled in Parliament, crucial deadlines were missed and to date, it is still languishing at a Select Committee whose deliberations have been and continue to be marred by delaying tactics.

The Attorney General said that the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are bent on rejecting it and thereby demonstrating their blatant refusal to implement the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

90,000 elderly citizens need special care – PAHO

Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) Resident Country Representative, Dr Miahali Choo says some 90,000 elderly citizens in Guyana need special care to live healthy lives and feel wanted.

Speaking at a recent three-day workshop on care for the elderly organised by the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), Dr Choo said these are issues which families must take into account.

cently concluded GuyExpo at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia with a gigantic model of the housing scheme, which attracted the attention of thousands.

The Chinese representative indicated that there were several serious inquiries made about owning a home in the gated community and refuted claims that the facility is only for Chinese nationals.

Of recent, the housing sector has been experiencing a boom with several high-level investors putting their resources into gated communities. The gated communities they claim will provide much needed security, comfort and relaxation.

“Old persons have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to diseases than young adults and also face many social issues such as retirement, loneliness and ageing.”

Dr Choo said the United Nations considers old age to begin at 60, and thereafter, there are three phases.

The first being 69-74 years old, which is considered ‘young old’, 75-84 years old considered as ‘middle old’ and 85 years old and over deemed ‘old old’.

According to Dr Choo, PAHO has set age 50 as old age in Africa. In Guyana, the number of elderly persons has been growing as persons are now living longer.

7.5 per cent of persons are between ages 55 and 64 and 5.3 per cent over age 65.

In actual figures, she said, this group consists of more than 90,000 in Guyana; hence, the need to

focus attention on them, noting that treatment of noncommunicable diseases utilise more than 80 per cent of the health budget.

“That means that in a short time, hospitals will need to be equipped to provide access to that population which is growing,” the PAHO official noted.

The three-day workshop which opened on Monday, focused on ageing in Guyana, older persons and health, geriatric care, infections in the elderly, nutrition of the elderly, preventative services, memory alterations, insomnia and pharmacotherapy, among other topics.

“We need to look at how this group of people needs to be treated before they devel-

op complications,” Dr Choo said, while noting that the training will be of great benefit to communities.

BRHA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo said the programme to pay special attention to the elderly started five years ago when the organisation introduced an extended homebased care programme.

“We visit all the bed-ridden who will like us to visit and we have on our register 500 persons currently.”

Government has also trained two persons each in the other regions to provide care for the elderly.

Most of the health centres in Region Six are dedicating one day to care for them.

Some of the participants at the workshop for the care of the elderly

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

CAB Chairman Carlton Barclay

A model of the New Life Community on display during GuyExpo 2014

PNCR not finished with Vanessa Kissoon – Granger warns of greater sanctions

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Vanessa Kissoon can face greater sanctions at the level of the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNCR), party leader David Granger said. Kissoon’s relationship with the PNCR deteriorated following an altercation with General Secretary Oscar Clarke at the party’s Sophia Headquarter earlier this year.

Subsequent to the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress in July, Kissoon was instructed to apologise for misconduct; however, this recommendation which was made by the party’s Disciplinary Committee has been ignored.

In September, another letter was dispatched to Kissoon by the Opposition Leader regarding her membership of the party, but to date, she has failed to respond. Questioned whether her non-responsiveness will affect her membership, Granger in an interview with Guyana Times responded in the affirmative.

It was explained that the letter regarding her suspension formed part of a rec-

ommendation made by the Disciplinary Committee headed by Allan Munroe.

However, it was made clear that while Kissoon’s blatant refusal to respond to the letter can affect her membership at the party level, it will not affect her position in the National Assembly as an APNU MP.

Asked whether he is moved by Kissoon’s posture, Granger responded in the negative. “No, I am not bothered, the matter has been thoroughly investigated and ventilated and Ms Kissoon knows what she has to do,” he declared.

But the issue involving the Region 10 MP is just the tip of the ice-berg. Since the 18th Biennial Congress, the leadership of the party has not met with Kissoon, the Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon or Trade Unionist Leslie Gonsalves. The group, which calls its self the “PNCR Linden Arm”, has indicated its intention to write Granger on a plethora of unresolved issues.

No Linden PNCR Arm

But Granger made it clear that there is no “PNCR Linden Arm”, but a PNCR Linden Coordinator in the person of Sandra Adams. It was explained that the party is currently conducting outreaches on the East Coast and West Coast of Demerara, with the next stop being at Linden, Region 10.

Guyana Times contacted Kissoon on the matter but she declined to comment.

Gonsalves had told Guyana Times that though the PNCR Linden Arm has unresolved issues with the Central Executive Committee (CEC); it remains committed to the party based on the principles of its founder, the

late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

“We have made several attempts to have these issues addressed, several attempts,” Gonsalves said, but to no avail. However, he remains hopeful that a meeting would be convened soon.

Questioned what are the key matters to be addressed; Gonsalves said first and foremost the imposition of Sandra Adams. Adams was appointed as the Regional Coordinator by the Central Executive Committee earlier in the year, much to the dissatisfaction of Solomon and his supporters.

Dictatorship must stop

“If a decision is going to be made on the appointment of a Coordinator, as a region we should be a part of the decision-making progress, it should not be a matter of dictatorship,” Gonsalves explained.

Additionally, he said the issues surrounding Kissoon must be addressed.

“As we speak, I don’t know where that matter lies, but I am not aware that the suspension has been lifted.”

From the initial stage,

Girl, 15, missing

Amother is seeking the assistance of the public in locating her 15-yearold daughter who went missing on Monday.

Shamilla Sugrim of Canje Secondary School had on Monday left her mother’s Smithfield home to go to her grandmother at Vryheid, a village in New Amsterdam, but never arrived.

According to the teenager’s mother Debbieann Wilson, Shamilla has been spending much time with her grandmother who agreed to provide some amount of parenting.

Wilson, who has not been in good health since June last, said on Sunday during a family meeting which included the missing girl’s father, a decision was taken to have the teen move to her father at Leonora.

That should have been done on Monday and arrangements for her to receive a transfer to a new school would have followed.

On Sunday, Shamilla packed her belongings from

Missing: Shamilla Sugrim

her grandmother’s home, leaving her school clothes and books behind.

The young lady said she was taking the items to her mother’s home in preparation for Monday’s trip with her father.

On Monday morning, she left her mother’s home with another bag containing clothes among other things, to go to her grandmother where

her father was scheduled to pick her up. But the young lady has not been heard from since.

Wilson said she was informed by her eldest daughter that a young man with whom the missing girl was very close, had reportedly threatened to elope with her.

The mother of four explained that the young man who is much older that her daughter, claimed that neither she (Wilson) nor her other daughters liked him.

And such, he reportedly said that he was going to take away the young lady and return her when she attained the age of 18 years.

“All I want to know is where she is,” the mother said. The mother is urging persons who may have any information on the whereabouts of Shamilla Sugrim to contact family members on telephone numbers 333-4431 or 660-2568.

The Police have already been contacted and investigations are ongoing.

Kissoon was advised by the “Linden PNCR Committee” not to appear before the Disciplinary Committee. The Linden Committee had even called on Granger to dismantle the Disciplinary Committee, contending that it had already shown a biased face.

“The argument by Mr Granger that this issue is serious, as such a decision was taken by him to suspend Ms Kissoon, does not apply to her since she is not an employee. Ms Kissoon is a member of the party and owns a piece of the party just like Mr Granger,” Gonsalves had argued.

He maintained that investigations should have been conducted before any disciplinary action was taken against the Region 10 Parliamentarian. Nevertheless, the Disciplinary Committee proceeded with its work.

But Gonsalves said the Central Executive Committee cannot continue to sideline its supporters in Region 10, particularly Linden.

“The leader of the PNCR needs to come, sit down and talk about the things that are affecting the people of Linden in Region 10. The parties must try to reach each other half way,” he said, adding: “Although we have been treated badly, our position has not changed.”

No matter wheh yuh come from...

No matter wheh yuh come from, no matter whah de colour of yuh skin, no matter how much money yuh got, no matter who is yuh mummah or yuh daady, once yuh do wickedness, yuh must punish. Once yuh break de law and become a outlaw, yuh must face de law.

It ain’t got no two ways bout that. Neither it ain’t got no ifs or buts bout that. That is just how life does wuk. Some people does get off scot-free wid one and two wickedness some of de time, but it don’t happen so wid all people all of de time. De mighty one above does watch and wait some time.

That is why old people seh moon does run til day ketch am. And every day bucket a go good, but one day de bottom does fall out. And talkin bout bottom, de Paper Man hittin rock bottom these days.

After all, bottom is nutten strange to de Paper Man. But this is de kinda bottom that he not accustom to. If was somebody regular bottom, or he own bottom, he woulda be a happy man, jumpin from top to bottom. But when he got to kneel down and look from bottom to top, is a (w)hole different kinda story.

That is when blackmailin does turn to beggin, and bullyin does turn to bawlin, and bulldozin does turn to bribin. All because de Paper Man dread de gate at Lot 12 Camp Street or better yet, in de Mazaruni big house.

Either which one of dem, that is wheh every one of dem fellas does get down to de bottom of every ting. And Paper Man shine at de top, but only a special few know whah de bottom is like. It gon tek a local Snowden to leak out that kinda info, but in Camp Street or Mazaruni, every ting does be leakin from top to bottom.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And Paper Man know he ain’t gotta choice whether de top or de bottom gon be first!

Integration, partnership will create bigger Caribbean market – Prime Minister

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, while addressing a group of international participants in this year’s GuyExpo, urged Caribbean countries to work together to increase development and better the lives of their people.

“Certainly as we integrate and come together, we will have the possibility of making a larger market that would create better opportunities. It is good for us to partner here, and I hope that you have been seeing opportunities at GuyExpo and elsewhere to form partnerships with Guyanese,” Prime Minister Hinds said.

Among the attendees at the brunch for the international GuyExpo participants were, French Guiana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

He added that according to a book recently published by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) following a study conducted on more developed parts of the world, goods and services need to be perfected in the local market before allowing it into the international market to ensure the success of the produce.

“Together, we can give our own people the opportunity to develop their abilities and performance in goods and services and hopefully get to levels in value for money,” Prime Minister Hinds noted.

The book published by the IDB, according to Minister Hinds, raised the question of developmental pace in the Caribbean compared to the rest of the world. It said the Caribbean is not developing at speed with the rest of the world.

Prime Minister Hinds said there is no doubt that market size is one of the limitations in productivity as there is also restraint on the diversity of goods and services in small markets.

He said Guyana is looking into food exportation, tourism and other developmental ways of adding value to its produce. The current focus of the Government is to add value to Guyanese produce to increase income and recently, at the opening night of GuyExpo 2014, Guyana launched its own rice cereal, Brekkies. This cereal is produced by the Institute of Applied Science and Technology and is a direct product of the $1 billion allocated in the 2014 national budget for the development of innovative entrepreneurship.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds welcomes foreigners participating in GuyExpo 2014 events

PNCR Leader David Granger

APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon

Local DNA testing won’t happen anytime soon – Rohee

In the face of a renewed push, this time by local social activists for Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing services in Guyana, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has said the much needed crime-fighting infrastructure is not on the cards ant time soon.

Rohee told Guyana Times on Monday that while the Government is assiduously pursuing the services to be made available here, it would take some time to happen.

Over the years, the Guyana Police Force has been

lacking in the scientific aspect of crime-fighting with the unavailability of needed advanced technologies.

However, this was recently addressed to some extend with the commissioning of a Forensic Laboratory at Turkeyen, Greater

FAO urges review of market governance to aid smallholders

Governments ought to review the way international agricultural commodity markets are governed, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director General José Graziano da Silva told Ministers from around the world gathered for a meeting on the subject Monday.

Commodity markets caught global attention due to volatile food prices in the past five years. While prices are currently declining, Graziano da Silva noted that underlying issues lurk in market institutions largely forged in the 1970s.

Enormous changes since then, in production and distribution fronts, “have had far-reaching implications not only for how international commodity markets work but also for food security, property rights and access to productive resources, and the position of smallholder commodity producers,” he said in opening remarks at FAO’s third ministerial meeting on international agricultural commodity market governance.

The FAO has piloted the idea of creating inclusive “multi-stakeholder fora” involving all stakeholders in a particular commodity market: government, private sector producers and traders, consumers and non-governmental organisations. It also hosts AMIS, the Agricultural Market Information System, an early-warning monitoring service that allows for coordinated response in times of stress, such as the 2012 droughts in North America and the Black Sea region.

“We need more,” Graziano da Silva said.

Tunisia Agriculture Minister Lassaad Lachaal, Chairperson of the ministerial meeting, said there were “deficiencies” today in amassing reliable, up-to-date information on commodity stock levels and trends and that a stronger institutional scheme to promote policy coordination is needed.

“Governance-related issues are gaining increasing attention, especially in light

of the post-2015 Development Agenda,” he said.

Ministers in attendance included those from Burkina Faso, Central African Repubilc, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Malawi, Mauritania, Portugal, South Africa, Sudan, Tonga, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. Other countries sent Vice Ministers or senior officials, including Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and United States.

The Committee on Commodity Problems, a FAO technical committee with more than 100 members set up in 1946 to survey and review international aspects of commodity production, trade and distribution, will meet from October 7 through October 9.

One question Ministers have been asked to discuss is how commodities should be related to the broader international development goals of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Commodity production and export account for a fifth of the world’s economic activity and are estimated to provide incomes and employment for more than a billion people.

Smallholders in developing countries produce the lion’s share of the world’s agricultural commodities, including non-staple foods such as sugar and coffee.

Improving their productivity and relative prosperity is central not only to FAO’s goal of eradicating hunger, but to the broader United Nations agenda of supporting sustainability in all policy arenas.

Nearly two-thirds of developing countries rely on primary commodity exports for more than 50 per cent of their export earnings. Many countries have high levels of dependence on commodities such as bananas, jute or cotton. Coffee alone account s for two-thirds of Burundi’s export earnings.

Globally, 80 per cent of coffee is produced by smallholders, and the figure is higher for cocoa. Both products are part of global value chains that are often dominated by distributors.

Georgetown.

Rohee at the commissioning of the lab had said while the laboratory does not offer DNA testing, it is currently engaging the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to have this component in the future.

“Based on a mandate given to us by the President and the Cabinet, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the responsibility to work assiduously to introduce DNA laboratory testing,” he stated.

Citing several cases of unsolved murders and unconfirmed identities, the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) group recently announced that in partnership with global activist group One Billion Rising, it will be looking at strengthening the Missing Persons Act and making local DNA testing available for locals.

According to CADVA Representative Dianne Madray, for too long, Guyanese parents and families have buried persons without any sort of confirmation of their identity and too many bodies found have remained unidentified.

She contended that proper systems need to be put in

place to ensure that families get some sort of closure when their loved ones go missing and are not positively identified.

The CADVA founder also pointed out that although the Government has been able to establish a forensic laboratory, the facility does not have the required capabilities to conduct DNA testing.

It was against that backdrop that the Eureka Medical Laboratory will be partnering with CADVA with the hope of making DNA testing available locally.

She pointed to the recent disappearance of Nygozi Goodman, a St Stanislaus High School teacher, noting that no confirmation has been given on the identity of the discovered body.

“Her family doesn’t even know if it’s her body that was found, or what became of the DNA testing… what we need to do is find a way and liaison and put systems in place,” the social activist said.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Ministers gather at FAO to discuss commodity markets

GuyExpo 2014 a resounding

Guyana’s biggest exposition and trade fair culminated on Sunday evening at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia with acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali hailing the expo a resounding success.

The event would have seen a total of 118 foreign booths, buyers and suppliers from several countries, including Pakistan, India, China, Argentina, Suriname and Barbados, among others.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Minister Ali said he was impressed with the level of international participation. He stressed that without corporate Guyana, the exhibitors and more so the patrons, the event would not have been a major success.

“They have really made the event an exceptionally joyous journey,” Ali noted.

The Minister said he was overwhelmed by the high level of international participation, contending

Authority, Guyana taining there was Meanwhile, at both persons Christmas.

“Expect Ministry ready in group with the something ism standpoint.”

In 2015, will be called 2015”.

“We our brothers them back new Guyana ing a future from the rhetoric, in our

that it will do well for the tourism sector.

He said there were a number of factors that would have led to the successes of the event, and which have made it stood out from the past 20 years.

Apart from the foreign booths, the Minister was impressed with the large array of local products on display during the four-day show.

On that note, he said the Guyana Supermarket, which participated in expo for the first time, has done well.

The supermarket featured a wide range of locally produced products that are not only available in local supermarkets, but also in North America and Europe.

“We must give complements to our people, our brothers and sisters who stood committed to GuyExpo, committed to the trade and the economic environment of our country; committed to the local manufacturing industry sector which is very essential in our society and economy,” the Minister added.

He said too that coming out of the Guyana Festival and into GuyExpo, the organising team must be commended for the magnificent job in making both events a success.

He added that it happened in a matter of few weeks and was “pulled off” with great skill and pride.

Apart from the staff of the Ministry and the Guyana Tourism

ment of He has set visiting analysis, close in From gest crowd which visiting Complex. President night described deed the fair and event, ousness cal entrepreneurs. This cal entrepreneurs showcasing locally products.

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Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali

President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar share a laugh with exhibitors at an earthenware booth

Tropical hardwood furniture is shown to former President Bharrat Jagdeo and GuyExpo Co-Chairman, acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali by exhibitors

At the Global Technology booth, patrons had a chance to ‘test drive’ the latest Apple products

Models of agricultural innovations such as the shadehouse, as well as fresh produce, were a big hit at the Expo

The forestry and mining industries were on show under the auspices of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry

Prestige was one of several agro-processors showcasing their products

Games and exciting activities for the entire family were also very much evident

Gizmos and Gadgets’ green ‘smurfs’ put on an energetic performance for an appreciative audience

Photos by Carl Croker and Marceano Narine

eR 7, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.COm

resounding success – Minister Ali

exposition culminatevening at Complex, Tourism hailing the seen a buyers counIndia, Suriname and Times, impressed international parthat withexhibipatrons, the major made the joyous jourwas overof intercontending tourism number of to the which from the booths, impressed with products on show. said the which parfirst time, featured a produced availsupermarkets, but Europe. complements brothers and committed to the trade environment of the losector our soMinister coming out and into team the magevents happened in and was skill and of the Tourism

Authority, he also praised the Guyana Police Force for maintaining safety, and ensuring that there was no major traffic hiccup.

Meanwhile, with the successes at both events, he announced that persons can expect a wonderful Christmas.

“Expect a big surprise from the Ministry of Tourism… we are already in talk with a Trinidadian group to be part of Mashramani with the intention of bringing on something different from a tourism standpoint.”

In 2015, he said, the Ministry will be embarking on a project called “Home coming Guyana 2015”.

“We will be bringing home all our brothers and sisters… bringing them back to Beautiful Guyana, a new Guyana with the aim of building a future that is strong and free from the political rift and political rhetoric, but one that is embedded in our people and the advance-

ment of our economy.”

He also said that the Ministry has set a target of 110,000 people visiting the event and after careful analysis, he is sure that they were close in reaching that figure.

From all indications, the biggest crowd was on Sunday evening which saw close to 30,000 people visiting the National Exhibition Complex.

President Ramotar on Saturday night described Guyana’s and indeed the Caribbean’s largest trade fair and exposition as a fantastic event, which shows the industriousness and resourcefulness of local entrepreneurs.

This year saw hundreds of local entrepreneurs participating, showcasing the creativeness and locally grown and manufactured products.

Giving an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA), as he visited the booths, the President said the fact that thousands of people from all walks of life attended the event, clearly indicates that Public/ Private Partnership, is being embraced by stakeholders.

The President’s visit was welcomed by business entrepreneurs who eagerly took the opportunity to explain, personally, what their displays showcased.

GuyExpo which showcases locally produced goods and services, became an annual event in 2004 and is now the longest sustained exhibition in the Caribbean.

Beautiful flowers and plants were a highlight of GuyExpo 2014

Staff of NEW GPC INC, the Caribbean’s oldest and largest manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, converse with GuyExpo patrons about the company’s wide array of products

Guyana’s investment go-to organisation, GO-Invest was on site to offer the hundreds of businesses and would-be investors advice on how to go forward

The Insta pool was one of the star attractions at GuyExpo 2014

One of the more spectacular booths was E-Networks’ with its enormous TV on the side

Industrial manufacturing companies like the Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry and the Guyana National Industrial Company showcased their products and services

One of the novel features of GuyExpo this year was the GuyExpo Brunch held at Parliament Square on Saturday

An eye-catching booth exhibiting art in multiple mediums

Alleged bandit shot in cross-fire with Police

Aman who is reportedly wanted by the Guyana Police Force for a number of serious crimes was on Monday evening shot and injured by ranks during an exchange of gun fire.

The wounded man has been identified as Steven Mohamed. According to information reaching Guyana Times, Police ranks were conducting a routine road block exercise on the East Bank Demerara Highway in

the vicinity of Friendship when they came under fire from the suspect.

Further reports revealed that the Police returned fire, resulting in a cross-fire between them, during which the suspect was shot and injured. No Police officers was injured in the shootout.

The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted.

This newspaper was told that investigative ranks at the scene have recovered a firearm, along with live and spent shells at the scene.

Residents say they heard a single gunshot then a series of gunshots was heard.

The exchange lasted for about five to 10 minutes. Residents claimed that after the gunshots stopped, there was a commotion among the Police officers in the area.

Brazil’s Rousseff, Neves race for support in election runoff

Atight runoff campaign for Brazil’s presidency kicked off on Monday with leftist incumbent Dilma Rousseff and pro-business rival Aecio Neves racing to win over supporters of the third-placed candidate after she was knocked out of the election.

Neves, a centrist senator, who had been widely written off until a few days before the first round of the election on Sunday, rode a late surge in support to grab second place with 33.6 per cent of the vote.

He will now face Rousseff, who won 41.6 per cent support, in an October 26 runoff to decide what has been Brazil’s most unpredictable election in decades. Rousseff remains a slight favourite due to her enduring support among the poor, but Neves is within striking distance.

His rejection numbers are lower than Rousseff’s and he is expected to pick up most of the 21 per cent of voters who backed the third-place finisher, environmentalist Marina Silva. Brazil’s main stock index .BVSP soared eight per cent early on Monday and was still up more than

five per cent in afternoon trading as investors were cheered by Neves’ strong showing. The country’s real currency BRL= was 1.75 per cent stronger.

“Incumbents with more than 40 per cent rejection struggle to get re-elected, and she is at 43 per cent,” said Ricardo Guedes of lo-

Mexico missing students: ‘No impunity’ vows Pena Nieto

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has vowed to identify and punish those responsible for the recent disappearance of 43 students after clashes with Police.

In a televised address, Pena Nieto described the incident as “shocking, painful and unacceptable”. The students went missing after a protest over job discrimination in the central city of Iguala.

Police opened fire on their buses as they arrived in the city. Twenty-two Police officers are being held in connection with the shooting. “Like all the Mexican society, I am shocked by this situation and I can assure you that there will be no impunity,” Pena Nieto wrote later in his Twitter account.

Concerns about the well-being of the missing students increased on Saturday, when a mass grave was discovered on the outskirts of Iguala following an anonymous tip-off. Twenty-eight burnt bodies have been retrieved from the clandestine graves.

Forensic experts are now trying to establish whether the bodies are those of the missing students. Results are expected within two weeks. The group of students had travelled to the area, in the state of Guerrero,

Persons suspected to be Trinidadians surface in IsIs videos

Two separate videos have been posted on the Internet allegedly showing fighters with TT links involved in the Isis conflict in recent weeks. One of the videos, which runs for 47 seconds, was posted earlier this year on United Kingdom-based video-sharing website LiveLeak.

The video entitled, “21 plus....Graphic and Disgusting...Foreign terrorists in Syria playing with the head of a Syrian citizen after they beheaded him,” purports to show Islamic insurgents playing with the head of a decapitated man in Syria, and features a man talking with what appears to be a Trinidadian accent. The second was posted by ISIS media arm Al-Hayat on August 2. Titled, “Eid

greeting from the land of Khilafah,” it sought to invite international Muslims to join the self-proclaimed caliphate.

That video also showed an ISIS fighter, who identified himself as Abu Abdurahman al-Trinidadi encouraging Muslims to join the organisation. “I’m feeling like I’m still dreaming,” Abu Abdurahman al-Trinidadi, who reports said was a US fighter originally from Trinidad, said in the video. “You have to be here to understand what I’m saying. If you stand away you will not understand,” he added. Al-Trinidadi was holding a young child in his hand and was standing with another man who was identified as having Trini roots as well. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Concerns in Dominica as band from Ebola-hit Nigeria set to perform

The main Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Monday called on the organisers of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) to say what steps have been taken to prevent the possibility of the Ebola virus being detected in Dominica.

UWP leader, Lennox Linton, told a news conference that at least one band from Nigeria is expected to perform at the October 2426 festival.

“If this band is going to come here having been in

an African country to which they were exposed to the virus, it must be possible at this stage to begin the process of ascertaining whether any of these band members are being exposed to risk factors that would make their arrival on our shores or present some difficulties when they arrive on our shores,” Linton told reporters.

“If the Government’s Ministry of Health is unable to do that, the preferable thing to do would be to deny entry for that one band,” he

added.

More than 3000 people have died in West Africa from the Ebola virus for which there is no known cure. The time between acquiring an infection and showing symptoms and signs varies from two to 21 days. The virus is highly infectious and is spread by person-to-person transmission through direct contact with bodily fluids or secretions of infected persons including blood, sweat, urine or faeces.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Death of 9-year-old Trinidad boy linked to obeah ritual

Anine-year-old boy died late Saturday in what is believed to be an obeah ritual.

The Police report that Abeomi Jeremiah was found motionless in a bedroom, with candle wax on his eyes, face and ears.

Shortly after 23:00h, Abeomi’s mother smelt

smoke coming from a bedroom in the family’s home in Chaguanas. She found Abeomi’s 12-year-old sister with her hair on fire.

A wardrobe containing clothes had also been ignited. The mother went to check on her son who seemed to be asleep on a bed in the same room but he was unresponsive. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police are questioning a teenage relative who was seen clutching a lit candle and allegedly acting strangely. A book on rituals was also found in the room.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Lightning kills 11 indigenous Indians in remote Colombia

Lightning killed 11 indigenous Colombians and injured 15 others during a meeting of Kogi Indians in a remote mountainous area in the country’s North, the Government said Monday.

The Kogi leaders, who were gathered at a community in the isolated Sierra

Nevada de Santa Marta range in Magdalena department, were killed by “an electrical charge from a lightning bolt”, the national public defender’s office said.

“Tribal leaders were meeting at the moment when this natural phenomenon took place,” the office,

charged with protecting Colombia’s human rights, said.

The statement added that a community advocate has been sent to the area and that a group of regional officials would accompany the injured to the Caribbean city of Santa Marta for treatment. (Jamaica Observer)

cal polling firm Sensus. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said there was no room for impunity in any society under the rule of law

Spanish nurse becomes first to contract Ebola outside West Africa

ASpanish nurse has become the first person to contract Ebola outside of Africa, casting doubt over measures taken in Spain to control the potential spread of the deadly disease.

The nurse had helped to treat two priests who contracted Ebola in Africa and were repatriated to Spain. Some 30 other health workers and those who came in contact with her are now being monitored for symptoms.

Both priests died shortly after reaching Spain. Each had worked in West Africa, where an epidemic of Ebola has spread through Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia since March, killing more than 3400 people in the largest outbreak of the disease in history. Cases have also reached Senegal and Nigeria.

Spanish officials said they still had to find out how the nurse, who was not named but identified as married with no children, contracted the viral infection, which causes fever and bleeding.

“At the moment we are investigating the way in which the professional was infected,” Antonio Alemany, the head of Madrid’s primary health care services told a news conference. The nurse was one of a

Kashmir: Nine civilians killed in IndiaPakistan border firing

India and Pakistan have accused each other of unprovoked firing along the disputed border in Kashmir in which at least nine civilians were killed. Five civilians died after Pakistani troops fired shells into Indian-administered Kashmir, India said.

Pakistan said four civilians in Pakistanadministered Kashmir had been killed in firing by Indian troops. A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it.

In August India cancelled talks with Pakistan after accusing it of interfering in its internal affairs. Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first speech at the UN, said he wanted peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it

must create an “appropriate atmosphere”.

The latest firing is being seen as one of the worst flareups since the 2003 ceasefire deal, the BBC’s Andrew North in Delhi reports. It happened as Kashmiris were marking the Muslim festival of Eid, with villages on either side of the de facto border reportedly hit by a combination of mortar, artillery and machine gun fire. There is no way of verifying the conflicting accounts of what happened.

Officials of India’s Border Security Force said Pakistani soldiers fired guns and mortar shells at 10 of its border posts and some villages in the Arnia area in Jammu district over the weekend, leading to the deaths of civilians there. Thirty others, including women and children, were injured. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Street fighting rages in Syrian town as Islamic State moves in

Street fighting raged between Kurdish defenders and Islamic State militants who advanced into Kobani on Monday after subjecting the Syrian border town to an assault lasting almost three weeks, residents and fighters said.

Islamic State had earlier raised its black flag over a building in the outskirts and forced thousands more of Kobani’s mainly Kurdish inhabitants to flee for their lives across the nearby border into Turkey.

The head of the Kurdish forces defending the town said late on Monday that Islamic State forces were 300 metres inside Kobani’s eastern district and were shelling the remaining neighbourhoods.

“We either die or win. No fighter is leaving,” Esmat al-Sheikh, leader of the Kobani Defence Authority, told Reuters. “The world is watching, just watching and leaving these monsters to kill everyone, even children... but we will fight to

the end with what weapons we have.”

Islamic State wants to take Kobani to consolidate a dramatic sweep across Northern Iraq and Syria, in the name of an absolutist version of Sunni Islam, that has sent shockwaves through the Middle East. Strikes by American and Gulf state warplanes have failed to halt Islamic State’s advance on the town, which it has besieged from three sides and pounded with heavy artillery.

Hajj free of Ebola, MERS: Saudi Minister

The annual hajj pilgrimage which drew two million Muslims from around the world has been epidemic-free, Saudi Arabia’s acting Health Minister said on Monday.

specialist team who treated elderly priest Manuel Garcia Viejo at the Madrid hospital Carlos III when he was repatriated from Sierra Leone with Ebola on September 21. He died four days later. (Excerpt from MSN)

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, engaged thousands of health workers to make sure pilgrims were protected from two deadly viruses, Ebola and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The mission succeeded, acting Health Minister Adel Fakieh told reporters as pil-

South Africa’s Kruger National

Park invites bids for 500 white rhinos

South Africa’s Kruger

National Park is inviting bids for rhinos under a plan to move 500 of the animals to safety to counter a wave of poaching for their horns, highly prized in some Asian countries as a sign of wealth.

In newspaper adverts on Sunday, South African National Parks invited potential buyers to “make a written offer to purchase white rhinos in batches of 20 or more”.

Private ranchers own around 5000 of South Africa’s 20,000 rhinos, part of a thriving game farming industry in Africa’s most advanced economy that caters for eco-tourism and

hunting.

The Government is turning to the private sector because the Kruger has become the main poaching ground for the animals. More than 1000 were poached in South Africa last year – three times the tally in 2010 – to meet soaring demand for rhino horn, coveted as an ingredient in traditional medicine in fastgrowing economies such as China and Vietnam.

Government data shows at least 821 have been killed illegally so far this year, 531 of them in the Kruger. The 2014 total is widely expected to exceed 2013, when a record number of rhinos were poached. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

grims performed the final rituals of the hajj and began returning home. “I am pleased to announce the hajj was free of all epidemic diseases,” Fakieh said.

Among its preventive measures, Fakieh’s Ministry set up a “command and control” centre to direct the hajj health operation, and required every pilgrim to complete a health screening questionnaire.

Passengers were monitored by thermal cameras that detect high body temperature, and 15 isolation rooms were set up to hold

any suspicious cases at the airport in the city of Jeddah. Fakieh said 170 people were considered as possibly having MERS but all proved to be negative.

Saudi Arabia is the country hardest hit by MERS, which has killed 322 people in the kingdom since it first appeared in September 2012.

The Health Ministry on Sunday reported two more MERS deaths, one in the capital Riyadh and another in Taif, 80 kilometres (50 miles) East of the holy city of Mecca. (Excerpt from MSN)

Hong Kong protests: Formal talks agreed as protests shrink

Representatives from Hong Kong’s Occupy Central movement have agreed to hold formal talks with the Government.

No date has been set but the students made it clear the talks would be called off if the remaining demonstrators were cleared from the streets by force. As the protests entered their second week, crowds began to die down as civil servants returned to work on Monday.

Pro-democracy activists are protesting at China’s plans to vet candidates when Hong Kong holds elections in 2017. They are demanding that the central government in Beijing allow a fully free vote for the territory’s leader.

The BBC’s John

Sudworth in Hong Kong says that although the number of protesters has fallen since the weekend, a hardcore group still remain and had bedded down on the barricades on Monday night. The first round of preparatory talks with student representatives and some Government officials ended on Sunday night, and on Monday it was agreed that both sides would begin a formal dialogue. The BBC’s Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says protesters appear to have decided to beat a strategic, possibly temporary, retreat – partly out of sheer exhaustion.

She says activists have been encouraged by the news of the informal meetings to lay the groundwork for talks on political reform.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A Spanish health worker looks at Ebola patient, Catholic priest Manuel Garcia Viejo, before loading him into a Spanish Air Force transport plane at Lungi airport in Freetown, for his repatriation to Spain for treatment on September 21

The two sides blame each other – villagers are caught in the middle

The protesters are angry at China’s plans to vet candidates when Hong Kong holds elections in 2017

White rhinos at rest. South African national parks are trying to sell some of the animals to private buyers to protect them from poachers

tuesDAY, october 7, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Indian Prime Minister to visit Guyana, Suriname

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Guyana and Suriname early next year. Since Indira Gandhi’s visit to Guyana in 1968, to seek support against Pakistan, no other Indian Prime Minister has visited Guyana. And it will be the first ever visit to Suriname by an Indian leader.

East Indians make up large chunks of the populations in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. They begin arriving as indentured workers in Guyana in 1838 and in Suriname

in 1873, mainly from the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and comprised about 80 per cent Hindus and 20 per cent Muslims.

In Suriname, most Indians still speak Hindustani.

The Indian leader once visited Guyana while he was Chief Minister of Gujarat and is keen to make a statement that his Government takes the Indian Diaspora seriously. Modi has been lobbied heavily to visit and to expand ties with overseas Indian communities.

Modi’s visit to Suriname was confirmed by President Desi Bouterse in his address to Parliament last week. Bouterse will also make an official visit to India in 2015.

The Surinamese President said that his Government has budgeted for these events.

The trip could be merely symbolic and a statement that Modi will closely monitor the global Indian diaspora.

While ties with these countries have been very strong, India has yet to make any significant investment in these countries.

(Adapted from Caribbean News Now)

NCN maintains APNU harassed its journalists

The National Communications Network (NCN) says it stands firmly by the statements of its journalists who say they were threatened and harassed by Executives of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The national broadcaster in a statement said first and foremost, its employees have absolutely no reason to impersonate any other media house.

“We are proud of who we are, and as such, condemn APNU’s poorly manufactured lies about our journalists.

“The interpretation of the APNU's response further establishes the suspicion that media houses aligned to that party will always have un-

fettered and uninterrupted access to any and all of its activities,” NCN said.

It noted that the attacks are consistent with the Opposition's anti-NCN campaign, part of which has been consecutive cuts to NCN’s budget, jeopardising the future of the entity and the livelihood of its employees.

“NCN wishes to reiterate that it firmly stands by the statements of its journalists, who were harassed and threatened by APNU Executives Volda Lawrence, Amna Ally and other known provocateurs aligned to the APNU.

“The APNU’s anti-NCN campaign is a serious assault and attack on press freedom, particularly being

New AFC Councillor joins Region Six RDC

Region Six Chairman David Armogan recently welcomed Devin Sookraj, a new Councillor at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) as he urged the others to continue to conduct their business in a cordial manner.

Sookraj was sworn in on Thursday by Deputy Regional Executive Officer (REO) (Finance) Imran Ally. He will be representing the Alliance For Change (AFC) and has replaced Mohamad Mookshah who is now deceased. Armogan, in welcoming the new Councillor, said he will be looking forward for his positive support to the RDC as he has received from his colleagues in the past.

that NCN is a national network that caters to the national needs and has been the only media entity that has embraced every aspect of national life, including providing coverage to the very party that is seeking to castigate, vilify and destroy the entity,” the statement which was a response to a statement from APNU concluded.

For its part, APNU had called on the NCN take the “beam out of its own eye” saying that it found the media entity’s statement to be ludicrous, disingenuous and mendacious. APNU said it recently had cause to ask two reporters to leave a meeting after they intentionally lied about their media affiliation.

Devin Sookraj

Criminal cases backlog reduced by 63

With a backlog of over a hundred criminal cases, the figure has been reduced by 63 after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chambers disposed of them.

This is according to a report issued on the assizes review of the three counties. In Demerara, the June Criminal Assizes ended on October 1 and saw a total of 49 cases disposed, but only 31 had engaged the court’s attention.

The other 18 were nolle prosequi (do not prosecute) by the chambers; one for attempt to commit murder while the other 17 were sexual offences for which the victims did not want to pursue the matter.

There were five convictions, seven not guilty verdicts, 15 formal verdicts of not guilty, one case was quashed and Preliminary Inquiry (PI) ordered to be done de novo, one retrial and two hung jury verdicts.

During the month of June, Justice William Ramlall heard two cases: one for the offence of rape and robbery, and the other for the offence of murder. The joint indictment was quashed and the trial judge ordered that the PI be done De Novo (do over). The accused in the murder case was freed af-

ter the jury panel returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

57 years imprisonment

Justice Navindra Singh completed two cases for the offence of murder, which resulted in one accused being sentenced to 57 years imprisonment after the panel returned a unanimous verdict of guilty while the other case saw the accused being acquitted when the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

Meanwhile, Justice Dawn Gregory disposed of three matters, all for the offence of murder. The accused in one of the cases was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after the jury unanimously found him guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The other two matters saw the accused being sentenced to 12 and 15 years after they both pleaded guilty to the lesser count of murder.

In July, seven matters were heard by Justice James Bovell-Drakes. These matters were all sexual offences. Five of the cases resulted in the accused being freed after the Virtual Complaints (VC) testified that they no longer wished to give evidence against them; hence, the juries were directed to return formal verdicts of not

guilty.

The victim in a buggery case had migrated and no longer wanted to proceed with the matter and the accused in an incest case was acquitted when the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. Justice Diana Insanally completed four murder cases. The accused in one of these cases was further remanded to prison while awaiting a retrial after the jury failed to arrive at a unanimous verdict.

No-case submission upheld In another matter, the judge upheld a no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. This decision was appealed by the state. The accused in

the other two cases were freed after the panel returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty.

Seven sexual offences cases were heard by Justice Rishi Persaud. The accused in a matter involving rape of a child under 15 years pleaded guilty and was jailed for 30 years.

However, the VCs in the other six matters indicated that they did not wish to testify and the jury was directed to return formal verdicts of not guilty.

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan disposed of four cases, all of which were also sexual offence cases. The accused in a rape case was acquitted after the jury had returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty while in another rape matter, a retrial was ordered after there was a hung jury.

The VC in a carnal knowledge case of a girl under 15 years did not want to offer any evidence against her alleged perpetrator and the panel was directed to return a formal verdict of not guilty. In a matter for the offences of rape, buggery and robbery under arms, the unrepresented accused informed the court that he will need five years to prepare his own defence and was further remanded.

Justice Franklin Holder

completed two murder cases, one of which he withdrew from the jury and directed them to return a formal verdict of not guilty. The accused in the other murder matter was acquitted after the panel returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

On the other hand, Justice Holder presided over the May Criminal Assizes in Essequibo during which he dealt with four matters. For the offence of manslaughter, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty while another accused was sentenced to nine years imprisonment after he was found guilty of buggery. The DPP Chambers nolle prosequi matters during this time.

Trial aborted

Meanwhile, in Berbice, six matters were disposed of by the judges; one by Justice Reynolds during the month of June and the other five by Justice Navindra Singh. Justice Reynolds commenced a trial for the offence murder, but it was aborted after the defence claimed that a juror was seen talking to a witness.

Then Justice Navindra Singh completed five matters. In two of three murder cases, retrials were ordered for the accused because the juries failed to

reach a verdict. The other murder case saw the accused being found guilty and was sentenced to 55 and a half years imprisonment after the jury returned with a unanimous guilty verdict. In another carnal knowledge case involving a girl under 15 years, the accused was jailed for 25 years when the jury returned with a unanimous guilty verdict. The accused in the matter for the offence of sexual activity with a child was acquitted after the VC did not want to proceed with the matter. During this period, one matter for the offence of carnal knowledge of a girl between 15 and 16 years was nolle prosequi by the DPP because the VC indicated that she no longer wanted to proceed with the matter.

The Demerara October Criminal Assizes will commence today with a total of 226 cases listed to be heard by Justice Singh, Justice Reynolds and Justice Gregory, while the Berbice Criminal Assizes is set to open on October 21, with 52 cases.

Justice James BovellDrakes will be presiding.

The Essequibo Criminal Assizes is schedule to start on October 28 with 19 cases to be heard before Justice Holder.

Justice Navindra Singh

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Edghill: “Opposition seeing jumbie behind every bush”

Minister within the Finance Ministry Bishop Juan Edghill has lauded acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali for his excellent management of GuyExpo 2014 and called on the Opposition to be mature enough to admit it.

He said the People Progressive Party/Civil (PPP/C) will continue to sell Guyana, create opportunities for all Guyanese and amplify what already exists “in this beautiful land”.

“PPP/C continues to have the political will, the drive, the initiative and the interest in expanding the private sector and in expanding family business, moving it from one level to another,” Edghill noted.

He said the Government will continue to work in the best interest of the people, pointing out that it is encouraging that a lot of foreign investors are interested in Guyana as evident by their participation at the recently concluded expo.

Some 118 international investors were part of the grand four-day exhibition.

“If we had different approaches to marketing Guyana, it could have been

1800, but the 118 that were here is an indication the despite of all the hostility, the negative propaganda… people are seeing the truth and the facts about Guyana and are engaging.”

Unpatriotic

Edghill contended that there are people who are still projecting Guyana in a scandalous and libel manner, but despite all the negativity, the country is still progressing.

The Minister added that GuyExpo is used as a vehicle to showcase local talents

and help the manufacturing sector to forge new linkages, expand markets and create new opportunities.

On that note, he rubbished claims from the Opposition parties that the PPP/C Government was using the expo to garner support in case of an early election in 2015.

“If that is the case, then we would have had elections every year from 1995 to date, because it has been going on every year, it is a yearly event.”

According to the Minister within the Finance

Ministry, such comments by the Opposition are typical of their brazen way of insulting the Guyanese people.

He said that persons who stormed the exposition were there to have a grand time, and more so to have discussions and negotiations with the various exhibitors.

“I would carefully say it to those in the Opposition who see a jumbie behind every bush, please don’t insult the intelligence of the Guyanese people, you will be judged harshly.”

Edghill divulged that recently he came across a quote that says “your enemies whisper your successes but broadcast your failures”.

He said Guyanese must bear this in mind and make wise decisions.

The Minister said he has seen in the past that when “something good is happening, it is being hidden but as soon as something bad happens, it makes headline, but we need to show to the Guyanese people who are the real enemies of our progress”.

The 20th edition of the explosion was held under the theme “Transformation: Partnering for a Better Guyana”.

GGDMA worried about slumping gold price

… as 4-year-low hits

The price of gold plummeted to a four-year low on Friday – US $1192 before marginally recovering to US$1206 on Monday.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the price of gold fell to its lowest level in four years after strongerthan-expected US employment data intensified investors’ concerns about how soon the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates.

According to Goldprice. org, the highest price for the precious commodity ever recorded was US$1826.70 in August 2011. However, over the past months, the price of gold has wavered between US$1300 and US$1500.

Local gold miners, like their international counterparts, have been uneasy over the declining gold price.

Guyana Gold and

Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding told Guyana Times, in a telephone interview on Monday, that the ripple effects would definitely be felt in the local gold mining industry. He warned too that miners should brace themselves, as the price is expected to take another tumble in the near future.

Harding explained that the GGDMA has been monitoring the drop in the gold price in recent months with a keen eye, and there is no telling how far it will drop.

Intervention needed

More importantly, Harding highlighted that the falling prices reflect a need for change in the local industry, since it “cannot survive on these prices”.

He said that at this juncture serious intervention is needed to avert a crisis and protect the investment of the Private Sector into Guyana’s gold sector.

It was against that backdrop that Harding pointed out the Miners Association intended to meet with the Government and regulatory officials to brainstorm ideas to cushion the effects of the slump in the gold price on the local mining sector.

The issue of value added production in the sector has been brought up several times, and it has been tout-

ed as a method of reducing dependency on the international market, but Harding pointed out that small miners cannot look to value added production.

According to Harding, they are “mandated” to sell their gold to the Guyana Gold Board which offers the price that is available on the international market, so “something else has to be done to bring the industry back in line … we have to get out of this crisis”.

Gold refinery

Amid the falling international gold price and low gold declarations to the Guyana Gold Board, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

Education Ministry investigating students’ sex video

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said an investigation has been launched into a sex video involving four students of a popular Six Form Secondary School.

Last Wednesday, the video of the students went viral on social media, attracting over 1000 likes and shares, with hundreds of nasty comments.

The video was leaked by an individual who is not a student of the school in two separate clips, each showing a different girl performing oral sex on a male student.

Up to late Monday evening, the video had spread from Facebook to other social networks and blogs.

According to Minister Manickchand, her Ministry only learnt about the video last Thursday, and an investigation was launched immediately to identify the persons in the video, and where the escapade took place.

Manickchand said the Ministry will be sending a very strong message to students but in dealing with the matter, consideration will be given to the future of the ‘actors’ in the video.

on Friday disclosed that Government was looking to set up a gold refinery.

Responding to a question posed by Guyana Times at a press conference, the Minister related that the idea of setting up a refinery in Guyana was one that was being considered by Government and stakeholders in the mining industry.

He said: “Value added (production) continues to attract the attention of various parties outside of the gold industry, so we are talking to the jewellery- producing community to look at how we can expand and enhance the jewellery production sector.”

According to Persaud, if this endeavour is successful,

While many persons pointed fingers at the school

the target market will not only include local but overseas markets, where the demand for gold is much greater. While the mining sector is primarily focused on gold, bauxite and diamonds, Guyana also has deposits of semi-precious stones, laterite, manganese, kaolin, sand, radioactive minerals, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, iron, and nickel among others. Guyana produces high-value refractory A-grade bauxite, which is produced nowhere else except in China.

The mining and quarrying sector represents a critical component of Guyana’s

and contend that such acts are a “regular practice” in the school system, others say parents have to be more vigilant about the activities of their children.

This comment was echoed by the Deputy Headteacher of the school.

“Parents need to talk to their children about these issues and make it their duty to question their children and develop a strong relationship with them. Parents should know more about their children, who their friends are, where they go before and after school, who they go out with etc.”

He said these moral depravities contribute to a decline in students’ academic performance as it affects their focus on their studies.

Earlier this year, a teacher was seen having sex with a 14-year-old student in the classroom after he dropped his cellphone, which was apparently used to do the recording.

Only recently, Teaching Service Commission Chair Leila Ramson complained that paedophiles remain a problem in the school system.

The problem appears to be deeper than what the TSC Chair has estimated.

economy, accounting for 50 per cent of exports.

The substantial increase in the price of gold over the last few years had given rise to increased declarations and exports.

Interest in gold mining had also increased. Much of Guyana’s growth in recent years had come from a surge in gold production in response to then skyrocketing global prices. The downward trend in gold prices may threaten future growth. However, the prospects are still encouraging, as exploration results suggest that significant gold deposits are still there to be mined.

Minister within the Finance Ministry, Bishop Juan Edghill

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

GGDMA President Patrick Harding

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

You will reap benefits from property or personal investments. Everyone will be on your side, and changes at home will be well-received. Don’t give up when you are so close to winning.

You will have conflicts with youngsters. Financial losses are likely if you get involved with an unscrupulous salesperson. Your social life could use a boost. Get out and enjoy yourself.

Be careful when it comes to sharing your plans. Someone will want to take credit for your ideas. If you feel uncertain, it would be best to avoid getting involved in a joint endeavour.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Lectures and travel should be part of your plans. Don’t hesitate to ask friends and family for advice if you are questioning what you should do next.

If a project has reached a dead end, take stock and consider taking a different approach. Look for someone who can offer a contribution that will get you back on track.

Unexpected surprises lie ahead. Pay close attention to your finances. Go over your spending in detail and cut your overhead. You’ll feel less stress if you know you can cover your expenses.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Despite your best intentions, a current love connection will pose a problem for you. Take a step back and try to see things from a different perspective.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Attention to detail and the ability to absorb pertinent information will help your unceasing quest for success reach a turning point. Take the plunge and put your ideas in motion.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You will feel like you are running out of steam. Have a sincere chat with anyone who is being demanding or difficult, and set some realistic boundaries.

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Tackle correspondence or personal files that are overdue, and sort out what’s irrelevant and put it aside. Homing in on what’s important will help you find a moneymaking alternative.

Trust your instincts. You have the knowledge to conquer a lucrative project, and the time to put your ideas in motion is now. Be assertive when showcasing your talents.

Long-lasting damage will occur if you are too demanding. Try to see the situation from your opponent’s perspective. Go out of your way to keep the peace and keep things moving.

Peanuts

dilbert

AQUARIUS

CANCER

GEMINI

calvin and hobbes

Courts Pee Wee heats up this weekend

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

he annual Courts

TPee Wee competition is set to continue on Saturday with another dozen games, starting at 10:00 hours at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.

After an fantastic start last Saturday at the same venue, the winning teams will be looking to continue on their merry way, while those who didn’t start so well and others who failed to show would hope for a reversal in fortunes.

While West Ruimveldt and Green Acres earned victories without breaking a sweat after their respective opponents, Redeemer and Comenius failed to show, Tucville sent an early warning to the other pri-

mary schools, blowing away Thomas Moore 6-0.

Tucville was led to victory by two players, who etched their names on the score sheets with a hattrick each. Kevon Marques, who opened the floodgates in the third minute, added two more goals in the sixth and 28th minutes, while Rayheem Marques was on target in the 12th, 22nd and 25th minutes.

A Wesley Thompson double in the 28th and 30th minutes powered St Stephen’s to a 2-0 success over St Gabriel’s, while Oziah Vieira’s 24th minute strike proved the winner in St Angela’s 1-0 win over F.E. Pollard.

Defending champion St Puis had to settle for a share of the points af-

ter their game against J.E. Burnham ended in a nil-all stalemate, while Success secured a walkover from Enterprise.

Fabian Bollers scored the lone goal for East LaPenitence in their 1-0 win over Ketley, while South Ruimveldt and North Georgetown took full points after their opponents, St Ambrose and Winfer Garden were a no-show.

Smith’s Memorial stitched together a 3-1 victory over St Margaret’s with Gavin Allen (8th), Tarel Elias (29th) and Kemyon John (30th) being the goalscorers. Josiah King netted St Margaret’s consolation goal.

The other game of the day saw a Darron Nyles double in the 22nd and

off

The tournament is a collaborative effort of Courts

Reifer, Chandrika, Joseph, Wintz and Singh complete...

Draft

A list of 102 players was part of the PCL Draft. The remaining players, who were not picked will be available for Pay-For-Play contracts at the discretion of the various franchises.

Each of the franchises has nominated 15 players and the WICB nominated an additional 12 players.

The Professional First Class Franchise System will be engaged in a professional cricket structure on a dayto-day basis, year round, under a Head Coach and support staff.

All six franchises will be given US$45,000 per month to fund their operations, but will be required to raise revenue as well.

More so, under this new initiative, player will be categories into three levels, A, B and C with the first carrying a price tag of USD $2,500, the second USD $1,700 and third USD $1,250, based on the category the player may fall within.

While players now have the opportunity to become professional cricketers, and at the same time earn a lucrative pay cheque, there are also repercussions for delinquency and capriciousness.

Contracted players, who failed to comply with the contract specifics, face a suspension penalty up to one year.

To this end the players will have to maintain their fitness which will be tested by the WICB’s fitness scheme where players from across the six countries will continuously be under the scope to ensure physical requirements are met.

Further a non-contacted player is still eligible for selection to their respective franchise team. However, a contact does not guarantee that the player will play in all the games, since performances will be the key. The Regional four-day tournament bowls off next month.

Franchise make-up

Barbados Franchise: Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Kyle Corbin, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Kevin Stoute, Omar Phillips, Jomel Warrican;

Tino Best, Shai Hope, Kenroy Williams, Ryan Hinds, Roston Chase.

Jamaica Franchise: Carlton Baugh Jr, Dave Bernard Jr, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Dawes, Damion Jacobs, Tamar Lambert, Nikita Miller; Andre McCarthy, Shacoya Thomas, Horace Miller, Brandon King, Brian Buchanan.

Leeward Islands Franchise: Quinton Boatswain, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Yannick Leonard, Steve Liburd, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh, Kelbert Walters; Anthony Martin, Gavin Tonge, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jacques Taylor, Lyndel Richardson.

T&T Red Force: Adrian Barath, Rayad Emrit, Shannon Gabriel, Steven

Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Marlon Richards, Lendl Simmons; Akeal Hosein , Ramnaresh Sarwan, Yannick Ottley, Jeremy Solozano, Bryan Charles. Windward Islands Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Delorn Johnson, Keddy Lesporis, Kenroy Peters, Liam Sebastien, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Tyrone Theophile; Mervin Mathew, Nelon Pascal, Lindon James, Dalton Polius, Romel Currency.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

Rajendra Chandrika

Vishaul Singh

24th minutes piloting Stella Maris to a 2-1 win over 2012 champions Marian Academy, whose goal came

the boot of Alaister Phyll in the 28th minute.

(Guyana) Inc., Banks DIH Limited, the Education Ministry and the Petra Organisation.

The Courts Pee Wee competition has been a great success over the years

Narine’s withdrawal: better sooner than later

– had he continued bowling, the intense scrutiny of his action in an international series could have dented his confidence and value substantially

By Tony Cozier

West Indies have again been jolted by the suspension and withdrawal of one of their major spinners, this time their most prominent.

As much to the point, Sunil Narine’s censuring by the umpires for a suspect action in successive matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League T20 that ended in Bangalore is further evidence that the ICC has finally grasped the game’s most agonising nettle, one that it had attempted for too long, albeit with good intentions, to handle with kid gloves.

It has changed its softlysoftly approach to the burgeoning number of bowlers with flawed actions - in plain language, throwers, chuckers, pelters, stoners, call them what you willand now encourages umpires to report those they deem to be transgressing.

Celebrated spinners

Narine and Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan are the contemporary game’s most celebrated spinners. Ajmal is tenth among the ICC’s Test bowlers, tops in ODIs, fourth in T20s; Narine is second in both ODIs and T20s. They are superstars, in lucrative demand in the several T20 tournaments across the globe.

They have both been cited, Ajmal in a Test against Sri Lanka in June, Narine at a lower level, in the Champions League. Since

June, seven others of lesser standing have been reported for the same reason.

The unambiguous message is that the ICC will now rely more on the umpires’ judgement in the matter of the incalculable geometry of 15-degree elbow flex, a system it first introduced into the equation in 2004,

meaning correctly. It identified 28 bent-elbow bowlers - yes, 28 - in its recent domestic T20 tournament, of whom 17 are offspinners. Eight were immediately suspended so that they could have their actions straightened out before it is too late.

The West Indies Cricket

ing in his debut first-class match, aged 17, by the umpire Steve Bucknor; Narine needed remedial work after his first season. Lawson’s suspension halted what was a promising career after 13 Tests.

At least now, Curtly Ambrose, West Indies’ bowling consultant, is work-

initially as a concession to the greatest of all the offspin/doosra bowlers, the Sri Lankan wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has quickly read its

Board (WICB) and its various affiliates need to follow suit with equal swiftness, at all levels, from first-class to youth and club cricket.

Shillingford was noballed three times for throw-

ing to tweak the actions of Ronsford Beaton, 22, and Ray Jordan, 20, presently the two most promising young fast bowlers in regional cricket.

Ajmal has enjoyed long-

Graeme Swann calls Kevin Pietersen’s attack on Matt Prior ‘codswallop’

Kevin Pietersen’s explosive claims that Andy Flower tolerated a culture of “mocking, bullying and ridicule” within the England dressing room have prompted the game’s hierarchy to close ranks around the former national coach.

In Pietersen’s long awaited book, released to the media on Monday after his confidentiality clause with the England and Wales Cricket Board expired, the batsman claims that the behaviour of a clique led by the wicketkeeper Matt Prior and bowlers including James Anderson and Stuart Broad was akin to workplace bullying. “They ran an exclusive club. If you were outside that clique, you were fair game for mocking, ridicule, bullying. That’s what those guys did,” he said.

Graeme Swann, who Pietersen said was a member of a bullying clique that so traumatised one young player

that he was reluctant to field, was the first to hit back calling it “the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne”.

Pietersen also claims that he was made a scapegoat for England’s 5-0 defeat in Australia in 2013-14, after which the selectors axed him from the national side, and heavily criticises the ECB hierarchy for failing to spot the problems earlier.

“I was left feeling isolated and bullied but nobody seemed too bothered as long as I did my performing seal routine when I went out to bat,” writes Pietersen.

Swann said Pietersen appeared to have targeted those no longer in a position to influence his possible return for England. “I immediately realised it was codswallop when I read the character assassination of Matt Prior,” said Swann, speaking at a grassroots cricket awards lunch at Lord’s. “Tragically I don’t

think Kev realises the one person who fought tooth and nail to keep him in the side is the one person he is now assassinating: Matt Prior.”

Pietersen’s most vitriolic criticism is reserved for Flower, called a “mood hoover”, and Prior, who is lambasted as “backstabbing” and bullying. The pair were once close but Pietersen mocks his

former friend for referring to himself in the third person as “the Big Cheese” or just “the Cheese” and belittling junior members of the squad.

“A clique choked our team and Andy Flower let that clique grow like a bad weed,” writes Pietersen in KP: The Autobiography, saying it took hold from 2009 onwards.

Perhaps fittingly given

er success than most at all levels. The revelation that his elbow extension during recent trials covering eight overs at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane was, on average, an absurd 40 degrees brings up the question as to how come he managed to pass an earlier examination and was free to play 35 Tests.

Another pertinent question is what logic determines that a bowler under suspicion can play on for one more match? As an example, in 2005 in the Caribbean, Shabbir Ahmed, the tall Pakistan fast bowler who threw with real pace and menace, helped win a decisive Test with match figures of 8 for 119 before starting his suspension. It is a pattern often repeated.

Paul Grayson, Essex’s head coach, made a similar point about Ajmal’s influence with Worcestershire in the county season just ended. Ajmal’s 63 wickets were taken at 16.47 runs each; it was, Grayson contended, the difference in Worcestershire topping his side for promotion to Division One.

This is not to say that Narine, or Ajmal for that matter, will similarly struggle on return; it is just that they are likely to be less effective without the method that has made them so successful.

Since the Champions League is a domestic tournament, Narine’s sanction did not extend to West Indies’ series of five ODIs against India that starts in

the centrality of technology to many of the controversies in the book, from the parody Twitter account that angered Pietersen to the text message exchanges with South Africa players that led to his expulsion from the squad in 2012, followed by his “reintegration”, Prior responded by tweeting.

“Obvs sad to see the accusations against me this am and I will have my right of reply,” Prior wrote. “However today is not the day and Twitter is not the place for it! Now back to my Achilles rehab and learning to walk again!”

Chris Tremlett was one former team-mate to come out in support of Pietersen, tweeting: “Glad @KP24 has finally been able to give his side of the story. People can now make an informed opinion of what went on in the dressing room.”

In vaguely shambolic scenes the ECB had not been given a copy of the book before it was released to the media and said it was therefore unable to comment. Their chairman, Giles Clarke, working on International Cricket Council business, confirmed he had yet to see a copy.

But the ECB managing

Kochi on Wednesday. It was a difficult choice for Clive Lloyd and his selection panel to withdraw him from the entire tour; it is clearly based on the possible effect further scrutiny might have on his confidence, as it will on all those now in the same predicament.

Strong character Knight Riders’ coach, the Australian Trevor Bayliss, describes Narine as a strong character with an upbeat attitude, and that he is “happy to work on anything that needs to be worked on”. It is best that he works on whatever is now needed, for if not properly and quickly dealt with, the Champions League affair could well determine his future, for West Indies but even more so in the IPL, where he has been by far the most influential bowler since being signed on by Knight Riders after catching their attention while playing for Trinidad and Tobago in the Champions League in 2011. If he simply played on with the shadow of eagleeyed umpires at an ICC series hanging over him, would he be as attractive a buy at future auctions? Judging by Narine’s calm on-field reaction to the pressure as the top bowler in the IPL, Bayliss’ assessment is well taken. The ICC has made its belated move. Its affiliated boards, Narine, Ajmal, and all affected players need to now respond accordingly. (Cricinfo)

director, Paul Downton, said there had been “no formal or informal complaint about bullying” during the period in question.

Several England players were understood to be angry with the portrayal of Prior and the ECB plans to examine the book to see if there was any basis for action on Flower’s behalf. The former Zimbabwe international stepped down as head coach in February following the Ashes debacle but has a new role in charge of England’s academy.

The former England captain Nasser Hussein said he always found the very public berating of fielders who dropped catches or made a mistake “a little bit odd” but said that Pietersen’s frustration was mainly born of cricketing failure.

“It was an exceptionally well led, well run cricket team that were achieving a lot. It tells you a lot about team spirit, which is always there when you’re winning but fades away when you’re losing,” he said. “All of this comes of losing that Ashes series 5-0. The respect had gone.” (theguardian)

It’s best that the necessary modifications to Sunil Narine’s bowling action be made as quickly as possible

Graeme Swann with Kevin Pietersen in 2008. The former England spinner has criticised his one-time captain’s book. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

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KP: The Autobiography…

KP reveals how career ended

Kevin Pietersen’s final days as an England player were dominated by hotel-room meetings, dismissive glances, brooding resentment and mistrust and finally open-mouth shock as he listened to the explanations for his sacking given to him by the ECB hierarchy.

The final straw in his fractured relationship with Andy Flower came on the eve of the final Ashes Test in Sydney when Flower summoned Pietersen to his room to ask about the player’s rubbishing of him during an outspoken team meeting which had been convened, without the support staff, following the defeat in Melbourne.

In his autobiography which is published by Sphere on Thursday, Pietersen says that he was made out to be the major back-stabber during the Melbourne meeting and writes that it was Matt Prior, another with who the relationship had fallen apart, who said “f**k Flower this is not his team” and that he was just reiterating condemnation of Flower’s intense approach he had been making for two years.

Pietersen was also angered by the fact Prior, whose assertive role as vice captain often compensated for Alastair Cook’s reticence as captain, was so central to the meeting despite being dropped.

He calls the decision to put the emphasis on fitness levels between the fourth and fifth Test “insane” and “a move right out of the Flower playbook” and explains how he pulled Cook aside to tell him he was wrong. “We needed to be reminded that, somewhere lost in the middle of the all the shit, we were a decent team with some decent cricketers.”

Pietersen admits that during that meeting he “got into a huge argument” with Flower who told Pietersen “you really disappoint me.” He slams Flower’s talk of building a legacy which had been used in the build-up to the tour. “He had thought that by hinting that he was finished his team would say, oh no…Instead guys just thought, hey, this f****r is bailing out and he needs us to make him look good.”

As Pietersen was leaving the room, he tells that Flower said to him that he hoped he scored some runs in the Test. “That lodged in my head… Actually I get what you are saying. I get the veiled threat, so why don’t you just f**k off, Flower?”

Shortly after the Sydney Test finished, inside three days, the rumours of Pietersen’s future started circulating. “From the moment I left Flower’s room in Sydney, I had a sense that the inner circle were telling each other that they had to find some way to get rid of me.”

A little over a month later, in another hotel room, this time across the road from Lord’s, he had his international career ended by Paul Downton, the new managing director of England cricket, who as Pietersen discovered on a Google search “was a lower-order middle-order batsman with a Test average of 20.”

Downton explained his decision by saying he had never seen anyone so “disengaged” from the team as he witnessed over the three days of the Sydney Test. In his autobiography, Pietersen writes that he felt was a pre-ordained decision to end his career.

“He’s been forced to admit there was no smoking gun. The only charge seems to be that Paul Downton, watching his very first Test in his brand-new job, opted to study me exclusively and concluded that I looked ‘disengaged’…I would love to know how any cricketer facing Aussie bowlers on their home turf could look ‘disinterested’.

“Or does it have nothing to do with my batting? Is Downton claiming that he was watching me when I was in the outfield? Why would

recalls was his comment in the meeting to which he says “Downton said he had seen the way I had played - I hadn’t battled well. Careless. Really? I looked at him, my mouth hanging open.”

Pietersen went onto ask Downton if he had watched the Melbourne Test, where he scored 71 in the first innings, but Downton said he had been flying. “No, he went on, but he saw the way I got out. Reckless. I just said, wow.”

he do that, if not in order to gather evidence to strengthen a case that somebody must have already made to him?”

He questioned why Flower, with whom Pietersen’s relationship had reached rockbottom, was not asked “what the hell was going on”. “They knew the truth…They knew that a clique choked our team, and that Andy Flower let that clique grow like a bad week.”

Pietersen claims the ECB needed a scapegoat who was “big, boisterous and annoying…somebody who left colourful footprints on the pristine white carpets.”

Pietersen reveals he had two meetings with Downtonone at Lord’s before the ECB hired a suite to deliver their final judgement. “I am glad that we are doing this in a hotel,” he writes of his thoughts on the day. “As I walked past all the desks in the ECB offices for my first meeting with Downton a few days ago, I felt like the school troublemaker on his way to the headmaster’s office.”

That first meeting had left Pietersen shocked at Downton’s response to his self-assessment of his performance in the Ashes. “Look, I said, I didn’t bat well as I could. I did okay,” Pietersen

The first conversation with Downton finished with Pietersen being asked what his ambitions for the future were and he picked out the 10,000-run target which has been his oft-stated aim. Pietersen says the response from Downton was “I would have preferred you to have said, I would like to help England win matches.”

When Pietersen found out the second meeting would also include James Whitaker, the national selector, and Cook he was not optimistic. “I know, though, that while Cooky is a nice man, he is also a company man. A safe pair of hands; he won’t rock the boat.”

Downton then told Pietersen of the decision that “you are not going to be part of the process going forward” to which he asked “Right. So you are sacking me?” before an exchange followed where neither Whitaker or Downton appeared to want to confirm the finality of the news. “Silence,” Pietersen writes, “Whitaker nodding, Cook still looking at something really fascinating on his shoe.”

Pietersen admits he made some mistakes and remarkably still holds out hope of a comeback. “I didn’t always tread wisely. I was often naïve and sometimes stupid. I was no villain, though”.

“Cricket is politics. Bad politics. Things change overnight. I believe that the governing body of English cricket could change; I believe it should change. I am happy for now, but I would be happy to come back. Anything can happen in cricket.” (Cricinfo)

Da

Paul Downton viewed Kevin Pietersen’s shot in Melbourne as reckless

Former WI seamer Lawson in USA squad

Former West Indies fast bowler

Jermaine Lawson could make his USA debut after being chosen in a 14-man squad for the ICC WCL Division Three, which takes place between October 23 and 30 in Malaysia. Lawson, 32, once took a Test hat-trick for West Indies in his 13-Test career, but had not appeared for them since the opening Test in Brisbane against Australia in November 2005.

Lawson moved to the USA in 2010 and qualified to play for USA this year based on the ICC’s four-year residency requirement. He becomes the third former West Indies international in the last two years to be selected for USA in an ICC tournament squad, joining Adam Sanford and former USA captain Neil McGarrell, who have both been dropped following USA’s 15th place finish in their most recent event, the World T20 Qualifier last November in the UAE.

Lawson has not appeared in a USACA tournament since 2011 and instead has kept busy barnstorming around the country in private T20 tournaments. He has also been playing club cricket in New Jersey and New York, where he now resides. His selection for USA, though, comes at a curious time given that there are still doubts in local cricket surrounding the legality of his bowling action; he had been called for throwing in a local league in Jamaica, in 2006.

Three more names who figure prominently as returnees to the USA squad are Steve Massiah, Usman Shuja and Aditya Thyagarajan. Massiah resigned as USA captain ahead of last year’s World T20 Qualifier in what USACA stated in a press release was a move to allow Massiah to focus on his batting. Massiah was initially named in the squad to tour the UAE, but withdrew prior to the squad’s departure for Abu Dhabi, allegedly due to a rift with the touring squad management.

Shuja and Thyagarajan were controversially axed from the USA squad ahead of the team’s participation in the last WCL Division Three tournament in Bermuda, in 2013. Shuja is USA’s second-highest wicket-taker in 50-over cricket, and Thyagarajan is

the team’s fourth highest run-scorer in the same format. Their experience was badly missed at the event, as USA suffered a shocking upset on the final day of the group phase at the hands of Bermuda, a team they had not lost to in ICC tournaments since 2005. The result put USA in third place and kept them out of the World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand.

The return of Massiah, Shuja, Thyagarajan and opening batsman Sushil Nadkarni is a plus for USA, part of a big shakeup following a miserable performance last year in the UAE. Besides McGarrell and Sanford, six other players were dropped, including Timroy Allen and Orlando Baker. Baker captained USA to an 8-0 success at the ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 tournament in Florida last year, while Allen served as vice-captain to McGarrell in the UAE and stood in as captain for two matches when McGarrell was injured late in the tour-

nament. Allen was named Man of the Match in USA’s only win in the group phase, against Canada.

The other four players to be axed were fast bowler Imran Awan, wicketkeeper Akeem Dodson, and allrounders Barrington Bartley and Japen Patel, who captained the South East Region to a share of the tournament title at the USACA Twenty20 National Championship in August. The other two players entering the squad are Adil Bhatti, who earns a recall after being named the best batsman at the USACA Nationals in Florida, and Timil Patel, a former Ranji Trophy representative for Gujarat.

Timil rose to prominence at the national level in 2012 when he starred for the Southern California Cricket Association in their championship win at the first American Cricket Federation T20 National Championship. He was drafted into the USA squad for the first time later that year against Canada in the annual Auty Cup series. Timil captained USA in 2013 against Canada in Toronto but the legspinning allrounder was ineligible to play for USA at ICC tournaments until this year due to the four-year residency rule. Timil moved to Los Angeles in 2010 where he plays for Vijayta Cricket Club, currently undefeated and in first place in the SCCA, which still maintains its status as an ACF league.

USACA did not name a captain in the squad release, but sources have indicated that Massiah has a prominent say in the composition of this squad and is in line to take the mantle once again. USACA also stated in its release that the rest of the tour management would also be named at a later date. USA will play their first game of the tournament against Bermuda, on October 23.

USA squad: Danial Ahmed, Fahad Babar, Adil Bhatti, Karan Ganesh, Muhammad Ghous, Elmore Hutchinson, Jermaine Lawson, Steve Massiah, Sushil Nadkarni, Timil Patel, Srinivasa Santhanam, Usman Shuja, Steven Taylor (wk), Aditya Thyagarajan. (Cricinfo)

Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double ‘can be done’ in 2015

Organisers of the Giro d’Italia say the route for the 2015 race could favour a rare Giro-Tour de France double.

No rider has won both races in the same year since Marco Pantani in 1998, but Alberto Contador and reigning Tour champion Vincenzo Nibali are expected to target the feat next year.

The 2015 Giro, which runs from 9-31 May, features five mountain stages, seven ‘flat’ stages and a time trial.

“The Giro-Tour double can be done,” race director Mauro Vegni said.

The Giro - one of three Grand Tours in the cycling calendar - covers 3,481km, starting in Riviera dei Fiori and finishing in Milan.

Cyclists could be in for a busy year in 2015

Marussia driver ‘critical but stable’ after crash

Marussia driver Jules Bianchi’s condition is “critical but stable” following his crash in the Japanese GP, world motorsport’s governing body the FIA has told BBC Sport.

The 25-year-old was unconscious when taken to hospital and had an operation on Sunday on a severe head injury.

The Frenchman was injured when his car left the Suzuka track where Adrian Sutil had crashed the lap before.

Bianchi’s car hit a recovery vehicle that was removing Sutil’s car.

Marussia earlier thanked fans for their support and asked for “patience and understanding with regard to further medical updates” about Bianchi’s condition.

The team added: “Marussia would like to acknowledge the huge outpouring of affection and support for Jules.

“Further medical updates will be communicated in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, where Jules is being treated, when they feel it is appropriate.

“Representatives of the

Marussia F1 Team and Ferrari will remain at the hospital to support Jules and the Bianchi family.”

Bianchi’s crash prompted the race to be stopped after 44 laps with Mercedes driver and championship leader Lewis Hamilton awarded the race victory.

Bianchi, who made his F1 debut with Marussia in 2013 and is also a member of the Ferrari young driver academy after previously working as a test driver for the team, lost control close to where Sauber driver Sutil had spun and hit the tyre barrier.

As a recovery vehicle was lifting Sutil’s car, Bianchi travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.

Conditions were wet at the time of the accident and Williams driver Felipe Massa said he had been “screaming” his concerns about the amount of water on the track.

Hamilton said the result was incidental in the circumstances, adding: “To hear one of our colleagues is seriously injured is the main worry.” (BBC Sport)

Phelps suspended from swimming for six months

Michael Phelps has been suspended from all competition for six months by USA Swimming following his drink-driving arrest.

Phelps, 29, was stopped by police after being caught travelling 84mph (135km/h) in a 45mph zone in Baltimore, Maryland, on 30 September.

The most decorated Olympian in history, he apologised before announcing he was taking a break from the sport.

He will also not take part in the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

However, the Spaniard, who rides for Tinkoff-Saxo, added that the inclusion of a 59km time trial on stage 14 could suit his British rival Chris Froome of Team Sky.

“A lot will depend on the weather and how it is raced,”

Contador, a two-time Tour winner and the 2008 Giro champion, said: “I like the route. It suits the riders who like to race aggressively.”

Contador said. “On paper, it looks best suited to a rider like Froome.”

The three-week Tour de France will start in Utrecht on 4 July 2015.

The 2014 Giro was won by Colombia’s Nairo Quintana for Movistar. (BBC Sport)

Although his ban ends on 6 April, 2015, USA Swimming say Phelps will not be chosen to represent the United States team at next August’s championships.

He has also had his fund-

ing withdrawn for the length of his ban.

Phelps won 22 Olympic medals between 2004 and 2012, 18 of them gold.

He retired after the London Games but returned to competition in April.

Phelps was previously charged with driving under the influence in Maryland in 2004. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in exchange for 18 months’ probation. (BBC Sport)

Jermaine Lawson last played an international game for West Indies in 2005

Jules Bianchi suffered a crash in the Japanese GP

Michael Phelps

Bynoe enhances reputation with handsome double

Albion win BBCI First Division final

Rookie Barbadian jockey Damario

Bynoe continued to enhance his growing reputation at Northlands Park when he scored with a brace on Saturday’s nine-race card.

The 22-year-old, the 2013 champion apprentice in Barbados, was one of five Caribbean riders to reach the winners’ enclosure at the western Canada racing oval, on a day when runaway leader Barbadian Rico Walcott again went surprisingly winless in seven rides.

Bynoe, however, was the only West Indian rider at the double, scoring with 3-1 bet Lynnwood in race two and with 8-1 chance Sunny Creek in race five.

In what is his first campaign outside of Barbados, Bynoe now lies fourth in the jockeys standings on 41 wins, just one behind third placed Ismael Mosqueira.

Walcott continues to lead with 120 wins, with Scott Williams second on 66. The season wraps up October 25th.

Bynoe opened his account over a mile on dirt when he piloted Lynnwood to a convincing win over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.

He settled the six-yearold brown mare off the pace in the early stages, allowing Patty Wack to post the early fractions with Kiss Me Goodbye and Captain’s Tale in pursuit.

Bynoe gained with Lynnwood along the backstretch, engaged the leaders on the final turn before

taking control in the stretch and sprinting to the wire four lengths clear.

He returned to the winners’ circle in race five over six furlongs when he and Sunny Creek repelled a challenge from Rojano Dancer, ridden by Barbadian Chris Husbands, to get to the wire by three-

quarter lengths.

Bynoe stalked with the three-year-old gelding from third as The Breeze and Italian By Marriage, made the running through the first quarter.

Italian By Marriage, with Renaldo Cumberbatch aboard, got to the front but Bynoe challenged on the last turn to lead at the top of the stretch. Rojano Dancer came on strongly but Sunny Creek held well.

Meanwhile, Barbadian Desmond Bryan found his touch in race one with 5-1 bet Metifee Bay, carrying the three-year-old gelding to victory in a mile trip.

Trinidadian Nela Mohammed kept up his good form, scoring with 6-1 chance Logan’s Filly in race four over six furlongs, as they beat the two-year-olds by 1-1/2 lengths.

Former champion, Barbadian Quincy Welch, paired with 9-1 bet Lucky Shot in race seven over 6-1/2 furlongs to beat the threeyear-olds and upward while Cumberbatch and five-yearold bay gelding Northern Yankee were too good, also for the three-year-olds and upward, storming to the finish 8-1/4 lengths clear.

narine will come back stronger – gambhir

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir is confident Sunil Narine will return a “better bowler and a stronger individual” after being reported twice for a suspect action during the Champions League T20. Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo Gambhir said, “He [Narine] is, was and will always be an integral part of KKR and the entire squad will stand behind him and I hope he can come back as a stronger human being and can achieve much bigger heights than he has achieved in the past.”

Narine was suspended from bowling in the CLT20 final and was also withdrawn from the West Indies squad for the ODI series against India starting later this week. Gambhir admitted he was “shocked” when he was first told about Narine’s action being reported after a group game against the Dolphins on September 29.

“The only thing I can say at the moment is it’s a tough time for him, but he’s a strong character. I had a long chat with him after the game and I told him he needed to get this monkey off his back because he himself doesn’t know if there’s anything wrong with his ac-

tion,” said Gambhir. “The good thing is now he will get to know whether there is actually a problem in his action. If there is any, he will try to sort that out and come back a stronger human being and a stronger character as well. He could take all that pressure and be a much better bowler as well. Sometimes when these things start playing in your mind, what will happen if I bowl this delivery, what will people be talking, etc. Once he gets this off his back I am 100% sure he will be a much

better bowler.”

Narine is another in a long line of offspinners including Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal and Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake who have been called in recent months for suspect bowling actions. Ajmal and Senanayake are banned from bowling in international cricket at the moment. Gambhir says that while he finds “nothing wrong” with the purge on bowlers with suspect actions he hopes there is consistency in the process.

“Hopefully they are not targeting certain bowlers and they should not be targeting certain bowlers,” he said. “Sometimes the biggest challenge in these things is to be consistent and that’s where I think it can get unfair. Till the time you are fair I am fine with it, whether it has to do with actions, batsmen, bowlers or xyz. For me consistency is very important in any sport.”

In Narine’s absence, Knight Riders were beaten comfortably by eight wickets in the CLT20 final by Chennai Super Kings. While Gambhir admitted he missed the offspinner’s services, he said the change in conditions played a big role in the outcome. “[When] Batting first [and with] the way the ball was gripping, we thought 170 was a good total, so getting to 180 we were very confident that we could defend that total,” he said. “Sometimes the dew makes it very unfair on the spinners, their spinners got a lot more out of the wicket than ours and we had quality spinners as well. Raina played a very good knock and obviously conditions changed as well. I don’t want to take anything away from CSK.” (Cricinfo)

ACricket Club defeated Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, in the process of winning the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) First Division Knockout cricket competition in Berbice on Saturday at the Alboin Community Centre.

In a final which had high expectations of being competitive and the first time a Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) final was being played under lights, Albion dismissed Rose Hall for 116 before coasting to 120-2 off 27 overs.

Gudakesh Motie spun a web around the Rose Hall batsmen, claiming 5-22 off 7.1 overs as the visitors were dismissed in 36.1 overs.

Narsingh Deonarine had done some early damage when he removed Delbert Hicks (24) and Keon Sinclair in quick succession to leave Rose Hall tottering at 63-3 in the 23rd over.

Motie was brought on in the 25th over and immediately had Rajiv Ivan dismissed for 15 as Rose Hall slumped to 89-4. The former West Indies Under-19 player was also responsible for the dismissal of Shawn Pereira, Royston Crandon (29), Vidal Crandon and then finally he had last man Troy Mathieson caught on the long boundary to complete his five-wicket haul.

Deonarine finished with 2-21 off seven and Sharaz Ramcharran 2-22 off nine, while Veerasammy Permaul had one wicket.

When Albion took the crease having to bat for 55 minutes before the interval, Berbice wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble was bowled off the second ball on the innings by Matheison as the hosts were 1-1.

West Indies batsman Deonarine then joined Kandasammy Surujnarine, and immediately announced his presence with three boundaries in one over.

Surujnarine then joined in on the run scoring, but later fell leg before to Eon

Hooper for 22 just before the interval. The hard-hitting Jonathan Foo and Deonarine took their team home, but not before frustrating the Rose Hall bowlers.

With 23 overs completed and a further ten runs needed for victory Deonarine and Foo played some excellent shots but on the less than perfect Albion outfield they did not reach the boundary and the batsmen refused to run.

After about three overs the bowlers seemed to seeking the umpires’ intervention while the small crowd kept calling on the batsmen. Foo eventually gave up his patience and hit a four and six in successive balls to end the frustration. Deonarine was not out on 64 (7x4s) and Foo 35 (1x4, 2x6s).

Scores of spectators had come to see the game under lights, but were disappointed at the early end. However, in an effort to appease the crowd, one spectator agreed to put up $50,000 for the teams to play a 15/15 game under the lights.

Treasurer of the BCB Anil Beharry later apologised to the spectators, saying that the animosity which existed between the two teams resulted in them refusing to play the game. The presentation ceremony was also called off after spectators erupted at the announcement.

Barbadian jockey Damario Bynoe scored with a double on the day’s nine-race card

lbion

Jonathon Foo Narsingh Deonarine

Gudakesh Motie

Gautam Gambhir: Maybe making a comeback is never easy, if I had been able to get a few starts, obviously I would have been a lot more confident

Reifer, Chandrika, Joseph, Wintz and Singh complete Guyana Franchise

– Sarwan to represent T&T Red Force

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Barbadian all-rounder Raymond Reifer along with Guyanese opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika, middle-order batsman Vishaul Singh and fast bowlers Keon Joseph and Paul Wintz completed the Guyana Franchise for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League’s (PCL) Regional Four-Day and NAGICO Super50 Tournaments.

The five players were chosen at Monday’s inaugural Player Draft of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League, staged at Accra Beach Hotel in Barbados.

Reifer, the 23-year-old left-handed batsman, has represented the Combined Campuses and Colleges in 23 First-Class games and 10 List A games. He is also a useful left-arm medium-fast bowler with 31 First-class wickets.

The five players joined the 10 retrained players: West Indies players Devendra Bishoo, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul and Christopher

Barnwell, West Indies A team fast bowler Ronsford Beaton and First-Class players Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Trevon Griffith.

Former West Indies

Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was among the additional pool of 15 players provided by the local franchise for the player draft nominees, was

picked by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Sarwan, the stylish righthander, who has 15 centuries from 87 Tests, but has not played Test cricket since July

2011, is the only Guyanese who will represent another country.

Anthony Adams, Ricardo Adams, Robin Bacchus, Kevon Boodie, Royston Crandon,

Chanderpaul Hemraj, Steven Jacobs, Raun Johnson, Amir Khan and Zaheer Mohamed were the additional pool of 15 players provided by the local franchise for the player draft nominees were not successful at the player draft.

Veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is a centrally contracted WICB player, is an automatic pick for Guyana Franchise.

Meanwhile, the Leeward Islands five picks are Anthony Martin, Gavin Tonge, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jacques Taylor and Lyndel Richardson. Jamaica five picks are Andre McCarthy, Shacoya Thomas, Nikita Miller, Brandon King and Brian Buchanan. Windward Islands Volcanoes five picks are: Mervin Mathew, Nelon Pascal, Lindon James, Dalton Polius and Romel Currency. Barbados five picks are: Tino Best, Shai Hope, Kenroy Williams, Ryan Hinds and Roston Chase.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force five picks are: Akeal Hosein, Ramnaresh Sarwn, Yannick Ottley, Jeremy Solozano and Bryan Charles.

CLT20 arrivals will beef up team, says Ramdin

Denesh Ramdin, the West Indies wicketkeeper, has said the team’s confidence has not been hampered despite consecutive losses to India A to open their tour.

Despite a century from Ramdin, West Indians lost the second tour match by 16 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Even so, he said, the team was optimistic ahead of Wednesday’s ODI series opener against India with reinforcements such as ODI captain Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Andre Russell due following the end of the Champions League T20.

“We are right where we want to be,” Ramdin said. “Bravo, Smith and Russell still have to slot in. That

will give [Kieron] Pollard and [Darren] Sammy more finishing power at the end. Today, we kept losing wickets consistently. But we can take some confidence going into the next game.

“It was a very good pitch

for batting [today]. With the amount of seamers we have, they came and hit the lengths and the balls carried through quite nicely.

They hit a couple of edges and I did what I had to do behind - cleaning up and I got five catches. We could have bowled better with the new ball.”

Ramdin starred with an industrious 102, but was unhappy he hadn’t stayed at the crease long enough to finish the chase of 283. “It was a good day in terms of my glove-work and then batting and getting a good score,” he said. “But I wasn’t happy in terms of batting right down to the end and finishing off the game for the team.”

Ramdin also praised Jason Holder and Sammy

for their fifties but said the top order needed to support the middle order better. For the second match in a row, both openers fell cheaply.

India A’s top order, on the other hand, sparkled once again, with Unmukt Chand scoring a century and Karun Nair a brisk 64 at No. 3.

“It’s very important that our batters put runs on the board,” Ramdin said. “We have to get early wickets and put their middle and lower order under pressure.”

Ramdin said the seamers would play a crucial role as the tour progressed, singling out Jerome Taylor as a potential trump card. He added that with Sunil Narine out, “guys would have to pull their weight more and come up with the goods.” (windiescricket)

Raymon Reifer

Paul Wintz

West Indies have not enjoyed the best of time in India so far

Denesh Ramdin