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President Granger justifies self-serving salary increases

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Over 60 foreigners denied entry into Guyana – immigration

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Over 60 foreigners denied entry into Guyana

– immigration guidelines to be publicised

Over the past six months, more than 60 foreign nationals from several countries were denied entry into Guyana and were forced to return to their respective destinations due to immigration issues.

This was according to local representative of Insel Air, Captain Gerry Gouveia at a press briefing at Duke Lodge, in Kingston, Georgetown, on Friday, adding that the passengers would have flown to Guyana via Insel Air. In light of the destinations added by the airline, the issue with respect to immigration, he noted, will have to be sorted out at the earliest.

The representative stated that while he understands the importance of preserving the integrity of Guyana’s borders, his team intends to work very closely with the Ministry of Citizenship and the Tourism Ministry to make sure that traffic in and out of Guyana is hassle free and that Guyana remains open to the world.

“I feel the Government needs to set up very clear guidelines about the criteria

so that foreigners will not arrive in Guyana only to find that they do not meet the criteria,” Gouveia added.

In addition, he stated that the criteria must be published on a website in order for travel agents across the world to be clearly guided when making a booking for someone to travel. In this case, he noted that the travel agents will be aware of the immigration policies.

On this note, he stated that situation does not augur well for the tourism industry since he is of the belief that Guyana has to have a welcoming posture to the world

and not one whereby it has restrictions at the main port of entry.

While he agrees that the immigration officers have the right to deny entry, there must be a system in place at the Cheddi Jagan International so that defaulters can purchase visas when necessary.

In addition, he stated that a team from Roraima Airways that is handling AnselAir and Dynamic Airlines met with Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and would vent their concerns on the issue.

Consultant wants Dakoura Creek declared “Specially Protected Area”

Consultant of the Dakoura Creek Watershed Management Plan (DCWMP), Samuel Wright, is presently seeking to have the Dakoura Creek adopted and given the status of “Specially Protected Area”, as part of a proposed strategy under the DCWMP. The Dakoura Creek will be the sole source of water for the Western sub-section of the rehabilitated Linden Water System which is now in the Commissioning stage.

Wright said the Management Plan is being developed and implemented in response to perceived potential threats to the sustainability of the Dakoura Creek water source. It was noted that issues of concern affecting the area include mining, uncontrolled dumping of urban waste, unauthorised logging, farming and urbanisation. The Consultant stated that it is important for the areas located at Block 22 and Amelia’s Ward, Linden to be protected. The first draft report on the DCWMP is presently being filed and is expected to be completed by October 29, 2015.

The Consultant stressed that the involvement of stakeholders at this stage is very critical, therefore under the DCWMP, a number

of groups have been identified to form part of an association which will overlook its activities. The stakeholders which have been identified are Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI); Linden Chamber of Commerce, representing the Private Sector; the Ministry of Communities; Lead Agency; Technical Assistance/Advisory Group; Linden Mayor and Town Council; Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Democratic Council (RDC); Farmers’ Association; Wisroc Parent Teacher’s Association; and nongovernmental and youth organisations.

Though the list has been identified, all of the afore-

mentioned agencies have not given clear indications of being on board. The Plan requires the involvement of various stakeholders, the Consultant related; however, only a fraction has been involved. Wright said in order to implement the strategy, having the area under the “Specially Protected” status is critical. He said, more specifically, squatting and unregulated farming, logging and land clearing practices are increasing, which pose a significant threat to the area. Wright added that implementation of the DCWMP, as envisioned in the scope of work, depends on the endorsement and active participation of the stakeholders and the Linden community.

The Dakoura Creek in Region 10

Local representative of Insel Air, Captain Gerry Gouveia

Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix

october 17, 2015

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, October 17 – 05:30h-07:00h and

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, October 17 – 06:20h-07:50h and Sunday, October 18 – 07:00h-08:30h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Light to heavy rainfall can be expected in the morning, while sunny weather can be expected to prevail throughout the afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures can range between 26 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 3.57 and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:43h and 18:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:15h and 12:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.53 metre and 0.72 metre respectively.

Govt to spend double $B to boost GDF’s strength and capabilities – “People’s Militia”; Cadet Corps to be relaunched

ointing to the threats posed by Venezuela and Suriname to the security of Guyana, major changes are expected to be implemented in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, one of which will be the reintroduction of the Reserve Force which was formerly known as the “Guyana People’s Militia.”

This is according to President David Granger who made this declaration during a recent address to ranks of the GDF. According to the Head of State, the Guyana People’s Militia used to be deployed throughout the country to render assistance to regional administrations in times of flood, threats to public order and other emergencies.

He stated that it is his Administration’s intention to re-establish this department of the GDF as a ‘credible reserve’ in all 10 administrative regions.

Implementing such a decision would necessitate a huge infusion of funds into the defence budget, in order to ensure that those who are stationed in the Militia are properly trained and equipped to handle the situations which they will and/or may encounter.

As it is, the GDF will have to receive large sums of monies from the Government if it will indeed be expected to make such changes as promised by the President. Additionally, the President also announced that the GDF must be brought up to the authorised established strength to meet current and unforeseen challenges and that a study will be done to examine how the ‘regular force’ could be augmented. Since the GDF is said to be only at half of its full complement of manpower, there will have to be a massive recruitment drive to fill the gaps.

In 2014, a sum of $1.1 billion was allocated to support land, air and sea operations of the joint services while another $1.1 billion went towards effectively equipping the joint forces, which is inclusive of the GDF and Guyana Police Force (GPF). These were exclusive of salaries. Then in this years’ budget, the APNU/ AFC Government injected a total of $9.1 billion into the GDF.

This was a significant boost from what previously given to the military. With the new plans detailed by the Commander-in-Chief, the David Granger Administration, come next year, will have to double the budget allocations to facilitate the additions to the country’s military. This could see budget allocation to the GDF exceeding $20 billion or so to finance these “changes” and others described below as the “five pillars” of the reorganisation of the armed forces.

But analysts say that the coalition Government may be hard pressed to justify the massive injections of scarce funds as questions will surface as to why other sectors in the country, such as the public servants, continues to be side-lined

as the Government persists in awarding massive increases to the salaries of its Ministers’ and now the pumping in of billions of dollars into the GDF.

Additionally, in its aim to reorganise the GDF, greater emphasis was promised by the President on the re-establishment of the National Cadet Corps and the introduction of a Civil Defence Corps.

With regards to the National Cadet Corps, both males and females between the ages of 12 and 18 years in secondary schools will be allowed to pursue parttime training to prepare them for “adult life,” President Granger explained. This would mean “adult life” to serve in either in the People’s Militia reserve or in the regular GDF forces.

Guyana Times understands that the purpose of the Civil Defence Corps is to support the work of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in responding to, and managing disasters.

President Granger declared that Guyana needs a “well-commanded, welltrained, well-equipped” defence force with the core capabilities to keep citizens safe and secure.

And in light of this, the GDF, in order to fulfil its mission must be “multirole, flexible and fully-integrated” with sufficient support weapons, he said. According to the Guyanese Head of State, it must be based on five pillars –personnel, readiness, infrastructure, morale and equipment.

With regards to personnel, “The ‘reserve force’ must be re-constituted and maintained at a minimum of 50 per cent of the strength of the ‘regular force.’ The force must be prepared to deploy to any part of Guyana at short notice in response to Government direction. Readiness refers, also, to the resources needed to conduct training and to prepare units for operations,” President Granger posited.

Guyana Times further understands that the condition of airstrips, barracks, hangars, wharves and other infrastructure must be maintained in a serviceable condition to conduct operations and that

the GDF must maintain its “esprit de corps” in order to enable troops to support its mission and to function as a unit in order to achieve its objectives.

“The force must have the capacity to maintain adequate combat-ready units with the correct mix of personnel and equipment. Aircraft, road vehicles and maritime vessels, inevitably, will be degraded over time but must be repaired or replaced if efficiency is to be ensured…The GDF must change in order to strengthen these five pillars and changes must start at the top, at the level of the general staff, in order to improve specialisation and the quality of service,” the Head of State said.

It was also noted that other changes are necessary to enable the GDF to fulfil its constitutional mandate and to perform its functions.

President Granger boasted that these changes must be designed to develop the force’s capability to provide continuous surveillance over Guyana’s air, territorial and maritime borders and approaches to provide search-and-rescue services to persons in distress as well as to provide assistance to the civil authority in response to any threat or disaster.

This publication was also told that greater emphasis will now be placed on the technical corps with the Air Corps being upgraded to provide continuous surveillance over Guyana’s air, territorial and maritime borders and approaches and support search-and-rescue services to persons in distress.

“The Coast Guard Corps should be upgraded to permit it to provide continuous surveillance over Guyana’s maritime borders and approaches and provide search-and-rescue services to persons in distress. Maritime security is a serious matter… The Engineer Corps is essential to the restoration of defence and public infrastructure and it once had the capability to contribute to the celebrated Mahdia-Annai and Itaballi-Sand Landing road projects,” the President added. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy. com)

Members of the Guyana Defence Force during a drill exercise

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

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

Guns or butter?

In the last century, the phrase “guns or butter” or “guns versus butter” entered the lexicon as a trope for signalling the tendency of some political leaders to focus their energies and their nation’s spending on the military (guns) rather than on the needs of the civilian population (butter). The Nazi militarised Government were particularly fond of the phrase as they scoffed at the production of “butter”. It entered economics as the classic model of a “productionpossibility frontier” of a nation having to choose between two goods.

It would appear that from President Granger’s announcement two days ago of his “five pillar” plan to reinvigorate the defence force versus his studied silence on a plan to stimulate the nose-diving economy, Guyana might be choosing guns over butter. The rationale offered by the President for the increased military spending is the threat on our borders posed by Suriname to the East and Venezuela to the West. Three weeks ago, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Mark Philips had assured the nation that our present forces were adequate to defend any threat from Venezuela. He proceeded to launch an impressive display of our military might in Georgetown. Since that time, evidently some reappraisal of our capabilities must have taken place.

The five pillars of the plan are personnel, infrastructure, equipment, readiness and morale. The first three all call for increased governmental spending, the size of which will depend on the assessment by the President and his advisors on what exactly will it take to be able to neutralise the massive armed forces of Venezuela and the smaller one of Suriname, which however is supported by an economy four times larger than ours.

At present, the GDF is at about half its authorised strength and with the plan to bring back the force to its full capacity plus relaunching the atrophied reserve force which used to be called the Peoples Militia and staffing it with its full complement, the wage bill will obviously rise precipitously. When the equipment needs are factored in, the present annual spending on the entity of around US$30 million will have to be at least doubled.

When the choice is between guns or butter, a country can end up in a no-win situation. After WWII, the allied Commander Dwight D Eisenhower became President of the USA, which was now the greatest power on the planet. Having to deal with that choice, he declared, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its labourers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.”

But the choice does not have to be “guns or butter”: it can be changed to “guns and butter”. While this newspaper is fully supportive of the need to revive and maintain a force that can adequately defend our borders, we have to be realistic in appreciating that Venezuela for instance, with a budget 100 times ours, can deliver a much bigger bang with their bucks. It therefore becomes even more urgent for our Government to spend a commensurate amount of time to halt the slide of our economy and initiate policies that can create doubledigit growth rates to push our surpluses. We would then be in a position support a larger defence force without the strain that would be caused in the present strained circumstances. We therefore once again propose to this Government that in addition to focusing solely on the expenditure side of the balance sheet, it spend some time working with the business community to collaborate on ways to generate more income for the country. In this way, we can have a prosperous populace’s safety protected by well paid security personnel.

Diwali is on November 11

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha will be celebrating Diwali on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

Diwali occurs annually on Amawasya or the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. It is the 15th Tithi in the dark half of Kartik and the darkest night of the year. According to the Panchang/Patra, this occurs on November 11.

This coincides exactly with the western astronomers’ calculation of the new moon which is listed for Guyana as occurring on November 11 at 13:47 hours. The new moon effects will be experience as darkness falls.

Performing Maha Lakshmi Puja on November 11 would, therefore, be on new moon day as prescribed.

The Sabha is very clear that to celebrate on November 10 would be premature as that would be before the new moon even occurs. Further November 10 is Chaturdasi or the 14th day of the month and not Amawasya. (It is noted that some of the local Hindu organisations have been cit-

ing South Indian astrologers as the basis for their contention that Diwali should be on November 10. However, South Indian States like Chennai and Kerala celebrate Diwali on Chaturdasi, whereas Guyana has always followed the North Indian Tradition which is also India’s national position of celebrating on Amawasya.)

It is further noted that Diwali is celebrated over a period of five consecutive days. The 5-day festival begins on the 13th day in the dark half of Kartik and ends on the 2nd day in the bright half of Kartik with each day being a specific observance as follows:

Day 1 – Yam Deep –(Triodasitithi/pradoshvratam) – Monday, November 9.

Day 2 – NarakChaturdasi (Chaturdasitithi) –Tuesday, November 10.

Day 3 – Diwali/ Lakshmi Puja –(Amawasya/15th tithi) –Wednesday, November 11.

Day 4 – Goverdhan Puja – (PrathmamtithiKartikShuklapaksh) –Thursday, November 12.

Day 5 – Bhai Dhuj – (DwitiyatithiKartikShuklapaksh) –Friday, November 13.

Historically and traditionally, these have always been observed on distinct days. It is noted that what is being proposed by some organisations in their calendars, is to have NarakChaturdasi (14th tithi) and Diwali (15th tithi) be observed on the same day. This is in breach of Hindu traditional observances of these festivals.

The Sabha’s date coincides with when several prominent organisations and Mandirs in the Americas (our time zone) will observe the festival including the renowned BAPS Swaminarayan Mandirs in Toronto and USA, the Chinmaya Mission, USA and ISKCON Hare Krishna Movement, USA.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been calculating its Hindu festival dates for more than 40 years on the basis of the Bhavani Shankar Panchang and the 100year Panchang, India’s most renowned and reputable Panchangs.

Indeed, the Sabha has been providing the Hindu holiday dates to the Government of Guyana for the last 40 years. This is

the first year that a decision has been taken by the Minister to change a date submitted by the Sabha. It should be noted that November 11 is printed on most calendars as the Diwali date for 2015.

The Sabha has always, including in relation to the 2015 calendar, collaborated with the Pandits’ Council and other organisations on its dates. This year was no different. The Sabha even convened a meeting to discuss next year’s calendar with all the Hindu organisation and the only organization that refused to attend was the Viraat Sabha. Interestingly, even though the Viraat Sabha has been in the forefront on the date change issue, the dates on Viraat Sabha’s calendar coincide exactly with Dharmic Sabha’s.

The Dharmic Sabha wishes to urge all Hindus to observe the festival on November 11 as prescribed. The Sabha’s motorcade will be held, as planned, on Tuesday, November 10.

Yours in Religion Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha

The peace and tranquility of Mother Nature is all these turtles need as they return each year to nest on Shell Beach, in Region One (gy. geoview.info)

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Does Mr Rawle Lucas really not know?

Dear Editor

I refer to the article entitled “Will NICIL be different“ on Business Page with Rawle Lucas” in Sunday Stabroek of 201510-11. I cannot believe that Mr Lucas does not know what is correct and would set out to deliberately mislead the public so!

What am I referring to? His claim in that article, that:

“The PPP/C Government intended to sell the hotel to private investor for US$ 8 Million. In exchange, it will give up two thirds of the ownership of the company. The people of Guyana would have ended up subsidising the purchase of the private investor to the tune of US$22 Million”.

In the following paragraph he reinforces the false claim of a subsidy, stating:

“The (PPP/C) Government behaved as if it was holding a bad asset and needed to sell it at a deep discount in order to get it off its hands”. No such thing. No deep subsidy. No bad asset. No discount. No loss of US$22 million by the Government and people of Guyana. No giveaway. No corruption, but a professional job well done, for the good of the people and country of Guyana.

I find it hard to believe that Mr Rawle Lucas does not know what is the abc in business and accounting!

Companies are financed by a combination of mon-

ies coming from Owners, (called equity) and loans from Lenders (called debts).

It is the two together, equity plus debt, which finance the company. When someone sells or buys equity in the company, the debt obligations remain part of the company. These who loaned money continue to have their claims on the company. The loan obligations are not attached to the owners of the equity.

The above is an early lesson in business and accounting and I cannot believe that Mr Rawle Lucas does not know the above.

Why does he choose to be so wrong?

Yours truly, Sam A Hinds

India most attractive country for investment

Dear Editor,

India has been rated by Ernst & Young as the most attractive country for investment among developing and emergent economies. Guyana and the Caribbean are not seen as very attractive for establishment of manufacturing plants or business in general.

Infrastructure, political instability, border conflict, and domestic insecurity (high level of crime) hurt business prospects in Guyana. The economy is not expected to grow by much if any. India’s economy on the other hand, will grow around the same level as last year and lead the world in growth, thanks to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is pushing for rapid development.

Ernst & Young is the leading rating agency on economic prospects and credit Worthiness of nations. The agency arrived at its conclusion that India is a most attractive destination after conducting a survey among 500 decision- makers of major global companies (inclusive of automotive, consumer products, life sciences, infrastructure, technology, financial services, etc) and multi-national organizations.

Some 32 per cent of the business leaders from global corporations rated India as the most attractive investment destina-

tion in the world, followed by China, Southeast Asia and Brazil. Guyana is nowhere near and not likely to get attention unless the Government redirects its energy towards investment rather than racial and political victimization of nonsupporters.

Prime Minister Modi is determined to make India the top attraction for investment. He has been visiting developed countries over the last year inviting businesses to invest in India.

Leaders of almost every developed country have visited India since Modi came to office sixteen months ago. The Indian government is doing away with cumbersome rules and procedures and rules in starting business in India. Modi is also determined to build a world-class infrastructure that Will attract investors.

Among specific reforms expected to drive growth in India, 89 percent of potential investors said investment in infrastructure projects and the 100 Smart Cities project (announced by Modi) would be significant. Modi also plans to reduce corporate taxes from 30 per cent to 25%.

Mark Otty, EY area managing partner for Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, said: “There is no doubt that interest in India has increased. Investors increasingly see the potential and under-

The

Venezuelan controversy

must be taken seriously

Dear Editor,

stand the fundamentals.”

Investors say they like India’s Make in India pitch and will support it in export drives. Some 70% of investors say they plan to expand or relocate their manufacturing facilities in India within five years.

Guyana should try to be creative, like the BJP and Modi are in India, to win over investors to boost a stagnant or declining economy.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

On Thursday 15 October I participated in the Democracy in the Americas 2015 symposium put on in Florida by the Zambrano Foundation and among the panellists discussing the Challenges for the future of Democracy and Economy in the Americas was one Mr Rafael Poleo, a journalist and Editor of El Nuevo Pais and Zeta Magazine who, according to his bio was forced to leave Venezuela due to persecution from the late President Hugo Chavez. Poleo, a strong voice in opposition to the Chavismo politics of Venezuela and its current president Nicolas Maduro, had an interesting analysis of the internal dynamics of the Venezuelan political landscape including the role of the military which, according to the translation of his remarks, indicate that neither Maduro nor the current Opposition enjoy the full support of the military which is closely watching developments in the country and will not allow politicians to diminish its image, or blame it for continued hardships the people have got to face.

In my intervention I pointed out that the panel had focused its discussion on the internal dynamics of specific countries in the hemisphere, namely the United States, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti but had failed to address the broader issues of hemispheric security and peace which are prerequisites for stable democracies and building vibrant economies. In this context I raised as examples threats to peace in the Americas, the ongoing territorial claims by

Rigged elections in Guyana? – sponsored

Dear Editor, Are we wasting our time writing about rigged elections in Guyana? This would have no effect on the thinking and operation of the PNC and the AFC. The PNC and AFC are already planning to rig all future elections so most of us are living in denial. For 28 years the PNC rigged elections and all the PPP could do was to write, protest and live in denial hope that the next elections will be fair and transparent.

I followed this idea but was also convinced that it had no effect on the operations of the PNC whose policy was to maintain power at all cost.

I read an eyewitness ac-

count of the GDF operations in 1973 in today’s Guyana Times. So What? Do you think that this will have any effect on the thinking on the PNC and AFC? We read about ballot boxes stolen, using of false ink, intimidation at polling stations, and the list goes on. I will like to inform the PPP/C and all those who did not vote for the APNU/AFC that all the above acts will be repeated, so brace yourselves for another 28 years of rigged elections.

I will also like to inform Guyanese that help is not on its way, not even from Venezuela.

Yours truly, N Singh

Guatemala against Belize, and by Venezuela against Guyana and went on to explain that in the latter case Venezuela had recently embarked on a campaign in pursuit of its claim which includes issuance of a decree that authorizes its military to protect and defend the area it claims even though said area was allocated to Guyana under a legally binding internationally recognized Arbitral Award of 1899.

Due to time constraints I was not allowed to fully develop my arguments in support of Guyana’s position but posed this question to Poleo: Do you think the Venezuelan military would ever exercise the option of claiming the land that rightfully belongs to Guyana? I posed the question especially because of his analysis about the role of the military.

His answer via translation was “chilling”. He said that in recent times the Government of Guyana had acted under the direction of external forces to proceed with the exploitation of the resources of the Essequibo which rightfully belongs to Venezuela and that such action is an affront to the people of Venezuela. He added that the Venezuelan military would take any action mandated by the mood of the Venezuelan people when the circumstances warrant it.

Among the featured guests at this event were former president of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez and former Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.

Latortue shared the panel with Poleo and others. There were diplomats, busi-

ness executives, government officials and NGO representatives from about 100 countries participating in the Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo of which the democracy symposium formed part.

Following the panel discussion I approached Poleo and with the help of a translator asked him to clarify his answer. With Latortue in earshot he softened his answer a bit, perhaps due to the fact that Latortue was telling a small group nearby that he did not understand why the Venezuelan claim keeps coming up when it was settled over 100 years ago.

What this “encounter” clearly demonstrates to me is that Guyanese really need to take this most recent Venezuelan campaign on “reclaiming” the Essequibo very seriously since it is clearly the resources of this area with which Venezuela is interested in and will be willing and ready to use any means necessary to gain control over these resources for the benefit of its people, in flagrant violation of international law.

Guyana cannot afford to be robbed of its resources which must be carefully harnessed to ensure the prosperity of future generations of Guyanese. It is now also clear to me that our diplomatic efforts while seeking a peaceful solution through the juridical process, must include the mobilisation of support of countries to assist militarily, should the need arise.

Regards,

Wesley Kirton

Republic Bank just lost a customer

Dear Editor, On the 14 instant I visited the Republic Bank on Water Street where I have a current account, opened since 1972. I sought a printout of a statement to ascertain the balance and the sums debited and/or credited for the current month, an exercise which I have done in the past without paying a fee. To my surprise the female attendant informed me that I have to pay $150 for a white copy or $300 for a blue copy per page! This fee was not only news to me, as I informed her, but a unilateral alteration of the contract I have with the Bank which never consulted me nor gave me adequate notice of this ridiculous imposition. No wonder the Bank has been able to declare billions of

dollars in profits for the last few years.

Customers have been the victims of these financial sharks without knowing it and it is true that the Bank of Guyana intervenes to regulate these commercial banks whose rapacious tendencies ought not to be allowed to continue unmonitored.

I am sending a copy to the Managing Director advising him that the Bank just lost a customer. Thank you for publishing this complaint of a senior citizen.

Yours sincerely, Justice Charles R Ramson SC OR Commissioner of Information

Page Foundation

Teaching children the art of self-control

Infancy: Where selfregulation begins

The term self-regulation may have a decidedly independent ring, but the capacity springs from utter dependence. It is made possible by emotional bonding during early infancy, stemming from responsive interactions between infants and caregivers. Sensory stimulators such as touch are known to contribute to attachment and emotional self-regulation. The resulting emotional bond directly influences the neuronal pathways instrumental in self-regulation. It is important to recognise that emotions are not only regulated but regulatory. They integrate and organise our mental activity, appraising and making meaning of the stimuli that come in for processing. When appropriately regulated, they equip us to meet the social demands of our world; they force us to notice what motivates those around us –as well as ourselves – and to put that in context. Emotions connect multiple domains within the mind, but they also allow for connections between minds, making social relationships possible.

Psychiatrist Daniel Siegel has written extensively about the development of emotional regulation in children, often pointing out the significance of primary emotions to social relationships. Primary emotions are the brain’s initial appraisal of whether an experience is “good” or “bad,”

(Continued from Friday – Part 3)

and while these appraisals may not always be conscious, they are constantly occurring. As we pick up cues to the emotional states of others and respond, we become linked in what Siegel refers to as emotional resonance. “In this resonating connection,” he explains, “two people mutually influence the internal state of the other. This attunement, this connecting resonance, enables us to feel joined.” This becomes the basis for empathy, and it is fundamental to other processes important to selfregulation.

Although this kind of connecting between parents and children is important throughout the lifespan, Siegel uses the example of a baby with a wet diaper to describe the ideal in the infancy stage. First the bad feeling of the wet diaper prompts the infant’s crying. The parent responds by discovering the source of distress and resolving it. As a result the baby is aware of having been altered by the interaction with the parent and feels a sense of connected well-being. In contrast, when the parent fails to offer the appropriate response, the discomfort continues and

the infant remains in a state of distress and isolation. Siegel acknowledges that no parent can achieve the ideal in every circumstance. Some children are more difficult to soothe than others, and a baby’s signals can be unclear at times. But frequent successful connections in the infant-caregiver relationship are necessary to lay the

their emotional responses. Between three and six months of age they gain the motor skills required to begin taking certain conscious actions. Progressing from simple selfsoothing strategies such as sucking or looking away, they may now begin to distract themselves from a stimulus that arouses negative feelings by actively directing

selfregulation.

Developmental psychologist Susan Calkins has also written about the connection between early attachment and emotional self-regulation. She explains that as securely attached infants develop physically, they begin to use their motor capabilities to help regulate

neutral object. As their motor control increases over the next year or so, they gradually become skilled at not only selfsoothing but also exploring, retreating and redirecting, and they learn to seek help from caregivers to regulate their emotions.

As they progress through toddlerhood, children become increasingly intrigued

by their ability to exert control over aspects of their environment, and parents will hear (incessantly), “I do it myself!” While it is important for children to do as much as possible to explore and master their environment at this stage (see “Helping Children Develop a Positive Sense of Self”), the calm support and guidance of caregivers in demonstrating and reinforcing appropriate boundaries is important. If all goes well, by the end of toddlerhood they should be able to respond to and comply with parental directives, and behavioural self-control begins to emerge as a result.

By this time a child can also regulate the expression of emotions more adroitly.

Calkins explains that early self-comforting, distraction and help-seeking abilities are critical to the self-regulation skills that follow. “Failure to acquire these skills may lead to difficulties in areas such as social competence and school adjustment,” she says, also noting that “the lack of adequate development of control over emotion (as well

as, in some instances, over control of emotion) may be a precursor to the development of psychopathology.” While neural and physiological factors do play into the development of appropriate emotional and behavioural control, the consistent message that emerges from the large body of research on self-regulation confirms that warm support and guidance from parents and other attachment figures is fundamental. But parents and caregivers must keep in mind that “appropriate” self-control varies with age. Younger children do not distinguish between emotions, thoughts and actions as effectively as older children, and infants cannot do so at all.

A parent who screams at an infant to stop crying demands the impossible and will not only fail to achieve the desired result but will also undermine the infant’s future ability to self-regulate.

Preschool years

As children move beyond the focus on exploration and mastery that characterizes the toddler years, they learn conscious strategies to regulate emotion and behaviour. Predictably, parents of children who use such strategies tend to exhibit competent selfregulation skills themselves. Compared to other parents, they show more patience and positive guiding behaviours, such as helping children learn to distract themselves in frustrating situations or encouraging them to divert their attention away from a forbidden object. Distraction is an important self-regulatory strategy at this stage, but toddlers do not tend to use it spontaneously. Rather, this and other self-regulatory strategies seem to be learned as a result of positive encouragement from parents. Conversely, research also indicates that parents who use more negatively directive and controlling styles do not foster constructive strategies in their children.

The benefit for toddlers who are able to intentionally refocus their attention early in life is that they are more likely to exercise self-control as they grow, and that this skill remains relatively stable throughout early childhood. Although this stability has led to speculation that selfcontrol may be related to temperament, links between parenting styles and the development of self-control have been well documented, and common sense suggests that parenting styles are also likely to remain fairly stable over time. Researchers have therefore concluded that effortful control can be fostered, even in the face of genetic or temperamental factors.(www.vision.org)

Pattenson, North Sophia to get potable water

After more than 30 years, residents of Pattenson and North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, will be receiving potable water for the first time as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is installing stand-pipes as a medium-term plan to provide relief to the residents of those communities.

Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Dr Van WestCharles, visited the site on Thursday to inspect the works being executed by the GWI Operations Team.

“This is the mediumterm plan, to at least provide the Sophia community with easily accessible standpipes,” the Chief Executive Officer stated while adding, “we envision that every resident of Sophia will have access to their own water service connection in the future. Our priority is to provide service immediately and bring relief to residents who have been without wa-

ter for more than 30 years, which is entirely unacceptable”.

In excess of 10 standpipes are expected to be installed in North Sophia; an area of the community where residents are being forced to traverse long distances to obtain water for domestic purposes.

Speaking to Dr WestCharles, residents from North Sophia commended GWI for providing relief via the recently installed standpipes. The residents also expressed their relief that the standpipes were installed directly in front of their homes for easy access.

Furthermore, they also indicated that the new service would alleviate the physical and financial burden of buying water or travelling long distances to obtain a few buckets of water.

Addressing some of the residents, the GWI’s CEO charged them with maintaining the standpipes and

Over 60 foreigners...

“The Minister understood and accepted that we need to publish those guidelines clearly and he has given us the assurance that the publication of those guidelines will be done very shortly, and as such, we are anxiously waiting so that we can distribute it into its network as well”.

Nevertheless, he made it clear that his team remains committed to working with the Government on preserving Guyana’s borders but believes that if the country is truly interested in tourism, then the right thing to do is to clearly spell out its immigration and visa policy.

This has caused the airline to incur costs, Gouveia said, noting that once the visitors were refused entry, it meant that they had to be placed on the next flight out.

“Sometimes, when there are no available seats, it means that we had to take off paying passengers to allow them to return to their destinations”.

Gouveia could not give an amount in terms of the losses the airline has incurred, but added that the present

issue is detrimental to the airline business.

Meanwhile, Sasha Persaud, a Manager of the company disclosed that six foreign nationals were denied entry into Guyana a

protecting the infrastructure from vandalism. He went on to assure that the project is temporary and that GWI will be exploring the installation of individual water service connections to homes within Sophia.

“The infrastructure belongs to the residents of Sophia… we implore that users maintain the integrity of the infrastructure as we seek to establish a longterm plan for providing water to North Sophia,” he stated.

Fisherman slashed in Pomeroon River while returning from sea

A26-year-old fisherman of Walton Hall, Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is thanking God for his survival after he was chopped under his right arm near his heart and on his buttocks by another fisherman. Parmeshwar Singh said the incident occurred three days ago.

Singh said he was returning with other workers after spending several days at sea when he was approached by the other fisherman at the Pomeroon River.

Singh related that the Captain of the boat usual-

ly stops at the stelling to cook and relax. Once there, he alleged that he saw the Captain interfering with a 13-year-old girl, touching her inappropriately on her legs. He said it was then that he interjected and told the Captain that what he was doing was not right and urged him to desist from doing such things to “little girls”, adding that he (the Captain) was married and has a family.

The young man further added that the Captain became angry at his rebuking and grabbed a knife, slashing him twice. The fisher-

man said that he held onto the Captain, begging for forgiveness, since the man was clearly enraged.

“If I didn’t hold on to his hands, I would have been a dead man today, he would have killed me and pushed me in the Pomeroon River,” Singh related. Singh sustained two wounds which took seventeen stitches to close. The Police was informed and the Captain was detained but later released. A settlement of $150,000 was agreed on by the parties involved, but thus far, only $30,000 has been paid.

Drowned cow contaminates Lima Sands sole

– residents want

Residents living in Lima Sands, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), are calling on Government for immediate assistance with potable water that would assist in their health and domestic work.

This call was made since the canal that is usually used by residents for domestic purposes is presently contaminated with a huge, foul-smelling, decomposing cow.

Because the water is polluted residents cannot utilise it for any purpose. According to residents the canal is the only source of water for washing, cooking and bathing. The village does not have any potable water and solely depend on nature for all the water they have to use. Apart from the contaminated water the problem is com-

Govt to assist with drinking water

pounded with the El Niño situation the Region is experiencing.

“We cannot afford to buy water every day, the water that we had in our tanks are finishing and the canal wa-

ter is very polluted; we need help, children need water to survive and to go to school” a house wife related.

Meanwhile, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change

canal

(APNU/AFC) Coalition Councillor Hardat Narine at the Region Two Regional Democratic Council meeting for October also called on Councillors to address the issue as persons are suffering.

Narine said he recently visited the community and many persons had complained to him about the “water woes” they are having. He called on the RDC to make a decision and to assist the residents’ plight.

Lima Sands Village has a population of over 600. It was formed from the dense forest and regulated under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Ministry of Housing.

few days ago and also reiterated that once the other markets opened, the problem will become more prevalent; hence, she believes that the immigration system should be more flexible.

Dr Van West-Charles inspecting one of the newly installed standpipes in the community

The canal that contain the dead cow

saturday, october 17, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Venezuela’s Ambassador returns to Guyana

Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Margarita Arratia Diaz has returned to this country’s shores, months after being invited home for talks by her President Nicolás Maduro.

Following a march through the streets of Georgetown on Thursday, Diaz was presented with a petition signed by several trade unions that expressed their hope for a positive change in the controversy brewing between Guyana and Venezuela.

Fulfilling his promise made to President David Granger just over three weeks ago, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro gave the go ahead for the Ambassador to return to her post in Georgetown which was for the time being overseen by Minister Consular

Alonso Herrera. The two Heads of State had met late last month at the 70th United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. They, in the company of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, met to hold discussions on the relations between the two countries, particularly the issue stemming from the border controversy.

At the meeting, Maduro said the Ambassadors of both countries would return to fulfil their diplomatic duties. Secretary General KiMoon was responsible for the promote the dialogue between the two leaders.

Minister of Governance and Patrimony Raphael Trotman had said on Wednesday that Ambassador Diaz was not

actually recalled, but was invited home for talks with her President.

“It is important to note that though the Venezuelan Ambassador is not here, she was not recalled. She was invited home for talks. The Venezuelan flag remains flying at her residence which indicates that she is still here,” Trotman said.

The Spanish speaking Bolivarian Republic maintains that its claims of ownership on the Guyana border is legitimate, although the UN over a century ago ruled that Guyana was the rightful owner of that territory. Guyana has been demanding that Venezuela produce evidence to support its claim that that ruling was null and void. However, it has not yet been able to so.

Mazaruni man charged for attempted murder of wife

Aman was on Thursday brought before Magistrate Judy Latchman in Court

Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with attempted murder.

Jeffery Jones, age 36, of Hallova Village, Upper Mazaruni River, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on October 12 at Hallova Village, he attempted to murder his reputed wife, the Virtual Complainant (VC) Wanetta Beharry.

According to the partic-

ulars of the case presented by Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick, the VC is the wife of the accused and on the night in question, the defendant was intoxicated. During an argument with the VC, he armed himself with a boat paddle which he used to inflict lashes to the VC’s head and body. The matter was reported and he was arrested. The Magistrate remanded him to prison and transferred the matter to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court for December 15.

Man charged for unlawfully selling land

Aman was on Friday brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts charged with fraud.

Forty-four-year-old Shawn Williams of 446 Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD), plead-

ed guilty with explanation to the allegation which read that on August 4 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained

$100,000 from the Virtual Complainant (VC) Vanessa Grant by falsely pretending that he was in the position to sell a plot of land located at 675 Kaneville, EBD.

According to the particulars of the case presented in court, the defendant told the VC that he was in a position to sell the land to her and as such, made arrangements to have the payment transaction done. They allegedly met in Georgetown where the VC gave him a sum of $100,000. She subsequently constructed a house on the plot of land and was summoned by the owners and removed. She then lodged a report about the fraudulent transaction and an investigation was launched. The defendant was later arrested and charged.

The defendant stated that at the time, the woman was squatting on the land, and as far as he was aware, the land did not have an owner. He stated that he did not present her with any documents for the plot of land and she did not request such. He, however, admitted to presenting her with a receipt and expressed remorse for his actions. He requested leniency, stating that he is willing to repay the VC. After reviewing the facts of the charge, the Magistrate sentenced him to repay the VC in four installments of $25,000 and a fine of $5000.

Eyew tness

To a hammer…

…everything’s a nail

Your Eyewitness’ worst fear is coming true. When he’d warned, Cassandra like, about groupthink taking over with the military phalanx around President David Granger, he was hoping against hope that they’d try to prove him wrong. Military people don't like to be predictable, do they? Well, evidently this lot in Guyana doesn't mind. Or don't care.

So here you have it, the first thing the fellas do is to take out all the stops on the Inauguration bash. They made a Beyoncé concert look like a Maypole dance. But they did say they didn't spend a dime…which was true since they don't use “dimes” in Guyana. It turned out to be hundreds of millions of Guyana’s Monopoly money. Then you had the foreign bashes. Military folks just like their parades, don't they? (That's why, even when there’s no bullets for their guns, the marching band can still strike up a tune!)

But folks thought good sense had kicked in by the time their budget was presented and the Government balked at the 10 per cent promised raise they’d used as bait to get public servants to vote for them. But no such luck…the military brain trust announced a 50 per cent raise for the Ministers whose lowest salaries were $579,000!! We don't have to rehearse the stink that followed that one! But it’s the military mind again. Generals just KNOW that they’re “quality” people who deserve more than the troops, no? How many Generals have you seen throwing their bodies into the fray?

They just don't know what all the fuss about! Has to be...because they just announced that the Army’s about to be doubled, the People’s Militia (“every man and won a soldier”!) or Army Reserve’s gonna be brought back. So where will they get the money for all of that? You just don't get it, don't you, dear reader?? Since when do Generals worry about things like money?!

But your Eyewitness just has this sinking feeling that history’s about to repeat itself. And as predicted, this time as “farce”. The first go around as “tragedy”, of course, was when Burnham used the 1969 flare ups at our Suriname and Venezuelan borders to increase our armed forces for 2600 to 21,000!!! In addition to the swollen GDF, there was the Guyana National Service, People's Militia, WRSM, YSM...and a whole lotta other alphabet soup organisations. Sadly, as we know to our cost, not much came out of all this militarisation. Venezuela kept (to this day) the part of Ankoko Island they kicked us out of.

And by 1992, our soldiers were living, like the rest of Guyana, from “hand to mouth”.

Ke sera, sera!

…it's the nail’s fault

So now we have it…this salary fallout’s all the fault of the big, bad People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Folks in the People’s National Congress (PNC) used to sign up for public service with nary a thought for money. But after the PPP’s stint at the wheel…look what happened. The PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government has had to double the PPP salaries for Ministers – to stop them from “thiefing”!! Seems that this “thiefing” is contagious! But this Eyewitness wonders how did the paragons of virtue in the PNC catch the disease? Were they meeting in secret with them as Ramjattan had claimed? Remember that time he said at least three PNCtypes had taken $30 milion to sell out their No-Confidence Motion?

Fact of the matter, the Government’s just yanking our chain. In this post-modern, consumerist “free-market” world, very few will accept the $1/day touted by Cheddi Jagan back in 1992.

But the hypocrites want to have their cake and eat it too. Spout their sanctimonious BS about “PPP greed” –when they had their eyes on the till all along.

Let them be hoisted from their own petard!!!

…why spare some nails?

So there’s a lot of strum and drang over Pradoville 2. But what’s interesting are those names that aren't being “called”.

So what's the reason sauce for the goose isn't sauce for the gander?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

Returned Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana Margarita Arratia Diaz

Local Govt Elections likely for March 2016

...“order still has to be given” – GECOM Chairman

After months of anticipation, speculation, and botched promises, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman has disclosed that Local Government Elections is likely to be held in March next year, a date which the Chairman of Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) said is “not unreasonable”.

Following the General Elections of May this year, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government had insisted that they would be able to keep their campaign promise to have Local Government Elections held by the end of this year.

Following the postCabinet briefing on Wednesday last, Minister Trotman was asked whether a definite date for Local Government Elections has been set. In response, he said “what I can tell you is it is going to be in March”.

However, Trotman could not give a specific date in March, noting that that decision lies with Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan. “It is for the Minister of Communities to give an actually date in March,” he told media operatives at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Attempts by Guyana Times to contact Minister of Communities to ascertain whether a date has been decided upon, proved futile.

Nevertheless, when asked if this information was relayed to the

Commission, Chairman of Gecom Dr Steve Surujbally would only say that March was one of the months that came up for consideration during deliberations with the Communities Minister. He noted, though, that Local Government Elections can be held in March.

“At this point in time… March would be not an unreasonable time,” he indicated to this newspaper.

However, Dr Surujbally pointed out that in order for Local Government Polls to be held in March, all the prerequisites need to be fulfilled such as the ‘Order’ as to whether Government will issue any new constituencies, township and municipalities or use the same criteria that were prepared back in 2009, when Local Government Elections were slated to be held. The Order at that time was made by then Minister of Local Government, Kellewan Lall.

“We could go with that or the Government might want to make other areas into townships like Lethem (Region Nine), Mabaruma (Region One), Bartica (Region Seven), Mahdia (Region Eight) and so on. If they so do, then we have to wait until that pronouncement is made, that Order is made, and then we take off from there,” he noted.

Since its election into office May, the ANPU/ AFC Coalition has announced that it plans to give township status to the four new communities mentioned above. These will add to the existing six towns: the country’s capital Georgetown; New Amsterdam, Corriverton and Rose Hall in Region Six; Anna Regina in Region Two, and Linden in Region 10.

Minister Bulkan had previously commented that these communities will have their own mayor and councillors as well as provide all the services other municipalities offer. These include ser -

vices: sanitation, banking, other governmental services such as provision of passports and driver’s licences. Moreover, the Gecom Chairman pointed out that if the Order is never made, then Guyana cannot go to polls much more set a date for elections in March.

He outlined that the Commission has to await the Order and cannot just go ahead with the Order given back in 2009 because the Minister of Communities can at any time name any or all of the places mentioned previously into townships.

Dr Surujbally highlighted further that even though the Commission has began some groundwork in preparing for the LGE, the earlier the Order is given, the better it would be: “I think we will be able to manage things for March but (the Order) will have to be soon.”

“That order has not yet been made so we are all waiting for the order to be made,” the Chairman stated.

On the other hand, Dr Surujbally outlined that while they are waiting on the Order to be given, the Elections Commission has been participating in various sensitisation activities.

He added that at the New Amsterdam Town Day and Essequibo Night, Gecom will have booths set up, where they would be disseminating information to citizens.

“We are also going to the different Regions and speaking with the stakeholders, explain -

Barbados teens charged over murder of Guyanese man

The Barbados Nation on Friday reported that two teen from St Michael were jointly charged with the offence of serious bodily harm in connection with the death of Guyanese Brinsley Warde. Eighteen-yearold Nishawn D’Andre Prescod of Hinds Gap, Halls Road; and Nickolai Matthew Thompson, also 18, of Chadderton Road,

ing the process,” he mentioned. Furthermore, Dr Surujbally remarked that the Commission is expected to soon begin its massive voter education exercise but could not give an exact date.

Local Government Elections have not been held in Guyana since 1994 and an impasse in the 10th Parliament was said to have been causing continued delay. Local Government Elections are required to be held once every three years.

Back in 1997 when the next elections were supposed to have been held, the country was constitutionally due to have

General Elections, which was held, postponing the Local Government polls. Since then, and follow -

ing constitutional reform, there has not been another Local Government election.

Every year since, elections had to be postponed by an amendment to the law. However last month the new Administration passed the legislation, paving way for the hosting of overdue elections. The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill No. 9 of 2015, which was presented by the Minister of Communities, amended 22 sections and inserted one new section in the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03.

Carrington Village, will appear in the District A Magistrate’s Court today.

Warde, a 59-year-old Halls Road resident, was stabbed along John Beckles Drive on October 9.

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

Chairman of GeCoM, Dr Steve Surujbally

British PM's rejection of reparations World Food Day 2015

..."you just can't wish it away" says Trotman

After attempting for weeks to obtain a comment from officials of the Government for British PM Dave Cameron’s refusal to apologise for his country’s role in the slave system, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman in his personal capacity, has stated that the United Kingdom “cannot just wish away” their involvement in the massive slave trade across the world, and more particular in the Caribbean Region.

He was at the time commenting on the British Prime Minister David Cameron’s statement made during a visit to Jamaica last month.

Cameron met with Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, who had pressed him on issues of the massive slave trade. But instead of dealing with the issue directly, Cameron reportedly told the Jamaican leader, who along with 13 other Caricom leaders had approved a 10 point plan to seek reparations from the former slave owners, that the countries should move ahead and forget about reparations.

Attempts were made by Guyana Times to get

Government’s reaction to this statement. However, when contacted Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally directed this newspaper to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who in turn related that he cannot comment on the issue because he had not seen the comments made by the British Prime Minister personally. Nevertheless, Guyana Times spoke to Minister Trotman, who offered his personal views. He pointed out that slavery was akin to genocide hence one cannot just “wish it away or excuse it away and say that we should move on.”

The Minister went on to say he believes that the Jamaican Prime Minister adequately represented the views of the other Caribbean countries, noting that the Region is due for some sort of “proper acknowledgement” to say that slavery was wrong.

“How it is catered for is a different matter but the time has come for us to stand up and say that persons of African descent who were enslaved – both our ancestors and those who are alive now – the European countries that were involved should acknowledge that that was wrong,” he posited.

Following Prime Minister Cameron’s comments, there was a wave of outrage across the Caribbean, including Guyana, with the local Reparations Commission also commending the statements. But there was silence from the Government.

Chairman of the GRC Dr Eric Phillips said Guyana and other Caribbean Nations are really looking forward to the payment for the crimes committed against their ancestors. He noted that some 46,000 Britons have benefitted from what was criminal en-

richment, which includes invading the countries and enslaving their inhabitants.

More than that, Dr Phillips said, the Caribbean will have to figure out how the money will be accessed, since it is a generic fund and some Caribbean countries are in more dire economic straits than others.

On the other hand, British High Commissioner to Guyana Greg Quinn sought to justify Prime Minister Cameron’s comments, saying the UK official never intended to downplay the implications or the nature of slavery. In fact, the High Commissioner pointed out, during a media briefing at his residence, that Cameron had even called slavery an abhorrent activity.

“I hope nobody came away with an opinion that he doesn’t actually understand the amount of hurt and the strength of feeling about it, he does understands that and he doesn’t want to downplay that. But as he said, whilst acknowledging what happened in the past and acknowledging the implications of what happened in the past, we also have to start thinking about moving forward in the future and that’s not undermining what happened in the past but we need to start looking at the future,” Quinn stated.

The British High Commissioner acknowledged that his country may have taken a bit too long to realise that slavery was bad and noted that they tried to ensure it was abolished everywhere: “We all accept, everybody accepts the nature of what happened, obviously it was completely unacceptable and it’s even more unacceptable today as well.”

On the other hand, High Commissioner Quinn added that the whole reparations issue is currently under discussions and will be for a long period of time.

“Guyana is open for investment in agribusiness”

– Minister Holder

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Friday announced that Guyana is now open to agribusiness as the country has proven that agriculture needs to be taken seriously and others should follow suit.

Holder explained that the Santa Fe Farm in the Rupununi and NF Agriculture Inc at Ebini are classic examples of the investment opportunities in agriculture that the ministry has been promoting in partnership with Caribbean investors.

In a statement released by the Agriculture Minister in observance of World Food Day 2015, celebrated under the theme: “Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty”, the minister explained that Government is committed to redoubling efforts to address the challenges within the rice and sugar industries by not only securing new markets but by also addressing some of the challenges in the sugar industry, thereby ensuring it remains viable.

He urged regional governments to go beyond the usual rhetoric and take the appropriate action that will see high levels of investments in the agriculture sector, aimed at modernising, transforming and making it more competitive.

Minister Holder noted that agriculture and agriculture-related issues continue to dominate the international trade agenda as feeding the world is one of the most important challenges confronting the world today, which governments, policymakers, international development partners and citizens as a whole must work to address.

He reiterated that Climate Change is another threat facing countries at large with Guyana being no exception and added that the impacts of Climate Change with the quest to source water to supply agricultural production as the country is presently faced with an ‘El Niño’ situation.

“It is crucial at this time that food security is kept on the front burner, considering the fact that the region’s food import bill is rapidly increasing. This is indeed an opportune time to showcase what we are doing in Guyana and the Caribbean and how we are using agriculture as a vehicle to attain a food-secured status and to address other needs,” Holder explained, and noted that such interventions are necessary if they are to successfully address El Niñoto ensure that the livelihood of farmers are not lost.

Holder further added that irrigation remains important, due to the fact, that water remains a crucial component for plant growth and development. As such, the Ministry of Agriculture is emphasising that farmers need to use water efficiently.

The Agriculture Minister expressed hope that the World Food Day 2015 call will aid to further catapult agriculture to the forefront, raise the community’s awareness of the importance of the sector to national and regional development, and create opportunities for greater collaboration and interaction among Caricom member states and with their extraregional partners.

Holder mentioned that Guyana is a food secured country but admitted that there are pockets of food insecurity which needs to be addressed: “Our Government has made a commitment to provide a good life to all our citizens and I believe agriculture has a major role to play in this regard”.

He remains convinced that agriculture can be a pillar on which Guyana can build a sustainable and resilient economy to bring equity, prosperity and social justice for its entire people, as he further stated that agriculture continues to be the backbone of this economy and contributes significantly to food and nutrition security, creation of jobs and export earnings.

(jpinder@guyanatimesgy. com)

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Nandlall secures injunction against MMA

– over cancelled leases for rice farmers

Chief Justice Ian Chang on Friday granted an injunction forbidding the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) from carrying out its ‘Cancellation of State Land Leases’ order on a group of West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) rice farmers.

Justice Chang ruled

that the MMA/ADA is prohibited from preventing the farmers accessing their lands.

The MMA/ADA by virtue of an advertisement in a section of the print media on September 26 last under the title, ‘Cancellation of State Land Leases in Rear of Seafield, West Coast Berbice’ inform the public that it had cancelled the leases of the farmers who

Murder case against

operate under the Seafield Cooperative Society Limited.

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall led a team of Attorneys challenging the decision by the MMA/ADA to discontinue the lease arrangement with the rice farmers. The team was made up of: Nandlall, Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj and Manoj

Narayan.

Justice Chang ruled that the decision taken by the MMA/ADA was contrary to the rules of natural justice, arbitrary, capricious, influenced by irrelevant considerations, discriminatory, unreasonable, oppressive, unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect.

In a writ filed in the High Court on Thursday,

man who allegedly killed “bandit” discharged – evidence disappears

Amurder case made out against Lawrence Wayne was on Friday discharged by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after she upheld a no-case submission submitted by Attorney Mark Waldron and concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove their case.

Wayne was slapped with the indictable charge which read that between August 23 and 24, 2014, in Alberttown, Georgetown, he murdered Dexter Lindo. According to the particulars of the charge, on the day in question, the defendant shot the deceased four times, resulting in his death. According to Police reports, Lindo, 26, was involved in a robbery at the Merriman’s Mall minutes prior to the shooting incident. Police investigations revealed that about 13:15h on the day in question, Lindo and an accomplice, both armed with hand guns, entered Wayne Beverage Paradise stall, which belongs to the defendant, located at Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, with the intention of committing a felony. As they entered the business place, the proprietress detected something was amiss and raised an alarm, which led to the defendant responding to her calls. The two men reportedly ran out of the business establishment and entered a waiting motor car being driven by a third person, but instead of retreating, the defendant who is a licensed firearm holder followed the car and caught up with it at Light and Fifth Streets, Alberttown. There, the firearm holder confronted Lindo, who had exited the getaway car and entered a shop in the area. As the deceased entered the shop, he reportedly pulled out a firearm and there was an exchange of gunshots, resulting in him being shot to the abdomen. An injured

Lawrence Wayne

Lindo managed to escape on foot, but an unlicensed .32 Beretta Pistol with four rounds that he was carrying were recovered at the scene and handed over to the Police.

In presenting his no case submission, Attorney Mark Waldron who represented the defendant revealed that the court made a slight anomaly. He explained that all of Police ranks who testified in the matter referred to the footage of the shooting incident that they reportedly viewed from “Exhibit L’ which is a red flash drive. He posited that the interpretation given by three officers varied and were interpreted differently by each witness. He further explained that the metal fragments used as evidence, supposedly from the bullets, were not consistent with the witness’ statements which he said shows that the Police lacked credibility. He then raised a question as to whether the Magistrate had viewed the footage and it was then that the Magistrate related that when she attempted to view the footage it was discovered that the flash drive was empty, the alleged evidential footage was deleted.

In delivering her ruling on the no-case submission made by the Defence Attorney, the Magistrate stated that in order to establish a prima-facie case against the defendant, it was incumbent that the prosecution prove that

the defendant shot the deceased in a sane frame of mind and with the intent to kill him. She stated that she considered the prosecution’s evidence that on the day in question, the defendant followed the car occupied by several men who attempted to rob his business. She also recalled the witness testimony of Tishawn Yearwood who stated that he knew the defendant as he and the deceased had an altercation earlier at Merriman’s Mall. Yearwood had testified that the defendant had pointed a gun at them as they drove off and subsequently followed them to the shop in a burgundy Alteaza motor car. He further stated that the defendant followed them into a shop and assaulted him, causing him to run away, leaving the deceased in the shop. He stated that while running he heard four explosions which sounded like gun shots.

The Magistrate also referred to the defendant’s admittance that he indeed shot the deceased in the abdomen in self defence after Lindo pulled out an old, rusty pistol and pointed it at him. He also admitted that he took the .32 Beretta pistol to the Police station. She stated that after considering the evidence, she concluded that the defendant was sane at the time of the incident and his actions resulted in the death of the deceased. She referred to a similar case in the past whereas the circumstances were almost the same, adding that it is incumbent that the prosecution proves that the act that caused the death of the deceased was intentional. She stated that there was no such evidence to prove that requisite.

Chief Magistrate McLennan also highlighted that the prosecution did not provide any direct evidence, but only circumstantial evidence. She stated that the prosecu-

tion showed that the defendant provided legal justification for his actions and there was no conflicting evidence to show otherwise. As such, she ruled to stop the Preliminary Inquiry and upheld the nocase submission made by Attorney Waldron, and discharged the case. The deceased’s mother stated that she would not accept the ruling and will be taking the matter further.

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

the farmers claimed that in July 2014 upon an invitation from the MMA/ADA, they applied for a Lease of State Land situate at Seafield Village and during November, were issued with Lease of State Land for agriculture purpose.

The farmers claim they expended huge sums of money in preparing and maintaining the land and have fully paid rent and other charges to the MMA/ ADA for 2015. They also argued that a rice crop is currently on the land.

However in 2014 the MMA/ADA were granted an order to cancel the leases issued to the farmers.

In the writ which was

filled on Thursday, the farmers claimed they knew nothing about the action and were not a party in those proceedings; were never heard thereof; were never served with any documents in relation thereto; and indeed only became aware of its existence by virtue of the newspaper publication.

They argue that MMA/ ADA was in violation of any terms and conditions as stipulated in the lease agreement. The farmers are also claiming damages in excess of $1M from the MMA/ADA for trespassing on their cultivated land.

The injunction which was granted by the Chief Justice also restrains the MMA/ADA, who are the defendants in the matter, from entering upon, remaining or interfering with the farmers; who are the Plaintiff’s in the matter.

The matter has been adjourned until November 3 in Chambers. The farmers had said they were about to reap their paddy and should be completed in two weeks.

In a memorandum issued by the High Court the MMA/ADA has been warned to obey the injunction order.

saturday, october 17, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy…

Maduro pressing for return to Good Offices Process

enezuela’s President

VNicolás Maduro has maintained that the Geneva Agreement be used to settle the border controversy between his country and Guyana, noting that by November, some actions pertaining to the border controversy could be announced as part of a “roadmap.”

After a meeting on Wednesday in the Miraflores Presidential Palace with representatives of the United Nations (UN), Maduro announced that the Geneva Agreement would be observed to determine the sovereignty of the Essequibo territory.

“It is time to settle this matter and set a clear roadmap within the framework of the Geneva Agreement” Maduro said.

The Venezuelan Head of State welcomed the UN technical mission, headed by Susana Malcorra, Chef de Cabinet to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The delegation visited Guyana on Monday be-

fore heading to Venezuela to hold talks with officials there. Maduro advocated the Geneva Agreement, which proposes the UN Good Offices Process as a suitable mechanism to find

an acceptable solution to this centenary border dispute. However, the UN process had made no progress in decades.

Guyana’s Government has however been advocating the 1899 Arbitration Award granting the territory to the former British colony. Venezuela argues that such award is null and void. In 1966, the UN admitted Venezuela’s claim and agree to mediate in the dispute to find a solution.

Guyana has downplayed the use of the Good Offices Process since little progress had been recorded during the years of its execution by the late Professor Norman Girvan.

The decades old controversy began in the 1800s, when Guyana was a colony of the British. A Tribunal of Arbitration finalised its decision on October 3, 1899, awarding unanimously to the Britain almost 90 per cent of the disputed territory.

According to Guyanese Diplomat, Dr Odeen Ishmael, Venezuela had not accepted the 1899 Award as a final settlement of the border dispute and in 1944, “45 years after the Arbitral Award, Severo Mallet-Prevost, one of the four lawyers who had appeared for Venezuela before the Arbitral Tribunal, wrote a memorandum in

which, for the first time, he attacked the Award on the alleged grounds that it was the result of a political deal between Great Britain and Russia,” he wrote.

In recent years the two countries have enjoyed mutually beneficial and often amicable relations.

Meanwhile, Susana Malcorra, Chef de Cabinet to the UN Secretary General said she was “satisfied” to see the progress towards a possible solution to the border controversy over the Essequibo territory after visiting Caracas and Georgetown.

The UN voiced on Thursday satisfaction with the “progress” achieved towards a settlement of the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana after the talks held with the parties involved.

A technical delegation of the UN, headed by Malcorra, ended on Wednesday its visit to Caracas and Georgetown. The mission was arranged late in September.

The UN representatives held meetings in Georgetown and Caracas with Presidents David Granger (Guyana) and Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela), and the relevant Foreign Affairs Ministers and other officials.

Man shot, car hijacked by gunmen

in Sophia

Man released in Pomeroon mother, child’s death

The male who shared a common-law relationship with Attica Sukhai, 22, of Grant Experience, Lower Pomeroon, who was discovered floating along with her daughter, 2, Xolani Sukhai in the Pomeroon River, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), has been released.

According to the Commander of G Division, there is no new development in the matter and the male was held for 72 hours and released.

The mother and daughter were discovered Sunday morning by Church members. Surviving the ordeal was nine months old Alica Sukhai whose foot was stuck between two boards.

According to autopsies conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh they revealed that the mother died as a result of an incised wound to her neck

and the toddler died as a result of drowning.

The Police however have not decided if the matter is going to be treated as a murder, however investigations are ongoing.

A senior officer from G Division has revealed that the mother could have received the injuries during a

fall.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the mother along with her twoyear-old daughter were discovered around0 9:00h on Sunday by neighbours who were heading to Church.

Members heard the toddler crying and upon inquiry noticed the child’s foot stuck between two boards in the stelling which had prevented her from rolling overboard and thus saving her life. After the gruesome discovery the baby was taken in by relatives. When the Police arrived on the scene, the body of Attica was turned over and her face was completely eaten by piranhas. Her twoyear-old daughter, who was found nearby, had no marks on her. The bodies were transported to Charity then to Suddie Mortuary. Sukhai was said to be living alone at the time of the incident.

Int’l Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed

– countries to build a sustainable future by ending discrimination, poverty

By Kristen MaclingaM

nder the theme

U“Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination” Guyana joins the rest of the world today in commemorating the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

History has proven that destitution and poverty have adverse effects on the development of any nation. As such governments continue to intensify their fight against these major issues so as to allow the populations the opportunity of having better lives.

In fact, on an annual basis many countries pump millions and even billions of dollars into initiatives and programmes which offer some form of assistance to the poorest classes of citizens and their families.

Ataxi driver was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Thursday evening with a gunshot wound to his back, which he sustained during a robbery at A Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Colin Ageday, 53, of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, was shot to the back after he was attacked by two armed men who subsequently relieved him of his Silver Grey Toyota Premio motor car bearing registration number HC 3612.

Guyana Times understands that the taxi driver dropped off a passenger in A Field, Sophia, and was on his way out of the community when he was attacked by the two armed men.

He reportedly put up a fight and one of the men discharged a round, hitting him to the back. The men then removed the injured Ageday from the car and left him on the roadway. Based on information received, residents heard the gunshot and looked out to enquire.

It was at that time that Ageday was seen lying on the roadway shouting for help. He was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted. He reportedly told Police ranks that the men were not wearing masks and that he can identify them.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, but up to late Friday afternoon, the car was not recovered.

According to the United Nations (UN), this year’s observance falls as the world embarks on a bold, new path towards a future of dignity for al, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon in his message for today’s commemoration stated that the theme for 2015 highlights the need to focus greater attention on the excluded and marginalised members of the human family.

He posited that spurred on by the global mobilisa-

tion behind the Millennium Development Goals, the world has made extraordinary progress in reducing extreme poverty.

It was noted that over the past 25 years, more than one billion people have been lifted above the poverty threshold.

“Yet these gains have not reached everyone. More than 900 million people continue to live in extreme poverty, and many more are at risk. Climate change, violent conflict and other disasters threaten to undo many of our gains,” Ban Kimoon emphasised.

It was explained that in adopting the 2030 Agenda, world leaders made a timebound commitment to end poverty in all its forms everywhere, and that the ability to meet this call requires

that world leaders address discrimination in all its forms.

“Leaving no one behind means ending the discrimination and abuse targeted at one half of humankind – the world’s women and girls. It means combating overt discrimination against minorities, migrants and others as well as the more insidious neglect of the disadvantaged, especially children. And it means ensuring access to the rule of law and protecting the human rights of all,” the UN Secretary General said.

Guyana Times understands that the 2030 Agenda emerged from the most inclusive process in the history of the UN.

Member states, millions of young people and thousands of non-governmental organisations, businesspeople as well as others were part of these discussions.

“As we look now to translate the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into meaningful action on the ground, we must sustain this spirit. Ours can be the first generation to witness a world without extreme poverty, where all people – not only the powerful and the privileged -- can participate and contribute equally, free of discrimination and want,” Ban Ki-moon added. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Attica Sukhai

Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro

President David Granger

Chef de Cabinet to the United Nations Secretary General Susana Malcorra

Salary-gate…

President Granger justifies self-serving salary increases

... no retreat from the universally condemned move

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

The public outcry and continued criticisms of Government’s decision to increase the salaries of its Ministers by more than 50 per cent has not moved President David Granger who on Friday finally endorsed and defended the move.

President Granger was at the time responding to questions posed by journalists on the Government’s Public Interest show aired on the National Communications Network on Friday.

Quizzed by reporters on the programme, President Granger gave his full endorsement to the massive salary hikes conceded earlier this month through publication in the National Gazette after earlier equivocations by the Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman.

Granger had initially offered as the reason for the salary increases – which includes his own tax-free one – a need to “rationalise the pay scales for the Cabinet Ministers”. On the programme, President Granger appear to endorse rationales offered by his Minister of State (need for “quality” people” who left lucrative positions) and to the request to “trust” the Government by Trotman.

He argued that the decision to increase the pay of his Ministers was not arrived at easily and citizens should accept it while viewing it as an investment in what he referred to as “good governance”.

The Guyanese Head of State said that those who joined the Executive arm of Government were earning similar salaries and in some instances more, as he dismissed the criticisms made by almost every critical and

independent stakeholder in the country.

The President held the view that in time, Guyanese would understand the rationale behind the move as he continued his bid to defend the significant increases which have been widely viewed as indefensible and shameful.

Throughout the President’s response to this particular question, he did not acknowledge or respond directly to the outrage the decision has caused or the fact that Government had decided to effect the increases in a clandestine manner.

The salary-gate scandal has seen the creditability of his Government declining. So strong was the tide of the criticisms that Governance Minister Raphael Trotman was forced to address the issue at the Ministry of the Presidency’s post-Cabinet media briefing earlier in the week.

Trotman had asked Guyanese to trust the Government and to understand that the decision by the Cabinet to increase its own salary was justified, sticking to earlier arguments made by his colleague State Minister Joseph Harmon which went viral.

Following the President’s comments, social media again erupted with concern

as Guyanese started expressing their disbelief that instead of reversing the increases given the mood of the people, President Granger would continue with it.

On Thursday, Non-Governmental Organisations, activists and persons closely associated with the current Administration took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction over the decision to increase the Ministers salary by 50 per cent, while public servants were handed a meagre five per cent increase in wages.

Before they took to the streets, other supporters of the Government in the per-

sons of Dr David Hinds, Christopher Ram, Ramon Gaskin and others voiced their concerns over the move to jack up the pay of the fourmonth old Ministers.

The labour unions also voiced their disapproval of the Government’s decision, with one Trade Unionist reminding the President and his Cabinet that one who enters the public service does not enter with the expectation of gaining a lucrative or Private Sector salary but to serve the people and work in their benefit.

The Government’s decision has given the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic a field day as the Party from the outset criticised the move and called on the David Granger-led Administration to end its policy of giving “meat to the boys and bones to workers”.

The Party may next week move a formal motion protesting the increase in the 65-seat Legislature. In the Official Gazette published on September 25, it was revealed a Cabinet Minister would be given a hefty sum of $10,439,124 annually. It is further detailed that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would be benefiting from in excess of $20 million per annum, while the other Vice Presidents would each receive $11,135,064.

President David Granger

Regional

Stuart says new CXC headquarters sign of Barbados’ commitment to Caricom

The new home for the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has been opened in Barbados with Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart indicating that it should be seen as a sign of his country’s commitment to the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

The purpose-built three story building on the outskirts of the capital, Bridgetown, constructed by the Government of Barbados for the regional body, houses all the divisions of the CXC which operate from the Eastern Zone Office.

Delivering the feature address at the official opening, Stuart pointed out that last year, Barbados paid

about $20 million in total contributions to Caricom institutions which included approximately $6.6 million for the 13 Caricom agencies based here.

“When Barbados pro-

vides the headquarters for a Caricom institution it assumes payment of the rental and related charges,” the current Caricom chairman said.

“When, therefore,

Barbados’ commitment to Caricom is questioned, as happens from time to time, examples like this spanking new CXC building and Barbados’ support for CXC overall, must be given appropriate prominence.”

Meantime, Stuart lauded the CXC for the role it has played, since 1972, in the education and development of Caribbean people and the regional integration movement. He noted that it has grown from a fledgling institution that assessed 58,709 candidates in five subject areas in 1979, to a mature institution offering examinations in as many as 35 subject areas at different proficiencies to almost 200,000 students in 2014.

(Excerpt from

Dominica’s tourism sector ready to welcome visitors after Tropical Storm Erika

“Dominica is open for business and ready to welcome visitors to its shores.”

So said Minister for Tourism and Urban Renewal Robert Tonge as he provided an update on the status of

the tourism sector, following the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika in late August.

Air access to the destination has resumed with LIAT, Seaborne and WINAIR offering daily flights between Dominica, from Antigua, Barbados, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St Maarten, St Thomas and St Croix. Flights operate from the main airport, Douglas Charles Airport, and the smaller Canefield Airport.

Road access has been greatly improved with the installation of three Bailey bridges along the west coast. Most roads are passable and access to the main sites and attractions is fairly simple.

More than 80 per cent

of the island’s accommodation, including boutique hotels, intimate guest houses and quaint inns, are open to guests.

“We invite all potential guests to visit Dominica. Tourism is a leading growth sector for Dominica’s economy and your visit allows for a sustainable rebuilding and recovery process post Tropical Storm Erika. We are confident that you will have a transformational experience,” Dominica’s Director of Tourism Colin Piper said.

Tropical Storm Erika left significant damage to infrastructure across the island and caused the deaths of more than 30 people.

(Caribbean360)

Hundreds of new jobs up for grabs as St Kitts and Nevis’ tourism grows

The completion of four major developments in the tourism industry in St Kitts and Nevis by 2018 is expected to generate hundreds of job opportunities for the local population.

That’s according to Tourism Minister Lindsay Grant who said identified several of those projects, including Kittitian Hill which should have 84 rooms by December; Park Hyatt St Kitts, an ultra-luxury fivestar resort hotel which will be the first of its brand in the Caribbean and will feature 136 rooms and open in 2016; Embassy Suites by Hilton, a 226-suite hotel scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2017; and the scheduled completion of Radisson Hotel in 2017 and Koi Resorts in 2018.

An artist impression of Koi Resorts which is scheduled to be completed in 2018

try of St. Kitts and Nevis,” the minister added, noting that would include bartenders, wait staff, receptionists, chefs, landscapers, taxi drivers, vendors, store owners and others. The vision is to have the facility become a centre of excellence that attracts people from the rest of the Caribbean.

(Caribbean360)

Mexican hotel chain announces US$900M investment in Jamaica

exico-based

MKarisma Hotel and Resorts has announced plans to invest more than US$900 million to develop nine hotels in Jamaica, adding 4000 rooms to the country’s stock over the next ten years.

The 228 acre Llandovery beachfront property in St Ann will be the site for this massive development, which is also intended to create 8000 new direct employment and about 5000 jobs indirectly.

Karisma’s Vice President for corporate affairs and business development, Ruben Becerra, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press conference at the offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in New Kingston.

Becerra said that the first of the nine hotels is

scheduled to open for the winter 2018 tourism season. He noted that the hotels are intended to offer an all-inclusive package featuring a dolphin experience, water sports, and nature attraction with horse trails. Becerra further disclosed that Karisma expects to attract a number of new international hotel brands into Jamaica, noting that “our interest is to try to increase the market, instead of shifting or stealing the market”. He said an increase in airlift is also part of the “master plan” for the development project. Karisma Hotel and Resorts has been investing in Jamaica since April 2014, with the acquisition and renovation of an existing property in Negril, which is being operated as Sensatori Jamaica. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Feared Brazil ex-Army intelligence chief Brilhante Ustra dies

Colonel Ustra published two books with his account of events during military rule

The former head of the Army’s intelligence service in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo has died, aged 83.

The retired Army Colonel, Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, has been accused by human rights groups of ordering the illegal arrest and torture of some 500 left-wing activists. He lead the feared Doi-Codi intelligence service from 1970 to 1974, when Brazil

was under military rule.

“I fought terrorism,” he said at a Truth Commission hearing in May 2013.

The Army prevented Brazil from becoming a “dictatorship of the proletariat,” he said.

Colonel Ustra never regretted or apologised for his activities against left-wing groups that fought the military Government, which was in power from 1964 to 1985. “Their aim was to depose the military and implement communism in Brazil. That was written in their programmes,” he told the Truth Commission.

“There were no angels” in the Doi-Codi cells, he said. Colonel Ustra said the current Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff, “belonged to four terrorist organisations” that supported the implementation of a communist dictatorship in the country. She was arrested and tortured in Sao Paulo in 1970 for her political activities.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Cuba must release man jailed for painting Castros’ names on pigs – Amnesty International

To ensure that people are well trained and prepared to

“I believe there is no other industry that will create the jobs over the next 24 months like the tourism plant,” Grant said. “If the hotels come on stream as they should come on stream in the next 24 months, that’s going to take up an additional 1,500 jobs. That is by no means a small portion of our working community.”

meet the challenges of working in the service industry, Grant said, government is exploring the establishment of a hospitality school. He said the plans were at “an advanced stage.”

“This school of excellence is going to have to train the entire tourism indus-

ACuban graffiti artist who Amnesty International argue has been unfairly held in prison for nearly a year after he painted ‘Raúl’ and ‘Fidel’ on the backs of two pigs has been named as a prisoner of conscience.

According to a release from Amnest International, Danilo Maldonado Machado,

known as “El Sexto”, was arrested by agents of the political Police (Seguridad del Estado) in Havana while travelling in a taxi on December 25, 2014, and has been in prison ever since.

He was accused of “disrespecting the leaders of the Revolution” and sent to prison after officers opened the trunk of a taxi and found

the two pigs. The artist intended to release them in an art show on Christmas Day, Amnesty International said. The Cuban authorities’ failure to keep to their commitment to release Machado is a painful illustration of their disregard for freedom of expression, the organisation argued.(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

The new CXC Headquarters in Barbados

Tourism is a leading growth sector for Dominica’s economy and your visit allows for a sustainable rebuilding and recovery process post Tropical Storm Erika

Burkina coup leader charged with ‘crime against humanity’

Burkina Faso’s military said Friday a General accused of leading a failed coup last month would be prosecuted on an array of charges, including “crime against humanity”.

“Eleven charges have been filed” against General Gilbert Diendere, “notably crime against humanity”, Colonel Sita Sangare, in charge of military justice, told a press conference.

Diendere is accused of leading a power grab by presidential guards loyal to ousted Head of State Blaise Compaore on September 17. The poor Sahel country was brought to the brink of chaos for six days before the putsch collapsed, with its leaders admitting they lacked popular support.

The presidential guard has since been disarmed and formally disbanded.

Around the world

Half a million Yemen children face severe malnutrition – UN

More than half a million children in Yemen face lifethreatening malnutrition as a risk of famine grows, a senior official of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.

The figure, a three-fold jump since fighting erupted in March, reflects depleted food stocks compounded by a failing health system unable to care for hungry children or vaccinate them against disease, said Afshan Khan, director of UNICEF emergency pro-

grammes worldwide.

“We are facing the potential of a huge humanitarian catastrophe... The levels of malnutrition that are being reported for children are extremely critical,” Khan told Reuters, saying more data and hard evidence was needed to declare a famine.

“A nutritional survey will be done at the end of October. How close are we to a famine declaration? We see some zones that are worse than others,” she said.

In addition to 537,000 children aged under five at risk of severe acute malnutrition, marked by visible wasting of their bodies, 1.3 million are moderately malnourished, according to the latest UN figures. Fewer than one in five therapeutic feeding centers across Yemen are functional, Khan said. UNICEF operates 43 mobile teams that screen children for malnutrition but areas such as the al Qaeda-held eastern province of Hadramawt are inaccessible. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Amnesty International has demanded putschist troops be punished for violence against civilians.

“(They) displayed a coldblooded disregard for human life, killing 14 unarmed protestors and bystanders and wounding hundreds

According to Government figures, 14 people were killed and 251 injured in the unrest.

more with automatic weapons,” the rights group said in a statement on Wednesday.

The country’s interim government on Wednesday said that presidential and parliamentary elections initially set for October, but delayed by the failed coup, would go ahead on November 29. (Excerpt from France24)

Ebola virus hangs around in survivors’ body fluids for months, new study finds

The world Ebola scare may be over, but a new study supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says the virus can persist in the eye, semen, the placenta, breast milk and central nervous system of survivors of the disease for as long as nine and a half months.

A preliminary study on Ebola virus persistence in the semen of male survivors in Sierra Leone has found that some men still produce

semen that tests positive on real time for nine months or longer.

“One participant was still positive 9.5 months after his illness began,” WHO said in a press release. WHO said these results are from “baseline” samples provided by 93 men participating in the study being jointly conducted by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, WHO and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest findings come as WHO reported there were no confirmed cases of Ebola in West Africa in the week to October 11, making it the second consecutive week with zero confirmed cases. But WHO also notes that, a patient who was reported as a case in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2014, and who later recovered, was hospitalised last week after developing late Ebola-related complications.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

China suggests joint South China Sea drills with Asean

China has proposed joint maritime drills with South East Asian nations in the hotly contested South China Sea in 2016. Beijing is currently hosting an informal meeting for Defence Ministers from the region.

China’s Defence Minister Chang Wanquan has suggested drills for “maritime rescues and disaster relief”. China’s reclamation activities in the sea in recent years have raised tensions with its neighbours.

The Philippines and Vietnam, in particular, have overlapping claims with China. China’s proposal comes a week after the US announced it was considering sending ships to an area of the South China Sea China has claimed for itself, a suggestion which sparked strong words from China.

The suggestion for joint drills was made on Friday at a meeting with defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional alliance.

The drills would be one way of achieving the aim of “jointly solving disputes and controlling risks”, China’s defence ministry said in a statement.

The offer “indicates potential for the

China’s Defence Minister Chang Wanquan has suggested drills for “maritime rescues and disaster relief”

conflict to de-escalate” and if Asean states agreed, the drills would be “a confidencebuilding measure that can ease tensions”, military studies research fellow Daniel Wei Boon Chua, of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told the BBC. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Supreme Court scuttles Modi’s judicial reform move

The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a law giving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government a bigger say in the appointment of top Judges, calling the new system harmful to judicial independence in the world’s largest democracy.

The top court has a history of judicial activism that can prove disconcerting for Governments, who say courts often exceed their powers in announcing decisions.

The Supreme Court took the previous Administration to task over issues such as corruption and human rights, for instance. A new system introduced by Modi’s Government last year included the Union Law Minister on a panel that appoints senior Judges. The old system had vested those

powers in a group of India’s top Judges.

“The court said it (the panel) will obstruct judicial independence that is the backbone of the constitution,” said Prashant Bhushan, one of the lawyers who challenged the new law. Modi faced accusations of interfering with the judiciary after coming to power last year, when a candidate for a Supreme Court appointment accused the government of running a campaign to block it.

Critics say the government should have no role in selecting judges and the new panel could lead to politicisation of appointments, but the Government says the old system needed to be revamped as it was not transparent. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Anger over death of large elephant in legal Zimbabwe hunt

Aleading conservationist in Zimbabwe has criticised the killing of a “majestic” 60-year-old elephant by a German hunter, calling it “unethical”.

Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman of the country’s Conservation Task Force, told the BBC that elephant, could have lived for another 15 years.

The unnamed hunter, who was pictured with the corpse, reported paid $60,000 (£39,000) for the le-

gal hunt.

It comes months after the controversial death of Cecil the lion.

There was international outrage after Cecil, a 13-year-old lion, was killed during another legal hunt in July, also in Zimbabwe.

Walter Palmer, the US Dentist who shot the lion, found out earlier this week that he will not face charges over the shooting.

The death of the elephant also took place during

a hunt in Zimbabwe’s southern Gonarezhou National Park, Rodrigues said. But he called for such animals to be looked after and used as tourist attractions.

“It’s hard to swallow that people are just destroying all the majestic animals that we’ve got in the country,” he said. “When you see an animal like that, which you haven’t seen for years, you should actually put a collar on him and use him as a marketing tool.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Deaths as Palestinians mark ‘Day of Rage’

Deadly clashes continue to engulf much of the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel amid “Day of Rage”. Protests have given way to clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in areas across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip as at least four Palestinians were killed and dozens others injured while

marking a “Day of Rage”, which was called for by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

In Gaza, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians during Friday’s clashes, while two others were fatally shot in the West Bank. The clashes came as hundreds of residents marched in Gaza City in solidarity with their compatriots in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces fatally shot

19-year-old Ehab Hanani during clashes in Beit Furik, a village on the outskirts of Nablus, on Thursday evening. Earlier in the day, near Kiryat Arba, a Jewish-only settlement in the Hebron area of the West Bank, an Israeli soldier was injured by an alleged Palestinian attacker “disguised as [a] news photographer”, an army spokesperson said on Twitter on Friday afternoon. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

File photo of General Gilbert Diendéré at the presidential palace in Ouagadougou

Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced accusations of interfering with the judiciary after coming to power last year

saturday, october 17, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

URP urges Govt to reverse salary increases

The United Republican Party (URP) on Friday urged the Government of Guyana to “reverse course” on the increased salaries for Government Ministers and to pursue policies that will benefit everyone and not hurt the Guyanese public.

In a release from URP’s President Vishnu Bandhu, the President claimed that his party has remained silent for the last several months to give the new A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government a chance to govern during its “honeymoon” period.

He added however that the Government disappoints on several fronts, including “large Cabinet, square pegs in round hole appointments of Ministers and other personnel, the budget, handling or rice prices and farmers, firing of thousands of workers on account of ethnic and political affiliation, racial discrimination in appointments, arrogance on the part of several Ministers and the latest salary increase of the Ministers”.

The latter, Bandhu explained, comes after the Government called for wage sacrifices and the public was told that the treasury was almost empty, with public servants and pensioners being only given a five per cent increase and also pensioners facilities of free electricity and water taken away, leaving Guyana’s pensioners worse off than before. He also noted that persons are surviving under very harsh social and economic conditions, with this government

cancelling the $10,000 for children, but still somehow finding a way to fill their own pockets.

The URP President stated that it is incredible that the Government has doubled their salaries within a mere four months after coming into office, adding that it is even more galling that the Ministers are criticising those who oppose the hefty salary increase, with the Government justifying it as a move to curb corruption among Ministers. In continuing, the party leader mentioned that this Cabinet is characterised by self interest and nepotism.

“It is built around friends and families for rich enrichment. The APNU+AFC Government is practicing exactly that which it criticised its predecessor of,” he noted, adding “this is the exact opposite of the meaning of good governance which is about service to humanity and not of serving self. A

Government should be more prudent about its actions and treatment of citizens”.

He recalled the coalition Government’s promises to rice farmers for some $9000 a bag for paddy, but farmers are today only receiving between $600 and $1800 a bag, with some paddy being refused by millers. Rice producers and other farmers are operating at a loss – a violation of the commitment given by APNU/AFC.

Bandhu said, “On every political undertaking, there is little, if any, consultations with stakeholders. The Government basically does what it wants because it is in charge. Their policy announcements are underscored by sheer arrogance and excesses, worse than what existed under its predecessor. People including those who voted for this regime, feel a strong sense of betrayal. It gives an impression that the Government officials are not genuine about public service commitment. Public service and or serving as a Minister should be seen as acts of and commitment to nation and not as acts of self enrichment or a career. It really should be a call to purpose and not chasing after money”.

He added that Ministers want massive personal gains while the people whose lives politicians pledge to improve cannot boast of any significant betterment.

The URP shared that the boldly object to this ministerial salary increase and other policies found wanting. “Our party calls on the Government to pursue policies that will benefit everyone and not hurt anyone”.

Guyanese to be honoured by World, Russian Olympic Committees

Guyanese boxing champion Michael Parris who is also the country’s only Olympian, will be honoured by the World Olympic Association and the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow, Russia. While there, Parris is also scheduled to attend the World Olympians Forum (WOF).

This announcement was made by Minister within the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry who met with Parris at her office on Friday. The Minister during the meeting recognised Parris’s accomplishment, namely winning a bronze medal in boxing 35 years ago at the 1980 Olympics when he fought in the bantamweight boxing category.

Earlier this year, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) also honoured him by naming its nursery after him.

With regards to the WOF, Parris noted that as-

sistance will be sought for those Guyanese Olympic veterans who are in need of support to improve their wellbeing. The WOF is scheduled for October 20 to 22, 2015, and brings together 143 Olympic Associations, Olympians, representatives of the International

Olympic Committee together with the Olympic family, Governments, and other key stakeholders to share best practices and discuss the topics of greatest concern of Olympians.

The forum is also a platform that brings together key figures from the Olympic family to promote the Olympic values and discuss and debate key issues for Olympians and the Olympic Movement around the globe.

During the meeting, discussions were also held in regard to the role that Parris can play in mentoring Guyana’s youth population. Henry revealed that she is planning on engaging the Olympian on the part that he can play in the promotion of positive lifestyles for young people. She also revealed that some of the plans for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations which will see a special feature on Guyana’s outstanding sports personalities.

Case against phone thief dismissed

An alleged phone thief walked away a free man on Friday after a simple larceny charge against him was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Two after she concluded that the Prosecution failed to prove the case, and showed insufficient evidence.

Afiba Yankana, 26, a mason of 3 Hadfield Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was found not guilty of the charge which read that on

Upgrade of Kaneville roads ongoing

Residents of Kaneville, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) will soon benefit from improved roads in their community. Currently, construction works are ongoing to rehabilitate Second Street and the Main Cross Street in Kaneville. The project which is being funded by the Government of Guyana and

the Caribbean Development Bank, when completed, is expected to directly benefit approximately 4500 residents.

The Ministry of Communities through the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP) recently inked a $68 million contract with H Nauth and Sons to re-

habilitate the roadways. It was emphasised that Government will be strictly monitoring projects to ensure high quality standard works are achieved. As such, mechanisms will be put in place to monitor quality control of works being executed under this project.

All projects executed by CRIP are done with

the involvement of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and residents. It is understood that community meetings will be held between CRIP and relevant stakeholders.

CRIP has submitted an unpriced Bill of Quantities to the Golden Grove/ Diamond Place NDC and the Regional Democratic Council so that residents would have more access to information pertaining to the rehabilitation works. Additionally, the Project Management Unit, the Contractor and representatives of the Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants, in association with SRKN Engineering – the supervising consultancy firm, met with residents to inform them about the project.

Through CRIP, over 300 roads in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) were constructed and rehabilitated.

August 18 at Wortmanville he stole a Samsung Galaxy S5 Smartphone valued $130,000, property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Brandon MacDonald.

According to the particulars of the charge, on the day in question the Virtual Complainant parked his motorcycle outside a shop, leaving his cell phone and other belongings on his bike, and went inside to make a quick purchase. However, upon returning he discovered his phone was missing.

Yankana was the only person observed close by the location of the incident. Yankana was subsequently arrested and brought before the Court on August 21, when he denied the allegation and was released on $75,000 bail.

On Thursday, he was called into the witness box to lead his defence through a sworn testimony. In his testimony, the defendant stated that on the day of the incident, he had just disembarked a bus after grocery shopping at the market.

He related that due to the heaviness of the bags of groceries, he opted to leave the bags at a nearby shop while he traversed to a nearby taxi base to hire a car

to transport the groceries home. “When I went back to the shop next morning they said I thief some Samsung phone and then the Police arrest and search me but they ain’t find no phone,” Yakhana related.

He added that despite denying the charge, he was taken to the Police station and charged. He further revealed that he usually does odd jobs for the shop owner, hence he returned the next morning there.

He then called taxi driver Dexter Millington, whom he had hired on the day in question. Millington in his testimony related that on the day in question, he was hired by the defendant to take him to his house, however, the defendant requested to make a stop to retrieve his groceries from the shop. The taxi driver said it took the defendant roughly seven minutes to retrieve the said bags, after which he took Yankana to his home.

On Friday, during her ruling the Magistrate stated that if found guilty, the penalty attracted a fine of $100,000 to five years in prison. She further related that from the testimonies of the two prosecution witnesses, the Court has established that the Prosecution failed to lead their evidence.

She alluded to the fact that neither the VC nor the taxi-driver saw the defendant take the phone from the bike, adding that there was no evidence presented to prove that he did. She also said the defendant’s fingerprints were not found on the bike and as such the prosecution has failed to prove their case.

She found the defendant not guilty and dismissed the matter.

Guyana’s lone Olympian, Michael Parris

URP President Vishnu Bandhu

Afiba Yankana

One of the roads under rehabilitation in Kaneville, East Bank Demerara

Inauguration spending to top parliamentary agenda on Thursday

When the sitting of the National Assembly resumes next Thursday, one of the major issues that will be addressed is Government’s Presidential Inauguration spending. In the Order Paper circulated by Parliament Office, Former Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony will be asking a series of questions which will be answered by Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry.

Dr Anthony will be asking whether the Minister can provide a detailed list of all costs incurred in relation to, and in preparation for, the Presidential inauguration events held at Parliament Buildings, Georgetown; at the Independence Arch at

Brickdam, Georgetown; at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara; at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown; and elsewhere, including the cleanup campaign that preceded these events.

The second will be in relation to the costs refereed to the previous question and if the Minister can indicate the source of funding. The third question asks whether the Minister can provide a detailed list giving the nature and total value of contributions made? And the fourth being can the Minister indicate when an audited statement of the expenditure incurred will be available and tabled in this National Assembly?

In August, Government finally conceded that the State paid for the inauguration extravaganza. During the final day of the Consideration of the Budget Estimates, Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry succumbed to pressure from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament (MPs) and belatedly conceded that millions of dollars were indeed expended on this event. Soon after, Minister of State Joseph Harmon finally told media operatives that the Government hardly contributed to this event and that most of the expenses were covered by “donations”. However, in the Budget

Estimates 2015, there were no accounts made for the inflow of donations claimed for this purpose.

The sitting will also witness a series of questions being administered to Finance Minister Winston Jordan about spending by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government on the rice and sugar industries and the source of these funds.

It is understood that President David Granger is also scheduled to address the sitting. However it is not clear yet what the President will be addressing but there seems to be a high possibility that the Venezuelan border controversy may be the topic of the address.

Public Health Ministry takes eye screening outreach to Leguan –

over 400 persons benefit

The Public Health Ministry has been conducting a series of ophthalmology outreaches across the country, and within the past week, 436 individuals benefited from screening and eye care.

The most recent visit was made to the Essequibo Island of Leguan, in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) where 51 residents, including children and the elderly, benefited from free eye testing and screening.

These activities were a part of the Ministry’s World Sight Day celebration, which was observed on October 9, under the theme: “Eye Care for All.”

A patient having her eyes tested

The eye screening campaign began at Qualfon Guyana and the Palms Geriatric Home on the day of observance. It later targeted the Lichfield Health Centre, in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) on October 9; Wales Community Centre, West Bank Demerara, Region Three, (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) on October 12; St Cuthbert’s Mission, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) on October 13; One Mile Health Centre, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), on October 14; and Leguan

Cottage Hospital, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) on October 15. Residents of these areas took full advantage of the services offered and expressed great appreciation to the Ministry for the undertaking.

saturday, october 17, 2015 |

Caricom SG advocates for concessional financing against climate change ... at

Small States forum in Peru

Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) continues to champion the cause for vulnerable States to receive concessional financing as a result of issues relating to climate change.

Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has been focusing on this matter in many of his recent engagements and was vocal about the issue at the Small States Forum recently held in Peru.

The Caricom SG reiterated that continued access to multilateral and bilateral concessional financing, notwithstanding the classification of Caricom Member States as middle income states, is critical to the sustainable development agenda. He once again expressed the view that the criteria for concessional financing must not be based solely on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and must be changed to include the economic and environmental vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Previously, LaRocque also addressed this matter during the International Conference on Financing for Development that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last July.

In addition, he met with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark in New York recently, where there was also significant discussion in relation to the issue.

The forum on Small States was held under the theme: “Opportunities and Challenges for Small States to finance Sustainable

Development in the post 2015 Development Landscape”. Attendees included Chairman of the Small States Forum and Minister of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, Seychelles; Jean Paul Adam; Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon; President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim, as well as UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

The forum addressed matters such as financing sustainable development for SIDS, considered the impact of the current global economic situation, and discussed prospects for the future. In a summary released by the Chairman of the Forum it was noted that: “The economic performance of our countries in the recent past is a reflection of the more limited availability of policy tools and resources and also the challenge that small states face in diversifying economic structures and reorienting economic activities in new markets and sectors.”

In addressing the issue of concessional financing for SIDS the Chairman said it was important to examine important, “augmented donor support to help our countries build resilience, address inherent vulnerabilities, and break the low growth, high debt, limited fiscal space spiral, which will continue to have important and long-lasting impacts on our development prospects.”

He said small states were grateful for the considerable financial support the World Bank and other partners have provided in recent years, and look forward to renewed targeted support. He called

for scaled-up global assistance to build resilience and ensure there are no impediments to the Green Climate Fund financing reaching small island states.

The Chairman explained that the forum benefited from an extensive exchange of views on the recent conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa and the upcoming Twenty-first Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21/CMP11) in Paris. He said the need for stronger fiscal positions to enable faster restoration of policy space was emphasised.

The World Bank has lauded the forum for providing an opportunity for participants to discuss the implications for small states of the emerging development architecture just after the Addis Ababa conference on Financing for Development and ahead of COP21. COP21 will be a crucial conference, as it needs to achieve a new international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

The Small States Forum provided an opportunity for participants to share views and perspectives on how the World Bank, and other bilateral and multilateral organizations, can help small states leverage and make effective use of various financing streams to help accelerate progress towards the SDGs while building resilience against and mitigating the impact of, natural disasters and climate change.

Former Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry

Caricom SG Ambassador, Irwin LaRocque (front row, 2nd right) with other regional delegates

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Take any opportunity to spend quality time with family or friends. A short trip or impromptu excursion to an interesting or fun-filled destination will give you a new perspective.

Someone will try to take advantage of you. Follow your gut feelings if you are concerned about ulterior motives. Don’t follow the crowd just to please those around you. Trust your own judgment.

Take up a new hobby or become involved with a musical or artistic group in your community. You will meet an enjoyable someone who will influence your future.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Keep your personal papers and belongings in order. Being disorganized or untidy will cause unwanted delays and friction with the people you live with. Donate unused or unwanted items to charity.

Don’t let professional matters eat away at your free time, causing a rift between you and someone you made plans with. Make amends to avoid a scene.

Don’t slacken your pace if things are running smoothly. Constant attention to detail and a rigorous focus will ensure that you continue to make progress. Stick to your game plan.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Your originality will inspire you to try new ways of expressing yourself. Love and romance are in the stars. An unorthodox approach to a personal dilemma will bring favorable results.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Consider your progress and celebrate your accomplishments. Don’t take the attitude that nothing is ever good enough. If you believe in yourself and what you have to offer, so will everyone else.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

If you are too outspoken, you will be blamed for meddling. Unless you are asked, keep your opinions to yourself. Concentrate on your accomplishments and responsibilities, not on what others do.

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

You will be offered a rewarding financial deal. Joint ventures or partnerships look promising. A personal relationship will grow stronger if you plan a romantic celebration.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Hasty financial decisions will cost you. Stick to your budget and find a lowcost way to improve your living space. Consult a trusted friend if you are in need of relationship advice.

You’ll be accused of being unreasonable or overbearing. Voice your ideas, but let others do as they please. You will be respected for your equitability and lack of interference.

GEMINI

Peanuts

Calvin and hobbes

dilbert arChie

Pak vs Eng, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi, 4th day…

Cook monument lays down marker

Asuperb double cen-

tury from captain

Alastair Cook saw England to 569-8, a lead of 46 runs, at the end of day four of the first Test against Pakistan.

Cook batted for 836 min-

dable powers of concentration proved greater.

Playing with immense discipline - he hit only three boundaries all day - the captain amassed the highest score by an English batsman overseas since Wally

who bore the brunt of the batting-friendly conditions.

After England’s Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid went for 0-121 and 0-163 respectively in the first innings of the match, Pakistan’s Zulfiqar Babar became the

utes in Abu Dhabi for his 263 - the third-longest innings by time in Test history, and the longest ever by an Englishman.

Joe Root made 85 and Ben Stokes hit 57 as Pakistan’s bowlers toiled.

With two wickets remaining and England’s first-innings lead slim, a draw remains the most likely result.

Cook eventually fell to off-spinner Shoaib Malik - himself a double centurion in the match - when he was caught at short fine leg sweeping.

The 30-year-old began the day on 168 and might have been dismissed only five runs later, when he inside-edged a delivery from Imran Khan and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed dropped a difficult chance.

But thereafter the England skipper combined superbly with Root in a morning of trouble-free accumulation.

He moved to his double hundred - the third of his Test career, drawing him level with Kevin Pietersen - with a clip behind square off Wahab Riaz.

Root was eventually dismissed after lunch when he chased a wide delivery from Rahat Ali, but Cook’s formi-

Hammond hit 336 against New Zealand in 1933.

He survived a fiery spell of reverse-swing bowling from Wahab Riaz - which accounted for Jonny Bairstow, trapped LBW for 8.

And he might even have been able to overtake his own career best of 294 - set against India at Edgbaston in 2010 - if the umpire had spotted that Malik appeared to overstep in delivering the wicket-taking ball.

It was another tough day for the bowlers on a pitch that has offered precious little assistance.

And just as in England’s innings, it was the spinners

third bowler of the match to concede a century of runs without taking a wicket.

It was part-timer Malik who made the first breakthrough for spin in the match when he bowled Stokes - with spinners having bowled 170.1 wicketless overs for 565 runs prior to that point.

Zulfiqar was into his 69th over - within sight of the world record for wicketless overs in an innings, which stands at 72 - when he induced Jos Buttler to loft a drive into the hands of Asad Shafiq at deep cover. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

AU Rashid not out 6 SCJ Broad not out 0 Extras (b-7, lb-5, w-3, nb-10) 25

Total (8 wickets; 196.3 overs) 569 Fall of wickets: 1-116 (Ali, 40.2 ov), 2-281 (Bell, 105.3 ov), 3-285 (Wood, 107.4 ov), 4-426 (Root, 152.2 ov), 5-443 (Bairstow, 161.3 ov), 6-534 (Stokes, 184.1 ov), 7-549 (Cook, 190.1 ov), 8-563 (Buttler, 193.5 ov)

Bowling: Rahat Ali 26.3-173-1, Imran Khan 25-6-72-1, Zulfiqar Babar 70-17-180-1, Wahab Riaz 33-3-116-3 (10nb, 3-w), Asad Shafiq 7-0-190, Shoaib Malik 35-4-97-2

English FA suspends support for Platini’s FIFA candidacy

The English Football Association has suspended support for Michel Platini’s bid to become FIFA president, after learning “more information relating to the issues from Mr Platini’s lawyers”, the FA said in a statement.

Platini, who is standing in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for Feb. 26, and incumbent Sepp Blatter were banned for 90 days by the FIFA Ethics Committee last week pending a full investigation into both men’s activities.

Switzerland’s attorney general’s office initiated criminal proceedings against Blatter over a two million Swiss francs ($2.1 million) payment from FIFA to Platini in 2011 for work carried out by the Frenchman between 1998 and 2002. Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

Platini’s lawyers gave a presentation to all UEFA member associations on Thursday.

“The FA wishes Mr Platini every success in

fighting these charges and clearing his name, and has no interest in taking any action that jeopardises this process,” they said in a statement issued on the FA website (www.theFA.com) on Friday.

“However, notwithstanding the above, at the UEFA meeting on Thursday, the FA learnt more information relating to the issues at the centre of this case from Mr Platini’s lawyers.

“We have been instructed that the information

must be kept confidential and therefore we cannot go into specifics.

“As a result of learning this information, the FA board has on Friday morning concluded that it must suspend its support for Mr Platini’s candidature for the FIFA Presidency until the legal process has been concluded and the position is clear.

“A decision can then be taken on who to support in the Presidential election on 26 February 2016.” (Reuters

Taylor hopes to take Windies to the top

New West Indies

Women’s skipper

Stafanie Taylor has targeted a march up the rankings as top priority as her tenure in charge of the team began today with the first game of a series against Pakistan in St Lucia on Friday.

In the coming days, the team will play four ODIs in St Lucia, with three of the games counting towards ICC Women’s Championship. If the West Indies can achieve a sweep of Pakistan, they could join Australia at the top of the ICC Women’s Championship table.

“I would like to welcome Pakistan and we are extremely excited as we look forward with anticipation to this upcoming series,” Taylor said.

“The ICC Women’s Championship has been an excellent initiative and it has given the top eight

Stafanie

Taylor

countries an opportunity to participate against each other. I know this series will be competitive; ultimately our aim is to move up the rankings and as such, we plan to dominate at home, thereby achieving a clean sweep,” he added.

The top four sides from the ICC Women’s

Championship gain automatic qualification for the event, which is to be staged in England, while the bottom four sides will get a final chance of filling the last four spots through the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in 2017.

Alistair

Sport)

Michel Platini

Joint Services Sports... GDF repeat as champions

– George, Hooper named male and female champion athletes

BY TREISTON JOSEPH

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are the 2015 champions of the 2015 edition of the Inter Services Athletics and Swimming Championships better known as Joint Services Sports which concluded on Friday at the National Track and Field Center ground, Leonora.

GDF amassed 813 points to repeat as champions, going without a loss since 2011.

The Guyana Police Force finished on 791 points while the Guyana Prison Service finished third on 88 points. The Guyana Fire Service was fourth on 85 points while City Constabulary brought up the rear with 81 points.

Winston George of GPF was in top form winning a sprint triple in the men's 100, 200 and 400 with unofficial times of 9.90s, 20.40s and 47.50s.

Akeem Stewart of GDF was second the men's 100 with a time of 10.10s and Rupert Perry also of GDF finished third in 10.20s while the roles reversed in the 200 meters with Perry clocking 20.70s and Stewart 21.00s.

Patrick King of GDF finished second in the men's 400 metres with a time of 48.20s while Wayne Harlequin of GDF was third in a time of 48.70s.

The female champion athlete was Natrina Hooper of GDF who won the women's 200 metres in a time of

24.10s while also winning the women's high and triple jumps.

Jevina Sampson announced her return to track and field with a commanding win in the women's 400 meters with a time of 56.50s. GPF's Tiffany Carto finished second in 59.30s while Kezia Bess was third in 1:00.10s.

Davin Fraser for a photo finish race.

Nevertheless GDF won the event in a time of 40.50s while GFP finished a close second in a time of 40.60s. Guyana Prison Service finished third in 44.30s.

The GFP women won their 4x100 metres relay in a time of 48.00s while GDF fin-

Tyrone Hamid of GDF jumped away with the men's high jump with a leap of 2.00 metres while national javelin record holder Leslain Baird of GDF finished second with a jump of 1.93 metres. Clarence Greene of the GPF finished third with a jump of 1.90 metres.

Meanwhile in relay action the GDF and GPF men put on a show with clean baton passes I'm the men's 4x100 metres as George ran a superb final leg to catch GDF's

ished second in 48.20s. City Constabulary was third in 59.20s.

In 4x400 metres action that brought the curtains down on the event, the GDF men and women won both events in times of 3:24.30s and 3:59.90s respectively.

The GPF men and women finished second in both events with time of 3:31.10s and 4:01.00s respectively. (josepht@guyanatimesgy. com)

Busta renews alliances with ECB, EBSC

BY RaJIv BISNauTH

In keeping with its corpo-

rate responsibility and commitment towards the development of youth and sport in general, the Guyana Beverage Company (GBC) has renewed its alliance with

et, once the entities continue to keep up the image of the company.

“We are pleased with the way these competitions have been run. If we were not we would not be here again to offer more sponsorship.

“We are proud to be as-

have represented Guyana at the different levels.

Yadram singled out Rajendra Chandrika, who is a product of the Club, who went on to play the game at the highest level. Chandrika is presently with the West Indies Test squad in Sri

and the Enterprise Busta Sport Club (EBSC).

The company confirmed the announcement on Friday at its Diamond, East Bank Demerara head office.

Speaking at the simple but significant ceremony, Managing Director of GBC Robert Selman expressed his company’s pleasure in being associated with the two entities.

Selman commended the ECB and EBSC for organising the competitions over the years, and indicated that they will continue to support crick-

Banks DIH 7s Rugby Tournament set for Sunday

BY TREISTON JOSEPH

Banks DIH and the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) launched their annual Sevens Tournament which is slated to kick off on October 18.

At the launching on Friday at Banks DIH headquarters, Thirst Park, President of the GRFU Peter Green highlighted the importance of the Banks Sevens Tournament.

“The Banks Sevens will be the start of the sevens season and this tournament will hopefully do away with the rust from last weekend and will highlight the skills of the new generation,” Green mentioned.

Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo Hen revealed the reason for Banks continued involvement in rugby.

“Banks DIH and its brands remain committed to the development of rugby in Guyana… our boys have continued to show improvement and that has resulted in them bringing titles to

Last year's winners, UG Wolves

our dear country Guyana. It’s an auspicious occasion to support the GRFU with this tournament,” Choo Hen stated. Public Relations Officer of Banks DIH Troy Peters

in his remarks highlighted the longevity of the tournament, noting that it has been around since the 80’s. The event will be held at the University of Guyana (UG) rugby field where the

UG Wolves will aim to defend home turf as well as their Banks DIH sevens title. Action is slated to start from 11:30h. (josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)

sociated with the game; this tournament brings people together. We want to keep the youths off the streets and away from crime and that is one of the major reasons we invest in sports,” Selman stressed.

Meanwhile, President of ECB Fizul Bacchus thanked the Company for its support, saying the tournament has done well for cricket in the county over the years.

Secretary of the EBSC and national female cricketer Kavita Yadram expressed appreciation to Selman and the Company for their commitment and partnership over the years.

She noted that through this sponsorship, the EBSC over the years has produced a number of cricketers who

Lanka.

Yadram informed the gathering that the EBCS will officially launch their tournament on October 25.

Meanwhile, the ECB has confirmed that the cricket festival is billed for November 13 - 15, with eight area teams, namely Wakenaam, Leguan, East Bank Essequibo, Bartica, Pomeroon, North, South and Central Essequibo, doing battle.

The ECB also confirmed that the tournament will be played in two Zones, with the tournament reduced to 40-overs aside.

The champion team will take home a trophy and $75,000, while the runnerup will receive a trophy and $25,000. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

Region 10 athletes thrill at regional schools sport

The Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden was lit with excitement during this week, with the premier of the Region10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) interprimary and inter-secondary schools sports championships.

Sports fans including children, parents, teachers and others flocked the location in their numbers to witness the intense competition.

Schools from across the Region including the Mackenzie, Amelia's Ward, Watooka Day and One Mile Primary, amongst others participated, to see who will reign supreme and capture

this year's winning titles. The action began on Tuesday with the swimming competition at the Mackenzie swimming pool, where Coomacka Primary copped the winning spot in the inter-primary challenge. Champion athletes were Akeem Alicock (under 10 male) and Jade Simmons (under 10 female) of Coomacka Primary school. Under 12 female champion athlete went to Keyanna Nedd of Regma Primary school. On Wednesday, the action continued with the staging of the school’s field events, while the Primary schools track event was held on Thursday at the MSC.

Davin Fraser of GDF (left) and Olympian Winston George dip on the line during the men’s 4x100 metres relay final (Treiston Joseph photo)

the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB)

Managing Director of GBC Robert Selman presents a cheque to Secretary of EBSC and national female cricketer, Kavita Yadram in the presence of other club members and staff

saturday, october 17, 2015

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Sri Lanka v West Indies, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day…

Herath’s masterclass leaves West Indies reeling

Rangana Herath bowled Sri Lanka into a formidable position in the Galle Test, picking up a six-wicket haul to force West Indies to follow-on before striking late in the final session to end a promising innings from Kraigg Brathwaite. At stumps on day three, West Indies were two down for 67, still trailing by 166.

West Indies had lost Shai Hope in the tenth over of their second innings, the opener playing on while trying to whip Milinda Siriwardana against the turn from outside off stump and giving the debutant his first Test wicket. Following that, Brathwaite and Darren Bravo had looked comfortable in the middle with Herathwho had bowled 33 overs in the first innings and four with the new ball in the second - briefly off the field. The two put on 39 in 11 overs, including two straight sixes by Bravo off Siriwardana, before Herath returned.

It took him only nine balls to produce the wicket-taking delivery. For the second time in the match, Brathwaite pressed forward and played down the wrong line to one that skidded in with the angle; his review, against Marais Erasmus’ instantaneously raised finger, came from wild hope rather than any degree of conviction. The ball had struck him in line and was destined to take out a big chunk of middle and leg stump.

In the first innings, West Indies’ lower order had raised hopes of getting past the followon mark, with Kemar Roach adding 46 with Jerome Taylor for the eighth wicket and 34 with Devendra Bishoo for the ninth, but Herath ensured they fell 34 runs short. The left-arm spinner dismissed Roach and Shannon Gabriel off successive deliveries, in the second over after Sri Lanka took the second new ball, to finish with figures of 6 for 68. West Indies were bowled out for 251, and Angelo Mathews, perhaps mindful of the approach of dark clouds, asked them to bat again.

Damningly for the West Indies line-up, each of their batsmen apart from No. 11 Gabriel got into double figures, but only Darren Bravo made a half-century and their biggest partnership came from the eighth-wicket pair of Taylor and Roach.

Both lower-order stands followed the same template: Roach trusted in his defence, while Taylor and then Bishoo went for their shots. There were a few close shaves off Herath - he produced two edges, one off Roach and the other off Bishoo, that flew quickly past Mathews at slip, the first one close enough to count as a chance; and an lbw shout against Roach, given not out and reviewed, with ball-tracking suggesting the ball would have clipped leg stump. In between, though, the runs came quickly, with Taylor launching a big six and hitting two fours off one over from Tharindu Kaushal, and both Roach and Bishoo using the sweep well.

Herath, who had dismissed the openers on the second day, nearly struck with his seventh ball of the morning, sliding one in with the angle to brush the flap of Marlon Samuels’ back pad while he shaped to cut.

Believing rightly that the ball had made contact with pad before bat, Sri Lanka reviewed umpire Richard Illingworth’s not-out decision, but ball-tracking saved Samuels, suggesting that the impact was only marginally in line with off stump.

But as with Brathwaite on day two, Herath didn’t have to wait long after a referral had denied him a wicket. Samuels seemed to decide that an aggressive approach would serve him best against the left-arm spinner, and danced down the track three balls after the referral to smack him to the longoff boundary. Then, trying to pull the last ball of the over, Samuels found the ball skidding through a touch low to deflect into the stumps off his thigh.

At the other end, Darren Bravo was utterly becalmed against Herath during his first spell of the morning, making no attempt to force the left-arm spinner off his rhythm as he teased away with his changes of pace, trajectory and angle. In the 32nd over - the 11th of the morning - he beat his outside edge twice in two balls, once

Prasad to slip. With Herath looking like the only genuine threat among the Sri Lankan bowlers on this pitch, this was a poor piece of judgment from Blackwood against what was certainly a good ball, laden with extra bounce, but one that could have been easily left alone.

With three overs to go for lunch, Herath came back on, and struck immediately. Bravo had reached his half-century a couple of overs earlier, and maybe wanted to send Herath the message that he wouldn’t be so easily tied down now. He went hard at a flighted ball wide of off stump, looking to hit with the turn, and didn’t quite middle it, but the danger wasn’t immediately apparent until Dinesh Chandimal appeared in the path of the ball, an apparition flying to his right from short midwicket to pull off a spectacular one-handed grab. Prasad took his second wicket in the seventh over after lunch, reward for finding the perfect length to exploit Jason Holder’s indecisive footwork. He had been driven for two fours in the over, both shots

on the back foot from over the wicket and once on the front foot by angling one across from around the wicket.

Wary of overbowling his champion spinner, Mathews took Herath off after a sevenover spell, and Bravo broke free of the shackles, pulling successive long-hops from Kaushal - who bowled four no-balls in one over after replacing Herath - for four and six, and then square-driving successive balls from Nuwan Pradeep to the point boundary.

But in between, West Indies lost another wicket, Jermaine Blackwood’s hard hands pushing at the ball away from his body to edge Dhammika

hit on the up. The second drive was particularly chancy, flying between and over point and cover, and Prasad landed his next ball along the same line but on a slightly shorter length. Holder went for another leaden-footed drive, and nicked to the keeper.

Denesh Ramdin was next to go, four overs later, slashing away from his body at Pradeep and providing Kusal Perera another catch behind the stumps. At this point, West Indies were 171 for 7, 114 runs short of the follow-on mark. The lower order fought hard, but the top order had left them too much to do.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings 484 West Indies 1st innings

KC Brathwaite lbw b Herath 19

SD Hope b Herath 23

DM Bravo c Chandimal b Herath 50

MN Samuels b Herath 11

J Blackwood c Siriwardana b Prasad 11

D Ramdin† c †Perera b Pradeep 23

JO Holder* c †Perera b Prasad 19

KAJ Roach st †Perera b Herath 22

JE Taylor c Mathews b Kaushal 31

D Bishoo not out 23

ST Gabriel b Herath 0

Extras (b-5, lb-6, w-1, nb-7) 19

Total (all out; 82 overs) 251 Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Brathwaite, 7.3 ov), 2-49 (Hope, 15.1 ov), 3-70 (Samuels, 23.6 ov), 4-111 (Blackwood, 36.2 ov), 5-132 (Bravo, 45.2 ov), 6-165 (Holder, 54.4 ov), 7-171 (Ramdin, 58.1 ov), 8-217 (Taylor, 68.2 ov), 9-251 (Roach, 81.5 ov), 10251 (Gabriel, 81.6 ov) Bowling: KTGD Prasad 15-6-382, N Pradeep 15-4-56-1 (1-nb, 1-w), HMRKB Herath 33-9-686,

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Shai Hope was the first to be dismissed in the second innings

GCB officials outline programmes to Education Minister

President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Drubahadur, Secretary Anand Sanasie, and Territorial Developmental Officer Colin Stuart, recently met with Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, and outlined the Board’s immediate and upcoming programmes.

The officials explained the structure and benefits of the National Secondary School Cricket League, which was launched on Friday with an official ceremony at the Everest Cricket Club, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Over 150 secondary schools across the country will be participating in the League. The competition also has a champion school pathway that would see the national champion fully sponsored by the GCB, participating in the annual Sir Garfield Sobers Secondary Schools Cricket Competition in Barbados.

Stuart lobbied strongly for the development of school grounds across the country. He posited that when the League is over, students need to keep training to further develop themselves. He noted that one of the aims of the League is to channel players towards joining cricket clubs.

But those who cannot get into clubs can use their school grounds to train. Hence, the need for proper pitches and favourable ground conditions is necessary. He believes it would not take much from the Education/Sport Ministry to partner with the GCB to execute this plan.

Minister Roopnaraine, impressed with the expectations of the League, went on to discuss the necessities in developing the school grounds. He noted that he would explain the proposal

to his colleagues relevant to the subject.

Also ready to go on the GCB programme is the eight-team Local Franchise League. The officials gave Minister Roopnaraine an indepth view of the initiative. This League would comprise of a franchises from the ge-

Three of these matches will be played in Guyana on the June 6, 8 and 10.

Sanasie said the Government of Guyana stands to benefit greatly from this series. He further presented the Minister with a copy of the Economic Impact Assessment from the

Education

ographical cricket areas in Guyana.

These areas are Upper Corentyne (Albion to Corentyne), Lower Corentyne (Albion to New Amsterdam-Canje), East Bank Demerara- Upper Demerara, West Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Berbice, Georgetown and Essequibo. The League will have three formats: T20, 50-overs and Three-Day. With this League, a higher level of cricket is expected to be played.

Sanasie, who is also a Director of WICB, informed the Minister about the West Indies, Australia and South Africa tri-nation ODI series, which will be played in the West Indies in June 2016.

England Tour of West Indies earlier this year.

The officials also proposed to invite foreign teams and have a weekend of T20 matches in May 2016 to observe Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary. The Minister is happy about the idea, stating that he will try to fit it onto the calendar.

There were other ventures of GCB that were discussed and debated, as some require Government’s assistance. Dr Roopnaraine assured that as long as the ventures will benefit Guyana as a whole and develop cricket and cricketers, Government should have no issues supporting progress.

Carib Beer T20 Competition… DCC, GCC to do battle for Carib Beer T20 final

BY AKEEM GREENE

Today the Demerara Cricket Club in Queenstown will be the attraction for the highly billed 20 overs final between Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).

Two of what are arguably Georgetown’s most formidable teams in first division cricket will be entertaining what is expected to be a large crowd turnout.

Speaking on Friday after a briefing with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Executives, GCC’s Captain Leon Johnson said “preparation leading up to the final has been going well, the players have been engaged in some amount of

match practice”.

When asked how his side plans to combat the wide range of explosive power and experience that the DCC side contains, the West Indian said “it’s still a game, anything can happen on the day, what we need to do is stick to basics and play to our plans”.

DCC’s Captain Christopher Barnwell said his side is in good touch approaching this final, stating “we had a simulation game to tune up on various aspects of our game”. The West Indies T20 player underscored his need to click in all areas as to ensure a victory is achieved. The DCC side hosts some of the most aggressive batsmen in local cricket. Barnwell was adamant that having a side which has so much national experience at

GCB unveils National Secondary Schools Cricket League

– Digicel, Banks DIH Limited are corporate partners

BY AVENASH RAMZAN

With major support from Digicel, Banks DIH Limited and the Education Ministry, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Friday afternoon unveiled the National Secondary Schools Cricket League; an initiative that is geared towards serving as conveyor belt for the national cricket programme.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, representatives of the two main sponsors and top officials of the GCB convened at the main pavilion of the Everest Cricket Club to disclose plans for the nationwide competition, which has attracted over 150 teams spread across the 10 administrative regions.

This secondary school

“The purpose of running off secondary school cricket is to ensure that there is a feeder system for the clubs across the country, so we would be running off this competition in two pathways,” Sanasie stated.

He further explained, “It would be similar to the Ministry of Education’s Athletics competition where we cream all the players from inter-school to inter-zone to inter-district, and we will have a national district competition so we know who are the best cricketers coming out of the districts. We will also have another pathway where we want a national school to come out of this competition. The incentive for that school is that they will be fully sponsored by the GCB to attend the Sir Garfield Sobers Secondary School

Luana Abrams and Errol Nelson were more than pleased to express their respective company’s delight to partner with the GCB. Abrams told the gathering, “Digicel is always a company that really focuses on youth development by encouraging sport in the schools and encouraging our youths to move forward in their athletic capabilities. We’ve had our inter-school football competition, which most of you would know about, where we try to get almost all the schools involved, and so to be a part of the inter-school cricket competition where many schools will be able to participate I do believe it’s a great initiative… and I want to commend the persons who have coordinated and planned this event.” Nelson, reading from a

tournament will soon be followed by a similar one for primary schools to complement the hugely successful Scotiabank Kiddy cricket programme, which is an intra-territorial competition coordinated by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

both youth and senior levels is a big plus but emphasised that everyone needed to play their part come game day.

When these two teams met in the preliminary rounds at the same ground, DCC got the better of GCC as they defeated them by 22 runs. GCC will be eager to turn the tables this time and receive the bragging rights that usually come with this kind of classic contest.

Secretary of the Georgetown Cricket Association Shawn Messiah said that the tournament has been great so far and he is expecting a grand final.

The first ball is set to bowl off at 13:00h. (akeemg@guyantimesgy. com)

“In the past we have, in some ad hoc manner, run off secondary school cricket in the predominantly popular cricket areas of the country. Now we’re going even wider; you can understand with 150 schools playing in this competition the logistical issues and so on,” GCB Secretary and WICB Director Anand Sanasie said on Friday.

Sanasie divulged that the Education Ministry will provide cricket balls for the tournament, while adding that financial constraints had prevented the event from coming to fruition earlier. With this in mind, he expressed gratitude to Digicel and Banks DIH Limited, as well as the Education Ministry for partnering with the GCB. Sanasie also used the opportunity to explain the format of the competition, which bowled off on Friday.

cricket competition, which is a big thing for the tourism authority in Barbados.”

In offering brief remarks, Dr Roopnaraine said he is eagerly looking forward to the success of the competition, and the impact it would have on the game in Guyana.

“I am really very happy to hear how much development there has been in cricket across the schools and I can’t wait to see the outcome… in other words, the team that is going to emerge, and act really as a feeder into our system,” Dr Roopnaraine intimated.

He continued, “I’ve been complaining for years about the fact that we are not in effect developing nationally the cricket through the school and the clubs and so on, leading to a lot of anaemic performance right at the top. I think we’re on the way to correcting that and I want to congratulate those who have organised this competition and also those who have made it possible with their financial support.”

The two major sponsors of the League are Digicel and Banks DIH Limited, whose representatives

prepared statement, outlined, “Banks DIH Limited has always supported cricket and our sponsorship of this National Secondary School Cricket League demonstrates our steadfast involvement in the development of cricket in Guyana. Part of our involvement in this League will be in the form of creating awareness of our Rainforest Waters brand by way of branding at the various cricket grounds and providing Rainforest Waters as refreshment for the cricketers at the games.”

Also sharing the head table at Friday’s launch were GCB President Drubahadur, GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart, National Sports Commissioner Administrator Gervy Harry and Child Protection Officer Orette Francois. They all embraced the idea of a national competition for secondary school students and wished the organisers well. The tournament will roll over into 2016. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine with the GCB officials

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, GCB officials and representatives of the sponsors and some students at Friday afternoon’s launch at the Everest Cricket Club pavilion

Naeem Nasir Memorial 5-over cricket… YWCC crowned inaugural champions after close win

Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Cumberland, East Canje, won the first-ever Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club/Bakewell Naeem Nasir Memorial 5-over cricket tournament at the Area H ground, on Sunday last.

Playing in front of a large and colourful crowd, the visitors had to put up a strong fight against surprising finalist Rose Hall Town Bakewell B before winning by six wickets with four balls to spare.

Consisting of mainly Under-15 players, Rose Hall Town Bakewell B had shocked victories over Belvedere United and Rising Star Cricket Club of

West Demerara in an unexpected path to the final. Batting first after losing the toss, Rose Hall Town B reached 30-4 off their allotted five overs with Hector George and Junior Sinclair top scoring with 10 each.

Bowing for Young Warriors, Linden Austin and Kassim Khan each claimed a wicket each.

In reply, the experienced YWCC found themselves two wickets for no run, as the massive crowd erupted with the Rose Hall Town B players performing beyond their youthful years.

However, opener Martin Singh used all his experience to score 19 not out to lead Young Warriors to 31-4 of 4.2 overs. Kassim

RHTY&SC junior ‘Double

Khan was unbeaten on five, while Brandon Prashad and Kevlon Anderson claimed a wicket each.

Earlier in the day, Rose Hall Town B defeated Belvedere United by seven wickets, YWCC got passed GuySuCo Training Centre by 15 runs, Courtland held their nerves to send home

All Stars Youth of West Demerara by 10 runs, while Rose Hall Town Bakewell A cruised past West Berbice by nine wickets, as Rising Star drew the bye in the opening round.

In the second round, Rose Hall Town B drew the bye, as Rose Hall Town A was upset by YWCC by nine wickets, while Rising Star also created another huge

Wicket’ competition to start soon RHTY&SC junior

‘Double Wicket’ competition to start soon

The Cricket Developmental Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) will be hosting a ‘Double Wicket’ competition for the club’s junior cricketers from the Under-13 to Under-19 levels.

The tournament, the brainchild of the Club’s Secretary/Chief Executive Officer Hilbert Foster will be played over a period of four days in the afternoon practice sessions at the club’s Area H ground, Rose Hall, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Foster and club coach Collis Butts, will spearhead the hosting of the tournament, which will include at least 20 pairs of players. The Double Wicket tournament is one of several new ideas that the RHTY&SC will be undertaking as part of its effort to develop the players and have them gain experience. The other proposed programmes include a six-a-

side tournament, individual cricket tournament (one player versus another), matches against friendly sister clubs of the RHTY&SC and playing developmental “B” teams in all tournaments organised by the club.

Special emphasis will also be placed on hosting and visiting clubs out of the Ancient County.

Among the junior cricketers expected to be part of the Double Wicket tournament are Jason Anderson,

Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Denzil Sinclair, Brandon Prashad, Surendra Budhoo, Joel Pike, Joshua Gobin, Brandon Corlette, Sylus Tyndall, Joshua Wilson, Keith Simpson, Simon Naidu, Chanderpaul Govinda, Quinton Crandon, Chad Munroe, Samuel Lewis, Rudradeo Ramotar and Avinash Seenarine.

Foster explained that one experienced junior cricketer will be paired together with and inexperienced player, stating that special emphasis will be placed on developing a culture of working together for success. The winning pair of cricketers will each receive a trophy and cash prizes.

Meanwhile, the RHTY&SC is inviting interested young cricketers to join the club as early as possible. Membership is free and the RHTY&SC members enjoy a wide range of benefits, including cricket gear, educational assistance and personal developmental programmes.

upset with another wicket thrashing of Courtland.

YWCC enjoyed a bye to the final, while Rising Star Cricket Club and Rose Hall Town Bakewell B clashed in the lone semi-finals. Batting first after winning the toss, Rose Hall Town B reached a competitive 36-3 off their five overs as national Under-15 players Junior Williams and Kevlon Anderson jointly top scored with 13.

Rising Star found the competitive youngsters’ bowling attack difficult to score against as Kevlon Anderson, Denzil Sinclair, Brandon Prashad, Junior Sinclair and Surendra Madramootoo bowled well. Needing to score three runs off the last delivery, they could only manage two, as the match ended in a tie.

In the Super Over, the visitors could only manage three runs from the bowling of Madramootoo. Openers Williams and Anderson knocked off the runs from two balls in the overs to spark an invasion of spectators.

YWCC received the winning prize of $100,000 and the beautiful Naeem Nasir Memorial Trophy, while Rose Hall Town Bakewell B collected $40,000. Rising Star pocketed $25,000 for finishing third.

Martin Singh was named Man-of-the-Final and received a trophy and $5000.

Secretary/ Chief

Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as a remarkable success, and a perfect tribute to the memory of the late Bakewell Founder and CEO.

The long-standing cricket administrator praised the teams for their discipline on and off the field and also for the high level of

He

Hilbert Foster

cricket played.

also expressed gratitude to the widow of Nasir and Bakewell’s CEO Rajin Ganga for their sponsorship of the tournament.

The YWCC players pose with their trophies

Man-of-the-Final, Martin Singh (left), collects the trophy and cash from Collis Butts

President of the GRFU Peter Green (second from right) receives the winning trophy from Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo Hen in the presence of Banks DIH and GRFU officials (Treiston Joseph photo)

The Guyana Defence Force celebrates their big win, having won in 2012, 2014 and 2015 while tying in 2013 to be undefeated in four years. (Treiston Joseph photo)

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